USS Essex Navy Moms

Thanks!

Kim - are Jonathan and Kayo together yet?

Yes, our Christmas Eve and Christmas have been put on hold until he is home!

Glad to hear Hans made it back safely!

Kayo is flying over the Pacific right now.  She lands in LAX at 10:25, catches a plane for San Diego arriving 12:54.  Jonathan is trying to get off duty.  He is on leave starting at 4:00pm.  She may have to wait.

Kim - Hopefully he will get off duty, but if not, what's a few more hours when they have waited this long!!

Katie made it back today - she did have to spend the night in Nagoya.

Kayo arrived.  He got permission to run over at lunch but she did not call when her plane landed in LAX.  He was afraid that she got hung up in customs and missed the connection.  She was still not calling.  He must of been busting at the seams because they finally told him he was off duty, GO NOW.  It turns out he gave her the wrong phone number, she was held up at customs and took a later flight.  They arrived at the same time.  Does it sound like a Cary Grant movie?  He phoned at 6:30 (3:30 his time) when we where out for dinner to say they where home.  He said he would skype us tonight and open his presents.  Yea right!  I won't hold my breath tonight.

Glad to hear that your sailors arrived back safely.  Is anyone on the second leave?  When will Katie get her new orders?

Kim - Glad to hear that they are in CA together!

cathy's son should be home soon.

Katie said that her 'detailer' (?) is still working on her new orders.  She was given the list of 'possibilities' for a DC3 - most of them were shore duty and she has 2 more years of ship duty, so the choices are limited.  Katie says we'll know as soon as she does.

3:00 a.m. here in upstate NY!  Josh texted from Tokyo.  One more hour and then he boards his flight home arriving at 5:50.  Then train to Albany and a BIG HUG at 9:45 tonight!!

Marianne, does that mean Katie reinlisted?

I think I'll try to go back to sleep !

Yay cathy!! that BIG HUG will be everything you hope and more...

hope you are getting some rest now, while you can! (I'm still kinda tired from Jesse being home LOL!!)

cathy - Katie signed up for 5 years when she joined.  Went to BC 10/8/08, PIRd 12/5/2008, after A school headed for Japan April 2009 for 3 years....so she has 1 1/2 years left of her initial commitment.

Marianne, Jonathan signed up for 6 years and had 1.5 years left also.  He talked about the negotiation from previous sailors.  The norm for his rate/rank was extra leave at Christmas or a free ticket home.  He wanted to stay and they said no.  He ended up agreeing to another 6 months to take the orders of his (wifes) choice.  It ended up his chain of command was playing a bluff to get him to volunteer for more??? (or someone was on a power trip).  They where really upset when he put in for orders to transfer after trying so hard to stay.  Katie is probably better at feeling them out.

Just stopping in to wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Josh's travels home went smoothly. That first hug was the best!  Nani (his dog) hasn't left his side since he's been home.  The house is full of friends and family stopping in...just loving it!

cathy - enjoy every minute of it.....it goes by sooo fast.

Blessings on your New Year!

sharon, i don't see that.  on USS Essex fb site, right?  i saw on the Navy site the year in review-is that the same thing?  thanks

oh yeah, HAPPY NEW YEAR, ALL!

Best wishes for health and happiness Kim.  I hope Hans and Katie get the orders that they want.  Jonathan will be at it again in 6 months for next spring.  I am hoping for the east coast also.  But with them buying a house in San Diego.....

Kim - If you get your wish, I'm sure there'll be another sailor to sell their house too.

Tina - you're kidding?!?!  Thought he was suppose to be home within days?

Nani chilling with the boys.....

Aww, cathyo, he looks tired.

cathy - Thanks for sharing....sometimes they just need to relax

You may want to ask your sailors what they have heard about the Tiger Cruise for this summer.  Since some of you were asking, I asked Katie this AM while IMing her and she said they talked about it/announced it.  Katie was only half-listening since she will be getting new orders in 2012.

yes, my husband and i are planning on going on the tiger cruise!  i can't wait!  now, to get things in order...passports, money (oh, that's the biggie), home stuff in order...  hope to see some of you there, would love to meet in person.

cathy-nice pics!  hope you are enjoying your time.

Hi all...yes, I am enjoying every minute!  I took the whole time off from work. Our oldest son also took the time off too.  My husband had most of the days but not all.  It's nice just to be here with everyone around!  Cooking favorite meals and just relaxing together.  I get to stay up late and chat when Josh and his brother come home.  My parents will be here Friday and Saturday and then a big family party on Saturday. 

Dreading Sunday :-(....but certainly thankful for the time we had :-)

Tiger cruise sounds soooo exciting.  But don't think financially we'd be able to swing it by the summer. 

Take care,

Cathy

Tina, you must be so excited.  Where's Jamie's new command?  How many years was he on the Essex?

Tina - Katie was on for just a moment this AM before heading out with friends.  She said she got to say 'goodbye' to Jamie this AM.

I'm still here.

Tina, I looked up the ship.  It looks like they are finishing a very long deployment.   That means he won't have to face one for a very long time.  Good timing for him.  Norfolk.  I wish.  That is a 5 hour drive for me.

Kyann - Last Tiger cruise allowed more than one parent --- Both Sharon and her husband went and I saw other couples as well.

Kyann - I know that on the DC Moms one of the parents said they were limited to 1 on the carrier their sailor was on since they limited the number of 'guests' and there is a waiting list.  They cruise went from Hawaii to WA or CA. 

I know that on the Essex 2010 cruise they said to get your registration in early as there was a limited number, but no one was turned away and there were 120 or so (can't remember the exact # on the cruise).  Once the official paperwork comes out there will be a letter from the Captain, registration form, medical forms, list of what not to bring/to bring, form saying you are responsible for yourself and you can't sue the Navy (something to that effect).

They letter will tell you that you are on your own to make your travel plans and if anything changes, or is cancelled, you are on your own.

Tina -  Missed his flight from Fukouoka or elsewhere?  Will he just go back on base until Tuesday?

Well, at least he has a little free time, but I'm sure it is a let down for you since he was suppose to be home today.  WIll you be able to get off to greet him?.....Guess I should ask....is he flying home first before heading to his new ship.  Can't remember.

Tina - That's nice that he will have such a nice break.  Enjoy!

Heavy sigh....the days went by so fast.  Josh is on his way back.  We enjoyed every minute.

Take care all,

Cathy

I got nuthin...just wanted to Heavy sigh with cathy.  Know how ya feel, girl...  

You take care too,

Wishing Josh (Ox - lol) a safe return to Japan. (hope he gets his head back into Navy mode faster than Jesse did)

Hello Ladies, I have a quick question you all might be able to help me with.  My son is flying his girlfriend over to Japan and he wants be to back his favorite cupcakes to send with her (can't ship they have a cream cheese filling).  Is it a pain in the butt with customs if she does this?  

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks

CTmomof3 - the Essex is based in Sasebo.  It goes to White Beach to pick up Marines.

Kristy - Sharon is the seasoned world traveler - she may have an answer for you.

Tina - Hopefully all goes well.  Maybe his flight will arrive an hour early like Katie's did this Christmas!

Sharon, so sweet to say. 

Cathyo, been there, done that 3 years in a row.  So hard to say goodbye.

Some ships have less room for tigers.  It depends on how they do it.  I believe in the past the Essex did not have the marines on board so that was a lot of room.

Kristy, I don't remember the questions that they asked me at Japanese customs, but I am pretty sure they didn't ask me if I had cupcakes?  LOL. This might help:  http://www.customs.go.jp/english/summary/passenger.htm  Your carryons will be xrayed at U.S. security so they won't be worried about what is inside them.

CTmom, here is a navy.mil site about the base:  http://www.cnic.navy.mil/Okinawa/OperationsAndManagement/Operations...  You can look up articles about the Essex arriving there.

Thanks Sharon for the help, we found that certain perishables are okay and if she has to throw them out "oh well".  I will let you all know how she does.  She is flying out of Atlanta tomorrow for straight 15 hour flight.  Wish she could smuggle me through customs.  LOL

He will deploy with the Essex last I heard, but like I've said works at White Beach.. Why the heck does this all need to be so confusing.  It's taken me 4 yrs to try to understand stuff..now another "curve"   Thanks.

CTmom, I sent you a friend request to discuss privately.

Well my son's girlfriend finally made after a total of 18 hours traveling.  The only issue she said she had was the "stinky" man sitting next to her on the plane.  LOL

Cupcakes arrived with NO problems and are already gone and (one of my sons friend wants me to send the recipe to his mom for future use).  We put them in her luggage that was checked in and nobody asked a thing about what was inside.

Now I am looking forward to tons of pictures posted on facebook.

Thanks for all the help ladies.

Kristy

Glad to hear he made it home safely and smoothly :-)  ENJOY!

Tina - so glad he is home. 

Kristy - maybe you can share some of those pics.