CS (Culinary Specialist) Moms

Our son will be graduating this Friday and then he and his wife, Kelsey will be moving to a new place near Norfolk where they will be stationed. It is exciting, they will be a bit closer to home too and that makes all of us feel good!! We are so proud of al lthat he has accomplished thus far and we know there are many more to come!!

Sadly, we have a funeral to begin this week. A friend's father has passed and today I keep in prayer another MI. family as they say *see you later* to one of their sons who is in the Army, though passed due to injuries from a motorcycle accident. May God give them the comfort they need to get through this sadness and tough time.

Cheryl, the site on FB is Center for Service Support Learning site Fort Lee

It will come up if you type it in and then you can "Like" it and follow. Congrats on your daughter heading that way next week. Our son will graduate this Friday and then head to Norfolk, VA. to be with the USS Enterprise.

Johanna, Thanks, they are looking for an apartment to rent. It seems they are all telling them they have to make "three times more than the monthly rent" and that is just crazy!!! Now, between this hurricane and earthquake, I have two K's I would love to have home right now! They are both fine, but I am not!! lol

It was a long day with the funeral we had to attend. It was a beautiful service if one can be. Larry (who passed) was sick with lung cancer, he was a jokster, a singer, played guitar, and loved people. He chose all of the scriptures, songs, and planned his service. He did an awesome job of it too! Just beautiful!!! Praise God, he is now Home with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!! We should all be lucky enough to plan our own beautiful celebration of life! Thank you Larry!!!

Thanks Corina! I appreciate that.

lauren, that is so awesome!! Congrats to him!! You have much to be proud of and I pray that he makes 3rd class this time! Too cool, cooking with Spam! I used to eat it all the time when I was a kid. We would fry it up and eat it with mustard. My kids don't like it and I haven't bought it in years!! Wishing him continued success!

miss, congrats on your daughter getting to Japan. How cool!!

Karen, Our son was hoping for SD, but only the single people went west. The married folks stayed on the east coast. Glad your son is adjusting well. That should make you happy, we moms worry so much don't we? lol

I am not sure about "Spam Casserole," but I did think about "Spam" today when I was in the store. I would be the only one eating it, so I passed. Maybe some day I will buy some and fry it up just for me.

Well, tomorrow morning Diego graduates!! I am so glad he will be done at Ft. Lee and he can home back to S. C. to pack the house with Kelsey and head back to Norfolk. They found out today they got the apartment they applied for so that is a relief. Now, let's pray the "Irene" makes another turn and doesn't cause too much stress for the east coast. Diego will just be glad to be with Kelsey and Nikko (our golden retriever, she is 8 years old and we took her down to them in early July, she has been a great help to Kels while Diego has been gone). She has another move to adjust to, hoping she does as well.

Spam: true story.

I flew to Korea to visit my son-in-law and daughter when their first baby was born; my first time out of the country. I got behind some guy who had about 10 cans of it in his backpack trying to get through security in Chicago. He could not understand why he couldn't take it on the plane.

Someone told me it's quite expensive there and popular. I'm seeing an opportunity here if your son is that good with spam. lol

Congratulations to the Class 245!!!!! It is great that they take pictures so we as families can see our children!

Diego put in a chit for leave so that he can get back to SC to get Kelsey and the house packed up to move up to Norfolk. Well, all of a sudden the Chief can't find the CO, so he can't leave the base.Grrrr...................

STAY SAFE EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are in MI. so we will get some rain somewhere along the way.

I'm in NY Sullivan County, we are to get a lota lota lota rain, Again. 

Stay safe everyone....DonnaAnn

Diann, I am not sure what they will do, probably anything and everything that may need done. I know they do a lot of cleaning while they are waiting for any class to start. They may also have duty, they will have that anywhere they may go.

Our son didn't start out going to Ft. Lee, his path was changed along the way and it was just what they had available for the 2010's budget that he is on. Long story, don't need to go there. Anyway, probably lots of cleaning, duty and sitting around. Congrats on his PIR, that is an unforgettable day!! Enjoy every moment with your Sailor!!!

Welcome Joshiesmom, sorry you are coming in when I am going off about certain things. It is a long story, my son has just graduated this past Friday and has been there for almost eight weeks and was looking forward to going back to SC to his wife, pack their house and head back up to Norfolk where he will be stationed. He just wants to get his family moved and be where they need to be.

It is a good program, your son should like it alot. Now, you need to become friends with their site, it is Center for Service Support Learning Site Fort Lee, they even take graduation pictures and also post a video of each class. It is really nice they do this since most families don't go for the graduations. You can then copy them to your computer and have them. Welcome again, jump right in!

Sharon; my son had an equalily fun experience. Papers said he flies out of Richmond to Japan. Fine. No layover anywhere near us. So he gets a ticket to Chicago for his leave. Enter Irene. He finally got out yesterday after lock down in Barracks for 2 days. (OK, lockdown I understand) But now his leave is cut short and we have to get him back to Richmond in time to leave for Japan. To get orders changed would have cost us an additional 3000 (ie lay over in chicago instead of Dallas)

I know he's in the navy..... just venting out of frustration.

Johanna, That is AWESOME!!! Congrats, you can brag all ya want!!! :)

Joshie, Our son hasn't gotten any grief that he would share with us. He didn't start out going Culinary out of boot camp. He went in as an E-3 from the get-go, he went into the Nuke program. That changed when he was taken out of the Nuke program, they took his rank away, he became an E-1, and also got docked hundreds in pay. It has been quite the journey for me to be honest. When they are removed from the Nuke program, they are put into the Culinary program. To go from top to a lower level hasn't sat well, but our son has done very well. He is now a Petty Officer since last Friday, when he earned rank and pay back. He entered the Navy right out of high school, was in the DEP for nine months, he even received a U.S. Naval Academy nomination from our local Congresswoman. So, you can see why it has been a bit upsetting for us to have him placed in the Culinary program. Please don't take this wrong, it is just that he had a top job, then placed into a job that he had no interest in doing. He really wanted to go Aviation, but due to his high scores on his ASVABs, they geared him towards Nuke. He did fine in Nuke, though on his final test, scored low and then was placed in front of the review board, had to answer all questions on the white board. He did just fine, but the Chief chose not to move him on. He and three other guys, it has been a hard pill to swallow, but doing better now. He wants to serve our country, he will do well once he is with his ship, he will be on the USS Enterprise. Let me say one last thing...............NEVER, EVER piss off the chef!!!! They cook your food, piss them off, they cook your food!!!! This their job an "important job?" Well, YES, it is...............they are the chefs of all ships and well respected! Smile and be proud!!!!

Nancy, thanks..........it truly has been a long ride and major disappointments along the way. I had some issues with anger, the way that my son has been treated and so much more. He is now on a new journey and we are so proud of him and Kels. They are a young couple who have already been through some tought moments, but they are strong and will get through each challenge. Kels just texted me and Diego has arrived home in S.C. Yeah!!!! Thank you God!!!

Donna, wow, that is awesome. It is quite special to be the chef for the "upper brass" if you will. Good for her, our son will report to the USS Enterprise next week and she is currently dry docked until spring from what we understand. She will then go on one last tour of her 50 years of serving and be de-commed. It should be exciting to watch our son as he moves forward in his career. Welcome!!

Cheryl, yes, the barracks are very nice. They now do this program in a brand new, state of the art facility. The Navy and Air Force share quarters, Diego said it was really nice. He also said too bad he didn't go AF, they treat their people really well! lol Not that the Navy doesn't, remember they are on an Army base and he truly didn't like that part of things. The Army doesn't do anything the way the Navy does, and he is glad to be off of that base.

Nancy, I am not sure about "buffing" up. Our boys, Diego weighs about 145 wet, and Korey weighs only 135 wet, but Korey works out and he is looking good. His abs are..............well.............let's just say............they look good! lol He is in better shape than Diego is right now. So, time will tell what he looks like next year when he goes in.

OMG, that is awesome that he is home for a few days, ENJOY!!

Johanna, I will do that. They will be leaving next week, with the holiday they decided to wait the extra days. It works for them, though I am still praying they will be able to come home for Christmas. Last year they got married on the 22nd, Diego ended up really sick on Christmas Eve, we all had a relaxing day on Christmas and then they left on the 28th to get their housing and things in order in S. C. So...........we would love for them to come home so we can have a nice gathering and celebrate their first wedding anniversary! Another excuse to have a party!!

Corina, it is Center For Service Support Learning Site Fort Lee

When I am on FB, I just type in Center and it always comes up. Make sure everyone, that you check it out. They take pictures of graduaton day and they will also post a video after which is great to see!!!

wismama, thank you so much. Waiting to hear from them saying they have arrived safe and have moved their things into the apartment. Yea, D told me that "the Air Force treats their guys really good" and he laughed. He thought of the AF, but not many get out and harder to advance. One reason why he didn't go that way. Enjoy your Sailor and wish him all the best from us!!

Johanna, Let's pray our Sailors will get to come home for the holidays. It would be nice to have them home, but it is always so hard to let them go again too.

Diego and Kels have arrived safe and sound. He actually reported to the "Big E" this morning wanting to save the last five days of leave. They did well on the road, didn't even have any rain which is good.  The have all their stuff in the apartment and Kels will be putting all in place. We will continue to pray they will be able to come home for Christmas. The "Big E" isn't "drydocked" as I thought. She just arrived back in port the beginning of August, so not sure when she will be going out for her last tour. It is awesome that Diego is on her for her last tour of duty before she is de-comm'd next year. There will be a great celebration and we will be there to welcome her and all Sailors home!!! I am excited just thinking about it!

wismama, what is your son's name and I wlll let D know. He told me he was the only one from his class going to the Enterprise. Where did your son get stationed?

Johanna, we will be going down probably next summer sometime, well play that by ear due to the last tour. They are doing well and will be settled in, in no time.

Good Morning!! What a weekend to say the least! When we visited with Diego and Kels in July, we took our 8 year old Golden Retriever, Nikko with us. We were going to leave her with them, this way Kels has her when D is on deployment. We were good with letting them take her and she is doing awesome with them. So, we have a expo called "Woods-N-Water" and it is a huge hunting event. They also have a "puppy" tent each year and we always go and "look" at all the cute puppies. Well, a big mistake this year!!! Kacy finds two beautiful 8 month old Golden's and she hangs with them for a while. Lo and behold..........they came home with us!!! Shoot me now, lol!! They are named "Daisy" who is Kacy's puppy, and "Flower" who is re-named, "Angel" will be Korey's puppy. The family that we got them from breds Goldens and they will even take them for us when we go to Florida at the end of the month for a family wedding. That is huge!! This way we won't have to pay anyone to watch them. They know this family and they know them, works for both sides.

Talked to D last night as usual, he still calls every Sunday night. It is always good to hear his voice, Kels and I text throughout the week. He reported to the "Big E" on Friday, he says "she is old and massive" and knows that he will be going out on a tour of deployment fnext year and then she will be de-comm'd. What an honor and pleasure to be part of her last tour!! We will be there to send them off and will be there for their Homecoming. We are thinking of going down for Thanksgiving, the K's have from Wednesday-Sunday off of school, so it would work perfect. We still pray they will be able to come home for Christmas, right now he doesn't see why not. We have to be prepared if they aren't able to as well.

D is not sure if there will be a "Tiger Cruise" upon their return, time will tell. He will keep us posted on things. He has some friends on the ship right next to his, so we hoping somehow they can hook up with each other. They are from BC, so it would really be cool!! Hope everyone is doing well!

Sharon....it made my DH so proud. Yes, it doesn't matter what job they have as they are all important and play a part in running those ships. If you get the opportunity for the TC, do it! I wish I could have but being a teacher I was already back in school. My DH even got to help out in the kitchen.

Oh, you asked about my nephew that served under Presidents' Bush and Obama. He left the Navy for a position in Maui...he is the head Food/Beverage Director for the Wyndham Hotels. Apparently he met the person that ended up hiring him while he was still at the White House. Not a bad place to be living. lol

Thanks Johanna, we aren't sure how anything will work so any information from others is very helpful.

http://www.norfolknavyflagship.com/news/article_7fca8f34-e04d-11e0-...

I am going to miss my Sailor!!!! I will see him one last time this weekend. He is going to leave his car at our house then we will take him back to Norfolk on Sunday.