Corpsmen Moms and Dads

Thanks for the coffee Betty!  How's the weather in Shady Point?  (and why is it called Shady Point, by the way?  Love the name)

Lorelai, my son and I have visited the National Cemetery there and the beautiful monument dedicated to Medal of Honor winners; thinking of you today.  

I have a mental image of Shady Point and lets just say Andy and Opie with fishing poles are involved.  Don't mess with my fantasy and tell me otherwise :)

And on a totally unrelated note:  Lorelai I am very concerned about your strap marks and order you to up your SPF immediately.

Has anyone heard from Princess & Ruthella???  Am so curious/nosy to hear our their visit is going!!!!  Tell me I am not the only one????

LOL!!!!  When I was testing Princess yesterday; she told me she was at the airport two hours early......do you blame her????

Ooh that's so nice Betty!   Scottsdale once called itself "The West's most Western town," which was so nice until they actually decided it's better to be one big upscale mall with dining, with no particular character involved.  :(

Sounds like a wonderful time!  When we all met back when was such a special time.  Marsha called this morning and cannot say enough about how wonderful Ruthella is!  Hey Ruthella, I hope you'll share your paintings with us soon, please please? Marsha was overwhelmed by your talent and we would absolutely love it!

Happy Birthday, RUTH!!!!  We love you!!!!

WOW....Ruthella!!!  What a wonderful day you & Princess had......to get to meet each others families on top of meeting each other.  What a trick!!  So much love was in that day.  Secrets???  You have secrets to spill??? 

Happy Birthday, Ruth!   I hope that your day is fantastic!!!!

Just found out, I will be "deploying" to Camp Pendleton again to take care of my granddaughter.  My daughter-in-law's ship heads out the end of this month for six months and my son was just told to report to the Mercy the beginning of April for a six month deployment.  My heart is aching for my three year old granddaughter because she has just gotten settled back in with Mommy and Daddy after living with us for a year while they were in IDC school. Dual military families can really go through some tough times since they weren't "issued" a child!

♥ Happy B'day Ruth! ♥

Carol, just since October because my son went from IDC school to FMTB and d-i-l's ship was going in and out, preparing for deployment. 

Yes, we are all lucky that I am able to pack my suitcase and leave my husband, daughter, cats, and friends.  Thank God for Skype and FaceTime.  I just don't know how my mother got through years as an Air Force wife overseas with my father TDY all the time. I would like to think I am at least a 1/4 of the woman she was.    

Just noticed Ruth and I are the same age.....again and again.  Gets tough to explain when your child is older than you.

OMG, when my granddaughter is 17, I will be using a walker!  My son will have to rely on his sister, not me!

I am in awe of the strong mothers and fathers who weather their child's deployment to war zones.  I think I will be a basket case if it ever comes to that.  Just lock me in the padded room as soon as you have orders! 

Glad things went well, Lorelai.  Was thinking about you.......hugs!!!  Also, wanted to let you know that my LA trip has been rescheduled.  The Judge moved the date to April 2013.  :-(  So, I won't be out there anytime soon.

Mariann - we are A LOT OF FUN!!! And, make the best of this roller coaster ride called Corpsman Mom & Dad.  You have some very seasoned ones to lean on......and we expect you to lean on us.  We "Get it!".....where others don't. 

WOW>>>>docsmom.......I thought I had a hard time when my cub went to the sandpit and left behind wife/two month old twins.  You are a blessing to that grandbaby!!!  Remember to take care of yourself, too. 

Has anyone heard from Princess today???  Did she get back home safely??

Bugsy.......where are you, Hon????  Sending you lots of love

Hi ME, here's a link to info on that course.  My cub really enjoyed it and learned a lot!

http://www.deploymentmedicine.com/courses_ACTT.html

ME, here's the specific link to CTM:

http://www.deploymentmedicine.com/courses_CTM.html

The craziest part is that YOU haven't changed at all!  :)  Those are great pictures, how fortunate to have a best friend for all those years.  

Princess's camera and phone both decided to balk at taking photos, and Ruthella's needs a lot of light, of which there was at their restaurant,.

So - drumroll - here is the one and only photo from their meetup - looking ever so pretty, our Ruthella!

Hey y'all!  Have been on the road far too much these days!  Pop in and read but haven't had much news from the sand to share...did get a short blurb today that the week has been ok except that an Army Sgt collapsed on base of a massive heart attack and they worked on him for almost an hour to no avail, cub said everyone was sad as this was a great guy...also, no shower in over a week because the sewage system had some kind of back up, he said though that he wouldn't complain because buddies of his outside the wire go months without showering, so a week is easy peasy! 

Hope all are well, cubs are safe and life is happy!  Hugs!!

Carol-   This is so gunny about your son getting a new motorcycle.  My cub just bought a used Chevrolet Cobalt in December.   He loves it.  It is a 2008 with 60,000 miles on it.   He had to jump through all the hoops, as well.   He wanted us to co-sign, but I told him that we couldn't or we would also be liable if he was in an accident.   He did not realize that so he did get a loan that was a little high, 8 percent, but I figure it is not an expensive car but it will give him a credit rating.  We can always bail him out if need be, but I am not telling him that.  I want him to learn the responsibility of car payments and insurance payments.  It is a little bit of reality.  We always furnished him a car while he was attending college free of charge.   If he decides to get out of  the service in 4 years and go back to college, we will furnish him with a car, etc.   I am glad that he is learing some independence.  It is good for our cubs.   My mother was a nurse for an orthopedist, so I worry about motorcycles, but they are cheaper on gas etc. and a lot of people love them!   I guess with small cars you still have problems with being smashed in an accident.  Always something to worry about!!!!   I know the cubs love their toys!!!  :)

Betty!   Great news about your cub getting the job!  

Mary

Carol-    I am so glad that your cub will get his motorcycle refinanced.  My son almost accepted a 15% until I told him he was crazy.   He shopped around more, but still he is stuck with 8% which I think is usury!!!!   Anyway, I am hoping he will learn some lessons out of this.  He has never financed anyting before, so it will be a good life experience for him.

    I am sure that your son will be fine.  Motorcyles are easier to get around on than a car. 

    Good luck with all of your midterms!

Mary

I'mmmmmm Backkkkkkkkk : ) What a trip !!!

My son looks fab and Ruthella is just so precious ... We had a wonderful dinner at this great pub downtown Willmington ... It was awesome to finally meet my good friend.. We were two mothers of sailors and we talked about all of you too... LOL No, we had such great conversation I could have talked to her all night .. Ruthella - Thank you so much for a nice time.. I told Melissa that you were so cute and very sweet .. I got to hold Noah everyone !!!! I met everyone except Raymond and Earl.... What a treat... What a sweet family : )

Thanks for making this Princess feel very welcome...

My Dell is back felling great and I am no longer reading your posts on my phone!!!

My son also got trapped (preyed on I would say) by a rotten finance deal on his car while in NC. Of course the fact he also kept it a secret made me feel not so bad....I work at a bank for goodness sakes. His Dad cosigned on a refinance while he was here nursing me back to help and it lowered the payment ALOT! Also redid his insurance through USAA and that helped as well. Live and learn.

Ruthella-   I receive the Navy Times since my husband was in the Army, Army Reserve, California National Guard, and retired from the California State Military Reserve which is attached to the CNG.   Anyway, I read that article about the cheating scandal at SA with the corpsmen.   I am sure that the Navy will do an investigation and decide either for informal discipline, Captain's Mast, or discharge.  That is too bad that it occurred.   I am so sorry for Jamie's son being delayed a week, but I am sure that it will work out.

Mary

I'm with Carol ... He'll be home soon Ruthella..Hes always a week behind my guy

: )

TGIF!!!!

Ruthella-

    There were some sailors in corpsmen school that are involved in a suspected cheating scandal.  One of them got a hold of a test and deciminated it to others.  It is under investigation.  It was in the Navy TImes this week.

Mary

Kathy, those are hilarious!!!!!

National Toboggan Championships this weekend. Alas I will be but a cheerleader this year. 400 teams signed up to race. Just met a group of army paratroopers sledding in full uniform. Me thinks we may need a Navy entry next year.

Team Navy Moms!  I'm in :)  I even found our snowshoes!!

Just started USN Mercy 2012 for Families group.  I hope other family members will find me so I am not all alone!  

Cool, thanks Docsmom & Goria!  It'll be fun to follow their deployment.  Here's the link for anyone who wants to keep Docsmom company :)  USNS Mercy 2012

Ruthella - Hmmmmm its been a week ! I would say its almost time : )

About 40 minutes ago, Northern California in my neck of the woods, McKinleyville, experienced a 5.5 magnitude earthquake.  All is well.

Mary

Carol-   USGS upgrade the earthquake to a 5.6.  I am not aware of any damage reports yet, but we were fortunate that the epicenter was inland in the Weitchpec area where not too many people live. 

   We are fine here in McKinleyville.

Mary

I thought long and hard before deciding to post this.  I think I have heard some "whispering" about it. I hope none of "our" young corpsmen are caught up in this and, if they are, that they were innocent parties.  This is forewarning for those young men and women starting any kind of A school or schools beyond. 

NAVY TIMES, Page 20, February 13, 2012 edition

HM school cheating: 27 kicked out   

I am reading this in the paper edition of the Navy Times but I cannot find it online.  The gist of it is that someone accessed an exam and shared it with classmates and 27 students were dismissed from the course..  An investigation continues so some students may be reinstated.  Right now, they have not been discharged from the Navy. 

Betty B.-

     I told my corpsman son on the phone about the cheating scandal in January of this year.  He could not believe anyone would be so stupid.   I am sure that the Navy will respond appropriately.

     I have not heard of any damage reports.    It was a 5.6 magniture earthquake.  The earthquake we had in January of 2012 was a 6.5, so it was much worse. 

    Mary

Congrats Betty !!!!

Ruthella I am so excited for all of you

Hi, Betty

!   It was just a little earthquake, and it was from an inland fault.  I worry about an earthquake along the plates out at sea that could cause a tsunami.  This quake was not so scary.   We have two plates just off our shore that could cause big problems for us.  I pray that never occurs.

You might have heard of our Cascadia subduction plate that is causing the Juan de Fuca and North American plates to hit each other and possible cause a very distructive and catastrophe earthquake that would cause a hug tsunami.  Specifically, that is what I am worried about!   This little earthquake today was nothing.  I hope it is taking some of the tension off.  We shall see.  We are ovedue for a catastrophic quake.  

Mary

Mariann, I used motomail for my cub last year while he was in the sandpit and it worked well for us.  He was at a remote outpost and received most of his motomails within a week of being sent.

My d-i-l moved to San Diego before my son since she was in an earlier IDC class.  She called me in tears one night because the high rise she was living in was swaying and she was on the 16th floor.  There was one more shaker before my son got there.  Since then, nothing!  Son makes her mad when he tells her she was imagining it.

Marcy-   I love the Valentine.   My husband valentine is on his way home from San Francisco's Veterans Hospital.   I am hoping to see him late this afternoon.  He seems to have received good reports on his heart and prostate, so I am happy.  He had cancer surgery a little over two years ago, and Veterans monitors him closely.  They are great!

Mary

Happy Valentine's Day to you, too, Carol!   What a cute picture!   Love it!!!!

Happy Valentines Day from Maine. I have grown used to my son getting his holiday gifts and cards sometime well after the holiday. The Navy way but tough for the traditional Mom. Seems the CTM pig duty gets top billing. Gee I know plentry of details now.

My father-in-law, and his father before him, was a firefighter.  They are such a tight group and support each other through tragedies and really celebrate the celebrations!  My f-i-l will be 90 this year, lives in assisted living, and firemen friends still visit him. 

I wish I understood suicide.  It is so sad.