PIR 5/21/10

Talked to my daughter-in-law and she got a call. The longest one ever. My son even had time to talk to his kids for the first time since he left. She said he ws really tired as he has not had much sleep in 2 days. Said he was enjoying his candy bars & they get pizza hut to eat tonight.

Hi all! We made it to Cave City, Kentucky today! So we're on our way. Drove 12 hours and we are exhausted.
I got an email from Perry today! I guess they were allowed some internet access. He said they got a pizza party today and he stuffed himself. He's looking forward to Friday. So there ladies, 192 FINALLY got their pizza!!
I can't wait to meet you all in person tomorrow! I'm trying to contain my excitement.

Congrats to all. TammySue...my heart cries for you, I pray that she gets better real soon. Her PIR will come........ I've got to start packing. Leaving early in the a.m. To all of you...travel safely. See you at MNG tomorrow night. Oh, got a surprise phone call tonite,...started crying right away. . weird.. I didn't cry yesterday for the I'm a Sailor call....but balled like a baby tonight... Nite ladies...

Anybody that may still be on here tonight - I have a question. I had to print the parking pass as my daughter-in-law could not get her printer to work. anyway it would not let me type in name,etc. Is that correct - you just write the information in with a pen??

Got my call from Joshua --- finally!!! He called right as church was over and we stood in the church parking lot and talked 45 minutes. He was so wound up. He says he's lost 15 pounds. Hope we recognize him. I'm sure he still has gorgeous eyes. LOL Division 192 was having their pizza party. See you all tomorrow night.

Jeannie- We are filling in the blanks on ours!

My mother got his call! His a Sailor!!!!!! Crying while typing, good thing he didn't call me I wouldn't have made it past Hey :)

Be safe everyone while you are traveling tomorrow. I will be leaving Atlanta on Delta tomorrow at 4pm Woo Hoo I can't wait!!!

Hi Jeannie,I had the same question. I printed it out then put the information in pen. Good Luck :)

I can't wait to meet everyone tonight!! I am at the Ramada right now and it seems pretty nice. Also I was told by the locals that driving a car to PIR (rather than a shuttle) would be a good idea due to the expected rain and the fact that it's a smaller graduation (less Divisions). Just a heads up because I don't want you ladies trudging through the rain and waiting for the shuttle to pick you back up. =)

def excited to meet all!!!

Hi all, just got checked in to our hotel.

Hi Denise... welcome good luck next week. we'll keep you informed as to what to expect. Can't wait to see everyone tonite.... Go Navy.....

We've arrived! We're finally settled in at our hotel. I'm SO glad to be here. We're so close to the base! When we were driving up we made a left to get to the hotel and the base was to the right! I just wanted to turn right and go and camp out front. I hope everyone gets up here safely! See you tonight!

So glad to see everyone checking in. Ladies, I have a problem and I need your help. I left my carry on bag at home, with all my info, including my parking pass for tomorrow. And I remember my password to log on again, but can't remember the website. SInce I have no computer because I left it at home....I have no info I can access. (You think I was excited to leave this morning? That goodness my head is attached)

beatrizm...I printed extra parking passes, but I have filled them out. Will you be at the Ramada tonight? I will have them with me. If you want one, let me know.

By the way, we are settled in at the hotel. Everyone is dead tired. We have been going since 3:30 am. They are going to nap but I am too excited to. Plus I am afraid if I go to sleep, I won't wake up for the M&G. See you all tonight.

Jess's Mom, you are a life saver! Yes, please, my mom and I will be at the Ramada tonight! Thank you sssooooo much.

I couldn't sleep on the plane (and I always sleep on planes) my mom is taking a nap and I'm wide awake even though I only got about 4 hours of sleep last night.

ya i think alot of us will be running low on some sleep. im jujst hopin to get caught up on it tonight!! :)

beatriam...no problem. I will see you there

We are checked in at our hotel (Springhill Suites)... is anyone else here?

I'm at Springhill Suites as well. Definitely looking forward to tonight! See you all in a bit!

What time does the M&G begin?

6 pm, Chicago time.

Evening Everyone, Glad to hear your all getting settled in. Hope you all have a great time tonight. Wish I was there. Got Jason's pictures today. Their really good. Looking forward to talking to him after PIR tomorrow. My best to everyone. GO NAVY!!!

Already been to the Ramda & now back at my motel (Quality Inn). Didn't see many Dvi 193 - must have been there to early. We didn't stay long as we had to get the grandkids a bath & ready for bed. We did drive down by the entrance to RTC & took some pics. I have umbrellas so I am taking the shuttle.

soooo great to meet everyone tonight! you all have been such a blessing. would have been so much harder to get through this all without this group. i cant believe 2marrow is our we have all come such a long way! :)

Missed the meet and greet, got lost in chicago and heading out of town, by the time I got turned back around it was to late....I was so happy to see my son at graduation today. Everyone looked good, wish I knew who everyone was there so that I could give them a big hug. We all have to stay in touch I want to hear about how everyone is doing...

PIR was fabulous, it was so good to see all of them in their dress whites, sharp, professional, amazing. Savannah and Grandma were both teary-eyed (unheard of for Savannah), and I managed to hold it together (unheard of for me). She insisted on taking us to lunch, the we got her an ice cream birthday cake (belated) and now she is napping, because she got sick yesterday and today she is worn out. She's told us some stories, showed us an example of her newly acquired folding skills and made a couple of phone calls. Looks like she's done for the day, so I'm going to let her sleep until it's time to go back. Didn't get to see many of you today, but hope your day was wonderful.

Today was phenomenal! Sorry I didn't get to see a lot of you at the meet and greet and today! I completely dominated all of t-wifey's time at the meet and greet. I ramble when I'm nervous....sorry t-wifey! And today Perry just wanted to get out of there and get back to the hotel. We spent the entire day at the hotel just vegging. I can't wait for tomorrow morning! Does anyone know where we pick them up though? Do we go where we went this morning?

TammySue, glad to know you got to talk to Bailey. SHe will get through and so will you, and when she is healed she will be back on track.
mikesproudmom, so sorry about all the testing. Were the initial tests inconclusive? It's great that you get to spend the whole weekend with him.
Turns out Savannah doesn't have watch duty tomorrow, and she doesn't
move to A school until Tuesday, so we have all weekend together too.

She said something about picking her up at the chapel tomorrow, but are we allowed on base?

Yes, PIR and the whole day was wonderful. He talked and talked and did demonstrations - even 8 count body builders. Traci, he told us to pick him up at the chapel which is by the parking lot we were in yesterday. He told me to do what the other parents do. For some reason he thinks I try to stand out on my own. LOL

Just closing out our wonderful weekend with our new Sailor. Getting ready to take her back to camp. I hope everyone has a safe trip home. Thank you all for everything!!!

Glad everyone had a great time in Great Lakes! Just got home this afternoon. Jason was Grad&Go Saturday morning, but we got to spend the day with him on Friday! What an amazing graduation! He had to be at the airport around 2am for his flight Saturday morning. He called us at 4:30am because he was bored haha, but it was SO worth waking up for! I've already talked to him like four times on the phone and a few times on facebook! I love the communication that we get now! Hope everyone had GREAT trips with your Sailors! :)

The only thing that I can say about this weekend is AMAZING! The ceremony was soooo great! And, living in Chicago we were able to come home. We also had a big family dinner gathering at his grandmother's house today. But, from what I am reading I think we missed a very special Meet-and-Greet. The change in maturity in my son is nothing less than a miracle. He was never a bad kid at all, but the level of maturity that he has attained in just 8 weeks could only be done by God. I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams that he would be the youngman that I spent time with this weekend by the end of bootcamp! God is great! I wish I could have met you other mothers and family members with our common bond. God bless you all and God be with your sailors where ever they may be in the world!

Ladies, what an amazing weekend. Brandon was grad n go Great Lakes so we got to spend he entire weekend with him including overnights. I can honestly say I've never enjoyed my son so much. I hope everyone had amazing weekends as well and your sailors are doing great in their new locations.

Ladies, it was a terrific weekend, and I know all of our sailors have grown so much, both physically and mentally, in the lat two months. I managed to keep the tears in check all weekend until Sunday evening, when I took her back to base for the last time...we both got a little emotional.
Smokie, I'm sorry you couldn't make it to the meet n greet, but I'm sure it was wonderful to have him spend time with the whole family since you're in the area. What division is your son in, and where is he going to A school?

Well Ladies, Looks like everyone had a wonderful weekend. Congrats to all our new Sailors. Hope I see some you around N4M.

Hi all, I'm sorry I didn't get to talk to everyone at the MNG. It was so nice to finally meet some of you...a special beginning to a fabulous weekend. The PIR ceremony was beautiful. I hope the graduates that collapsed are all ok, especially the unfortunate young girl who went to the hospital. She fell so hard. Rob looked wonderful and all grown up. It took all weekend to find the boy inside that left us 2 months ago..lol He finally showed his face in the hotel pool splashing around with his 3 brothers. We spent Saturday in the city, went to the pier and Skydeck... that was scarey and foggy. A lot of walking...walking...and more walking. We were all starting to complain a little, but not Rob. He just laughed at us..calling us "civilians"... Been called lots of things, but never that..lol Sunday we went to Great Adventure, hot day and yes....more walking. The rides were fun. It was such a joy to watch our boys hang together. I think Rob must have corrected me dozens of times about his "cover", Lord help me.. but I called it everything under the sun but a "cover". Navy lingo..lol I wasn't prepared for how upset I was going to be dropping him off on Sunday. Felt like my heart was ripped apart..again. But now our sailors start their schooling. I know we'll be able to communicate more often and that's a comfort. Hope to talk to all of you soon.

Traci, I can't believe how many times we ran into each other..what are the odds? LOL

Mikesproudmom - good luck with those tests. Rob has to stay another week for the "Plato" program before he leaves for 'A' school. Perhaps Mike and him will be hanging together this week.

TammySue - keep us informed about Bailey. Hope she's on her road to recovery.

Well, gtg to work. Everyone have a great day... Hoorah!!!

Great news TammySue...

Beatrizm - Brandon is in Division 194 and his A School is in here in Great Lakes.

God is so wonderful! My son's life has been set on an exciting course! I am praying for you all and your Sailors!

TammySue - I am praying for Bailey! She will be fine!

Mikesproudmom - I am lifting him up also! Just a bump in the road!

Brandon told me that one of the Sailors told him that I have been communicating with his mom via this website, but I don't remember who he said it was. Is it you?

Just wanted to Thank Everyone for the Last 9 Weeks!!!
The Meet and Greet was Wonderful....I really enjoyed visiting....
So did my Husband. I think the Husband really connected as mine didn't visit
The Dad's site much..... Kyle enjoyed the Pool Thanks you know who you are... (yes Red suit and White shirt) Brother of Trevor...
The warm of the Navy Family All weekend was in creatable...
I know I'm new but felt taken in and Welcomed.
God's Speed to All our New Sailors!!!!!

momof5 - We really did see each other a lot! But you know what's funny? I never did meet Rob! I guess I'll get plenty of chances once we're all in SC.
Perry arrived safely in SC yesterday and now we're just waiting to find out when he can come home and get me! I can't wait to be settled with him again and begin this next phase of our lives. To all of you with Sailors heading to various parts of the country or staying in Great Lakes, good luck! It was great to meet you all and I hope your Sailors do amazingly well with their training. For all of you Nuke ladies, we'll probably see each other again before all of their training is done and I look forward to getting to know you all even more!

Joshua arrived in SC too. He's called both nights. It sounds like they are getting some time to relax. He needed that. He was so tired at PIR. He gave us his address last night. It feels so good to be able to connect more with him.

Jess finally got settled in GL for A school. We shipped her laptop and phone today. She has been able to use the computer at the library and we chat on facebook every night. She said she is on hold for a minimum of 2 weeks waiting until her FC class fills up. She said at least they put her temporarily in a double room which gives her some privacy. She said she bought a clock radio that has a CD player so her roommate better like the Beatles because she is gonna play it whenever she can. It is so nice that we now can communicate everyday. When we were visiting the Navy Museum, she got to talking to the woman who was in charged. Turns out she is a retired Navy Officer and offered Jess to come in from time to time to volunteer in the museum. Jess is very excited to do that. She is going to go over there on Saturday (doesn't get liberty until next weekend). Once she gets an official request from the museum, she can go over there during the week. The retired officer said if she does volunteer, it will go into her permanent navy file. How cool is that.

Sounds like everyone is settling in. Glad to hear it.

Great news on my end! My sailor is flying out TOMORROW from San Diego for the long weekend! How amazing! We just found out today that his chits to temporarily phase up and go beyond 250 mi from a-school were approved! He will be able to stay until Monday night. I could not have asked for a better surprise after just seeing him last weekend! I had better not get used to this... haha

Great news SailorMoe.....enjoy your special time..

Message on my cell phone tonight. "Thank you, Thank you, Thank you." It was Jason. He's in Pensacola, FL. He received his box, laptop, I-pod, phone. He is soooo happy there. He's been calling everyday (almost). Today he told me that they had something like the Captain's Cup. The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines all played against each other playing soccer. Jason played four years in High School. He played his usual spot of defense. When all was said and done --- NAVY WON!!! He's having a great time in Florida and I think Boot Camp will soon be just a memory. He's beginning to tell me some of the stuff they had to go through. Pure Hell... As bad as it was for us at least we had each other. He really appreciates he phone and stuff now. Amazing how we take things for granted until we have to learn to live without them for awhile. Life is good, and like the song says God is Great.

God is Great Sara.....Amen

Jess's Mom--Jess and Savannah are roommates now!!! I just read your post about being on hold and buying a clock radio and her roommate better like the Beatles....I got a list from Savannah last night of things she wanted and she mentioned her roommate got a clock radio, but she wanted speakers, and she has all the Beatles' early stuff along with some of the later stuff on her iphone, which she is getting on Friday.