Alumni PIR 12/17/10 & 12/22/10

Wendi, so, are you going to post some pictures?  I wanna see.  :)  I bet you ladies had a great time.  Was she able to use a lot of her leave time while you were there?    

I'm going to see my daughter and her Navy bf in September in Hawaii and I did book Hawaiian airlines.  You are right, their fares are very affordable.  I am actually flying from Phoenix to Honolulu.  I was able to get a great deal of $354 roundtrip from there.  I am also using one of my free flights on Southwest to get from Maryland to Phoenix.  Since I'm staying with my daughter and her bf (he lives off base in Kailua), the trip is not going to bankrupt me.  :)  

My A will be graduating from his CTT A school at the end of September, so I will be using another Southwest free tickets to fly down to Pensacola to see him.  :)  He said that after A school he will do shipboard class and then he would like to try for aircrew, so he will still be in Pensacola for a few months after A school graduation.  I have to admit that I'm loving having 2 sailors in our lives,.  It really makes for some great vacation destinations.  :)   I am very lucky to have a husband who realizes how important it is for me to be able to see my kids.  He's a real gem and I think I will keep him.  lol    

Oh, and while I'm out west, I will make a stop in Albuquerque to see my son Eric and daughter, Michelle.  Gotta love those free flights and awesome friends who offer to put you up for a few days. :)  

Hello everyone...feeling a little bit of a let down after an awesome weekend...always feels good to come here and read all of your posts. I spent Friday and Saturday in western NY with my youngest son doing a college visit. It was fun...but on the Weds prior N informed me that he was coming home Sat and that he was bringing Lori's A with him.  I was really anxious to get home from Rochester, but the gang didn't get in until the wee morning hours anyway because they were at a going away party for N's buddy who left for the Marines today. But it was awesome to have a house filled with N's friends...old and new! :) It is always so darned hard on Sundays when he leaves...I usually take the dog for a long walk because it is the only way that I feel like I can breathe! I can't believe I still get  like this...

Well 2 weeks ago N had a very difficult week...he found out that he was getting set back. He is having a very difficult time in A school and they decided he needed to be set back 6 weeks!!!!!! He was crushed!!!! I spent a lot of time with him on the phone...explaining that things happen for a reason...I knew he didn't want to hear it, but I tried to stress that like always, he needs to be strong and stay focused. This past week he said he is doing really well in his new class...so here is hoping that all will work out!

I think I have also been feeling such strong feelings due that horrific tragedy in Afghanistan!!!! I found myself sobbing tonight as I watched the news...I can't even begin to imagine....all we can do is lift them and their families up in prayer! 

Well ladies...as always...thanks for listening...

Keeping all of our sailors in prayer...I know Groton guys are getting close to finishing school and that is another exciting/scary phase for all of us!

Love to all!

Groton Penny

Thanks Elizabeth...I always know you guys understand what I'm going through! I truly am not a whiner or complainer...but boy! Those feelings hit like a punch in the gut! Totally knock the wind right out of me!

I am so glad you got to see T! I'm sure it was absolutely wonderful!

Take care!

ElizabethC......you can't not said better!!!!  Happy that you spend time with T!!!

Penny.....sorry to hear about N, but I agree with Elizabeth is a reason for everything.  My Jo sometimes said they know more than the instructors and it make a difference when you have one that care, not those that think they know and the sailors know they DON"T know anything, ja, ja!!!

HELLO LADIES....Don't fall off your chair or nothing, I am STILL alive! :) MISS ALL OF YOU TERRIBLY!!! I have no computer at home, and work monitors our websites...sometime it lets me in most of the time it doesn't :(! I separated from my Husband June 1st, and moved into a new house, I left the computer for 'him' and only have my cell phone with web access...and it is so hard to check in here and communicate via my cell! Work email is feistcr@westinghouse.com and my gmail email is crfeist@gmail.com. Work is the quickest way to get a response from me, I only check gmail when I have the time!

OK, for an update..."E" has been at sea since March loving it for the most part, but this last 8 week at sea with no port stops was rough on him and very homesick... Noah (youngest son 12) and I get to go on a Tiger Cruise aboard the USS Ronald Reagan WITH Evan HOOOOORA! We leave August 29th to Hawaii, the ship comes in on the 31st...Evan will be allowed to stay with us at the Hotel (Park Shore Waikiki) until the 3rd...which then we will all pull out to sail to San Diego...arriving in San Diego on the 9th, then Noah and I fly home on the 11th in the evening!!! SO EXCITED, can't sleep! Never been to Hawaii, and so need this vacation! We will be able to see the Reagan pull in with my E aboard in his dress whites...manning the rails :) CANNOT WAIT, get tears and goose bumps just thinking about it!! Betsy, email me at work I need to know exactly where your daughter is, might stop in the Tea House :)! It has been a very emotional and hectic 3 months, so really looking forward to this time with my boys...and to hearing "E's" voice again...been since march since I have heard his wonderful voice! "E" sent the itinerary of what we get to do on the ship...Salsa Dancing and a beer and movie night amongst all the other activities..we will be well taken care of!!! LOL

Wendy; I got great airfare through Continental $742.00 TOTAL for Noah and I!!

YES, I will try to post many pictures after we get back...Private message me your cell if you can get texts, I will try to forward pictures that way in real time :)! Sorry, I do not have time to read all the posts to catch up UGH! Please know I think about each of you each and every day, and your all in my thoughts and prayers! GOD BLESS US all...and our Wonderful Son's and Daughters out there serving this wonderful country!

XXOOO Cindy

Betsy: Maddy's doing really well. Can't believe she's going to be six months on the 15th! Started her on solids and well, let's say she LOVES to eat. Munchkin still has her blue eyes and is long just like her daddy. :)

Looks like everyone's doing well though. Hubby's going to graduate FC-A school next week and then it's time to play the waiting game for orders! Hoping for San Diego, but we might end up in VA since he's trying to get long schools so we can get accompanied orders. We'll see!

I'm not sure if any of you ladies know, but I'm a Scentsy independent consultant. A friend of mine back home--her father's really, really sick, so I'm hosting a fundraiser for him. Her parents are divorced and he's on his own-- in and hot of the hospital and 2mos behind on rent. Thought I had it bad.

I feel so awful for him and am donating ALL of my commission for the month of August toward the benefit. If you would like to help, please make your purchase towards the David Fiduccia Benefit. Every bit helps! Please keep him in your prayers, ladies. My website is www.scentsationallyperfect.com. Feel free to send me a message if you need more info.

Oh Cindy...I have tears just thinking about what it will be like for you to see him pull into port...I saw a sub that had just come in in Groton...I was visiting N and he pointed it out with everyone down there in their whites and I was choked up seeing that and I didn't even have anyone on it!

Sorry to hear about your separation...I will keep you in my prayers!

Priscilla...I can't believe that Maddy is that old already...what an adorable picture! :)

N is home again this weekend...he came home to get his car...since he is going to be in Groton longer than his buddy who had the car, he wanted to take it out. I have mixed feelings about it. I guess that is just the mother in me. On the good side, school has been going MUCH better for him now! Yay!

Well take care everyone!

Groton Penny

Helloo......................out there.  Ok, a month with no activity from my friends is just not acceptable.  Where is everyone?   

I know that some have had weddings, tiger cruises, new Orders etc.  Details friends!  

I am in Hawaii visiting with my daughter, Kristen and her sailor, Ben until Tuesday.  I have been here since last week.  I flew here from Albuquerque, NM after visiting with my youngest daughter Michelle and my oldest son, Eric.   Next week, after I leave Hawaii, I will be flying to Pensacola, FL to see Adam graduate from A school.  He hasn't received Orders yet, but he still will have to do shipboard ops while in Pensacola, so they will probably get their Orders while in shipboard ops.  His "dream sheet" included San Diego, Hawaii and Everett, WA, but who knows where the Navy will put him?  It would be awesome if he got Hawaii, because my daughter Kristen and Adam have always been very close.  Fingers are crossed!  

I hope you ladies check in on here, I miss you all!   :(  

Betsy....Happy for you!!!  Have fun!!!

My sailor graduated from A school today!!!!  Yey for him, little sad because it hit me that may be is going to be different (communication).  He is been stationed in Virginia (LAST choice in his dream sheet) a board of the USS Minnesota.  As you may know is not ready yet until 2013.  SOOOooo he is going to Virginia from there deployed in another boat and once his boat is ready....  THEN of course the boat don't have a port yet,  soooooo.....let see where he ends.  Praying for EAST coast.  Now he has to stay another week for special training huh? So far coming next week.  At this point nothing surprise me first was the 9th...then the 16th...now the 23rd......and for 14 days.  Have to report to Virginia October 6.  Oh well I keep repeating myself "welcome to the Navy".

Have a nice weekend ladies!!!

Yippy!!!!  Is official, he send me the schedule for his plane!!!!  Coming home this Thursday evening!!!!!!  Yay!!!!!!

Betsy......  have a safe trip to Pensacola!

Betsy - hot I'm not but I don't look matronly!  Thank you chica.  No tears - just a few choked  up moments; too overwhelming with pulling everything together just 20 minutes before this and getting ready in that time!  No new details - no orders yet.  Waiting!  Hope you are having fun, fun, fun in Florida!

My son Adam receiving his certificate for CTT.  

Adam's CTT graduating class

This is my daughter Kristen's sailor, Ben at home in Hawaii.  

Ok ladies...you have been here with me since the beginning...and you were the ones I needed to talk to all day...N called me at school to tell me his orders...Pearl Harbor...USS Louisville... wow...just barely kept it together at school...I know I need to be strong for him...I am thanking our Heavenly Father right now that he allowed me to spend so much of this past year with N!!!! ....oh so bitter/sweet!

Groton Penny....soon to be Pearl Harbor Penny

ctownnavymom- Congratulations on N's orders!  It is hard.  But wow for Pearl Harbor.  It is harder when they go but you will make it! You know we will be here for you.  My S is on his first deployment on the Miami.  We dont hear from him much.  but when they get into port it makes it that much better!  Stay strong, keep your chin up and smile.  and remember, no news is good news!!!!!   HUGS!! :)

Thanks!!!! It is so good to come here to talk to all of you! You get it!!!!! Some of the teachers looked at me funny today and said...why are you upset...it is Hawaii...not the Middle East! Well of course I know that!  But 1. It is not like you can jump in a car or take a little hop in a plane for a quick visit...and 2. in the Navy...you don't know where they will be when they are not on base!!!! Ugh!!! As I said...bitter/sweet! So darn proud of him and very happy that he is going to see some amazing places and do great work...but it is very hard to let go!

I can come here and say this and have my "melt down"...but I will be strong to N and everyone else because...well...that's just what we do, right ladies?????

Penny, congrats to N.  We are proud of him too.  :)  He will make the right choices when he's on his own because he has already made them.  You are an awesome mom and raised an awesome young man.  Sounds like it time to start looking for those price alerts on airfare to Hawaii.  I'm jealous, because I'm already wanting to go back.  :)  

ISH-MOM, congrats to your son too.  Your advice is 100% on the mark.  

Penny, They can't understand. It's not their fault. Their kids DO go away, it's just that it's not the same thing, and it's not easily explained to someone who hasn't gone through it. I have missed IB so much since BC, because he was so far away… hoped and prayed for west coast, but he will be in Virginia. This last year (since BC) was so much better because we could talk and text, but now with the sub deployment it will be interesting to see how it all works out. With the "silent service" part I imagine there will be so much we just don't get to know about. It's gonna be hard not even knowing when they are deploying...

We are all having to adjust and we are strong women who are there to support our kids (I keep repeating that part…strong..strong..strong). It is difficult. and Betsy is right, all of our kids have made good choices, made it through rigorous training programs, and have ended up in places that are good for them. Speaking of which…awesome picture of Adam getting his certificate!!

Meanwhile-for the sub moms out there, I found a sub moms group that has some good info for us. It is called just that SUB MOMS. You might want to look into it. I cleaned out some of my groups just now, but plan on staying in touch with this group for sure. Not so sure about the Groton site as we have now moved on.

Elizabeth, i have not forgotten about the pictures of T. They are on IB's camera and he is not being cooperative about getting them to me!! I will harass him some more. When does T report to his sub? IB has to be there on the 24th.

Penny-you can be Pearl Harbor Penny and I could be Norfolk Nancy...

Penny....congrats to N.  You are strong, everything it will be ok.  He is a nice boy! In order to feel MUCH better we have to think that is what he or she want and be happy for them.  We did the same at one point to start our family.  We have to adjust (is very hard) and take advantage of every minute that we can share with them. 

Like Nancy I clean my groups, but I'm going to stay with this group after all we are together from the beginning and I like it.  I know I can count with you moms.  Also like in FB I can just say so much, Jo is friend with me and sometimes they are "mom" like even if they don't express on words they are thinking "Gosh she so sentimental or why you have to give details"  they know we love them but like my mom used to told me "one day when you have your kids you will understand how much I love you".  How true is that!!!!

Update....Jo is getting used to.  He is doing good so far he like the area.  He already move to another barrack.  Now just waiting to move to a military apartment.  He is happy because he will have a kitchen to cook.  Planning to go visit him and look the area in December, let see. 

A COMPLAIN.....stop changing picture....this go to you Nancy.  I'm thinking how is this person until I saw the IB if not I will go bananas.  Keep the picture my subconscious recognize.  Ja, ja is true!!!!

Penny...don't feel like you are all alone on your feelings...I'm in the same boat with you.  I remember when T called to tell me that he was going to Hawaii and the boat he would be assigned to...it was a feeling of excitement and then I went straight to tears...it felt so "real" he was going into the Fleet and sooo far away...its not a road trip to Hawaii nor just a short cheap flight, and yes its true as some have said to you its not the middle east but it feels like the other side of world.  I am happy for T I know he really wanted to go to Hawaii but the selfish mom in me really wanted him closer to home, being a mom is such a rewarding and heart breaking experience.  I do find comfort in the thought that through my Navy mom's there are a couple of us that have Hawaiian connections and just think one day maybe you and I will be able to go to a Hawaiian Luau!!

Rose..I'm with you I love this Navy mom group...we've been together since the beginning and I have found alot of comfort being able to come here and express my feelings and knowing I'm not alone!!!

Nancy...T has to report on 10/26 but he leaves 10/24 that will give him a day to get settled in and figure out where everything is on base.  I'm excited to see the pictures from the A School graduation...tell IB he is stressing me out post the pictures ;o)  You are to funny...Norfolk Nancy...Pearl Harbor Penny...I'm trying to figure out who I am Luau Liz?!?!  That was all I could come up with.

Well this is the last weekend I will have my T home before he leaves on his adventure in Hawaii..we are having a BBQ/Luau tomorrow complete with grass skirts and red, white & blue leis...I have a friend at work that is an awesome cake maker/decorator and she is making T a sub cake I'm so excited to see what she comes up with...its crazy to think Monday he will be on his way to Hawaii....excited and sad all at the same time.

Hope everyone has a great weekend

Awww...ladies...I am definitely keeping this group! Like most of you said...we can't write somethings on fb because of the obvious...and we have been here since the beginning! I laughed so hard at Norfolk Nancy and Luau Liz!!!!!! :)

Elizabeth...I have been thinking of you all day...many hugs to you my friend!

Pearl Harbor Penny =)

So nice reading how everyone's sailors are doing! S graduated FC "A" school in Aug & we're still stationed at Great Lakes awaiting orders for FC "C" school.... anyyyy day now. 

We were really hoping to be moved before it starts snowing like crazy up here in Chicagoland, but I guess not! hahah. 

 Hello everyone, I changed my name, but I'm still the same mom of ship 25 Dec. 22, 2010. Wow! I can't believe that it is almost been a year since my our sons and daughters graduated boot camp. My son is stationed in Tampa and he loves it.  I have a daughter leaving for the Air Force in Aug. 2012 and although I am very proud of both of them, I know I will miss them both, already feeling the holiday blues with my son not being able to come home for the holidays. Glad to see that everyone is well and that our children are making a difference in the world. I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving and your child is stationed in VA and needs a home cooked meal and family for the holidays, please send me a private message for address details or send me a private message on facebook.

Hi All, our update; S graduated from power school in October, he has been on grad hold since, just got word 2 weeks ago that he will be transferred to upstate NY for the 3rd and final phase of the Nuke pipeline, we are so excited to have him back in our home state, still 4 hours away from Long Island, but so much better than 15 hrs to S. Carolina.  he has to report 12/16, seems like his holiday leave   approval from one base to the other doesnt transfer, so we will have to see, but he seems confident that it will be OK.. fingers crossed :) wedding bells are suppose to be ringing in december, luckly the marraige license would be valid any where in NY, so again this navy mom has to hurry up an wait!  they are still getting married we just dont know where or when.

   to my beautiful friends.  I will catch up with our page after the holiday.  I hope all that have their sailors home enjoy every minute of your time with them.  Please give them many  from me.  Talk to you all soon.  

Good morning to all. Can you believe it has been a year since we all were making our plans to meet & greet in Great Lakes !! So much has happened in our lives since that time. So glad that we still have a place to come back to and update each other on our Sailors journeys !! My S is in Norfolk, Va. As of Tues, he said he was upgrading his clearance, and going to OPS. What that means, I have no clue !! These letters drive me nuts !! He is on the USS WASP. It stays in port most of the time, except for some training and manuvers. He wont deploy for 2yrs, unless something critical happens. I'm thrilled, he's not. He wants to get out to sea and do all the stuff he has trained for. Of course, this was before he was changing his status !! hmm. . . maybe this is something he has yet to tell me !! Will keep you posted !! Have a wonderful Christmas Season, I hope as many of our Sailors as possible make it home for our holidays !  Much love, ~Donna~

howdy y'all.  Just a quick update - my sailor has been in San Diego since the summer but just got assigned to the Lincoln.  He is going to the middle east.  So of course, I'm freaking out.  But, I'll live.  He's excited, especially since after they're done there he gets to see the rest of the world before docking in Norfolk.  And then maybe I'll get to see him, and we'll celebrate xmas then.  Hope y'all are well.

t looks like it's been awhile since anyone has posted. Just thought I would post an update on my two navy boys. K who graduated bootcamp with this group, successfully completed Nuke A school and Nuke Power school. We were able to go to the power school graduation which was great since he didn't come home at Christmas. We spent a couple weeks with him and did some sight seeing while we were down south. He is now on grad hold going to navy College. It's a nice break from the challenges of Nuke school. E graduated Navy boot camp in July. He went to Pensacola for AT school and graduated the end of January. He got orders to San Diego which is home! He will be on a ship here. Looking forward to having  our grandson and daughter in law in town.

Just popping in to see if anyone comes here anymore.  I guess not.  :(   I hope all of our sailors are doing well and Happy Veteran's Day to them all.