PIR 4/8/2011 Alum Group!

Hello Craig!

I received my card reader yesterday for my son, but this may be a stupid question but do the boys have cards/memory or do we purchase them separately?

Has anyone stayed at The Red Carpet Inn? Its the closest one to the base.

Sandy - Everyone has a different view on things.  One room might be nice, while the other one isn't.  I know our room stunk (old, mildew, smell like someone let their dog crap it in). We reported it to housekeeping and all they did was pour a chemical down the AC unit. That serves the same purpose as someone putting on Musk cologne to cover up body odor, if you stink, then take a dang bath. We ended up buying candles to mask the odors, which it really didn't.  So we moved to the Navy Lodge.  With all the money these guys are making from the boot camp graduations, you'd think they would dump some money into their hotel.  But this was only our room.  Like I said, they may have others that are perfect.

Go read your Meet & Greet group for 4-8-11, read the 4th post down by oceanbly. 

http://www.navyformoms.com/events/pir-040811-meet-and-greet

Sandra - The reader is self contained (but you need a computer), it doesn't need anything more.  You just plug it the USB cord, slide in the CAC (id card) in it and it reads it.  Think of the CAC card as a memory card.  Same thing....

Try this link:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150125111889651&set...

OK.  I cancelled Ramada, but of course we will still go for the Meet and Greet, so that we can meet all of you (for those who have not, remember to sign up that you are going).  Going to stay at the Homewood Suites in Lincolnshire (about 11 miles away).  If you make reservations there, use corporate acct# 0560017344 for the GL Grad rate. 

A Bravo-Zulu (BZ) award is a "Atta-boy" award.  Even though it is the lowest type of personal award you can get, it still means alot.  It's one step above what everyone else has.  It looks great on a performance evaluation because you did something above what was expected.  A BZ can be written by basically anyone, and it's run up the (COC) chain-of-command.  The COC will usually award that person a 72 hour liberty (but not in boot camp).  So Bravo Zulu to her....

Can someone please post the link to order the CAC card?  Thank you!

 thank you and yes i am... shesaid everyone is calling her zulu now. lol

I'm kind of glad you guys are looking at different hotels. 

I waffled back and forth if I should post the below links or not...I truly don't have a gripe against the Ramada, I just think people need to know the total story, and you can decide on what they want. I want you guys to be totally informed and safe...

1.

http://archive.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/07/man-found-dead-behin...

 2.

http://newssun.suntimes.com/news/3153463-418/luna-july-indicted-ind...

3.

Sex list... 784 to 1 ratio, and look at the part of town their from.. That neighboorhood is far from the best...

http://www.city-data.com/so/so-Waukegan-Illinois.html

Beleive me, the Navy Lodge doesn't have any of this type of crap.  When your surrounded by base housing that has round-the-clock security, the rif-raf stays away....

But as always, this is only my thoughts.....

WOW!  Okay that settles it, time to find another hotel.  I've got my family to worry about...YIKES!

I booked at the Quality Inn.  The total for 3 nights is $183 and is 2 miles from RTC.  Honestly we were just looking for a place to sleep and shower...I seriously doubt we're going to be there much.

I rented a car so we can drive into PIR.

Craig I took it to heart when you said you got there early, sat in the car and ate McD's...I'm an early riser (4:15 am) so anything past that is sleeping in so even if we have to get up early to get in line to get into the RTC so be it; I want to get there, find a seat and wait for my son.

Gotta letter today his doing great and is really looking forward to seeing us...you can imagine I can hardly wait.

Sandy - congrats on your daughter's award!  You must be very proud of her!!

Did she mention when her division will be doing BS?  125/126 will go together, and there's some question as to whether it will be the night of 4/3 or 4/4.  Just trying to clarify so we all know when to expect the "I'm a sailor" call.

kim, thank you,all she said is monday the 4so not sure if they go in on the 4 or finish on the 4...

Jaiajo - You can buy the CAC card reader in alot of places.  Just search for "Smart Card Reader".  I bought my nephews at The Micro Center. It worked great and it was cheap.  Some other members bought them on Nextag, so it really doesn't matter where you get there.  But as always, I say again, your sailor will think it's stupid, until he starts playing with it... 

http://www.navyfamilies.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=17616

boordova - Yes, we litterally went to McDonalds, and then waited in car line to enter the PIR.  It was actually really kind of fun, just sitting there talking and eating, kind of brought me back to my roots when I was young with my parents.  Our seats were awesome. We were the 4th row above the hand rail.  Right next to the aisle, we were the 1st to find our sailor. Notice how being in the middle will trap you in. 

Lefty:  You mean liberty weekEND, right? 

Your sailor will know the time....I think it is around 7 or 8 am.

The issue of the Ramada comes up every now and then.  I agree with Ochaos.  There are plenty who have stayed there with no problem.  It is an affordable hotel that offers a very nice free MeetNGreet for the sailor's families.  They have been very kind to the sailors' families, from what I have been told.  Everyone has to make their own decision...if someone is concerned, post on some of the PIR groups that just PIRed and get their opinions.  Some of them are:

3/18/11, 3/4/11, and 3/25 (tomorrow's group)

duannep - If the car just sits for 30 minute at idle then it's only 1 gallon of gas.  To me, my independence of getting early to a PIR and getting good seat is worth the $3.50 I would pay for gas. 

http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/myths/idling.html

If you happen to sign up for the shuttle at the Ramada, and you happen to be on the first shuttle that leaves at 06:30, then you will probably arrive at 07:00.  Heck, I would have already been sitting at my seat for 30 minutes by then since the gate opens at 06:30.  30 minutes make a huge difference.

Just like hotels, the shuttle is one of those things that each person has to decide on how they want to do it.  Just trying to give the guys an idea why people drive to PIR.

  oh Craig... first what are "frogs"  and at PIR can we bring bottled water into it?

   I know i will be needing my water.

I couldn't even find it here!? Warning - cover your eyes or don't read it.

I read many words and things my dad would say so found it interesting.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:U.S._Navy_slang

 I have an idea... Frogs, hmmm

Okay, I give Craig

I'm just funnin' this PIR group...

I just wanted to bring a smile today to you ladies face, expecially the wife's and GF"s....

(Man, I knew I could bait someone with that Frog comment)