ALUMNI OF PIR 12/29/2011 TG 06 — 10 Divisions (021–028, 904 & 906)

Collies here, thanks!  That meth lab looks pretty scary

Craig...that is disturbing! Yuu-uuck!

My son is planning on joining the Navy as an Air Rescue Swimmer. He has been on the Rescue Squad here for more than 2 years and loves it. He just finished his Senior Project and did it on helicopters and how they are used in rescue missions of course tying that into the Navy. Here a pic of him on a training mission being lifted by a cable into a helicopter. I wanted to be there to see it but had to sub that day. After seeing the pics it is probably good that I was at work lol.

Craig, what does it mean if my Rottweiller mix looks a bit like the meth Lab????  I mean, he got one of those hematomas in his ear which made it heal all crinkly...and it sticks up a bit crazy!  I can attest to the fact that he is and always has been a drug-free dog!  :-)  My yellow Lab looks nicer, but I have to admit...the crooked ear on my other dog gives him great personality!

Hope all have a great weekend!

Hi Lala, my son is planning on joining Air Rescue also!  I guess your son is going to Pensacola after PIR? I have yet to get a call, by my son called his girl for the first time last night, then she phoned me. She said he sounded a little tired, but just fine. That's really all I needed. Diannep: sounds like you have a meth lab with character.  Enjoy.

My son graduates on dec. 29 PIR. Were from California flying to ORD. We can't wait to see our son.

diannep - I'm not sure about that, but I am sure if it was a Rottweiller and a Chihuahua then there had to be a step stool in there somewhere....

Speaking of that....

The train was quite crowded, so a U. S. Sailor walked the entire length looking for a seat, but the only seat left was taken by a well dressed, middle-aged, French woman's poodle. 

The war-weary Sailor asked, 'Ma'am, may I have that seat?' 

The French woman just sniffed and said to no one in particular, 'Americans are so rude. My little Fifi is using that seat.' 

The Sailor walked the entire train again, but the only seat left was under that dog. 

'Please, ma'am. May I sit down? I'm very tired.' 

She snorted, not only are you Americans rude, you are also arrogant!' 

This time the Sailor didn't say a word; he just picked up the little dog, tossed it out the train window, and sat down. 

The woman shrieked, 'Someone must defend my honor! This American should be put in his place!' 

An English gentleman sitting nearby spoke up, 'Sir, you Americans often seem to have a penchant for doing the wrong thing. You hold the fork in the wrong hand. You drive your cars on the wrong side of the road. And now, sir, you seem to have thrown the wrong b*tch out the window.

Craig, My husband just laughed out loud at the one.  :)  

mtnwoman, my son isn't at bootcamp yet. He is a senior in HS and finishes school the end of this month. Then he will be joining and going to bootcamp after DEP. I am very happy for him and support him 100% but I must admit I do dread him leaving. Especially with my daughter already a Sailor and living 7 hours away in VA and my stepdaughter is also a senior and will be going away to college. Our house is going to go from full to empty very soon :-( I know you all may think I am crazy but I have actually thought about adopting a child. It is just going to be too quiet around here and I don't have any grand children yet. I have another step-daughter but she lives with her mom. She is a Jr so she will be going to college before too long. I have always liked having the kids at home and all their friends. It's a good thing I have this site and the ribbons for PIR to keep me busy lol.

Lala, another child???  Hmmmm.....maybe think about adding another DOG! :-)

 I went from a busy house with both boys here to an empty house in a matter of 2 weeks back in Nov 2009.  I actually had been down to one son when my sailor lived 2 hours north for about 21 mos.  But then he moved back for DEP.  Got used to the full house again (no hubby here though).  But I really had a hard time when both boys left at the same time.  Thank GOD I have my dogs.  Then I got to where I liked living alone and enjoyed having friends over, etc.  Then older son moved back home!  HA!  Have to say, though...love having him here.  He is the perfect "houseguest" because he is working most of the time and is very low-maintenance and considerate when here.  I hardly know he is in the house when he is here.  He is very handy and helpful to me...so it is nice.  He had a condo he was renting that was a short sale...he had 4 days to get another place so I told him to feel free to move back here...and he is now saving for a house (thinks he has enough saved, but I think NOT!).  It is kind of like I'm still living alone with him gone so much, but I have to say...I like having him sleeping in the house.  That part will be hard to get used to when he moves out again....sigh...

diannep, I'm so happy that your son has settled in quite well.   How long did it take you to get used to both of them being gone?  I'm still struggling everyday with my  kids living so far away.  It is so hard when they leave in a short amount of time.  My time frame for 4 leaving was 6 months.  :(  

ProudMom:  Yes, you will be allowed to spend time with your sailor after PIR...until the evening (8 or 9 pm).  Unless they are moving over to GL A School base.  In that case, they move right after PIR for a few hours, call you (with their phone card...no cell yet) and you pick them up.  They have to be returned at night (cant take cell/laptop back then), but GL students get weekend daytime liberty--except for any time they have watch. 

Those flying out probably only have PIR day...they will leave early Sat. morning, but you can spend airport time with them.  There may be others who don't fly out so soon and get liberty while on RTC during the daytime.

Good morning all!

Betsy:  It took a while to adjust to that.  Didn't help that I didn't see my local son too often.  It actually took me a few months to adjust to no humans at home!  I just stayed busy with other things.

I would be fine with the kids being gone if I had grandchildren but my kids are not ready for that yet so I am not rushing them lol. Maybe I will spend more time with my great nephews and they have a new baby sister arriving soon :-) So I will spend some time with her too. I have always spent a lot of time with my kids and their friends. I was a cheerleading coach for 11 years and a girls fast pitch softball coach for 6 years and worked with the youth group at church for a very long time. I am one of those parents who likes having all the kids at home and all their friends as well. Teenagers are just so much fun lol. We still have Spa parties and we do each others hair and nails and we make crafts and Christmas gifts and scrapbook together. It is lots of fun and I am going to miss it so much. I think the hubs is going to have to learn to scrapbook and do projects. I will let him off the hook when it comes to hair and nails lol.

That's so funny LaLa...my hubby would like to scrapbook! He has so many pictures from his job and his deployments and the military and I think he would like to do them himself! I want him too then it's personal for him!

Yeah...I love watching my boys "do their thing". The girlie stuff is all mine...sometimes I go with a friend...but I like the solitude!

@Lala Ribbon Queen

You should foster kids! :) That way it isnt permanent, but you get to feel like there is some kids in the house and youre doing a great thing!

love these videos thanks

I think I have had enough of this whole boot camp thing!  I forget what my kids voice sounds like.  I wish I had a fast forward button to speed through the next few weeks. 

On the up side my electric bill is down by $50 dollars.  That is my new motto, look at the positives.

I thought you were going to say "but there is good news...I just save a bunch of money on my car insurance by switching to Geico."

No Craig, but I did save alot on that too now that her car is listed as a part time driver.  And i have saved a fortune on laundry detergent too!

lol, you guys are cracking me up :-) there is always a positive side to things I guess. And, I have been thinking about becoming a foster parent. I just have to wait until the kids are really gone because I would have to have a room for him or her :-)

Also comming home and not finding dishes where dishes do not belong, or clothes laying where there should not be clothes.  Really hoping those RDC's are taking care of that one.  LOL

Lala- My husband and I talked about the same thing.  After being a mom for 23 years, I do not know how to be anything else. We decided to revisit that discussion in a year when my emotions are not so all over the place. I have to first adust to all this.  I think it is great that you are considering this.  As a teacher I know there is such a need!  Their are so many kids that need good homes.

They do take care of that one Ruth but old habits die hard. After about 3 or 4 days home I did find my daughters jeans laying on the bathroom floor while home on leave lol. And I agree I will give it some time to let emotions calm down once they leave for the navy and college this coming summer before making a decision about adopting or becoming foster parents. Although my son could go much sooner and then come back home to graduate high school with his class. He is looking into that now. He is a Senior and he finishes early and only has classes the first semester this year which ends the end of this month. We are unsure how that will work since graduation isn't until the first week of June. I do know a boy in my daughters graduating class did the same thing but joined the Marines and came back and graduated with his class. So we shall see. I am just hoping he doesn't have PIR in the winter lol and I very much want him to walk with his class at graduation.

Another weekend down... Getting closer and closer to that wonderful day (oh yeah & Christmas too). One Christmas party down, time with friends, lots of Christmas shows/movies, and too much eaten! Yep 'tis the season! Hope everyone had a pleasant weekend.

Here's to MONDAY....ugh!

Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.  ~Phyllis Diller

love that quote momshouse :-) So true!!!

Good morning everyone, I won't be on here a lot today. I am on a mission today to find supplies for the PIR ribbons. I already have several orders from this group and I am always looking for a reason to shop lol. I also have to go to the fabric stores and get more fabric for the new Navy tote bags and Kindle/E-Reader covers that are a huge hit :-) I hope you all have a wonderfully fantastic Monday :-) Hold down the fort Diannep <3

Good morning all!  Now is the time to be asking about BattleStations dates in your letters to your SRs.  Please private message the dates to me.  I am maintaining schedules for BattleStations and will message them out. 

Please visit the BattleStations discussion above to familiarize yourselves with what they will be doing.  This is their final test and they are then sailors! 

There is also a video on YOUTUBE about BattleStations put on by CNN.  Just put in "BattleStations 21 on CNN" once on youtube.  Interesting! 

For those not wanting to rent a car for whatever reason, please remember SARGE for all of your weekend transportation needs:

847-212-0246

Reasonable and informative!  If you go to his MeetNGreet, he can give you more info.  Never a bad word said on here against him...nothing but praise!

I have the date now for 021/022 for BattleStations.  Hoping that you all send me a few more.  Thanks!

I have a question.....Is the confidence chamber pass or fail & if so what would cause the SR to fail?

Thanks diannep, it's good to know that it takes awhile to get used to having a quiet house.  

Yes, pass or fail, but they all pass, don't worry. 

Natalie'smom - DON'T WORRY my sweet, sweet friend!  She will be one of the first to call and tell you "I'm a Sailor, Mom!"  8-)

ArNavyMom I know I need to keep the positive thoughts ;o)

@ nataliesmom - she has had GREAT improvement and she will continue to do so.  she will be writing or calling soon to let you know how well she is really doing! ((hugs))

Natalies, Mom.  I agree and think that she will do just fine.  I wouldn't worry.    

Can everyone please keep my husband in your prayers today?   He is flying into New Mexico today for work and my kids who live there, just told me that they have about 6 inches of snow on the ground right now.   I'm praying for a safe flight and arrival.  It's crazy, because at home in Maryland, our forecast is for 59 degrees today