Moms of "A" school Sailors

Judy, tell your dude to come by the Lodge Saturday evening and I can get a pic of him for you (if it's not a far walk or he can get a ride). I'm checked in under my Chris' name. If your Chris knows Jake then have him to come along too. We can have an MA photo jam!

I've got to get an oil change tomorrow so I'm outta here for now.
Nighters all!

Wow! Everybody gone to Circuit City for the "going out of business sale"? It sure is quiet in here. I thought I'd have to sit and read for a half hour or more.

Oooo, Joanne, heatwave! lol. It started cold this morning but NC is warming up. It's turned into a rather nice day today. Chris did some kind of work with Special Olympics last week? or maybe it was the week before. I know he got back in pretty late on Friday night and then got up at 7:00 to be on the shuttle soon after 7:30 and was there until sometime in the afternoon. I'm glad they are given the opportunity to do that kind of stuff. Chris used to be a "bid runner" for our Rotary Club's Education Alive auction each year when he was younger. He looked forward to doing that each year and was disappointed when the last year they were supposed to have it, they ended up canceling the event. Kim have a safe trip.

Thanks Judy, it will be nice to to get to see him for a while. I understand about your Chris' shyness. Mine would be the same way now. When he was younger it would not have phased him a bit but now he tries to be polite and "unintruding" around strangers. Just remind your son that he is part of a NAVY family. It would be like sending a case of Girl Scout cookies to a ship. You don't know who's eating them, your just happy to get to do it. If I don't see him, I hope he has a good weekend. Remind him that he may want one more home cooked meal before he gets OC'd. Really Mom, he will do fine. I hate any of them have to go through it but now days it can't be helped. Have a good weekend yourself.

Hey Cheryl I just emailed you. :)

Oh Cheryl, that's so bad but thank you for the notice. I'll go check it out. Is there a fund that has been set up for finances?

Cheryl did you realize that while Chris and Tyler were at bc one of their shipmates lost his mom? I did not know it until we took Chris back on Friday night and he was talking to the young man. Chris said his mother was appearantly the only one who knew how to contact him quickly. By the time the family found the addy and sent him a letter she had already been dead 5 days. He informed the family that he would continue on with training and then come home for a memorial service after bc. I thought that was so sad. To not know something like that at a time when you are under so much emotional and physical stress anyway.

Cheryl,
I forgot the Kleenex again. You got an extra one I can have? I can not imagine the pain of having to helplessly watch as your child's dreams are shattered. Got one more tissue? (Ya'll have to understand that Cheryl my my official tissue person at PIR 'cause like a dummy I left mine at the hotel)

ooops was my official

I don't remember the man's name at GL either Cheryl but he must have hung out at the NEX all weekend cause that's where we saw him too.

Good night sweetie. Tell Matt Hi for me

Thanks both of you. Cowabunga!! I'm turning in too. Talk to you Sunday night!

Judy, I saw your Chris today!!! It was really weird but I'll email you and tell you and I'll get his pic downloaded later tonight or tomorrow when I get home. I was a bit shy about giving him a hug but he acknowledged the invitation for dinner and said that he has duty so he had to decline. It was a good thing he was wearing his utilities so his name was on his shirt.
Lori I did not see Jake yet but I'm going to get Chris to take me back over tomorrow and see if I can get a pic of him as well.
A GOOD looking sailor there Judy! And tall!

Thanks for the compliment my friend but I believe you, Judy, and I are more impressed than both of the Chris' put together. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Here Cheryl, the NAVY Lodge put tissues in the bathroom just for you. I'm sorry I've used all of yours. Chris is interested in just laying on the bed and watching TV I've got a lot to catch up on over at the IS page. They got really chatty over there today. I'm meeting one of the mom's sons tomorrow for lunch. He was to come for dinner tonight but forgot he was to go to a BBQ so he told Chris we would do lunch tomorrow. Cheryl, is Tyler ok? At least it is the weekend and he can get off base a while.

Good evening ladies, Judy, your son's pic should be in your email.
I'm really tired and have a lot of reading it looks like and a couple of more pics and emails to get off so I'm making it brief tonight.
Lori, I'm sorry I did not get to meet Jake although I did mention him to Judy's Chris but I forgot and said something about him by his first name rather than his last.
Cheryl, how are you tonight? Tyler? Matt? I'll email you later tonight or tomorrow.

Here a pic of one IM (Intel Mom) and her IS. Actually he is only an I right now, he has to go to "C" school to get the S. I won't post the other guys unless their moms say it's ok. Judy has her pic and I have one of another IS who went with us for lunch today before we left.

And in the background is the "gallopin blue goose"!

Judy, there were too many sailors around to mention turtle power. He might have given some secret warning and I might have had to fight off 30 dedicated sailors (or TMNT fans). Besides, I was so in shock that I actually found him I forgot everything I was going to say!

Hi Kim, I have just kind of assumed all along that they are off Monday unless they have duty that day. That's why so many parents are going this weekend I believe. I saw Chris this weekend because he has duty on Sunday and my ride back home will not be off on Monday so I would have had less time with him. I know Easter is not a Federal holiday but I'm thinking about going to see him then.

Sherry, I don't know any answers for you but I will see if I can hook you up with someone whose husband PIRed with my son and is there for QM school. I leave a message at her page and see if she will come over here to leave a post.

Hi Sherry, I make no promises. According to the last posts I've seen from our old PIR page her youngest has RSV so I don't know if she is even on at this time. You can check out the page for PIR 01/09/09, her name is Samara, her husband is Anthony he has been at GL since the PIR to study QM.

For them and all the others who have given the sacrifice there and in Afghnistan, Denise. Amen Thank you for reminding us all that there are a lot of moms who already have sailors in harm's way.

Judy and Bernadette, Congrats to your sailors on their tests! That's awesome. I know each of you are proud. I know I should go out and buy each of you a light saber to battle your way through this but I'm already in pajamas (yeah I know, Wal-Mart wouldn't care) and it's so late. I'll think... about...it...tomor...zzzz

Yeah Lori, that Jake was able to start! *Hears a hard breath, "The Force is strong with this one", pulling light saber out of belt* But in the midst of the MA action here comes, a huge green turtle wielding a Katana, it's Chris Leonardo! Huh? Teenage Mutant Darth Vaders? oh well

Sherry, I thought I was the only one with computer-brain freeze here. I've had problems for a while with mine freezing up. I about slung it across the room a few times.
Bernadette- Yoda is the coolest! The Master Jedi rules!

Good morning Joanne! How are you? How's your sailor girl?

Kim, thanks for the heads up! My son was Div 059 so I 'll be looking for his next week! I had forgotten all about the keel, he's not had time to think about that stuff so he has not mentioned it and I'd forgotten. Now I've got something to get excited about again!! Woohoo!

Pretty good for an old woman I guess! If it weren't so windy it would be a beautiful day. I'm having a hard time finding a reason to not go outside and get some work done. So I keep telling myself that maybe some Navy Mom NEEDS me and that's why I need to stay inside. (Not that there's not plenty to do inside as well)

Judy, do have a safe trip tomorrow. You remember how you cried (admit it, you did, just like I did) when you said good by after PIR? It will happen again this weekend. I don't think it get's any easier. It does get easier sooner now though. Rather than crying for 4 or 5 days now, you will cry for a couple of days but not as long nor as hard. You will have seen for yourself that he really is alive and is happy. He has a goal now that has meaning to him. He will be fine and eventually Mom will be "ok" with it. We all (myself included) have to get used to the infrequent hellos and the all too frequent good bys.

Don't blame you there Judy. Do be safe and give him a big mom hug! I've gotta run help my mom for a few hours so I'll be back this evening.

Yes Joanne, it's still windy here as well. it's not real cold just thin jacket kind of day.
Christopher is doing well (I guess), I don't hear from him but once or twice a week at most so either he is staying busy studying (I hope) or he is busy have fun (I hope that too).

Hi Nancy and welcome. Where is your son doing his school?

Morning Joanne! It's quiet here with most gone to see their kids this weekend! I'll be back in a while must gone out for a cou[ple of hours. C-ya

Brrr, Nancy, I suppose he's about used to it by now but I know my son was glad to get to Virginia. He's on his way home right now. He wanted to surprise his g/f for Valentine's but the surprise was on him. She's going skiing with a friend and won't change her plans so he won't see her after all. I tried to talk him into going back but he says no that he will come on for tonight and then come back next weekend to see her. He's got a good heart and she's going to break it. So he's driving 6 1/2 hrs each way and then he's going to do it again next weekend too. I almost wish I had not taken his car to him now.

Joanne you have a good weekend as well. Your daughter is doing well? Does she have Valentine plans that you know of?

LOL, Joanne, did you eat your veggies and fish this week (supposedly that helps the brain although it hasn't worked for me)? Good luck and Bon Appetit'

LOL, Beth that sounds so much like something my Chris would do! That's good thinking on yoyur part though. If he can get to the commissary and but some baking soda that would also hel to neutralize it. Good luck to him.

Hi,

We just joined this group. For those of you who may not know us, Yvonne and I have a "home away form home" for servicemen and women here in Virginia Beach. Saturday evenings we get together for fun stuff: board games, mini golf (in warmer weather), and bowling. Sundays Yvonne fixes a big home cooked meal that we eat family style in the dining room. We'd love to extend an invitation to any or your sons or daughters that might be a little homesick or feeling lonely to participate in our activities. Everything is free - we don't charge the kids anything for the activities or the food. check out our web site if you get a chance: http://openbibleministries.com to get a more complete pic of what we do. There are lots of pictures! :) You can check out our blog too at http://obmblog.blogspot.com that is sort of our ongoing story from week to week about what we did the preceding weekend.

John

We can also provide transportation to and from the base if they need it.

Hi Jacqueline! Good to have you aboard! It will not be so quiet in here within a couple of days. Many of the moms took the long weekend to go see their sailors. Congratulations on your son classing up, that's one step closer to his job! What is your son's name? My Chris is at Dam Neck, VA training for IS. You will find a couple of Chrises here including Judy's whose Chris is at DN, also but training as an MA.

Hey Judy! Welcome back! Glad you made it there and back safely. Do you feel a bit of relief now that you have actually seen your turtle in the flesh? I think that no matter how much we talk to them it's not like getting a smile or a hug, something tangible. I'm so happy you got to see him and Jake both.

That's what counts for now Judy! You know at this point where he is and that he is happy, OC and all! Just think we get to go through it all again though as they progress forward into the unknown after school. New place, new friends, new living...I know we have to get used to it and so do they but I don't think good byes get any easier with time.
Jacqueline, what an exciting career for your son! I am sorry that he is having to continue his time at GL where it is so cold but soon enough it will be spring and he can get out and enjoy the city. How long is his school supposed to be? A couple of months isn't it, for OS? I hope he is happy with his choice. Is Mom?

Bernadette and Carol, how are you ladies today? I know if Lori gets on in a bit she will be happy to get a pic of Jake from Judy!!

Btw, Judy, what I did with Chris' pic was to put it into MS Paint and then took the little eraser icon and rubbed over the name if you do post it. I also thought later after posting it to go back and check out background stuff to make sure I didn't need to edit anything else out of the pic. I could find anything else that I would think was sensitive to security.

Aaawh {{ Lori}}, I think you need a hug as much as Jake. :( I know it's not the same but at least you also know that he really is there and doing ok. A picture can't replace the touch but maybe if he smiled for Judy you can at least have that.

Carol, I suppose he is doing ok. I had not heard from him since he got back to DN the Sunday morning. He called from the parking lot to say he was there in one piece so last night I called him. He was bowling. I asked if he had been to the school to review his brief for today and he said he tried but that they had changed the security code on the classroom door so he couldn't get in. Hopefully they gave them the new code today so he can go back tonight and study.

Jacqueline, I know that three months will seem like forever. Especially if you know he gets to come home after classes are done. I suppose the only reason I keep it together now is that I can go see him if I feel there is a need. Otherwise as long as he is happy and does not ask for me, I will go see him at Easter. Maybe. It depends on his leave schedule. If he does not get leave until after "C" school then I'll go, if he is going to get his leave between "A" school and "C" school then he will come home less than 2 weeks after Easter. I will see closer to that time.

Hey Lori! How's Daniel? I got the KEEL last week but no, I've not gotten the DVD yet. I'm also waiting (impatiently I might add) so I go run and look every day, even yesterday when there was no mail. Silly me. How are you?

Holly, Jacqueline's son is going to study OS at GL also! You will be right in step with each other.

Joanne, OS is Operational Systems. From what I've read it is similar to Quarter Master but I believe more on the mechanical side. I think OS also has more to do with the weapons systems and quarter Master with the ship's guidance systems. I could be mistaken on the comparison there.

Holly, I put a note on Jacqueline's page so maybe she will catch up with you this evening or sometime soon. :)

Marlo, I know you are proud and excited for your son. Where do you live? I'm in Western Central NC and it's 6 1/2 hrs from Norfolk. Are you close to me?
Shannon thanks for the correct description on the OS rating. I really thought there was a lot more of the ship's navigation involved in the OS rating. That's why it pays to have one smart one in here and goodness knows it sure ain't me! lol I've been to about.com so much on those ratings I'm about blind.
I was doing good with IS and learning each of those jobs and now we've got the other division of intel in our group so I'm having to learn all the CT jobs. It's a lot keeping up with all these kids!

Wow! Marlo, I'm not too far from Avery Co. (in Catawba Co.) It takes me awhile to get there though 'cause that's like all mountain country. I'm glad your son is so much closer.

Marlo isn't Hampton just a bit North of Erwin? It seems like I've seen a sign for Hampton at some point but I've only been to Erwin and over to Trade and then right back up into NC to get to my cousin's in Ashe Co.

lol. Ok. I know pretty much where it is. See how much I know about NC counties? I knew Avery was near Ashe and Watauga but when I hear those counties mentioned on the news they usually lump them all together.
I may have to ride over that way one Saturday this summer. It's so pretty up through there but I just never think about going when I've got the time. That's one thing I do so like to do, just get out with no place to go and start riding. Maybe I'll get brave and ride the motorcycle. I always say I will but I always remember all the times I've seen gravel out in a curve and I think, "No, I'll take the car." Yup, I'm a chicken. And the curves up there are outta this world. My headlights almost sneak up on my taillights taking some of them!