Camp Pendleton Corpsmen Moms

So Chief, In your opinion where should I send these pkgs. I want to send them to where they would be the most benefit. I am also looking for Xmas bags that I can put the zip-lock bags in so they will stay fresh. I have included the following : 1 pkg. of 30 wipes, several blow-pops, lemon heads, 1pkg jerky bits, bit of honey, toosie rolls, whylers water aids, and hard Xmas candies.

Chief, I would love to wrap your presents. I have even crocheted an Afghan, I also love to bake more than I love to cook; and God has blessed me with a third eye for interior design. It started back when I was 16 and my first job was dressing windows & mannequins; then I learned the technique of mannequin modeling and bridal shows. Boy, that was the life skinny as a toothpick and never had to worry about putting on weight cause I was always going...

Yep, wrapping presents was not one of my talents either :( Boy, I can bake as long as I have a recipe to follow! Love Paula Deen, but her recipes are so fattening! I miss my skinny, before kids days!! I was that stay-at-home mom chasing two boys that were only a year apart (my little irish twins). But then I went to work behind a desk, turned 30, got pregnant at 38 and it was all downhill from there!! Ha, ha, pretty much my life in a nutshell. LOL. However, I did marry a wonderful man that can cook, bake, clean, change lightbulbs and even re-do an entire kitchen all by himself!! He truly is a prize but I'd never tell him that! He's also prior service and is very intense about keeping everything neat and orderly. J was that way on leave in October. But it only took about two days for him to start leaving stuff laying all over!

Pam, I hear you on the hubby department, mine can computer design & build a house from start to finish and can work like a horse literally. I'm a clutter bug but not dirty and I'm saver from anything big or small, I'm a big giver and don't need much but physical love.
T didn't like growing up with clutter so he went around picked up everything out of place and then he is fine, but to get dirty OMG...I really don't know how he carried wet dirt out in that field All day last week, it took Great strength on his part.

Chief makes a good point about the audi getting fixed. I have a volvo and that thing costs an arm and a leg just to get a darn oil change. Special tools and all.
Carol - how long is C giong to be out there?

My son will graduate fmtb on 12/16 then will go on to his next duty station there at CP, he will then ask for leave to come home for Xmas, i don't know if he should book a flight now, or wait until he gets his leave approved, some advice, please...

Jackqueline---He has not put in for leave, because he is still in fmtb, after graduation he goes to his next post and then i guess he can ask for leave, he is probably going to have to do that, buy a ticket that he can make changes to, i heard that Southwest is the only airline that you can re-fund your ticket or make changes, is that true?

Good morning! The East Coast is up and ready to go!

Chief - I believe they have a four day weekend and then it's time for some more camping. More than three days from what I can gather. Hard to beleive they graduate five weeks from today.

Happy Veteran's Day everyone! It's holds such a special meaning for us this year. :)

Pam, Happy Veteran's to you and to all Veteran's and to those active today!! My Corpsman, he is on his way home for the 4 day weekend. Yaaaa!! I so need to mother him right now!! He is taking the Amtrak home his first time on a train.

Everybody go out and make it a Great Day!!

That's wonderful Judy! I know you've got to be excited!

Man, my typos are so bad today! That's what I get for typing in a dark room this morning!

I got a text from J and he was telling me how they had steak and lobster for the Marine's birthday!! And today lots of free stuff for the holiday! It seems like he's finally getting his footing there and "hanging" out with the Marine's and listening to their stories. He has so much respect for what they do and what they sacrifice. He did say how much they loved their Corpsman and take good care of them!!

Evening Everybody, My home she got a face lift today. She is an old lady 83 years old Spanish hacienda, and she sure looks good with her burnt orangie rust color...she wears it nicely.

My corpsman's home!! He looks soooo good with his golden suntan. He looks healthy and has a really attractive presence about him; as if he has something to be proud of and respected...Moms, he said they all look like him so no worries!!

It's a good day for JudyB and her family! I'm sure even T was ready to go home and enjoy the family!

Jackqueline---Thanks, I will do that.

Thank You ALL, for the sentiments. T, his father & I hung jewelry on our "old lady", she is now so dignified. lol Jewelry is the art work we hung on the out side of our home and the detached garage, it is a rather "Bold" paint color, but I think it is befitting of this graceful old hacienda!! As for the time were spending together it sure is very nice listening to his goals for the future. I asked him "Are you proud of yourself", because you should be!! GF is a little jealous that he came home instead of Las Vegas, where she is moving herself into a new condo for the 2 of them after FMTB.

Ruth, I hope you're cub gets to feeling better real soon!!
Carol, It really is a treat to have him home; we had my sister's over for a BBQ, it was 78 degrees all day and the ocean sensed that T was coming home and decided to behave, which did so that he had to go for a beach drive kind of like to destress.

Went to CA to find an apt yesterday with my mom. Think I found one I want, just need everything to fall into line. Best of all I got to spend some really great time with him! And he was able to come and get his car to take back to base with him!! Which is great! Everything with that just fell into place! It was perfect! If it hadn't I am not sure when he would have been able to get it! Now he has it and can come and see me more often! I will be there in 18 days! I love it! I can't wait to be with him forever!! Hope all is well with you and yours!!

Jess, Young Love...There is nothing like it!! I am happy you have found it with your corpsman and that you all will be together real soon and not states away!! I'm keeping my fingers & toes crossed that the apartment details come together for you...Good Luck!!

J has his laptop and does use it. JLC, if you son is going to be on hold for two months, he would probably be smart to get one. Once FMTB starts though, they really don't have a lot of time to spend on it. Weekends mainly.

Your very welcome JLC! That's what we're here for! How was graduation and the parking situation? I know you had concerns about that part.

Evening All, Well my T is off now, on his way back to Camp Pendelton...
We had such a wonderful relaxed time visiting with him; he and Dad help to hang some metal art on the home. Love to see them working next to each other enjoying being together, cause it is productive. Haha

T mentioned that the corpsman can take "Jolly Ranchers" and hand wipes, I picked up some towelettes "Cucumber and Aloe", a foil pouch for the tough, dry elements of the Field. He was already talking about graduation (4 weeks), His gf Katie's parents invited us to camp at San Onofrey it looks like T & Katie will be making announcements "engagement", shortly after...love her already!!

JLC, Welcome to the group!! Yes, it would be a good idea to bring along a lap top if only to keep in touch with family and friends by way of face book.

Jacqueline, I would love to get your opinion when I can get my hubby to ad it to his list of things to do or instruct me on hoe to do it. lol But I promise to post soon of what she looked like before her reconstruction the before & after pics.

JLC - LOL - After J was home for a couple days he reverted back to being a little messy. Nothing too bad since he was neat to begin with!! But he had so much stuff he brought back that it was like the seabag exploded all over! J was glad to finally get out of Chicago too. He wasn't put officially on leave until the Friday morning after grad, so that was an expensive flight home because he couldn't wait a couple days for a cheaper ticket.

JudyB - glad you had a great visit. When he finishes FMTB will T officially be on reserve status?

Chief, What is a wired text and how did you get it?! So their rolling tires for fun out in the field?!

Good thoughts and prayers are being cyber-sent Jacqueline!

I miss my son :(

I know he's probably having the time of his life (well maybe that's a little much), but darn. No text or phone call stinks!

It must have been in the air. I tossed and turned all night. with J on my mind. I'm going to go crazy when he goes to Italy!

I agree. Putting a dog to sleep is the hardest thing ever. It took me five years before I could get the one I got after I put my first "baby" down at 10 years old. I only got to see few minutes of the video before I had to head out for work this morning, but I will look at the entire thing tonight when I get home. Urban training sounds like it could be interesting. Our enemy is no longer in a fox hole out in the middle of a field anymore. :(

And Chief88 - your going to crash and burn soon!! LOL!

I just got word that my son is on his way to Camp Pendleton for 2 months, then to MLG Okinawa Japan for 3 years. Is anyone familiar with the Japan thing so I will know what to expect. He doesn't talk to me much so I'm in the dark most of the time.

We had to make the decision not to tell J while he was in bootcamp about some stuff we were going through with our younger son. He was in a horrific car accident (I think I mentioned that before) months before J even left for bootcamp. Well, a hearing on some charges that resuled from the accident was scheduled two weeks before J was set to graduate bc. My husband and I both decided not to mention any of it to J although he had asked about it in his letters home. As it was, the hearing was postponed and actually did happen while J was in A School so it worked out best I guess. Hard calls to make though. Our dog is like family. We would even put the laptop down by her so that J could "skype" with the dog. Now, how corney is that!!

Chief88 - I did nights for two years and loved it! I am not a morning person! But when you have a three year old and your not getting any sleep, it's kind of hard. Had to go back to the land of the living!

Oh my - my tears have filled with tears Chief88. It's just one of THOSE days. Dogs, kids, weddings, lack of sleep, car accidents that change a life forever...we have covered it all, haven't we? I can't even work today...

Mindy - Have you tried the Okinawa Japan Group? I had to join an Italy group because that is J's next stop. Will your son be doing the FMTB because I know the next class doesn't start until sometime in January?

I believe he's going to Camp Pendleton for that soon, then on to Japan.

True Ruth - but better to be prepared just in case. My husband is prior service so we're used to the everything can change in an instant!

Good Morning Chief, Yes just today and tomorrow and my cub can look at the text that I've sent him this week. I just sent him text each day this week so when he get back he can know how much he was thought about during the week! Oh, I'm telling we had to wash his camies 2more times after he did at the car wash; I used a 5 gal bucket and put tide with stain remover(little squares w/orange stain remover) and finally T allowed me to dry them. He told me that the dirt dries so stiff and like sandpaper rubbing against his skin, that it actually rubbed his skin off in patches!! Well I sure hope that he doesnt come back from the field with flea bites all over him. LOL

Chief, Don't fret about the dates he will understand I'm sure he will just be happy that he was thought about during his hard days out in the field!! It is so very hard Not being able to to talk to my very good friend...My handsome Corpsman!!

OH, check your messages, there is a message from me!!

I can't wait to hear from J!! It's been a long day, had the 4 year olds Thanksgiving program at preschool and then I had to work until 8:00 p.m. Time for bed. Been on edge a little today wondering what my kid is doing.

Hi ladies, I will be in your boat soon as my son will be doing his FMTB in Jan. He is doing his clinicals right now and set to graduate first week of Dec. I talked with him tonight and he wanted me to ask a few questions for him. He was wanting to know if the tests are harder or easier than A school ( I told him to think harder) and then he wanted to know if the Corpsman go up the Crucible with the Marines. He has heard of them having to carry another Marine with all his gear on up a sand mountain while carrying all his own gear. I don't know if your Corpsman can answer these questions for me, but will pass on any info you can give me. Thank you and hope you all hear from your guys soon! Have a great day.

Thanks Carol, I told my son I don't think the tests would be easier but he said that is what is instructors said. Wow can't believe that after going through bootcamp they are going to have to do it again only with the Marines Ouch!

Hi Joan, Welcome to you and your Corpsman. It's like Carol mentioned but the mountain is more like a gradual climb, but they still have to climb it with All that weight. Just know that the written test are mostly of what they have learned out in the field or in power point instructed classes and PT, but the thing is they have to pass the written test with a minimum of 80%. This is why our corpsman are treated like "Gold", when they are eventually assigned a platoon. Just tell your corpsman not to fret/stress until he is in it, save your energy for the real thing...anyway that's what my Corpsman said when I asked him how will he get through it!!

Welcome Joan! Our boys have been out on a five day training mission this week, so all of us should be hearing from our kids tonight sometime. I'd say the testing is tough, but different from A School.

TGIF is right Chief! Never met a Friday I didn't like!

This is the way my house was before the transformation and after a new paint job

after and before

and this is the new color

Finally!! Here is the much talked about(by me) home by the beach.

Chief, Thank You very much! If you can imagine there is a frontage road down by the mailbox and for about 3 weeks I had samples of 5 different colors a tried to live with it, but nothing graced this old Gal/house she was made in circa 1934 and I had dreams of the color...real bold!!

This is our view from our 2nd story looking northwest. Were looking toward Avila Beach just behind the first mountain range that is a beautiful Family beach with concrete and tile boardwalks and just beyond the water over the palm in the foreground is the oldest "Nude Beach" in California it is Pirates Cove
sorry this is so chopped up I'm just learning:)

Chief, You talked to H already? Cool, then we should here from our Corpsman's...I'm so excited!! HooRahhh!!

I just love this view especially when the waves crash up onto the rocks, beautiful white water views. I have a pair of binoculars that sits next to my desktop computer.

GOT THE CALL! Best sound I've heard in, well, it's only been five days, but it seemed like thirty!! Tired, crazy training and he's calling himself a marine. What the heck! It was a quick call since we were at Ruby Tuesdays and he wanted to get cleaned up, but he sent me a picture and I'll have to post it as soon as I get it off my phone!!

Love it Judy. I see cows, horses and yep, the occasional rabbit!! Until I get to Atlanta and then it's all concrete. How beautiful.