Chicago Mom's

Mary, how about sending a message to everyone in the group? Santino's mom Debi was trying to contact Laura yesterday, but I don't know if Laura got the message.

Mary, if you'll edit the calendar, I'll send out the message to move to Westmont. I apologize for stepping on toes--I don't mean to take over, but Debi, Navy Mom, really wants us to meet her son. Her husband even offered to fly her in from Pittsburgh! I'm so excited about meeting all of you tonight!

Have a good time tonight!

It's Laura that has to change the calendar--I thought it was Mary who had posted it. I sent a message out to all the Chicago and Illinois moms that the place changed. I'm leaving right now and getting on the road.

Absolutely--I live in Rock Island though my sailor is now at GL for three years. Hope I spend more time in the Chicago area!

count me in. If I am available I will be there.

I'll help, I just don't know any sailors out right now. I can get some soldier and Marine addresses, but it would be nice to support our sailors. I'll ask around.

This is the time of year with a lot of rotations--going out and coming home, so in a month or two, I'm sure we'll have some addresses. I did get the address of a JAG officer in the Army in Afghanistan who would enjoy St. Pat's cards if anyone wants his address. His mother is a retired teacher and prays for my son and all our military everyday.

Laura, just sent you his address. I also wrote to a chief that was a student of mine. He either is deployed or preparing to deploy. I asked him for addresses so I'll let you know what I get.

Ok I have a co-worker whos son is on the Chicago she is going to give me more info on Monday. They are on tour to Japan...

Welcome Paula 2deployments how do you do it??? Are you going crazy???

Hi all,
The woman I work with said her son told her something about opsec so
he couldn't give her address yet. So I guess I'm no good for an address!!! Soryy!!
My son got his verbal orders for PA after A school. Now I having been doing research bout PA have never been there guess I will now!!! :) Hope all is well with everyone.

Jason came home last night on leave for 14 days!!! He looks goood and
says that is cold here!!! Told him welcome back home to Chicago!!!
Glad to be moving on to Lemoore. Many stories about Meridian!!!
People were just staring at us in the aiprport last nite.... Jas said
the same thing happened to him at Atlanta airport. Is that normal??

That is what we were trying to figure out??? I thought I had toliet paper on my shoe or something! :) It was strange. Jason still has the Navy BC issue glasses
Could tht be it?? :) He was in his dress blues maybe he was just so stunning??? LOL

How long will he be in Japan for?? Get your passport ready Princess!!

Mine left today for his first duty station. I am sad, it was so good to have him home! It was harder to let go than I thought it would be! He just text me he is
at the base now. Guess we are finally off to our Naval career! Right now I feel like its going to be a LOOOONG five years. :)

Count me in. I work just east of Oakbrook and live in the western suburbs but am willing to drive. Let me know when.

Do we have a date and time to meet?

Please pray for our fallen hero who has died today on the USS Stennis!
For more info check out their group. What a horrible tragedy!! I am really missing my son after that news.
dznymom5 congrats on the PIR. Waiting to hear more news on the get together.

Anne, there are at least two. Go to my page and follow the links. Great Lakes A School has been very helpful even though my son is not in A school, but an instructor. The group was created by a student division commander. There are lots of moms, grandmas, and wives there. The other is Great Lakes, IL Naval Station, and not so active, but good people there, too.

Wow Princess I'm glad he likes it there!! How long will he be stationed there??
Mary hope your having a good time with Dan.. I'm jealous!! :) Does anyone know
how much time the Navy gives the kids after they have been at their duty station
before the can pick where there going next??? Mine is to be in Ca for 3 years of his 5.

Saturday May16th. I plan to hang my flag proudly and not upside down either!!!
Laura have a safe trip!!

Happy Mother's day to all. Mary so glad you got spend time with Dan, I am pricing airfare to California for July. He went to Yosemite yesterday with some guys hoping I get some details of how beautiful it was!! :)

DId anyone see the Marine helicopter that was in the area on Friday??? It landed at the High school across from where I work for the ROTC kids to check
out. It took everything I had not to run over there and say my son is in the Navy!!!
I wish I could have seen it up close! Hey Ruth when is the air show in the quad cities??

I saw it but didn't know what it was. thank you for letting me know.

The air show in Davenport is June 20-21 right off of I-80. The Navy's Blue Angels will be there.

Thanks Ruth!! I am hoping to get out there!!

What has everyones sailor's been up to?? Pretty quiet here lately!!

My sailor is finishing "A school" at Goose Creek in the next week or two. She is excited about being a petty officer.

Wow alot sure has been going on!! Dianne congrats to you sailor and to yours to Paula!! Deb the Reagan just left for deployment right?? My son is in Lemoore and some sailors just left from there to the Reagan deployment. Laura remind me again what ship he's on and where is he headed?? Nancy Jean this has to be a really hard time for you. Will you get to see him before he goes and do you know how long he will be gone for?? Prayers for all to return home safely!!!

AMEN Mary!! Lemoore is in the San Joaqiun valley. Hot during the day and cold at night,guess thats how the dessert is. I will let you know when I get back will be going there in 24 days to see my son for his bithday!! :) I'm counting down now!! I'm counting my blessings right now that he is in Lemmore right now and the only thing I have to worry about is him contracting the valley fever. Common
illness there from the dessert. It can be deadly if not taken care of quickly. Paula have you been to Lemoore??

Deb this is a weird question I know but do you have a Navy sticker and 3 college
stickers on you car?? I drive to work and see a woman with that on her car and you live close to me so I thought that might be you??

OH heck I need to call you then!!! How long was she there?? I have a question
one of the Lemoore moms left a post her son had 2 shots yesterday and is deathly ill, he didn't know what the shots were for. Have any ideas?? Hes
not sure if he's sick from the shots or just the flu. Mine has been there since
March. i am concerned for the valley fever I have heard so much about in Lemoore!!

Welcome Miranda!! We have all been where your at now!! B/C will go quicker than you think. I didn't believe that when everyone kept telling me taht but, it is really true! It goes quick!!

The travel section of stores like Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart usually carried the battery alarm clocks. I found a wind up one at a Tru-Valu Hardware last fall, too. Laura, it took me awhile, but I finally did write to Jacqueline. My son said she'd be in the division he's instructing next week, but he didn't want to know who she is, of course.

What's Jackie's rate going to be? I'll write to her again. Andy can talk to her in public places, but he's so careful about recruits that if it's not at the mall, I'm not sure that he'd talk to one! He's told me stories about the recruits on the range--just like high school, they don't listen and follow directions. He's finding out what it's like to be a teacher! I'd thought they'd be motivated to do things right, but he says some days there are several who get kicked off the range.

Laura have you tried K-Mart thats where we got our clock.

Hope all is well with everyone!!! A week from today at this time I will be in Lemoore to see Jason. I'm getting excited. I feel fortunate that I am able to do that, and keep everyone who is not able to see the kids in my prayers!!
Has anyone decided when we are all getting together now that the weather is nice???

Laura and all, we just returned from almost three weeks of being on the road to visit family in Tucson. Our sailor started leave a week after we left, so he joined us there. I got to meet one of the Tucson moms while I was there, too. When I returned, I had a lovely letter from Jackie who was still at bc at the time she wrote. She told me that an instructor on the range told her one day to make sure she wrote her mom, and she and I are assuming that it was my son. I have to remember to ask him.

Cathy and Mary glad you guys had a great time with your sailors. I had a great time with mine too! It is really hot in Lemoore, it was 107 degrees while we were there. I'm glad at least I know where he is at thou!! Paula I can see why your daughter needed her car while she was stationed there. The nearest town is soooo far away. The base and the planes were an awesome sight to see!
Every morning I would watch them practice flying over the hotel. Princess I
am glad you told us about G/l That is good info to know. Have we set a date for a meeting yet??

Mark me as a maybe. My sailor girl is coming home tomorrow night for 10 days. 10 whole days. Yahoo! Although she will be in town on the 18th she will possibly be spending the day downtown with her Navy boyfriend and his family as they are in town for a Navy graduation at Great Lakes that weekend. I will know more details later.

Since I wasn't able to bring my pictures to the lunch, you guys can see them on my profile. The Nuke with KellyAnn is her boyfriend (also a nuke).

Do any of you know of any social gatherings for single sailors at/near GL? My son was supposed to come home to the QC for the weekend, but he's on funeral duty and probably won't get here at all. I think he's lonely! He'd be embarrassed that I've posted this, but his whole life is Navy work. He needs more than that!

My son's 27th birthday is September 27. He's a gunners mate that's an instructor on the recruit side at GL. If you'd like his address, send me a message.

Hi I live in Alsip, any one near there, Great Lakes is around an hour from me! I would love to meet you.

Oh, I have been here before but it has been awhile!

Princess, believe me I know how you feel, last March was the first time I missed my sons birthday, he turned 22, my heart acked all day long, but I talked with him on skype and cried a lot. LOL I hope you get thur it, it does get easier, let me know how it went, we are here for you.

I have stated down below I have not been on this site for a while, I would like to meet everyone again and I would love to know where all of your sailors do and are located at. My son Stephen is an IT and is in Nalpes, Italy. November 18, he will be in the Navy for one year, boy do I miss him. Let me hear from you! Oh, I live in Alsip, southwest side of Chicago.

I haven't been on here for several weeks--lots going on. My son, stationed at Great Lakes, joined a singles social organization. It isn't a dating service, but there are lots of planned social activities for singles. He wants to go sky diving! Since he'll be there for two more years, he said it was worth whatever he has to pay to be a member. He was home for the weekend and went to the Navy Ball here--mom and dad got to go, too. It was really interesting and fun. I wrote about it on my blog and added an album with a few pictures. I'll be getting more this week. Other things going on--my dad broke his hip but is doing fine; I take granddaughters to dance classes and Brownies every week--I'm a Brownie leader! I'm also taking an adult ed. Spanish class and getting ready to go spend some time in Texas this winter. All in all, our sailor is doing well. As far as birthdays, when he was deployed, we always had a cake and candles, celebrated with his kids, and sent him pictures of his celebration.

Mary, yes the boys went into the Navy just about the same time. What is your sons name? Oak Brook is great for me, and maybe in the summer we can try downtown again, I go every summer with a friend, we take a train, I love downtown. Mary where is your son now? If you cannot say I understand!

Cathy, it sounds like you daughter is doing great. What is your daughters name? YEA!