Chicago Mom's

Hey I would love to be part of the support committee...LOL I LUV ya Paula

I'll come for a drink and some good company if I can clear the date you choose. Spending next weekend at my 35th college reunion!

I am in too!

Ok, first things first stop talking so much during the day, I have to work! LOL JulieR I am sorry you are feeling sad about not talking to your son, I know the feeling. I hate to say this by I am use to Stephen being away. But I did just see him in May/June so that really helped me. Ok, so the pizza party is on the 20th that is the day I am leaving for Florida so I will miss the party, my first missed I am crying!!!!! Well you guys live too far for me to go for a drink even tho I would love to, I am always up for a drink and to be with you girls.

Hi Sally how are your doing?

Michelle you are so sweet calling about Stephen, I am so sorry I dont' get back to you right away we are still workng on the deck and hope to finish it this weekend. We work until dark which is around 7:30 and then I come in and cook dinner and do dishes and make lunches for the next day then it is around 8:15 and then I drop. Stephen still has not passed his stones yet but I have not talked to him this week. I am glad you son is doing good, and things are moving along for him. Stephen will be in two years November 18th, I will never forget that day. LOL I am sure none of you will forget the day they left. Not a good one!

Paula and Holly I am thinking of you!

Hi Barb, Coco, Diana, Laura and Becky hope I got everyone, missing talking to everyone.

OMG is it Paula S who is sad? LOL ok I really need to catch up. Michelle stop talking so much, you are talking more then me that is not right!!!!!

Oh, I forgot someone asked about paying for their uniforms. Yes, they do but after a year they do get a clothing allowance.

Talked to Stephen he has got his verbal orders he is going to the USS Farragut (DDG9) in Mayport, Florida, that was his second choice, he seems happy with it. That is all I know now, he should be out of Italy the end of April the beginning of May. I went to the Farragut ship looks pretty cool.

Annie, please forgive me, I would never, never forget about you! You are a great neighbor.

so who is picking the date? at the rate we are going it will be time for mary and I to drink grren beer again. debbie fl is close so happy for you and stephan that he got his second choice.

dollar beer nite is thursdays at Q's on cass near 55! my birthday is this week I vote we go one nite this week

You are going during the week, ok count me out, that is too hard for me but I know you ladies will have a great time.

Thanks ladies I am happy for him also, it will be different for him.

LOL Becky green beer, good one! Happy Birthday Becky, what day is it???

Annie we will go to Florida together, we would have so much fun.

Count me if it is before Thursday. I am going to Omaha to see my cousins this coming weekend.

LOL me too Annie, I turned the heat on today it was 62 in the house, just to get he chil out.

Tomorrow is Monday already, how do the weekends go so fast!

When is the pizza party? That is on the weekend right? Who is driving and who is going to pick me up!!!!! Annie are you going to Barb's? Diana are you going?

Wen is good for me to meet for drinks.

I am good any night so far

Well the pizza party on the 20th I cannot make leaving for Florida that day, and the 23rd going to be in Michigan. Sorry your party will not be so much fun without me. LOL Michelle I knew you would not go without me. LOL

I am good for any nite and we can't go without Michelle Paula is right!! Maybe we should go on a weekend nite that way everyone can go. Paula you should let us bring the kleenex. My birthday is today and I have declared its my birthday all month, that way I can go for drinks any nite and its still my birthday!!

Happy Birthday Becky!!!

Thanks Paula!!

Roundheads and TGI Fridays are easy to find and good parking. Emmetts has always been my favorite but parking can stink.

My vote Roundheads just because I have never been there and have wanted to try it out. Paula it is your day you pick.

Yeh Fri Roundheads what time?

Happy birthday Becky! Ladies have lots of fun Friday and make sure you have a designated for Paula! I will be in Omaha drinking with my cousins so...have a drink for me and I will have drink for all of you and it will almost be like I am there with all of you! LOL.

Annie where is Bourbon Street?

I love Bourbon Street, that is where I had a party for Stephen when he came home from P-Cola and before he left for Italy. Have a good time ladies!

i am liking the sound of the male review..lol we will miss you coco and annie and debbie.

OMG ladies...what are the odds...my son just texted and said he just figured out he has three days off this weekend and did I want to fly out last minute. Of course I do! But what are the odds I would already have other travel plans with my dad. Sigh. I am kinda sad...kinda sad...kinda realizing life goes on when your kids leave. Any other weekend I would have hopped on that plane and I have really been missing him this week.

Mine has four days off and i did price airfare...way to expensive for me. i feel bad coco tht you can't go but hopefully you will get out there soon. at least yours called you and invited you to come. Yay!!

Sally - every kid is different. If its any consolation - for as nice as I am now...I put my parents through some very very rough times and our relationship was very cordial until I was about 35. Now its good but I had to accept them for who they are and they had to accept me for who I am. So hang in there.

Kids are kids, there is no manual out there telling us what we are suppose to do. They are all serving our country how bad could they be!!!!! I don't believe anyone of our kids are perfect, and if someone says they are they are fooling themselves, but I think we all did good job with them. All we can do is keep talking with them and love them and support them, ladies I think we are GREAT mom, moms of a sailor, we could not be prouder.

Don't worry Sally they will come around, I hope and pray as they get older they will group up. Sometimes I don't think they understand a lot of things until they have their own families.

My daughter has acid reflux, she has to be very careful what she eats and drink, that helps her a lot. See also takes over the counter medicine.

thanks Michelle your the best!! :)

Diana I have been thinking of your daughter also, I did hear that security was being upgraded and they were talking about France. I talked to Stephen yesterday and they found a man with a bomb kit in the Naples train station, we used that station a lot when we were in Italy. There are thousands and thousands of people who use that train station everyday. Stephen is now carrying a gun 24/7 because of that. What a world we live in.

Girls have a great time!!!

Michelle that is a great picture, what a handsome looking man. He takes after his mother.

LOL Paula that is a good one what happen at Roundhead stays at Roundhead. LOL

Sorry to miss the party but I'm attending my 35th college reunion! Have agreat time!!

Hi Mary, I'm not Sally but can explain:
1. Go to "Molly's Adopt A Sailor" and in the "Discussion Forum" read about our Oct. groups in October for November Delivery-2010.

2. Shop for things on their request list. (Dollar stores are great!!)

3. Bring your purchases to the packing party on Oct. 23.

4. We will pack boxes to be shipped to the Oct. groups. The advantage of attending a packing party is that the postage ($12.50 per box) will be paid by the Pepsi grant money we won. The rules from Pepsi are that postage is paid to the parties and not individuals.

5. Added bonus.....we get to meet each other in person, laugh, and swap stories about our much-loved sailors!!

Had a good time fri nite wish everyone could have been there!! Thanks Pat for the info, I think you explaination was perfect I've got it now. I wont be able to go but anyone going I would like to meet you and give some stuff to send. Mary your close maybe if you go we can meet.

Mary, I want you to know that MAS has NEVER been about money or how much you spend. From Molly on down there have been times when a tight budget month has meant that a mom could only send letters. With 700+ moms it all evens out and we get the job done! Letters are as valuable to the soldiers/sailors as the boxes. As I have said before, the snacks get eaten, the soap gets used up but the letters are read over and over and over. A mom who can only send letters is just as VALUABLE to MAS as someone who sends boxes. Mary, I am sorry if I put too much emphasis on the boxes but being able to have the Pepsi grant pay for postage is a real boost to what we can do for our sons and daughters. Look forward to seeing you on the 23rd.

Mary, Thanksgiving cards would be PERFECT!!!! We put at least a note in every box and include your email address. Sometimes we hear back and sometimes we don't but if an email address is in the box, it increases the chances.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAVY! YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to the BEST Navy in the World!!!

Awesome cake Paula S!!!

Very cool cake! I want some! LOL

Oh Julie - this is one my greatest fears with my dog and son too! I am so so sorry.

Oh I have some catching up to do on posts. It looks like you all had fun Friday and hopefully Paula you got a chance to unwind. I did have a drink for all of you...in fact I had one for almost everyone...

Oh Julie, I'm so sorry about your dog.

So sorry for your loss Julie a dog is like a child.... Take care

Julie, I am so sorry, our pets are part of our family. But if Oreo was suffering and up in age it was her time. We have to remember we want them to stay for us. We are the ones left behind missing them but Oreo is no longer in pain, or tired, or scared, or anything just in peace. My opinion you need to tell your sailor, I would wait for her to ask and you need to tell her. How old was Oreo? I see you picture very pretty dog. It will get easier but I know it is very hard and lonely now.

Julie what type of dog is Oreo?