ALUMNI OF PIR 04/04/2014 TG 21 - 11 Divisions (125-134 and 921)

caolila - If I understood my SR correctly, Div 129 & 130 should be on DOT 4-1 today, March 10th.  I had her clarify the days on one of her phone calls (several weeks ago) and charted it on a calendar.  I will check that calendar and confirm when I get home tonight.  Also, in her last letter, my SR mentioned your daughter and said she had been a great help to her.  :) Thank you both.  {--|o

Thanks DianneP!

thanks girl chief!  My SR only mentioned the week once, and it seemed to me like they were behind where I thought they'd be.  That was long ago and the only thing I've had in a letter was her disappointment over losing the academic flag.  Was beating herself up greatly over that.  She mentioned you daughter too, and said she was doing well.  Ask you SR to keep encouraging all the younger ones to study!  :)   I hope they all survive H**L week without an incident.

All divisions in this PIR group should be in Hell Week this week, just maybe starting within a couple of days of each other.

Good Morning All !

If driving to PIR, do we really need an IPass or EZPass?  I can't find them for sale in KY and online they cost $50.  I checked our driving directions & there are only 3 tolls we'll have to go through, but figure once we are there they should be easier to avoid.  Planning to stay mostly in the area of our hotel (we've all been to Chicago before unless our SR has a desire to during liberty), but I wonder if I'm missing another reason to have one.

KYMom:  They should mail you a bill at the end of the month for the tolls (toll by tag).  I believe Sarge said if you go online and pay them right away after they are incurred, it is cheaper.  If you want to run this by him, email him at johnspadaro@att.net....or text/call him at 847 212 0246

He would be glad to pass on his suggestion on this.  I know he has given advice re: this before.

Thank you, diannep, that is a good idea.  I'll let ya'll know what he says.

Hi All!

     "I know that You can do all things;

      no plan of Yours can be thwarted."

                                           Job 42:2

KYMom59,

Are you using a GPS or a cell phone with GPS?  Bring the charger for that phone!   You can program it to avoid tolls.  Or you could simply pull into the toll booths to pay, especially if there is only 3.  Have plenty of change (if the toll machines accept $1) with you.  There is some sort of map of the tollways which are mostly one the the Chicago O' Hare side going up north to Waukegan.  The way that's free runs right by the city of Chicago (which you will want to AVOID during the traffic times) and goes up north.  Do a detailed mapping of the area and routes before you are in that area, so you can plan better.  I list this free route with its numbers in my PERTINENT PIR TIPS when I talk about meeting my Sailor daughter at the Midway Airport.

Are you a member of AAA or an auto club with Trip mapping, they could help you with avoiding tolls too.

CatMom:  Not sure that they still have actual "paying" tolls up there?  Down here in Miami, we are toll by plate or Sunpass only.  Many have moved to that.

@SorinMom - what div is your SR?

I got a call too and was surprised...they must of done something great. My SR got a 5.0 on inspection. She was really excited, cuz she missed her run time by 40 sec. I have a truly amazing young lady, she gave some of her phone cards away to those in div 131 & 132 for those who haven't made calls due to no phone cards

LovesASailor, sorry I wasn't on yesterday. Address looks good. Try not to worry. I'm sure he is getting them. First ones I sent were 2/19.

Yay for phone calls. Congrats.

tammy1, your daughter sounds like a very nice young lady. So thoughtful. 

SoringMom:  Correct!

*Meant SorinMom ! 

diannep,

I saw actual toll booth lanes you could pull into and pay at last year.  There were lanes on the leftside for vehicles with IPASS and the right side had the toll booths~~

Glad they still had them, CatMom....that makes it easier...as long as all stay to the right! 

Here is the info I found online about the tolls:

http://www.illinoistollway.com/tolls-and-i-pass/toll-information;js...

HA!  Thanks, SorinMom!  :-)

Good Morning All !

Good morning

Thank you my2boyz

Thanks Catmom!  Sarge agrees with you.  Since we'll be driving, bringing change & GPS won't be a problem.  

Hello Friends!

     "But let all who take refuge in You be glad;

      let them ever sing for joy.  Spread Your

      protection over them that those who love

      Your name may rejoice in You."

                                                   Psalm 5:11

I asked a mom who just came back from PIR last week.  She said the toll booths are unmanned and the tolls are between $4.00 - $10.00.  Bring plenty of change and $1.00.  Try to paid exact fee or you will have lots of change jangling around!  The toll booth issues you a ticket receipt~~~

Here is a link to toll booth charges.  The only thing is you have to know the names of the ones you will travel through.

http://www.illinoistollway.com/tolls-and-i-pass/toll-information/ra...

Ugh, let's try that again.  Here is the virtual tollway map.  You can click on the map, then a toll road, and zoom in to see the toll booths along that route and their fees.  This seems really helpful.  I hadn't realized there were so many tolls up in Chicago now.

/http://www.illinoistollway.com/roadway-information/maps/illinois-v...

Just putting this idea out there for your PIR group.  It is totally voluntary.  Some of our past PIR groups have gotten together and put together State themed gift baskets/boxes/bags or really, any great idea would work, to be raffled off at Sarge's Meet & Greet on the Thursday evening before PIR.  This is great fun and would help offset the costs of Sarge and his wife as they do these meet and greets every week to help our Navy families.  If someone would like to start a Basket Project for this group, please let Sarge know and start a discussion up in the Discussion Forum for the ladies here to pop into to express their interest in making up and donating a basket~~  Thanks!

CatMom509 - I used these tools and on our path (coming from STL up to connect onto 294) the tolls appear to be a hefty $17.70, each way!

I would LOVE to put together a basket to raffle off.  I will let Sarge know :)

Sorry I haven't been here the last few days. My sailors and grandbaby are home before moving away to CA so I have been spending all my extra time with them and haven't been on here or facebook as much as normal. I hope everyone is doing well :)

Hope you are enjoying them, Lala!  I'm sure you are loving on all of them right now!  Enjoy!

Good Morning All !

I am loving having them here for sure :) My Sailors had to go to a near by base to take their advancement test this morning so I am babysitting :) So much fun spending time with her <3 

If your Sailor will fly out to a new base on PIR weekend and you plan to meet them at the airport you should mail this info on an index card to your recruit.  Once they get their itinerary they should fill it out and then keep it to give it to you at PIR. They won't have this info in time to mail it back to you. When they go back to their ship and rack to check out remind them to get this. This will keep you from ending up at the wrong airport. :)

Please fill this out when you get your flight itinerary/orders and then give it to us at PIR. Do not mail it.

Airport_____________________________________

Airline_____________________________________

Gate Number__________________________________

Flight Number ______________________________

Flight time________________________________

Layover_____________________________________

Arrival time___________________________________

Good morning all. Call on Tues letter Wed. And another Friday off tomorrow. Yippii!

Lala thanks for a wonderful idea, enjoy your time, I know you will.

caolila,

Where is STL?  Is that each way total?  To rent an IPASS from a car rental place its $6.95 each day (but you probably have to rent the car too).  I think it is $50.00 to get one online.  Not sure how much if you can find a place to buy it from~

Hello All!

      "For surely, O Lord,  You bless the righteous;

       You surround them with Your favor as with a shield." 

                                                               Psalm 5:12

Very sweet pic, Lala!!

CatMom509 - STL is St. Louis.  I just looked on google maps to see the recommended route we will drive, then I went to the virtual toll map and manually recorded and added all the tolls along 294 up to Great Lakes.  If I did this correctly, I counted 12 toll stops (each way) totally $17.70 (each way) for a total fare of $35.40.   This was a huge shock.  The Ipass cuts the toll charges in half, but unless we were sharing between PIR's, it isn't cheaper since it's $50 to buy one.   So glad I am following this discussion online and have this knowledge before we go!

Just an FYI, we've decided to take I-57 to 90/94 and skip the toll roads.  Our cousins live near there & say that would be the best way so long as we avoid rush hour (3:30 to 6:30).

caolila,

Nice to be able to pre-plan and know costs beforehand!  Can you imagine the folks who aren't here and just "wing it?" 

Keep in mind if you are driving all the way, you are saving on airfare!!  And you get to bring all kind of goodies with you~~

SorinMom,

You are past PS right?

Happy Friday!  Mark another one off our calendars!  Those of us with SRs in Div 921, only one more week till we might get a peek of them! 

Good morning all, another Friday down and 3 more till we get the joys of PIR experience.

SorinMom - Those in 921 will participate in the 3/21 and 3/28 PIR before participating in our 4/4 PIR.

Good Morning!

Thanks so much :) Happy Friday and good morning everyone :)