Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

Debbie - Ship-to-shore calling cards are used when calling from the ship. The cards can only be purchased in the ship store, NEX or online (I have no experience with this site so not recommending it) https://shop.aafes.com/scs/product.aspx My son purchased his at the NEX and reloads them on the ship.

There is info about the cards here on AT&T's site: http://www.usa.att.com/military/action/services/detail?id=dos

Evening Biker, Understand your concerns... Since he is not used to the elements
I suggest he take his journey as a learning curve.. and drive slowly until he gets confortable on each condition. Snow is easier to drive on than ice/ rain. even seasoned persons can have an accident on Ice. due to both being unstable..

i live about 1 1/2 hours south in nc on the outer banks. we do get some snow around here, they get more in va than we do but it's not too bad. he just needs to take it slow, don't worry about making anybody mad. pump the brakes and give plenty of room for stopping.

on the other end of the weather. the humidity can be deadly! the heat is bad enough, nothing like temps in the 90's for days and days on end. but, when it's in the 80's and 90's and the humidity is high the heat index gets way up there. we've had days here this summer where the heat index has been 120+. need to remember to stay hydrated, drink lots of water, don't guzzle it, especially if it's cold (that will cause cramping) and if possible stay indoors during the middle of the day.

with the cotton uniforms it won't be as bad as with polyester but it's still bad. when i was a paramedic we used to wear polyester pants. nothing like going outdoors and almost immediately your clothing is damp and sticking to your skin! but this summer has been real bad, i get off work at 5 and go outside and the heat literally slaps you in the face. big thing to watch for, if you quit sweating you're in big trouble.

don't get him a skate board, he's liable to get run over. he'll be fine with the snow. tell him when it snows to go to the nearest parking lot and practice. just take it slow and easy!

Hi were getting stationed in norfolk in november any advice would be appreciated.I would love to make friends! :)

K, feel like a local and head to Doumar's Drive-in for barbeque sandwiches for lunch; they'll hang a tray on your car window and believe me, it's authentic. Been featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. http://www.doumars.com/
The Ghent neighborhood has a number of good spots, too.
When I visit I usually stay in Old Town Portsmouth, which you can reach via a quick $1.50 ferry ride from Norfolk's Waterside. From the dock in Portsmouth you can walk up High Street to a variety of restaurants. My favorite is a hideaway off High Street called Still, a sophisticated yet casual tapas spot with outstanding food, good wine list and cocktails - http://www.stilleats.com. I also like The Deck restaurant: deck, casual bar or tables with linens depending on mood - it's surrounded by yachts in the Tidewater Marina and has great views of the Elizabeth River and Norfolk skyline. Both are a short walk from the ferry dock.

Welcome lz100789!
Bikernavymom, my son was raised in Arizona and he adapted fine! (I have lived in LA, NY, Boston and DC, by the way.) The winters there are a lot more mild than you're thinking - there's a vast difference between Norfolk and DC, much milder in Norfolk. Last winter was unusual. And the freeways are a breeze compared to LA. He'll be fine.

Hi lz100789, There is a mom here I think her name was like "Dinnap" I know that is close, but her son had a bad experience when he first got to Norfolk and I learned so much from her. My son read her posts too so when he met his supervisor at the airprort he asked for a map of the base, where the chow house was, where he needed to report and when, where the NEX was. That gave him a huge start his things and his supervisor he got had no problem showing him. Lucky him got early in the day so once he put his stoff away he took the map and walked the base. This was cool because he ran into a dozen people from boot camp and they walked around with him. Also make sure you know about transportation if needed to get around the base and to town, not sure if they have duty vans or taxis as my sons friends had cars. Ask as much as you can that first day because after that everyone seems too busy to answer. Hope you love it there my son does.

lz100789, my husband is stationed on a ship that will be in Norfolk after it commissions (it's brand new, and still at the ship yard right now). Our kids and I are already here in the area. Feel free to add me as a friend on here, and ask any questions you may have.

I wanted to to clarify my post below. I meant people on base can be too busy to answer BUT I always got help here which has made a huge help for my son.

Hi IZ100789: Yes, I am the diannep that MissyMySailor was talking about. My son DID have a horrible arrival in the Norfolk area ... he is actually in Newport News (shipyard). But it was short-lived once he connected with some A School friends in the area and bought his car. I think that MissMySailor's advice is good...to familiarize yourselves as much as possible with the base and surrounding areas before arriving . That would make it so much easier!
Welcome to the group!

My son is deploying out today and I want to watch it on the web... where do I go?

Try WAVY.com; they usually provide coverage.

(by coverage I meant news stories, not live.)
Here's today's story: http://www.wavy.com/dpp/military/Kearsarge-ARG-heading-to-Pakistan
They have a good site, if you scroll down on the left they have a separate section for military news. And Bikernavymom, you can use it to track their winter weather :)

Does anyone know of some good protestant churches that alot of sailors attend in the Norfolk/NewportNews area? My son said he is interested in finding one.

Smoke, I haven't been there yet but the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is SW of Norfolk. I am hoping it will be a great place to visit.

smoke, the thing with busch gardens (and water country) is a one time deal. you can go online to anheiser busch's website and find the link to the freebie. you will need your military id in order to use it.

there really isn't much of anything to do for free and i'm not sure about the cheap part either. i only live 1 1/2 hours south but haven't been to alot. i have gone to the zoo, botanical gardens, aquarium, and virginia beach living museum. if you do a goole search for virginia beach and norfolk tourist attractions you will find alot of stuff as well as their websites. there is quite a bit to do along the boardwalk in virginia beach, including free concerts. this is also something you can find on the internet.

Gman, i have been to the new dismal swamp welcome center but i'm not big on hiking, much less thru the swamp. i can tell you that the wildlife refuge covers a very large area, from southeast va to northeast nc, over 107,000 acres.

Thanks for the reminder Theresa! To vote for a grant for Molly's Adopt a Sailor, you can send a text to vote: text 100521 to 73774 today and tomorrow, help get it done!

Smoke, you can spend time in Old Town Portsmouth right across the Elizabeth River. Drive there (264W through the tunnel, then first right on Effingham, right on High St); or more fun, park at MacArthur Mall or nearby and take the $1.50 ferry from Waterside across, which is a great thing in itself, as you get great views and the ferry is charming. You disembark at High Street in Old Town, and High Street is lined with great shops and galleries (Courthouse Galleries has free programs the 1st Sunday of the month), and the Tidewater Comm College art school gallery is very good and free. http://www.visitportsva.com/galleries.html You can walk & explore the pretty (some cobblestone) streets of antique Victorian homes to the north of High Street. Also, you can walk from the ferry along the Riverwalk north to the Tidewater Yacht Marina, pretty boats and The Deck restaurant in the center. Lots of nice restaurants along High St too or take a lunch along.

Nature preserves:
Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve in Portsmouth, Tues-Sun 10-4, free, http://www.hofflercreek.org/index.php
Drive south and explore the Outer Banks, or drive north across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel ($12 toll each way; you can stop halfway and walk out on the fishing pier) and go to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (as in the book Misty of Chincoteague). You can hike, see the wild ponies, and go to the beach. http://www.fws.gov/northeast/chinco/

(I was battling with mosquitoes to take this picture, but it was so cool to see a herd of wild ponies in Chincoteague!)

I am really bummed tonight! We were planning a trip to Norfolk from Ohio for a Family Cruise on the USS Carr. The Carr is out on deployment and was to be back for this Family Cruise. We just found out that it will not be returning until after the storm and our family cruise is cancelled. I am so glad they are staying away and being safe but I am so bummed. I pray that all the sailors and there families stay safe.

The commander of U.S. 2nd Fleet ordered all ships in the Hampton Roads, Va., area to set sortie condition Bravo Aug. 31 as a precaution due to the approach of Hurricane Earl.http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=55698+
Some info re hurricane preparation:
-Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System https://navyfamily.navy.mil/cas/login?service=https%3A%2F%2Fnavyfam...
Virginia Department of Transportation Hurricane Evacuation Guide http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/hurricane_defauLT.asp Preparing for a hurricane, hurricane evacuation and public shelters in Virginia.
-Red Cross Hurricane Preparedness Guide http://www.preparehr.org/documents/RedCrossReadyHurricaneGuide2pg.pdf
-Prepare Hampton Roads http://www.preparehr.org/HurricaneSeason2009.htm Tips for preparing for high winds and evacuation.

theresa and submom,
i think your posts here are a WONDERFUL idea. i hadn't even thought about posting anything letting those far away know something. i'm down here on the OBX.

my daughter is out right now and was supposed to be back this weekend, doesn't look like it's going to happen. she has been blowing up my cell phone with emails worried about her son. they have been told the storm is headed right for us. i've told her to give me some credit, i've lived here since 1981 and my kids are all still alive.

so, while we are here on land worried about our sailors out there we need to realize they are just as worried out there about us in here. it bothers me that she doesn't give me credit but then again, shes out in the ocean away from her child. so, i just keep her updated and wait for it all to pass.

carol

Everyone please be safe down there and if possible please keep posting updates as to what is going on there. Being so far away makes me worry about everyone even more.

I was at the pier this morning and there are still alot of ships in port. I know hubbys ship is still debating if they are staying or leaving.

Ok, being a Miami native has brought us lots of experience with hurricanes. We went through Andrew in 92 (and yes, we were in the bad part of the storm...much of Miami wasn't affected). One year of renovatingfor us....lots of insurance $$$ given out to lots of people. The aftermath is not a happy time, but a blessing in that we survived!
Just know that hurricane preparedness is the important part. There is plenty of notice. I know that the Navy is very well versed in this....I know all of our sailors are safe....as long as they follow protocol! Like not surfing in hurricane conditions (aka Miami people!)....there are always those who feel that a hurricane warrants a party...outside! As long as the party is INSIDE, it is fine.

My son has duty on the day the hurricane may hit. He will be on the peninsula in the FAF. But he isn't worried. He just is hoping that if it has to come, it gets out quickly! Hurricane Andrew would have been even worse had it not been a small and fast-moving storm.

So, don't worry, ladies....all is well!

Anyone here with someone on the USS Albany? Last night my son told me they were going underway to avoid being in port during Earl because they can't sink like the other subs due to some repairs. Definately a scary situation from what my son told me and had me extremely worried. Thankfully they changed their minds before they left thus morning. He also has duty during the time Earl is supposed to hit.

dartangion,
i don't know which base you're talking about but i "belong" to a facebook page for Naval Station Norfolk. i have the settings so that anytime they do anything i get a text message. they do announce on there if it is closed to all but essential personnel. http://www.facebook.com/friends/?ref=tn#!/pages/Norfolk-VA/Naval-Station-Norfolk/93051658493

i'd invite everyone to my house for a hurricane party but, i live on the outer banks and we'll probably get our a**es kicked. nothing new, i have only evacuated once and that was when my ex-hubby got nervous.

my daughter is still out, due to earl, but we'll have the baby, all the family and lots of food!

everyone have a safe next few days!
carol

Thank you Cheryl, truly words of wisdom to be listened to, hard earned.

Daughter just finished and passed Battle Stations - HooYah! But she told us that since she is an undesignated Seaman she will be going to Great Lakes for her A school for 17 days then she said that she is to go to Norfolk, Virginia to the USS Theodore Rossevelt. I did a little search and found that this ship is dry docked until February 2013. Does that mean for the next 3 years she won't be going out to sea? Throughout this whole adventure that's all she's talked about was going to sea and she'd be heartbroken if she is land bound for the next 3 years.

I know I'm not going to get much sleep. My tv will stay on the weather channel and I've got alerts coming to my phone so I can stay up to date on the conditions there. My son is an adrenaline junkie so even though this is his first hurricane, he is probably gonna be having a blast lol. One of his ideas for fun is jumping off a 30 ft cliff. Luckily they blocked that area from jumpers because of a death recently so he wasn't able to go do that this time on leave lol.

cheryl, thank you for your concern, trust me, it is appreciated. my biggest problem is my dad. he's 76 and as stubborn as a damn mule. he won't go anywhere, wouldn't even do it when my mother was alive. as long as he's alive i'm here. but again, thank you for your concern! so far we've had a little wind and some sprinkles.

on a good note, the Bush came in today! they weren't going to come in due to the storm but today while at work i got a text message that my daughter was home!

i'll keep ya'll posted until we loose internet!

carol

Cheryl, my mom was one of the ones that stayed for Katrina. She waded across the road to the neighbor's house after the storm ripped the back part of her house off. She had part of her house left when it was all over, but it was shifted on the foundation so badly that she had to tear that part down and build a whole new house. I don't take any chances with hurricanes anymore. If I thought it was going to be bad, we would be on our way to my mom's house in Mississippi.

Its not even raining here...

I think I saw 5 rain drops on my windshield on my way to my friend's house, and I thought I heard thunder for a second, but it turned out to be someone driving by with their bass turned up WAY too loud.

we've had some wind, strongest gust at this time has been a whopping 15 MPH, i've had worse when riding my motorcycle, lol. it's been raining for about the last hour, before that it was an occasional sprinkle. according to the local weather it will get worse sometime in the middle of the night but nothing like they thought. from what they are saying now it is going to be no worse than most of the nor'easters we get.

well, turkey is done (figured i'd cook something big in case we lost power and couldn't cook) so i'm off to bed. all my babies (2 yo, 18 yo, 23 yo & 24 yo) are asleep too. just gotta get the 76 yo to go to bed, lol.

"see" everyone in the morning.

Agree, Cheryl! Still could be an interesting night...watching wavy.com for updates.

Good morning everyone. So far, still not that bad. The kids and I stayed the night at my friend's house to watch to storm together. Her husband just left on deployment last Friday, and my husband is in Mississippi. He's on a pre-com ship that's still at the ship yards. We woke up this morning to wind and rain, but nothing too bad. The kids are up watching Nicktoons right now.

Yeh I am glad it missed you all!!! I just heard on the news here in Chicago that Earl is heading for Canada now. Take care

hey everyone!
well, earl has come and gone. not much damage here at dad's, some branches in the yard and a small piece of siding in the yard.

think i'll take my sugar butt and go check out the area.

carol

yea, the cole came in early as did the bush but the bush was only out for 2 weeks. i have yet to see a homecoming!

carol

I'm glad the homecoming went well. I love watching the ship come in with all the people dressed up along the rails.

Debbi, that sounds great. By the way, Virginia will waive the annual personal property tax for active military, have him ask about it when he registers the car there.

Hi Marletta. I'm Miranda. Nice to meet you and Welcome. :) Do you live in the Norfolk area? I am always looking for friends but I do like to warn people that I have a terribly hyper almost 2 year old. lol. If you want send me a message and I will give you my email so you can look me up on facebook. If you have Facebook. I'm there a lot more. :)

welcome marletta, sorry your new hubby had to leave so soon after ya'll getting married. i'm not in the norfolk area but my daughter is stationed there. i'm down in nc on the outer banks. the FRG will be a BIG help!

carol

Laizie, look for information to contact your ombudsman here
http://www.navyformoms.com/group/whatsanombudsmanandhowtocontactthem

Hi everyone, I am trying to figure out if this is the group that I should be in. My daughter is going to Oceania for C-school and it is her first duty base. She is an AO attached to a squadron and I don't think I am supposed to say what squadron or ship on here. I am also unsure if there is a separate group for Oceania. If there is is I haven't been able to find it. Maybe someone here can send me a friend request and help out. It would be greatly appreciated. :)

Marletta, the number to the gym on Naval Station Norfolk is 444-1292. The Fleet and Family Support Center has people that can help you with looking for jobs. Their number is 444-2102.