Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

Oh daughters bf- Your posts to me drip with anger and sarcasm, and I don't deserve that.

I won't waste any more of my time on you.

Jeffsmom. Congratulations to you and your son on the honor of marching in the Veteran's Day parade! I'll bet he looked very handsome in his dress blues! I hope you can get ahold of pictures or, better yet, video. :)

Hi all!  I've been so busy that I haven't been on here in a while.  Wow, time is flying, can't believe the holidays are coming up! 

Speaking of Turkey Day and holidays, I just posted a Discussion above so we can have one place to post offers of dinner to our sailors, our sailors' needs too, such as (looking for a host family for dinner, needs for rides to the airport, etc.

This is a great group with so much friendship and experience to share for our benefit and most importantly, for our sailors!  :) 

Marcy-That's a great idea!

I'll be in Norfolk to see my son over Thanksgiving break but in a hotel.

I'm hoping to find a restaurant that's open for dinner on Thanksgiving. If I can, I'd love to include another sailro whose far from home.

There's Shula's at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott; Kincaid's on Monticello Ave in Norfolk; and Cracker Barrel in Chesapeake, for a few.  Or you could take the quick $1.50 ferry ride from Norfolk Waterside to the Renaissance Hotel in Portsmouth for their Thanksgiving Day buffet.  I love the ferry ride and the views are fantastic. 

Thanks Marci! I'll be staying in Portsmouth because my son is living on the barge right now. The Renaissance Hotel buffet might be a good option. I'll be staying at the Governor Dinwiddie Hotel. I wonder if they serve a Thanksgiving dinner too? I'll have to call them tomorrow. :)

Does anyone have a sailor on the barge in Portsmouth who doesn't have Thanksgiving plans? 

kaleigh :), You're in Norfolk/Portsmouth? Maybe we can all meet up for a big Thanksgiving dinner.What do your inlaws inlaws like doing?  I was an American history teacher, so I just can't wait to see Jamestown and Williamsburg!  Now I teach first grade, but I still love history. Would your parents be interested in any of that? I found what looks like a great brewery in Williamsburg, Williamsburg Ale Works. Not so focus too much on booze, but my niece says Williamsburg winery is really nice too. The discussion above on things to do in Norfolk has links to some Portsmouth museums and art galleries too. I definitely want to take the ferry even if it is cold. I love being on the ocean! :)

it does snow, sometimes.  not like up north tho.  i've been on the outer banks sinc 81 and we've had maybe 4 big snows and numerous little ones.  with the little ones the snow rarely lasts more that 12 hours (if that long) but the biggest problem is most folks aren't used to snow and don't know how to drive in it.  also, here in the south we don't have the proper equipment (salt trucks and snow plows) to clear it.  most businesses and all the schools close.  they have even shut down the bases except for essential personnel.

kk, I worry about the same thing. I know the Navy uniforms include nice, warm coats but I still Googled Norfolk weather.

An internet weather service says it's 68 degrees in Norfolk today. That's the same as in So Cal. I love it!I've been watching it for a few weeks now. It seems to stay between the high 40's today's 68. It says it will be in the low '70's for the next couple days then rain and 60's on Wednesday and partilly cloudy and high 50's by Friday.

Barbara Congrats on your sons upcoming wedding and to your family also Barbara and daughtersbf I see that your Sailors wont be home for the Holidays mine son hasnt been long in Norfolk does going home goes by seniority does anyone knows how that works

Barbara, Congratulations to your son and to you! It has to make you rest easier to know he has the love and support of a good young woman.

Thanks for the info on the wind and cold winters, Ladies. Long underwear is a great idea for a Christmas gift! Sporting goods stores have non-cotton ones for skiiers that would probably be perfect.

Sadly, my son won't be home for Thanksgiving or Christmas. I'm going to see him for Thanksgiving, but I miss having him home, cooking for him, etc. I'm sure you all know what I mean.

My Son is attached too the USNS Comfort. He lives on base at Portsmouth. He is a Corpman. Wanting to visit him on Thanksgiving!

my Sailor msg'd me on FB yesterday - said he was mahi-mahi fishing off the side of the ship...i asked who was cooking?  lolany glimpse of his life is so important to me right now...sent his Thanksgiving box off last week.  Hope he gets it in time for turkey day - allot of beef jerky will be on the USS Nitze before too long...

i bought my daughter 2 pairs of the blanket sleepers just like the kids wear, feet and all.  some of them laughed at first then she asked me where to get them, several of the girls have them now, lol.  you can also get them for men, i got my son a pair of flannel sleepers with feet.  he's taking them on the tiger cruise.  yes it is cold in the berthing.

My son is leaving today to head for his duty station in Norfolk VA....this is all new to me as well as to him....any pointers?

Thank you Connie for the information, good luck to your son and family as well.

Heaven knows they can need it in Norfolk, especially the way the wind blows off the water!  I dug around and found the official Navy word on thermals. It's from this page: NWU - Footnotes 

Oops, I don't know why the font went to giant-size when I pasted it in  :)

Hi all,

Haven't been on for a couple days. I'd better do some reading. :)

To MJ:

Does your son have a place to go for Thanksgiving?  My husband and I open our home to sailors on the weekends and also for the holidays as well and he would be more than welcome to join us.  And just a reminder to others in this group, we would be happy to invite your sailors also.  We have room for about 8.  Let us know and we wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving!

does anyone know about the next tiger cruise?

me!

it depends on the ship, it takes place a few days before homecoming

The results are out.  you can go to this facebook page for the Navy advancement Center and there are links are the various rates/ranks.  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Navy-Advancement-Center/213190711299

Thanks John & Yvonne for the invite...I will try to talk to my son and see what his plans are for Thanksgiving.  He also turns 21 on the 23rd of this month so I'll miss that too...we'll let you know.  Thanksgiving Blessings to you and your family!

Here is another link that is a complete list for all ranks and rates.

http://militarytimes.com/projects/careers/navy/petty_officers/2011/...

is there a group for the san jacinto..i lookrd thru didnt see one..

KK, I don't think they would show that in these listings.  It would show up on his test results which the command will get and he will be shown.  Plus he has access to those results (and a lot of other stuff) through what is called NKO (Navy Knowledge Online).  The results will show how he did in each category of questions (also versus how everyone else did in it), his eval points, award points, etc.  All the things that end up giving the composite score.

Sandra: my boys played soccer for years and always wore under armor. It is much more tight fitting then thermals and does keep you warm

'

Got an excited call from my sailor...he made E6.  So proud of him.

My son is stationed in Tampa, Fl. If your child is stationed in Norfolk and  needs a home cooked meal and family for Thanksgiving, please send me a message.

I live in VA and my husband and I would welcome your son or daughter for the holidays. Just let me  know and we can make it happen. Our son is stationed in Tampa and is with is wife and  family so we feel no child should be alone or stuck in a strange state without family on the holidays.

kk, thank you, just like yourself, not all families live near a base and for those of us that live near bases, I feel it is our duty to give our service people a family for the holidays. So with that being said, it is our honor to be a surrogate family for any that would like a home cooked meal.

I created a Discussion a few days back for gathering together in one place these great offers of holiday meals etc  - perhaps Nancy could bump it up top again for the week?  Or show more Discussion topics (I think you can show up to six).  Anyway, here's the link Thanksgiving / Holidays 2011 for our Norfolk sailors

Grasshopper, Congratulation to your son. My son made Petty Officer 3rd Class last Weds. He said that there was no ceremony. He said that he will have a Ceremony when he makes Petty Officer 2nd class.

Let me know what your son's ceremony is like. :)

Hey trloguem...It looks like I am going to be able to come up for the Frocking Ceremony.  I'm thinking about getting a group of Philip's friends together and bringing them with me to surprise him.  Do you think he will have trouble getting them on base for the ceremony?  I've thought about calling to ask but I have no idea who to call and ask.  I want this to be a surprise so I can't ask Philip.

If you come up, hopefully we will get the chance to meet!  That would be great!  I'm not positive but I think Philip has to work that night after the ceremony. :(

As our Sailors make rank and earn their crows, the ceremony to pin it on is called a Frocking Ceremony.  The tradition is for their buddies to come by and congratulate them by slapping them on the shoulder which of course is where the crow was just pinned and can be a little painful.  My Cousin was here from Georgia (her husband was retired Navy and she has a son in also) when Philip called Friday morning to tell me he had made Petty Officer, 3rd Class and that his Frocking Ceremony was Wed.  She said to tell him it would be painful and he said "that's fine, it's a rite of passage and tradition."  My son takes a lot of pride in the traditions of the Navy.

Anyone know of good thiings to visit/see over the Thanksgiving weekend in Williamsburg?  Visiting my sailor for a couple of days and staying there. He has enjoyed visiting Yorktown/Jamestown and seeing the history there...so that is on the list!

Very well said, Marine_Navy Mom.

We thank God often for the blessings in our lives, particularly our sailors, their safety, and success. Today, we're joined by the rest of the country.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Well said by all - and can I add, I'm so thankful for my wonderful Navy Mom friends I've made here on N4M.  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!