Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

I have to say, the mail issues sound archaic really.  Weren't the stagecoaches able to deliver mail to the far reaches of the country back before planes, trains and autos?  I'm flabbergasted.  Isn't it against federal law to keep mail from reaching it's recipient? 

Seems the two things that are difficult on base at Norfolk is the lack of public transportation for sailors on base and lack of ability to receive mail.

I'm also surprised by how little there is available to Sailors near the piers where the ships tie up, they have to travel away from the ships to find most things. Another thing I was surprised about was my son was sitting in his car in the parking lot across from the ship talking to me on his cell phone (no cell signal on his ship). While we were talking base security knocked on the window of his car and told him he had to leave as they are not allowed to sit in their cars in the parking lots. So let me get this straight, they can't drive and use a cell phone on base and they can't sit in their car and use a cell phone in a parking lot on base? So he got out of his car and walked out of the parking lot and stood on the street with cars driving by to talk on his cell. Brilliant!!!

It's definitely not the same Navy I spent 26 years in.

Do they have like a sailor rec center or lounge close by for them to spend some time off ship? Doesn't sound like it.

Jo1,

Do P.O. box places have a way to notify people if they have mail in their boxes or do they just have to come by once a week automatically or you just let them know you sent them something?

They don't notify you CatMom...you have to just go and check...:)

Okay, thanks!!

Yes are two post offices on base but no post office boxes available...this is why some sailors rent them at post office in town

Wow Country girl that is a very helpful posting. Thank you I will make sure my sailor has that link. So does the post office just deliver to like offices and ships? If I mail stuff or letters to my son it will come to his ship right?

My son won't be there till end of January. He does not have a drivers license. Can they have a moped? you don't need a license  for that right? Kinda cold in the winter though. Here we go CatMom the opportunity for ours to meet, she can give him rides? LOL

No, Virginia doesn't require a license for mopeds, but considering the traffic and roads there, I wouldn't recommend one for traveling much beyond the NEX just off base.

The Navy requires a drivers license and special training before Sailors can get a permit to drive a motorcycle on base. I would think it would be the same for mopeds or any motorized transportation. I'm not positive, just my informed opinion.

This is what I found at http://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/#moped.asp:

The following provisions apply to mopeds operating on Virginia roadways.  They do not apply to mopeds that are solely operated on private property.

• Effective July 1, 2013, Virginia law requires that every moped driver operating on Virginia roadways carry a government-issued photo ID (does not have to be a driver’s license).
• Every driver and passenger must wear a helmet* while riding a moped. Drivers must also wear a face shield, safety glasses or goggles unless the moped has a windshield.
• Operation of mopeds is prohibited on the interstate.

Anyone know the paperwork needed to get a parking permit for Norfolk C school??

I can't find the information just wanted to make sure everything was in order before showing up on base with a vehicle....:)

Well, no one came over tonight. Cody's ID card dropped over the side of the ship, and everyone from the USS Ross had to get ready for an underway.

Yvonne and I bought a new version of Monopoly called Monopoly Electronic Banking this week that we were going to try out tonight. So even though it was only Yvonne and me, after dinner we played the new game together. It is really fun! No cash to pass out or count. An electronic debit machine does all the calculating for you. You play with a credit card that adds or subtracts money from your account. Everyone starts out with $15,000,000 at the beginning of the game. But properties cost between $600,000 and $4,000,000. So the stakes get pretty high quickly! But it is fun!!! :)

Yvonne won! She ended up bankrupting me and still sitting on almost $20,000,000. I'm glad it's only a game!! Tee Hee...

Beachbunny, the Pass and ID Office Naval Station Norfolk (Bldg CD-9) is at 9040 Hampton Blvd across from Gate 5, phone 757-322-2973, open 0600-1800 M-F, 0600-1200 Saturday,  757-322-3027 or 757-322-2978.  You need your driver's license, registration, military ID, proof of liability insurance and inspection.

Poor Cody!!  Better the card than him I suppose :)  I can't believe they have ATM Monopoly, I feel so old LOL  Congrats Yvonne - but it sounds like there's gonna be a rematch......

Thanks..I'll have my sailor call them....

Wow! Today was definitely German food day! What an awesome meal Yvonne made! I love her Sauerbraten (marinated rump roast), Spatzle (German noodle dumplings), Sauerkraut, and Creamed Spinach. Add to that her homemade rye bread, and oh! what a meal!! That was our Sunday dinner today! That was topped off with her German apple crisp and ice cream for dessert. Now I'm ready for a long nap! :)

Kari joined us for worship at church this morning and then for dinner this afternoon. I really think she enjoyed the meal as much as I did!

After we ate we prayed together...especially for her time underway, as well as the advancement exam she will be taking.

I shared a couple of scriptures with her for encouragement that I will share with you here too: check them out.

1 Corinthians 10:13

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

If any of your sons or daughters are stationed in the area we would love to invite them over for dinner.

Co-Twin,

Hmmm, we'll see how that works out....

I was thinking moped because my sailor who is based out of Norfolk never got a drivers license. He is due back from deployment in January. 

He'd be better served getting a drivers license as that is a life skill that he should have and will need. A moped will just allow him to procrastinate on getting a drivers license even longer. I'm sure there are driving schools in the area where he can learn and then get a license and buy a car. Hoofing it may be the motivation he needs to get the drivers license quickly. 

Just to clarify my prior comment, I can certainly understand using a moped or motorcycle because it is cheaper, uses less gas, enjoys it, etc. My point is that using a moped because he doesn't have a license is going to make things harder for him in the future. He'll need a license to perform his Navy duties at some point and if he doesn't have one someone else will have to pick up the slack for him. It is very hard to make it in this country without a drivers license and I hate for him to use the moped as an excuse to not do something that he should have done a long time ago. Once he has a drivers license then he can ride a moped all he wants. :)

Not being judgmental of him, just trying to make a point that applies to any young person in this situation. Hope you understand my intent CO-Twin?

Being a CA weather whimp..doesn't it rain or get cold there? Won't it be hard to ride a moped year around???

I never been to Norfolk but have many friends that have been stationed there and they say it snows on occasion and my son who is there now says it has rained a lot since he got there in April. He's from Phoenix Arizona so a sprinkle to most of you is probably a lot of rain to him. :)

ha, ha...unless it's August and a monsoon is coming thru...went to college in PX..love it there...:))

This is a kis that got on his bike and rode 35 miles to sign up for the navy. He is very active, mountain climbs, ice climbs. Our whole town in 8 blocks long so he never felt the need.  He does have a permit and has driven around the block.  He once confused the gas and break and he did not want to drive again.  Said he would figure it out on his own.  Once he is in a huge city he might change his mind. But hey, he said he would figure it out, so I say let him do so. 

Coach Shelia...is he assigned to a ship? It should be immediately upon his arrival unless he's assigned to a ship that is underway. If that's the case they need to arrange a port call for him (fly him somewhere that he can catch the ship or be flown out to the ship). If you can tell us what command he's going to in Norfolk we'll be able to help more.

Ellen,

They get farmed out to working crews rehabilitating the ship. It isn't much fun unfortunately and dry dock periods are hard work. He'll be okay though, tell him to stay positive and keep it all in perspective.

Proudmom, I nearly did; but when we reached Morehead City NC, it was deemed too rough for us to be taken out to the ship.  Very disappointing, but the upside was being able to be at the pier the next day for the homecoming.

Some Norfolk news - 

The Coast Guard Cutter Eagle is scheduled to arrive in Portsmouth Friday at 10 a.m. as part of their 2013 officer candidate training deployment.  The Eagle, a 295-foot square-rigged barque, is the largest tall ship flying the stars and stripes in U.S. military service.

The Eagle will be moored at 100 High Street right by the Norfolk/Portsmouth ferry landing and open for free public tours Friday 1 - 5, Sat 10 - 7, Sun 11 - 3:30. 

Our tiger cruise was to have been an overnight, starting in NC and arriving in Norfolk the next morning.  So, after the three-hour bus ride BACK to Norfolk...I got up the next morning, grabbed the banner I'd ordered and headed to the pier to join the huge crowd meeting the 1,000+ sailors aboard USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7).

The only ones allowed on the pier itself are the winner of the "first kiss" and all the moms with babies born during deployment, very sweet.  Everyone else waited outside the pier gate, where they had tents set up, music playing, the works.  When the shouts started up "Here they come!" and you could see that ship come into view with the sailors manning the rails - I get a lump in my throat just typing this!  Everyone is waving awesome signs and it's just amazing as the sailors file through the gate to be greeted by the crowd and their loved ones.

My son and I were interviewed by WVEC-TV, which was pretty cool to watch that night on the six o'clock news :)

WVEC News USS Iwo Jima Homecoming

I had been looking forward to the tiger cruise so much you wouldn't believe.  I was really let down by that, but the experience at the pier helped make up for it :)