Norfolk Sailors - Family & Friends

Thanks moms for all your help! I've really struggled with this because I'm not sure that the car will make it back and forth from VA to OH. It's an old car and that's a long drive. The car is paid for, that's why I want him to have it. But, he might have found an inexpensive used car that's newer and in better shape than this one. Keep your fingers crossed that this works out well for him! I know he needs a car to get around town but it would also be nice to have him come home on the long weekends! 

Thanks again!

Thanks for the "heads up" CO-TwinSalorsMom.   Shame on Victory Motors for taking advantage of our kids out there!  Grrr...

Don't forget the customs form from the post office!! You need to list everything in the box and the weight of each item or items if there is more than 1. Use multiple forms if needed just cross out the top portion and continue listing your items. I learned the hard way on my Sailor's first Christmas when the shipment was delayed 3 months!!! If this is unclear the post office can be very helpful, just don't seal the box until you get there.

Hey everyone! Thought I'd update you on the car situation. My son bought a used car from a civilian. Something inexpensive so I am very happy and hoping this car serves him well over the next few years. The car is registered in my son's name, our address but registered in Virginia. He purchased insurance through USAA because it was the most decent price he could find. Thank you all for your help! I was able to drop him from my insurance, saving me some money. And, now I'm thinking of selling his old car to get a little money back and save even more on my insurance! Thanks again for all your help!

LOL CO-TwinSailorsMom, What is it with men and stick shifts? Mine wanted to do the same thing! LOL It's a bittersweet feeling... I have struggled for the past two years with allowing him to grow up. I'm doing the best I can but it's very, very hard for me. I count my blessings everyday because he is patient with me and let's me know often how much he loves and appreciates me. Also, I've been lucky to see him quite a bit... kinda breaking me in easy! LOL

ThackersMom, good to hear it all worked out!  Mine has insurance through USAA too.  Good luck selling  your car!  Use some of the proceeds to go visit him in Norfolk  :)

We finally got my sons bike shipped to him last week.  He is so relieved.  Now he is saving money for a truck.  My question is, do any of you know any motorcycle dealerships out there that are safe to use for getting it looked over and an oil change?  He said he thought there was some Motorcycle World or something like that in Virginia Beach.

Apropos of cars and stick shifts the other day :)  Carjackers fail in the clutch, can't drive stick

SEATTLE (AP) — An attempted carjacking in Seattle failed when three carjackers found they were in a vehicle with a manual transmission and none of them knew how to drive a stick shift.

Nancy Fredrickson told KIRO she was getting something out of her trunk Saturday when she turned around to see a gun in her face. Three teens demanded her keys and jumped in her Kia.

They tried but failed to get it to move and then ran away.

The 70-year-old was in tears when she called 911, but later laughed at the inept carjackers. She never imagined a stick shift would prevent a carjacking, but she's happy she and her car were unharmed.

Marcy fun fact. thanks good to consider in certain parts of this country

No, CO-TwinSalorsMom, my sailor is not my only child.  I am a single mother of two boys (without going into much detail, it really was just me and my two boys since before my youngest could walk).  My youngest son just graduated from High School this year.  I am very strong (raising my boys while working full-time and earning a bachelor's degree at the same time) but my weak point has always been my children.  I think that when my Sailor entered his senior year, I felt a loss of control.  Not that I control either one of my boys.  But, I can no longer protect them and they would both be "grown" within a year of one anther.  It's just hard for me to cut the apron strings.  We're getting there though.  My son probably HAD to move away for me to allow him to grow up!  LOL  Now, I think my youngest son needs to move away too.  But, I'm not sure I could survive that!  LOL

When I toured my son's ship we were not allowed where he works either. He is an IT on a destroyer. 

Kathy, I’m so excited for you!  What an awesome experience!  I hope that I get to go on a Family Day Cruise some day! I had asked the recruiter if there was a “bring your mommy to work program”. That didn’t go over too well with my son or his recruiter. LOL 

Ladies, How did you hear about the Family Day Cruise?

And, I love that you’re amazed by your son’s patience with you! My son, too, has grown so much since he left for bootcamp. It truly is amazing! He was a good young adult before bootcamp. Now, he’s a great young man! He tells me quite often how much he loves and appreciates me. Just the other day he posted a comment on my fb page thanking me for everything and about how his thought process includes questions such as “what would my mom think” and “what would my mom do”. Yes, the Navy has been great for my son too!  And, I wouldn’t change this experience for the world… except the crying! That I could live without! LOL

My other son and I were able to do a family cruise and that was so cool to experience! But my husband and my dad were able to do the tiger cruise at the end of one of his deployments and were able to spend a few days and nights on the ship. I was so jealous. It was an all male ship so I was not able to do it. I told him I would get my hair cur short and act like a guy but that did not go over well. LOL

I'm new to the group...my son will be reporting to he Kearsarge in a couple of days.  He's been in Pensacola (A schools), and this is his first duty station.  My question is, what is life like on the ship?  From what I understand, this is where he will be instead of in barracks. He's trying to figure out how much civilian clothes he can take.

He is driving his car there too, and where does he park it when and if his fleet is deployed?  He insisted on taking his car, so I'm wondering where it will be parked and if it is safe on base when he deploys. I'm sure these are silly questions, just trying to help make the transition easier by having a little insight from the moms out there.  :)

Marcy-thank you for the information!  I look forward to sight seeing and visiting his base this weekend.  I've never been to Norfolk, or Virginia, so we are excited to have a mini vacation with him this weekend. My son is looking forward to life on the ship.  I'm sure he will have many stories to tell as time goes on!

Marcy, one more question (I promise), this weekend, when we go on base, to go on his ship, does my son need to wear his uniform? Or civi's?  I would ask him to ask his sponsor, but like I said, she's not very responsive to these types of questions. 

If he's off duty he can wear civilian clothes.  Sponsors run the gamut, which makes me crazy.  My son's a sponsor and really enjoys the responsibility.  Keep an eye on the weather for the weekend and the storm that's developing - http://www.wvec.com/weather - but looks like you'll be ok. The base bus tour is really interesting, for both you and your son:  https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrma/installations/ns_norfolk/ab...

Hi everyone! I've been following this post for a few days and just wanted to share with AOnavymomTN that I'm going to Norfolk this weekend also! How exciting! This is my first visit as well so it will most definitely be a learning experience. Marcy - you have tons of great information! Thank you for sharing! Anybody have a great hole-in-the-wall place to eat that they'd like to share? 

Thank you all for giving me great information! If ya'll think of anything else, please pass it on. :)

Some of the places I like on a visit - In Norfolk, Charlie's American Cafe is a classic hole in the wall for breakfast and lunch, Tom Hanks even ate there while they were filming "Captain Phillips."  Press 626 is a cool cafe and wine bar in an old house.  Fair Grounds for coffee, also in an old house.  Doumar's Drive In for a barbecue sandwich and a shake -  a landmark that's been there forever, and they come to the car :)  On the Portsmouth side, Still is amazing for tapas and cocktails, tucked away and down a few steps like a speakeasy :)  I always try to go there on a visit.

There is!  I started it in 2010, it has lots of good suggestions by members.  http://navyformoms.com/group/norfolksailorsfamilyfriends/forum/topi...

AOnavymomTN and juliw, 

plea se check out our website to see the activities we do with the sailors who come over on the weekends. (if you go to our page on navy4moms our website address is there. Enjoy your visit here and give us a call if you have time. I can give you our cell number if you pm us. 

Yvonne

Hello to all!

where do I find out informartion about the family cruise and/or Tiger cruise?

If you're on their lists, the Family Readiness Group and the Ombudsman for your sailor's command will provide information when one is coming up.  You can email them with your questions, too. 

Here's a Tiger Cruise FAQ for one that took place in 2012.  Some things will be different for yours, but it will give you an idea.  http://navyformoms.com/profiles/blogs/tiger-cruise-frequently-asked...

I might have lost my Sailors graduation pictures from Jan. 2013. Does anyone know if we can still reorder those?

Hampton Roads Fourth of July Fireworks and Events, with weather postponements noted at the bottom:  http://www.wvec.com/community/4TH-OF-JULY-Fireworks-parades-events-...

Virginia Beach Oceanfront and Mt Trashmore fireworks and events have been rescheduled b/c of the storm - http://www.wvec.com/news/Most-July-4th-events-rescheduled-at-Oceanf...

If anyone's going to the Oceanfront fireworks display, just know that the traffic in and out is absolutely awful!  Just a heads-up  :)

BTsmom,

Contact the NEX Photo Lab to see if they can help~~

847-578-6205    Hope so!!

Good morning!

thanks so much Marcy!

Have a great 4th of July!!! I'm already beginning to feel the sentiment come over me as it will all be more meaningful with now with my daughter being enlisted! I keep her and all of our Sailors in prayer.

God bless America!! God Bless our Sailors!!

HOOYAH!!

Guys I have a son in Norfolk.  Its his first deployment and his ship will be under repair for more than a year.  He keeps calling me he is bored.  Is there any couple who can adopt him for weekends?  I can vouch he is a good son. Thank you  Malen

Malen,

My husband and I invite sailors over to our home on the weekends. Saturday nights are our game nights...we feed them and play board games and sometimes go bowling or mini golfing. On Sundays we sit down to a home cooked meal with home made bread and get to know each other. If you go to our page on navy4moms it will give you our website information and you can see for yourself our pictures of our activities. We would love to meet your son and invite him to join us!  If he needs a ride we can arrange that too. :) We'd be happy to give you our cell number so he can contact us, or we could contact him if you like. Tonight we are going to see the fireworks downtown Norfolk.

Yvonne and John Wagner

John I would be very happy if you could invite him. His name is Jedd and his number is 3606702461.  Thank you and I really appreciate you both  

@abuon18.  He is with USS Truman

John and Yvonne,

I told him to take online classes  so he will not be bored. He is not a mall person..a homebody guy :) 

It was for her bootcamp PIR 1-18-13. She's telling me not to worry about it. But....I'm a mom. I'm very upset that I did this. CatMom509 would that NEX be able to still help?

BTsmom - CatMom509 is right, call the photo lab at the Great Lakes NEX.  Here's some more info:  http://navyformoms.com/group/bootcampmoms/page/division-t-shirts-an... and PIR picture package prices