Tracy - I live 3 hours from Norfolk and while the drive is manageable, I haven't attended any of the meetings. The only meeting I plan on attending is the one regarding homecoming. That is the most important one anyway.
thats something where you wish you knew someone who went to the meetings and could call you and leave the phone on speaker so you can hear it.... not so much fun when you live all the way in ohio and the drive itself is 9 hours to get there.
Anita it is not I am coming from dayton so my time is cut a little closer given I am closer to 35 but still 9 hours for a quick 45 min meeting is so not fun for me...... So anyone have a cell that is going want to give me a call???? lol jk jk
thanks for all the information you all share. I am in the deep South, Mississippi. It is a least a 14 or 16 hour drive for us. Thanks for all you all do for those of us too far away to attend.
Dreamer I saw that website too and am sending my husband his birthday stuff in September for his birthday in October. I have had that page saved for like 2 months now waiting for it to finally happen. lol
A couple things...spoke to my son while he was in port and he said he received our latest box and said things that were not supposed to melt were melted and he had to throw them away. Said some hard mints had melted and some cookies with creme filling had melted and had to throw them away. So, be careful with what you're sending as he says the stuff must have gotten very hot for that stuff to melt.
Also, he was so upset when he called because he set his camera down on a table when he was eating on a tour and when he went to leave the camera was gone. It was a very expensive waterproof camera and was devastated to have lost not only the camera but all the pictures he had taken. He just wrote me today and was so excited that someone on the tour said they noticed it on the table when my son went to get more food and thought it was forgotten and turned it in on the ship and my son got the camera back. Good to see Sailors taking care of another Sailor. He was so happy today that he got it back.
I can't imagine how a cake would make it safe to the ship but is neat that they seem to have found a way.
Dad of Sailor - so glad to hear your son got his camera back, nice!
I would hesitate sending cake there right now. Very hot and sometimes stuff sits for a bit. And hearing Dad's mints melted, must really have been sitting in extreme heat.
My 2 packages did not arrive in the last shipment, seems mailing from Hawaii does take additional time.
My son enjoyed Dubai - #1 was the big bed in his hotel room and skype time, haha. Expensive over there, but I hear it's an awesome place to visit.
On the imminent danger pay cuts - thank you Dad of Sailor, and Laura, I wrote our Congresswoman; she has been a service member herself and is on the House Armed Services Committee.
I wonder... perhaps the big FRG news this Sunday might be about restoring that pay?? Or my number one wishful thinking.. deployment shortened!
Of course he wouldn't have been able to tell me via email what the news was if he knew but I asked if he had heard of anything and he said he had not heard of any "big news" so I wouldn't be getting my hopes of too much that it is anything too exciting.
Think you're right... And someone said it could be like the "ship getting a new coat of paint once back home". But still, in the email they underlined it you know, gotta be something goodish..
LOL That ship is ALWAYS getting a new coat of paint. Just ask my sailor until they were assigned to a dept. All they did was constantly paint, scrape, tape, paint, scrape, tape... LOL
Maybe it's free Girl Scout Cookies for everyone?! lol
That's funny Anita!! Come to think of it, I remember my son had to do lots of paint scrape and tape, too! In any case, once we hear from folks that attend I think the news will be shared pretty much right away.
I had flashed on it since the FRG notice was around the same time as the President's most recent foreign policy news announcement. But yeah, probably not very likely. Still, one can hope!
has anyone else not heard from their loved one?? i havent heard from mine in 2 days :( he usually emails me everyday! (i know im spoiled lol) so this is a little unusual
Katie happened to call us twice today (we usually don't get them) since her brother was at a State track. The second time she called she said she hadn't gotten any of my texts/emails and that their communication system was really acting up.
thank you, and yeah i figured that much, the email does get screwy sometimes. your lucky you got a phone call! i just sent him a phone card finally so now he will have no excuse not to call :)
Hi im new to the group. But im glad i got to it cause I havent heard from my loved one either. Well seeing just these few post makes me feel better. I was starting to worry a bit, im a bit spoiled as well I get at Least one email a day. I know they can get busy or the system is screwy. When you love them its hard not to worry.
LOL I have not "heard" from mine since they left in February. Last email I got was when those care packages finally arrived (4 weeks instead of the 2 weeks that I was used to).
I'm waiting for news of a Tiger Cruise! Hey Dad!? I know for loved ones to go on these, there's lots of paperwork and medical issues we'd have to fill out and all this takes quiet some time to get clearance on. Any idea when we would hear about this if they will have one?
My sailor asked if i would be interested in going on the tiger cruise but hasnt said anything about it since, but id guess they probably are going to do one if he brought it up to me.. But i dont think its a long process they probably wont start filling paper work out till towards the end of deployment
Ok so I know that wives and husband's and girlfriends and finances can not go but if anyone hears anything about this tiger cruise please let me know as MIL would love to go and this would be the highlight of the year for her!!!
Nope, no wives, girl/boyfriends, no husbands, etc. Tiger cruise was initially for "tigers" meaning kids but has evolved where anyone can go that isn't a romantic interest of the Sailor. They want it to be a tiger cruise and not a romantic cruise.
Did they ever actually announce the homecoming date yet? I haven't heard a peep out of the ombudsman since I was added to their list back in February and I'm starting to think I'm missing things.
Thanks for the update...as I suspected, the "exciting news" wasn't actually going to be exciting. I think they do that to get more people to show up to the meetings.
Dreamer thank you so very much for the update and also as far as the homecoming goes the last I talked with a member of the frg they said that it would be close to the end of deployment that they would know a for sure date for when they are coming home which would be like a month before they are set to come home that we should know for sure. That is what I heard and the last of what I had heard. And I have not heard from the ombudsman either since they have left the only email I get are from the frg.
annieNC, welcome to the group. Any information the the tiger cruise will more than likely come from your Sailor once they release the information. You'll hear more about it once they release the plans and details.
I heard one of the announcements at today's FRG meeting was there will be two video sites set up in the Norfolk area where folks will be able to video chat with their sailor? I won't be able to get there but think this will be nice for those of you who live close. Not having to wait for a port visit to skype etc.
Wonder how they are going to compensate for the long lines and limited bandwidth on the ship? Computers are hard enough to get access to for Sailor, can't imagine the lines for a video chat.
Ordered the curtains back in March and he still didn't receive them .... Navy Rack Packs won't answer my emails ... anyone else had problems with this Company?
I'm posting this to show some what I Tiger Cruise is. Please rememeber, this is not The Bush and most likely their Tiger Cruise would not be as long. Please remember this as you enjoy this video.
(If I had a Navy Vet in my family, this would be the ultimate reunion of grandchild to grandparent getting to share this!!)
Yes GeorgiaMom- I had the same trouble. Ordered the curtains back in Feb and could never get ahold of anyone just to get a status of the order. I sent several emails and left messages on the answering machine. I think I finally emailed the other address, then got a response that they were waiting for embroidery. He finally got them, but I can remember when. I think it was late April or early May,
My hubby and younger son did the Tiger cruise on my sailor's last deployment with another carrier.
A big FYI - If a mom wants to go on the Tiger cruise and she has a son, then she will need to find a female sailor to sponsor her for the cruise. Guests are co-mingled with the crew. Hubby and son slept in the sailor's berthing area.
The ship will decide if one or two guests are allowed based on the number of responses of folks wanting to be on the cruise.
I like a nice, relaxing, hot shower every day so I never even thought about going on a Tiger cruise. I could probably last three hours but definitely not three days!
morgantracy
Tracy - I live 3 hours from Norfolk and while the drive is manageable, I haven't attended any of the meetings. The only meeting I plan on attending is the one regarding homecoming. That is the most important one anyway.
May 28, 2014
lymurphy1262
May 28, 2014
rikki_100113
thats something where you wish you knew someone who went to the meetings and could call you and leave the phone on speaker so you can hear it.... not so much fun when you live all the way in ohio and the drive itself is 9 hours to get there.
May 28, 2014
Anita n Ohio
I'm with you, Rikki.
Don't like when I miss out on stuff - but - I don't own a private jet so the haul from Cincinnati to Norfolk is not a quick trip :-)
May 28, 2014
rikki_100113
Anita it is not I am coming from dayton so my time is cut a little closer given I am closer to 35 but still 9 hours for a quick 45 min meeting is so not fun for me...... So anyone have a cell that is going want to give me a call???? lol jk jk
May 28, 2014
lavendergrl8
I live in New York -also hard for me...Is something going about homecoming? What goes on with the FRG? I don' t even know
May 29, 2014
benangy
thanks for all the information you all share. I am in the deep South, Mississippi. It is a least a 14 or 16 hour drive for us. Thanks for all you all do for those of us too far away to attend.
Bless you all!!!!!
May 29, 2014
rikki_100113
Dreamer I saw that website too and am sending my husband his birthday stuff in September for his birthday in October. I have had that page saved for like 2 months now waiting for it to finally happen. lol
May 29, 2014
Dad of Sailor
A couple things...spoke to my son while he was in port and he said he received our latest box and said things that were not supposed to melt were melted and he had to throw them away. Said some hard mints had melted and some cookies with creme filling had melted and had to throw them away. So, be careful with what you're sending as he says the stuff must have gotten very hot for that stuff to melt.
Also, he was so upset when he called because he set his camera down on a table when he was eating on a tour and when he went to leave the camera was gone. It was a very expensive waterproof camera and was devastated to have lost not only the camera but all the pictures he had taken. He just wrote me today and was so excited that someone on the tour said they noticed it on the table when my son went to get more food and thought it was forgotten and turned it in on the ship and my son got the camera back. Good to see Sailors taking care of another Sailor. He was so happy today that he got it back.
I can't imagine how a cake would make it safe to the ship but is neat that they seem to have found a way.
May 29, 2014
SMom808
Dad of Sailor - so glad to hear your son got his camera back, nice!
I would hesitate sending cake there right now. Very hot and sometimes stuff sits for a bit. And hearing Dad's mints melted, must really have been sitting in extreme heat.
My 2 packages did not arrive in the last shipment, seems mailing from Hawaii does take additional time.
My son enjoyed Dubai - #1 was the big bed in his hotel room and skype time, haha. Expensive over there, but I hear it's an awesome place to visit.
May 29, 2014
SMom808
On the imminent danger pay cuts - thank you Dad of Sailor, and Laura, I wrote our Congresswoman; she has been a service member herself and is on the House Armed Services Committee.
I wonder... perhaps the big FRG news this Sunday might be about restoring that pay?? Or my number one wishful thinking.. deployment shortened!
May 29, 2014
Dad of Sailor
Of course he wouldn't have been able to tell me via email what the news was if he knew but I asked if he had heard of anything and he said he had not heard of any "big news" so I wouldn't be getting my hopes of too much that it is anything too exciting.
May 29, 2014
SMom808
Think you're right... And someone said it could be like the "ship getting a new coat of paint once back home". But still, in the email they underlined it you know, gotta be something goodish..
May 29, 2014
Anita n Ohio
LOL That ship is ALWAYS getting a new coat of paint. Just ask my sailor until they were assigned to a dept. All they did was constantly paint, scrape, tape, paint, scrape, tape... LOL
Maybe it's free Girl Scout Cookies for everyone?! lol
May 30, 2014
SMom808
That's funny Anita!! Come to think of it, I remember my son had to do lots of paint scrape and tape, too! In any case, once we hear from folks that attend I think the news will be shared pretty much right away.
May 30, 2014
morgantracy
How I would love to hear of a shortened deployment....think that is wishful thinking though.
May 30, 2014
KWats Momma
May 30, 2014
SMom808
I had flashed on it since the FRG notice was around the same time as the President's most recent foreign policy news announcement. But yeah, probably not very likely. Still, one can hope!
May 30, 2014
Anita n Ohio
Don't do it to yourself, gals. Only breaks your heart. Plan for what they origionally said....and go from there. :-)
May 30, 2014
Larina
has anyone else not heard from their loved one?? i havent heard from mine in 2 days :( he usually emails me everyday! (i know im spoiled lol) so this is a little unusual
May 31, 2014
MarianneKT's Mom
Katie happened to call us twice today (we usually don't get them) since her brother was at a State track. The second time she called she said she hadn't gotten any of my texts/emails and that their communication system was really acting up.
May 31, 2014
Larina
thank you, and yeah i figured that much, the email does get screwy sometimes. your lucky you got a phone call! i just sent him a phone card finally so now he will have no excuse not to call :)
May 31, 2014
stasia
Jun 1, 2014
stasia
Jun 1, 2014
Anita n Ohio
LOL I have not "heard" from mine since they left in February. Last email I got was when those care packages finally arrived (4 weeks instead of the 2 weeks that I was used to).
I'm waiting for news of a Tiger Cruise! Hey Dad!? I know for loved ones to go on these, there's lots of paperwork and medical issues we'd have to fill out and all this takes quiet some time to get clearance on. Any idea when we would hear about this if they will have one?
Jun 1, 2014
Larina
Jun 1, 2014
Dad of Sailor
Anita...they are approaching the midway point in the deployment so it will have to be soon. I would think you'll hear something in the next few weeks.
Jun 1, 2014
rikki_100113
Jun 1, 2014
Larina
Jun 1, 2014
rikki_100113
Jun 1, 2014
Dad of Sailor
Nope, no wives, girl/boyfriends, no husbands, etc. Tiger cruise was initially for "tigers" meaning kids but has evolved where anyone can go that isn't a romantic interest of the Sailor. They want it to be a tiger cruise and not a romantic cruise.
Jun 1, 2014
stuntsmom
Jun 1, 2014
Dad of Sailor
No, the SO can't go but the child could. There are age limits though so it would depend on the child's age.
Jun 1, 2014
Dad of Sailor
The ships PAO office is really slacking. Not one post or news story released on the last port visit.
Jun 1, 2014
fierssej
Did they ever actually announce the homecoming date yet? I haven't heard a peep out of the ombudsman since I was added to their list back in February and I'm starting to think I'm missing things.
Jun 1, 2014
Dad of Sailor
dreamer,
Thanks for the update...as I suspected, the "exciting news" wasn't actually going to be exciting. I think they do that to get more people to show up to the meetings.
Jun 1, 2014
fierssej
Jun 1, 2014
rikki_100113
Jun 1, 2014
Dad of Sailor
annieNC, welcome to the group. Any information the the tiger cruise will more than likely come from your Sailor once they release the information. You'll hear more about it once they release the plans and details.
Jun 1, 2014
SMom808
I heard one of the announcements at today's FRG meeting was there will be two video sites set up in the Norfolk area where folks will be able to video chat with their sailor? I won't be able to get there but think this will be nice for those of you who live close. Not having to wait for a port visit to skype etc.
Jun 1, 2014
Dad of Sailor
Wonder how they are going to compensate for the long lines and limited bandwidth on the ship? Computers are hard enough to get access to for Sailor, can't imagine the lines for a video chat.
Jun 1, 2014
GeorgiaMom
Ordered the curtains back in March and he still didn't receive them .... Navy Rack Packs won't answer my emails ... anyone else had problems with this Company?
Jun 2, 2014
Anita n Ohio
I'm posting this to show some what I Tiger Cruise is. Please rememeber, this is not The Bush and most likely their Tiger Cruise would not be as long. Please remember this as you enjoy this video.
(If I had a Navy Vet in my family, this would be the ultimate reunion of grandchild to grandparent getting to share this!!)
http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/51755386#51755386
Jun 2, 2014
TLC72
Yes GeorgiaMom- I had the same trouble. Ordered the curtains back in Feb and could never get ahold of anyone just to get a status of the order. I sent several emails and left messages on the answering machine. I think I finally emailed the other address, then got a response that they were waiting for embroidery. He finally got them, but I can remember when. I think it was late April or early May,
Jun 2, 2014
lavendergrl8
I would liketo to try and do the tiger cruise also. Please let me know if you hear anything..Thanks can't wait to see him
Jun 2, 2014
Laura
Hi All,
My hubby and younger son did the Tiger cruise on my sailor's last deployment with another carrier.
A big FYI - If a mom wants to go on the Tiger cruise and she has a son, then she will need to find a female sailor to sponsor her for the cruise. Guests are co-mingled with the crew. Hubby and son slept in the sailor's berthing area.
The ship will decide if one or two guests are allowed based on the number of responses of folks wanting to be on the cruise.
I like a nice, relaxing, hot shower every day so I never even thought about going on a Tiger cruise. I could probably last three hours but definitely not three days!
Jun 2, 2014
Anita n Ohio
Here is one aboard the Bush and it is from the 2011 Tiger Cruise. Not sure why the audio is not working but enjoy anyway :-) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vE75CnM1sw
Jun 2, 2014
Anita n Ohio
Jun 5, 2014
Dad of Sailor
Here is the May edition of the Avenger Newsletter for those that don't get it.
Avenger May 2014
Jun 7, 2014
stuntsmom
Jun 8, 2014