Steve's Comments

Steve, I've been meaning to write you. Sorry for the delay. It has been busy around here jumping thru all the hoops in getting this store up and running. It's almost done and will hopefully be open by mid July if not earlier. I did receive the business cards, thank you! they are awesome. I've told my wife almost everyday, don't let me forget to write Steve. I love the front and the Sailors Creed on the back is the best. Did you do these yourself? They are the best I've seen yet. When I run out of them, I'll have to contact you to get more. Next time I'll buy them. Also I'm sure some members would like to have them too.

How has James been doing? Post me an update when you get a chance. Evan is off on his second deployment and doing good. Talk to you soon.
EG

Hey Steve,

Wow, I didn't realize how long it had been since I had been on. After the PIR weekend Todd went to Meridian, MI for a-school and you were right, it was great to be able to have normal cell phone contact with him again.

Todd is home now, he got home on 5-22 and will be home for 15 days before heading to Norfolk and the USS Enterprise. It's amazing to have him home, I hope James comes home soon and you are able to spend time on the bikes. Has James received his orders yet? If so, where is he heading?

I'm sorry it took me so long to get back online here, I'll make it a point to stay in touch. Keep me informed and send my regards to James and the family. Happy Memorial Day.

- Hal

That's cool Steve! I wouldn't turn you down, but EG may be more the one that needs the cards.....I still have a number of them I had printed up that I didn't distribute on the cruise.

And thanks for the kind words about the blog....I know a number of people will never get the chance to do anything like that so I wanted to try to give everyone a feel for what it was like. And yeah....our last night in Norfolk we went down to Schula's Steak house.....had an awesome couple of slabs of beef while looking at a couple of Superbowl trophies...later that night we lit up the cigars....to be brief....I could get used to those pretty easily..................

Outstanding Steve! I appreciate the effort to help spread the word....check out the three slide videos I've posted about the Tiger Cruise I did last week...and the blog I've started as well....pretty awesome experience!

Hey Steve,

I got home about an hour ago from the Great Lakes weekend. It was a great weekend but so hectic I didn't call you as I planned. I am sorry about that as I would have liked to meet you in person.

The PIR was great as I'm sure you agree. It was so emotional watching the divisions walk in and trying to find Todd at the same time. I didn't spot him until about half way through, but at least I was able to before the ceremony ended. I have to say that the Navy does ceremony better than the Army. While Brett's graduation was very moving and I loved every second of it, what I saw on Friday had much more to it and was amazingly well done.

How much time did you wind up spending with James? It must have been tough to deal with the whole grad and go thing. I was lucky enough to have essentially all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with Todd.

Todd ships out Weds to Meridian, MS., is that where James is going?

Stay in touch and let's compare notes about A-school. I'll speak to you soon.

- Hal

Steve,

I got the phone call today, Todd is a US sailor! He sounded great but very tired, which is understandable.

I am jealous, you have the bike I want, well done.

We are leaving tomorrow around 8:00 am and taking it slow. We'll drive until we get tired and stop for the night. Todd said he should have liberty from the PIR until 8:00 PM and then from 8:00 am - 8:00 PM Saturday and Sunday. We will be able to spend quite a bit if time with him thankfully.

I'll talk to you in the next few days and we'll try to get together.

- Hal

Steve,

You are a biker? Me too, and two of my sons, but not Todd so far. I actually am between bikes for the first time in almost 30 years. My problem is that I can't justify buying a bike that I want to own since I don't ride enough. I've been here befoe and it's a matter of time before I buy something.

Hopfully I'll hear from Todd shortly with the "I'm a sailor" call. I can't wait. I also can't wait to get out of here, it's only 2 more days. As if I needed more reason to want to leave, I live in Binhamton, NY, where the shooting happened Friday. It happened only about 5 miles from here, and as you can imagine the town is reeling and that's all you read about or see on the news. It was a terrible thing but I can use a break from the coverage.

So, let's talk soon and maybe we can meet in person in a few days.

- Hal

Steve,

Congratulations on James and his division getting throuigh Battle Stations. I got a few letters from Todd yesterday and he has Battle Stations on Monday I believe. He sounded great though, very positive about everything and actually enjoying himself.

Meanwhile I'm moving ahead with getting ready for the trip. We're leaving Wednesday so it's only a few days away. I'm leaving today for Long Island (about 250 miles) to visit the family, so it's a lot of driving for me the next week or so.

Talk to you soon.
- Hal

Steve,

Todd passed live fire with a 181, which I guess is barely passing. But, he passed, even though Brett gave him some grief in a letter. Brett is an expert marksman, but that was with a rifle.

It seems as if Easter weekend is a big travel weekend and there are no mini vans or 7 passenger SUVs at any of the rental companies. And my brother is going away that weekend so his van is out, so it looks like I'm taking the motorhome after all. We're leaving in 9 days, I can't believe it's so close.

I'm off to bowl a game or two with my 23 year old son, so I'll "talk" to you later.

Take care,
- Hal

Hey Steve,

Things are good here, just a little rainy and chilly. I passed on your regards to Brett, thanks.

I haven't heard from Todd since last Saturday, I hope he calls later with info about Battle Stations. I'm in agreement with you on praying, and I'll join you in keeping Todd, James, and the others in my thoughts.

My plans at this point may be changing. I have an old friend who lives in Wilmette, about a half hour from Great Lakes, who invited us to stay with him. He has a big house with plenty of room, and I'm thinking about taking him up on his offer. It would be much cheaper to pay for gas in a car and I can drive a bit faster than the motorhome, but I have a space issue. I don't own a van any more and I can only fit 5 in my truck. There are 6 of us traveling and I need space for Todd too, so I may rent a van, borrow my brother's, or take the motorhome anyway. However we get there I can't wait to see Todd and the PIR.

Stay in touch.

- Hal

Steve,

Brett's MOS is 45G. That's a fire control specialist. He was trained to repair the target acquisition systems for Abrams tanks, Bradleys, and other heavy artillery. It was very technical training and his AIT was 6 months long. He is stationed in Ft. Hood, TX and is currently in Balad AFB, AKA Camp Anaconda. He should be back home in late June or July. He's been in the Army almost exactly 3 years and in Iraq for a year. He was promoted to Sgt 1/1/09, 3 months after his 20th birthday.

He loves the Army but not his role in combat support. Despite his MOS and training he hasn't worked on a tank or anything else related to his MOS since AIT. He's had guard duty, worked on small arms repair, worked in the wood shop, and now his squad "escorts" Iraqis who work on the base. He re-upped a few months ago and is going to be airborne infantry and wants to be a Ranger. I am proud of him but I wish he would have chosen a different MOS.

I'll pass on your words, and he'll appreciate them from a soldier, thanks.

Talk to you soon,
- Hal

Hey Steve,

Things here are the same as well. Todd told me when he called last Saturday that he qualified on the range, but only barely. He was disappointed because his brother in the Army is an expert marksman. I hope neither of them ever have to fire a weapon regardless. But, he qualified and that's the important thing.

I think I am just about set with the motorhome, thanks for asking. We are supposed to get some heavy rain later today so that will be a good test of my recent re-sealing job. We are leaving for Great Lakes on Weds 4-08 and taking our time on the drive, plus, that thing is slow.

Stay in touch and hopefully we can meet in a couple of weeks.

- Hal

Steve- what I do is create a simple .txt file in notepad that I leave minimized on my task bar...it is easy to click the icon on the taskbar, highlight my text and copy into the comment window

Steve I'm not sure. I don't think you can. What I would do is post that quote somewhere on your own page, so that way before you head off to a group, discussion, etc You could highlight and copy the quote and then paste it at the end of your messages. If I find an easier way I'll let you know. So how is James doing in boot camp?

Hey Steve,

Todd called yesterday afternoon as well and he sounded great, I'm glad James is good. Todd did not mention anything about battlestations, but I did ask him about grad and go. The graduation packet didn't say anything about it so I figured he wasn't. He believes he's not either and he is looking forward to liberty after the PIR.

I hope the weather is cooperating with your planting schedule, it certainly isn't cooperating here with my motorhome prep plans. Hope all is well.

- Hal

Hey Steve,

Things are good with me and the family, thanks. I'm glad that James is OK at least, it's better than being miserable as I know some are. Todd sounds good. He is counting the days to PIR as I am, but he said that the physical part of BC is not as tough as he thought it would be. He said there are so many great guys with him that it makes things much better.

We are about 750 miles away, so it's not too close but is still a drivable distance. We are leaving from NY on Weds 4-8 and will probably stop for a night on the way unless on of my older boys shares the driving with me.

I hope to spend the rest of the weekend with Todd, his packet said nothing about grad and go. I believe his A school is in Mississippi but I'm not sure when he's headed there.

I am spending most of this weekend getting the motorhome ready after the long winter, but temps are below freezing at night so I can't un-winterize the water tanks yet. I'll be ready to go and I can't wait for PIR, it's less than 3 weeks away!

Have a good weekend and I hope you and the family stay well.

- Hal

Steve,

Nice to "meet" you. I am looking forward to the PIR as well. I'm taking my motorhome there so I have a built in place to stay. I have an old friend about 30 minutes from Great Lakes and I may stay with him for a night as a break.

Have you been getting letters from James regularly? Todd sends them in bunches, which I guess is normal since I read that at this stage they can only mail them on Sunday.

I hope James is well and that you are holding up too.

- Hal

Yes, Steve this sounds normal. The first week they are in boot camp they are know as "Smurfs." Which means they only wear their Navy sweatsuits the first week which makes them stand out like a sore thumb, so it let's everyone know that they are at the bottom of the totem pole. I imagine it would depress anyone. Once James makes it into week two they will keep him so busy he won't have time to be home sick. Half way through he will be looking forward to seeing his family at graduation. James as well as your family will go through ups and downs during boot camp. It is an emotional roller coaster. Some letters and phone calls are good and some not so good. It is normal. Just always mail him positive letters, nothing negative. My son is 10 months in and is stationed on the USS Ronald Reagan in San Diego, Ca. He still gets home sick. It's a tough adjustment for them but they have so many Sailors going through the same thing as them and they are a huge support group for each other. So you have Navy Dads and James has his shipmates. Everyone will be just fine, I promise. Keep me posted on his progress.

Welcome aboard Steve!