Where's my support group?

Beachy730

They all have their own rack.  I guess H should be with just other 1st classes in his barracks, but he won't know until he gets there.  He has a really young group on his carrier.  I guess the average age is 19.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wheres-support-group?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:15272830-4949-47ee-b074-8bc434e67cecPost:63f310fb-a29c-4834-ab75-0fd5515ed36b">Re: Where's my support group?</a>:
[QUOTE]Hey Mery, glad you came back.  He has been in for 8 years, but this is actually his first time on a ship.  His deployments before were always to Germany and they would send parts to him to fix.  When we came out here over the summer for house hunting leave they let us tour the carrier, and it was nothing I would want to spend 1 night in, let alone 6 months at a time. <strong> Their barracks have 3 bunks stacked together and its just not fun.  They don't even have staircases, then have those metal ladders. </strong> H laughs at me that I expected staircases, but I assumed it was somewhat similar to a cruise ship.  Haha not even close!
Posted by dnbeach12[/QUOTE]

<div>That sounds just like the one in Buffalo harbor! And that ship is 60 years old!</div><div>
</div><div>Squirrly, your H isn't in the military anymore, though, right?</div><div>
</div><div>My brother might join the army nat'l guard. They're offering him a lieutenant's commission. He considered doing the navy or the coast guard after high school. He's 25 now.</div>

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

I shouldn't drink this much. I'm KUI. Wooooo! I'm going to a beer fest tomorrow. It's a vegan beer fest so... I can't wear my cute new boots, cause they're leather and I don't want to be judged by the vegans. ;-) It should be fun though. Lots of good craft stuff.

Beachy730

I'm actually amazed at how many people join in their 20's.  H was a Navy recruiter for his shore duty before coming here so I learned a lot  about that.  I had always assumed everyone joined right out of high school, but there's a ton that join late.  I had never even considered the military, but if I were to recommend it to anyone I do really like the Navy.  Maybe its because I'm biased, but I love that deployments are only scheduled for 6 months.  I couldn't handle 18.

Beachy730

Probably 75% of my posts are done while KUI.  I feel bad for Squirrly who has to sort through the drinking jibberish that I imagine it becomes by the end of the night.

squirrly

Mery, he is.  He left the "big" Army and joined the National Guard, but immediately accepted federal orders for a stateside mission, so he still plays army man every day.  For now.  But he's not deployable for two years, which is pretty awesome.  Had he stayed in the big Army, we would have had to relocate elsewhere and he would be deploying any day now for a year. 

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wheres-support-group?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:15272830-4949-47ee-b074-8bc434e67cecPost:59c78b8a-3105-4f09-b91e-ae65cd7997fc">Re: Where's my support group?</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm actually amazed at how many people join in their 20's.  H was a Navy recruiter for his shore duty before coming here so I learned a lot  about that.  I had always assumed everyone joined right out of high school, but there's a ton that join late.  I had never even considered the military, but if I were to recommend it to anyone I do really like the Navy.  <strong>Maybe its because I'm biased, but I love that deployments are only scheduled for 6 months.  I couldn't handle 18.</strong>
Posted by dnbeach12[/QUOTE]

<div>Ditto. My parents live in northern NY now, near Ft. Drum, and my mom has met a lot of artillery guys who get deployed for that long. Actually, one of her neighbors is in Afghanistan now. That must be SO hard. Especially having your husband in <em>artillery</em>. Eep!</div><div>
</div><div>The benefits and job security in the military are appealing, but I've never been that good with authority. ;-)</div>

Beachy730

Thats great timing for you and baby squirrls then.  If H's schedule and our baby making schedule can work as we hope then it will be good for us too.  We figure start TTC at about 18 months to 2 years.  Thats around the time the ship would be going to dry-dock and H would have 2 more years at the ship with no deployments.  Then he will go to shore duty for 3 years.  So if it works out perfectly for us and we have no problems with TTC, we could have a 5 and a 3 year old when he would get deployed next.  I would love for it to work this way for family planning purposes.

squirrly

I don't mind the KUI posts so much.  They're usually not controversial, rarely invaded by trolls or vendors, and generally good for a laugh or two. 

I do mind when FFF is on page 7 by the time I get to it.  Grrr.  By the time I get caught up, my flames are all taken or the thread has died.  Or I've gotten distracted with something shiny in the thread and can't remember who I was annoyed with previously. 

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Squirrly, how are you liking Boston? I'm glad you guys don't have to deploy anywhere. My college roommate was an "army brat." Her dad was a Lt. Colonel. The longest she spent anywhere was 5 years in Kansas, and that's only because her dad was in Korea for 2 of those years so she and her mom lived there. Her parents were both army brats, too. She came from a long line of West Point grads, apparently. 

Anyway, I might be in Boston for a conference in January! My in-laws live in Middlesex County. They really want us home for the holidays, but tickets are a bit rich for us this year, with the wedding. January works better for us. 

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wheres-support-group?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:15272830-4949-47ee-b074-8bc434e67cecPost:e61ca81b-b942-4b8a-9db9-72a118e30cd3">Re: Where's my support group?</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't mind the KUI posts so much.  They're usually not controversial, rarely invaded by trolls or vendors, and generally good for a laugh or two.  I do mind when FFF is on page 7 by the time I get to it.  Grrr. <strong> By the time I get caught up, my flames are all taken or the thread has died.  Or I've gotten distracted with something shiny in the thread and can't remember who I was annoyed with previously. </strong>
Posted by squirrly[/QUOTE]

<div>Totally! Being on the west coast, by the time I got to FFF today it was pretty much dead.</div>

Beachy730

Yeah those deployments are tough.  One of my good friends has been to Afghanistan several times and is scheduled to go back late next year.  I am always so worried about him.  Don't get me wrong, i'm worried about H all the time too, but I feel much safer with him in the Navy.  I fully admit that I probably wouldn't be able to be with him if he was in the Army or Marines because of the long deployments.  But then again I never though I'd be with any military guy and here I am.  And I'm with you Mery on the authority thing.  I would quit the minute someone screamed in my face.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Squirrly, you're due in May, right? One of my friends from college just announced she's due May 22. So many babies this spring!

PS, my birthday is May 9th. It's on a Monday this year. *good vibes for May 9th*

squirrly

But see, it'd be temporary, and we don't know anybody there, and H JUST FINALLY got home to Boston after not living here for 10 years, so he's not too excited to leave just yet. 

And, really, whatever post it is, it's nearly in Canada, he says.  There's kind of not much there besides the post.  I grew up in BFE.  I don't want to do that all over again, but with 9 feet of snow. 

New York is ok to visit.  We just don't want to move.

Mery, my office is in Back Bay, and I take the train daily.  I am NOT paying $15/day to park my car.  No effing way.  We live north of the city, but close enough that we're still in Boston traffic.  It's good and bad. 

ETA:  Due May 26.  Originally May 24, and they just moved it at my last appointment.  My ticker's still based on May 24, and I'll probably leave it that way.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Beach, isn't pacific time a trip? You never think about it when you grow up in Eastern time because everything functions in eastern time. When I first moved here it was SO weird.

bdulli13

prayers for your hubby and you, dn. thank you for his service and your sacrifice!

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Aren't first babies usually early anyway? Edit: but my H's birthday is May 24th!

If H and I move to Boston, we'll move north too. He wants to live in Salem. And from what I know, I'll agree. (Besides, then we wouldn't be so close to the in-laws... you didn't hear that from me!)

Beachy730

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wheres-support-group?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:15272830-4949-47ee-b074-8bc434e67cecPost:e025fb14-a549-4bfd-8900-3780ba0e2d08">Re: Where's my support group?</a>:
[QUOTE]prayers for your hubby and you, dn. thank you for his service and your sacrifice!
Posted by bdulli13[/QUOTE]

Thank you, thats very sweet!

Beachy730

Yes Mery I'm still getting used to it.  So is everyone I know on the East coast.  I frequently wake up to texts that came in at 6am.  And if my cell phone rings after around 7 here I'm always shocked. 

Squirrly- You actually would probably end up in Niagara Falls.  There's a reserve air base there.  Thats where I'm from.  If it makes you feel a tiny bit better, there is an awesome outlet mall there.  With a Coach, Kate Spade, and Michael Kors outlet.  Lots of great purses!  There's a nice outlet in Waterloo too which is closer to Syracuse and theres some bases there.  At least you could look forward to good shopping.

squirrly

I hope you like Halloween if Salem is in your future.  When you decide you're ready, let me know.  I'll give you what insight I have into towns around here.

First babies are unpredictable.  Some early, some long.  No way to know.  But active labor is usually longer.  Yay.  Bring on the epidural. 

I just hope it's not before May 15th - that gives me a week clearance with our anniversary.  I'd like to be able to celebrate both independently in the future.    I just wish I could pin down the date more for my parents, so they knew when to plan to come up.  Their 35th anniversary will be Memorial Day Weekend, but I suspect they'll wait a few days after that so as to be sure to not miss the baby. 

squirrly

dnb, I think it's Ft. Drum.  H would go in a heartbeat if it were at West Point, but Drum just doesn't interest him.

Beachy730

I found this image on another wives FB and had to steal it

squirrly

Oh my.

Beachy730

Its too big though.  I'm trying to make it smaller so its not so gawdy looking.  I thought it was funny when it was small, but this big just looks tacky.  Its frustrating me and if it won't get smaller its getting deleted.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wheres-support-group?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:15272830-4949-47ee-b074-8bc434e67cecPost:a01b8db0-fc8b-401c-8d89-1e6a713ee29b">Re: Where's my support group?</a>:
[QUOTE]dnb, I think it's Ft. Drum.  H would go in a heartbeat if it were at West Point, but Drum just doesn't interest him.
Posted by squirrly[/QUOTE]

<div>Yup, that's where the army does their cold weather training, if that tells you anything. My parents live in the middle of nowhere. NOWHERE. Like, there are two whole Walmarts in Watertown one near base, one on the other side of the city, and they just got a Target and a Best Buy a few years ago. According to my friends from military families, everyone in the army has to spend SOME time at Ft. Drum. National Guard, probably not, though.</div>

Beachy730

Okay its gone.  It wouldn't become a tiny pic and I wasn't trying to be gawdy (sp?). 

I think you're right Mery.  My friend has to go there randomy for his working weekends.  There's an old castle type building in Buffalo he has to go to sometimes too. 

squirrly

If H had stayed in the "big" Army, he'd have likely never gone to Drum.  He had plenty of cold weather stuff in Germany.  But, what base you go to really depends more on your MOS than anything else.  Benning or Hood, most likely.  Someplace with tanks.  He's on a specialty mission right now that is unrelated to his MOS, though. 

Alright, ladies - H went to the Celtics game and out with the guys, so I'm off to pick him up, and then home to bed.  TTYL!

Beachy730

Ahhh, the 9 months of being DD.  I hope he plans on payng you back with 9 months when you're ready!  Thats what I tell H is going to happen.

Good night squirrly and little lime squirrly. 

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Bye! i'm going to watch the soup, then off to bed. It's been a long week. Good night!

Beachy730

Yeah I've been up since 2am so I'm going to try and hopefully sleep soon too.  Goodnight!