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11/10/08 11:03 AM #1608     Jenny Davis (Renault) Jonel , if you need help I can volunteer my husband. he does electric.

11/10/08 11:07 AM #1609     Jonel Bishop (Lockler) Thanks, we got lucky that none of the plumbing or wiring seems to have been messed up. I may call you though when we get the ac guy over. I'm sure we will have to add a braker or expand the box to accomodate the central ac/heat unit.

11/10/08 12:14 PM #1610     Vicki Johnson (Patzold) Joni-I wish it was that easy girl! I don't know if you've ever had the experience of going to a military ball, but OMG they become a pain. Imagine having to get dressed up to go to the prom every year. I'm talking formal dresses, hair, make up the whole nine yards. Of course it's nice to see hubby in something other than cammies. I was some what impressed with this year's ball, at least I didn't see several Pvt. and Pfc's wives or girlfriends wearing tiaras! I always want to walk up to them and say, "sweetie this is the Marine Corps Birthday Ball, this is not your prom or homecoming dance". Maybe I'm just getting old and tired of the whole pomp and circumstance of the whole thing...LOL.

11/10/08 03:27 PM #1611     Rebecca Atchison (Welch) Oh V...you know you love it!!! LOL

11/10/08 03:54 PM #1612     Jonel Bishop (Lockler) I was thinking the same thing. You know she just loves it ;)

11/10/08 04:02 PM #1613     Vicki Johnson (Patzold) I might if it didn't cost so flippin much. Keep in mind it is MANDITORY! This year was $100 just for tickets. That doesn't include getting hubby's medals updated if they haven't been done (he gets a new one or has to add an extra star to one) that can run any where from $10-$70 dollars. Then there is having to get a dress and we all know how much formals cost. The good news on that one is I just decided to wear one of the ones I already have in my closet. I have worn the ones I have a few times. Good thing about moving all the time, no one at the new station has seen you wear them before. Then you have the cost of getting nails and hair done. Since I've cut all my hair off I didn't get it done, why bother there is only so much you can do with it. I also chose to not have my nails done this year for cost reasons. I just didn't feel like spending the $50 bucks to get them done. Yes, it really is that much here, I live in a small town where there isn't much competition so the prices are high. Then of course there is the money spent on drinks, cause you have to have those too right?..LOL. I'm telling you, by the time it's all over you can easily spend 500-600 just for a few hours! You think I'm kidding ask LJ, he can tell you too. There are times when it's fun (like when we were in 29 Palms and our BDay balls were in Vegas) but others suck (like here where it's held at the pavillions on base and it's crappy food and cheap drinks). It also depends on the people who are in your unit. I don't really talk to to many of the wives of this group so sorry, but I felt like this one total blew. The only good thing out of it, was I did end up meeting two new wives who seemed pretty down to earth and fun. Of course I kept having to explain what was going on. They had never been to one. Oh there was one thing that was funny as hell. The guest speaker had made the comment that he was going to talk for a long time and if anyone in the ceremony passed out he got their wallet and watch. I kid you not it wasn't 3 mins after he said that, down goes a Lt. To top it off, it was the husband to one of the new wives I had just met....LOL.

11/10/08 04:21 PM #1614     Jonel Bishop (Lockler) That is alot. You would think somethings, like medals and stuff for your husband would be free, part of the uniform and all. Just keep rotating those dresses and when you get to the end tell your husband, okay time to move.

11/10/08 04:30 PM #1615     Vicki Johnson (Patzold) Joni- I have actually only bought 3 new dresses over the years. When I got to 29 Palms I only owned one dress. I wore that one the first year I was in 29(2000). The next year I got one at the PX for $29(2001). I have since worn that one to a Chamber of Commerece dinner in AK (2004) and I wore it to the ball last night(2008). The next year (2002) I bought a Red sequience and beaded dress (I wore it to my first ball in AK(2003), and my first ball here at Camp Lejeune(2006). Lauryn has also worn it to Prom this past school year). My 2nd year in AK I wore the one that I wore to my first ball in 29 Palms(2004). The 3rd year we were in AK I bought a gold dress in AK (2005)I wore that to the division ball our first year at Camp Lejeune (2006). Have you noticed yet that I had to attend two balls in 2006? Since John is a Staff NCO we have to go to two balls each year, the unit ball and the division Staff NCO ball. Since John was in Iraq in 2007 I chose not to go to any of the balls that year. This year we managed to get out of the Divison ball and we only went to the unit ball. So I have gotten my monies worth out of my dresses. I can't really complain about that. Kind of glad I haven't changed sizes over the years so I have been able to re-wear them over and over. The cheapest dress I've bought over the years was by far the $29 dress, the most expensive was my gold one I bought in Alaska that cost me $230. I also haven't included the shoes and purses I've bought to match. I haven't really put much thought into selling the ones I have. They still look good and I can still wear them. Plus I move every 3 years so it's off to a new place and new people who haven't seen the old ones...LOL. I wish the medals were free! The medal run anywhere from $5-15 each depending on the medal. Then you also have stars that go on them if you rate more than one of that medal which are cheap they are like .50 to $1. The mounting of the medals is the killer! That cost depends on how many you have. If you have 7 or less then all go on one row and if you have 5 to 7 they have to be over lapped by no more than half the width, etc, etc, so sometimes it's easier to just have someone else do them who knows what they are doing. There are very strict guidelines how they are to be done. In 2006 I bought hubby all new medals and had them mounted. Total bill for the medals, stars, crest, mounting and so forth was $130. This year we had to add a new one so that was another $6 for that medal and I just studied the way they were done and added the new medal myself. So I managed to save us the money on that this year. The good news, if he gets another one than that makes 8 medals and then it's simply two rows of 4, no need to have anyone do those...LOL. On the note of the uniforms those are not fee either. His dress uniform cost about $300, that's the regular one, if he gets the dress mess which he does rate to wear we just haven't bought it, cause it cost about $550 for the uniform and that then we would have to have the medals all redone, because that uniform uses the miniture medals not the regular sized ones. Now are you starting to understand why the military is always saying they don't make enough? People that do the same job out in the civilian world make 3 times the money for the exact same job. I think if the civilian world really understood how much it cost to maintain the uniforms they might have a better understanding. The military are also required to buy their own cammies too!

11/10/08 06:48 PM #1616     Rebecca Atchison (Welch) "Kind of glad I haven't changed sizes over the years"...blah blah blah...MUST BE NICE:) V---it's an I love you sort of hate:) Cracking up!!!

11/10/08 06:52 PM #1617     Rebecca Atchison (Welch) Oh and post some pics of the event. So glad Mike is out.... I loved the ones we had here in Texas cause, well, it's Texas and they are mainly just show up in your dress uniform, do the BS then change, then eat and get drunk...no fancy dress either...I could wear jeans:) Although once we moved to Portland....yeah those ones sucked...all formal...hated it!!!!!

11/11/08 08:55 AM #1618     Vicki Johnson (Patzold) You know I took my camera and as usual NOT ONE PICTURE! I didn't take the professional ones either cause I wasn't paying $50 for a few pictures. The next morning I looked at John and said,"what was the one thing I wanted to do?" He told me to get redressed and he would put his uniform on and I told him NO! The guys here don't change out of their uniforms. So they are all dressed up in Class A's all night long.

11/11/08 08:56 AM #1619     Vicki Johnson (Patzold) I know this is a day late, but............ To all my other Marines out there Happy 233rd Birthday Marines! To all the other military guys out there........ Happy Veteran's Day!

11/11/08 11:41 AM #1620     Deana Sampson (Jenkins) Joni Beau does framing and all kinds of crap....you might want to talk to him.

11/11/08 01:21 PM #1621     Jonel Bishop (Lockler) I am not putting Beau up on my roof for the same reason that I won't let Kevin go. Those two are just doomed with bad luck. If anything is gonna happen it will happen to those two.

11/11/08 03:00 PM #1622     Brenda Kasprzak (Schelski) Free Comments and Graphics

11/12/08 09:33 AM #1623     Andrea C. Nieto Morning all, Just sharing a link I got this morning to pictures of hurricane Ike, check out especially those of the Kemah Boardwalk close to the bottom of the cover page ... PICS OF HURRICANE IKE It's been 2 months.

11/12/08 10:43 AM #1624     Sheryl Morris (Gilmore) Hey yall! I had a little bit of time to say Hi! I hope all of yall are doing fine? It seems like everyone is ,judging by the posting! Jonel, glad to hear your making progress.Just keep hanging in there! Deana, again , a big "Thank you" to you and Beau! Andrea, my girls and nephews loved the hang-man game,you posted for Vicki-to keep her entertained,it kept them entertained for a while! Vicki-I'll call you soon-you've been on my mind! Becky ,Brenda, & Louis I always love to hear whats been going on with yall! Brenda- Don't miss out on any family opportunities because of someone else! You have to be the strong one,even if it's the hardest thing you ever do.I get so mad,all the time,with my family,but I know one of these days, it'll be worth it! Sometimes,you have to remember,we have to be role-models for the kids of the family.I believe their has to be someone strong,who has to keep family together.I try to be that person in my family! It means I have to deal with alot of heartache at times,but I also know when I'm needed, it can be very rewarding also! It can be challenging and at times my patience can wear thin,but I have a niece and two nephews,plus my own two girls I try to be a role-model for.They are always reminding me of how much I mean to them!My nephew,just ask me the other day,if he could call me his mom.I wanted to cry!He then said he wanted to call me his Fluffy bear! I'm honored he thought of me that way!Just remember,there is always someone looking up to you!

11/12/08 10:48 AM #1625     Sheryl Morris (Gilmore) Oh yeah,Vicki-I never recieved the pic. of your now short hair,so you need to post one or try to send to my phone again.I want to see it. Louis-physical therapy- what for?-did I miss something? Cheryl & Raquel-where have yall been?

11/12/08 12:29 PM #1626     Brenda Kasprzak (Schelski) OMG!!! Andrea those pics were amazing but yet devastating. Sheryl... Great to hear from you... I have decided to hold my head up high and attend Thanksgiving with my husbands family. I am not going to let her ruin my family's holiday. Deana or anyone who would like to join me. I am having a girls night out this Friday night. The band that My hubby and I enjoy are going to be at Woody's at 1960 and Jones Rd. They play a lot of 80's music and are great. Hubby cant go because he has to work. He said I need some me time. If anyone wants to meet me there let me know. I think we can have a blast from the past dancing to the 80's. Free Comments and Graphics

11/12/08 01:36 PM #1627     Rebecca Atchison (Welch) Bren if my hubby wasn't gonna be out of town I would so be there!!!! I could so use a girls night out!!!! Robert has his first Rocket Meet with ROTC and Mike is going as a chaperone. He has been staying after school everyday until 6 o'clock with the team getting ready. I hope they place! They will be going to the airforce base in San Antonio. Col. told me for most of these kids its the first time they have traveled. He said going somewhere to these kids means driving into Houston...how sad:( So I hope they all have fun! Hey Sheryl I love hearing from you too!!! Can't wait for the big party in Dec. to see you again!!! How' Kevin been feeling???? I hope he's better! V you need to just put up a big pic for us all!!!!!! Anyways I'm off and running as usual:)

11/12/08 03:37 PM #1628     Deana Sampson (Jenkins) Jonel! LOL That is hilarious! He's feel out of a tre twice...ON THE SAME DAY! WITH A CHAINSAW! But a roof...he's good. I just actually helped him with a roof job and he was embarrassed that I outworked him! Isn't that always the case though? Behind ever man is the woman that...Ya'll fill in the blanks! LOL Sheryl my darling, you and Kevin are soooo welcome! I am so glad we were able to help out. If you need us for anything else just let us know! OH! and your daughters! OMG! LOCK THEM UP! They are beautiful! I loved meeteing them, and Kevin's mom was sooo sweet!

11/12/08 03:42 PM #1629     Deana Sampson (Jenkins) I have to keep reading to remember what to post! RRRAAAAAAACCCCCHHHHEEEELLLLLL! I called you yesterday...get my message? LOL Brenda..Hey, that sounds like something I just might be able to do! I will let you know before Friday for sure! Thanks so much for the invite! Sounds like fun! V--You're daughter's picture is sooo good! She's so beautiful! Hi Andrea! Hi Becky! HUGS EVERYONE! Oh yeah...Louis, where are you mister? I've been wanting to talk to you about that message you left me the other day! Such a sweet offer for our MIA's!

11/12/08 04:16 PM #1630     Brenda Kasprzak (Schelski) Deana... Sounds like a plan. I bet Jonel could use a night out... Hint Hint Anyone else wanna go??? I think us former Sam girls could close the place down. Let me know.

11/12/08 05:07 PM #1631     Vicki Johnson (Patzold) Deana-Thank you Sheryl and Becky-as soon as I get one that isn't on my cell phone. Going back to the discussion a few days or weeks ago when we were talking about the Christmas party and egg nog......well I'm getting a head start. I'm drinking a nice frothy glass of egg nog right now........yummy!!!

11/12/08 05:34 PM #1632     Louis Jackson Sheryl, no you didn't miss anything. My physical therapy is for my shoulders. I have had pain in both shoulders for over two months now. VJ, it was nice talking to you yesterday. I am sitting in my office right now, bored to death. We are still transforming into this new concept of how our unit is going to look, so there's alot of new people (90% of us, to be exact). So we are trying to feel our way through things.

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