tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:43:23 +0000honorOmbudsmancutsCG newsUSCGbooksplanning aheadpromotionsDITYcareer intentionsVeterans daysafetyjoiningTricareSemper Gumbyday in the lifetragedytraveleducation/trainingresourcesfamilyemailgov't credit cardlettersadvancementhumorcontestweatherreservesMSOYratesremembrancehealth/well-beingLaura VanderwerfCGFOhurricanesFEMArecruitgratitude© 2009 Photos by Just a Girl in a Portonlinehousing© 2008 Photos by Just a Girl in a PortWork LifeholidaysinsurancestatsmessagesrollercoasterbloggingelitePCS1915technologyCGSOYboatingintroductionTrips/Deployment2011retirementcongressmemoriallistsauxmarriagewinemilitaryEAPordersdeploymentsgiftsyoung lovememoriesTSPrecruitmentgossip rumorshomecomingceremonyfriendswomenDHSOPSECQandAcounselingrevisionchange of commandphotographystudentspoints of contentionparadisescholarshipmeetingWordless Wednesdayciviliana day in the lifeenlistingTitle 14© 2010 Photos by Just a Girl in a PortWWmilitary traditionDODbratsspousesentertainmentFirst Bookawardshistorydatesappointmentrandom thoughtsmenunderwaywaivercrossoverSWEfitnessvolunteersat homeCoast Guard Family Organization, Inc.'s blog for news, ed op pieces, articles of interest and more for Coast Guard families and spouses.http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Bassett)Blogger276125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-2716645550119080034Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:26:00 +00002012-03-13T20:22:42.258-07:002011Laura VanderwerfCGSOYMSOY U.S. Coast Guard photo by Telfair H. Brown, Sr.For those you who haven't had the enormous pleasure of meeting Mrs. Laura Vanderwerf, you are missing out. Last May, she was rightfully named Military Spouse Magazine's 2011 Coast Guard Spouse of the Year. What brought her to land this coveted role? Well, I am glad you asked. She and her husband have been married over two decades. They are a http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/6ef3qww1h68/2011-coast-guard-spouse-of-year.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Bassett)0http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2012/03/2011-coast-guard-spouse-of-year.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-8747660192556386240Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:27:00 +00002012-02-05T20:41:03.674-08:00homecomingThere have been some fantastic unit homecomings in the grand USCG this past week. I love homecomings. I am a sucker for them. They don't even have to involve me.What can I say? I'm a hopelessly sappy romantic.I hope everyone enjoys their reconnecting and makes the most of every moment. As we all know, the times between homecomings and subsequent deployments often goes all too quick.One of my http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/l5A6aF70O3A/homecomings.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Bassett)1http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2012/02/homecomings.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-813062407981434957Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:16:00 +00002012-01-23T11:17:46.549-08:00Tricarehealth/well-being(Recent news from 12/2011) A friend shared the following information with us.Did you hear that the TRICARE South department has decided to put on a demonstration for all of the AD CG members and their dependents with respect to decreasing ER costs? If you are in the South Region, chances are, you received this in a letter. For those of you who haven't here's the info:The objective of this http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/s-nXpo01I7c/tricare-for-south-region-decreasing-er.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Bassett)0http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2012/01/tricare-for-south-region-decreasing-er.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-4816146470843094068Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:07:00 +00002012-01-20T15:07:31.380-08:00Jennifer Bassett is one of the top five finalists for Coast Guard Spouse of the Year and in the running for 2012 Military Spouse of the Year. If you would like to read about her commitment and work on behalf of CG and other military families, please visit her profile and vote at: http://msoy.milspouse.com/ViewProfile.aspx?id=144Voting runs through 11:59pm on 2/3. 2/6th-13th they will be http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/5LDKPEk4akE/breakings-news-at-cgfo-inc.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Bassett)0http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2012/01/breakings-news-at-cgfo-inc.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-8148228315626855731Sat, 10 Dec 2011 01:10:00 +00002011-12-09T21:19:15.415-08:00Coast Guard Family Organization, Inc. continues to do great things for you and your family!BLOG - We are relaunching our blog, right here, in January 2012. We are so excited to share relevant and related stories with you.HOLIDAY PROJECT - Right now, we are busy, busy, busy with helping Operation Homefront distribute some toys this holiday season to Coastie and other military kids. COMING SOON - http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/JORz282FKZ8/onward-and-upward-lots-of-news-about.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Bassett)0http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2011/12/onward-and-upward-lots-of-news-about.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-8454195477931665725Wed, 16 Mar 2011 04:11:00 +00002011-03-15T21:13:52.421-07:00For a few years blogging was so very popular. Nowadays, most folks can be found reading their news, sharing photos, connecting with others and joining organizations on Facebook. We are there too!Please join our Group on FB, if you have not already.CGFO on FBhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/8LRiEbfiw5w/facebook.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Bassett)0http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2011/03/facebook.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-1549953805277357771Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:22:00 +00002010-11-28T11:44:56.899-08:00scholarshipCGFOIn 2009, CGFO awarded its first academic scholarship to a spouse of an active duty Coast Guard member. That fortunate first year's winner was Tracy F. a well deserving, altruistic spouse stationed, at the time, in Puerto Rico. In 2010, CGFO awarded its the second scholarship to highly motivated and charitable spouse Kimberly G. of Virginia. In 2011, we hope to award even more in scholarship fundshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/toPxlGvGr0w/cgfo-kicks-off-2011-scholarship-fund.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Bassett)0http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2010/11/cgfo-kicks-off-2011-scholarship-fund.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-8921465139602987343Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:07:00 +00002010-11-11T08:07:36.510-08:00Veterans dayTo the many men and women currently serving our country, as well as all those who have served before, Happy Veterans Day. Thank you for making sacrifices, training for the unthinkable - and in many cases experiencing even worse, and doing it all to protect the rights of each and every person in our country.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/AB_22WNvP78/happy-veterans-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amber)0http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2010/11/happy-veterans-day.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-1287430491491788487Sat, 23 Oct 2010 22:51:00 +00002010-10-23T15:51:03.014-07:00familyCGFOCoast Guard families have a lot on their plate. Whether you are a couple without children or a family of 10, you know what I am talking about. All too often, Coast Guard families feel as though they are the forgotten ones—the branch that supposedly is not really “military”. You and I know that could not be further from the truth. The United States Coast Guard is in fact a military service and is http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/k_H9LAzxX-s/coast-guard-families.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Just a Girl in a Port)4http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2010/10/coast-guard-families.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-6140101516337607194Fri, 10 Sep 2010 04:19:00 +00002010-09-09T21:19:48.278-07:00This blog is about to undergo some redesign and restructuring. We appreciate your patience as we make some changes we hope you will enjoy.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/AKsPgIMtx2g/extra-extra-read-all-about-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Just a Girl in a Port)1http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2010/09/extra-extra-read-all-about-it.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-3325663404872752755Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:45:00 +00002010-08-16T17:45:57.010-07:00Scentual Escape - for the month of August, a portion of profits go to support Coast Guard Family Organization, Inc. Coast Guard Foundation - Donate in support of CG-6017 Honor Our Fallen - Find a run and raise funds to support our fallen CG members Coast Guard Mutual Assistance - you can donate in various wayshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/wyL3DGnbduU/help-support-coast-guard-families-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Just a Girl in a Port)0http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2010/08/help-support-coast-guard-families-in.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-3571230242016821389Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:33:00 +00002010-08-15T12:36:56.982-07:00Where or where has this summer gone already? Well, I suppose it's no surprise that it whipped by for me with the PCS and all. We are enjoying our new digs right now. Starting to miss "home" a little bit. Of course, we are keeping ourselves quiet busy with so much to do here. The kids are over their home sickness for the most part, thanks to new friends and the understanding this is how the Coast http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/z9ZjgJhdFpI/me-oh-my-its-august-its-season-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Just a Girl in a Port)1http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2010/08/me-oh-my-its-august-its-season-for.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-1869563072073535867Fri, 23 Jul 2010 01:13:00 +00002010-07-22T21:31:18.900-07:00Recently, on a drive down the Oregon coast my son shared with me a story about perspective. The basic gist of the story is that people judge what they view based on their own circumstances and experiences. In the story that he read there were four identical people but each identified their neighboring mirror images as being either short or tall or fat or skinny, even though they were each the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/S10wgL3mm_8/its-all-about-perspective.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lainy)4http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/its-all-about-perspective.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-8267969569706588780Thu, 22 Jul 2010 06:26:00 +00002010-07-21T23:26:42.239-07:00what it's like to be a Coast Guard spouse. Tricky question, eh? Seriously, how do you answer that? It was an honest question, a good one at that. Here are my thoughts. Pardon my rambling. Being a Coast Guard spouse is being part of an amazing community of people. I know there are people who will reach out when you think all is lost, your world comes crashing down, your kids need some help orhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/v7E-mslYDVI/someone-recently-asked.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Just a Girl in a Port)0http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/someone-recently-asked.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-6685942210333626782Sun, 18 Jul 2010 23:56:00 +00002010-07-18T16:57:58.401-07:00© 2010 Photos by Just a Girl in a PortHere is where it begins. The immediate weeks after your PCS has come to a screeching halt. That is when you begin to long for your next PCS. Well, maybe not for everyone. The travel is usually the fun part. You were more likely to visit exciting and perhaps not so exciting places if you drove between stations. Of course, if you flew or ferried or a combination of both, I suppose you likely could http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/e1xMoVev59Y/reminiscing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Just a Girl in a Port)3http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/reminiscing.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-948393759485025471Sat, 17 Jul 2010 01:58:00 +00002010-07-16T18:58:55.298-07:00PCS season vacation mode is grinding to a halt. We have been in that weird place where work has ceased to truly exist and you are not really on vacation, but you certainly feel like it. You know the feeling. We recently learned that we were going to enjoy some extended virtual vacation. Oh wait. Nope. Nevermind. Just kidding. Needs of the Coast Guard. Well, I really cannot complain. The http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/W-qb_oQWSoE/semper-gumby-up.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Just a Girl in a Port)0http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/semper-gumby-up.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-3633892948402027044Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:10:00 +00002010-07-13T12:11:25.232-07:00UPDATE: Remembering CG 6017 The Coast Guard Compass - Live Webcast today of the Memorial in Sitka The Coast Guard will be providing a means for on-duty service members to view the memorial service, we are releasing the following web links for viewing by the public. The CG 6017 Memorial Service will be webcast for the public here and/or here and will begin at approximately 2 p.m. (Alaska)/ 3 p.m.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/nnhWQK7rlr8/update-remembering-cg-6017-coast-guard.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Just a Girl in a Port)0http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/update-remembering-cg-6017-coast-guard.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-715096061448399710Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:17:00 +00002010-07-09T15:17:07.645-07:00Honoring Our Fallen: What is Honoring Our Fallen?: "Honoring Our Fallen is a progressive event, happening over a 3-month period of time(August-October) where people all over the nation will pa..."http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/O6OTsLfLeVc/honoring-our-fallen-what-is-honoring.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Just a Girl in a Port)0http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/honoring-our-fallen-what-is-honoring.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-5033175057849168968Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:50:00 +00002010-07-07T22:13:52.038-07:00That's what today has been - heart-wrenching.For those who don't know my bio, in my non-coastie life, I'm the wife of an HH-60 pilot. There are many days when I am reminded of the twinge of worry that lives constantly in the back of my mind. Today that reminder was a rushing linebacker that bowled me over early in the day.This is a time of celebration for me... I'm two days away from my Change ofhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/ukqyQ7dIUSg/heart-wrenching.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The FlyingFish)7http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/heart-wrenching.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-3651338913916175320Sun, 04 Jul 2010 23:15:00 +00002010-07-04T16:16:46.507-07:00PCSholidaysand I reflect on a memorable July 4th... My family and I spent the Fourth of July in Boston last summer. It was truly spectacular. Not only was it exciting to watch the turnaround of the USS Constitution, but electrifying too was the spirit in the air. I was high on the patriotism. Alright, that may sound a little quixotic and on the brink of writing something akin to the Defence of Fort McHenryhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/CpuY3KhzWp0/independence-day-is-upon-us.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Just a Girl in a Port)2http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2010/06/independence-day-is-upon-us.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-7248354047488186611Mon, 28 Jun 2010 03:25:00 +00002010-06-27T20:25:26.752-07:00PCS that a PCS has brought me to. I've always loved the Looking Glass' Brandy and the man in blue and I always sing it--hopeless romantics that we are, but thankful it's not entirely true to our lives. Nonetheless, we've never had the western part down either. Now, we do. Still not settled, but we have made it cross country through amazing places. My family has an impressive of collection memorieshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/-r4POnl4MGk/theres-port-on-western-bay.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Just a Girl in a Port)0http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2010/06/theres-port-on-western-bay.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-6097059127281363294Fri, 18 Jun 2010 04:28:00 +00002010-06-17T21:31:02.812-07:00<!--StartFragment--> I should probably start by explaining the title… At the CG Academy, at least way back in ancient days when I was there, a fourth class cadet (freshman) was assigned the task of being the “Clock Orderly.” The job of the Clock Orderly was to count down the minutes until a formation, so that all the upper class knew when they had to actually rush out and didn’t have to show up http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/FlqVrkDjJ3o/5-minutes-to-go-sir.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (The FlyingFish)3http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2010/06/5-minutes-to-go-sir.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-8373257943740999404Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:25:00 +00002010-06-17T07:53:19.030-07:00I've been married to my husband for almost 4 years now (he's been in the Coast Guard much longer), and am only now starting to realize all of the ironies that exist in a military lifestyle. I think the whole "hurry up and wait" was one of the first concepts for me to grasp. There's nothing like hanging up the phone after the detailer calls, scrambling to analyze each of the locations, submittinghttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/L1JrSg4uE7U/oh-irony.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (JulieAnn)0http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2010/06/oh-irony.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621545773894720962.post-7634516876558516917Sun, 13 Jun 2010 06:17:00 +00002010-06-12T23:26:10.358-07:00In lieu of a traditional "wetting down" my recently promoted CWO3 husband is going for the non-traditional bash while at the current port of call. It was one of those "really?" moments for me, but hey, I guess if it's your party you can do it however you want, huh? So, yep, it's burritos and milkshakes, catered of course. (Which may crack me up more than the whole burritos and milkshakes thing, Ihttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WaitingForShipsToComeIn/~3/obd9e97d14c/its-all-about-burritos-and-milkshakes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lainy)3http://onebigcoastiefamily.blogspot.com/2010/06/its-all-about-burritos-and-milkshakes.html