<p>Yeah, your humor is pretty bad....</p>
<p>Hey, Crispian, I caught the grin on your face and the twinkle in the eye as you typed! Way to stir the pot with your sense of humor! :)</p>
<p>My older son is a Corpsman and I called him for ya :) Crispian......humor is a good thing....I read it with that thought. When we all stop laughing then we need a shake up :D I think it's safe for you to take off the kelvar and flack jacket.</p>
<p>I agree St. Crispin, pretty funny, especially the "yo, dis here is my homey", that was a lol moment for sure!!
Keep up the wonderful work KPMOM and BOP's we are too far to come up but will help in anyway possible.</p>
<p>St. Crispian, I thought it was cute what you wrote. Yes, the word "homey" might be appropriate for Cookie Cafe (tablecloths, music, hot cookies, cold milk). I have done it that way on purpose. When soldiers are in the middle of battle, what gives them courage and strength to go on? It's thoughts of home, Mom and Dad, and family.</p>
<p>I have deliberately chosen to give an atmosphere that is the opposite of their normal lives at KP. It's healthy and refreshing for them. </p>
<p>Yesterday, five times, I had male midshipmen coming to me, and saying that what they loved was not only the homebaked cookies that reminded them of their Moms, but it was a place they could relax and just be themselves. They each said that there was no other place on campus that they felt so relaxed. This helps, in my opinion for them to go back into the regimental system, go back to their heavy load of studies and do well. It's a refractory period.</p>
<p>Yesterday, the whole rugby team showed up after practice. They looked like they had all rolled in the mud. They were a mess. Each one got a big MOM hug, and sat down with cookies and milk. I am a Mom of six of my own kids, five are boys, and I can be a MOM to these students too.</p>
<p>Am I trying to soften them, or take away from the miilitary system? Absolutely not, I am in the process of helping these fine young men and women do better in the military system.</p>
<p>Don't worry about defending me. St. Crispian was not attacking me, he was teasing. Besides, I come from a strong merchant marine background, with my husband and son, and I have been around KP students for over 30 years. The last thing I would ever do is to soften them up too much. I am toughening them, to do a better job.</p>
<p>Mr. Tweedy, thanks for the generous offer of a quilted sign, but that would be too "homey". I more had in mind a wood sign. Thanks anyway.</p>
<p>I am very excited that the midshipmen got recognized early this morning. It was very, very windy and cold!!! They will remember this day. I am very proud of them.</p>
<p>A soft interior is required to harden their exterior. Bring on the Milk and Cookies.....</p>
<p>KPMom - if there is no timeframe on the sign, I might be able to have one commissioned over the summer. My neighbor is in the signmaking business. The only problem is that his business and he are in Australia. If there aren't any better offers, let me know and I'll pursue this. Is anyone out there an artist that could design it?</p>
<p>KPMOM -- You just keep doing what you do......YOU ARE A TRUE BLESSING to these kids and I know that every one of them appreciates you more than you will ever know. Hope I'll be able to get up there and help you some :) :)</p>
<p>OK--This is new! All of it. My son is going in the Fall. When do parents go drop off, visit, etc etc....I'd appreciate any information.</p>
<p>In the Fall? Has he been accepted to the class of 2012?</p>
<p>Yes he has and he is so excited!</p>
<p>Congrats, but make sure you get him there in July, not the Fall. ;)</p>
<p>FtGordon...welcome to one of the wildest rides of your life.....indoc begins 10 July. Check out the parent's page for lots of great information... USMMA</a> Parents Page. What state are you from?</p>
<p>Are there any parents or families who live near KP who are willing to take in midshipmen between ships?</p>
<p>Last weekend, I found 2 midshipmen waiting for ships and they came home with me. One had stayed overnight in the unheated Kings Pointer the night before. Several weeks ago, I had a midshipman for over a week while she waited for her ship to come into port.</p>
<p>Are there other people who would be interested, along with us, to provide a home away from home?</p>
<p>Congrats ftgordon--and his son!!</p>
<p>And welcome to the ride!--And what a ride it will be--You are welcome here and at KP--Check out previous posts and ask away...we will be more than happy to oblige...</p>
<p>BOPS thanks for coming through again. Two different families are helping out with signs. One is a new "Cookie Cafe" sign to take the place of my sorry, falling apart poster board sign that I made. The other is "Sit Long, Talk Much, Laugh Often" which symbolizes what goes on at Cookie Cafe. Thanks BOPS for being there.</p>
<p>FTGordon, you will find that you have a wonderful support system for parents, but we are here for your midshipman as soon as he/she walks through the gate. Congratulations!!! You should be be very proud. There is no better place to come.</p>
<p>
[quote]
"Sit Long, Talk Much, Laugh Often"
[/quote]
make sure they didn't swipe that sign from the Cadet Pub.. ;)</p>
<p>Milk and Cookies or as they used to called it in the old Royal Navy the framework of hospitality... oh, wait a minute.. maybe that was rum?</p>
<p>No one steals from their own Mom and I represent that to these students.</p>
<p>I only had one problem with stealing. Each week I gave the last Catholic chaplain cookies. He complained to me that someone was stealing his cookies, which he enjoyed eating all week with his coffee. I told him that I would take care of that problem. The next time I brought his bag of cookies, I had a sign written on the bag. "These are the catholic chaplain's cookies. If you steal them, confess to the priest, or go straight to hell". The chaplain looked a little surprised at my sign, but I assured him that no one would steal his cookies. When he saw the twinkle in my eye, he decided to not object. From then on, his cookies were not stolen. A protestant had solved the problem for a catholic friend.</p>
<p>Deepdraft1 you have alluded to something that is a sore point with me. "Midshipmen Pub".</p>
<p>We have witnessed the damage that alcohol does on this campus. We don't need the alcohol as a way for the students to socialize. Cookie Cafe proves that point.</p>
<p>Students have died, lost fingers, got setbacks and disenrollments, become alcoholics during their KP time. We have seen a number of girls taken advantage of, after getting them drunk. We have heard of incidences where drunk midshipmen caused disruptions in the dorms, yes drunk from drinking at Midshipmen Pub. We should be a dry campus, there's enough problems introduced with the liquor. Then I hear arguments about we have to teach them to drink "responsibly". Then let's also teach them to smoke "responsibly", have sex with prostititues "responsibly", take drugs "responsibly". Pardon my blundness but that is a nonthinking, stupid argument.</p>
<p>I believe that Midshipmen Pub was started as a way to get students to socialize together. What a sad commentary when only alcohol can make students relax and talk freely. These students have a heavy load of classes, regimental obligations, watches and duties. Why do we muddy their lives with something that takes away their ability to function in top shape?</p>
<p>
<p>Students have died, lost fingers, got setbacks and disenrollments, become alcoholics during their KP time. We have seen a number of girls taken advantage of, after getting them drunk. We have heard of incidences where drunk midshipmen caused disruptions in the dorms, yes drunk from drinking at Midshipmen Pub. We should be a dry campus, there's enough problems introduced with the liquor...
</p>
<p>Post hoc ergo propter hoc?</p>
<p>Prohibition failed for a reason. You cannot legislate morality. </p>
<p>Punish the violators, not the ones who can enjoy the Pub without problems.</p>
<p>"Prohibition failed for a reason. You cannot legislate morality. </p>
<p>Punish the violators, not the ones who can enjoy the Pub without problems"</p>
<p>SKOAL, NOSTROVIA, SALUTE, CHEERS!</p>