Count me in for the birthday boy.    We could do a bunch of  Over The Hill stuff with dried up flowers, balloons, napkins, plates etc. that are black and say Over The Hill.  I think pound cake travels pretty well.  And there is lots of Elvis masks, etc.  And there are little parachute guy toys that you can shoot up in the air, maybe we could dress one up like Elvis?  

Just brainstorming .  Let me know what I can do.

Anita

Mrs. A:

Count me in for the birthday boy.    We could do a bunch of  Over The Hill stuff with dried up flowers, balloons, napkins, plates etc. that are black and say Over The Hill.  I think pound cake travels pretty well.  And there is lots of Elvis masks, etc.  And there are little parachute guy toys that you can shoot up in the air, maybe we could dress one up like Elvis?  

Just brainstorming .  Let me know what I can do.

Anita

 

Those are fantastic ideas!!!  My friend says at the Air Force Base here, they have astronaut ice cream.  Evidently, you just add water to it and it tastes just like ice cream.  She's going to go up this weekend and check it out for me.  She says it's kind of pricey but totally worth it.  That would go well with pound cake don't you think? 

KristenF:

Oh my word... I was going to try to suggest a way to send over hostess cupcakes (or some other form of cake that has a shelflife long enough to stand the trip) or easybake ovens or something so he can share a more "traditional" birthday treat, but I think the Flying Elvis thing is way over my head. LOL

Whoever figures out whatever it's going to be, count me in!  Is there any way we could set something up so he could see the baby?  Do they have DVD's on his post?  (eta, meaning does someone have a portable dvd player or laptop that plays dvds-lots have them, but I don't want to assume...) If not, maybe we could chip in for that and his wife could send a dvd?  If they already have a player then I'm sure they're already doing that....

I know that they do have a way of watching DVD's there.  That is a great idea as well.  I may run that by his mom and see if his wife could make something like that of the baby. 

KristenF:

Oh my word... I was going to try to suggest a way to send over hostess cupcakes (or some other form of cake that has a shelflife long enough to stand the trip) or easybake ovens or something so he can share a more "traditional" birthday treat, but I think the Flying Elvis thing is way over my head. LOL

Whoever figures out whatever it's going to be, count me in!  Is there any way we could set something up so he could see the baby?  Do they have DVD's on his post?  (eta, meaning does someone have a portable dvd player or laptop that plays dvds-lots have them, but I don't want to assume...) If not, maybe we could chip in for that and his wife could send a dvd?  If they already have a player then I'm sure they're already doing that....

I know that they do have a way of watching DVD's there.  That is a great idea as well.  I may run that by his mom and see if his wife could make something like that of the baby. 

What about doing an album of birthday cards, postcards, and letters?

kat_orr and Lisajan recently were involved with a send-off for a Marine who was deploying to Iraq, and they requested e-mails. It was very warmly received by the Marine, from what they reported back to us. Here's the thread:

http://forum.anysoldier.com/forums/thread/23265.aspx

Let us know, and I would be happy to send something.

  Jenifer

KristenF:

I was going to try to suggest a way to send over hostess cupcakes (or some other form of cake that has a shelflife long enough to stand the trip) or easybake ovens or something so he can share a more "traditional" birthday treat...

I've been sending Betty Crocker Warm Delights in my birthday packages. They have a chocolate cake that I've heard is very good! I also include candles (if it's not during the summer, of course!).

Jenifer, that's a great idea about the binder full of cards!!!!  I'm in if you want to collect them and send them over!

I did think of the microwavable cakes, but again as with the dvd player, wasn't sure they had a microwave.  I know there have been a lot of electrical improvements, but I still have pretty much no idea who has what.

The ice cream idea would be great... we could also send sprinkles, chocolate and caramel sauce, marshmellow fluff...  yum!  (It's way to close to dinner to be talking about this...) 

How many guys does he live with?  I know that # served on his contact page isn't necessarily how many are living on his base...

Jenifer_one_N:

What about doing an album of birthday cards, postcards, and letters?

kat_orr and Lisajan recently were involved with a send-off for a Marine who was deploying to Iraq, and they requested e-mails. It was very warmly received by the Marine, from what they reported back to us. Here's the thread:

http://forum.anysoldier.com/forums/thread/23265.aspx

Let us know, and I would be happy to send something.

  Jenifer

 

This is a GREAT idea. I was in on the album that Lisa and Kat put together. 

What does everyone think?  Would everyone be willing to do this?  I could buy the album and take care of sending it over.  

Thanks so much Jenifer.  YOU ROCK! 

KristenF:

Jenifer, that's a great idea about the binder full of cards!!!!  I'm in if you want to collect them and send them over!

I did think of the microwavable cakes, but again as with the dvd player, wasn't sure they had a microwave.  I know there have been a lot of electrical improvements, but I still have pretty much no idea who has what.

The ice cream idea would be great... we could also send sprinkles, chocolate and caramel sauce, marshmellow fluff...  yum!  (It's way to close to dinner to be talking about this...) 

How many guys does he live with?  I know that # served on his contact page isn't necessarily how many are living on his base...

I'm not sure how many guys are living there to be honest.  I'll ask around (with his family) and see if anyone has a specific number.  I can also email Justin and see if he knows.  

I'm starving now!  Thanks a lot Kristen!  LOL   

Hi Susan,

Count me in.  I'll pick up a birthday card & get it mailed this weekend.  It won't say anything about being over the hill as I'm much older than he is.  LOL  Hey, is Eric at the KOP?  If he is, maybe, just maybe, we could send Elvis masks to some of the guys that are "around" him and they could wear them in honor of the "Flying Elvis" love.  Hey, Sky Soldiers and Flying Elvis makes sense to me.  LOL

I know that at least one person at the KOP has a TV and dvd player and am quite sure others do too.  Susan, do you have direct contact with his Mom or is that someone else?  Perhaps we can get her input on what types of foods he likes, the ice cream with those cakes that they can make there, some streamers or something to dress up the place a bit.  Just let me know what I should buy & where to send it.  I think (just my opinion now) that it would be best if we coordinated when the stuff gets mailed so it gets there at the same time.

Just a thought:  do we know the name of someone in Eric's group?  If so, maybe we can get someone from here that Eric does NOT know to send the stuff to that soldier and the guys could pull off a surprise party for him.

Hugs,

Sharon

SusanMK:

This is a GREAT idea. I was in on the album that Lisa and Kat put together. 

What does everyone think?  Would everyone be willing to do this?  I could buy the album and take care of sending it over.  

Thanks so much Jenifer.  YOU ROCK! 

Let us know where to send, and by when, and I'll bet you get flooded with cards and things!

I suggest starting a new thread under "Special Contact Requests" where you can further discuss this. It will make this thread, and the new one, a bit more manageable. (Just my opinion... ) 

Jenifer_one_N:

SusanMK:

This is a GREAT idea. I was in on the album that Lisa and Kat put together. 

What does everyone think?  Would everyone be willing to do this?  I could buy the album and take care of sending it over.  

Thanks so much Jenifer.  YOU ROCK! 

Let us know where to send, and by when, and I'll bet you get flooded with cards and things!

I suggest starting a new thread under "Special Contact Requests" where you can further discuss this. It will make this thread, and the new one, a bit more manageable. (Just my opinion... ) 

Jenifer,

I can do that.  I would like to leave this here however, since we have such a faithful, fantastic KOP group and I'd like to get as many responses as possible for Eric.  Thank you for suggesting that since I never thought of it myself (mostly because I don't know how to start a new thread but Lisajan talked me through it), hopefully this will ensure lots of responses for Eric and his birthday since that is what is most important. 

If everyone could PM me who wants to be involved with sending cards, letters and emails, I will provide my email and home address.  I would like to have as much as possible done by 2/7/08 so I can get things together and shipped out in time to make it by his birthday. 
 

Susan, I just pm'ed you.

We should coordinate sending party hats too, maybe some of those little noise makers...

Hi all,

I just wanted to put a link in here to the "Special 30th birthday request!" thread that SusanMK started under the Special Contacts Requests category:

http://forum.anysoldier.com/forums/thread/24493.aspx

Thanks Jenifer for moving threads and adding links on this forum.  I've noticed you do that a lot and it's helpful because some of us don't know how to do it.