[kdanie]

Sorry to hear about your grandmothers death, I did a bruial at sea for my 96 yr. old grandmother a couple of years ago.

I've been in the Coast Guard for 26 years and have 2 more to go before I bag it. My GL has been in the works for 3 years now, it does get frustrating when I don't see much progress. My wife is pissed too... As an E9, I make pretty good $$ but with a wife and 2 teenage daughters, it seems I am still as broke as when I was an E3!

Money is not the sole key to progress, here's a tip to get/keep you going. Make a list of all your subsystems: like engine, trans, brakes, suspension/steering, interior, body. Then fill in with a section under each with things you need to buy to finish that subsection and things you need to do. Some of the things you need to do don't really cost $$ so attack them first. Keep the same list with your crossed off items until it is too ratty to use then print an updated list. By keeping the list with your crossed off items you can see some progress at a glance. It works for me!

Oh yeah, Back to the CG and the "shallow water sailor" jokes you Navy guys are about to crack.... 11 years afloat, 6 of it on a high endurance cutters (378') patroling the Bearing sea and Pacific ocean enforcing fisheries laws. The Marianas Trench aint shallow (7mi deep)!! We weren't gone as long as Navy ships but 90 days is pretty long when you can't unrep! And just remember, YOU could have joined the CG too, and been home more often (as long as you are over 6' tall, so you can wade ashore when your ship sinks!).

ken