Meet the Members Monday- Molly G

Word.  I’m Molly Grasso – my husband Ian is a 3^rd year Navy medical student. This year I’m just a regular member of the SSC – my first year I served as the Adult Social Chair (fun!), and last year I was the President (fun! work!).  I hail from the oh-so-lovely Evergreen State (that’s the OTHER Washington), more specifically a suburb of Seattle called Bellevue.  Ian is a good ole’ Midwestern boy – spending his childhood in Michigan and Iowa, with a brief stint in Las Vegas.

I went to the University of Washington in Seattle (Go Huskies) and Ian went to the Naval Academy in Annapolis (Beat Army).  After school, I moved to DC and spent my time trying out different careers in the events, sales, and consulting worlds while having a disproportionate income to entertainment budget.  Ian spent his time floating around the world on a ship (not a boat, I’ve been corrected) serving as a Surface Warfare Officer based out San Diego.

We met each other in DC while Ian was on shore duty (a.k.a. Navy “Light”) teaching the tender and impressionable minds of Naval Academy Midshipmen the ins and outs of Seamanship and Navigation.  Our first date was sushi and pottery painting -  It was pretty much love at first sight.

We got married in 2009 in Annapolis with all the traditional Navy bru-ha-ha (which was a lot of fun) and have been busy kickin’ butt and taking names ever since.  Despite Ian being prior service, I’ve actually had a very chill experience as a military spouse – no deployments, and a guy with a cool gig that pays him to learn.  Not too shabby.

Ian is having a grand time as a 3^rd year – it’s so nice for him to get out of the classroom and actually start ‘practicing’ medicine.  So far he’s had all rotations at Walter Reed, so that’s been pretty cool for me.

Up until a little over a week ago, I was a project manager in a research lab at USUHS.  It was an awesome job that allowed me to travel a bit and to help pointy-headed academics and clinicians with the business/real world side of research while they spent their brainpower trying to understand the mechanisms that lead to musculoskeletal injury in active duty service members, and then how to prevent those types of injuries.  

But now, the real adventure begins!  In about 5 weeks I’m starting a new job as a full time stay at home mom for little Baby Grasso.  Ian and I are so excited to meet this little person and embark on the parenthood path. 

Other than that, we have two dogs; both scruffy rescues.  Cooper – a 6 year old golden retriever who is a big, adorable, lovable dummy, and Bailey – a 9 year old greyhound who is manipulating, spoiled, and also loveable (at least we think so). I love to cook, craft, and entertain – and when not pregnant, enjoy a nice glass of wine with friends.  If I haven’t met you yet, I look forward to doing so soon!!

Meet the Members Monday- Jenny E

Hello! My name is Jenny Eliason and I am married to Mitch Eliason, an MS-3.  My husband and I grew up in the same town in PA and were best friends through high school and college.  My husband graduated from the Naval Academy in 2003 and service selected Submarines.  After attending Nuclear Engineering School his orders came in for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  Only after those orders, and my signing a teaching contract in Virginia, did we come to the realization that the person we’d been looking for had been right in front of our faces for years!  (Mitch would come to Penn State on the weekends and I’d introduce him to girls… and he’d bring with him his friends to introduce to me!) And so began our romantic relationship, and long weekends (and long flights to get there!) spent in Hawaii.    Thank goodness I had a very understanding Principal who let me put together sick days in order to fly from VA to HI on a monthly basis!  I accepted a teaching job in Hawaii and moved out to be with him in 2006. 

We were married in 2007 and 2 days later Mitch deployed.  He said “I do” and then left on deployment, leaving me with a house to sell in Hawaii, orders to put together for our next duty station, a house to buy on the other end, and Household goods and a car to ship across the ocean!   When his boat surfaced from mission the family gram waiting for him read “Sold house.  Got orders.  Bought house.”   He knew that when he landed in Annapolis, MD he had to look at his new house and LOVE it! 

While stationed at the Naval Academy teaching Leadership for shore duty, Mitch took the prerequisites needed to get into Medical School.  At the same time we decided it would be the perfect time to start our family (why wouldn’t you want to move, deploy, start a new job, and have a baby at the same time!?!)  and we were blessed with our first child, Chase, in 2008.  We then had our baby girl, Charlie, in 2010 just before medical school began and followed 20 months later with our third, Cole, in 2012.  We are incredibly blessed with our family, and if you stop by to visit you will see why I call us a zoo or crazy-town!   It’s amazingly wonderful, and amazingly chaotic, almost, okay,  all of the time! 

I love to run, to read…and would love to have a cup of coffee that is hot both when I start to drink it and when I’m at the bottom of the cup!  When I grow up…well… I’m not actually sure what I want to be.  For now being Chase’s, Charlie’s, and/or Cole’s mommy is where it’s at.  Once Cole is in school we’ll see what Mommy gets to be when she grows up!

Meet the Members Monday- Nicole B

Happy Holidays everyone! My name is Nicole Bonomo, and my fiancé Romon is an Air Force MS1, prior Air Force Reserves. We have no pets and no kids yet.  I’m originally from Hazleton, PA, and Romon grew up in Miami, Florida. We met during our freshman year at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where I studied Aeronautical Science, and he studied Engineering Physics. We began dating our sophomore year, and have been together for the last 10 years. After college, I took a flying job in Atlanta, while Romon took an engineering job in Iowa. He eventually moved to Atlanta, only to head out to OTS (Alabama) and pilot training (Texas). Luckily with my job, it was somewhat easy to fly out to see him when we lived apart. While in Texas, Romon decided he wanted to pursue medicine, so he transferred to a Civil Engineering unit at Dobbins ARB outside of Atlanta, went back to his engineering job at Georgia Tech, and completed his prerequisites for medical school. As for me, I began my flying career as a flight instructor at Embry-Riddle. I’ve been an instructor for almost 10 years (though I haven’t “taught” in quite a while). I’m a commercial pilot for ExpressJet Airlines (formerly Atlantic Southeast Airlines), and have been there almost 7 years. We fly regional jets for Delta Airlines and United Airlines. With my company having a base at Washington Dulles airport, it was easy for me to transfer here from Atlanta. My job is amazing, but being gone from home so much is nothing to brag about (I know, I know, welcome to the military). In my spare time I enjoy eating, cooking (not baking), kickboxing, running (though I can’t say I actually “enjoy” it), and traveling. Oh, and since we moved to the DC area, I no longer enjoy driving. We do miss Atlanta, but are excited to check out all of the free museums here and everything else DC has to offer!  I’ve had so many great times already with the SSC and look forward to many more!

Meet the Members Monday- Laura H

Hey y’all, I’m Laura Hunter… married to Tim Hunter, MS1/Army (prior service-Coast Guard).  I’m from Texas, Corpus Christi to be exact and very proud of it!  That’s where Tim and I were lucky enough to meet.. but we’ll get to that later!
I have been a career student forever, but have worked pretty much full time to support my education.  I graduated from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in 2005 with a BS in Marketing. .. with as long as it took me to get that BS, I should have MD behind my name!  I was a lifeguard with the City for those years, first at a pool where I managed and taught swim lessons.  That led into a full time job with the Fire Department as a Gulf Beach Lifeguard.  I lifeguarded for 10 years, then ‘retired’ when I moved to Florida to be with Tim.  Working at the pool is where I met Tim.  He became a regular there, and needless to say, every time I saw him coming down the road, I got my gear and got into the pool to swim laps with him.  I used to be faster than him, but not anymore!  He was in Corpus for flight training, and then moved to his first air station in Clearwater, Florida.   We were married in 2006.  In Florida, I worked as an intern at an advertising agency, then at Franklin Templeton Investments.  (and a side job at the Marble Slab Ice Cream shop!.. loved it)
We then moved to Elizabeth City, North Carolina.  Tim was busy flying and I couldn’t find a job there, so I applied to go to nursing school.  I was accepted and that’s how I spent my time. I came out of lifeguard ‘retirement’ to work part time at the local YMCA.  Half way through school, the Coast Guard short-toured us to go to Hawaii.  If I left then, I would have not been able to finish nursing school.  So I stayed in Elizabeth City to complete my ADN.  We were separated for about 10 months, but it was worth it.  I left there the day after I took (and passed) my boards.
In Hawaii, I spent those 3 years pregnant and having babies.  We really enjoyed being there, but it was tough to go through those life experiences with your family 3,500 miles away (and as much in airfare).  Tim had complete his obligated service with the Coast Guard before he could be released to go to medical school with the army.  He left the Coast Guard as on O4, but is so excited and proud to be part of this program and pinning on O1 again!
I keep myself busy by running after Jack (almost 3) and Brett (15 months).  These two little guys have completed our family, so no more for us!  More power to those who are embarking on new parenthood during school… you are remarkable (:   I’ve been trying to go to the YMCA-BCC a few times a week to get back into shape.. but other hobbies include shopping, baking, bacon, coffee and the occasional girls night out or date night with the hubby – and long walks on the beach, of course.

Meet the Members Monday- Jeff M

Hello SSC, My name is Jeff Mathews and my wife Sara is an Air Force MS1.  We both grew up in Florida, Sara in Tampa and I in Milton, which is a small town in the Panhandle.  If anyone has any questions about Eglin, Hurlburt, or Pensacola NAS please ask, it is home for us.  Our junior year in high school Sara moved to Milton and we have been together ever since.  We married right after high school and two months later I was in Iraq.  So we know how hard military life can be.  We have been married for 10 amazing years. Sara comes from a long line of military members but took a long time to decide to join.  While I was in the Marine Corps she got her BA in Studio Art.  What can one do with this degree?  Become a teacher, which she did for three years, and she loved every minute of it.  On her third year the school board had to make cut backs and she was on the list as a junior teacher.  At that point we decided she should pursue her dream of becoming a doctor.  3 years later here we are.  Having been a service member and now a spouse I must say being a spouse is much harder.  I never knew how much Sara really did for us when we moved and how much energy it takes taking care of a service member.  We where stationed in San Diego for most of the time, by the way it is an amazing place to live.  The military can be a pain sometimes, dealing with TMO and Tricare but for me and Sara it is home and we love it.  Not so much Maryland, but that is half the fun of military life, who knows where we will end up next.  Hobbies: I like to hike, kayak, travel, and anything to do with cars and motorcycles.  After this first crazy semester we look forward to meeting more of you guys.  Happy Holidays.

USU Holiday Party

2012 Holiday Party tickets are on sale at USU now for $2 a piece!  Don't miss out on an fun-filled lunch complete with tons of Holiday Cheer!  While you're there, make sure to talk up our Photo Booth.  Point it out to people who may not see it, tell stories about how fun it looks, etc. and help us have an amazing turn out!  It only costs $1 per person in the photo!!!  I don't know about you, but I can't get my family all in one place for a photo EVER!  What a great opportunity to either be serious (or silly) for a holiday card or just have a great time with your friends and awesome props! 

Thank you to the volunteers beforehand, but I also encourage all SSC Members in attendance at the party to stop by the booth and see if someone needs a break or an errand run or a drink! 

Meet the Members Monday- Emily R

Hi!  My name is Emily Richter, and my husband is Matt Richter, an Army MS2.  We both grew up in Elk Grove California , near the state capital of Sacramento.  We met at a New Years Eve dance just before I turned 15.  We became best friends first, and then eventually started dating, but it wasn't until after his church mission to Germany (we are both LDS) that Matt would call me his girlfriend.  We married during college at UC Davis where I studied Exercise Biology.  Within a year of graduating, we welcomed our first child, a son named Kaidan, into the family.
I love all things fitness.  Before we started our adventure at USUHS, I taught aqua aerobics and ran a swim lesson program for a private gym.  My eventual  "career" goal was (and is, just more eventually now) to be certified to teach a variety of group fitness classes, so I could get paid for all the hours I work out!  Since the transition to military life, I have put work on hold, but keep active and especially enjoy running, even though it is getting near impossible now- I'm 39 weeks pregnant with a little girl!
So far, my favorite thing about the military is the regular paycheck.  During the two years between college and medical school, my husband and I held five part-time jobs between us, and the main income was from his substitute teaching work... money was always a worry.   It is hard being away from our families, but we have really enjoyed the ability to explore a new area.  Having the SSC, and especially the SSC parent-tot group, has helped me find friends that are going through the very same things.
With the new curriculum, my husband will start rotations in January and turn our lives upside down for a while as I adjust to being a mom of two.  It will be a crazy year, but I'm really excited about the rotation in Hawaii!