Finally got my mail box at the schoolhouse today, so y'all will be able to send mail and stuff my way, if 'ya like.

AN Thompson, Joshua D.

CNATTU Box 8

3665 N. Princeton St.

Oak Harbor, WA 98278-8000

I'll be at this address through my "A" school grad on Dec 16, and almost certainly through my "C" school as well, though I'm still waiting on my follow on orders.  But most likely I will go to "C" first ("go" isn't really accurate...I'll be changing classrooms and my barracks room, but that's about it.)  I'll find out the same time if I'm staying here with a EA-6B squadron (Prowlers- radar hunters) or headed to either Sacramento or to Hawaii.  We'll see, any of those is just fine with me.  As I've said before, it's absolutely georgeous out here.

  I just finished a flag football game, which was kinda a new thing, I mean not being able to hear the snap due to jet aircraft all over the place.  Umm, oh yeah, the two minute warning wasn't a whistle, umm  yeah a pair of F/A-18s screaming overhead!  HOOYAH!!!

Anywho, all's good, but PLEASE be in prayer for me, I am definitely feelin' the Enemy close at hand, and he's fightin' hard.  Of course, he's attacking my weak spots, things I've already had to fight before...

On a side note, if you want to get into shape, join the military!  I had PT this afternoon, and I got my butt handed to me.  We spent an hour and a half doing lunges around the track, with sprinting mixed in, and the occasional break for crunches and squats (both very much plural!!)  It's all good, though, with the scenery and the Prowlers, it's kinda hard not to enjoy your situation.  Seriously, though, it's not a lifestyle I would readily recommend.  I firmly believe everyone would benefit from the experience, but it's not for everyone.  Please be in prayer for our armed forces, we defiinitely need it.  a few of my shipmates are taking things rather hard, from finding out that we won't be able to come home when and for the duration expected, to not being able to help a wife move out here, and later finding out the Navy wouldn't pay for it anyway due to his student status.  But all of these things we were halfway expecting and were fully aware of the sacrifices we would be making, but somehow that doesn't make things any easier.  Pray for emotional strength, and obviously physical and mental strength to perform our jobs to the best of our ability. 

Take care, all!  I love you guys!!

So, it's been a little while, but that's to be expected, now isn't it?!  Now, just where to begin, though I"m sure not many of y'all are really reading this anymore anyway.  Anywho, I graduated from ATT in Great Lakes on Tuesday, and got on a plane Thursday, and now I'm in Whidbey Island, WA.  Y'all, it's absolutely georgeous out here.  I mean we got blue mountains, though not quite like home, and even bluer water.  I caught the sunset out over the Pacific last night...just with the waves stretching out and up to engulf the sun as it sank down into the ocean...WOW...it was beautiful, and to top it off, there are EA-6Bs (Prowlers) taking off around every 10 minutes, those things are LOUD!!!  But there are other things flying around, too:  hundreds of seagulls, thousands of some type of bird related to sparrows, falcons, eagles, yes, bald eagles out here, at least four couples live right next to the running trail, Eagles, Hornets...OH YEAH!!! I'm definitely in the right spot.  Pristine outdoor environment, beautiful landscape, all kinds of aircraft taking off ALL the time, AMAZING woman back home, who is strong enough to take all this, and somehow still finds it in her heart to put up with me, never tiring of me just being my corny, sappy, stupid self, though my shipmate certainly tire of hearing about her...y'all, my life is amazing.  Michelle, I love you!

  The first chance I get to go into Seattle, i'm gonna see about getting a digital camera and getting new pictures up here from time to time, so y'all can see and get jealous, err, appreciate where I'm at right now!  Well, I hope this gets read, but 'ya know what can I really do, huh?  Take care y'all, and God bless!