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Well consider this your Monday morning Avgeek hit to get you on your way to work. Here are some pictures from the Final flight of the EA-6B Prowler as it left Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. First up some of the static displays of aircraft based at NASWI.

From Seattle Spotting 2015

P-3C Orion

From Seattle Spotting 2015

C-40A Clipper

From Seattle Spotting 2015

EP-3 Orion

From Seattle Spotting 2015

EA-18G Growler

And now some of the flying display.

From Seattle Spotting 2015
From Seattle Spotting 2015

MH-60S Seahawk SAR Demo

From Seattle Spotting 2015
From Seattle Spotting 2015
From Seattle Spotting 2015
From Seattle Spotting 2015

EA-6B Prowler & EA-18G Growler Fly Past

From Seattle Spotting 2015
From Seattle Spotting 2015
From Seattle Spotting 2015
From Seattle Spotting 2015

The Prowler came back to refuel and then went on its way, never to return.

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Well my training for my new job is almost complete and I must say it has been challenging. I have had to learn a whole new GDS and system to go with it and that is always a challenge. Having to translate one system to the other in my head on the fly is rough, but I am getting the hang of it. It helps that they have a great tool that does a lot of the complicated command work for you, but you still need to understand things on the base level.

But working from home is now over, and I start going back and forth to work now every day. On a good and bad side there is no longer any more bus rides (apart from a car park shuttle) but that means that I won’t be reading as much. On the good side, I now don’t have to stand around waiting for buses (again apart from the car park shuttle) and that means I can get places easier, although I now have to contend with traffic.

All in all life is good right now, I am hoping to make it to vegas tonight (we are flying Stand By) and have a great weekend away with my wife as she deserves a break right now. She just found out last night she passed her Certification Exams (after spending weeks hiding in the closet trying to work and having semi frequent breakdowns, even though I told her it would be fine) and she deserves a good bit of relaxation by the pool in vegas.

Time to get back in the air again right?

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Today is Friday the 12th of June, 2015. As I head off to work and deal with stuff all day, Heidi will be sleeping in and getting ready for a big day. Today is the day that Heidi graduates from SPU with a Masters in Arts (Teaching) degree. She has worked tirelessly over the last 2 years to finish this. Heidi and I have been together almost 18 months now so I have known her through almost her entire time at SPU doing her masters.

This is a special day for her and I am sad that I will miss it. She will get to wear her cap and gown and soak in the love that will be thrown her way. I really wish I could be there but i can’t 🙁 However my thoughts and love will be with her as she walks across that stage to receive her masters, something she has worked hard to achieve. The last 4 or 5 months have been especially hard for both of us. I have been through major changes in my life on the work side, and Heidi has been by my side the whole way. However Heidi has had it rough herself. For a little while she was the only bread winner in the family and she was also doing her Masters and doing her Student teaching, All at the same time. Working essentially three jobs all back to back has taken its toll on her. She has been a real trooper doing it all and I have done everything I can to make her life easier. But the day is all about her!

Heidi, as you walk across that stage today, I want you to think about just how proud everyone is of you, how much we all love and support you and most of all. Feel proud of what YOU have done. You have done all the hard work, you deserve that praise, that love, that admiration.

I <3 you and you need to know you are the smartest person in our family 😀