First we train. Then we kick the real thing's ass. All in all, I am probably going to be gone from my home approximately 10 months during the next year, with the remaining two months being split into 1 week to 2 week visits home.
As for pictures of my surroundings....Big grey boat, with heavy ordnance loaded onto fast moving lawn darts, and lots of blue sea all around. If I see stuff blowing up or dry land, I'll consider myself fortunate (my aircraft is not a bomb dropper...it is a way high in the sky tell the good guys where to find the bad guys kind of plane). I will snap pictures of carrier ops and anything cool I see along the way.
Plus, I owe HB a picture of me in my infamous "pink" jacket...told him I'd get a shot of me in France (hopefully we'll make a port visit there or elsewhere...)
At any rate, thanks much for the well wishes.