P-3W
Well, the challenge has been issued to identify myself a little better to all of you, so I shall try.
I was born when my dad was at sea on the USS Coral Sea as an attack pilot (many flavors), lo these many years ago. We moved 8 times until my dad got out of the Navy and became a farmer. Once I started college, I met and decided to marry the man I did after two months of dating — and only the third fella I ever dated. (I know, pathetic.) He was a Navy sailor in the NECEP program, and I got to go to his commissioning (after dating only a month), and I got to pin his wings on him after we were married.  He flew P-3s and was attached to VP-56 (now gone) in NAS JAX. (Hence my moniker.) He was a T-28 instructor at NAS Corpus Christi and loved teaching acrobatics and formation from 1980 to 1983. He was on the USS Ranger (also now gone) 1983 to 1985, then PMTC Point Mugu, CA, which has changed a LOT since we were there. We moved 10 times in 13 years before he retired. Until our last move, I could tell you what was in each box just from looking at the top few items. By that move, I was tired.
We have two children, who are now adults. SNO is married to a very nice lady (I guess she’s not a girl anymore) and will soon be 30 — yikes! DNO is married to a soldier, and she is expecting our first grandchild soon. He’s been to Iraq once and will be going back at the end of the year again. Tough times ahead, but communication is so much better than when Dad and Husband were at sea that they can keep up with what’s going on with each other a lot better than we could.
I’m a computer tech now, with the accompanying certifications.  I followed in my daughter’s footsteps; it was a blast going to school with her, especially since she was a year ahead of me and could help her poor old mom out for a change. We’re good friends, and I miss having her close by. I love what I do. It’s such a great feeling when I just know what’s wrong and can fix it, without having to actually think it through deliberately. Learning that I can trust myself and my knowledge has been empowering.
Husband (yes, that is what I call him to most people — saves calling him by name and having them ask “Who’s that?”) and I have had our ups and downs, as most couples do, over 30-plus years of marriage. Our worst was when he was on the Ranger. Our best is now.
I believe in standing up for yourself, being true to yourself, and behaving like an adult. I read voraciously, mostly romance novels lately, since they are the polar opposite of technical textbooks and don’t make my brain hurt, but I also like history and current events. I am knitting a baby blanket between times, and prayer shawls for a knitting ministry at church as I can.
I am a renaissance woman. I can do lots of things well, and I love learning (and that’s good in my profession).  Keeps me busy and nearly out of trouble.
Comments
Comment from Michelle
Time: August 13, 2007, 4:55 pm
Nice to see you don’t back down from a challenge …
but somehow I had already figured that much out about you! 
Nice bio. I know what you mean about reading. I read like crazy as a kid but once I got to Law School, for years after, I didn’t read for pleasure. I simply couldn’t. It hurt too much. It took a long time but now I am (too) book-crazy again. My current poison is thrillers … medical, legal, FBI, CIA, etc.
I was big into Tom Clancy for awhile too which actually indirectly led me to Lex’s site. Will have to thank Mr. Clancy for that, if I ever meet the man. After all, he led me to best writer of them all!
Comment from Jeopardy
Time: August 16, 2007, 6:26 am
P-3W,
Its funny how some things in your bio are similar to another P-3W I know, my mom. Aside from husband being a P-3 guy, DNO (my sister) is also married to a soldier going back to Iraq at the end of the year, and was provider of the first grandchild (there are 4 now). As for the grandkids, both mom and dad said that caring for a grandchild is probably one of the most magical things they’ve ever experienced.
Comment from P-3W
Time: August 16, 2007, 8:22 am
Jeopardy,
It sometimes seems that military families may be in different services or different decades, but some experiences just don’t change all that much. Though your mom and I may be even closer than that!
The hardest part for me with a SIL in the Army is changing the terminology from Navy to Army when talking about the Base vice the Post. And I can’t figure out the command structure to save my life, either. It just drills down too many layers to make sense to me. I guess someday I’ll have to have him just draw it out for me — then it might take!
But I can’t wait for that baby to show up! It’s down to less than a month now and I keep wishing I were with her just to help her get ready. Half way across the country is still half way across the country — too far to reach out and touch her. Soon though.
Comment from Jeopardy
Time: August 16, 2007, 9:50 am
RE: Army vs. Navy: Just do what my family did. We got a chart of standard Army organization (company, batallion, regiment, etc) and put it on the fridge. 
Now we sort of know what he’s talking about.
Comment from P-3W
Time: August 16, 2007, 10:04 am
That’s what I need! Where’d you find it?
I’m sure it’s somewhere obvious, but there are those days, ya know? Obvious can’t cut it today without a map to go along with it. It’s one of those PMS days — Poor Me Syndrome, as Husband called it when DNO would get her nose out of joint. My nose ain’t out of joint, but my brain is definitely operating at half capacity. Feh.
That’s a good idea about getting a chart and will help a lot.
Comment from unkawill
Time: August 18, 2007, 2:35 am
Google, PW-3 google
Comment from Mongo
Time: March 16, 2008, 3:27 am
P3W,
You’re right when you say that Pt. Mugu isn’t the same…downright geriatric today. I spent 12 years at Mugu with the (P)reserves and at Targets Directorate, It was always amazing to watch folks shoot down our perfectly good jets.
The ‘best kept secret in the Navy’ went from 100,000 flights a year down to maybe 15,000. Lots of interesting things used to happen there, with a lot of VERY interesting characters.
It’s really sad, and you know things are getting ugly, when the O Club gets burned down so the Fire Dept can have something to do.
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