Overdue!

Well, I got a disk with all the homecoming photos and provided they are uploading at a decent speed I will post a few.
I have to apoligise for not posting more, or commenting on some sites I frequent. Actually even visiting sites, we have been pretty busy.
Missy and I attended some reintegration classes today, and I think it was VERY helpful for her to be there with me to understand my thought process since I have been back. It also was good for me to go to and realize that I am having normal reactions to the ABNORMAL experience I have gotten back from, as well as my family and me getting back to and what they expect from me ,and I expect from them. Missy and I have talked about them, but until you actually have someone tell you the normal things you go through coming back it isn't easy for both sides to understand. Hearing someone say what is normal and what is gonna be a normal adjustment for a couple months makes us BOTH understand a little more. Missy and I are good communicators to each other and that helps, but I guess when you come back the first thing you want to do is get back on the horse and get on with the race, however, even for what I expected coming home, it does take adjusting. Being that it is Christmas it makes it a little more hectic and we had our first Christmas celebration yesterday, and I don't mind going this year to say hi to poeple that have kept track of me maybe even moreso than other years as far as family goes is nice.
You learn a definition of what the difference of deployment life and real life is. In deployment we live simply, and have very few choices personally to make, and tha tends up to be pretty easy for me. Meanwhile the family is making the same decisions in a hectic world without you. When you get home, even from making your own lunch, you have decisions, and the first day I had to make lunch for myself it was a process, because I could not just get it served to me. Sounds simple, but it is an adjustment.
I am not minding the cold yet as much as I thought I would, but maybe it is because we have been busy!
OK, and what is this thing this year around the holidays with people not saying Merry Christmas, but Happy Holidays?
It's frickin Christmas, and it is a religious holiday, not some Hallmark giftgiving made up holiday! At my kids school they sang We wish you a Happy Holiday, and at another program I went to they did the same thing. Yet, at my daughters program they sang a Hannukah song! WTH??? How is that?
If you DON'T celebrate Jesus birth for what it is then reap the benefits of your gifts and SHUT UP! Let us that DO believe in our beliefs enjoy it for what we believe it is for, or else DON'T bother us and stick to what you believe in. I am not a fanatical in religion, but in our country we don't want to ever offend the minority in EVERY aspect. Well, as the majority it is offending ME! We are by inlarge a Christian country and I don't mind when the Jewish want to celebrate Hannukah, or Muslims celebrate Ramadan, or whoever else in Whoville wants to celebrate whatever they want. LET ME CELEBRATE MINE. Or don't put on these CHRISTMAS programs and don't mention CHRISTMAS! If I offended anyone, THEN MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Have a good week my friends, and we'll talk to you later!
Later,
Erik