I woke up this morning in a absolute excellent mood.  I normally have to spend a couple hours to get myself in a good place, but not today.  I don't know why, but I am not looking a gift horse in the mouth.  Just wanted to spread my good cheer with everyone out there.  Here's a BIG SMILE and HUG to y'all.  There are some real good people on this site, and I woke thinking about all of you and know who you are.  But even the ones that I disagree with, have a great day and smile.  There is always tomorrow to be grumpy.  Spread the cheer today.  Say hello to a stranger, wish them a good day.  I talked to a few old friends yesterday, and life is so good.  Life will always be turbulent at times, but be thankful for what you have and what others in your life have.  Damn, it's nice not be bitter!!  So, to ALL, have a great day and hopefully it will expand into the weekend. 

A Different Christmas Poem



The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,

I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.

My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,

My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,

Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,

Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,

Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,

So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.





The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,

But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the

sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,

And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,

A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.





A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,

Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,

Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

'What are you doing?' I asked without fear,

'Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,

You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!'





For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,

Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light

Then he sighed and he said 'Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.'

'It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,

That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,

I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,'

Then he sighed, 'That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.'

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',

And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,

But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.





Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,

The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,

Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,

I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,

Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..

Who stand at the front against any and a ll,

To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.'

'So go back inside,' he said, 'harbor no fright,

Your family is waiting and I'll be all right.'

'But isn't there something I can do, at the least,

'Give you money,' I asked, 'or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done,

For being away from your wife and your son.'

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,

'Just tell us you love us, and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,

To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,

To know you remember we fought and we bled.

Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,

That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.'





PLEASE, Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as
you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
U.S.service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities.
Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people
stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for
us.





LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN

30th Naval Construction Regiment

OIC, Logistics Cell One

Al Taqqadum, Iraq.

Hey what does it mean when a thread is locked?  I mean obviously you can't comment on it, but who locks it and for what reasons?

A Great Idea!!! When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include the following:         & nbsp;  A Recovering American Soldier         & nbsp;  C/o Walter Reed Army Medical   Center         & nbsp;  6900 Georgia Avenue, NW         & nbsp;  Washington , D.C. 20307-5001 If you approve of the idea, please pass it on to your e-mail list.

Okay here it goes.  I don't usually put "family issues" here but I just don't know what to do and there are many of guys out there that I have come to highly respect your opinions even thought I might not agree 100%.  But here goes.  I come from a family of alcoholics...mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, etc.  I know it.  I lived it.  When I was a kid friends did not come to my house.  I didn't want them too.  I only had one friend that would come over because her dad was an alcoholic and she understood.  So people mistook me as shy or withdrawn or weird because it was just one friend...especially in high school.  I know I have a tendency to drink too much.  I have many times.  But I am afraid of that beast so I know my limits.  I know I can't drink too much.  I have two kids and I WILL NOT have them live like I did.  There were many things that could have been avoided in my childhood.  I will not have my children feel the way I did.  Anyhow,  I married a 26 year old man two years ago.  He is a good man.  He provides for us.  I am able to stay home with the kids and wouldn't be able to do that without him.  He works really hard.  He took on a lot when we got married....an instant family (I had a 4 yr old), mortgage, insurance, kid stuff, etc.  All he had to worry about before was his truck payment, and insurance payment.  So I know his life changed.  I warned him.  We would go out, go to friends house and drink all night, etc.  I had always told him during that time that this person he sees out is just a part of me, but when I am at home with my son, I don't drink.  (My parents would take my son on the weekends)  He knows my history.  I know that I am hypersensitive to drinking.  I have told him this.  But I have also said I will not let my kids be affected by drinking.  Well, he likes his beer.  I like my beer.  But the difference is he has three to my one.  Just tonight he drank 8 beers in 2 hours.  This isn't unusual.  He can go without for days, even weeks at a time.  But once he has one he doesn't stop.  I just had a conversation with him 3 nights ago about how I am getting concern about the drinking again.  We have had many conversations.  I truly don't care if he has one or two beers a night, but six to 8 is too many.  Frankly I don't know what to do.  I don't even have a problem with us drinking too much once in awhile.  I don't have a problem with him drinking 6 to 8 beers on a Saturday (the whole day, not just hours).  I have to tell him when I go out to do something with my eldest "Don't drink too much while I am gone."  I know I am a little paranoid.  But what if the baby gets hurt and he is on his 6th beer?  He shouldn't drive.  If the ambulance comes and smells alcohol then what then?  I don't know if this is right or not, but I am two different people.  When my parents have my kids, watch out, I can be a party animal.  But when my kids are home, I don't.  Am I being hypocritical?  Am I being paranoid?  Am I being a bitch...it's ok for me to do it sometimes, but not him?  And again, I have had many talks with him about this.  What is it going to take for him to "hear" me?  Should I just not have alcohol in the house?  I know each person is different on how the wind down or relieve stress.  But I don't know why he has to have so many?  I probably do know, I just don't want to acknowledge it.  Any advice on how I can get through to him?