Reflections of Being Elsewhere

Today I have had a lot of time to think:

I will have been away from home for 5 months on Wednesday - two more months to go before being home (forced volunteer). I have also figured out that in my current job, I have been away almost as much as I have been home (sigh). My roommate, who moved into the house a year after I purchased it, has lived in the house longer than I have.

I also have to say that this trip has been a lot easier emotionally than previous trips, but I think it goes without saying that many people become sad when they can't spend Christmas with their families - and even more so when they are alone. Well, same goes for many of us who follow the Messianic realm of "religion." As all my close friends begin to prepare for the "high Holy days": namely Rosh Hashanah this week as well as Yom Kippur and Sukkot the rest of the month, I find myself wishing I could be home with them celebrating (especially for Sukkot).

Every year for Sukkot, we pick someone's in the groups' backyard and we all camp out all week - all together in the backyard. We share meals, stories around the campfire, tents, and genuine fellowship while we reflect on the Biblical pilgrimage the Israelites took from Egypt. We get up in the morning and take turns getting ready for work, etc (on days that aren't Sabbaths) - I just go to the gym before work and get ready there.

Anyway, as crazy as it sounds to some - I'm really sad I can't take part in that with my group this year... And I'm really looking forward to having a job where I can take off my religious holidays or at least be home during them. -Because jobs where you have to start over every fiscal year (Oct 1) with no vacation and your religious holidays fall right after that and are not "Federally Observed Religious Holidays" SUCK!

In the News

Today there was a murder-suicide at the AFB... It's all over the news, but the names have not been released...and will not until tomorrow evening, at the earliest, according to Air Force policy.

But I know who he is... This guy was crazy - absolutely crazy. I knew he was - I tried to tell people, but they wouldn't listen. They just shook their heads and said there was no way. He's too good of a guy...he couldn't do that. Leave him alone...

But he did - He waited until his wife left and then he killed them. In cold blood. He shot his own 8 year-old daughter and 4 year-old son. Then the coward shot himself.

He never faced justice for anything he did - people always let him off. And now when no one could save him from yet another situation he created, he shot himself. I'm sure to avoid justice.

You want my opinion why he didn't shoot the mom (but did the kids) even though he had access, was so mad at her, and wanted the kids in the divorce? Because he knew he couldn't have them and wanted her to suffer...

And tonight, she suffers... Not that listening to me now will do any good...

Tonight, I'm just beside myself - a multitude of emotions I don't quite have grasp of, currently summed up by, "angry, guilt-stricken, and broken." I wish I could interrogate him now...

Why can't people just listen to reason? And why do abused women keep coming back?
(These are rhetorical questions...please don't send me answer messages).

To the Parents of Amber...

Let me start by saying this is more of a rant than anything...

Let me begin:
A couple of days ago I received ANOTHER student loan offer addressed "To the Parents of Amber..." This offer bothers me for a number of reasons:

1. I am not a child; I'm a 27 year-old adult.
2. I have already finished college...twice...where did you get my info recently?
3. My parents didn't pay for my college - nor did they fill out my student loan paperwork...
4. I own this house! My name is on the deed and taxes - do your research!

But sending this "To the Parents of Amber..." doesn't make me want to use your company - it's rather insulting - even if I was in college. I would still be an adult and could check my own mail and fill out my own paperwork - or you could at least really send it to my parents... What a horrible marketing idea...