Another Year gone - Another One here.

For the last several years, I have used the last day of the year to write about the year that passed and a little bit about the year to come.  On December 31st 2006 I spoke about the previous New Year Eve and about how I was optimistic about rejoing the military and doing something really big---like volunteering to go to Iraq.  Six years ago I was in Iraq as the ball dropped, and was looking forward to 2007 and continuing my military career.  On New Years Eve 2007 I reflected on the year that passed and wrote about how was feeling sentimental and missing my soldiers.  I didn't write any blogs in 2008 or 2009 on New Years Eve, but my one and only post in 2010 was on New Years Eve.  In that post I kind of updated everyone about what was going on in my life.  Last New Years I wrote about my pending deployment and little about what I was thinking about for 2012.  My standard resolution every year is to lose weight.  And I am happy to say that I have lost weight since last New Years.  The year has flown by as they all seem to do as you get older.  There have been a few tough times --- my family has been broken up.  I lost Elvis and T and Eddie and the sugar gliders.  So it's just me and Willow now.  It was a long but not too tough deployment.  And in additional to getting physically fitter I reached my goal of getting promoted which was the highlight of the year. I missed my veterans but I have returned to my job at the Albany Housing Coalition and look forward to an exciting year ahead.  I have met so many new friends from this recent deployment and I look forward to connecting with them again in the coming months.  In addition to my new military friends, I have reconnected with old friends and have become closer with friends from work who have worked hard on my behalf taking care of issues at my house while I was in Kuwait.  In the past I worried a lot about the future, but as this new year dawns, I am pretty calm and confident that this coming year will bring great things.  I am currently writing this in California, at the home of my two best friends Eric and Wanda.  I have had the chance to do many fun things with them over the years and tonight we are celebrating that friendship and the end of a long, difficult but productive year.  I really feel blessed to have so many good friends and such a great job.  2012 is gone and 2013 begins.  I hope to be around next year to write again on New Years Eve.  But in the meantime, I have these resolutions:

1.  World Peace
2.  Lose more weight
3.  Be kinder in 2013 than I was in 2012.

Happy New Years kids! 

The End is Near

Not that "end"....as in the end of the mayan calendar.  The end I mean is the end of this deployment.  Sometime in the next 24 hours, I will be leaving Kuwait and returning to the US again.  Although it has only been 8 months or so, this deployment seems to have been so much longer.  Including mobilization time and end of tour leave it will be about a year.  So much has happened the last year.  I have lost a relationship and my beloved dog Elvis.  But many good things have happened as well.  I lost a lot of weight, got promoted, and met so many very good friends along the way.  I am excited about going home.  My good friends at home have gone out of their way to make sure my return is easier this time than last time.  They have cleaned up the old house and bought me a car (well with my money...lol).  Another friend has taken care of Willow, who I hope still remembers me.  It is odd going home single, but I guess the hunt to meet the "one" goes on for now.  My job as director of veterans services at the Albany Housing Coalition will resume shortly.  I have been told I have been missed there.  There was a lot of uncertainty when I got back from Iraq.  And even now there is a little fear and a good share of anxiety about how I will adjust.  But I do know that I am excited about getting back there.  I have much work to do and I hope I get a chance to do it for a long time.  There is meaning and purpose in my life.  There is a lot of love in my life.  I have never felt better than I do right now about the direction of my life.  God willing, I am going home in a few hours.  I have missed you America.  See you soon.