Half Days

Before I lament about the "half day," let me first apologize for my lack of pictures lately. I feel like I'm waiting to get the wide angle lense of my dreams but the truth is I really like sitting around my house and there's not a whole lot to take pictures of around here. Maybe when it's not 100 degrees at 9am I'll venture out and hike so I can take pretty out door pictures.

Now to my point...west coast Marines got a "72" (3 days off) for the 4th of July holiday. My squadron let us go at 1200 on Friday, though not very many were actually able to leave then, and had us return to work at 1200 today. I won't discuss how I didn't read that part of the email and showed up for work at 0720 to find a locked building. What I really want to convey is how useless half days are! It's feels as though you have no time to gather your thoughts, prioritize your tasks for the week and generally get organized! Everyone in my office sat around thumbing through emails (can you thumb through an email?) and talking about their weekends. No one did anything because we were all directionless. Not to mention the fact that most of the folks in my building are on leave right now so the place is empty. It's funny how lack of people take away a lot of the motivation to get stuff done. Perhaps those of us who are not on leave take the "they aren't working so why should I" approach? I hope that I can do that for someone when I finally get to take leave in August!

What are your thoughts on half days? Do you skip them all together because they are totally unproductive?

My Favorite 4th of July

Today is the 4th of July. The birthday of our beloved nation. A favorite holiday for the great majority of the USA and of mine too. Whether it's for the colors, the family or the fireworks this day is special.

I love this country and because I love this country, I have spent a great deal of time away from it. I spend an even greater deal of time away from my family. This year, this 4th of July, this day, I can say for the first time since 2004 that I have spent three hundred and sixty-five days in the United States. That's right, one year ago today I got off a plane in Cherry Point, NC after stops in some place I can't remember, Germany and Iceland and I was home. Coming home is a feeling that you never forget.

I know I am not alone in my feelings for home and I know that I am one of the lucky few who can, today, say that I've been home for an entire year. To all my brothers and sisters in arms, those who are gone forever, those who are waiting to come home and those who were lucky enough to spend this day with their families, thank you. This country, our country, would not be without you.