QUOTE (Metastasis @ Mar 24 2009, 01:09 PM)

Let's see...
I'm in the Army, in Iraq, in what is currently known as "Al-Queda in Iraq's last stronghold", Mosul. It is the rainy season, and all year long is the dust storm season, so it rains mud. The rain drops are literally already mud by the time they hit you.
I've been here for over 9 months, and have almost 6 to go.
I haven't seen the love of my life since we got married in November, and we just spent our first anniversary together on a webcam.
My hearing has gone to ...., and my night vision was ruined when I had night-vision goggles on and we hit an IED.
I'm a gunner, and the most exposed person in a vehicle when we hit Tampa, our main route, and the most dangerous road in Iraq.
My wife got t-boned by an Infiniti this weekend, and now our car is totaled. Insurance company is treating us like ..... I can't help directly, because I'm over here.
So yeah, life sucks right about now.
It's not all piss in my cheerios, though. My marriage, while separate right now, is still getting a strong foundation, and I'm helping my wife get her next level of EMT certification. In August, I go back to Germany where I'm stationed, and she's going to be there. 3 months later, we'll be in Ft. Hood, Texas, less than 3 hours away from my home town of Houston. Then it is just under 2 years until I get out of the Army and hit up college. And I've got quite a nest egg saved up from my enlistment bonus, and the extra $225 a month+tax free paycheck I get for being deployed.
For being in the Army, you're my hero. For looking on the bright side of things when a lot of things sound like a near hell to me, you're my idol. Seriously, a guy like you who can be very optimistic about some things really just makes me smile (and makes me feel like poo when I myself whine about something so dumb like chores...). I know a handful of people who I know their life isn't as happy-happy-joy-joy as he/she wishes for it to be, but whenever said person goes and looks at that silver lining on that cloud... I really just can't help but smile. As for me, you could call me a realist or maybe even a pessimest (in which case, I don't purposely act pessismitic), it's rare for me to think about the good things in life. And considering the fact my family's been in total chaos because of my brother who's been acting like a numbskull to my baby brother for
weeks now, which made my day overall horrible... you, sir, have just made my day! -insert cheesy smile here- Again, I commend you and give you a pat on the back.

Oh, [curious thought] I live in the Houston area, too!