Hey, guess what? It's Christmas day!! I would like to wish everyone the obligatory Christmas greeting, hope you get all your presents, and you enjoy an eggnog for me.

Today it is very gray outside. Cold, windy, overcast and rainy. I also woke up with the pipes dripping on me as I slept *lol* But you know what? Who cares, it's Christmas. Leaky pipes are why God made buckets, right?

I would like to thank everyone who emailed or sent me a letter or a package or some other form of support over the last month. It's very nice to hear from everyone, even people I've never heard of! I received cards from the First Presbyterian Church in Cazenovia, NY; the Blue Star Mothers of America from Ontario, NY; a package of goodies from Pack 165 out of Spencerport, NY; and two HUGE boxes from the good folks at National Fuel Gas out of Cheektowaga, NY. I also received packages from the Buffalo, Rochester, and HQ cells of the 8/98th BN (my home unit). And of course, my family has sent me a ton of stuff as has Kelley, my sweetie pie *awwwww*.

It was nice to open presents on Christmas morning sitting in front of my little Christmas tree. It makes it feel a little more like being home. I hope you all have a nice Christmas celebration. If nothing else, I have a fuller appreciation of just how nice it is in the States. I hope you all have that appreciation as well!!