I thought I'd post a couple pictures I took around the house today. The thermometer picture was taken around 5:00 this afternoon. It's much colder now. The picture of the mountain is a good example of what we call termination dust. The snow line will move up and down for a while, and then will drop into the city, and everything will be white. The other picture is of the lake by my house. It kind of looked like there was some ice out there, but I saw a float plane take off so maybe not.

I stopped into Some Soldier's Mom today, and learned about the deaths in her son's unit. Her son is trying to deal with not being "there." He's feeling like he's letting his brothers down by not being there to cover their back. That's a feeling I understand. I'm not sure how to deal with these feelings. I tell myself that I am working towards something that will make me a better person, and a better Marine should I feel the need to return once I am finished with school. This is a little helpful. I think that it's more difficult to talk myself into not going back than it would be to talk myself into going back.

One of the ways I have justified not going back has been realizing the Marine Corps could and would call me back if I was needed. I am IRR still, they could call me back if they needed to.

Enough about me, check out Soldier's Mom's blog.

Brandon