A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS POEM The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, transforming the yard to a winter delight. The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. In perfec...

About a month ago I had an urgent need to update some PDF files, we have a couple of machines with Acrobat installed but only a couple. I was faced with a choice of completely retyping the files or tyeing up one of these machines for hours or days. I found a solution in a product from Scansoft called PDF Create Professional which is a combination of two other products PDF Convert and PDF Create, I figured it was a good solution to my problems. Convert the PDF files to Word, Edit them, and the...

A friend who is also a retired Marine forwarded this to me today, and it warmed my heart to read. So I hope it warms a couple of yours. From: Kane LCpl Jessica R Date: November 26, 2004 3:13:33 AM EST Subject: A Thanksgiving Story Dear Mom and Dad, I, as most would of thought, was expecting a very homesick Thanksgiving. Although I wish I could have been home, my Thanksgiving was filled with motivation and inspiration. To start off, the unit got together and the CO said a...

I’m sick and tired of both sides in this political race, neither has thing one to say that is not sound byte-able. If I had the misfortune of Brewster's Millions, I would dearly love trying to spend all 40 million by Tuesday Night. “VOTE None of the ABOVE” on every station in the land, all day and all night long. I would pledge an oath to spent every penny to ensure that neither got elected. Or better yet in my secret Bio Genetics lab I would create a Jack Ryan straight out of Tom Clancy’s i...

This showed up in my In-Box this morning...... just what I need to brighten my Monday Morning. There were 39 combat related killings in Iraq during the month of January..... In the fair city of Detroit there were 35 murders in the month of January. That's just one American city, about as deadly as the entire war torn country of Iraq. When some claim President Bush shouldn't have started this war, state the following .. FDR... led us into World War II. Germany never attack...

I don’t post much anymore, but I do read all that I have the time for, and even though we have a few vocal members of the military here at Joe User, I would like to add my voice to the mix a little today. Over the past 20 years I have traveled all over the globe and visited more places than I ever thought I would see in my lifetime. One thing that has been the same anywhere we have gone, even if it is for a couple of days is the practice of service to the local community. Normally led by the ...

The start of the spring soccer season is at hand. Time to play soccer dad again, this time with a twist. My son made the challenge team this year, which means as the lucky parental units we get a re-introduction to the nomadic life. It has been about six years since we have had to spend our weekends on the soccer trail. As I sit here watching my youngest practice I look forward to the weekend games, the wins and the inevitable losses. I think that the losses are harder on me and the wife than ou...

In just under six months I’m going to retire for the first time and I’m only going to be 38. For the past twenty years I have served my country as a US Marine, and it has been a great journey from snot nosed kid to wizened old Gunny. But all things must end, and my time is growing near. As I look forward into the next few months I face not only the anticipation of a new life and new challenges, but the fear of the unknown. It has been a long time since I was on the other side of the fence and a ...

I read a large number of the Political Posts here at Joe User and I wonder to my self which side I’m on. I generally do not like Politicians they have always reminded me of some advanced form of parasite that lives off the dreams and aspirations of the common man, woman, and child. I always remember that scene in “The Hunt for Red October” where I think it was the Secretary of Defense is talking to Jack Ryan and say’s “I'm a politician, which means I'm a cheat and a liar. And when I'm not kissi...