The end of the Blog as we know it............

I'm making a change. It won't be easy, but if I'm going to survive this year it's got to be done. Jan and I are different. I crave information and Jan feels that mental health is sometimes best served by not knowing too much. I read about Iraq, I surf the Internet for stories about Iraq, I watch CNN for stories about Iraq.....I'm driving myself crazy and becoming bitter in the process. A woman I work with at school is one of those people who is always forwarding cute email stories.....you know, the inspirational stories that tell you to brighten someone's day by forwarding this to five people within the next half hour. I never do so I'm sure I'm screwing up my karma. Anyway, she sent one about a carrot, an egg and a coffee bean asking which one are you. I'll give you the Reader's Digest version. When placed in boiling water something happens to each one. Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level?
I think it's pretty clear, I'm the egg.....I've allowed my heart to harden and I've become bitter. This is not the way I want to be. So I'm going to change and the Blog is going to change. I'm going to stay away from political posting...everyone who reads this blog knows my political leanings anyway. Why continue to hash it. I'm going to stay away from the news and focus on loving and supporting my children and my wife.
This blog has been my therapy, but I'm not sure the therapy is going well. Continue to read my blog, but don't look for the rantings of an angry man anymore. I'll post what news I can (keeping OpSec in mind) and post pictures and videos as they come in. In the meantime, I'm going to focus on my sanity.