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Hello Friends and Family,
So Im back in America and thought id write about my transition period. So after a hard trip complete with a few canceled flights I made it to Tampa in one piece. I was greeted by my family and Chilis! Just what I wanted lol. I decided to start my new young professional life in Jacksonville. Mostly because that’s where my sister and nephew live but also because I have no commitments to be anywhere so why not just try out a new city. I am hoping to start a new job any day now at the courthouse where my sister works. Also in my future is some more school. Assuming I can get financial aid, I will be starting a new program this spring via internet through St.Pete College. I am very excited about the program which is Emergency Management and Administration. It’s a year certificate program and then I will hopefully move into a career with FEMA like jobs.

So far America has been really awesome and I feel like I have just slipped right back into my life. Ofcourse it hasn’t been without bluppers here and there. Like the first time a man spoke to me in the gym, (please note I thought he was going to harass me lol) I lost all ability to converse and he was just helping me with the tv remote lol. Driving has been interesting…not that I was a great driver before I left but boy theres so many rules! My favorite things aside from being around my friends and family has been wearing shorts, working out in a gym, eating icecream (everyday), the nice weather, playing with Dillon and making phone calls so easily.

Every few days, I go running or biking with my ipod and I scream the songs on the top of my lungs just because I can. The neighbors stare, or dance depending on their mood and yesterday while I was doing this, I couldnt help but to be struck by one of my most patriotic moments ever. With the beautiful wind in my hair and the sounds of music IN ENGLISH in my ears I noticed 4 houses with American flags on the front porch. In a neighborhood where just walking outside you can see happy families playing football, cleaning their cars or pushing strollers it struck me just how good we have it. I don’t want to turn into the snobby worldly know it all type, but living overseas really does give you perspective that I am really greatful for. More than anything it offers you some sort of comparison. Its easy to forget what we have to be thankful for and focus on whats getting us down, but tell me where else can I eat mint chocolate chip and sing Britney Spears at the top of my lungs 24 hours a day? And where else are we constantly surrounded in comfort and choices?

I was apprehensive about coming back to America’s, economy. And while it challenging I am mostly overwhelmed by the negative energy people are producing. Things are bad and worrying about them isn’t gonna make them better, but I understand that when struggling to pay for things words like that don’t help. However a good friend reminded me the other day that ‘Other countries would kill for our problems’ and it is very true.

Sometimes its hard to see the bigger picture but I know as the great country we are, things will get better! And if they don’t…atleast we will have mint chocolate chip to drown our sorrows in. J

I am so thankful for all of you and for your support. I wish you knew how loved I feel. My life is so full of blessings that at times its overwhelming! I hope you take a minute to read this passage written by David Letterman cause he says everything I am having trouble articulating. Please note this is just my opinion…take it for what its worth J

xoxo
Love you!
Kristin

' As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark 'The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?

A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
D.. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter or take you to the hospital.
I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
J.. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.
K.. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M.. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy. Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here. I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day. Make no mistake about it .The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go..They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a''dishonorable' ' discharge after a few days in the brig. So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J.Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane! Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mudslides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'
-David Letterman
Please keep this in circulation. There are so many people who need to read this and grasp the truth of it all