BAD NEWS

Well, now for some bad news. My step-sister Melissa is going to Iraq. We knew she was getting deployed and that she would end up in either Kuwait or Afghanistan, but nope, she's heading to Iraq and she leaves on the 20th. Her husband got back from there just before Christmas and now she's off. YUCK.

While we are not terribly close I do worry about her. She has a little one at home and hasn't had much time to spend with her husband since returning from his deployment. I wish she was going to Kuwait, which apparently is the cushiest of the the three places. Here's hoping she comes back quickly and safely.

My mom, who has never flown before, is going down to Texas to see her off. I never in a million years ever thought I would see my mother get on a plane. She is taking my brother Anthony with her, who has also never flown, but that's because he's young and hasn't had the need to fly anywhere yet. My mom is not as young has sworn to never fly. She's going down to see her off on the 18th.