Since I'm practically new to all of this preparing stuff, I thought it might be interesting to share what's going through my mind as I embark upon this journey.
I doubt that I'm the average Joe, but I'm sure that many of you can relate to my situation. Let me begin my explaining just what that situation is. In so doing, I feel the need to make a couple of assertions up front.
1. I have been through a lot, but many have been through more. I don’t need anyone’s pity.
2. I am very patriotic! It may seem at moments that I am bashing my country. I may disagree with some of the ways in which my country has done things or is doing things, but my end goal is that my country would become better by doing things the right way. I’m not willing that my country should abandon its founding principles, and I am not willing to give up on my country.
3. I’m going to keep each post short. Nobody likes to read a long post.
4. I may come up with more caveats later, but for now, I hope you enjoy…

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012:
I am a well paid (relative to what it is that I do) employee, but that hasn't always been the case. I joined the US Army right out of high school in 1985 (18 yrs old). It had been my desire to fly helicopters since I was 12 years old after an older neighborhood kid talked to me about his dream to fly F-4s in the Marines. I figured that if he could do it then I could too. He encouraged me to get good grades in school, and I did. He also told me that I probably wouldn't be able to fly helicopters because I wore glasses--so I quit wearing them.

Good for you, and thanks for the post.
I like #3 too