What are you doing/where are you going for Christmas?

2014-12-22T01:40:35-05:00

I am interested in what our RP population is doing this Christmas? With the fuel prices lowering considerably back home in the states, are you traveling or staying home? What family traditions will you be adhering to?

I feel very lucky to have my family alongside my military family this season and we will be traveling.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Dec 22 at 2014 1:38 AM

2014-12-22T01:38:36-05:00

Hitomi and I have the house to ourself here in AZ. It will be a Japanese feast for Christmas.

Response by SrA Andrea West made Dec 22 at 2014 1:43 AM

2014-12-22T01:43:35-05:00

I probably won't travel this year due to bad weather and work requirements. Win some, lose some.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2014 1:48 AM

2014-12-22T01:48:19-05:00

I'm thinking about taking a trip to the beach with my daughter, make it a yearly tradition while we are here.

Response by SSG Tim Everett made Dec 22 at 2014 1:47 AM

2014-12-22T01:47:32-05:00

I'm staying at home. A buddy of mine is flying down from Virginia, and another friend is coming down from Virginia to visit her family in the area. So we're shooting a Short film on the Saturday after Christmas.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2014 2:03 AM

2014-12-22T02:03:15-05:00

I remember back in the 1990's when I was in Germany. I think the going rate for pulling Guard Duty was at least $50..sometimes up to $100. Figured that I had nothing better to do.

But to answer your question Sergeant Major, I typically spend Christmas volunteering at either a human shelter, or more often lately, an animal shelter because I am a veterinary nurse

Response by PFC Zanie Young made Dec 22 at 2014 1:54 PM

2014-12-22T13:54:39-05:00

I will be doing police call at the house. Christmas is a very messy affair. Twin boys and a whole platoon of nieces, nephews, cousins and adopted relatives is more than enough to keep me busy!

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2014 3:56 PM

2014-12-22T15:56:20-05:00

CSM Michael J. Uhlig, I plan to stay at home, here in Maryland, and enjoy the four-day weekend that President Obama gave us (federal workers).

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2014 4:46 PM

2014-12-22T16:46:23-05:00

I drove to Illinois to pick up my daughter and brought her back to DC. We go down to see the National Tree every year and see the White House and other buildings around DC decorated for Christmas. We were down today seeing it. She loves seeing the model trains they have around the tree. We will Spend Christmas Day with my Aunt having good old Southern food. :-)

Response by SGT Steven Montgomery made Dec 22 at 2014 8:15 PM

2014-12-22T20:15:51-05:00

I'll be at home enjoying my fried Spam and Saltines!!! Can't beat it, it's a tradition!

Response by SPC Todd Hanson made Dec 22 at 2014 11:43 PM

2014-12-22T23:43:27-05:00

Csm,
I'll be using my free airfare (for giving up my seat last leave) and going home to see my fiancé.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Dec 22 at 2014 11:41 PM

2014-12-22T23:41:40-05:00

CSM Michael J. Uhlig, My wife and I are throwing a Christmas dinner for a family who are having a rough time durring the holidays. That's about it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2014 11:49 PM

2014-12-22T23:49:01-05:00

Staying in Columbus this year.. in-laws are in town and we are celebrating my daughters 1st birthday (which is also Christmas Day)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2014 11:52 PM

2014-12-22T23:52:40-05:00

I'm going to try and enjoy my 12 days off at the house! Only having, on average, 3 days off a month is kicking my backside!

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Dec 23 at 2014 12:04 AM

2014-12-23T00:04:39-05:00

Lets not forget what 2400 hundred Soldiers did on Christmas morning did in 1776 when General George Washington crossed the Delaware river in life threatening conditions to surprize attack a Hessian force. By the way, only 4 Soldiers lost their lives in this attack.

Response by SPC(P) Micah Lavigne made Dec 23 at 2014 12:14 AM

2014-12-23T00:14:18-05:00

My wife and I are spending the Holidays with her family in Korea Sergeant Major. It is our last month before we PCS to the states and it may be her last time to see her family before going to the states for a long time. I wanted to give her the opportunity to at least spend the holidays one last time before going to the states. It is going to be a huge cultural shift for her so I want her last memory in Korea to be a happy one. I love learning new cultures and this will be the 5th holiday I experienced with my Korean in-laws.

Normally I go to church and wish my family well on the holidays or stay in the barracks watching a movie or writing.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 11:39 AM

2014-12-24T11:39:09-05:00

Spending Christmas in a hotel on my first Christmas move. Fun.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Dec 24 at 2014 11:53 AM

2014-12-24T11:53:36-05:00

CSM Michael J. Uhlig, simply staying put at my residence with family. I was deployed last year and it means so much to be enjoying the Holiday Season bringing in Christmas and New Year with family and friends. I have 7 days left on Active Duty before I retire 1 January 2015 and that's good enough to celebrate and cherish. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Dec 24 at 2014 12:29 PM

2014-12-24T12:29:51-05:00

We are staying home this year; we have not had a Family Christmas in a few years due to moving and me going away for school. So it will just be the 3 of us this year really looking foward to a quite family day. Our tradition is to do stockings then eat breakfast then open presents. Also the night before we open one gift normaly it is PJ's. This year was a tight Christmas so only our daught really got presents this year so we will be skipping over the Christmas Eve gift exchange.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 7:03 PM

2014-12-24T19:03:51-05:00

I am in the middle east. I did a Half marathon out here. It was horrible. We ran the ridge line. It was by far the most difficult race I have ever done. I would have rather ran a full marathon on flat surface.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 7:15 PM

2014-12-24T19:15:21-05:00

I'm alone this year. Kids are with their dad. Divorce #2 was final last month. I guess I'll be catching up on sleep.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2014 12:21 AM

2014-12-25T00:21:22-05:00

Currently at work here in Tokyo. Last night my wife and I had a "traditional" Japanese Christmas dinner of Fried Chicken and "Christmas Cake". And just in case someone is curious what Christmas Cake looks like, pics are above.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 25 at 2014 5:23 AM

2014-12-25T05:23:42-05:00

I'm currently patiently waiting for my work visa and Kuwaiti Civil ID to be processed so I can actually do my job. Unfortunately, going back home and celebrating Christmas with family and friends was not an option as I would have to redo the whole process again.

Response by SGT Edward Thomas made Dec 25 at 2014 7:41 AM

2014-12-25T07:41:48-05:00

I'm at work on a dredge boat.