If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say

I haven't really had a whole lot to say lately...mostly on purpose.  I'm trying to stick with the old saying, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."  I can be silent no longer.

How do I answer when someone back home asks "how's it going?"  Here's the conversation that rolls through my head when I'm asked that question:
"Hey, Aaron, how's it going?"
"Ah, not too bad.  I looked inside a blown up truck today.  Saw the blood splatter and bone chips still stuck to the walls.  Other than that, ya know, going great.  How's it going for you?"

Of course that's not what I say or what I write back in the email.  No one really wants to know the real answers to some of the standard questions thrown out there.  Trust me, you do not want to hear about it.  (Note: if you've asked me this question please don't think this is directed at you...it's not)

I am growing more and more disgusted with this horrible place as the days go by.  It saddens me that I feel this way.  Shouldn't I still believe in why we're here?  Let me answer that one for you....I don't!  These people don't want us here.  They will never be what we want them to be.  How much longer will we have a presence here?  How many more Marines, soldiers, sailors, or airmen are going to be hurt or killed before we're out of this mess?  Too long and too many, I'm afraid.  I wish I at least knew the name's of the guys in that truck.

I'm sorry if this isn't what you wanted to read about.  I needed to vent.