Things I Think of When I am Avoiding Worry...

What service is your husband joining?

National Guard [Army] - to crewchief and then hopefully pilot Blackhawk helicopters

is he going to AIT (Advanced Individual Training) directly after basic? how long will he be gone...

kewl... not sure I'd want to fly a Blackhawk.\r \r Not because they aren't good choppers, they are, but more because they are RPG magnets.

Well we have violence in Halo3, but there is also respect for authority, the violence is not directed at other human beings in the story line and it really isn't all that graphic. I think that prompts different concerns with the kids than say GTA. That being said, even though my kids are older, they don't have their own LIVE account and I would never let them on a matchmaking without being there with them or under close supervision, only team talk turned on and only friends (mine or theirs ) in a party. The excitement can lead to increased arguments and fighting among themselves short term, so time limits and inappropriate behavior limits are in order. I would think a 'parental guidance strongly cautioned' would be a better rating. \r \r I would 10x rather see them play a few hours of Halo than watch some of the crap on Network TV where crime labs are showing graphic scenes of cutting up bodies, violence against other humans is if not outright justified, reasoned...a few hours of that, MY faith in humanity plummets.

Well, thank you to your husband for serving our country and thank you for supporting him.\r \r Now, if he isn't prior service, basic isn't that bad and will go by quickly...for him! :D\r \r AIT is another story and you'll be able to visit him when he is off duty and not restricted...usually after the first few weeks.\r \r Eh, in a few years you'll wonder where the time went and he'll be re-enlisting! :D\r \r Good luck to your family...\r \r -Sixty

He will be going directly to AIT after the winter break. Basically he will be gone 6 months. \r \r and yeah Soup, RPG magnets, but with the guard he will mostly be using them for US rescue situations [flood, hurricaine, etc]. His unit is not scheduled for possible deployment for several years because they just got back.\r \r

Hang in there JC...You man will be back before you know it!!\r \r I think the toy angle of Halo could be attractive to the kiddies...The halo clix, kubricks, and playing cards (yes I saw some playing cards in my comic shop) are right up their fun zone. But then again, it does come down to the parent knowing what their kids are buying/wanting to buy.

Hell the toys may be attractive to the kiddies but I am willing to bet most of them are being sold to older gamers. I know I got the Master Chief Kubricks.

I'm with Cap- I'd rather have the boy playing super astronaut than watching CSI. And with the armor and lizard dudes, it lends a greater distance to any possible connection to real life. And we got the Action Clix. :D\r \r Stay strong, keep hugging him. You'll not redret the extra cuddles later.\r \r @Soup- prolly not helping her state of mind, douchebag! RPG magnet, for fuck's sake! :D

@Mass - I'm fine....that kind of stuff doesn't bother me......I don't think....oh, man now it's starting to bother me! [::wink::] Damn you Soup!

Good stuff JC.\r \r Rescue missions are the best! He'll be ok. You're just going to miss him.\r \r Don't fret about it. Just let it go and realize that you have no control over events that happen.\r \r He'll be ok, and I wish I was in his shoes.

@ Soup- hell yeah! I wanna man a ma-cheen gun again! \r \r Chunk-Chunk-Chunk-Chunk-Chunk-Chunk!\r \r GET SOME! GET SOME! \r \r :D

no offense mass, but I think the machine gun would have it's way with you.\r \r It would be like a geisha girl trying to hold back a sumo wrestler..uh..just in case you missed my meaning...you would be the geisha girl...ha...ha..