Proud to Be an American (Where at least I know a good patriotic song will get ditched for Justin Beiber's music)

I've got a little over two weeks before I make it back home and I'll celebrate my 30th birthday before then.  I've realized through the places that I've visited that there truly is no place like home.  In this sense of the word, I don't necessarily mean the house I grew up in or even the area, but the U.S.  I would happily live in ANY part of the United States over any foreign country.  I don't mean to say any other countries suck, they just aren't the U.S.  Humans are creatures of comfort who like to be in areas that are "normal" for them.  It's why you don't see a cat swimming in the water or a fish flopping around on land (besides the fact it would die).  In that scenario, I would consider myself the fish on land when I'm in a foreign country - sure it might be fun for a minute or so, but sooner or later, I'm going to die (metaphorically speaking anyways).  As much as I hate getting a ticket in the states, I like the fact that it's regulated somehow.  I like the fact that I don't have to turn and look behind me before making a left hand turn from the left lane to check for a person on a moped, I like the fact that (for the most part) one way streets mean you only go one way - the right way - on them, I like the fact that stop signs mean stop or at least slow down considerably and not blow through them and I like the fact that traffic lights and signs are posted in areas where you can friggin see them....  I also like the fact that when you say I want cheese and chicken ONLY on my pizza, they don't throw ham on it because that's how everybody else orders it.  That's what ONLY means folks, it means ONLY those ingredients.  Also, who eats pizza without sauce?  Aside from children (I did growing up, I find it odd now) and people with allergies to tomatoes, EVERYBODY has sauce on their pizza.  So when I say, chicken and cheese only, I thought the sauce was implied.  Whatever.  I also like sitting down at a restaurant, and not being targeted for money simply because I'm American.  It wouldn't bother me so much if the people went to everybody else in the restaurant, but they don't.  I also don't like being stared at wherever I go because I "look" different.  HOLY SHIT IT'S A WHITE DUDE!  Yep folks, I know you've seen us on TV, we exist, we're not fictional, we won't harm you and yes, my skin is different, get over it.  I'm not sure what the first thing I'm going to do when I get back is, but it will probably involve American beer, American hot dogs & hamburgers, my wife and girls and watching a movie... in English.  Oh yeah, 17 days and I'm out - bitches!

Yeah that's right, read it and weep.