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Being the season for thanks, I thought that I would share the things for which I am thankful:
I am thankful for my beautiful, perfect wife. I feel very lucky that I found a woman who makes me truly happy.
I am thankful for my family...families, who support me and my new life with my bride and who encourage me to continue to pursue my dreams.
I am thankful for my new Mom, Dad, sister and pug-niece, who have welcomed me into their family.
I am thankful for my friends.
I am thankful for my pugs who bring me joy and pain, but mostly joy.
I am thankful that I am able to work on things that challenge me and make me feel that I am contributing to society in a valuable way.
I am thankful for my health.
I am thankful to be living in such a prosperous time.
I am thankful for the opportunities that I have been given in life.
I am thankful for being able to fall asleep at night.
I am thankful for this day.
And, I am thankful for tomorrow.

Thanksgiving

Tomorrow's Thanksgiving Day so Cara and I are going to Marble Falls for Turkey Dinner. Marble Falls is about an hour long drive into the Texas Hill country so there'll be plenty of scenery. We'll be dining at Patton's on Main, a local fine dining restaurant. Here's our Turkey Day Menu: Menu
Our tradition of going to Fredericksburg has been complicated by the dogs this year so we're just going to make a day trip of it. At least we'll be together.

Cooper's recovery

Cooper's all better now, but he wasn't pleased when I first brought him home. The nurse at Banfield put an E-collar on him and, as you can see, he had a bandage on his leg from the IV. By Saturday morning, he was completely back to normal as if nothing had ever happened. I actually had to calm him several times to prevent him from ripping his stitches. The boy has no fear whether he is taking dives off the back of the couch or running down the stairs so fast that when he reaches the bottom he slides across the tile floor.

Mark and Maria's Wedding

Finally, I'm posting the pics from Mark and Maria's wedding. Mark and Maria chose a beautiful setting for their wedding. They were married at Laguna Gloria Art Museum in Austin, TX. It is located on the lake just below Mount Bonnell. It was my first wedding since Cara and I were married and I thought that it was wonderful.
To see more pics Click Here

Cooper's last picture as a "whole" little man

Today is "N-day" for Cooper. That means that he is being neutered. It's a very sad day. I took this picture on the way to the vet for the big surgery.

A recent pic of Maddie and Cooper

Wurstfest

Last weekend, we went to the Wurstfest in New Braunfels, TX. Wurstfest is similar to Oktoberfest but it celebrates the Bratwurst instead of the beer. Had a great time with Glenn, Beth, Chad, Mireya, Hari and Dede. To see more pics, Click Here.
Cheers!

Norman Mailer

Recently, I posted that I had begun reading The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer. I did so because Mr. Mailer would be making an appearance on the UT campus. After attending the panel discussion featuring Mr. Mailer, Larry Shiller and Gay Talese, all of whom are accomplished authors, I was very pleased that I took the time to attend. Mr. Mailer read an excerpt from his latest novel, the Castle in the Forest, and I was mesmerized by the imagery of his words. I cannot wait to read it. I recorded a bit of Mr. Mailer's reading and have included it in the following video clip. I was also fortunate enough to meet Mr. Mailer and get him to autograph my copy of his first novel, The Naked and the Dead.

[Warning - Adult content] The excerpt that Mr. Mailer reads is a description of the "moment of conception" of Adolf Hitler from the perspective of the devil's assistant.

My Life Rating

I recently took a Rate My Life Quiz and here are the results. I would say that it is fairly accurate, but I like to think that my body is as healthy as my spirit. I'm happy to say that my love life is a full 10!

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:	7.4
Mind:	7.5
Body:	8
Spirit:	8.7
Friends/Family:	6.9
Love:	10
Finance:	6.9
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

Happy Veterans Day! My mom recently forwarded this email to me. I hope that it will catch on.

Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.
No, he responded.
Heading out I asked?
No. I'm escorting a soldier home.
Going to pick him up?
No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq I'm taking him home to his family.
The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days. I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.

Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign."
Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be an American.
So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do.

Red Fridays.

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing
Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support
our troops used to be called the "silent majority." We
are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for
God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We
ar e not organized, boisterous or overbearing.

Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends,
simply want to recognize that the vast majority of
America supports our troops. Our idea of showing
solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and
respect starts this Friday and continues each and
every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a
deafening message that ... every red blooded American
who supports our men and women afar, will wear
something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV let's make the United
States on every Friday a sea of red much like a
homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every
one of us who loves this country will share this with
acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will
not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it
will let our troops know the once "silent" majority is
on their side more than ever, certainly more than the
media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked "What can
we do to make things better for you?" is ..."We need
your support and your prayers." Let's get the word out
and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear
something red every Friday.

Currently Reading

A novel that chronicles the story of a platoon of soldiers who are fighting for the possession of the Japanese-held island of Anopopei during World War II. I chose this book because the University of Texas recently acquired Norman Mailer's archives and he is coming to the University of Texas at Austin . I'm hoping to have the chance to see his lecture.

Recently completed:
My War: Killing Time in Iraq
by Colby Buzzell
No God but God: The Origins, Evolution and Future of Islam
by Reza Azlan
Night Draws Near: Iraq's People in the Shadow of America's War
by Anthony Shadid
The Places in Between
by Rory Stewart

Cara and I had a great time at Kally and Colm's Halloween party. I was a prisoner and Cara was a police officer. 

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