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. 

Public Service Announcement

This looks great for Shaun!!! 

Watching Cara's flight from Newark to Austin. Cara went home for Margot's wedding to Steve Martinez this weekend. Now, she's flying back home. Can't wait for her to get here.
 

Cara performs with the Artie Henry Middle School Girls Chorus

This is just a little hint of Cara's performance with the Artie Henry Middle School. Even though Cara says this was not a challenging piece, I am always so proud when I hear her play.

Recently found this on the web. It's a description of our patent for targeting DNA in eukaryotic cells. 

Currently Reading

A soldier's story about serving in the US Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The author started sharing his experiences in Iraq through his web log: http://cbftw.blogspot.com/ 

Recently completed:
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

Austin City Limits 2006

In September, Cara and I carried out our yearly tradition of attending the Austin City Limits Music Festival. This was our fourth ACL. The musical lineup was a more conservative group of bands compared to previous years. There were fewer "pop" bands and more veteran musicians. We were lucky enough to catch the following shows:
Thievery Corporation, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Los Lonely Boys, Ray Montagne, Sparklehorse, John Mayer, Van Morrison, The Shins, Aimee Mann, The Raconteurs, String Cheese Incident, Kings of Leon, Willie Nelson, Massive Attack, Jack Ingram, Matisyahu, Son Volt, Ben Harper, The Flaming Lips, G Love and Special Sauce and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was another great year of music in Austin. Check out this short tribute to our 2006 ACL experience:

William Kristol verbally assaulted in Austin, TX.

On October 3, 2006, I attended a lecture by William Kristol, the highly controversial neo-conservative political analyst and founding member of the Project for a New American Century. This is what happened:



Dr. Kristol supports a hawkish approach to solving world conflict which has been the basis for President GW Bush's foreign policy. Conspiracy theorists credit Kristol and the PNAC, which includes Paul Wolfowitz and Dick Cheney, for planning and executing the events that occurred on 9/11/2001. See the following video:



I'm curious what you think...

NC State defeats FSU 24-20!!!

This is a deep cut at NC State's Football coach. You have to respect the creator of this little cartoon. NC State fans can be vicious...I'm glad that this guy took a more humorous approach to dissin' our coach. Amato's gotta step it up or he'll be out like Herb Sendek. 

This is a tribute video that I prepared for Cara's first band at Artie Henry Middle School. 

My friend Emily, former laboratory technician in the Lambowitz lab, is now performing with Island Rhythms Hula Company. Very cool! 

We're gonna miss you.

Beatrice DeFrank 83 of Carneys Point died Tuesday, August 22, 2006 at the Christiana Medical Center, Newark, Del. She was born in Carini, Sicily daughter of the late Rosolino and Filomena Finazzo and has lived in Carneys Point for the past 69 years. She was a member of St. James RC Church, Mother of Grace Society and a Homemaker.

She is survived by her husband Stephen M. Sr., Sons Stephen M. Jr., Oak Hill, Virg., Joseph M., Mililani, Hawaii daughters Mary Costello, Hamilton Twp., N.J., Rosalina Esposito, Dorothy, N.J., brother Carlo Finazzo, Milford, DE., Grandchildren Frank & Angela-Marie Costello, Cara Vernon and Cristin DeFrank.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be said Saturday Aug. 26, 2006, 10AM at the St. James RC Church, Beach Ave., Penns Grove, NJ.

Relatives and friends may call Saturday morning 8:30-9:45AM at the Church. Interment Salem County Veterans Cem., Pilesgrove, N.J.

Please make contributions in Beatrice's memory to the St. James RC Church Building Fund, 390 Georgetown Rd., Carneys Point, N.J., 08069.

Grandmom DeFrank,
I only wish that I had the opportunity to spend more time you.
Love,
Jamie  

University of Texas - Best Party School?!

Not the greatest distinction for the institution that will be granting my doctoral degree...but I'll take it. UT can be superior both scholastically and socially!!! Hook 'em! 

Look at the far right corner of this picture (Reader vacation photos). Do you recognize anyone in the picture? Click on the picture to open the website. Look at pictures #68 and #69. 

We had a great time on our honeymoon in Jamaica. Click the picture to see pics of the wedding and the honeymoon. I've also included pics of the shower that Margot planned for us and pictures from the days leading up to the wedding. 

Cooper made the news!!!

Cooper's in the Austin American Statesman's Audio Slide Show (Click here to see it). In this picture, Cooper is the smallest one in the front of the pack. This weekend we took Cooper to his first Pug Meetup and there was a reporter there taking pictures. She liked Cooper because she took several pics of him and included them in the slideshow. In addition to the pic shown here, he is also shown in a series of three pictures in which he is running through the water. If you look closely at the third picture, you can see his name tag says, "Cooper." Very cool! 

We're married!!!

We did it! I'm so glad that we are married. All the planning and preparing was worth it. The wedding was perfect and the reception was more fun than I could have ever imagined.  

100% of the profits from the sale of Wideawake's new song, "Maybe Tonight, Maybe Tomorrow" on iTunes will be donated to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I think everyone should buy a copy. Even if you don't have an iPod. It's a worthy cause.  

Meet the newest member of our family. His name is Cooper and he's 8 weeks old. He seems to like Maddie, but Maddie is still trying to figure out who this little guy is. 

New Puppy!

We'll be getting our next pug in two weeks. This is one of the girls from the litter. We'll probably be bringing home a boy this time. We have to visit them to make the final decision. Any name suggestions? 

It's a sad, sad day. I sold my jeep. I made a little video commercial to post on the internet. It only took two days after I posted the video for it to sell. The first person who came to see it bought it, which tells me that it was a great jeep. I'm going to miss her! :( 

K-EYE TV, a local news channel, put my pictures in a slideshow on their website. Pretty cool! 

This says it all about our pug obsession. 

So, I haven't been very active on my blog in a while. Cara and I have been overwhelmed by the wedding plans. We have less than 100 days before the big day! Even though I've been slack with the blog, I hope that you will enjoy the wedding website. Click on the pic. 

We had an incredible thunderstorm on Tuesday night! I stopped at Mt. Bonnell to take some pictures. This is my favorite. 

My master's thesis has finally made it into print. And, yes, I would argue that I should be first author, as well, but I lost that battle. Anyway, happy reading!!!