Finally, here we are in front of our decorated Christmas tree. It has been a VERY long 8 months, and visiting with Janice and Kathy has helped get over the hump of this tour. We have 6 months left and are looking forward to a great June return. Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends and family. May your Holidays be half as bright as the light which Janice and Kathy brought to our Thanksgiving. Truly the season to give thanks and to be thankful for all that we have....starting with each other!

Here is Shaun and the tree. Thanks to mom and Tracy for the "Big Lots" ornaments. Janice and Kathy also brought some ornaments from home to help decorate out tree.

Here is Janice with two local business men while on the patio having lunch at Trader Vic's. We almost sold her......

The next day we went to the big mall and had lunch at Trader Vics. This is Janice and I out front. Trader Vics makes you feel like you are in a tropical paradise.

Abdul's shop is two stories, and you can see the stacks of rugs. There is truly something for everyone's taste in this store. There are many types, compositions, and color variations for all the rugs...Abdul rang the bell and gave a lesson in "rug shopping 101" for the two teachers.

Well, Janice and Kathy did indeed travel half way around the world to be with Shaun and I for Thanksgiving. Of course, what would a trip to the Persian gulf be without a little Persian rug shopping. In the middle is my rug vender: Abdul.

Here is our new executive desk we had made. It is solid rosewood with three black leather panels on the top. I've been wanting to purchase one of these for the ultimate house, and thought this is the time to do it. For now we have it in the spare bedroom with the other computer desk....aka....."The Man-cave"!

Here I am at the race track, they have a static display of a local fishing dhow. You'll see these a lot out to sea and in the bay areas. They tend to be the preferred vessel in this region, no matter the country. In the background is the famous Bahrain Raceway tower.

Here are all my guys at the Formula 1 race track in Bahrain. Bahrain host a Formala 1 race every year in the spring-time, this year the race is March 14. So, as part of the raceway, they have go-carts and a mini race track. All of us went this past Friday and had a great time. It's like sitting on the ground with a lawn mower engine strapped to your butt. It was crazy fun....a little hard on my back, but worth it.

Me, Vince, and Master Chief getting ready to tee off during the Captain's Cup golf tournament. If you have a chance look up "Royal Palm Golf Resort" + Bahrain. It's quite lovely, and the only real golf club on the island. The four of us played in this "best ball" tournament.....and normally "bogey golf" would be good golf, but not in best ball tournament play! But we had a fantastic day, and hey, a day on the golf course beats the crap out of a day at work anytime!

Here is Shaun and his boss Vince, and the Command Master Chief ready to tee off!

Here is Shaun assessing the tee shot with the typical Oil Derrick in the background....how fitting for a golf course in the middle of the Persian Gulf. The guy in the background is Shaun's boss: Vince.

Here is my honey and I on the Royal Palm Golf Course in Bahrain. It is the only golf course with grass. There is another course here in Bahrain, but it has oiled sand for fairways, and you carry a grass rug to hit your ball on. The greens are green oiled sand. This course is very nice, but also expensive, but we had a lovely day!