Here is LT Charles Leary and I in the cigar lounge. Charles will be leaving the Navy in a couple of months. He is going to graduate school in Texas and getting married this fall. I will miss him, and more importantly, the U.S Navy loss is corporate America's gain. I want this sort of look for our cigar room in the future house.

Here I am at the Ritz Carlton Cigar lounge. A couple of my Officers and I spent a lazy Saturday afternoon smoking cigars in a very nice dark wood and leather chair room. It was fabulous and made me think I wasn't in Bahrain for those two hours or so.

This is the story of the "Green Qum". There are several types of Persian rugs. The very best in design, composition, and detailing (knots per square inch) come from an area in Iran called: Qum. Thus the rugs made in this area are all hand made by families for generation.....this is a green colored Qum. Shaun actually picked this out during a rug flop in October. He liked it for the rich colors of green, and the fact that it is a rare color. He kept the rug over-night but had me take it back the next day.....thinking it was too much money. Well, that day I did take the rug back to Abdul, but purchased it and had Abdul hold it until Xmas. Well, about two weeks later Shaun asked Abdul if he still had the green Qum, as he now had "rug remorse" and wished to purchase it after all. For next months leading up to Xmas, Shaun would continuously asked Abdul to search far and wide to find him another green Qum. We all had a good laugh about it. And on Xmas day.....truly Shaun as surprised! Thus, on the wall it is proudly displayed. Oh, thanks to Mom and Dad for the Bronco's shirt I'm wearing......Thus is the story of the green Qum.

Here is a close-up pix of my hand carved elephant Shaun got me for xmas. Inside the body of the elephant is another elephant the same shape and design. It is solid one piece of alabaster. I can't wait for everyone to see it!

Here we are about to eat out Christmas game hens. We did beer-butt chicken in our oven.

I'd like to tell everyone that Santa delivered this for me......unfortunately, I fell a little short in the "I've been a good girl" category! So I'm posting this and accepting donations for next year. Remember folks......there are only 362 shopping days left! Seriously, I went golfing last weekend and they had several models of golf -carts, but this one was my favorite. I'd fit right in at "The Lakes"!

Me and the tree on Christmas day! We wish all of our friends and family a very Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year! We love and miss you all!