I returned safely to Germany in early December.
Thank you to all those who supported me and the others while we were deployed.
Best Wishes,
Scott
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Thursday, November 2, 2006
Time to Catch Up!
The last time I checked it was right after the 10 mile race and a lot has happened since then.
I have been training for the upcoming marathon and have been required to run some pretty good distances. Well, I finally ran my “long” run and it was 20 miles. This little run lasted 3 hours and 25 minutes. Not the fastest pace, but wow it really hurt. I started around 0600 and ran with Mickey Miller for the first 12 miles, she had to peel off and get to work and I started on the remaining distance. It was going smooth until around the 17 mile mark. I am not sure if it is mental or physical, but it was a wall that was hard to get past. After that, it was just a matter of getting back to the start point. After about two days of walking gingerly up and down the stairs, all was back to normal.
We are starting to turn in different pieces of equipment that are not necessary for the mission, and it really feels great knowing that we are almost out of here. I try not to count down the days, but it is really hard, especially, when you have a countdown calendar. The weather here is excellent now and we are all relieved for the cooler weather to finally be here.
We have a PT test coming up real soon and it is hard to believe that we are taking one in Iraq. This will be the second one this year and after all this running, I feel better about my chances. The Marathon is coming up pretty quick and it is the last big item on my calendar prior to our replacements arriving. I will let you guys know how it goes on my next entry.
Received word that a good friend, Cynthia Roelle, was selected to be published in B&W Magazine. This is a huge achievement and something that only a select few photographers are able to achieve. Congratulations!
Halloween – Yes, we had a Halloween party in Iraq. I have included some pictures of the event for you viewing pleasure. The night started out with Matt Wolf showing up and his costume was me. He had on a uniform with my last name and rank on and then he even shaved his head. Wow, that is what I call dedication to a holiday. We had pizza and fried chicken and lots of near beer. Matt was the MC for the evening and took most of the pictures; which was a nice break. Matt led us through some trivia questions, puzzles, games, and passed out some prizes for the winners. He did a great job and everyone there had a great time.
Ing Maurstad sporting his Nebraska foam football helmet.
Matt Wolf on the left dressed up as me...on the right.
From left to right, Kari Malgeri, Matt Wolf, Kim McCann
Kari Malgeri(with ponytails), Chris Fredrikson (with Batman Mask), and Jim Culp (with Nebraska helmet and bubba teeth)
Brandon and Michelle Bauer
In the background, Ing Maurstad gives the stiff-arm to Steve Hernandez, Brian Adams looks on.
I have been training for the upcoming marathon and have been required to run some pretty good distances. Well, I finally ran my “long” run and it was 20 miles. This little run lasted 3 hours and 25 minutes. Not the fastest pace, but wow it really hurt. I started around 0600 and ran with Mickey Miller for the first 12 miles, she had to peel off and get to work and I started on the remaining distance. It was going smooth until around the 17 mile mark. I am not sure if it is mental or physical, but it was a wall that was hard to get past. After that, it was just a matter of getting back to the start point. After about two days of walking gingerly up and down the stairs, all was back to normal.
We are starting to turn in different pieces of equipment that are not necessary for the mission, and it really feels great knowing that we are almost out of here. I try not to count down the days, but it is really hard, especially, when you have a countdown calendar. The weather here is excellent now and we are all relieved for the cooler weather to finally be here.
We have a PT test coming up real soon and it is hard to believe that we are taking one in Iraq. This will be the second one this year and after all this running, I feel better about my chances. The Marathon is coming up pretty quick and it is the last big item on my calendar prior to our replacements arriving. I will let you guys know how it goes on my next entry.
Received word that a good friend, Cynthia Roelle, was selected to be published in B&W Magazine. This is a huge achievement and something that only a select few photographers are able to achieve. Congratulations!
Halloween – Yes, we had a Halloween party in Iraq. I have included some pictures of the event for you viewing pleasure. The night started out with Matt Wolf showing up and his costume was me. He had on a uniform with my last name and rank on and then he even shaved his head. Wow, that is what I call dedication to a holiday. We had pizza and fried chicken and lots of near beer. Matt was the MC for the evening and took most of the pictures; which was a nice break. Matt led us through some trivia questions, puzzles, games, and passed out some prizes for the winners. He did a great job and everyone there had a great time.
Ing Maurstad sporting his Nebraska foam football helmet.
Matt Wolf on the left dressed up as me...on the right.
From left to right, Kari Malgeri, Matt Wolf, Kim McCann
Kari Malgeri(with ponytails), Chris Fredrikson (with Batman Mask), and Jim Culp (with Nebraska helmet and bubba teeth)
Brandon and Michelle Bauer
In the background, Ing Maurstad gives the stiff-arm to Steve Hernandez, Brian Adams looks on.
Monday, October 9, 2006
Army 10 Mile Road Race
Another run is in the books. This time it was the Army's 10 Mile Road Race. It is an annual race that is held in Washington, D.C., but many units host their own at the local Army installation. Since we could not make it to D.C., some folks were kind enough to host it here in Baghdad.
The morning began when I woke up about 30 minutes before the alarm went off. I always get anxious when there is somewhere I have to be early in the morning. I went ahead and got up and went to meet my running buddies at the rally point. The weather was a perfect 70-75 degrees with a slight breeze and a full moon. Everyone showed up on time and we began our walk to the event. It was about a ¾ mile walk there in the dark, but you could get a sense that I was not the only one excited about the run. Everyone in the group was talking about how they were going to do and comparing exit strategies if they did not run well. The path we took to the start location was somewhat surreal; it was a dark bumpy path that led to small walking bridge that led to an entrance in a large wall. The entrance in the wall was no larger than a small door, but when you walked through; you immediately realized how large of an event this was going to be. Bright lights circled the area with hundreds, if not a thousand people who were all ready to run.
The staging area was a flurry of stretching and confusion. You can see the experienced runners going through their routine and then you could see the less experienced runners (like me) looking around in amazement at all the people there and making sure our numbers were pinned on our shirts.
Before the race begins, the event organizers provide a safety brief to all the runners so they can warn them of anything that could affect the race. The kicker for this particular safety brief is that they tell you how to react if there is small arms fire or a mortar attack. I can bet you that this is not the normal safety brief that runners receive at the original race in D.C. Thankfully, we did not have either.
After the safety brief, we move to the start point where members of the V Corps band play the star spangled banner; immediately after, the race began.
The beginning of the race was very congested and runners of all speeds were participating. It was challenging to make our way through the crowd for the first few miles, but that helped pass the time. The route was a familiar since it was following the same path as the previous 10K races. We started out moderately quicker and before we knew it, we were passing the 2nd mile marker. The farther we ran the less people there were to navigate through, which also meant that we were moving toward the front of the pack; always a nice place to be. At about the 4 mile mark, my legs were finally warmed up and ready to run, so I did. I increased my pace considerably and before I knew it, I was passing people and getting mean looks for doing it too. That lasted for about 2 miles, and then came the dreaded signal hill.
Signal Hill is about ¼ mile long and has about a 10-15% grade, making it very difficult to run up. As I ran up the hill, I noticed that the people that I had passed earlier were now passing me, I was moving pretty slow, but I did not want to stop. As I made it to the top of the hill, there was a 6 mile marker right before the turn around point. I was glad to get there, but then I remembered that I had 4 miles left. I descended the hill and continued the run at a slower pace.
It took me about a mile or two to get back into the groove. I was pretty tired, so I thought I would just cruise for the last two miles, but before I knew it Mickey Miller was on my heals and said "Hey!" I turned and when I realized who it was, I greeted her with an "Oh crap!" Then she said, "That's right, no excuses young man, you better speed up!" So I did. I ran pretty fast for the last few miles, but I was tired. I was wondering how long I could keep up that pace, but then I could see the finish line up ahead, it was nice to see. Did I mention that the finish line was nice to see? ;-) I made the last turn and at this point, you can't slow down because there are photographers and others standing at the finish line cheering you in. It is really cool, because you get an extra burst of energy (some call it pride) and you finish strong. Yippee! The run is over and I was greeted with a cold Gatorade by Matt Wolf who had already fished the race with a much quicker time.
After the run, we gather to compare experiences and tell everyone how great they did, which is true. Then we gather for photos and enjoy the moment together.
Now onto the pictures!
This is the group before the run - see all the smiles?
Kari Malgeri shows how she keeps warm before the run.
Here I am praying before the run. (Actually rubbing my hands together to warm them up.)
Ing Maurstad throws a smile for the camera while Steve Hernandez explains to me why there needs to be more photos of him on my blog.
Steve Hernandez sprinting to the finish line.
Here I am pretending that I was happy after running 10 miles.
Mickey Miller gives her trademark wave to the crowd.
Ing Maurstad completes his first 10 mile road race.
Kari Malgeri comfortably cruises to the finish.
Kari demonstrates how she fell down and found one of the only mud puddles in Iraq. The incident occurred about 100 meters before crossing the finish line. (Check out the mud on her back!)
The group still smiling, but I think it is because we are finished with another run.
Back Row-left to right: Rick Lear, John Vansandt, Chris Fredrikson, me, Christina Van Der Hulst, Ing Maurstad, and Dawn Wolfe.
Front Row-left to right: Mike Dean, Kim McCann, Michele Miller, Kari Malgeri and Steve Hernandez.
The morning began when I woke up about 30 minutes before the alarm went off. I always get anxious when there is somewhere I have to be early in the morning. I went ahead and got up and went to meet my running buddies at the rally point. The weather was a perfect 70-75 degrees with a slight breeze and a full moon. Everyone showed up on time and we began our walk to the event. It was about a ¾ mile walk there in the dark, but you could get a sense that I was not the only one excited about the run. Everyone in the group was talking about how they were going to do and comparing exit strategies if they did not run well. The path we took to the start location was somewhat surreal; it was a dark bumpy path that led to small walking bridge that led to an entrance in a large wall. The entrance in the wall was no larger than a small door, but when you walked through; you immediately realized how large of an event this was going to be. Bright lights circled the area with hundreds, if not a thousand people who were all ready to run.
The staging area was a flurry of stretching and confusion. You can see the experienced runners going through their routine and then you could see the less experienced runners (like me) looking around in amazement at all the people there and making sure our numbers were pinned on our shirts.
Before the race begins, the event organizers provide a safety brief to all the runners so they can warn them of anything that could affect the race. The kicker for this particular safety brief is that they tell you how to react if there is small arms fire or a mortar attack. I can bet you that this is not the normal safety brief that runners receive at the original race in D.C. Thankfully, we did not have either.
After the safety brief, we move to the start point where members of the V Corps band play the star spangled banner; immediately after, the race began.
The beginning of the race was very congested and runners of all speeds were participating. It was challenging to make our way through the crowd for the first few miles, but that helped pass the time. The route was a familiar since it was following the same path as the previous 10K races. We started out moderately quicker and before we knew it, we were passing the 2nd mile marker. The farther we ran the less people there were to navigate through, which also meant that we were moving toward the front of the pack; always a nice place to be. At about the 4 mile mark, my legs were finally warmed up and ready to run, so I did. I increased my pace considerably and before I knew it, I was passing people and getting mean looks for doing it too. That lasted for about 2 miles, and then came the dreaded signal hill.
Signal Hill is about ¼ mile long and has about a 10-15% grade, making it very difficult to run up. As I ran up the hill, I noticed that the people that I had passed earlier were now passing me, I was moving pretty slow, but I did not want to stop. As I made it to the top of the hill, there was a 6 mile marker right before the turn around point. I was glad to get there, but then I remembered that I had 4 miles left. I descended the hill and continued the run at a slower pace.
It took me about a mile or two to get back into the groove. I was pretty tired, so I thought I would just cruise for the last two miles, but before I knew it Mickey Miller was on my heals and said "Hey!" I turned and when I realized who it was, I greeted her with an "Oh crap!" Then she said, "That's right, no excuses young man, you better speed up!" So I did. I ran pretty fast for the last few miles, but I was tired. I was wondering how long I could keep up that pace, but then I could see the finish line up ahead, it was nice to see. Did I mention that the finish line was nice to see? ;-) I made the last turn and at this point, you can't slow down because there are photographers and others standing at the finish line cheering you in. It is really cool, because you get an extra burst of energy (some call it pride) and you finish strong. Yippee! The run is over and I was greeted with a cold Gatorade by Matt Wolf who had already fished the race with a much quicker time.
After the run, we gather to compare experiences and tell everyone how great they did, which is true. Then we gather for photos and enjoy the moment together.
Now onto the pictures!
This is the group before the run - see all the smiles?
Kari Malgeri shows how she keeps warm before the run.
Here I am praying before the run. (Actually rubbing my hands together to warm them up.)
Ing Maurstad throws a smile for the camera while Steve Hernandez explains to me why there needs to be more photos of him on my blog.
Steve Hernandez sprinting to the finish line.
Here I am pretending that I was happy after running 10 miles.
Mickey Miller gives her trademark wave to the crowd.
Ing Maurstad completes his first 10 mile road race.
Kari Malgeri comfortably cruises to the finish.
Kari demonstrates how she fell down and found one of the only mud puddles in Iraq. The incident occurred about 100 meters before crossing the finish line. (Check out the mud on her back!)
The group still smiling, but I think it is because we are finished with another run.
Back Row-left to right: Rick Lear, John Vansandt, Chris Fredrikson, me, Christina Van Der Hulst, Ing Maurstad, and Dawn Wolfe.
Front Row-left to right: Mike Dean, Kim McCann, Michele Miller, Kari Malgeri and Steve Hernandez.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Time is starting to move.
Finally, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We are now under 80 days remaining before we head back home. The morale in the office seems to fluctuate with each day; some good, some bad. One thing we have started is a "Things overheard today" board. We have placed a dry-erase board in the foyer and it has markers attached, so if you heard something funny today, you can write it on the board. So far, we have had several interesting phrases posted. My favorite today is, "I can't eat enough candy today to make me happy". How about that one?
In other areas, we have had some people from the separate brigades depart the area. One person I will miss is my photo buddy, Cynthia Roelle. We went out most weekends exploring bombed out buildings and palaces looking for the right picture to capture. Prior to her departure, we took some time to gather the best of our photographs and prepared them for a portfolio competition in B&W Magazine. Results will not be released until December.
Training, training, training. I have been increasing my running miles in an attempt to participate in a marathon in Baghdad. Now, if you are deciding to run your first marathon, why not make it a memorable place like Baghdad? We will see how it goes. The person I need to thank for that is Andie Goode, she also departed the area on Sunday. She kept prodding me to get out and run and it worked, we ran three different 10Ks and she helped me begin training for the marathon - thanks!
Below are some random pictures of cool people in our office.
Steve Hernandez - Always shares a smile.
(Another picture of Steve posted as a result of pressure applied by Belinda)
Rick McGuire and Chris Fredrikson - Ham it up for the camera.
Rina Shah - Very thankful for her new partition wall.
Sean Wilson - Wondering who took his workout supplements.
Brian Adams - Go Dawgs. A true Georgia football fan, rarely will he be seen without the football in his hands.
In other areas, we have had some people from the separate brigades depart the area. One person I will miss is my photo buddy, Cynthia Roelle. We went out most weekends exploring bombed out buildings and palaces looking for the right picture to capture. Prior to her departure, we took some time to gather the best of our photographs and prepared them for a portfolio competition in B&W Magazine. Results will not be released until December.
Training, training, training. I have been increasing my running miles in an attempt to participate in a marathon in Baghdad. Now, if you are deciding to run your first marathon, why not make it a memorable place like Baghdad? We will see how it goes. The person I need to thank for that is Andie Goode, she also departed the area on Sunday. She kept prodding me to get out and run and it worked, we ran three different 10Ks and she helped me begin training for the marathon - thanks!
Below are some random pictures of cool people in our office.
Steve Hernandez - Always shares a smile.
(Another picture of Steve posted as a result of pressure applied by Belinda)
Rick McGuire and Chris Fredrikson - Ham it up for the camera.
Rina Shah - Very thankful for her new partition wall.
Sean Wilson - Wondering who took his workout supplements.
Brian Adams - Go Dawgs. A true Georgia football fan, rarely will he be seen without the football in his hands.
Saturday, September 2, 2006
Bozeman Classic 10K Run
Today was another 10K run, but it was much different in that the temperature in the mornings have significantly dropped. This morning, we started at 0600 and the temp was about 75-80 degrees. This appears to be optimal running weather for us here as the majority of people who ran today were faster than their previous attempts. Andie Goode and I have ran the last two races together and today we finished at 54 minutes compared to the one hour in the previous run. We had a great time.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Time Moves On
It may seem that more of the recent posts are not as positive as they have been in the past. It might be that after 8 months of groundhog days, it has begun to wear on me. I am trying to keep outside interests such as my photography while here. I think this helps out a considerable amount. I have been fortunate to have a good friend, Cynthia Roelle who shares an interest in photography. We have been able to head out about once a week to travel around Camp Victory and take photos of just about everything interesting here. We are very limited on what we can photograph, so that adds an additional challenge. This past week, Ben Grimes joined us and will probably be joining us on all of our future photo outings until his departure. We went to the Victory Over America Palace to photograph some of the destruction that occurred a few years ago. We went there in the middle of the afternoon and the temperatures were around 115 degrees with no breeze at all. We stayed for about an hour and a half to captured what we could, but since I forgot to bring my tripod and the lighting was so bad, I have planned on going back a few more times before we leave for good. I have attached a few pictures from our recent trips there.
Victory Over America Palace
Victory Over America Palace
Baath Party Headquarters
Victory Over America Palace
Victory Over America Palace
Baath Party Headquarters
Friday, August 18, 2006
Comedy, Traffic, and Heat
Comedy
I have been borrowing the DVD set "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and I am really enjoying it. But what I have been noticing, the people here could have been on a show just like that. We have so many characters and quirky individuals, I just know there is a story here. I know, most would say, what makes your group any different from the others? Well, I am here to tell you they you have never seen a group like this. There are about 8-10 that could clearly be considered a "character" with their normal behavior. It is just amusing to see how it all works. I guess I am very lucky to have such a great group.
Traffic Cop?
We will start off most mornings at breakfast discussing the previous day and what we are not looking forward to for the remainder of that particular day. Throughout the day, we have people coming in and out of our office with questions and packets that need to be reviewed and forwarded up the chain to our higher headquarters. We spend most of our day directing traffic.
Could someone turn on the air?
The days are getting longer and hotter. As we walk outside, we try to describe the feeling of the intense heat. The best description we can come up with is standing one step too close to that bon fire, except here, you can't back up-it is all around you. Below is a sample from today, also take a look at the 5-day forecast. Yippee - not.
I have been borrowing the DVD set "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and I am really enjoying it. But what I have been noticing, the people here could have been on a show just like that. We have so many characters and quirky individuals, I just know there is a story here. I know, most would say, what makes your group any different from the others? Well, I am here to tell you they you have never seen a group like this. There are about 8-10 that could clearly be considered a "character" with their normal behavior. It is just amusing to see how it all works. I guess I am very lucky to have such a great group.
Traffic Cop?
We will start off most mornings at breakfast discussing the previous day and what we are not looking forward to for the remainder of that particular day. Throughout the day, we have people coming in and out of our office with questions and packets that need to be reviewed and forwarded up the chain to our higher headquarters. We spend most of our day directing traffic.
Could someone turn on the air?
The days are getting longer and hotter. As we walk outside, we try to describe the feeling of the intense heat. The best description we can come up with is standing one step too close to that bon fire, except here, you can't back up-it is all around you. Below is a sample from today, also take a look at the 5-day forecast. Yippee - not.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)