Kosovo Extracurricular Activities

Thought I'd share some of the things that have been keeping me busy while deployed that didn't include helichoppers...



We had about 6" of snow and once it started warming up the snow slid off the roofs and hung there for quite a while...



While Maj. Gen. Tonini was here, we watched the UK Basketball Game...


This is "Gabby the cat" whom we've adopted in our hangar (where we keep our aircraft). He lifts everyone's spirits...


1SG takes everyone out-to-eat and bowling on Wednesday evenings... this is the craziest bowling alley I've ever been to.


We've had several EPIC games of dodgeball since being here... the picture says it all.


"Trunk's Beefcake" (that's what's on the plate... beef & cake)


killer game of dodgeball...


This is where we were volunteering with a local highschool - helping to teach english. Today we're playing dodgeball with them (Christmas Eve). Trunk is attempting to destroy someone's face with a dodgeball.


everybody gets to learn CPR (and how to use a defibrillator)

CLEAR!



I participated in the DANCON March at the end of November - -16 miles with a 23lb rucksack up some serious hills.
I finished with a bunch of international participants and we got our picture taken.

Long story short, my face is on some billboard at the French Camp (I think) in Northern Kosovo.


I play the drums (or handbells as my commander likes to say) for the weekly protestant worship service on Sundays. We make a "joyful noise" more than anything else. (note: the bells on the glass don't help my case in the "handbell" accusation - of course it's unrelated).


This is an entrance to Kosovo's largest cave - a big tourist attraction (when KEK isn't cutting power to the country). It's got nothing on Mammoth Cave though SIR!


We learn how to fight fires!


A bunch of us enjoy a night out on the town in Film City. Here, we're dining at "Tokyo"...


These cigarettes kill me... in Europe, they come with SERIOUS warning labels. Not the pansy ones that we have in Amerrrica.


Coolest Lego I have EVER seen.


This was a very confusing time for me. We were flying thru Croatia and stayed the night at a couple of different cities... we knew we were going to stay in Zagreb and in Dubrovnik (both major cities in Croatia). Well our hotel in Zagreb was named...(see below)... so no one REALLY knew where we were.


While we were in Vienna, Austria - Mike, Marcus & I got to help celebrate their independence day. Behind me is an Austrian Blackhawk on display.


Four of the RLO's (as we're called by those in our unit 'Real Live Officers'... not like the Warrant Officers - please reference the sarcasm) show off a little bit for all the aircraft coming into refuel.


This is a favorite pas·time for a lot of the guys. I prefer to watch the hilarity ensue.

Ironman Journey

I signed up for the Louisville Ironman (August 28th, 2010 - the day after my sweet Mother's 60th birthday) in August of 2009 and have been ... pondering on it.

How in the WORLD am I going to train for this thing, seeing as how I am limited in my "training" opportunities
At my disposal I have:
-a stationary bike straight out of the 1980's
-a running loop that is no greater than 5 miles long OR the endless hamster race on the treadmill - -to top it off, no access to a swimming pool. period.
NOTE: I will have approximately 3 weeks post-deployment to both get into a 25yard pool as well as start pedal cranking on my ACTUAL bike - though 3 weeks doesn't sound like a very long time to prep for an ironman distance event. 2.4 mile swim/112 mile bike/26.2 mile run. yay.

Thankfully I HAVE completed a triathlon before, but probably makes it all the more laughable seeing as how it was a sprint Tri back in 2005.

Anyway, I'm prepping my plan as I type... trying to get motivated and coming up with creative ways to get ready for this beast.

So far, I've got blank monthly calendars printed for March thru August to fill in what I HOPE to accomplish 6 days a week. I would like to backwards plan this thing to ensure I meet my goal... but am still researching that.

I've also printed out a little picture of the Ironman logo to hang up on my door to remind me of my stupidity... I mean my goal of accomplishing this thing at the conclusion of my year-long deployment to wonderful, sunny Kosovo.

Several of the guys in my unit know I've started this endeavor and are being supportive - ie. making fun of me and ridiculing me for how little I'm actually training. it's great.

more to follow.