Happy Halloween!

The whole month of October had a Halloween theme on base, culminating with the Halloween costume party on Halloween night!  Nowhere was this more evident then at my home away from home (the gym of course:)

Our hospital decorated for Halloween as well.  We even decorated our ER with a Halloween theme!

By Halloween day, the DFAC (aka dining facility) got in the spirit with Halloween decorations and the gym staff even came trick-or-treating in costume to our hospital, where our XO (who deployed with me to Afghanistan), gave out candy to Kenneth!

 

 

Halloween itself, however, was amazing and truly one to remember.  The gym advertised my Halloween spin class and decorated the bikes for it, so I had to make sure that I lived up to expectations.  I found a Halloween themed spin class on YouTube, and added Michael Jackson's Thriller (the "real" original movie version) and the theme from Ghostbusters!  I had to have a costume so I borrowed one for the class and the after party (yes, it was a child's size, but I was able to fit into it, kind of, after losing so much weight here...)

 

 

 

 

After the spin class, our Navy group showed up to the after party, some in costume, and some not.  However, we all had fun line dancing and certainly showed up the Army (only one soldier got out on the dance floor).  When they called all of us in costumes out to the dance floor for the best costume contest, little did I know that it was actually a "dance off" to determine the winner.  Needless to say, I did not fare well in that one (coming in 10th out of 10:), relegating myself to a yoga pose as I have no dance moves...…

 

 

 

 

I thought the Halloween party we had during my last deployment to Afghanistan was a one off, but realized that everyone tries to make life while deployed just a little bit like home, including having a Halloween party.  In the end, it ended up being a great Halloween, even though it was spent in the middle of the desert in Iraq.



 

 

 



 

UofA Homecoming 2018 (A tale of two "Brads")

For only the second time since 1985, I almost missed UofA's Homecoming.  Luckily, thanks to the foresight and creativity of my sister in law, Kelli, coupled with the dedication of my family and friends, I was able to once again be simultaneously in two places at once, on the opposite sides of the Earth! 

Prior to "CDR Brad" leading a Yoga X class to an international coalition of Navy, Army, coalition forces, contractors and interpreters, "Flat Brad" was just getting to the Buffet in Tucson before opening at 0550.  "CDR Brad" got the opportunity to What's App in live with Steph, Morgan, Bob, and Kayla Kersey.  Shortly thereafter, "Flat Brad" can be seen inside the Buffet enjoying a beer with family and friends alike while "CDR Brad" led the class admirably.

 

 



After a couple of beers, and before heading to the next stop, "Flat Brad" needed to use the head first...

Later, "Flat Brad" attended the Bobcat Breakfast, visiting with many friends and catching up on what has been going on.  At the same time, "CDR Brad" was able to What's App in to the breakfast live, being introduced by Lloyd Fox while Del Kyger held the phone up and "Flat Brad" watched intently from the audience!  It is amazing to be in two places at once, separated by 10 time zones!

 

 

After "Flat Brad" took a break and "CDR Brad" got a few winks of sleep, the Homecoming game against Oregon commenced.  I am not sure if "Flat Brad" was able to see the game live, but "CDR Brad" did get to catch the second half of the game live on ESPN from the big screen TV in his ER, drinking his TAB and cheering the Wildcats on to a 44-15 victory against the Ducks who were favored by 10! 

 

 



What a great Homecoming!  Special thanks to Steph, Morgan, Del, Dean, Lloyd, and the Kersey's for helping to make it so memorable ;)

Where Has All the Tab Gone? A Shortage Panics Fans - The New York Times

Thanks to my good friend and fraternity brother, Mike Mitchell, for sending me the following article:

Where Has all the Tab Gone?  A Shortage Panics Fans. 

Here is the link:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/business/tab-shortage-coca-cola.html?partner=applenews&ad-keywords=APPLEMOBILE®ion=written_through&asset_id=100000006119338

And here is a link to one of the old TAB TV ads that immediately had me singing along with the all too familiar jingle I grew up with:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJL4yQn_7qQ

You MUST read the article!  However, it did not point out the fact that many of the 12 packs of TAB have also been shipped to Iraq, as well, to satisfy MY addiction to this wonderful, effervescent, saccharin and caffeine laden, deliciously satisfying drink known as TAB!

 

 

I have both squirreled away as well as consumed more than my fair share of the missing TAB cola!  Please do not notify the New York Times of my secret stash as I do not want to be inundated with requests!  Whether cheering on the 'Cats or getting ready to do paperwork or call family from my "office" in the ER, I am consuming this magical elixir known as TAB...…..

 

 

Unfortunately, for me, the weather here has both cooled off as well as become WET!  Not just the few sprinkles we had before, but a day-long deluge that had me hiding out in the gym for 4 hours yesterday waiting for it to abate (OK...…. yes I was working out as well:).  I even was able to see my breath this morning while on my way to the hospital to call home.  That is not the weather this native Arizonan enjoys.

 

Hopefully, I will not have to endure this for too long until I return to the sun and warmth of home in Phoenix, where my nephew Luke (who share's his uncles' incredible fanny-pack toting fashion sense) enjoys the sunshine while wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops!

 

 

 

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAVY!

Happy birthday to the Navy.  I celebrated in the morning with a workout (of course), dressed in my only UofA shirt (which is also "Navy"- it commemorates the 75th anniversary of the sinking of the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor) as it was UofA game day (they were playing a rare Friday night game which is Saturday morning for us here, shown on ESPN). Unfortunately, the Wildcats did not show up today :(  Kenneth, who works in the gym, wished us all a happy Navy birthday on his video presentation on the TV in the gym. 

After my workout, I flew a patient out to a higher level of care for further testing we could not provide.  For lunch, we got to celebrate the Navy's 243rd birthday with cake and reserved tables for our lunch.  We continued the Navy tradition of the oldest (our CO) and youngest sailor cutting the cake.  I also got a picture next to one of our surgeons, Eric, at lunch too.

 

Fall is finally upon us here, and the weather has taken a turn for the cooler, wetter (only a few drops, though), windy, and sandy!  Here you can see a dust storm rolling in!

 

VOTING- Part 2

I am exercising my right AND responsibility to vote in the general election, even while deployed across the world in Iraq.  I hope you all are doing the same back home.  Every vote counts.  Do not take this right and responsibility for granted. It is essential that we exercise this right and responsibility that we all share in our great country.  Remember, not everyone in this world has this ability.  Do not take it for granted.  (Admittedly, not everyone is as lucky as I am to actually be able to vote for his sister-in-law as his state Representative!)