Threesome at Saddam's house...anyone?

I awoke early yesterday. Wiping the sleep from my eyes, I quietly packed a few of my things before heading out the door. The sun was just beginning to rise as I left my room and walked through the palace courtyard. This was going to be a good day.

As I approached the Republican Palace Pool people were already starting to gather around. They were marking their bodies with race numbers, stretching, spinning on their bikes, etc. You know, the normal routine seen at every other triathlon around the world. But, wait...we're in Baghdad!

I must admit I have run some triathlons in some fairly abnormal conditions. Hell, my very first triathlon ever was in a swamp down in Louisiana, where a Game Warden had to flush out all of the alligators in the area before we could start the swim. Although that ranks high on my list of strange places to compete, swimming, biking, and running in Saddam Hussein's backyard takes the cake.

So, here we are in the middle of Baghdad kicking off the Baghdad Triathlon Club's 2008 season. Gotta love this stuff! Since Baghdad has had a surprisingly chilly winter, yes it actually snowed this winter, water temperatures were holding steady at about 64 degrees! Shockingly no one had wetsuits so we did a reverse tri, with the order of events being run, bike, and then swim. The idea behind this was to help speed things along by allowing the run and bike to spread the field so that no one would be stuck waiting to get into the pool. This event order also allowed the temperatures to rise a little, making the jump into the water a little less shocking to our bodies. This sounds good in theory, but trust me, that water was damn cold!

Before I get ahead of myself, let us start in the beginning...



45 of us gathered at the starting line to begin the race on foot. It was a quick 1.5 mile out and back winding through the dust and gravel of the US Embassy compound within the "Green Zone". The run went quickly and before you knew it we were transitioning to the bike. Much like our wetsuits, most left their tri bikes back in the states as well. To accommodate for this we rode in 2 divisions, those who had their mountain bikes and townies did a quick 4 mile double loop very similar to the run route, while others, like myself, hopped on a trusty stationary bike to pedal our way through the 4 miles. I used this opportunity to draft behind the former "Blue Angel", Rear Admiral Driscoll. That's me in the yellow "Livestrong" jersey right behind the Admiral.



After the quick ride on my stationary steed it was in to the cold water of the pool. Luckily the swim was only 250 Meters. I was in and out before I knew it. After exiting the water it was over. My first race of 2008 is under my belt, and I did it in Baghdad no doubt! I think this is going to be the start of a very good season.


The best thing about this race was getting to be around the people. The race director David Moore is a God send.(That's him in the Army shirt pre-race!) He coordinated this race in conjunction with a race being held in Manassas, Virginia. You can read all about it here. Not only did the guys in Virginia sponsor this race, they treated us not only to an official race packet, but they also donated tons of other goodies for us. In every packet a brand new TYR Triathlon Race Suit was included! They provided this, along with many other things, for free! If I ever make it out to Manassas again I will be sure to stop by and thank these guys personally. This was just another example of the love and support shown to the Military Men and Women by the American people. Thank you guys for always being there!

Serving in Baghdad has been quite an interesting journey for me. As my time is drawing to an end I can't help but to think about how I have changed. Wondering how this time has truly affected my life. Since I am already on the topic of triathlons, let me say this...

I am viewing this time here as a transition area so to speak. Completing one aspect in the race of life, while transitioning into the next. Perhaps my life hasn't always gone as planned, but most races never do. It's all about what you do to overcome those challenges that defines who you are. This analogy is one of the reasons that I love triathlon. It not only helps overcome physical challenges, but it helps you overcome life's challenges as well. It's days like today that make me come back for more...one more swim...one more ride...one more run. Further preparing me for the ever changing conditions I face traveling through the course of life.

Thank you Baghdad Triathlon Club, here's to a great season!

:: Ode To Ireland ::

My apologies for posting the show a little late this week. I have a lot going these days as my time in Iraq is drawing to a close. I also apologize for my lack of posts in general lately. Hopefully this weekend I can make it up to you.

So, this show aired last Sunday, March 16th. It was my hopes to get everyone into the spirit of St. Patty's day with some good ol' Irish music. Here is my meager attempt to do just that...

Ode to Ireland - Hour 1

Ode to Ireland - Hour 2

:: Double Shots, Deuces, & Duos ::

So, this week has been fairly hectic... So, I threw together a show rather quickly. I am finding that I prefer to have a theme for each show. It helps me focus and keeps me from bouncing all over the place with my music selection. I had a whole "From New York to London" show planned in my mind, but getting the time to research all of the bands and their heritage, etc. was difficult this week. So, I decided to run with a "Double Shot Show", playing two songs by each artist. Here are the results. Not my best show by far, but fun nevertheless. Thanks for everyones support. You guys are the best!

Download and listen here:

:: Double Shots, Deuces, & Duos : Hour 1 ::

:: Double Shots, Deuces, & Duos : Hour 2 ::


And the play list :

Hour 1 --

Foo Fighters – The Pretender
– Times Like These (Acoustic)

Feist – I Feel It All
– My Moon My Man

Actual Tigers - Testimony
- Standing By

Editors – An End Has A Start
– Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors

Bright Eyes – First Day Of My Life
– Hot Knives

Iron & Wine – Boy With A Coin
– Love Song Of The Buzzard

Billy Bragg & Wilco - Secret Of The Sea
- California Stars

Hour 2 --

Beastie Boys – No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn
– Paul Revere

Stephen Malkmus – Gardenia
– Mama

Drive By Truckers – Easy On Yourself
- Never Gonna Change

Straylight Run – Existentialism On Prom Night
- Still Alone

Cat Power – Free
– Living Proof
- New York

Brendan Benson – Tiny Spark
- Metarie

Patty Griffin – Blue Sky
- Let Him Fly

:: Mission Underground Soundtrack Show ::

For your listening pleasure here is another fun filled episode of Mission Underground. This week I went with a theme based show, playing songs from TV and Movie soundtracks. Here is the play list along with the audio files for download.

Download and listen here...

Soundtrack Show Hour 1

Soundtrack Show Hour 2


Hour 1 Play list ::

Weezer – Island In The Sun (Out Cold)
Jack Johnson – Bubble Toes (Out Cold)
Bob Schneider – Big Blue Sea (40 Days & 40 Nights)
Travis – Side (The Office)
Pete Droge & The Sinners – Beautiful Girl (Beautiful Girls)
Violent Femmes – Blister In The Sun (Grosse Point Blank)
Rolling Stones – Beast of Burden (The Family Man)
Wilco – Box Full of Letters (Beavis and Butthead)
Damien Rice – The Blowers Daughter (Closer)
Elliott Smith – Miss Misery (Good Will Hunting)
Ryan Adams – Nuclear (Smallville)
Beck – Lost Cause (Along Came Polly)
Turin Brakes – Pain Killer (The Last Kiss)
Gary Jules & Michael Andrews – Mad World (Donnie Darko)

Hour 2 Play list ::

The Flaming Lips – Do You Realize? (50 First Dates)
Badly Drawn Boy – Silent Sigh (About A Boy)
Radiohead – Fake Plastic Trees (Clueless)
Joseph Arthur – Honey and The Moon (American Wedding)
Chris Cornell – Sunshower (Great Expectations)
David Garza – Slave (Great Expectations)
Blue Swede – Hooked On A Feeling (Reservoir Dogs)
The Ramones – I Wanna Be Sedated (Detroit Rock City)
The Pixies – Wave Of Mutilation (Pump Up The Volume)
Stereophonics – Maybe Tomorrow (Wicker Park)
The Shins – New Slang (Garden State)
Pretenders – Brass In Pocket (Lost In Translation)
The White Stripes – I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself (My Best
Friends Wedding)
Spoon – The Book I Write (Stranger Than Fiction)


This show is what's keeping me sane around here!

I hope you guys enjoy.

Until next time...

your song and sleep deprivation

It’s 12:30 in the morning and I am wide awake. Tonight is no exception. This is the norm…

This is my life…

I have always been nocturnal. Though the military has done what it can to change that, It has been ineffective in its attempts. Do I get up and make it work at the time Uncle Sam prescribes, yes. Do I struggle to make it happen, no. Do I feel like a ghost most days, yes.

And that’s that.

I don’t know if this will ever change for me. When asked by my family how I am doing , ninety nine percent of the time my reply is “ I am good, just tired.” It seems I have been tired my entire life.

Aren’t we all?

Lately I have been taking notice of replies and reactions. Spying a yawn, or eyes hanging lower than the setting sun. Open, only wide enough to maintain some small sliver of coherence. This is the life we have chosen for ourselves. These are the lives we lead. And I speak not only of my military companions here in Iraq, for I see and hear it in others back home as well.

In fact, I am so tired right now that I do not even know what I am writing, yet that does not stop me from turning my computer off and going to bed. I will not lay haste upon such an important task as updating my blog. Never shall I be defeated by the demons of sleep. I will overcome. I will prevail.

So, here I am, twenty minutes later from when I embarked on this literary (no laughing) journey, with nothing more to show other than too many paragraphs explaining, and exploring, and imploring the thoughts of restlessness and fatigue.

The truth of the matter is that I don’t want to turn my music off. It is my escape. I get so “into” my music that I cannot fall asleep while listening to it. I get so wrapped up in the words being sung, embraced by their beauty, that I cannot fall asleep. Each melody transporting me to another place. Every chorus reminding me of another time. For example.

Sam Beam is whispering in my ear… weaving a tale of a young woman by the name of “Jezebel”, while majestically taking me to the East Village of Manhattan. Every time this song touches my ears I do not find myself in Iraq, I am in New York City. It is October. I am walking down the street with my good friends Joe and Christine at 3 o’clock in the morning* with aspirations of getting a tattoo. And, we’re singing “Jezebel” at the top of our lungs! We would have sung all the way home had we not stopped at Crif Dogs and stuffed our mouths with cheese fries and Chihuahua’s. (I assure you no animals were harmed in the making of that evening. Put down the phone. PETA, nor the SPCA need to be called. )

* (See paragraphs above for previous commentary on my sleep deprivation.)

Now Sufjan Stevens is crooning about a shadfly that is caught in Bobby’s hair. Does that mean anything to you? No. Do I care about Bobby or his shadfly? Not a bit. But, I can tell you this… My wife hates Sufjan Stevens, and reminds me of it at the very mention of his name. Perhaps, to me, that is part of his charm. Not that I like to torture my wife with my music collection, but every time I hear his voice I can’t help but smile and revel in the fact that if Stacey was sitting next to me she would be rolling her eyes and begging me to change the music.

And for a moment she is here, by my side.

Am I trying to say that music is what is polluting the psyche of humanity and the cause of the aforementioned universal fatigue? Absolutely not. I am just telling you why I can’t sleep tonight.

See you should have listened to me earlier when I said that I have no Idea what I am writing right now. For some reason, tonight I felt so inclined as to let the iPod run and set my fingers free, typing at will. This is what you have now been subjected to. The incessant ramblings of a sleepless sailor lost in a sea of sand. (Say that 5 times really fast!)

Yes, I am a dork. I know this.

Okay, now where was I?

Music.

Right.

So…

As cheesy as it is, I watched the film “August Rush” this evening. Please keep in mind that I had no idea what the movie was about before watching it. However, as cheesy and emotionally driven as it was, it wasn’t a bad film. I could relate to many of its themes. Not the, I’m an orphan and a musical prodigy feel it had to it, but the idea that music is all around us… in us… in everything.

I am by no means a musical prodigy. In fact musically, I feel as thought I should be wearing a safety helmet and be placed in the “special” music class. There is nothing I hate more than walking into a music store and seeing an 11 year old wailing on a guitar in a manner that would put Hendrix to shame. Trust me it happens. I tell you this for one reason only. You don’t have to be a musical genius. You don’t even have to be a musician. Hell, you don’t even have to know how to play an instrument to hear the music.

Music is in everything. Yes, it is there. Can you hear it? Do you even know what your listening for?

The shutting of a door. The ticking of a clock. Leaves crackling beneath your feet. A mother doing the dishes. Children playing in the yard. Waves crashing into the sand. Car horns honking on the street.

It all comes together…

Adding and subtracting thoughts and sounds until it adds up to something you can grasp. A song you can hear… A song you can feel. A song that can take you places.

To many this may sound obscure, or even obscene. But I challenge you this… The next time you are on the street… in a noisy restaurant… laying in your bed wide awake… Close your eyes and listen to the soundtrack of your life. It may not be as poetic or as polished as Brittany’s last album, but it is yours.

Your life… Your world… Your song.

What does your song say about you?

:: :: Mission Underground Vol. II :: ::

As promised, here is the recording of my latest radio show. I apologize for the poor sound quality, but limited bandwith only allows me to upload small files.

I also apologize for the lack in my writing lately. I promise to post something very soon...possibly tomorrow.

Until then enjoy...!

Mission Underground 8 FEB Hour 1

Mission Underground 8 FEB Hour 2

Mission Underground Goes Live...!

Alright guys... After weeks of planning I finally got to go live with my new radio show "Mission Underground." Everything went well, although I was nervous as I have ever been. It's a little different talking music with my friends, compared to talking music into a microphone with 100,000 troops, and who knows how many Iraqi's tuning in. However, I got a lot of good feedback from people, as they seemed to have liked the show.

So, per everyone's request you can now listen/download the shows by clicking on the links below. It was recorded into hour segments, and I hate to tell you this, but the first 10 minutes of the show was cut off due to an issue with our recording device. So, you'll have to do without hearing my jittery, nervous self talking live on air for the very first time.

Please keep in mind that I am by no means a professional! With that said, enjoy!

Mission Underground Hour 1

Mission Underground Hour 2