Haircut

I had not had a haircut since I first got to Iraq and had let it grow really, really, really long. Last week I decided it was time for a change and made an appointment at one of the local institutes. I left work today with super long hair and will show up tomorrow for combatives training at 0630 with 10 inches off. It is so short that won't need to put it up when in uniform...weird!!! I will get a picture in uniform tomorrow to show the full difference.

Honoring the California Fallen

Army Specialist John Carillo Jr, 20, of Stockton, CA was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA. SPC Carillo died in Fallujah, Iarq from injuries sustained on 23SEPT2010 from non-combat-related injuries.

Also killed was Private First Class Gebrah P. Noonan.

Permanent Change of Station

UNOFFICIAL

I received an email today from the Army's Human Resource Command stating that I should be able to move this Winter/Spring to Fort Lewis, WA to work as a Staff ICU Nurse at Madigan Army Medical Center.

Leader Reaction Course

I am currently at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas completing the Army Medical Department's Captain Career Course. There are a little over 170 of us here for the course.

Today's main task was the Leader Reaction Course which is a collection of problem solving obstacles. We were broken up in to our small groups of 15 and completed 6 different tasks with a different person selected to be our task leader for each obstacle. It was fun to see how others lead and we how we all act when we are the followers.

Komen Race for the Cure

Along with many of my fellow students at the Army Medical Department's Captain Career Course I am running in support of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Austin, TX.

All of us participating have careers in the Army within the Medical Field. For nine weeks we will be completing a Leadership Course at Ft Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. While in this course we will be away from participating in direct and indirect patient care so this is our chance to continue to make a difference.

Please join me in the fight to find a cure for Breast Cancer!

The race itself will be held on November 7, 2010 at 0800 in Austin, TX.

DONATE TO MY PERSONAL GOAL

-OR-

DONATE TO THE AMEDD CCC TEAM GOAL

Touring Nashville

After walking around downtown Nashville I took a tour of the Ryman Auditorium. The Auditorium can seat over 2,000 people per concert. It was built in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle and renamed the Ryman Auditorium in honor of Thomas Ryman who built the Tabernacle for revivalist Samuel Porter Jones.

The Ryman Auditorium was the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943-1974. And is the current temporary home of the Opry as their current location was damaged by the flooded Cumberland River in May of 2010.

A view from the front of the stage looking out into the seats.
The preserved floor and pews of the original Ryman.

A view of the stage from the Confederate Gallery.

Once I had completed my tour I got out rather quickly as Carrie Underwood had shown up for her concert that night and people were starting to get a little too excited.

And really, you live in Nashville.
Why do you need to drive across town in your tour bus?
Could you please be a little less green?!?

A Parting Shot of NYC

A view from the Empire State building.

Looking up at the greatest flag in the world!

A view of NYC and Central Park from the top of the Empire State Building.

Uptown Manhattan

We took a stroll through Central Park. While it was a beautiful oasis in the city, there are still signs of big city life around every corner.

As we excited Central Park we headed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was so amazingly large. I probably only walked through 1/8 of the museum. I liked this painting of the American flag.

On the other side of Central Park we walked past Julliard and the American Ballet Company to find the set up of Fashion Week. This year it had been relocated from Bryant Park to Lincoln Center. The fake building was done so well that it looked like it was a part of the original structures.

And for our final show, A Little Night Musical with Bernadette Peters playing the lead.The theatre itself was a classically small (cozy) and beautiful.

Midtown Manhattan

After checking out Rockefeller Plaza we went on a tour of the NBC studios. I was surprised to see how small the SNL stage really was. There is so much that can be done on that small sound stage...
St Patrick's Cathedral was beautiful. All the stained glass... Amazing!

We took a tour of the UN and even got to see where the General Assembly meets.
And to top off another great day in NYC we saw the Lion King. Another great example of musical theatre!

Honor The Fallen

Army Staff Sergeant Shannon M. Smith

SSG Smith died September 8, 2009 in Tikrit, Iraq of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an explosive device.

SSG Smith of Marion, OH, was assigned to the 545th Military Police Company, Arctic Military Police Battalion, Fort Richardson, AK.

SSG Smith is survived by his son Steven.

Army Specialist Thomas F. Lyons

SPC Lyons died September 8, 2009 in Tikrit, Iraq, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an explosive device.

SPC Lyons of Fernley, NV, was assigned to the 545th Military Police Company, Arctic Military Police Battalion, Fort Richardson, AK.

SPC Lyons is survived by his wife and child.

Army Specialist Zachary T. Myers

SPC Myers died September 8, 2009 in Tikrit, Iraq, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an explosive device.

SPC Myers of Delaware, OH, was assigned to the 545th Military Police Company, Arctic Military Police Battalion, Fort Richardson, AK.

SPC Myers is survived by his wife Megan and daughter Rowen.

Downtown Manhattan

Today was spent walking around downtown Manhattan. Our first stop was to the former site of the World Trade Center Towers. Construction is well underway on the waterfall/reflecting pools. Once completed, this is going to be a peaceful place of honor.

On our way to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island we passed a sculpture that once stood proudly in front of the World Trade Center. It was damaged beyond repair and was moved to Battery Park to stand a reminder of what this city has survived.


And there stands Lady Liberty watching over the city that she is here to protect.

The Great Hall at Ellis Island where so many waited for their chance to become an "American".


And my favorite...seeing Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre.

LOVED IT!!! My life is now complete!

NYC with Mom

My mom and I flew to NYC for a week of site seeing and Broadway shows. Neither of us had been to NYC before so we were both pretty excited. We stayed in a local hotel that had a presidential theme to it. Our desk lamp was good ole' George Washington. So I had to get a quick shot of the Burdine/Moiser t-shirt on George!