So Long, So Wrong...

Dongducheon pays its last respects at a memorial set up near Jihaeng Station to former President Roh Moo-hyun. Driven to suicide by allegations of bribery, many question Roh was the victim of a relentless media and prosecutorial system.

Some point to current President Lee Myung-bak and the ongoing ritual of incumbent presidents presiding over investigations of their predecessors.

“It has become a bad political habit for presidents in South Korea to try to gain support by punishing the former president,” said Kang Won-taek, professor at Soongsil University. “What happened to Roh Moo-hyun shows that it is time to break this habit.”

Joshua Chapter 2...

The spirit of Rahab is alive and well in South Korea. A glance from our sidewalk stroll gave view to an alleyway of pink lights, small rooms with large glass windows and ladies working in the World's Second Oldest Profession.

Prostitution is illegal in Korea and yet their sex industry accounts for 1.6% of their GDP ($13 billion) according to The Korea Women's Development Institute in 2007. Serious issues of human trafficking, and organized crime come to mind as you glance down these alleyways.

These "glass houses" are a common sight around large bus and train stations and urban legend has it that the clientelle are Koreans only--foreigners are excluded.

As sad as it is sex still sells... even in Korea.

Seoul Food du Jour...

A nice little greasy spoon in Old Town Dongducheon offers some cheap eats that are rather tasty.

Tonight's meal was "omu-rice" (오므라이스) a Japanese combo of omelet and fried rice that has taken hold in Korea. A nice kimchi plate, daikon and miso soup were included for only 4,500 won ($3.30).

Looks like a burrito, huh.

The Fam... My Rock...

Serving alone in Korea is hard to fathom--I take it one day at a time. Having the world's greatest team on my side makes it work.

Whether I'm experiencing a tough day at the clinic or just need some advice and a listening ear I can count on my family. They're my #1 source of support.

So even if I come away from 9 tough days and nights in the field without an EFMB certification (passed the written test and the NBC lane but missed TCCC lane by 2 points!) I know Deb and the kids will have a smile and a word of comfort for me.

I can feel my troubles will fade already!

Hail and Farewell...

It's time to bid for a fond farewell to our leader, Colonel Jose Olazagasti, DDS. His year-long tenure as Camp Casey Dental Clinic's OIC was a good one--a great leader and mentor. It culminated in an Area I barbeque on Friday held in his honor.

We'll miss Col O and wish him and his family success in their transition to Fort Lee, VA.

Seoul Food du Jour...

Tak kalbi (닭갈) is a favorite Chuncheon-area dish. It consists of stir-fried chicken in chili sauce with sliced cabbage, sweet potato, scallions, onions and these little round rice cakes called tteok (떡). Tteok is the Korean version of Japan's mochi (餅). It's eaten with rice or rolled in lettuce leaves and eaten like a burrito.

This meal for two, including salad, kimchi, soup and beverage, was enjoyed in Dongducheon's New Town district for 18,000 won ($12.85).

FYI: Chuncheon, Gangwon Province is the livestock industry mecca of Korea--hence the poultry, tak kalbi's main ingredient. Each year Chuncheon hosts a autumn festival dedicated to tak galbi. Good times!

Here's some in LA.

Pre Smiles Down...

After 2 record PT tests and 1 diagnostic test, I finally nailed my first perfect 300! From last August's 266, February's 282 and March's 296... it's time to SUMMIT!

I did it with a bit of a cold... sore throat and achy. Just tanked up on aspirin and made due. Overall results were: 96 push-ups, 70 sit-ups, and a 13:37 run. On the competitive, extended scale that would calculate to a 348.

Finally, I'm there!

Happy Birthday...

The Big One Eight... Congrats, Jordan!

A Man Of Many...

Call it field cap, call it beret, call it kevlar... we call it "cover" in the military. Even our winter PT uniform has a gray-green beanie. Rarely will you see a soldier without cover in uniform unless they are indoors.

Add to that the only baseball caps my cranium will sport... those of beloved almae matres... BYU and UW. Keepin' it covered!

What's "almae matres" in English? It means "nourishing mothers." Hmmm... Ok!

Seoul Food du Jour...

A nice shop next to TDC's "Second Market" offers a tasty, healthy fare: chicken and rice porridge, or dakjuk (닭죽). This happens to be Brendon Ewers dining pick for the eve...

Juk is a common dish in Korea. When somebody feels sick they eat porridge since it’s easy to digest and brings back your taste when you don’t feel like eating anything.

There are many different kinds of juk using nuts, grains, seafood, vegetables, and meat for ingredients. This meal of dakjuk and kimchi will set you back whopping 8,000 won ($5.70). Bon appétit!

April Means FTX...

The 618th spent last weekend camping for the semi-annual field training exercises at Camp Humphreys. Get to sleep in comfy tents, enjoy hot showers and lunch on yummy MREs... life is good!

Our Army Warrior Task training included the M9 range, land navigation, combatives, medevac commo and the coup de grâs--CS gas chamber. Fun, fun times!

Just remember the 3 basic steps: you remove the mask, you clear the mask, you seal the mask. How hard is that?

Be sure to take a d-e-e-e-p breath before removing the mask! You'll need it.

A Blossom Fell*...

A day trip to explore the old style neighborhood of Bukchon was fun and with the weather suddenly pleasant in Seoul cherry blossoms were in bloom almost everywhere. Strolling beneath the pink canopies and being showered by petals is something a guy could do... once a year and like it maybe.

Also nearby is Cheongwadae (청와대 or The House of Blue Tiles) the home of the President of South Korea, Lee Myung-Bak. Not far away is Gyeongbok Palace and Changdeok Palace. Also in the area is the Brazilian Embassy. "Muito interessante," Stu might say.

In Korean, butkot (벚꽃) is the word for cherry blossom--a nice word but not as sexy as sakura (桜), I think!

*A classic Nat King Cole tune.

The TDC Ville...

Where do 8,000 young men go for a good time around Tongducheon? If they're from Camp Casey they seem to find themselves in the "Ville"--a small area just west of the Bosan Train Station. The Ville is home to several restaurants and shops but its main source of income are the night clubs.

All of three city blocks, the TDC Ville contains some 53 clubs, better known as "juicy bars." Once the mainstay of Korean hostesses, the "juicy girls," or simply, "juicies" of nowadays are primarily Filipina women. GIs looking for company get things going with fruit juice drinks ($20 apiece) for their hostesses. It is not uncommon for soldiers to drop $200 to $300 in an evening... that's a lot of juice and these girls must need to pee, right?

Now I get it... that's why we see so many Filipina women pushing strollers around base!

The Fab Four...

Brown rice, whole grain toast, whey smoothies and old-fashion oatmeal... my dietary mainstays! Add to that chicken, canned salmon, beans, non-fat dairy, nuts, veggies and fresh fruit.

I picked up collard green, and Hoppin' John recipes from a patient and added these "Southern comforts" to my repertoire. For the past 6 months, I've dropped most refined carbs, and trans/saturated fats. I have to draw the line at peanut butter... gotta have that stuff!

Here's a great snack... one cup of OJ, a scoop of whey protein, and a half of a frozen banana... blended... tastes just like an Orange Julius.

Shhh... Be Very, Very Quiet...

The EFMB train-up is on. I find working with the 302d team helps at times but since each event is a go/no-go I focus my studies on the high failure rate events: the written exam and land navigation.

So, like dental school I slough the study group and go it alone.

Seoul Food du Jour...

Heading to Tongducheon Ville... a mix of Asian ethnic restaurants are available for cheap eats. A Filipino place by the odd name of "Hot Pizza" offers one of my favorites... Chicken Tocino for $6.

A Yongsan Eagle Project...

The last couple of weekends Andrew Bean and his team of volunteers have been fixing up the The Stork's Nest--a building where expectant moms can stay, free-of-charge, to delivery at the 121 Hospital on Yongsan Post.

Andrew's crew put in over 200 hours renovating the building's exterior. It was fun to get some blisters putting in a new patio or helping with a retaining wall. There were rock borders to install, sod to landscape, faulty drains and spouts to repair, decorative trim and masonry to put up, debris to bag, brooms to push...

Andrew did a fabulous job organizing and executing his plan. Troop 80 of the Far East Council has a new Eagle Scout to add to its proud ranks.

It's Good To Be A Husky...

With a 67-60 win over WSU at home, the UW Men's Basketball team clenched their first Pac-10 season championship since 1953. The Huskies (24-7, 14-4) won their first outright championship in any league since winning the Pacific Coast Conference 56 years ago.

Remember the Alamo...

Corey Taylor passed on March 6th... just like the other 189 defenders at Mission San Antonio de Valero. He would be 19 and putting in his paperwork for a mission...

South of the Border...

For the last couple of days units from the 302d have been having fun at exercises on Warrior Base and Rodriguez Firing Range. So why not toss some dentistry into the mix?

These places are just big summer camps minus the waterfront and swim staff. Only a mile from the DMZ and the option to camp or commute makes for a thrilling day at the office. Better yet, our two chair operation was located inside a building with a roof. Score!

Give me your MEDPROS--Class III and IV,
Your huddled masses of Amber and Red,
The teeming toothaches that line my door.
Send these--along our path they tread,
I lift my mirror beside the Dental Corps.

A Belated Taylor Birthday...

As family and friends gathered around a wheelchair-bound Ms. Taylor to celebrate her 77th year I'd like to remember her as she once was... on February 27th... Maggie Pollitt from the 1958 classic Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.

Chajae Temple Run...

Just "next door" to Camp Casey is the Mt. Soyo (소요산) National Park. For a change from treadmill/cycling at the gym, I opted to run* outdoors heading to Mt. Soyo. The goal was an hour-long run and to explore the area a bit.

Following a sidewalk along Hwy 3 and turning right at Soyosan Station, I followed the road up to the park entrance. The nice lady at the gate waved me in without a fee and I ran up to Chajaeam (자재암) on a paved trail.

Chajaeam (or Jajaeam) is a Buddhist temple built in 645 AD by High Priest Wonhyo (원효) to mark where he reached enlightenment. The surroundings are picturesque--forests, granite cliffs, streams and waterfalls. The round trip run was 6.5 miles.

Not Vini, Villi, Vici...

Hey... 0550 was early and chilly in Yongsan! We showed up this morning ready to test... Lee, Jones and myself. Push-ups = 95 (100% is 66), 2-mile run = 13:47 (100% is 14:24), Sit-ups = 62 (100% is 66). Overall APFT score was 296.

So our record APFT is in May and again in October, 2009. I'm still after that perfect "300" this year and I will work my tail off to get it! Go Pre!!

Finally after 7 Years...

Chris Isaak's new CD Mr. Lucky will be released this Tuesday in America. Also the debut of his new show, The Chris Isaak Hour will be on the A&E's BIO Channel. The TV show and CD premiere on February 24th and 26th respectively, so that means Chris has been a busy man.

Beyond the iTunes release, Warner Brothers (Korean Black Market-fighting label) offered a limited deluxe-version featuring an alternate cover, two bonus tracks, and an autographed lithograph. The 1,500 discs poofed and the WB is scrambling for 1,000 more.


That's great but I'm waitin' on the tour dates...

#20 UCLA at Pauley Pavillion...

Again Pac-10 refs kill the big man and hurt the team at the line on both sides of the court. Advantage UCLA.

More three's in the air... more times at the line... less calls in the paint. Yep... that'll win games too... especially with a conference title in the balance.

Thank you David Libbey, Milt Stowe, Tom Wood for the payback on 28 calls against the Foulin' Bruins January 24th at Hec Ed. Funny how Howland's team only got 11 calls at home... sound odd to you too!?

So Saturday at 7 pm come the Huskies to Central LA... lock your doors!

Oh My Huskies...

Who is #1 in the Pac-10 basketball standings? That's right... #22 UW Huskies are up by two games. How sweet it is. It seems like ages since B-Roy and the 2005-06 season. With time we even forget and forgive Michael Jensen... right?!

A SoCal trip and hosting the AZ schools... just play through the paint and feed Mr. Double-Double, Jon Brockman! At 19-6 (10-3) with five games to go, a Pac-10 tourney and an eventual return to March Madness... indeed how very sweet it is!

FYI: UW players Martell Webster, Spencer Hawes, Dan Dichau and Nate Robinson take Husky scholarship slots and bail only to hurt the team. Follow Brandon Roy and Jon Brockman's example... honor the commitment... play four years... be a W-A-S-H-I-N-G-T-O-N H-U-S-K-Y!

Seoul Food du Jour...

After failing to find the Ipanema Brazilian restaurant from City Hall station (Line 1) in December with Debbie, Captain Brenden Ewers and I approached the restaurant from the other side, Seodaemun station (Line 5)... and we found it. Like good land nav, when in doubt run a reverse azimuth!

Backtracking and connecting the dots, Debbie and I were within 100 meters of our dinner location. Ironically it was my idea to abandon the search and eat elsewhere!

At Ipanema, the staff was very friendly and Brazilian (our server, Paulo, is from Porto Alegre) and the food was excellent. Vegetables, salads, fruit, side dishes like rice and black beans and of course, endless chicken, pork, beef, and lamb churrascaria. All-you-can-eat dinner for 30,000 Korean won or $22 beats American prices by a click or two. Muito delicioso.

Here's a Seattle sister-restaurant

Happy Valentine's...

Compliment what she does,
Send her roses just because;
If it's violins she loves
Let them play.

Dedicate her favorite song,
And hold her closer all night long;
Love her today
Find one hundred ways.

Sacrifice if you care--
Buy her some moonlight to wear,
If it's one more star she wants
Go all the way.

In your arms tonight she'll reflect
That she owes you the sweetest of debts
She wants to pay
Find one hundred ways.

My favorite rendition by Mr. Stevie Wonder

Gotta Re-Test...

Word came down that we must re-test the APFT earlier than the DENCOM's May 2009 date. So 27 February is the diagnostic exam in Yongsan at 0550. I have a focused exercise plan and still think a "300" is do-able.

Perfect push-ups one day, toe-bar sit-ups and leg lifts the next with cycling/running is the approach for four weeks. A week and a half in and I'm motivated and healthy! The last week I'll work with the stopwatch and practice my max effort game plan.

Seoul Food du Jour...

Tonight's dinner of feijãoda honors the upcoming Carnival season starting on February 23rd in Brazil. Side dishes of jasmine rice, couve mineira and orange slices were added to fill out the meal traditionally.

Chicken and turkey kielbasa helped keep the dish super healthy. To a "Não-Brasileiro" dinner tasted pretty good. Note that milk (non-fat) was substituted for diet Guarana! Naturally thoughts turn to Elder Stuart Taylor living in Conselheiro Lafaiete, Minas Gerais. I raise my glass of leite to you!

Here is a cool site promoting the San Diego Carnival.

Here is another Brazilian cuisine site featuring a nifty, meatless feijãoda recipe.

Go The Distance...

The EFMB challenge is on for 2009 and eight from the 618th Dental Company are participating. The clinic has rallied to the cause and tailored some training for the effort--land navigation and nine line commo review. All good stuff!

The Eighth Army is sponsoring their memorial 13.1 road march on February 21st and that helps... ACUs, 35 pound ruck and canteen are a go. Great way to train up and some finishers will go here.

This year's EFMB will be held in the middle of May for twelve days and from what I hear it will be at Warrior Base on the DMZ. Sleep in tents... Hoo-ah!

One soldier's EFMB experience at 44th MEDCOM

Army Learning Management System...

I spent after hours on ALMS completing an online portion of the Advanced Course or "CCC." This class follows the OBLC from last summer. Both are taught at Fort Sam Houston--home to the Army Medical Department Center and School (AMEDD).

One week / 10 modules / 2 hours apiece--depending on server connections = just under 21 hours. Death by PowerPoint it was not. In fact, some portions were actually insightful!

Now, on to apply for the residency portion--I would opt for the July through September class. A nine week "vacation" back in San Antonio... Riverwalk, Sea World, great cycling, McNay Art Museum, Mi Tierra and The Smokehouse sound great to me.

1-800-GO-UHAUL...

My daily commute has been shortened by 30 minutes with a new building assignment--from the #1968 to the #691. Dumpster diving provided me with the moving boxes (20) and a decent wool blanket and dish rack, score!

Two of the Casey Clinic NCOs--SFC Wheeler and SGT Lawson--provided the wheels (unit's humvee) and some additional manpower. We nailed the move in 2 trips... about an hour start to finish.

Besides the camp's dental staff, my new neighbors include a couple of chief warrant officers and a light colonel. From the looks of it my predecessor, a ROKA brigadier general liked to drink tea and left nails in the walls. The upgrade to senior quarters (aka "Super Hooch") brought an additional 100 sq ft of space--a whopping 550 sq ft.

Lead... Follow...

...Or have a cupcake! Tensions are on the rise again as North Korea scraps agreements with its neighbor to the South last Friday and says it will, "Shatter any surprise invasion of the enemy at a single blow!"

Accusing the South of pushing relations to the brink of war, the North announced that all political and military agreements are off including one covering their Yellow Sea border--the scene of recent naval clashes.

Last year, South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak rolled back the "Sunshine Policy" linking Seoul's economic assistance to Pyongyang's nuclear disarmament efforts. Money for less arms...

Hey, I'm a resident of the Korea Peninsula too and I say... "Give the cupcake a chance!"

Seoul Food du Jour...

Budae jjigae (부대찌개) meaning "army base stew" is a thick, spicy soup. After the Korea War, meat was scarce so people made use of the leftover food from US Army bases--hot dogs and Spam, mainly. This was incorporated into a traditional soup flavored with gochujang (고추장) or red chili paste, giving it a nice fiery taste.

Budae jjigae is very popular in South Korea. Nowadays, ingredients like instant ramen noodles, sliced American cheese, ground beef, Pez, tofu, and kimchi are added.

Cooked on a table-top grill and ladled onto bowls of rice, it makes for a great winter meal among family and friends. A dinner ran 15,000 Korean won (around $11 bucks) for me and another dentist from my office. Lots to eat and very tasty!

Worried about that fiery soup flavor? I thought budae jjigae and Tim's Cascade Style Hot! Jalapeño Chips were an "even match" on the ol' Spice-O-Meter.

(kiddin' about the Pez!)

Dwight of the Clinic...

I've been tasked as the "Assistant OIC" at the Camp Casey. Basically it's a rank-level position since I sit between 4 captains and 1 full-bird colonel. So just call me "Assistant to the Regional Manager" why don't cha!? Ok, that hurts!

Another task in the wings, is that of "division dentist" to the 302nd FSB. Lots of young, fighting soldiers who hit the field and "camp" a lot. Do kids bring toothbrushes on overnighters? Enough said...

So please join in welcoming me to the Dunder-Mifflin family. Consider a pleasant weekend at Schrute Farms or maybe putting my stapler in jello as a gesture of your esteem and friendship.

Brothers In Arms...

What do Kim Jong-il, the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Larry H. Miller, the owner of the Utah Jazz have in common?

The CDC estimates 24M people in the U.S. have Type 2 diabetes--many undiagnosed. Knowing family history, monitoring food intake and participating in physical activity are keys of healthy living. Regular dental visits might be of help as more links between dental health and diabetes come to light.
Diabetes is devastating: Blindness, heart attack, stroke and amputation can occur when the disease is ignored. Jong-il's diabetes has lead to heart disease and Larry, $500M net worth, is now a double leg amputee. Preventable conditions with early diagnosis and treatment!

Sad note - Larry Miller passed on February 20, 2009

Grades Are In...

We got our M9 scores sent to us today from last week's qualifications. It's a good time to review and make corrections for the next shoot. My issue is in the rapid fire table #5. I've gotta learn to drop those magazines and reload faster. Ok, so I choked a little but I did recover in the end.

If you haven't noticed we're given 10 extra rounds so there's no excuse for not firing a perfect range score. Do the math = 30 targets and 40 bullets... Hello?!

All in all, it was a blast shooting 9 mm Barettas. "Go ahead, make my day," says Det. Harry Callahan but he packs a .44 Magnum. Shame!

Seoul Food du Jour...

Bibimbop (비빔밥) or "stirred rice" is a popular dish in Korea. Traditionally served in a hot pot or dolsat (돌솥), rice is topped with vegetables, meat, egg and chili paste. The ingredients are stirred together, warmed up inside the pot and then eaten.

Personally, I think it makes for a tasty meal and spoons are good--those metal pool cues (aka Korean chopsticks) are heavy! Strike the beef and add a bit of chicken and it's G2G.

APFT...

All soldiers take the Army Physical Fitness Test or "APFT" every six months. The APFT is just like the President's Fitness Award in junior high. There are three basic events: Push-ups, sit-ups and the 2-mile run.

The test sequence is never changed and soldiers are allowed a 10 minute break between each event. The APFT must be completed in two hours--so don't eat too much before the contest!

Scoring for the APFT is done by converting each event into a point score kinda like the decathlon. A passing score is 180+ and the maximum score is 300.

I took the APFT on my third day of Officer's Basic Leadership Course at Fort Sam Houston. I smoked the run and push-ups... but skunked the sit-ups and ended up with a 266. I have come to learn it's all about the "technique" so with a little practice I'm going to smoke the "PT test" in May. I guarantee it! (Joe Willie Namath style)

And the Winner Is...

With the conclusion of the Oklahoma-Florida game, the Family Bracket Award for the best 2008 BCS Bracket goes to... Debbie.  She successfully picked 4 out of 6 winners and won the tie-breaker to take the coveted trophy.

Going into the final game, Debbie, Avery, Mase were tied with 3 wins apiece. Avery was perfect in calling the Las Vegas Bowl win by the University of Arizona by 10 points. However, she picked the #1 Sooners to take the BCS Championship and it was not to be. So by the closest of margins, Mom beat our Mase in the tie-breaker, a +17 to a +20 point spread.

After over four years of bracket competition, this is Debbie's first win. Coincidentally, runner-up our Mase has been a three-time Family Bracket Award winner. Congrats Deb... so where are you going for dinner?!

The Shootist...

Today was our "once every six months" M9 qualification using the Baretta 9 mm pistol. Eight magazines of forty rounds shot at seven pop-up targets is pretty much the standard fare. We are marched to our respective lanes and upon command open fire on those cool "up and down" green men.

Army cooks, soldiers, even dentists have to qualify to stay employed. The brigade commander, a colonel, was driven to the range and stepped out brandishing a cool side arm... George Patton-style. He was part of our qualification group.

Knowing I'm a right-handed, "left eye dominant" shooter I make myself aim with my left eye closed and voila... I hit targets! This is my second qualification to date and it's a lot of fun! Upon finishing, we learn from the tower that I out shot the colonel by one target. A very quiet victory.

Wearing kevlar helmets, flack jackets, eye protection and gloves are required on the range but I found the most handy items were my ear plugs! (Note: Dustin will not hit targets shooting like this!)

Auld Lang Syne...

The events of December 26th to the 31st are a whirlwind now, concluded by a lengthy ride from the Incheon International Airport to Bosan Station: A pirate cruise along the Han, the view from a Tower, a visit to a village, a #1968 sleepover, a missing card and restaurant, a Picasso in Seoul, a chilly palace protest, a trek to K-16 and a tear over bees and honey--six short days, six days of fun.

The final six in this series is a count of months until our next reunion, June 2009.

A Least Once A Year...

'Twas the day before Christmas
And all through the Post,
Came patient after patient
To visit their DENTAC host.

With a peek at the x-ray
And a look in the mouth;
Such silly, young soldiers
With teeth going South.

So a pinch and a poke
And a bit of x-y-l-o-caine,
Plus a snort of ol’ nitrous
To boost their octane--

Crafting fillings for some
And extractions for others;
Such silly, young soldiers
Never listen to mothers.

'Tis a short dental poem
Plus a moral beside:
Using floss and toothpaste
Keep OCONUS dentists... state-side!

Merry Christmas!!

Are Ya Gonna Go My Way...

The Seoul Metropolitan Subway is one of the most heavily used transit systems in the world. Its ten lines carry 8 million passengers daily. The system is operated by three corporations: Seoul Metro 서울메트로, Korail 코레일, and Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corporation 서울특별시도시철도공사 (SMRT).

Despite its complexity the "Metro" is quite easy to use since all signs are written in Korean and English, and each station has a nifty number identifier. Using those cool T-Money cards will get you zipping around Seoul cash- & worry-free. And if you're gonna go my way... take Line #1 and hop off at Bosan Station. See ya soon!

Seoul Food du Jour...

About a block from Yongsan Station on the way to Samgaki is this little food vendor making toasted sandwiches--12 variations and nothing more!

The luncheon meat, double fried egg, shredded cabbage, cheese with secret sauce (ketchup/tonkatsu-like) variety was on the docket today. Eaten on the run (wrapped in a nifty paper towel/cardboard holder) or inside at their single table dining area, it offers a taste combination that is surprisingly good. And at 2,600 Korean Won ($1.85) it's not too bad.

Bowl Championship Series...

The Family Bracket Award is up for grabs again as the 2008 BCS Bowl games begin soon. Just six winners and one spread does it! This year is truly an international event with voting from Brazil and Korea.

To start things off, our official bracket buster is: The Las Vegas Bowl. That happens to be our alma mater, #16 BYU (12-2) taking on Arizona (7-5) starting at 5 am Sunday, December 21st (KST).

January 1st brings the Rose Bowl with #5 USC (11-1) vs. #8 Penn State (11-1) plus the Orange Bowl has #12 Cincinnati (11-2) vs. #19 Virginia Tech (9-4). The Sugar Bowl on January 2nd is #4 Alabama (12-1) vs. #6 Utah (12-0). The Fiesta Bowl is on January 5th featuring #3 Texas (11-1) vs. #10 Ohio State (10-2). And the big one, the BCS Championship on Jan 8th will have #1 Oklahoma (12-1) vs. #2 Florida (12-1).

JRT

Holiday Spirit inside the Wire...

The USAG-Casey's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony and unit Christmas tree decorating contest was last week. The Garrison Commander, LTC Donald Meisler and area children lit the tree. Santa made a timely arrival by fire truck and handed out goodies to kids--of all ages!

What Army ceremony would be complete without a few comments from Command leaders... festive and brief!

Santa lead the group to the Activity Center for photos and Christmas cookies. The music and song at the ceremony was provided but the 2nd Infantry Division Warrior Band.

Caveat Emptor...

Just outside Gate #1 sits the infamous DVD vendor hawking cut-rate movies to passing GIs. It seems as soon as the studios put 'em out, they're wrapped in cellophane and sold on every street corner in Korea--the land of the eternal black market.

Warner Brothers believes they have a method to this madness: Sell movies online before they go to DVD. "Korea used to be a very robust video market but we have been hit very hard by piracy," WB exec Kevin Tsujihara.

The WB is hoping that folks will want to download the flicks as soon as they become available and cut out the "market." But I think most Koreans and GIs will say, "I'll just wait until it shows up at Gate #1!" And a $4 a pop... it's a steal, literally.

Life on the FOB...

After almost five months, I can safely say that life in the bachelor officer's quarters (BOQ) isn't too bad. It's like a college dorm without resident assistants. The buildings are very quiet, the halls are a bit dark and mysterious and on a very rare occasion you might pass a neighbor. Senior officers live in single quarters whereas junior officers and enlisted personnel have separate quarters and roommates.

Each BOQ has a lounge with pool tables, foosball, a kitchen, and projection TVs. Sometimes there are vending machines and DSN (military) telephones. Each floor has a laundry with free washers and dryers. At the BOQ, utilities are free, and storage is available on site.

Back in the day, officers serving in Korea billeted in squad tents with potbelly stoves--MASH-style. A little later they quartered in quonset huts and a few are still around. So with winter coming up, I feel pretty lucky to be where I am!