http://www.nielsgott.com/kosovo the unabridged, unorganized musings of CPT G Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:54:52 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Hey Gang, I guess it's time I start writing again.  I've really enjoyed the last year of being back home and being a civilian again, but I suddenly find myself wearing the uniform full-time again.  As you Red Bull fans know, 1st BCT is ramping up for another trip next year, ... http://www.nielsgott.com/kosovo/?p=67 So the run went off quite well yesterday, aside from a few hiccups.  We had some last minute entrants show up just as we were going to start, so when the blackhawks did the flyover at 0600 on the dot, we were still inside.  But we finally started about 0607, ... http://www.nielsgott.com/kosovo/?p=59 Got to spend time on Radio Klokot again today...pretty good show.  It's always a little tough to tell how we played out, since we don't get any phone calls or emails during the show.  And the power went out just before the end of the show, but Jolena was a ... http://www.nielsgott.com/kosovo/?p=56 So this past weekend was a busy one, but we had the very cool organization "Serving our Troops" come visit us in Kosovo.  They brought very tasty food that they grilled up for us, including some of the best steaks we've had since getting here, and they hooked us up ... http://www.nielsgott.com/kosovo/?p=55 So I'm either really ambitious, or a little foolish, or perhaps a little of both! But today marks two-months until the marathon I'm organizing in partnership with Grandma's Marathon in Duluth. We will hold a marathon here (that yours truly is setting up), exactly 7 hours prior to ... http://www.nielsgott.com/kosovo/?p=54 Ugh. Time off always goes too quickly. But now we're safely back at beautiful Camp Bondsteel. Not much has changed, but I did miss out on a couple soap-opera type events, as is to be expected. I'm going to keep this thought in mind as I get back ... http://www.nielsgott.com/kosovo/?p=52 So I finally made it to R&R, and am enjoying the sites in Rome. In typical military fashion, they'll let us take a break, but won't make it easy! From the late bus ride out of camp, to the C-130 ride out of Prishtina, to the ridiculous briefings, ... http://www.nielsgott.com/kosovo/?p=50 So the last few days have been exciting to say the least. Probably the strangest was the other day when we were sitting outside the chow hall, enjoying the fine weather as we ate lunch, when we suddenly felt a blast. I didn't remember EOD saying they were ... http://www.nielsgott.com/kosovo/?p=49 We're still safe and doing well here in this new nation. Violence has been very minimal, unlike some of the protests up in Serbia. Sounds like they could use KFOR up there!! Anyway, we heard that the president had voiced some support for the declaration of Kosovo's ... http://www.nielsgott.com/kosovo/?p=48 That is Albanian for 'happy independence', or something very close to that. I saw it all over the place today on banners strung above the roadways. If you've been watching the news, perhaps you already know that the Kosovo Parliament signed a declaration of independence today. Truly ... http://www.nielsgott.com/kosovo/?p=46