#ops challenge

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Last time I was in Denver, I pitched the idea of filming a super-short documentary that showcased the reigning Division I champion (Elevated Ops) of the WEFTEC Ops Challenge and Division II champion (Sewerside Squad), who will move up to compete in Division I this year. I think of it as the kind of videos sports networks show when they give background on a player/team. The story behind the game. Except in this case, it's the story behind the water/wastewater treatment operators who are competing against each other in five events, from laboratory stuff to cutting pipe. I'm excited about it.

Meanwhile, Gus woke up to $5 that the tooth fairy left him.

Dad.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Another long day at the Ops Challenge, followed by the awards ceremony. The two teams from Colorado I followed got 3rd and 5th place, which was disappointing, but it could have gone a lot worse. A team from Texas saw the video we made about the Colorado teams and envied that treatment, so we may be making another Ops Challenge video soon for them. Stay tuned.

Dad.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

We filmed the actual competition for the Ops Challenge video we interviewed for last time we were in Denver. It was fun to see the narrative we've been building get to the next level. And one of the two teams we've been tracking won the Rocky Mountain Regional, so they'll go on to nationals in Chicago in October. When the competition ended, we got some more interviews, then headed for the airport.

My plane was delayed after I had boarded, then when we landed in Dallas, there was no gate for us to deplane. I didn't make it home until after 1am, meaning I worked a 19-hour day. I'm tired, but excited for Gus's sixth birthday party in the morning.

Dad.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

We continued our Denver-area filming today at the Westminster Wastewater Treatment Plant, where we filmed some chemists in their lab, then filmed the entire team running through an Ops Challenge event. After we wrapped and got the van loaded around 6pm, we drove two and a half hours to Colorado Springs, where we'll film a video in support of the Pikes Peak Children's Water Festival tomorrow.

I miss you two and Mom. And Mom's ready for some help -- it's been a long last couple of weeks on the road.

Dad.