Lindsey Mastis is the Bureau Manager for Feature Story News’ new Los Angeles office. She shoots, writes, and edits, and reports for FSN’s international clients.
0Posted by Lindsey Mastis on April 22, 2012 at 2:34 AM
I heard about a fence. But most of the images I saw on television showed dirt roads, a river, and people trying to run or drive across a border patrolled by heavily armed officers in SUVs. Most of the images showed smugglers trying to transport drugs in areas scarcely patrolled. This is what I knew of the border.
The journey to the border for Feature Story News focused on the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, where drugs are carefully smuggled into the US right under the noses of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. ICE officers know where to look, and have recently found drugs in cars being given to people that answered “help wanted” advertisements.
I was told drug cartels were placing advertisements in newspapers in Tijuana, looking for drivers to transport goods across the border. In some cases, it was cleaning supplies. In others, employees would be required to take a vehicle across the border for work in San Diego. The employees weren’t supposed to know about the hidden drugs. Yet, when ICE officers found the drugs, it’s the employees that would be arrested and charged.
While reporting this story, me and my photographer filmed not only filmed the port, but also, the border. We drove to the fence that separates the United States from Tijuana. I was surprised to see how close people lived to the fence in Tijuana.
I was also surprised to see two fences. The fence along the actual border is dark green and seems fairly low in comparison to the second fence. The second is taller and includes barbed wire at the top. Vehicles on patrol will drive between the two fences. The fence was repaired over and over again; likely signs of people trying to cross illegally.
Each time we stopped to film, we would be approached by officers. Some would ride on four-wheelers. At night, the officers would keep the lights off. But we could hear them coming. We were on public roads, albeit rock roads, and are allowed to film freely. The officers were nice, and I believe they simply wanted to make sure we weren’t there to transport anyone from across the border.
There was one place we went that intrigued me. We were on a hill overlooking Tijuana. I could see people walking around and hear the life of the city. Roosters crowing, dogs barking, kids playing, and motorcycles traveling. After spending some time filming, we were getting ready to leave. I heard a whistle. I looked over the fence and saw some people waving. We were so close, yet worlds apart.
Friendly neighbors, I thought. But my photographer reminded me that this could be a dangerous place, and we could very easily be shot at from across the border. I waved back and we got in the car and left.
2Posted by Lindsey Mastis on February 17, 2012 at 3:48 PM
Big News: I’m moving to Los Angeles. My husband will be the new Digital Director at FOX Television Stations in Los Angeles. I will be freelancing.
We’re both extremely excited. We love Washington, DC, but it’s hard to pass up wonderful weather and a unique opportunity. Our new West Coast adventure starts in just a few weeks!
1Posted by Lindsey Mastis on April 26, 2010 at 9:32 PM
At first glance, St. Thomas‘ pristine beaches and ideal weather leads visitors to believe they landed in paradise. That’s until they step off the plane or cruise ship. After climbing into a taxi to get to Red Hook or Charlotte Amalie, attitudes begin to change.
There is no denying the beauty of the island. But when visitors look out the window, they see a St. Thomas excluded from brochures.
I saw many homes that appeared to be abandoned or falling down. School children boldly walked on the side of narrow roads to get home. Islanders in general, did not seem happy. I wanted to know why. I found some answers in the words of a taxi driver named Stanley.
Before coming to St. Thomas, I never considered the Virgin Islands to be a part of the United States. It’s not that I dismissed it; I simply never thought of the island. Stanley told me islanders like to know what is going on in the mainland. They like to talk about it and debate. But they cannot vote in any of its elections. While it seems as though islanders see this as an injustice, Stanley said people have no desire to become a state.
St. Thomas relies on tourism. Taxi drivers (see taxi rates) know which ships are docked and what times passengers need to board. The main shopping area in St. Thomas is Charlotte Amalie. It’s designed to remind visitors of the island’s Danish history. Visitors are encouraged to buy duty-free jewelry, rum and tobacco. Each visitor is allowed $1600 in duty-free goods.
But by 5 pm, the area shuts down. Stores abruptly close and its windows and doors are boarded up for the night. Even some of it’s famous restaurants close down when the ships horns summon its passengers back to the bay. This entire experience is not authentic. It was created for tourists.
I wanted to watch the local news. Stanley told me Channel 2 (CBS) and Channel 8 (ABC) had local affiliates on the island. Although their news is much different from what I’m used to seeing, I found the newscasts and its local commercials very informative.
One of the commercials was about incest. Incest. That topic is definitely not mentioned in any brochure. The commercial seemed to be a public service announcement attempting to educate islanders about the topic. The narrator kept repeating: “Incest is illegal.” It had dramatizations of an older woman, a middle-aged woman, and a child saying it happened to them. And again, the narrator repeats: “Incest is illegal.” It encouraged people to contact authorities and report the abuse. My jaw dropped.
Could it be that this is a new concept to people living in St. Thomas? I wonder how islanders receive sex education. I didn’t know who, or how, to ask. I’m still baffled.
On Channel 8, a topic about sexual assault echoed the same theme. This time, a counselor was interviewed. She again repeated that it was wrong and should be reported. But she also mentioned that sex is difficult to talk about on St. Thomas. She was promoting a public event geared toward high school students to educate them about what is and is not considered a sexual assault.
Many of the local commercials promoted restaurants and shops. I noticed that most of the people featured were white. Yet, according to the CIA World Factbook, more than 76 percent of residents in St. Thomas are black. Why the disparity?
The island bends over backwards for tourists. But in doing so, it seems it has lost some of its identity. I had a hard time figuring out what the island is all about. I had a hard time understanding its culture. What are it’s traditional dishes? I still don’t know.
I got to know Stanley the best during the last hour of the trip. I asked him question after question. I learned the most about the island’s culture from him. In retrospect, I wish I would have gotten to know Stanley better. Instead of staying in the tourist areas, I would have asked him to show me his island. Perhaps meet his family. Learn what he and his neighbors care about after the tourists leave. That would have been a treat.
10Posted by Lindsey Mastis on December 10, 2009 at 6:38 PM
I brought my camera with me during my 13.1 mile run down the Vegas Strip. I only looked at my watch a few times, and surprised myself by finishing in 2:13.50. It’s not a personal best, but this was one of THE BEST races… ever!
I dressed as Elvis, complete with sun glasses and side burns. But I failed to account for the cold December Vegas weather: temperatures in the low 30s. And I wore shorts.
Luckily, I packed a white wind breaker and wore it under my costume. It helped, but I certainly was not warm.
I left Patrick near the starting line so I could find the Running Elvi. We were all supposed to run together. But I could never find an organized group. The only regret I have during this race is not being at the starting line with Patrick.
I finally found a place near some Elvi with strollers featuring pictures and music of the King. I enjoyed listening to the tunes and I must have completely missed hearing Cher sing the Star Spangled Banner (bummer– I love Cher!). Soon, we crossed the start line where a band played and old-time show girls stood near large cages with two white tigers. Awesome!
As we ran south from Mandalay Bay, I began wondering why I was doing this. I hadn’t gone a mile, but I couldn’t feel my legs. A few strides in a different direction and I could be inside– sitting at a casino. And I’d be warm. I kept thinking of something I heard about the Vegas race in the past: once you run it, you’ll never walk the strip the same way again. I wanted to know how that felt.
I watched the sun rise as I ran around the Las Vegas welcome sign. One runner fell, but I was too far away to help. I began feeling a nice stride. But I was still cold.
Although I brought my iPod with me, I never turned it on. I knew that would be the case during the first mile. The music, excitement and wonderful cheers from spectators encouraged me to simply take in the scene. I brought my camera with me on the run so I could document all the crazy things. I loved seeing other running Elvi!
I made some friends during my run. By Mile 7, I met Kevin McCarthy. I ran up to him because he was wearing a Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach shirt. I said, “Great race!” And we talked the rest of the way. It was helpful to run with someone who had my same pace. He kept me going. If I were running alone, there were several times I would have stopped.
The only times I walked were when I got water, Cytomax, or had a GU. I never stopped to take a picture. I simply ran with my camera held high in the air. I took more than 300 pictures during the run. While many of them were blurry– several turned out perfect. I love looking through them to relive the race.
By the time I reached mile 12, I was convinced I would have to stop and walk. But Keven encouraged me to keep going. Next thing I knew, I was sprinting. I mean REALLY sprinting! I was running about as fast as Jillian has contestants run on the treadmill during The Biggest Loser. And I finished strong.
I started racing past dozens of people as I rounded the last .1 of the half marathon. Soon, I crossed the finish line and got my medal. I made it! And in true Vegas fashion, I promptly got my picture taken with a show girl and her blue boa. Can’t wait to see those pictures!
This is a race I’d love to run again! I failed to train properly, but it didn’t matter. The tall buildings on the strip seemed dwarfed while I ran the half marathon. I felt I could conquer anything. And the mid-30 degree temperatures didn’t deter the ran whatsoever.
After the race, I went to the First Aid tent to get ice for my knees and right leg (IT Band area). I was a bit out of it when they gave me the ice. I placed it on my knee and realized it felt warm. I looked at the nurse and said, “The ice is hot. Can I get cold ice?” I then realized the ice wasn’t hot. My leg was so cold that it felt warm. Weird.
I stretched a bit, ate a banana, changed into some sweats, and warmed up inside before meeting up with my group. Patrick, Steve and Kelly all finished with excellent times and for Patrick, it was a personal best. After the race, we all ate at The Buffet at the Wynn! I’m so proud to have accomplished this race, and do so dressed as Elvis!
My goal is to complete this race and just enjoy myself. It’s my first Rock ‘n’ Roll race which means there will be 20 bands playing while I run past, and there will be 17 cheerleading squads to help me keep moving along.
After crossing the finish line, I’ll likely spend an hour stretching and recovering. Then I plan to go back to the hotel for a shower and to change. After that, I’ll be attending the Finish Line Beach Party. And that night, there will be a concert on the beach. I’m excited to have such a big celebration for completing the race!
Virginia Beach Race Course:
I’ll be running five races this year:
APRIL 5: Cherry Blossom 10-Miler
MAY 3: Frederick Half Marathon
SEPTEMBER 6: Virginia Beach Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon
OCTOBER 10: Baltimore Half Marathon
DECEMBER 6: Las Vegas Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon
Right now, I’m staying focused on my Virginia Beach Half Marathon. It’s 13.1 miles. Doesn’t seem like a lot, but I could truly hurt myself if I don’t train correctly.
I’ve been having problems staying hydrated and keeping up my momentum. I need to drink more water, and even carry water and GU with me while I run. I also need to get some better music for my iPod. I’ve been listening to the same music for nearly three years. It doesn’t keep me moving anymore. I’m thinking about downloading Katy Perry’s “Waking Up in Vegas,” and making that the main theme.
I’m sticking with Hal Higdon’sNovice II marathon training guide. I’m basically training for a full marathon. My two half-marathons will fit in nicely with the schedule. I am also doing TNT Fitness personal training (circuit training) twice a week. My trainer, Rani, works with me and about four other people at once. It helps to train in a group setting.
I plan to record my journey by recording a short video after my long runs and uploading them to YouTube. I’ll continue to post my newest videos in this blog, and on my homepage. Sorry about the quality– it’s cell phone video. But it makes it easy for me to stick to my goal.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8. GOAL: RUN 8 MILES. COMPLETED: 8 MILES. SUCCESS!
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5. GOAL: RUN 5 MILES. COMPLETED: 5 MILES. SUCCESS!
MONDAY, AUGUST 3. GOAL: RUN 3 MILES. COMPLETED: 3.5 MILES. SUCCESS!
SUNDAY, JULY 26. GOAL: RUN 6 MILES. COMPLETED: 4.5 MILES RUNNING, 1.5 MILES WALKING. STATUS QUO.
I heard about a fence. But most of the images I saw on television showed dirt roads, a river, and people trying to run or drive across a border patrolled by heavily armed officers in SUVs. Most of the images showed smugglers trying to transport drugs in areas scarcely patrolled. This is what I knew of the border.
I was told drug cartels were placing advertisements in newspapers in Tijuana, looking for drivers to transport goods across the border. In some cases, it was cleaning supplies. In others, employees would be required to take a vehicle across the border for work in San Diego. The employees weren’t supposed to know about the hidden drugs. Yet, when ICE officers found the drugs, it’s the employees that would be arrested and charged.
While reporting this story, me and my photographer filmed not only filmed the port, but also, the border. We drove to the fence that separates the United States from Tijuana. I was surprised to see how close people lived to the fence in Tijuana.
Each time we stopped to film, we would be approached by officers. Some would ride on four-wheelers. At night, the officers would keep the lights off. But we could hear them coming. We were on public roads, albeit rock roads, and are allowed to film freely. The officers were nice, and I believe they simply wanted to make sure we weren’t there to transport anyone from across the border.
There was one place we went that intrigued me. We were on a hill overlooking Tijuana. I could see people walking around and hear the life of the city. Roosters crowing, dogs barking, kids playing, and motorcycles traveling. After spending some time filming, we were getting ready to leave. I heard a whistle. I looked over the fence and saw some people waving. We were so close, yet worlds apart.
Big News: I’m moving to Los Angeles. My husband will be the new Digital Director at FOX Television Stations in Los Angeles. I will be freelancing.
At first glance, 
St. Thomas relies on tourism. Taxi drivers (
Many of the local commercials promoted restaurants and shops. I noticed that most of the people featured were white. Yet, according to the 
I brought my camera with me during my 13.1 mile run down the Vegas Strip. I only looked at my watch a few times, and surprised myself by finishing in 2:13.50. It’s not a personal best, but this was one of THE BEST races… ever!
As we ran south from 
I watched the sun rise as I ran around the Las Vegas welcome sign. One runner fell, but I was too far away to help. I began feeling a nice stride. But I was still cold.
This is a race I’d love to run again! I failed to train properly, but it didn’t matter. The tall buildings on the strip seemed dwarfed while I ran the half marathon. I felt I could conquer anything. And the mid-30 degree temperatures didn’t deter the ran whatsoever.
