Mushroom burger

  So I have always been a pretty healthy individual, striving to be the best physically fit I can be. I was a multi-sport athlete in high school, went to college to play football, and then straight off to the Marines. So I have always had a pretty physically demanding life style. One day - while contracting - I realized something, which was my belly had become bigger than I liked. Right then and there, on that ship in the middle of the Gulf of Oman, I decided I would have a six pack once again. I began following a gentlemen by the name of Craig Ballantyne - creator of Turbulence Training. I followed his workouts to the "T", not missing one second or one repetition of an exercise. As soon as I got off the plane back on American soil, I knew the game was on with my diet. I began eating extremely clean and healthy, only organic and raw food, lean proteins and the occasional complex carbohydrate to fuel my next workout. I saw a recipe from Craig called the 5-Napkin Bunless Burger, and as soon as I finished the article I sprinted to the store. I picked up the ingredients, lit the charcoal on that muggy summer afternoon, and began preparation of the most epic, messy, tasty and healthy turkey burger I have ever eaten in my life. I remember talking to my wife in excitement as I squished the cold turkey meat in between my fingers. The summers breeze was blowing the grills smoke through the open kitchen window, where I was furiously patting the burgers flat. I knew it was time to grill. Roughly 40 minutes later my family and I were partaking in one of our favorite meals for the first time. Once I had complied all of the vegetables and meat on the perfectly charred garlic portabella mushroom caps, I knew I had to send a picture to the gentlemen that had given me the idea. I posted the picture on Craig's Facebook page I followed. He went on to use my picture in another article he wrote over the majestic 5-Napkin Bunless Burger. So if you are ready to try something new and healthy follow the instructions below.

Ingredients:

2lb Ground Lean Turkey

6 Portabella Mushroom Cap

3 Cups Spinach Leafs

2 Avocados

1 Tomato

1 Shredded Carrot

1tbsp salt

1tbsp pepper

1 cup of barbeque sauce of your choice  (I prefer Hot and Spicy Sweet Baby Rays)

Garlic Salt

Coconut Oil Paste

While you are mixing your ingredients heat up your grill. If you are using a charcoal grill - which is the best way to grill - make sure your coals are grey before placing the burgers on to cook. If you place your coals only on one side of the grill, your no coal side can be use for indirect heat.

Recipe will make roughly three burgers

Directions:

Take one large mixing bowl and place the ground turkey in it. Mix salt, pepper, shredded carrot - this keeps the turkey moist while cooking - and BBQ sauce. Mix with your hands until it becomes a sticky and smooth consistency - besides the pieces of carrot. Take about a handful of the turkey mixture and pat them into patties. Next, take the portabella mushroom caps and spread the coconut oil paste on both sides generously. Sprinkle garlic salt on each side for taste. Once the grill is hot, place patties on direct heat - over the coals - and cook each side for roughly five minutes, or until there are good char marks. After you have cooked each side for the five minutes, place the burgers on indirect heat - off of the coals  - and place the portabella mushroom caps on direct heat. Cook each side until there are good char markings. Once both sides are done place the mushroom caps on indirect heat - off the coals. Occasionally flip the turkey patties and mushroom caps while they are on indirect heat, and they should cook for around twenty more minutes or until the middle of the patty is grey - 165 degrees Fahrenheit. While you are waiting for everything to get done on the grill began mashing avocados and cutting the tomato into slices. Once the meat is at the appropriate internal temperature pull everything off of the grill.

Now the fun begins! Place a mushroom cap on your plate. Put the turkey patty, raw spinach, avocado and tomato on top of it. Have fun and place it in any order your heart desires, and then top it off with the last mushroom cap. Enjoy! Be prepared though, because this is a messy - yet delicious - meal.

Reflection

     So as I look back from the start of this assignment,  to now, I realize it is becoming easier for me to put my thoughts on paper. Although I have to be extremely interested - even enthusiastic- about the topic, I am able to express myself.  I find myself less frustrated when dealing with writing also. At the beginning of this blog/journal assignment I would stare at my computer screen, angry, dreading what I was about to partake in. Now, I see it as a sort of release. If I have had a rough day, and need to vent, I go to my blog sight and begin to type away my frustrations. It is like the computer screen is my shrink, and I have nothing to worry about while writing. My shrink will not judge me for missing a comma, a misspelled word, or a sentence fragment. I am free to express myself.

     At the beginning of this blog assignment I had shackled my thoughts inside my mind, afraid to let them out. I didn't understand how to put everything into words on the paper. With our reading lessons, some practical application, and a whole lot of practice, I believe I have broken free from those chains. I know I still have a lot of work to do - fine tuning my skills - but now know there is light at the end of the tunnel.

     This blog has actually had a practical application in my life as well. I had a presentation due for work the other week, and had  a co worker proof read it for me. He is a self proclaimed "grammar Nazi" and could not find anything wrong on my PowerPoint. I still understand I am horrible with grammar, but will give credit to my blog for helping me with punctuation.

Heros

   Their was a question asked by my English professor wanting to know what a hero was to me. I thought about this a lot, and how perception of a true hero has been twisted. Young people today see a person living a luxurious lifestyle, with all the money, clothes, new cars, and fame in the world. They see these people as hero's because of the material items they have, and the reputation they maintain. These individuals are normal actors and athletes. We - as society - are to blame for these poor young people's misperception. We have associated material items with being a good person. For example, if you see a homeless person on the side of the road what is the first thing you think? Probably he/she is a drunk, or they don't work hard enough, maybe the are drug addicts. Since they are dirty we can't see them as a good person. Dirt - in our minds - equals bad. In all reality though they may be the most caring individual or hardest working that have not been given a chance.

     A true hero to me is someone that sacrifices their way of life so another's may flourish. The individual will not be on t.v., they make barely minimum wage, and they could be dirty. A true hero put others before himself. They will do whatever it take for another individual, even if society does not understand. For example the Armed Forces. Some Americans call us baby killers - I have been called this more than once - that our fighting our governments war for financial gain. They say it has nothing to do with them, and call use cowards for not "STANDING UP TO THE MAN." The men and women of the Armed Forces will keep their mouths shut, take the harsh word, but then go back to the hellish environment they call war again, without thinking twice. What society does not understand is if we don't fight these extremists overseas we will be fighting them at home. Then society will be screaming for these brave men and women to protect them. These are hero's. Another example, the only time you see something about law enforcement on t.v. is when they have done something wrong. Their is always something in the headlines "Police Officer beats elderly man" or " Police pepper spray college student." So you have society who curses law enforcement, raging  with uncalled violence towards them in retaliation. Though when their house is being broken into, or their child  is missing who are the first people they ask for. "Call the Police"! The police officers will come and treat them unbiased. They will treat everyone with the up most respect, even though you do not do this for them. These are men and women who put others feels and lives before their own. They are hero's. Fire fighters, EMT's, Armed Forces, Police Officers -and more I can't list- these are true hero's. They will sacrifice themselves for another persons well being.

Entitled

     We are failing this generation of children. They set at the t.v. in a coma, drooling on themselves, to lazy to go to the restroom. We cater to their every needs by cleaning their rooms, waiting on them hand and foot, giving them anything they ask for. Yet we don't make them work for it. We are so scared by the perception of the outsider, that we show our love with material items. The children turn into adults, and they have no clue what true work ethic is. They have had everything handed to them their whole lives, so why would they. They will never make it in the workforce, and begin to draw benefits from the government that they truly believe they are entitled too.

     Back in the 50's families where fine by showing their love with emotions, strong discipline, and hard work. If you wanted a baseball glove then you did chores around the house. When you were old enough, you got a job to pay for your stuff. Mommy and Daddy did not shower you with new things that were not a necessity to survive, such as, food, cloths, water, and a home. You had to earn them. I was also raised this way, even though it was 30 years after the 50's, and I appreciate my father setting me up for success. I was told either you play sports in high school or you get a job. I was an athlete, so I played sports. Even though my father would give me money on the weekends to have fun, I would have to earn it with household chores. He was a single parent, so it was up to all of us to provide, even if that did not mean bringing home the bacon. This gave me a great work ethic, but not all children are this blessed.

      So we complain about the young kid our company just hired. We say he is lazy, useless, and does not know his head from his rear end. Whose fault is it truly though? Although he is not our child, could we not begin to teach him the meaning of a hard work ethic. It is a contagious disease that we have to stop dead in its tracks. Intervention from you could bring this country back to the golden years. Teach your children how to work hard, by example and instruction. That new kid at your job, take him under your wings and teach him by example and instruction. For we have no one to blame for this epidemic but ourselves.  

Children of the streets

     In the book The Heart and The Fist the author talks about his travels to Santa Cruz, Bolivia. He explains the children of the street as kids that would spend their days shining shoes, begging, selling gum and cigarettes only to return to small cardboard or corrugated metal shelters where they slept. Instantly I connect - once again- with the book.

     During my travels as a private contractor I would stay in the best hotels a third world country would have. If there was a star rating for them, it would of be off the charts. We had internet, t.v. with both local and English channels, heat and air, running water and bathrooms. Most of the places I would work at didn't even have a constructed floor, let alone running water and t.v. I remember staying at one of these fancy hotels, and on my floor their was an amazing balcony that looked over the central area of the capital. It was two roads that met at a T section, running parallel to the top of the T was a railway and running with the base of the T was the Capital building and the U.S. Embassy.  A lovely park and metal art work was planted in between the two government buildings. At night though, when all the lights went out, you would hear the cries from infants going hungry, tourists being mugged, and women being raped. I remember looking down to the front entrance of my hotel from the balcony the first night. I was investigating where the crying from a newborn infant was coming from. I thought it was a family taking an evening stroll, and the young child was tried. I was not in for what I was about to see. Out of no where there were boxes everywhere. Young families lay on the sidewalk begging for money or food. The children not clothed, going without the bare essentials for life. I remember looking at the infant laying by itself on the cold sidewalk. As it laid there screaming - the mother begging for food - I could see the poor things ribs expanding with every screech of discomfort. I started to think of my children and what I would do to keep them from being hungry, cold, sick or in pain. I would do the exact same thing the mother was doing, and probably more. It makes you think of how privileged we are and thing small things we take for granted. Eventually the mother and child crawled into their cardboard box once the streets were empty of tourist traffic. I wish I would have done something more than just looking down at them now. I actually feel horrible for not. I went back into my first class hotel and fell asleep. I understand you can not help everyone, but I have probably helped more people that didn't deserve it compared to this small family. I just pray god looks at the good I have done and forgives me for not putting any effort into helping them that night.
    

Africa

    So as I read The heart and the fist in my English course it takes me back to some of my first contracting gigs. I was doing maritime security for cargo ships taking U.S. aid to the different countries of Africa. I had been to Djibouti before, but that was while I was still in the Marine Corps. I remember as our vessel began to dock, thousands of locals where sitting in a huge line wrapping up and down the port. None of them had shoes, they wore old ratted up American themed sport shirts and baseball caps. There were maybe a dozen individuals wearing reflective vest, and come to find out these where actually employees of the port. Once we where tied down the line scattered like cockroaches when you turned on a light, gathering around the vest wearing employees like a piece of leftover dinner someone had forgotten to pick up. It was crazy! They waved their hands and screamed as the employee picked out who would work a 24 hour shift. They did this every morning. The same dog and pony show, all so they could support their family.
     I was in charge of searching and clearing everyone that came on the ship or off. The individuals would be exhausted both coming on and going off. They were moving hundred pound bags of dehydrated corn, peas and rice off of the ship. So it was extremely labor intensive work. Come to find out they where making a mere 2 dollars USD a 24 hour shift. I was not allowed to let anyone take anything off the ship, even if it fell out of the bags. It was considered stealing from the United States government while it was on board our vessel. Once it was downloaded though it was Tanzania's property and I had no authority. It was truly sad I had to take the liter water bottles they had filled with whatever had fallen out of the bags. The citizens would plead telling me their kids where starving, and it broke my heart. I let a lot slide under my nose, they would hug me and thank me for helping their families. The poverty was so bad I remember watching a kid, roughly 13, beg all morning for a shift. The kid had no shoes, sweat pants that were cut off but no shirt. I watched him waiting for the pallets to descend from the ship to the port deck so he could jump up and unload them. Some bags fell from the pallet and they broke open. The port had individuals with brooms on hand to sweep up the mess instantly. The poor 13 year old was so hungry he got on his hands and knees and began sifting through dust for the pieces of rice left over from the sweepers. He ate what he found raw off of the ground. Then, when the next pallet came down he would jump up and begin to off load it. He kept this cycle for 24 hours.
     It makes you appreciate what you have in this world when have seen the things I have been able to. If only Americans would work as hard as that little 13 year old did then maybe we would be more grateful. I will never forget that day, and I pray he is still alive. That kid changed me in so many was and he does not even know it. So thank you young man I appreciate it.

Blind leading the blind

      Subject matter experts - and I use this term loosely - seem to be popping up everywhere these days. No true experience is needed anymore, as long as you have dipped your toes in the area you are talking about you are now considered an expert. This obviously is not true, but why is it now a days people blindly follow individuals and don't ask question. For example, there is an individual that I guess lost a lot of weight and turned his life around. Awesome, I can commend this. Now this person is going around as a personal trainer - who doesn't have personal contact with his clients- with no true experience. The scary part is a lot of people are following him and even paying him their hard earned money. He gives everyone the same advice and workout plans via text message. I talked to one of his clients today and he said," If I saw the guy face to face, I wouldn't know who he is." Where is the personal in personal training with that. The clients just listen to him via text messaging and send their 100 dollars every four weeks. I don't get it! Do these people not understand that every ones body is different and need different plans. I am on the understanding that he is big on zero carbs. Well, this is how I know he is not a subject matter expert at all. First, one of the four main compounds that make up your body are carbohydrates so why would you eliminate them. Two, every thing we eat has some form of carbohydrates, this includes vegetables. The carbs in vegetables are in the form of cellulose, which are body does not have the right enzymes to metabolize, so it leaves the body as waste. This is the reason it takes more calories to eat celery than you get from celery. I wonder if the newly self proclaimed personal trainer knows this fact? It is not just this example that comes to mind when I think of the blind leading the blind.

       There was an individual I want to a specialized school with. He was brought up in a very well home, and his parents had great jobs. This lead to the individual being able to attend any course he wanted to without money being a problem. I know he became a helicopter pilot, but never flew one professionally. He went to the school I attended for personal security, but has never enlisted in the military or became a private contractor. He went through an Emergency Medical Technician course and is now a Nationally Registered EMT-B, but has never work in the pre hospital services. I saw on Facebook he just graduated from the police academy, but do you think he works as a Law Enforcement Officer? No! So what does this have to do with the blind leading the blind, mommy and daddy put up the money for him to start a training company teaching every one of this skill sets, even though he has no true experience. Once again, the scary part is people actually come to him for training and pay their hard earned money.

       Don't be afraid to research the individual claiming to be a subject matter expert in something you want to learn. In all reality you need to, because it is your time, your money, and your brain the knowledge will be engulfing. Not to mention some one teaching you this things can hurt you or god forbid kill you. Don't follow the crowd like cattle following the hay truck. Break off and inform yourself. It will help you in the long run.

Dont drink the water

     During my different travels over the world in a unique line of work, I found myself in Madagascar. Trust me it is nothing like the cartoon movie we instantly think of. I was at a port on the south side of the island and we where going to fly to another country in the morning. This meant we had to go to the capital where the only airport was, Antananarivo. Our local national told us it was a twenty four hour trip on one road. One road? Yes there was only one main highway that led to the capital from where we were. Little did my team and I know that this would be the longest twenty four hours of our lives.

      A little box van pulled up, for my team and another team, to take us to the airport. Eight men, two gear boxes, and every ones personal gear was thrown in the cracker jack van, to include ourselves. It probably could safely fit six people, so we had stretched it past max capacity. We started our trip, the sun was just raising and you could still smell the nights sea breeze. Within one hour of the sun rise the cool sea breeze air was replaced by the smell of men that had not showered in weeks. The temperature felt was comparable to a sauna at the gym, and the truck had no ac. Luckily, I had stock piled water in my kit for my guys so we wouldn't wither away. The road was about as smooth as a winters highway that had just been recently graded, and we probably looked like cowboys riding horse back from an on looker through the back window. Upset and disgruntled, I remember looking out the passenger side window at a murky, yet refreshing, river that ran beautifully alongside the highway. I dreamed of swimming in it even though I had seen numerous locals bathing or washing their cloths in it, and they also considered it their bathroom.

      Like I said earlier, this was the only highway to the capital and everyone used it. The local villagers would line up alongside this highway to sell different things to the convoys running north. They knew where you would stop for food, drink, use the restroom - pee on the side of the road - or just to stretch your legs. Well our convoy stopped at one of the local rest zones, and women were walking around selling water and homemade pastries. We all knew not to take the water, but we were starving. They where selling the pastry balls for one dollar a dozen, so I bought two dozen for my team and I. We sit down next to the highway, where locals had started a fire for warmth, and start talking while we stuff our faces. In straight bliss, I start looking at the river, thinking of my family, of home, and becoming home sick. I notice which way the rivers current was running as I take one more bite of my pastry. We were driving with the current, about an hour ago I saw people bathing, washing their cloths, and using the bathroom in the river. I spit out my pastry and start slapping them out of my guys hands. Every begins to yell at me, infuriated for interrupting the one pleasure they have had since we started this journey. Right then I screamed at the top of my lungs," Where to you think they got the water for this dough!" As they look at me puzzled, contemplating what I was getting at I told them to look at the current of the river. It clicked. They all started gagging and spitting out the once glorious pastry.

     Needless to say, the rest of the trip to the airport was worse then what it should have been, and longer. We all were puking and had diarrhea. Don't worry, I have no infectious diseases, but that memory may be just as bad as one.

Think about the big picture

      So everyone has been ecstatic about these gas prices under two dollars. I must confess it is nice to be able to fill up my Denali for 40 bucks, instead of 100. They sad part is no one even questions why they dropped so fast. You hear theories of it was the start of mid term elections, the Obama administration is trying to get a better approval rate, but in all honesty it has very little to do with our government.

        Have you ever heard the term blood diamonds? They are diamonds that slaves in Africa are mining for, under the rule of war lords. They are sold cheap to a middle man, who then sells them to a dealer for cheap. This leaves the dealer with a bigger profit margin even if the price is lower than normal. Well ladies and gentlemen take this process, but put it towards oil. I am taking it everyone has at least heard of the new plague that calls themselves the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). They are now the most funded, equipped, and trained terrorist organization. Just like any well armed country, you have to have a lot of money. How do you think ISIS funds all of this propaganda, equipment and training? Oil fields! ISIS murdered innocent human beings for their own gain. They took over the oil fields and have been smuggling it into bordering countries and selling it for extremely cheap. Just like the blood diamonds, the middle oil companies don't ask questions due to the low price. They make money selling it to the refineries and the refineries make more money.

        You have so many activists trying to stop the sell of blood diamonds - which is a good thing- but who is trying to stop the sell of blood oil? The even scarier part about all this is ISIS being a direct threat to western civilization, and they are laughing at us. We are funding the same individuals that are cutting off our heads and posting it on the Internet. No one thinks about this though! While I was going through a specific school we studied a recently declassified document over the mission statement for a certain terrorist organization. It stated they would use our kindness against us, sending Muslim men and women to the Americas as a leech, draining our welfare systems and education systems. This will then bring our economy to an unstable state with the war on terrorism helping drain it. It states they will send back our welfare money to the middle east in support of their operations for an Islamic world. Then the young men that used our education systems for free will take that knowledge back to the middle east to educate the warriors. So, when will the American citizens realize their plan is working? In St. Louis - a mere 4 hours away from me- three individuals tied to a radical Islamic group in Syria were arrested a week ago for funding a terrorist organization. Does this sound familiar yet? So not only were they sending back money our government gives them for being an immigrant, but I can bet they owned their own business. Right there is double the income to help fund the plague that looks to behead us.

      So next time you get excited fueling up you new car, remember what is really happening and why gas is so cheap. If things don't change fast then you might be the next victim of a terrorist act, and someone else will be filling up their tank because of your horrible fate.

Leadership

     Leadership is based of an individuals character, morals, courage, intensity, compassion, fairness, and consistency which molds the bricks that form a true leader. Some are made and others are born, but a good one will always be striving to be better.  
     "Practice what you preach" is one of the greatest sayings of the modern times. To me this means do what you want others to do. While thinking of this quote I have learned to take traits from two different types of leaders, ones you want to be and others you don't. There is always an opportunity to learn from each individual, things you want to place in your tool box of traits, and things you remember that made you so mad you choose never to do them. For example, when I was a young Marine I remember a Sergeant I had that was over weight, out of shape, and just physically not fit. Yet he was the first one to scold you for looking like " A bag of ass". Practice what you preach! I told myself right then I would always be in better shape than my Marines and look better in uniform. How can I correct them if I don't look good myself. I have had leaders that say they care about their employees, yet when they are told about a situation that is unsafe they pay know attention to it. Practice what you preach! If you care about us, then listen to us. Don't lie because it makes you look good to your supervisor, you should do it because its the right thing to do.
     A good leader will go to bat for their employees and what is right. The will fight, claw, and bite for anything their guys need that is substantial. A true leader not only looks the part, talks the part, but also walks the part. They are the real individual that treats everyone equally regardless of skin color, sex, race or religion. They set a standard and expect it to be met. If you don't meet it they will punish you, but with that in mind if you go above the standard they will praise you. They treat others as they would want to be treated.
     There are many different types of leaders, the best part is, you get to choose. So what type of leader will you be?

The simplest things in life

       This Valentines Day most couples will be running around, stressing over presents, dinner, clothing and surprises. I am not a big advocate of February 14 solely for that one reason, and it being just another date on the calendar. Must we wait to give our significant others the attention they deserve on a special date? Shouldn't we actually do this every day, letting them know they matter to us? I understand most people will state," but its romantic, and a way to spice things up." In my eyes there is nothing more romantic than what my wife and I did yesterday for February 14.

       The day began with me waking up, getting my coffee, and going outside to smoke. While I am doing this my wife takes a shower and starts to get ready for work. As I am wrestling with the kids, we say our good byes and she leaves for work. Once she gets back she hands me a box, its one of my favorite things, chocolate covered strawberries. Now, don't start thinking I am inconsiderate, I sent her flowers to work the day prior. This is because, once again, I hate how commercialized February 14 is. We both get ready and head to are favorite take out restaurant, Steak Out. We order ahead, while the babies are screaming in the background, and they say it will be 30 minutes until are order is ready.  That is fine, we needed to go get her a refill on fitness supplements. We head to Supplement Superstore, pick up her regime: vitamins, pre-workout, protein, and metabolism enhancers. It takes roughly 15 minutes to accomplish this, so we head back across town to pick up our dinner. 

       Once we get home, feed everyone, and begin to settle down for the night, I start to do homework as I hear the crisp sound of a wine bottle being opened. The babies are finally asleep, me and my wife are next to each other on the couch, she watches friends as I am on my computer. All we need to be happy is contact with each other. No special dinner dates, fancy outfits, or expensive flowers. We do this every other day of the year for each other. Now I know this wont work for everyone, but for us this is perfect and it is how we keep the romance alive. Its the simplest things in life that are romantic to us.

Death but no feelings

     So today we worked a code, and if you have ever worked one of these you know how hectic it truly is. People watching, fire and ems working together like a well tuned engine, and law enforcement on scene trying to get a report of what is happening. Today though, it was especially packed, because we went to this code solely as assistance for the other crew, which already had a EMT student with them. So to the unknowing bystander it look extremely chaotic.

     Once we got on scene we all started working on the patient, and with the student to my side I started securing an airway. Instantly we decided to drop a King Lt, which is a blind insertion airway device, and I tell the student to perform the skill. Her eyes swell up and she says," I can not do it, he isn't breathing." I look at her, touch her shoulder, place the king in her hand and say," It is okay, you know how to do this and you will be fine. I am right next to you." As the students tender hands try to open the packing for the device she can't do it because of the shaking. I help her with it, and we kneel down by the head. The student inserts the airway device, and the patient pukes on both of us. We suction out the airway, and continue to work rigorously  on our patient. Needless to say, the patient did not make it and we pronounced him dead.

      Like all EMS do after a tough call, we start standing in our little huddle and began talking about the code. Pats on the back happen, god job buddies, and thanks for the help is said. We go over the code and what went as planned, and what could have happened a little smoother. Jokes are being sad about the student and I getting puked on, which may sound bad, but it is our way of decompressing. I look up and to my right and see the student. You can tell this hit her extremely hard, it was her first code and death, and she was about to cry. I walk over and tell her how awesome she did and instantly she states," But he still died." I tried to explain you cant save everyone no matter how hard you try, and you have to be able to dissociate yourself from the fact a human being just died on you.

     The question I ask myself when I think of the tears in her eyes, the pain her body is showing, and the sadness her heart feels,  "Am I a horrible human being?" You see I have been desensitized  from death since the Marines. We are taught to not feel any emotions, and this has transferred over to EMS for me. Should I feel something when people die right in front of me? If I did, then how would I go about my normal life without hating it? Even though we work our hardest to save some one I know sometimes it is not in Gods plan for that patient to live. This is what brings me to an ease when I think about the sadness I don't feel in my heart, the pain my body doesn't show, the tears that will never swell up in my eyes. This is why I have no feeling towards death, and I thank God for being desensitized.

Conceal and Carry while on shift

     The growing topic in my line of work right now is should we as EMTs and Paramedics be able to conceal and carry a firearm for our safety. You have people who believe we should, you have some who have no clue, but then you have individuals like me who think it is not a smart idea at all. This blog will be over my opinion on conceal and carry while on shift.

      To truly be great in this line of work you must make you patient your sole focus. You have to block out the chaos that is going on around you, and lock on to their signs and symptoms of presenting problems. This is one of the great downfalls, in my opinion, to the idea of carrying on the ambulance. You have a responsibility, to yourself and others, to accurately and appropriately be able to use a firearm as a tool when you carry. One of the steps to ensure you are doing this is to be able to properly maintain your weapon at all times. Honestly, I believe firearm retention is the next biggest thing to proper fundamentals of shooting. If I am solely focused on my patient, then how will I be able to maintain my situational awareness oriented towards my pistol. I like to think I am good at multitasking, but I personally can not perform accurate intervention and also be solely aware of my pistol. When I am with my patients they are within my personal bubble, and I am touching them, talking to them, and even leaning over them. One of the best forms of fire arm retention is adequate space. Although, this will not always be the case, I am going to keep as far away from potential threats as possible. Even though I know different small joint manipulations to accurately retain my firearm, I should never put myself in the situation where it is warranted for use.

      My next dispute with the idea of carrying on the ambulance would be why do you want to introduce another weapon into the scenario that can be used against you. A lot of people might be thinking, another weapon? I say this because everything in the back of our ambulance can be used as an improvised weapon for us or against us. So with the thought of the close proximity of the ambulance, why would I bring a firearm into an already dangerous situation for us. This is why they have Defensive Tactics for EMS. It teaches us how to deescalate or stop the threat, and get away. I have had this thought challenged by the statement," well some people don't take martial art for self defense, so they might want a firearm." Hey guys guess what, if someone is to lazy to train for unarmed self defense, then why would they train in armed self defense. Remember that statement in the last paragraph where I said you have a responsibility, to yourself and others, to be able to properly use that tool. How can you do this if you don't train. Armed manipulations are just like any skill trait you obtain, they are extremely perishable if not used. I have also been challenged with the statement of appropriate force for force. Basically, they are stating if they are presented with an immediate threat to their life, then they believe they should be able to match that level of force with a pistol. I get this, but what's funny is I have so many deadly weapons on my body on call that no one notices. For example I always have a pocket knife, my trauma shears,  and pens. An improvised weapon with a pen to strategic places on the body is deadly force. This is where the training comes into place, you need to know where that is. Let's say it doesn't stop the threat completely, but I bet it opened up an are of opportunity to get away from the threat.

     So what do I think needs to be done for the assurance of the safety for all personnel in my field. I believe appropriate personal protective equipment, like body armor, and enforced self defense techniques will be extremely helpful. Also, I believe all EMS personnel should be trained in appropriate situational awareness, to include, how to properly read and recognize indications that they are in harm. This includes body posterior, body movements, facial expression recognition and a lot more. Also, EMS should be taught the Continuum of Force spectrum so they know not only can you escalate the situation, but deescalate when need be.  The one thing I don't think will help though is to carry on the job. This is because I do not want to bring another weapon into an already dangerous situation.

The birth of our children

 My prospective: As I walk into the surgery room I see my wife laying on a cross like table, hands outstretched as she looks up into the sky. I walk up and grab her hand to let her know I am there, but the drugs have kicked in and she is already out of it. There is a sheet pulled up so she can not see her lower half where they will  be making the incision in her uterus. I look into my wife's eyes and she looks to be in peace and excitement, as it is just kicking in our two little girls are going to be here any moment. I am talking to the doctors and nurses as the start working franticly on my wife. Passing instruments and tools back and forth to one another. Next thing I see is the leg of my first child coming out of my wives abdomen. Its the craziest thing I could every imagine, as they pull the first of the girls out, I don't know what to really think. I am in shock and cant even believe what is taking place in front of me. A loud scream and screech of a cry start, and I know she is perfectly healthy. They start to wipe her off, and I stand their staring at her it total awe. Next thing I know my second has already been born. They where less than a minute apart due to the C-section. Both children screaming and crying, perfect in every way, shape, and form. The nurse asks if I want to hold them, and timidly I say yes. It was awkward at first, but after a minute or so I got the hang of it. My new born children and I pose for picture until the nurse states they need to go to the NICU for observation. I show them to my wife, even though the anesthesia has her loopy, she smiles and kisses the girls goodbye for the time being. I kiss my wife and leave so the surgeons can finish sewing her up and getting her into the recovery room. This was the greatest day of my life.

My wife's prospective: As I lay on the table, numb from the neck down, I see my husband walk into the room. It is comforting knowing he will be with me during the happy, yet stressful and slightly scary time. My husband lets me know what is happening due to the fact I cannot see below my neck. and finally I hear crying from my little baby girl. My husband says she is beautiful and perfectly healthy, then at about that time I hear the cry of baby girl number two. I can't believe they are finally her, not know if I could make one, let alone two healthy girls. My husband is holding the twins, he looks kind of scared, but I can tell he will be a great father. He brings them down to my level so I can give them a kiss on the forward before the are taken away. Next thing I remember is waking up in the recovery room, waiting to be able to go hold my babies for the first time since they where born.

Sheep, Wolves, and Sheep dogs

     Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman puts human beings in three different categories, the sheep, the wolves and the sheep dogs. They all play their role in civilization whether it be good or bad. The question is which one are you?
     The sheep make up about 98 percent of the world. They graze around all day oblivious to what is going on around them. Stuck in their own bubble of life experiences, and not paying attention to anything outside of their domain. They live happy lives, taking care of their families and paying their bills on time. Until that one day comes that everyone prays will never happen. You will see the sheep stampede away from danger, in the mere fright of a horrible incident and try to save their precious lives. They live with sympathy and empathy in their hearts, and will do most anything for others, as long as it is within their comfort zone.
     The wolves make up a mere one percent of the world. These sadistic individuals feed off the kindness of the sheep. They pray on the weak, but will run at the first sight of adversity. They take the sheep by surprise, killing them unexpectedly, raping their women and young. Pillaging on the flock for their own personal gains and excitement. The sheep know the wolves are around, but refuse to believe they are among them. The wolves attack when they know the sheep are least expecting them, at church, in a movie theater, at a school full of children, or at the finish line of a marathon. The sheep will morn the loss of their flock for a while, but with time they begin to graze the field once again as if nothing happened. Never preparing themselves for the next attack on the flock.
     Last we have the sheep dogs who also, like the wolves, make up the last one percent of man kind. This individual is compassionate towards the sheep. They show empathy and sympathy towards them, even though the sheep see the sheep dog as an outsider. The sheep will never truly let the sheep dog into the flock, because they are not one of them. The sheep dog has an acute since of situational awareness, knowing where everyone of the sheep in his flock are. They know wolves are among them, and are waiting for the attack. The sheep dog knows every avenue of approach the wolf might take, and have already set a counter attack in place before that dreaded time comes. You see when the sheep run from the attack this is when the sheep dog thrives. Like the wolves, they have a need for violence when the right situation is among them. They will protect the sheep at all costs even though they are considered an outcast. The sheep dog will fight to the death with the wolf for someone he does not even know. They are the protectors, and would have it no other way. The sheep dogs do not brag, look for attention, or ask for recognition. They sit silently outside of the flock waiting for that one moment they will be asked to join it. Not because the flock wants them, but because they need them for protection.
     Now my question to you is as follows, will you be the sheep, the wolf, or the sheep dog? The choice is yours, and honestly sheep dogs are born not made. If you are apart of the flock there is nothing wrong with that, but just remember, just because I am different from you does not mean you should shun me. Even though I am not accepted by your flock I will be on the outside, watching, waiting, for that day you need me to join. For I will be prepared to do violence so that you can go and graze. If you are the wolf I leave you with this one statement. Do not come around my flock, for I keep my teeth sharpened and my claws long. I will bite, scratch, rip and shred every ounce of your flesh and fur for my flock. If you threaten them, then prepare for your demise.

Pay it forward

     So there is this new trend people are calling Pay It Forward. Basically, you pay a balance for food, a movie ticket, ice cream etc. for the person that comes behind you in line. The concept is suppose to spread, and the person you did it to will then return the favor for paying it forward. It is suppose to begin a snowball like effect of kindness. I am going to tell a story of my pay it forward I did recently. This was just out of the general kindness of my heart, and to make another persons life that much better. I like to remind myself that not everyone in this world is bad, and hopefully I will have touched this couples lives, and they will feel their is still kindness in humanity as well.

     I went to a pretty serious call the other day while I was at work. A motor vehicle accident at highway speeds. We are informed by dispatch that there are two vehicles involved and a possibility of five patients. As we pull up to numerous highway patrol vehicles blocking traffic, debris scattered all over the road, and one car facing north on the south bound lane with the other car thrown next to the ditch. Fire and Rescue responded maybe three minutes before us and were already triaging patients. As I walked to the vehicle next to the ditch I see the driver, an older gentlemen, walking around and fire talking to him. I exhale slightly in relief, because that is the side that was t-boned. My partner walks to attend to that patient while I go to the passenger who is still sitting in the car due to right hip pain. Both driver and passenger are bloody and hurt, but have no major injuries that are obvious. When I ask them which hospital they want to go to, all the older gentlemen could say was," How will my wife and I get home." I simply replied," Sir we will find you a way home. Let's not worry about that now and take care of your injuries." He was cut up pretty bad and his wife was in severe pain. Once we got to the hospital I gave my report to both nurses that would be taking care of the husband and wife, they were put in different rooms. After I left the ladies room I went to her husbands room to let him know how she was doing. When he realized that she was going to be fine all he would say was," How are we going to get home." Once again I relied," Sir, we will get you a ride home if you cannot find one, and if for some odd reason the hospital can't find you one I will have them call me to take you home." Needless to say, two hours later the emergency department called me at my station.

     It was the end of my shift and I was finishing my check on the truck. I hurried and cleaned out my car, then headed up to the ER. I stepped in the room and instantly said," See Sir we wouldn't leave you and your wife stranded." The gentlemen and his wife smiled and I drove them home. We talked the whole way, and I made some really good friends. The gentlemen had to get stitches on his arm and had broken ribs, but his wife came out with just bumps and scraps. They told me how they had just gotten done having a dinner date when the wreck happened, and we discussed how they needed to change the intersection. We talked the whole thirty minutes north until we reached their lovely country home, when his wife said," Don't just leave, come inside for a bit." I couldn't decline, even though my home is an hour south of the direction we just traveled. The gentlemen walked straight to the back room and his wife started showing me some of his wood workings he has done. The gentlemen came back out with a piece of hand carved décor and said," You don't know how much it means to me knowing I had a way home. I want to give this to you." He started to tear up a little bit and said," I will pay you if you don't think this is enough." I declined, one I didn't expect anything from taking care of my patient, and two the skilled work that came from his fragile, arthritic hands was priceless to me. I was honored he felt I deserved this piece of work. After about thirty minutes we said our goodbyes and I started the long journey back home.

     I am not telling this story to get a pat on the back or recognition. I am simple telling this story because even the smallest gesture of kindness can touch some ones life more than we understand. Knowing I made an impact like that on him where he believed I was worthy of one of his pieces of art, kept me speechless. I thought about it the whole way home, and that night I knew my pay it forward really impacted a life. Even if it was as simple as making sure they had a ride home.

Knowing your audience

     So in this blog I am going to discussion the audience I am writing to in my English 101 online course. To truly understand my audience I have to think in more of a multi layer aspect then just a cut and dry single audience. With the best of my ability, I will explain the steps, statement, and conclusion of my audience in this text.

     The first thing I must look at is if I will be writing to an academic or non-academic group. The hard part is I will be writing to both. My professor Ms. A (academic) and my classmates (non-academic). Even though Ms. A gives me a lot of freedom to get my thoughts and expressions out on paper, she also has a format she likes things to be in. To receive an appropriate grade in the course I will have to follow this format and answer the questions she is looking for. At the same time, I need to be able to reach out and connect with my non-academic reading group (classmates) and continuously strive to maintain their attention. This by itself will be a tough task, to impress both the academic and non academic group.

     When we began preparing for this blog our instructor started an online discussion thread called Knowing your Audience. We were told to ask any question we want and read the responses. Not only was this an extremely fun and interesting assignment, but it also helped me start to understand the individuals in my class.  At the beginning of my college days I always had this thought that I would be the only conservative on Campus. Everyone else would be liberal, we would butt heads, which would lead to me getting frustrated and dreading school. On a side bar I know I need to be more open minded and am working on that. So I asked the question would you consider yourself more conservative, liberal, or libertarian. I didn't want to start a huge debate, but just wanted to see where everyone was on their political beliefs. I, like I stated before, was just waiting for everyone to say liberal and get upset at me for stating I was conservative. This, however, was not the case and honestly the majority of the class could not put themselves in a category. I did guess we would have very few conservatives, which was the case, but did not think we would have so many libertarians. This question alone gave me a great picture of who I am writing to. I understand how I may have to change my writing, not my views, by toning my thoughts and feelings down a little bit. I know, at times, I am very abrasive and strong with my beliefs. The last thing I want to do during this course is offend some one by using these two traits.

     There where a lot of great questions, some that caused the class to dig deep into their morals, other questions that just made us reflect, and some quite humorous ones. All which gave me a better understanding of how I can write. For example, here are a few questions that where asked:

1) What do you want to be when you grow up?

     This question let me know there are a lot of different careers people are trying to obtain. A big piece of our class is going for some type of medical career. Which is great for me, because that is the line of work I am in. Although it is a slightly different aspect of the medical field, I know we are all big in trying to help people, and that we can connect with each other on this level. I also saw we have a great sense of humor in this class, which helps me in the long run, because I am nothing but a big goof ball.

2) What is more important: What we do or why we do it?
  
     I realized we all general came to the same conclusion, but we came about it in different ways. In general, the class answered the question evenly with what we do, how we do it, and both. This lets me know, even though we came about it a different way, everyone really had the same perception as me. I can connect with the class on a basis of this alone, seeing how a lot of my classmates agreed with me in believing both.

     Finally, I know in my non-academic group (classmates) I will have subjects I write about that will present some of my classmates as a lay person or expert. Another subject I write about might make the experts, of the previous subject, the lay person, and so on. I will have to be able to connect with both groups, be able to write well enough not to loose an experts attention on a subject, but make it understandable to a person who has never heard of the subject at hand. This will be difficult to accomplish, but I have done harder in life.

   Now that I have a better understanding about my audience I will promise them a few things. First, I will do my best not to offend, but in the same instance I want to challenge your thoughts. This is not to turn you to the "dark side" or to push my beliefs on you, but to obtain your attention with a different perspective other than your own. Second, to my professor, I will try to stay within the formats that you ask, while still making my text exciting to read for others. Third, I will put my heart and soul into everything I write to connect with everyone, because your time is valuable, and you deserve to read my best work every time.

Fluency in writing

     I just read an extremely interest text from my English professor called It takes practice. In this text she explains how she became fluent in the art of writing, what it takes to become fluent, and how you can become fluent in writing. Ms. A asked a couple questions in her article that I thought would be a great journal blog for tonight. I also believe this will help me realize the dedication and hard work it will take in making me a great, and even enthusiastic writer.
     Ms. A asked in her writing to think of one thing you are good at. The first thought that came to my mind was football. During high school I was an above average linebacker, and even received a college scholarship for it. I began to think of all the blood, sweat, and tears I put in to become a well recognized defensive player. I started playing tackle football in Mighty Mites when I was five years old. I obviously didn't know what I was doing, but still tried over and over again. Throughout the years I became more coordinated, stronger, and agile. I would practice during the off season on my foot work, form tackling a punching bag in my garage, and my dad would even run in different directions so I could get my reaction time faster. Once I got into middle school my self discipline and dedication grew even more. Staying after practice to lift weights, do sprints, and look a film. I actually became obsessed trying to become perfect at an early age. This all worked in my advantage once I reached high school though. You see, I was the only freshmen, at the time, playing special teams for varsity. Even though I wasn't starting yet, it pushed me harder. I knew if I had more heart and dedication then everyone else I would get my shot at being a star line backer. So I kept worker harder and harder, I would do things people my age couldn't imagine. While everyone was  sleeping in on Saturday mornings, I was at the practice field running 300 yard shuffles. Finally, my day came to shine. My senior year I broke the single season tackle record quite substantially. The pride that ran through my body at the time is unexplainable. Knowing all my hard work finally paid off was great, and all the blood, sweat, and tears were well worth it.
     Writing, I believe, will  be like this for me. Starting now I am like the 5 year old Cody, just learning how to get in a proper stance. With the dedication and hard work, I am willing to put in, I will be a senior once again breaking records. The great thing about this process, I already see progress since I started free writing. I am by no means close to fluency, but it is becoming easier to write. I know I am horrible with grammar, but as long as I keep practicing I will get to the point I need, and deserve, to be at. I honestly use to dread writing, and thought this journal/blog was going to be my down fall in class. Now though, the more and more I do it, the more I look forward to writing on my page.

To be a kid again

    Tonight I got to be a kid again by attending a Father and Daughter dance with my nine year old. Although I am not the best in social situations I caught myself having a great time. Watching my daughter not worry about a thing in the world, flaring her arms in the air and making silly faces to the latest up beat pop song. It reminded me of a time when I didn't have to worry about bills, protocols, gas money, retirement funds, or a college education for my children. It makes you think how fast time passes you, and yet you took it for granted. I remember being a young and invincible teenager, without a care in the world. My next big football game and who I was taking to the dance was my biggest worry. To me at that time though all I wanted to do was grow up. I wanted to go to college, get a job, and be on my own. Oh if I honestly knew what that entailed maybe I would have changed my mind. During times of the dance my daughter would run off with her friends and I would sit at my table and just look around. Dads and daughters dancing the night away, not thinking of anything except how much they are enjoying each others company. I catch myself wondering what is going through the little girls heads, and if they know how much they are making their father's night right then. While my daughter and I slow dance I pray she never gets older, and stays this age forever. I hope she know that she made my night, and let me be a kid one last time.

The close line between sanity and insane.

     I have twin 22 month old girls and a nine year old step daughter, who are my world. I wake up every day looking forward to teaching them how to be the best person they can be. When I was told that having kids would give you a whole new meaning to life I honestly didn't believe them, but when you hold those two beautiful baby girls for the first time in the operating room you instantly sink into a little pile of mush. I love watching my kids sleep, wondering what they are dreaming about, looking so innocent and sweet. Brushing their hair out of the face, and praying I don't wake them. Why, because once you wake the beast the world goes into chaos. My twins are in full blown terrible two's and my nine year old is at that lovely age where she gets annoyed by everything my wife and I ask her to do. From the break of dawn until the darkest of night their is running, screaming, crying and fighting. The twins are extremely smart, and try to strategically beat me in whatever they are trying to get away with. Hadlee will go one way, and while I chase her Mckynlee will use that to her advantage. Going to do whatever she can that she knows would normally get her in trouble. If they ever are playing nice and quietly by themselves, you know they are up to no good. Today they were in their room coloring and I went to the front room to drink some coffee and get caught up on the news. That was my first mistake, leaving the general area they are planted in. After about five or ten minutes I decided it was to quiet, and went to see what they where doing. As I peaked around the corner of the door I notice Mckynlee being a perfect little angle, coloring on her huge coloring book. This was not her being sweet or a good girl, but a mere distraction for her sister. As I walk inside their room to further inspect and search for Hadlee, she is no where to be found, I open the closet door. In the five or ten minutes I  tried to relax, she had ripped down every article of clothing in their closet. Let's just say these kids are spoiled, and we could cloth the whole eastern coast of America. So after about 30 to 45 minutes of putting cloths back on the hanger, and in the correct spots, I decide it is time to try to get some house work done. I first start with dishes, a easy job you would think seeing how I have a dish washer. Well I have to pre rise and scrap dishes in order from cups, to plates, to pans, to baby cups. This is because I have to open the dishwasher, throw as many items as I can in it before the babies run over and take them out. Today I guess I wasn't on my A game because the time I got two dishes in, somehow four would be out on the kitchen floor. I realized this was a loosing battle and decided to do laundry. I think to myself if I put on Super Why, one of their favorite cartoons, they will  watch it and I can fold laundry. Well I was definitely wrong today, by the time I had one towel folded and place on the dryer to go, it would be unfolded and on the floor before I could get another one folded. So I decided to scratch that idea and play with them. Hadlee is just like her daddy, looks and all. She extremely athletic, for a near two year old, and loves to play ball. Lately Ava, my nine year old, has gotten into volleyball and is getting really good. Well Hadlee wants to be like her big sister and play volleyball. I will say get ready, she bends her knees, puts her arms together in a bumping stance, and will actually bump the ball. That is when Mckynlee will allow it to happen, because normally she will chase the ball down, and throw it at her sisters head. Hadlee will begin to cry, and when I scold Mckynlee she begins to cry. Now you have two extremely pissed babies on your hands, so I get my phone, tablet, or whatever electronic I have, and play Polar Express movie songs. They will stop crying for a while, but once you take the music away the water works fire back up again. There is only so many times you can listen to that soundtrack before you want to rip your hair out. So you decided to lay them down for a nap, praying they both fall asleep at the same time so you can either get house work done or home work. Most of the time this will not happen, but you get to spend some quality time alone with one of them which is always amazing. After they wake up the battle between baby and dad starts again. Scolding, crying, hand holding, Barbie playing, tattoo drawing, yes my twins love tattoos, and so on goes until mom gets home from work at five thirty in the evening. At this point it is easier for the simple fact I have reinforcements. When it is bed time we lay next to them doing criss cross apple sauce on their backs, playing with their hair, and whispering in their ears. Hadlee is pretty good about the night time routine, but Mckynlee fights it bad. She screams bloody murder at the top of her lungs, kicking and screaming until finally she wears herself out. While they sleep you stare at them, looking like perfect angles. I would never change my life from what it is now. My girls made me a better man, and I am blessed my wife gave them to me. So even though on my days off from work I am tip toeing on that fine line between sanity and insane, they are my babies, all three of them, and they are perfect to me.

What not to say to a Veteran

     To start my journal/blog entries for this assignment I would like to bring something to everyone's attention that I hold near to my heart. Things you should not ask or say to military veteran's, but not only them, I will also include police, fire fighters, and emergency medical technicians. If you want to get to know our lives then join one of the above mentioned professions. It takes a lot of courage, self sacrifice, blood, sweat and tears to do what we have done. So please, once again, don't ask the following things.
     Have you ever been over there? Guys, more than likely if they were in the military anytime after that horrible day on September 11th 2001 then they have been to the middle east. If not in Iraq or Afghanistan then in surrounding countries in support of the war. Lets say for some reason the individual you are questioning did not go over seas, guess what, I bet they feel so guilty it makes them sick to think about it. Which is extremely sad, because it is not their fault they did not get the call to go over with their brothers and sisters. So in all honesty they should not feel guilty. They are a mere one percent of this nation who have served our great country, but yet they feel they did not do their duty because they did not go to war. How do I know this you may ask, because I have had my own troops tell me this while I was still in the Marines. Yes I went over multiple times, but that does not make me anymore of a patriot then them. They should feel proud of what they accomplished for our country, and know they served it well.
     Did you ever kill somebody? Why would you even ask this, and do you think they really want to talk about it. I will let you in on a little secret, more than likely if someone wants to talk about taking someone else's life, they are probably exaggerating what they did. Now, in the odd chance they do talk about it, you should feel lucky! We only speak to a select few like this, most of the time with fellow service members, because they have been through what we have. So do not loose this trust by doing something stupid, because you will never earn it back.
     What's war like? If you want to know so bad, then get a first hand experience. Go to your local recruiters office and sign on the dotted lines. No matter what we say to you it will never bring that experience justice. You will never understand what war is like unless you go through it yourself.
     Have you ever seen a dead body? I know personally I don't like thinking about what dead bodies look like, so please don't ask it. More than likely they see them in their dreams, or even while they are awake, so why ask them to keep reliving that moment. We all struggle with our own demons, please don't push them back in their face.
     Why do you have PTSD and what is it like? I saw a fellow co worker ask this question. I almost jumped out of my skin, and proceeded to give the biggest ass chewing of my life. Why would you ask someone to relieve the worst experience in their life. PTSD is the way a human being deals with a traumatic experience or experiences, and tries to heal itself. Its not normal to be shot at, have mortars blow up next to you, shoot back at people, see people burned alive, perform CPR on a child in front of their parents, or have a little girl ask you if she is going to die. Some people's bodies handle it differently than others. If the individual says, " I have PTSD", then don't ask why. Why would you want the person, you are trying to help, to relive the most horrible moment in their life. Some people do get help from talking about it, and then some people don't. If you don't know this person, or how they will react, then don't ask them why. They will tell you if they feel comfortable enough.
     If you want to connect with someone in these careers then thank them for their service, protection, and sacrifices. Offer to buy them a beer even or take them out to dinner. Just show them appreciation for what they have done and gone through. That's the biggest way to connect with them, because they are under paid and under appreciated, but they do it because someone has too. Yes they might complain ever once and awhile, they might even get depressed because they miss their family, but whenever they get the call they will go right back out without a second thought. These men and women are a select few, and they should be damn proud of themselves, as should we.

I believe I was put on this earth to protect people (freewriting)

I believe I was put on this earth to protect people. I started my long line of training for this protection in the Marines April 14 2004 when I stepped on those yellow foot prints in San ddiego. I was scared and fault like I should have been the on being protected at that time. i couldn't believe what was happening with me, people yelling and screaming in my ear, all chaos breaking loose. i t was completely insane. next i was being shipped off to Okinawa japan to go to the fleet. from their i went to Indonesia when the big tsunami hit and i say my first horrible scenes in life. I went to Iraq after that, then to camp Pendleton California. from there, fort leonardwood Missouri and after all of that i was honorably discharged. i went on with my protection line of work private contracting. i havd to go to coslorado for trainging and then went on to doing private security on oitl righs. the workds are getting ahard to spell as the time runs on and i cant stop to back space so i am starting to get slight anxiety from seeing all the red squiggle lines undearneath the words. anyways back to porotection and the oil rigs fighting pirates. its funny because my neives came over last night for my birthday and they kept asking if i use to fight pirates. i would say yes and they asked if they havd an eye patch. i would say no. then they asked if they had a wooden leg. i said maybe, then they asked if they where on boats and i said yes nurmerours ones and then they asked if they got on my ship and i said no. they said probably because my scary faced. what the heck. i don't think i have a scary face but i guess my nieces do. i am also a martial arts instructor, and tactical emergency casualty care instructor, a tactical emergency support first responder, and a certified special operations specialist for pricate security in high risk areas. this is really hard not stopping and i have only been doing it for eight minutes. i keep thinking iam going to get zero points for theis do to the grammatical errors. anyways i am going to Houston soon to start the process of being a tactical combat casualty care instructor through the national association of emergency medical technicinas. I want to be a tactical medic for a special response team.
                               413 words I believe

This I believe List

This I Believe List

 

 

1. I believe I am a good person.
2. I believe I am a good father.
3. I believe I am a good husband.
4. I believe I am a good friend.
5. I believe Society is loosing common sense.
6. I believe human kind is in trouble.
7. I believe my children are my reason for existence.
8. I believe my career matters.
9. I believe I was put on this earth to protect people.
10. I believe energy drinks are my blood line.
11. I believe people could be more caring.
12. I believe everyone needs help at some point I their life.
13. I believe you should never stop trying to better yourself.
14. I believe written I believe statements for 10 minutes is getting difficult.
15. I believe my father was my biggest guide to man hood.
16. I believe the Marine Corps made me a better person.
17. I believe I have seen things normal civilians wouldn't understand.
18. I believe I can do anything I want t
19. I believe dogs are awesome.
20. I believe with hard work, dedication, and heart you can accomplish anything.
21. I believe there is evil all over this world.
22. I believe people are so involved in their own lives they don't see the evil.
23. I believe we can unit.
24. I believe there is still good in this world.
25. I believe my wife is perfect
26. I believe I am the luckiest man on the planet.
27. I believe I love Tactical Medicine.
28. I believe you should train for a situation you pray will never happen.
29. I believe the statement practice what you preach
30. I believe the statement and theory, practice how you play.

Jung Typology Test Relection

     So in my English 101 course I was tasked with completing the Jung Typology Test, and read about my indicators. This basically made myself aware of different traits I have that I may not be aware of, or I never really thought about. Also, how these traits may affect my work, college work, and specifically my writing. All I have to say is wow! I cannot believe how spot on this test was. They have me labeled as an INTJ, which broken done means my traits are introvert at 22%, intuitive at 50%, thinking at 50% and judging at 78%. In the next few paragraphs of this blog I will point out some of my major indicators I agree. I will compare and contrast these indicators with how I believe they will help me become a better writer in the long run.



     The Jung typology test has my personality traits listed with a highly recognized class of individuals, to include, Steven Hawking. So lets just say, now knowing this, I have some very big shoes to fill. The easiest way I know to start this off is by listing some indicators I agree with. The first major one I think about is appearing self-confident. You wouldn't believe how many people call me cocky or even arrogant. These are people that don't personally  know me though, and when this point is brought up I simple state, " I am not cocky or arrogant, I merely am extremely confident in the information that is being presented." You see, I believe you should always strive to better yourself, no matter what it pertains to. If you are cleaning the house you should do it to the best of your ability. The same statement goes for being at work, school, or personal fitness in my eyes. A lot of people, in this era, are threatened by people with this mentality. They don't understand why someone would want to exceed expectations when the bare minimum is now a highly recognized trait. This upsets them because the individual that is pushing themselves makes them looks bad. So they think you are stuck up or you think you are better than them, when actually you are just trying to be the best individual you can. Which leads me to my next trait, perfectionist.

     My wife always tells me I am so annoying because I am a perfectionist. I know I cannot obtain perfection, only one person can and that is our creator. With that being said, I will always strive for perfection. This is how I was raised, and it was drilled into my head during boot camp. I don't see this as a bad trait though. Holding yourself to a higher standard sets you apart from your peers, but can also bite you in the rear too. I have a very hard time putting my words and thoughts on paper. I am not good at writing by any means and I have come to learn my personality trait is the one too blame for this. Due to me striving for the best possible work I can provide, I have a very hard time starting  to write a paper. Whether its for research or pleasure, I cannot write an opening statement or paragraph.This leads to extreme frustration, and I will loose interest and quit. All because I could not build the perfect sentence. It is quite sad when you think about it. Merely one personality trait has forced me to cut myself short, and even lowered my attributes to our civilization. You  may be thinking, wow Cody you really are putting a lot of stress on your shoulders, it is just writing. This leads me to another trait, I am a big picture thinker.

     Most people merely see a task given to them, and the direct effect it has from completion. I, on the other hand, see a task given to me and what the long term effect will be. I will give you a small example of this, I have recently been tasked with writing and implementing a protocol at my work. The protocol is extremely controversial in the eyes of rural ems, especially in Missouri. People don't see a direct need for it, and even think the protocol will never be needed. I completely understand this, and pray it is not, but what happens when the protocol is needed and no one has implemented it. In my line of work a lot of people die if we are not thinking ahead of the game. I look at what may happen in the future if this protocol is implemented, but most people look at what will happen now if implemented.

     I could go on and on with different traits the Jung typology test came up with that I see everyday in myself, but that would take forever. So, how am I going to take these traits and implement them in my writing. I actually have already started doing it, with more knowledge I obtained from another essay, by not worrying how my introduction of a paper is starting off. I now just began to write, and if I don't like it I will change it later. That simple variation in my writing process has brought an amazing outcome. I can write now, free of stress, and just let it flow. I understand now I can always go back and change it later and like to use the expression, "rough drafts are my friends." It is a silly statement to many, but to me it is a life saver when it comes to my English course. I also take time to reflect on the information I am going to be writing about now. I saw this on my typology indicator and decided to try it out. I get extremely frustrated when all my points, statistics, and basic information lead me to a point of no closure or conclusion. Reflecting helps me dwindle down the additional details that truly are not needed to support my big picture or theory approach. There is so much more I have already implemented it is not funny, but I will end this blog with the following suggestion. It is my personal opinion that everyone take the Jung Typology test and read the indicators attached. It will let you reflect on how you are in many different situations, and even bring up traits you never really thought about. Not only the good traits, but the bad ones you can work on to better yourself.

    

    

Getting to know me

          So, let me get things started with this blog post by introducing myself a little. My name is Cody and I am currently enrolled in English 101 for my general education credits toward my associates degree in Paramedicine. I am not very good at writing, but I will attempt to keep everyone entertained, informed, and up to date on my life and the line of work I do. With that being said, let me give you a short background on myself.

          When I graduated from high school I was lucky enough to receive a football scholarship to Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas. The summer before my freshman year I injured my knee playing American Legion Baseball and it did not heal right, and I ended dropping out of class. The next six months or so I did absolutely nothing, except, cause trouble and get into it. I realized right then I needed to do something with my life and joined the United States Marine Corps. The next eight years were spent traveling all over the world to include Iraq and Kuwait a couple of times. When I was honorably discharged from the Marines in February of 2012 I decided I was going to start Private Security Contracting. I did all of my civilian training, becoming a Certified Special Operations Specialist, this is just a fancy title for Private Security Specialist in high risk areas, and a Tactical Emergency Medical Services (T.E.M.S) first responder. I instantly fell in love with the tactical medical side of my line of work. In August of 2012 I began working for a private security company called United Marine Security (UMS) as a Tactical Reaction Team Leader/Team Medic. As I kept getting more and more involved with tactical medicine, I became consumed in it.  With what little time I had between rotations on the oil tankers, off the eastern coast of Africa ,I became a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician Basic. Finally, I decided it was all or nothing to become a Tactical Paramedic - Certified, so I quit deploying and began going down this long road. I went through my Advanced Emergency Medical Technician course and started working for a hospital based ambulance service. In the last six months I have become a Tactical Emergency Casualty Care Instructor, and am in the process to get my National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians certification as a Tactical Combat Casualty Care Instructor. I will began the last part of my paramedic certification in August of 2015, and after that get my Law Enforcement Licensure. Its a very long process, and exhausting, but I have the strong mind and will power to do so.

          I am married to a beautiful women, Tessa, and we have 3 lovely girls. Hadlee and Mcynlee are twin 21 month olds, and Ava is 9. So you can imagine I don't have much time to do homework between work, family, and trying to keep up on all my skills on the tactical/civilian side of EMS. There are a lot of late nights and early morning doing class work after my shift.

Until next time.
Cody