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Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Day Five, Six, Seven, and Eight
Day Five, Six, Seven, and Eight
We did fire steams on day five, and the rest are a blur. I finally got permission to go off campus to get some medicine. I don't know what I've been doing but somehow I got special recognition.
I guess the instructors knew I was sick as a dying dog but I still kept up with the class making sure I kept pushing until I came seconds away from passing out. Had it not been for my captain making me stop I would have. I had no water in me, I puked but nothing came out. My body was hot but my skin running cool. No sweat....all bad signs. But I finished. I know that if feces hits the thermal osculator I'm able to pull my weight under some pretty gnarly conditions.
So for the entire day I was treated with honors. I know they meant well but I didn't feel great getting recognized for almost not finishing. But I just need to accept how they wanted to credit my commitment and not my performance.
But seriously, the rest of the days are a blur. I didn't write in my blog those days and I was so doped up that I remember bits and pieces. I *KNOW* I had Cinnamon Toast Crunch for breakfast one day. After that....... all a blur
We did fire steams on day five, and the rest are a blur. I finally got permission to go off campus to get some medicine. I don't know what I've been doing but somehow I got special recognition.
I guess the instructors knew I was sick as a dying dog but I still kept up with the class making sure I kept pushing until I came seconds away from passing out. Had it not been for my captain making me stop I would have. I had no water in me, I puked but nothing came out. My body was hot but my skin running cool. No sweat....all bad signs. But I finished. I know that if feces hits the thermal osculator I'm able to pull my weight under some pretty gnarly conditions.
So for the entire day I was treated with honors. I know they meant well but I didn't feel great getting recognized for almost not finishing. But I just need to accept how they wanted to credit my commitment and not my performance.
But seriously, the rest of the days are a blur. I didn't write in my blog those days and I was so doped up that I remember bits and pieces. I *KNOW* I had Cinnamon Toast Crunch for breakfast one day. After that....... all a blur
Day Four
Day Four
Holy crap I feel like crap! Craptasitc! Heading is pounding, snot running out my nose, tired as hell..... mold. It's been raining like a mother at the academy and it stopped today. To add to my fun we did hose loads all day.
First we loaded the bed and then the cross-lays (the side hoses). Then we practiced deployments which means loading back into the beds. Not bitching much but geeeez.
Everyone is telling me I look like shit. They ain't much better, they look like Canadians. :P
Holy crap I feel like crap! Craptasitc! Heading is pounding, snot running out my nose, tired as hell..... mold. It's been raining like a mother at the academy and it stopped today. To add to my fun we did hose loads all day.
First we loaded the bed and then the cross-lays (the side hoses). Then we practiced deployments which means loading back into the beds. Not bitching much but geeeez.
Everyone is telling me I look like shit. They ain't much better, they look like Canadians. :P
Day four
Day Four
We got our rookie ropes and PPE today! A rookie rope is a symbol, a responsibility, and a tool. It must be around our waist at all times (expect for showering and when in *PPE). It shows a fire fighters commitment to preparedness and readiness. It also means we have to keep track of it. If it is lost then we have to earn it back. Either as a class or as an individual.
It didn't take long for us to learn the importance of having the rope available at all times. We had several "60 Seconds", a drill on which you have to don your PPE in ...you guessed it, 60 seconds. A few of us left the ropes around our waist and thus unable to get the rope when our PPE is on.
Push-ups!
*PPE: Personal Protective Equipment, aka Bunker gear, aka turn out gear, aka the hot smelly suit, aka what fire fighters wear
We got our rookie ropes and PPE today! A rookie rope is a symbol, a responsibility, and a tool. It must be around our waist at all times (expect for showering and when in *PPE). It shows a fire fighters commitment to preparedness and readiness. It also means we have to keep track of it. If it is lost then we have to earn it back. Either as a class or as an individual.
It didn't take long for us to learn the importance of having the rope available at all times. We had several "60 Seconds", a drill on which you have to don your PPE in ...you guessed it, 60 seconds. A few of us left the ropes around our waist and thus unable to get the rope when our PPE is on.
Push-ups!
*PPE: Personal Protective Equipment, aka Bunker gear, aka turn out gear, aka the hot smelly suit, aka what fire fighters wear
Day Three
Day Three
Haz-mat...............haz-mat
Wow....talk about a dry subject. Eight hours of facts, facts, and more facts. We had a great instructor that was funny and helpful. He is also about as old as g-d, probably could pass for his younger brother. Talks and looks just like Sam Elliot... kid you not!
We also picked our class Captains and Lieutenants. Freaking last thing I want to do is be a baby sitter in the academy. A few people nominated me and I got a chance to quickly decline the nomination. My attitute of it is that I have been leading people for a long time. Its something I know better than fire fighting. I am in the fire academy to learn fire fighting, not leadership. So..... I'd rather just be a regular Joe. Nothing snobby about it, just a time and place for it and now is not it.
On another note, our cook is a strange dude. He sounds like that creepy old man off of Family guy. He keeps walking into the commons and talking to us. We have no clue what he is saying and I fear that we just agreed to come over to his house to watch "Rainman".
Haz-mat...............haz-mat
Wow....talk about a dry subject. Eight hours of facts, facts, and more facts. We had a great instructor that was funny and helpful. He is also about as old as g-d, probably could pass for his younger brother. Talks and looks just like Sam Elliot... kid you not!
We also picked our class Captains and Lieutenants. Freaking last thing I want to do is be a baby sitter in the academy. A few people nominated me and I got a chance to quickly decline the nomination. My attitute of it is that I have been leading people for a long time. Its something I know better than fire fighting. I am in the fire academy to learn fire fighting, not leadership. So..... I'd rather just be a regular Joe. Nothing snobby about it, just a time and place for it and now is not it.
On another note, our cook is a strange dude. He sounds like that creepy old man off of Family guy. He keeps walking into the commons and talking to us. We have no clue what he is saying and I fear that we just agreed to come over to his house to watch "Rainman".
Day two
Day Two
Aced this mornings test! Yay
Today, in class, we are going over response and size-up, incident command, and building structures. Interesting stuff and I am picking up a lot of details. Still, overall, eight hours of class is pretty rough on my back side.
I am still getting used to this dorm type sleeping arrangement. At the fire house its just me and the guys. Here is me and 20 ~ 30 people sleeping in a dorm. There has been some pranks but mostly just amateur stuff. Stacking someones stuff on them while they sleep and taking pictures. Shaving cream on the hand, etc.
The computers here are a bit of a challnage. The connection is slow and the web browser keeps crashing. Its frustrating but I am still thankful for what we have.
Aced this mornings test! Yay
Today, in class, we are going over response and size-up, incident command, and building structures. Interesting stuff and I am picking up a lot of details. Still, overall, eight hours of class is pretty rough on my back side.
I am still getting used to this dorm type sleeping arrangement. At the fire house its just me and the guys. Here is me and 20 ~ 30 people sleeping in a dorm. There has been some pranks but mostly just amateur stuff. Stacking someones stuff on them while they sleep and taking pictures. Shaving cream on the hand, etc.
The computers here are a bit of a challnage. The connection is slow and the web browser keeps crashing. Its frustrating but I am still thankful for what we have.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Day One
Day One
Uuurg, almost no sleep.
We are going to have a test every morning that covers 2~4 chapter of the basic fire instructional book. Its one of those "Prove what you know" type of things. I can already tell that all my free time of going to be studying for the test the next day.
aced the test by the way
Tomorrow I have fire communication, basic safety, and some other introductory level testing
Uuurg, almost no sleep.
We are going to have a test every morning that covers 2~4 chapter of the basic fire instructional book. Its one of those "Prove what you know" type of things. I can already tell that all my free time of going to be studying for the test the next day.
aced the test by the way
Tomorrow I have fire communication, basic safety, and some other introductory level testing
Pre Day One
Pre Day One
I left my home in the Texas Hill Country so that I can arrive an hour before the Fire Academy starts in Crowley, Texas. Home of Training Divisions two week boot camp. Something that TD does that no other fire school does (to my knowledge) is the dorm living for two solid weeks. You leave, eat, breath, and sleep "Fire House". From 6am (most often earlier) to 8pm (most often later) you are full on Fire House mode. Even when we sleep we have to be ready for fire drills.
So anyways, I made a quick introduction with the fire instructors and then slipped up to the dorm room to pick out a kick arse bunk. Which I did, thanks to the advice of previous students. I got setup and then came the Canadians....wow, holy crap! My class is 3/4 Canuk!
They look normal enough... no 6th finger or webbed toes. Although they did dress like they just finished a Hollywood western marathon. But every freaking word out of their mouth is "Eh" or pronounced "A". I worked with Canadians before and they never said "Eh" this much.
The instructors got us gathered up and assembled in the class room. Gave us our orientation, and then dismissed us for dinner. This is were I met Mr. Glenn, the food preparer. The poor guy is pushing 60, can't understand a damn word he says, and cooks everything in the microwave on the nuclear hot setting for 30 minutes. I swear he actually made green beans hard and turned our dinner rolls into solid state ammunition for the Army's new mass rail gun. He tries and that's what matters I suppose. I like him but not the food so much, two weeks to go!
Later that night..... k, no one has done their chores. I proceed to mop, scrub the toilets, wipe the mirrors and counters, etc etc. Its about 11:30 pm now I am all geared up. Can't sleep.
1:20 am - Just finish my third episode of DEA enforcement on TruTV. I am going to try and sleep
*All academy posts have been published after the academy due to technical problems with the academy computers.
I left my home in the Texas Hill Country so that I can arrive an hour before the Fire Academy starts in Crowley, Texas. Home of Training Divisions two week boot camp. Something that TD does that no other fire school does (to my knowledge) is the dorm living for two solid weeks. You leave, eat, breath, and sleep "Fire House". From 6am (most often earlier) to 8pm (most often later) you are full on Fire House mode. Even when we sleep we have to be ready for fire drills.
So anyways, I made a quick introduction with the fire instructors and then slipped up to the dorm room to pick out a kick arse bunk. Which I did, thanks to the advice of previous students. I got setup and then came the Canadians....wow, holy crap! My class is 3/4 Canuk!
They look normal enough... no 6th finger or webbed toes. Although they did dress like they just finished a Hollywood western marathon. But every freaking word out of their mouth is "Eh" or pronounced "A". I worked with Canadians before and they never said "Eh" this much.
The instructors got us gathered up and assembled in the class room. Gave us our orientation, and then dismissed us for dinner. This is were I met Mr. Glenn, the food preparer. The poor guy is pushing 60, can't understand a damn word he says, and cooks everything in the microwave on the nuclear hot setting for 30 minutes. I swear he actually made green beans hard and turned our dinner rolls into solid state ammunition for the Army's new mass rail gun. He tries and that's what matters I suppose. I like him but not the food so much, two weeks to go!
Later that night..... k, no one has done their chores. I proceed to mop, scrub the toilets, wipe the mirrors and counters, etc etc. Its about 11:30 pm now I am all geared up. Can't sleep.
1:20 am - Just finish my third episode of DEA enforcement on TruTV. I am going to try and sleep
*All academy posts have been published after the academy due to technical problems with the academy computers.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
By the way
Hey, by the way, I will get back to my normal insightful posting and ground breaking research into matters of no measurable significance here soon. I am SO very close to finishing the fire academy and it has all my time at the moment. Give me about another week and I'll be back to talking with you folks again
Rain, Rain, please stay!
Well shoot! We went about two years under a heavy drought down here in Texas. Its a dry heat so its bearable but dang! I haven't been able to burn any brush for just about two years straight now. So long that I totally forgot that I have brush to burn. It just sits there at the back of my property breeding mosquitoes and what not.
Its been so dry that I hear lakes like Lake Travis, Inks Lake, and the such are so low that boat ramps are being closed and houses there were once lake front property are now distant lake view houses. Freaky.
Well, now for just about the last three weeks or so its been rain just about every other day. Grass that I never knew I had is growing so fast that its knee high now. My dead garden is popping out tomatoes, zucchini, chard, beans, peas, etc. Also found out that my shed has a major leak in the roof.
Plus my entire district is lighting up like crazy. It was a slow summer with maybe one or two tones a day. Now its like seven or eight. Its fun! I love the rain!
Its been so dry that I hear lakes like Lake Travis, Inks Lake, and the such are so low that boat ramps are being closed and houses there were once lake front property are now distant lake view houses. Freaky.
Well, now for just about the last three weeks or so its been rain just about every other day. Grass that I never knew I had is growing so fast that its knee high now. My dead garden is popping out tomatoes, zucchini, chard, beans, peas, etc. Also found out that my shed has a major leak in the roof.
Plus my entire district is lighting up like crazy. It was a slow summer with maybe one or two tones a day. Now its like seven or eight. Its fun! I love the rain!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Gourd news!
I took my National Registry exam for my EMT-B[asic] license and passed on the first try! So far, and I do call out so far, emergency medical care is coming quickly to me. I accredit some of that to my past life as a high level computer solutions agent for a big mongoloid computer company.
What I mean is that differential "trouble shooting" is a transferable skill. Now computers and people are the same as night and day but the method of find a problem with the two is the same. So maybe that is the reason why it is so easy..... so far.
Anywho! I passed on the first try! Now its on to my counties operational guidelines test so I can become approved by my counties medical director. I am also finishing my fire academy!
What I mean is that differential "trouble shooting" is a transferable skill. Now computers and people are the same as night and day but the method of find a problem with the two is the same. So maybe that is the reason why it is so easy..... so far.
Anywho! I passed on the first try! Now its on to my counties operational guidelines test so I can become approved by my counties medical director. I am also finishing my fire academy!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
UT vs TT
Been slow smoking four racks of ribs for the last six hours, wife made some home made tater' salad, got a big case of shiner in the fridge, daughter is in her little UT cheerleader costume ... bring on the game!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Dooms day scenarios
My instructors at my EMT school called our Thursday class, the stress class. The mentioned that they would place in hard situation and see how we reacted.
The scenarios consisted of
That after noon the instructors decided to give us "the worst of the worst" with yours truly being elected by the class to go first.
When we arrived at the incident location, 4 workers had fallen through the rafters of a housing construction work site. No sooner had I set a staging zone for my crew that they took off in four different directions. As I tried my quickest to triage the patients (2 two red, one yellow, and one green) I was also trying to get them to focus on what I was saying. I would get them collected on a red patient and as soon as I turned my head they would head straight to the patient making the most noise (my green patient, last priority).
To make matters worse, I radioed into our mock medical command asking for and getting approved for a mass causality incident but NO back up resources available except for medivac. No Police, Fire Department, or additional EMS. I'll take what I can get and frankly two choppers would be a big help getting my patients out since I am short a method of transport here.
So there are my people, back on the green patient. I look back to my two reds and notice that they are missing. That's when the instructor tells me they died falling through the roof and are now lying on the bottom of the building. K, screw'em. Can't save a dead person
So I instruct my people to work on our yellow patient. Problem is that they are spending ten minutes just trying to get my last priority patient on a back board. Which is right about the time my yellow patient goes into neurogenic shock. After several commands to get the green patient off the back board and have him walk out (cause he can) my guys are still freaking out and working on the back board. I am holding c-spine on my yellow patient because my crew got tunnel vision and neglected him. Another ten minutes of commands to get the g-d damn back board over to our now red (high priority patient) and the instructor tells me that he is also dead.
Faaaaaawk!. ok. So they still have not put the straps on the now only living patient. I walk over, strap him up and get him out of the rafters all in 30 seconds time. Finally something going somewhat right. I then notice that all of our gear is missing. The instructors are laughing saying that our gear was stolen. F'ers
We get the patient to our ambulance when medical command radio's for medivac arrival. Yes! We get a quick landing zone setup and signal for a landing. We then give the briefing and load the patient onto our make believe chopper.
The pilot asks for an all clear to take-off. I look around for any loose debris and noticed that our medical gear has show back up. I whip around to give a negative on an all clear when I see one of my screw giving a thumbs up. I could only close my eyes as the instructor took a blanket laying on the ground and threw it into the rotors and notified us that the pilot, co-pilot, crew, patient, by-standards, me and my crew had all died in a horrible crash.
my mind was numb
The only good news is that they told me that this scenario is specifically setup to have an 80% causality rate. It's basically a doomsday scenario to see how we handle the stress of something like this. I don't think they have managed to ever see an incident commander manage to get everyone killed though.......... I can still hear them screaming *shutter*
The scenarios consisted of
- An EMT screw with one student as the incident commander, aka head EMT.
- The stages of responding to an incident
- The patient
- Care of the patient
- Packaging and transport
That after noon the instructors decided to give us "the worst of the worst" with yours truly being elected by the class to go first.
When we arrived at the incident location, 4 workers had fallen through the rafters of a housing construction work site. No sooner had I set a staging zone for my crew that they took off in four different directions. As I tried my quickest to triage the patients (2 two red, one yellow, and one green) I was also trying to get them to focus on what I was saying. I would get them collected on a red patient and as soon as I turned my head they would head straight to the patient making the most noise (my green patient, last priority).
To make matters worse, I radioed into our mock medical command asking for and getting approved for a mass causality incident but NO back up resources available except for medivac. No Police, Fire Department, or additional EMS. I'll take what I can get and frankly two choppers would be a big help getting my patients out since I am short a method of transport here.
So there are my people, back on the green patient. I look back to my two reds and notice that they are missing. That's when the instructor tells me they died falling through the roof and are now lying on the bottom of the building. K, screw'em. Can't save a dead person
So I instruct my people to work on our yellow patient. Problem is that they are spending ten minutes just trying to get my last priority patient on a back board. Which is right about the time my yellow patient goes into neurogenic shock. After several commands to get the green patient off the back board and have him walk out (cause he can) my guys are still freaking out and working on the back board. I am holding c-spine on my yellow patient because my crew got tunnel vision and neglected him. Another ten minutes of commands to get the g-d damn back board over to our now red (high priority patient) and the instructor tells me that he is also dead.
Faaaaaawk!. ok. So they still have not put the straps on the now only living patient. I walk over, strap him up and get him out of the rafters all in 30 seconds time. Finally something going somewhat right. I then notice that all of our gear is missing. The instructors are laughing saying that our gear was stolen. F'ers
We get the patient to our ambulance when medical command radio's for medivac arrival. Yes! We get a quick landing zone setup and signal for a landing. We then give the briefing and load the patient onto our make believe chopper.
The pilot asks for an all clear to take-off. I look around for any loose debris and noticed that our medical gear has show back up. I whip around to give a negative on an all clear when I see one of my screw giving a thumbs up. I could only close my eyes as the instructor took a blanket laying on the ground and threw it into the rotors and notified us that the pilot, co-pilot, crew, patient, by-standards, me and my crew had all died in a horrible crash.
my mind was numb
The only good news is that they told me that this scenario is specifically setup to have an 80% causality rate. It's basically a doomsday scenario to see how we handle the stress of something like this. I don't think they have managed to ever see an incident commander manage to get everyone killed though.......... I can still hear them screaming *shutter*
Friday, September 11, 2009
9/11
I just got back from Dallas (see last post) but I did make time, like I had to had my arm twisted or something, to visit my fire family.
Its a normal day for fire fighters. A normal day to remember our pledge and a normal day to remember the standard of bravery set by those eight years ago.
Every fire fighter was at work, just like normal. We are there rain or shine, ready to save your life by risking ours.
I hear some law makers declared this a state holiday for fire fighters. They say we can legitimately take off. I think everyone can appreciate that, its a nice sentiment. I guess if they knew us better they would know that we would never dream of taking off.
Its a normal day for fire fighters. A normal day to remember our pledge and a normal day to remember the standard of bravery set by those eight years ago.
Every fire fighter was at work, just like normal. We are there rain or shine, ready to save your life by risking ours.
I hear some law makers declared this a state holiday for fire fighters. They say we can legitimately take off. I think everyone can appreciate that, its a nice sentiment. I guess if they knew us better they would know that we would never dream of taking off.
Back!
Hey everyone! I am back from EMT school! I went to go get my EMT-B, aka Basic.
A basic EMT, here in Texas, is trained to aid in basic type rescue stuff. Things like eye injuries, open wounds, partial to full avulsion, evisceration, giving birth, special needs patients, CPR, and other stuff. I make it sound kind of easy, and it is, but the topics are not so generalized and of course they are more detailed.
I went to a school called Training Division. Its basically an on-line school with a one week "boot camp". I normally loath such "easy routes" in the fire service. Do keep in mind that I have been "doing" the job for six months now. Most of this stuff I learned in the field and up close and personal. Other wise I would strongly recommend that an individual attend a traditional education center for their EMT-B.
So anywho this fits my needs to just pass the damn national test and get on with my life. Its jumping through hoops and any FF can understand that.
So did I pass my school? G-d damn right I did! Now I just need to take my national exam on Monday, wait until they tell me I passed, then give the State of Texas their blood money to get my Texas certification, and then study and pass my counties S.O.G.'s
I'll be done long before September ends.
Anyways, I'm back!
A basic EMT, here in Texas, is trained to aid in basic type rescue stuff. Things like eye injuries, open wounds, partial to full avulsion, evisceration, giving birth, special needs patients, CPR, and other stuff. I make it sound kind of easy, and it is, but the topics are not so generalized and of course they are more detailed.
I went to a school called Training Division. Its basically an on-line school with a one week "boot camp". I normally loath such "easy routes" in the fire service. Do keep in mind that I have been "doing" the job for six months now. Most of this stuff I learned in the field and up close and personal. Other wise I would strongly recommend that an individual attend a traditional education center for their EMT-B.
So anywho this fits my needs to just pass the damn national test and get on with my life. Its jumping through hoops and any FF can understand that.
So did I pass my school? G-d damn right I did! Now I just need to take my national exam on Monday, wait until they tell me I passed, then give the State of Texas their blood money to get my Texas certification, and then study and pass my counties S.O.G.'s
I'll be done long before September ends.
Anyways, I'm back!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Ted Kennedy
Ted Kennedy died...
I heard his last move "Malibu's Most Wanted" was a flop so maybe that is suspect into his sudden and untimely death. I did like his candid camera show though....
I heard his last move "Malibu's Most Wanted" was a flop so maybe that is suspect into his sudden and untimely death. I did like his candid camera show though....
Monday, August 24, 2009
Its was spider-man in the end
I haven't been blogging lately because my ex-wife is pulling even more crap with me. Its not bad enough that she cheated on me, screws me out of child support, and keeps me from seeing my son. As of lately she no longer wants to meet "half way" which was actually 3/4 to her house. Now she is demanding I meet her at her house 56 miles away all because I didn't say "hi" to her one day and I don't call to see how she is doing.
Weird bizarre shit...like I give a fuck how she is doing. I just care that my son is ok. She could have a knife in her skull and I wouldn't be phased by that. Well, I mean I might if I had medical gloves on me thus making me obligated under Texas law to render aid as a first responder.
So she is using the law to punish me because she got her feelings hurt, or something. I don't know what to make of this but I have spent the last week calling lawyers and getting legal advise. Much to say, I've been bummed out. I've been dragging as around the house, dishes are pilling up, wife is wondering when I am going to get off my ass and clean, and I am sitting here wishing that I could fast forward to my sons 18th birthday.
So I am shifting through my e-mail when I see this. Yeah.... it cheered me up. I laughed..... I snorted a little. I even laughed out loud. Yes, truly... I LOL'ed :P
In the end, it was Spider-man that made me laugh.
Weird bizarre shit...like I give a fuck how she is doing. I just care that my son is ok. She could have a knife in her skull and I wouldn't be phased by that. Well, I mean I might if I had medical gloves on me thus making me obligated under Texas law to render aid as a first responder.
So she is using the law to punish me because she got her feelings hurt, or something. I don't know what to make of this but I have spent the last week calling lawyers and getting legal advise. Much to say, I've been bummed out. I've been dragging as around the house, dishes are pilling up, wife is wondering when I am going to get off my ass and clean, and I am sitting here wishing that I could fast forward to my sons 18th birthday.
So I am shifting through my e-mail when I see this. Yeah.... it cheered me up. I laughed..... I snorted a little. I even laughed out loud. Yes, truly... I LOL'ed :PIn the end, it was Spider-man that made me laugh.
Friday, August 14, 2009
You mother F'er
I had a totally different post in mind. I had it written and had some of the finishing edits coming into place when my wife told me about the fire chief at the Sam Bass Fire Department.
Cuse' me chief but little kids look up to us as heros. Little kids, my children even, hop on to my engine and have their minds tickled with energy and imagination I can only be in awe of. And you...someone I take orders from would do this....THIS... of all things! The red line will not cover you here. You, sir, are ....... *sigh*
I need to hold back and wait for a jury.
The Hill Country Blogger is *Fuming fucking mad*
Cuse' me chief but little kids look up to us as heros. Little kids, my children even, hop on to my engine and have their minds tickled with energy and imagination I can only be in awe of. And you...someone I take orders from would do this....THIS... of all things! The red line will not cover you here. You, sir, are ....... *sigh*
I need to hold back and wait for a jury.
The Hill Country Blogger is *Fuming fucking mad*
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Justified!
Remember me bitching about turning 30? That it is death?
"At age 30, patients begin to loose 1% every year of their organ function" - from my EMT-B study guide.
Death, long slow death, starts at 30! I freaking told you! I got it, I have old peoples disease! Now I am going to smell funny and shit my pants every other day.
BAH!
Now if you excuse me I need to go to my comfy chair and throw a blanket over my legs as I review the T.V. guide and yell at the kids through the window.
"At age 30, patients begin to loose 1% every year of their organ function" - from my EMT-B study guide.
Death, long slow death, starts at 30! I freaking told you! I got it, I have old peoples disease! Now I am going to smell funny and shit my pants every other day.
BAH!
Now if you excuse me I need to go to my comfy chair and throw a blanket over my legs as I review the T.V. guide and yell at the kids through the window.
Big ba da BOOM!
Word has it that the guy on top uses a lighter to look down into the baffle to check the level of the gasoline. Just so you know, gasoline in its liquid form is not combustible. Gasoline in its gas form IS combustible. If you didn't know that or some reason work for the SHELL GASOLINE company then now you know.
Testie
I think I mentioned this before, I am finishing my tests for my EMT-B license. I seem to do very well when it comes to special age groups (children and old people). I also seemed to do surprisingly well on the Obstetric and Gynecologic emergencies.
Maybe I do know my way around a vagina..... who knew?
Maybe I do know my way around a vagina..... who knew?
Monday, August 10, 2009
My other truck is a ...
I have the pleasure of driving my little convertible. I also have a truck for hauling. These long and uncluttered country roads are great for taking the top down and just having some "me" time. And of course, being in the country, a truck is a must.
However, the third vehicle I drive is big, red, shiny, and makes lots of g-d damn noise. Yup, my other truck is a fire truck!
I visited the department of public [not] safety a few weeks ago and took my written exam in about ten minutes. PASSED with a 100%. You don't get anything special for that...maybe bragging rights but in the face of everything else I am learning or have to learn its pretty darn insignificant.
A month later my asst. chief pushed my ass into the tanker and took me back for my driving. I got to say, I really like my asst. chief. I got to talk to him more than I usually get to do. He spent the ENTIRE time talking about tanker safety and how to pass the test the first time.
A hour later and the inspector hands me my results (which is against policy I later find out). I passed with flying colors. I am all snithz and wiggles and have a big silly grin for my NEW class B licsense photo.
So if you ever see some Texas boy driving a fire engine with a big grin on his face then that's probablly me.
However, the third vehicle I drive is big, red, shiny, and makes lots of g-d damn noise. Yup, my other truck is a fire truck!
I visited the department of public [not] safety a few weeks ago and took my written exam in about ten minutes. PASSED with a 100%. You don't get anything special for that...maybe bragging rights but in the face of everything else I am learning or have to learn its pretty darn insignificant.
A month later my asst. chief pushed my ass into the tanker and took me back for my driving. I got to say, I really like my asst. chief. I got to talk to him more than I usually get to do. He spent the ENTIRE time talking about tanker safety and how to pass the test the first time.
A hour later and the inspector hands me my results (which is against policy I later find out). I passed with flying colors. I am all snithz and wiggles and have a big silly grin for my NEW class B licsense photo.
So if you ever see some Texas boy driving a fire engine with a big grin on his face then that's probablly me.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Butt its a martini
Today is freaking exhausting! I am preparing for my EMT-B class, most fire fighters are also first responders. I am cramming in all my tests that I should have done a month ago.
Cheers to procrastination!
My mind is numb and for the first time in months I am hitting the hard liqueur. Wait, wait...I should preface that by saying I took a shower a few minutes ago. Its summer, my home office is at the corner of the house that gets the most sun light. Goes to figure, I feel like a greased up ass hole at rodeo night.
So yeah, there I am with a towel wrapped around me walking into the kitchen.
"Four parts gin, two parts vermouth, one part olive juice, add some ice....and shake"
3..2..1..exposure! I managed to catch the towel before more than my martini was shaking in the kitchen. However my son managed to get a view of my rear
"Oh gross! I could have done with out that!"
I was a little stunned. He is growing up so fast and his sense of sarcasm is maturing so fast.....that little son of a bitch.
Bright side: I won't care in about ten minutes
Cheers to procrastination!
My mind is numb and for the first time in months I am hitting the hard liqueur. Wait, wait...I should preface that by saying I took a shower a few minutes ago. Its summer, my home office is at the corner of the house that gets the most sun light. Goes to figure, I feel like a greased up ass hole at rodeo night.
So yeah, there I am with a towel wrapped around me walking into the kitchen.
"Four parts gin, two parts vermouth, one part olive juice, add some ice....and shake"
3..2..1..exposure! I managed to catch the towel before more than my martini was shaking in the kitchen. However my son managed to get a view of my rear
"Oh gross! I could have done with out that!"
I was a little stunned. He is growing up so fast and his sense of sarcasm is maturing so fast.....that little son of a bitch.
Bright side: I won't care in about ten minutes
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Horrible Day
"I AM YOUR MOTHERFUCKING JESUS!" I screamed.
It's 104, my car is sitting in some super hot ass parking lot, people are looking at me and I am hungry. Why might you ask? A quick errand. natch!
My printer ran out of ink and I need to run by a government office to get my immunization records. On my way out my wife asks if I can get her meds from the clinic. Ok, be back in an hour....tops.
five hours later its boiling ass hot and my car is over heating. I am having to let my car cool down for half and hour before I can drive. I can get maybe a mile before I have to pull over and let my car cool down. But I do manage to get to a parts store.
One thermostat later and an hour cool down and I am at a mechanic shop. All I need is for him to drain my radiator and let me (or him) put in the new thermostat.
clack.....clack....clack... ok sir, that will be $98 for labor.
No. The words I had for him were not nice. I can summarize by saying that centered around him being a crook and a dirty bastard for taking advantage of someone else's emergency. Well...and that I can rent a car dolly for 1/3 of that price, take it home, and actually do a good job as apposed to what he wanted to do.
[Oh, by the way, he had a "labor breakdown" sheet right behind him. One hours work is $8.91]
I'mmmmmmm fairly certain we will never be friends. And I think one lady followed me out the door and when somewhere else for her state inspection. And for you readers, it was a Meinakie shop.
Flash forward two hours and my wife is at the U-Haul place with the truck.
For a day that was suppose to be a quick errand I ended up shelling out way more money then I should have. Have got a super swell sun burn. AND have a nice bit of auto work to do tomorrow.
It's 104, my car is sitting in some super hot ass parking lot, people are looking at me and I am hungry. Why might you ask? A quick errand. natch!
My printer ran out of ink and I need to run by a government office to get my immunization records. On my way out my wife asks if I can get her meds from the clinic. Ok, be back in an hour....tops.
five hours later its boiling ass hot and my car is over heating. I am having to let my car cool down for half and hour before I can drive. I can get maybe a mile before I have to pull over and let my car cool down. But I do manage to get to a parts store.
One thermostat later and an hour cool down and I am at a mechanic shop. All I need is for him to drain my radiator and let me (or him) put in the new thermostat.
clack.....clack....clack... ok sir, that will be $98 for labor.
No. The words I had for him were not nice. I can summarize by saying that centered around him being a crook and a dirty bastard for taking advantage of someone else's emergency. Well...and that I can rent a car dolly for 1/3 of that price, take it home, and actually do a good job as apposed to what he wanted to do.
[Oh, by the way, he had a "labor breakdown" sheet right behind him. One hours work is $8.91]
I'mmmmmmm fairly certain we will never be friends. And I think one lady followed me out the door and when somewhere else for her state inspection. And for you readers, it was a Meinakie shop.
Flash forward two hours and my wife is at the U-Haul place with the truck.
For a day that was suppose to be a quick errand I ended up shelling out way more money then I should have. Have got a super swell sun burn. AND have a nice bit of auto work to do tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Sum dude
Odd things happen at night. Usually its the meth heads OD'ing and we have to cart them off to the county freezer while their "friends" have an acute emotional attack. Proceeded by complete denial when L.E.O starts asking them questions. Now I totally see where Law Dog and A.D. get their "Some Dude" statement.
LEO: So your friend just died of an OD of methamphetamine. Care to tell me why you have meth.
Suspect: Naw naw, Off-sa. Itant my mephem....merth...met...meth!
LEO: This is your house, its on your table, you reek of it, your breath reeks of it, and your showing all the signs of being under the influence.
Suspect: Naw naw, tats justb a cawntact high.
LEO: Your friend just died from it. Sure you don't want to come clean?
Suspect: Tant mine, I dawnt know tat bitch. She tust showed up and sarted usen! I hate tat bitch, shes ta one tat broke up with me. Iant never been cheaten!
LEO: k, wtf, but ok. put your hands behind your head and face the wall
And you can figure out what happens when a 60 pound hill billy runs out the door right into the 250 pound sheriff that is just arriving. Then attending to said hillbilly who is now covered with 13 day old body grease, dirt, sweat, and blood is not my ideal call.......at 3:30 in the morning.
LEO: So your friend just died of an OD of methamphetamine. Care to tell me why you have meth.
Suspect: Naw naw, Off-sa. Itant my mephem....merth...met...meth!
LEO: This is your house, its on your table, you reek of it, your breath reeks of it, and your showing all the signs of being under the influence.
Suspect: Naw naw, tats justb a cawntact high.
LEO: Your friend just died from it. Sure you don't want to come clean?
Suspect: Tant mine, I dawnt know tat bitch. She tust showed up and sarted usen! I hate tat bitch, shes ta one tat broke up with me. Iant never been cheaten!
LEO: k, wtf, but ok. put your hands behind your head and face the wall
And you can figure out what happens when a 60 pound hill billy runs out the door right into the 250 pound sheriff that is just arriving. Then attending to said hillbilly who is now covered with 13 day old body grease, dirt, sweat, and blood is not my ideal call.......at 3:30 in the morning.
LODD 8/5/2009
Shawn Blazer
Scott Charlson
Edrik Gomez
Matthew Hammer
James Ramage
Steven Renno
Bryan Rich
Roark Schwanenberg
David Steele
Remember these heros
Scott Charlson
Edrik Gomez
Matthew Hammer
James Ramage
Steven Renno
Bryan Rich
Roark Schwanenberg
David Steele
Remember these heros
Mydixadrill
Tylenol is acetaminophen, Aleve is naproxen, Amoxil is amoxicillin, Advil is ibuprofen, and so on.
The FDA has been looking for a generic name for Viagra, and announced today that they have settled on mycoxafailin.
Names also considered were: mycoxafloppin, mydixadrupin and mydixarizin and my personal favorite, mydixadrill.
The FDA has been looking for a generic name for Viagra, and announced today that they have settled on mycoxafailin.
Names also considered were: mycoxafloppin, mydixadrupin and mydixarizin and my personal favorite, mydixadrill.
Internet Exlorer
Internet Explorer fucking sucks. I mean is reeeeeeeally fucking sucks. So fucking bad that 1 out of 2 times is fucking locks up hard than a tranny getting kicked in the nuts. Seriously! What the fuck?!
By the way, I am posting from FIREFOX. Cause it doesn't crash every fucking half second.
By the way, I am posting from FIREFOX. Cause it doesn't crash every fucking half second.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Some new blong links
I added some new blog links. Mostly female fire fighters.
I have a great deal of respect for the true female FF's. They work their asses off to match or exceed the abilities of their male counterparts, don't ask for "special" treatment, and don't ask to change the rules just for them....well other than their own bathroom. Not only do they have that but they also have old timers and jackasses that just plain don't want them in the service.
So you have that.... THEN you also have females that come in and make it harder on the ones that work hard and play hard. You got the femi-nazies who want to bust balls and get their NOW girlscout badge. The whiners who want a whole different play book just for them....like dying in a fire is somehow gender bias? And then the Firehouse fucks who joined just so they can fuck every fire fighter in the house.
These ladies of the Maltese cross have everything a man has to face, plus the BS politics, and even some of their own gender ready to screw their game. They take it like a man and then some....
My helmet is tipped to you ladies and your blog link is added to the blog list. I hope everyone gets to check their blogs out. Good stuff!
I have a great deal of respect for the true female FF's. They work their asses off to match or exceed the abilities of their male counterparts, don't ask for "special" treatment, and don't ask to change the rules just for them....well other than their own bathroom. Not only do they have that but they also have old timers and jackasses that just plain don't want them in the service.
So you have that.... THEN you also have females that come in and make it harder on the ones that work hard and play hard. You got the femi-nazies who want to bust balls and get their NOW girlscout badge. The whiners who want a whole different play book just for them....like dying in a fire is somehow gender bias? And then the Firehouse fucks who joined just so they can fuck every fire fighter in the house.
These ladies of the Maltese cross have everything a man has to face, plus the BS politics, and even some of their own gender ready to screw their game. They take it like a man and then some....
My helmet is tipped to you ladies and your blog link is added to the blog list. I hope everyone gets to check their blogs out. Good stuff!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Raaaawr
I just caught some pics of Jessica Biel in a strip dance her up coming movie "Powder blue" or something. Yes, I got to see JB boobies!
Is it possible to have a pre-mature for a pre-release? I think I just did....
Is it possible to have a pre-mature for a pre-release? I think I just did....
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Second day on the job
We had a slew of medical calls, nothing I can talk about of course. We also had a grass fire that turned out to be a false alarm. I'm not sure what I can talk about when we get a tone but I'll get that all sorted.
Back at the station we did some landscaping. Mowing, putting rock circles around the trees, clearing brush. Eventually we want to get some compost and cedar mulch to build around the trees. A few benches wouldn't hurt either as our tree clusters make for perfect shade areas. I brought up the idea of putting a park on the nine acres the FD has. The LT. very much liked that idea.
Best part of my day was the bon-fire! A crew full of fire fighters, 5 gallons of fuel, and two tries and they cannot get a fire going. Mind you we have had two solid weeks of rain and only a day and a half of sunshine. So to their credit the wood was still damp as well as the ground.
I walk up and boyscout a roaring bon-fire. All with a hand full of cedar bark, some twigs, and a lighter. Score one for the probie!
I also introduced Disc Golf to the guys. Bunch of grown men having a great time throwing the disc around. Score two!
Good day and the Lt. wants me on his shift. :)
Back at the station we did some landscaping. Mowing, putting rock circles around the trees, clearing brush. Eventually we want to get some compost and cedar mulch to build around the trees. A few benches wouldn't hurt either as our tree clusters make for perfect shade areas. I brought up the idea of putting a park on the nine acres the FD has. The LT. very much liked that idea.
Best part of my day was the bon-fire! A crew full of fire fighters, 5 gallons of fuel, and two tries and they cannot get a fire going. Mind you we have had two solid weeks of rain and only a day and a half of sunshine. So to their credit the wood was still damp as well as the ground.
I walk up and boyscout a roaring bon-fire. All with a hand full of cedar bark, some twigs, and a lighter. Score one for the probie!
I also introduced Disc Golf to the guys. Bunch of grown men having a great time throwing the disc around. Score two!
Good day and the Lt. wants me on his shift. :)
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Swine Flu
It's the latest thing ... mmmmmm-kaaay!
While the BBC is hitting the funnies over the zombies strains of the swine flu (Thanks for the link AD), you would be good to remember a nice variant of facts about the swine flu.
1) It's the flu, influenza, the same stuff you get every year after you flu shot and vow never to get the flue shot again but you do anyways because you cave into the hysteria of the press *deep breath* ... those run on sentences get me every time.
2) It's a respiratory transmitted virus. I might be wrong about this but the life span of the virus once it leaves its temperature range is 1 and 1/2 seconds. Meaning you pretty much have to be breathing the same air as the infected.
3) "The flu" or the flu season we all forget about until the press starts the hype machine kills *36,000 people on average a year ... which goes largely unreported. So far I think A person has died in the United States... thank you proper hygiene!
If you want some preventive care during this "outbreak". Try this: wash your hands, don't pick your nose, don't rub yours eyes without washing your hands first. And stop licking people...that has sh*t has GOT to stop. It's f'ing gross and I am tired of it. I swear if another person comes up and says "Hey, your the Hill Country Blogger" and licks me....I'm going to snap. I swear to g-d I am going to snap.
OH, one last thing. If you have 1) Ear and eye aches, Fever, Vomiting, Sore throat, and an uncontrollable desire to roll around in the mud then you have the swine flu.
"Questions and Answers Regarding Estimating Deaths from Influenza in the United States", CDC Website March 12th 2009, http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/us_flu-related_deaths.htm
While the BBC is hitting the funnies over the zombies strains of the swine flu (Thanks for the link AD), you would be good to remember a nice variant of facts about the swine flu.
1) It's the flu, influenza, the same stuff you get every year after you flu shot and vow never to get the flue shot again but you do anyways because you cave into the hysteria of the press *deep breath* ... those run on sentences get me every time.
2) It's a respiratory transmitted virus. I might be wrong about this but the life span of the virus once it leaves its temperature range is 1 and 1/2 seconds. Meaning you pretty much have to be breathing the same air as the infected.
3) "The flu" or the flu season we all forget about until the press starts the hype machine kills *36,000 people on average a year ... which goes largely unreported. So far I think A person has died in the United States... thank you proper hygiene!
If you want some preventive care during this "outbreak". Try this: wash your hands, don't pick your nose, don't rub yours eyes without washing your hands first. And stop licking people...that has sh*t has GOT to stop. It's f'ing gross and I am tired of it. I swear if another person comes up and says "Hey, your the Hill Country Blogger" and licks me....I'm going to snap. I swear to g-d I am going to snap.
OH, one last thing. If you have 1) Ear and eye aches, Fever, Vomiting, Sore throat, and an uncontrollable desire to roll around in the mud then you have the swine flu.
"Questions and Answers Regarding Estimating Deaths from Influenza in the United States", CDC Website March 12th 2009, http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/us_flu-related_deaths.htm
First semi-full shift on the job
Yesterday was my "first" day responding to calls as a Fire Fighter! The guys at the house are great! So far none of them have given me any crap for being the new guy and they spend a great amount of their time answering all of my questions, trying to find new questions for me, giving me repeated runs downs of the apparatus and much more.
Another cool thing was the Lt. had me perform repeated exercises in getting into my bunker gear, the fire fighter suits you see on T.V.. The average for an experienced Fire Fighter is just under one minute (Pants and boots, cowl, jacket, SCBA mask, SCBA tank, helmet, and gloves). There is a certain way it all goes on and this stuff is like putting on several thick quilts. Arm reach is significantly reduced! When I was done I had it down to a minute and 30 seconds and now I am much more confident in my ability to at least get going on the truck.
Another cool thing was the Lt. had me perform repeated exercises in getting into my bunker gear, the fire fighter suits you see on T.V.. The average for an experienced Fire Fighter is just under one minute (Pants and boots, cowl, jacket, SCBA mask, SCBA tank, helmet, and gloves). There is a certain way it all goes on and this stuff is like putting on several thick quilts. Arm reach is significantly reduced! When I was done I had it down to a minute and 30 seconds and now I am much more confident in my ability to at least get going on the truck.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
I'm a Fire Fighter
I y'am I y'am a fire fighter Sam I am...
That is kind of the reason for my lack of posting. Been kind of busy learning the hooks and ladders. Today was getting my CPR cert. and learning about the trucks and such. In the mean time, check out this cute little video
That is kind of the reason for my lack of posting. Been kind of busy learning the hooks and ladders. Today was getting my CPR cert. and learning about the trucks and such. In the mean time, check out this cute little video
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Economics in the nude
Here's a good 30 minute run down of current economics. For those of you that know me personally and talk to me about this stuff...this is a good primer of what I ramble about. Odds are you tune out anyways and this is a total waste of my time :P
Thursday, April 23, 2009
ABCDEFG.....
I'm still here. Had computer problems and just now getting back up. I'll start putting up the updates today and stuff
Monday, April 6, 2009
Anyone miss me?
Hey I got laid off...
I won't identify who I worked for, the reason (other than it was do to company down-sizing due to the economic environment), and when. For those of you that know me personally, please keep this information private.
That is all....I am back to writing blogs :)
I won't identify who I worked for, the reason (other than it was do to company down-sizing due to the economic environment), and when. For those of you that know me personally, please keep this information private.
That is all....I am back to writing blogs :)
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The playhouse project part five
So I didn't go to my Wednesday Level One class because of my bum foot. I decided to work on the playhouse after work yesterday. This is the north facing side all fixed up and ready to be painted sometime soon. Puuuurdy!
The window looks a little uneven but that is because I made a rough cut and have not finished my trim cutting. All in time....all in time
The window looks a little uneven but that is because I made a rough cut and have not finished my trim cutting. All in time....all in time
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
This little piggy went... "OH F@#k"
[POST for Wednesday, February 25th, 2009 posted on Thursday, Feb. 26th]
K, so I fractured my wrist back in October. It was broken by one of the female students, now an instructor getting too aggressive and not following instructions. Its ok, she is female and is allowed to do that. It's just the males that are not allowed too. Or so I thought.
So here we are, doing a groin kick defense. Simple.... attacker give a groin kick and defender does the block (with slight redirect). My partner didn't understand "I'm gonna kick you and you do the defend". I went to kick and well.....heh....so did he. I tend to pull back my kicks since this is class... my partner did not. I took the brunt of the kick right in my toes.
For pretty much the entire class my right foot was numb. The last 15 minutes it started throbbing in pain. Let's also add in that my healing fractured wrist was twisted in a choke break practice while right in front of both the owner and the head instructor. Both know my wrist was fractured and both didn't even flinch.
Meh....just venting. I sense that my self-control "issue" is more subjectively evaluated rather than objectively.
ANYWHO! Yeah, my toe is hurting. I going to take tonight off from practice and see if it gets better by Friday.
K, so I fractured my wrist back in October. It was broken by one of the female students, now an instructor getting too aggressive and not following instructions. Its ok, she is female and is allowed to do that. It's just the males that are not allowed too. Or so I thought.
So here we are, doing a groin kick defense. Simple.... attacker give a groin kick and defender does the block (with slight redirect). My partner didn't understand "I'm gonna kick you and you do the defend". I went to kick and well.....heh....so did he. I tend to pull back my kicks since this is class... my partner did not. I took the brunt of the kick right in my toes.
For pretty much the entire class my right foot was numb. The last 15 minutes it started throbbing in pain. Let's also add in that my healing fractured wrist was twisted in a choke break practice while right in front of both the owner and the head instructor. Both know my wrist was fractured and both didn't even flinch.
Meh....just venting. I sense that my self-control "issue" is more subjectively evaluated rather than objectively.
ANYWHO! Yeah, my toe is hurting. I going to take tonight off from practice and see if it gets better by Friday.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Stabbed
[POST for Wednesday, February 18, 2009 posted on Tuesday, Feb. 24th]
I got stabbed last night... over and over and over....and I enjoyed every minute of it. Last night was our last night of knife class at the Krav studio. The lady (meets my policy standard) kicked my butt and stabbed me with the training knife several dozen times. Today I have little black and blue marks all over my abdomen.
Still, I did very well and I know that I would be "above average" in a knife fight. I might want to look into getting a training knife for the house. Would be nice to practice there too.
I got stabbed last night... over and over and over....and I enjoyed every minute of it. Last night was our last night of knife class at the Krav studio. The lady (meets my policy standard) kicked my butt and stabbed me with the training knife several dozen times. Today I have little black and blue marks all over my abdomen.
Still, I did very well and I know that I would be "above average" in a knife fight. I might want to look into getting a training knife for the house. Would be nice to practice there too.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Elitism
[POST for Tuesday, February 17, 2009 posted on Tuesday, Feb. 24th]
Last night was Monday's level one class. If you have been following the drama then you know this is bitter sweet...more on the bitter side. I think my friends are getting a sense of what is going on and asked the owner if they could form a separate group and practice just among level two students. He ok'ed it! This irked the A.I. but.....who cares.
The four of us went outside and practiced everything on the test. We got a feeling of just how far behind we are. Still it was good as we got a feel of our knowledge on the techniques names as well as the associated techniques. Practice makes perfect!
By the way, I started running recently. Well......ok. walking BUT walking quickly. One half mile under my belt
Last night was Monday's level one class. If you have been following the drama then you know this is bitter sweet...more on the bitter side. I think my friends are getting a sense of what is going on and asked the owner if they could form a separate group and practice just among level two students. He ok'ed it! This irked the A.I. but.....who cares.
The four of us went outside and practiced everything on the test. We got a feeling of just how far behind we are. Still it was good as we got a feel of our knowledge on the techniques names as well as the associated techniques. Practice makes perfect!
By the way, I started running recently. Well......ok. walking BUT walking quickly. One half mile under my belt
Monday, February 16, 2009
The playhouse project part four
[POST for Monday, February 16, 2009 posted on Tuesday, Feb. 24th]
Busy day at the office....good thing I worked from home today. Nothing of interest other than another short update on the playhouse project. I managed to get the front finished and still had time to paint it between work and going of the Krav class.
Puuuurdy
Busy day at the office....good thing I worked from home today. Nothing of interest other than another short update on the playhouse project. I managed to get the front finished and still had time to paint it between work and going of the Krav class.Puuuurdy
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The playhouse project part three dot one
[POST for Sunday, February 15, 2009 posted on Tuesday, Feb. 24th]
Lazy day.... painted a little.
Lazy day.... painted a little.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Valentines Day challenged
[POST for Saturday, February 14, 2009 posted on Tuesday, Feb. 17th]
BLAAAARG
I stayed up waaaaaaaay to late (about 3am) playing Warhammer with my video game friends. I missed Krav Maga class, which normally would upset me, but because of recent events I am not really upset about. Meh, moving on.
I screwed Valentines up! For some reason I was under the impression that it was not a big deal. Maybe that's a guy thing or something but I was wrong, totally wrong. Nothing says shame like being one of the twenty guys in the card isle at the grocery store on Valentines day. I would like to note there were 15 women as well so its not totally a gender thing.
For our valentines dinner we went to the ever classy Chili's. We came home and watched 12 monkeys and went to bed before 10pm like old people do.
BTW, 12 monkey's was a terrible movie. I remember it being better but g-d was it awful. So there you go....I am Valentines Day challenged.
BLAAAARG
I stayed up waaaaaaaay to late (about 3am) playing Warhammer with my video game friends. I missed Krav Maga class, which normally would upset me, but because of recent events I am not really upset about. Meh, moving on.
I screwed Valentines up! For some reason I was under the impression that it was not a big deal. Maybe that's a guy thing or something but I was wrong, totally wrong. Nothing says shame like being one of the twenty guys in the card isle at the grocery store on Valentines day. I would like to note there were 15 women as well so its not totally a gender thing.
For our valentines dinner we went to the ever classy Chili's. We came home and watched 12 monkeys and went to bed before 10pm like old people do.
BTW, 12 monkey's was a terrible movie. I remember it being better but g-d was it awful. So there you go....I am Valentines Day challenged.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Policy is working nicely
[POST for Friday, February 13, 2009 posted on Tuesday, Feb. 17th]
I recently wrote how I will not train with the female gender in the level one class at my Krav Maga Studio. In Wednesday class I deliberately picked a male level one student. This student, I feel, is determined enough to learn correctly and shows aptitude for learning.
We went slow so no one got hurt and he likes the style in which I train in. In the past he has sought me out since I am able give him 1 on 1 instruction that is constantly validated from the licensed instructors.
But I still feel a little empty since I look at all the women in the class and see "high risk" above their heads. Not a single one of them know this but what can I do? I'll get past it but discriminating because of race, gender, and such just doesn't sit well with me. If I can't get past it then I just might seek another studio.
Meh...then again I just still might be all emo about this. What do you guys think?
I recently wrote how I will not train with the female gender in the level one class at my Krav Maga Studio. In Wednesday class I deliberately picked a male level one student. This student, I feel, is determined enough to learn correctly and shows aptitude for learning.
We went slow so no one got hurt and he likes the style in which I train in. In the past he has sought me out since I am able give him 1 on 1 instruction that is constantly validated from the licensed instructors.
But I still feel a little empty since I look at all the women in the class and see "high risk" above their heads. Not a single one of them know this but what can I do? I'll get past it but discriminating because of race, gender, and such just doesn't sit well with me. If I can't get past it then I just might seek another studio.
Meh...then again I just still might be all emo about this. What do you guys think?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
More Krav Maga drama
[POST for Thursday, February 12, 2009 posted on Tuesday, Feb. 17th]
In my last post I wrote about an event at my Krav Maga studio that I felt all sides failed on. Regardless of who is right and wrong I still strongly believe in the message of that studio, self-defense and secondarily the self-defense for woman against [or past victims] rape and domestic abuse.
I know I played part in a scenario in which two woman felt unsafe learning Krav Maga. Regardless of my part or portion of blame, I am part of that scenario and I felt it was my obligation to express my apologizes to these two woman.
I did so and they were happy to accept it.
The owner has still not apologized to me
The assisant instructor has not apologized to me. In fact the A.I. is trying to go back to our jovial relationship.
I also get the sense that I am being watched closer than the rest of the students preparting for this belt test.
In my last post I wrote about an event at my Krav Maga studio that I felt all sides failed on. Regardless of who is right and wrong I still strongly believe in the message of that studio, self-defense and secondarily the self-defense for woman against [or past victims] rape and domestic abuse.
I know I played part in a scenario in which two woman felt unsafe learning Krav Maga. Regardless of my part or portion of blame, I am part of that scenario and I felt it was my obligation to express my apologizes to these two woman.
I did so and they were happy to accept it.
The owner has still not apologized to me
The assisant instructor has not apologized to me. In fact the A.I. is trying to go back to our jovial relationship.
I also get the sense that I am being watched closer than the rest of the students preparting for this belt test.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Taking it on the chin
As a premise, I am training for my orange belt (aka level two test). I attend level one/two class as I work towards perfecting my level one techniques as I also become proficient at my level two techniques. Last Wednesday my training partner for the night and I teamed up with two ladies for a 2 vs 1 drill.
I decided to go first on the drill. Keep in mind that both attackers are holding a big kick shield(one of the ladies is standing off to the side since we have an odd number) .I made a side kick to the lady on my right and turned to drive my knee in the other attacker (my training partner). I then looked over my shoulder and saw the other attacker approaching so I delivered a back kick. I then drove two knee strikes into my training partner and performed an awesome leg sweep. I looked behind me and noticed that both of the ladies were on the group. At that point I stopped and helped the ladies to their feet and we switched out potions. That is how it is suppose to work.
However, the assistant instructor [A.I.]for our level one class that night walked up laughing and tells me to only use level one techniques. I explained that the Main Instructor for our class told us to "use what we know" but I can tone it down to just level one techniques. [A.I.] responded by saying "Yeah, just use level one" and walked off laughing. The rest of the evening was uneventful.
Fast Forward to last night, almost a week later. I get called into the owners office. He proceeds to tell me that I didn't just screw up but I "f*%ked up big time". He tells me that the ladies got hurt, are scared, and explained that I lost control and was a wild man. I was characterized as the same type of abusive husband that one of the ladies had. Then he chews me out and claims I'll never be able to pass my belt test if I can't get in control of my skills.
I was stunned....I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I have been specifically approach time and time again, for over a year, by woman, specifically cause I treat them equally. Not once have I had a problem with anyone male or female with my control....for over a year. Yet there I was being accused of going into a level one class and trying to show off and trying to be a "bad ass".
First off, I need to state that I am not blaming the women in this event. I know we train a lot of abused and formally abused women in the studio I go to. Its one of the things that make me proud to be a student there. I have trained a great deal of women. However, the two in question are what I call "going at their own pace". They've been at the studio for a loooong time and have yet to progress to level two. All totally fine, some people progress at a pace that they are comfortable with. When speaking from a technical position they are not ready to train with level two students. I would even hesitate to let them train with level one students as they can sometimes hurt someone on accident. What makes it worse is that level one students trip, lose balance, etc and can put themselves in harms way. Being that I am working to become and instructor that should have clicked in my head. I should have recognized that and opted for another group or sit out. Hindsight right?
Now I am frustrated with the owner for not even asking me what happened. I feel that I was inaccurately characterized. I feel that word got back to him somehow (he says they came to him) and he got emotional and made a quick decision to chew me out rather than talk to me. I feel that he went with one persons point of view and used that to categorize me. In just two minutes time I went from being one of the top level two students to the black sheep.
My prospects of becoming an instructor at that studio are pretty much shot. The only course I can see for myself is seeking another studio and petition them to instruct there.
Now the person I am furious with is the Assistant Instructor (A.I.) that witness the event. The A.I. watched the entire event and came up laughing. The A.I. told me to only use level one techniques (remember its a level one/level two class). The A.I. was informed that the expectations were set to level one AND level two. The A.I. heard what I had to say and got my commitment to use level one. The A.I. walked off laughing. Yet the A.I. transferred the blame on to me stating that the A.I. was pissed at what I did and it was all my fault! Really??!?! Oh really...then why didn't the A.I. split us up if I was a "maniac"? Why didn't the A.I. chew me out during or after class? Why did the A.I. walk off laughing is the A.I. was pissed. The A.I. excuse for what happened is bullshit ladies and gentlemen and I apologize for the language.
At this point I will not train with ANYONE I feel is not proficient enough in Krav Maga to train safely. That includes a few of the level two students! not less then 30 minutes after I got chew out one of the ladies (level two students) kick me in the groin cause she lost her temper (I have a cup, its ok). Further more, it is now clear to me that I will be judged on the past history of the female students. I only know of any past abuse if a student tells me. As such any level one female student runs a high risk of ending my chances to train at that studio. My new policy is going to have to be not to train with level one student females.
Unfortunatly it is a sexist policy but I am left with no other options other than to leave the studio which I don't want to do. Its a really sad period in my Krav Maga career. One of the things I loved to do was to train the ladies in self defense. I can't do that anymore....
I am still debating if I should leave just that studio or what.... I know this for sure. I have a belt test coming up and nothing is getting in the way of that. After the test I'll have to explore my options if I so choose.
I decided to go first on the drill. Keep in mind that both attackers are holding a big kick shield(one of the ladies is standing off to the side since we have an odd number) .I made a side kick to the lady on my right and turned to drive my knee in the other attacker (my training partner). I then looked over my shoulder and saw the other attacker approaching so I delivered a back kick. I then drove two knee strikes into my training partner and performed an awesome leg sweep. I looked behind me and noticed that both of the ladies were on the group. At that point I stopped and helped the ladies to their feet and we switched out potions. That is how it is suppose to work.
However, the assistant instructor [A.I.]for our level one class that night walked up laughing and tells me to only use level one techniques. I explained that the Main Instructor for our class told us to "use what we know" but I can tone it down to just level one techniques. [A.I.] responded by saying "Yeah, just use level one" and walked off laughing. The rest of the evening was uneventful.
Fast Forward to last night, almost a week later. I get called into the owners office. He proceeds to tell me that I didn't just screw up but I "f*%ked up big time". He tells me that the ladies got hurt, are scared, and explained that I lost control and was a wild man. I was characterized as the same type of abusive husband that one of the ladies had. Then he chews me out and claims I'll never be able to pass my belt test if I can't get in control of my skills.
I was stunned....I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I have been specifically approach time and time again, for over a year, by woman, specifically cause I treat them equally. Not once have I had a problem with anyone male or female with my control....for over a year. Yet there I was being accused of going into a level one class and trying to show off and trying to be a "bad ass".
First off, I need to state that I am not blaming the women in this event. I know we train a lot of abused and formally abused women in the studio I go to. Its one of the things that make me proud to be a student there. I have trained a great deal of women. However, the two in question are what I call "going at their own pace". They've been at the studio for a loooong time and have yet to progress to level two. All totally fine, some people progress at a pace that they are comfortable with. When speaking from a technical position they are not ready to train with level two students. I would even hesitate to let them train with level one students as they can sometimes hurt someone on accident. What makes it worse is that level one students trip, lose balance, etc and can put themselves in harms way. Being that I am working to become and instructor that should have clicked in my head. I should have recognized that and opted for another group or sit out. Hindsight right?
Now I am frustrated with the owner for not even asking me what happened. I feel that I was inaccurately characterized. I feel that word got back to him somehow (he says they came to him) and he got emotional and made a quick decision to chew me out rather than talk to me. I feel that he went with one persons point of view and used that to categorize me. In just two minutes time I went from being one of the top level two students to the black sheep.
My prospects of becoming an instructor at that studio are pretty much shot. The only course I can see for myself is seeking another studio and petition them to instruct there.
Now the person I am furious with is the Assistant Instructor (A.I.) that witness the event. The A.I. watched the entire event and came up laughing. The A.I. told me to only use level one techniques (remember its a level one/level two class). The A.I. was informed that the expectations were set to level one AND level two. The A.I. heard what I had to say and got my commitment to use level one. The A.I. walked off laughing. Yet the A.I. transferred the blame on to me stating that the A.I. was pissed at what I did and it was all my fault! Really??!?! Oh really...then why didn't the A.I. split us up if I was a "maniac"? Why didn't the A.I. chew me out during or after class? Why did the A.I. walk off laughing is the A.I. was pissed. The A.I. excuse for what happened is bullshit ladies and gentlemen and I apologize for the language.
At this point I will not train with ANYONE I feel is not proficient enough in Krav Maga to train safely. That includes a few of the level two students! not less then 30 minutes after I got chew out one of the ladies (level two students) kick me in the groin cause she lost her temper (I have a cup, its ok). Further more, it is now clear to me that I will be judged on the past history of the female students. I only know of any past abuse if a student tells me. As such any level one female student runs a high risk of ending my chances to train at that studio. My new policy is going to have to be not to train with level one student females.
Unfortunatly it is a sexist policy but I am left with no other options other than to leave the studio which I don't want to do. Its a really sad period in my Krav Maga career. One of the things I loved to do was to train the ladies in self defense. I can't do that anymore....
I am still debating if I should leave just that studio or what.... I know this for sure. I have a belt test coming up and nothing is getting in the way of that. After the test I'll have to explore my options if I so choose.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The playhouse project part three
[POST for Thursday, February 10, 2009 posted on Tuesday, Feb. 24th]
Not a big update. Been busy with training for my belt test. Finished the south facing wall and almost all the slouching is gone. I even tried to shake the playhouse and it is rock solid!
We also got it setup on a semi-permanent foundation. It help as it lets me work on the trim work without fighting for space. Not a huge update but here is a pic for you to ignore
OH! Almost forgot! We got the roof off. I decided that it is to far gone for repair. AND we spent waaaaaay too much money on the sheathing to justify buying high dollar wood singles. I have several packs of asphalt singles I got free from Craig's list. So I am going to build the roof from plywood and those singles. Much cheaper and will make a stronger playhouse in the end.
Not a big update. Been busy with training for my belt test. Finished the south facing wall and almost all the slouching is gone. I even tried to shake the playhouse and it is rock solid!We also got it setup on a semi-permanent foundation. It help as it lets me work on the trim work without fighting for space. Not a huge update but here is a pic for you to ignore
OH! Almost forgot! We got the roof off. I decided that it is to far gone for repair. AND we spent waaaaaay too much money on the sheathing to justify buying high dollar wood singles. I have several packs of asphalt singles I got free from Craig's list. So I am going to build the roof from plywood and those singles. Much cheaper and will make a stronger playhouse in the end.
Monday, February 9, 2009
The playhouse project part two
[POST for Thursday, February 9, 2009 posted on Tuesday, Feb. 24th]
Two new pics for you.
Running slightly behind on this project as the boards I bought are super long and I cannot cut them on the miter saw with the limited space in the shed. I worked around it by putting the miter saw on the shed floor and sticking the sheets of wood outside the shed. It takes longer but gets the job done.
Ethan and I managed to get all the remaining wood off the playhouse (minus the roof) without damage to the remaining sub-structure. A major win since if it had been damaged it would require major rework. Basically taking the entire playhouse down and starting from scratch.
We got started on the back and immediately you can tell it provided a great deal of support. Some of the slouching I mentioned earlier started to ease up.
In addition we got this stain/paint in barn door red. I think it looks nice and the kids seem to like it.
Two new pics for you.
Running slightly behind on this project as the boards I bought are super long and I cannot cut them on the miter saw with the limited space in the shed. I worked around it by putting the miter saw on the shed floor and sticking the sheets of wood outside the shed. It takes longer but gets the job done.
Ethan and I managed to get all the remaining wood off the playhouse (minus the roof) without damage to the remaining sub-structure. A major win since if it had been damaged it would require major rework. Basically taking the entire playhouse down and starting from scratch.
We got started on the back and immediately you can tell it provided a great deal of support. Some of the slouching I mentioned earlier started to ease up.
In addition we got this stain/paint in barn door red. I think it looks nice and the kids seem to like it.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Texas clouds
[POST for Thursday, February 8, 2009 posted on Tuesday, Feb. 24th]
Some days you wonder what its like in other parts of the country. Then there are days that Texas lets you know where home is...
yeah things are a bit jittery in this pic but the clouds and the light are almost dot on.
Some days you wonder what its like in other parts of the country. Then there are days that Texas lets you know where home is...
yeah things are a bit jittery in this pic but the clouds and the light are almost dot on.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
The playhouse project part one
[POST for Thursday, February 7, 2009 posted on Tuesday, Feb. 24th]
When we first moved into El Rancho de Braco there was this sad looking
playhouse on the empty lot next door. It was neglected and missing its siding from a random poacher helping him or herself. Weather took what wasn't stolen and by the time we moved in it was mostly a skeleton with a half present roof.
Well my neighbor Robert moved in. Part of the cleaning of his property was to burn this playhouse. Now the kids play in this playhouse all the time and I just couldn't let him burn it. So I asked him if we could have it instead of him burning it. Obviously he was happy to give it to me if it would make the kids happy.
So it sat on the back of the property for about 6 months. Over time it started to lean and I made several attempts to level it. No use, it just keep slouching. To make matters worse more stuff fell off. Clear sign that collapse is eminent.
So we saved some money and thus begins a new project... The Playhouse Project. I took some photo's with my new cell phone, which it turns out takes awesome pictures. Here is a few pics after I got everything leveled to 0 degrees and I started some work before it occurred to me to take some shots before I got to far along.
All that is left is the 1 x 2 's, some of the wood shingles, and a quarter of the tongue and groove boards on one side.
When we first moved into El Rancho de Braco there was this sad looking
playhouse on the empty lot next door. It was neglected and missing its siding from a random poacher helping him or herself. Weather took what wasn't stolen and by the time we moved in it was mostly a skeleton with a half present roof.Well my neighbor Robert moved in. Part of the cleaning of his property was to burn this playhouse. Now the kids play in this playhouse all the time and I just couldn't let him burn it. So I asked him if we could have it instead of him burning it. Obviously he was happy to give it to me if it would make the kids happy.
So it sat on the back of the property for about 6 months. Over time it started to lean and I made several attempts to level it. No use, it just keep slouching. To make matters worse more stuff fell off. Clear sign that collapse is eminent.
So we saved some money and thus begins a new project... The Playhouse Project. I took some photo's with my new cell phone, which it turns out takes awesome pictures. Here is a few pics after I got everything leveled to 0 degrees and I started some work before it occurred to me to take some shots before I got to far along.All that is left is the 1 x 2 's, some of the wood shingles, and a quarter of the tongue and groove boards on one side.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Phelps
This kid just got suspended for three months for smoking pot?!?! Who the flip cares? If he wasn't out in public with his pants around his ankles with a 14 year old in one hand and a crack pipe in the other then his personal business is just that. PERSONAL!
If this dumb arse wants to smoke dope then why is the media all over his arse?!?! Cause he is a role model....oh sweet Mary mother and Joseph! If a swimmer is your child's role model then you fail as a parent. Why dad and mom aren't the two greatest people in your son or daughters life shows that you absolutely came short on spending time in front of your off spring and instead replaced yourself with someone that your child can never relate to.
Why people have to pry into Phelps personal life to cause him public humiliation is W-R-O-N-G. It is immoral. You are NOT suppose to do that. And making a judgment as a committee to act on this is ALSO wrong. No one was hurt and it was a personal choice to do something personal. PERSONAL. He is not beating dogs to death for crying out loud.
Most likely he was smoking pot in his room and watching monkey's screw on animal planet.
MEDIA, butt out!
A-Holes
For the record I didn't know who Michael Phelps was until he hit the news today. And no.....I did not watch the olympics. Yes....it means I am anti-social or something. I also don't watch American Idol or Survivor...wanna bust my balls on that too!
If this dumb arse wants to smoke dope then why is the media all over his arse?!?! Cause he is a role model....oh sweet Mary mother and Joseph! If a swimmer is your child's role model then you fail as a parent. Why dad and mom aren't the two greatest people in your son or daughters life shows that you absolutely came short on spending time in front of your off spring and instead replaced yourself with someone that your child can never relate to.
Why people have to pry into Phelps personal life to cause him public humiliation is W-R-O-N-G. It is immoral. You are NOT suppose to do that. And making a judgment as a committee to act on this is ALSO wrong. No one was hurt and it was a personal choice to do something personal. PERSONAL. He is not beating dogs to death for crying out loud.
Most likely he was smoking pot in his room and watching monkey's screw on animal planet.
MEDIA, butt out!
A-Holes
For the record I didn't know who Michael Phelps was until he hit the news today. And no.....I did not watch the olympics. Yes....it means I am anti-social or something. I also don't watch American Idol or Survivor...wanna bust my balls on that too!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
1666
[Post for Thursday, February 5, 2009]
Another win for the Wii Fit! I unlocked the island jog on my long distance jog last night. I ran for 1,666 steps ( have a pedometer). The interwebz tells me that 2,000 steps is a mile. DUDE! I almost virtually jogged for a virtual mile! Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!
I might try to work my way to the real word and like....you know.....go outside. Baby steps folks, baby steps!
Oh! I also lost five pounds since last Wednesday!
Another win for the Wii Fit! I unlocked the island jog on my long distance jog last night. I ran for 1,666 steps ( have a pedometer). The interwebz tells me that 2,000 steps is a mile. DUDE! I almost virtually jogged for a virtual mile! Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!
I might try to work my way to the real word and like....you know.....go outside. Baby steps folks, baby steps!
Oh! I also lost five pounds since last Wednesday!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Same ol' change
[Post for Wednesday, February 4, 2009]
So like...nooooo waaay! Obama is filling is cabinet with old Washington insiders, and a overwhelming majority of the new new new bailout is going to be spent in Washington D.C., and Obama promised no ear marks but the new new new bailout is loaded with them, and .... aw hell
Change right..... from what? Change from a Republican bloating government, over spending, poor budgeting, and false promises to a Democrat doing it.
Does the government come with a reset button?
So like...nooooo waaay! Obama is filling is cabinet with old Washington insiders, and a overwhelming majority of the new new new bailout is going to be spent in Washington D.C., and Obama promised no ear marks but the new new new bailout is loaded with them, and .... aw hell
Change right..... from what? Change from a Republican bloating government, over spending, poor budgeting, and false promises to a Democrat doing it.
Does the government come with a reset button?
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
More about water
[Post for Tuesday, February 3, 2009]
So I proposed, sort of, a free market solution to water issues. And I know all you granola pounding sun eaters are rolling your eyes. Knowing the true cost of water is right! Paying for a good based on scarcity and use is right! Being aware is Right! However being right is not always right when you share a government with others. The main crux of government is agreed management of specific duties. Now I can scream until I turn red that the specific duties are neither specific or few but the reality is that government is there and we have to work to a mutual goal.
My solution to water
Privatize water companies! Yup! All your public water works go private! All you hippy, yuppy, guppy, and emo folks learn the true cost of water. You also get to develop a sense of what a price index is based on a scarce resource. You'll learn to conserve more, thus saving water for what you truly need and not what is fun.
However, I believe in enlightenment. That knowledge is power and that all citizens should be enlightened. I see one positive role the government can play. Pull back on all the government oversight and agencies and just have one office in the Texas land management agency. Let the role be that of a monthly report on water levels in the regions, water quality in the regions, testing of water quality of all the companies, and a suggested per gallon price. And let that all be reported on the evening news.
That should be enough to keep every dishonest business person on the straight and narrow. And validate all the good business people that being honest is a positive thing. It also reduces collusion between companies to price fix. And lets people know exactly why they are getting charged more/less for water and what an average price they should pay.
Now this is all a loose and simplistic idea on how to solve our water issues down here in Texas. Beats doing the same old thing to the same old problem and expecting something new.
So I proposed, sort of, a free market solution to water issues. And I know all you granola pounding sun eaters are rolling your eyes. Knowing the true cost of water is right! Paying for a good based on scarcity and use is right! Being aware is Right! However being right is not always right when you share a government with others. The main crux of government is agreed management of specific duties. Now I can scream until I turn red that the specific duties are neither specific or few but the reality is that government is there and we have to work to a mutual goal.
My solution to water
Privatize water companies! Yup! All your public water works go private! All you hippy, yuppy, guppy, and emo folks learn the true cost of water. You also get to develop a sense of what a price index is based on a scarce resource. You'll learn to conserve more, thus saving water for what you truly need and not what is fun.
However, I believe in enlightenment. That knowledge is power and that all citizens should be enlightened. I see one positive role the government can play. Pull back on all the government oversight and agencies and just have one office in the Texas land management agency. Let the role be that of a monthly report on water levels in the regions, water quality in the regions, testing of water quality of all the companies, and a suggested per gallon price. And let that all be reported on the evening news.
That should be enough to keep every dishonest business person on the straight and narrow. And validate all the good business people that being honest is a positive thing. It also reduces collusion between companies to price fix. And lets people know exactly why they are getting charged more/less for water and what an average price they should pay.
Now this is all a loose and simplistic idea on how to solve our water issues down here in Texas. Beats doing the same old thing to the same old problem and expecting something new.
Monday, February 2, 2009
More musings on water
[Post for Monday, February 2, 2009]
So I am a self-identified Libertarian. Used to be a Republican and watch the debauchery there turn my stomach. Agree with the message of the Democrat party but not the method of execution. Left me to turn to a party that is practical in its execution and strong in its morals.
Where does that get me on water? Well I view a lot of our problems as solvable issues if we just stop trying to do the things that don't work as things that do work.
What do I mean? How many of you have public water? 98% of you!I know cause the government told me so. How many of you know how many gallons of water you consumed last month..... 1%. 1% cause my wife reads this blog and she tracks it like a hawk. However 99% of you have no idea. Water is pretty much a subsidized good. Its cheap and plentiful
Problem is that it is neither at the moment. You have an obscured price index, which means you do not know the true cost of having running water. You also have an obscured sense of scarcity of resources, which means you don't know how much darn water there is. You think you can do whatever you want with the water you have without second thought about it. Then you get grumpy when the city tells you to tone it down.
Enter my world: I am on private water. Meaning we pay for the infrastructure and service as well as the water. When the water levels go down, our gallon per use go up. We have a VERY acute sense of water levels on our area. We don't wash the cars every weekend. We water the lawn twice a week and only in the evenings. Baths have a time limit. etc etc.
We have all sorts of groups here in Texas calling for government action to do-this and do-that for water issues. Government, government, and more government.....yet all they [the government] has managed to do is expand their power, collect more money, make commercials, and promises. Yet things are going slower than before and nothing is getting done. Expected? You betchya'
Government vs. Privatization.... free market nerds are going to win this. However winning isn't everything.
... stay tuned for the next post ...
So I am a self-identified Libertarian. Used to be a Republican and watch the debauchery there turn my stomach. Agree with the message of the Democrat party but not the method of execution. Left me to turn to a party that is practical in its execution and strong in its morals.
Where does that get me on water? Well I view a lot of our problems as solvable issues if we just stop trying to do the things that don't work as things that do work.
What do I mean? How many of you have public water? 98% of you!I know cause the government told me so. How many of you know how many gallons of water you consumed last month..... 1%. 1% cause my wife reads this blog and she tracks it like a hawk. However 99% of you have no idea. Water is pretty much a subsidized good. Its cheap and plentiful
Problem is that it is neither at the moment. You have an obscured price index, which means you do not know the true cost of having running water. You also have an obscured sense of scarcity of resources, which means you don't know how much darn water there is. You think you can do whatever you want with the water you have without second thought about it. Then you get grumpy when the city tells you to tone it down.
Enter my world: I am on private water. Meaning we pay for the infrastructure and service as well as the water. When the water levels go down, our gallon per use go up. We have a VERY acute sense of water levels on our area. We don't wash the cars every weekend. We water the lawn twice a week and only in the evenings. Baths have a time limit. etc etc.
We have all sorts of groups here in Texas calling for government action to do-this and do-that for water issues. Government, government, and more government.....yet all they [the government] has managed to do is expand their power, collect more money, make commercials, and promises. Yet things are going slower than before and nothing is getting done. Expected? You betchya'
Government vs. Privatization.... free market nerds are going to win this. However winning isn't everything.
... stay tuned for the next post ...
Musings on water
[Post for Sunday, February 2, 2009]
This is Texas, Texas is hot, much like most of the mid-west it's also dry (in some places), water is worth its weight... so to say. We don't get rain like Seattle and such so we rely on rivers mostly. The same rivers that carry water from up north somewhere from a place called "Colorado". Colorado........It ain't Texas so I don't see what the big deal is?
Now we have plenty of natural reservoirs and we have dammed the rivers to create man-made lakes. It provided fresh water for decades. However, as of late it seems that our water levels are dropping very quickly. Our natural reservoirs are having trouble recharging (rain water) and the lake levels are dropping as well. Now, I am happy to provide my empirical opinion on why, first, our supply of water is dropping and , second, why the demand is so high
Supply
To many g-d dang California's are moving to Texas! One is too many but in the last ten years we have seen an exodus of people from California move to Texas. You know its not just California. it seems like East coast as well as West coast have been moving to the mid-west or just mid. I am talking hundreds of thousands of people. This brings a natural population growth waaaaay outside of the normal growth variance you would see from .... well natural growth. So basically the source and destination (in this context) have seen a huge increase in population which from the supply side tells us that more people are consuming water before it can even reach the destination.
Demand
Over consuming! For purely selfish reasons most people in suburbs of Texas love, and I do mean love, to grow grass that is not native to Texas (St. Augustine). If I recall the numbers correctly St. Augustine/Bermuda grass takes about 1,00 gallons of water per square foot to keep green. The average lawn size in Texas, I've seen 1,000 square feet posted several times, needs 92,857 gallons of water need to keep just one yard of St. Augustine/Bermuda alive and green (per year). multiply that by the number of homes with yards and you can see a huge water demand right there. Another factor is that our Summer rain fall is "poor" meaning that the highest demand for watering St. Augustine/Bermuda grass comes at a time when water supply is at an all time low.
There are a ton of other factors; Long showers, inefficient watering devices (shower heads, crappers, etc), washing your car at noon, watering your yard at noon, etc.
my solution to all this mess? Build a wall around California
This is Texas, Texas is hot, much like most of the mid-west it's also dry (in some places), water is worth its weight... so to say. We don't get rain like Seattle and such so we rely on rivers mostly. The same rivers that carry water from up north somewhere from a place called "Colorado". Colorado........It ain't Texas so I don't see what the big deal is?
Now we have plenty of natural reservoirs and we have dammed the rivers to create man-made lakes. It provided fresh water for decades. However, as of late it seems that our water levels are dropping very quickly. Our natural reservoirs are having trouble recharging (rain water) and the lake levels are dropping as well. Now, I am happy to provide my empirical opinion on why, first, our supply of water is dropping and , second, why the demand is so high
Supply
To many g-d dang California's are moving to Texas! One is too many but in the last ten years we have seen an exodus of people from California move to Texas. You know its not just California. it seems like East coast as well as West coast have been moving to the mid-west or just mid. I am talking hundreds of thousands of people. This brings a natural population growth waaaaay outside of the normal growth variance you would see from .... well natural growth. So basically the source and destination (in this context) have seen a huge increase in population which from the supply side tells us that more people are consuming water before it can even reach the destination.
Demand
Over consuming! For purely selfish reasons most people in suburbs of Texas love, and I do mean love, to grow grass that is not native to Texas (St. Augustine). If I recall the numbers correctly St. Augustine/Bermuda grass takes about 1,00 gallons of water per square foot to keep green. The average lawn size in Texas, I've seen 1,000 square feet posted several times, needs 92,857 gallons of water need to keep just one yard of St. Augustine/Bermuda alive and green (per year). multiply that by the number of homes with yards and you can see a huge water demand right there. Another factor is that our Summer rain fall is "poor" meaning that the highest demand for watering St. Augustine/Bermuda grass comes at a time when water supply is at an all time low.
There are a ton of other factors; Long showers, inefficient watering devices (shower heads, crappers, etc), washing your car at noon, watering your yard at noon, etc.
my solution to all this mess? Build a wall around California
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Credit LESS
[Post for Sunday, February 2, 2009]
From the time I was a little ankle bitter until I met my ex-wife I understood that credit cards were a no-no. It was explained to me that if you wanted something you worked for the money and then bought it. If you wanted it right away then tough cookies, deal with it, and work better at getting the money you need for whatever you wanted.
The basic "delayed gratification" thing but you know...there is something to that. The right-wing bible bangers might be on to something, just one something, when it comes to credit. How often do you find yourself producing plastic on a simple "I'm just looking around" trip to the store? All to often I bet.
As the news so fondly reminds us, this nation is in red alert of financing. Not just the stuff you see with the government bailing CEO's out. I also mean personal credit. Like the thing you have in your wallet or purse. Lines of credit in lieu of purchased goods. The "product-now/future paychecks" method of personal finance.
If you are like me.... and 98% of you are, then credit is eating your lunch and maybe your dinner to (perhaps your kids dinner as well).
Well, as of Friday, I am one credit card less! Yup careful spending and saving money for a "liberation fund" has paid off! Now its time to compound those monthly expense savings into the other credit cards!
EDIT: Yes, my ex had a very high standard of living and we had a very low standard of income. But she is some other dudes problem :P
From the time I was a little ankle bitter until I met my ex-wife I understood that credit cards were a no-no. It was explained to me that if you wanted something you worked for the money and then bought it. If you wanted it right away then tough cookies, deal with it, and work better at getting the money you need for whatever you wanted.
The basic "delayed gratification" thing but you know...there is something to that. The right-wing bible bangers might be on to something, just one something, when it comes to credit. How often do you find yourself producing plastic on a simple "I'm just looking around" trip to the store? All to often I bet.
As the news so fondly reminds us, this nation is in red alert of financing. Not just the stuff you see with the government bailing CEO's out. I also mean personal credit. Like the thing you have in your wallet or purse. Lines of credit in lieu of purchased goods. The "product-now/future paychecks" method of personal finance.
If you are like me.... and 98% of you are, then credit is eating your lunch and maybe your dinner to (perhaps your kids dinner as well).
Well, as of Friday, I am one credit card less! Yup careful spending and saving money for a "liberation fund" has paid off! Now its time to compound those monthly expense savings into the other credit cards!
EDIT: Yes, my ex had a very high standard of living and we had a very low standard of income. But she is some other dudes problem :P
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Kickin' backside again...sort of
[Post for Saturday, January30, 2009]
Bloggers note: I wrote this back in December. I pulled it out of the trash because I needed something for Saturday's post....and I am trying to clean out my massive "in editing" bucket
Its been over a month....maybe two since I sprained my wrist. I sound like a bit of a drama queen but I really do think I fractured it, Regardless of what Dr. Kevorkian says! My wrist was healing fine and then about two weeks ago I went to sit down for a lunch. I braced myself to sit in the seat and I felt a small pop. It hurt right away and then ached for days. Sprained my arse....sprains don't do that. And if they do then keep your mouth shut cause I don't want to hear it.
Whatever....so I can't stand it. My wrist feels good enough for Krav Maga again! If you've been around me these grueling weeks you would have heard me say that I am off my mark since I have been out of Krav for so long.
So.....I went to Tuesdays level 2 class and g-d did it feel good! I missed it so much and I think I was depressed there for about a month or so. I can tell when I am bummed because I just sit there and do nothing. Now....I am thinking about doing the dishes or thinking about doing laundry. Maybe after a few more classes I might actually pitch in....we'll play it by ear.
Bloggers note: I wrote this back in December. I pulled it out of the trash because I needed something for Saturday's post....and I am trying to clean out my massive "in editing" bucket
Its been over a month....maybe two since I sprained my wrist. I sound like a bit of a drama queen but I really do think I fractured it, Regardless of what Dr. Kevorkian says! My wrist was healing fine and then about two weeks ago I went to sit down for a lunch. I braced myself to sit in the seat and I felt a small pop. It hurt right away and then ached for days. Sprained my arse....sprains don't do that. And if they do then keep your mouth shut cause I don't want to hear it.
Whatever....so I can't stand it. My wrist feels good enough for Krav Maga again! If you've been around me these grueling weeks you would have heard me say that I am off my mark since I have been out of Krav for so long.
So.....I went to Tuesdays level 2 class and g-d did it feel good! I missed it so much and I think I was depressed there for about a month or so. I can tell when I am bummed because I just sit there and do nothing. Now....I am thinking about doing the dishes or thinking about doing laundry. Maybe after a few more classes I might actually pitch in....we'll play it by ear.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Fit to drink
[Post for Friday, January30, 2009>
A long time peeve of mine is the quality of water that we drink. We, as a 1st world country (whatever that is suppose to imply), do not see it fit to consume water with out adding chemicals. Chlorine is my big pet peeve with water, followed by Fluoride.
I know many people have this perception that our water is safe to drink. Really? Try going to another town in a different region. Notice how radically different the water is! Its simply because you are used to the water you use. You bath in it, you wash your clothes in it and your dishes. You pretty much consume it all the time. Its not different because you are used to it. So like I said, try water from somewhere else...notice how it smells funny? Or maybe it leaves pink rings in the crapper (like the water in Round Rock, TX). The water in my neck of the woods is so heavily chlorinated that we had to buy purifier/softener system for the whole house.
So really it comes down to what you consider what is "safe". Unless you are one of these off-grid wackos that buy a purifier/softener system for the whole house. Oh I am not saying that you are going to have your teeth fall out and your eyes melt in your head. What I am saying is that some one tells you, usually the local government, that the water is "safe" for consumption. Being lulled into a false sense of security is fine with most people.
Odds are you are interested in your health but just never thought of water as part of it. Well, you did but in terms of quantity consumed...just not quality. If you want to see what kind of swill you are shooting down your throat then I offer a link to stimulate your senses: http://www.ewg.org/tapwater/yourwater/
Now I am not saying you are prone to get a water borne disease. Nor am I saying that you need to bath in bottled water. Nope, just start thinking about things your are told not to think about. Start asking questions...
By the way, I did a search on my provider and one of the health concerns listened in the report as cancer. Nothing major right? Safe to consume.......ppppffftttttt
A long time peeve of mine is the quality of water that we drink. We, as a 1st world country (whatever that is suppose to imply), do not see it fit to consume water with out adding chemicals. Chlorine is my big pet peeve with water, followed by Fluoride.
I know many people have this perception that our water is safe to drink. Really? Try going to another town in a different region. Notice how radically different the water is! Its simply because you are used to the water you use. You bath in it, you wash your clothes in it and your dishes. You pretty much consume it all the time. Its not different because you are used to it. So like I said, try water from somewhere else...notice how it smells funny? Or maybe it leaves pink rings in the crapper (like the water in Round Rock, TX). The water in my neck of the woods is so heavily chlorinated that we had to buy purifier/softener system for the whole house.
So really it comes down to what you consider what is "safe". Unless you are one of these off-grid wackos that buy a purifier/softener system for the whole house. Oh I am not saying that you are going to have your teeth fall out and your eyes melt in your head. What I am saying is that some one tells you, usually the local government, that the water is "safe" for consumption. Being lulled into a false sense of security is fine with most people.
Odds are you are interested in your health but just never thought of water as part of it. Well, you did but in terms of quantity consumed...just not quality. If you want to see what kind of swill you are shooting down your throat then I offer a link to stimulate your senses: http://www.ewg.org/tapwater/yourwater/
Now I am not saying you are prone to get a water borne disease. Nor am I saying that you need to bath in bottled water. Nope, just start thinking about things your are told not to think about. Start asking questions...
By the way, I did a search on my provider and one of the health concerns listened in the report as cancer. Nothing major right? Safe to consume.......ppppffftttttt
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Using your movie tastes against you....indeed
I got one of these info type chain letters. You know the kind where you "have" to answer 50 questions about yourself. This one is actually kind of interesting. You basically tick off all the movies you have seen. If you have seen over eighty then supposedly you have no life. Another great litmus test on our cultural maturity. Meh...here it goes:
So there you go....I have no life
| Movie | Yes or No |
| Rocky Horror Picture Show | Yes |
| Grease | Yes |
| Pirates of the Caribbean | Yes |
| Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest | No |
| Boondock Saints | Yes |
| Fight Club | Yes |
| Starsky and Hutch | No |
| Neverending Story | Yes |
| Blazing Saddles | Yes |
| Airplane | Yes |
| The Princess Bride | Yes |
| AnchorMan | Yes |
| Napoleon Dynamite | Yes |
| Labyrinth | Yes |
| Saw | No |
| Saw II | No |
| White Noise | No |
| White Oleander | No |
| Anger Management | No |
| 50 First Dates | No |
| The Princess Diaries | Yes |
| The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement | No |
| Scream | Yes |
| Scream 2 | Yes |
| Scream 3 | Yes |
| Scary Movie | Yes |
| Scary Movie 2 | No |
| Scary Movie 3 | No |
| Scary Movie 4 | Yes |
| American Pie | Yes |
| American Pie 2 | Yes |
| American Wedding | Yes |
| American Pie Band Camp | No |
| Harry Potter 1 | Yes |
| Harry Potter 2 | Yes |
| Harry Potter 3 | Yes |
| Harry Potter 4 | No |
| Resident Evil 1 | Yes |
| Resident Evil 2 | No |
| The Wedding Singer | Yes |
| Little Black Book | No |
| The Village | Yes |
| Lilo & Stitch | Yes |
| Finding Nemo | Yes |
| Finding Neverland | Yes |
| Signs | No |
| The Grinch | Yes |
| Texas Chainsaw Massacre | No |
| Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning | No |
| White Chicks | No |
| Butterfly Effect | No |
| 13 Going on 30 | No |
| I, Robot | Yes |
| Robots | Yes |
| Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story | Yes |
| Universal Soldier | Yes |
| Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events | Yes |
| Along Came Polly | No |
| Deep Impact | Yes |
| KingPin | Yes |
| Never Been Kissed | Yes |
| Meet The Parents | Yes |
| Meet the Fockers | Yes |
| Eight Crazy Nights | No |
| Joe Dirt | Yes |
| KING KONG | Yes |
| A Cinderella Story | No |
| The Terminal | Yes |
| The Lizzie McGuire Movie | No |
| Passport to Paris | No |
| Dumb & Dumber | Yes |
| Dumber & Dumberer | No |
| Final Destination | Yes |
| Final Destination 2 | Yes |
| Final Destination 3 | No |
| Halloween | No |
| The Ring | No |
| The Ring 2 | No |
| Surviving X-MAS | No |
| Flubber | Yes |
| Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle | No |
| Practical Magic | Yes |
| Chicago | No |
| Ghost Ship | No |
| From Hell | No |
| Hellboy | Yes |
| Secret Window | No |
| I Am Sam | No |
| The Whole Nine Yards | Yes |
| The Whole Ten Yards | Yes |
| The Day After Tomorrow | Yes |
| Child's Play | No |
| Seed of Chucky | No |
| Bride of Chucky | No |
| Ten Things I Hate About You | No |
| Just Married | No |
| Gothika | No |
| Nightmare on Elm Street | Yes |
| Sixteen Candles | No |
| Remember the Titans | No |
| Coach Carter | No |
| The Grudge | Yes |
| The Grudge 2 | No |
| The Mask | Yes |
| Son Of The Mask | No |
| Bad Boys | Yes |
| Bad Boys 2 | Yes |
| Joy Ride | No |
| Lucky Number Sl3ven | Yes |
| Ocean's Eleven | Yes |
| Ocean's Twelve | Yes |
| Bourne Identity | Yes |
| Bourne Supremecy | Yes |
| Lone Star | No |
| Bedazzled | No |
| Predator I | Yes |
| Predator II | Yes |
| The Fog | No |
| Ice Age | Yes |
| Ice Age 2: The Meltdown | Yes |
| Curious George | Yes |
| Independence Day | Yes |
| Cujo | No |
| A Bronx Tale | No |
| Darkness Falls | No |
| Christine | No |
| ET | Yes |
| Children of the Corn | Yes |
| My Bosses Daughter | No |
| Maid in Manhattan | No |
| War of the Worlds | Yes |
| Rush Hour | Yes |
| Rush Hour 2 | Yes |
| Best Bet | No |
| How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days | No |
| She's All That | No |
| Calendar Girls | No |
| Sideways | Yes |
| Mars Attacks | Yes |
| Event Horizon | Yes |
| Ever After | No |
| Wizard of Oz | Yes |
| Forrest Gump | Yes |
| Big Trouble in Little China | Yes |
| The Terminator | Yes |
| The Terminator 2 | Yes |
| The Terminator 3 | No |
| X-Men | Yes |
| X-2 | Yes |
| X-3 | Yes |
| Spider-Man | Yes |
| Spider-Man 2 | Yes |
| Sky High | No |
| Jeepers Creepers | No |
| Jeepers Creepers 2 | No |
| Catch Me If You Can | Yes |
| The Little Mermaid | Yes |
| Freaky Friday | No |
| Reign of Fire | Yes |
| The Skulls | No |
| Cruel Intentions | Yes |
| Cruel Intentions 2 | No |
| The Hot Chick | No |
| Shrek | Yes |
| Shrek 2 | Yes |
| Swimfan | No |
| Miracle on 34th street | Yes |
| Old School | Yes |
| The Notebook | No |
| K-Pax | No |
| Krippendorf's Tribe | No |
| A Walk to Remember | No |
| Ice Castles | No |
| Boogeyman | No |
| The 40-year-old Virgin | Yes |
| Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring | Yes |
| Lord of the Rings The Two Towers | Yes |
| Lord of the Rings Return Of the King | Yes |
| Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark | Yes |
| Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom | Yes |
| Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade | Yes |
| Baseketball | Yes |
| Hostel | No |
| Waiting for Guffman | No |
| House of 1000 Corpses | No |
| Devils Rejects | No |
| Elf | No |
| Highlander | Yes |
| Mothman Prophecies | No |
| American History X | Yes |
| Three | No |
| The Jacket | No |
| Kung Fu Hustle | No |
| Shaolin Soccer | No |
| Night Watch | No |
| Monsters Inc. | Yes |
| Titanic | Yes |
| Monty Python and the Holy Grail | Yes |
| Shaun Of the Dead | Yes |
| Willard | No |
| High Tension | No |
| Club Dread | No |
| Hulk | Yes |
| Dawn Of the Dead | Yes |
| Hook | Yes |
| Chronicles Of Narnia The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe | Yes |
| 28 days later | Yes |
| Orgazmo | No |
| Phantasm | No |
| Waterworld | Yes |
| Kill Bill vol 1 | Yes |
| Kill Bill vol 2 | Yes |
| Mortal Kombat | Yes |
| Wolf Creek | No |
| Kingdom of Heaven | Yes |
| the Hills Have Eyes | Yes |
| I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman | No |
| The Last House on the Left | No |
| Re-Animator | No |
| Army of Darkness | Yes |
| Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace | Yes |
| Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones | Yes |
| Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith | Yes |
| Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope | Yes |
| Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back | Yes |
| Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi | Yes |
| Ewoks Caravan Of Courage | No |
| Ewoks The Battle For Endor | No |
| The Matrix | Yes |
| The Matrix Reloaded | Yes |
| The Matrix Revolutions | Yes |
| Animatrix | Yes |
| Evil Dead | Yes |
| Evil Dead 2 | Yes |
| Team America: World Police | Yes |
| Red Dragon | No |
| Silence of the Lambs | No |
| Hannibal | No |
| That's 134 for yes |
So there you go....I have no life
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