Weel, my favorite holiday has come and gone again, and once again it was a beautiful time of the year. Whiel I didn't get the gift I wanted most (Brittany coming home) it was still a time of laughs, cheer and love.
Other than seeing my family and step family, there was one instance i want to talk about today:
We are opening gifts, and my brother gets a hendrick hat from his oldest daughter, Rachael. this is somewhat a sore spot with my brother as he is a die hard Earnhardt fan, my neice is a Jimmy Johnson fan and her husband is a (gag) Jeff Gordan fan. Since Dale Jr will drive for Hendrick in '08, he took it with a grin.
His next gift was tickets to the 50th running of the Daytona 500. He opened it, looked at it, looked at her, looked at it, looked at her and said are you kidding?
She said no, they are real and then he cried, she cried, I knew about and cried, Jenn cried......I even think mom n dad may have shed a tear.
Between this, and having a white Christmas, there wasn't much missing.
I want to welcome my parents and my two youngest neices to viewers of my blog, as well as all of my new friends and viewers from World Class Bodybuilding.
Be sure to check out my friends and pages elsewhere! www.myspace.com/from12bto91c
Friday, December 28, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Countdown to Christmas
Well, Christmas is just down the road form now, my yard looks like is belongs to the Griswald family, my gifts are all still unwrapped, I am working on a 12 day stint at work with 11-14 hour days everyday, and you know what? I am still happier now than I had been since about this time last year.....
In 2000, I last saw my second oldest niece, Brittany Bone, when my wife and I got married. She has been in contact with my mom, her sister and some others in the family, but I haven't seen her. Brit was my mini, female version of me in a lot of ways, smart as hell, athletic, energetic, adn personable....everyone liked her. This year....all I want is to see all four of my nieces, 3 of whom will be at our Christmas celebration this weekend.
Flash forward to 2003, CPT Christopher Soelzer and SGT Benjamin Biskie died in a VBIED attack north of Baghdad, Iraq. These two were my battle buddies when I was in the 5th Engineers. From eatign dinner with Ben and his family, to feeding Chris and sharign a beer with them all, losing them on Christmas Eve was one of the two hardest moments in my life.
In 2004, SGT Roy Harrison and his wife Anita joined families with me and Jennifer to host our New Soldiers, and this is the year I started acting like a Griswald. In 2005, we adopted families for the holidays again, only this year I dressed up as Santa, delivering gifts to Soldiers working on Ft Bragg, NC on Christmas Day. In 2006 I moved to MO, kept things low key, but still decorating like a mad man. Now this year, I played Santa, will visit the family, decorate like a maniac and who knows what else.
Wow, what a summary of the past 5 Christmas' plus more. I'm not sure when I will post again so if I am not back I want to close with this message:
No matter what religion you follow, if any, it doesn't matter if you are Conservative or Liberal, Christmas is a time of love, of sharing, of family and of giving. Remember that as we enter the Holiday Season, and live that all throughout the year. Don't be offended for someone wishing you a Merry Christmas.....it is a federal holiday after all :D
In 2000, I last saw my second oldest niece, Brittany Bone, when my wife and I got married. She has been in contact with my mom, her sister and some others in the family, but I haven't seen her. Brit was my mini, female version of me in a lot of ways, smart as hell, athletic, energetic, adn personable....everyone liked her. This year....all I want is to see all four of my nieces, 3 of whom will be at our Christmas celebration this weekend.
Flash forward to 2003, CPT Christopher Soelzer and SGT Benjamin Biskie died in a VBIED attack north of Baghdad, Iraq. These two were my battle buddies when I was in the 5th Engineers. From eatign dinner with Ben and his family, to feeding Chris and sharign a beer with them all, losing them on Christmas Eve was one of the two hardest moments in my life.
In 2004, SGT Roy Harrison and his wife Anita joined families with me and Jennifer to host our New Soldiers, and this is the year I started acting like a Griswald. In 2005, we adopted families for the holidays again, only this year I dressed up as Santa, delivering gifts to Soldiers working on Ft Bragg, NC on Christmas Day. In 2006 I moved to MO, kept things low key, but still decorating like a mad man. Now this year, I played Santa, will visit the family, decorate like a maniac and who knows what else.
Wow, what a summary of the past 5 Christmas' plus more. I'm not sure when I will post again so if I am not back I want to close with this message:
No matter what religion you follow, if any, it doesn't matter if you are Conservative or Liberal, Christmas is a time of love, of sharing, of family and of giving. Remember that as we enter the Holiday Season, and live that all throughout the year. Don't be offended for someone wishing you a Merry Christmas.....it is a federal holiday after all :D
Friday, December 14, 2007
I am a steroid ---- from Basskiller
I am a steroid, and I am mad.
Why have I become such a bad word in this country when I do so much good in this world?
Why has my honorable name been soiled just because a few dishonorable athletes have abused me?
Renowned doctors worldwide have called me a wonder drug, but I am being portrayed nationally as the dirty little secret of the hulked-up, bulked-up juicers in Major League Baseball. I am actually being painted by grandstanding politicians as a death sentence for the youth of America.
Let me tell you something. My job is to rescue kids, not kill them. I have saved thousands upon thousands of premature babies who are injected with me to help their little lungs develop quickly so they can breath, so they can live. Without me, these babies, some of whom don't even weigh 1 pound, would be killed by something called "Respiratory Distress Syndrome" -- a sometimes fatal disorder where the air sacs collapse in their underdeveloped lungs. "There's no question that steroids have saved the lives of many babies," says Dr. David Auerbach, the director of the neonatal intensive care unit at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. "They've had an incredible impact. There are times when they are the difference between life and death."
You see, it was always my intention to help the many sick people who need me, not the few sickos who exploit me. It was never my desire to help Barry Bonds grow muscles. It was always my mission to shrink tumors in cancer patients. That's right, I have become one of the major medical combatants in the fight against cancer. I help patients overcome the nauseous effects of chemotherapy. I simultaneously help build up their strength while tearing down the disease. And sometimes, when all is lost, I am prescribed in the advanced stages of terminal cancer to help victims cope -- to increase their appetite, to make them feel better. "There are some steroids that will literally destroy cancer," says Dr. Clarence Brown, the president of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center here in town. "There are many patients who are alive and well because of steroids. I don't think any doctor would argue that steroids have saved a lot of lives -- many more lives than they have cost."
Actually, I'm not so sure that I've been directly responsible for taking a single life. Everybody always brings up the name Lyle Alzado -- the former Oakland Raider steroid abuser who died in 1992. Has anybody bothered to check out Alzado's cause of death? Everybody just assumes it was me. But doctors say he died of complications from brain cancer, and there is absolutely no medical evidence that I cause brain cancer. Much has been made by self-indulgent politicians about how I'm becoming an epidemic among America's teenagers. This was the contrived reason they gave for holding a congressional hearing last week on baseball players who use me. Really, it was just so these politicians could see themselves on SportsCenter. The fact is that less than 1 percent of college and high school students have ever taken me recreationally. Compare that with the nearly 25 percent who have smoked cigarettes, 30 percent who have used marijuana and 80 percent who have consumed alcohol.
Considering the number of teenagers who die every year as the result of drunk driving, I suggest our federal government forget about me and hold a congressional hearing on the hard liquor ads NASCAR allows on the sides of its racecars. And considering the number of teenagers who pollute their lungs with nicotine, maybe we should hold a congressional hearing on why the PGA Tour still allows its "athletes" to smoke cigarettes during competition. Unlike these other drugs, I save people and benefit society. I help breathe life into new babies and comfort old people who are taking their last breaths. Everywhere you look, there is somebody I've cured or strengthened. In fact, the writer of this column has a daughter who, while still in the womb, was given steroids to help her survive. Jessica is now a healthy, beautiful and intelligent 5-year-old who some believe will become the first woman president of the United States. And the editor of this column was seriously ill five years ago and was given steroids to successfully reduce swelling in his liver due to a chronic condition. He continues to be a loud, obnoxious Bostonian who has lived long enough to finally see his Red Sox win a World Series. I am a steroid, and I am a good drug. So just leave me alone and let me do my job
Why have I become such a bad word in this country when I do so much good in this world?
Why has my honorable name been soiled just because a few dishonorable athletes have abused me?
Renowned doctors worldwide have called me a wonder drug, but I am being portrayed nationally as the dirty little secret of the hulked-up, bulked-up juicers in Major League Baseball. I am actually being painted by grandstanding politicians as a death sentence for the youth of America.
Let me tell you something. My job is to rescue kids, not kill them. I have saved thousands upon thousands of premature babies who are injected with me to help their little lungs develop quickly so they can breath, so they can live. Without me, these babies, some of whom don't even weigh 1 pound, would be killed by something called "Respiratory Distress Syndrome" -- a sometimes fatal disorder where the air sacs collapse in their underdeveloped lungs. "There's no question that steroids have saved the lives of many babies," says Dr. David Auerbach, the director of the neonatal intensive care unit at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. "They've had an incredible impact. There are times when they are the difference between life and death."
You see, it was always my intention to help the many sick people who need me, not the few sickos who exploit me. It was never my desire to help Barry Bonds grow muscles. It was always my mission to shrink tumors in cancer patients. That's right, I have become one of the major medical combatants in the fight against cancer. I help patients overcome the nauseous effects of chemotherapy. I simultaneously help build up their strength while tearing down the disease. And sometimes, when all is lost, I am prescribed in the advanced stages of terminal cancer to help victims cope -- to increase their appetite, to make them feel better. "There are some steroids that will literally destroy cancer," says Dr. Clarence Brown, the president of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center here in town. "There are many patients who are alive and well because of steroids. I don't think any doctor would argue that steroids have saved a lot of lives -- many more lives than they have cost."
Actually, I'm not so sure that I've been directly responsible for taking a single life. Everybody always brings up the name Lyle Alzado -- the former Oakland Raider steroid abuser who died in 1992. Has anybody bothered to check out Alzado's cause of death? Everybody just assumes it was me. But doctors say he died of complications from brain cancer, and there is absolutely no medical evidence that I cause brain cancer. Much has been made by self-indulgent politicians about how I'm becoming an epidemic among America's teenagers. This was the contrived reason they gave for holding a congressional hearing last week on baseball players who use me. Really, it was just so these politicians could see themselves on SportsCenter. The fact is that less than 1 percent of college and high school students have ever taken me recreationally. Compare that with the nearly 25 percent who have smoked cigarettes, 30 percent who have used marijuana and 80 percent who have consumed alcohol.
Considering the number of teenagers who die every year as the result of drunk driving, I suggest our federal government forget about me and hold a congressional hearing on the hard liquor ads NASCAR allows on the sides of its racecars. And considering the number of teenagers who pollute their lungs with nicotine, maybe we should hold a congressional hearing on why the PGA Tour still allows its "athletes" to smoke cigarettes during competition. Unlike these other drugs, I save people and benefit society. I help breathe life into new babies and comfort old people who are taking their last breaths. Everywhere you look, there is somebody I've cured or strengthened. In fact, the writer of this column has a daughter who, while still in the womb, was given steroids to help her survive. Jessica is now a healthy, beautiful and intelligent 5-year-old who some believe will become the first woman president of the United States. And the editor of this column was seriously ill five years ago and was given steroids to successfully reduce swelling in his liver due to a chronic condition. He continues to be a loud, obnoxious Bostonian who has lived long enough to finally see his Red Sox win a World Series. I am a steroid, and I am a good drug. So just leave me alone and let me do my job
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Another day, Another Dollar
Well, after a wonderful two days of working the floor in the Intensive Care Unit, I got to visit my office and do some of my wardmaster duties. You want to talk about miserable! lol
I was pretty well finished with everything I wanted to accomplish today by 3pm, but I was leading the physical fitness training that did not begin until 5pm. At least when that came around life was looking pretty good.
I realized that when I blog, I probably should mention something about current events, something somewhat controversial, or how I feel about random topics.
Today, I have steroids on my mind. Not more than about 5 weeks ago, the Federal government, of whom I am employed, conducted an operation known as "operation gear grinder." This operation was to eliminate a train of raw steroids that were coming from overseas form China and then being distributed in America.
So this fits into the need of controversy and current events, as well as something I feel strongly about. Steroids are banned under the controlled substance act and are labeled as a Cat II drug, placing them in the same category of such drugs as cocaine, LSD and other medically insignificant drugs. The problem with this is because steroids ARE MEDICALLY SIGNIFICANT! Wasting diseases such as AIDS, burn patients, little kids and respiratory patients are all in need of steroid treatment to get better.
Here is my gripe: Marijuana is less toxic than cigarettes, alcohol kills more people than marijuana and Ecstasy combined. LSD, coke, meth are all addictive and cause violent behaviors in accordance with that physical addiction. Steroids on the other hand, despite the "truth " of 'roid rage, do not psychological change a person, are not physically addictive, and when taken properly and under the care of a physician, are not harmful to the average person.
Then there are the benefits which I will sum up very lightly: increase in strength, increase in muscle mass, decrease in fat, and an overall better sense of self and a better sense of health.
Now that I have ranted, I promise to the readers out there that I will provide more detailed information about these things I say, I will provide research, and I will refer people to sources to learn more for themselves.
Rember, if you have questions, feel free to post them so I can research them!
That is all for now, until next time!
I was pretty well finished with everything I wanted to accomplish today by 3pm, but I was leading the physical fitness training that did not begin until 5pm. At least when that came around life was looking pretty good.
I realized that when I blog, I probably should mention something about current events, something somewhat controversial, or how I feel about random topics.
Today, I have steroids on my mind. Not more than about 5 weeks ago, the Federal government, of whom I am employed, conducted an operation known as "operation gear grinder." This operation was to eliminate a train of raw steroids that were coming from overseas form China and then being distributed in America.
So this fits into the need of controversy and current events, as well as something I feel strongly about. Steroids are banned under the controlled substance act and are labeled as a Cat II drug, placing them in the same category of such drugs as cocaine, LSD and other medically insignificant drugs. The problem with this is because steroids ARE MEDICALLY SIGNIFICANT! Wasting diseases such as AIDS, burn patients, little kids and respiratory patients are all in need of steroid treatment to get better.
Here is my gripe: Marijuana is less toxic than cigarettes, alcohol kills more people than marijuana and Ecstasy combined. LSD, coke, meth are all addictive and cause violent behaviors in accordance with that physical addiction. Steroids on the other hand, despite the "truth " of 'roid rage, do not psychological change a person, are not physically addictive, and when taken properly and under the care of a physician, are not harmful to the average person.
Then there are the benefits which I will sum up very lightly: increase in strength, increase in muscle mass, decrease in fat, and an overall better sense of self and a better sense of health.
Now that I have ranted, I promise to the readers out there that I will provide more detailed information about these things I say, I will provide research, and I will refer people to sources to learn more for themselves.
Rember, if you have questions, feel free to post them so I can research them!
That is all for now, until next time!
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Holiday Spirit
4 years ago, this Christmas, I spent my first Christmas away from loved ones. This was the year I was deployed to Iraq as a member of OIF I. It wasn't as bad as what I thought it would be. Honestly, there were a lot of similarities between living in Baghdad and living in Mexico City. That is, of course, not counting the near-daily mortar attacks.
That Christmas Eve, I lost 2 good friends in an IED attack, one I didn't know the details of until the day after Christmas. I was fortunate to have another good friend in theatre at the same time, who was as close as I was to these 2. Ever since, I have been emotionally distant during the holidays, able to be happy, without feeling happy. Able to spread joy, without feeling joy.
Yesterday, my wife, my youngest stepdaughter, and one of the nurses I work with went to Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO for their Christmas celebration. It was a good time, with a lot of laughs, lots of good food, and a sense of peace that I had forgotten about. Lieing at the base of the 30 or so foot Christmas tree was what I was in need of, speaking in the sense of short term. The music, the love, the peace all reminded me there was hope.
I know I am seriously jacked up in the head. I'll get more into that this week. Maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel. Lord knows after 15 or so years of working emergency medicine, I need to see that tunnel end for a bit.
I am keeping today short , I will ramble if I don't, but to any of my brothers and sisters in arms, comrades in Fire Fighting or EMS, and anyone who has been through severe emotional trauma, know that there is hope in healing PTSD. See you all soon.
-cb
That Christmas Eve, I lost 2 good friends in an IED attack, one I didn't know the details of until the day after Christmas. I was fortunate to have another good friend in theatre at the same time, who was as close as I was to these 2. Ever since, I have been emotionally distant during the holidays, able to be happy, without feeling happy. Able to spread joy, without feeling joy.
Yesterday, my wife, my youngest stepdaughter, and one of the nurses I work with went to Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO for their Christmas celebration. It was a good time, with a lot of laughs, lots of good food, and a sense of peace that I had forgotten about. Lieing at the base of the 30 or so foot Christmas tree was what I was in need of, speaking in the sense of short term. The music, the love, the peace all reminded me there was hope.
I know I am seriously jacked up in the head. I'll get more into that this week. Maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel. Lord knows after 15 or so years of working emergency medicine, I need to see that tunnel end for a bit.
I am keeping today short , I will ramble if I don't, but to any of my brothers and sisters in arms, comrades in Fire Fighting or EMS, and anyone who has been through severe emotional trauma, know that there is hope in healing PTSD. See you all soon.
-cb
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
27NOV07
Well, my day off yesterday didn't happen. It ended up being a 12 1/2 hour day if you count PT and a 15 minute shower.
Normally that wouldn't bother me, especially if I am working on the Unit, much like I was last week, but when it is someone else's crisis, it gets frustrating.
You know what though, that is what happens in the military, hell in most civilian hospitals or corporations it is that way. We have become a reactionary society. The idea of the "Law of Seven P's" has all but ceased to exist. For those not familiar: "Proper Previous Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance"
Is it really that difficult? We do it downrange in Iraq and Afghanistan ( I only have done a 6 month tour to Iraq so far) but in the rear, when we are safe at home, it seems to fall to the wayside. Case in point: Hospitals preparing for Joint Commission reviews. In the older days, hospitals knew about when their big every three year inspection would come. Luckily, we still have a week's notice in military facilities. While the leadership of the facility has a sense of urgency, it didn't exist in the hospital staff until that one week notice came. That means no previous planning, and some places end up with piss poor performance.
OK, enough work crap :D
Personal life is pretty quiet right now, the most excitement was setting up the Christmas Inflatables. 6 up this evening. The roof and fence lights and other decorations will have to wait till Friday when I get some back up from Anna at work. Something about crawling across a roof alone just didn't sound appealing. After Friday, my youngest step daughter Alisha (26), Anna, Jenn (wife) and I are going to Branson, Missouri to Silver Dollar City and do the Christmas Light tours.
Well, I guess that is all for today folks, as always, thank you for stopping by. I look forward to your questions, comments and the like as this blog progresses. Be sure to visit some of the links that scroll across the bottom so I can make some extra coin collecting money!
Normally that wouldn't bother me, especially if I am working on the Unit, much like I was last week, but when it is someone else's crisis, it gets frustrating.
You know what though, that is what happens in the military, hell in most civilian hospitals or corporations it is that way. We have become a reactionary society. The idea of the "Law of Seven P's" has all but ceased to exist. For those not familiar: "Proper Previous Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance"
Is it really that difficult? We do it downrange in Iraq and Afghanistan ( I only have done a 6 month tour to Iraq so far) but in the rear, when we are safe at home, it seems to fall to the wayside. Case in point: Hospitals preparing for Joint Commission reviews. In the older days, hospitals knew about when their big every three year inspection would come. Luckily, we still have a week's notice in military facilities. While the leadership of the facility has a sense of urgency, it didn't exist in the hospital staff until that one week notice came. That means no previous planning, and some places end up with piss poor performance.
OK, enough work crap :D
Personal life is pretty quiet right now, the most excitement was setting up the Christmas Inflatables. 6 up this evening. The roof and fence lights and other decorations will have to wait till Friday when I get some back up from Anna at work. Something about crawling across a roof alone just didn't sound appealing. After Friday, my youngest step daughter Alisha (26), Anna, Jenn (wife) and I are going to Branson, Missouri to Silver Dollar City and do the Christmas Light tours.
Well, I guess that is all for today folks, as always, thank you for stopping by. I look forward to your questions, comments and the like as this blog progresses. Be sure to visit some of the links that scroll across the bottom so I can make some extra coin collecting money!
Monday, November 26, 2007
First day
Well, today is my first day of the blog life. What better way to begin than with an introduction?
That is what I thought, so here we go:
I am a 30 year old US Army nurse. I have been in the military for over 13 years now, starting with 5 years in the Iowa National Guard before I came on Active Duty. I have worked as a firefighter/EMT/CNA since I was about 15 1/2 and continue to work in the EMS field on occasion.
My hobbies include coin collecting, weightlifting/power lifting, collecting Victorian style Santa's, travel with my wife of 7 1/2 years and playing with our two dogs. I have two step daughters, and two step grand children.
Other pursuits include music, pursuing my Bachelors in Psychology as well as finishing my pre-requisites for the Army's Physician Assistant Program.
Political/religious views are somewhat conservative Christian, supportive of the military and the pursuit of education rights.
I think that covers the basics for now. It should also give you somewhat of an idea of things I may talk about, want to talk about and would like to share. Come back and visit anytime, and I will do my best to put some tidbits of something out there.
That is what I thought, so here we go:
I am a 30 year old US Army nurse. I have been in the military for over 13 years now, starting with 5 years in the Iowa National Guard before I came on Active Duty. I have worked as a firefighter/EMT/CNA since I was about 15 1/2 and continue to work in the EMS field on occasion.
My hobbies include coin collecting, weightlifting/power lifting, collecting Victorian style Santa's, travel with my wife of 7 1/2 years and playing with our two dogs. I have two step daughters, and two step grand children.
Other pursuits include music, pursuing my Bachelors in Psychology as well as finishing my pre-requisites for the Army's Physician Assistant Program.
Political/religious views are somewhat conservative Christian, supportive of the military and the pursuit of education rights.
I think that covers the basics for now. It should also give you somewhat of an idea of things I may talk about, want to talk about and would like to share. Come back and visit anytime, and I will do my best to put some tidbits of something out there.
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