Old Souls

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Live Strong
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I have found that with certain people, their wisdom is beyond the "normal" level. They can be quiet and conservative or simply have a better understanding of things. I have a friend ( not ross if you suddenly jumped to that conclusion) that seems hes been around in lives previous and has this layer of knowledge and experience or perhaps just reasoning that we have yet to see or understand, this is all of course if you believe in re incarnation or any close concept to it.

I suppose there is just a certain vibe that some people give off that just shouts wisdom or perception. I think a maturity level has a lot to do with it. As an old soul normally, you hate injustice, and you're very protective of family and friends.

The bottom line, I truly appreciate this quality and wish there were more of these people in this world.

The Gates ( of Hell )

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It's the last weekend for tourists and New Yorkers alike to pass through "The Gates" in Central Park. Though I didnt go and waste my time seeing the gates, I did spend 3 days in the City at points only blocks from them. To me the gates are nothing but a waste of $22Million. Use that money to help cure a disease or support a family in another country.

Think about it people, its fabric on 2 sticks.

Searching

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Live Strong

"This is my body. And I can do whatever I want to it. I can push it. Study it. Tweak it. Listen to it. Everybody wants to know what I'm on. What am I on? I'm on my bike busting my ass six hours a day. What are you on?"

Lance Armstrong
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I am currently in search of a specific poster. Its the Bustin Ass , What am I on? Lance Armstrong poster. As you may know, I am a big fan of him and this poster is impossible to find. Its valued at over $70.00 . It was printed as a limited edition.



The search continues for a less expensive price.

All this searching for a poster hmmm ..... there must be more to life.

Think Blue

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While searching for anti-bush t-shirts I came across a website www.thinkblue2008.com. I clicked and I noticed they followed the Lance Armstrong trend of bracelets to “think blue for 2008”. I purchased 3, anyone want one, let me know. I figure it’s a good cause. Of course it’s not near as worthy as supporting cancer victims or finding a cure for cancer.

Tis the Quandary ...

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I guess I consider myself in the market for a new digital camera in the next few months. Though I have my heart set on a Sony DSC-W1 I then thought of Canon. They make very nice products. A friend in fact has one hell of a digital camera, a Canon Digital Rebel. I with out the need of professional equipment am looking at the top of the line Powershot , the SD500. The camera is not due to be in stores till March. Though it seems to have everything I want and more (including 7.1 Mega Pixels) though the 3x optical zoom leaves something to be desired.

Never the less, once this camera hits the shelves I will be out looking at it, likely at my 2nd favorite store, Circuit City. (My first is Tweeter). Maybe a friend who works there can even get me a 10% or so discount. Thanks in advance friend! :) .

Anyways, it seems most companies don’t see the need to have anything better then a 3x zoom in a consumer minded camera. I wish that they would go up in zoom, but I just don’t see it happening anytime soon.

Canon SD500, it looks like you might be the camera for me.

The FBI

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According to the F.B.I.

• 1 MURDER occurs every 24 minutes
• 1 AUTO THEFT every 21 seconds
• 1 RAPE every 5 minutes
• 1 ROBBERY every 54 seconds
• 1 ASSAULT every 29 seconds
• 1 MISSING CHILD every 24 seconds

FBI PRIORITIES

1. Protect the United States from terrorist attack.
2. Protect the United States against foreign intelligence operations and espionage.
3. Protect the United States against cyber-based attacks and high-technology crimes.
4. Combat public corruption at all levels.
5. Protect civil rights.
6. Combat transnational and national criminal organizations and enterprises.
7. Combat major white-collar crime.
8. Combat significant violent crime.
9. Support federal, state, county, municipal, and international partners.
10. Upgrade technology to successfully perform the FBI’s mission.

Some Snow

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Live Strong
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5 Inches here.

A Taser's Reliability

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I was researching Tasers and I found that I am still unsure about them. I agree they are great but also they are still to new for me ever to get one in the next couple of years. It’s not like I need one exactly but they just seem to new to feel comfortable with yet. On the other hand:


Those are great stats and it’s hard to argue with those. The new taser that is smaller then the first generation has a better range and larger shock. Of course it sucks if you shoot it and the little prongs don’t hit your intended target and you are now down to one shot left.

Easton Police does no use tasers yet as we rarely have any need to fire our weapon during the course of a year. (Thank god). Of course officers here draw there weapon but it’s been a year or more since the last time an officer dispatched his weapon on a person. More time then not they will use it for a deer then a person. Though we do have shotguns to.

“Badge # (officer will stay anonymous) to radio, deer has been neutralized, dispatched 6 rounds with sidearm."

Fitness

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I am pledging to myself to get back into serious shape. I am way out of shape and need to get back to looking and feeling good. I am talking weights, pushups, sit-ups, healthier food.

Now where are my running clothes...?

Last minutes with Mom

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Live Strong
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I often think from time to time of the last hour of my mother’s life. She was dehydrated, vomiting and restless. Her mental status continued to change from good to bad. Mom was an incredibly strong person when it came to dealing with medical problems as she had several severe ones. My family has assumed this was her "normal" problems and she would go to the hospital and be out in a few days.

At around 9:30 am Easton EMS in 852 showed up along with 2 officers who I know very well. They couldn't have been nicer to me and my grandparents. Unfortunately they were treating for dehydration and high glucose levels. Though it was an ALS call and a paramedic met them in route at GE, they missed (though I can’t blame them) a key problem. My mother was in fact suffering from a stroke and though mom displayed the symptoms given her past history of heart problems was almost non-existent the EMS and ER both ruled it out.

Once my mother got to the ER she was put on a cot and had a little room to herself. My grandfather was with her at the time. She wanted to have the nurse come in and see her for what reason, I’m unsure. Mom never saw it coming but next thing we know she went code "blue" and that was the beginning of the end. She flat lined for 30 minutes and eventually came back. Thinking the worst all my family was paged and called. Dropping everything we all came swarming to St.V's. My mother, the fighter she was hung to life for 5 or 6 days and finally passed on November 5th 2002. She had no brain activity and was likely never to regain it even if she came back.

Its not often I think of this as this is the most upsetting to me. Its just today in EMT class we were working with AED's and I just began to think all class of my mother. I just wish there was more I could have done. Regret is something I refuse to live with though. I am strong and continue to carry on with my life.

I miss you mom, but I know you still are with me.

Papa

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I was thinking about how I am writing my memoirs/book and it came to me, my grandfather who has several exceptionally interesting stories of his days at work (mechanic, crew chief, test flight engineer, pilot at Sikorsky). From several strokes of luck by missing flight time of an aircraft that crashed in the river moments after take off or flying in the presidential helicopters in the 60's with and for Kennedy and Johnson. Or the stories of training the marines at Quantico (military base in VA). What about the time he was flying and he made an emergency landing on a highway in NJ and once in a grape field in LI? Or being the crew chief to sign off on an S-76 that crashed which was escorting the prince of Jordan north to Boston. They brought in a physic to investigate the crash and it was thought to be lightning but some still say a bomb was the cause. What about when he drove over 90 mph in a ford truck on a runway to keep chase with a helicopter for speed gunning the engine at low altitudes. Even the several stories he has of the army. I really think they would be great to document. I may be the only one who finds it interesting.

If nothing else I am going to dedicate a decent chunk of the memoir to my memories of his stories and life. I find some fascinating about them and they are simply a great example of someone who treasured their job.

I hope someday I can enjoy my work as much as he did. Not only to be financially secure but to be truly happy in your profession is a great thing.

O

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Live Strong
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Last night I turned on my TV and checked my tivo. I looked at what recorded and I see that my grandmother smartly recorded Oprah for me. Now that may sound strange but the entire show had to do with one of my hero's (that term is used too much) Lance Armstrong. Oprah had him and his girlfriend rock star Sheryl Crow on the show. He explained his struggle with cancer and he talked about winning an astounding 6 Tour De France (the toughest sport competition in the world). Lance also described the true meaning behind the yellow bands everyone including myself wear. “Some may have lost focus on the real reason why the bands were made." Lance said. He explained how they were made to support cancer research and be a reminder to live each day strong. They are little something to keep everyone of us going throughout the day strong. As much as he enjoyed seeing over 32 million yellow bands sold, he was disappointed with the scams that were going on with them, price gauging and so on.

I digress.

After watching the show he really inspired me to want to get back on the bike. I can’t wait to get on my bike and ride all over creation. I figure if a man that was told he may not live from cancer that had spread all over his body and then he went on to win 6 Tour De France races, I can go out and ride more often this season.

Now I really want the warm weather to get here ASAP.

Sick

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Live Strong
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Sick, broncitis.

Success

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Live Strong
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Success comes in many forms and varying degrees. Through experiences comes education. Trial and error.

It's overall a confidence booster if nothing else.

What I'm Reading

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Live Strong

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I went to Barnes and Noble yesterday to spend my gift card that I received for my Birthday. I practically bought the store out but one book caught my eye. I read the first 2 pages in the store and knew I had to have it. This book tells the stories of the survivors who were working in the trade centers that fateful morning.

"102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive inside the Twin Towers"

Then I noticed a book entitled " The Secret Service: The Hidden History of an Enigmatic Agency". This book covers the day to day life of an agent and the history of one. It also included stories of the different assassinations from different agent’s accounts.

...dice

Yep thats how the dice roll.

The MC

Today I was working on a computer in the Media Center writing an article for Journalism and I notice a student walk past the security system (a beeper to that beeps should you steal a book) and no sooner does a rep of the MC stop him. The rep asks him where he was coming He stated he was in Capstone and wanted to do some research. The rep asked for a pass and he was with out one. She told him to either stay in the room he came from or go back and get a pass. Now keep in mind, this is a senior who is willing to spend their time on the computer doing research instead of leaving early like so many do.
He insists he is in Capstone and its ok for him to be researching. The rep tells him to leave and the student protests. He exclaims “What kind of rule is this? Are you actually refusing me from doing research?" the rep looked puzzled and said that he simply wasn’t allowed and had to turn around.

I think we all know that this policy is crazy and silly. To actually be refusing students from the Media Center is absolutely ridiculous. It’s unheard of.

Well the student persisted for 20 minutes demanding to see something in writing that would not allow him to enter the MC for research. The rep said it was simply a rule and he had to leave, saying it over and over again. Finally another rep walks over and says that he should take it up with administration and that his inappropriate behavior was not welcomed. Let me say I did not hear him once raise his voice. He simply demanded a legitimate reason as simply being denied entrance wasn’t sufficient to him nor would it be for me.

After about 20 exhausting minutes the student walks out in frustration.

The bottom line this shouldn’t be happening. Why refuse someone, especially a senior the ability to do research? Well not that I care to see the rules change as they don’t affect me I found this no entrance with out a pass no matter what grade or who you are fascinating. It is though predictable; given it’s happening in Barlow after all.

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Today I got contacts. I thought they would be much more difficult to get in and out but it was rather simple.

Maybe, just maybe

My applications to 3 different Australian schools go out tomorrow, 1 via mail and 2 via online. I am excited by the idea of attending college in Australia. The opposite weather is a bonus as our winter is their summer.

To be realistic, aside from acceptance which I think is pretty much on my side, the $3,000 flight back and forth can become a hassle as its also 22 hours give or take from here to their. My grandparents do not like the distance and are certain to argue that when it comes to deciding where I attend. Also keep in mind, the school do not accept SAT or ACT scores as they are American standards only. They will base there decision solely on my grades/ overall GPA.

I will know where I got accepted and where I didn’t by the end of March.

Pictures are Worth a Thousand Words

Last night I was at an explorer meeting at PD. We had new ID cards issued and with that new photo's taken. As I look at my picture, I sadly and shamefully can’t think but I looked like my father. The facial expression I have just reminds me of my father.

At first I didn’t know what to think as I noticed the resemblance immediately. Keeping quiet and saying my goodbyes as I get ready to leave, I just had this sense that as I thought about this my mother knew what was on my mind. That likely she is looking down on me knowing that I was noticing the resemblance. She always thought I looked like my father and I thought I looked like my mother.

It’s funny that I think about this because as long as I can remember so many people who I met through my dad would always say I look just like my father. I would always nod my head politely when it was mentioned.

As much as I try to avoid it and forget about my father, I can’t help looking like him at least to some degree. Those of you, who know me, will likely be aware that I do not think kindly of my father for various reasons.

I guess its good I at least got a new ID card, and the picture is good, I simply cant escape my genes (which is ok, I am proud of my heritage : 65% Swedish, Caldwell name from 20% Scottish and 15%Australian I think). I have first cousins in Sweden and Australia.

Another Option

I was speaking with a friend today and he told me he is considering attending a college in England. He has british citizenship as far as he is aware and is trying to see what the procedure would be to apply.

That opened my eyes to a few options. There are a few school in New South Wales Australia I would love to attend for the four years. I am currently looking into my options.

Its not that I wont be accepted to any other school, this is just another one of my options.

We will see what it takes to apply etc in the next two weeks.

Still Upset

Lockheed Martin (based in Maryland but contracts out to other nations) has not once in there history assembled or designed a helicopter. Sikorsky has for 65 years or so. Who is the genius to choose a company that has no experience?

The choice President Bush made is an insult to Sikorsky and its employees. All the money and work/time spent on the project for the VH-92 is for nothing now. I am still deeply sadden and angry over the choice. Bush wont even see the aircraft in the next four years ready for flight for the president.