Thought

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There is this rule that I tend to keep around that I think not only improves me as a person but improves others as well.

I have this mindset that you should always leave something or someone better then when you met them. Whether it be a community or a person from a friendship, an arrest, what ever.

In doing so, its critical that you understand the person or society. You need to get a feel for where they come from and how they think and react. I think to better anyone or thing you have to first understand there problems.

I am not sure if I am making this into one of my long term life missions or not, but what I do know is that each time I leave a place or person, you have to see a improvement. There has to be personal growth.

If there is a problem see the person/community through the process to a solution the problem.

Understandably I nor anyone can help everyone. I cant begin to help 100 people and places. What I can and will do is help those I come into contact to through my life and journey.

To improve another human being or society is worth more then gold. Never leave something worse then when you found it.

Title?

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Tomorrow I am going to Eastern Mountain sports, Radio shack to put up the scanner antenna,the bank, get gas, block buster, circuit city and then stop and shop. Fun.

Sunday is the car wash. Please come, 9am to 3pm , Easton EMS.

Interesting Fact

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For Spring

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Spring time!
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I took these pictures in Newport 2004.

One

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ONE

The ONE Campaign is a new effort to rally Americans to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. Each ONE of us can make a difference. Together as ONE we can change the world.

We can beat:

• AIDS
• Starvation
• Extreme poverty

ONE billion people live on less than ONE dollar a day.

ONE by ONE, we can help them help themselves.

Sign up to add your voice to support The ONE Campaign Declaration. You will join the growing number of Americans who are getting involved online and in communities across the country to fight global AIDS and poverty through The ONE Campaign.

Verizon?

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Verizon or Cingular?

Leave me a comment and weigh in on this matter. I would like to hear your opinion. Thanks

Well ...

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That was a interesting end to my evening. Thanks all.

The Decline of Mormor

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My great grandmother who will be 100 this year, is now starting to begin to decline. She still lives on her own and makes her meals etc, but once in a while she now becomes confused and her hearing is starting to decline as well.

Of course I know people loose there grandparents at age 70 or so and its terrible. I am lucky to have a great grandmother and in what still is decent health. I s'pose I'm not use to dealing with very ill old people, ironically very ill young people.

The important thing is she still knows her swedish. :)

Got It

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I got my license today.

Africa

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I've been doing a bit of thinking. Once I get my EMT cert. I would like to not only work with local EMS but rather world wide were any medical assistance is scarce. From the research I have done, it appears though my cert doesn’t apply internationally, they (the foundations) will accept it as a medical expertise of a kind.

In rural areas of Uganda for example, the need for any medical assistance is severe. If I could make some tiny difference, it would make my visit worth its weight in gold. Though I have a feeling I would primarily dealing with HIV related cases, I assume there are plenty of other emergencies. Uganda has more than 1 million people living with HIV. They also have high rates of AIDS-related tuberculosis and cancer.

From what I gather, anyone who travels there to help must be prepared to deal with the lack of basic infrastructure, which can cause critical treatment interruptions and compromise the pt. Basic survival for patients hinges on a consistent supply of medicines from international aid organizations. The more that is at our disposal the better.

I know you may be thinking why in God's name I would do this. I simply feel the need to help. Something is compelling me to go. Don’t ask me what it is, I just know something is.

The danger can be rather high, but it adds some excitement to my life for once!

Helo Fan

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For all you Helicopter fans out there ...



UH-60A BlackHawk Presidential and a S-61 Presidential

LIFESTAR in Newtown, CT in 2003



Taken in Stratford CT, Sikorsky Plant 2004



My Baby the S-76 C



I took this pic. Aircraft flew over my house last year. S-61 Presidential ( 1 0F 10 current I think). Pic has been cropped to zoom in and fit. It is clearly not of the same visual quality as all the others.





Good Old News Channel 8 ( www.wtnh.com ). Local news here




Medic UH60 BlackHawk in Iraq

Busy

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Busy as ever. April break and plans changed a bit. I will update blog sometime this weekend.

No ER rotations this break (I know James, it will be ok) ...

"Front Lines " No More

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I've been thinking. A friend of mine has what appears to be success with a girl as of late. I say good for him. Of course things can at any time change, but for now he seems happy.

As far as I am concerned with any girls, I think I will gracefully bow out from this entire scene. Success wise, things could have been worse. There is a time and a place; neither is right at this point.

Of course college is an entire different story and I certainly foresee more “success" there.

Get me to College and fast! I need out of this area and be on my own.

Damn Disease

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Damn Leukemia ...





( it goes with the entry before )

Timing

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I guess some things happen for a reason. Especially the timing of such things is sometimes amazingly good. Though I have received some bad news (not of myself) I realize the importance of my presence. If I wasn’t around for this I doubt I could live myself.

Though my grandparents do not agree (nor do they currently know at this time) I still firmly believe in what I am doing.

I'll do my best to regain contact in a positive way.

Life

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"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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Life sucks. Need College. Need Change

The Switch ( not that switch sicko's! )

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The dawn of a new era will begin. Sprint to Cingular. 450 Rollover minutes ,5,000 nights weekends. Good Bye Sprint! Bad Sprint, bad! I will be ordering this online Monday.

Online Price:

$ 29.99

Contract: 2 years

Details:

Size: 3.5 x 1.9 x 1.0

Weight: 3.35 Ounces

Digital Talk Time: 3 Hrs

Digital Standby Time: 9 Days

Tour de Cure ( damn french with the " de" )

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Tour de Cure is a series of cycling events held in more than 80 cities nationwide to benefit the American Diabetes Association. The Tour is a ride, not a race, with routes designed for everyone from the occasional rider to the experienced cyclist. Whether you ride 10 miles or 100 miles.





I plan to ride this event. I hope to get a group of people to ride it with me. If you enjoy biking and care to ride an event with me, let me know!

Not So Bad

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Today was not nearly as bad as yesterday in part because its Friday.

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I have often thought about my past, especially tonight. I had a conversation with someone this fine evening; they wanted to know why it is "I don’t trust anyone". I guess from anyone looking in, it’s a perfectly legitimate question. What gets me is how people can be so trusting with others. I suppose they haven’t been in any horrendous situations in there lives. Which is fine, it should be that way, just not for me.

Of course I have more examples of this type of thing then I can count on my fingers and toes, but I would rather not waste more of your time then I already have with you reading this. The bottom line is that to trust you first must make certain these people meet 4 parts of criteria. Loyalty, intelligence, integrity and the willingness to do what is needed to never compromise someone or something.

Silly? Maybe. Keep in mind there are about 3 people who I trust , how many people do I know and talk to on a daily basis ... 50,60,70 + ....?

Bad

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Bad week for Caldwell. I am up to my neck in things to do, people to see and places to go. Plus more and more bad news keeps piling in. What more could go wrong?

TOPOFF 3

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Today was by far one of the most fascinating and fun experiences I have ever had. Likely you have heard on the news of the homeland security drill taking place here in CT and NJ, but also in England and Canada.

Our EMT class went to Danbury hospital to participate as victims in the events. We went through the entire decontamination process and pt. follow up.

As I stand in line waiting to take off my clothes I get my PPK ( Personal Private Kit ) bag open it and the haz-mat guys in the big green suits with o2, hand me my plastic sheet that’s to drape my body. I put on little paper boots and walk into the decontamination trailer. At this point I begin to get cold as its 45 degrees outside and I have nothing but a swim trunks.

Though the cold temperatures outside were nothing compared to the freezing water that was coming out of the shower heads in the decontamination trailer. As I douse my self with water and pretend to lather my self with soap I move through the process while making sure my bathing suit stays around my waist rather then my ankles.

At the end of the trailer, I am given a gown to throw on and I head outside in the cold while soaking wet. I begin shaking uncontrollably as a reaction to the cold. I am rushed to the waiting staff. They place me after 15 minutes of attempting to warm me up, as an urgent pt. The staff at first wanted to pull me from the scenario and put me in a warm room because I was so cold, but I refused and they kept going.

I was then taken to an area which had several chairs lined up. I sat down and a doctor began to fill out my chart that was attached to my wrist. My symptoms were burning, blisters on the right hand and minor breathing difficulty. The make up put on me looked good.

After about 2 hours, the scenario for us was over and we changed back into normal clothes.Overall I would do it again, but hopefully in warmer weather next time.

Trendy I know but...

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Show your support in the fight against diabetes! All proceeds go to help the American Diabetes Association achieve its mission: to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

Please buy one of these as this disease personally affected my mother and currently affects my grandfather. Someday I may be inflicted with diabetes. Please show your support. This not only means a lot to me personally but to all those who suffer from diabetes.




( click the picture to link yourself to the ADA webpage to learn more and order a band )

Info on Diabetes -

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes continues to be a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

There are 18.2 million people in the United States, or 6.3% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 13 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.

Type 1 (what my mother had and my grandfather has ) diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells.