IF YOU ARE NEW TO READING MY BLOG... PLEASE START AT THE BEGINNING... LOOK FOR ARCHIVES... GOTO AUGUST 2004 AND START AT THE BOTTOM AND WORK UP. THANKS.
DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.
We're into February...Even I cannot keep up with my on line diary.. My blog...
My son, Dan is still at Camp Lejeune, NC with the USMC... Of course, the Marine Corps in it's infinite wisdom has Dan and his unit training for SASO and desert warfare in a wintry North Carolina with 20-30 degree temperatures... The CO writes in a newsletter, everyone is fine with the exception of some light colds... right... Dan says he thinks he's on the verge of pneumonia. But he'll live through it. If it snows in Iraq, he'll be ready for it. We'll hopefully get to see him around the 24th of February when he gets his last 96 hour pass before shipping over to Iraq for his second tour of duty. I can hardly wait to see him... I miss him so much.
Jay seems to be enjoying working at Okemo Mountain in Vermont... Time off a ship and onto the snowy slopes. He's working in the ski lodge rental and repair shop but in his time off he snow boards... Always nice to be able to play while you work...
Well... Newest news...I developed an infection on not one but 2 of my lower front teeth last week... WHAT a PAIN...for real... I wear a full upper denture for the past 2 1/2- 3 years... but the lower teeth have been going the way of the wind because I have been too dumb to go to the dentist (they scare the hell out of me)... and keep up with "dental care"... So I got a Doctor friend to write me a scrip for anti-biotics... (self treatment is great ... Isn't it?? NOT) and unfortunately... the infection was just too overwhelming so my pain scale went right off the meter... I can take a lot... and I mean a lot of mouth pain... but this got to the point of debilitating me for almost 5 days... So I decided to go to the dentist.
X-rays and exam and yep... These 3 and that 1 have to come out... Then we'll set you up with a lower bridge... have a full mouth of teeth again... Tada... That would be nice.
So Today (2/10/05) I had oral surgery... the pain following the extractions is NOTHING compared to what I felt before so I'm doin pretty well... Will have the stitches out next week... ok enough about my teeth...At least I can still talk straight...lol
I'm starved... But cannot eat yet... So here I sit typing... Got off work this morning at 7am and by 8:15 was on my first (and only today) ambulance call. An unconscious elderly female from our local nursing home. Seems no one else was around today besides myself and Rachel, we went to the scene to stabilize... and a neighboring department sent an ambulance and ALS provider. When the call was completed, I picked up Rachel at the hospital and we went on to the dentists office.
While at the dentist, our ambulance company has 4 more calls and other departments had to handle them because we had no one around... This is why we MUST get the board of directors to approve paid first responders during certain hours of the day when we just don't have enough people on duty. They (the board) are going to have to face it one day and it had better be soon.
On a lighter note, my brother David is now working for an Anderson Window distributor in Connecticut, he seems to like it... It seems like a hard sell though... but... knowing David... He'll sell it...
Let's see... OK... no big explanation... but the charges that were flying around the ambulance corps since December'04 have all been disposed of, finally. Elections for new officers are coming up in March with nominations in January and February. So we'll see how the elections go. I am running for Chief again... With the hope that in a second year, we can really institute some viable and meaningful change. We sure as heck need it. Hopefully a lot of the "old" will go out and some of the "new" will come in... Maybe then we can accomplish more. I say this because I have been stymied by the board of officer and the board of directors for the past 11 months. Hopefully membership will give me (and a new board of officers and some new directors) the chance to do some good. Time will tell, as it always does.
I'll take a break here... Maybe make some scrambled eggs... Should be easy to eat...
As Arnold Schwartzeneger said in a movie... "I'll be bach..."
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Sunday, January 16, 2005
Long Time No Post...
IF YOU ARE NEW TO READING MY BLOG... PLEASE START AT THE BEGINNING... LOOK FOR ARCHIVES... GOTO AUGUST 2004 AND START AT THE BOTTOM AND WORK UP. THANKS.
DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.
Here it is, the middle of January in a new year, 2005. I have missed posting here for almost a month and a half... Lets see if we can catch up...
OK... Where to begin... We left off with Jay coming home mid December... He did, Dan was home again too. Dan, after Thanksgiving had returned to school (LSU, Baton Rouge,LA) to complete his present semester and make plans for leaving school, again, when deployed, again, to Iraq with his USMC-R unit.
Dan returned to NY around December 15th while Jay had came in around December 12th. While we were all together again for a short time in NY, Rachel and I took some time off work to have some fun as a "family" unit...
In the midst of this homecoming, I was ensnared in getting a refinance on my mortgage... My brother David (Enfield, CT) works part time for a mortgage broker and insisted he could get me a great deal, better than I was offered in NY by 3 other companies, so I went with his deal. David thought it such a good deal, he refinanced his home, with the same program, 2 days after I applied. My application was held up for some reason and he closed on his loan 2 days before my closing date.
My closing was a disaster. Jay and Dan went with meand at the closing, my attorney made it clear, (not my regular attorney, mine was tied up so he got an associate to help out) he was not in favor of this loan program. The attorney, Andy, a really good guy, was upset that I was never informed that this loan program, while offering a really good rate for an ARM, (adjustable rate mortgage) was what they call a "negative amortization" loan. (too difficult to explain here...) So what happened was (here's the disaster part) we decided to hold off and walked out of the closing without finalizing the loan. Anyway...Jay and Dan and I called around to the company offering the loan, (and others) and finally got the answers we needed to make an "informed decision". Took the loan 3 days later.
With cash in hand, it was too late for all of us to really do anything with really cool, like a trip or something... Dan had to report in to Gulfport (USMC-R) by January 3rd... We did get to make one quick run to see my brother and go to Moheghan Sun Casino (CT) afterwards... We had fun... Dropped a few hundred bucks and went on home.
Prior to this time, by about a week, my Brother David had to have a kidney removed. Had a large tumor (benign, thank G-d) on it and Doc's thought it best to remove it.
My brother David... "always in tune" rests in his hospital room after his surgery to remove a kidney. David goes no where without his music...lol
He's healing though it's a slow process. We visited David again before sending Dan off to war for the second time.
OK... to now it's the beginning of January, Dan is in Gulfport MS, with his USMC-R unit, preparing to deploy, first to Camp LeJune, NC. For about 45 days... Then on to Iraq. Understand, that most USMC-R units are made up of local guys, civilians all month except for the 2 1/2 days of "drill" per month. So most have no problem having their families come to the unit to see them off when deploying. For us, it's a little different. We had to arrange round-trip air travel for the three of us, (Rachel Jay and me) plus a rental car in New Orleans for the trip to Gulfport, plus a hotel. Dan was to leave on the morning of January 9th, and we flew down on the 7th. We were able to be with Dan, on and off the evening of the 7th... Most of the Day on the 8th and were able to be with him, to see him off on the buses in the early morning hours of January 9th. The great time we had in the few hours we were with Dan will fill another whole blog entry. But, our Marine will not soon forget the family send off he got that January morning.
I have much more to add and write... But it will have to wait. Later...
DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.
Here it is, the middle of January in a new year, 2005. I have missed posting here for almost a month and a half... Lets see if we can catch up...
OK... Where to begin... We left off with Jay coming home mid December... He did, Dan was home again too. Dan, after Thanksgiving had returned to school (LSU, Baton Rouge,LA) to complete his present semester and make plans for leaving school, again, when deployed, again, to Iraq with his USMC-R unit.
Dan returned to NY around December 15th while Jay had came in around December 12th. While we were all together again for a short time in NY, Rachel and I took some time off work to have some fun as a "family" unit...
In the midst of this homecoming, I was ensnared in getting a refinance on my mortgage... My brother David (Enfield, CT) works part time for a mortgage broker and insisted he could get me a great deal, better than I was offered in NY by 3 other companies, so I went with his deal. David thought it such a good deal, he refinanced his home, with the same program, 2 days after I applied. My application was held up for some reason and he closed on his loan 2 days before my closing date.
My closing was a disaster. Jay and Dan went with meand at the closing, my attorney made it clear, (not my regular attorney, mine was tied up so he got an associate to help out) he was not in favor of this loan program. The attorney, Andy, a really good guy, was upset that I was never informed that this loan program, while offering a really good rate for an ARM, (adjustable rate mortgage) was what they call a "negative amortization" loan. (too difficult to explain here...) So what happened was (here's the disaster part) we decided to hold off and walked out of the closing without finalizing the loan. Anyway...Jay and Dan and I called around to the company offering the loan, (and others) and finally got the answers we needed to make an "informed decision". Took the loan 3 days later.
With cash in hand, it was too late for all of us to really do anything with really cool, like a trip or something... Dan had to report in to Gulfport (USMC-R) by January 3rd... We did get to make one quick run to see my brother and go to Moheghan Sun Casino (CT) afterwards... We had fun... Dropped a few hundred bucks and went on home.
Prior to this time, by about a week, my Brother David had to have a kidney removed. Had a large tumor (benign, thank G-d) on it and Doc's thought it best to remove it.
My brother David... "always in tune" rests in his hospital room after his surgery to remove a kidney. David goes no where without his music...lol
He's healing though it's a slow process. We visited David again before sending Dan off to war for the second time.
OK... to now it's the beginning of January, Dan is in Gulfport MS, with his USMC-R unit, preparing to deploy, first to Camp LeJune, NC. For about 45 days... Then on to Iraq. Understand, that most USMC-R units are made up of local guys, civilians all month except for the 2 1/2 days of "drill" per month. So most have no problem having their families come to the unit to see them off when deploying. For us, it's a little different. We had to arrange round-trip air travel for the three of us, (Rachel Jay and me) plus a rental car in New Orleans for the trip to Gulfport, plus a hotel. Dan was to leave on the morning of January 9th, and we flew down on the 7th. We were able to be with Dan, on and off the evening of the 7th... Most of the Day on the 8th and were able to be with him, to see him off on the buses in the early morning hours of January 9th. The great time we had in the few hours we were with Dan will fill another whole blog entry. But, our Marine will not soon forget the family send off he got that January morning.
I have much more to add and write... But it will have to wait. Later...
Thursday, December 02, 2004
JAY'S COMING HOME!
IF YOU ARE NEW TO READING MY BLOG... PLEASE START AT THE BEGINNING... LOOK FOR ARCHIVES... GOTO AUGUST 2004 AND START AT THE BOTTOM AND WORK UP. THANKS.
Talked to Jay today on the phone... He's now in Puerto Rico...Last stop on the ship's tour... He's flying home December 12th... to Islip no less...sing now... I'm so excited...lol more later...
Talked to Jay today on the phone... He's now in Puerto Rico...Last stop on the ship's tour... He's flying home December 12th... to Islip no less...sing now... I'm so excited...lol more later...
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Wow... 2 Posts in 2 Days...
IF YOU ARE NEW TO READING MY BLOG... PLEASE START AT THE BEGINNING... LOOK FOR ARCHIVES... GOTO AUGUST 2004 AND START AT THE BOTTOM AND WORK UP. THANKS.
Well... It's been a few hours since my last post... Lots went on... Had 2 different mortgage companies try to convince me to pay 2-4 points for a refinance... Mind you at very good rates... Then I called my brother to bounce the deals off him... (he's in the mortgage broker game and I had completely forgotten that...lol)
Well his company beat both of the others I had talked to... ( less points and lower rate) and I was so close to saying ok to either of the 2 I had previously spoken to... Close enough that the appraisers had called to set up appointments... Whew... I'm lucky my brother stepped in, in time.
Getting a sweet-heart deal through David, my brother [poor guy just had a tooth pulled when I talked to him]and his associate Doug... So should be sitting pretty, pretty soon... lol Time will tell... On we go...
Well... It's been a few hours since my last post... Lots went on... Had 2 different mortgage companies try to convince me to pay 2-4 points for a refinance... Mind you at very good rates... Then I called my brother to bounce the deals off him... (he's in the mortgage broker game and I had completely forgotten that...lol)
Well his company beat both of the others I had talked to... ( less points and lower rate) and I was so close to saying ok to either of the 2 I had previously spoken to... Close enough that the appraisers had called to set up appointments... Whew... I'm lucky my brother stepped in, in time.
Getting a sweet-heart deal through David, my brother [poor guy just had a tooth pulled when I talked to him]and his associate Doug... So should be sitting pretty, pretty soon... lol Time will tell... On we go...
NOW IT'S CONFIRMED
IF YOU ARE NEW TO READING MY BLOG... PLEASE START AT THE BEGINNING... LOOK FOR ARCHIVES... GOTO AUGUST 2004 AND START AT THE BOTTOM AND WORK UP. THANKS.
My son Dan, the Marine, called. He had a great time sailing with his brother Jay on the tall ship, the Harvey Gamage. 7 days, from Georgia to the Bahamas and San Salvador... I'm so glad they had time together. The main reason is that as brothers go, they are very close. But, the underlying reason is that Dan got confirmation that he is to report to Gulfport on January 5, 2005, for re-deployment to Iraq.
Again, our world is turned upside down with doubt and worry for Dan's safety. But as Dan puts it, he's a Marine and goes and does what Marines do. He volunteered for this re-deployment.
Dan attended the Marine Corps Birthday Ball in Gulfport on November 13th. He said it was nice, plus he got to wear his dress blues, repleat with the blood stripe of a Corporal, USMC. I'm so proud of him.
Dan's coming home for Thanksgiving... we'll have a big dinner with about 19 friends and family present. Jay won't be able to make it, as he'll still be sailing on the Gamage, but he'll be home for awhile, mid December.
Dan also advised he received another certificate of commendation from the Marine Corps, for his action and contributions at Blount Island, FL., refurbishing Amphibious Assault Tracks and A1A Abrahms tanks... He even cleaned up and rehabbed the track he used in Iraq. Now you can see why I am so proud of him.
While I have not written about Jay alot, (there's alot I don't know about what he's doing) I'm very proud of him too... He is a caring, intellegent young man who is contributing to the education of other young people. As far as Rachel is concerned, proud is a simplfied statement for how I feel about her work as a volunteer EMT. Rachel is presently re-certifying her EMT and is also in an EMT-CC class. EMT-CC is a critical care provider status capable of administering IV therapy, medications and much much more. She'll be a great EMT-CC.
So there you have my latest update. I'm not wealthy, money wise, but I am a very, very, rich man. Later...
My son Dan, the Marine, called. He had a great time sailing with his brother Jay on the tall ship, the Harvey Gamage. 7 days, from Georgia to the Bahamas and San Salvador... I'm so glad they had time together. The main reason is that as brothers go, they are very close. But, the underlying reason is that Dan got confirmation that he is to report to Gulfport on January 5, 2005, for re-deployment to Iraq.
Again, our world is turned upside down with doubt and worry for Dan's safety. But as Dan puts it, he's a Marine and goes and does what Marines do. He volunteered for this re-deployment.
Dan attended the Marine Corps Birthday Ball in Gulfport on November 13th. He said it was nice, plus he got to wear his dress blues, repleat with the blood stripe of a Corporal, USMC. I'm so proud of him.
Dan's coming home for Thanksgiving... we'll have a big dinner with about 19 friends and family present. Jay won't be able to make it, as he'll still be sailing on the Gamage, but he'll be home for awhile, mid December.
Dan also advised he received another certificate of commendation from the Marine Corps, for his action and contributions at Blount Island, FL., refurbishing Amphibious Assault Tracks and A1A Abrahms tanks... He even cleaned up and rehabbed the track he used in Iraq. Now you can see why I am so proud of him.
While I have not written about Jay alot, (there's alot I don't know about what he's doing) I'm very proud of him too... He is a caring, intellegent young man who is contributing to the education of other young people. As far as Rachel is concerned, proud is a simplfied statement for how I feel about her work as a volunteer EMT. Rachel is presently re-certifying her EMT and is also in an EMT-CC class. EMT-CC is a critical care provider status capable of administering IV therapy, medications and much much more. She'll be a great EMT-CC.
So there you have my latest update. I'm not wealthy, money wise, but I am a very, very, rich man. Later...
Monday, November 08, 2004
It's November... and already it starts....
IF YOU ARE NEW TO READING MY BLOG... PLEASE START AT THE BEGINNING... LOOK FOR ARCHIVES... GOTO AUGUST 2004 AND START AT THE BOTTOM AND WORK UP. THANKS
DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.
Well... here it is November and it's started... elections are not until March 2005 but the mumblings and rumblings of "Who's running??" and "I think I will" and "is he running?" are rampant.
So what will I do?? I'm waiting to see where some of the current dust settles... With all that I have learned so far in being Chief for the last 6 months, I think I could accomplish more in a second year, given the opportunity. I have heard good things from a lot of people that I originally thought were loyal to the past regime... people who are complimenting me on things I am trying to change...and are surprised to see the truth of how things were previously. It's really interesting...
I would really like to see changes in the officer leadership...get some people on board who have the time to do the job...who will come out and be visible.So with different people saying they are or are not "in the race" it's anyones guess as to who will actually show up to the starting gate. Time will tell...
DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.
Well... here it is November and it's started... elections are not until March 2005 but the mumblings and rumblings of "Who's running??" and "I think I will" and "is he running?" are rampant.
So what will I do?? I'm waiting to see where some of the current dust settles... With all that I have learned so far in being Chief for the last 6 months, I think I could accomplish more in a second year, given the opportunity. I have heard good things from a lot of people that I originally thought were loyal to the past regime... people who are complimenting me on things I am trying to change...and are surprised to see the truth of how things were previously. It's really interesting...
I would really like to see changes in the officer leadership...get some people on board who have the time to do the job...who will come out and be visible.So with different people saying they are or are not "in the race" it's anyones guess as to who will actually show up to the starting gate. Time will tell...
Sunday, November 07, 2004
More news on Dan ... and Jay...
IF YOU ARE NEW TO READING MY BLOG... PLEASE START AT THE BEGINNING... LOOK FOR ARCHIVES... GOTO AUGUST 2004 AND START AT THE BOTTOM AND WORK UP. THANKS.
Dan's been kinda down in the dumps lately... with finding out his life is to be turned upside down again since he'll be re-called to IRAQ in January,2005.(USMC-R) This means leaving school again...putting life on hold... cell phone on vacation...credit cards on hold with SSA. (soldiers & sailors act)... In general... phooooey...
So, Jay, (oldest son, 26) sailing on the Harvey Gamage... tall ship (teaching vessel) calls Dan and since he's going to be anchored off the coast of Georgia for a few days, come visit... So Dan, ever ready for travel and adventure is off for the 10 hr+ drive to Georgia from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Dan (21) arrives, meets with Jay, they spend quality time together (between their two schedules, these very close brothers have not seen each other for any length of time in the past 6 months or so). Dan gets to see the ship... and ends up being invited to join them for the next 10-14 days... sailing to the Bahamas and San Salvador. WOW... What an opportunity...
Three possible problems...one.. Dan has a USMC-R drill during that time, but he has a satisfactory year since he did extra active duty at Blount Island, Fl. So he calls the base and his platoon Sgt gives him the green light to miss the drill... one down... Two was the question of whether or not Dan would need his passport anywhere along the way... Captain say... nope... Three, school... Dan says no problem, can make up the work... ok then...
Dan calls me, says don't laugh... but... Then he lays it all out. Should I go he asks? I've told my kids from early on (after their Mom had passed away)... we are never sure of what tomorrow will bring... in your lives there should be NO shoulda, coulda, woulda's... If it's not illegal and won't hurt anyone... go for it... And so he's presently sailing on a tall ship with his older brother... I am so happy for him...You go Dan... Thanks Jay!
Somewhere in the Caribbean, Dan (left) and Jay (with guitar) sing Harry Chapin songs...
I hope to hear from them soon. Dan is going to have to hop a flight (hopefully a military jump) from southern Florida to Georgia to get back to his car... and return to Baton Rouge... and back to school.
He'll be home for Thanks Giving... and the family will be here to be with him before he goes back to IRAQ (Jay won't be able to make it as he'll still be on the ship) More about Thanks Giving later... Sometimes life's little pleasures can mean so much.
Dan's been kinda down in the dumps lately... with finding out his life is to be turned upside down again since he'll be re-called to IRAQ in January,2005.(USMC-R) This means leaving school again...putting life on hold... cell phone on vacation...credit cards on hold with SSA. (soldiers & sailors act)... In general... phooooey...
So, Jay, (oldest son, 26) sailing on the Harvey Gamage... tall ship (teaching vessel) calls Dan and since he's going to be anchored off the coast of Georgia for a few days, come visit... So Dan, ever ready for travel and adventure is off for the 10 hr+ drive to Georgia from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Dan (21) arrives, meets with Jay, they spend quality time together (between their two schedules, these very close brothers have not seen each other for any length of time in the past 6 months or so). Dan gets to see the ship... and ends up being invited to join them for the next 10-14 days... sailing to the Bahamas and San Salvador. WOW... What an opportunity...
Three possible problems...one.. Dan has a USMC-R drill during that time, but he has a satisfactory year since he did extra active duty at Blount Island, Fl. So he calls the base and his platoon Sgt gives him the green light to miss the drill... one down... Two was the question of whether or not Dan would need his passport anywhere along the way... Captain say... nope... Three, school... Dan says no problem, can make up the work... ok then...
Dan calls me, says don't laugh... but... Then he lays it all out. Should I go he asks? I've told my kids from early on (after their Mom had passed away)... we are never sure of what tomorrow will bring... in your lives there should be NO shoulda, coulda, woulda's... If it's not illegal and won't hurt anyone... go for it... And so he's presently sailing on a tall ship with his older brother... I am so happy for him...You go Dan... Thanks Jay!
Somewhere in the Caribbean, Dan (left) and Jay (with guitar) sing Harry Chapin songs...
I hope to hear from them soon. Dan is going to have to hop a flight (hopefully a military jump) from southern Florida to Georgia to get back to his car... and return to Baton Rouge... and back to school.
He'll be home for Thanks Giving... and the family will be here to be with him before he goes back to IRAQ (Jay won't be able to make it as he'll still be on the ship) More about Thanks Giving later... Sometimes life's little pleasures can mean so much.
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