A Fabulous Weekend, followed by...

I will post pictures as soon as my lazy butt gets in gear but I was self-Indulgent yesterday and only finished a few things.


I don't know how everyone is taking the news but I only have One Question: Why is it that fixing Social Security, which provides for and Protects most citizens "too expensive" to fix but Wall Street shows us their Absolute Incompetence and we are ready to pony up 770 Billion in order to "temporarily fix" their problems? Remember, these folks are the ones who say they "are the experts" What, exactly are they expert at? Will taking their "bad debt" really make everything better or just allow them to Dump their financial "shit" on us and continue on their Merry Way?

The Romans had a solution for this: the Jubilee year, where all debt was cancelled- public and private so everyone started with a clean slate. I'm Certain it wouldn't occur to anyone to do this so I'm throwing it out there. No one can miss out on Profits, can they? Is Forgiveness really possible? This Whole "Crisis" feels like a Shell Game; a 3 card Monty of a thing. and this president (and John Mc Cain) wants us to put part of out Social Security into This Swamp? Chile did this and people Lost 15-20% of their deposits in fees, assessments etc...

If Wall Street wants a Bail-out, We want Social Security fixed for the foreseeable future- let That be their cost and I would agree. but then again, what do I know? I'm only a regular guy.

Off to Saugerties- The Garlic is calling Me!

We are off to the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival! Although it s wet today, I'm sure we will have a great Garlicky time-We always do! I love harvest festivals! If you're local, the weather is supposed to clear tomorrow, stop by and say Hi, just don't get too close- I might have Garlic on my breath, but, come to think of it, so will everyone else so I may not stand out. BTW: the guy whose face is printed on the scarecrow is Bob Yerina, a garlic farmer and Great Guy who shows everyone how to braid- just look for the sign.

Tell Her This- Del Amitri

More from Julia Nunes. For someone doing all her own backup work, she Good!

Now THAT''s the Dog I'd want!

Run Sofia, Run!

From the NY Daily News:

Hero EMT slain in love triangle
; girlfriend's ex sought
BY OREN YANIV, TAMER EL-GHOBASHY and SIMONE WEICHSELBAUM DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Updated Monday, September 15th 2008, 7:57 AM

Jason Ruiz
A hero paramedic who once jumped onto the subway tracks to rescue a stricken woman was stabbed to death early Sunday, cops and relatives said.
Police have arrested the woman's enraged ex-boyfriend, Enrique Pizarro, 25, at about 11:30 p.m. Pizarro was charged with murder and possession of a weapon.
Jason Ruiz, 30, an FDNY emergency medical technician with a long record of bravery, answered a knock on the door of the woman's Sunset Park, Brooklyn, apartment about 1:30 a.m.
The woman's ex-boyfriend immediately started arguing with the pair and pulled a knife.
The suspect stabbed Ruiz, whose father is a retired police detective, twice in the chest and ran off, cops said.
"I heard the screams," said Mario Velazquez, 40, a neighbor. "When the [victim] screamed, somebody ran off."
Ruiz was taken to Lutheran Medical Center but died an hour after the stabbing, cops said.
"It was an unfortunate tragedy," said Ruiz's cousin Carlos Pantoja, 33.
Ruiz's girlfriend had been "harassed" by her ex-boyfriend recently, family members said. Cops said they knew the suspect's identity and were hunting him.
Ruiz, a paramedic for four years, was mourned by fellow emergency medical technicians as a fallen hero.
They hung his uniform at their office at Woodhull Hospital in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Flowers surrounded Ruiz's helmet. Candles sat by his overalls.
"He would do anything for anybody," said EMT Yvonne Aparicio, 30.
"The department is saddened by his loss," said FDNY spokesman Jim Long. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."
In July, Ruiz was recognized for rescuing a woman who had suffered a seizure and fell onto the subway tracks at Marcy and Myrtle Aves in Brooklyn, Long said.
Ruiz and his partner, Juan Rios, jumped onto the tracks without waiting for the power to shut off, pulled the woman to safety and provided emergency care.
"He was the first one on the tracks doing what he was trained to do," said Rios, 27.
He was awarded a medal for "meritorious acts" in 2006 and 2007.
"He was very loyal," said the sister of Ruiz's girlfriend, who asked not to be named. "He was a good guy."

Funeral details will follow. Jason, shield #3805 will be Missed...R.I.P. Brother
His attacker turned himself in and he was arraigned earlier tonight.

Matt Damon Speaks my mind on:Sarah Palin

9/11

I will be staying home today. I normally would go to one of the services or ceremonies that will be held but today I feel that remembering in private is my best option. I ask any of you who see this to say a prayer for all the victims of 9/11.

Henry "Hank" Eck, Requiescat In Pace

Hank Eck, along with his son Ken, were the Friday crew for S.O.A.C., my volunteer corps for I believe the better part of Five years. Hank and I were the day tour and his son would take over in the evening I rode from 7am to midnight. Hank had retired from the Phone company and in addition to having been the Chief of the local fire department, he was active in his retirees association (the Pioneers), the ambulance and other groups. He was a tall, Funny and Hard Working guy who cared about people & was ( and still is) My Inspiration for what it is to be a Great Partner! He passed away yesterday at age 82. Words are insufficient to describe my sense of Loss.

Decency is all too Overlooked. Hank was a Decent man, concerned with the welfare of others and always ready to lend a hand. When there was Trouble-there was Hank! Humility is Disparaged. Hank was self effacing. Manners are almost missing in public today. Hank really was a Gentleman. It wasn't an act, like it seems to be for so many others. He will be Missed.

That Green Gentleman, PATD cover

YaY! Julia is Back! If you haven't heard her, check her ouit on Youtube under jaaaaaaa Love the Uke

Sunday's Video:Retarded Policeman #17

Ordinarily, I like discussing EMS, but this guy has a whole series of these that really are a scream! Enjoy!

Pico and Sepulveda

More Cowbell!

I'm Feelin' it Friday.

I think I must suck at blogs! That's O.K. I guess. Not everyone can be good at everything. I directed a couple of friends to my book review and other posts & no one commented. Perhaps that's telling me something. Or not. I wish the Truth were prettier, more fun or attractive, in some way but I'll stick with it. I'm also sure that working 80 hours this week isn't the most conducive to Reflection, Perspective whatever. The only thing that's working is that I'm not fearful about money and it's a Good feeling, but, like Happiness, fleeting.

Book Review: Black Flies

*I want to start off by stating that I don't know the Author. I looked at his picture in the back and it doesn't "ring any bells" I have no interest, financial or otherwise in this book, other then the fact that I worked through this period for Health & Hospitals as NYC*EMS and FDNY-EMS, after the takeover in 1996 I worked in the Bronx during most of this period but I did Overtime shifts in Harlem, Bellevue and elsewhere (all over the place) in the 5 boros. It might even be possible that I worked with the author, though I have no memory of it.

I saw this book in Barnes and Noble and after reading the subject material, bought it. It is set during my first 10 years "on the job" so I'm familiar. Also, much of what we all went through remains unwritten and who knows, I might have a book in me one day but Anyway...

Right before Graduating the EMS Academy, I remember one of my instructors, Ray Simons, saying " You will be a different person after working in this job for a year. What you see, say and do will stay with you." He was right then and remains right today (he is in our Counselling Services Unit -CSU after retiring) This is one of the many stories of that process of change.

Working the streets is a real "meat grinder" and in between dealing with your partners, the public, the supervisors and all the Overtime you're forced to work, both to make the financial nut and keep enough Ambulances - or Busses on the streets it can and does eat you up inside. There are many sights, sounds and smells you can never forget. Seeing Evil on the TV is one thing- dealing with it (and it's effects)up close and personal is a completely different thing! Cops, firemen and other "professional rescuers" all have this in differing ways. Many drink, fool around, work and focus way too much on the job to the detriment of their family, friends and most importantly, themselves. Burnout is a Bitch and occurs a Lot! Ever wonder why the Divorce rate is so hi? I don't.

You have to develop a "thicker skin", a sense of purpose that will allow you to function in the middle of Chaos, a professional (and detached) demeanor, get rid of whatever preconceived notions you've got and Focus. You also have to learn to Cope, to leave the job, at the job when you go home, to remember to relax and re-charge your "batteries" so things like Patience, Compassion Humor, Love and Friendship have a place in Your Life. Believe me when I tell you this: Keeping your Head on Straight is a full-time job! Otherwise Burnout is not only Likely, it's inevitable. At times, the turnover rate in my job was higher then Mc Donalds! Even now, after the city acknowledging and trying to change it; the average EMT only stays for 3 years, the Average Paramedic:5 years.

Many of the stories of job and descriptions of places feel right on and were similar to what I've gone through. The actual process I assume was changed for dramatic (or legal) reasons. As for Partners: there are as many "types" and flavors as there are people. I recognize some of the "types" he presented but as you go on, all of you change- I can tell you that some of the folks I didn't like or didn't like me when I first got there turned out to be Great Partners and Friends as a result of shared experiences. Attitude and Approach are Important. So's keeping a Sense of Humor. And B.S-ing in the After-hours clubs ,parking lots bars,night clubs and other spots with Partners, the cops, firemen etc...

There was a mini epidemic of job-related suicides during this period. The last incident was last year when someone killed himself outside of the EMS Academy. We have struggled with this mightily.

That all said; the book is dark, like the job can be but it is not at all an accurate reflection of the EMS that I've come to know. Then again, I've lasted 15 years and am still Positive ( I kind of feel like saying my experience isn't the norm and isn't necessarily what others will go through-"past performance doesn't guarantee future results") but I'm not the Poster child for "normalcy"- whatever that is and don't want to be either! A good, quick read but keep in mind that it IS a novel with the flavor of NYC*EMS- not a mirror. I look forward to reading something else by the Author. I also hope that if this was his experience- he's Happier now and has gained some Perspective with time.

Enough with the writing- I'm going to enjoy the rest of the afternoon and take a walk.

Lazy Summer Sunday Pics: Beacon Showboat "Pirates"

My oldest (and best-est) friend Vicki and I were supposed to meet last night and she told me about a show/ performance happening in her town of Beacon. I came up with kitty and we took the above pics of their fantastic boats, part raft, with a working steamboat and alternative fuel engines. They remind me (probably on purpose) of the movie Waterworld. They were supposed to set sail at 8 pm, but Vicki got caught up in other obligations and I had to leave early as my Leiut. called me to fill in in a pinch (hey, money's Money) if I couldn't enjoy checking out the performance with my friend(s) I ought to go make some as the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival is coming up at the end of September in Saugerties and I need money for hotel and garlic (YUM!)

Something to Think About on this fine Sunday afternoon...

I was asked the other day how many of us who worked jobs most/all of our lives and have pensions/ social security / savings/investments built up are going to fare against the millions of folks who never worked long enough to qualify/ lost their good paying job and have lost/spent their pension/never had a "good" job (hello Walmart employees!) went to prison etc... I wish I had an easy answer for this but I don't. There are many for whom the "net" has large holes. Sure, social security will "pick up" some of these but how we deal with now is going to have a Huge impact later on, as the "baby boom" reaches retirement.

There are going to be A LOT of Unhappy people! I also expect there is going to be rampant elderly abuse, scams and even outright murder! So I ask the other 2-5 people who actually look at my blog: How do You think we should be looking at or handling this situation? Where should we start and who should we be asking?

One, two, three, Go! - Belanova HQ (Video Official)

Erik Mongrain: Check him out!

AirTap. Reminds me of the california Guitar Trio.

Today was a Good Day!

I snuggled, I walked peacably in the sunshine, I treated nearly everyone I met well, I was witty and urbane, I looked ahead and saw myself overcoming much of what keeps me (and most of us) down, was considerate of both myself and others and generally have nothing to apologise for!

The YES dance

Fun! and Funny!

Hands Thrown Up « Culinary Couture

One from Lemmonex:
Hands Thrown Up « Culinary Couture: "Tuna Salad without a Name
Lemmonex Original
1/4 cup low fat mayo
1 1/2 tablespoons whole grain mustard (or dijon)
3- 6 oz. cans tuna (in water)
1- 15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
3/4 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 stalk celery, diced
3 tablespoons red onion, finely diced
Salt and pepper
Mix together mayo and mustard in large bowl. Add remaining ingredients and stir together to combine. Let chill in fridge so flavors mix for about an hour before eating, but ideally overnight."