Hello everyone! I just wanted to drop a line to update you on some stuff that has been going on lately. I have been busy brainstorming on ideas for merchandise and Within the Trenches, the podcast that goes with the current items sold here. Along with that I have been dealing with some dental issues and I have been in a lot of pain. It’s been a hard week but I’m dealing with it and recovering to the best of my ability.
One of the big show ideas is to have a mixed panel where it would include police, fire, ems and another significant part of emergency services. The episode would give a balanced look at what goes on out on the road, field, and within dispatch. But in order to do this we need everyone’s help to raise at least $1,100. It would go to the extra mics, stands, cords, headphones, and a bigger headphone amp. The extra money will go to a bigger hosting package for our shows.
We have shirts, hoodies and mugs to choose from so help us out, we would really appreciate it! Just go to thejabberlogstore.com or you can even donate a little money by clicking the donate button on the right. Thanks!
The Jabber Log Store | Web
-
Adventure’s In Fatherhood
Being a father has got to be the best job in the world. I mean, don’t get me wrong here. I love being a 9-1-1 professional and all but being a dad? It’s awesome! I have three children and yes I said it, THREE children. If you know my story with my eldest son then you know what’s up and I will always be his dad. There are many adventures that come with being a father and hell, being a parent in general. In this post I want to share some stories with you that makes fatherhood a blast for me.I have always enjoyed designing different things. There is something about sitting down and zoning on a project that appeals to me. Well my son Logan is the same way in that sense. He has always loved Lego’s and building blocks and when he builds something he zones in and creates the coolest things. For example there was a time when he was in his room building and he yelled for me. I went into his room to see what was up and he asked me if I could help him figure out how to make some blocks stand. I tried a couple times and told him it couldn’t be done. I saw the wheels turning in his head and he told me he was going to figure it out. Now, Logan was around five or six years old at the time and I figure he was going to remain stuck until he yelled for me again.
“I GOT IT, I GOT IT!”
I looked down and asked what it was and he replied with, “It’s a suspension bridge dad.” The boy built a suspension bridge out of building blocks. It was amazing! It made me proud to see that he didn’t give up. He has even built stuff from Star Wars just by looking at the box. He later modifies it to his liking but wow! Logan you are an amazing boy and I love you very much.
Now…have you ever heard the saying, “She has you wrapped around her little finger?” Well when I was told that this would happen to me when my daughter Lola was born I thought I would be able to stay strong and bypass it but I was wrong. Ever since she was born I have been wrapped around her little finger. She is clever, funny, and gets into everything. She’s one and a half and repeats everything we say. I find this to be awesome but when I slip up she catches it. For example, I have a bad habit of saying, “damn it.” So one time I said it after dropping something in the kitchen and Lola happened to be right there. I had hoped that she didn’t hear me but sure enough she did.
“Damn it!”
Yep she yelled it in her cute little baby girl voice and I chuckled but quickly told her not to say that. She looked confused and said it again as if testing it out. I told her again to stop and she smiled and walked off. I think I’m going to be in trouble later on with her but I love her to death.
As I mentioned above I have three children. My eldest is 13 and although we have not interacted we have had some run-ins. One of those run-ins was downtown Zeeland while I was recording some b-roll for a project I was working on. While recording we ended up face-to-face. We stared at each other for a moment before turning away. I wanted to say hi but I was following his mom’s wishes so I let it go. Believe me when I say it killed me inside to not say anything. As I walked away I looked back a few times and I noticed that he continued to watch me. Did you recognize me Richie? As time has gone on there have been more random run-ins and most recently my family and I were at one of the Tulip Time Festival parades and saw him marching in band. It was crazy to see him marching because I used to be in the band and I marched as well. I can’t explain how good it felt to see him doing that and Logan was excited as well.
I’m proud of my children and very happy to be their father. There is always an adventure that comes from them and I thank the good lord every day for allowing me the awesome privilege of being a father. I love you very much and although I am going to be out of town for father’s day the best gift is having all of you.
-
Within the Trenches Ep 20 – NENA Conference Series
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Good morning and happy Friday! This has been an amazing week for me. I had the chance to attend the 2013 NENA conference in Lansing, Michigan for 9-1-1 professionals. I attended some excellent classes and met some great people doing great things. In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Dee Ann, assistant director of Tuscola county 9-1-1, an ENP and one of the founding board members of the 911 Wellness Foundation. Also sitting with us for this episode was Jim Marshall with the 911 Wellness Foundation and also the director of the 911 Training Institute.This is an episode that you do not want to miss. The information in this episode is important for everyone and Jim even gets me with a Jedi Mind Trick by getting me to admit a few things. It definitely felt good to admit those items so thank you Jim and Dee Ann for helping me and those in our field. For more information on the 911 Wellness Foundation or the 911 Training Institute please follow the links below. Also if you would like to get a hold of them through the show or our Facebook fan page you can shoot us an email and we can make contact with them. As always you can email the show at thejcast@thejabberlog.com.
911 Wellness Foundation | Web
911 Training Institute | Web
Episode topics –
- The humor of the work spouse
- Dealing with stress and how it affects your family
- Stress and your health
- EMDR
-
Oh what sweet irony!
Hello all and Jabber Log is back with another story from the past. A funny story involving my brother, myself, and the State Police of Michigan. It was February of 1999 and I was getting out of school for the day. I had been debating on whether or not to bring my Tommy Hilfiger jacket with me or not and finally I decided I had enough crap to take home with me so I left it in my locker. I waited for my brother to get out of class and we got out of the parking lot and fast. For the past month or so I had been defying authority by parking in the teacher’s parking lot and I felt like I could get away with anything. With my cocky attitude I was just begging for Karma to kick me in the ass.My brother Fernando (Nando for short) and I were cruising in my 1983 Z28 Camaro to South Haven so that I could get my senior pictures taken and we were enjoying ourselves. I had an excellent sound system in my car and I was bassing it all the way to our destination. The sounds of “F Da Police” by N.W.A. were blaring through my speakers and I turned to the left to see a state trooper pass by me going north. I didn’t care though, nothing could stop my good mood and I thought, “F Da Police” just like the song.
Well in my stupid teenage, not giving a crap mood, I failed to notice that the trooper had whipped around and was now on my ass. For whatever reason I sped up a little and looked over to tell Nando that we were going to get pulled over but he was passed out. I slowed down and I began to sweat, I mean really sweat. It was that kind of sweat that creates spots in unflattering areas. I was looked in the mirror and noticed a second trooper catching up to us. For a moment I thought they were heading to something else and then I about soiled myself when one of them pulled up next to me and they both hit their lights with the one next to me motioning to me to pull over. My attitude changed and I could barely breathe. I pulled over, shut my car off, and put my window down.
“How’s it going,” asked the trooper.
I could barley speak, “Um..alright I guess.”
“You know why I pulled you over?”
“No…”
“Let me see your license and registration.”
I gasped and I swear my ass puckered when I flashed back and realized that I had left my stupid license in my Tommy jacket. I was sure I was screwed.
“I don’t have it…I left it in my other.”
“Get out of the car!”
I got out of the car and I held back my emotion. I was so scared and pissed that I wanted to cry like a fool. The trooper nudged me toward the back of my car as I dragged my feet.
“Get up against the car!”
“Wha…?”
“Did I stutter boy?”
Never in my life did I think I was going to be in this situation and I grit my teeth, placed my hands on the car and spread my legs.
“How old are you”, the trooper asked as he searched me.
“I’m 17 sir.”
“Yeah? Do you deal at all?”
“Why would you ask me that?”
“You fit the description of a drug dealer we’re looking for.”
I stood with no response as he pulled out my pager and cell phone.
“Hmm…you have a cell phone, a pager, and this nice car and you don’ t deal?”
“My parents have to keep track of me somehow and I work and get good grades man.”
“Uh huh, so if I search your car I won’t find anything right?”
Without missing a beat I blurted out, “Well it’s my dads car so if you find anything it belongs to him.”
The troopers laughed as I stood there trying to stop myself from wetting my man-shorts.
“So who’s that guy in the passenger seat and what’s wrong with him? Is he on drugs or something?”
“What? No sir, that’s my little brother he’s just tired.”
The trooper had me stay with the other one in back of my car and he tapped on the window. Nando didn’t move a muscle and after tapping the window a little harder he finally decided to open the door. Nando was so tired his ass fell out of the car and onto the road. I had not thought we could be screwed anymore than we already were until Nando fell out of the car. He looked cracked out, drunk, and his hair was mangled.
“Get up and go over there with your brother”, yelled the trooper.
Nando jumped up and ran toward me. “Oh my god dude what’s going on!?”
I shook my head and looked up into the sky. Lady Karma had arrived and it was time for me to get mine. The trooper had destroyed the inside of my car and I was freaking out. We were told to get back in the car and we did as we were told. We waited for the longest time and finally the trooper came up to give me a ticket for the tint on my windows. Apparently that was the real reason for pulling me over and since I did not have my license on me he could have arrested me for it. The trooper let us go and I was so happy. The following day I was a little pissed that I would have to take off my tint but was happy that if I did I would not have to pay the ticket.
Later that day I went to the eye doctor and I told him my story. Before I left his office he gave me the note pictured above. He told me to present it with my ticket and I would be rewarded. I went to the post and brought my father with me. When we got there the trooper who had pulled me over happened to be there and I turned in my ticket and showed my doctors note. He grit his teeth and I thought he was going to blow a gasket when he ripped it up in front of me. I couldn’t help but crack a smile as he gave me the look of death. I said thanks and walked off in a blaze of glory. I was pretty happy with myself since I had put it to the man.
Years later I look back at this incident and I think, “What the F was I thinking?” I could have gone to jail but when you’re that young you don’t care until it’s right in your face. What sweet irony this turned out to be since I now work for the man. Ha! I now understand why officers do what they do and if you had told me back then that I would be working for the police as an adult I would have told you, “F Da Police”.
