Ben's Life Update #87

[bkdelong]

It's a testament to my complete disappearance from the online community that no one has yet tagged me for the "5 Simple Pleasures" meme.

Name 5 of life's simple pleasures that you like most, then pick 5 people to do the same. Try to be original and creative and not to use things that someone else has already used. Tag 5 people on your list.

1. My son's uncontrollable giggle when I'm tickling him.
2. Snuggling with the wife, (kiekre), when I come up to bed.
3. My son laying his head on my shoulder when I carry him up to nap or bedtime.
4. My son playing with my hand or snuggling when he begins to mellow for sleep-time.
5. Hot Fresh Mulled Cider & Cider Doughnuts on a Rainy Day

You can see how my priorities have changed of late. :) I'm finally getting to the point where family comes first, then work, then volunteering and then playtime. I officially take one day a week to spend with Will now. It is undecribably wonderful. We go to the park, sit and watch some of his favorite shows, or just run around the yard.

Kirky's mother being in CA to get her other child's family ready to move East has gotten me to make more of an effort to keep things done around the house. I actually did laundry yesterday and have been changing the bed weekly though not cleaning the bathroom or kitty litter as much as I'd like.

I don't think I really mentioned that Jon, jdbryce is in Kuwait to everyone. He's hanging out there for a week or so until his equipment makes it over and then he's crossing the border to Iraq. We sent him with a webcam and a headphone mic so he can Skype and have video chats with his wife, jenlynnmd. He's also got a camera and his LJ so hopefully we'll see more from him soon.

While I found out he is going to be much safer due to his unit's mission, I still have really mixed feelings about him being over there.

Many of you know I've had my ups and downs lately. With the holidays coming around, these are reaching a bit more extremes which is normal. However many of you seemed to "back off" when I talked with you about this. Please don't - I wear my heart on my sleeve because that's my way of reaching out and in essence asking for help. So step up the emails, IMs, and phone calls! Every bit helps!

Which brings me to an expanded version of the Simple Things meme:

1. Being able to bring all my friends together for events
2. Hearing about my friends' goals & dreams and pushing them to reach them or supporting them to accomplish them.
3. Learning so much about Disaster Services and taking classes.
4. How my son backs into my lap and puts his hand on my knee when something scares him or makes him nervous
5. Listening to friends talk about bliss, happiness, contentment and other wonderful emotions after going through rough patches.
6. Seeing my son comprehend and actually, logically work through a problem to come up with a solution on his own.

OK, I lied. Is there anything better than being a dad? ;)

But I do feel guilty about seemingly withdrawing from my friends. That is one of the disadvantages to having all my friends online is that they're not nearby to visit on a regular basis. That and visiting them for overnights is tough for those who have really small places - no floorspace for the Pack and Play! I miss everyone.

Just took a Local Red Cross class last night. "On The Scene", which covers what Disaster Action Teams do on the site of a fire or other local emergency. It was very casual and low-key as there were only 4 of us and 3 had been to a few fires already. Is it a sign of desperation that I drive about 2hrs down to New Bedford to take the class? I just feel like the more classes I can take, the better I can help. I love taking these courses. I'm learning so much.

Since there's a lull in courses currently offered by my Red Cross chapter, I've turned to FEMA for my Disaster education needs - more specifically the Emergency Management Institute's online courses. I just took and passed IS 100 - an overview of the Incident Command System put in place by Homeland Security as part of the National Incident Management System. It's basically a standardization of management structure and terminilogy for responding to emergencies so no matter WHO you are with, you can jump right into responding and you're all on the same page. I'm halfway through IS700 which reviews the NIMS itself.

I've also signed up for our regional response system in case of some sort of pandemic. Our city Board of Health is leading the effort called NSCAlert. It's mostly for those with health care experience but at least I can do data entry. It pushes up my priority level in getting my family vaccinated in such an incident and I can use all my Disaster Services training to step into any other roles as they arise.

I contacted our local Emergency Management director, (also the fire chief in our city), to see if I can get involved in Incident Response planning. Especially with winter approaching.

This weekend is our big baking weekend. We think we need about 800 to fill all our gifts. Should be fun. The next week I head to ApacheCon for the first time in about 3 years, HALO is doing press for the show so I get to man the press room, make connections between reporters and technologists, hear Cory Doctorow and Jaron Lanier speak, and see my friend Charel, who also does the BlackHat and DEFCON shows.

...Time Passes...

What a day. Took Will to the doctor's today. As I continue to say - I don't know how single parents do it. I was hoping he'd go down for his nap before we left so I could do some things like....oh....SHOWER maybe? I had to let the dog in the back yard instead of walk her because it was pouring BUCKETS.

So I manage to get him out to the car in one arm, umbrella in the other with his diaper bag over my shoulder and car keys peeking out of my fingers. The problem is once I set him down outside the car he goes running.

We got there and he was great. Took one shot to either arm and was playing two seconds later. Bawled every time I had to lay him down on the table but other than that he was good. *sigh* Awesome boy.

Please....stay in touch all.

Comments

[floppsy.livejournal.com]

"...many of you seemed to "back off" when I talked with you about this. Please don't - I wear my heart on my sleeve because that's my way of reaching out and in essence asking for help. So step up the emails, IMs, and phone calls! Every bit helps!"

Mea, mea culpa if it seemed like I was backing off ... I just thought you'd be bonding & catching up with family on T-Day weekend & didn't want to interupt.

Huggles & glad to hear you're getting grounded in a better place!!! Will call sooner then soon!!!
;~))))

[bkdelong.livejournal.com]

Pah. Not you...you always seem to be around when I need you :) See? look at that fast reponse! I think some people are used to others wanting space when they withdraw. I'm the reverse. I'd prefer to be coddled in some aspects but I don't think many of my friends realize it.

[floppsy.livejournal.com]

Aaaaw ... consider this a virtual coddle ::G::

I'll give you a ring when I get caught up with some mini-disasters around my house.

[everlastingwhy.livejournal.com]

I don't mean to ignore! Come ping me on AIM- I'm around, just mad crazy!

:)

[boopgirl08.livejournal.com]

you know you can talk to me anytime.... email, IM phone, whichever....im always up for company..... hope you are doing well

[caitlyn-mc.livejournal.com]

Warm fuzzies! I am addicted to hearing about how Will is growing up. There should be more of this "stopping to care about people" trend that you are starting. Thanks for putting some stuff into perspective.

[ratkrycek.livejournal.com]

Hi there! I'm a semi-random passerby, noting your interest in Disaster Services, and inviting you to redcross_ds. Thought we could use a place of our own. :)

Go you for helping, btw; sounds like you're really into it.