Heros

Brant is weighing heavily on my mind right now.  He has been back from Afghanistan for less than a month and will soon begin his 3 week vacation at home.  Brant has been through a lot since he has graduated high school.  He’s grown in many areas, some of those areas he has grown more than most of us will in a lifetime.  To say I am proud of him is an understatement.

What I really want to write about are his injuries. He will turn 20 years old in January 2012 and has experienced more, lived through more, seen more, and survived more than I could have ever imagined during his entire lifetime, let alone within 15 months after graduating high school. Brant’s injuries are the silent, unseen injuries that many are just now learning about and becoming more familiar with.  I thought I would give you just a little information about Brant’s unseen injuries.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Many people today do not understand or perhaps have an ‘old-timey’ view on what PTSD is.  PTSD comes from experiencing an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury or other threat to a person’s physical integrity.  The response to the event must involve intense fear or helplessness or horror.  A person that suffers from PTSD will re-experience the traumatic event and will avoid stimuli associated with the trauma. Some of the persistent symptoms of PTSD include increased arousal such as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, hypervigilance, an exaggerated startle response, difficulty concentrating, irritability and outbursts of anger.  Please know that this is not an exhaustive list of symptoms.

Major Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI)

An MTBI occurs when sudden trauma causes damage to the brain.  Some of the symptoms may include severe headaches that get worse but do not go away; increased confusion, restlessness, agitation, nausea, vomiting, seizures or slurred speech.  Again, this is not an exhaustive list.  As for treatment for MTBI… little can be done to reverse brain damage, but doctors can try to prevent further damage.  Also, rehabilitation services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech/language therapy, psychological/psychiatric therapy and social support.

You might be wondering why I am writing this, and, frankly, Brant is probably wondering why I’m posting about him as well.  Several months ago, Brant asked me to get the word out on a program that serves our wounded veterans. The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is that program.  One of their big projects is getting legislation to improve rehabilitation for warriors with TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury).   They have other projects as well, and work hard to assist all of our wounded veterans.  I am hoping that each of you that read this entry will at the very least go to the WWP website through the link below.  Also, I have included a link that will take you to a page on the WWP site that will enable you to send letters to your senators and congressmen about the legislation the deals with TBI.  You only have to follow the directions on the page to send the form letter provided for you to copy.  A third hope is that you will get involved. I list the WWP because it is directly focused on our veterans, but there are other organizations that deal with learning more about and treating PTSD and MTBI or TBI.  WWP has several links to get involved with their program by one time donations, monthly support or even by purchasing something from their store.  It all helps.  Also, if you want, please, post a link to this blog entry and help pass the information along.  It’s not a lot of information, but maybe it’s more than what someone had before they read this.

My final hope is that the next time you see a veteran, young or old, you greet them and just say a simple thank you.  There are so many that have served in war time, that have served in peace time, that have never heard that what they have done, what they have sacrificed is appreciated. Veterans day is Friday, November 11, celebrate this day by thanking a vet.

Wounded Warrior Project

Veterans' Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvement Act of 2011

One Time Donation

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Couch Wrangling

OK... I am going to submit a proposal to the Olympic Committee, whom ever and where ever they may be, to include Couch Wrangling as a new 2 person team sport.  Trust me... this sport will have it all: sweat, heart ache, competition, camaraderie, excitement and of course the quest for the Gold.  Oh yes, do  not doubt me.  I have personally tested this sport out and it is sure to be a winner.  Here is the description of what the sport will require and demand:
1. A two person mixed team.  Each team must have one male and one female.
2. One packaged Slip cover that is said to fit 'any couch 74 to 96 inches long'
3. One Couch (or Sofa if you prefer) that is between 74 and 96 inches long
4. A referee to keep the timer and monitor the teams
5. 10 minute timer
Each team will have their own couch and slip cover and at the sound of the gun (yes, this is necessary because at some point, one member of each team will be looking for the gun to either shoot their team mate or the couch), they will begin to attempt to put the slip cover on the couch properly.
Each team must work together and cannot ask anyone else for assistance.
To be considered a fully slip covered couch, the slip cover must look neat and must be properly positioned on the couch.  The ref must be able to tug and pull on the slip cover and very little, if any, movement and adjustment of the slip cover in order for a team to proceed to the next round. 
There is an alternative Love Seat Wrangling in the planning stages, but it is unknown when this style wrangling will be available to test for competition.

End of 1st Week...

Sometimes training for a new job can be a bit overwhelming.  The training for this new job is no exception!  The first day of work I was in Austin by 8 am... nothing says long day like getting up at 4 am and driving 85 miles one way to work!  But I got there and everything went fine.  I actually left work on Monday with, you won't believe this, a box full of things to move into my new office with!  I was given several pieces of electronic components that I have to become familiar with and will be using extensively in this job; this includes a cell phone, digital camera and a tablet/pc. And I was given 2 packets of paperwork that included pre-training training and training exercises.  Wow.
On Tuesday and through the rest of the week, I was in my Home Office and found out that I will have my own office.  The people that I am working with now were super welcoming, even decorating my office.  If you have ever started a new job, you can probably guess how seeing your office decorated and welcoming makes you feel.  I don't think I have ever experienced a more welcoming experience. The rest of the week was full of new situations, watching, taking mental notes and helping when there was something simple that I could do to help someone.  Based on this first week, which I have been told was a crazy week and very rare, I think I am going to like my new job.  Perhaps the only thing I may have to get used to is driving 30 miles to and from work, but this is at least an excellent time to decompress. 
Tomorrow starts week 2..... I'm ready for it!

Got a box

So on Thursday I wrote that cleaning my offices out required more than one box.  My cleaning out my offices was nothing like what you see on TV.  Here is an interesting twist... I received a box today to move into my new office...!  Yup. That's right, a one box move in! HAHA.. Of course, once I scope out my new digs, I will be able to determine what all needs to be taken in to make it a little more me, but I thought it was funny.  I was even told I should keep the box in case I don't like the job, so I can return all of my electronic devices!  I almost laughed out loud, for real! 
My first day was very informative and full of lots of paperwork to fill out.  I think I signed my name at least 20 times!!  It has been a long day though; it started at 4:00 am.  Have several more days like today in my future, at least for the next 3 months.  But it will all settle down quickly... I hope!

Dilemma

The first day at a new job always brings up the question of what do I wear?  I know what the dress code says that I can wear, however is it acceptable on the first day to wear something comfortable and casual? Of course, the other part of that question is if I wear something that is more professional, less casual, will I be over dressing?  Tomorrow is my first day at the new job.  Well, actually, it's my first day but I won't be in my home office.  I will be in Austin participating in a new employee orientation.  So I imagine I will be around the big bosses, instead of my direct supervisor. As I go over this question, this dilemma, in my mind, I'm really considering wearing slacks instead of jeans...
I think trying to figure out what is appropriate to wear the first day, when the dress code varies depending on the job and location of the job, is one of the most difficult things to deal with.

Endings and Beginnings

Well, I've left my office for the last time.  One last look behind me and I'm out the door.

There really isn't that much to say about it, but I am feeling a bit bitter sweet.  I have met with and tried to help over 200 people in the last three years as a probation officer.  I learned early on that I will have no successes because if I have any successes, that means I will also have failures.  If I have failures, then that means I am responsible for them.  But I can say that I have enjoyed watching those that wanted to overcome their addictions to alcohol and drugs begin on a new track in life.  To see those people that are applying and working their recovery plan and learning to be pro-social citizens, participating in their communities by working or going to school and remaining drug and alcohol free is amazing.  While relapse has often happened, those that have been serious have been able to overcome.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my job and will miss parts of it. 
I have had the opportunity to meet a variety of people from different backgrounds, including many law enforcement people, and this made my job even more interesting.
I know that God is in this change and I know that He sees where it is going, so I will trust Him because on my own, I do not think I would have ever, in a million years, considered working as an Investigator for CPS.

I also wanted to include a picture of the beautiful courthouse that was my home away from home for 11 years.

My office was on the 3rd floor, the two windows with the blinds only 1/2 way up.

Now it's time to switch gears just a bit!  Ready for the next path in my life!

Not a one box move

So I'm sitting here in my second office, the office I only visit twice a week, and am looking at the bare walls.  Even in this part-time office I brought a lot of things that made me comfortable to be there.  Several trips to my car later, I'm thinking of the 'One Box Move' out of an office that we always see on TV.  Employees that have been with a company for 10, 15, 20 or more years, are able to pack all of their personal belongings into one box that is twice the height of a boot box.  REALLY?  I've been in this department for six years and within two offices could have used a u-haul pull by bumper trailer!  One Box?!?! 
So this got me to thinking.  Do I bring too much of me to my office?  Do over-estimate the importance of the personal touch?  Or do those folks portrayed on TV just not have anything worthwhile to bring to the office?  Did they begin working at their last place of employmemt with the mind set that they weren't going to be saying long anyway, so why bother bringing anything?  I just don't get it.
I'm sure at my new job, once I have been assigned a work place, within a week I will have as many personal items as I possibly can and am allowed!  But lets face it, even if there is a limit to how many personal items you can bring, it will still be more than will fit into a small box!
And that brings me to the next question about this box.  Where in the world did they get their box so quickly?  I had to empty out reams of paper so I could have one box to use over and over.  On TV, not only does the former employee only need one box, but it suddenly appears from under their desk!  Sorry folks, again, this just isn't reality. 
Tomorrow I will finish emptying my main office.  A nice corner office with three windows on two sides.  Granted, it doesn't cool fast in the summer or heat fast in the winter, but I had a great view and one of the largest offices in our department.  I think I will miss that office more than many other things!  But it is time to go, and I am almost ready. 
Change is never easy. Leaving a job brings with it several emotions, as does beginning a new job.  I think if I were to leave a job with only one box of personal items, I would cry over that fact alone!  So, the next time you see a show or movie and an employee is leaving his job and carrying everything out in one little box, ask yourself why?!