In Pursuit of Happiness - Chapter Two Musings

What I have from me, that makes my life happier

I possess a variety of character traits that I use day in and day out that make my life happier.

This is a list of what I came up with:

I have ambition

I am motivated

I am analytical

I am calculating

I am calm

I am observant

I am capable

I am open-minded

I am charitable

I am optimistic

I am cheerful

I am passionate

I am compassionate

I am perceptive

I am competent

I am persistent

I am considerate

I am practical

I am cooperative

I am punctual

I am creative

I am quiet

I am curious

I am fun loving

I am decisive

I am rational

I am dedicated

I am rebellious

I am dependable

I am reliable

I am detail oriented

I am resourceful

I am determined

I am responsible

I am discreet

I am enthusiastic

I am sentimental

I am faithful

I am serious

I am firm

I am silly

I am flexible

I am sincere

I am forgiving

I have a good sense of humor

I am spiritual

I am straightforward

I am helpful

I am strong

I am honest

I am thoughtful

I am hopeful

I am tireless

I am hospitable

I am tolerant

I am imaginative

I am vulnerable

I am independent

I am visionary

I am innovative

I am inquisitive

I am insightful

I am kind

I am logical

I am loyal

I am merciful

What I have from others that makes my life happier:

I receive the benefit of the doubt

Friendships

Quarrels that test the truths for me

A listening ear

Shared meals

Understanding

I receive empathy

I enjoy time spent with me

From time to time I receive a helping hand

I also receive favors

A hug

A wink and a smile

Shared laughter

The opportunity to help others

Opportunities to share in other's joy

Surprise gifts

Singing songs together

Playing/watching sports together

A quiet night/day together where words are not necessary

Someone to play board games, go kayaking, or go boogie boarding with

I enjoy sanctuary with my family

I have music to listen to

Movies to watch

Television to watch

Books and Magazines to read

Marshmallows around the campfire

Teaching moments

A hug, a kiss , a sweet embrace

The wagging tail of a dog

The purr of a cat

The use of technology

Medicine when I need it

The joy of watching a storm or looking at the stars

Skills that I have been taught

Helpful appliances

Transportation

The Internet

Household furnishings

Utilities

Shelter

What I have done right. What that says about me.

I have done everything right. This says I am willing to see more than meets the eye. "I've done everything right," is a funny comment, don't you think? It might even be considered arrogant. For me, life isn't about right and wrong. It is about learning experiences and growth. It is about looking at life's lessons from a higher plane. This means even those things that I've done "wrong" in society's eyes, have made me into the person I am today. Today I am a better person than I was yesterday. In essence, the "wrong thing", once known and understood, gives me the opportunity to see if I need to change. Change (or growth) is the right thing for me.

What do I really want that I don't have now?

Up until the last day or two, I have held the fantasy of my dream house in my mind and in my heart. I have it designed in my head and drawn on paper. I hear the people inside laughing and having fun asking to come back when they leave. I have thought all along, if I had that house, my family would visit more often, I would invite more friends over, there would be fun and laughter, game playing, chats, shared movie time, meals, swimming and beautiful gardens. My children have scoffed at my house, and me thinking I could have it, when I brought it up. My husband said we could never afford it. He also said, "They (my family) don't visit us now, so what makes you think they would visit when you got this house?" I could/can see my fantasy home as if it were built and lit up. I wanted it so badly I could almost taste it.

Can I get any of these things fairly easily?

What I have come to realize is yes, I would like my own home that has the ability for me to entertain more than the home I now rent and that is in the location that brings peace to my heart. What I have realized I am really saying is, I want those things that having people in my home would bring to my life. I want that location to bring peace and sanctuary to my soul. My primary mission is Love in whatever form that takes. I want those interconnections; friendship, involvement and caring that make me feel included in this world. It would bring me Fun in the games and laughter, learning and sheer pleasure of sharing this with everyone. It would bring me Freedom because I would have the choice of the colors and decorations of what is inside my home. In a small way, it would also bring me Power. This one I had to think long and hard about. I think it would be power in the sense of recognition that in living a life the way I wish, I become a living example of walking my talk, and in doing so, I would have to receive some form of recognition. The form I would like it to take place is in my sons seeing they too own their own power and can have everything they want. It isn't something to be scoffed at. They would know that because their Mom did it, they can too. Is it easy? Probably not, but it is doable. I can have those feelings - house or not.

If the want seems difficult to get, can I change the form of the want to make it more attainable?

I have already mentioned that up until the last day or two I wanted this house. I wanted it because it represented to me the magic bullet that would give me Love, Power, Fun and Freedom. I realize, I have that now – without the fantasy house, and I can do it and have it -ANYWHERE.

Sit Rep through an e-mail group I am registered with.

Thought this might be of some interest as it is timely and in line with our sitrep assignment.
Kris
-----Original Message-----
From: Angela Devlen [mailto:Angela.Devlen@caritaschristi.org]
Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 2:00 PMTo: listserv@bcpwho.org
Subject: [listserv] FW: NEMRC Update - TX - Medical/special needs focus
For those that may be interested.
Angela

Emergency Management, Caritas Christi Healthcare
Director, BCPWHO
President, Mahila Partnership
736 Cambridge Street
Quinn 1
Boston, MA 02135
angela.devlen@caritaschristi.org
617.789.2424
www.linkedin.com/in/angeladevlen
www.bigmedicine.ca/angeladevlen.htm

From: Hal Newman [mailto:hnewman@tems.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 1:57 PMTo: hnewman@tems.ca
Subject: NEMRC Update - TX - Medical/special needs focus
This is a NEMRC Update – TX – with a focus on medical/special needs.


The hospital in Galveston is being used by FEMA Disaster Medical Assessment Team (DMAT).

All Texas State Veterans Homes have resumed normal operations.

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS): Statewide intake evacuation hotline is up and taking calls.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is coordinating status of hospitals in the impacted counties with the Texas Hospital Association (THA), including the FEMA mobile hospitals.

DSHS Repatriation Team continues to return Medical Special Needs (MSN) patients to their home counties or temporary medical facilities. Additional assets have been requested.

The DSHS Disaster Mortuary Team (DMORT) has deployed refrigerated trucks to affected counties upon request.
All ten FEMA supplied refrigerator trucks have been deployed to assist in body storage.
• Orange- arrived, 1 unit
• Beaumont- arrived, 2 units
• Crosby- arrived, 5 units. One unit may be deployed to Galveston
• Galveston- arrived, 2 units.

DSHS MACC continues to track all medical needs in impacted area and has deployed vaccines, trucks, equipment and supplies to impacted counties as requested.

Animal Bite Case Standard Operating Procedures and information on co sheltering and bus cleanup has been prepared by DSHS veterinarians. Texas federal assets total 921 personnel in 26 DMAT/Strike Teams (plus 3 DMORT) deployed statewide.

Resource requests: Dialysis

Requests for additional resources for End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients are being handled by DSHS at the Multi-agency Coordination Center.

Medical Special Needs shelters in El Paso, Amarillo, and Lubbock have been demobilized.

Requests for oxygen bottles/tanks are being processed as they come in to the ESF-8 desk. Other governmental agencies may be executing contracts for these resources as well.

TCEQ is working with water districts regarding boiled water notices and with DEAFLINK for issuances of boiled water notices for the hearing impaired. TCEQ is working with TAHC (Texas Animal Health Commission) on management of animal carcasses.

TCEQ Strike Team Investigated large bulk above ground storage tank that was observed to be smoldering by surveillance teams. Tank appeared to be venting possible hydrogen sulfide from a molten sulfur processing facility. Further investigation will be conducted to ensure tank is functioning properly.

The following cities are currently on a boil water notice due to Hurricane Ike: Sacul, Houston, Port Neches, Dickinson, Highlands, Raywood, and Groves

Public Utilities Commission (PUC): The PUC has been fielding calls with requests for when power will be restored in the affected counties. Currently, we have information on outages by counties and for Oncor and CenterPoint’s service areas by zip code. However, utilities are still assessing the damage, and we only have just started to receive some information on estimated restoration time. We hope to have more information tomorrow on estimated restoration time for affected counties. Utilities have been working hard and outage updates reflect that restoration is ongoing; however, currently we still have approximately 2.3 million customers without power.

American Red Cross (ARC): At this time the ARC is operating 145 shelters with a population of 19,995. There are 105 vehicles providing feeding, served 36,238 meals, 68,284 meals have been served to-date. There are 1,230 disaster workers providing these services.
2-1-1: September 14, 2008, the 2-1-1 system handled 14,435 calls. Since September 9, 2008, the 2-1-1 Texas system has handled 96,823 calls.

Three gulf coast Area Information Centers (AICs) remain closed due to storm damage. Callers from those impacted areas are being assisted by AICs across the state. AICs across the state are contributing 100% of total staff and volunteers to respond to information and referral calls related to Hurricane Ike. All have extended business hours as needed. AICs will continue to work throughout the weekend with extended hours.

The 2-1-1 Texas system continues to receive volunteer support from individuals and multiple entities. At 10:30 a.m. today, our call volume was 5,549. The top caller needs identified for Hurricane Ike are as follows: Re-entry Information; shelter; FEMA assistance; Special Medical assistance; financial assistance; hotel availability; Search and Rescue; food; gas money; ice; curfew; debris removal and evacuee location.

Deaflink: Deaf Link has added the capability of for all Deaf evacuees to be able to place Video Relay Interpreter (VRI) phone calls to friends and family through all our Shelter Link systems that are installed in the shelters and at the reception points.
Deaf Link continues to utilize the Accessible Hazard Alert System for all Warn2 weather alerts, PSAs for affected areas, sheltering areas and the state, such as, boil water notifications, travel restrictions, contact numbers to find family and weather updates. Deaf Link Volunteers are coordinated to assist with the San Antonio reception center and shelter.

Access to Galveston Island remains restricted to emergency responders only.

DDC 3B San Antonio: The ARCC is receiving post impact evacuees and implementing the re-entry plan for evacuees from non-affected areas. DDC San Antonio is preparing to receive 1500 General Population and 900 MSN evacuees from Galveston. The reception center has processed a total of 6837 General Population and 461 MSN evacuees from the post-landfall areas. DPS regions 3A and 3C have requested the repatriation of citizens from San Antonio shelters, 64 evacuees have returned to the City of Robstown.

MASS CARE: Shelter operations continue throughout central and eastern areas of Texas by the American Red Cross and local jurisdictions. There are 252 Shelters remaining open with a population of 38,764. The Salvation Army has 35 canteens with 1 kitchen. The Baptist Men and Southern Baptist Men are responding with 7 kitchens currently and are deploying 5 more. The Latter Day Saints are continuing to provide clean-up kits, hygiene kits, and food boxes.

SHELTER INFORMATION: Anyone requesting a shelter can phone 2-1-1 and the shelter information number, 214-653-7629, will be given to them. This number goes to the Dallas County Homeland Security Office which is maintaining the a-list of open shelters, space and rotation for receiving evacuees.




Be well. Practice big medicine.
Hal

Hal Newman
Executive Director, National Emergency Management Resource Center [NEMRC]
E: hnewman@tems.ca
W: www.nemrc.net

If you have contacts who you think would benefit from the NEMRC Updates/Alerts for Hurricane Ike, ask them to register on the NEMRC website www.nemrc.net

There is no charge for these updates although it is certain we are actively seeking corporate or organizational sponsors interested in building their respective brands while contributing to a valuable service for individuals and organizations involved in emergency preparedness and disaster relief.

Using Blogs for EM

Would this type of blog be of any assistance during an event like this?

From the cousin of my father in law:
The writer is an employee of the FBI in Glendale, CA.


Date: Saturday, September 13, 2008, 1:28 PM

Before I arrived at Westmont College (Santa Barbara) I heard the news on the radio--a Union Pacific freight train had collided with a Metrolink passenger train at rush hour in what was described as a "horrific" collision near Chatsworth. At the time, details were scarce and I thought of my friend, Bureau of Prisons Warden Michael Benov, who would have been commuting by train from Los Angeles to Moorpark at about that time. I hoped he was not on the train and thought to reach out to him. I spent a short time with my daughter at her dorm, handing off some 'knick-knacks" for her semester and briefly chatting. We hugged and said good-bye--I told her I would see her the following week at her Lolo's birthday party. I managed to find the dirt track at the bottom of the campus and with the light fading jogged a few laps in the cool damp air.

On the way home, I sought out the news and it had become worse. The mayor, Antonio Villaragosa, now forming a "Reunification Center" at Chatsworth High School, not far from the crash site, was asking for volunteers. I thought about Warden Benov. My ride home would have to wait as I continued in the darkness on the 101 until I reached the 126 (Route 126). Strangely enough, the night seemed to have become "inky black" until I realized that the dark night was actually black smoke emanating from a fiercely burning tanker truck across the median.

It must have just occured as there were no firefighters, no police and one or two vehciles pulled off the side of the road. I got off the next exit, crossed the bridge and merged westbound. Arriving simultaneously with a "black and white," I exited the car and Identified myself. The young officer laughed, "Bring any water?" In a more serious vein, he said that there were two firetrucks enroute....but there was no sign of the driver. The air was thick with grey-black smoke which was starting to choke us. Then what sounded like gun shots exploded from within the burning hulk. The officer urged me to go back to my car, that there might be ammunition in this truck. I didn't need any persuading. Soon the firetrucks arrived and within ten minutes the fiery ocean of flame was reduced to acrid smoke.

I exited the road on the shoulder and headed back on the 101 to the San Fernando Valley. It seemed like forever before I arrived at the DeSoto exit which I followed down to Devonshire. Black and whites, TV camera crews and eery artificial lights lit up the scene.
I parked the car on quiet residential side street and waded into the swirling confusion. "Badging" the perimeter officers, I asked for a sergeant and was directed to Sgt. Riggs, an attractive blue-eyed woman who challenged me on the spot.

"I just happened to be in the area....do you need any help?" Her response was all business, "As a matter of fact, I will need your help a little later. Can you work with some of these volunteers for now?' I looked out across a crowd of diverse groups--Red Cross, somber looking Metro Link officials, chaplains, health officials, city and county, anxious families waiting for words of loved ones, police officers...

The Asst. Manager at a nearby VONS had rallied his employees and so began an unending caravan of food and drinks to the Reunification Center. These people were incredible--they kept bringing everything they had. But it was not just them--other small store owners brought goods and, indivdually, people were turning up to provide any type of assistance--a pyschologist, a doctor, two teenage boys who begged to help (they were underaged and were turned down) I began serving pizza and coffee to the families, the officers, anybody that needed it. We were soon inundated by hundreds of bagged lunches (peanut butter and jelly sandwiches).

As I made the rounds, I talked to some of the families. Their concern, their worry and their fear was heart-breaking. Most of them asked for news which was scarce--there was a list of 79 people who had been treated at local hospitals. That left about 140 people still unaccounted for. We knew up to that point that there had been 10 fatalities. As the night dragged on, I got pulled in to the stories of the parents, the children and the friends. There was a quiet Vietnamese family huddling together. The mother wrapped in a blanket with a black Chihuaha poking his head out, was sobbing as the father explained that they were waiting for their 19 year old daughter, a student, who had taken this train. In broken English, the father said that they had received a phone call from her on the train at 4:20 pm; the collision had taken place three minutes later. An Indian man walked around in a daze, I pulled him over to the refreshment table and tried focusing him--he explained that his daughter's 20 year old boyfriend, Jacob, was on the train and they had received no word from him. A good natured fellow named Tim was waiting for news about his 46 year old brother--a bachelor who worked for the city. He confided in me that it didn't look good. He kept talking about his brother in the past tense--"he loved kids...he loved kids."

Sgt. Riggs finally caught up with me and assigned me to the Command Post where I began logging in visitors, volunteers and LAPD. Capt. Maureen Ryan swung by and asked for a Diet Coke. Oddly enough, there were crates of water, gatorade and coffee from Starbuck's but no soda. Somehow we managed to find her one...she would need it--the mayor, the fire chief and mayor's staff had arrived. In the meantime, Sgt. Riggs was staggered by bad news--the officer who had died in the collision, another policewoman named Shea, was her close friend. Riggs braved on as she wiped tears from her eyes and continued to conduct operations. But she did not last long and I last saw her seeking comfort on the shoulder of Lt. Moreno. I did not see her again that night and so ended up detailed to Sgt. Bixler, oddly enough a Westmont College alum.

During the night, Sheriff Baca approached me and a member of one of the families and offered his support. I deflected the comments to the family member. The mayor and the fire chief spoke. The mayor, clad in a firemen's bright yellow jacket, offered the little he could. Fire Chief Rueda spoke from his heart and was moved by what he was telling the families. When they exhausted the dearth of information, the tough questioning commenced. Most of the session was cordial but there was also some anger coupled with an emotional outburst or two. One woman awaiting news of her sister upbraided the officials for not having seat belts on the train. A teenage girl began a question to the mayor but was overwhelmed emotionally and could not finish...

The mayor laid it out--the families could wait in the "Center" for further news (there would be cots and food), but he recommended that they go home and rest and continue calling some of the hotline phone numbers. Aides scrambled from family to family to comfort, assure and take information. Then he was gone...as the Fire Chief walked past me, I told him,"Chief, you did a good job in there." He nodded and with his deputies returned to the crash site.

By one a.m., there were fewer people remaining, we were no longer logging people in to the CP, and so Sgt. Bixler relieved me of my post and transferred me to the West Valley group of young officers. I was approached by a handsome, young corporal who asked me if I attended Blessed Kateri Church and had twin daughters. He informed me that he, his wife and family go to the church and he had recognized me.

Cpl. Mike Ornelas of the West Valley Station would be my companion for the next hour or so....he told me that he couldn't wait to leave as there was little they could do for the families and it was hard to contain their emotions. We had run out of things to do. The Red Cross was now the busy component. I would wait for the Devonshire Station officers to relieve us at 2 am.

Finally, there was one young family with a precocious little girl clutching her stuffed bear. Her father worked what was left of our crowd desperately seeking any information about his sister-in-law. The wife, who was from Michoacan, Mexico, told me that she was happy when the mayor talked to her in Spanish. She was waiting to hear about the fate of her sister. She mentioned a few things about her sister but I can't remember--the details from this night, from all their stories seemed to merge together-- "a sister, a friend, a father, an uncle, a student.. they don't answer their cell phone,...the phone is dead...we only get a message when we call."

The green-eyed Mexican woman stared down at the floor and lost in her own thoughts said,
"My sister Magdalena was such a good person."
Ken