Last February I bought Aikido 3D, a computer program that shows various skills with 3D animated characters that were created using motion capture technology featuring an Aikido Master (with the option of voiceover of techniques). At the time I was still hoping to get back into martial arts, and found the program a lot of fun to check out. It really sparked my interest in the art. www.aikido3d.com
The same company that made that program 5 years ago had also just come out with a program for WTF Taekwondo, another art that kinda sparked my interest, albeit not as much as Aikido. This newer program was much more detailed with the background and the martial arts animated figures (once again using Taekwondo Masters with motion capture tech). www.tkd3d.com
Pretty cool, but I started to wonder if they'd either update the Aikido program or come out with a program for another martial art. As it turns out, they just updated the Aikido program with a 2.0 version. The graphics and details are much better, and give all kinds of good views for the practitioner. They even added a weapons expansion, timely since I just started practicing with Aikido weapons in class.
With the actual Aikido classes I've been taking since April, I've found the program to be more than helpful in my training, particularly with reviewing at home. Now, there are subtle differences in techniques but that's to be expected.
Back when I first started studying the martial arts as a kid, I never thought I'd be using computer programs to help me study, particularly in a different art than the eclectic style of Kempo I was trained in. Of course I've never been that too far thinking in terms of the technological wonders that have expanded since I was a kid. Seriously, the first time I set up an email account I felt like an old grandpa.
Welcome to the future...help with your martial arts training is now a click away!
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
Routine
A big part of my job as a Paramedic involves transporting patients from our small hospital in northern New Hampshire to some of the bigger specialty hospitals . It's just something we have to do whenever a patient has a particular health issue or major trauma.
The three main hospitals we transfer people to are in Hanover NH, Manchester NH, and Portland Maine. In a weird coincidence, it takes about two hours and fifteen minutes to drive to any of those three locations from our neck of the woods in Berlin NH.
At my level as a Paramedic, I'm usually in the back attending to the patient while my EMT-Basic or EMT-Intermediate partners drive, depending on the severity. One example: I usually get to drive if it's a psychiatric transfer, since they just need the stable environment and no real life saving meds handy.
My routine for transfers is pretty standard. We meet the patient after getting all our info and paperwork set by the Doctors and Nurses, get the patient loaded on our stretcher (gurney), whatever you wanna call it. Then we'll make sure we have all Intravenous pumps with us if we're providing fluids and medication along the ride. Portable oxygen. Sometimes our portable cardiac monitors we'll set up to our patient before or after they're on our stretcher.
Then once we have the patient loaded in our truck, I'll get a first set of vitals signs, which include pulse, respirations, blood pressure and an oxygen saturation percentage. If the patient is attached to our monitor I'll make note of the rhythm , and then we're on the road.
At this time I usually talk to the patient while going over their medical history in the packet of info that's going to the other hospital. I'll make notes for the patient's medication, allergies, medical history and what led up to our little ride out of town. I alway like looking in these packets, since they give me all the info I need, particularly what I can and can not give my patient for the ride, and what to keep an eye on.
Once I'm satisfied with what I've written down, I'll take vitals signs periodically and tend to my patients needs as needed. a lot of times our patients can sleep, watch something on our portable dvd player, or converse with us. I've had transfers where I've barely spoken to a patient, mainly because it was apparent they did not want to talk to me. Then there are others where we'll talk non-stop for a couple of hours. It can be pretty cool to learn about someone for the short time you're caring for them.
My first transfer, an elderly gentleman was telling me about his time as a soldier in WWII; fascinating stories. There've been other times where it was easy to connect the dots on "who i know that knows them" conversations. In a small town of 10,000, everybody almost knows everybody.
A lot of times people will be nervous. Can't blame them, they are in an ambulance after all. We do what we can to reassure them that the places we're bringing them to have some of the best specialists in their field.
Once we get our patient to their destination, we get our paperwork squared away with the Doctors and Nurses that are taking over care. We say our goodbyes, wish them the best, then put our ambulance back together for the next ride. Now we're usually over two hours away from home, and we'll go get some grub. Depending on the time of day, we usually have options. Thankfully most of the places we go there's usually a place we know of that's open 24/7. Truckstops are good for that! We get an amount we're allowed to put on our company credit card for a meal (thanks' boss!) and we're set for the ride back , particularly if we got some good java in us.
On the ride back, it's good to have a partner that isn't an asshole. There's one guy I work with who can turn into the whiniest little child in the world. "We're all going to hell, and so's the world, rabble rabble rabble". While this can be annoying, there are various ways to play mind games with curmudgeon partners like this. I'll bring up some of those stories another time.
Usually my partner and I can listen to some tunes or podcasts we agree on. Sometimes one of us will try and get some sleep, in case whichever one of us driving gets tired later (varying on time of night/morning).
After we get back to town, we drop off any equipment we borrowed from the hospital, gas up the ambulance, then go back and wash our trucks and do our paperwork. All in all, about 7 hours usually from start to finish of a transfer. Just part of the job for us north country ambulance monkeys.
The three main hospitals we transfer people to are in Hanover NH, Manchester NH, and Portland Maine. In a weird coincidence, it takes about two hours and fifteen minutes to drive to any of those three locations from our neck of the woods in Berlin NH.
At my level as a Paramedic, I'm usually in the back attending to the patient while my EMT-Basic or EMT-Intermediate partners drive, depending on the severity. One example: I usually get to drive if it's a psychiatric transfer, since they just need the stable environment and no real life saving meds handy.
My routine for transfers is pretty standard. We meet the patient after getting all our info and paperwork set by the Doctors and Nurses, get the patient loaded on our stretcher (gurney), whatever you wanna call it. Then we'll make sure we have all Intravenous pumps with us if we're providing fluids and medication along the ride. Portable oxygen. Sometimes our portable cardiac monitors we'll set up to our patient before or after they're on our stretcher.
Then once we have the patient loaded in our truck, I'll get a first set of vitals signs, which include pulse, respirations, blood pressure and an oxygen saturation percentage. If the patient is attached to our monitor I'll make note of the rhythm , and then we're on the road.
At this time I usually talk to the patient while going over their medical history in the packet of info that's going to the other hospital. I'll make notes for the patient's medication, allergies, medical history and what led up to our little ride out of town. I alway like looking in these packets, since they give me all the info I need, particularly what I can and can not give my patient for the ride, and what to keep an eye on.
Once I'm satisfied with what I've written down, I'll take vitals signs periodically and tend to my patients needs as needed. a lot of times our patients can sleep, watch something on our portable dvd player, or converse with us. I've had transfers where I've barely spoken to a patient, mainly because it was apparent they did not want to talk to me. Then there are others where we'll talk non-stop for a couple of hours. It can be pretty cool to learn about someone for the short time you're caring for them.
My first transfer, an elderly gentleman was telling me about his time as a soldier in WWII; fascinating stories. There've been other times where it was easy to connect the dots on "who i know that knows them" conversations. In a small town of 10,000, everybody almost knows everybody.
A lot of times people will be nervous. Can't blame them, they are in an ambulance after all. We do what we can to reassure them that the places we're bringing them to have some of the best specialists in their field.
Once we get our patient to their destination, we get our paperwork squared away with the Doctors and Nurses that are taking over care. We say our goodbyes, wish them the best, then put our ambulance back together for the next ride. Now we're usually over two hours away from home, and we'll go get some grub. Depending on the time of day, we usually have options. Thankfully most of the places we go there's usually a place we know of that's open 24/7. Truckstops are good for that! We get an amount we're allowed to put on our company credit card for a meal (thanks' boss!) and we're set for the ride back , particularly if we got some good java in us.
On the ride back, it's good to have a partner that isn't an asshole. There's one guy I work with who can turn into the whiniest little child in the world. "We're all going to hell, and so's the world, rabble rabble rabble". While this can be annoying, there are various ways to play mind games with curmudgeon partners like this. I'll bring up some of those stories another time.
Usually my partner and I can listen to some tunes or podcasts we agree on. Sometimes one of us will try and get some sleep, in case whichever one of us driving gets tired later (varying on time of night/morning).
After we get back to town, we drop off any equipment we borrowed from the hospital, gas up the ambulance, then go back and wash our trucks and do our paperwork. All in all, about 7 hours usually from start to finish of a transfer. Just part of the job for us north country ambulance monkeys.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
a year of good concerts...
After my breakup at the end of March, I was set with a new wealth of freedom. I'd gone from being a family guy in a long term relationship and stepfather role, to essentially having no one to be responsible for at home beyond myself. It was strange, but excellent at the same time. One of the things I promised myself with my newfound freedom, was that I'd make up for lost time by seeing a rock concert every month, seeing as how it'd been a few years since my last one.
The first concert was at the end of May. I'd always wanted to see the alt rock band Weezer. This band is geek rock at it's finest. They were playing down in Connecticut at Mohegan Sun. I have an old friend that lives nearby there, and the night of the concert happened to be her birthday, so along with a couple friends of hers, we made it a fun birthday night out for her. A good time had by all, and the band was awesome!
A couple weeks later in June, I saw Cake in Essex Junction, Vermont. It was another fun concert, with a strange family fair type atmosphere. I was there with three other couples, all friends of mine. It was kind of odd for me being the seventh wheel and all, but I stil had fun.
In July I visited my friend Jen in Nashua. Jen and I have the same last name, but not related, and since she was a couple years older than me, we always joked that she was my "big sister". On a whim we drove to Boston and happened to catch Tenacious D. Awesome comedic rock band! Headed by Jack Black and Kyle Gass, the band tends to mix 70's/80's hard rock with mystical midevil comedy. Thoroughly rocked!
In August I went to my first hometown of Bangor, Maine; visiting my friend Emily and her family. Emily, her friend Janine and I saw Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Cracker, Blues Traveler and the Barenaked Ladies. Excellent show! It was also nice to visit the town where I was born. I hadnt been back there since I was 15, a shame espcially considering my friend Emily had settled near there with her husband and kids so many years ago. Better late than never. I even stopped by my old home. That particular trip was also my longest motorcycle adventure of the summer.
Last, but certainly not least, was seeing one of my best friend's punk rock bands in Chicago in November. My good friend Jeremy works as a cop in Chicago, but also fronts a couple different punk rock bands as the lead singer. He'd been bugging me to visit him again (been 5 years), and I told him I'd do it, if he could give me a set day when his band the Modern Day Rippers would be performing. A date was sent to me, and i made the plans. Spent 5 days in Chicago. When I got to see my friend's band perform with a few others, it was apparent at that venue that the people were there to see the Modern Day Rippers. Awesome time.
I really think I made up for lost time with all the good shows I saw this past year. Next year I plan to see a couple shows, but not nearly as many as this year. I think I'll always remember 2012 for the good music...
The first concert was at the end of May. I'd always wanted to see the alt rock band Weezer. This band is geek rock at it's finest. They were playing down in Connecticut at Mohegan Sun. I have an old friend that lives nearby there, and the night of the concert happened to be her birthday, so along with a couple friends of hers, we made it a fun birthday night out for her. A good time had by all, and the band was awesome!
A couple weeks later in June, I saw Cake in Essex Junction, Vermont. It was another fun concert, with a strange family fair type atmosphere. I was there with three other couples, all friends of mine. It was kind of odd for me being the seventh wheel and all, but I stil had fun.
In July I visited my friend Jen in Nashua. Jen and I have the same last name, but not related, and since she was a couple years older than me, we always joked that she was my "big sister". On a whim we drove to Boston and happened to catch Tenacious D. Awesome comedic rock band! Headed by Jack Black and Kyle Gass, the band tends to mix 70's/80's hard rock with mystical midevil comedy. Thoroughly rocked!
In August I went to my first hometown of Bangor, Maine; visiting my friend Emily and her family. Emily, her friend Janine and I saw Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Cracker, Blues Traveler and the Barenaked Ladies. Excellent show! It was also nice to visit the town where I was born. I hadnt been back there since I was 15, a shame espcially considering my friend Emily had settled near there with her husband and kids so many years ago. Better late than never. I even stopped by my old home. That particular trip was also my longest motorcycle adventure of the summer.
Last, but certainly not least, was seeing one of my best friend's punk rock bands in Chicago in November. My good friend Jeremy works as a cop in Chicago, but also fronts a couple different punk rock bands as the lead singer. He'd been bugging me to visit him again (been 5 years), and I told him I'd do it, if he could give me a set day when his band the Modern Day Rippers would be performing. A date was sent to me, and i made the plans. Spent 5 days in Chicago. When I got to see my friend's band perform with a few others, it was apparent at that venue that the people were there to see the Modern Day Rippers. Awesome time.
I really think I made up for lost time with all the good shows I saw this past year. Next year I plan to see a couple shows, but not nearly as many as this year. I think I'll always remember 2012 for the good music...
Monday, December 3, 2012
Where's the snow?
I bought myself a pair of snowshoes, trekking poles and a pair of "stable-icers" this past weekend. We had snow on the ground... honestly we did! It was all pretty and stuff, and it's December!
One of the main reasons I enjoy living in the northeast is the specific seasons. I like the change. I want a white Christmas! Unfortunately the snow we received this weekend was rained out and melted by late Sunday morning.
I contemplated taking the motorcycle out in protest to mother nature, but with all the sand and salt on the roads, it would have been lousy riding. Now I have these new snowshoes ready to hit the trails, but anxiously awaiting the white stuff.
I'd only taken up snowshoeing a few years ago, and in that time borrowed my girlfriend's (now ex) father's old fashioned style snowshoes. The new one's I've got have crampons on the bottom as well, something that will help on the steeper aspects of the trails I usually use. This year I'm hoping to get out on the trails more to continue enjoying the outdoors on hikes.
So bring on the snow!
One of the main reasons I enjoy living in the northeast is the specific seasons. I like the change. I want a white Christmas! Unfortunately the snow we received this weekend was rained out and melted by late Sunday morning.
I contemplated taking the motorcycle out in protest to mother nature, but with all the sand and salt on the roads, it would have been lousy riding. Now I have these new snowshoes ready to hit the trails, but anxiously awaiting the white stuff.
I'd only taken up snowshoeing a few years ago, and in that time borrowed my girlfriend's (now ex) father's old fashioned style snowshoes. The new one's I've got have crampons on the bottom as well, something that will help on the steeper aspects of the trails I usually use. This year I'm hoping to get out on the trails more to continue enjoying the outdoors on hikes.
So bring on the snow!
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