Back? Maybe?

Hi all,

So I'd be suprised if anyone is still visiting here.  My apologies to anyone who was attached that felt abandoned.  It was not my intention to ditch this project, it just sort of happened.  I think perhaps as things changed in life, this blog was no longer serving the purpose it started with.  In any case, I'm feeling some need to come back to it now.  I can't quite explain why, but here I am.  I'm lucky I even remember the password as it's apparently been well over a year...

If anyone has found themselves back here who might have been reading in the past, I'll give you some updates.

The job: I'm now in a high level management position at my agency.  Not sure how that happened, but hey, if they offer to pay you more to do something, it's hard to say no, even if you're not quite sure (or at all sure) you're qualified.

School: I'm now halfway done with my masters degree.  It's a very credity heavy counseling program, but a good program and I am largely enjoying it, though not always the work that come with it.

Love life: Dating a guy since early this past summer.

Gay life: Still mostly in the closet here.  Out to good friends and one member of my EMS agency and one co-worker.  Unfortuantely I am not out at work or in general within the EMS world.  At school, it seems to be a bit of a mixed bag.  I don't really talk about it but I don't exactly hide it either.  I think perhaps this is the reason I'm back.  I would really like to change this and am slowly making plans to do so.  Do I smell a 2010 New Year's resolution...?  Time will tell...

And now a link to something you might all enjoy at one of my favorite blogs...
http://gayguystraightguy.blogspot.com/2009/12/straight-guy-this-is-great-get-people.html

Memorial Day

It's hard to believe it's Memorial Day yet again. And yet again, I am struck by how Memorial Day falls at such a hopeful time of year. The weather is getting warmer and we're seeing more of the sun. Things are starting to turn green again. There is a sort of hopeful and joyous feel to the season. I think this is really what Memorial Day should be about. We remember those who have died during or after serving this nation and others. Despite a falling housing market and rising food and gas prices, we still live in one of the greatest nations on this planet. We ought to remember those who have sacrificed for us and be hopeful for the future they have fought for.

As an EMS officer on a fire department, I also ask that in addition to the brave men and women we honor who wore military uniforms, that we remember those who serve in fire and EMS departments and who have given their lives for others. So far this year, there have been five line of duty EMS deaths as well as forty-eight firefighter line of duty deaths including that of Raymond Barrett Sr. here in my own state of NJ.

Hi There!

What you need to know about me in order to read this blog.

1. I'm new to this.  I hope this will be a fun little project but please be patient as I figure things out.

2. I just graduated college with a degree in psychology (which it turns out is good for everything and nothing all at the same time).

3. I'm a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).  Some of what I write about might only be fun or funny to others in EMS but I will try not to go overboard.  As an EMT, by default, I have a sense of humor that's a little "off."

4. I'm a half out of the closet gay guy.

5. I want to hear from people who read this and would love links to other blogs.