Every year the 7 Search and Rescue Teams in Ventura County get together to to a joint training exercise. We are blessed to have seven teams, each with their own specialty or specific region within the county. Three are mountain rescue teams, based in Upper Ojai, Fillmore and Thousand Oaks. The county also has a Read More …
10 Things I Do Everyday For My Personal Wellness
Recently I was asked for a list of 10 things that I do daily for my overall Health & Wellness. It was relatively easy to document, but as I thought about it, the main reason an “Every Day” series of actions is important is because of its compounding results. Think about it: we know we Read More …
VCSAR Tracking at night with NVGs 09/10/16
We spent the evening at the King Gillette Ranch, next to Malibu Creek State Park. Having special permission from the State Park Service to be there after closing so that we could practice tracking at nighttime. Our team had been issued 2 sets of ex-military Night Vision Goggles (NVGs). I found that I could put Read More …
Standup Paddleboarding with my friend Pema 07/29/16
One of the benefits of living in Southern California is the ability to visit the mountains and the ocean in the same day!! After going for a hike in the morning, I went Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) in Escondido Canyon Beach, where there is a gentle surf entry and a slight eastern wind/current that carried Read More …
5 Minute Breathing Exercise
Box Breathing A common basic meditation/breathing technique is Box Breathing. Also known as Square Breathing, or Four-Square Breathing, Box Breathing has been used to calm the nerves and relieve stress by helping to regulate the autonomic nervous system. Researchers at the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine report that Box Breathing has been shown Read More …
How to have a good day, Today!
There are few things that can impact one’s life in a general direction as much as “Having a good day”. A series of having these good days can lead to a good week, to a good month, and a good year. A series of days that lack good days, can impact us negatively, but each Read More …
Utah Deer Hunt 10/22/2015
It is October 22nd 2015, and it was my first deer hunt in Zion, Utah with my friend and hunting menor, Bill. We stayed at his friend, Chris’ house which is part of a gated resort community just east of Zion National Park. Chris has this amazing mansion that he calls the “Cabin” which he Read More …
Technical Emergency Response Training (TERT) at the Center for Disaster Preparedness in Anniston Alabama 08/02/15 – 08/07/15
I recently spent 5 days a the Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston, Alabama to take the TERT Class (Technical Emergency Response Training for CBRNE Incidents). This class is sponsored by FEMA and designed for Emergency Responders (Police, Sheriff, Firefighters, Paramedics, EMTs, and Search & Rescue Personnel) to train them Read More …
Shooting in my local monthly IDPA Match
Defensive firearm techniques and safe firearm handling skills are a depreciating skill set, meaning they degrade with time. Thus it is very important to maintain some training and stress inoculation on a regular basis to maintain skills and proficiency. One of the best and most fun ways to do this is by finding a local Read More …
I already miss my “not so little girl”…
My 9 Year old daughter went off to an overnight camp today—no hesitation, not even an inkling of doubt. I, on the other hand had my usual parental concerns: Did she follow the packing list? Did she pack warmly enough? Will she be safe? Should I pack her a method of communication? Then it hits Read More …