What are your summer plans?

My plans for summer this year are to work, play soccer, camp once or twice, visit family, and celebrate my birthday.
I am looking to get a job that will help me pay for my next semester at Butte College. So far my father-in-law offered me a job assisting my wife in a distribution business that they are working side-by-side. The job duties include taking orders from customers nation wide, going to the shipping area, and sending out products related to price marking. The other job I was considering was construction. I have experience in construction, which entails concrete work, carpentry, and painting. Construction will allow me to work outdoors, but the heat may become an issue in the summer. After weighing out my options I think I will take my father-in-law up on the job offer. This will get me involved with a family business that is small but profitable and will allow me to spend time with my wonderful wife, Casey.
The second plan that I have for summer is playing soccer. Since I have lived in Chico, I have not had the privilege to spend a full summer here. I have always been away in the mountains where the temperature is fifteen to twenty degrees cooler. I enjoy playing soccer, but my main focus will be staying hydrated, for me this will be the key in order to survive a season of summertime soccer.
Another plan that I have for summer is to go camping with some old high school and childhood friends. I am looking forward to this, because I have rarely seen my friends since I moved into the Chico area. I am from Santa Rosa, so Chico is not very far away, but at times it becomes difficult to visit friends. We are going to Lake Mendocino for the first weekend in June. There will be fishing, boating, sports, and relaxing. This is my idea of a relaxing weekend.
The final event that I am looking forward to is seeing my family and having my birthday in the middle of July. During the month of July, my family puts on a huge reunion that includes a band, food, drinks and fun for all ages.

Are environmental issues important to you? Why? What do you do to protect the environment?

The issues of the environment are very important to me. Some of my reasons are personal and others are directed towards the balance of the planet. In my life I have seen beautiful places in North America. Traveling as far east as Louisiana to Montana, and as far south as Mexico, there are many other places I would love to see. These different landscapes have their own unique beauty about them. Someday I hope that my children and grandchildren are able to enjoy such sights as I have.
A specific memory pops into my mind when I think about the environmental issues at hand. One day I was in Yosemite National Park working when a car passed with a bumper sticker that said, "Daddy what is a forest?" Now this might be a little extreme for some people, but with the way land is being purchased, timber being harvested, and houses being built, I think that this quote is becoming more realistic as the days pass.
My point is that in the future urban areas will cover the landscapes that we are able to enjoy now. Our children and the generations beyond theirs will not have the same outlook on the planet as my generation and the generations past. This frustrates me, mainly because of the damage to the planet we inflict on it. The industrial and technological industries have played a huge part in the decay of the planet.
In my mind, some of the ways I protect the environment was fighting fires for over 4 years. To me firefighting is a double edge sword when it comes to protecting the environment. Plants and animals are saved from mortality, but on the other hand fire is natures way of cleaning up. Insect invasion on forest leave trees dead or weaken, same with the impact that winter has on a forest. When trees become diseased or dead, fire will consume the dried fuels, and in the process stimulates roots and pine cones that use the heat in order to start the germinating process of some trees. Some of the other methods I use to protect the environment are recycling, I also drive a car that has great gas mileage, I smog my car so the the pollutants omitted into the atmosphere are minimal. My house is an energy efficient house by P.G.and E standards. I am looking into installing solar panels on my house so that I do not have to rely on natural gases as much, this will also allow me to conserve more energy in the long run. I am always looking for new and innovative ways to become more energy efficient, as well educating others on the different ways to become more efficient.

If you could have any animal for a pet, what animal would you have? Why?

If I could have any animal in the world I would like to have a Peregrine Falcon. The Peregrine Falcon is a bird of prey, which means that it hunts other birds as well as small rodents, and fish. Falcons amaze me with the speed that they posses when they attack their prey. Since I was a child I have always been fond of falcons, eagles, and hawks. I did a report on the Peregrine Falcon, and found out that this bird was on the endangered species list at one point in time. It still might be on the endangered species for all I know. I have always wanted to own, or create a sanctuary for these birds. The sanctuary that I want to create will be in the natural habitat of the Peregrine Falcon. I would like to invite people to observe this bird in its natural habitat, so that they can witness the amazing speed that this bird has. Another feature that this bird has that intrigues me is the coloring. The white spotted under belly, topped with brown wings and feathers make for a gorgeous looking bird. It is very unfortunate that the agriculture industry was a huge factor in placing this bird on the endangered species list. This happened by having farmers spray their crops with D.D.T. The falcon would eat the food the farmers grew, which made the shell of the eggs so thin that they would crack under the weight of the parents. Between the U.S. and Canada there are less the 2,000 Peregrine Falcons left. I hope that these majestic birds will be able to leave the endangered species list in the future.

What 3 things would you bring with you to a deserted island? Why?

For me the three things that I would bring to a deserted island would be a flint, knife, and water container. I think that these three tools are very important, for me these tools will prolong the life expectancy on an island with limited resources.

The first item is a flint. The flint is a very useful survival tool in a remote area. In many ways this small tool can be beneficial when used properly. The main purpose of a flint is that, when struck by a rock or knife, it provides a spark that can ignite fine fuels, which in turn will create a fire. In this kind of setting a fire is a very powerful tool to use, for many people fire will provide a means of cooking food, sterilizing water, radiating heat, as well as repelling off predators. A fire will produce smoke when adding green foliage, this will hopefully attract attention, which will result in a possible rescue situation.

The second item I would bring with me is a knife. It does not necessarily have to be a survival knife, but a pocket knife will be adequate enough in order to survive on a deserted island. With a knife I could possibly catch food, make a simple shelter to live in, fend of any predators or set up traps for protection. Some simple tools that I could create with a knife are spears for hunting, which could double as a skewer when the food is prepared. With the assistance of a rock; I can use the knife to cut down small diameter trees, by cutting down trees I can build a simple frame out of the base of the trees and then use the foliage to cover the frame. I can layer the foliage in a way that if the weather gets wet the shelter will not leak.

The third item that I have is a water container. A person can not survive very long without water. Since this takes place on an island there is plenty of water, but the water is not potable. In order to live off the water it needs to be boiled. Boiling the water will sterilize it, which will make it drinkable. If I chose to scout out the island for possible food or shelter sources I would like to bring water with me. This allows me to search for longer peroids of time. By scouting out the surrounding area, I can find an ideal area to set up a shelter if need be. These three items are very useful in this kind of situation.

What do you like most about the town where you live(or your hometown)? What would you change?

The part of Chico that I love is that it is a smaller city then where I came from. I grew up in Santa Rosa, this city was about the same size in the 80's and 90's as Chico is today. Living in Santa Rosa as a kid was great for me. I made many friends, my family did not move too much during my childhood. I attended the same school during my elementary career, so this set a strong foundation for my childhood. I think that Chico can offer the same kind of support for my children when they attend school here. This is important for me, because after I finished elementary school I ended up bouncing around in junior high school. For me this was a difficult time in my life, mainly due to the separation of my parents. I was able to make friends in recreational sports that the community offered, which helped me socialize with peers at both junior high schools. I feel that Chico can allow my children to establish a strong social and positive upbringing, by becoming involved in the community as well as the recreational department the city offers.
I enjoy the opportunity that Chico as given me to establish myself in the urban area. The success that I have obtained in Chico would have taken substantially longer, if I was to stay in Santa Rosa. Many positive outcomes have boosted my confidence since moving to Chico, so in my mind I do not want to relocate and attempt to succeed in another location. I have already found more success in Chico then my parents have found in Santa Rosa. That is what I base my success on.
If I had to make any changes in Chico I would try to limit the growth rate of the urban area. I feel that the city and state need to join forces in order to maintain, and improve the road conditions as well as the traffic congestion. I feel that there are some projects already in process that should fill a different priority slot, compared to other projects. One change I would like to see is another high school constructed, so that the current high schools will not become overpopulated. I think that the city will benefit from this in a few ways. One is that the quality of education will be better, this works by keeping classrooms at a teachable size. Second is that more job opportunities will become available. People that want a different pace in their lifestyle are drawn to this area, mainly due to the success rate that is obtained by the location and the local economy. After this occurs, the next issue that should be addressed is the hospital. I do not think that the local hospital will be able to administer the proper amount of care for the growth that the area is experiencing. A hospital should be placed in the south eastern end of the city. This will be helpful for the people living in the surrounding communities such as Paradise, Magilia, and South Chico.

Reading Response # 2 (Say Yes to Yourself)

Write a paragraph about the steps you take to comfort or support a friend who is depressed or anxious.

After reading this piece out of the book one comment comes to mind, paralysis of over analysis. To my understanding this phrase means that someone can talk or think themselves out of succeeding. This goes hand in hand with positive and negative self talk. Many peers from my past were very positive up to the point of graduating high school. After graduation is finished reality hits. This is where many obstacles of life are revealed.
When issues arise usually temper tantrums are thrown, body language is read and no verbal communication is used. I attempt to talk to this person after the outburst has occurred, by asking simple questions about their feelings and frustrations.
When feelings are discussed I listen by watching the lips of the speaker, this ensures the person talking that I give them my full attention. After the question is answered, and the venting is finished I give positive feedback, only if they ask for it. I express my emotions to the person, and explain to them how their actions made me feel after the episode I witnessed. By doing this I hope that the individual realizes how their behavior is, and makes improvements with the way that they express their emotions. I use a calm tone when talking to someone about the reaction towards the issue at hand. This seems to work most of the time, for the person is more receptive to suggestions when a calm or relaxed tone is used.
By using listening skills, calm verbal skills, and patience I am able to help my peers with issues. Some of these issues I may not even be able to relate with, but I am able to imagine how I would react in certain situations. After envisioning myself in certain situations I try to relate, if I can't then I sit, listen and sympathize. I find that many people need someone to talk to. I think that trust and communication are important elements in supporting people with depression or anxiety.

If you had time to volunteer where would you volenteer? What would you do? Why? If you do volunteer work describe what you do.

I am already a volunteer. I volunteer my time here at Butte College, in the athletic training room. I have donated nine hours a week for this semester to the training room. This internship is assisting me in learning effective ways to administer aid to athletes, that are or have become injured in their sport. I show up on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday working and learning for three hours each day. In the three hours I learn different ways to preform treatment to a variety of athletes, ranging from women's soccer to men's football.

I provide assistance to the professional athletic trainers with the rehabilitation methods that they implement for the injured athletes. In return I gain knowledge and acquire skills to help athletes with their personal recovery. By working in the athletic training room, I have learned more about how the human body works, and how the recovery time is different with each athlete's injury. The treatments that I have learned so far include hot and cold treatments, exercise rehabilitation, electronic muscle stimulation, friction massages, as well as a combination of all of the above. Figuring out what treatment depends on the injury, and the seriousness of the injury. Usually for all injuries cold or hot treatments are prescribed, followed by stretching, and then maybe some muscle stimulation.

I hope to absorb all the information I can, and use these methods in my future career of athletic training. I think that the volunteering that I have done this semester is an effective way to see if I want to go after a career in athletic training. I hope that one day I will be able to offer a service to athletes or people that are injured, and help them get rid of their injuries, which will lead them to a happier and healthier life.