The Perfect Surprise Party

You know how I said I wasn’t so sure I would be able to keep up a daily blog? I caved a few days ago, but I’m back! Life gets busy sometimes and while it’s still busy, let’s pump out a quick post here about planning the ultimate celebration for someone close. So instead of planning a new party, let me describe a party I helped plan a “few” years ago.The seemingly perfect celebratory birthday party was for my dad. It was his 40th. Mom and I went all out inviting every one of our friends from across different friends groups. Dad and I were also on the local volunteer fire department, so of course we had a fire truck in the backyard.Dad hates surprises. Like the time he came home from serving in South Korea for a year with the Army and we had bought an Akita dog without consulting him. Yup, he hates surprises.This time, although he’d made himself clear how he felt about surprises, we did it anyway. He loves us to this day; I promise.He had no idea what was coming and as he road his bike home from work he could see the bright red fire truck through the trees (I group up in a VERY rural town in the Montana Rocky Mountains, so anything else would’ve been hidden through the trees). We had music, drinks, food, brats and burgers on the grill, a piñata and all our friends. What an awesome celebration held in our backyard, our happy place. It was amazing and Dad accepted it. I don’t remember if he instructed us to never do something like that again, but we didn’t anyway. Perhaps we’ll have to do something special for his 60th in five years. #evillaughFrom the party,Ben

Tourist Trap

Traveling is a huge aspect of my job and I love it! We actually received orders to Japan in a few months here and I’m very much looking forward to it (other than being so far from family). It should be a four-year assignment with plenty of opportunities to explore their amazing… Food! I love sushi. I miss the fresh sushi I’d eat all the time during my year-long assignment in South Korea. All that aside, I don’t know that’s it’s my dream tourist destination as today’s prompt implies.I’ve always wanted to visit Europe and more specifically, I feel like, if countries can do this--I don’t know, I feel like Germany has been calling for me. I’d love to visit where Luther began the Reformation! Oh and the beer too, you know, cuz beer and religion go along so well… In this case they do because it’s Germany. “Nuff said.”The old architecture is also a drive for me there and of course learning about a different culture. I think that’s probably one of the things that has remained ever-present in my mind following my assignment in Korea--the people. They were, on average, so nice there! I think the only time I really felt uncomfortable was in certain cabs at night. If they ever ask you if you want to watch something, just say no. Trust me, you can never unsee that. Also, my friends and are were apparently getting too loud on one of the public buses and this tender old man came up to me and started shaking his cane at me yelling, what we presumed were, profanities in Hangul. Not pleasant.But overall, what a wonderful country I wouldn’t mind revisiting again, but off to Japan first!From the travel wagon,Ben

The Zone

Have you ever gotten lost in a favorite activity? Whether that’s running, chopping vegetables, folding laundry, or for me: researching social media and marketing entrepreneurship strategies. Yeah, I’m weird, get over it; I love what I do.See that last sentence? It was a real doozy, I tried fitting in as many commas as I could and I even was able to fit a semi-colon in there! So anyway, when I’m in the zone it’s like I’m lost, mouth wide open, jaw every now and then drops, little bit of drool comes running out. But it’s okay! I’m in the zone, generally in my office or bed or the car or any place most people can’t help but stare at my complete and utter obliviousness to the world around me. That’s me researching digital media strategy.When I’m in the zone, I’m at home and can seemingly spend hours in said zone without really realizing how much time has gone by. I research this material all the while generally trying my best to avoid my homework. Eventually, hours later, I snap out of it and do what I’m supposed to, but still, yes, you’re staring at me right this very moment and if I had an emoji for the Vulcan hand gesture, I would send it your way and laugh.From the zone,Ben

The Silver Linings

So something they never tell you about writing a daily blog post--how easy it can be to put your thoughts down on paper and push the publish button. I’m horrible at it. I’ll be the first one to admit that I’ve tried starting a blog before and it just ends up me sharing other people’s thoughts. Which is okay, but it’s not really what blogs were intended to do. I’m using it to help get my creative juices flowing before tackling an even bigger project for school.Alas, today’s Word Press post prompt is called, “Silver Linings,” and asks that I write about something I consider “ugly” -- war, violence, failure, hatred -- but to try and find beauty, or a sense of hope, in my thoughts. I think I’ve got this.War is inevitable in a sinful society. There’s simply no getting around it and at the end of the day, I thank God the Father for his dearest son, Jesus Christ. Yes, I’m a Christian, and proud of it! Even though we may feel as though our whole world is crumbling down around us, there is a silver lining to it all: we’re saved by grace alone through faith in Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection three days later.There’s hope! Whenever you’re feeling downtrodden, don’t fret! Christ is there, here, everywhere, just take a moment and pray. He’ll hear your prayers, but he may not answer your prayers in the way in which you might suspect.My wife and I were going through a tough time in the first year of our marriage. I prayed to God for help and he handed me a deployment downrange. We couldn’t believe it. Was space, thousands of miles apart, really what our marriage needed? We didn’t think so, but God apparently did. And you know? We’ve grown increasingly closer ever since I returned. I read a lot of books on how to be a better husband and finally had time to read a few of the books my wife had asked me to read. I made it my mission to come back a changed man. One that focused on my wife’s needs rather than so focused on my own.Now I’m not saying I’ve been perfect since my return, but we’re definitely as close now as we’ve ever been and grow closer in every moment we experience together, whether in person or not. I say this because while I haven’t been deployed downrange recently, I’ve gone on a few temporary assignments that have sent me miles away from a week to up to two months at a time. But the heart grows fonder. I love my wife. Thanks God for deploying me so I would realize just how much I do.The silver linings do indeed contain a sense of hope.Ben

Listen to your buds: Preventing hearing loss

by Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs5/28/2013 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- After a long day of work, the last thing you might want to hear is your neighbor's favorite screaming rock band, but when fellow Airmen use their earbuds on the highest volume setting, no one gets to enjoy the silence.Music technology came a long way since Edison's first phonograph -- from loud, crackly records all the way to inner-ear buds. While these conveniences are a part of everyday life, they can also be detrimental to your health and possibly career ending."In the military, many people are exposed to dangerously loud noises on a regular basis due to our jobs, especially personnel that work on the flight line," said Senior Airman Jamie Miller, a 379th Expeditionary Medical Group public health journeyman. "Exposing ourselves to excessively loud noise or loud noise for long periods of time will cause noise-induced hearing loss. Any type of loud noise can cause this hearing loss; even listening to music that's too loud can cause permanent damage."Servicemembers understand how essential it is to wear their personal protective equipment while performing the mission in situations requiring extra hearing protection, but what most don't realize, Miller said, is hearing loss can occur at any time."Listening to loud music on an iPod is just like being exposed to any other loud noise," he said. "One thing that many do is turn the volume of their music up when they're in a place that is loud itself, like the gym. The best thing for that is simply to police ourselves; it will be well worth it."According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, hearing loss can come from a variety of factors, but the number one source for hearing loss in America is exposure to very loud noise. In a campaign ASHA initiated for May as part of "Better Hearing and Speech Month," "Listen to your buds" focuses on educating people, helping them communicate and promoting treatment aimed at improving quality of life.ASHA officials say listening to loud noise for long periods of time can damage the hair cells in the inner ear. Noise-induced hearing loss usually develops gradually and painlessly. A single exposure to an extremely loud sound such as an explosion can cause a sudden loss of hearing. This is called acoustic trauma.In the Air Force, NIHL is an important matter and it's the number one cause for disability. To help combat the damage done by dangerous amounts of noise, personnel at risk take annual audiograms as well as get fitted for earplugs to make sure the correct size is worn and worn correctly."Correctly wearing earplugs and earmuffs will greatly reduce the amount of noise to a reasonable level," said Miller.Preventing high environmental noise from getting in is preferable, but many servicemembers purposely play their music at dangerous volume levels, and are at significantly increased risk for injury."Hearing loss is permanent, so there is no recovery that can happen once the damage is done," Miller continued. "Without hearing, there would be communication barriers between you and your coworkers, giving orders and being aware of your environment. At home it's much more difficult to have a conversation with your loved ones or call your family far away."People with hearing loss may have:- Difficulty speaking and understanding verbal communication- Problems in academic achievement; feelings of isolation, exclusion, embarrassment, annoyance, confusion and helplessness- A reluctance to participate in activities with others- Significant problems following directions- Numerous physiological changes, sleep difficulties, digestive problems, delayed emotional development, stress related disorders, behavioral problems, body fatigue and possible immunological effectsThere is hope, however, and all these symptoms can be avoided."The positive is that NIHL is 100 percent preventable," Miller said. "As long as everyone does their part, NIHL won't be a reason for anyone to have to leave their workplace."Visit www.asha.org/public for more information on how to prevent hearing loss.

Fairchild Airman receives Bronze Star

A Fairchild physician was awarded the Bronze Star Medal here recently for her service during Operation Enduring Freedom at Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul from June 2011 to March 2012.When asked about her medal, Capt. (Dr.) Leslee Kane, a Bozeman, Mont., native humbly said, “I was just doing my job like everyone else.”The captain was recognized as the senior medical officer on-site during a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack. Kane helped coordinate traumatic brain injury screenings for more than 75 people in response to the attack and returned them to duty within 72 hours. She led three medics, a physician’s assistant and numerous others during the triage and treatment of mass casualties and including 17 local national patients and coordinated evacuation of two U.S. military and three local national casualties to medical treatment facilities.She was also the female engagement team lead responsible for mentoring Zabul’s Department of Women Affairs line director. The captain helped lecture a medical series for 10 Afghan female medical providers, which fostered working relationships between the Afghan health sector and people of Zabul.“My main job was to work with the regional directors advocating for the women in the cities we would tour,” she said. “As our team traveled through these cities, I would take time to talk with the women of the city to get a feel for how well their city leaders were spreading the medical care among all the villagers.”The captain also organized and oversaw long-term, culturally-appropriate economic projects directly benefiting more than 150 women and their families in the Zabul area.“She’s an excellent performer,” said Col. Blake Ortner, who was a member of her leadership team while deployed. “Captain Kane went well beyond her normal duties. Her contributions to the … programs were outstanding.”While she excelled down range, the captain missed her family no less. She said online video chatting was a welcome tool they used to keep in touch, but due to the nature of her mission, internet was not always available and 13 months away from her family was difficult.“Family aside, I would do it again in a heartbeat,” the wife and mother of two said. “But only if I were a single Airman. I’d have a hard time being away from my family for that long again.”Not only did she miss her family, but back home, her family and unit missed her.“We are very excited to have her home,” said Maj. Marc Weishaar, 92nd Medical Operations Squadron commander. “It is awesome to see the great care she provides her patients here at Fairchild is the same great quality of care she provided to her patients while deployed.”[Editor’s Note: The Bronze Star Medal is a U.S. Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit or meritorious service.]

"Like a boss"

In Christ all things.

Running like a ninja, not like a t-rex

If dinosaurs were better runners, they might not be extinct today.Evidence suggests some dinosaurs ran by planting their heel first and springing off their toes. Many people run this way today. Those who run that way couldn't possibly get out of the way of a meteor fast enough.But you know who might?A ninja.Growing up I learned a lot from my Dad -- like how to drive, throw a football and run. As a Soldier, my Dad ran a lot and shared with me his passion for the sport. While I didn't pick up on everything right away, I have since become quite enthralled with what is called "natural running."Here's an example of what I mean when I say natural running. When walking around the house barefoot, do you walk heel-toe, or do you try to be stealthy and walk around on just the front part of your feet? The stealthy option is actually the healthiest with the least amount of impact on your joints. Now equate this same technique while running and you'll be stealthily flying around like a ninja!Something I learned from a friend, (who may not be a ninja, but is knowledgeable nonetheless) who has been running the mid-strike for years said every time you land on your heel while running, four times your body weight is slamming into your knees and ankles. So imagine you are 150 pounds -- that's 600 pounds of body weight slamming into your leg joints with every heel strike.Another issue many runners face is the question of what to do with their arms? Have you ever noticed people be-bopping along with their arms like a tyrannosaurus rex? These people are over working their legs and not effectively using their arms.According to the Air Force's chief of health promotion, Dr. (Lt. Col.) Dan Kuland, your arms equate to nearly half of a total run. He suggests you swing your arms quickly from relaxed shoulders, elbows bent at 90 degrees, and thumbs and index fingers touching only slightly. Ensure as you run, your arms do not cross your body and remain at your sides. With your hands, you can also grasp at the air as if you were swimming, pulling yourself forward, as a momentum gainer.Kuland also offered other tips:− Fall forward from your ankles in order to enlist gravity.− Run softly by imagining a helium balloon attached to your head.− Look where you are going, not at your feet.− Imagine being reeled in on a big fishing line attached at your belly button.− Expand your lower abdomen like a balloon, then squeeze the air out.− Keep your knees slightly bent, never completely straightening your legs.− Land on the middle of your foot to reduce braking that would occur from crash landing early on your heel.− Imagine running on hot coals with a quick cadence.− Think of your foot slipping backward on a banana peel.− Picture helium balloons lifting your heels.− Move your ankles in little circle as if they are wheels.− Wear minimalist footwear."When we run, our legs swing forward and back like a pendulum, landing on the backswing," Kuland said. "Without shoes, we would land on our mid-foot or toward the front of our foot. But the thick heels of common running shoes catch the ground early with our knee extended and foot out front, inviting knee pain and anterior shin splints. 'Minimalist' shoes with thinner heels allow more natural landings. Once you're on the ground, just lift your heel and gravity will pull you forward. Pushing off wastes energy and promotes posteromedial shin splints and Achilles problems."A great resource for revamping an aerobic workout is found at the Natural Running Center's website:www.naturalrunningcenter.com/. There are videos, blogs, articles, photos, emails, book suggestions -- you name it. Lt. Col. Mark Cucuzzella, Air Force Marathon medical consultant, Efficient Running Program subject matter expert and director of the website, also put together a video on YouTube providing visual cues for extra help: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSIDRHUWlVo.There is a group of runners at Fairchild who meet every Monday afternoon at 4:50 p.m., in the Winner's Circle located at the Funspot. The group usually does a 3.2 mile run around base, but according to their secretary, Staff Sgt. Ceridwyn Wald of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing, they've in the past gone for trail runs on South Hill and at Riverfront Park downtown. She also alluded to special runs including the famed "bikini run," super hero run and various hash runs.Running naturally has improved my run time, increased my endurance and strengthened my leg muscles by leaps and bounds. But if my testimony isn't enough, consider this: no ninja has ever been eaten by a dinosaur.