Tazers do not disappoint on giving you a shocking experience.

Disclaimer: This is from my personal experience. I do not make any claims that nothing will happen to you because of being electrocuted by a tazer and take no responsibility for people who get tazed because of reading  about my experience in this blog.  

Most have seen people get tazed on TV or in real life. But what if you were on the wrong side of the tazer? Well, that is what I went through the other day on Tuesday.

Now, let me say this upfront. I was not in any trouble, I did not break any laws and this was completely voluntary and was part of my Tazer training I went through for work. 

Though it was fifty thousand volts, it was only a twenty-six thousandth of one amp. Remember, its not volts that kills you its amps. A standard wall socket has sixteen amps going through it. That can kill you. So, though you cannot say its completely safe for legal reasons, there really is very little of something happening to you, other then going through a shocking experience. Now, as I say this, I am not a doctor or any type of medical professional. 

So, with that out of the way, I will try to explain what it felt like. Though I was not "shot" with the Tazer, I had alligator clips put on my back. This gives you the same effect if you were shot with the prongs. The prongs do not have to touch your skin, they only have to be within one inch of it. 

So, I was lying on my stomach with the prongs clipped to my back. Our instructor asked me if I was ready, asked me to exhale [so there was not enough air in my lungs to scream] and then I went through the longest five seconds of my life. Think of having uncontrollable muscles spasms, not being able to move and feeling the "pain" of electricity going throughout your body. Not, the most interesting part in my opinion, I was still completely aware of everything around me. I still was able to hear everything, I was aware of everyone around me, I just was neuromuscular incapacitated for those five seconds. And when it was all done, I caught my breath and got up like it didn't happen. The area where the prongs were placed were a little sore, but there were no after effects because of the tazing. 

So, with all that fun experience, will I volunteer next year when I re qualify? Yeah, that is probably a big hell no. But hey, I didn't try the drive stun [where the tazer is pressed against you]. I might try that one next year, but do not quote me on that. Once you have been tazed once, you will never forget that wonderful experience. 

To all the Men and Woman in the Armed Forces, thank you

Ah, Memorial day is almost upon us. Also celebrated as the unofficial start of summer. A time where more people are outside, you can smell barb-q's almost down every street and around the time kids start going on summer break.

I myself am not a Veteran. Though I was thinking about it when I was younger, I never joined the Armed Forces. A decision I sometimes regret to this day.

Too many times, I don't see people remembering the Veterans that have served and died serving their county, but only look at it as a three day weekend where they hang out with friends and family.

This memorial day, like every memorial day I officially want to say thank you too all the men and woman who have died serving this country. Thank you too all living veterans and thank you too all the people currently serving right now.

No matter your politics, no matter what you think of where the Politicians have sent out Military, these men and woman are our heroes. These men and woman literally risk their lives everyday by choice to serve this country. They had decided to serve the Military continue to protect the freedoms and liberties of this country that a lot of people take for granted.

From a grateful American that has not served in our great military, Thank you.

Michael J. Henriques

The Fatherless Father

Growing up I did not have someone I could call dad. Though I did have a couple male role models, namely my uncle and my grandfather, there was no one I could call dad.

Growing up, my mom did an awesome job in filling in as Mom and Dad, but I always felt something was missing. When I was going through my young formidable years, I could not understand why almost all of my friend had a mom and dad. My mom and had a mom and a dad, almost everyone I knew had a mom and a dad, but I didn't. I usually was OK, but even today it still bothers me.

Fast forward a couple decades to today. I am with my beautiful girlfriend Leanne and her two, though sometimes a pain in butt, little girls. Both girls have captured my heart and though I do have any of my "own" children, I treat and look at them like they were my own. Kinda weird being thrown into fatherhood when both were toddlers, but I would not change anything about it.

Unfortunately, due to circumstances of their "father" he does not and frankly cannot be a part of the their lives, well he cannot be a part of their lives when this is being written anyway. Without going into the gritty details, suffice it to say, Leanne believes that if he were to show up at the house right now, neither of them would have a clue who he is.

We have all lived together for almost two years and I know they look at me as "Dad", but they still call me Mike. Which is fine with me. That is how they have always known me. Well, that is how they always refer to me as.

Though in the past, Leanne has said that one of the girls, who is in Kindergarten  refers to me as her dad to her friends, I have not heard her say that, not have she or her sister referred to me as that, but always by my name. But, a couple weeks ago, something that almost made me cry happened. I was picking up the one in kindergarten and when she came outside, called me "daddy". I just about melted right there and gave her a big hug. Though I have not heard her say that to me since then, I now know from her words that I am just more then "Mike". I hope her sister feels the same she does, which I think they do.

My wish is that I am a good dad to them. Not having a "Dad" myself, I hope I can be the best Dad to them someone can be. I hope that one day I not always referred to as "Mike", but as their Daddy.

My experience working at Disneyland

Welcome to Star Tours flight ST45, non stop service to the moon of Endor...

That is a phrase I used to say over and over again and for me, it really never got old.

Over a decade ago, I had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to work for the Happiest Place on Earth. I was part of a cast of thousands helping to create memories that lasted for a lifetime at the Disneyland Resort. A place where when they said it was also the Happiest Place to work, was true for the most part. Well, it was in my case.

I was an Attractions Cast Member. For those who do not know what the means, I will give you a hint. I did not wear a Mickey Mouse costume, nor did I fly as Peter Pan during the fireworks show. In normal terms, I was a ride operator. Yep, that was me. I pressed the button and make the ride go. Well, its a little more detailed than that on most rides, but there were a couple where is was almost exactly that.

I worked from 2000 to 2002. I started by working on Star Tours. I also worked on Space Mountain Astro Orbitor. I also work was part of the Opening Crew for California Screamin in the California Adventure Theme Park, which opened in 2001. I was only there for about six months and then returned back to the Magic Kingdom where I resumed my normal role of being assigned to work on Star Tours and filled in shifts on Space Mountain and Astro Orbitor.

Though, in retrospect, it was a short time working there, it was one of the most fun I have had working somewhere. I loved coming into work and doing my job there. That is not to say there was not any times where the guests and sometimes co workers were getting on my last nerve. There were times I wanted to “break character” and say a few choice words sometimes. But those times, were few and far between.

In the almost two years I spent working there, I made friends, to at least one I still keep in contact with, created lifelong memories for the people visiting. All the while getting paid doing something I really enjoyed.

Also, what other job lets you get into any Disney Theme park [in the United States] for free and get 20% anything you want to buy as well? Also, after you pass probation you can also bring in your friends to come in with you when you are being a “guest” and they get in free too. There is a limit of how many people and how many times you can bring people in, but when I was there it was 16 times a year.

But, unfortunately after about two years of being their, really bills started coming in and I could not afford to work there anymore. Also, now that i live in Colorado, that is not really a commute I would want for a part time job. It will always hold a special place for me and the funnest job I ever had have ever had.

IRS Target Conservative Groups

The IRS, which is also referred to as the most powerful collection agency in the world. The only agency where they can garnish your wages or your bank accounts without a court order. An agency, where they have little to any judicial oversight when it comes to their ways of collections and audits.

For most of us, we only have to deal with the IRS but once a year. For some, which are mostly businesses, they get to have their IRS does four times a year. I have been lucky and I mostly get a refund and usually do not owe the IRS when I file my yearly taxes. I also have had the luck of never been “flagged” for audits.

In 2011, many conservative groups, which put “conservative”, patriot” Tea Party” or other types of conservative names in their tax exempt status were audited. Not just a couple mind you, 100+ groups were wrongfully targeted for audits. The IRS has admitted that they were wrong and are trying to pin it on some “low level” employees in their Cincinnati office.

Now, I do not know about you, but this story doesn't sound right to me. Shortly after “tea Party” members help gain control the House for the Republicans, a small group of rogue agents starting audits on over 100 organizations filing for exempt status that used “Tea Party”, Patriot”, “Conservative” were flagged and audited.

Funny, no “Progressive” or “Liberal” organizations were flagged from that office. Funny how that works.

I am not saying who made the decision, but I seriously doubt they were some level employees gone rogue, out of an office in Cincinnati Ohio.

Now they are caught they are trying to use that excuse since they got caught with their pants down and now are trying to blame some low level employees. You would think if a large number of filings were being flagged out of one office, the higher level employees would have noticed and checked into it.

I have little tollerance for zero tellerance

When emergency strikes, the Police are minutes away. This is something you hear a lot from people who are for gun rights, to which I am too. This statement was so true about two weeks ago when a 16 old wrestled a loaded gun off another student, who was 15 years old.  

Just in case you thought that you read that wrong, nope, you were right. A 16 year old stopped a possible shooting that could have killed one or more people and got suspended for it.

This world of “zero tolerance” has gotten out of control. You have this the above mentioned young man who is a hero and selflessly acted to disarm someone and gets suspended for it. Even more recently, a kindergartner got sent home for pointing a pencil at his friend making “gun sounds”. And the real kicker in that case, the little guy was told to stop by his teacher and he did without question. Yet he still got a two day suspension.

Schools have now become a place of you do something remotely against the rules and you will be punished. No matter what the circumstances are.

I remember when I was in Junior High and I got sent home from school once during a fight. Keep in mind, this is mid 90’s when this happened. So, why was I sent home? Did I get into a big huge brawl with someone? Nope, I got thrown into a locker for even now I have no reason why and I got sent home. Why? Because there was bodily contact.

Now here is a big whopper for out of control rules. Another kindergartner was sent home for having a mohawk since they deemed it “too distracting”. Yep, a kid got sent home for his haircut. And he his parents were told he can come back after he gets a “tamer” look.

So, in conclusion what have we learned? You cant defend yourself. You can't have non sanctioned haircuts and you cannot play innocently with friends with pencils because people might think you will be the next shoot shooter. So, in a nutshell, you will live by our rules, standards and will be doctrinated or you will be punished.

My Transformation Journey, Entry 3 – I`m going to go broke buying new clothes

Well, its been about two months since I have started this Transformation Journey and it is going really well. I am down to 286 pounds and my goal is to reach 220 by next summer. When I started this about a month and a half ago, I was about 300 pounds. If I keep up this weight loss pace I should be able to get there even sooner then I expected.

In my Journey, I have had my lazy days, but I am keeping up on doing my 100 push ups a day and now I can do two regular push ups before I have to go to the knees. That is huge for me, since when I started doing them, I was not able to do any regular push ups and only about 5 at a time on the knees. I have also acquired a home weight set from Freecycle.org. This thing is awesome. And I got it for free since someone was trying to get rid of it and did not want to put it in a landfill. In addition to the weight system I am trying to get an exercise bike and elliptical and my home gym will almost be complete. I also am getting a ab wheel and an ab roller. I am trying not to go to a regular gym and do everything at home. That way in the long run it will be cheaper. I will not have to worry about transferring gyms, do not need to drive anywhere and literally work out in boxers and a T shirt if I wanted to. Plus, I am not a big fan of community showers and this way I am not waiting sometimes up to an hour for a shower.

Now, one of the greatest things about losing weight is changing out these now baggy clothes for newer clothes that fit right. I am going to go broke just buy clothes. Oh well, the good price I pay for bettering myself and getting into shape.