I'm a 41 year-old police detective.

Over the past 10 years, I've let myself get overweight. Tired. Lazy. Unattractive. Boring.

It was easy--I had an excuse. I went back to school in 2002 and worked my way through a Master's degree from the University of Florida, Summa Cum Laude. Mostly, I carried a full-time course load in addition to my full-time job. And homicide callouts. And court overtime. And instructing at the police academy. You get it. I'm a Type A personality.

While I was busy perusing book after book and researching paper after paper, my ass got bigger and bigger. My pants size grew larger and larger. Meh...I'll fix that later. Well, guess what?

Later.....is NOW.

And, it's a hell of a lot easier putting the weight on than taking it off. Anyone who had gained and lost more than 20 pounds will tell you the same.

This is my journey to lose 35 pounds and compete in the closest thing to the Olympic Games offered in amateur sports. The 2011 World Police and Fire Games in New York City.

I have 5 months to lose the weight and train my body to compete against elite athletes from around the globe. I've seen the records and they're no joke. I'll have to swim faster than I did when I was 14 or 15 and broke county records in Maryland back in the 80's.

No luck necessary. I'm getting my fat ass into the pool.

Friday, April 10, 2009

20/20 "If I Only Had A Gun"




Watching this fascinating documentary of ordinary citizens, kids and guns.  I have had hundreds if not thousands of hours of training and I am stunned at the brazenness of some of the younger ones.  I am convinced that video games and some movies and television have created some sense of immortality in these kids.  

Although I carry a gun everywhere I go, I do so with the understanding that I have (I hope) muscle memory from my hours at the gun range and the mental attitude to carry through with any actions I might have to take to protect myself or another person.  A gun does NOT make you safer unless you have the training and survival skills to go along with it.  

Please, please...if you have a concealed weapons permit, take the time to re-train yourself with an experienced professional.  If you choose to carry a gun, do so with great care and remember that retreating is never cowardly if you're in a losing battle.  

Distance.  Cover.  Concealment.  Training.  Training.  Training...
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