I'm sharing for a friend of a friend. Please share too by copy and pasting this journal! Some of these characters have extra art!

Monster Doberman https://www.furaffinity.net/view/43341934/

Halloween Yeen https://www.furaffinity.net/view/43342122/

Doberman Dragon https://www.furaffinity.net/view/43343735/

Deer Spirit https://www.furaffinity.net/view/43343777/

Barn Owl https://www.furaffinity.net/view/43343846/

Cat https://www.furaffinity.net/view/43344010/

Smoke Monster https://www.furaffinity.net/view/43344100/

Painted Dog https://www.furaffinity.net/view/43344205/

Lemur/Kinkaju https://www.furaffinity.net/view/43344227/

Horse https://www.furaffinity.net/view/43344265/

I just turned 5 years old in dog years!

And another one down! Shep turns 34 today! Next year I'll be exactly 5 years old in dog years!

First journal in a LONG time! Let’s see if you all can decipher how old I am today from this math question.

In 4 months, I shall be 1/3 of the way to 100. How old am I today?

Hey everyone, for a while I had to alter my Twitter account for non-furry-related reasons. But I have officially reverted it back to my original Twitter handle.

Happy birthday to me! Even though my age doesn't end in a "0" or a "5" this year, I think 32 is something to brag about!

Hmm...I'm having the strangest sense of déjà vu...

Seriously, this is an actual product for sale online: http://throwflame.com/products/flamethrower

Well! It's been quite a while since I've been down to SoCal! And at the same time quite a while since I've been to one of Amurrica's most underrated furry cons. But I figure a Califur recap is proper!

All-in-all, the con served its purpose for me. I had been working mandatory overtime for the past month prior and I was rapidly getting burned out. I needed a vacation where I could hang with friends, but not one where I'd be constantly partying and dancing and stuff. Cause even though that's all fun, your body still counts it as work cause it's exerting. Califur was a relaxacon for me where I had an awesome roommate I could hang with and I could catch up with old friends, and not feel guilty about lounging in my room from time-to-time cause I knew I wasn't missing much.

There were some good parties too even though CF has traditionally been a down-low party con. The Elliott's Spring Gathering party was a good place to score some free food and info on ESG, now coming back to Vegas for next year. And I got to see old friends and meet new ones, including a couple of fellow cop furs.

I also really liked the renovations they did to the hotel. Makes it so much more lively and vibrant and roomy. Their outdoor patio area was really nice too. Almost felt like a cruise ship setting. Though I was rather disappointed they didn't have those street tacos by the pool I'd heard they'd had last year. Apparently they're in the process of building pool food shacks where they will serve them starting next year.

Also, this con had some sentimental value since I learned this'll be the last year they hold it at the Irvine Marriott. CF was my second ever con and its meaningful to me that I was there for its swan song. Starting next year it will go to Pomona. And I got to visit a very special friend after the con had ended and she taught me how to play the Pokémon TCG.

I'm certainly glad I've gotten the rest I needed since I now have to put my nose right back to the grindstone. I've been informed that the mandatory overtime I had been working along with the rest of the staff at the airport has gone up. All employees must put in an extra 8 hours a week between now and the end of July. That plus my 20 hours a month required for the San Francisco Police Department, I'm likely not going to have any free time between now and the end of July.

For those wondering, sadly no I shan't be at RF or MFF this year or FC the following January. I have a trip to Miami planned for the first week of November to visit some non-furry friends I haven't seen in several years. I'm still saving up PTO for that trip and won't have any to spare for another trip in the meantime or immediately afterward.

I'm thinking my next con will be ESG in Vegas. I've heard awesome things about BLFC and was planning on going to that next year. But I've heard everyone say "If there's one con you should miss BLFC for, it's ESG!" I hear the whole con is like one big private party rather than just a hodgepodge of furries in the same spot. And Vegas is sure to be sunnier than rainy Reno!

Anyway, that's my recap and plans for now. I'll keep everyone updated if any big changes occur!

Okay, I know the title of the journal already gave away my upcoming con plans so it's no surprise. But I did mention in my previous journal that I was going to reveal my next con in due time. :)

Hope all you fuzzies have fun at BLFC this year! Sadly I won't be there as I hadn't planned for it this year. I'm considering it for next year though along with ESG. Hmm, I'll have a lot to think about!

Instead, this year I've decided to attend a con I haven't been to in years. One that I have fond memories of. And is in a region that I've wanted to return to for a while.

I'm talking about Califur!

Now I know many may scoff when they hear my choice. They'll say that it's a lame con and no one will be there cause they're all at BLFC. But for me, my con this year will be about relaxation. To take a break from work, relax by a pool, soak up some rays, and do some fursuiting. Plus there are friends down in SoCal, both old and new, that I'm really looking forward to seeing.

And if there's one good thing about this California drought, I can rest assured there'll be lots of sunshine down there. Unlike BLFC where the forecast is predicting rain for all but one of the con days. If I'm going to a rainy con, it'll be Rainfurrest.

So anyway, onto the Califur MEME!

1) Where will you be staying?
Irvine Marriott.

2) How long will you be there for?
Thursday the 4th through Monday the 8th.

3) How will you be traveling?
By car. Much easier than flying.

4) Who will you be rooming with?
 Xavier-Woof

5) What will you be doing?
Swimming, soaking in the hot tub, enjoying the street tacos served by the pool, fursuiting, perhaps some dancing and frolicking around, visiting Disneyland on the con's "Day at Disney," and just kicking back and relaxing.

6) How will I recognize you?
I will have my badges on. And they're pretty big and hard to miss. But if I don't, I'll probably be the only one who isn't dressed like a stereotypical furry and could pass as a regular guest. I like to dress low-key. ;)

7) What's your gender?
Male and proud of it!

8) Can I come say hi?
Of course!

9) Can I talk to you?
Sure! I love meeting fans! Though if I'm in suit I may or may not verbally reply.

10) Can I hug you in suit?
You bet! Hugs are awesome!

11) Do you do any art?
Nah. Not an artist. I commission the professionals to do that kind of work for me.

12) Can I buy you food or drinks?
Everyone loves a free lunch! Hehe you bet!

13) What's your poison?
Typically hard cider. Not a beer drinker. But I love wine, especially from Northern California. And a good cocktail too if it's after 5pm (I'm traditional that way).

14) How can I get your attention?
Call me by "Alastair!" Or if you want to get in touch with me, you can text me or use Twitter DM if you don't have my number.

15) Anything else we should know?
Just that I'll be there to have fun and do furry stuff but also to reminisce about times past and bask in good times, good company, and good memories. Perhaps even create some new good ones too.

I just hope that the fountain in front of the hotel isn't barren due to the drought!

Hey everyone! I've been relatively quiet on FA lately apart from a few submissions here and there and figured with spring here now, I oughta give an update on what's happening in the life of a Shep.

Those who remember my last journal entry, I was at a bit of a low point. I had exhausted all my vacation and sick time at work due to my broken paw I sustained after MFF and I had to embark on a strict diet to lose those holiday pounds too. I'm glad to say that I was able to get back down to my normal weight and my paw has healed up quite nicely, almost back to 100%.

The last few months have been a roller coaster. I had a very harrowing experience one night a few weeks ago where I came home from work and walked in on two burglars in my apartment. Fortunately I had anticipated such an event possibly happening, and had planned ahead. I was able to grab a loaded handgun I kept hidden closeby and I was able to hold one of them at gunpoint for the local cops. The other one ran out the door while I dealt with his partner. After I told the 911 dispatcher that I was an off-duty cop and I was holding the guy at gunpoint, that really got the local PD responding quickly and the wait for their arrival was mercifully short. Turns out the lead officer who responded was a classmate of mine at the Police Academy so there was no blue-on-blue misidentification either. Though the other guy got away that night, they caught up to him a few days later. And I didn't lose much aside from some ammunition and relatively inexpensive police gear. The worst damage that night in fact to my apartment was stains on the carpet from fingerprint powder. So I put that night in the "Win" column.

After this incident, I started really putting in more and more hours with the SFPD. And for the past few weeks I've been working the equivalent of 6 days a week, 13-14 hours a day (when you factor in commute time) either at my regular job at SFO or a shift on my day off with SFPD. But it doesn't bother me, it's always exciting to put on that uniform and star and go out and patrol the streets. Even if it is only part-time.

After several months of waiting, my vacation and sick bank has finally replenished at work. So I can now make plans for vacations again! And my first one will be to a con I haven't been to in years, I'll wait though until my MEME journal to announce what it is.

More will be forthcoming as my summer plans start to take shape!

Hey everyone. I've been pretty quiet on FA lately save for my MFF journal recently. I wanted to update all of you on my current situation.

MFF was a really cool first experience! Met a lot of great new furries and was able to meet up with a lot of old friends I haven't seen in ages. I'll have to weigh on going back next year cause it would have to be my only con of the year cause it's so far away.

Unfortunately things took a turn for the worse once I got back from MFF. I had an accident the following day and broke a small bone in my paw. While it only will take a couple more weeks to heal, I had to use up all my remaining vacation and sick leave at work cause I can't work till it comes off. That means no cons or extracurricular activities for me for a few months cause I will have to burn the candle at both ends for a few months to replenish my time off and get back to where I was before the accident. Those of you who were hoping I might be able to stop by FC for a night or two, sorry but I will have to wait until FC 2016.

It's going to be a very arduous few months after Jan 1st cause I will be working extra long hours and I will have to avoid catching any kind of illness too since I have no more sick leave to take off till springtime. Hopefully the gruesome regiment I once endured of police academy life will still be with me and help me through this trying time. Until then, I'll BBL.

Hey all! My first time ever at MFF is rapidly approaching and I'm totally stoked! It'll be the first con I've been to in a few years where the convention itself is located in the hotel (unlike FC where the McEnery Convention Center is dislocated from the con hotels). And it'll be Chicago in the wintertime! I really miss the snow and bitter cold having grown up in New Jersey and lived in the rainy San Francisco Bay Area for the past 7 years. There'll be some real holiday cheer in the air with this Shep around!

So on to the Meme. Here's what you'll need to know for this dog (note that when I refer to "Alastair" in the third-person, I'm referring to me in suit and in character):

What day are you arriving?
Wednesday, the early dog gets the bone

What days will you be staying?
Wednesday through Monday.

Where will you be staying?
Hyatt Regency O'Hare, no overflow hotel for this dog!

Who will you be rooming with?
 Kenovawolf,  Arech,  Keycaliber1,  Crygus,  Retchcoyote,  Peps6g73, and several others in two adjoining rooms who will be arriving intermittently throughout the duration of the con. I'm winging it this year XD

Will you be bringing a fursuit?
Of course! I'll be bringing the dedicated police dog Alastair, done by the talented  Onefurall, complete with his SFPD uniform. Of course you'll see him off-duty too now and then when he goes au natural and is much more of a playful dog

What will you be doing?
All kinds of stuff! Of course the classic con activities such as fursuiting, dancing, reuniting with old friends, perhaps attending a party or two; but don't be surprised if you also see me outside the con just ruminating and enjoying the holiday spirit in the air. I'll also be hard at work now and then training my Pokémon team on my new Omega Ruby cartridge on my 3DS!

Can I talk to you?
Sure! If I'm in suit and I don't know you, I'll prolly stay silent to avoid ruining the magic, but out of suit I'm always cool to come up and say hi. I'm much more approachable in person than I appear to be on Skype

Can I take my picture with you?
In suit of course! Out of suit, it's okay if it's with other suiters. If no suits are in the picture, just ask first and it shouldn't be a problem.

Can I dance with you?
Sure! Though I may move around to mingle a bit since I get a lot of dance requests. But if you have a cute fursuit, I'll prolly spend more time dancing with you (though be forewarned, Alastair can get very dirty on the dance floor).

Can I give you a hug, scritch, shoulder/belly/chest/back rub, etc.?
Sure thing :) I don't mind. Alastair loves to be petted.

Can I touch you below the waist?
Well on that I have a few rules. If we're friends or you're in suit or we're on the dance floor, then sure. Alastair is a bachelor dog with a very vibrant libido. Just make sure it's not too obvious (like right in the middle of the lobby, don't want to frighten the regular guests more than they already are).

Can I buy you dinner/drinks?
Sounds okay to me but I prefer if we're part of a group rather than just one-on-one. Don't want it to be mistaken for a date (close friends are exempt from this rule).

Can I steal you to my room for some private time?
If I know you well enough, or you're someone Alastair takes a liking to and we play it safe then that should be okay.

Will you be attending any parties?
Perhaps, I usually don't get invited to any but if I do and it sounds like fun, you may see me there. Though prolly not in fursuit due to the usual cramped quarters and drunken congoers' prevalence for spilling drinks.

Are you cliquey?
I guess a bit. I like to hang with familiar faces. But if you're someone I've chatted with on IM, or you're someone I've been wanting to meet, or you're a cute suiter, I'll prolly be more open about coming up and saying hello as well as being reciprocal to being hugged and touched.

Anything else we need to know?
Not that I can think of. I'm not an artist so I won't have any table at the Dealer's Den and I'm not going to be performing at any of the shows and prolly not attending any panels either (they usually don't interest me). For me this con is a vacation so I may take a bit of a detached view of it since it's my first time at this con so I can have a great experience as a first timer at Midwest Furfest!

Well it's official! As of a minute ago, I am no longer "in my twenties." This Shep has just turned 30 and is looking forward to his rapidly-approaching greymuzzle years! *Dun Dun Dun!*

Yay! I've just hit 2000 watchers! Here's to another 2000 in due time!

It's cases of animal cruelty like this that make me wish the death penalty could be applied to cowards who kill police dogs like this:

http://www.policemag.com/channel/pa.....um=Enewsletter

This is exactly why I could never be a K-9 handler in real life. If anyone ever did to my partner what this monster did to that brave police officer, the Criminal Justice System wouldn't be nearly good enough to quell my rage.

*clenches my fist, growls under my breath, and fur on my neck stands up*

Wow! Found this journal draft tucked away in my Documents folder from years ago when I first joined the fandom. Read it on Lace's page and typed it up but forgot to post it. Oh well, better late than never heh

Idea from  Lace's journal http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/1616222/

You know you're from the Bay Area when:

-You know that the cable cars don't run throughout the entire city of San Francisco (you also know the difference between the cable cars and the historic streetcars).

-You know the difference between Castro Valley and "The Castro."

-You refer to the BART trains by the names of the lines they run on rather than the color coding on the maps.

-You know that "Pleasant Hill" and "Pleasanton" are two different cities. As are "Oakland" and "Oakley."

-You know that St. Helena is pronounced "Saint Heh-lee-na" and not "Saint Helen-a."

-You know that there is no "Silicon Valley" per se on the map.

-You know that East Palo Alto is actually due north of the City of Palo Alto.

-You can tell the subtle nuance between wine from Napa County and wine from neighboring Sonoma County.

-You avoid the old fabric cushions on the BART trains like the plague in lieu of the newer vinyl ones.

-You know that anyone in SF wearing gaudy "San Francisco" embroidered clothing are tourists who were surprised to learn that the weather is NOT like in Los Angeles.

-You know that practically anybody can get a medical marijuana card but practically no one can get a CCW permit.

-You know when to time your morning commute so you don't get hit with the extra $2 going over the Bay Bridge during peak commute hours.

-You know that when people talk about the cities of Albany and Newark, they're likely not referring to the ones in NY and NJ (or DE), or that the city of Dublin is not the one in Ireland (and that "Pittsburg" is not the city where AC is held, thank God).

Hey everyone!

This week is National Police Week. The week when everyone pays tribute to fallen law enforcement officers who died protecting others. The week culminates on May 15th which is Peace Officers' Memorial Day. Signed into law by President John F. Kennedy in 1962.

For more info, go to http://www.policeweek.org/. And remember to take the time to thank a cop now and then for their service. Believe me it doesn't go unnoticed.

*salutes*

Hey everyone. So with February almost over and Daylight Saving's Time coming up in a couple weeks, I've decided now is the time to do a little spring cleaning to my Instant Message contacts on Skype, AIM, Yahoo IM, and the relatively obsolete MSN Messenger.

I will be removing the contact info of folks who I don't regularly chat with or who I have not really made any connection with. If you are amongst the removed, please don't take it personally. It's not because of anything you've done wrong or that I don't think you're all good people.

But it's just that with a full-time job where I can't sneak in a few IM's here and there, with overtime in abundance plus a lengthy commute, and reserve police work on the side, I don't have the same kind of spare time I used to to chat with folks a lot. While I will try to make every effort to reply to PM's from ppl who want to say hello and such, I've decided I need to restrict Instant Messages only to friends I know really well and keep in close contact with.

I hope nobody will hold it against me, but my IM contact lists have become bloated and disorganized with names of ppl I don't even remember who they were. And it's overdue for a cleaning out of my contacts lists.

Today is a landmark day for those of you Californians who like me are supporters of the 2nd Amendment. Today the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco (a court that has in the past been notoriously hyper-liberal in its decisions), struck down the state's "good cause" requirement for having a CCW (Carry Concealed Weapons) permit in the case Peruta vs. San Diego County.

For years, California has been one of (now) only 8 states which have what are known as "may-issue" CCW Permits. All other states have what are known as "shall-issue" CCW Permits. For those latter 42 states, in order to obtain a CCW Permit, one merely had to demonstrate good moral character, no criminal record that would prohibit their owning a gun, and proficiency in their carry gun of choice. The only reason needed would be something like "I want to be able to protect myself in case of an attack by an armed criminal."

California and the "may-issue" states on the other paw have a requirement that you must present "good cause" to obtain a CCW permit. "Good cause" usually translates to a credible, specific, immediate, and grave threat to your life (for example copies of death threats you've received or a letter from your local police chief expressing your need for a CCW permit). And even then it's completely discretionary. The issuing authority (usually the county sheriff in CA) can simply decide not to give you one for no reason at all.

Now if you are politically-connected and can pull strings with the sheriff or issuing authority, you also have a better chance of getting one. But besides that, it's nearly impossible to legally carry a concealed weapon in CA unless you are on your own private property or unless you become a police officer.

Up till now the courts have consistently upheld the states' rights to set their own laws regarding carrying of firearms. But the 9th Circuit Court ruled that since CA put a ban last year on open/unloaded carry (and open/loaded has been illegal for a long time), the restrictions on CCW permits made it almost impossible to legally carry a firearm in California. And this was unconstitutional according to them. They even pointed out that the Second Amendment's text: "to 'keep' and 'bear' arms," essentially is the same as "to 'own' and 'carry' arms" respectively.

While this will likely still be a lengthy and protracted legal battle (the losers in an appeals case never take it lying down), with the possibility of the Supreme Court eventually deciding the case, this is definitely a step in the right direction for those of us who support the Second Amendment.

I for one believe that allowing citizens to carry firearms (as long as those people are properly vetted and competent enough to handle firearms) is perfectly fine. The right to use legally-registered firearms to protect yourself from deadly force shouldn't stop at your doorstep.

While I wouldn't recommend becoming the next George Zimmerman or going out looking for trouble like the Lone Ranger, there's no less danger in someone kicking down your front door and rushing at you with a gun of their own than in someone charging at you with a tire iron in a parking lot on your way to your car.

But in California up until now, only the first scenario would you likely find your gun at your side ready to use; whereas in the second scenario, unless you are part of a special class of citizen (politicians, celebrities, savvy attorneys), good luck in outrunning your assailant or getting your car started before he reached you.

I know there will be MANY of you who wholeheartedly disagree with me. Those who say that having more people with guns will lead to shootouts in the streets between criminals and vigilantes. Those that say more guns will only make the problem of too much gun violence worse. Those who say that unless you've been trained by a police force or the US armed forces, you have no business in carrying a gun.

But that's okay. That's what makes America great. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Just like the politicians who created all these CCW restrictions in California had their own opinions and agendas when they passed these restrictive laws. But that's why we have courts. To decide things for us when the debate gets out of hand.

So with that I will leave judgment to the wiser heads in the black robes. But I will be steadfastly giving my support for this ruling to be upheld and implemented in California post haste!

Those of you interested can read the whole decision here: http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datasto.....12/1056971.pdf

Hey all you  FurrySingers out there, here's a song which really needs a vocalist. Haven't seen the lyrics yet but it's a really catchy beat! If you're interested in loaning your voice and can sing pop tenor, check it out!

http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/5468154/

Pinched from  Lace

Where are you staying?
Marriott San Jose.

When will you be there:
Wednesday to Tuesday.

What is your gender?
Proud male.

Relationship Status:
Single and loving it!

How tall are you?
5'8"

What languages do you speak?
English and a few phrases in Spanish.

Where will you be most of the time during the day?
Walking about constantly and seeing who's around, out at different restaurants eating, fursuiting around the hotel and con center, swimming, hot tubbing, drinking at the bar and in rooms, partying and hanging in peoples' rooms, fun con stuff.

Who will you be with?
Whichever group will choose to accept me!

Do you do free art?
Sorry, not an artist.

Do you do trades?
Nope.

Do you do commissions?
Again, not an artist.

Do you have prints/ CDs?
Nope

What suit(s) will you have?
Alastair and his SFPD regalia.

Can I dance with you?
By all means! Let's dance!

Can I touch you?
Sure thing. I'm a very open gay Shep.

Can I talk to you?
Of course though if I'm in suit, depending on the context, I may not break character and speak back.

Can I hug you?
Yes! Hugs are proven to be very healthy!

Can I take photos of you/with you?
In suit, snap away! Out of suit, ask first, maybe yes, maybe no, again depending on context.

Can I buy you lots of drinks?
Heh, only if I get the next round. I hate leaving unpaid debts.

Do you drink Alcohol/Smoke?
Drink? Yes, though no beer (I prefer cider). Smoke? NO!

Can I hug or snuggle with you?
Hug? If you're in suit and your suit is clean and not sweat-drenched then of course! Out of suit sure, but also again if you're clean and all . Snuggle? Maybe, if I know you. I enjoy fursuit snuggles though with friends.

Can we hang out?
Sure thing, if I'm not busy or have other plans and you're not a creeper.

Are you nice?
Nice but a bit shy still in social situations. You'll have to pardon my shortcomings.

Other cons you may go to?
Absolutely unknown at this point! Just gonna enjoy FC for now and worry about next con's logistics afterward.

Attending any events?
Panels? Doubt it. Art show? If something catches my fancy. Parade? Undecided. Dances? Absolutely! Anything else? Dunno, will prolly just go with the flow.

How can I find you at the con?
Just spot me walking around or watch for my tweets. ;)

Can we go out for a dinner?
Maybe, if I don't already have meal plans.

Are you buying art?
Possibly. There are a few artists I'd like to meet though.

What do I have to watch out for, when I am meeting you?
Not much. I am not by any means conceited or condescending.

What is the best way to contact you?
Text/DM/Tweet.

May I kidnap you to my room?
Hmm, hard to say! Since this cop dog may turn the tables on my kidnapper!

I have a personal question for the convention. May I ask you that?
As long as you're not confessing to a crime, sure thing.

Let us all have a good time! Hopefully free of drama and con crud, but plenty of confusion at Further Confusion 2014!

RIP Mr. President, you may have been taken from us too soon but you've left a legacy that will live on forever.

In memory of John Fitzgerald Kennedy
35th President of the United States
05/29/1917 — 11/22/1963

This past Sunday I had the privilege of participating in the Urban Shield exercise here in the Bay Area. Urban Shield is a training competition for police tactical teams, bomb squads, and fire departments. It is held in various cities and counties and teams from around the world come to participate. Here in the Bay Area, the event is hosted by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office and involves a variety of scenarios including dignitary rescue, hijacked trains/planes/buses, an attack on the Bay Bridge, military installation attacks, high rise terrorist takeovers, active shooters, school shooters, and CBRN attacks.

Teams have included local, county, state, and federal tactical units from around the country and even some international teams have participated over the years such as the French National Police RAID team and the YAMAM team from the Israeli Border Police (who won first place in 2010 and 2011). This year in addition to Bay Area agencies we had participants from the Orange County (FL) Sheriff's Department and the Dallas PD as well as the CORE team from Brazil's Polícia Civil.

My part was as a role player as a hostage in a high rise terrorist attack set at the iconic 555 California Street building. This gave me a unique first-person perspective of simulated gun battles between the terrorist role players and tactical teams from a plethora of agencies such as the California Highway Patrol, Hayward PD, Alameda County SO, Martinez PD, Walnut Creek PD, Berkeley PD, and other various local agencies here in the Bay Area.

These officers and deputies have literally been at this nonstop since Friday through Monday going from site to site. Imagine yourself as Jack Bauer in 3 seasons of "24" back-to-back, no sleep, no rest in-between except for whatever power nap they can catch on the bus on the way to the next scenario. And in spite of the sleep deprivation and the variety of unfamiliar surroundings, I was not hit by a single errant round during the entire exercise.

I've heard there were protests in Oakland to the holding of Urban Shield this year, the protestors (that is the bona fide ones who weren't anarchists looking for an excuse to riot) arguing that this exercise creates a more military police presence and is a waste of money. Aside from the fact that the only participants are tactical teams who are already militarized police units (patrol officers don't participate); Boston has shown that a terrorist attack can happen anywhere when it's least expected. And failure to train is training to fail. This exercise, besides fostering good will and camaraderie between different police teams from around the world, gives what I can describe as the closest to real-world training and practice you can get without using live ammunition.

This was a unique experience to see all these tactical teams actually engage bad guys up-close-and-personal. And I only wish I could've been a role player for all the scenarios so I could learn from all the different facets. I also wish I could've seen the CORE team during my time slot, I wanted to see if they were going to give their commands to the bad guys in Portuguese. XD

You guys may have your detractors out there, but this Shep is not one of them. Go teams!

Birthday Shep is one year older today! 29 years! My last year as a twentysomething!

Will I look back next year and think I missed out on a lot during my twenties?...Probably.

But the important thing is I still have whole another year to party like I'm just turning 21! Cause I don't feel like I'm approaching 30!

*woots, barks, and marfles around*

How many of you see a distinction between servicemen and women who serve with the armed forces and defend Americans from abroad, and with first responders such as law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, and EMT's who protect Americans on the home front?

While there are certainly distinct differences between the two: laws governing them, their areas of responsibility, their uniforms, the people they interact with daily; at their core is the same thing. Someone who is willing to put his or her life on the line to protect others.

Both protect and defend America. Servicemen and servicewomen do it from without and first responders do it from within. But deep down they all have the same mission.

Andrew Collier; the younger brother of slain MIT Police Officer Sean Collier who was murdered by the two Boston Marathon Bombing suspects earlier this year; has set up a petition to create a federal holiday to remember the first responders who lost their lives or who were gravely injured in the line of duty protecting those they serve. Something like a Memorial Day for first responders.

I think this is a sublime idea. We already have Memorial Day as a day of remembrance for our fallen servicemen and women who have given their lives defending Liberty. Why not also a day to remember the first responders who gave their lives defending the public?

I think I'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who would argue that cops firefighters, paramedics, and EMT's are not heroes to the same degree that soldiers, sailors, pilots, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and women, and other servicemen and women are.

If you think this idea for a National First Responders Day is a good idea, I urge you to visit 2makeachange.org and sign the petition. I've already signed and I can't wait for it to become a reality because it is long overdue.

As I was signing my name to the petition and writing up this journal, I remembered our fallen furry first responder friend  Lemonade_Coyote aka  BlueEyedCy who was killed in the line of duty earlier this year while serving and helping the residents of their city. I know he is smiling down on all of us from above every day and I think in return for all he and other fallen first responders have done, this would be an enormous act of gratitude to create a national day of remembrance towards first responders. To show them that we do not simply let their sacrifices go by idly. To show them that we don't forget about them after Taps and their 3-volley salute has ended at their funeral. To show them that like the honor we bestow upon those who put on camouflage fatigues every day as their daily uniform, we also honor and cherish those who pin on a badge every day.

Dedicated to Indianapolis EMT Pvt. Timothy McCormick who made the supreme sacrifice while serving his community.

Some will always answer the call...