Introvert Reveals What Really Goes on During Search and Rescue Training

 So…. this was SAR training one night. I’m in the white helmet.  It looks like we’re diligently practicing splinting an injury, but….

Instructor: Here’s your scenario. The subject fell on rocks and ripped off their knee cap. He can’t walk out. What do you do? 

Me: I guess I’d use a SAM splint to stabilize the knee and call for a carry out. 

Instructor: Good. Go ahead and do that. How would you mold the splint?

Me: Um, using two splints, I’d—

Instructor: Did you know your dog chewed on your helmet? [Picks at edge of helmet near my ear] 

Me: ????

Me: [Feels along edge of helmet] Damn it…   

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Image credit: Misty Mott

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If you would like to comment on anything in these posts, I would be delighted to hear from you. Please visit my author’s website to learn more about progress with the Zackie Story series, author appearances, or to send me a message, etc. Or if you prefer, you can also find me on Facebook (at least until another social media platform emerges that will actually safeguard user privacy). Feel free to friend me and send me a message so I’ll know you’re not just a bot.

Soul Search, Soul Scent, Soul Sign, and Soul Seek novels of supernatural suspense, have been described as Marley & Me meets The Sixth Sense. Readers have praised these novels for the very human stories behind the hauntings that create unexpected plot twists, drama, and even moments of humor. The Zackie Stories are available for purchase as ebook, audiobook, and paperback on Amazon and Audible, and free on Kindle Unlimited.

If you enjoy the Zackie stories, please, please consider leaving a short review on Amazon and/or Goodreads and/or Bookbub. Your review makes a difference and is incredibly valuable, drawing in other readers and providing access to promotional opportunities that require a specific number of reviews to engage. I’ll be your best friend forever if you write a review.

If you would like to subscribe to this blog, click on the three bars at the upper right. The next full post will be available on or before the last day of the month.

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Introvert’s How-to Guide to Buying Haunted Real Estate

With low interest rates, now may be a good time to consider buying that haunted house you’ve always dreamed about. Extroverts suffering from the isolation imposed by the pandemic might be able to find built-in companionship, guaranteed to be COVID-negative. For introverts, the allure of a candlelit property on a windswept moor may prove irresistible. Regardless of your personal motivation, discovering the haunted backstory of a property may provide the buyer with an edge during price negotiations. But how does one find such a property?

Introvert Doubles Toil and Trouble

I used to supervise a biobank that stored both research samples and samples from clinical trials. The collection included everything from extracted DNA and RNA, to all manner of liquid components derived from humans, to chunks of human tissue. The freezer farm housing this stuff consisted of liquid nitrogen tanks and freezers set to -80^oC / -112^oF. To prevent mishap, the freezer farm was on a 24 / 7 monitor. I was woken up by the alarm in the middle of the night too many times to count — once, after having left that job. In retrospect, this was probably good training for search and rescue.

The Introvert and The Third Man

The Third Man is an unseen presence sensed by people who are in extremis, struggling, and near the point of death. This presence encourages them to make one final effort to survive.

The Plague and The Introvert

“Oh good–it’s turned into Ebola.” Rich finished blowing his nose and gazed suspiciously into the tissue.

Hunched over under layers of blankets to ward off the chills, I gave him the stink-eye. “J’accuse!” I raised a damning finger at him. (I think you can guess which one.) “You made me sick.”

We are living in a plague house.

Introvert Sleuths Halloween Mystery

The last known point for the subject was under a tree. A piece of tissue, melting in the morning dew, would be used as the scent article. It was a good assumption that this was something the subject might have touched.

I threw the harness down near the fragile scent article and let the K9 circle the area on the 30-foot lead to learn what scents were in the vicinity. After slipping the harness over her head and buckling it securely around her deep chest, I switched the lead from her choke to the harness. I gave her the commands to take scent and then to get on trail.

The K9 moved decisively across the lawn and to the sidewalk. The trail was fairly old, probably about 12 hours , but the cool, humid conditions were great for working scent.

We went up the block, passing several houses. She showed no interest, keeping her nose down and giving no head indications. After continuing past a few more houses, the K9 attempted to enter a driveway. I held her back. She glanced over her shoulder at me, clearly unhappy that I would not let her continue. Yup, I thought.

Working her way past the driveway, she next attempted to follow the walk to the front door of the house. Gotcha.

Expert tip: Don’t TP the house where the search dog lives. 

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Image by my crappy little flip phone

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If you would like to comment on anything in these posts, I would be delighted to hear from you. Please visit my author’s website to learn more about progress with the Zackie Story series, author appearances, or to send me a message, etc. Or if you prefer, you can also find me on Facebook (at least until another social media platform emerges that will actually safeguard user privacy). Feel free to friend me and send me a message so I’ll know you’re not just a bot.

Soul Search, Soul Scent, and Soul Sign, novels of supernatural suspense, have been described as Dean Koontz’s Odd Thomas meets Piers Anthony’s On a Pale Horse. Readers have praised these novels for the very human stories behind the hauntings that create unexpected plot twists, drama, and even moments of humor. The Zackie Stories are available for purchase on Amazon and are free on Kindle Unlimited.

If you enjoy the Zackie stories, please, please consider leaving a short review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Your review makes a difference and is incredibly valuable, drawing in other readers and providing access to promotional opportunities that require a specific number of reviews to engage. I’ll be your best friend forever if you write a review.

If you would like to subscribe to this blog, click on the three bars at the upper right. The next full post will be available on or before the last day of the month.

Introvert Asks: Is Cozy Horror a Thing?

I might have accidentally invented a new fiction genre–Cozy Horror.

Introvert Flash Post: The Day I Learned I Could (Almost) Fly

Kitten Wins by #TKO Against Introvert

Fragile. For all their desire to live, two-week-old kittens are incredibly fragile. I give a lot of credit to cat mothers who nurture and raise strong, healthy kittens. I’ve found it takes hard work, sacrifice, and stamina to keep a kitten alive. The picture you see is Mojo at three-almost-four weeks old. I finally feel confident that he’s not going to die.

The Introvert and the Odor Mortis

Because being a writer means following the advice of Jefferson Airplane’s White Rabbit and feeding your head.

Submitted for your approval: the details of one head-feeding session….