Saddle on my back

Wasted Honor -

Carl R. ToersBijns is the author of the Wasted Honor Trilogy [Wasted Honor I,II and Gorilla Justice] and his newest book From the Womb to the Tomb, the Tony Lester Story, which is a reflection of his life and his experiences as a correctional officer and a correctional administrator retiring with the rank of deputy warden in the New Mexico and Arizona correctional systems.

Carl also wrote a book on his combat experience in the Kindle book titled - Combat Medic - Men with destiny - A red cross of Valor -

Carl is considered by many a rogue expert in the field of prison security systems since leaving the profession. Carl has been involved in the design of many pilot programs related to mental health treatment, security threat groups, suicide prevention, and maximum custody operational plans including double bunking max inmates and enhancing security for staff. He invites you to read his books so you can understand and grasp the cultural and political implications and influences of these prisons. He deals with the emotions, the stress and anxiety as well as the realities faced working inside a prison. He deals with the occupational risks while elaborating on the psychological impact of both prison worker and prisoner.

His most recent book, Gorilla Justice, is an un-edited raw fictional version of realistic prison experiences and events through the eyes of an anecdotal translation of the inmate’s plight and suffering while enduring the harsh and toxic prison environment including solitary confinement.

Carl has been interviewed by numerous news stations and newspapers in Phoenix regarding the escape from the Kingman prison and other high profile media cases related to wrongful deaths and suicides inside prisons. His insights have been solicited by the ACLU, Amnesty International, and various other legal firms representing solitary confinement cases in California and Arizona. He is currently working on the STG Step Down program at Pelican Bay and has offered his own experience insights with the Center of Constitutional Rights lawyers and interns to establish a core program at the SHU units. He has personally corresponded and written with SHU prisoners to assess the living conditions and how it impacts their long term placement inside these type of units that are similar to those in Arizona Florence Eyman special management unit where Carl was a unit deputy warden for almost two years before his promotion to Deputy Warden of Operations in Safford and Eyman.

He is a strong advocate for the mentally ill and is a board member of David's Hope Inc. a non-profit advocacy group in Phoenix and also serves as a senior advisor for Law Enforcement Officers Advocates Council in Chino, California As a subject matter expert and corrections consultant, Carl has provided interviews and spoken on national and international radio talk shows e.g. BBC CBC Lou Show & TV shows as well as the Associated Press.

I use sarcasm, satire, parodies and other means to make you think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Saddle on my back

We are all aware of the American idiom of “back in the saddle again” and the phrase “saddle up” referring to the world of cowboys and their way of life. When someone said, “saddle up” is was a way to communicate it was time to leave. Hence we all can related to the idiom in our own world as a means to illustrate overcoming life’s adversity and getting back into the game of life whether it be personal or work related challenges.

Using the same ideology or phrasing, it is likely many people understand the phrase normally expressed by the words, “do I have a saddle on my back?” referring to being rode by someone else to get things done or completed. The fact is in life, we all have a saddle on our backs and how we deal with it is very important. As a metaphor a “saddle” may be a burden or task or even a responsibility in life or career choices.

The metaphor “saddle” is and can be varied on the situation or situations faced with in your life. Whether or not the metaphor is a positive or negative connotation is up to the person’s own perspective and ability to handle such a challenge or barrier when faced with it.

Regardless, we all bear the burden of sitting in the saddle and whether we sit tall [proud] or upright is up to how you view your life in general as it is maintained by your own values, integrity and character whenever possible..

Nowhere in this analogy is there a suggestion you just sit back and relax. Sitting in the saddle and doing your job will in many ways keep your boss off your back. In metaphorical terms it will keep him from riding you and putting a saddle on your back to get things done. Getting back in the saddle bring self-confidence into the mix as well as leadership and a proactive approach to finish what is started.

A great employee focuses on the positive things in life and business. They know there will be adversities but sitting upright in the saddle and getting the job done right will keep their boss or other persons in charge off their backs removing any faint idea or notion there is a saddle on his or her back.

Sitting in the saddle could also be referred to as being in the driver’s seat or the person in charge or control of things or persons around them. Life can be and is often irritating to some and are often expressed as having “a burr under one’s saddle” meaning that someone or something is irritation him or her. Sarcasm can also be prompted by the use of the word “saddle” as one can say something looks or is ridiculous without coming out and saying the word.

The expression would be similar to saying it “looks like a saddle on a sow” giving it a ridiculous undertone. Last but not least, we can use the word “saddle” to refer to someone or something that reflects or perceives a situation to be a burden or something undesirable in your life or work. Saying you are “saddled up with someone” reflects being stuck with someone you either don’t like or don’t want to work with.

They can be regarded as annoying or difficult people to deal with either as a supervisor or a co-worker. Regardless, the metaphor “saddle” is widely used and applied in work and life. How you perceive it depends on the situation it is applied to at the moment it is used.