To live a well balanced, rewarding life of our dreams by day and sleep restfully at night.
Are we losing sleep because of gun violence or not being able to protect our families? Bachelorette TV personality, Jesse Csincsak weighs in… (an exclusive interview)
Published February 6, 2013 | 
I know I sleep well when I feel safe, secure, and loved. I am thankful that I live in a beautiful low-crime neighborhood where neighbors look out for each other. Even in the safest neighborhoods, however, are we really 100% safe?
Due to recent horrific events such as the Aurora, Colorado theater shootings and the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy in Newton, Connecticut, this question is asked a lot these days.
To keep myself centered and at peace, I tend to limit my media exposure and not dwell on negative news events. As a parent and elementary classroom teacher, however, I recognize I have a responsibility to engage and not completely bury my head under the sand about this issue.
The bottom line for us here at The Warm Milk Journal is:
1. We want our kids to be safe.
2. We want our communities to be safe places to live, work, and go to school…
3. We want to sleep well at night!
Politics aside, it is important to have a civic conversation as a community about how we best go about keeping us all safe (and sleeping restfully at night).
I have had the good fortune to get to know Jesse Csincsak this past year. You may remember him as The Bachelorette season 4 winner, a professional snowboarder, or as an Olympic TV host.
Through the course of several conversations I have gotten to know Jesse best as a husband and father. The issues of violence, gun control, and the ability to protect his family are very dear to him.
Jesse would like to get the word out about a film, Assaulted Civil Rights Under Fire, that invites conversation about this controversial issue.
Here’s an excerpt of my February 4th conversation with Jesse two days ago…
Debra: Hello Jesse!
Jesse: Hi Debra.
Debra: How are you?
Jesse: I am great, just helping Ann with our new Clothing store in Vail Colorado www.CashmereAndCoco.com.
Debra: That sounds fun and exciting!
Jesse: Yes, we are having a lot of fun with it.
Debra: Best of luck and much success to her!
Jesse: Thank you, I will pass that on to Ann.
Debra: Please tell me a little bit about this film, Assaulted, Civil Rights Under Fire?
Jesse: Assaulted is a project I’m very passionate about. The film will look deep into the history of gun control in America through interviews with over 60 experts in all aspects of the debate. The goal is to present audiences with a balanced look at the realities of gun control in America without the misinformation often included in gun control pieces in the media today.
Debra: What is your involvement with this film?
Jesse: The film was brought to my attention about a month ago by one of the producers when I was asked if I would be interested in being interviewed for the film. I was immediately drawn to the subject matter and was happy to help. We are now discussing the possibility of me hosting the project. I believe this is one of the most important debates in America today, and anything I can do to help educate Americans on this topic is time well spent.
Debra: Why is this issue, the 2nd amendment so important to you?
Jesse: The 2nd amendment is important to me for the simple fact that it gives me the right to PROTECT MY FAMILY. The bottom line is that criminals won’t turn in their assault weapons, so I find it silly that the government is going to ask me to turn in mine and deny me the right to defend my family.
Debra: How do you feel about automatic assault weapons?
Jesse: This is the big misunderstanding. AR 15s and AR 10s are not Automatic weapons they are semi automatic weapons just like every hand gun on the planet. The only difference is the capacity of the magazines in which they hold… Any weapon including a normal handgun like a 1911 pistol can be gun smithed into an Automatic weapon but you need a special class 3 gun permit to be in possession of one…
Debra: I have much to learn. When and where will this film be available?
Jesse: The goal is to release the film in March. You can get updates about the film on DeadPatriotfilms.com.
Debra: Will do! I will be honest with you, Jesse. I am a bit of a “girly girl” and guns have always frightened me. I know my husband shares your point of view and I will check out this film when it is released and keep an open mind…
Jesse: That is all anyone can ask, Debra. We just want to get the discussion going.
Debra: Well, we can certainly do that. I will invite my readers to engage in this conversation as well.
Jesse: You’re the best!
Debra: I think you are pretty great too. Stay in touch. I wish you and Ann and little Noah well.
Jesse: Thank you.
Debra: Thank YOU.
Friends, I invite your comments!
Please share how this issue of violence and gun control affects your sense of security and getting a good night sleep. We have a global readership here at The Warm Milk Journal and we would be very interested to hear from citizens from different countries who have different gun control laws than we have here in the United States.
In Peace,
Debra
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Did you know that being too nice can be dangerous? An exclusive interview with author, martial arts instructor, and former Bachelorette contestant, Sean Ramey.
Published September 18, 2012 | We often write about being “too nice” here at The Warm Milk Journal. Did you know that being too nice could put you in danger? I found this out when I had the good fortune to chat with Sean Ramey!
Sean Ramey has been studying martial arts for over 28 years. He is currently a 6th Degree Black Belt and has appeared in numerous commercials and movies such as, Winner Takes All and Extreme Force. Most recently he appeared in the fourth season of ABC’s hit show, “The Bachelorette”. In 2009, he was inducted into the U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He owns Kentucky Tae Kwon Do & Fitness Academy, Inc., one of the largest and fastest growing martial arts studios in the US, as stated by United Professionals, one of North Americas largest martial arts consulting companies. He is in the process of releasing a couple books to the public, “D.E.F.E.N.D. A Basic Guide on Self-Defense” and another on Bully Defense for children, both of which will donate 20% of all revenues to the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund He and his wife and daughter live in the suburbs outside of Louisville, Ky.
Hello Sean!
Hello Debra.
I am so glad to have a chance to chat with you.
Thanks.
We all need to get a good night sleep. A big part of getting a good night sleep is feeling safe and secure. I understand you have a martial arts school?
Yes, Debra, I founded Kentucky Tae Kwon Do & Fitness Academy, Inc in 1998, and it has grown to over 350 families that are actively involved. We offer classes for students as young as 4 and have students as young as 70 years of age! The Academy is a world class facility with over 5,000 square feet, complete with dressing rooms, viewing mezzanine for families, and a kids play room. The Academy was rated as one of the fastest growing martial arts schools and in the TOP 50 Martial Arts Schools, by United Professionals,one of North America’s largest martial arts consulting firms.
That sounds great! My husband is a martial arts instructor too and I really respect what you guys are about…
Yes, it’s a way of life…
I know!
Here at The Warm Milk Journal, we deal with anxiety issues and getting a good night sleep. Some of my readers have been victims of abusive spouses or victims of violent crime. What can women do to protect themselves?
Abuse and bullying is truly an epidemic in today’s society, and has been for quite sometime. My best advice for women is to quit being so sympathetic. I always give the example of Ted Bundy, who preyed upon women’s sympathies. I always inform women that their best weapon is awareness. Being Aware alone, can save more lives than any choke hold, punch or kick….combined.
That’s an eye opener for me, Sean. Ted Bundy was a charmer. I could see myself going along and helping him…. So scary! (don’t really want to think about it)! I hope my friends out there are paying attention to this too! We need to get over this too-nice syndrome, don’t we?
Absolutely.
Many of my readers are women in their 40s or older. Can older people learn martial arts for the first time?
It is never too late to start learning how to protect yourself and your loved ones! We all stress the importance of reading, writing, and arithmetic but forget to express the importance of life’s most important life skill….Survival.
I am a mom and fifth grade school teacher. At school I use The Second Step violence prevention program and teach lessons from The Bully Free Classroom by Allan Beane. Are you familiar with these programs?
It is wonderful to see schools implementing Bully Free Zones, Bully Buster Programs, etc.. I believe we would all see violence in our schools drop now and in the future, from halting bullying and the effects it has on its victims. It’s a fact that many of these horrific attacks we see at schools have been carried out be those who were bullied at sometime or another.
I hear you have written some books?
Yes. D.E.F.E.N.D. A Basic Guide on Self-Defense will be in bookstores and available in ebook format before Christmas. At Kentucky Tae Kwon Do and Fitness Academy, Inc., I have the wonderful pleasure of touching hundreds of people’s lives by teaching them the self confidence and skills to protect themselves. However, with this book, I have the possibility of touching thousands (and maybe millions) of people in the same way.
Also, 20% of all proceeds from the book will go towards the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund. The brave men and women of our armed services are the true heroes; they are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our safety and freedom. The least that we can do is ensure that their children are taken care of, if they don’t make it back.
These both sound great. I can’t wait to get a copy of each…
Thank you, Debra, for allowing me to talk about this project to your readers.
My pleasure, Sean. We all want to be safe, secure, and sleep well. Thank YOU!
Here’s to being safe, taking care of ourselves, and getting a good night sleep tonight and every night. Much thanks to Sean Ramey and all of you!
In peace,
Debra
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Former Bachelorette winner Jesse Csincsak shares how he keeps his family safe and gets a good night sleep: an exclusive interview
Published June 15, 2012 | 
Used with Jesse Csincsak’s permission
I had the pleasure to get acquainted with professional snowboarder Jesse Csincsak this past week. He is probably best known as the winner of ABC’s fourth season of The Bachelorette. Two years after his painful break up with Bachelorette DeAnna Pappas, Jesse found true love with former Bachelor contestant Ann Leuders. Jesse and Ann are now married and have a beautiful little boy, Noah.
Jesse contacted me because he discovered The Warm Milk Journal and wanted to share with us about times in his life when he was not sleeping well and what he did about it. Here’s an excerpt of our conversation…
Hi Jesse! You are now happily married and have a little boy. How are you enjoying life?
Debra, life is great. I’m working from home as a Marketing Strategist and doing the stay at home dad thing. I feel very blessed.
I’m so happy for you. You mentioned to me the other day that there was a time in your life when you were feeling anxious and not sleeping well?
Yes, as a mountain person I am aware of the dangers of wildlife. I have seen what wild animals can do. My wife, Ann, was close to being attacked by coyotes and fortunately I was prepared and shot a gun off which frightened them away.
How terrifying!
Yes, it was. Having a family has made me even more aware of the importance of knowing what to do in dangerous situations.
So what do you do to keep your family safe?
We installed new dead bolts and put in a surveillance system. Ann and I attended a self defense course at a firearms facility here in Colorado.
You mean guns?
Yes.
That sounds a little scary to me. I don’t even like to be near a gun.
Ann felt the same way initially. By the end of the training she was very glad she did this with me. If you are properly trained, guns are excellent tools to keep you prepared and safe in difficult situations.
I guess no intruder or wild animal had better mess with the Csincsaks…
lol. You got that right.
Okay, Jesse. One more thing. A lot of us have anxiety about relationships and finding a life partner. You found your girl. What advice would you give to single people out there who are still looking for love and tired of being alone?
I just spoke to an audience of a few hundred single women about this subject recently… the most important thing I told them is to be yourself. That is, talk like you would normally talk, dress like you would normally dress, live like you would normally live. When you are dating someone notice how they act when they are mad. How they treat their parents is a good indicator of what kind of partner and parent they will be.
And once you’ve found your partner, how do you keep your love a lasting one?
When you are married (and especially when you are married with a baby), it is about the little things: helping my wife, writing notes, leaving a card on her car’s steering wheel to let her know I’m thinking of her.. things like that.
How sweet! You’re right. It is about the little things.
Yes it is.
Used with Jesse Csincsak’s permission
Coming attraction:
An exclusive interview with retired police chief Rich Wyatt, owner of Gunsmoke Guns, Colorado’s largest firearms and professional gunsmith facility featured on The Discovery Channel’s show American Guns. We are going to talk about fears and preconceptions people have about firearms (including myself) among other things…
Credit: Wyatt PR
Stay tuned!
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