human interest story

ARLINGTON, Va. -- It took a second or two for Jaimen Ortiz to fully comprehend what he was seeing: two toddlers playing in an open second-floor window, and one of them hanging from the window sill.

So Ortiz hopped a fence and ran to the apartment building. Just as he got there, the 2-year-old girl fell, screaming. Ortiz put out his arms and caught her cleanly, perhaps saving her life and certainly preventing serious injury.

"If I had delayed one more second, she would have fallen to the ground," Ortiz said through a Spanish interpreter, recalling the Oct. 13 incident.

The toddlers' father was charged with reckless endangerment.

Ortiz's quick thinking was honored Tuesday in Arlington, where the County Board presented him a certificate of recognition for his heroism.

Ortiz, 29, seemed slightly overwhelmed by the attention he received Tuesday as he fielded multiple interview requests.

"I have a 5-year-old child, and you never know. Maybe someday he might need help like I was able to give to this girl," he said.

While he was unaccustomed to the recognition, it's not the first time he has been a hero. As a teenager growing up in Guatemala, he helped save the wife of a friend from drowning.

room 101

I really cant think of a physical fear that just really freaks me out. One thing that does scare me is the unpreventable loss of loved ones. I suppose im afraid of the unpreventable all together so i suppose in my room, i would be in a straight jacket in a room full of simulated scenarios in which i want more than anything to prevent whats being shown to me but all the while im unable to do so.

food and top 10

we usually have ham and turkey with mashed potatoes, gravy mac and cheese, green beans, and tons of deserts. we used to make sausage cheese balls which were really good. too bad i have to work on thanksgiving

1 out of school
2 see my family
3 eat good food.
4 lots more free time.
5 extra pay at work for holiday time
6 not
7 that
8 much
9 to
10 say

parachute packing

Melody Wadley
Randy Wadley
Lauren Jackson
Cameron Moran
Zach Boggess
Leif Moss


All of these people have "packed my chute" so to speak. they act as an insurance policy for lifes failures. I know my mother and father will always be there for me and support me in all i do
and one of the best friends i could ever have, Cameron, although distant will always be a friend and a brother to me. Good old Leif, i miss Leif, hes always been a brother to me as well, he's always got a way to make something funny. Then theres my girlfriend, Lauren, She is truly amazing, probably one of the greatest things to ever happen in my life. But the person who really "packed my chute" is Zach, he has been the greatest friend i could ask for, and a brother. I know that one day we can look back and laugh at our stupidities and be thankful that we were there for each other through the rough times, that will then seem stupid, and laughable.

i dont know.

im not a big fan of blogging for no reason so therefore i have nothing to say, but i will keep typing until i just cant spit anything more out. i am very tired today my throat hurts as well as my finger, it hurts to type and im hungry... yum jt's today.

hitler halloween response + top 10

i think that it is stupid to ban just because some people got offended, it didnt hurt them directly or even indirectly. why should we baby people just because of what they are or what they look like. so much for equality right?

top 10 reasons i love Halloween.
1.its a very dark holiday
2.candy
3.costumes
4.pranks
5.scaring people
6.i
7.really
8.dont
9.know
10.what to put

coach rhodes

i just remember coach rhodes always talkin about football the whole class instead of makin us do work. he was a really funny teacher and a great guy.