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Draft Day

At Least He Was Camouflaged

Last night we picked up this very interesting kat.
Dude was butt nekked, heavily, I mean, totally, absolutely covered in cement mix powder and sitting smack dab on top of a fire hydrant, gyrating and wiggling back and forth like he was trying to get somewhere in a hurry.

When asked what he was doing dude said, "It's the only action I'm going to get tonight."

When told he couldn't be sitting out in public naked, he replied, "It's hot out, man....can't a guy just get nekked when it's hot out?"

When told that he couldn't He looked defeated, held up his arms and said, "I put on camouflage."

Kat provided some other really interesting nuggets like:

"Dogs, they like to wear thems some Jordans, but if you wantto get with the ladies you gots to wear the Shaqs."

and

"H...H....H...H...H....H...to the bat cave."

and

"Feed me in my mouth....Feed med in my mouth!"

and

"9....9.999...0h...9....9...9999....big glass of ice water."

The police officers on scene were almost rolling on the ground they were laughing so hard.
I have to admit, it was all very amusing.

Dude prattled on in rapid fire fashion all the way to the hospital and in the ED too about a variety of subjects all with questionable voracity.
The hospital staff also got a pretty good kick out of it.

I'm only a Paramedic, but I would venture to guess the guy needs a little psychological assistance.

Hey, but At Least He Was Camouflaged.

Proud

Our church is hosting The New Wineskins Convocation.
New Wineskins is an organization made up of Presbyterian pastors and leadership who are wanting to stand for righteousness within the Biblical break of the Greater Presbyterian church.
The Greater Presbyterian Church is really turning its back on Jesus and the foundations of Christianity.

I'm quite proud of the position our pastors have placed themselves in which leaves them vulnerable to the backlash the Greater Presbytery. Humble men of God. I'm blessed to be of thier congregants.Michael Card

I went to the opening service of the Convocation and was absolutey floored by coming face to face with Michael Card. I learned that Micheal Card would be leading worship throughout the Convocation and would be doing some leading.
Dude is a legend! Powerful music!
I'll tell you what, I was not disappointed. Man, he is humble too. I don't think anyone told him who he is. Dude, do you have any idea who you are?! You're MICHAEL CARD!
It was quite awesome. The whole deal, I mean. I'm pretty sad that I have to work throughout The rest of it.
God is going to be doing some big things. Dont' know exactly what it will look like, but the "Church" will not be the same and the world is watching.

Nights

The first full week on nights is done.
It will take some getting used to.
I had done it before, but not with four kids.
Sleeping during the day with four kids just being themselves is difficult even with ear plugs.
So, I'm tired most of the night.
Thank the Lord for QT and the slew of energy drinks they have there.
For those of you who have not exprienced the joys of a

Quick Trip

, pray and pettition that they come to you area. They are a convenience store based here in Oklahoma and definitely break the mold of what you expect in a convenience store. You will never go back to anywhere else.
Seriously. They rock. We had them in Omaha, little did I know they were more numerous than Starbuck's in NYC, down here.
My first partner left me for another man. :(

Here I am with my first fulltime partner.
Yes, the one who left me.

Well, she's an EMT and in Paramedic school. They guys she is partnered with now has the nickname Yoda because he is the Paramedic master.
Really, they guy would walk on water if the job required it, so I really don't blame her.
I have a new partner now who is pretty green, but is a frig'n hard worker.
Great guy. Makes the lousy shift much more easy to bare.
Call me shallow.....waiting........(You're shallow)...but I'm super stressed about missing football season working Saturday and Sunday nights and not being able to see any of the games.
I think my new partner and I will try to renegotiate soon.

They're Coming!!

I'm excited for this upcoming football season.
Especially the game against USC.
Dang, If my schedule stays the same I will be sleeping through EVERY football game!
Anyway...

Apple Cider Vinegar

I have recently been enjoying the befefits of Apple Cider Vinegar.
Been drinking a table sppon of Apple Cider Vinegar with an equal amount of honey mixed into 8oz of H2O.
Drinking one of these delicious, nutritious, refreshing glasess before every meal.
I initialy heard that it helps reduce cholesterol. Then I heard that it's good for GERD of all things.
The more I looked into this Apple Cider Vinegar thing, the more benefits I learned that it has.
Mmmmm, tasty goodness.
It actually, has been helping my heartburn for which I'd previously been takint The Little Purple Pill for the last 8 years.
We'll see on my next check up what it does for my6 cholesterol.
The unfiltered type like Braggs tastes much better than the cheaper filtered stuff.
But, of course it's more expensive.
I have Apple Cider Vinegar pills that I take while at work. Not sure if it helps so much as the "Cocktail" that I mix, but we'll see.
Why am I writting about this?
'Cuz I haven't had too much exciting going on and had to write something.
=
=
=
Oh, Miss America Moved in across the street.
Seriously.
Just this last weekend.
-Strange-

Working On The Night Shift

So, for an equitable and fair way of decding who works what shift, every six months my company has "Shift Bids".
Shift Bids are based upon seniority. Every month you work for the company you get a point.
So, I've been here for Six months and I get 6 whopping points!
That means I get the choice of the very best of the bottom of what's left.
19:30 to 07:30 Thurdays -through- Sundays.
So, six months of this.
At least I have a good partner.

Nights.
It's dark at night.

He Did It His Way

-Father's day-
Maybe it's appropriate that I post this topic today...
Maybe not, but here goes.

Last Monday, June 12th we finally burried my father.
I think that I had written before, that my father died December 28th of 2005.
He wanted to be cremated. Which he was, but my mother really didn't want him burried in Nevada. So, she had his ashes sent to Omaha, Ne. Where they have sat, in her room....since then.

We wanted some time after the kids are our of shcool and during a time that I wouldn't have to take any vacation time (I just started a new job so I have none accrued) so Monday was the day.

My dad was a unique guy. You really couldn't peg him into any specific hole, because when you did, you'd fine he didn't fit.
So it was appropriate that he would have a unique post mortem request.

Dad wanted to be cremated...not too unusual...and burried in a Music box that played the tune "I did It My Way" by Frank Sinatra....a bit more unusual. So we did.

--
And now, the end is here
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and ev'ry highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Regrets, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way

I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I've had my fill, my share of losing
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way,
"Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way"

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows and did it my way!

[instrumental]

Yes, it was my way
--

Happy Father's day Dad.
I love you.

Omaha

This was just sent to me.
It's about my home town -- my home town...which I will visit soon....

Omaha

Um...click on the name of my home town.
It's the blue tinted capital of Nebraska.
Not that "It's" blue tinted, the city, I mean, the word above is.
You will find it amusing, I'm sure.

Who's Who?

Here I am with Chief. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE involved in EMS in some capacity, whether it be at EMSA, among Fire Fighters or even in many of the hospital Emergency Departments think I look like our Chief. People do double takes. I think they're all smoking crack down here in Tulsa, but...you be the judge. 

In My Uniform

Here I am in my uniform. No steth, or Radio on my shoulder like I do while on duty. What a mug, eh? 

Only In Oklahoma

Saturday night
I'm getting off of work late.
It's about 1:30 AM, maybe a little later,
The streets are busy, but hey, it's Saturday night...
McDonald's drive-through line is long---"post bar munchies", maybe.
Low, and behold, just tooling down the side walk
An old guy, maybe in his late 70's early 80's...
Wearing a suit...and one of those old man hats they wear with suits...
cruising down the side walk on a riding lawn mower...
Only in Oklahoma...

Never Satisfied

Ok,
Maybe I'm never satisfied, but I need to keep learning.
Next week, I'm taking an ACLS instructors course. Advanced Cardiac Life Support.
Would love to start teaching in the Academy or any where else, for that matter.
Also, today I got information for completing my R.N. via correspondence.
I have a ton of credits already, so It make it much quicker, but It's more in the vein of a Paramedic to R.N. It's an at your own pace kind of thing, so it won't be interrupting the family and work so much. I'm excited about it.
If I could stay full time with EMSA as a Paramedic and enjoy the benifits they have, then work as an agency Nurse 3-4 times a month...well, let's just say I would probably make more as a Nurse part time as a full time Paramedic.
Nice, eh?
Plus, I still want to get on Life Flight or any other flight medic service.
Need to evaluate the cost of the school though. Not too bad in context, but sometimes context doesn't meet budget.

Instability

The only thing you can expect in the world of EMS is the unexpected.
Not only does that apply to call to call, but for me, it applies to whom my daily partner is going to be.
-Clarify-
My regular partner has been hurt the past two weeks.
And
For the next couple of weeks or so (However long it takes for her to get healed)
I have been having a different partner every single day.
It's like having Sibil for a partner.

Excuse Me Sir, Does Your Dog Bite?

-Excuse me Sir, does your dog bite?
=No, my dog doesn't bite.
+GrrrrCHOMP!
-Yeow! Hey, I thought you said your dog didn't bite!
=He doesn't, that's not my dog.

Oldie, but a goodie.
Speaking of dogs...
Just bought the family a Boston Terrier. (Named her Maggie)
Got her from a pet store in Owasso, OK that also does animal rescue.
Maggie is a pure breed, but the whole litter had mange and the breeder was going to destroy them.
The pet store took them and treated them and sold them.
She just got fixed this week and is still flakey and crusty and is shedding like there is no tomorrow. She's so pathetic she's cute.
The kids are quite excited about her. Actually, LaDeeBug is much more excited, I think.
Will post a pic of her when we get some.
OK, I better go cook some Calzones. We have some friends from Omaha staying with us and I think they expect to be fed.

Driving Along Just Minding Our Own Business.

OK, this is late because I had the in-laws in town over the weekend and couldn't get to the computer. So, let's talk about Friday.

The day started out normally enough.
We received 5 post assignments within 10 minutes...
Were dispatched to a prank call...

The first patient we made contact with was having some freaky hepatic encephalopathy action going on and was alret and oriented but very combatant and doing some crazy stuff. Had to call one of my captains in and two cops...dude ended up really, really pleasant and conversant on the way to the hospital before having another seizure on me...ah, medicine.

So, we were like crazy busy all the rest of the day.
It was Motor Vehichle Accident Central. Call after call after call.

Later in the evening...about 21:30 (9:30PM) we get sent to a post in a neighboring town. It takes a while to get there...a bit of a strech on the interstate without much lights (You've driven on stretches like that)

So...we're driving along just minding our own business.
Suddenly, my partner swerves to barley miss a guy walking down the middle of the right lane of the interstate.

I have NEVER seen my partner so angry.
She pulls over onto the shoulder and starts to unfasten her seatbelt.

I start to get this really bad feeling and I say to her,
"Don't do it, he's crazy"
She opens the door
"Don't do it, he's going to charger you"

She get's out of the door, yelling at him words I shall not repeat on this family oriented site..
I think to my self, "I'm going to get killed because of my partner." and get out my side of the road.

Sure enough (I must have the gift of prophecy) he begins running at my partner screaming and waving his arms in the air. "Greeeeaaaaugh....Roaaaaeerragh"

So, the brashness that filled her spirits a moment ago jumps aboard one of the passing cars and hitches a ride to Oklahoma City...my partner promptly jumps aross the gully and away from the fine young gentleman with long billowing hair doing his best "Wild Kingdom" impersonations to alter course to follow her, gain his attention on me and change course once again to the Paramedic who foresaw all of this coming as soon as my parter started to slow the vehicle some moments earlier..

I reach in vain for my missing flash light...(Dang, in the truck)...key my mic and tell dispatch to stand by...("Unit -19 repeat?")..."Unit-19, Stand by"... ("Unit -19 are you in need of assistance?") I crouch down like a kung foo fighter...I start planning to do a leg sweep at the precise moment my advancing new found buddy gets close enough to me...when our sojourner miscalculates the slope ratio x his velocity x traction of his footing and encounters the gravitational pull of the earth...falls...and rolls into the ditch.

My partner leaps back over and starts making her way back to the Ambulance as I watch the undeterred animal impersonator literally crawl his way back up to the side of the highway..."Raaarh....GRrrrrreeeaaaaargh....meeerreeeearh!"

Just as he reaches begins to reach the top where it begins to level my partner shouts, "Put your knee in his back..put your knee in his back so he can't get up."

Sounds like an idea.

So, I put my knee into his back and hold down his arms.

-I hear my partner tell dispatch where we are.-

The man beneath me starts shouting, "Eeeeaaaauugh! She thinks I'm cazy!"

I shout back, "You're running down a dark highway, what else is she going to think?"

He makes a completely logical retort, "Aaaagh, I'm trying to get my life back together!"

-naturally-

I start patting him down and make it just to past his back pockets...
Just then..two cops run up, just as four more Tula Police cruisers and two Tulsa County Sheriff cars pull up.

(Holy SMOKIES! It wasn't EVEN two minutes from when I first keyed dispatch)

-Very impressive-

They ask me to back off of him, which I am all to willing to oblige...still marveling at thier response time.

They pick him up and promptly escort my new found buddy to jail.

One of the police officers (and a very, very giant of a police officer at that) turns to me, pokes me in the chest and asks, "You don't wear a vest?"

I say, "I'm thinking about ordering one."

He nods approvingly and says, "Good. Do it." and walks back to his cruiser.

Even if I wasn't planning on it and I am, I would not want a big, big man like that to come back to me later and ask where it is.

So, the rest of the night was still pretty busy, but not nearly as exciting as the first ten hours.

Death Sucks

I had come to the conclusion a few years ago as a Critical Care Tech (Fancy word for nurses aid in the Critical Care Unit) that no matter how it comes, death sucks.
Now, as a Paramedic, the enitre responsibility of the welfare of my patients rest completely on my shoulders.
Every little thing I do or don't do can effect the outcome.
The other day I had the first patient die on my watch.
As soon as I saw him/her, I knew he/she was too far gone, but there was enough that he/she had to be worked. He/she deserved to be worked. His/Her loved ones who were watching deserved for us to work him/her...yet, I knew what the eventual outcome would be...and death won out.
The ER Doc told me "Good Job and said that I "did everything correctly", but I have run the scene over and over again in my mind.
Could I have done this more quickly, and why didn't I think of that...
Found out later that the patient was engaging in activities which expidited the demise, and there was no way of my knowing... but I still feel responsible.
I felt like puking the rest of the night.
Death sucks.
I hate it.
Having to comfort the loved ones....seeing the empty shell of a person that once was...stomach is still in knots...I know I'll have to deal with it again some day and if it doesn't come in ten years, though it will more than likely come much sooner, it'll be too soon.

Death Sucks.
~

El Luchador!

Deseo ser un luchador... el honor, la gloria, la fama.
Para estar el héroe de cada hombre, niño de la mujer y sur houseplant de la Río Grande. Aye, ser un luchador... el luchador... el luchador...

Roller Coaster

Finally, my regularlly scheduled...er...um...schedule starts tomorrow.
I have a regular partner and shift, but have only been doing that two days a week.
The other two days have been a combination of early mornings and overnights. The O'l body clock doesn't have as well greased gears as it once did and I've had a hard time adjusting to the time changes and lack of sleep.
I'm still really digg'n the job.
Haven't had such exciting calls as my first week, but still some fun stuff and even the not so fun stuff that still give me an opportunity to make a difference in people's lives.
==
Hmmm...just got a page to take a patient accross the state. Special pay involved.
Need to check with the wife first....
Nah, tempting, but there is still so much I need to do that my schedule hasn't allowed me the opportunity to do it.
==
My toe is feeling better.
Still a bit sore, still misshapen and still swollen, but no more limp.
==
The house is coming together nicely.
My wife went out and bought a Chaise. So we have a Chaise and a rocking chair in the living room. Maybe a couple extra bonus shifts and I'll be able to buy her a sofa.
==
OK, Need to get ready to take my pre-schooler to school.
I'm sure I'll be back later today for more drivle.

Gimp With A Limp

The foot's feeling better but I limp from around the scenes and through the hospital corridors.
What a secure feeling when I'm lifting a patient or a stretcher...."No worries Ma'm, I've only dropped two patients today, I'm sure I won't drop your husband." :)
Man, I can't wait until I get my regular schedule. These alternating nights-days-evenings are killing me.
One more week and it'll all be stable again. (Am I moaning?)
Had a scene the other day where the injured parties were being less than ideal citizens of Tulsa leading up to their injuries. So, I had to call a detective the next day and will more than likely be called in to talk to him again....Hmmmmm....I wonder if this will be my first Subpoena?

[Note: I’m listening to a few songs from a buddy of mine’s new CD. You can hear a few of his songs on his Blog. Look down to the right of your screen on my links for more Sean Keith.] Good Stuff. I need to buy a couple of CD’s and make sure Tulsa knows this dude.

OK, better get to putting my Futon together for the TV/Playroom.
-peace-