Friday, November 30, 2007

Another WTC Funeral

Tomarrow morning, I will get dressed in my Class"A" Uniform, drive down to the Bronx to pick up my old partner, Tim, Then head out to Staten Island to attend the funeral of Lt. Brian Ellicott who, on Sept 11th, was an EMT in Station 11 and worked over 100 hours in Ground Zero in the first two weeks alone. He developed a Non-Hodgkins type lymphoma in his chest, that spread to his back, causing paralysis from the chest down. He leaves behind a wife and 2 children. It will be Cold, but yet we lay another resuer down for WTC-related illness and the fund the Government created to assist us will controvert EVERY case, refusing to pay any monies because they "want to be sure the those monies are appropriately spent"

I sit here, coughing, hoping it's just a Cold & I'll get better and wondering what will happen if it doesn't. I already know that; even when presented with Compelling Proof, the Pension Board will drag it's feet ( The last guy that got a WTC related 3/4 pension didn't live long enough to cash his First check!) and Knowing that this City, that I work for, This State that I'm a Resident of and this Country really doesn't Care. I'm sure they want all of us to simply Fade Away. I'll be there because I was there.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Ah, What a Great Day to be Sick!

Thank God that it's my RDO-Regular Days Off as I'm coughing up a storm. I got the slightly narcotic cough syrup from the Doc but it only lasts 4 hours & the dosing is every 6! I guess hot tea, Ricola and rest wil be the order of the day. Does anyone have a better remedy for cough out there? Let me know.

Monday, November 26, 2007

A Primer: PCP-Phencyclidine

The other night, I had to deal with yet another Fine Upstanding Citizen (or FUC as I like to call them) on PCP. It is resurfacing after years of being quite scarce and we should all be concerned. It was developed in the 1950's as an anaesthetic but was stopped being used in humans in 1965 because patients became agitated, delusional & irrational from it's effects. (From the NIDA website) I believe it is still used as a large animal tranquilizer (Bears, Tigers & the like) but I can't find anything that says so.

I hope those of you reading this never have to come into contact with someone on Angel Dust. These folks are a Danger to themselves and others & unfortunately, are EMS cases. That you will have to end up calling for backup is a given. That you will have to help in restraining them is almost certain. They can and have shrugged off repeated Tazer darts I have witnessed. I have no other comments.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Oh-OHH!

I think I'm getting a Cold. I had the Flu shot 3 weeks ago so it can't be that. I spent most of the morning in bed, knowing that I have pre-scheduled OT tonite, so I can't back out. I hope that the Restorative Powers of a Hot Shower, Fresh, off the line clothing and a good Lunch with Motrin will work. Wish me Luck!

Friday, November 23, 2007

I'm going back to bed!

After yet another marathon work session, my boss found someone to work the overnight last night (I was fully prepared to stay) & I finally got a night's rest. I learned that I was stronger than I knew. That said, I'm going back to bed; avoiding all the "black friday" nonsense Bloody Tourists! Hope you are all well and not falling for this cheap shopping "holiday"

Monday, November 19, 2007

Announcement

I tasted the First snowflake of the Season! Whoopie!

Sunday, November 18, 2007

WOW!!!

I stopped by my bank this morning, to pick up some Moo-La and as I came back out, I noticed the trees and phone line were absolutely Packed with starlings, chirping away like crazy. I walked over to my car & did my bird whistle. All chattering stopped, as if all of them had wanted to hear me! Then another car pulled into the lot & without a sound they all took off at once, with an audible WOOSHH! That just took my breath away. Just for a second, I made a noise and the birds all stopped to listen! Magic!!

Friday, November 16, 2007

Hi Ho!

I'm going back to riding with my local "jolly volly" ambulance corps this morning. I've been away for a while and the corps has gotten bigger but also I need to get my head"back in the Game" I'm sure all will be well. I had a decent couple a days off but I also need to start arranging things so I can make maximum money/ time off and clear the decks for next week too. Reading like crazy and working on my PSP.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Cleaning: About as much fun as a Root Canal, but never done.



Who knew I had this much crap? Digging Pandora Radio- If you haven't checked it out-you should. Your own personal radio playing what you'd like without commercials. Free too. (you can subscribe but you don't have to) It's clear that I really need to organize/re-organize my stuff. All the equipment The City issues me, all the uniforms, PPE-Personal Protective Equipment It barely fits on the rack I had to buy to keep it all in one place!

I remember when I first started in EMS that getting blood (someone else's) on your shirt was a normal occurance. You'd use Hydrogen Peroxide to bleach it out. Now, you almost have to send it out to get Professionally Decontaminated. Granted, There's a lot more to worry about, especially in the area(s) where I work, and I admit that there's no such thing as too careful where Others are involved but I'm a simple sort- Wash it, blot it & keep moving. Some on my job have adopted the " I wear it all the time" attitude- That is just Nasty as far as I'm concerned Wear the appropriate gear to the task you are performing. Most often, thats a clean Uniform Gloves, glasses, shoes/boots and Respirtory protection only if called for.Wearing the sme gear, day after (stinky) day just turns me off.

I scored about a dozen CD's from a local Goodwill shop- Who knew someone would get rid of their entire collection-Police, Offspring Dean Martin compilation and a Regina Specktor CD I've never seen-Soviet Kitch. I really have to get the back memory set up so I can put it where I can hear it anytime. Anyway, enough blogging for today, time to get back to straightening out this mess I live in!

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

"What people did not reason into, they cannot be reasoned out of."

So, despite my best efforts at Not sabotaging myself, I've managed to screw up my personal life yet again. I wanted to go to PA for another learning session with my Mentor but this crazy OT business left me with neither the Energy or funds with which to do so. Yet again,I'll have to put it off for another week. I missed the birthday of my best friends' daughter but at least that is deal-able. I'm spending most of the day tomorrow putting my apartment back together (and my head) back on straight.

I was discussing some Union business with one of my odd (I meant Old) partners' early this morning as we were both up-he coming in for OT & me leaving work for home. Our preferred method is text messages and as Everyone knows, it is quite the challenge to text while driving My method is to count letters to pick the right ones without looking. Sometimes this leads to messages that are-not quite what I had in mind. I wanted to spell the sentence: It is a Hard Question but when I looked at it later, I sent: I is a Hard Quest mo. I can only hope he understood.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Happpy Birthday, Kris Likey!!!

I plumb forgot to post my warmist birthday wishes to Kris Likey of I'm not a girl, yet not a wino http://mamalikey.blogspot.com
"It's not what you're called, It's what you answer to."

Sorry about not posting, it has been approx. 9 days since I came home at the end of an 8 hour day & was awake and able to fire up the computer. 9 consecutive 16 hour days with one 17 hour day (daylight savings) The first 2 (as always) are the hardest,re-setting the internal clock to fall asleep during the day and have enough energy at night. No exercise, other than what I get @ work (and no motivation either)

Work-a-holic, Work-centric, idiocy, whatever you call it, I'm so there! The lure of massive overtime money in time for the holidays is seductive. The chance to put away well over a weeks' leave time is appealing. The only thing I;m missing out on is... well, the rest of my life! My apartment is a disaster area, (Wash & Fold- has saved my life) family, friends not seen, just the chance to kick back and relax; all sublimated for the desire to earn. I know I'm Tired when the only thing I want to do when I get home is sleep.

I know that compared to many, I'm quite Lucky. I've got a job with the ability to earn a lot of OT and I want to be both aware & grateful that things are going well but I also want to be Honest with myself and You, my dear readers, so I also admit that this is NO way to live! All the Money in the World won't make up for not living my life as I see fit! Perhaps we all have to make these decisions at one time or another. I look forward to several days off to re-charge my batteries, to look at some of what you folks have been putting out there and Maybe having an Original Thought or two. I'll save the funny stuff for later.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Should I or Shouldn't I?

Now that I've returned (briefly) to the land of the Living, I have a Question: I see that many folks put ads on their blog to earn money. I don't need it so I opted out but what do you think? Are ads annoying on blogs? I confess that I glance at them but I've never been tempted to click. If anyone actually reads this blog, let me know what you think.

By The Way: Shoutout to Paperlillies: http://misslilies.blogspot.com on her blog. If any of you watch youtube- you will have seen her videos and she really is a very sweet, smart woman with a lot of Charisma-whatever that is. Check her out.

Back to the Grind again tonight. The things I will will do for the filthy lucre. But I have a Chopper to fix, a home to care for, bills to pay etc...
Off To Bed-Finally!

After a Gruling week of 16 hour days (inclu. the Daylight Savings turn that was 17 hours), I'm finally home & headed for bed. Love the Money- Hate the Rest! I guess I won't be worring about the saleerycap this year- I must have busted it this week! Hope all of you are well and will post again when I'm more like a human bean.