I came across this video in Facebook the other day, posted by a coworker and I got to thinking about the first time I saw it. This is the video put together by another coworker for EMS Week last year. She let me preview it while I was home on vacation because I wouldn't be here during EMS Week. It was when I saw this video that I decided to move back to Maine. I know I'm obliterating any sense of anonymity by posting this video because you now know where I work, but then again, anyone in the EMS community can figure out The Borg that AD works for if they put their mind to it. This is the service where I cut my teeth both as a brand new EMT-Basic and again later as a paramedic. I know some of the photos aren't too great, but these are my people. This is my family.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Concealed Carry Options
I know that asking others about holster preference is like asking what one thinks is the "best" caliber for defensive carry but I'm going to ask anyway. So, I want to know, of my 2.38 readers, those of you who carry a concealed handgun:
What do you routinely use for a concealed carry holster and why?
Specifically does anyone have any experience with the Belly Band? I'm a big guy and I carry a rather large frame semi-auto and I'm wondering if a Belly Band might work for me, particularly with the coming of warmer weather.
Your thoughts?
Anyone?....Anyone?.... Bueller?
What do you routinely use for a concealed carry holster and why?
Specifically does anyone have any experience with the Belly Band? I'm a big guy and I carry a rather large frame semi-auto and I'm wondering if a Belly Band might work for me, particularly with the coming of warmer weather.
Your thoughts?
Anyone?....Anyone?.... Bueller?
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Thoughts from the weekend
A collection of some of the thoughts that ran through my head during Sunday night's dinner and Saturday's shooty goodness.
1.) Hmm, big black Dodge pickup with a Harley logo and NRA sticker in the rear window- must be Jay's truck.
2.) Wow, I pictured Jay as being taller with this deep voice and being really laid back and mellow, not bouncing off the walls sounding like Gonzo on crystal meth**.
3.) Oh, Mah, Gawd, I just shook hands with *the* AD. OMGOMGOMG he knows who I am!!!1!!one!!!
4.) Wait, are we in Massachusetts? Are those guns on the wall??
5.) Oh yeah, Marko is German, of course he has an accent.
6.) I could get a better steak back home and pay a lot less for it.
7.) OMG, I just ate dinner with someone who once LIVED WITH TAM!!!
8.) Guns, cars, movies, knives, guns, what is not to love? Wait, am I *really* gay?
9.) The next time I'm in Boston I'm either going to double down on my blood pressure meds or have someone else drive and sedate myself.
10.) F*%k! the gate is closed, time to start walking and follow the sound of gun fire.
11.) Ahh, love the smell of burnt powder in the morning.
12.) F*&k it's cold! Trigger finger will stay warm if I keep my hands in my pockets.
13.) It's been FAR too long since I've been to the range, must spend more quality time shooting.
All in all, it was a great weekend, despite the fact that I got nailed with $64 bucks in parking fees for two nights.
Can't wait for the next NE blogger gathering and I just might have to go listen to AD speak sometime should he be at a conference near me.
**That was in no way a dig, when Jay was rather excitedly telling one of the stories after dinner I could have sworn we were on the set of the Muppets.
1.) Hmm, big black Dodge pickup with a Harley logo and NRA sticker in the rear window- must be Jay's truck.
2.) Wow, I pictured Jay as being taller with this deep voice and being really laid back and mellow, not bouncing off the walls sounding like Gonzo on crystal meth**.
3.) Oh, Mah, Gawd, I just shook hands with *the* AD. OMGOMGOMG he knows who I am!!!1!!one!!!
4.) Wait, are we in Massachusetts? Are those guns on the wall??
5.) Oh yeah, Marko is German, of course he has an accent.
6.) I could get a better steak back home and pay a lot less for it.
7.) OMG, I just ate dinner with someone who once LIVED WITH TAM!!!
8.) Guns, cars, movies, knives, guns, what is not to love? Wait, am I *really* gay?
9.) The next time I'm in Boston I'm either going to double down on my blood pressure meds or have someone else drive and sedate myself.
10.) F*%k! the gate is closed, time to start walking and follow the sound of gun fire.
11.) Ahh, love the smell of burnt powder in the morning.
12.) F*&k it's cold! Trigger finger will stay warm if I keep my hands in my pockets.
13.) It's been FAR too long since I've been to the range, must spend more quality time shooting.
All in all, it was a great weekend, despite the fact that I got nailed with $64 bucks in parking fees for two nights.
Can't wait for the next NE blogger gathering and I just might have to go listen to AD speak sometime should he be at a conference near me.
**That was in no way a dig, when Jay was rather excitedly telling one of the stories after dinner I could have sworn we were on the set of the Muppets.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Total Fanboy Geek-out in 3....2.....1.....
So, tonight is the big NorthEast Blogger Dinner with a selection of bloggers from New England with special guest from the south- Ambulance Driver
I'll be the one at the Hilltop in total fanboy geek-out mode.
Can't wait!!
I'll be the one at the Hilltop in total fanboy geek-out mode.
Can't wait!!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Our Mission
Back when I was a kid in high school and for a little while following high school I was the epitome of the Good Little Catholic Boy(tm) I then went to work in public safety where I have remained in one form or another for the past twelve years. My career choice has at times made me cynical and bitter and I have been burned out before but as I get older I have come to realize more and more that bitterness and cynicism are really over rated and they do not allow us to see things clearly and they do not allow us to complete our mission. I have chosen the path of paramedic, that is how I serve my fellow man and in turn how I serve God. When I returned to Maine in September I went back to work in the same place that I was before and I went back with the hope that my time away had taught me what is truly important and I do believe that I have started to learn and continue to learn what is important and thus far I have managed to keep that bitterness and cynicism at bay. Thankfully I have found my reinforcements.
The first is in the form of another blog. I forget exactly how I managed to find his youtube channel and subsequently his blog but the blogger known as Davey Wavey over at Break The Illusion has reminded me of what is important in life and that is love. Love of one's self and love for all of humankind. Below is one if his short little videos. For some reason he doesn't like wearing shirts.
The second reinforcement is through music. A certain song from a certain album by a certain artist spoke to me and brought me out of a very dark place once and since then I have felt a strong attachment to her music. I have often felt that if Melissa Etheridge wasn't hugely famous and if she wasn't a lesbian and if I weren't gay then I would absolutely want to marry her. I have come to realize that it is because she is a lesbian that she writes the way that she does and it is because I am gay that I interpret her lyrics the way I do and it is because she is famous that I know her music, so in retrospect I am glad that she is who she is and I am glad that I am who I am so that I can feel her music the way that I do. I purchased her latest album some time ago but it wasn't until recently that I began to really listen to it and listen to the lyrics that I found myself returning to her music once again and it is with that in mind that I share the video below with you.
Be well.
The first is in the form of another blog. I forget exactly how I managed to find his youtube channel and subsequently his blog but the blogger known as Davey Wavey over at Break The Illusion has reminded me of what is important in life and that is love. Love of one's self and love for all of humankind. Below is one if his short little videos. For some reason he doesn't like wearing shirts.
The second reinforcement is through music. A certain song from a certain album by a certain artist spoke to me and brought me out of a very dark place once and since then I have felt a strong attachment to her music. I have often felt that if Melissa Etheridge wasn't hugely famous and if she wasn't a lesbian and if I weren't gay then I would absolutely want to marry her. I have come to realize that it is because she is a lesbian that she writes the way that she does and it is because I am gay that I interpret her lyrics the way I do and it is because she is famous that I know her music, so in retrospect I am glad that she is who she is and I am glad that I am who I am so that I can feel her music the way that I do. I purchased her latest album some time ago but it wasn't until recently that I began to really listen to it and listen to the lyrics that I found myself returning to her music once again and it is with that in mind that I share the video below with you.
Be well.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Things I Hate
If you call the hospital looking for permission to call 911 then for fucks sake do not lie to me and fake your lame ass symptoms. This only makes me hate you more.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Another first.
Now, we've all had to ask unpleasant questions and we've had to ask to see unpleasant things in order to formulate a field impression of what is going on with a patient. When my EMT-B instructor told me that I would most likely one day ask to see the poo in someone's toilet or assess the odor of a patient's breath I scoffed. I have been a paramedic for several years and it turns out she was right- I have done both of these things.
Tonight, however, was another first for me. For tonight was the night that for the first time in my EMS career I have been presented with a sealable container of a patients vomit that they had saved from several hours ago just in case we wanted to see it and evaluate it. While I was writing down the patient's med list I picked up one bottle that initially appeared to just be of a different color to learn that no, this prescription bottle contained no pills, for it was the proud home of vomit, not even warm, fresh from the stomach vomit, no this container was cold to the touch as it had been there for several hours.
It made me want to throw up in my mouth a little bit, but I managed to suppress it. There were no empty prescription bottles for me to use.
Tonight, however, was another first for me. For tonight was the night that for the first time in my EMS career I have been presented with a sealable container of a patients vomit that they had saved from several hours ago just in case we wanted to see it and evaluate it. While I was writing down the patient's med list I picked up one bottle that initially appeared to just be of a different color to learn that no, this prescription bottle contained no pills, for it was the proud home of vomit, not even warm, fresh from the stomach vomit, no this container was cold to the touch as it had been there for several hours.
It made me want to throw up in my mouth a little bit, but I managed to suppress it. There were no empty prescription bottles for me to use.
Monday, March 9, 2009
T-Mobile G1 with Google
I must say I really am surprised by this new phone. I always used to make fun of people who used a Blackberry or other smart phones but since I've had this for a little while now I really do love it. I'm spending less time in front of a computer and more time being a productive human being- I've been reading my email on the fly and replying to anything that is urgent. I've been productive *and* social!
Blogged from my G1.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Irony
As I was driving up I-84 just as the welcome to Massachusetts sign comes in to view on the radio I hear "Now is the time to protect your second amendment rights, get your pistol permit today call..." Not surprisingly it was a Connecticut radio station.
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