6.28.2003

I passed the practicals for the paramedic test today! The practicals consist of 12 skill stations, from pediatric and adult intubation to IV drug boluses to dynamic cardiology. I failed two stations (static cardiology and trauma — silly errors on both), retested them, and passed both the second time. I am so relieved! Now I just have to wait to get the results of the written portion, which I took on Thursday night. Shouldn't take more than a couple of weeks to get my score. (eeeeek)

*whew* That was one of the most stressful days of my life. Truly.

pixie.dust sprinkled at 8:52:00 PM • 0 witty remark(s)

6.25.2003

Just thought I’d put up a picture of my latest tattoo ... I love it. :) The picture was taken a couple hours after it was done (June 7th); it’s fully healed now.

pixie.dust sprinkled at 10:01:00 AM • 0 witty remark(s)

6.23.2003

Tour de Friends was such a great time!! I am *definitely* volunteering for med crew again next year. :) I can't even tell you how inspiring it is to watch these people bike 330 miles, so many of them doing it because AIDS has touched people in their lives — friends, loved ones, and many of the riders themselves. There is a group of riders called the "Positive Peddlers," all HIV-positive. What a great bunch — I have nothing but admiration for those guys.

I spent a lot of my time handing out "butt balm" (it's actually udder cream for cows, really!) that helps with the chafing that people experience after riding a bike for so many hours. It was funny — the first day, the riders were all polite and either went in the portajohns or behind trees to apply the butt balm. By the end of day two, they were shoving the balm down their bike shorts right in front of the table. LOL. It was a riot. I now also know more about ibuprofen versus acetaminophen dosing than I ever thought possible.

My friend Nancy and I were assigned to the medical team for "Rest Stop 2," better known as "Pit 2." The way the ride is organized is with four or five pit stops (the number depends on how many miles they're riding that day) with a lunch stop (usually after Pit 2 or 3). At Pit 2, we usually ended up with a LOT of riders coming in at one time — they tend to spread out for the later pits. For day one, we just worked Pit 2 (and got caught in a horrendous downpour while packing up the site — 45 minutes of *hard* rain while taking apart two 20x20 canopies and getting all our supplies/equipment back on the truck). For day two, we worked Pit 2, then went forward to Pits 3, 4, and 5 with the medical route guys. For day three we did Pit 2, then went forward to Pit 4. Yesterday we just did Pit 2. Each day we had to be ready and on the transport van by 4:45 a.m., and we didn't usually go to sleep until at least 9 p.m. each night. Yeeeeesh. Long days! But lots of fun. :)

The weather was incredible for the riders — overcast and remarkably cool (60s and low 70s). They were loving it! And we didn't get as many seriously dehydrated patients as the ride normally sees. Our biggest problem was nearly running out of butt balm, I'm happy to say! The riders were wonderful — they never failed to thank us for being there.

My paramedic test is coming up in just a few days ... *knees shaking* Eeeeeek. At least on the other side of that I have a little trip to El Paso to look forward to. :)

pixie.dust sprinkled at 6:09:00 AM • 0 witty remark(s)

6.16.2003

For any of you into a hardcore/rock sound ...

My friend Allen's band, End of April, just released a new EP called “Divided By Numbers.” It's available on their site at www.endofapril.com. I just got mine, and it effin' ROCKS. I've known Allen since I was ... 15, I think? He's a kick-ass guy, and his music has improved one hundred fold since we were in high school. LOL. The band is based in Germany, and you can order the CD from their distributor in the Netherlands. :)

pixie.dust sprinkled at 12:47:00 PM • 0 witty remark(s)

6.15.2003

Had day one of the Paramedic Review class today ... it was good. I have actually retained what I've learned. :D But we also found out that our National Registry test has been compressed from two days into one really, really, REALLY long day — Saturday, June 28, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eeeee! We do the practical stations during the day, and then we get a dinner break. Heh. Then the written starts at 7 p.m., and I have to wonder if I'll have a brain left at that point. Geez. I'll freely admit that this test scares the crap out of me. But I'm looking forward to taking it. And once I get that paramedic certification, I will NEVER let it lapse. EVER. (People do ... you'd be surprised. How silly.) And this is cool ... while I'm out doing medical crew for Tour de Friends next week, I'll be getting quizzed from all sides — my cohort in crime/former classmate, Nancy, is going to help me study, and Gary, one of my instructors, is also part of our pit crew; he told me today at the review that he'd spend our down time running me through the Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) algorithms until I know them forwards and backwards. Rock.

Had a decent birthday, all in all. :) I feel loved!

pixie.dust sprinkled at 12:11:00 AM • 0 witty remark(s)

6.11.2003

And now, for the big personal news ...

James and I are splitting up. It's a completely mutual decision. We both knew something was missing from our marriage, but didn't want to deal with it. Then we finally admitted it to each other — I think we were relieved to finally get it out in the open. And we're both fine, truly. Or we will be. And we're still very good friends, just as we've been.

So there it is. And really, I'm okay. Promise. :)

pixie.dust sprinkled at 5:31:00 PM • 0 witty remark(s)