Book Reviews

This book was a recommendation from Matthew who originally sent me a P.G. Wodehouse skit that contained an Irish Wolfhound-so this kind of relates to Remus...sort of. That was my first introduction to this lighthearted, quirky english humor. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion, earning me the occasional puzzled glance from my partner on the ambulance. While some of the plot twists you can see from a mile away, others are pleasently surprising. The writing was straightforward without being tedious and irony was caked on pretty thick. I'm sure I missed some of the more subtle parodies and inuendos, but the ones I caught were plenty to keep me entertained and sometimes I felt the need to laugh at things that on retrospect I really couldn't explain how or why they were funny. I give this book a solid two thumbs up, five stars, a hearty handshake and I'd offer it a cup of tea. source

 This book was hilarious. It dealt with far more serious topics than Piccadilly Jim, but I think thats what also makes it more funny (funnier?) in places. Again, I earned several weird looks from my partner, but she had learned by now that asking me "What's so funny?" would result in a bunch of garbled nonsense and then "You'll just have to read it, I can't explain." And that is exactly what I'm recommending everybody to do; read this book. If you have even the slightest inkling at ever being a professor, or teacher, or administrator, or anything in Academia (Capital A) this novel is a must. Or if you just like to laugh.
I give this book an A+, or promote it to Dean of any English Department. I truly enjoyed reading this book. source


The last 3 books I didn't bother finding pictures for because their current popularity renders it uneccessay. That and my computer is currently scanning for viruses and it's a pain to try and get google to work when the computer is this slow. I read the three Stieg Larsson books: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", "The Girl Who Played with Fire." and "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest". These were recommended to me by Brian who liked them so much he bought the collector's hardcover editions and also put them on his Kindle. After hearing for weeks about how great these books were I gave in and read them. These books were definitely intriguing. They're very gritty and graphic in places but the author doesn't dwell on the nasty parts incessently, nor is it rampant throughout the entire book. The characters are very human, and the situations are crazy, but some how believable.

Brian got a little snarly when I mentioned the first book was a little slow to get into, but I stand by my assertion. Perhaps it was the plethora of unfamiliar Swedish names plus the list of financial scams I only partially understood that made the first 30 pages slow, but I submit, then, that only a Swedish banker could truly appreciate that part of the book. I do understand, and appreciate, the need for setting a stage and introducing everything that needs introducing in order for a story to take off, but that doesn't make me feel like the beginning was any less tedious. Nevertheless, there were threads of plot forming that captured my interest from the beginning, and if it took a little extra line to reel in the meat of the plotline, it was worth the wait. I very much enjoyed these books. A little bit of conspiracy theories, a little bit of one man against a big bad coorporation, a few psycho's tossed in, plus a Darth Vadar moment and a rebel with a good cause. This was a grimy, greasy series that actually had a happy ending. I can't really say much more than that without giving out too many plot spoilers. I wish I could read it in the original Swedish because I'm sure much of the writing is lost in translation, but overall I recommend these books to anyone who likes a good underdog/murder mystery story. Hint: You can read just the first one, but if you read the second you HAVE to read the third. The second ends on a cliff hanger.

Thats all for now!

I have to visit Matthew again soon and steal more books...

A little bit of this and that...

Brian leaves for Iraq July 16th. We aren't so excited about this, but we're focusing on the positive, like the extra income while he's deployed and the fact that I'll finally get to drive the riding mower (yay!).

I found a comfortor set for the bed in the guest room, but I can't find the right shade of green sheets. Yes, green sheets. The guest bedroom was originally simply "MY" room to do with whatever I wanted. So I painted 2 walls solid green, and the other two walls varying shades of green in horizontal stripes of varying widths. The trim is white. Now that it is our impromptu guest room, the bed is white and the new bedspread is also white. SO. Green sheets. but not an earthy olivey green. I need a vibrant green...like the emerald city in Wizard of Oz. I love this room. I know it probably seems a little much for most people (it is a lot of green and the stripes are very bold) but it's quirky and creative and peaceful all rolled into one. It's a great place to think or paint or write, all the green stimulates my imagination. I'll try and post pictures of it at some point. I'm going to feel sad when we have to paint over it and sell the house :(

Life on the ambulance is fun, I kinda like my job. However, for all those good patients there are a handful of bad ones, enough that I feel like I'm constantly incompetent. It's usually stupid little things that I miss or don't think of until I get the patient to the hospital, but it's enough to make me angry at myself. I know I'll never be perfect, but it just seems like too important of a job to make mistakes.
In other news, I took Remus for a 2.5mile run/walk. He did pretty good, now he's exhausted....and I think I pulled a ligament/tendon along the back of my knee/hamstring. Oh joy. Also, Emma is huge. She's already almost 2 feet in length at 2 months of age, and 13lbs. She's so cute!

STEMI!

I had an official STEMI patient! I caught it and got to call it in and everything. The pt went to the cath lab and had complete blockage of the Right Coranary Artery. Bunch of stuff was done including thrombolytic removal and stent placement. The pt has an excellent prognosis for recovery. :)

Oh, a STEMI is an ST elevation Myocaridal Infarction. i.e.; a heart attack that shows up on a 12 lead.

Anyway, it was neat to see one and get to help the pt, makes me feel a little less like I'm in over my head (like I feel some days). Especially since a few months ago I had a pt with all the Elevation and Depression of a STEMI but it turned out to be prior damage. The doctors said it was right of me to call it since there was no way for me to know that the 12 lead was normal for the pt (the pt had even told me he had never had heart problems before), but you still feel dumb activating the cath lab. It was nice to call it and be 100% justified, especially since it means the pt gets to the cath lab that much quicker.

Good times

Doggie Murder

I was bitten by the cleaning bug today and poor Remus got in the way. Once he started licking the window after I had wiped it down, I banished him to his corner of the kitchen by propping the broom up sideways in between the cabinets. The kitchen is basically one big long rectangle, with the cabinets branching around about 2/3rds of the way through to seperate the "kitchen" portion from the "dining room" portion. The "dining room" is Remus's domain...or penalty box, depending on your perception.

I digress.

After thoroughly sweeping, hands and knees scrubbing, and then for good measure swiffering the kitchen floor, wiping down all the appliances, scrubbing the counters, washing/drying/puting away all the dishes, and organizing all the counter space (I even deep cleaned the spice rack), I took the broom to tidy Remus's side. I swept up about four cups of scattered kibble, pieces of shredded tennis ball ad other dead toys, and mats of fuzzy blond fur. That was it. I had wiped down all the (black) appliances half a dozen times to try and remove the wisps of dog fuzz that was EVERYwhere. In a fit of self righteous pique, I sorted through his doggie box of torture (aka grooming) devices and found the FURminator!

The rest is history. In the losing war of shedding, this one small battle was mine! I furminated and furminated and furminated until the equivalant of a blond miniature schnauzer was heaped at my feet. I think Remus lost three pounds, he is significantly skinnier in appearance, and what is left sticks out in a sortof wispy, insubstantial halo.

I just hope nobody has a pet stolen and thinks to look in my trashcan because the amount of fur looks truly like I murdered a small animal.  Remus is taking his forced balding in stride and is happily licking his weiner without a care in the world. Men.

Favorite Dispatches

My first ever "lights and sirens" call as a student almost two years ago.

Dispatcher: "Medic #, 27D1, possible GSW (gunshot wound), Buffalo Wild Wings."
We're all like "Yeah! A good call! woohoo!"...but then...
"Medic # change that to a stabbing..."....alright, still maybe a good call!
"Medic # cancel the call, fork stabbing."....we all start laughing.



New favorite:

Dispatcher: "Medic ###, 26A1 sick person. Female pt states her breasts are floppier than usual.*pause* and softer..."

**Maybe half an hour goes by as the unit gets to the call and checks on scene...then...**

Medic Unit: "Dispatcher, this is Medic ###, we're back in service, patient refused transport, problem supported."

I could not stop laughing. Just so you know, the radio recordings of 911 dispatches are all public domain, you can ask to listen to them at any time. I would be so curious to document a list of the most bizarre calls! People really do call 911 for ANYthing.

Frustration outlets

Sometimes I'm not so much interested in form as I am in just getting whatever exasperation I have out of my system. Paint works well for this. This was one of those calls that you laugh helplessly at because there is really nothing else you can do...besides grab the Stair Chair.

In other news, Remus desperately needs bath and I am truly procrastinating giving him one because it is a time consuming hassle and he hates it. But he really stinks. Buh.

Picked up two schizo's in one night a few shifts ago.  It was an interesting night.

Sunshine and Sociopaths

I thought this topic approprate since Osama Bin Laden is confirmed dead. Sociopath? Most likely. I finished the fascinating book on sociopaths while soaking up the sun poolside in Miami. I have a decent tan and a lot of food for thought.

Definitiong of sociopath: Person without a consciense. Oh, the person KNOWS what right and wrong is according to what he/she has LEARNED, but instinctively and naturally, he person never feels guilt, shame, horror, a sense of duty or responsibility to others, or any form of love.

According to the book, 1 out of every 25 people in America qualify as a sociopath. Yes, 4% of Americans fit this category. Interesting, because there are far LESS in other countries (like the entire Asian continent) and there seems to be a correlation between cultures and good development grounds for sociopaths.

Sociopaths appear as normal as any one, but life is literally a game to them. The book went through several different "types" of sociopaths. Basically sociopaths play the game at a level their intelligence allows, whether they are only smart enough to be a petty malcontent causing suburbian drama, or the head of a corporate company wrecking lives for their personal amusement.

The case studies the author illustrated were truly unsettling.

However, it was the question she (the author) asked halfway through the book that gave me the most food for thought in glitzy, over priced, image based Miami. If you had the choice to have a conscience (which often means putting others first to your own detriment) or not (meaning you could literally do whatever you wanted emotionally consequence free) which would you choose and why?

The author went on to answer that those who are the "opposite" of sociopaths, the "over empathetic" people in the world include Mother Teresa and the Dali Llama. The link between serving others, putting everyone above yourself, living your life as selflessly as possible, and self contentment/happiness is overwhelming. People are "happier" -with all the emotional, psychological, and biological implications attached- when giving of them selves to others.

I wanted to say, well Duh! I mean, I saw that coming from three miles away...but then as I was walking across the park to get to the outdoor shops I realized on a very personal level how it is easy to say "well duh" and another thing to put it into real life context.

 I started getting whistles and comments from guys as I was walking to the shops and I won't lie that the uneasiness of gaining anyone's attention (I usually avoid it) was off set equally by how much I enjoyed the affirmation that I was pretty. Seems shallow, right? But it is SO true. I am a physically vain person, I like to know I look good, and it is a constant struggle for me to set the line between being confident in my own skin and turning in to a shallow bimbo more worried about turning heads than using her own. Ok, so maybe I'm really not that close to turning into a shallow bimbo (at least I hope not) but the point I'm trying to make is I can see how EASY it would be for me to fall into that seductive little trap. Living for my own vanity, my own pleasure, and wrapping my whole world on the attention I get from others instead of giving others my attention. Oh, I try and couch it in different ways "Well being pretty could open certain doors otherwise closed" or even as basic as "Free is always better so it wouldn't be horrible if I got someone else to buy my meals..." but the truth of the matter is I'm trying to make it just SEEM like I have a "higher cause", I'm just making excuses for my own vanity, because that small pleasure that hits when someone thinks I'm pretty has an addictive quality to it. Selfishness is insinuating.

I brought my head down to earth pretty quickly when I realized that that is ALL sociopaths have to live for. Unable to love, unable to connect with people, their entire life is made up of cheap thrills. Ugh! I don't ever want to throw away my conscience just because a few tipsy cubans appreciate any female in high heels, and I feel that when we live self absorbed and Me First (incidentally, the culture America prides itself on) we are living contrary to our consciences and basically striving towards being a sociopath. Yuck! Maybe that seems like a stretch to some people, but think about your bossess and your bossess bossess, think about all those "succesful" people in rehabs, now think about those "succesful" people who spend more resources on doing good than pampering themselves, which ones seem happier to you? Which would YOU rather be?

When you examine the implications of sociopathy through a spiritual lens it becomes even more intriguing. I don't have enough coherency to even BEGIN to put my convoluted thoughts into words, so I'll end with this for now.