I am shamelessly stealing this idea from my sister's blog post, here. So, without further ado, here are my answers to the question "what are you thankful for this year?" in no particular order.
"Of All The Things I Could Say, I Chose Something Tiny and Significant Only To Me."
1. A sister and a cousin-in-law(?) from whom I can steal blog post ideas and pictures
2. A husband who still loves me as we head into the time of year when I bring "tempermental" to a whole new meaning
3. Remus
4. Finally feeling "settled" as a paramedic
5. The fact that I like my job
6. That Rebecca and Emma turned out just fine, haha. In all seriousness, Emma's birth scared me, so I am VERY grateful that they are both happy and healthy.
7. That Brian came home from Iraq two months early
8. Skype
9. My garden bathtub and plenty of hot water
10. Books I still love re-reading
11. Having paid off over $25,000 worth of my student loans
12. My green striped room
13. Military Discounts
14. After hearing about countless "relationship issues" especially at work and from Brian's fellow soldiers I am a million times thankful that God has blessed us with such an easy, fantastic marriage.15. 15. Caramel Frappe's w/o whipped cream or drizzle
16. Raven Rock Park- ten minutes from our house are actual trails for us to run. I hate running on pavement.
17. The sheep farm I pass on my way to and from work. Sheep are so cute all tromping around together, I look for the flock every time I go by.
18. The Prius- we bought it for the gas mileage, but I have completely fallen in love with it. Make all the jokes you want, I can pass you on the highway and STILL not have to fill up for over 420 miles. AND my dog fits in the back with room to spare.
19. TriCare and USAA-I can watch insurance commercials battle it out on TV and chose which one I like best solely on how much they make me laugh.
20. My 40 minute commute. I often spend it in prayer or talking to family/friends. Those 40 minutes are a blessing in disguise.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Male Menopause
Mood changes, lack of interest, diet preference shifts...I am attempting to mentally and emotionally prepare myself for my dog's up and coming menopause. Ok, ok, the analgoy breaks down pretty quickly, Remus can't have MENOpause because he's never had menstraution, and menopause usually refers to a decrease in Estrogen not the upswing my little man is going to experience BUT as far as a comparison of wide hormonal shifts that can cause a drastic change in aspects of energy and mood it's a pretty spot on analogy.
I dutifully crawled out of bed, threw on jeans and a t-shirt, and hauled my hungry, spastic (but freshly bathed) wolfhound to the vet. There was another dog already in the waiting room and--a bunny. Remus always goes a little crazy at the vet wanting to say hi to every creature, human and otherwise, today was no exception. However even for him he was more whiney than usual (scared of the bunny?), it was as if he knew that this wasn't a regular visit. I managed to haul him a safe distance away from the bunny and he promptly climbed into my lap and started shedding. Then someone brought in two cats in a crate. Veterinarian waiting rooms either need to be bigger or they should be better at scheduling. (How about alternate days for dogs and cats?)
The other dog was removed and then it was Remus's turn. In a place swarming with female techs they sent out the one and only male. Remus doesn't like men, he went nuts. At one point he climbed back over the benches to get to me, knocking off a majority of the cushions. I had to walk with him to the scale and pushed on his rump to get him to follow the tech to the back. Usually at the vet he's spastic because he's just so happy and excited, and he knocks into everyone indescriminantely with his happily flailing tail. Today, his tail was tucked so far between his legs I'm surprised he didn't step on it.
Guilt set in with a vengence. I had flashbacks to the first time I took him to the vet, he weighed 8 lbs and actually mostly fit in my lap. He was nervous when they lifted him on the table. He calmly accepted all his shots but objected fiercely to the thermometer. And the vet laughed as she examined him and said he had a very large pair. Now, at a year and a half, Remus will lose his manhood.
I know it's "veterinarian recommended". I know noone would probably be interested in breeding my gangly doofus dog. I know this might fix his digging up my front yard and his occasional bursts of excessive energy. I know it's the right thing to do. I still feel like a horrible person.
I dutifully crawled out of bed, threw on jeans and a t-shirt, and hauled my hungry, spastic (but freshly bathed) wolfhound to the vet. There was another dog already in the waiting room and--a bunny. Remus always goes a little crazy at the vet wanting to say hi to every creature, human and otherwise, today was no exception. However even for him he was more whiney than usual (scared of the bunny?), it was as if he knew that this wasn't a regular visit. I managed to haul him a safe distance away from the bunny and he promptly climbed into my lap and started shedding. Then someone brought in two cats in a crate. Veterinarian waiting rooms either need to be bigger or they should be better at scheduling. (How about alternate days for dogs and cats?)
The other dog was removed and then it was Remus's turn. In a place swarming with female techs they sent out the one and only male. Remus doesn't like men, he went nuts. At one point he climbed back over the benches to get to me, knocking off a majority of the cushions. I had to walk with him to the scale and pushed on his rump to get him to follow the tech to the back. Usually at the vet he's spastic because he's just so happy and excited, and he knocks into everyone indescriminantely with his happily flailing tail. Today, his tail was tucked so far between his legs I'm surprised he didn't step on it.
Guilt set in with a vengence. I had flashbacks to the first time I took him to the vet, he weighed 8 lbs and actually mostly fit in my lap. He was nervous when they lifted him on the table. He calmly accepted all his shots but objected fiercely to the thermometer. And the vet laughed as she examined him and said he had a very large pair. Now, at a year and a half, Remus will lose his manhood.
I know it's "veterinarian recommended". I know noone would probably be interested in breeding my gangly doofus dog. I know this might fix his digging up my front yard and his occasional bursts of excessive energy. I know it's the right thing to do. I still feel like a horrible person.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Golf
I am not an avid sports fan. To be blunt, I think they're boring to watch. Dance, I like, and even the endless recitals and competitions I attended in support of my little sister has not completely dampened my enthusiasm. Same goes with live theater, musicals, art museums, a whole host of things many people find boring but I enjoy. I am by no means trying to say sports are pointless or mindless and, in fact, I think society as a whole could benefit from a lot more of people participating in sports instead of just watching them-I'm all about exercise. However, I draw the line at golf.
It is, I submit, the most boring game ever invented. Chess matches are more exciting, at least the timed ones. Baseball is high on my list of "most boring sports ever" but I submit watching someone run an Ultra Marathon would also be tedious. (Heck, RUNNING the Ultra Marathon is boring at times.) Oh, and Nascar is definitely on the list as well, but back to golf. I think where golf ultimately fails for me is the lack of obvious physical effort. Yes, it takes some fine motor memory to perfect your "swing" or whatever, and a certain amount of strength for those "long drives" but honestly, you can't convince me that golfers are athletes. They don't even walk the course for goodness sake, they drive there lazy selves around in carts and have someone else carry their clubs! I submit highschool cheerleaders get more of a workout at your average highschool football game. Sheesh, half of the game revolves around the height and coarseness of GRASS.
I'm not saying golf does not require skill, it does, and lots of measuring the wind, but it seems to me such a pointless skill. At least most sports have a bit of cardiovascular effort that helps keep someone healthy. Brian likes golf. He can even watch it on TV without falling asleep. He tried to explain how the challenge with all the variables of grass and weather and "conditions" and the course and which clubs to use made the sport some how interesting and as a good wife I nod, and agree, and go find something else to do. I can see, if I squint my mental interest meter really tightly, how golf might be interesting to some people, but I fear it will remain forever on the top of my boring list. I could rant more, but I'll let Robin Williams do so, he is far more persuasive.
It is, I submit, the most boring game ever invented. Chess matches are more exciting, at least the timed ones. Baseball is high on my list of "most boring sports ever" but I submit watching someone run an Ultra Marathon would also be tedious. (Heck, RUNNING the Ultra Marathon is boring at times.) Oh, and Nascar is definitely on the list as well, but back to golf. I think where golf ultimately fails for me is the lack of obvious physical effort. Yes, it takes some fine motor memory to perfect your "swing" or whatever, and a certain amount of strength for those "long drives" but honestly, you can't convince me that golfers are athletes. They don't even walk the course for goodness sake, they drive there lazy selves around in carts and have someone else carry their clubs! I submit highschool cheerleaders get more of a workout at your average highschool football game. Sheesh, half of the game revolves around the height and coarseness of GRASS.
I'm not saying golf does not require skill, it does, and lots of measuring the wind, but it seems to me such a pointless skill. At least most sports have a bit of cardiovascular effort that helps keep someone healthy. Brian likes golf. He can even watch it on TV without falling asleep. He tried to explain how the challenge with all the variables of grass and weather and "conditions" and the course and which clubs to use made the sport some how interesting and as a good wife I nod, and agree, and go find something else to do. I can see, if I squint my mental interest meter really tightly, how golf might be interesting to some people, but I fear it will remain forever on the top of my boring list. I could rant more, but I'll let Robin Williams do so, he is far more persuasive.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Partnerships
Everyone has been in that annoying situation where a task is set and you are supposed to accomplish said task with the help of one, or multiple, complete strangers. Ok, maybe not complete strangers, maybe just a seldom talked to classmate, a co-worker you know by sight but your seperate "circles" don't "co-mingle". In any case, you are now going to be spending undetermined amount of hours with this individual (or individuals) working on a project that is important to complete well (whether for a good grade or for the simple sake of not getting fired). Novels could be written about the frustrations that result.
I submit that riding an ambulance offers up a deeper and often more complicated forced relationship. It is not just a project that has an eventual end, it is your job. Every shift. Every day. Every week. Every month. You get the picture. I have had a wide range of partnerships on the ambulance-from obssessive compulsive to lazy, from politically incensed (lots of NPR) to the pregnant and hormonal- but my most recent partnership brings a certain something extra to the table. In a nutshell, he farts. Constantly.
My partner is an excellent medic, with more experience than I and a wonderful easy going personality that makes the ride enjoyable. He likes to game (PSP, XBox, WoW), is a sucker for the adoption fairs at PetsMart, and is devoted to his "woman" as he affectionately calls her. My last partner and I had a rough initial two weeks, she doesn't warm up to people very quickly and I was no exception. We were also polar opposites which didn't make matters easier. My partner now, however, is very comfortable easing into the partnership role. Maybe a little too comfortable.
My first night on the ambulance he started talking about farting. Too late I received a text message from his woman warning me to establish a "no fart policy" ASAP. At this point, my fellow medic had already stepped outside of the ambulance multiple times to relieve himself of some extra pressure. I began learning about his reputation for clearing out entire Fire Departments after using the facilities. He told me unabashedly that he had bowel surgery as a small child and the variety of sounds and smells he now produced was a long standing side effect.
Since then, I have been subjected to the widest array of farting noises I have ever encountered from one human being. He could be his own museum. Artillary fire, tractors, the revving of motorcycle engines, trumpets, pig squeals, splats, rumbles, groans, you name it. So far he has only let loose the quieter, but far more potent ones, inside the ambulance a handful of times. Often he is cat-napping, and apparently the rule is he can't be held accountable for anything that happens when he is asleep. Convinient. If he's awake, and it's silent (a rarity in and of itself) he can't help but giggle within the first few seconds so I get a warning.
So next time you bemoan a partnership, just think to yourself. Is it 12 hours at a time, every day (or in my case night) you work, for months on end? Are you forced by the nature of your job to spend the majority of those 12 hours in the cab of a vehicle with said partner? Does your partner have non-stop flatulance issues? No? Quit whining.
I submit that riding an ambulance offers up a deeper and often more complicated forced relationship. It is not just a project that has an eventual end, it is your job. Every shift. Every day. Every week. Every month. You get the picture. I have had a wide range of partnerships on the ambulance-from obssessive compulsive to lazy, from politically incensed (lots of NPR) to the pregnant and hormonal- but my most recent partnership brings a certain something extra to the table. In a nutshell, he farts. Constantly.
My partner is an excellent medic, with more experience than I and a wonderful easy going personality that makes the ride enjoyable. He likes to game (PSP, XBox, WoW), is a sucker for the adoption fairs at PetsMart, and is devoted to his "woman" as he affectionately calls her. My last partner and I had a rough initial two weeks, she doesn't warm up to people very quickly and I was no exception. We were also polar opposites which didn't make matters easier. My partner now, however, is very comfortable easing into the partnership role. Maybe a little too comfortable.
My first night on the ambulance he started talking about farting. Too late I received a text message from his woman warning me to establish a "no fart policy" ASAP. At this point, my fellow medic had already stepped outside of the ambulance multiple times to relieve himself of some extra pressure. I began learning about his reputation for clearing out entire Fire Departments after using the facilities. He told me unabashedly that he had bowel surgery as a small child and the variety of sounds and smells he now produced was a long standing side effect.
Since then, I have been subjected to the widest array of farting noises I have ever encountered from one human being. He could be his own museum. Artillary fire, tractors, the revving of motorcycle engines, trumpets, pig squeals, splats, rumbles, groans, you name it. So far he has only let loose the quieter, but far more potent ones, inside the ambulance a handful of times. Often he is cat-napping, and apparently the rule is he can't be held accountable for anything that happens when he is asleep. Convinient. If he's awake, and it's silent (a rarity in and of itself) he can't help but giggle within the first few seconds so I get a warning.
So next time you bemoan a partnership, just think to yourself. Is it 12 hours at a time, every day (or in my case night) you work, for months on end? Are you forced by the nature of your job to spend the majority of those 12 hours in the cab of a vehicle with said partner? Does your partner have non-stop flatulance issues? No? Quit whining.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Constellations
Being nocturnal has it's perks for me. I love the night sky. The moon and stars are beautiful and I like how starkly impersonal they are. I've heard the starry sky described as "unfeeling" and "aloof" but these all have negatvie connotations in my mind. Stars simply are. To me, they are a reminder of a universe much grander than me, and a God who loves insignificant me enough to provide a grand universe to explore. Since middle school I've loved constellations. Orion is my favorite, he's the easiest one for me to pluck out of the sky regardless of season, and he actually looks somewhat like a hunter (the whole shoulders, knees, swordbelt...much better than Ursa Minor which looks nothing like a bear).
Big Dipper is kinda upside down dontchya think? FYI this was one of the only pictures I could find that was close to how the Big Dipper appears every time I've managed to locate it. I have YET to see it with the dipper bowl facing up, which is how all the other websites and images present it. Maybe it's just the wrong season, or wrong time at night when I catch a glimpse. ( I wonder how many boy scout troops host star gazing at 2am when it's 30 degrees outside).
Now every time I get out of the ambulance I throw a quick glance heavenward to see what I can see. I literally can only take at the most five seconds, and I'm usually walking as I look (dangerous, I know) but so far I've managed to locate the Big Dipper reliably 3 times. Sometimes I can't see it because of the city lights or tree line, but with Orion easily visable in the South, I know when I spin 180 degrees that the Big Dipper should be there.
Naturally, after I start consistently finding the Big Dipper I'll start working on the Little Dipper, and then it's back to nailing down the horoscope signs. One of these days I'm gonna invest in a telescope...
Anybody else have any favorite constellations?
Well I've slowly expanded my constellation knowledge since my middle school years and I can now quickly locate pleiades, taurus, and casseopeia, and sometimes gemini, leo, and scorpio. But one frustrating constellation has always been Ursa Major...aka, the Big Dipper. Technically, the Big Dipper part is only half of the actual constellation Ursa Major, but I assumed if I could locate the Big Dipper it would literally just be "connecting the dots" to fill in the rest of Ursa Major.
My internet search compounded my irritation because all the sites kept repeating "one of the easiest constellations to find" "Often taught to young children" "Boyscouts learn the Big and Little Dipper early in order to locate the North Star..." Well it's not so gosh darn easy to find! It wasn't until I hit on a website (and I apologize, I don't have the link to it) that said the Big Dipper and Casseopeia revolve around the North Star and the Big Dipper appears on it's tail that I finally found the elusive constellation.
Big Dipper is kinda upside down dontchya think? FYI this was one of the only pictures I could find that was close to how the Big Dipper appears every time I've managed to locate it. I have YET to see it with the dipper bowl facing up, which is how all the other websites and images present it. Maybe it's just the wrong season, or wrong time at night when I catch a glimpse. ( I wonder how many boy scout troops host star gazing at 2am when it's 30 degrees outside).
Now every time I get out of the ambulance I throw a quick glance heavenward to see what I can see. I literally can only take at the most five seconds, and I'm usually walking as I look (dangerous, I know) but so far I've managed to locate the Big Dipper reliably 3 times. Sometimes I can't see it because of the city lights or tree line, but with Orion easily visable in the South, I know when I spin 180 degrees that the Big Dipper should be there.
Naturally, after I start consistently finding the Big Dipper I'll start working on the Little Dipper, and then it's back to nailing down the horoscope signs. One of these days I'm gonna invest in a telescope...
Anybody else have any favorite constellations?
Monday, November 7, 2011
Internet Fail
I'm pretty horrible at the whole social networking thing and I don't know if I should be dissappointed in myself or proud. I've been pretty much absent from the blogging/facebooking/twittering world for the past few weeks and I can't say I was really heartbroken about it. Now, granted, I had a good excuse, and I'm sure as things settle down I'll get back into the swing of things, but to anyone who still reads this blog, I apologize for my considerable inconsistency.
In other news, Brian is HOME! Thats what has been distracting me for the past few weeks and it has been a fantastic distraction. I'll try and update with interesting tidbits a little later on, I just wanted to let people know I'm still alive and will try to revive my blogging. I will say I kind of missed reading everyone elses blogs. I think I'm finally caught up. :)
In other news, Brian is HOME! Thats what has been distracting me for the past few weeks and it has been a fantastic distraction. I'll try and update with interesting tidbits a little later on, I just wanted to let people know I'm still alive and will try to revive my blogging. I will say I kind of missed reading everyone elses blogs. I think I'm finally caught up. :)
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