The internet is down at the house. All attempts so far to fix it have been futile (I turned it off and then on again, Brian tried some fancy tests and actually called tech support) and Brian may be MIA for the next three weeks. So, my few faithful followers, my blog is probably going to be down for the count until I can fix it-or at least the posts will be a lot shorter because they will be made from my phone. A bummer, truly, because I have pictures to add.
Also, I may be following the trend and moving over to wordpress after giving it a trial run. I especially like the "like" options on the comments. But first, I'm considering revamping this whole blog. Although Remus is still an integral part of my life, my posts deal less and less with him and much more about everything else. I'm thinking about putting a creative spin on it since I've really been trying to encourage my often supressed "artsy-crafty" genes. I may keep a page for EMS tidbits, but I am wary of saying anything that may violate HIPPA. Remus will still be a key player-I can't really go anywhere without the fuzzbutt-but I'd like to find a little focus. SO, I will repost what I can when I can, thanks for reading. :)
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Wolfhound Chaperone
I'll try to keep this from spilling into the TMI category, but it's too funny not to share. Brian and I spend the majority of our time at home in the kitchen or living room. Remus's domain is the kitchen, but we let him think he is fooling us when he sneaks out to sleep behind the couch everyonce in awhile. Well, Brian is an affectionate person and will kiss me on the neck or shoulder when I'm cooking, doing the dishes or standing around looking dazed because I've forgotten what I was planning to do (happens more frequently then the dishes). Remus has decided this behavior is unacceptable.
Recently, every time Brian has started being affectionate, Remus will start make weird groaning/moaning noises and then jump into his play stance (butt up, chest down, feet splayed) and bark. If I start laughing, his head will raise and his ears will perk up and he'll look at me like, "Are you done?" And then Brian, who takes the Remus interruption as a challenge, just makes things worse and Remus goes back to weird noises and barking. I'm pretty sure it is the doggy equivalant to "Get a ROOM!" and it is hilarious. I laugh helplessly everytime it happens, Remus is just so adamant! And the groaning noises are really weird, REALLY weird.
The joys of pet ownership :)
Recently, every time Brian has started being affectionate, Remus will start make weird groaning/moaning noises and then jump into his play stance (butt up, chest down, feet splayed) and bark. If I start laughing, his head will raise and his ears will perk up and he'll look at me like, "Are you done?" And then Brian, who takes the Remus interruption as a challenge, just makes things worse and Remus goes back to weird noises and barking. I'm pretty sure it is the doggy equivalant to "Get a ROOM!" and it is hilarious. I laugh helplessly everytime it happens, Remus is just so adamant! And the groaning noises are really weird, REALLY weird.
The joys of pet ownership :)
Link Up Fail
So after last Wednesday's "Wondrous Words" link up by Bermuda Onion, I was all excited to do it again this Wednesday. I picked up King Lear and put it in my bag for work with all sorts of good intentions. Well, I didn't completely flake out on the reading, I DID read...a little...ok maybe like three pages. Unfortunately, there were no new words on those three pages so I have nothing to contribute to the link up. :/ Shame on me. I thought about going to dictionary.com and looking up some bizzare words to make it look like I was reading something super smarty pants worthy, but I resisted the deception. Instead, I'm falling back on an old standby and providing snippets from the ambulance.
Background info: Pt calls 911, they talk to dispatch, dispatch sends us on the call. First they push this really annoying button that sends out a high pitched call tone and then they give the basic info like "Medic 10, 10Delta2 chest pain, at *address*, Medic 10." We respond in service, they repeat the info, we then respond in route and they give us the trip number (for our charts) and our times (time call was received, time it was dispatched, time we're enroute) and then they give pt descriptors and the chief complaint (cc or c/o for "complaining of") All dispatch radio traffic is public domain, you can go to your local dispatch center and listen to it for kicks and giggles, here are a few of my favorites from the past few days.
Dispatch: "Pt smoked crack today and is sad now."
Dispatch: "Pt complaining of extreme itchiness" (This pt put toothpaste on bug bites with no relief)
Dispatch: "Pt complaining of insomnia"
Dispatch: "Medic 10, cancel the call, pt has removed item from his ear. No further assistance needed." (Item was an, ahem, adult toy...no idea what it was doing near his ear.)
Dispatch: "It's a finger stabbing, stage for SO." (Sherriff's Office) We had two finger stabbings in a row that night.
Dispatch: "Respond to a 29D2 (car crash), pt struck a utility pole...." "...pt is EtOH" (Drunk) ..."Pt ran into the pole on foot..." (wow. Drunk drivers take out utility poles all the time, but without the car? Impressive)
Hope you enjoyed :) Maybe next Wednesday I won't have been such a slacker.
Background info: Pt calls 911, they talk to dispatch, dispatch sends us on the call. First they push this really annoying button that sends out a high pitched call tone and then they give the basic info like "Medic 10, 10Delta2 chest pain, at *address*, Medic 10." We respond in service, they repeat the info, we then respond in route and they give us the trip number (for our charts) and our times (time call was received, time it was dispatched, time we're enroute) and then they give pt descriptors and the chief complaint (cc or c/o for "complaining of") All dispatch radio traffic is public domain, you can go to your local dispatch center and listen to it for kicks and giggles, here are a few of my favorites from the past few days.
Dispatch: "Pt smoked crack today and is sad now."
Dispatch: "Pt complaining of extreme itchiness" (This pt put toothpaste on bug bites with no relief)
Dispatch: "Pt complaining of insomnia"
Dispatch: "Medic 10, cancel the call, pt has removed item from his ear. No further assistance needed." (Item was an, ahem, adult toy...no idea what it was doing near his ear.)
Dispatch: "It's a finger stabbing, stage for SO." (Sherriff's Office) We had two finger stabbings in a row that night.
Dispatch: "Respond to a 29D2 (car crash), pt struck a utility pole...." "...pt is EtOH" (Drunk) ..."Pt ran into the pole on foot..." (wow. Drunk drivers take out utility poles all the time, but without the car? Impressive)
Hope you enjoyed :) Maybe next Wednesday I won't have been such a slacker.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Mini Painting Epiphanies
It's not very reassuring when you are working on a painting and your husband glances over and goes "Ohhhhhhh THATS what that is!" but I guess it is a testament to the fact that eventually whatever I am painting does end up resembling what I want it to resemble. In this case it is a very small canvas where I am informally painting an image stuck in my head from one of the suicides we went to back in February. Not pleasant, I know, and I've actually typed up a brief description of the scene but have refrained from posting it on here because I don't think it's something people will want to read. However, writing and painting are both good stress relieving outlets for me, and this particular call was higher emotional stress than some. The painting is coming on nicely for it being impromptu and hurried, it's done less for any sort of artistic reason and more as a way for me to constructively deal with the mental images. The moment of recognition for my husband came when he realized I had painted a room and a hallway, not a bunch of abstract geometry.
My other painting-the ADD painting- is coming along really nicely if I do say so myself. I had a brief epiphany last night as I was painting that this was MY painting so I could paint whatever I wanted. I get sucked in to the people pleasing attitude so much that I was worried about adding things that people wouldn't like. Silly, really, when you take the time to consider that as a painting reflecting my interpretation of ADD it is entirely my interpretation and what people think about it doesn't matter-they can paint their own. So yes, I did add butterflies, lightening bugs, and a cluster of tiny mushrooms at the foot of the tree dividing the picture. I also touched up the moon and am contemplating adding clouds. Once it dries enough (I'm guessing in about a month) I'll start the last, overarching part of the painting and then it'll be FINISHED!
I don't know if you truly understand how big of a deal it is for me to finish a project, but it's a pretty big deal. I will be posting pictures of at least the ADD painting on here, though it's such a large canvas the pictures I've taken so far really miss out on all the detail work I've done which is a little frustrating.
Time to go find something else creative to do :)
My other painting-the ADD painting- is coming along really nicely if I do say so myself. I had a brief epiphany last night as I was painting that this was MY painting so I could paint whatever I wanted. I get sucked in to the people pleasing attitude so much that I was worried about adding things that people wouldn't like. Silly, really, when you take the time to consider that as a painting reflecting my interpretation of ADD it is entirely my interpretation and what people think about it doesn't matter-they can paint their own. So yes, I did add butterflies, lightening bugs, and a cluster of tiny mushrooms at the foot of the tree dividing the picture. I also touched up the moon and am contemplating adding clouds. Once it dries enough (I'm guessing in about a month) I'll start the last, overarching part of the painting and then it'll be FINISHED!
I don't know if you truly understand how big of a deal it is for me to finish a project, but it's a pretty big deal. I will be posting pictures of at least the ADD painting on here, though it's such a large canvas the pictures I've taken so far really miss out on all the detail work I've done which is a little frustrating.
Time to go find something else creative to do :)
Saturday, March 31, 2012
My Four Letter Score
WOW. This test is like magic! I've heard/read references to this personality test for years, but I've never actually taken it until now. I'm in the midst of some pretty major life decisions and am scrambling to sort myself out with the help of the convinient therapist I have on speed dail (AKA, my mother). She sent me a link to a Values Test which left me puzzled and frustrated because many of my values are in direct opposition. For example, my top value is "Privacy" and the close second is "Concern for others Wellbeing". Meaning, I desire alone time and helping people simultaneously. Hard to do both. Anyway, after reading my sister's post (she's a Mastermind, and after reading the profile it fits her PERFECTLY) I had to try this test as well.
I am an INFJ. My title isn't as cool as Mastermind (which, it turns out Brian is a Mastermind, too. Hey Rebecca, you and Brian are true personality buddies!) I'm "The Counselor" but the description hits so close to home it's eerie. Here's the link to the counselor description and another link, and here's the link to the test.
Summary Description
Beneath the quiet exterior, INFJs hold deep convictions about the weightier matters of life. Those who are activists -- INFJs gravitate toward such a role -- are there for the cause, not for personal glory or political power.
INFJs are champions of the oppressed and downtrodden. They often are found in the wake of an emergency, rescuing those who are in acute distress. INFJs may fantasize about getting revenge on those who victimize the defenseless. The concept of 'poetic justice' is appealing to the INFJ.
"There's something rotten in Denmark." Accurately suspicious about others' motives, INFJs are not easily led. These are the people that you can rarely fool any of the time. Though affable and sympathetic to most, INFJs are selective about their friends. Such a friendship is a symbiotic bond that transcends mere words.
INFJs have a knack for fluency in language and facility in communication. In addition, nonverbal sensitivity enables the INFJ to know and be known by others intimately.
Writing, counseling, public service and even politics are areas where INFJs frequently find their niche.
My favorite descriptions of my personality trait are from the first link.
**Not usually visible leaders, Counselors prefer to work intensely with those close to them, especially on a one-to-one basis, quietly exerting their influence behind the scenes.
**Although they are happy working at jobs (such as writing) that require solitude and close attention, Counselors do quite well with individuals or groups of people, provided that the personal interactions are not superficial, and that they find some quiet, private time every now and then to recharge their batteries
**Not that Counselors are flighty or scattered; they value their integrity a great deal, but they have mysterious, intricately woven personalities which sometimes puzzle even them. (Hahaha, that could explain some things...)
**Counselors are highly intuitive and can recognize another's emotions or intentions - good or evil - even before that person is aware of them. (Which might explain some of my trust issues and difficulty making solid, meaningful friendships.)
This is a really cool test, and it provided me with a lot of "oh, that makes sense" moments. Fun, thanks Rebecca for the link :)
I am an INFJ. My title isn't as cool as Mastermind (which, it turns out Brian is a Mastermind, too. Hey Rebecca, you and Brian are true personality buddies!) I'm "The Counselor" but the description hits so close to home it's eerie. Here's the link to the counselor description and another link, and here's the link to the test.
Summary Description
Beneath the quiet exterior, INFJs hold deep convictions about the weightier matters of life. Those who are activists -- INFJs gravitate toward such a role -- are there for the cause, not for personal glory or political power.
INFJs are champions of the oppressed and downtrodden. They often are found in the wake of an emergency, rescuing those who are in acute distress. INFJs may fantasize about getting revenge on those who victimize the defenseless. The concept of 'poetic justice' is appealing to the INFJ.
"There's something rotten in Denmark." Accurately suspicious about others' motives, INFJs are not easily led. These are the people that you can rarely fool any of the time. Though affable and sympathetic to most, INFJs are selective about their friends. Such a friendship is a symbiotic bond that transcends mere words.
INFJs have a knack for fluency in language and facility in communication. In addition, nonverbal sensitivity enables the INFJ to know and be known by others intimately.
Writing, counseling, public service and even politics are areas where INFJs frequently find their niche.
My favorite descriptions of my personality trait are from the first link.
**Not usually visible leaders, Counselors prefer to work intensely with those close to them, especially on a one-to-one basis, quietly exerting their influence behind the scenes.
**Although they are happy working at jobs (such as writing) that require solitude and close attention, Counselors do quite well with individuals or groups of people, provided that the personal interactions are not superficial, and that they find some quiet, private time every now and then to recharge their batteries
**Not that Counselors are flighty or scattered; they value their integrity a great deal, but they have mysterious, intricately woven personalities which sometimes puzzle even them. (Hahaha, that could explain some things...)
**Counselors are highly intuitive and can recognize another's emotions or intentions - good or evil - even before that person is aware of them. (Which might explain some of my trust issues and difficulty making solid, meaningful friendships.)
This is a really cool test, and it provided me with a lot of "oh, that makes sense" moments. Fun, thanks Rebecca for the link :)
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Wondrous Words Wednesday
I've been enjoying reading this link up on my sister's blog here , so I figured I'd give it a try.
Hosted by Bermuda Onion
I am currently on a Shakespeare kick. I find the more I read him the more I understand and the more I enjoy his mastery of the english language. However, there are a plethora of words that I am unfamiliar with, or words of whose exact meanings I was unsure (being lazy and just guessing by context instead of looking them up). Here are my selections from "Twelfth Night."
zanies: "I protest I take these wise men that crow so at these set kind of Fools no better than the Fools' zanies."
(1) Subordinate fools in comedies whose function is to imitate the main comic character. (2) assistants, flatterers.
(1) Subordinate fools in comedies whose function is to imitate the main comic character. (2) assistants, flatterers.
nonpariel: "O' such love/Could be but recompensed though you were crowned/The nonpareil of beauty."
Adjective- having no equal, peerless. Noun-A person or thing having no equal. It also means a small pellet of colored sugar for decorating candy, cake, and cookies and a flat, round, bite-sized piece of chocolate covered with this sugar.
Adjective- having no equal, peerless. Noun-A person or thing having no equal. It also means a small pellet of colored sugar for decorating candy, cake, and cookies and a flat, round, bite-sized piece of chocolate covered with this sugar.
consanquineous: "Am not I consanguineous? Am not I of her blood?"
of the same blood, related. (This word was actually self defining, but I thought it was neat and I hadn't heard it before so I figured I'd add it to the list.)
of the same blood, related. (This word was actually self defining, but I thought it was neat and I hadn't heard it before so I figured I'd add it to the list.)
fustian: "A fustian riddle!"
pretentious, pompous
pretentious, pompous
vouchsafed: "My matter hath no voice, lady, but to your own most pregnant and vouchsafed ear."
willing, graciously attentive
willing, graciously attentive
The following are Shakespearing slang. I don't know if they count, but they might be fun to slip in to casual conversation to see who is paying attention.
sneck up: shut up. HA! Going to try this one out at work...
sheep-biter: dog. Derogatory slang used by Thomas Nash to describe a hypocritical Puritan.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Tulips and Braids!
I love my tulips! I am so excited that my bulb planting was successful :) They are the results of my first real garden. I've planted and messed around in my mom's gardens at home with interesting results (the phlox are still out of control phloxing last I checked, though a bit weedy) but this time the gardens are all mine in front of my own house. Somehow that makes them extra special. I planted tulips because they're big and bright and Brian's favorite flower. I planted these in October of last year while he was in Iraq, and I was a little nervous about his reaction because he's a bit OCD and a little protective of our yard. Me deciding on a whim to construct two gardens at the end of the driveway without his direct supervision was probably a little nerve wracking for him as well, BUT without further ado here are the pictures of my success.
These are on the other side of the driveway. Notice how there is only one yellow tulip? Yeah, Brian sprayed weedkiller around my beds. I tried to warn him that weedkiller is indescriminate but he promised me he had been carefull...well, only one of the bordering yellow tulips survived.
The other half of my post is on a hairdo I'm a little bit proud of. After scrolling through all the pinterest do's and thinking "I can do that" the creativity bug finally hit with a vengence one night before work. We have to wear ugly, boring uniforms on the ambulance, the pants are way to short and snap at the belly button and the shirts are plain grey polos which are way too big for me. Ugly, and uncomfortable. So last Saturday night I decided to dress my hair up a little bit. Basically I did three French Braids and then bundled the loose braids into a bunch on top. I added some sparkly clips for fun and called it a night. Viola! :)
Top view! Next time I think I'll be a little more exact with my bundling of braids on top, but I was running out of time before I had to leave for work and I wanted to be able to take pictures.
Thats all for now! Oh, except since I last posted I've had two STEMI calls :) (heartattacks) I never get tired of being able to help people.
These are around the mailbox.
These are on the other side of the driveway. Notice how there is only one yellow tulip? Yeah, Brian sprayed weedkiller around my beds. I tried to warn him that weedkiller is indescriminate but he promised me he had been carefull...well, only one of the bordering yellow tulips survived.The other half of my post is on a hairdo I'm a little bit proud of. After scrolling through all the pinterest do's and thinking "I can do that" the creativity bug finally hit with a vengence one night before work. We have to wear ugly, boring uniforms on the ambulance, the pants are way to short and snap at the belly button and the shirts are plain grey polos which are way too big for me. Ugly, and uncomfortable. So last Saturday night I decided to dress my hair up a little bit. Basically I did three French Braids and then bundled the loose braids into a bunch on top. I added some sparkly clips for fun and called it a night. Viola! :)
I think the upsidedown french braid might be a little crooked, but my normal perfectionist self cut me a little slack since braiding upside down means I have no visual clues to direction and being bent over upside down kinda throws off my orientation. I still think it looks neat :)
Top view! Next time I think I'll be a little more exact with my bundling of braids on top, but I was running out of time before I had to leave for work and I wanted to be able to take pictures.
It took me half an hour-forty minutes to finish, parting my hair actually took the longest. It is really tough to evenly part your hair when it's long, and wet, and you can't see the back of your head. I have a much easier time parting other people's hair, but braiding other people's hair is actually harder than braiding my own. The upside down braid took the longest, I'm still working on getting comfortable braiding like that, it'll take a bit of practice, I was lucky this one turned out so well.
Thats all for now! Oh, except since I last posted I've had two STEMI calls :) (heartattacks) I never get tired of being able to help people.
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