IM conversation of the night:

Friend for years: was beginnin’ to worry bout you
Epi: I’m going to spare you my horrible mood.
Epi: I’m in a horrible mood. *points* Any conversation that takes
place after this point is not my fault. I just want that out there.
Friend for years: well… this thing has an “off” switch and I know how to use
it… so I guess I’m forewarned and forearmed. Two forearms even.
Epi: LOL
Friend for years: see, mood just got less horrible.
Epi: Amazing how that works
Friend for years: It’s a gift… what can I say?

*snip*

Hey, Bama Boy. That’s my line. :)

But thank you anyway. For bringing a smile to this old girl’s face.

BTW… You’re not that funny, but I love ya anyway. :)

I had no idea. Forgot completely.

Thanks Breda for reminding me:

“Today is Sweetest Day, a holiday celebrated primarily around the Great Lakes region. Originally created in 1921 by candymakers in Cleveland, it meant to serve as an “occasion which offers all of us an opportunity to remember not only the sick, aged and orphaned, but also friends, relatives and associates whose helpfulness and kindness we have enjoyed.” The candymakers, of course hoped this holiday would increase the sales of candy. Since that time, Sweetest Day has become somewhat of a mini-Valentine’s Day with roses being sold on street corners and couples making plans for an evening out.”

I had no idea that it was a local thing. There are entire aisles in Kroger’s dedicated to Sweetest Day cards, candy, flowers, etc.

Just another holiday inspired by Hallmark and/or the Cleveland candy industry (which I didn’t even know existed until today), I guess.

Have you ever heard of Sweetest Day?

Today, October 19th, 2008…

Today I did not spend any quality time with my son. He was busy doing far more important things to an 8-year-old, playing with his best friend. And I’m okay with that.

Today I didn’t have it in me to call my best friend. Or my former partner. Or Sue, or Bri, or Kelly or Jodi or Rebel or Regina or Matt or anyone else.

Today I didn’t get to put on a uniform, take a pulse, a blood pressure, or touch a patient in any way. I didn’t buy a coffee for a sleepy partner, laugh until Diet Pepsi shot out of my nose, or wipe away anyone’s tears. I didn’t bitch about STNA’s, Dispatchers, Lieutenants or management.

Today I didn’t pick up my camera once. I didn’t watch football, I didn’t scrapbook, I didn’t carve a pumpkin or rake leaves, or sleep in, or do anything that a normal person should do on a beautiful Fall Sunday like today.

Today I don’t think that I brought a smile to anyone’s face.

Days like these are hard.

Today I didn’t play out in the sun. I merely walked beneath it.

When you head out to the park on a gorgeous fall day, with the sole mission of taking pictures of the kids and the vibrant colors…

Check to see what film speed you’ve set your camera to. Particularly if you were recently taking pictures in darker conditions.

I’ve been using a camera for two thirds of my life. I know better. Always check the ISO. It is not cool to take over a hundred pictures in broad daylight with the ISO set to 1600.

I see myself spending some quality time with Photoshop and Camera Raw tonight.

The one on the left is my unofficially adopted third child. My son’s (the one on the right for those keeping score) best friend. He has a very sad story, and I can’t help but take him in whenever possible. If his mother would allow me to have him over even more I would. Hell, I’d adopt him.

You know that saying that goes “No matter how badly you have it, someone else has it worse?” It’s true, he’s proof.

And you would never know it by talking to him. He’s one of the most grateful, loving children I’ve ever met.

Man strips and punches Paramedic at crash scene

Apparently this guy was sick of waiting for the road to reopen. If it’s not a Felony charge, it damn well should be.

Watch your six.

I’m always learning more about photography, about composition, about the rule of three’s, about subject, and white balance and aperture and shutter speed and iso, and all the other things you think about when trying to compose something.

Then someone else takes your camera. Someone with no experience. Someone just seeing something they think is beautiful. So they pick up the camera and press the shutter button.

And they catch love. They also catch a three year old cutting off her Mother’s trachea, but ultimately, they capture a moment in time, where the only emotions present were love and total joy. Something I’ve worked so hard to do for so many years.

And he did it with one click of the shutter.

It’s not perfect. I would have shot it differently, but at the same time, I think it’s perfect.

I think maybe I have something to learn.

I don’t know where you are now…

I hope you’re happy and that you and your family are well.

Happy Birthday.

I didn’t realize that he had been having problems seeing. He’s been wearing glasses for a little over a year, and he never complains… When he started having headaches a few weeks ago I got suspicious.

My little guy has 20/200 vision. Jesus when did that happen?

Price of eye exam: $110
Price of frames: $75 (thank GOD for walmart!)
Price of polycarb lenses: $100 (again, thank you walmart)

Having his teacher tell you that he’s doing much better in school (and watching him play his gameboy without squinting — more important to him than me): Priceless.

73%

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authorblog: Post Of The Day

David McMahon is a Melbourne journalist, photographer and bestselling novelist. He does so much to promote blogging and challenges us as photographers to shoot the traditional in non-traditional ways, and to find the beauty in subjects we wouldn’t normally look twice at.

He’s also someone I am honored to call a mentor.

He honored my little blog with another Post of the Day mention for this post.

Thank you, David, for the mention, and for what you do for the blogging community every day.

$2.43 a gallon.

Hand to God.

I have no idea how long it’ll last, but for now it works for me.

LUCASVILLE, Ohio — Ohio has executed a 5-foot-7, 267-pound double murderer who argued he was too fat to die humanely by lethal injection.

Richard Cooey died at 10:28 a.m. Tuesday at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville.

There were no immediate reports of problems finding suitable veins to deliver the deadly chemicals.

Here’s the story from the Toledo Blade.

Dear Dad,

While I appreciate the fact that you *needed* to see your Grandbabies, I feel like it’s time that I lay down a few ground rules. For the last time.

For most, these would be common sense, but clearly you’ve forgotten about the first five or fifteen times we’ve had this conversation.

Please don’t show up drunk. They’re not used to that kind of behavior. SWR may not be able to tell the difference between trashed Grandpa and happy Grandpa, but FC can. He picks up on things, Dad, he’s SO smart. If you were sober when you saw him you’d know that. And she is brilliant as well, Dad. Despite the fact that she’s in diapers still, something you like to point out every time you see her.

As much as I love you, and I do love you, I’m sick of trying to explain your erratic behavior to them.

You remember how things ended with Uncle Donny? Grandma? I don’t want my kids to go through what WE went through. I won’t allow it.

Please don’t excuse your inebriation on not eating all day and working in the sun. You are one of the hardest working people that I know. I know that at your core you are an amazing man, giving the shirt off your back to someone who needs it. I can say that without reservation. But Dad, you have a sickness, an addiction that you need to man up and take care of.

I also know full well that you made an extra stop in between working in the field and coming to see us. You only slipped up three times tonight.

When I ask you to “lower your voice,” it’s for good reason. Don’t get louder just to piss me off. It worked with Mom for a few years and you know how that ended. You talk about it 26 years after the fact. You’ve had a few years longer with me, and it’s not working anymore.

I’m living in a neighborhood of people who have been here longer than I’ve been alive. They’re good people. They don’t need someone acting like an ass at 8pm.

Dad, I LOVE you. I do. But you can’t keep doing this to me and the kids and Brent. And you can’t keep doing it to yourself. I can’t keep sticking up for you. I’ve seen too much happen because of assholes who think they drive better after they’ve had a few beers… And I’ve transported those who drank themselves literally to the brink of death. You can’t see it.

I have.

Think about me, your baby girl. Think about Brent, my baby brother who has busted his ass to gain approval in your eyes. Think about those precious grandbabies you talk so often about.

Think about us grieving at your funeral. Think about us having to testify at a trial for some family that you KILLED because you were so wreckless with your behavior.

It’s horrible at best. It’s horrible as long as it doesn’t effect anyone other than you.

At the absolute worst you’re going to kill someone. Or some people. I’ve seen it, Daddy. I can’t make excuses anymore. I have a responsibility to the public, even if I’m not working as an EMT. I have a responsibility to make sure that I don’t contribute… That I don’t enable you. I won’t do it any more. It ends now.

Your actions have an impact that reach farther than you can imagine. And I won’t continue enabling you.

You sealed it tonight, and tonight it ends.

If you show up again in my presence, at a bar, at my home, anywhere… I’m going to call the police. You have no license to drive. You have absolutely no business behind the wheel of a vehicle. Tractor, truck, or demolition derby car. You’ve lost that privilege.

If you show up in my presence under the influence, I will leave immediately. I will not take your phone calls, and I will not come pick you up from jail. I will have nothing to do with you. And neither will either of your Grandchildren.

It ends now.

I love you, but as they say, I won’t love you to death.

Signed,
Me. Your daughter. Your Baby girl.

Yes, I’m that bored.

In between cleaning up kiddo vomit and filling out job apps, I’ve decided to sit down and play for a bit.

I found this on Erica’s blog, Blissful Entropy. Go check her out, good stuff!

(I hope you don’t mind that I whittled it down a little bit, Erica, I have a short attention span at times ;))

Have I:

Gone on a blind date: A few, yes. That’s a road I never plan to go down again.

Skipped school: I skipped more of my senior year than I should admit. One time Rachel and I skipped and headed up to Bedford thinking that we’d meet up with my boyfriend at the time. Little did we know that he was skipping his last class of the day.

Watched someone die: Yes. My Grandmother and countless patients.

Been to Canada: Yes. It’s about 45 minutes up the road. My one bit of advice is to convert your money ASAP when you cross over.

Been on a plane: I have, but I’d rather drive. That whole falling out of the sky thing scares the crap out of me.

Been lost: Yes. And trust me when I say that Downtown Detroit by the Ambassador bridge is not a good place to be lost.

Been on the opposite side of the country: Yes. Seattle and California. Gorgeous country. I’d love to live there.

Swam in the ocean: I count myself fortunate enough to have almost drowned in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. GO me!

Had your booze taken away by the cops: I’ve not had booze taken away by the cops. But I have been taken away from booze by cops. If that makes sense. I did some stupid things in college.

Cried yourself to sleep: More than I care to admit.

Recently colored with crayons: As recently as yesterday. It really is excellent therapy.

Sang Karaoke: Not only have I sung karaoke… I own a karaoke setup complete with more than 10,000 songs.

Paid for a meal with coins only: I’ve paid for a few lunches off the dollar menu at McDonalds with quarters. That’s what happens when you forget your purse at home and you need to eat.

Cheated on an exam: I’ve never cheated on an exam.

Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose: Yes. And it hurts when Beer comes out your nose. It really burns.

Caught a snowflake on your tongue: Yes.

Danced in the rain: Yes to dancing in the rain. Yes to kissing in the rain. And I didn’t melt.

Written a letter to Santa Claus: Yup.

Been kissed under the mistletoe: I have.

Watched the sunrise with someone you care about: Well I thought I cared about him at the time.

Been arrested: I plead the fifth.

Blown bubbles: Yup. The bottled kind, and also the snot kind, from laughing too hard after crying (Me too!!! – Epi)

Gone ice-skating: It’s been awhile… One too many injuries to my ankle. I’m one rolled ankle away from surgery.

Been skinny dipping outdoors: I have, actually. Way too much fun.

Favorite drink? Diet Pepsi or coffee

Tattoos? Three.

Piercings? Right now just my ears. Not so long ago my tongue was pierced.

How much do you love your job? When I’m in my element there’s nothing I’d rather do.

Birthplace? Toledo, Ohio

Favorite vacation spot? That’s a tough one. Charleston, SC (as opposed to Charleston WV. I HATE Charleston WV.), Seattle, Nassau.

Ever been to Africa? no, but I have a friend who’s there right now.

Ever been on TV? More than one person should be. That’s what happens when you have family members who work for the local TV station. I’ve been in three commercials, and more news stories than I can count.

Ever been in a car accident? Uggggg. Yes. Two with Matt, One with the other Matt, one with my Mom, one with Ron where I mowed down a phone pole and took the power out to a few city blocks, one by myself, one with my son, and one that I can’t talk about on here. Of those accidents, three were my fault.

Favorite movie? An Affair to Remember, Sweet Home Alabama, Annie, Shawshank Redemption. There’s no way to narrow it to one.

Favorite holiday? Christmas. Hands down.

Favorite food? Steak baby. Make it bloody.

Favorite flower? White roses

Favorite smells? The smell of my daughter’s hair right after I wash it. Fresh cut grass. The ocean. The apple orchard.

What do you do to relax? Read a good book, write, head outside with the camera.

How do you see yourself in 10 years? If I don’t have that damn Medic badge by then I’ll be a professional photographer.

Ever been given an engagement ring? Three times. I married one of them.

Longest relationship? Just short of ten years.

Last gift you received? Roses :)

Ever dropped a cell phone? About three million times give or take a million.

When’s the last time you worked out? Did the yoga tape this morning. That’s two weeks straight folks :)

First thing you notice about the opposite sex?
If he’s up close I notice his eyes (I’m a total sucker for blue or green eyes) and his smile. From a distance I notice how he carries himself.

One favorite song?
Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts

Favorite mall store:
Depends on what I’m shopping for. Ritz Camera for anything photography related or Borders for my book addiction.

Longest job you’ve had:
I was a computer field technician for seven years prior to my career change.

Biggest lie you’ve ever heard:
(In response to “How much have you had to drink?” “Two or three.”

Favorite place to eat with friends?
Blue Pacific or Mongolian BBQ up in Ann Arbor

Can you cook?
I can cook.

Best kiss:
The ones my kids give me.

Last time you cried?:
This morning. Kind of a rough morning.

Most disliked foods:
Liver. *wretch*

Thing you like most about yourself:
My sparkling personality and rapier wit. Pfft.

Thing you dislike most about yourself:
I’m an insomniac. And when I’m tired but can’t sleep, and it’s late my mind tends to run away on me.

Longest shift you’ve worked at a job?:
60 hours straight. I’ll never do it again.

Can you sing?
Depends on who you ask. I don’t think I’m all that great but some of my biased friends say I am.

Last concert you attended?
Rock on the Range this past summer.

Last movie rented:
Sex And The City

One thing you never leave the house without:
Car keys?

Laptop or Desktop?
Both

Favorite comedian? Carlos Mencia. I LOVE Carlos Mencia.

Do long distance relationships work?:
They can work temporarily. I think it’s pretty much impossible for anything to last long term though.

How many times have you been pulled over by the police??
Five or six times

How do you like your eggs?
Over easy with toast please :)

Number of pillows?:
Two, but one is seriously understuffed.

Can you play pool?:
Funny that you ask. When I attempt to play pool without fail at least one ball will fly off the table and land under some immovable object.

Favorite season?
Fall

Best thing about winter?
Snowmobiles and sledding

Name of your first pet?:
Lucifer the poodle.

Birthday?
March 31

What do you want to be?
I’m not sure I know anymore.

Smiling right now?:
Not really.

Do you miss somebody right now?
Very much so.

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?
Somewhere so
ut
h of here.

Are you in high school?:
Not in the last 14 years.

Do you have a harmless crush on anyone?
Patrick Dempsey. But it’s not completely harmless or a crush. He will be mine, oh yes, he will be mine.

Ever been on a cruise?:
Yes. Hopefully next year we’ll be going on a Disney cruise too!

What jewelry are you wearing?
My watch, my power of pink bracelet and my livestrong bracelet.

What are you going to do after this questionnaire??
Go do something slightly more productive. Which could be anything.

Thank you, Mrs. Sweet.

My kindergarten teacher at St. Adalbert. For seeing a five-year-old little girl who’s whole world was upside down with the divorce of her parents. Thank you for taking the extra time with me to make sure I was okay. Thank you for teaching me that I didn’t need to be afraid of walking down a long flight of stairs. Thank you for teaching me the meaning of the word capable, even if it was in a sentence that sounded a lot like, “You are capable of doing better, Epi.” That was something that clearly stuck with me. I’m capable of doing better.

Thank you, Sister Doloretta.

For throwing chalk, erasers, and even books at us in fifth grade when some of us were maybe less than respectful towards you. Sometimes a talking 11 year old needs to have a chalkboard eraser bounced off her head to wake up and pay attention.

Thank you Mr. Salwiesz.

For putting an arm around my shoulder that day when I was in seventh grade and telling me that sometimes people who we think are friends can be unbelievably cruel.

Thank you Mr. Crego.

For being one of the toughest teacher I’ve ever had. For teaching me how to use a camera, how to work in a darkroom, and how to inspire my classmates to move their asses when clearly they’d rather do anything than write another article on a highschool football game. And for giving me the first “A” you had ever given.

Thank you Mr. Ross.

My favorite teacher ever. Thank you for pushing me out of my comfort zone and proving to me that I can speak in front of a crowd of Shriners. Thank you for seeing potential in me two years before I’d be eligable to take the DECA class and actively recruiting me for those two years. Thank you for paying for the portion of the Nationals trip that I couldn’t cover on my own, two years in a row. Thank you for continuing to take an interest in my life, even 14 years later. And most importantly, thank you for not getting my butt suspended when I might have set that password on your screensaver, effectively locking you out of your only computer for three days. I really appreciate that.

Thank you Don Wollenbecker.

For teaching hundreds if not thousands of people what it takes to be a Basic. I consider myself so lucky to have been one “Don’s kids”. Some of the best Medic’s and Basic’s that I know are some of your former students. Thank you for never letting an opportunity to embarrass me in front of the class go. Thank you for also taking the time to teach me how to do a proper medical assessment before class. And the following day. Thank you for talking me down off that cliff before NR practicals. Thank you for lending my son your FF helmet for show and tell, and for telling me that I’d make a good Medic. Coming from you it means more than you could possibly know.

Thank you Nick Bordeaux and Mark Vieta.

My Medic instructors.

Thank you Nick for getting so angry with us as a group when we weren’t working up to our potential. Thank you for those nights where you showed up to teach even though you had just worked more hours than you’d like to admit, and still managed to make class fun and interesting. Thank you for ever note you ever wrote on any of the test result sheets you ever handed me, they inspired me! Thank you. I might not have survived your class, but I will survive the next one.

Thank you Mark for being an insufferable prick. That being said thank you for teaching me that I needed to have a thicker skin, in your own way of course.

US fines Cedar Point $195,000 over safety issues

Like I’m surprised.

I was climbing a 200 foot hill on a roller coaster with no rope 14 years ago. Sure, it’s not a 300 foot hill, but still. For a girl with a serious fear of heights, it was not fun. Maybe that’s why I ended up working on the Frontier Carousel and Wave Swinger.

And don’t get me started on the “test rides” they submitted their employees to. I remember the first time I was riding when we had a roll back on the Gemini.

In my own humble opinion, it should have been a little higher than 195K.

Well, a little bit of my soul died today anyway…

On one hand it’s cool that the first MAC team in history to ever beat Michigan would be Toledo, but at the same time…

TOLEDO beat Effin’ Michigan? I mean COME ON… Toledo? SERIOUSLY?

Toledo. The team that lost to Florida International? (Who the hell is Florida International, btw? Other than the team that beat Toledo, who happens to be the team that beat Michigan???)

And for you SEC fans, and I know who you are… Shush. Seriously. Shush.

I’m done.

As promised (minus the live blog, which just couldn’t work given the location of the bonfire), here I am, burning my favorite sweatshirt. Because the fumes and the flames from burning all of my Michigan gear would have necessitated a call to Toledo’s finest. Rest assured I won’t be wearing it soon.

If ever. Toledo? Seriously?

I’d rather cheer for OSU.

And for the Anon poster on my last post… here ya go.

Yes, that was my favorite sweatshirt. It was one of those sweatshirts that was broken in, you know what I mean… The one you could slip in to and just take a nice long nap. Kind of like what Michigan did today against Toledo.

As I mentioned it was well broken in. It wasn’t difficult to shred it. No, wasn’t drinking or under the influence of any illicit substance.

“What if the fumes from all of your shit kills us when we burn it? I mean the paint alone on all of those Mardi Gras beads will earn us a visit from TFD. You don’t want to risk having to be transported by the Evil Green Empire, do you?”

Sigh

“The sweatshirt. The hoodie. You have to burn the hoodie.”

One more for my homies ;)

(I’m not back. Really)

I’m sitting here watching the University of Toledo beat my Maize and Blue.

I’m from Toledo. I went to the University of Toledo for a time. My brother and my sister in law are both graduates.

But Michigan… Guys… If you let Toledo win this one so help me God I’m going to build a bonfire in my backyard and burn every piece of Michigan clothing I own.

I’ll even live blog it. With photographic goodness to boot.

MOVE YOUR ASSES. This is TOLEDO we’re talking about.

Edited to add:

*sigh*

Guess I better go buy some firewood.

Until then, behave yourselves :) Or at least don’t do anything I wouldn’t do..