Archives for

See all posts in the network tagged with

A Meme… Stolen from Lucy

1. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

No laughing. I wanted to be an astronaut. I had a telescope, and I even went to Space Camp. I was convinced that I’d end up in space until someone told me that you had to have 20/20 vision. I shouldn’t have listened to them.

2. What have you done in the past week to help someone else?

I have to believe that I’m helping my patients and their families at work. Sometimes all that consists of is holding a hand, waiting for a patient to finish their lunch before wisking them away, or talking about something other than their terminal illness.

3. Who is the best-dressed person you know?

My Mom, oddly enough. She’s always well dressed, even when going to the gym to work out. My wardrobe is expanding however. There’s hope for me yet!

4. What is on your nightstand?

An alarm clock and some loose change.

5. If you were a cat, what kind of a cat would you be?

A cougar? LOL Hell, I have no idea.

6. If you lived in a house surrounded by acres of trees, what particular type of tree would you want flourishing on your land?

That’s a tough one… I love the smell of pine trees, but I love the colors of the maples that populate my neighborhood. Both?

7. What do you find to be very overrated?

What celebrities do with their lives.

8. How many email addresses do you have?

Five. And they all have a purpose thankyouverymuch :)

9. Have you ever felt replaced?

Constantly. It’s a daily thing with me. I’m working on it.

10. Would you rather watch football or baseball?

Football, but only if it’s NCAA. GO BLUE.

11. What is the wallpaper on your phone?

My kids.

12. Name a lyric from the song you’re listening to.

“Lucky to have been where I have been”

13. Do you use a feed reader?

Google Reader.

14. What chocolate do you always leave in the box?

Almost all of it. I love chocolate but I don’t eat it.

15. What would you do if you found out your ex is engaged?

Rejoice. Seriously.

16. Do words hurt you?

Words can cut. But sometimes what is not said (particularly when you really need to hear it) can hurt just as much.

17. Are you a talker or a listener?

I’m fairly proficient at both :)

18. Have you ever walked on the beach at night?

I have. Myrtle Beach.

19. Who is your favorite professional athlete?

I’m a fan of Big Ben Roethlisberger

20. Which TV show have you seen pretty much every episode of?

Gray’s Anatomy. (I know, I know)

Posted by epijunky on March 30, 2009 • Filed under: Me Stuff

EMS Today…

14 comments

What a weekend.

I laughed, I cried, I tacklehugged.

The convention itself was like nothing I’ve ever seen before… I thought Partner’s for Life was a decent sized EMS conference.

Oh to laugh.

I’m going to save my thoughts on the convention for tomorrow, after I’ve had more than three hours of sleep in one night. Tonight I’d like to focus on the drive down, the company I kept while in the city of Baltimore, and the return trip home.

dsc_9606-copy1

Apparently there are windmills in Pennsylvania.

The drive down, despite the damp chilly weather, was stunning. It took about eight hours in total, five of those hours took me through the Appalachian mountain range. It’s truly gorgeous country. I found myself wanting to stop and take pictures almost constantly, each turn revealing sharp drop offs, steep inclines, and an increasing number of impossibly high peaks. Like Mother Nature’s own personal rollercoaster, the entire area is a metaphor for what my emotions have been like for the last year.

dsc_9651-copy

Somewhere in Pennsylvania.

No stopping allowed. All of the pictures on the way down would have to be from the car. Not the most responsible thing to be doing while behind the wheel, I know. I had somewhere to be, and I was running extremely late. (I can practically hear those who know me saying “Yeah Epi, what else is new?)

After hours of mind numbing solo driving, spotty cell phone reception, and Pennsylvania Turnpike tollbooths, I turned a left turn and found myself Breezewood, PA. Breezewood is located on a one mile stretch of I-70 that wasn’t built to Interstate Highway specs (countless gas stations, truck stops, and traffic lights might be the reason). Here’s a little known fact for you: It’s one of only two stretches of interstate in the US with traffic lights. I should have stopped and bought a tshirt!

dsc_9607-copy

Does that sign actually say Baltimore? The end is in sight! (Breezewood, PA)

After following the endless line of vehicles through the maze of traffic lights and neon signs, I quickly found myself back on a more traditional stretch of Interstate. And quickly approaching Baltimore. Finally.

**********

The Meet Up.

dsc_9618-copy

The Nest (This is the best picture I got)

We had a fantastic time. The Nest is a three story bar located right across the street from the Convention Center and just a block or two away from where the Orioles play at Camden Yard.

Tony, Ambulance Driver, VA PhireMedic, my blog sister Sam (*squeel*), the blogger formerly known as Witness, TOTWTYTR, and the venerable Old NFO and Lou Jordan were in attendance. There were others there as well, and I apologize for not remembering everyone’s name. We even managed to meet the mysterious medic in the wicked cool hat, Maddog Medic. (I’ll take credit for finding him first, thank you very much.)

dsc_9642-copy

dsc_9640-copy

Drinks were consumed, stories were told, and everything from EMS to shooting to bacon was discussed. There was much laughter, and that was something a few of us really needed. I felt like I was among friends instantly. It was an honor to be among some of the most fascinating people I’ve ever met.

**********

A few more pictures:

dsc_9641-copy

How YOU Doin’, Maryland Crabcakes? I’m hooked thanks to Sam, now where do I find them in Ohio???

dsc_9643-copy

Just in case you were wondering, Sam endorses Heinz Pourable Mustard.

Posted by epijunky on March 30, 2009 • Filed under: Blogroll, Blogroll - Photography, EMS

Knowing Your Limits…

21 comments

As an EMT, a Mom, and a daughter of an alcoholic, I have zero tolerance for stupidity where alcohol is concerned.

We see it all the time… Someone goes out and slams shot after shot two or three beers (because it’s always two or three,) then jumps behind the wheel of his car, or starts a bar fight, or any other number of destructive idiotic things.

Then we are left to deal with the aftermath of that behavior. It can make you a little crazy after a while. I’m not an angel. I haven’t met a beer I won’t drink, and tequila shots are my kryptonite. That being said, I’m a fan of taking responsibility for ones actions and not drinking to the point where I become a burden on those around me. If that makes sense. Basically, if you want to go out and have a good time, fantastic! Do it!!! But don’t be a moron about it.

This past weekend I was lucky enough to take part in a little experiment. My friends Annie and Burl of the insanely popular Annie and Burl Live invited me out for their first annual Drunk Show. (Okay, so I invited myself, but they put me up for a night anyway!)

dsc_9493-copy

The premise of the show was this:

Every fifteen minutes Annie and Burl would do a shot of some very yummy Patron Reposado. After waiting fifteen more minutes, I (the consummate medical professional,) would do a breathalyzer on both of them and track their results. Lifeloc supplied two law enforcement grade units and the training needed to operate them.

Wow. That’s all I can say. Wow.

dsc_9489-copy

Just because someone isn’t technically drunk does not mean that they can or should drive. The proof is in the numbers above.

It took my hosts between six and seven shots to register as legally intoxicated. Can you believe that? Six to seven shots of tequila, in ninety minutes and they were both still legal to drive. They did say that they felt the effects of the alcohol long before that, and both stated that they wouldn’t drive after the second shot.

While most of the people I know are very responsible when it comes to drinking, we know all too well that there is that group of idiots out there who just don’t get it. And if you don’t know what “it” is, no amount of preaching from me is going to help you.

Those are the people, my father included, who make me think that maybe the legal BAC limit should be lowered. No one should be legally able to drive after slamming six shots of tequila.

**********

I just wanted to take a second to thank my amazing hosts, Annie and Burl, for inviting me to participate in this experiment/public service announcement/night of debauchery. It was a blast, even if Burl made me cry :)

I also want to thank Rev. Rockdog and Kat for attempting to keep things under control. No small fete there, folks. Also, much love to Kimmeh, for being… well, Kimmeh :)

Annie and Burl Live is on Wednesday night from 10pm – 11:30 EST, and Saturdays from 10pm – midnight EST. Come grab a seat at the cool table tonight, I’ll be participating in the critically acclaimed “One Bromance To Give”

Posted by epijunky on March 21, 2009 • Filed under: Blogroll

How to fail…

19 comments

…At Med blogging and life in general.

vader-fail

From a former coworker’s very public blog (the purple is hers, the black is mine):

“…and just because I don’t have a fucking Penis I am being passed up for something I want, I need, and I fucking deserve.That’s the kind of company I work for. A company where it is believed that female’s should be at home, barefoot, pregnant, and baking cakes. I thought the country got past that along time ago. Guess what ass holes, I can vote, I can have a fucking job, I live my own life, and I am more of a man then any of those pricks will ever fucking be!”

First of all, if you’re getting this riled up over not getting a 24 hour shift, you need to find a new field to work in. Guess what? WE ALL GET PASSED OVER from time to time. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with having (or not having) a penis. For the most part it has to do with how you present yourself to your coworkers, your superiors, and your patients (not necessarily in that order).

“Fucking god damn it.

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!

Couldn’t even do it like a Real company would have. Coundn’t interview, or do it like it should have been done. No, it was given to the least qualified individual just because he happens to have a penis. Fuck that. [Once again, I actually know how a real company functions.]“

First of all, learn how to communicate without using the word “fuck” four times in a row.

With the handful of employees our employer has, I don’t think interviews were warranted. My last employer had ten times (possibly twenty times) the number of employees this service has and they didn’t do board reviews for 24 hour shifts. Considering the fact that they’re the largest EMS service in the state of Ohio, I’m pretty sure that they are a “real” company. Guess what, so is our employer.

“I still can’t believe, something I busted my ass for was given to someone else, and I had to find out the way that I did. They knew that **** (name removed by Epi) was leaving a long time ago. The position should have been filled before he was gone, and everyone should have been notified of the decision before word spread through the company.”

Honey, you’ve only been with the company for five months. It’s the only EMS job you’ve ever done, and it’s not a high volume company as far as runs go. Your experience, your seniority as you like to refer to it, means NOTHING. You believe you’ve busted your ass, but I don’t think you understand what that actually means. The person who got the spot, by the way, has considerably more experience than you do, even though he’s not been with the company long. And no, you didn’t train him either. Trust me.

That being said, I’m sorry that you are so upset.

“ALSO!!! I SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN LIED TO. NONE OF US SHOULD HAVE EVER BEEN LIED TO. I FUCKING CALLED IT A LONG ASS TIME AGO, IT WASN’T A MATTER OF WHO DESERVED IT, IT WASN’T A MATTER OF WHO THE BOSS PICKS, IT WAS A MATTER OF WHO WAS STUCK UP THE SUPERVISORS ASS, WHO GOT THE FAVORITISM POINTS, AND WHO HAD A FUCKING PENIS.“

First of all, and I hate to be the person to point this out to you, but you say you’ve “busted your ass” for the company. You’ve come in when asked. You’ve picked up shifts that were open. And the management took note.

Guess what. SO has he. So has the other employee who was passed over. They were doing exactly the same as you are, but with more experience under their belts.

So enough with the penis talk. Seriously, it’s getting old. This company has just as many women as men on 24 hour shifts. They have just as many women as men that work contingent. It wasn’t about having boobs or having a penis. It was about knowing your job.

He knows how to talk to patients. You don’t, and you’ve proven it. He knows how to function on emergency runs. You panic. He knows how to use the equipment, and you freak when a stair chair is involved.

It’s not your fault, you’re new, and we all go through a period where we’re uncomfortable with patients, and calling a report in, and dealing with equipment… We have ALL been there. You’re just not as far along as you thought you were. And there’s nothing wrong with that unless you don’t recognize it.

“I am not quite done yet. I just have to do laundry, and shit so I can look presentable for a job that doesn’t value it’s employees.” (Emphasis mine)

Well guess what. They canned your ass after they read this. I wonder why?

They did value you, by the way. But when you went out on the internet and blast your employer and coworkers, people notice. When you mention your employer by name and in the same breath speak negatively about local hospital ER’s (that was in a different post she put up, I could make your head spin with some of the stuff she’s written, PUBLICALLY) management gets extremely nervous.

When you accuse your employer of being sexist… Publically. Yeah, you get fired.

Make your blog posts private, honey. Or better yet, give up blogging until you know how to do it the right way.

**********

Epi’s rules for safe and responsible med blogging, coming tomorrow.

Posted by epijunky on March 9, 2009 • Filed under: EMS