By any stretch.
I take too long to post.
I post things that are inappropriate or not relevant to EMS.
I cut apart down coats in the back of an ambulance.
I have an Irish temper.
Sometimes I yell at my kids.
Sometimes I give them candy. Sometimes I bribe them with candy. Sometimes I bribe with candy just to make them “Hush”.
Sometimes I feed them white bread.
I wait too long to study.
I stress out too much.
I scream at other drivers.
I scream at other drivers even when it’s not their fault.
I text too much. I email too much. I IM too much.
I still get nervous when starting an IV.
I don’t know shit about soccer and sent my poor kid to a game with his shin guards outside of his socks.
I wear my stethoscope around my neck. I get excited when I get a good run.
I still cry when I have a bad shift. And some shifts really do suck.
Here’s the thing. I KNOW that I’m flawed. I’m just like so many others. I worry about things I shouldn’t worry about. I’m not nearly as strong as I wish I was. I wish I were braver. I wish my critical thinking skills were better.
I wish…I wish…I wish…
You might read some ugly things about me. Some of them may be true. Knowing the author, most of it won’t be. But some of it may be.
And you know what? I make NO apologies.
None.
I started this blog as a place to get my feelings out. Good or bad, right or wrong. And it will remain my outlet for that.
No apologies. Not from me. Not for being who I am.
I am who I am.
Love me or leave me.
I pick “Love you”
Accidentally deleted a comment:
Some of us like you in spite of all that.
And anyone who would publicly trash you on the internet is a lot like a petty schoolboy spreading rumors on the junior high school playground.
And sometimes little boys like that need their asses spanked before they decide to grow up and act like men.
Thank you AD.
Thank you, Timothy :)
Tim & AD both beat me to it.
I have never met you and don’t know anything more about you than what you write in your blogs, but i chose to love you and not leave you….I have become a regular reader of your blog. I am simply amazed with your character, your spunk and attitude and your overall look at life. You sound like a great person and from what little I have gathered from your writing I think you are going to make one hell of a paramedic. Good luck and keep on living the dream!
Stephanie, a fellow paramedic
The Internet really is like high school. Well, like then I’m picking my friend. :) Flaws and all (they just make you Human)
I vote “love”
Well…when you put it that way I guess I am going to have to just love the stuffin out of you cause you’re just as human as me. But really Epi…shin guards outside of the socks? OMG!
There are some people that are just bitter and angry with their own lives and cannot feel anything unless they are trashing someone else. Ignore them; go on with your own life. There is nothing in your list and I haven?t done and I could add so many more. I am a parent of 4 and understand all too well “hush”. Paramedic school on its own is a tremendous pressure cooker and add life and a full time job on top of that and it gets worse. But take heart that many of us before you have done it and you can too and come out a better person for it. (My English teacher right now is having a stroke) Just like AD, write about what you want to. You have to please no one but yourself some of my favorite posts are about family and life. Ignore the jerks and remember that there are lots of us that love you and look forward to the next post.
If you ever wonder where you stand in my book, I’ll be happy to remind you.
The ole tit for tat. I will trash someone to make me look better but in reality it just causes a firestorm….
Those who create the drama by stirring up lies,rumors or untruths are those who are in need of looking at themselves and saying ” I’m not a God”..
Epi I’ve read your blog now for sometime. I can relate in so many different ways and also too I enjoy the stories… Keep being who you are and the heck with those who would rather waste time and energy throwin stuff at u..
yep, i choose love too. you sound human and real, which is how I like my friends, since I’m one myself :)
while watching Noggin this morning (yep, I let my 2 year old watch tv, yet another example of how I’m human too) there was a commercial for this new show, and they were singing something about friends are friends if you make 1 or a million mistakes.
I don’t think you’ve made any mistakes, you’re just YOU, which is how we like you, and we aren’t going anywhere.
I vote “love.” He does too.
In other words, you are human. What a dreadfully boring world it would be if everyone was exactly the same. I find your courage, grace, and poise in making this stance to be admirable. And… and… and… *Love* you!
pffft. def pic love. (that sounds so creepy lol)
Love! Don’t change one bit else you wouldn’t be “you”!
Who says you have to always post things that are relevant to EMS?
IMO, I tend to like blogs that talk about people’s lives as well… so it feels like less of a faceless text.
I’ve never commented before, but you’re on my daily list of ‘must reads.’ From what I’ve read (which is most of your stuff) I’d say you have a talent for expressing yourself second only to your talent for caring for people; both are rare. Thanks for giving us non-EMT types insight into your world. Hmm…seem to be rambling; put me down for love.
Oh,Epi,
You’re absolutely beautiful inside and out–please know that. You’re not flawed–your human like all the rest of us–a beautiful human. AD and the others are right.
As my mommy once told me, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names and bad words will never hurt me.” I choose ‘love’. {HUGS} Stay srong. Remember Rosy the Riveter–you CAN do this. Stand Proud. {more HUGS}
Love love LOVE! Did you feel the love there? Hey lady, screw the whiners. Who cares what they say. Love your blog. So there.
And so today your blog established exactly what it was supposed to. Well done. Well said.
Sandi
Hmmm… Posting stuff that’s not relevant to EMS? Well – you know what my blog looks like….
As for me: I’m not going anywhere either, Epi. Besides, you already know I love you, flaws and all. Just like everyone else who took a minute to remind you of that… :-)
This is my first comment here… but I just wanted to say that you are who you are, and that’s it. If someone (whoever they are) doesn’t like it, they are more than free to click the red x up there.
Love your blog, btw. :)
Epi.. I’ll love you, but only if you wear the combat boots for me! JS
Wow. Awesome. A post that moved me from idle lurker to poster.
The Irish temper rocks.
WHOA, what happened and how did I miss it!?
Also, love you <3
I won’t read anything nasty about you. Promise. I only read two EMS blogs. :) And I wouldn’t listen to them even if I did read them. I’d probably rip them a new one… twice. So you get another *love*
Jamie
I don’t comment very often here, but I read every update. I vote “love” too :-)
And please do not let idiots let you get wound up – the internet especially is the ultimate in democracy, where everyone is allowed their say, even those who don’t think before posting or (worse!) who post to deliberately cause pain. And sadly, there are a lot of the latter around – they seem to find power in writing hurtful things, and the only thing that can be done is to ignore them (I know – easier said than done!) and not try to get drawn into their games.
Although you’re one of my everyday blog-reads, this is the first time I’ve posted. I like how you make your day-to-day routine seem real in your posts. And just as your entire life doesn’t revolve around EMS, neither should your blog. Don’t change a thing!!
I’ll bet you’ll NEVER cut a down coat again… I know I’ll never do it after seeing the aftereffects.
Never again, Rev Medic.
I knew better, Just a little blinded.
Love.
That was easy.
love you
but feeding your kids white bread….
karen, who just finished a whole week of feeding her kids white bread because she never baked any bread
and i misspelled my blog addy, geez
hi i get the feeling that I am where u were. I am a new student trting to learn this. Its been 30 years since i went to school but that aint no thing. What i need is help with the conversions and the blood gasses. If you can please e-mail me
thank you
I’ll hug ya instead. You go gurl.
(((HUG)))
To hell with any detractors! You rock, Epi! We love you just as you are, ‘k?