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365 Project – 1/10, 1/11, 1/12

Seems like I’m constantly playing a game of catch up lately. Sean is putting me to shame!

How could you NOT smile back?

Date: 1/10/10

Time: 1500 ish

Subject: She Who Rules.

I was raised by one of the toughest women I know. In 18 years of living under her roof I can count on two fingers how many times I remember seeing her cry. It’s not that she wasn’t emotional (I get it from her), she just did shed her tears away from my brother and I. I’ve been the same way. I all but refuse to cry in front of my children. I’ve been pretty successful at this.

Up until last Sunday. SWR busted me.

“What’s wrong, Mom Mom?” She was balancing on one foot wearing my sunglasses, teetering to the right like a drunk socialite attempting a field sobriety test.

I quickly wiped my eyes and forced a smile. “I’m fine, Sis. Whatcha doin?”

“Nooooothin. You wanna play wif mah dollhouse or you wanna have a teacup party.” This girl has learned from the best. It’s all about giving someone options. Crying was not one of them. It was her own way of telling me to pull up my damn big girl pants and drink some imaginary tea already. She was now standing on other foot and teetering to the left.

I exhaled and smiled again, this one significantly more genuine. “Teacup party. Definitely. We’ll even have cookies.”

Thank you, little girl, for schoolin’ your Mom Mom.

**********

Winter in Ohio

Date: 1/11/10

Time: 1643

Subject: The view from my front window.

***********

Still Life composed by SWR

Date 1/12/10

Time: 1400ish

Subject: You’d have to ask SWR, I’m still trying to figure it out. Guess she likes shoes…

Some days these moments in time just jump out at me and I just happen to have my camera by my side.

Some days I have to put some thought into it.

Today I delegated that task to SWR. She set the shot up, I snapped it.

Posted by epijunky on January 12, 2010 • Filed under: Blogroll - Photography • Tagged: 365 Project

Changes.

8 comments

1/07/10

I’m sitting here in the station in complete darkness surrounded by a symphony of snoring men.

Yes, Boy Wonder, you snore. D. You snore too. We all knew the Lt. snores, although tonight he seems to be bringing his own version of shock and awe to the mix. Shock and awe, ya’ll. If only they could get their gasps coordinated I would You Tube it in a heartbeat. Maybe with a little creative editing…

So I’m sitting here, the insomniac that I am, and I can’t help but think about how much has changed in my life in the last year.

It’s like night and day.

12 months ago.

12 months ago after a few months of being hopelessly unemployed, McHottie dragged me down to Ma and Pa EMS to apply for a Basic spot. We were both hired on the spot without having to do as much as filling out an application. Gainfully employed, this girl rejoiced. It wasn’t pefect, but it was a job doing what I loved. And no, I didn’t make the above cot. And yes, that’s a backboard strap wrapped over the side rails, but who am I to judge?

Eleven months ago.

11 months ago we had a new addition to the family, our first puppy, Dasher. We quickly learned how much fun it is to raise (and in particular house train) a puppy. Dash, for his part, chewed everything in the house with the exception of the toys and bones we bought him. Eleven months later he’s quadrupled in size and still chews everything but the toys and bones. But he is house trained.

10 months ago my little boy was an anxious wreck. He needed everyone’s acceptance, he wanted to be a friend to anyone who would talk to him. This put a tremendous bulls-eye on his eight-year-old back. He had one friend in the class, and that “friend” was only interested in playing on the Wii or the computer when he’d come over. Ten months later he’s got more friends than he can count on two hands and he’s constantly on the phone. His self confidence has grown by leaps and bounds. He’s accomplished this all while retaining his love of learning. I couldn’t be prouder.

Nine Months ago…

9 months ago my own precious little snowflake, SWR (that was sarcasm for those of you who are slow to pick up on it), was pushing four-years-old and had been defying me where potty training was concerned for over a year. This was a massive point of contention between my Mother and I. I was at my wits end, nothing was working. I read books, I listened to anyone and everyone with advice… She was completely defying me. Anyone who’s met her in person would understand what I’m saying completely. She’s a mini me. Nine months later she’s very much potty trained. She’s still stubborn as hell (she is my daughter remember), but her meltdowns are fewer and farther between.

8 months ago I met a patient who would change my way of thinking forever. I met Regina. Up until this point I had tremendous emotional issues when it came to Hospice runs. In just under three weeks of visits with Regina, watching her body rebel against her, seeing the pain involved where something as evil as Cancer is concerned… I finally learned that death is a release for these patients. I will never forget Regina, one of the most amazing people I’ve had the honor of meeting.

Seven months ago…

7 months ago my Mom married the man I’ve called my second Father for the last 18 years. The clouds parted, the birds sang, and for a day our world was all sunshine and roses. My baby Brother and I rejoiced. Seven months later she’s finally gotten around to changing her name on her work voice mail. And my Brother and I are still rejoicing.

6 months ago I determined that P school was going to be an impossibility. I was resigned to it. It wasn’t the end of the world, but it was a disappointing setback. 67 people decided that this was unacceptable. I am to this day, and will always be absolutely humbled by the amazing support of the blogging (the EMS bloggers and readers in particular) community. It renders me speechless when I try to explain the way it makes me feel.

5 months ago…

5 months ago I started my second attempt at that glitter badge. I quickly made 13 friends with a common goal and addiction to caffeine.

Four months ago…

4 months ago I stood proudly on the sidelines and watched my boy play his first game of soccer. Four months later, despite being one of the slower, less experienced members of the team, he still loves the game and wants to play. His skills are improving and next month hopefully he’ll be starting a six week indoor season!

Three months ago…

3 months ago I realized that I wasn’t getting everything I needed from the P program I was in, which just about killed me. I was with a group of people who I absolutely adored, people who I felt at home with. People who I was very much attached to. After more than a few phone calls with Rockstar Partner, much soul searching and more than a few tears, I made a phone call to another school. And the instructor accepted me into the program with open arms. Three months later I’m frazzled as hell but loving every single second of it.

Not so long ago…

2 months ago I made yet another move. I applied to a new company in town and was hired on full time. I had a really good feeling about this company from the start, and knew I was in the right place from the first time I walked in the door. Lt. T. (THE best supervisor I’ve ever worked with), D (who lost his intermediate card to me in a fierce game of Monopoly, but keeps me smiling ), and Boy Wonder (who would be my partner I’m VERY proud to say) have been the most amazing crew to work with. McHottie, Tall Dark and Irish, K., and AJ are also working here. I’m surrounded by the best and brightest, and there’s no stopping us – or what we can do with this new opportunity!

1 short month ago I finally was able to see the sun shine through the clouds. I’m in a good place, surrounded by my people. I’m moving forward toward obtaining that damn P card (come hell or high water!!!) For the first time in I dont know how long, everyone around me is all good.

A far cry from 12 months ago.

A far cry.

Posted by epijunky on January 10, 2010 • Filed under: Blogroll - Photography, EMS, Family, Me Stuff, Medic School

365 Project 1/8/10 and 1/9/10

4 comments

My 1/8/10 submission may possibly break the rules. No picture today, but a very blurry video.

You remember the post I did about my Rockstar Partner?

Yeah, this guy.

There was a comment and a few emails about video being needed.

It took me awhile, but I managed to catch another one of Rockstar Partner’s shows, and while the video quality is craptastic (totally my fault), the audio is decent… If not a little loud. So without further ado, I present RP.

This is a guy who I have barely known a year who has been there for me from day one. I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to get to know not only him, but his ridiculously beautiful and sweet wife and their even more dazzling baby girl.

Working in private EMS, particularly in my area, well, it’s kind of thankless. It’s nice to have someone you can trust completely who will listen to you vent. Venting is a good thing.

That’s where RP and I are. I’m grateful to have him around. As a partner and as a fellow classmate.

By the way, when he’s singing at the top of his lungs at three in the morning, he doesn’t sound anything like this. And the lyrics don’t make much sense. Again, my apologies for the video quality.

***********

Lying in Wait.

Date: 01/09/10

Time: 1350ish

Subject: My Dashboard, five minutes before a CCU clinical.

I know, this is some captivating stuff, yeah? The truth is that I had my camera on me and knew that I needed to take a picture for today, and this was the only thing that caught my attention.

Medic school is stressful. Anyone who’s done it once (or twice, or three times) will tell you that. Even more so if you work full time and/or have smaller children while you’re going through it. You work your ass off and try to be a good parent and a good spouse. You are constantly buried in a big red book, or drug cards, or ACLS algorithms, or trying to remember what cranial nerve controls what. When you aren’t fighting like hell to be a good parent for your little ones, you’re listening to a lecture. When you aren’t fighting to stay awake during a lecture, you’re at work. When you aren’t at work, you’re at a clinical. When you aren’t doing clinical time you’re fighting off nerves (at least I am) during a lab. Every once in awhile you get to sleep.

It’s not fun, ya’ll. Not by a long shot.

That being said, becoming a Paramedic is something that is just in me. I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world.

Posted by epijunky on January 10, 2010 • Filed under: Blogroll - Photography, Medic School • Tagged: 365 Project, Rockstar Partner

Goodbye to an (old) friend

6 comments

Dear Truck 007,

You were the first truck I worked out of when I started with Itty Bitty Private Service. You weren’t the prettiest truck, or the newest. But you were mine.

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I mean hell, half of your dashboard was completely useless and most of the time it was covered in a fine layer of dust.

Your speedometer didn’t work. I had no idea how many miles were on your engine. The trip meter didn’t work half the time. I didn’t fault you for any of that.

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Parts of you were held together by backboard tape. The back doors took some practice to open from the outside and were all but impossible to open from the inside. I didn’t fault you for that either. I fault the EMT’s who drove you wrecklessly and slammed your doors carelessly.

The stretcher you carried so carefully in the back had three different kinds of straps. Still, I didn’t blame you. I took care of you. I washed you when no one else would. I made sure you were stocked with everything you needed. I checked your fluids regularly and made sure that you were as “okay” as you could be. Because you had taken such good care of me.

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And you had.

As much as I have complained about trucks with my current employer, this particular truck had never let me down. She (yes, SHE!) has always moved when I’ve punched the gas pedal. When I’ve hit the brakes She’s stopped. The a/c has kept me cool, and the heat on the truck has always kept me warm, in the front and the back. This truck has never broken down on me. It’s never leaked a mystery fluid. It’s never stranded me anywhere with a patient in the back.

And then… There’s the stripper pole in back. Some of you may have heard of it. It’s the source of constant amusement and jokes from coworkers.

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That would be the stripper pole. Pay no attention to the wires hanging from the wall. Seriously. It’s a part of her charm.

It’s been a wild ride, Truck 007, and I’m grateful for the protection you’ve offered my patients and myself. You’ve been a witness to everything it is that we do, from the pucker moments to the hand holding. You’ve winced as some of us hit potholes big enough to blow your tires out and put the crew in the back on the floor. You’ve shielded us from prying eyes when we’ve had weak moments, giving us a quiet place to talk and let our emotions out. You’ve stood by and watched as we smeared surgilube on your handles in a juvenile effort to irritate the crew working out of you that day. You’ve never let me down.

You’ve taken better care of us than we have of you. I’m sorry for that.

In a few hours you are being replaced by a newer, sexier truck with a brand new paint job. That truck will be stocked with your inventory. Soon you’ll be heading off to parts unknown to take care of another crew. I only hope that they treat you better than we did.

Godspeed 007. You’ll be missed.

Posted by epijunky on June 16, 2009 • Filed under: Blogroll - Photography, EMS, Me Stuff

My Day.

11 comments

0745: Alarm goes off. Promptly slap snooze button. Roll over and fall back asleep.

Hey, I didn’t sleep well… At least I didn’t dream about zombies invading the station and Medic Matthew coming to the rescue… Like last night.

0754: Alarm goes off again. I groan, roll over, and eventually get to my feet.

0757: Coffee Maker is on. I hop in the shower.

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DOF Fail. I blame my Blackberry.

0830: Wearing my pressed uniform. Jump in my truck with my bag and head out for the station. It’s only a few minutes away, and I don’t have to be there until 0900. I consider myself on time if I show up 15 minutes early. Anything later than that and I’m late.

0831: Realize my truck is out of gas. Drive to gas station and wait in line.

0846: Coffee in hand and with a fueled vehicle, I head to the station. In the rain and slightly irritated that I’m already late.

0859: Arrive at station, the smell of burned rubber from my tires hanging in the air. Apparently half of the streets between me and the station I was scheduled to work at are closed for road work.

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Combination three lead and DOF fail. Can I blame my phone again? Thank you, RS Partner for modeling for me.

0925: Truck check is complete. We find a set of 3 lead wires with some odd green gummy substance on them. We’re both amused. We head to the main station to pick Rockstar Partner’s paycheck.

0926: Realize that we’re not in our normal truck. All of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot lights are on. Engine, brakes, and oil. We let dispatch know and continue towards the station.

0930: Dispatched for an EMS run. We’re still en route to the main station, btw.

0935: Passenger door pops open on the expressway. I become a practicing Catholic again.

0936: Passenger door pops open again. It takes me eight times to get it to latch this time.

0939: Passenger side door opens one more time. We call dispatch and they take us off the EMS run. This time it takes us two minutes to get the door to latch.

1005: A semi slams on his brakes in front of us. The passenger side door opens again. I throw my first official temper tantrum of the day.

1030: We arrive at the main station.

1210 ish: A coworker fills the oil, coolant and brake fluid. I watch with amusement and wonder why I wasn’t included on this particular in-service.

1330 ish: We determine that every time my partner hits the brakes, a mystery fluid starts pouring from the the driver’s side of the engine. Rockstar Partner and I start making nervous phone calls.

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Rockstar Partner under the truck. She’s hardcore.

1400ish: The mystery liquid is suspected to be brake fluid. My Father, one of the most wreckless people on the planet tells me that I’m going to either “Get killed or kill someone” should I drive the truck any distance. I let dispatch know. They are not impressed.

1407: Dispatch calls with a run. Rockstar Partner and I ponder walking off the job for the third time in one day.

1433: We arrive at the patient’s home. It takes Rockstar Partner and I three minutes and at least 40 attempts with half the neighborhood watching to get the passenger door to latch. We decide no one will be using that door again today. The brakes are fine. We let Dispatch know that we’re out of service as soon as this run is over.

1440: The patient’s home is 105 degrees and smells of body funk. I’ve now soaked through my uniform. My patient is a 50 yo woman with cerebral palsy and moderate MRDD. She’s scheduled for a mammogram. I ponder how this is going to happen as our patient is unable to stand or sit upright. We head towards the local hospital, my partner driving extremely slow and babying the brakes.

1455ish: After the smoothest ride EVER, we arrive at the hospital (Thank YOU Rockstar Partner!) We unload the patient and head towards radiology wondering (now out loud) how they plan on doing this mammogram.

1500: Mammogram is cancelled due the the patient being unable to stand or sit upright on her own. We return back to the patient’s home, the sixth level of hell.

1525: The patient is safe and sound, back in her bed. My back hurts, as does my partners. We have been ordered back to the main station to have our truck looked at yet again.

1700: I stare longingly at the three beautiful new trucks sitting in the main station’s parking lot. The trucks that we can’t drive yet because they haven’t been inspected or painted. The trucks that have doors that stay latched and that don’t drip mystery liquids. I find a happy place and go there while a coworker uses a seatbelt strap to secure the passenger door of our ambulance.

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One of the new trucks. It even smells new. God I love these trucks, even if they are sprinters.

1702: We’re told to “Get back in the truck,” by Dispatch (I dont blame you, Awesome Dispatcher (I’ll try to think of a better name for you!). I ponder quitting for the 4th time that day. At one point I may have sat on the ground in the parking lot at the main station and thrown my umpteenth hissy fit of the day. Given the current job market in NW Ohio, I decide to suck it up. Rockstar Partner bites the bullet and climbs through the drivers side and sits awkwardly in the passenger’s seat. I decide that I officially adore her.

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Rockstar Partner. I’m going to be in her wedding, btw.

1705: We’re enroute to another transfer, this time from Big City Hospital. We’re taking someone to an ECF for rehab. While waiting for our patient to finish his dinner we take in the view… And all of a sudden, the day doesn’t seem so crappy.

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Sorry about the resolution, this pic, again, was taken with my phone from the top of the Big City Hospital.

We didn’t really have much to do after that.

And I realize that my version of stress probably varies significantly from your version. You are more than welcome to draw your own conclusions there. Maybe I was PMS’ing, who knows. I didn’t have to scrape anyone off of the railroad tracks, I didn’t do CPR, and no one died. At least while they were in our direct care. No one hit me over the head with a clipboard, figuratively or literally (that was last week), hell, no one as much as screamed at me.

I was even hit on by an older gentleman at Hospice. He made me smile. I guess that’s how I roll.

Still, it’s hard.

It’s hard on you when you believe that your employer doesn’t believe that you are worth anything. It’s hard to believe that your employer cares more about the dollar than the overall situation. It’s hard to believe that they don’t care if you’re driving around in a truck with a door held closed by a seatbelt strap that is leaking brake fluid, or coolant, or oil. I know that they are good people, at their core. I truly believe that. I really do like them.

Sometimes we all get overwhelmed. Owners and employees alike.

Today was one of those days, I think.

Posted by epijunky on June 11, 2009 • Filed under: Blogroll - Photography, EMS

Millennium Park – Chicago, Illinois

7 comments

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Chicago, I have to give it to you. You know how to do a park.

Millennium Park is located in the Loop, right along Michigan Avenue. Open 365 days a year from 6am to 11pm, and the best part? It’s free.

You can’t beat free.

If you walk south down Michigan Avenue and enter at the north end of the park, the first thing that will greet you is Wrigley Square. Wrigley Square is a large grassy area, lined with trees and with free wifi. Again, you can’t beat free. It’s the perfect place to spread out a blanket and enjoy a picnic or just sit back and people watch. God, how old does that make me sound?

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So you’re bored with people watching or picnicking at Wrigley Square and decide to further explore the park (how could you NOT?), you’ll walk a few steps and immediately run into a group of people with very expensive cameras. What exactly are they taking pictures of?

It’s a big silver bean, as my Baby Brother calls it. Or the Cloud Gate, as designer Anish Kapoor named it. It’s a three story high 110 ton sculpture that was designed to resemble a drop of mercury “hovering at the point of landing” (thank you, wikipedia!). The Bean, or the Cloud Gate, is a photographer’s dream come true. People are mesmerized by it. I know I was. It almost blends in seamlessly…

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Folks are amazed by this sculpture…

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This one is for the girls.

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This guy has been working on this painting for a few years… There was a constant crowd forming around him. Folks would stand and watch for a few minutes, then move on — just to be replaced by more gawkers.

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From under the bean…

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Yours truly. Apparently I’m the only one holding myself back! Took a reflective bean to teach me that :)

Clearly, I’m obsessed with “The Bean”. Moving on… Once you can manage to tear yourself away from the Cloud Gate you’ll be able to feast your eyes on the centerpiece of Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

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Jay Pritzker Pavilion – As seen from the BP Pedestrian Bridge

If the design of the band shell looks familiar, it’s because it was done by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. Gehry designed such landmarks as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Der Neue Zollhof in Düsseldorf and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Characteristic of Gehry, the Pritzker Pavilion consists of curving planes of stainless steel resembling the graceful blooming of a flower or the unfurling sails of a massive ship. (Again, thank you, Wikipedia!)

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With 4,000 fixed seats plus additional lawn seating for 7,000, the Pavilion is home to the Grant Park Music Festival. Which means absolutely nothing to me, as I’ve never been to it, but apparently “it’s the nation’s only remaining free, municipally-supported, outdoor, classical music series” (Wiki).

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Not much to say about the Pavilion other than the fact that it’s impressive.

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Moving on.

After sneaking around the empty concert venue for a bit we stumbled upon the BP Pedestrian Bridge.

BP Pedestrian Bridge

Yes, yes, I’m going to quote wiki. Again… and again. and again:

BP Pedestrian Bridge is a pedestrian bridge crossing Columbus Drive that connects Millennium Park to Daley Bicentennial Plaza in Grant Park. The girder bridge is the first bridge designed by Pritzker Prize-winner, Frank Gehry, and was named for British Petroleum who donated $5 million to the construction of the Park. The bridge is referred to as snakelike or serpentine in character due to its curving form. The bridge’s design enables it to bear a heavy load and is known for its aesthetics. Additionally, it serves acoustic needs as a sound barrier and functional needs as a connecting link between Millennium Park and points east.

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Just about halfway across the thousand foot long bridge, it started to rain. Just a sprinkle, but considering the condition of our feet after walking through downtown Chicago for eight hours, we figured it was time to head towards the train station. Back across the bridge, past the Pavillion and the Bean, and south on Michigan Avenue. That was the plan. Until I gazed upon the fountains.

“Oh, that is SO cool!!!”

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The Crown Fountain

The Crown Fountain consists of two fifty foot tall towers made up of glass brick with LCD projectors inside. They stand at either end of a large black granite plaza submerged under an eighth of an inch of water. Continuous streams of water cascade down the sides and back of the towers, and every five minutes or so the face on the screen will appear to be spitting the water out. If it hadn’t been a little chilly (and raining), I probably would have taken my shoes off and joined in the fun.

God I really am getting old. I should have just jumped in!

Alas, my train was leaving soon, so my time at Millennium Park had to end without a romp through the water. It also meant that I wouldn’t get to see the Cycling Center, the Lurie Garden, The theatres, the Promenade’s… I would have loved to spend the entire day there. Maybe next time, and definitely with the kiddos. They would have loved it.

Millennium Park gets a very strong thumbs up from me!

Posted by epijunky on May 10, 2009 • Filed under: Blogroll - Photography, Me Stuff

Obamination….

7 comments

Picture this…

You’re in the beautiful city of Chicago… You want to do the touristy things (and if possible avoid getting held up on the CTA — but that’s another post). So in that spirit, you decide to visit the tallest building in the US, and the 4th tallest in the world. (Because that is exactly what girls who have an irrational fear of heights do. It’s how we roll, ya know.)

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The Sears Tower. Or the Willis Tower if you find yourself reading this after June 2009.

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The building is impossibly tall. It’s one of those structures that you have to bend over backward to see the top of from the ground. It’s almost surreal to see something so tall. So you pay your $12.99, and you step on to the elevator. Two minutes later you step out on to the Sky Deck. And the view is… Amazing.

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Wait. Not that view.

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That view. (The train station we rode in to. Did you know you can drink alcohol on Metra? Interesting, but I digress.)

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Or that one. (The interchange we found ourselves on after receiving bad directions from the non-english speaking front desk attendant at the hotel. Again, another blog post entirely.)

Being slightly afraid of heights and suddenly feeling a little woozy, you snap your pictures. Being a tourist, you head to the gift shop. (I do LOVE a good gift shop. Where better to find tacky crap that my kids will either lose or destroy inside a day and a half than the highest gift shop in the country?) After oogling the t-shirts and shot glasses, you turn around and are faced with this:

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Oh my Holy GOD. Is that???

Thinking that you are probably suffering hallucinations from altitude sickness (Or undercooked deep dish pizza — once again, another post for another time), you turn 180 degrees and are met with this….

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A Bobble Head you can believe in. (I might have giggled just a little bit when I read “Wacky Wobbler”. Just saying.)

Not to be outdone by the Obama action figure or the Obama bobble head (And apparently on clearance at the low low price of two for five dollars…) we have:

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Barack Obama candy bars.

Yes, you read that correctly. An Obama Change bar.

I’ll sit back for a few minutes while you absorb all of this insanity before I present you with the Pièce de résistance.

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You, yes YOU, can own your own Lifesize Obama standup.

*blinks twice*

Wow. That’s all I have. Wow.

And for the record, I didn’t leave with any of the above merchandise. Nor did I purchase an Obama deck of cards, Obama wrapping paper, or the ever popular Obama glow in the dark fridge magnet. Believe ME. It was really hard to pass up the magnet.

It does speak volumes though…

Posted by epijunky on April 26, 2009 • Filed under: Blogroll - Photography, 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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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The Meet Up.

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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.)

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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.

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A few more pictures:

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

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

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

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