Decisions...

My EMT re-registration is due by the end of March. This means I either need to take an NREMT (National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians) approved refresher course, or I let my registration expire.

The decision is one that I have been pondering for quite a few months. I will not be re-registering. If, in the future, I decide to start riding on ambulances again I will simply need to take the course over. I've made this decision based on a number of things, 2 of which are:

1. I don't really have time right now to commit to an ambulance service. I know that if I were to become involved again it would over-ride everything else in my life and...well, I just don't have that kind of time.
2. This is a terrifically judgmental statement, but: I'm not sure I like what I see/hear about the caliber of some of the squads in my area. There doesn't seem to be any middle ground between the "load and go" squads and the "even if they're dead we can bring 'em back" squads. One squad in particular, which I have always respected, really saddens me. It's become all about heroics and bravado...oh, and politics.

But I digress...The bottom line is, I can't take part in a profession that I've lost respect for. And that makes me more sad than any other part of it...the loss of respect.

Yes, it makes me very sad.

Note: I've edited this post about a hundred times. If it seems vague or nonsensical, that's why. I refuse to discuss specific situations that are upsetting to me in a public forum. Several people have emailed me and asked me about my decision, and I will let this post answer your question.

Yes, I still love EMS. No, this doesn't mean I'll never go back to it. But yes, this does mean that you will not be changing my mind about it any time soon. I thank you all for your concern. I'm okay about my decision. Really.

So I keep waiting for something exciting to happen...

You know, something "blogworthy". I keep thinking that SOMEthing will occur...anything, really. (Can you hear the crickets chirping? If so, clean your basement, because things are so dull here, even the crickets apparently go south for the winter.)

I did get an A on our first statistics test. That's something. But not something so exciting that I can create a whole post about it. So...without further ado, here is the exciting news:

I have Spring allergies. The battle began on Tuesday, when I noticed the sniffles. Yesterday morning, I couldn't hear or breathe through my nose (hmm...depending on how you read that sentence it might sound like I can normally hear through my nose...fuck it, let 'em wonder). Today my entire sinus cavity is threatening to explode. I am ditching class and am going to stay home and blow my nose. Doesn't that sound exciting? Thrilling even?

Oh, come on! That's about as exciting as it gets around here...

Happy Groundhog's Day! Phil Didn't See His Shadow!!

Well, it's colder than crap here in Minnesota. We've been having wind chills of 30 below almost daily. I was bragging about the mild winter, and this is me being told to "shut up" by Mother Nature. Apparently a PMS week for her.

In other news...I almost got a new watch battery. Now, you may wonder why a watch battery qualifies as exciting enough to blog about. I've been asking for a new battery for my watch since last August. Anniversary present, Christmas present, Birthday present...Just- because-I-remembered-to-bring-the-damn-watch-to-Walmart present. Fidget was excited as we entered Wally World to purchase kitty food--TA-DA! It was the wrong damn watch. It was a watch I haven't seen in a few years. We have no idea where my favorite watch is. (Favorite because it has a complete leather band, even behind the watch face, and I'm allergic to metal--so I don't break out from my "favorite" watch.) Damn.

Influenza A is making the rounds here, the local school had 55 kids out with it yesterday. How about where you are?