The plan for this morning:
Get up at 6:15; shower, dress, and leave house by 7; stop for coffee; take dog to kennel interview at 7:30; leave dog there during meeting that starts at 9.
What actually happened:
- Slept through music alarm at 6. Buzzer alarm set for 6:15 didn't go off.
+ Somehow, dog wakes me up at 6:35. Emerged from bedroom ready to leave by 7:10. No problem, I think. I'll just skip the coffee. Still on time.
- Dog is nowhere to be found, and does not come when I call, or even when breakfast hits his bowl. Look for dog. Remember that I left the side gate open last night like a dumbass. See neighbor emerging from woods with her dog. Ask if she's seen dog. She hasn't. It's 7:18. Gather things and get in car to cruise neighborhood looking for dog.
+ After driving only 75 feet down road, miraculously find dog in a neighbor's front yard sniffing around. Dog actually comes when I call. Off to the interview, only a little late. Call ahead to let them know.
- Arrive at kennel to find out that, due to kennel cough outbreak, no dogs who have been at the dog park in the last 10 days are allowed in the kennel or day care. Received no phone call from kennel people informing me of this. We, of course, were at the dog park last night. Interview cancelled, can't reschedule for 10 days. Now unable to leave dog at kennel during vacation because time of departure is four days after next possible interview date, they require a week's notice for reservations, and they won't accept reservations until the interview is complete.
- More immediately, unable to leave dog at home during my meeting because lawn chemical people are coming to spray. Also notice that dog is covered in red stuff that looks like blood but smells like strawberries, probably from his unauthorized adventure. Call groomer to see if they can fit in a bath for dog like now.
+ Miraculously, they can. AND, and it will take three hours, which is plenty of time for my meeting. Arrive at groomer by 8:15.
- Unable to get in front door because store has not yet opened. Ring doorbell repeatedly to no avail. Knock on door repeatedly to no avail.
+ Manager arrives to work at 8:25 and lets me in. Drop off dog and leave groomer by 8:30. Yay, I think. I have time to get coffee!"Drive across street and head for drive thru.
- Once unable to exit drive thru line, notice how long it is. Get concerned about being late for meeting.
+ Despite insane length, line is actually moving really quickly. Apparently, these Dunkin' Donuts employees are not messing around this morning. Actually tip a drive thru person, which I generally don't do. Back on the road by 8:32 with coffee and breakfast sandwich. Amazing.
- Get on the highway to find traffic at a slow crawl. Realize that, since I am now coming from the groomer and not the kennel, I have to go through Hartford in rush hour traffic to get to my meeting.
+ Somehow, traffic clears up after the next exit. Still have plenty of time to make the meeting. Drive along, thinking that meeting is one exit after the yarn store.
- Coming up on yarn store exit, see that airport is next exit. Realize that meeting was actually one exit before yarn store. Realize that I'm in the left hand lane. Realize that turning around at airport exit will take longer than I have and is not an option.
+ Using considerable skill and not a small amount of luck, just barely manage to make it across three lanes of highway traffic and on to exit ramp for yarn store. Turn around and head back to previous exit. Arrive at meeting at 8:58.
+ Realize that vacation is one week further away than I thought, making next possible kennel interview 11 days before vacation, plenty of time to make a reservation.
- Still cranky at kennel for not calling to tell me to avoid the dog park if I wanted dog to have his interview.
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- Location:on the couch
- Mood:cranky
Critical Care Transport class.
AKA: how I spend 10 hours every Monday for the next two months.
These are my notes on shock.
That's the book, next to my liter water bottle for scale.
This class is kind of kicking my ass, especially since I'm still working 48+ hours a week plus three part-time jobs. Yay?
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B was going to be for baby, which my BFF spawned last week, but you can't just go posting pictures of other people's kids on the Internet without permission (trust me, she's beautiful). Then B was going to be for Benedict, the storm that dumped 27" on us just after that. But really...
B is for Bogart, conspicuous in this photo by his absence.
That's his chair, his stuffed gorilla toy, and his collar.
He was my best puppy for almost seven years, through medic school, buying my first house, moving, getting the Monster Dog, and two months of near-daily vet visits for his diabetes. He hiked with me, ran with me, and went nearly everywhere I did except for school and work. He was sweet, and gentle, and well-behaved always. Everybody loved him, including the staff at the vet (I got three separate condolence cards from them this week).
I miss my Bogie.
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- Mood:Sad
A woman whose blog I read is doing a thing where she takes a picture once a day for 26 days that starts with each letter of the alphabet. I'm playing along. Her pictures are much more interesting than mine will be, since she has a WAY cooler job: she's the CO of a navy destroyer deployed in the Arabian Gulf. Here we go anyway.
A is for ambulance, of course.
This is mine: 512 Alpha 2. I think the idea is to take the pictures on the day you post them. But I forgot to take one before I left work this morning, and I'm not going back for three days, so I went with what I had. This shot is about 18 months old. It's from when they replaced our trusty Ford Econoline (on the left) with a new-fangled Dodge Sprinter, with the NHS color scheme (there's a checkerboard pattern on the sides that you can't see in this shot) and a European hi-low siren. I couldn't resist the chance to get a picture of two Alpha 2s side by side. This is the picture I see when I get phone calls from work.
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Things I left Cooper to chew on while I went off to earn the kibble last night:
+ bone filled with cheese
+ bone filled with liver
+ giant cured bone covered in bits of jerky
+ rubber toy full of treats and covered in peanut butter
Things Cooper actually chewed on while I was off earning the kibble last night:
- two balls of green, alpaca, laceweight yarn in a plastic bag
- one set of number 4 circular needles
- Battlestar Galactica season 1 DVDs
- Atonement DVD
- charger for my hands-free Bluetooth thingy
Angry!
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--watched flaming vehicle back into my ambulance
--transported dead body across state line
--got in my mother's wee Prius with my bad back and my crazy-driving father
--discovered there are TWO hospitals in Worcester called "UMass"; was, of course, at wrong one
--discovered there are TWO roads in Eastford called Crystal Pond Road; was, of course, on wrong one
--accidentally tried to kill 12 year old dog by taking him for twenty minute walk in 92 degree weather (he recovered)
--obtained fourth job
--obtained fifth job
--drank more beer in one night than I have all month, failed to become even a little bit tipsy
- Location:A5
- Mood:headachy
- Music:AC
- Location:bedroom floor
There are approximately eleventy billion pictures each of:
1) my dad sleeping
2) me reading
3) my uncle in funny hats
4) Christmas trees
5) Easter hats
6) Halloween costumes
My favorite photo so far: my dad, looking exceptionally cranky with full beard and covered in soot, stands in our basement with a flashlight, apparently fixing the furnace, circa 1982. On the back, in my mother's handwriting, is written, "2 a.m. Doesn't he look mean!!" I don't know this story, but I want to.
Some runners-up:
--My mom, younger than I am now, stands on the beach on her honeymoon, in a pair of baggy jeans and a shirt that clearly belongs to my dad, in bare feet with sunglasses on her head, squinting into the sun. She looks happy.
--I, at almost three years old, hold my baby sister on her first day home from the hospital, with my dad kneeling in front of us, showing me how to support her head.
--My mom sits on a kitchen counter in the 50s, reading a book. The first time I saw this, I thought it was a picture of me, and couldn't figure out for a second why it was in black and white.
--My dad and I, probably about 4 years old, sit in his old vinyl recliner, covered in a gray, army-issue blanket and laugh. On the end table: his ever-present cup of coffee and a framed, black and white photo of my parents and I the day I came home from the hospital. I remember the rips in the arms of the chair exactly.
--About 8 or so, I stand on a boat (possibly on Lake Winnipesaukee), staring off into the distance. I'm wearing overalls, like a good little tomboy, and my hair is in pigtails.
--My grandmother, in a house I don't recognize, at some Christmas before I was born, examines the quilt her sister made for her, probably as a Christmas gift that year. I remember the quilt being on her bed when I was little. My aunt has it now, and I always commandeer it to sleep under when I stay at her house.
- Location:in bed
- Mood:pensive
- Music:AC
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.2){kind=small}
schwester655......is starving.
...is showering.
...is washing the dog and his bedding.
...is RSVPing to her cousin's wedding.
...is putting together a raffle basket for the relay.
...is being yelled at by her boss for using the word "asses."
...is buried under loads of laundry and clutter.
...is rounding up softballers for a twice rescheduled game.
...wishes she had time to call her BFF because she didn't really blow her off last weekend.
...has to work 6 12-hour days in row because she's a moron who can't keep track of her schedule.
...realizes she needs a better scheduling system.
...is over scheduled anyway.
...is stressing out about everything.
...is cranky.
...is completely overwhelmed.
...needs some coffee. Or maybe too much coffee is part of the problem.
- Location:on the bed
- Mood:cranky
- Music:angry Alpha 2 music
What Obama did with his first 100 hours in office.
It's like he sat down with a list of Bush's policies and went, "OK...let's see...um, NO."
- Location:in bed
- Mood:satisfied
- Music:passing cars, dog snoring
I did get to yell at the dispatcher, which made me feel a little better. He's probably going to write me up, and I don't even care, that's how insanely cranky I am.
It would probably help if I ate something. But oh, wait, I can't. I'm busy doing a BLS transfer out of turn!
- Location:in the ambulance, stuck in traffic
- Mood:cranky
- Music:angry A2 music
Dad: Do you want to pick me up 15 sheets of sheetrock?
Me: In my Volkswagen? More than you know!
- Location:Christmas shopping
- Mood:amused
- Music:Wintersong - Sarah McLachlan
My iPod on shuffle kicked up "Who needs sleep?" by BNL, followed by "2 in the Morning" by NKotB. Amazing.
- Location:on the sofa
- Mood:high on sugar and caffeine
- Music:2 in the Morning -- NKotB
Best. Birthday gift. Ever.
- Location:10-2
- Mood:ecstatic
- Music:Obama's acceptance speech
You're fired.
Me
Dear Asshole who swiped my rain jacket from the ambulance (leaving me only a hoodless vest to wear in the pouring rain),
You are also fired.
Me
- Location:10-2
- Mood:cold, wet, and getting sick
spin a bit on my new Turkish spindle
finish up Ophelia's knitting
watch the season 2 NCIS finale
watch some BSG
bake chocolate cake
dream about my new spinning wheel
go to bed early
Instead I:
tried to figure out the stupid Rectory attendance
finished my slides and lesson plans for the pharmacology lecture I'm teaching
shopped for car insurance
am about to go to bed really, really late (for me)
In other news, I am ready to speak of the Sox (fairly) objectively. I am sad, of course. But it would have been much worse had they rolled over and died in game 5. Sunday night I didn't have that nasty, sick feeling in my stomach that I had on Thursday in the 6th inning when I began to entertain the thought that they might not win (I didn't give up hope, of course, because you never give up hope with these guys). Even if they'd lost Saturday, it would have been okay (not good, just okay), because at least they put up a good fight with that GREAT comeback
- Location:in bed
- Mood:tired
- Music:leaves blowing and cars passing
Things I have recently obtained:
-most excellent large-capacity washer so I can clean all my work clothes in one load
-an oil change and subsequent end to that alarming clicking sound my engine was making
-yummy coffee and raspberry scone from The 'Bucks
-high praise from several ER nurses
-Friday and Saturday off for Rhinebeck
Things I will soon obtain:
-road trip with fun friends
-yarn, fiber and spindles (but, alas, not a sheep)
Things I need rather immediately:
-a Halloween costume (by next week)
-someone to clean my car for me (by Saturday)
-to finish Ophelia's knitting (as she's already been born)
-a large bottle of water (RFN)
Things I need eventually:
-more sunlight in my day
-NCIS season 3
-a job in London or a house in CT
-a spinning wheel
- Location:alone in the ambulance
- Mood:misanthropic
- Music:Sox post-game on WEEI
I got a full eight hours of sleep despite getting out of work late. And the late call featured an actual sick person who not only actually needed to go to the hospital, but actually needed both an ambulance and a paramedic (which doesn't happen as often as you would think), and who I was actually able to help.
I got up and obtained both Sox tickets for tomorrow's game against the Stupid Devil Rays (whom I refuse to stop calling either Stupid or Devil. The D-Rays they were, and the D-Rays they remain, at least in my world), and New Kids on the Block tickets for the end of the month. I can't believe my mom wanted to go with me.
I watched a rather satisfying baseball game, and exchanged some text messages with my Ted about an in-joke involving Marlon Byrd, Dustin Pedroia and Joe Castiglione.
My mommy made me dinner, and then I went and saw ( The Mummy sequel )
I stopped at the grocery store on the way home to buy walnuts so I could finally make some zucchini bread. I've had the eponymous produce hanging around the house since Wednesday. I also bought some groceries so I could start taking my dinner to work this week. I'm sick of eating junk.
I spent some time rolling around on the floor playing with the dog, then discussed seeing the Boston Pops Christmas concert with my aunt at the Jorgensen in December. (I have had a HUGE crush on Keith Lockhart since high school. I love him so, but have never actually seen him conduct the Pops, or anything at all, despite having lived in Boston for two years.)
While the bread was in the oven, I did this (not the cake, scroll down) with the leftover zucchini. I ate it with (what I think is, sadly, the last of the) Sam Summer Ale, and it was amazing. Possibly the best thing I've ever eaten. I want to eat it at every meal. I'll have to call my dealer and get more zucchini.
I will now put on my pajamas, crawl in to bed and watch lots of NCIS season 1.
- Location:on the bed
- Mood:content
- Music:crickets, the dog snoring, and the occasional car passing
I now have to spend four plus hours in the car with my parents. Pray for me.
- Location:on the bed
- Mood:rushed
( The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred )
- Location:on the floor
- Mood:allergic
- Music:Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor kicking ass
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