I'm still alive, mostly

On hiatus for another week. I've been working between 90-105 hours a week since the first of the month. This is the last full week, then the next 2 weekends are shot, along with the week after next for tactical training. Hopefully, things will get back to normal soon, my sanity might depend on it.

I'm just so exhausted and sore, this blog is at the bottom of my to-do list.

She's back?!

I'm sorry, but if you come into the hospital after being cited for DUI, and they get you a taxi home (after removing the drugs from your bra), stay home. Don't get in your car and get busted driving down the sidewalk. While it's entertaining, your decreasing level of consciousness isn't.

It is really funny to hear one of the nurses that saw you an hour ago describe you as a "dumb fucking whore" though.

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Not exactly sure what she got into, but my guess is meth and marijuana, because that's what was removed from her possession earlier. We got her loaded and I got IV access while my partner was talking to PD. He gave narcan to help perk her up a bit since her respirations were much slower than they should've been at 8.

She never did come around while in my truck, or before we left the hospital that I know of. I do hope she gets the help she needs.

Bring a swimsuit, it's wet out there

No big suprise, it's been raining for days in many parts of the country. Over the course of the night last night, many, many areas in my department flooded out.

As bad as I want to, I'm gonna have to resist going into any fine details about my activities of the night. I'm afraid they'll give too much away about who I am.

I will say this much, we ran into a few cars, with our boat.



Here at home, I've been under flood warnings for 4 days I believe, with a current flash flood watch in effect. It's 1830 right now and we've had 6.53" of rain since midnight. Pretty close to what we've had the past few days. The fun part is that it's not expected to get any better for a few more days, and there's another wave of storms getting close.

I'm just really thankful I live on somewhat of higher ground, and the water diverts around my house and down a hill. There's been no soil erosion close to the house, and no water has made it inside either.

The roof is barely a year old, but this has cemented that the gutters are next, and soon. They've needed replacing but it's been put off for too long apparently.


I'm so glad I'm off for a couple of days.

Updates and such

Life has been keeping me extremely busy the past few weeks and the internet, much less this blog, has fallen to the side.

I've spent a lot of time with my horse lately, and it somewhat payed off this weekend. We placed 5th in a halter class, behind 3 horses that are ranked in world standings! Now, my boy is nowhere near a halter horse. He was bred for cutting and reining, but will not focus enough to cut and was sold because the past owner didn't need another turnbacks horse.

My goal is to have him dead-broke for trail riding, and for us to someday compete in a reining competition. For now, I'm trying to save up money I don't have to pay for lessons for both of us. At $40 an hour, it's cheap, but still more than I can spare right now.


As far as work is concerned, some things change, while other things stay the same.

I'm still awaiting the transfer that never was.

I'm continuing to be sent off quite a bit to drive. It's not ideal, but it's better than nothing, so I'll take it.

The department has decided after getting all this new equipment, and making so many people scramble to get training that was thrown together and mandantory, to remove the entire style of units from a few stations. They replaced them with ambulances. I'm not saying it's made anyone happy, but we severely needed the extra transport units. Especially with the way we dispatch units to ALS calls.

As for the calls, I ran one while at another station that made me laugh in a way. We were dispatched to the parking lot of a VERY busy nightclub that's in the corner of an old mall/plaza. All we were told was that the patient was assualted, and they'd be waiting by a red car.

Ummm, can we get some type of a better location? It was so busy when we passed by earlier that evening, I knew we'd never get in the parking lot.

As we were driving around hoping PD would locate and help us out, I just happened to notice an update on the MDT that said the patient was moved to a different address. Gee, thanks for the heads-up on that vital tid-bit of info radio. Not like you're overly busy at 3am...

Anyways, we get to the new location and the patient is holding a tshirt to the side of his head. Since I don't speak a lick of spanish, one of his buddies said the blood would spurt if he took the shirt away. I grabbed a stack of 4x4's and a roll of cling. Using the friend as a translator, we made 1 fairly swift motion to remove the shirt and replace it with 4x4's. I didn't get a very good look at the laceration, but I knew it was in front of his ear and at least an inch long, and we all know how great any head laceration will bleed.

In the truck, we got a 16gauge IV, and I gave a bolus of ringers (was fresh out of saline bags). His blood pressure was stable, but we weren't exactly sure how long ago or where the assault occured, so I figured I'd play it safe and give a bolus, then titrate it back to KVO.

I called the hospital of choice to give a report, gave them vitals, what little of a story I had, and made sure to tell them that he possibly had an arterial bleed. The nurse said "ok", so no worries, or so I thought.

Enroute, I continued having a helluva time controlling the bleeding. Having used all the 4x4's I could reach, I grabbed a nearby spare sheet and held pressure the remainder of the way to the hospital. I also continued to use the buddy from onscene to translate to the patient what was going on. **NOTE- we are not supposed to allow friends or family, except in rare circumstances, to ride in the back. I felt it justified by my need for a translator to gain info about medical history and such.**

At the ER, one of the male nurses made a very snide comment about 'this is the type of patient better suited for, ya know, a trauma center.' I bit my tongue, hard.

#1- The nurse that took my report was made aware of the bleed and still accepted.

#2- The patient wanted to come here.

#3- Since when are trauma centers the only one's that can do stitches?! (what I really wanted to ask)

#4- I called in on a recorded line. Therefore, I have PROOF that your facility was aware and still accepted my patient without question. Get over yourself, you weren't even the least bit busy.

I stayed in the room for a few minutes once the patient was moved off my stretcher. The Dr was preparing to start putting in the stitches, and I basically just held the other side of the patient's head so he wouldn't move it around. The Dr was done by the time I finished and brought a copy of the PCR, and my partner was done decon'ing the rig.

Just a rant

I'm so tired of the BS.

Why am I always being told last minute that my days are cancelled. It doesn't matter if it's class or vacation. Is there no way to figure this stuff out and tell me more than 10 days before?!

I understand we didn't have enough folks to spare to let me take an "onduty" class while onduty. I scrambled and busted my ass working 48 hour shifts to make it. Not once, but twice. I had 5 days notice on the first one, and a couple weeks on the 2nd.

I really appreciated being able to be onduty for the 3rd part, even if I was told to work the remainder of a shift I'd previously been told I'd have off. The "freebie" day off the following weekend was great I guess.


I still don't understand why I haven't been transferred yet. I've gone pretty dang far up the chain of command, twice, and was shot down both times. Every transfer list since is nothing more than a slap in the face. I'm afraid to ask again for fear of ego's preventing a transfer as retrubution or something.

I want to run the calls and get the training, I've practically been begging to run the calls and get the experience to match my training, why not move me somewhere I can? God knows we have enough lazy-asses that'd love to be where I am.


I'm beyond sick and tired of being told that I don't have money problems because I don't have kids. Seriously, did I miss a memo or something? Because last time I checked, I'm worse off than a lot of other guys at work right now. At least they have a spouse to help with the bills. Oh, and I'm sorry, but since I don't drink coffee, read the paper, watch TV, or use any of the condiments, I could care less about paying our ridiculously high station dues right now! I have more pending issues, like, oh I dunno, the power bill at my own damn house?! I've already cut out everything else I can, and am even looking into turning in the tag and suspending the insurance on my beloved harley.




Yeah, so, if you just suffered through my lil rant, I'm sorry. This has been building up for a long time now, since November in fact. Recent events have brought it to a boiling point within me and I need an outlet.

I'm tired of feeling like I'm stuck in a dead-end at the FD. I want to love my job again, I really do, but right now, I'm just sick of all the BS.

I just don't know what to do anymore.

I'm such a brat

Short, non-work related story.

We all know cops and firefighters have a light-hearted rivalry going. Always have, always will. We pick at each other and crack jokes, but we will have the other's back, no matter what.

A few days ago, I spent the night at a friend's house. Her hubby is an officer, and fellow harley enthusiast.

On my way home the next day, he was onduty, and I knew I'd be passing through his territory. Sure enough, I spotted his car parked off the road from quite a distance away.

Now, I'd NEVER suggest the following if you aren't 150% positive you have the right officer and they're not in a bad mood.

As I approached, I was going about 42mph in the 35 zone. I could see the brake lights come on, so I suspected he knew it was me, or was at least ready if it was. As I passed in front of his patrol car, I flipped him off while, of course, grinning like a fool, then wrapped the throttle on the bike and took off. I doubt I was going too much over 50 when I let off for the stop sign.

As expected, he'd pulled out behind me and caught up, then lit me up. I looked back over my shoulder laughing, and he turned off to go back to his (not so stealth-mode) hidey-hole.

Later, talking to his wife, she said he'd probably have gotten his feelings hurt if I hadn't shot away from him like I did. We'd been joking quite a bit the night before about "blue canaries", "hosedraggers", and more.

Teaching the cops

Because we all know Firefighters were created so cops could have a hero.

I guess these 2 cops have higher aspirations and are trying out for the FD.


Photo found on the web.