Quote #4

To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; this is to have succeeded. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quote #3

Children soon forget you presents, but they always remember your presence.

Quote #2

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Quote # 1

I'm really into quotes, I love finding cool quotes - not only do I sound cool when I can whoop out some quote when talking to people but they have also helped me through some tough times in my life. So in honor of that and since I have a huge collection of them I have decided to do a quote of the day post - I know random but I'm enjoying it for now. So today's quote is


Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted. ~ Albert Einstein

Wealth

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the rural countryside with the firm purpose of motivating his son to work hard by showing him how poor people can be. The father wanted to prepare his son to take over managing the vast family fortune and estate.
They spent a couple of days and nights helping with the daily activities on the farm of a poor family. Sharing meals at night with the family, they learned a little about planning and life on the farm.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

“Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked.

"Oh Yeah" said the son.

"So what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, and they have many friends to protect them."

With this, the boy's father was speechless. Then his son added, "Thanks dad for showing me how poor we are."
Too many times we forget what we have and concentrate on what we don't have. What is one person's worthless object is another's prize possession. It is all based on one's perspective. Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for all the bounty we have, instead of worrying about wanting more.

Are there any treasures more valuable than friends? The most valuable treasures are obtained by first giving ourselves up as a true friend. Isn't it ironic that we labor night and day for material things, while sometimes we lose track of our true treasures, because we either don't spend time to care for them, or refuse to forgive a friend even though we have the power to restore a treasure to our lives by forgiving.

Author: Unknown

Ouch ...

This past Sunday was my church's 40th anniversary so we had a potluck! Was kind of, um how should I put it, interesting? Fun? Annoying? Well that's not my point, during the potluck my friend's 18 month old daughter decided that she wanted to go play outside on the playground and she wanted me and my wanna be little sister to go play with her, that's all fine I don't mind playing with her, I love her like my own. When we get out to the playground her Royal Highness decides that she doesn't want to play on the ground, oh no she needs to climb up to the top of the playground. I was like "oh hell no, there's no way in hell I'm going up there in high heels and a skirt to keep her company" so Sis went up and was playing with Highness, I turned away from them for a second and when I looked back up top where Highness and Sis were I realized that Sis had left Highness up there all alone and Highness was getting scared (weird I know, a toddler scared of heights?) so I went up to get her because she refused to come close enough to the edge for me to safely get her off. I got up top, picked her up and headed back down the stairs, now remember I am wearing 3 inch heels and a knee length skirt, those playground stairs, well they are perfect for a child;s foot but not big enough by a long shot for a women's size 8!!! As I am walking down the million mini sized stairs the heel of my shoe gets caught in one of the annoying holes in the step and all of a sudden I'm falling!!! Well the fall was perfect, in slow motion and all, slow enough to realize what is about to happen and shift my body so that I don't land on Highness who is still in my arms but definitely not slow enough to catch myself on anything before I hit the ground. Good thing I was only 2 or 3 steps from the bottom yet non-the-less I fell pretty hard to my knees, banged them up pretty good right one more so than the left because Highness was on my left side and I shifted my weight just in time so she wouldn't get hurt! Anyway as I fall and jump back up as quickly as possible so maybe the other kids on the playground and any adults who are watching wouldn't see my less than graceful plummet to the WOOD CHIP ground beneath, I see Sis standing up above where I had just come from laughing her little ass off at me?!?!?!?! like wtf? where the hell were you when Highness needed you and how the hell did you get back up there without me noticing? So yeah Sis had a good laugh at my expense and I now have two scraped knees, and am in pain every time I move my legs! Let me tell ya landing on wood chips with all your weight on your damn bare knees hurts like an sob and to add to my knee pain my back and neck hurt too and I haven't been able to really sleep in the last couple of days, so I'm just freaking miserable right now! I'm venting, I need to vent my misery, to spread it around maybe if others around me are miserable as well I wont be so miserable! This was the second time that I have fallen in church while walking down the stairs, damn my luck! The first time I was walking down from the balcony and on about the 3rd stair from the bottom my knee gave out and I went flying down, got some nice rug burns on the anterior side of my feet. The balcony stairs are visible from the sanctuary but good thing they were praying when my little "mishap" occurred and only 2 or 3 kids saw, they were kind of worried about me when I came crashing down, but low and be hold I was fine. I guess the lesson that I have learned is that I should avoid walking down, or up for that matter, stairs in church while I am wearing high heels and a skirt!!!

What a waste...

today has just been the most exhausting day ever and I didn't even really do anything! This is how my day went today woke up took a shower, called my doctor to make an apt because I don't think that this thing that I have is just the flu, called in sick to work (my manager was not happy), ate breakfast, did some of my English homework, surfed the internet, did some History homework, helped my friend with his EMT work (he's having the hardest time with it, his English is not so good and getting the terms right is half impossible for him yet the skills themselves he has no trouble with what-so-ever), had lunch, read some of AD's book, checked my email, yelled at the stupid computer for being fucking slow as hell, did a little research for my English paper, gassed up the car (gas is finally under $3.50 here, we have some of the most expensive gas in the country right here because there is only have twos ways in and out of this area, we have one major freeway running through town and a mountainous highway which trucks don't use so gas is kind of consistently ridiculously expensive here), went to the gym, came home and went on here and now I'm kind of hungry but it's 2300 and kind of too late to eat, so basically today has just about the biggest waste of make-up. I'm sick again I have gotten sick 3 of the last 4 weekends, this time has been the worst I think my boss is on the verge of firing me because I have missed so much work lately. I hate being sick and I have been sick more in the last few months than I have in the last 10 years combined, I think this has something to do with work because there is always at least 2 people sick and the bastards decide that it's perfectly okay for them to come to work and expose everyone else in the damn office to whatever they have. I'm kind of pissed, anyway I was just kind of excited that gas prices are finally starting to fall to maybe-someday-soon reasonable prices!!!
Oh and by the way if anyone can point in the direction of some good articles or books on the topic of access to health care in America I would it appreciate so very much, I am doing my English research paper on this topic and have found some decent information but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask others to pitch in. I know that there are many bloggers that have a lot to say on this topic and a lot of good information but I need info that's been published and that can be backed up by research! Thanks a bunch!

Lemon Festival 2008!

So I got the flier for this year's California Lemon Festival, which is in my small town!, and when my godson saw it he nearly peed himself he was so excited!!! They are doing Safety Streets again this year, basically a whole bunch of cops, firefighters, medics, S&R, and Coast guard people and their equipment will be there, that's why he is so excited - he's in LOVE with sirens!!! So if you're from my neck of the woods, you know if you are, then come on out to it, it's been fun in the past years, it's October 18th 10AM-6PM and October 19th 10AM-5PM @ Girsh Park (behind Home Depot and Costco), I'll probably be volunteering there so come by and say hi! And if you've got kiddos bring them out - we'll have fire trucks, jet skies, firefighters, ambulances, paramedics & EMTs, police cars and motorcycles, Search and Rescue dogs, CHP should be bringing their ejection simulator (get a feel for what its like to be ejected out of a rollover crash without paying the price, like I did) SWAT, forensics, Bomb Squad with the robot, local cops from both Sheriff's dept and CHP, watch the Fire dept. and Sheriff's dept. helicopters land ans take-off and get a feel for what they are like inside!!! Great fun for the kiddos and the adults! The kids will be taught what to do in case of an emergency, get tons of prizes , you can have your questions answered and get to know our local emergency responders! It's also just as fun for the adults (trust me), and best of all, it's FREE!!!!!!!!!!! plus there will be plenty of entertainment, good food and fun stuff for the kiddos to do (petting zoo, ferris wheel, pony rides, rock climbing wall, carousel, car racing, moon bounce, miniature golf, laser tag, ect.) so come out and enjoy a day with the familia!!!! And if you're not from around here, take your much deserved vacation and come out here you'll get the sun, surf, & sand that this place is, we like tourists here (as long as you speak English, lol)!

Officer Pedeferri

Last Thursday a judge sentenced Jeremy White to 15 years in state prison for felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter. On December 19, 2007 he was driving his truck, loaded with two dirt bikes, while under the influence of ecstasy and marijuana on highway 101 when he hit an SUV that had been pulled over by California Highway Patrol Officer Tony Pedeferri moments earlier. Upon impact the SUV, driven by 20 year-old Andreas Parra, burst into flames and Officer Pedeferri was launched about 20 feet into a dirt embankment, where he landed head first. Tony Pedeferri, a CHP motorcycle officer, was still wearing his helmet when the crash occurred which very likely saved his life.
A former dispatcher for the Ontario Police Department and a couple of Air Force police officers witnessed the crash. The police officers pulled Parra out of his burning SUV and performed CPR while the former dispatcher used the officer's motorcycle radio to call in an officer down. Despite the efforts of by-standers and paramedics, Parra was pronounced dead on scene. Officer Tony Pedeferri, an iron man tri-athlete and a father of 2 young girls, has been left paralyzed from the chest down. At the sentencing hearing Officer Pedeferri told White that he harbors no ill will towards him.

For more information on Officer Tony Pedeferri and how you can help please visit

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tonypedeferri

http://pullbackthecovers.blogspot.com/

He Never Thought it Would Happen to Him

I'm just a statistic, a number, that's all
I once had a face, a name; I had dreams of my own
But all that was taken from me in a flash
When a drunk man thought he wasn't gonna crash
He thought that it would never happen to him
He was right, it didn't, it happened to me.
Because of his actions, with forever I must pay,
I forever must know that I could've been more,
I never got to live, I was so young.
Oh God and my poor parents, how can they cope?
They never thought that they would bury me
But because of one man all their dreams died with me,
A man who only thought of himself,
He never thought that it would happen to him
He never thought of all that I had to lose,
He never considered what he would take away.
He put me here in a place that has no care,
But now I must watch my family who are so scared.
Their little girl was killed and with her died so much of them,
Died so many dreams, goals and so many chances.
I had so much to give and so much to live for
But now it's no more, I am now here
Thanks to a man who never thought that it would happen to him.
If he hadn't riven drunk maybe I'd still be with you,
I'd still be daddy's little girl, I'd still have goals to fulfill,
And so many dreams to dream. I'd still want to be a doctor,
And want to help those in need, oh if only I could
I'd teach others what drinking and driving costs
And how many lives it effects, oh if only I could.
But I can no longer be there, no longer teach others,
Now it's up to you to show your brothers,
Drinking and driving doesn't just happen to you,
It doesn't just affect your life but so many more
So my dear friends - remember me always and never forget
Only you have the power to stop the impending tragedy
Take his keys, keep him inside, call him a cab.
He doesn't think that it will happen to him,
But he doesn't know who he will make it happen to,
So stop him now, it's still not too late,
If you claim to be his best friend how can you stand there
And watch as he gets in behind the wheel?
Stop him now while you still can,
Because friends don't let friends drive drunk.

Just for Laughs

Just for one of those days!


Really? And I thought that it was special.


Reminds me of a girl in my EMT class.


Hitching a ride from BBC Dad.


And if they ever do, we're in big trouble.

9/11

Well 9/11 is tomorrow, I can't believe that its been 7 years already, I can still remember it like it was yesterday,I was 11 back then. I had walked to school in the morning like any other day, it was a beautiful, clear September morning, the birds were singing, Mr. Henderson* was watering his yard, Mr. Garcia* was getting his morning paper, just like they did everyday. Class started, we were studying geography when Mrs. Selmeister*, the principal, came into my classroom and handed Jenny Young* a note, it said "Dad's okay, it wasn't his plane." We were all confused , what was Mrs.Young* talking about? Mrs.Selmeister* whispered something to Mrs. Danesworth*, our teacher, and left. Mrs. Danesworth* stood in shocked silence for sometime and then quietly told us that two planes had hit the WTC, she closed her books, turned on the TV and sat in shocked silence at her desk. We watched in horror as people jumped, as the towers went down and I was no longer the innocent 11 year old that I had been walking to school that morning.

I found this poem quite sometime ago, late 2001 or early 2002 I think, don't know where and it's anonymous, but it says a lot about how we Americans felt on that fateful day and in the days and months that followed. Unfortunately many Americans no longer feel this way, I'm not one of them. I still believe that freedom is worth fighting for, worth the sacrifice. Maybe today we are not fighting for our own freedom but we are fighting for the freedom of our Iraqi and Afghani brothers and sisters, they too deserve to have the freedom that we have, they too deserve to be able to talk shit about their government and call the war on terror and the war for their freedom a "mistake" and to be able look down on the men and women who sacrificed so much for that freedom and to basically for lack of a better term spit on the sacrifices that our men and women have made for centuries to protect our freedom. Yeah they deserve what we have, a bunch of idiotic morons, oh wait they already have plenty of those. But enough of my pointless scribbles, here's the poem and the illustrations that came with it, quite amazing.

Osama Bin Laden, you time is short;
We'd rather you die, than come to court.
Why are you hiding if it was in God's name?
You're just a punk with a turban; a pathetic shame.

I have a question about your theory and laws;
How come you never die for the cause?

Is it because you're a coward who counts on others?
Well here in America, we stand by our brothers.

As is usual you failed in your mission;
If you expected pure chaos, you can keep on wishing.
Americans are now focused and stronger than ever;
Your death has become our next endeavor.

What you tried to kill, doesn't live in walls;
It's not in buildings or shopping malls.

If all our structures came crashing down;
It would still be there, safe and sound.

Because pride and courage can't be destroyed;
Even if the towers leave a deep void.

We'll band together and fill the holes
We'll bury our dead and bless their souls.

But then our energy will focus on you;
And you'll feel the wrath of the Red, White and Blue.

So slither and hide like a snake in the grass;
Because America's coming to kick your ASS!!!



*Names have been changed to protect the people's identities.

Quotes From My EMT class!

These are some quotes on EMS, patient care, medicine, and life in general courtesy of my EMT instructors; CM, JF, and YH.

1) I'm not here to impress anyone.

2) All men are pond scum; it just depends on where in the pond they are.

3) In my melon it doesn't work so good.

4) Yeah ... but what else is wrong?

5) That's bitching.

6) We get the blows.

7) Farfalongus of the blow hole.

8) Something ain't jiving.

9) I don't care about the LMNOP if you can't get the ABC.

10) People don't think before they act.

11) IQs are often smaller than belt sizes.

12) You're looking for life threats not hang nails.

13) Hands are the human garbage can.

14) Urban outdoorsmen. (homeless individuals)

15) You're gonna get screwed! You're gonna get screwed!

16) If you ever end up in court chances are that it will be over a drunk.

17) They will sober up in time for the court appearance so that they can sue your ass.

18) If it's predictable, it's preventable.

19) Diarrhea of the mouth.

20) NBIOB - Noisy Breathing Is Obstructed Breathing.

21) The creepy lady, I can't believe that you guys still haven't named her, is staring at you. Beware, she's been known to attack little intimidated EMT students, hahaha. (we had a CREEPY looking manikin laying on our hospital bed, don't know why we had either, considering we never used them)

22) Impending feeling of doom.

23) Pressure sandwich.

24) Treat the patient not the monitor.

25) Great way to lose weight, ha. NO!!!

26) Don't come into the house yelling "AEIOU TIPS"

27) SWAG - Scientific Wield Ass Guess

28) Happy wife = happy life

29) Crossover at the nose.

30) The Lug Not Rule - the vehicle with the most lug nuts wins. Except for trains - they always win.

31) If it leaks plug it.

32) Trauma is easy you just plug the holes that don't belong and open the ones that do. Now true medicals will get you thinking, or scratching your head if you're like him.

33) Threshold Incident - "An incident that is likely to cross the threshold of a lawyer's doorstep."

34) Ok now I'm gonna try to remember what I just said.

35) I'll say it again but it wont be the same as it was before.

36) When uncertain, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout.

37) Why is this patient out to lunch?

38) The funky chicken.

39) There's an elephant on my chest.

40) To do nothing is to do nothing wrong.

41) You're all unconscious now! Let me make a suggestion for future reference - maybe you shouldn't have stepped into the hole that your patient was digging, cuz ah he kinda hit a live wire and all you idiots got electrocuted too.

42) Everything an EMT does is reversible.

43) This guy's got every disease known to man plus seven.

44) Everyone has everything.

45) One foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel.

46) All bleeding eventually stops, make sure you are able to stop it before than.

47) Nothing humorous about a humerus fracture.

48) Don't turn the fart fan on. (ventilation fan in the bathroom)

49) Don't mess with a singing bird.

50) You can never go wrong with a moment of pause.

51) Who do I care about? First myself, then my partner and last my patient with no variation to the order.

52) Be a responder not an indicator. (HazMat)

53) Ethel methyl bad shit. (HazMat)

54) All I know about MCIs is that patient care is gonna suck.

55) Chris Aaaalways Looks Hot (the order of applying the Oregon board straps)

56) It's not treatment, it's triage.

57) Paramedics suck at triage cuz we just wanna treat the patient. EMTs or firefighters should do it, better yet let the cops do it they can care less about the patient anyway.

58) Hopefully her head's not gonna fall off, so that should stay on. (placement of triage tags)

59) Better too soon than too late.

60) Better too many than too few.

61) Santa Barbara - home of the newly-weds and the nearly-deads.

62) The sheriff gave us all awards for how we (the dispatchers) handled the calls and dispatching during the Painted Cave Fire and all I could think of was how I told a little old lady to "Get the FUCK out of there!!!"

So yeah these are just a few of the many, many, many memorable quotes and stories that we were told throughout the semester.

Wtf?

so i have no freaken clue as to why i decided to start a blog, my life aint all that interesting and i don't write crap very often oh and of course i can't forget that i really don't have the time for this yet for some reason i decided to do it. but i'm sick and got bored being home all day, ok so it was more like a couple of hours but non-the-less i'm not used to being home for so long other than sleeping at night.

Stars

This is a poem that was written by a friend of mine for the Every 15 Minutes program done at our high school last year. She was one of the "fatalities" in the simulated crashed.

Stars
I lay awake at night
And look up at the stars bright
Remembering of times passed
And how it could never last
Of when we were young
And the songs that we sung
Secrets that we shared
Now my life can never be repaired.
As I look into your casket and see your face
Not a hair out of place,
I know these special memories can never erase
That fateful night when you were struck
By that man with beer in his truck
He took away my star
When he hit your compact car.
Everyday your loss I grieve
Though I know you never meant to leave.
I can get through this pain and see another day
The skies will become less gray
The hurt will relieve
If I just believe.

By: Loraine Cuevas

Her thoughts on the experience were sobering, as she later shared with the students that gathered at the assembly the day after the simulated crash took place. "As I looked up at the ceiling of the coroner's van from inside the body bag I thought about how many people had laid there before me. Their goals, dreams, aspirations and their lives had ended right here in the back of this van where I now lie. I thought about my life and how I took so much for granted. I feel like this experience has truly given me a second chance at life."