Sunday Saying

"Be good at something, it makes you valuable."

- Randy Pausch

Closer to 4-0

So, my tongue is no longer stuck to the roof of my mouth, so yea me!  My birthday was yesterday and dear sweet baby Jesus, this year didn't disappoint either.  I am destined to have f'ed birthdays apparently.  This was not the case until I reached adulthood, so what's with that?!

We went out on Friday for sushi and "adult beverages".  Let me preface this with this.....we do this EVERY YEAR with *almost* the same results.  My friend and I have birthdays one week apart and our bodies can't handle two celebrations that close together, so hence the one night of complete sloth and extravagance!

So, we met up with some friends at the usual sushi place and drank TWO bottles of wine between the two of us.....good times.  It is never a good sign when the amount of money spent on wine exceeds the amount spent on crunch rolls.  That should have been a pretty good indicator.  Oh and this guy that I have been talking to was in town, so he actually came along for the ride.  "Bless his lil heart", he has no idea.  

This then got excessively crazy!  I don't even think I drank anything at the next bar except this rancid tequila shot that my "friend" got for me.  I guess she hates me because it was THE most foul glass of turpentine EVER!  So, things were rapidly downhill after that point.  Then it got really screwed up.  

My friend came back to the table and sat down........completely out of it.....I mean OUT.  Not good.  EMS was called and dontchaknow it's bad to see medics coming to assist *your* friend.  So, she was transported to the ED.  Crazy night...............oh yeah and did I mention I was pretty drunk.  Good times.....not.  We stayed in the ED until 0500......and the "new guy" stayed with us.  So, big points for him.  ;) 

I truly think that she was given GHB in her drink which I find really scary.  I have spent enough birthday celebrations with her to know how she handles her alcohol and this was completely different.  She wouldn't even rouse to ammonia inhalants.  I did notice her talking to a guy by the bar, but I really didn't think anything of it.  So, take home message, please look out for one another.  I am sooooo glad birthdays only show up once per year or else I might need a new liver.

So, this year was another stark reminder of why I am a homebody when it comes to celebrations.  I think next year, I am going camping.  

"Two Fer" Sunday

I just had to post this link for the two people (and I'm being generous) who I think "may" read my fledgling blog.  I am a part of a medical flight crew (rotorwing) and have been for the past few years.  I was a ground Medic prior and continue that side of my career as well.  I'm not sure if you guys ever watch TLC, but tonight they are having an episode of "My Secret Life As A Soccer Mom" on at 1900 central time.  It is focusing on our sister flight program in Arizona (Air Evac) so I am pumped.  My family never gets to see anything that I do.....as I live approximately 1600 miles from them.  So, I'm pretty excited.  Funny thing is that I don't even have cable / satellite at my house so I'm basically SOL.  I ditched TV approximately 4 years ago, but I digress.  Guess I will be making a trip to work to watch it with the on duty crew!  Pitiful....

Well anyway, here are a couple of pics of our bird.  The "funky" green pic is actually what we see through our night vision goggles.  They really increase our level of safety especially during scene flights at night.  The landing zones can hold several devastating obstacles and the nvg's allow us to see practically everything.

Please have a safe holiday and keep the people you love from doing any "stupid human tricks".  Happy Easter to all.

Sunday Saying

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words.  Watch your words, for they become actions.  Watch your actions, for they become habits.  Watch your habits, for they become character.  Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny."  

 - unknown regarding karma

Bless your lil heart

You guys don't even *want* to know what type of week it has been!  So, I'm just going to chant it away and hope that next week is better.....take that back, I hope it is better starting today.  I am on duty today and the fog should be lifting soon so we will be flyable again.  So, fingers crossed that the natives aren't too restless today.  

So, I'm just going to share a little observation that I find humorous.  I guess this would be a Southern thing because I don't recall ever hearing this up North.  Have you ever noticed this....."bless his/her lil heart" can be said and ANYTHING that was uttered prior is simply null and void.  For example:  "Ooooooohhhhh that is the WORST dress I have ever seen!  She should wear an orange triangle on her wide load ass!  OMG......................well, bless her little heart, she tries."  The delivery of "bless his/her lil heart" is key.  Maybe even throw in a slight side to side head movement to make it look thoughtful.  Seriously people, keeps your ears peaked....if you live in the South, you *will* hear this.

Happy St Patty's Day

Here's Miss Priss in the Lil Mule (the Jeep) wearing her extra fabulous Ireland hat.  Thought it was just too cute  ;)  

Today was a veeeerrry low key SPD here at our house.  I usually have people over for trash talking on the deck after we burn something on the grill.  But the gale force winds really put a damper on that one this year.  My palm trees have been working overtime today.  So, instead we went shopping :)  Gotta love little girls!

Well, I hope everyone had a fun and safe St Patty's Day......good night all!

Sunday Saying

"Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted."

     - Randy Pausch

If you have some time, please check out this video on YouTube entitled "the Last Lecture"....very worth it.

Life's A Biatch...

Oh happy day!  Today I scored 2 Jimmy Buffett tickets for the upcoming concert near Houston!  I am tweaked!  This will be the very first "real" concert for Miss Priss.  So, the lil parakeet thinks that she needs some new threads for the concert.  I made the mistake of telling her about all the merchandise that will be for sale at the event.  Yeah, bad idea.  So, I might as well start selling plasma now to afford all of the t-shirts and hats.  Oh well, feck it....it only comes once a year!  I'm going to call this a late birthday present.

So, in sticking with the JB theme, we headed to the beach today.  Did I mention that I am dragging a$$?  We flew most of last night at work, so I have the big 2 hours of sleep under my belt.  Silly me, I thought that we might actually be able to catch a nap on the hammock while we were beaching today.  Not so much.  Spring Break is going on in sunny South Texas right now....good times.  It was not the normal quiet day listening to the waves and gulls.  

I have to throw in this lil tidbit from this afternoon.  There was some white trash on parade there.  AND they just so happened to snuggle in right next to where we were chilling.  So, they start unloading the sedan....kids, dogs, case of Pap Shmear Ribbon beer, carton o'cigarettes, you get the flavor I puttin' down.  Did I mention that they didn't even bring a cooler because I think their game plan was to consume the entire case of beer before it even lost its frosty goodness.  Oh and there were TWO people working on the case o'beer.  Welcome to drunk driving 101....it is always best to bring your kids along on these lil misadventures.  Seriously, make it stop people.  There is no wonder why I will *always* have a job.  With any luck, maybe they had a tent and were planning to stay, I sure hope so.

Back at work......

Ok, so camping was tits!  We had a great time, in spite of the fact that I had to bring a flight suit with me.  :(  Yeah, I know, WTF is that all about?!  It's difficult to feel "spring break-ish" when you have to bring work with.  So, there was a meeting smack dab in the middle of my trip that was mandatory to attend.  Good times.  Fortunately it didn't last too long and it was back to hammock swinging and doing nothing.  I ate more junk food in the last three days than I have in the last month.  Oh and Red Stripe  ;).  

Here is an account of the kid casualities:  K = no injuries (she got extra Goldfish for that one), J = split lip....pretty impressive actually poor little guy....yeah so he tripped on the monkey bars somehow and attempted to eat the metal bar, and Miss Priss = one cut heel....all taken care of by two bandaids so not too bad.  Adults were unscathed.

So, I'm back at work today for 24 hours of bliss.....let's hope the EMS gods are shining favorably today.  I have quite a bit of paperwork to do and I'm not feeling particularily ambitious (hence blogging instead).  I have to get this crap done because I'm trying to get my a$$ to the beach for the weekend!!

Oh.....and I have a minirant this morning.  I am extremely stupid in regards to the whole "vehicle inspection sticker" crap here in the lovely state of TX.  To begin with, we DON'T have them in Michigan, so I don't remember them!  I know, not a good excuse, but still.  Also, vehicle registration (yes mine is up to date, inspection.....not so much).....in Michigan, the license plate follows you and not your vehicle.  Is expires on your birthday, which is always easy to remember.  Yes, this is leading up to something.  So, I got pulled over for speeding after an uneventful blind date and the 12 year old State Trooper notices that my inspection is grossly out of date.  I get a citation for the sticker and he waives the speeding which was only 4 mph over in my defense.  So, guess what the fine is for this shit?!  $156!!  So, I'm an idiot.  So, I have to get my car inspected....I think I'm going to wear a hot pink Britney Spears wig, some glasses, a fake nose, whatever it takes to avoid my actual identity being revealed!  The last time, it turned into some event where I was chastised by this hooker behind the counter.  

Good Cop Bad Cop

This has been brewing for awhile, but I'm smack dab in the middle of it now, so welcome to my rant.  

From my previous posts, you can tell that I'm obviously "without child" this weekend.  With my relationship with my Ex Douche, I must explain a few things.  He signed away visitation and all conservatorship of Miss Priss in 2005.  We have been living separately since 2004 btw.  That being said, he doesn't call her, she doesn't ask about him and we just go down the road.  I don't think that he is a vile human being but I certainly don't understand how you can be a parent and not want to see your kid!?

If he does call, it is usually once every 2 months and then he "tells" me that he is going to take Miss Priss to do "XYorZ" for the weekend, for the day, you get the picture.  I never block these visits as Miss Priss seems to enjoy them.  However, I might be on a pity trip here.....BUT I get sick of being the one who takes care of her 24-7, helps with homework/science projects, takes her to soccer, takes her to the ER, does all the dirty work.....THEN he swoops down and says "I'm taking you to the most GD wonderful zoo I can find this weekend!  How would you like that Miss Priss??!!"

So, as I sit here getting tanked up on my morning coffee and I am left to revel in those fine thoughts.  I have enjoyed some of the quiet time this weekend, but I am noticing that the quiet is as times deafening.  Thank God the dog snores.  ;)

Working too hard for a day off!

To begin with, I had to get up at 0700 to make sure that Miss Priss was ready for her "pick up" with her Dad (Ex Douche).  It was my first day to sleep in in about one month!!  But no such luck.  Of course, he got off of work late and was subsequently late to our house, no big deal, BUT I could have slept for another HOUR!!!  

So, I figured I was up and slightly irritated, so I might as well be productive.  Oh, and I had some fabulous coffee this morning.  If you have never had coffee from a french press, you really must try it.....it's the bomb.  Well that began the 8 hour day of working with my plant/flower beds and redoing several potted plants on my patio.  OMG.....I really enjoy yard work, but I couldn't believe how much time had passed when I glanced down at my watch! 

Oh, and the dog was super helpful......see above  ;)

I think it's time for a Red Stripe!

Ah, the weekend

It is GORGEOUS here today!  Just wish I could have hooked myself up with a campsite for the weekend :(  I was a bit too late, seeing as though it is the beginning of Spring Break down here.  We are going next week on the days that I am off, but I sure would have loved to escape for the weekend too.  Now I'm probably just being greedy.  However, for once in I don't know how long, my kid's Dad is actually keeping her for the weekend :0 !  So......I really don't know what to do with myself.  I feel like the world is my oyster.  Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore my daughter, but some solitude sounds wonderful.  Just wish I had some fabulous plans!  Oh well, I'm sure something will materialize.  The power of positive thought......or Cornona ;)

So, I found this awesome coconut palm today at the nursery.  It's official, I must be getting old.  I remember getting dragged to the nursery on Sunday afternoons and really despising it.  Apparently that has come full circle because I am capable of blowing lots o'money on plants!  I can't help it, I just love that whole green tropical appeal.  My thoughts are this.....if I can't be in Costa Rica, I would at least like to have a believable backdrop to pretend.  So, maybe I'll just spend the weekend with the dog, some Jimmy Buffett, some Corona, and some dirt!

This is off topic, but I have to share.  Recently I heard this uttered by someone to his loved one who was not doing well....."you can't die......you haven't taught me how to play golf yet".  I thought how obscure, but then I thought about why some people are important to other people.  Are you just in someone's life to help them through a situation or are you someone who will be in their life until the end?  I can think of some who will always be around no matter what and I have come to realize that there are others who are just passing through.

Throwing a rock from the house

Ok, so I "loves me some" palm trees!  I live with my family in the Third Coast area of the US and love it.....except for pesky hurricane season!  ;)  

I really don't have a specific "goal" in mind for this blog.  I just thought it would be a good avenue for divulging some thoughts....somedays happy, somedays venting, etc.....

So, if you happen to find my blog, thanks for the visit!  ;)