Fogey alert

"Build a bridge" is young english for "Get over it"

An odd evening

I lay awake for awhile last night. I've been having a little trouble falling asleep the last week. As I lay there, I remember a medical call I went on. 

Why am I remembering that? Possible because this site brought back some memories.

 Anyway, it wasn't a bad memory, it was when our crew revived  a two year old drowning victim, which reminded me of when another crew I was on revived a brew pub owner who had a heart attack. She threw a party at the pub for us several weeks later, and wrote a thank you letter that said "I've waited all my life to have three handsome firemen rip my top off, and when it happened I was dead!"

Why am I thinking about this?

Then I remembered bits of another call, when we pulled out of the station, as we crossed the gutter line there was an enormous "THUMP!" (I was the engineer) uh oh, something broke. We were going to a call for a possible child  drowning at the community center, so if the engine will go, we go. So there were two right turns enroute, and things seemed fine until I had to turn left. Left turn, not so good, and we're in sight of the wading pool. I'm barely able to wrestle the engine left, then a right turn and we're there. The crew was Capt Gene, Jerry and myself. Jerry jumps in the pool and tends to the little girl who had a seizure but was fine. What was it that broke? It took quite awhile to remember. (leaf spring shackle) Which engine was that? One of the old Fords?

Then I remembered Gene, Jerry and I had a "save" at the community center where there was a large birthday party for an old guy who collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. His mouth and airway were full of birthday cake. The ambu bag broke. But we got pulses and respirations back.

Am I having flashbacks?

I remember when, with this same crew, we responded to a two year old burn victim, who supposedly filled the bathroom sink with scalding hot water and tried to give herself a bath. I can still see the skin falling off her lower torso. Jerry grabbed her, jumped into the tub with cool water as the paramedics arrived, Gene and I called for a medivac helo and started setting up the LZ. The house was on a court, so we just blocked off the court, but it was garbage day and everybody's cans were out.

Why am I remembering all this? The author of "Tidings of Magpies" is a nurse, Geez, I remember another call, with a different crew. It was springtime, a beautiful day about noon when we got a call for a vehicle accident about a mile away. Sometimes you can tell from the dispatchers voice that it's bad. A person having drug induced paranoia, was driving about 80 mph on a (6 lane) city street and swerved into a car sitting at a stoplight, head on. As we pulled up, the officers waved us to the car that HAD BEEN at the stoplight. The other car was about 150' down the road. Fortunately there was a ladder truck nearby that responded and handled the "perps" car. He died while being extricated. Our driver was....a nurse..... She was responsive only to pain, of which there was probably plenty. Paul, our FF/medic, went in thru the passenger window to try and start a line on her. I popped the door with the Hurst Tool. She was wearing dark blue sweatpants, and  I noticed a quarter sized dark spot mid femur. I pointed it out to Paul who cut the pants open.

Anyone remember in Catch 22 where Yossarian cuts open the bloody flightsuit?  We're staring at a classic compound femur fracture.

I remember we were able to call the hospital and check on her for a few days, then the new privacy laws went into effect. A nurse whispered to me that she had been transferred. I never knew how she recovered

Why am I having all these memories? Let's see, just before I went to bed, our 22 year old cat pooped all over the floor and seemed to be losing control over her hind legs. I remember thinking, oh God, is it time? Do we have to take her to be put down?

No, "we" cleaned her up (I'm HELPING!) and she seemed "normal" We gave her some meds for an upset tummy. Today she walks normally unless she's been lying down for a long time.

To quote from a VERY old Adam Sandler monologue, "The mind is a terrible thing!"

You probably had to be there

A recent conversation reminded me of a call I went on once that became THE favorite story for my captain to tell about me. We had responded for a medical for a man who was apparently experiencing side effects of a new medication. Once we determined that that might be the case I tracked down the meds and literature and started reading off the POSSIBLE side effects. There were many, and I guess as I was reading them outloud, the patient was experiencing them ala a scene from the movie "Airplane!" where the doctor describes the symptoms of food poisoning.

Natural Selection- a recollection

Thanks to this site, (a recent Blog of Note) I recalled this story.

I have had the theory for sometime that my former profession and related emergency fields were basically fighting the effects of natural Selection. People are out there doing really dumb things, and it was the job of others to rescue them from the consequences of their actions.

I used a particular call that I responded to as an example.

It's shortly after a rain shower, and the sun is beating brightly on the pavement. A young high school aged man has been drinking (and it's about 10AM!) and was driving at a "high" rate of speed (pun intended) in a small blue Miata with bald tires, and no seat belt,  going into a curve.  He of course flips the car several times. SURPRIZE!  He's ejected, his skull is cracked open, among other things, and brain matter is seeing the light of day for the first time,  (I presume) His vitals are dropping, but we go through the program because that's what we do. 

 

He becomes my permanent (I thought) example of how we're fighting natural selection.

Fast forward several years. I'm reading the local newspaper which has a story about a young man who is visiting schools, lecturing about drunken driving. He tells his story to the newspaper, and it's the SAME KID!

So now it's an example of why you do your job to your best ability even when it seems hopeless.

Lucy, you got a lot a 'splainin' to do!

see more pwn and owned pictures

What's that Sound?

I woke up around midnight to the sound of a loud click. 

Apparently it was my odometer turning over!

Scary or inspirational, you be the judge

Update on the jakester

With his lovely mom

Have I got recommendations for YOU!

Yesterday we went to see "The Reader". I hadn't read anything about it. The only real reference I was aware of was Oprah's "Nice tits" comment to Kate Winslet. I haven't been a fan of KW before now, but she hit this one out of the park! She had a great script to work with, but she was astounding. You HAVE to see this movie (bring kleenex)

2nd, this a.m. I heard about a website that is nirvana for my age group. Please go immediately to Wolfgangs Vault for all things connected to Bill Graham. Music, T shirts, posters. I'm listening to a streaming Dire Straits concert as I type this.

You'll thank me

Just 'cause I like the picture

The early Heron gets the...?

My Neighbor, The Artist pt VIII

You never know what you're going to see when you step out your door when you live next to an artist.



He has a show coming up, 1/19-3/1 @ Aurora Colors Gallery,145 Kentucky St, Petaluma,CA

Back amongst the Living

One of my favorite bloggers has returned from Hiatusville. He single handedly taught me that my problems with his bad spelling and typos were MY problems, and to get over it and enjoy the passion and perspective of a good guy. 

New Years Mystery

Just moments ago I was folding clothes from the dryer when the doorbell rang. Two quick rings like UPS does it. I quickly trotted to the front,and as I approached the front door, I could see padded quilted material like a....MATTRESS!?

Someone had left a dirty, rain (presumably) soaked twin sized mattress leaned up against our front door.

I moved it quickly and looked around outside. All I saw was a red Mustang driving down the street, nothing to indicate they were involved.

What do it mean? Why the doorbell?

First sunset of the New Year

My new favorite blog

Direct from a recent blogger of note designation...she's in S.F., brilliant, funny, lots of interesting links...



Tango Baby!

If You're in Napa, a good place to eat

http://winecountry.citysearch.com/profile/46316180/napa_ca/pica_pica_maize_kitchen.html

10 First St Ste 5
Napa, CA 94559
Phone: (707) 251-3757


Pica Pica Maize Kitchen
610 First St. #5 (Oxbow Public Market)
Napa, CA 94559
707 251-3757

1. Pick Your Main
Arepas
Grilled Corn Flour Flatbread (Wheat & Gluten Free)

Pepeada chicken salad with "guasacaca" (creamy avocado) 6.25
Pelu’a shredded skirt steak with cheddar cheese 7.25
Domino black beans with shredded white monterrey cheese 5.75
Pabellón shredded skirt steak, fried plantains & black bean paste 7.75
Pabellón vegetariano tofu with cilantro adobo, fried plantains, black bean paste & sliced avocado 5.50
Llanera sautéed sirloin strips with cilantro adobo, green peppers & onions. "guasacaca" served on the side 8.95
Benedictine poached egg, smoked ham, avocado & spiced sour cream 6.75
Perico scrambled eggs seasoned with pica pica sofrito. choice of bacon bits, chorizo or cheese 5.50
Cachapas
100% Sweet Corn Pancake (Wheat & Gluten Free)

Cheese choice of cheese 7.00
Cheese & Ham choice of cheese & smoked ham 8.00
Meat chicken salad, shredded skirt beef or sautéed sirloin strips 8.95
Maize´wich
Grilled Cheese On Sweet Cornbread

Cheese choice of cheese 5.00
Cheese & Ham choice of cheese & smoked ham 6.00
Add To Main A Small Salad Or Cup Of Soup $2.99

2. Add
Salads
Fresh

Bululu corn, red bell pepper, jicama & pineapple
Salad Of The Day served on mixed greens with choice of vinaigrette 3.75
Soups
Homemade

Chupe chicken, corn, potatoes & cheese in a cream based broth
Soup Of The Day cup 3.75 large 5.75

3. Plus A Side
Pasapalos $3.25
Choice of Venezuelan sides served with one dipping salsa (wheat & gluten free)

Yucca Fries
Tostones
Sweet Plantains
Salsas $0.50
Mmmm!!!

Morena black bean mayonnaise
Mela’o de papelón & tamarindo
Pica’chup our own spiced ketchup
Pica’pun our signature hot sauce

Drinks
Aahh!!!

Frozen Tropical Juice 3.50
Beer 3.50
Frozen Sangria 5.95
Cans 1.75
Bottles 3.00
Water 1.75
Glossary
Arepas - Ah - Ray - Paz grilled corn flour flatbread, crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside
Bululu a noisy gathering
Cachapas - Ka - Chóp - Az 100% sweet corn pancake, wheat and gluten free
Chupe - Chew - Pa andean hearty chicken, corn and vegetable soup
Domino a tribute to the game of dominoes. the combination of black beans and white cheese alludes to the colors of the domino pieces
Guasacaca - Wá - Sa - Ka - Ká creamy avocado sauce with peppers and onions. mildly spicy
Llanera - Gia - Néra venezuelan cowboys, living in the llanos (vast plains east of the andes), are called llaneros
Pabellón - Paa - Be - Jóhn a traditional venezuelan platter: carne mechada (shredded skirt steak), fried plantain, black beans and white rice
Pelu’a - Pe - Luu - Aa means shaggy
Pepeada named after susana dujim, miss world, 1955. some say the name is derived from the definition of pepeada (beautiful and voluptuous)
Perico signature venezuelan scrambled eggs. the colors are reminiscent of the feathers of a parrot
Pica Pica - Peeka - Peeka picar’ means to eat different small things
Sofrito - So - Free - Tó seasoning base in latin american cuisine made out of tomatoes, peppers, onions and herbs
Tostones - Tos - Tó - Ness crispy fried green plantain
Yucca part of the agave family, it is a root that is widely eaten in the amazon by indigenous peoples. wheat and gluten free

Also in the Oxbow Market is a great spice booth.

Comment your gender indicating parts off

One of my regular reads is proposing that everyone, yes, both of you, comment on as many blogs as possible in some sort of commenting orgy. Hey, he turned his blogging into a book deal, so who am I to comment, I mean say whether he's nuts. (And there is some evidence to suggest he may be)

Lenora & Lily, sitting in a tree...

They're not K I S S I N G, but they do sniff a lot and occasionally play.



Meanwhile Michaela seems to have an upset tummy again, and her hindquarters seem worse. Maybe the cold weather?

Observation

Learning curve leads to brain burn

What's new

We are rejoining the Mac crowd, having purchased a new imac just before T'day. We went to a PC many years ago, but we're just TIRED of all the virus', updates, blah blah blah...

RIP Charlie the Seagull? We spent a week out at the coast, on our first day, I found a seagull carcass in the backyard. As funny as it sounds, it looked better than Charlie. I believe I would recognize his beak/face, and it definitely did NOT look like Charlie, however Charlie was a no show for the week...

I am spending time transferring files between computers, setting up internet access, printers etc. This morning I tried to set up the imac to work with our old printer, and it's not going so well...

Hope to get back to more regular posting in the near future.