Holiday hijinks and end of the year update

There has been so much which has happened since my last blog post that I hardly even know when to begin.  So I will try my best.

On the home front, the search is well underway for a new home for myself and my lady friend.  We have looked at a few listings online and have found a couple of rental homes that are within our price range and have what we want.  We'll be investigating further in the next week or so and decide on a place.

I wound up getting involved in a wreck on October 28 and totalled my truck out.  I was therefore severely restricted on transport for awhile, using my dad's Cadillac for work commuting, until my uncle in Florida offered to sell me his 1998 Chevy Suburban.  So in the middle of November I flew to Tampa, visited a little with my uncle and aunt, and my cousin Hap and his wife.  It was a memorable time, and I drove the Suburban back to Vegas, taking about 2 and a half days.  Not bad timing, and I had a chance to see my friend Gloria and her hubby Sam in Tucson, where Sam is on the waiting list for a heart transplant and has been fitted with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to help his heart keep working.  Plus got to visit my aunt in New Mexico enroute back as well.  All in all, a productive trip, and had a chance to see parts of the South I haven't seen yet.  The truck performed well with no issues during the trip, and I expect it to keep running well for awhile to come.

On the job front, not much going on with my regular employer.  But with my second employer, big things are starting to happen.  As part of this process, I was asked to lead the deployment of a new computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system which we need to implement.  I expect that work to keep me stressing out pretty good from now until who knows when...lol!

I wish I was able to be downtown again for New Year's Eve like I was last year, but since it falls on a Sunday, that is not able to happen due to scheduling issues with my regular job.  So I will have to just twiddle my thumbs as usual watching monitors like I typically do on a Sunday night.

So what do I look forward to in 2018?  I foresee a lot of good things happening, and I intend to take advantage of every opportunity which may pop up in the coming year.  And hopefully after the move the level of drama will be subsiding quickly, which is good for me and my lady as we have had more than our fill!

May everyone have a safe and spectacular New Year.  Stay tuned for more to come...

A personal update

Well it turns out I didn't have the flu, what I do have is a full-blown urinary tract infection.  Fortunately I was able to see my PCP on Tuesday to get some antibiotics and have been on that regimen since then.  Thanks to my sister, she found a herbal supplement called 'bear's berry' that was used before sulfa drugs and antibiotics became commonplace to treat UTIs. 

So I have been on both of them and still feeling somewhat miserable.  I have been using a heating pad on my genital region to help lessen the pain and swelling and it has helped somewhat.  However, every time I go urinate it is with heavy dread and fear as it feels like I was pissing something out with the potency between napalm and lava!  I am suspecting that there may be some micro lacerations on my foreskin area which are being irritated by the urine which is causing most of the pain.  So I am going to try getting some lidocaine cream to gingerly apply to see if that may help. 

Meanwhile on other matters, the conspiracy theories continue to fly about potential 'multiple gunmen' active during the tragic events of Sunday night, and no doubt will continue to persist for awhile to come.  I consider things still in the early stages and do not see anything worthwhile coming forth for some time.

The final butcher's bill comes up to 59 dead, with 527 injured, the majority taken to UMC Trauma and Sunrise Hospital (104 and 247 respectively).  Makes sense, since UMC is the only level 1 trauma center in the state, with Sunrise designated as a level 2 adult and level 1 pediatric trauma center.  St. Rose Sienna Hospital down the road from me in Henderson is a level 3 trauma center.  Pretty much every single hospital in the Las Vegas Valley with the exception of Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital (the military/VA hospital for Nellis AFB) had received patients from this event.  Much kudos have been expressed by all sides for the excellent response from all the agencies involved.  I am so proud to consider myself part of that group, I just wished I could have been able to jump up and take part.  Unfortunately, jumping and other similar physical activities will have to wait for me to recover from this mess I got.

More later...

Mass shooting on the Strip

Latest updates, per local media...50 dead, 406 injured, ISIS claiming responsibility-says shooter converted some months ago.  That last one I find hard to believe, but it is still early in the game.

Thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families.  More later as it comes in.

And yes I am OK, was in bed with the flu last night.

Forged in Blood

I had mentioned previously about a new Freehold book, Forged in Blood, that has just been released in hard copy.  I had received mine in the mail last week, and although I had bought the electronic advance copy, there is something just satisfying about holding a physical tome in hand.

I had posted my review on Amazon and I do urge folks to give it a try.  Those that enjoy good sci-fi and military sci-fi in particular will find this a great read.  Check it out!

A clever commercial, and the backlash against it from one group

I came across this video on Facebook, which is a commercial airing in Australia promoting lamb as the one meat that is not restricted by the major religions.

I personally thought it was funny and a clever marketing ploy.  However, one group of Hindus have expressed their offense at the ad.
From a viewpoint of someone who does believe in God but don't really care much for organized religion, I think they just need to take a chill pill and not get their panties in a twist.  This is one commercial that pokes fun at everybody!!  Get over it!!

Making some headway

Well, I did pass the written test for Advanced EMT, now just have to take the protocol test for health district to get licensed, then I can start making a little more...yay! :-)

And now it's time to start thinking of finding a different place to live so that my girlfriend and I can be together away from the drama of both our families.  More on that later...

If it ain't one thing, it's another

My life of late has been so busy, I have not been able to post to this blog as much as I would like to.  Fortunately, at least things have been going fairly well.  I'm studying to take the Advanced EMT written test for National Registry next Saturday, along with taking the instructor course so that I can start teaching CPR.  Other things I have been wanting to do have not been able to be accomplished due to time, money, and other issues which have kept cropping up.  But I am hopeful that things will come together eventually.

Meanwhile in the blogosphere, Angel is hopefully just saying goodbye for now instead of farewell, as she is taking a step back from her blog to focus on her family.  I sincerely hope she returns one day, if nothing else but to keep hassling Wirecutter!  I just love how they trade barbs back and forth, like an old married couple, or siblings...makes my day a lot of times.

In other news, the local scene here in Sin City is starting to perk up, with our new NHL team, the Vegas Golden Knights, getting ready to start their inaugural season this fall.  Am hoping they live up to all the hype and help deny the naysayers that keep telling us that pro sports will never make it here in Vegas.  And of course, the Raiders are yet to appear, hopefully the new stadium will be getting off the ground here real soon.

Hopefully will have more to come soon.  Stay safe and watch your 6...

Bayou Renaissance Man's update from LibertyCon (and a plug for a new book)

Bayou Renaissance Man: LibertyCon, days 2 and 3



I have just purchased my advance ebook copy of Forged in Blood, a collection of short stories within the Freehold universe created by sci-fi author Michael Z. Williamson.  One of the contributions is from the Bayou Renaissance Man himself, Peter Grant.  Overall, an excellent read and it gives new readers an introduction to the Freehold stories later in the book as well as allowing those whom have read the books a chance to get further backstories on some minor characters mentioned in the first work of the series, Freehold.  You can download a free copy of Freehold at the link if you want to get started.



Amazon will release Forged in Blood in the beginning of September, but if you don't want to wait and can handle seeing minor problems with the advanced reader copy of the book, get yourself over to Baen's website via the link and buy it now.  And while you're there, please feel free to browse around for other great works of sci-fi and fantasy; you will not be disappointed.

Taking a breather

Now that things seem to have settled down a bit with my second job, and having completed the AEMT course, it is time for me to take a little trip out of town.
I managed to get a complimentary night stay at the Aquarius Casino Resort in Laughlin so with my lovely friend Nicole in tow, I shall take a brief breather away from Sin City today and regain my bearings.
Meanwhile things will heat up...literally, since summer is about to hit southern Nevada full blast.

More later.

Meanwhile, in Sin City...

...police are investigating a theft from a condom and sex toy warehouse.

Wonder if they have any 'firm' leads yet? *giggle-snort*

😜

Got the first part over with

I am happy to report that after much stress and headache, I was able to successfully pass my AEMT skills testing.  Yay me.

Now of course this is only the first step.  Once National Registry validates the test results (which would take about a week), I will get my authorization to test to take the cognitive exam, which is a 135-question computer based test taken at PearsonVUE testing center.  There is one here in Vegas, but there is often a long wait for a spot since they do other testing as well.  If worse comes to worse, I can head down to Bullhead City to their center at the local community college.  Some folks in my class have went up to St. George, UT to do their test to save time.  For now I'll wait and see what comes up.

On the agenda for today: vehicle extrication class starting up today, and will conclude tomorrow.  So I will get to take out my frustrations on a junker vehicle using a Halligan tool and the Jaws of Life 😈

...oh and before I forget, this week is National EMS Week, so take time to thank your friendly neighborhood ambulance or rescue crew.

The home stretch

Finished up last class this week, just need to do the online final this weekend.  Then skills testing on Tuesday morning...am hoping things will go well.

Happy Mother's Day

For those who are truly saints and have had to put up with a lot from your offspring, may this day be a great one for you all.

My own mom has passed on over 5 years ago, but I still think of her every day.

Meanwhile, I attended an event here at Sunrise Hospital for the organization Carry The Load as they currently do a 4,000 mile walk from Seattle, WA to Dallas, TX to commemorate those whom have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and to put the real meaning back into the Memorial Day holiday.
In addition, me and my fellow first responders and those who are veterans were honored by the chief medical officer of Sunrise with special challenge coins.  That was special and a little humbling to me, but am proud to have been honored in retrospect.

Now I get to tackle cleaning out the refrigerator, fun fun :-)

EDIT 5/18 - some pics from the event:

Been away from here too long

Sorry for the decided lack of posts over the last few months, but I've had a lot of stuff to plow through.

For starters, I am about finished up with doing the Advanced EMT course being taught at Guardian, with the psychomotor testing happening in less than 2 weeks.  It's pretty much a review of the same things covered during the original EMT course, with the added provisions of IV therapy, pharmacology, and how to use those as part of your treatment regimen.

In addition, I have had to deal with some family issues that are still not quite fully resolved yet, but am hopeful I can conclude those soon.

Finally, after hearing about the benefits of using the new messaging service Gab from Peter at Bayou Renaissance Man blog, I decided to sign up since it doesn't restrict what you want to say, unlike Twitter.  You can follow me at @desertratNV for any wild things I decide to throw out there.

Hopefully more soon!

The Lonely Libertarian: When you wake up after a 3 day drunk

ROFLMAO!!



The Lonely Libertarian: When you wake up after a 3 day drunk

And now it begins

Now we got a new leader of the free world in the White House.

Time to see if he lives up to what he has promised.

I do expect some backsliding as he does need to work with both Congress and the Supreme Court to keep power balanced and there will be some pushback on some of his stated goals, but let's see where we go from here.

Change is coming

...on Friday ;-)

At 1200 Eastern Time on Friday, January 20, Donald Trump will become our 45th President of the United States.  Much wailing and gnashing of teeth are to be expected by the liberals who so really wanted their candidate to win, but I expect that to settle down shortly.

Trump does have a lot of work to convince people that he is the right man to lead our nation.  While I didn't vote for either him or the Hilde-beast (Gary Johnson got mine and my dad's vote this year), he did win the election fair and square (and remember, back in 2000 there was a lot of flack about Bush jr not having a clear mandate since he lost the popular vote as well) and we need to give the man a chance to prove himself.

Meanwhile on the home front, some changes that will hopefully be coming:

1. Starting in February I will be taking the Advanced EMT course via the agency I am working for as an EMT.  I was thankful that the owner was willing to work with me on paying the course cost...in short I will be working it off, which I believe is a fair deal all around.
2. This week I expect to be rid of the garage I am renting here at the complex I am staying at, which is necessary as my rent has gone up about 60 bucks a month and I can't really afford to keep it any longer.  All the stuff that is in there will be down in the storage unit at the property.
3. With any luck, my dad should be able to get back to driving and be able to get things finished up at his property, which is now essentially complete and livable.  Only a few minor things need to be done, namely getting the awning installed and setting up propane service for the heater and stove.
4. This year thanks to my boss, I should be able to get into decent shape, thanks to his girlfriend, who works as a fitness trainer and is willing to help guide me into a good fitness program which should help improve my stamina and drop some more pounds along the way.  The agency I work for has a decent gym set up and combined with using the fitness center here I should be good to go.  Will keep you posted on that.

Let's all have a good year, stay safe, and have fun.

Here's to a (hopefully) better and prosperous 2017

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year.  I would say more but yours truly just finished a marathon 20 hours of working, so this happy ass is off to bed ;-)