Had to laugh at this cartoon

 

Meanwhile, from Hell's Pantry....

 ...because Hell's Kitchen isn't as hot as Vegas is right now!

Figured I'd take a brief break and take advantage of in between stuff to give a little update on things.

Think we're on a streak to tie or break the most consecutive number of days where the high is above 110 degrees F (or about 44 degrees C).  Phoenix already broke that record earlier this month.

Job-wise, things are kinda improving...we all got a nice pay bump, so that would make things little easier, albeit the raise was due to state minimum wage going to $10.25/hr starting on July 1 ($11.25/hr if employer doesn't offer health insurance benefits).

Meanwhile am still trying to keep my sanity and not go off into crazy-land.

More fun and games, and a potential career shift

 Well, I finally managed to kick the crud that pretty much laid me out for most of March, though it took until last week to finally get rid of the last of it.  It also laid up some co-workers of mine for a bit.  Starts out as bronchitis, then moves to a sinus/inner ear infection, which also turned into a minor eye infection for a bit.  Fortunately, antibiotics did their thing, along with the prescription strength Robitussin DM.

So I came across this post from DiveMedic regarding skillsets in austere times, and his post did raise a legitimate point.  Having the knowledge and means to apply it real-world is one thing, having the tools to do so is another.

DM rated his applicable skills, and that made me take stock on my own capabilities:

• Master level: IT skills, including Windows server administration, network security and defense, and hardware/software troubleshooting (both book learning and hands-on experience from 17 years in the IT field, from telecom tech, to helpdesk, to NOC tech.
• Journeyman level: Advanced EMT, basic electronic troubleshooting and repair (nearly 7 years of hands-on skills and practical learning as an EMT and AEMT, and a near lifetime's experience with electronics, plus being a licensed ham radio operator).  Though my emergency medicine skills would likely be considered by some as more of a master's level, I know that there is still plenty more I should learn, and when I have the capability to, I plan on upgrading to Paramedic.
• Apprentice level: Basic automotive maintenance and repair, sewing and mending clothing, and home maintenance.

Obviously, there's always more to add, and one thing I would love to learn is basic blacksmithing and tool fabrication.  I've picked up a book which is a reprint of an older tome that covers such skills, and when time and finances permit I want to explore that more in detail.

Meanwhile my dad (he's 85), has been taken to the hospital due to extreme hypotension, and according to my sister, looks like a possible GI bleed somewhere.  As of this writing, he's still in the ER waiting to be admitted, and he has had 4 units of blood transfused in him to keep his blood volume up and his systolic pressure stable.  Not the first time this has happened but still worried.  

On a personal note, I'm in the process of getting hired on as a contract EMT for a government contractor down in the Yuma area, what's holding things up is the required background check, which my recruiter tells me can take up to a year (!!) to complete.  So let's see what happens.  I'm gonna try to stay on part-time with my current employer, but have to see what transpires.

More later as I know it...

Updates from reality and the cyberworld

 Been quite busy of late, plus had lot of other issues to deal with on a personal level.  Today been trying to deal with this nasty flu and getting a chance to collect my thoughts.

First off, I am putting out an appeal to help a good friend and my EMS mentor, Orvis Slack.  Last week, he started having nearly unbearable pain in his chest and back; he thought it was a pinched nerve or slipped disc in his back.  Turns out, he was having a major heart attack, even though it never occurred to either myself or him that it would be cardiac.  After going through catherization, he is now resting at home, but is now facing massive medical bills, as well as loss of income.  So a mutual friend of ours set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help witn his expenses.  Please help out if you can.

Meanwhile, I came across this interesting posting from The Thinking Housewife blog.  I don't usually follow Laura's postings often, but this really stuck out, and it is something that's not widely known or reported in the MSM.  Might reach out to fellow blogger Peter for his insights, since he is originally from South Africa and has his own insight worth considering.  

Also, some more interesting tidbits from JL's blog regarding matters in the Great White North, my interest being that is where my fiance is residing.  From what I have learned during my trip up there to North Bay, the majority of residents tend to be more of a conservative viewpoint, and not big fans of Trudeau's governance, so this just seems to confirm what is being said.

Hopefully can be able to get more updates later today, in between dealing with massive sinus congestion and just feeling like crap.  Make sure you check out the other blog listings on BRM's site, and stay tuned for more from yours truly as it happens.

Happy New Year, and some great news!

 Well, let's hope 2023 is less lively than 2022.

Also, BCE has some wonderful news regarding his ongoing battle to get his granddaughter back.

Mind you, this is just round 1 in the fight, but it's a good portent of things to come, I think.  If you can, please also click over here to donate to his legal and miscellaneous expenses (his lawyer is an example of you can either have cheap or good, not both...and by all accounts she is very very good!), and help him get Adriana back to his and his wife's loving arms.