When It Rains...It Pours

Yesterday and today have proved very interesting indeed. Martha has finally gotten into a full time job with Rural Metro of Syracuse, and is very excited that she will now be able to even visit the dentist after her benefits kick in. Today, she even got a phone call asking her to come in and teach English for the day at the middle school. It's really nice to see her happy again. She looks like she's finally settling in a little bit, and is starting to enjoy herself a bit more.

Our local news crew also came to the firehouse to do a story on the increasing amount of grass fires in the area. Martha and I made the 11-o-clock news, and were able to help out cleaning up our equipment and getting ready for the grass fire season. Drill was at 7, and since it was just maintenance we got home around 8:30.

Happy St. PaRtrick's Day

St. Patrick's day was pretty uneventful for us this year. I decided to celebrate Martha and my Irish heritage by cooking an authentic dinner of Irish beef stew with a Guinness sause, along with Irish soda bread. It was a very good dinner, and we all sat around watching Boondock Saints in true St. Patty's tradition. All was well, and Martha and I even got to bed at a decent hour...until:

"Central Square Fire/Rescue, SOVAC Ambulance, Interstate 81 Northbound mile marker 101, 2 car MVA. One car rolled over into a guiderail with two occupants, one with a possible hand amputation. Other vehicle in the median, bystander states car is on fire." ...needless to say, you move pretty fast when the dispatch sounds like this. Let this serve as a public service message to everyone...if you drink and drive, you are putting yourself, and others, at extreme risk. PLEASE don't do it. It always ends badly.

After treating the patients on scene, Martha went to the hospital with the ambulance to help the medic with patient care. I stayed behind with the rig totreat the other patient, get them loaded, clean up a bit and get traffic moving again. It took until about 4am to get Martha back from the hospital, and the lack of sleep made the next day interesting for both of us.

The past few days have been great for Martha and I. Martha had a job interview with SOVAC, and after her performance at the St. Patty's day accident, (they kept saying how impressed they were) it looks like she has a good shot. She also got everything set up for substitute teaching, but is still awaiting board approval. My friend Tom came home for the night on thursday, so he, Kyle, and I went in the hottub and hung out for a while at my house. It's always nice to see your friends, especially when they are closer to you than brothers. As far as jobs go for me, I haven't heard anything, and I'm really wondering where there is left to apply.

Last night my luck came to an end. I've always used the excuse that I shouldn't have to do dishes because it is dangerous...but last night I proved it... Damn knife. I now have a 1 inch laceration to my palm, which is deap enough to cause severe muscle cramping, therefore becoming a pain in more places than my hand. At least it's the left one...

It's a beautiful day today though :-D

Sniff Sniff...Cough Cough

Over the past week or so, Martha has been fighting off a cold which included a runny nose, severe cough, and some vertigo. Yesterday, my immune system finally had enough of the germ bombardment, and I also came down with a similar cold. Ah the joys of spring...

A few days, some Nyquil, and a little bit of TLC later, Martha and I are almost back to normal. Tomorrow we will be heading back to Oneonta for Relay for Life. We are both very excited, and can't wait to see friends and help support cancer research.

Weeks of stress, Weekends of Bliss

The National Collegiate EMS Foundation held its 16th annual conference in Washington DC from the 27th of February to the 1st of March. Martha and I left New York on that Friday, and made good time getting to DC around 2. We explored the city, saw the monuments, and even got to see president Obama land in the presidential helicopter on the White House lawn. This being my first trip to DC, I was very excited.



The conference itself was a blast. We learned alot of new things and it was nice to hang out with some of our friends who we don't get to see often. I also found my dream job while i was down there. Prince William County Virginia Fire Department set up a recruiting station at the conference, and I had the opportunity to talk to a lieutenant and new recruit. They informed me that the hiring process has begun for this year, with tests on March 28th and June 6th. Starting salary is $44,080 per year, and the benefits are excellent. I have signed up for the June 6th exam, and I'm anxiously awaiting a responce from the recruiter.

After a very stressful week of classes and job interviews, Martha and I met her parents in Mass. for this past weekend. We played cards, shoveled snow, and even made a trip to the Norman Rockwell Museam in Stockbridge. It was a great time, and helped us to de-stress a little bit.

Now begins spring break for me...I will be working a 12 hour shift at SOVAC (southern oswego volunteer ambulance corps) on Tuesday, and both of us plan to make the trip down to Oneonta Thursday night to attend Oneonta State Relay For Life.

And the job search continues...