September 17, 2104

Remolding

After my youngest son moved out, two years ago, I decided it was time to remodel the inside of my home. Before, I started, I thought about the future and how  in the next few years my son will be confined to a wheelchair, and will need to move back home so I may care for him. That meant, having all of the doors in the house adapted for wheelchair accessibility and the bathtub modified for easy in easy out access. Eight months later, that part of the remodeling process was complete. 

Next, time to paint, I started with the kitchen, I picked out a pleasant shade of yellow. I thought it was a fine shade of yellow. Apparently I was wrong, a friend told me it wasn’t a warm color, a warm color what the heck is a warm color.  After she explained the difference, I decide to let her repaint the wall, I sure wasn’t. Painting the front room and down the hall was a breeze, I bribed my son and daughter in-law into helping me with that task.

The bedrooms, the carpeted bedrooms were three boys romped and played for 11 years. I couldn’t hardly wait to get those stained, worn carpet removed and hardwood installed. I ‘am 13 months into the remolding project and all is well. It’s taking more time than I thought, but that’s okay, I ‘am doing most all the work myself. All, I have left, is to paint my bedroom and bath, then the inside of my home will be complete.

 

On Duty

 

September 16,

Well, I can’t think of anything to write about, so I will just write about my day on duty. It started off with my alarm sounding at 5:40 a.m. ugh, that is way too early, and it’s still dark out I thought to myself.  I slowly rolled out of bed, got ready for work, fed and water the dogs. Then I was off for another exciting day at the fire station. Now, some days may be exciting, some not so much.  With this job, you never know when you may be toned out for a house fire, car accident or medical emergency.  Or, you may spend the whole 24 hours not turning a wheel.

Work starts at 7:00 a.m. first thing that has to be done, I check my gear making sure I have all my personal protective equipment. Then, it’s time to check my apparatus, a 45 ft. long, 10 ft. wide, and 12 ft. high with a 95 ft. platform truck.  All the medical bags, air packs, and equipment this usually takes a couple of hours.

Then we spent the next two hours training on pump operations, which is something I enjoy since my main job is that of a pump operator. Training is a big part of our job, whether we are training on medical, pump operation, extraction, or fire extinguishment. After lunch we ran two medical calls. I spent some time ordering fire prevention material and contacting the elementary schools in town, to schedule time for the fire department to come visit the 1^st and 2^nd grade classes during Fire Prevention Week.

Well, so far this shift has been slow and that’s okay, but, I still have 11 more hours to go before my shift is over.  A lot can still happen.

 

Jobs

September 15,

As I was reading through the responses to question “What are your goals in life after college?” I found it interesting how many different types of employment, some are seeking after college. This got me to thinking about the different jobs I have had over the years. My first job was nothing spectacular, but, for a 15 year old, washing dishes part time for a local home town dinner wasn’t a bad gig.  At age 17, I worked as a printing press operator at OTC during the summer, a nanny for two young girls during the school year.

After graduation, I accepted my first full time job designing and printing real estate brochures for Stout Realty.  Where I remained for 4 years until the company went out of business. Then I accepted employment with Bass Pro, where I worked 3rd shift until my second son was born. At that time I chose to open an in home daycare, so I may stay home with my children. I continued with the daycare until my youngest son entered kindergarten.

After returning to the work force, I held down several different jobs, including a donut maker at Casey’s General Store. That job, lasted until a morning when my fellow coworkers and I were held at gunpoint by a masked robber. After that unpleasant experience, I decide to seek other employment. I went to work for the school system as an AmeriCorps reading coach, until the 2 year term ended. At that time I continued with the school system as a health care provider for two years.

Then finally I landed what I think is the perfect job, a full time firefighter/EMT. A position I have proudly held for the last 13 years and hope to have for at least 7 more. Firefighting wasn’t what I originally planned to do when I applied for a volunteer position with the department. I just wanted to run medical calls, but, in this town you have to do both, fight fires and medical. So, after many hours of training on both medical and firefighting, I was hired as the first female firefighter in my town.

Change of Seasons

September 14, 2014

Change of Seasons

Before I got off duty this morning, at the fire station. I was thinking about what to write for my daily blog. Shortly after going outside to my car, I felt the brisk, cool Sunday morning air that reminded me of the upcoming change of seasons. I will defiantly miss summer and the fun I have had over the past several months with friends and family on the lake. Or camping and hiking at Roaring River State Park.

There is just something about fall and winter that delights me. I am confident, it’s not the cold, snow, icy weather we have experienced in the past, or last year’s polar vortex. I believe, it’s the fall activities I enjoy the most. Such as sitting by a warm crackling bonfire or the pleasure of attending some of the small town fall festivals and craft shows in the area. I do know one thing for sure, I definitely enjoy the delicious treats of fall, such as pumpkin spice donuts from Casey’s General store, or the taste of hot cinnamon apple cider.

Before long, it’ll be time for the holidays. A time to spend visiting with family and friends, sharing experiences of the past summer.  Thanksgiving is a time when my sons, parents, brother and sister, niece and nephews get together for dinner at my parents’ home. The only problem this year, is I will be on duty at the fire station. And that’s okay, there will always be next year.

I am off duty for Christmas this year, which makes me very happy. Christmas now days in my home is a little different, my sons have all grown up and moved away. I don’t decorate as much as I used to when the boys were younger, no real reason it’s just not as much fun. I hope soon to have several reasons to decorate, grandchildren.  That will put the fun back into decorating.

                                                                                                                                                                                

It Takes Practice

September 13, 2014

It Takes Practice

 Over the past few weeks, I ‘am becoming more and more discouraged with my writing abilities. It takes me two, or more hours just to write 300 words. This is ridiculous, I ‘am spending too much time on writing assignments. That I am neglecting my house work, yard work, and most of all time with family and friends.

As I was reading through this week’s reading assignments, I was intrigued with the article “It Takes Practice”.  In the article, the author stated how she too struggled in the beginning with writing, but that after time, discipline and practice she was able to write with fluency.   

In the article, the author challenged the readers to think of some things they are good at, and how they were able to accomplishments these things.  I started thinking about my job, and how we are required to put on your turn out gear and SCBA in less than 2 minutes. I remember how difficult this task was for me when I first started in the fire service. After some time and lots of practice I was able to complete my task in the allotted time.

 I thought about the time I played basketball team, we would spend hours every day practicing until we were able to run plays with ease. This has got me to thinking, I am going use the same mind set on writing. As I did with putting on my gear and basketball. I am going to keep practicing spending time everyday writing, and if the author of this article is right I should be able to write quicker and with more fluency.

Know Your Audience

September 13, 2014

 

Getting to know your audience, was an assignment I enjoyed. There was a wide range of questions and responses, which provided me insight into my audience that I will be working with throughout the semester.  I found it interesting how diverse some of the questions were. For instance, some questions required deep thought and personal reflection, such as “What drives you as an individual? Are you driven from past experiences or future expectations?” While other questions were more playful and carefree, such as “In an apocalyptic scenario, what Disney character would you most want to be paired with?” This shows me the audience is not only serious about writing, they are also open-minded and easy going.

I thought the responses to the question “What are your goals in life after college” were interesting. Everyone seem to have a plan in mind about what he or she wants to do after college, and are working hard to achieve those goals. I realized that despite our different back grounds, ages, and life experiences we have a lot in common.  We are all attending college classes either on- line or seated to building a better future for their families, land the job of our dreams, or for personal self- improvement.

While, we may never meet in person, this exercise has allowed us all to get to know each another through written word.  I believe because of this exercise, I will be more comfortable sharing my writing assignments with the class. I feel the knowledge I have gained from reading the responses to the question, I won’t be judged or criticized for my inadequate writing skills. I am confident, I will receive constructive positive criticism from my audience, which will help me succeed in becoming a better write.

 

The sound of music

                                 Just recently as I was driving to work, a song came on the radio that I remembered listening to when I was in my early twenties.  What had happened, was earlier that morning my 23 year old son had been driving my car, and had changed the radio station. When I heard the song “Liven on a Pray” by Bon Jovi, I started thinking about the different kinds of music I had listened to over the years. From the lullabies my mother sang to me as an infant.  To my preschool years of singing “The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round” or singing “Jesus Loves Me” in Sunday school.

By the early to mid-70’s my teenage years, I remember listing to music from the Bee gees, Shaun Cassidy, and Leif Garret. Unless my parents were home or in the car, then we would listen to country music. Usually music from artist like Charlie Pride, Tammy Wynette or Donna Fargo.

Then the 80’s rolled around, it was time to Rock N Roll. My husband and enjoyed listening to and attending concerts of AC/DC, Def Leppard, Metallica, and Guns N’ Roses.  Then in the mid 80’s it happened, parenthood, what an amazing time. I went from listing and attended rock concerts to singing lullabies.  Before I knew it, I was back to sing “The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round” and “Jesus loves me” with my children.  As my sons were growing up, I noticed them listening to and enjoying some of the same performers and bands that my husband and I enjoyed when we were younger.