Lazy summer days...

...bore the tar out of me.

I decided this morning that I wasn't getting up to my alarm. This is by no means an unusual occurrence, as I firmly believe morning shouldn't happen until around 12pm. So, I got up at 1230. Wandered around looking for my glasses which I'd knocked off my bed sometime in the night. Then I made coffee.

I'm of the opinion that the inventor of coffee should be knighted, sainted and given a public day so we can celebrate.

Anyway, since I know we'll be taking a "I bet you haven't cracked a book since EMT class" test on the first day of medic school I actually went back to my old EMT book to review the bits that I'd had trouble with. Namely cardiac emergencies. For some reason, cardiac calls freak me out.

I think it has to do with the fact that my second ever call on an ALS truck was a cardiac arrest. My medic told me later that her first ever (serious) respiratory call left her nervous whenever she gets one now. We spend respiratory calls with me watching the patient and her watching the road.

Regardless, I read the medication/pharmacology chapter of my EMT book, and part of the cardiac chapter. It only makes me more eager to start class again, because now that I've seen a (tiny) bit, I -know- there is so much more to these calls that I'm missing.

I know that they're not as simple as the scenario's we ran through in class. For example, this is rarely the case:
  PT: My chest hurts.
  QLC: Oh! Your chest hurts! Let me check your ABC's, decide which hospital we are going to, then I shall perform a focus exam while getting SAMPLE.
  PT: My chest hurts. It's a 10/10.
  QLC: Well, from what I gathered, I can tell you you're probably having a cardiac event. Here, chew up this aspirin and since you have been prescribed Nitro, why don't I assist you with taking those?
  PT: Oh, that's lovely. My chest doesn't hurt any more, but  now I have a headache!

No, never that simple. After a couple runs, I could fumble through setting up the ECG - though I still have no idea how to read them. And I figured out how to spike a bag pretty easily, and pass things. But I want to know more!

I want school to start!

I want my ambulance rides back!

I even want my captain's chair back. I figured out how to make it into a roller-coaster feeling seat when we go lights and sirens.

I just came to a random conclusion: It's a good thing I'm not filthy rich, I'd die of boredom if there was nothing to get me out of the house. Huzzah for school.

Almost the end...

Meeting up with the last of my classmates that have to pass the Readiness exam today, to help them study. They have one chance to pass it (and the class) and since passing is required to take the NREMT-B we're gonna knuckle down.

Tomorrow I have my A&P final, so I need to review that as well. Yay for action potentials and calcium (has to do with muscles, I know that much) and the endocrine system. But hey! Then it's break!!

I can't wait to dig my snowboard out of storage, and take Shortie sledding. I'm so EXCITED!

Busy week

Hey! It's Saturday! Welcome to the weekend!

Monday was fun. I scored well on my last chapters test of my EMT book (89%!!) then spent AAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL day Tuesday reviewing for the skills practical of my registry exam. My class and I (six of us total) down a 12 pack of Mountain Dew, a 6 pack of pepsi, untold number of sodas/energy drinks from the vending machine and a bag full of candy and snacks. It was fun. Then we took our test - and we ALL passed. Even me!

Wednesday was the highlight of the week, with three major tests (one of which was scheduled for next week!!) but it ended well. I passed my anatomy lab practical on nervous and endocrine tissue, despite thinking that all the slides looked exactly the same. I also passed my surprise final, which wasn't as hard as I thought it'd be, and it saves me a trip into school next week.

But the best part of all? I rocked my Readiness Exam for EMT. We had to have a 70% minimum to pass. I took the cake with 84% and then we all went to Applebees for happy hour.

I think I slept most of Thursday after watching LotR and other movies all night at a friends. Thursday night was a repeat as we finished LotR FotR and TTT, then watched Clash of the Titans (twice, as we got distracted talking and it replayed) and crashed out to King Arthur sometime around dawn.

Then I found out my little brother, who I haven't seen in more than a year, is going to come TONIGHT to see me. Then I'm giving him a ride out to his rig...can you say ROAD TRIP?

All in all, it's been a lovely-if slightly stressful week. Only one more test and it's Christmas Break!