Well, I'm home from FurFright. What a blast of a con...I went overbudget a bit, but I had enough saved up and I was pretty sure I was going to anyway. Next up, making it through this hurricane. Going to sleep well in this bed, I doubt I'll see it anytime this week.

For everyone in EMS, you know what that means. For everyone else...I had my first patient die while I was treating them. CPR and the works. Taking it better than I thought I would...but, it's not the easiest thing in the world, not by a long shot.

Okay, so my job isn't too great. I work as a bagger at a grocery store. I don't get enough hours to support myself, it's tough on my feet, I have to constantly smile and deal with people, blah blah blah, but one thing I definitely don't need to do is complain about the job. The challenges that face me are temporary, and need to be overcome, rather than be resigned to always being my companions.


Today, there was a man in who was buying groceries. He looks fairly young, and strong, but he's wheelchair bound. Every time he comes in, he refuses all help. Not one bagger has been able to bag his groceries, he always waves us off. Then he balances the bags on his lap, sometimes going over his head, and wheels back out to his car, where he loads them in himself, and then gets into the car to be driven home by a caretaker, who he also doesn't allow to help him ( besides the driving ).

I think it's pretty obvious, whether this man realizes it or not...he's teaching anybody observant a valuable lesson. I don't think I need to say what it is.

Eh, why not?

Okay, so the ambulance association told me that I need to sign up for shifts or else I'm going to get booted from the association for inactivity. I go out of my way to make the meeting, and sign up for shifts...and when the schedule is posted, my number isn't there! That means that they didn't put me on the damn schedule...so I'm screwed either way.


What the actual hell?

Forgot to take my bike out of my mom's car, so now I get to walk to work. At least the weather's nice for it ^^

Haha, four hours of sleep.
Haha, suddenly shift at work.
Haha, one can of Monster.
Haha, why am I laughing so much?

Finally passed one of those two stations for my EMT test. Now I just need to remediate the other with an instructor and the practicals are done. Next up, the written test.

Where will you be?
Gaming rooms, with my mate, everywhere

Where are you staying?
Nearby Hotel

Traveling Plans?
Drive to hotel

Arrival Date:
Thursday night, October 25th

Leaving Date:
Sunday, October 28th

Who will you be with?
My mate and friends.

Hanging out with/meeting up with/saying hi to:
Everyone who lets me

Suiting?
No suit, so no.

Parties?
Nope

Do you do free art?
Nope

What is your gender?
Male

How old are you?
18

Are you taken? Are you looking for a 'mate'?
*holds up his engagement ring* I don't think I need to answer this question.

Can I touch you?
No.

Can I touch your friends?
No.

Can I talk about/do drugs in front of you?
I don't care about talk, but do anything and I'm going to walk away.

Can I invite you out for food/fun/etc?
I guess?

Can I come with you for food/fun/etc?
So long as you pay for your share.

Can I take pictures with you?
Yeah.

Are you nice?
I like to think I am.

Can I stalk you?
Uh, no.

Can I buy you lots of drinks?
So long as it's root beer.

Can I hug or snuggle you?
Hug yes, snuggle no.

May I ask you for a Dance?
I have the dancing skills of a quadriplegic brick. Do so at your own peril

Can I talk to you?
Go right ahead.

Can I give you stuff?
Maybe?

Can I do naughty things to you?
No, those are strictly reserved for my fiance only.

Planning to get commissions?
Maybe, maybe not.

How can I find you?
Tall guy, usually gaming, with a custom chainmail engagement ring.

Argh...I really, really hate driving. Gotta keep to the speed limits, gotta keep to the speed limits...while having Dad yelling at me for riding the break, and drivers illegally passing me because I'm going 25MPH and the sign says to go 25. I really hate driving, I really do...

I don't think I need to say what the question was.

No idea why I'm posting this at 2am, but, it works. Finally managed to get myself stable, with the help of my angelphin, Faelan. Tomorrow's the day of the Rocky Hill Furmeet, so that should be a nice way to recover from that awful weekend.

Car accidents, deaths, and a severe fight with my father, all came to head over three days. It tore down months, even years, of effort and several accomplishments I could take pride in, all in three short days.

To the bright side...I couldn't be prouder of Faelan for how he's been holding up for the past few weeks. He's pieced me back together a few times by now, and much as I hate that it needs to be done...I'm glad he's doing it. Between him, and how things have been going at the new job....not everything's gone to hell yet.

FurFright's coming up, and that'll be a blast. Hope to see/snug/glomp some of you there, I'm sure it'll be a convention to remember.

Going in for my fourth, and final EMT re-rest on October 13th. I have to pass, end of story. I will pass...because this is about ready to destroy me.

I'm getting a bit tired of seeing my old high school classmates as the victims at car accidents. Bright side...they live.

Okay...it's the third class, and I'm already hating it. And it's not for the course material, and it's not for the instructor...it's the other students.

It absolutely drives me up a wall to see a bunch of 16 year olds who don't take it seriously that they will soon be able to drive a 2 ton metal and plastic tank that can kill somebody. Honestly, I think the driving age should be 18, because they just...don't....get...it. I'm half expecting to be peeling some of them off the road in the future, or others like them...not a happy thought.


*rage*

Today was my last day at the Amusement Park. I'm glad to see it go, and won't miss it too too much. No more coming home covered in grime and sweat, at the very least.

With some luck and a lot of work, my job at the grocery store should go well...they've got me scheduled for more training and I'm excited.

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF- *shoots trackpad*


Okay, Black Mesa mod. Incredible piece of work, I love it and am amazed with the quality that was put into it. But...damn, I need a mouse. Badly.

Okay, so yesterday was a complete and utter meltdown of sorts...all the pressures I've been under got to me all at once. Not fun, but it got dealt with and I pulled myself back together.


Today, things already seemed to be improving. My new job at the grocery store is going beyond my wildest expectations...they're already cross-training me on the register and the supervisor loves me for having the attitude of "give me more work, more hours". She doesn't know my motivation, but that's fine. She keeps saying I'm great and such...who knows? Maybe this place was just what I was looking for...



The title also refers to an old metal song I remembered today, that I absolutely love. It's called The Phoenix, and it's by Mastercastle. Give them a look.

First night of driving school. Got a laugh out of the fact that it was all to explain the state's Teen Driving Laws, which don't apply to me because I'm over 18 and they're for 16 and 17 year olds. I literally could've stayed home and I would know exactly the same amount of information on driving laws compared to having gone to the class.

Hopefully it gets interesting soon...

Judging by the post nasal drip and the hacking cough...yeah, sick. I usually don't get sick that often, so when I get sick, it's bad. Like, the coughing has already strained muscles in my lower back bad. Joy...I don't qualify for sick time at work yet. Just gonna have to take cough suppressants and say it's allergies, I need the money too much to go home without pay.

Bad news is, I didn't pass those stations, again. So I have to find somebody to more or less re-teach me them from the beginning...not a fun prospect.


But the good news is, I got a new job! That's not seasonal! I started work there on Tuesday, and by the looks of things, I've fit myself right in there. They seem to like me and I do the job best I can. Hopefully it lasts for a good while.

Next week classes start, the week after that I add ambulance shifts to my schedule. So busy dragon will be quite busy. Figuring it's going to be 50-60 hour weeks soon, which I've never really faced before. Hope I pull it off! ^^

Okay, went and did EMT practicals for the third time now. I'm nervous as all hell, at this point I'm just praying I passed one of those last two stations...that's all I need. I'm surprised how much this has shaken my confidence, taking these things, but after the week I've had, I know I'll get there somehow.


In other news, I got a non-temp job. They marked it as part time for now, but I'm going to make my way up to full time soon enough. Still minimum wage, but a job's a job and hours are hours.

So, after a lot of swearing, lots of looking stuff up, and some solid time contemplating abandoning the project, I finally have what I think is a playable map for my RPG campaign, complete with a pre-made character and encounter scenario. Now I just need to recruit a beta tester...

Yesterday was my first day off in almost a week, which was nice because work had put me through a hell week ( over 40 paid hours, close to 50 if counting meal breaks and such ). The mate was over, so I wanted to show him one of the more beautiful hiking destinations in one of the town parks.

This particular spot is very beautiful, it's a stone pulpit that rests at the bottom of a 40 foot sheer rock face. The Native Americans used to perform ceremonies there, and then the settlers from the Old World carried that tradition on. The way the area is built, if a bunch of people all sang together, the sound could echo out across the valleys...

But it's been ruined by vandals. Benches smashed, their support rocks callously tossed around. The historic pulpit, toppled down an embankment...the entire place is ruined.

Just the fact that someone did this...completely and utterly enrages me. Who ruins a beautiful location, who desecrates an open air church that's known to be at the very least 300 years old, even if it isn't really used anymore?

Okay, everyone's got one. That little thing that, no matter how silly it is, always manages to push your button and piss you off.


Mine is people calling me young. I know, it seems moronic...I mean, I'm 18. Yes, I'm young. But I don't need to be reminded of that! It bothers the hell out of me, makes me feel like the effort I'm putting into things is somehow devalued because it's being put in by an inexperienced, brand new adult.