My Blog

So I thought I would take a few moments to explain my blog, why I do things a particular way and not others and so forth. My first disclaimer is: I believe that your personal blog is just that, yours and personal. Do with it what you will and so long as you are getting something out of it, that's what it's all about. My second disclaimer is that there are no absolutes. Just because I say "I don't do....." doesn't mean I haven't or I won't. It's just a general rule.

First about my blog that you should know that I don't blog as a diary of my day to day life. That may change once we have kids because it can be an excellent record of the day to day activities of children that can have a nasty habit of appearing as wedding stories. My blog is usually about something that is on my mind; be it a news story, an observation, or other things of that ilk.

Second is my blog title. It is in no way egomaniacal or narcissistic. My first blog details why I chose my title and if you are curious, please by all means check it out.

Third is the look. Simply put, I don't know how to change it. Pernell has promised to help me if we can ever jive our schedules. So for now, it will continue to look as it always does.

Next is timing. I try to blog about once a week; that's been my plan from the start. Sometimes it's more, sometimes less but overall I do OK. In just about 40 weeks (total) of blogging this makes entry number 55. Also, blogging for me is almost an event. I make tea, formulate what I want to say (I've usually been thinking about it for some time anyway), sit down and blog. The blog process for me is at least an hour, usually closer to two.

Finally, I think, are the comments. I enjoy getting comments, but do not respond to them on my blog. Given the choice, I always prefer face to face conversation. Please don't be upset or offended. This is not likely going to change either. Also with comments, please affix your name. It doesn't have to be a real name but I do want to know where the comment is coming from. My mother-in-law for example doesn't use her name but I know what name she uses. If the comment is negative and has no traceable name, it gets deleted.

I have no problems with people disagreeing with me. I rather enjoy spirited discussion. As an example, Steve C. and I had a great talk over an issue we have opposing views on. Neither of us changed the others mind even one iota, but it was still a great discussion.

So to sum it all up....I enjoy blogging and I hope you enjoy what I write about. I am rather enjoying doing it and hope to continue for a long while. Hopefully one day soon, Pernell and I can sit down and jazz it up a little.

Thanks for stopping by.

Base Picks

Every year, we at Hamilton EMS do what is called the "base-pick". We are given a copy of the master schedule for the coming year and then by seniority we pick which squad, base, and/or partner we want to work with next year.

This year has been slightly different. Instead of taking months to do this, it has been crunched to just 5 days. What now happens is each member is given a date and time (with a ten minute window) to call the guy recording everything, an the onus is on us to make sure we call at the correct time and date. At the end of each day (picks happened between 1200 and 1600 each afternoon) Rob (the recorder) emailed to everyone an update on who has picked where so you can see what's open.

To a casual observer, this is no big deal. I however, have been agonizing over this for days. Why? You might ask because it's a good and fair question. I'll try to explain why this decision has been driving me nuts.

First, I knew I wanted out of my current base. We are right in the downtown core and I am getting sick an tired of what I call the "John St. bull". Anyone that has heard me speak of this knows what I am talking about and if you don't, just ask me and I'll delight in filling you in.

I've been working with Darren now for almost 2 years and don't get me wrong, I would still really enjoy working with him, but he still wants to stay at John St., and as I said, I don't. So when picking a new spot, there is a multitude of things to consider, and I'll try to explain them.

First is base. What are the start times? Where is it? Close to home? Do I need to take the highway to get there? Or another option is to pick a "float" spot. Floats fill in at various bases when medics are sick or take holidays.

Also to consider is the squad you pick. I was lucky that I got to see where most of the medics senior to me have picked because there are some of them that I just don't want to work with; that's just life. I'm sure there are some that don't want to work with me for a full year; not everyone clicks with everyone else. I can only think of a couple of medics lower than me I don't want to work with so that's not really a large consideration. To keep the same rotation, I would have to pick squad 2 or 4 which do 2 weeks of days and two weeks of nights (I'm currently on squad 2). Another option for the same rotation is squad 6 which works straight days. I've said for awhile now that I would like to try straight days.

Another consideration is your partner. For those who have never done it, it is hard to imagine what spending 42 hours a week with someone is like. You could argue that you spend that and more with a spouse and I would counter that you likely had years to decide that you wanted that kind of commitment to each other. Here I've got days.

For those that work in an office, pick one person in the office and wonder what it would be like to sit beside them for 42 hours a week. It isn't easy. Jaci often refers to Darren as my work wife. I will say that I have been very fortunate.

Two years ago Darren and I decided to work together on a whim and I think I would be hard pressed to find a better partner. We also became quick and fast friends. We have eaten in each other’s homes, know each other’s families, I was at the dedication of his first son (he now has two more sons and a daughter who are 6 days old now); and he was one of twp people from work invited to my wedding (where he sang a lovely rendition of Edelweiss). Not that I wouldn't have liked more, but we had an intentionally small wedding. Darren and I know each other well enough that we can communicate with few or no words and that takes time and a willingness to develop.

Also to consider is who on the disabled list picked and where. For example, John Doe picked a nice spot but he's hurt his back and won't be back on the road for at least a year. This means that his spot will become open to others on that squad. So if I pick that squad and have decent seniority, I may get a good spot for that reason.

Yet another consideration for me was my sweet Jaci. With her in school and eventually teaching; I thought that a straight days squad would be preferable so I would be home every night. I much prefer sleeping in my own bed nestled with my love than trying to catch a few Z's in the front cab of the ambulance. It also makes for a healthier sleep schedule.

So many things to consider and I thought of them all. Hence the agonizing. Jaci was very patient with me during this process and helped me considerably.

So the end result? I opted for squad 6 (straight days) in a float position. There is an excellent likelihood that a spot I want will open up on that squad. I'll keep you posted.

Be well all.

I'm sorry, what did you say?!?

So I have this idea for a rant. Something that has been grinding my gears for some time and this morning I have decided to finally put my thoughts onto electronic paper.

My rant du jour is on language; and bad language at that. Not just cursing, although I will attempt to address that, but on the everyday use of the Queen's English.

What brought this particular pimple to a head was a discussion I was having with my beautiful bride about a history assignment she was doing for school. We were talking about Canada's role in World War II and MacKenzie-King's (in)famous "Conscription if necessary but not necessarily conscription". Needless to say I was thrilled to be having this kind of conversation with my love where we are both actively engaging our intellect (hers is greater than mine I'm proud to say).

I was able to find for her his actual speech where he explains to everyday Canadians about the referendum that will happen that will morally release him from a campaign promise. If you want to read the speech, check it out here. This is where the idea for this rant really starts to come to the forefront.

MacKenzie King was an educated man and he was addressing a population where only a select few had any post-secondary education. Many did not finish highschool, yet he speaks to these masses without "dumbing down" his language. Why? Our parents were taught how to speak and comprehend the English language; that's why.

They were taught at school and by the examples of their parents. They didn't have powerful tools like computers, internet and spell checking. They used books, spelling tests, essay writing and other methods to produce adults that could effectively communicate orally or in writing. Shocking isn't it?

Just last night at work I was watching people come out of a dance club and an example of some words I heard the most of: dawg, 'ho, gee (which is actually a word, but it usually pertains to horses), dis (with dissed and dissing) as well as a host of curses and swearing enough to make a sailor blush. Also, many would say "Word" like it was a complete sentence. I don't get it. What word?

The argument can easily be made that the inability to effectively communicate easily leads to frustration. Frustration leads to anger and anger leads to the dark side (as per Master Yoda). Not at all good.

So where did education take a left? Who decided this was "ok" and allowed it to continue to the point where it is now rampant? I don't know. I do know that I don't like it. I also know that my ability to change it is practically non-existent. This will all change if course when I become dictator but for the mean time I just bang my head into the wall.

Is it because it's easier to speak that way? Less thought makes life better? I don't know and I can only guess. Any time I try to ask people why they speak like that they just laugh (you know, LOL, LMAO and the like).

As for swearing, wow could I ever go on! I'll grant you that I have been guilty often of swearing; and that in no way excuses anything but I will still get my two cents in on this topic. I have often said and have tried to teach youngsters that swearing is used by those that don't have the intellect or vocabulary to communicate effectively. Barring the occasional stubbed toe or sudden fright; there really is no need for it.

Over the past few years Jaci has been helping me with my language choices in that I have always tried not to swear around ladies and as she's always around, my swearing instances have therefore taken a dramatic nose dive. With that being said, I have felt my face flush over some things I have heard from kids much too young to know the meaning of those kinds of words.

Is there anything that can be done? Is there enough soap to wash all the mouths? I don't know. The only thing I think I can do is try to set the best example that I can, particularly when we have kids.

At any rate, the hour is long and my eyes are heavy.

Thanks for reading, and be well all.