"My momma mapped out the road that she knows, which hands to shake, which ones to hold. In my hand-me-down Mercury, ready to roll, she knew that I had to go and hang out, make lots of noise, and lay out, lay with a boy. Make the mistakes that she made 'cause she knew all along, I was already gone." - Sugarland, Already Gone
"I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited, but I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it. I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded that for me it isn't over yet. Nevermind, I'll find someone like you. I wish nothing but the best for you. Don't forget me I beg, I remember you saying, sometimes it lasts in love and sometimes it hurts instead." - Adele, Someone Like You
"Make me your radio, and turn me up when you feel low. This melody is meant for you, so sing along with the stereo." - Gym Class Heroes, Stereo Hearts
"And if by chance this brings you cheer, maybe one day you'll bring me a beer. Or not to mention my favorite drink, a margadaquiriscrewalottaonthebeach...So here's to cheap whiskey, and fine wine. Buying shots and pick up lines...Hey hey hey, what's so wrong with one more drinkin' song? Hold up your cups and sing along. To one more drinkin' song." - Jerrod Niemann, One More Drinkin' Song
Friday, November 4, 2011
The Road to 911
People who knew me back when are a little surprised at the career I ended up in. Not because they can't see me doing it but because it is such a long ways from where I wanted to be.
When I was in high school I really had no clue what I wanted to be. Growing up I always thought I'd be a veterinarian. I guess most animal lovers grow up thinking that's where they'll be. I was a little daunted by the lengthy time to spend in school. But I thought I could handle it. My junior year in high school I took a general veterinary medicine class, one that vet assistants take, at my local community college. You watch a couple of general surgeries, learn how to give vaccinations, trim nails, take a temperature, etc. It was a great class but during the semester our family dog, Lucy, passed away. Now we had several dogs, we always have. But Lucy was special. She was my mom's Jack Russell Terrier and she was so smart and so sweet and so much more than a pet. When she died my mom was devastated and my entire family was pretty shaken up. As much as I wanted to be able to help animals, I didn't think I could possibly handle telling a family that their beloved dog had passed away. I couldn't deal with it. So I abandoned that career path.
Without any idea of what I wanted to do I took a bunch of goofy career tests and skill placement surveys and things. I really had no idea what to do post high school. I felt like since I was a "smart kid," AP classes and high SAT scores, I had to go off to a four year university but didn't know where or what for.
My mom worked at the local paper as an editor and my senior year they had no high school interns. She convinced me to be their intern and do write some profiles of students for the paper. And I was good at it! Not just that but I liked it. I had long enjoyed chasing ambulances and being "in the know" about all the county goings-ons. And I absolutely loved writing.
I thought journalism would be the place for me. I didn't really want to get a journalism degree so much as an English degree with a focus in journalism. My favorite types of stories during my internship, and the part-time job that followed, were the "fluff" stories. Meeting a little old man who bred unique flowers and doing a story. Learning the in-depth parts of local dairy farming and its future. Writing a feature on a kid who worked to give back to the community. I loved getting out and meeting people and learning about them and sharing their story. LOVED it.
So off to college I went! I went to UNC-Greensboro for two years, which I enjoyed but Greensboro wasn't the place for me. Boone was more my style, laid back and small town. Plus my boyfriend at the time was a student at Appalachian. So I transferred. Of course, the boyfriend and I broke up the month before school started but I was still happier at ASU and that was where I met my hubby. So it all worked out.
The month I graduated from App with my Bachelor's in English with a minor in Communications, I bought a house, moved back to my hometown and got a job at the same paper I had interned at in high school. I had high hopes of one day working for AP and traveling to other countries to cover news. I even had a few things published by the Associated Press. Shortly after joining the newspaper staff, the paper was bought by a new company and a large group of us left to start a new newspaper.
I covered the local police department and the school systems. I still loved writing but I got so burned out working the crazy long hours and dealing with the editor that I absolutely hated. I still loved listening to the scanner and covering the wrecks, drug busts, police reports and other emergency services stuff. But unfortunately that wasn't all I had did. I wanted out of the newspaper business but didn't want to get away from the emergency services activity that I loved so much.
Someone, I don't remember who, suggested that I apply for a dispatch position that had opened at the local police department. It was like a light bulb went off. What a fantastic idea! I decided that I would like working for the county more, since they dispatch not just law enforcement but also fire departments, rescue squads and EMS. I left the paper in the summer of 2008 and started training at the county 911 center and have never looked back.
I LOVE my job. I am so blessed and so thankful that in a time where so many are without employment I not only have a job but a job that I love to do. Of course I have bad days, who doesn't? It isn't the highest paying job nor is it always an easy job. But I don't doubt that it is where I am supposed to be. I've told my husband that even if I didn't have to work and I could stay home with my babies, I would still want to work part-time as a telecommunicator, I love it that much.
I do miss writing, hence the attempt at daily blogging. It feels like it is a good exercise for my brain to put thoughts into print, even if no one ever reads them (which I know sometimes people do). One day it would be great if I could get myself to write something. A novel or collection of short stories. I would absolutely love to be able to. But I have a tendency to get busy and get side-tracked and for my stories to never get finished. So who knows if that will ever happen.
In the mean time, I blog. I try and make myself write some sort of something every day. Even if it's just a thought or a summary of a recent event. As you can see, it doesn't happen as often as I intend. But I try, I really do.
When I was in high school I really had no clue what I wanted to be. Growing up I always thought I'd be a veterinarian. I guess most animal lovers grow up thinking that's where they'll be. I was a little daunted by the lengthy time to spend in school. But I thought I could handle it. My junior year in high school I took a general veterinary medicine class, one that vet assistants take, at my local community college. You watch a couple of general surgeries, learn how to give vaccinations, trim nails, take a temperature, etc. It was a great class but during the semester our family dog, Lucy, passed away. Now we had several dogs, we always have. But Lucy was special. She was my mom's Jack Russell Terrier and she was so smart and so sweet and so much more than a pet. When she died my mom was devastated and my entire family was pretty shaken up. As much as I wanted to be able to help animals, I didn't think I could possibly handle telling a family that their beloved dog had passed away. I couldn't deal with it. So I abandoned that career path.
Without any idea of what I wanted to do I took a bunch of goofy career tests and skill placement surveys and things. I really had no idea what to do post high school. I felt like since I was a "smart kid," AP classes and high SAT scores, I had to go off to a four year university but didn't know where or what for.
My mom worked at the local paper as an editor and my senior year they had no high school interns. She convinced me to be their intern and do write some profiles of students for the paper. And I was good at it! Not just that but I liked it. I had long enjoyed chasing ambulances and being "in the know" about all the county goings-ons. And I absolutely loved writing.
I thought journalism would be the place for me. I didn't really want to get a journalism degree so much as an English degree with a focus in journalism. My favorite types of stories during my internship, and the part-time job that followed, were the "fluff" stories. Meeting a little old man who bred unique flowers and doing a story. Learning the in-depth parts of local dairy farming and its future. Writing a feature on a kid who worked to give back to the community. I loved getting out and meeting people and learning about them and sharing their story. LOVED it.
So off to college I went! I went to UNC-Greensboro for two years, which I enjoyed but Greensboro wasn't the place for me. Boone was more my style, laid back and small town. Plus my boyfriend at the time was a student at Appalachian. So I transferred. Of course, the boyfriend and I broke up the month before school started but I was still happier at ASU and that was where I met my hubby. So it all worked out.
The month I graduated from App with my Bachelor's in English with a minor in Communications, I bought a house, moved back to my hometown and got a job at the same paper I had interned at in high school. I had high hopes of one day working for AP and traveling to other countries to cover news. I even had a few things published by the Associated Press. Shortly after joining the newspaper staff, the paper was bought by a new company and a large group of us left to start a new newspaper.
I covered the local police department and the school systems. I still loved writing but I got so burned out working the crazy long hours and dealing with the editor that I absolutely hated. I still loved listening to the scanner and covering the wrecks, drug busts, police reports and other emergency services stuff. But unfortunately that wasn't all I had did. I wanted out of the newspaper business but didn't want to get away from the emergency services activity that I loved so much.
Someone, I don't remember who, suggested that I apply for a dispatch position that had opened at the local police department. It was like a light bulb went off. What a fantastic idea! I decided that I would like working for the county more, since they dispatch not just law enforcement but also fire departments, rescue squads and EMS. I left the paper in the summer of 2008 and started training at the county 911 center and have never looked back.
I LOVE my job. I am so blessed and so thankful that in a time where so many are without employment I not only have a job but a job that I love to do. Of course I have bad days, who doesn't? It isn't the highest paying job nor is it always an easy job. But I don't doubt that it is where I am supposed to be. I've told my husband that even if I didn't have to work and I could stay home with my babies, I would still want to work part-time as a telecommunicator, I love it that much.
I do miss writing, hence the attempt at daily blogging. It feels like it is a good exercise for my brain to put thoughts into print, even if no one ever reads them (which I know sometimes people do). One day it would be great if I could get myself to write something. A novel or collection of short stories. I would absolutely love to be able to. But I have a tendency to get busy and get side-tracked and for my stories to never get finished. So who knows if that will ever happen.
In the mean time, I blog. I try and make myself write some sort of something every day. Even if it's just a thought or a summary of a recent event. As you can see, it doesn't happen as often as I intend. But I try, I really do.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Trick-Treat!
Halloween this year was a big success.
Evie got to really trick-or-treat for the first time. And she seemed to really get the whole concept. She would say "Trick-treat!" and hold up her bucket. Pretty simple I guess. She loved getting candy and was pretty bummed when the "more candy" part was over and it was time to take off the costume and get ready for bed.
This year Evie dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood. She loved her costume and I was really pleased by how good it looked and how well it fit. I ordered it like two months ago from the website, Costume Express. I had been warned by a friend to order a size larger than I needed in order to have a fitting costume and she was right. I originally wanted to get the girls costumes that sort of went together but I just couldn't find any that I liked that worked.
So Elly was a cat. But a really cute cat I thought! Evie liked Elly's costume too. She ran up to Sissy and patted her head and went on and on about Sissy's tail and Sissy's ears and how cute she was. Of course, Evie was even more excited to learn that Sissy couldn't eat any of her candy. More candy! Yay!
Evie and I talked a lot about Halloween before the day. I'm still disappointed that she wants nothing to do with gutting a pumpkin. But oh well. All last week, Disney and Nick were running their Halloween episodes. So Evie watched a few episodes of Dora celebrating Halloween and Mickey Mouse and Handy Manny, etc. And she and I talked about putting on costumes and going trick-or-treating. So she was ready!
Her excitement over Halloween makes me excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We've already been talking about Santa and her asking him for things that she wants. I want to order the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving movie to watch and talk about Thanksgiving. It might be silly, but holidays are really important to me. Ways to mark and celebrate the changing seasons, the passing years. Reasons to come together with family and participate in annual traditions. I feel like it's important to learn about all holidays. Not just ones that our family necessarily practices. Helps you to learn about different cultures and religions. Expands your horizons and exposes you to completely different ways of life and thinking.
Watching Evie and Josh trod down the road together, going door to door for "More Candy!" was absolutely adorable. This was Josh's first year getting to be home with Evie on Halloween. And he definitely enjoyed it. Keeping up with Evie and Elly next year will be interesting. I will definitely have to come up with something cute for the two of them to wear though!
Evie got to really trick-or-treat for the first time. And she seemed to really get the whole concept. She would say "Trick-treat!" and hold up her bucket. Pretty simple I guess. She loved getting candy and was pretty bummed when the "more candy" part was over and it was time to take off the costume and get ready for bed.
This year Evie dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood. She loved her costume and I was really pleased by how good it looked and how well it fit. I ordered it like two months ago from the website, Costume Express. I had been warned by a friend to order a size larger than I needed in order to have a fitting costume and she was right. I originally wanted to get the girls costumes that sort of went together but I just couldn't find any that I liked that worked.
So Elly was a cat. But a really cute cat I thought! Evie liked Elly's costume too. She ran up to Sissy and patted her head and went on and on about Sissy's tail and Sissy's ears and how cute she was. Of course, Evie was even more excited to learn that Sissy couldn't eat any of her candy. More candy! Yay!
Evie and I talked a lot about Halloween before the day. I'm still disappointed that she wants nothing to do with gutting a pumpkin. But oh well. All last week, Disney and Nick were running their Halloween episodes. So Evie watched a few episodes of Dora celebrating Halloween and Mickey Mouse and Handy Manny, etc. And she and I talked about putting on costumes and going trick-or-treating. So she was ready!
Her excitement over Halloween makes me excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We've already been talking about Santa and her asking him for things that she wants. I want to order the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving movie to watch and talk about Thanksgiving. It might be silly, but holidays are really important to me. Ways to mark and celebrate the changing seasons, the passing years. Reasons to come together with family and participate in annual traditions. I feel like it's important to learn about all holidays. Not just ones that our family necessarily practices. Helps you to learn about different cultures and religions. Expands your horizons and exposes you to completely different ways of life and thinking.
Watching Evie and Josh trod down the road together, going door to door for "More Candy!" was absolutely adorable. This was Josh's first year getting to be home with Evie on Halloween. And he definitely enjoyed it. Keeping up with Evie and Elly next year will be interesting. I will definitely have to come up with something cute for the two of them to wear though!
My favorite parts of the beach
I think my absolute favorite thing about the beach trip, if I had to choose just one moment or part, was Evie's reaction to the ocean. The undeniable awe as she looked out at the never-ending water and her squeals of "OCEAN OCEAN!" as she ran from the waves were so precious. One of the coolest things about having kids is watching them learn and experience new things. And of course seeing the ocean for the first time was definitely an experience for Evie.
Elly is still too young to really care. Sure, she looked at the ocean. Yeah, she sampled the sand. Literally. But it wasn't really something for her to take in. She did enjoy the experience however. I think traveling, to at least some extent is really important. Especially today, when society is so connected. Kids need to experience life beyond their neighborhood and their community.
I highly doubt that Evie will remember this ever-so-precious first beach experience. She will probably be awestruck and overwhelmed the next time she sees the ocean as well. But that's okay. It's something that will certainly stick in my mind. I have a catalog of firsts in my mind from the babies. Evie's first words, her first steps, her first birthday, her first time at the beach. Elly so far just has first smile and first words. But she'll get there!
The next coolest thing from the beach was definitely the aquarium. Evie was all gaga over the mermaids. But for me the best part was totally the sharks.
In case you don't know me very well, I am just a smidgen obsessed with sharks. I'm not sleeping on shark sheets and snuggling with a plush shark at night or anything like that. But sharks are INCREDIBLY fascinating. And cool. And scary as hell. Sharks ate dinosaurs. And thousands of years later here they still are. Eating...whatever and whoever they want. Cause they're sharks. They are really smart. And really dangerous.
I look forward eagerly to shark week every year. And I set my DVR the week before making sure I don't miss anything. And I spend that week at work glued to the Discovery channel. No joke. Like I said. Just a smidgen obsessed. But I haven't ever seen sharks in real life. Not like real sharks. Little black tips and the such yeah. But never like Tiger sharks or bull sharks and I would absolutely LOVE to see a Great White. I read Jaws for the first time when I was in middle school. And I read it annually about the same time as shark week. I guess I should spend more time going to aquariums.
Anyways, Ripley's Aquarium at Myrtle Beach was pretty cool. I really, really loved the tank that you walked under/through and looked up at all the sharks and fish and even a sea turtle! I really hate that my camera batteries died and I didn't get more pictures. Because it was really cool. There were 6 foot long Tiger sharks and big Nurse sharks. The Tigers just ceaselessly circled the tank with their empty black eyes. I loved it!
Evie liked the little sharks. And of course the sea turtle. But she was much more fascinated by the fish tanks. They have one massive tank that has a replica coral reef and is just full of fish. A diver goes in and does a dive show every hour but Evie was more impressed just watching the fish. Even Elly loved the tank of fish. All of the brightly colored fish darting here and there. She clapped and giggled and babbled at them. But her attention span is pretty limited.
She was more interested in snack time. But I'm sure you just can't believe that girl worries about when she'll be getting her next meal! haha
November Thanksgiving Challenge
On Facebook, everyone is posting something they are thankful for each day of the month. Although I am posting there I though I would also post here. If for no reason than it's easier to go back and find posts on here than Facebook.
Day 1 - Thankful for vacation time.
Day 2 - Thankful for the job I come back from vacation to.
Day 3 - I am thankful for the food I get to eat. The two hot dogs I had for lunch were delicious.
Day 4 - I am thankful for the mornings I get to spend with my beautiful children. Three hours everyday with my two favorite people! It's so very important to me and I cherish it. I feel like I know the two of them as well as I know myself. :-) I am very fortunate.
I think I will repost this daily and just add to it. Might be easier.
Day 1 - Thankful for vacation time.
Day 2 - Thankful for the job I come back from vacation to.
Day 3 - I am thankful for the food I get to eat. The two hot dogs I had for lunch were delicious.
Day 4 - I am thankful for the mornings I get to spend with my beautiful children. Three hours everyday with my two favorite people! It's so very important to me and I cherish it. I feel like I know the two of them as well as I know myself. :-) I am very fortunate.
I think I will repost this daily and just add to it. Might be easier.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Thought for the Day
"I'm a woman, not a road sign. I frequently do not mean what I say. It's all just a matter of interpretation. Or a guessing game, depending on where you stand." - Me
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Ditching the Droid
So, in a week, my cell phone contract is up for renewal.
It's a day that has been marked on my calendar for about 6 months and I am quite eagerly anticipating it. Ticking it off excitedly. Reminding my husband. My mom. My kids. My dog.
Yep, next week! I am so excited because finally, FINALLY I am getting rid of this piece of crap phone and getting a new one. But not just any new phone. No sir. I am making the switch to the iPhone.
Two years ago, I signed up with Verizon and committed myself to the Droid and the Android OS. I wanted an iPhone then. Kinda. I mean, who wouldn't? But they were awfully pricey. And Verizon's plans were cheaper then as well. So, I went with Verizon. And I chose the Android because it seemed really cool at the time. And of course, then the iPhone wasn't available from Verizon.
Ugh. Well, Verizon is still better. I'm happy with my carrier. Not so happy with my phone.
The phone itself is on its last leg. I'm notoriously hard on cell phones. My temper and tendency to hurl them across the room doesn't help. But just day to day life with me is tough. My phone goes everywhere and does everything. It's in back pockets, my purse, the diaper bag, the cup holder, coat pockets, the baby's mouth, the toddler's hands. Life is hard for my cell phone.
The OS is terrible. It's like the Mac vs. PC debate. Windows will always have more problems because of how many types of computers run it. With Apple, they make it all. From the hardware to the software. Therefore there are no compatibility issues. There aren't glitches and quirks and hold ups and malfunctions. Apple doesn't release iCrap. It releases the MacBook and the iPad and the iPhone. Good, solid, long lasting products that are dependable. I am thankful that I have not actually ever needed to make an emergency call on my phone. Because 98% of the time it freezes up, blacks the screens, dials the wrong number, hangs up, mutes out, restarts itself, etc. when I'm trying to make a non-urgent call. I'm sure an important call would just cause it to implode.
So next week, I'm getting an iPhone. And I am so excited!
It's a day that has been marked on my calendar for about 6 months and I am quite eagerly anticipating it. Ticking it off excitedly. Reminding my husband. My mom. My kids. My dog.
Yep, next week! I am so excited because finally, FINALLY I am getting rid of this piece of crap phone and getting a new one. But not just any new phone. No sir. I am making the switch to the iPhone.
Two years ago, I signed up with Verizon and committed myself to the Droid and the Android OS. I wanted an iPhone then. Kinda. I mean, who wouldn't? But they were awfully pricey. And Verizon's plans were cheaper then as well. So, I went with Verizon. And I chose the Android because it seemed really cool at the time. And of course, then the iPhone wasn't available from Verizon.
Ugh. Well, Verizon is still better. I'm happy with my carrier. Not so happy with my phone.
The phone itself is on its last leg. I'm notoriously hard on cell phones. My temper and tendency to hurl them across the room doesn't help. But just day to day life with me is tough. My phone goes everywhere and does everything. It's in back pockets, my purse, the diaper bag, the cup holder, coat pockets, the baby's mouth, the toddler's hands. Life is hard for my cell phone.
The OS is terrible. It's like the Mac vs. PC debate. Windows will always have more problems because of how many types of computers run it. With Apple, they make it all. From the hardware to the software. Therefore there are no compatibility issues. There aren't glitches and quirks and hold ups and malfunctions. Apple doesn't release iCrap. It releases the MacBook and the iPad and the iPhone. Good, solid, long lasting products that are dependable. I am thankful that I have not actually ever needed to make an emergency call on my phone. Because 98% of the time it freezes up, blacks the screens, dials the wrong number, hangs up, mutes out, restarts itself, etc. when I'm trying to make a non-urgent call. I'm sure an important call would just cause it to implode.
So next week, I'm getting an iPhone. And I am so excited!
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