Holy shit. I’m registered for the 24th in Staunton VA.  That’s…coming up soon.  But this allows me to have time to find another test site for any stations I might have to retest.

Shit shit shit shit shit.

Okay, so, as many know, I’ve been trying to pursue my EMT-Intermediate certification (think mini-medic).  Well, mostly due to work and the number of hours I’ve been putting in there, I haven’t been able to take the practical exam nor really spend any time practicing.  My dilemma was financial, time, as well as the fact that the NR-EMT will be getting rid of this particular certification.   Once they get rid of this certification, I will be forced to take a bridge class to EMT-P (Paramedic).   This course is a lot of money and even more time.  So…a huge part of me thought why bother?  (This wasn’t even taking into consideration the whole process of getting cleared as an ALS provider within the county)

Well, a good friend (Adam, one of the best medics I know) kind of talked some sense into me regarding this.  He pointed out that in Virginia, it will still be recognized by the state for much longer than NR-EMT recognizes it (which is ultimately what matters).  Also, he made the very valid point that our system will pay for the intermediates to go through the bridge to paramedic class.  This class will be MUCH easier to deal with, than to go for paramedic from the very beginning.

Also, the work/time issue has become MUCH less of an issue now as …my boss is now watching the clock for what time I come in, so I am now watching the clock in the afternoon as to what time I leave.  I have an alarm set on my treo that says "GTFO! Now!" set at 5pm.  While I dislike how this has come about, I think I’m liking other things this change has brought about.  (This change came about in a very demeaning/condescending and rather disrespectful email from my boss on Thursday).

This means I need to get my ass in gear though and practice practice practice.   I have 2 months left to test.  I’ve already emailed a few sites that test Memorial Day weekend to see if they still have space…so.  I would really like to get into a May test date as there are 11 skill stations and passing all 11 the first time is…not common.  As long as I don’t have more than 5 to retest, they may offer to let me retest that particular night, or I can register for JUST those stations at another test site.

Much of this means I also need to be a LOT less social for the next 2 months and use that time to ride and/or study.

XKCD is probably the only webcomic I religiously keep up with.  It’s not a saga, usually just a small but HILARIOUS comic, and is published on M/W/F.

Anyway, the comic has a habit of making me laugh out loud at it fairly frequently, and today’s xkcd had the same effect.  My dog is now looking at me like I’m weird because I’m laughing at seemingly nothing.

…and no I’m not referring to anything related to Tantrism…

Musically, I’m a bit of a snob.  I know what I like, and pretty much anything outside of that box drives me _up a wall_.   I usually know fairly quickly if I’m going to like a song or not…and there is a certain element of "edginess" to the music I like.  I don’t know where the snobbyness came from…as growing up I remember liking some stuff that I now consider complete crap (even for the time).  One of my all time favorite bands has to be Dream Theater, mostly because of I am just in complete and total awe of their music ability.  Some of my more current groups that I’ve been really digging though are 3 Days Grace and Shinedown.  They produce excellent music, and while having their own sound, they manage to not have every sound the same.  I do have some ideas of where/how I developed this attitude…mostly from another life.

Another band that I really liked years ago, but thought they’d fallen apart was a band called Tantric.  Much to my joy, about a month ago, I heard a new song from them on Octane (the only station on Sirius to which I listen..and only radio station I will listen to period).  The song was called "Down & Out",  and I investigated a bit further…and to further my happiness, the band had regrouped and will have a new release on 4/22.  There is no question in my mind that I will be purchasing this CD the day it comes out, even with just hearing the one song.  But, I just took a listen to soundbits of new music on Tantric’s page on myspace*.  …I am so incredibly impressed.  I find their music very refreshing, and their song Breakdown (from their old album) hasn’t lost anything with me.  There are some new members, but yet, they’ve maintained much of their own sound (and even improved themselves) from the old to the new.  The lead singer remained the same, and has a very unique and strong voice.

Anyway, is it 4/22 yet?

 * Note: I MUST apologize for the myspace link…I despise myspace (mostly for the web page crap/customization people do), but theirs is actually a cleaner myspace page, and it’s a great place to sample their music.

Today’s xkcd webcomic reminds me so much of my friend Ryan.  Check out the comic:

xkcd

Ryan likes his hat too!