The Magic of an Ordinary Day

hangin with the AFD

I don't know what I've been doing this week, besides not blogging.  Oh, yeah...I worked a little bit.  And (nice segue into the subject of this post) I did a ride-along with the Albuquerque Fire Department as part of training for my job with the Air Ambulance company. 

What? you say.  Well, our medical flight crew is made up of a paramedic and a critical care nurse, and as part of our training they want the medics to hang with the nurses for a shift, and the nurses to hang with the medics. To see how the other half lives, so to speak.

So I was scheduled to go ride along at some yucky ghetto station, when one of my colleagues, who is a lieutenant with AFD, said "why don't you just spend the day with me?"  SOLD!!  His station is much nicer, nestled in between the University and the airport.  And, believe it or not, I tend to be shy with people I don't know, so the thought of spending the day with 14 people I didn't know was a little unnerving. 

I ended up having a great day.  We didn't 't go on any spectacular calls, no heroic life-saving, no fires...but I really came to respect what the AFD rescue squads do.  Just dealing with the public is enough.  Dealing with all the stupid people with a smile on your face and a respectful tone in your voice is just amazing.  I'm ashamed to admit, I did spend some of my time at the scene with my back turned so I could roll my eyes unnoticed.  But Dominic and his crew were just as nice as could be.

So here are some random observations about my day with the AFD:

• they don't run anywhere.  that's only on TV.
• I liked it when we got to ride with the sirens on.
• getting called to the airport for a crying baby is a bullshit call.  Even more so when the Mother best described her baby's "episode" as "just like when someone is coming off heroin, you know?"
• little old ladies just love it when their room is suddenly filled with young firemen.  they actually twitter.
• I actually had fun helping cook lasagna for 14 firefighters.  and they appreciated the home made croutons for their salad.
• they don't normally eat salad.  I had to push that one on the lieutenant, explaining that having been a cardiac nurse for so many years, I just couldn't serve a meal without vegetables.
• chivalry is not dead at the AFD.  I never opened a door or carried a bag (even the groceries) once.  One very nice guy absolutely jetted across the garage to take my grocery bag from me.  I didn't tell him how many grocery bags I usually carry by myself after a trip to Smiths.  It was too nice to be treated like that, so I just enjoyed it.
• speaking of special treatment, I got to use the special bathroom with the door that locked.  score!
• there is a rescue truck and two engines.  the rescue truck (us) were a lot busier than the engines, at least on that day.  which made getting lunch  ready an extra challenge.
• just as the meal had been consumed and I was sitting there wondering "who's going to do all these dishes?" the rescue alarm sounded and we were off to save lives.  Gotta get one of these for home.
• I left for the day with a great sense of respect for my paramedic colleagues, and the firefighters in general.  What a great group of people.

Grand Canyon: the photos

Click on the photo album on the left to see some of my favorites. 

Grand Canyon: the adventure

Continuing with my Grand Canyon saga...

Mom and I decided to got on a mule ride the first night we were there.  Since we were off-season we were able to get tickets on the spot rather than reserve in advance (which is usually required).  We went for our little orientation, got weighed and were issued our canteens and yellow rain slickers. 

The morning of the ride we got up early and were at the corral about 45 minutes  early.  For two dyed in the wool night people, that's saying a lot.  After orientation by the lead wrangler, Casey, we were assigned our mules.  Mom got a small, docile and responsive mule named Bitty.  As in Itty Bitty.  I got this monster named Tank because that's what he looked (and drove) like. 

Let's put it this way: I had heard the phrase beaten like a rented mule before, but I never truly understood what it meant.  That dumb mule wouldn't do anything without a firm--and I mean firm--touch with "the motivator."   By the end of the trip I had to switch which arm I was beating him with because my right arm was so tired.  The wranglers said it was because they have such thick skin they don't feel a subtle application of the crop.  I think it's because that mule's Daddy was a Jackass.

After the first 10 minutes, when I thought I would puke from the heights and the very tight switchbacks in a steep, steep canyon, I had a great time.  I became one with my mule.  I mean, the mule knew the way down and there was really nothing he needed me for, so I just gave up control to him.  And it worked for us.  It was mostly going up that I had to beat him up. 

Mom had a fabulous time.  She's really a healthy and adventurous woman, and were it not for her severe arthritis (and the need for bilateral knee replacements and another back surgery) she's perfectly fit.  I was so proud of her.  I think she smiled the whole way down, and when we were chatting with one of the riders who was a physician and he asked about her decision to do the ride she said "well, I can stay at home and be in pain, or I can be out here and be in pain.  I'd much rather be here."  You go, girl!!

We arrived at the top tired, a little stiff but very happy.  Dwayne and Hannah were there to greet us, and as we pulled into sight we could hear Hannah's voice echoing through the canyon "Grandma, how's your dupa?" (Polish for "ass")  Obviously she was put up to that by her father.  Then our wrangler asked Mom to meet him at the El Tovar for a cocktail after the ride, which she accepted nervously.  Several people from our group ended up in the lounge, and they had fun chatting.  Mom and the cowboy parted with a hug and an email address exchange and Mom met us for dinner at El Tovar. 

The whole thing helped Mom's confidence in general, I think.  To take on something physically challenging and overcome it is an empowering thing.  And by accepting that cocktail invitation -- it was another step towards healing after Dick's death, and realizing that life continues on without him. 

Happy St. Patrick's day

And Happy Anniversary to us!  Three years ago, on March 17, 2005 at 11:13 in the morning we received a referral for the little baby girl who became our daughter, Hannah.  Here's the photo we received:

And here she is now:

She's such a comedic handful.  Even when she's being a bit of a stinker, she's (usually) always amusing.

And to honor my Irish heritage on this day, I found this little Irish Blessing that I thought was very cool:

Always remember to forget
The things that made you sad.
But never forget to remember
The things that made you glad.

Always remember to forget
The friends that proved untrue.
But never forget to remember
Those that have stuck by you.

Always remember to forget
The troubles that passed away.
But never forget to remember
The blessings that come each day.

Have a great day, everyone!!

Grand Canyon: the food

I know it's not the main attraction of the Grand Canyon, but I love dining at the El Tovar when we go.  It's got this fabulous turn of the century log architecture, but it's fine dining.  Except you can wear jeans and fleece.

The night after we got back from the mule rides we had reservations at the El Tovar.  We started with buffalo carpaccio and a great bottle of red wine.  For dinner I had duck, Dwayne had peppercorn encrusted venison chops and Mom had veal scallopini.  It was all perfectly done, the service was impeccable, and Hannah was wonderfully well-behaved.  We even had desert, something I rarely eat, a Napoleon with fresh fruit and an orange creme brulee, which Dwayne said was the best creme brulee he'd ever had. 

The morning we left, we went back because El Tovar has the best coffee at the canyon, a great dark roast I remember from last time we were there.  I had eggs Benedict over smoked salmon and it was perfect: the eggs perfectly poached so they spilled yolk over a light lemony hollandaise sauce.  I don't even remember what everyone else ate, since I was so enthralled with my breakfast.  Oh, and our table overlooked the canyon on one side and was next to the fireplace, which was crackling away, on the other side.   

What a way to start the day!

I mention the food there because I am a big believer in truly experiencing a place through the food.  When we were in China I ate dim sum for breakfast every morning I was there, and ate traditional Chinese food for two weeks and never got tired of it.  I even tried congee for breakfast -- mostly for Hannah since she hadn't had many solids at that point.  Well, the congee was a bust since Hannah preferred watermelon and noodles to congee but I'm glad I tried it. 

Anyway, I always look forward to eating there, and now I am totally inspired to get cooking and try new things.  I need to make a perfect hollandaise sauce.  I want to make a fabulous early spring menu and have some friends over.   I want to make some carpaccio. 

But right now I have to get Hannah ready for preschool, so I'll just be pouring cereal into a bowl for now. 

back from the Grand Canyon

I will write more later about our trip to the Canyon, but I'll post some quick photos for now.

 

Yes, we rode mules down into the canyon.  It was a blast!  Here we are coming back up...

Great

Because I'm not already in a bad mood.  Brett Favre announced his retirement.

Bad news of the week (courtesy of Vietnam)

We got some not so great news from our adoption agency yesterday.

The bilateral agreement between Vietnam and the US was not renegotiated by it's due date of February 29th.  That means the current agreement will expire (and along with it the adoption program) on September 1st.  Well, right now they are calling it an "interruption" in the program, but we all know what it means. 

The US Department of State is urging the Vietnamese officials to let those currently in the program to complete their adoptions (that would be us since our dossier has been sitting in Vietnam  since December) but there are no guarantees.  We -- meaning the United States -- are not the ones in control here.

It's entirely possible -- no probable -- that we won't be able to adopt again.  That we'll just have to be happy with the blessing we already have.  That maybe we just aren't meant to have another child.  That I just waited to long in my life to become a mother, and having tricked father time once...well, it's just not going to happen again.

We are both heartbroken at the news.  We had hoped that an understanding could be reached in time, and that we would be able to bring baby Sean home next spring. 

So we're just carrying on with this empty feeling in the pit of our stomachs.  We are going to the Grand Canyon for three days -- a trip I planned in December so that we wouldn't be sitting around moping on what would have been Dick's 70th birthday (which is tomorrow).  Great timing on that anniversary.

We are determined to get away and have fun, but we'll have to see how it goes.  I want Mom and Hannah to have a good time, so I'll just put on the happy face and go on with things.  There's nothing else to do, really.

getting out

We are having our usual spring/winter dance here in the mountains.  Wintry last weekend.  Spring-ish yesterday.  And today it's snowing again.  Uuhhhgg!

We took advantage of the 60+ degree day yesterday and did a ton of yard work.  Mostly we pruned the apple, peach and apricot trees that are totally out of control (and probably haven't been pruned in 10 years, if ever).  We also trimmed down the huge lilac bushes, roses, oaks and cedars.  And because I never get to my end of the year tear-down of my vegetable garden I did that, too. 

It was a great day.  Hannah was out with us all day, and we even had a picnic lunch outside complete instead of going inside to eat.  It was so nice to have a little sun on our faces, do some physical work outside and just get out of the house. 

Hannah had fun climbing the peach tree.  I don't think she's ever climbed a tree before, and this one is perfect -- not too high up, but plenty of branches to hold on to. 

And here's my hardworking hubby, who is actually quite cute, too: