Nothing interesting has happened over the past 2 weeks, at least nothing that I should be writing about. My hair has grown back in a bit, and luckily, it all came back, at least everything I had before. So to get my bald pictures off the top of the screen, I'll fill you in on all the mundane things that are happening.
We started clinical work on Friday. I went out with one of our paramedic companies. We ran on 6 calls, and got to meet some interesting people. I had a good time. Some of the other cadets had much more interesting calls than I had. I'm going to be in a hospital ER on Tuesday, and 2 more days of Ambulances on Wednesday and Thursday.
I ran 5 miles today. Inspired by not wanting to lose to Brie (5 in 42 minutes), I ran them in 41:47. I think she beats me though because of the difference in altitude, but I bet she didn't suck a mosquito down her windpipe during mile 3. I finished my 1.5 mile run in 10:20, then continued running 3.5 miles at about a 9:00 mile pace. I've got the benefit of much longer legs, so Brie, I bow to your level of health.
I'm doing much better on pullups now, before and after my run I did a set of 12. 2 months ago I could only do 5 or maybe 6 in a row.
When I was fitted for my uniforms, the guy asked me what size belt I needed, I told him 38. He gave me a 40, I guess because I would be using the middle holes rather than the end ones of the 38. I've now shrunk to the point that the last notch of the 40 isn't quite tight enough, and have borrowed a 38 from a cadet that went down from a 38 to a 36. I figure I'm down about 3 inches, and I still have some more of that spare tire that needs to come off.
Fruit has been really cheap here lately. I just picked up a bunch of nectarines for 60 cents a pound, and some peaches for 35. Bananas have been 25 cents a pound here for a month. I'll probably freeze whatever peaches and nectarines I don't eat when they ripen.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Hairless
I posted a few pictures to my facebook page and realized that not everyone would be able to see it.
As a part of grooming standards at the academy here, I have to keep my hair clipped to less than 3/8" all around. I've got my own electric hair clippers which I use bi-weekly to cut it down to 1/8". 1/8" is nearly bald, and my head shape isn't as weird as it was when I was growing up, either that, or I am far less self conscious. Anyways, I've been toying with the idea of shaving my head completely bald for the past few weeks.
Today I did it. I had nothing better to do, kind of like the time on my mission that I was stuck inside for a while during a period where they didn't want us outside tracting and I shaved my legs (ladies, I have no idea how you put up with that, my pants stuck to my legs for days. It drove me nuts.)
I don't think it looks half bad. I'm not afraid of looking like this again if I end up becoming more follicly challenged. It feels super weird though to touch up there and feel sandpaper.
As a part of grooming standards at the academy here, I have to keep my hair clipped to less than 3/8" all around. I've got my own electric hair clippers which I use bi-weekly to cut it down to 1/8". 1/8" is nearly bald, and my head shape isn't as weird as it was when I was growing up, either that, or I am far less self conscious. Anyways, I've been toying with the idea of shaving my head completely bald for the past few weeks.
Today I did it. I had nothing better to do, kind of like the time on my mission that I was stuck inside for a while during a period where they didn't want us outside tracting and I shaved my legs (ladies, I have no idea how you put up with that, my pants stuck to my legs for days. It drove me nuts.)
I don't think it looks half bad. I'm not afraid of looking like this again if I end up becoming more follicly challenged. It feels super weird though to touch up there and feel sandpaper.
Monday, September 6, 2010
I know... I'm kind of a slob.
I took some pictures of my apartment. I didn't clean it up on purpose to prove a point. It looks like blogspot cut off the right half of them, so if you want to get the full picture just click on them and they'll take you to photobucket.
This is my kitchen. On the left side, you can see my dishwasher up against the wall. It's about half the size of a normal dishwasher. It's not really worth running, but seeing as how I bought the soap for it, I'm going to use it until I'm out of soap. Then I'll probably just use it as a place to put clean dishes after washing them by hand. I bought a broom that I haven't used yet. I have a nice pan that is just like the one that came heavily recommended to mom by some random lady at Costco. It's currently dirty, I wash it when I need to use it. It does not go in the dishwasher. The far left is my stinky fridge. It smelled of death when I moved in, and it's gone down a few levels to merely puke. Well, at least maybe it doesn't smell so bad, maybe I'm just getting used to it. I think the vinegar and the baking soda have helped somewhat.
Here is my box collection room. I'm afraid to throw away decent sized boxes because I'll need them in 8 months when I leave here. The powerade bottle (partially filled with water) next to the shoepolish and rag is my boot shining station. A little water, a little kiwi polish and a lot of buffing get my shoes reasonably shiny.
This is my front door. In the corner I have a big box that I keep filling with trash. I'll get around to emptying it eventually. There isn't anything rancid in there, it's mostly plastic. This is also the area where I dump everything I'm carrying when I get home from work. My gym bag and towel are on the floor there, and I do not want to inhale any fumes from that in my bedroom when I'm sleeping.
Next 2 pictures are my "home office/dining room" I have space to put a bowl or a plate of food in front of my keyboard. The chair is the only place I have here to sit down other than on the floor.
This is my bedroom. That is an 8 dollar inflatable mattress from Walmart on the floor. It's actually not too uncomfortable, and it holds air good enough that I only need to put a few puffs into it every few nights or so. I blew it up with my lungs on my first night here, when it was 100 degrees in here at 11 pm. That sucked. Lightheaded and burning up.
Last is the bathroom. I looked at 5 or 6 different apartments before coming to this one. This wasn't even on my list, I just saw it as I was leaving a different nearby apartment. This is the only one I found with a washer and dryer already in the room. It has been a life saver! I do at least 1 load every day, usually 2. If I was doing this at a laundry room, even one on site, I would have shelled out a fortune so far, not to mention spending hours and hours away from my apartment keeping an eye on my laundry. It washes larger loads than you would think just from looking at it.
I'm doing pretty well. Today is Labor Day, and we didn't have any school. I went out and ran at one of the city parks that has running trails. 4.15 miles in 34 minutes. I ran through my mile and a half in 10:35 today which is putting me on track to come close to my goal of 9 flat before the academy is over. I have lost a considerable amount of weight, and I'm pretty sure it's going to continue when we start having to do PT in bunker gear. That reminds me, looking at the FD website, they show some of the cadets wearing bunker gear. They have first initial and last name across the bottom of the coat. I'm going to be A FOX. That ought to be worth a few laughs at my expense, even if I am a handsome man.
I just want to say that having to take care of myself has opened my eyes a little more. I already knew I was married to the greatest woman I ever could have hoped for, but she takes care of me, which is a big job in and of itself, and she keeps 5 kids mostly clean and usually out of trouble. I don't know where or what I'd be without her. She doesn't give herself a whole lot of credit, but she is really one amazing person, and I am the luckiest guy in the world to have her in my life. I am counting down the days until Thanksgiving, and I am excited to be able to provide a life for her that she has always deserved. I love you Jenn, you're awesome!
This is my kitchen. On the left side, you can see my dishwasher up against the wall. It's about half the size of a normal dishwasher. It's not really worth running, but seeing as how I bought the soap for it, I'm going to use it until I'm out of soap. Then I'll probably just use it as a place to put clean dishes after washing them by hand. I bought a broom that I haven't used yet. I have a nice pan that is just like the one that came heavily recommended to mom by some random lady at Costco. It's currently dirty, I wash it when I need to use it. It does not go in the dishwasher. The far left is my stinky fridge. It smelled of death when I moved in, and it's gone down a few levels to merely puke. Well, at least maybe it doesn't smell so bad, maybe I'm just getting used to it. I think the vinegar and the baking soda have helped somewhat.
Here is my box collection room. I'm afraid to throw away decent sized boxes because I'll need them in 8 months when I leave here. The powerade bottle (partially filled with water) next to the shoepolish and rag is my boot shining station. A little water, a little kiwi polish and a lot of buffing get my shoes reasonably shiny.
This is my front door. In the corner I have a big box that I keep filling with trash. I'll get around to emptying it eventually. There isn't anything rancid in there, it's mostly plastic. This is also the area where I dump everything I'm carrying when I get home from work. My gym bag and towel are on the floor there, and I do not want to inhale any fumes from that in my bedroom when I'm sleeping.
Next 2 pictures are my "home office/dining room" I have space to put a bowl or a plate of food in front of my keyboard. The chair is the only place I have here to sit down other than on the floor.
This is my bedroom. That is an 8 dollar inflatable mattress from Walmart on the floor. It's actually not too uncomfortable, and it holds air good enough that I only need to put a few puffs into it every few nights or so. I blew it up with my lungs on my first night here, when it was 100 degrees in here at 11 pm. That sucked. Lightheaded and burning up.
Last is the bathroom. I looked at 5 or 6 different apartments before coming to this one. This wasn't even on my list, I just saw it as I was leaving a different nearby apartment. This is the only one I found with a washer and dryer already in the room. It has been a life saver! I do at least 1 load every day, usually 2. If I was doing this at a laundry room, even one on site, I would have shelled out a fortune so far, not to mention spending hours and hours away from my apartment keeping an eye on my laundry. It washes larger loads than you would think just from looking at it.
I'm doing pretty well. Today is Labor Day, and we didn't have any school. I went out and ran at one of the city parks that has running trails. 4.15 miles in 34 minutes. I ran through my mile and a half in 10:35 today which is putting me on track to come close to my goal of 9 flat before the academy is over. I have lost a considerable amount of weight, and I'm pretty sure it's going to continue when we start having to do PT in bunker gear. That reminds me, looking at the FD website, they show some of the cadets wearing bunker gear. They have first initial and last name across the bottom of the coat. I'm going to be A FOX. That ought to be worth a few laughs at my expense, even if I am a handsome man.
I just want to say that having to take care of myself has opened my eyes a little more. I already knew I was married to the greatest woman I ever could have hoped for, but she takes care of me, which is a big job in and of itself, and she keeps 5 kids mostly clean and usually out of trouble. I don't know where or what I'd be without her. She doesn't give herself a whole lot of credit, but she is really one amazing person, and I am the luckiest guy in the world to have her in my life. I am counting down the days until Thanksgiving, and I am excited to be able to provide a life for her that she has always deserved. I love you Jenn, you're awesome!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)