$2.37 a gallon

I never thought I'd be "happy" that gas is down to $2.37 a gallon (This is at a local 7-11 Store). Can't say I am happy, but at least I don't feel I am putting my paycheck in my tank. For a time, the price of milk was less than gas.

And the price of diesel... wow! It went up to $5.49 at one point, but it now sub $3.00 (Just barely). When filling a 30+ gallon tank on an ambulance (We have 2 of them), it adds up quickly. Local agencies were having a hard time due to the cost of diesel for a while. Some volunteer ambulance agencies had to cut back or shut down operations when the price was that high. They are still struggling.

Bike

Just a shot of my bike in the early morning light (er, dark) at the light rail station on my way to work:

 

 I kinda wish there was just a little more light at the time, but I like the shot.

Bike EMS

This last Sunday, I had the opportunity to be a "Bike EMT". Basically, two of us followed waves of half-marathon runners, to ensure that they stayed healthy on the course, and to treat any injuries or illnesses that might happen to them on the course. Being one of the few EMTs in our company that rides a bike on a regular basis, I volunteered to be one of them. We also had my business partner out there on an ATV, with gear attached that we may need to use to stabilize someone in the event of a more severe illness or injury.

My bike fitted EMS-style. That red bag is oxygen and airway supplies. Medical gear is in the panniers.

 

Steve on the ATV

I had ridden the course the Tuesday before, just to make sure I knew the expected problem spots (fast downhills, slip areas, etc). It was all along the American River Bike Trail, with the exception of an area at the beginning of the course, and along one of the bridges. But they would be protected by traffic controls (courtesy the local PD), and concrete and steel barricades on the bridge).

Thankfully, it was relatively uneventful out on the course. A few folk with cramps from dehydration or electrolyte imbalance, one that I kept an eye on that was doing her first half-marathon and was going to finish no matter what (She needed fluids and calories to continue), and some other issues treated at our tent at the finish line.

At one point, Steve needed to stop for gas to top off the ATV, just in case. They don't expect people to just drive up in an ATV. Probably turned a few heads!

 

Not sure who created this memorial, or why, but it is simple and beautiful.

 

Interesting sign over the Walker Bridge

The first email

"The first e-mail, by most accounts, was sent in 1965 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology between users of the Compatible Timesharing System (CTSS) mainframe. CTSS users could post messages to each other, so that whenever the receiving user logged onto the mainframe, the message was waiting. (Actually, the new message was simply appended to a running message file, and each user got one, long, constantly updated message logfile.)." - Source: TechRepublic Geekend

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Well, I walked the walk! It was a lot of fun. Steve, Nicole, Brent, Brandon, little Genna, and I all walked the full 5K walk around downtown Sacramento, going into Old Sacramento, through the K Street Mall, and back around the Capitol. I didn't even feel it! Guess that means I have been walking a lot more lately!

 

The balloon arch all walkers went through at the beginning of the walk

 

The Capitol with the tents on the west side (Front entrance)

 

Pic I took of myself

 

I walked in memory of Annina. She was a good friend and co-worker. 

Annina passed away September 19, 2008.

 

Taken after the walk. Yeah, that's a 2-meter radio on my backpack strap. I am such a gearhead!

Loma Prieta Earthquake - Oct 17, 1989

19 years ago, the Loma Prieta earthquake hit with a magnitude 7.0. It left most of us who were living in the San Francisco Bay area at the time more than a little shaken. I remember going two days without power (and two weeks of unpredictable outages), learning to cook EVERYTHING on a barbeque (I can bake bread on a barbeque!), viewing the untold damage, and feeling ever-so-blessed that my family was not hurt at all. Here are some pics from that time:

 

The Cypress Freeway in Oakland

The Bay Bridge (Only 1 person died on the bridge, trying to "jump" that chasm).

Rory, the kids and I were walking along this sidewalk the Sunday before the earthquake. I still think that in the blink of an eye, we could have been wiped off the face of this Earth had the quake happened when we were walking there.

 

Support columns protrude through the top of Highway 1 near Watsonville.

 

The infamous "red tags" on buildings, bridges, and freeways all over the Bay area. 

(Note: There are still buildings and freeway overpasses red tagged to this day there)

For those of you outside California who are looking at these photos and wondering why I and millions of others would choose to live here, we have THE BEST WEATHER IN THE WORLD! We have the 5th largest economy in the world! We have one big quake every 15-20 years. And due to the size of California, we aren't all feeling the shaking when it happens. I will take an earthquake once in a great while over tornadoes, hurricanes, horrendous lightning storms, and ice storms ANY DAY.

Please pray for the 68 people who lost their lives that day, and for their families who are grieving for their loss to this day.

Events and Rattlesnakes

I remind people all the time to watch out for wildlife when they are hiking, biking, or otherwise spending time in the back country. All manner of critters are out there... bobcats, cougars, bears, raccoons, and rattlesnakes. I tell them, so they don't have run-ins with them, resulting in a medical need.

So, imagine my surprise when, at an event at Toro Park this past Sunday, I found this guy at my feet:

Yeah, thats a Western Diamondback. Little guy, around 16 inches long. But perfectly capable of laying me out. Seems he was just moving past me. I stopped and let him continue on. Didn't seem to mind me at all...

Problem is, he decided to continue on to the race course. Just as the last mountain bike race was getting started. Although he was VERY young, I was amazed at how agile he was, avoiding getting hit and killed by the cyclists. Talk about FAST! Wow!

Then he continued on. Right toward a car next to our medical station. Someone brought me a long pole, and I "guided" the little snake into the bush, away from people.

Who Says Firefighters Don't Get Cats Out of Trees?

Take a look at this:



Way to go Sacramento City Fire Station 5!!!

A Jaw-Dropping, Hair-Raising moment

But one that was extremely satisfying.

Several months ago, my partner and I helped to save a man at an event I worked at. I won't go into details, but his injuries were quite severe. Today he surprised me by showing up at an event I was working at. One of the event staff let me know he was there, and took me over to speak with him. We had followed his hospitalization and his recovery. It was one of those calls that stay with you, and the people who know him run in a specific circle that we are also a part of. So, we were able to learn how he was doing.

I was absolutely amazed to just shake his hand, knowing how hurt he was the last time I saw him taking off by helicopter to the trauma center. He is still recovering, but is doing very well, all things considered. I hope he continues to fully recover.

EMTs and Paramedics work like he** to save people. Sometimes we can, sometimes we can't. But we often don't get to see those we do. :-)

Happy 50th Birthday NASA!

Yep, NASA is 50 years old. It was born on October 1, 1958. To learn more, click here.