They let us self medicate here at AIT. This is truly awesome. As 68W's, Army Medics, we run healthcare. You only see a doctor if you are really sick. So we keep close tabs on the medication we give to other people, but we are just straight up stupid with our own stuff. Measured doses are for weenies. I have been sick for about two weeks, running 104 fever for a few days. Lately it has just been a cough that won't go away. It is a cough that makes other people ask me if I'm okay, and then clear the way so I can run and puke. And I assure them that I am fine. And at nights, I take swigs of other people's Robitussin. That and some guy's anti-inflammatory pills are my sustenance at night for the past week and a half. Cause my tonsil's are swelling up so bad I can't breathe. Only at night for some reason. I can't wait 'til I have full access to my units stash of meds. Although I hear Morphine is pretty well regulated. *wink wink.
--Andy
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Fatherhood
Lately I've been reading Dooce. I really don't know why I'm reading it, seeing as it is a blog written by a mother about raising a child. It is freaking hilarious, and as much as I can be sure about any complete stranger, I think I would get along with the lady who writes it. Because I have been reading it, I have thought about parenthood (God forbid it happen to me anytime soon.) I really don't think anyone really knows what it is about when they get into it, no matter how many books you read. It seems like the ultimate play as you go scenario (which makes me happy, because that is how I run my life.) After all, small children are basically little animals, slightly less furry puppies. Try to plan it as much as you want, but after they poop in the middle of the living room for the 8th time, all of those promises to not eat your young just go flying out the window. I'm pretty infant mortality rate was what it was because parents could get away with it back then, not because everything was dirty and unsanitary. Mmm, small child stew. Well, enough of my eligibility to be a father.
While I was on Exodus, I bought a knife. Yes, let me pause.... a pointy sharp object. In my hands. So I was trying to cut open a package with a minicard. One of those impossible plastic containers. And I cut the tip of my thumb off. So now, not only is the tip of my thumb coolly lopsided, but I can't feel anything, making picking up small objects neigh impossible. I know, I know. I should never have sharp objects.
At lastly, we started the fun part of our training. On Friday, we did injections. With needles. It was AWESOME. I was with a guy named Kettler. His went smoothly. Mine went great except for the very first part. I went to stick him in the upper arm, and his muscle spaszed out. And that freaked me out. Not good. But I calmly extracted the needle and did it with the next needle. And the rest of it went smoothly. Now on to IVs and further opportunities to thrust sharp objects into people's flesh. Hurrah.
--Andy
While I was on Exodus, I bought a knife. Yes, let me pause.... a pointy sharp object. In my hands. So I was trying to cut open a package with a minicard. One of those impossible plastic containers. And I cut the tip of my thumb off. So now, not only is the tip of my thumb coolly lopsided, but I can't feel anything, making picking up small objects neigh impossible. I know, I know. I should never have sharp objects.
At lastly, we started the fun part of our training. On Friday, we did injections. With needles. It was AWESOME. I was with a guy named Kettler. His went smoothly. Mine went great except for the very first part. I went to stick him in the upper arm, and his muscle spaszed out. And that freaked me out. Not good. But I calmly extracted the needle and did it with the next needle. And the rest of it went smoothly. Now on to IVs and further opportunities to thrust sharp objects into people's flesh. Hurrah.
--Andy
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Yin Yang
In the Army, you pick up a lot of injuries with no known origin. Personally, if I put any pressure on the lateral aspect of my left foot, my leg crumples. Last time I jumped out of bed and landed slightly wrong, my knee buckled from the pain and I hit my head on the ground. Kranda, a battle buddy, has a huge lump on his wrist. It looks like his bone dislocated and is sticking out.
These injuries start to separate the people you are with. You learn alot about a person by seeing how they handle these inconveniences. Kranda still passed his PT test with his wrist, including his pushups. I ran my fastest time so far on my two mile. Houlahan actually fractured his ankle about 6 months ago. Instead of going on profile, he told the sergeant that he got a RTD (return to duty) and kept going. It hasn't healed yet, he has to wear a wrap on it constantly. He didn't report it because he wouldn't have been allowed to finish training while on profile, so he decided to just get surgery once his training is done because of how aggravated his ankle has become.
On the other hand you have people like Lyons who never does PT with us because she is constantly on profile with her crutches. She never does anything. As soon as her profile runs out, bam, back to the med station to get a new one. People like Jean who escapes from doing any work what so ever. Tomorrow is a CI (command inspection) with a LTC and CSM from Battalion HQ. Jean came in 10 minutes past bed check when everyone had been in the bay cleaning their butts off.
The Army doesn't allow you to do things half way. You know where people stand. Either they will be like Kranda or they will be like Lyons. You don't talk about people behind their backs. You say it to their faces. If you think someone is a douche bag, you tell them. Feelings are not at all spared. Its nice really. I don't like Jean. He is a Blue Falcon (Bravo Foxtrot/Buddy F****er) to the highest degree. And he knows I don't like him. Like I said, quite freeing. There really is no grey. And after listening to our sergeants rant about war enough, you start measuring everyone by "Do I want them watching my back in Iraq/Afganistan?" Everything goes to the lowest common denominator. The Army makes everything so simple. I can understand why so many people start out with a 4 year contract and end up staying in permanently. The civilian world is kind of messy and scary compared to the Army. You know who is your superior in the Army, and people tell you when you messed up. Things can be taken at face value.
--Andy
Well, everything is simpler, but harder. Like the 3 hours of sleep I get tonight thanks to a 2.5 hour fireguard shift, followed by a ruckmarch followed by a test followed by our inspection. YAY.
These injuries start to separate the people you are with. You learn alot about a person by seeing how they handle these inconveniences. Kranda still passed his PT test with his wrist, including his pushups. I ran my fastest time so far on my two mile. Houlahan actually fractured his ankle about 6 months ago. Instead of going on profile, he told the sergeant that he got a RTD (return to duty) and kept going. It hasn't healed yet, he has to wear a wrap on it constantly. He didn't report it because he wouldn't have been allowed to finish training while on profile, so he decided to just get surgery once his training is done because of how aggravated his ankle has become.
On the other hand you have people like Lyons who never does PT with us because she is constantly on profile with her crutches. She never does anything. As soon as her profile runs out, bam, back to the med station to get a new one. People like Jean who escapes from doing any work what so ever. Tomorrow is a CI (command inspection) with a LTC and CSM from Battalion HQ. Jean came in 10 minutes past bed check when everyone had been in the bay cleaning their butts off.
The Army doesn't allow you to do things half way. You know where people stand. Either they will be like Kranda or they will be like Lyons. You don't talk about people behind their backs. You say it to their faces. If you think someone is a douche bag, you tell them. Feelings are not at all spared. Its nice really. I don't like Jean. He is a Blue Falcon (Bravo Foxtrot/Buddy F****er) to the highest degree. And he knows I don't like him. Like I said, quite freeing. There really is no grey. And after listening to our sergeants rant about war enough, you start measuring everyone by "Do I want them watching my back in Iraq/Afganistan?" Everything goes to the lowest common denominator. The Army makes everything so simple. I can understand why so many people start out with a 4 year contract and end up staying in permanently. The civilian world is kind of messy and scary compared to the Army. You know who is your superior in the Army, and people tell you when you messed up. Things can be taken at face value.
--Andy
Well, everything is simpler, but harder. Like the 3 hours of sleep I get tonight thanks to a 2.5 hour fireguard shift, followed by a ruckmarch followed by a test followed by our inspection. YAY.
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