Midnight Rodeo

Hello all, how was your weekend?  Mine was fabulous and as it included reading and finishing a couple of books I thought we would start of the week with a rambling.  Today's book was a gift from a very good friend of mine who along with sharing my love of lights and sirens is possibly crazier then I am (in a good way).  She gave me this book for multiple reasons, some very personal and also 'cause she thought I would enjoy it.  She was right on both counts.  The book is Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson (who is also known as The Bloggess).  I'm gonna jump right in, as always SPOILERS AHEAD!

So this isn't really a book that one can sum up plot wise as it is more of a memoir/random topics/rambly style of book (which is probably one of the reasons I liked it).  Instead I will kind of go back and forth and...well...I call them ramblings for a reason.  The author is bat shit crazy...but so am I and so is most of the rest of the world, so this works for me.  She has been diagnosed with a number of illnesses both physical and mental and this book is a combination memoir and coping mechanism, with a great dose of suggestions for people who either have and/or are dealing with loved ones in the same position.  The author gives us glimpses into her life, some humorous as when she uses her pair of taxidermied raccoons (yep the same ones on the cover) to ride her cats in a midnight cat rodeo while battling insomnia.  Some are sad and scary while she shows us a night she pulls her hair and gouges her scalp to cause herself pain for reasons that are only partially known even to her.  Then we get a mix, like when she battled panic, fear and reason to board a plane with her friend to Australia to run around in a Koala suit and try and cuddle the bears.  These little pieces of her life are interspersed with introspection, therapy sessions and random musings.  A mix of entertaining, informative and for some of us very helpful.

I feel that this book is intended for a very specific audience.  First and foremost it is intended for other crazies like myself.  A lot of people hate that I throw that word around, they feel I am making light of a situation, or putting an un-PC label on people, but as a person with my own identified issues I love the word 'cause that's what I am folks.  Some days I'm crazier then others and some days my peeps are crazier then me, but I think that is part of what makes us interesting.  Anyways I think those of us who deal with the various stages, severities and varieties of what we have deemed mental issues, problems or illnesses will probably find some glimpse of ourselves and the struggles we face in this book.  I also feel the people who live with us, love us and deal with us (and face it probably have crazy of their own) would identify or at least nod and go "mm-hmm" when reading this book.  Other people (those rare so called "normals" with only "normal peeps) will get various mileage from it.  I had a bunch of stuff I was gonna write, but the more I think about it the more I feel like this book is gonna mean very different things to every person.  A lot of people will appreciate the humor...though many will be appalled that a functioning person can think the way the author does.  Many people will be able to use the tips and tricks...some will find them completely pointless.  A few of us will run out and buy a ton of spoons, tie them with silver ribbon and hand them out to everybody who needs extras and that is ok too. I like how the author does not disguise her struggles, and while she knows that she needs and can ask for help, she is not helpless.  She treats all her issues, physical and mental like diseases (which they are) and does what she can to treat all of it.  She tries when she can to use what resources she has to live a life worth living which is more then a lot of us can say.  I absolutely love that she reiterates over and over that she is not everybody and the each person has their own issues and her solutions are not the only ones, nor will they work for everybody.  I think the author just wants us to know we are not alone, and that it is ok to be broken, but we need to find, create and savor the good and pull those times out to get us through the dark parts. Overall I can't really talk about this book other then to say it was a good read, I got what I got out of it, I think everybody can get something out of it and that you should all go read it and tell me what you think. Also side note...I adore her Hubby who reminds me of a less crazy version of my own Hubbin.  I give it 8 out of 10 homicidal swans and will keep my happy days like pretty jewels to pull out on the bad days.  Happy Reading Everybody!

Tied In Knots

June is the month known for weddings and to celebrate that fact I thought I would introduce you to a nifty little collection called Tied In Knots edited by Lisa Taggart and Samantha Schoech.  I originally got this book back when I was getting married to remind me not to go all bridezilla :-)  This is a collection of true stories written by various people and I have to admit it is pretty funny.  Here are some of my favorites.

Alive and Well in Texas by Jennifer Carsen - This first story hits the ground running with a hilarious story about the ultimate bridezilla and her need to control every single aspect of her wedding.  This includes throwing her own lingerie party, bridal party, stock the brides kitchen party, and a zillion other materialistic shindigs.  This is the ultimate story of how not to be a bride.

The Do-It-Yourself Wedding in 314 Easy Steps by Sara Berkeley - I loved this one about how supposedly easy and simple a DIY wedding is supposed to be.  As a girl who did 99% of her wedding herself/with her mothers help and held it at her in-laws farm this really spoke to me.  I loved some of the mishaps, but the overall feeling of pride and ownership in her wedding.

The Sea Witch by Anne Johnson - Ha, this story made me laugh out loud more then any other story in this book.  The description of Mrs. D.  the polyester covered proprietor of a beach side resort and her insane antics were priceless.  I am kind of sad that the resort was sold and rebuilt because the story made me want to visit, just to see the rusted Lincoln Continentals if nothing else.

My Man in Black by Marisa Solis - Two young in love kids elope to Hawaii to escape the pressure of a big white wedding.  The bride however cannot quite shake the image of her man in a tux on their wedding day...even if nobody else will see it.  The ensuing search for a tux that actually fits and looks good on the little island is absolutely hilarious.

A First-Class Affair by Jennifer Li Shotz - If you've ever been to a wedding you know that good music is essential.  The decision between DJ or live band, classical or modern, just how evil is the chicken dance.  The couple in this story tell us of Barbra the woman who spent thousands of phone calls trying to convince them that a synthesizer was just as good as live brass.  In the end the couple gets what they want and the wedding is a success.

Most of the stories in here are pretty good, I have read through them a couple times and definitely recommend them to any bride who is feeling a bit frazzled.  Be warned that this book does contain a few adult scenes and a bit of adult language so maybe not give it to your 12 year old jr bridesmaid.  I give this collection 8 out of 10 beaded bridal veils.

How do you feel about personal stories?  Do you feel weddings are something to laugh at or a solemn affair?  What is your best wedding related story?

32YOF Reads EMS Book By NREMT-P

I was going to write this post like I write my patient reports...but then I remembered people might actually want to read this at some point :-)  The reason for this burst of medical creativity is I just finished reading a book called A Paramedic's Story: Life, Death and Everything in Between by Steven "Kelly" Grayson.  This book is not one that lends itself to synopsis, so I will just jump right into rambling about it.

I originally picked this book up for EMS week, and the author regularly posts on EMS1.com and I have enjoyed those.  The book is pretty much a look at the authors EMS life through quick little stories about calls he has run through out his career.  Not a whole lot I can say about the actual content other then it is exactly that, a few pages on each call he chose to wrote about.  I enjoyed reading about the calls in this Louisiana parish that the author worked in for many years.  It was interesting to see how they handle calls, what rules they have that we don't and vice versa, the resources they may or may not have, and different issues they may be concerned about. The structure was a bit rough for me.  I felt like he kept referring to events that we should know about, but had never been discussed.  A lot of times the story would just end, with no resolution to what happened, for example the last sentence in one story is how he and a Dr. were named as primary defendants in a malpractice suite...and that was it, it was never mentioned again.  I would have liked to at least know the outcome of that case as it would be a good teaching moment.  I also wanted to know more about the author personally, he would give us tantalizing tidbits, but rarely any linear cohesiveness...if that makes any sense. I also wanted just a touch more background on the stories, I was never sure where he was at for most of the calls.  My overall impression of the book is that I was intrigued, but I wanted more of everything.  In some ways I think the telling of "calls" works best in person.  Our favorite past time at the station is all gathering around, the table, the grill, the alarm room, the rigs, whatever and share stories over and over again.  This is how we pass stuff on to the new recruits, how we brag, how we bond and as well written as these calls are, it loses something in being read and not told.  I love reading the authors blog, and would love to actually meet him in person and hear his stories.  I give this book a 6 out of 10 lights and sirens.
Do you like to read books that relate to your work?  What are some of the oral vs written story issues?  Do you ever feel like trying to write down your crazy work experiances?

So Many Babies!

I had a fantastic weekend and hope yours was the same.  I got to help celebrate my nephew E's first birthday (ha you can't see it but I just tried to type first and birthday at the same time...my spell check hates me ha ha ha ) which was wonderful, watched a bunch of boy movies which was interesting, actually got to spend some time outside with the Hubbin which was glorious, and was even productive enough to get to sessions of CMU's in.  And of course I read, oh I read and read and read.  Finished a book, started two others and bought two more YAY ME!  One of the interesting things about this weekend was a conversation I had with Hubbin about crowded and potentially unsafe living conditions in the area.  As an EMT I see every kind of living condition you can think of, this paired with my Baby E time and my CMU's in patient care all came together to remind me of a book I just finished reading.  Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Joy, Birth and Hard Times by Jenny Worth.  I picked this book up 'cause I love the BBC series by the same name and was in the mood for something a little different.  As always SPOILERS AHEAD (kind of)

This book is not one that has a plot so much as it has a bunch of stories all strung together.  The memoir format is not one I have read in a while, being more of a fiction person, but this book reminded me why I used to read a lot more of them.  Quick synopsis.  Jenny Worth arrived in the East End of London in the 50's to what she refers to as Nonnatus House, a pseudonym to protect the privacy of the patients and caregivers involved in these stories.  The author takes the name from St. Raymond Nonnatus who is the patron saint of childbirth, midwives, children, and pregnant women.  The author takes us through her first year or so as a trained midwife in this new and different environment.  In the 50's in the after math of WWII people live in crowded tenements  where running water is a luxury and a whole floor, or even a whole building sharing a lavatory is not uncommon.   Families often had children into the double digits all living in two or three rooms, heated by a stove that doubled as the kitchen.  In these conditions our young midwife had to learn to how to deliver babies as safely as possible.  She tells us of the various patients she saw and the various circumstances in which the births occurred.  Some of the stories are sweet, some silly, some sad (obviously I am in an alliteration phase today) but all of them real.  My favorite stories are the ones about Conchita Warren and her 25 live births, there a couple stories about this exotic woman who spoke no English yet seemed to be the paragon of wife and motherhood.  Both stories she is involved in makes me want to stand up and cheer.

This memoir is fascinating to me as a health care professional because it shows in some ways how far we have come (gloves were rarely used, shaving and enema's before birth were the norm, hygiene was optional for most patients), but also how we are starting to lose some of the personal touch that makes a nurse or doctor or even EMT a good one.  I also noted how much more parents were involved in making medical decisions for themselves and their children.  Now day's, especially if you go to a hospital to give birth, the mothers are made to feel that they must do everything the Dr. or Nurse says.  Now the vast majority of the time this is a good idea, but sometimes a Mamma has to go with her gut and say no, or speak up about something wrong.  In the book a baby is premature and the consensus is that he should be placed in an incubator in the hospital, but his mother refuses to let him go, knowing that she can give him the best care.  In the time period this happened, there was not a whole lot the Dr. could do but come check on the little guy, now days there would have been court orders to take the child away to be placed in a sterile incubator with minimal human touch.  Again, Drs. usually know what they are doing, and Nurses tend to be top notch, but this example of society allowing a parent to be a parent seems to be missing now days to our detriment (that was an awkward sentence, but I think I got my point across.).

The TV show so far has followed most of the stories fairly faithfully from the memoir.  I watched the first season before I read the book and was surprised at how closely they followed it, with a few tweaks of course, but totally recognizable.  It will be interesting to see if the future seasons follow the later memoirs, or if they go off on their own, but either way I am enjoying both immensely and cannot wait to get my hands on the next book.  Books like this remind me that as much as I will always be a fantasy/sci fi/fiction girl, that real life is just as exciting, varied, and interesting if you look for the right opportunities...it also makes me want to write down some of my favorite calls for future people to read.  I give this book 8 out of 10 babies and recommend it to anybody who is interested in post WWII history, midwivery, a couple good stories, or enjoy the tv show.

What type of memoirs do you like to read?  What era interests you?  Did you ever think a tv show about midwives would ever be so popular?

Dragonwriter

Wooohoooo my blog has made it to the terrible two's!  I think it is only fitting that on this second anniversary of this rambling blog that I talk about a wonderful book/tribute I just finished called Dragonwriter.  It is a collection of essays/stories/remembrances of the beloved Dragonlady of Pern , Anne McCaffery.

This collection edited by her son Todd McCaffery is a lovely tribute to his late mother who left for sunnier skies in November of 2011.  This book includes pieces by her children, her fellow authors, songwriters, Con gatherers and just people in general who were and are all personally touched by this astounding author.
When it comes to books, I rarely judge the book by its author, but rather its content.  Unless an author does something pretty heinous, as long as I like the books, then I try and ignore some of the less savory aspects of being a human being that authors like any other human may have.  I know for a lot of people separating the author from their work is not always possible (see the Orson Scott Card controversy going on right now) and that is fine, each reader has to choose for him or herself.  For me personally as I realize that very few people are going to hold all the same views as myself, especially when we get into genre hopping, and

creative types everybody is going to have vastly different views, beliefs, and standards.  As long as this does not creep into their books (aka preaching at me, or blatantly advocating something I don't agree with) I can usually overlook it and just enjoy the book.  For me this is the only way I can read anything because being the judgmental person I am, I am pretty sure I could find something to disturb me in just about anyone (as well as myself).
This being said, when I hear of an author being pretty awesome, it does increase my enjoyment of their books.  Reading Dragonwriter and learning about all of the amazing things Ms. McCaffery did for her fellow men, women, animals, and publishers was pretty awesome.  The stories told are by people who actually knew this woman, who had been to her house, conversed with her, corresponded with her, wrote with her, and in some cases even lived with her.  I loved reading about little personal things that crept into her stories, like how she loved music and tried to train as an opera singer until a burr was discovered in her voice...which then got written into her book Crystal Singer which just makes that book even more awesome then it already is.  The stories of her sense of humor, her temper, her designation as "Universal Mum", her impulse to see
other (especially fledgling) authors as her friends, and people who needed a boost vs competition is refreshing and wonderful.  Our lady of the dragons (and other amazing characters and settings as well) was without a doubt human, with human flaws, but when you can get a book chock full of people who's lives are better, not just because of her books, but because of the person behind the books as well then you know you have surpassed being just a phenomenal writer, but a great human being as well, which is sometimes the harder thing to be. Between the personal stories and the bonus artwork of Michael Whelan who did most of the cover art for the Pern series makes this a must read for any Anne McCaffery fan...and now I have to go reread all of her books.

What author inspires you outside of their books?  How much does an authors outside life affect your enjoyment of their books?   Is there such thing as too much Anne McCaffery?

And Now Back To Our Regular Programming

Ok folks I'm back...for the moment :-)  I have had a whirlwind of a couple of weeks and now get a brief week of sanity before I dive right back in.  One of the things I did was visit the National Geographic Museum and it was AWESOME!!!!!  My favorite part was the Real Pirates exhibit which featured the crew of the Wydah Gally captained by Captain "Black Sam" Bellamy.  To make it even better my amazing Hubbin bought me a book to go with the exhibit.

The Mammoth Book of Pirates

I have to say I am very excited to start reading this.  Sounds like the perfect summer adventure, learning the tales of true pirates.  It also makes me want to start a trip that hits all of the old major strongholds of the pirates!  Tomorrow I will resume with my Ramblings and we shall get on with our summer reading!

Everything You Wanted To Know About Dead Bodies, But Were To Afraid To Ask

Here is a little change of pace from my normal reading palette, a book called Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach. This extremely funny, yet informative book gives us a glimpse of what happens to human bodies after they die. It starts off with a brief history of the human cadaver and its many uses in the advancement of science...and some not so savory uses.  She then goes on to detail various ways donated bodies are used. There is the most known and accepted use of organ donation and the all
encompassing "scientific research" categories, but she goes on to find a lot of other not so well known, but just as helpful uses as well. Ms. Roach does her best to actually go to the sites that these various procedures are carried out and asks questions a normal person would be dying to know.  She visits a plastic surgery lab where students must perform adequately  on cadaver heads before being allowed to touch a living face, a decomposition farm where bodies are placed in every imaginable environment to help police determine various times of death, talks with a man who used cadaver to do a "reenactment" of a plane crash to help determine what happened.  The list goes on and on.  The best part of this book for me was the real human curiosity and the perfect tone of humor the author brings.  She looks as it, not as a professional, but as a normal everyday person asking the questions we are all afraid to.  The foot notes in this book are the best part, they are hilarious and break up what can start to feel a little dark.  Ms. Roach always seems to treat the subject with respect without getting to macabre over the whole thing.  I would highly recommend this book to most people (unless you are really squeamish, then don't go near it) it is totally different from any other book I've read and pretty much is awesome.  I give it 7 out of 7 sugar skulls.

Do you think reading about dead bodies is something you should only do around Halloween?  How bad do you want to donate your whole body to science?  How do you come up with a topic like "what happens to dead human bodies" as a humor writer?