happy december.

hello friends & fam!

Tonight I am FINALLY getting a night off. For those who don't know, I have been taking an Emergency Medical Technician Course for the last ten weeks. I got the top score in the class (93%) and top final score in the class (98%). I spent a lot of time studying and working with the guys at Spokane County Fire District 10 to prepare for this class. The work paid off. Now I just need to take the National Exam and get certified to work in almost every state in the country.

The next step is to find someone to sponsor me. Initially I was planning on volunteering with Airway Heights Fire Department in their program that sponsors EMTs without being a firefighter. Unfortunately I was told recently that they only want firefighters, so I am going to test in February. There are two departments that I am going to test with: SCFD 10 (http://www.scfd10.org/) and Airway Heights Fire Department. I am also applying with American Medical Response (www.amr.net) and as many other places as possible to be able to get my sponsorship.

I want to take a phlebotomy class at the local community college here. (http://www.iel.spokane.edu/LNB/Business---Community-Training/Phlebotomy.aspx) This course, on top of my EMT course, would really be helpful to help me establish a solid job while I finish school. I don't think I will be able to afford it right now though. It's over 1500 dollars. My classes at Eastern (up to ten credits) are only five dollars plus books with my job. It's a good deal so I think I will put off the class until later (unless I can come up with 1688.oo like magic).

Next quarter I will be taking a chemistry class, a medical terminology class, and a finance class that amounts to ten credits. I can't take more than ten credits a quarter unless I pay full tuition with my job. It works out only taking ten credits for the next two quarters, but after that I want to return to full time for sure.

What are all of you doing for the holidays? I am taking the day off (normally I work Sundays) and just laying around the house. I'm not going home for Christmas (plane tickets to FL are over five hundred dollars!) so I will be chilling out here in my apartment watching Bones and Dexter all day and eating takeout. =]

I went to see my Mom, Erin, and Aden for Thanksgiving. It was nice to get away for a five days and surprise my mom. I baked all night long for Thanksgiving day (TONS of REAL pumpkin pie) and spent some nice time at the Mall of America with Erin. Aden and I played catch outside for awhile on Thanksgiving day. Aden is so big now! He is so smart and cute. He is guaranteed to be a heart breaker one day.

So that's the catch up! More specific stuff later. <3 to you all :)