Journal Entry

Thursday, October 19, 2000

I think I'm entering into a rut. Maybe not a bad one, but a rut is a rut. My schedule and routine is becoming so predictable, that I find that there isn't much new to write about. Kind of an odd predicament, but I guess I'll have to look a little harder for things that happen around here.

We were tested on CPR (the written exam) on Monday. That went fine.. I've done that too many times. Even the American Heart Assoc. version is very similar to that of the American Red Cross. Then on Tuesday I had the CS prelim. It was pretty hard, but after you go through things a few times, it works itself out. Programming on paper is more difficult than it sounds--you don't have the computer to test it out on.

Yesterday was the CPR practical exam, where we did everything relating to CPR. I passed it just fine, having done that enough in the past. Once you know CPR and practice basically every 6 months, you get a pattern down. You could almost do CPR in your sleep. It's crazy. What's weird--EMTs often verbalize "Call 911," even though they *are* 911. It's just so ingrained in the training. Verbalizing the process of CPR as you do it makes it easier to think about what you're doing. Of course, it may make bystanders uncomfortable if an EMT says Call 911. I can see why.

Tonight is my chem exam... I did fine on the last one. This one covers material we also covered last year. I studied for a couple hours last night, so I should make out okay.

Well, I'm off yet again. Look forward to more Random Words. I've got a few lined up, but I don't want to release them all at once--must have a reserve, you know.

Aaron