A Summer Of Goals

Where have I been?

2009-06-27T04:35:00.000-07:00

So its been forever since i have blogged and im sorry about that but with the summer Ive been having its been really hard.

I finished my Bermuda studies and did fairly well on my exam. The trip started to get a little old towards the end and i was ready to come home. We snorkeled went into the capital of Bermuda which is Hamilton. We got to catch up on some shopping and hit up the local pubs and had a blast. Our last night in Bermuda we went all the way on the other side of the island to Dockyard which is probably a place we should've gone a couple times during our stay. However by car it takes someone about an hour to get out there. My flight back was a little bumpy and while we were traveling was during the time that plane went missing so I was really bugging out as our pilot changed his altitude. I took lots of pictures which are on facebook.

Since I have been back Ive been working everyday. I dont think I've had a day off since June 16th which is good and kinda bad at the same time. Yes ill be getting overtime but i truly am burnt out and tired of this job. But today is the day that I will finally start a nice long weekend. I will be leaving work at 1 and going to the Kenny Chesney Concert with a few friends. I cant way to go tailgate and hang out with my friends, we really have some good times when we get together. Tomorrow I'll be going with fishing with one of my bosses from work. Supposedly the fishing is really good and i cant wait to get back out on boat.

The one highlight that i have this summer is i totaled my truck! Thats right the explorer is no more. I was driving into work and this little boy ran out infront of me and i swerved to miss him and crashed right into a light pole. However the cool thing is ill be getting something else to replace it probably a newer truck with lower mileage. I really want a pick up so that should hopefully work out.

As for my goals..........................yeah still nothing I did not realize how busy my summer was going to be. I work close to 60 hours a week. I have a 16 page paper to write, lines to memorize for the Glass Menagerie. There is so much going. What did i get my self into?

I didnt mean to be late....Day 3

2009-06-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

Day three was better than day two time a thousand, except for the whole me showing up for my lecture a little late. I overslept. I was up and actually went and got breakfast but then i came back up and just closed my eyes before we had to go to our lecture. Anyway... after the lecture we took another boat trip out by the edge of the reef. Instead of just anchoring up randomly we anchored up on a World War II US naval ship that sunk. It was a concrete ship and it was infested with so many sponges and fishes. I wish I had an underwater disposable camera to take pictures because it was a hell of an experience. Because we got done snorkeling early the captain of the boat said he would take us in the long way around the island. So we went all the way around the north side of the island passing by Whalebone Bay, Fort St. Catherines, and Tobacco Bay. I took well over a hundred pictures it was beautiful. After our boat trip we had the night to our selves. After dinner we went to Passing Wind which is a bar/hangout place for the people who are living on the campus of the BIOS Station. Last night I met the Captain of The Atlantic Explorer which is the big ship the BIOS Station uses to do deep sea diving and make long ocean trips to do research. He was actually from upstate Massachusetts seven miles from the border of New York. Also on this boat was an individual from Miami, Florida and Wisconsin. The mates were from The Philippines and really funny. They played me in darts and kicked my butt. After that we took a cab to The Swizzle Inn which was a bar just outside of Hamilton. We ordered a bunch of drinks and food and had a blast there with the locals. Our cab ride back was so much fun because out cab driver was singing smooth jazz obnoxiously. Bermuda is just like the United States, its filled with all kinds of characters.

--Brian--

BERMUDA DAY DOSE!

2009-06-04T08:24:00.001-07:00

Day Two may have been better than day one. We had a lecture early and then strolled to the North Shore of Whalebone Bay. The water was fairly shallow and inhabited with parrot fish, puffer fish, angel fish, peacock flounder, and so much more. We only had an hour there because we needed to be back for lunch which was flank steak! We get served great food here with huge helpings I’m loving it. After lunch we took a 40 minute boat trip off the coast of Bermuda. We were in between the reef and the island it self. We were in about 15 to 20 feet of water but because the water was so clear you could see the bottom clear as day. I saw so many more variety of fishes and sponges than that of Whalebone Bay. The boat trip out was beautiful, there are so many neat cliffs and lovely houses. Most houses are a bright blue, pink, green, and orange color. We drove by Mayor Blumberg of New York summer residence. It’s a gigantic yellow that sits on the top of a hill and looks over the ocean. Both days have been clear and sunny so I am hoping it stays like this the rest of the trip. Our captain of our boat said the past month has been sunny with very little clouds. This is great for us but horrible for Bermuda who relies heavily on rain water as source of drinking water. If you are building or own a house in Bermuda you are required to have a special roof that is designed to collect rain water. Underneath the houses are filtration systems and holding tanks. This water is their drinking and bathing water. Underground wells are illegal in Bermuda because the septic is very poor and pollutes the soil. Hope all is well back in the States or wherever you may but I bet it cant beat Bermuda.

--Brian--

BERMUDA DAY ONE

2009-06-03T08:24:00.000-07:00

I arrived at Philadelphia International airport at 7:40am for my 10:15am flight to Bermuda. I said goodbye to my family and got through security without any issues. I found my terminal and spread my self out for a nice nap until my flight. The next thing I know the US Airways representative was on the loudspeaker informing us our terminal had been changed down the concourse. So I gathered all my bags and walked down to our new terminal, spread my self out for a nice nap again. Not ten minutes later the representative was on the loudspeaker again informing us that our airplane was now a bigger one. I closed my eyes again and started to dose off when that lovely representative was on the loudspeaker informing us that the new plane we got needed a part to be fixed but we would be boarding momentarily. Ten minutes later our plane now needed a new part and it would be coming from Charolette, North Carolina and we would be departing at noon. Noon finally came and we were now boarding the plane en route to St. Georges, Bermuda. We landed around 3 in Bermuda and everyone got through security except for me. I was the only one on the plane that had to open my bags and get searched. After a minor delay we took a taxi to BIOS (Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences). It was strange riding on the other side of the road but very cool. We got situated with the rules at BIOS and got our room assignments. I got a single room with my own bathroom and a queen size bed. I put my bathing suit on and went right to the Concrete Beach which is a beach made out of concrete. The water was crystal clear and our group of swam for an hour. Its 5:30 now so I have 2 hours to walk around and take some pictures. We have a lecture at 7:30 and after our lecture we will be hitting up St. Georges for a little night out in Bermuda.

I Suck At This

2009-05-31T02:14:00.000-07:00

So besides making bank at work I have not completed any of my goals so far this summer. The whole buying a mountain bike is still in the back in my mind but I think I am going to wait until I come back from Bermuda. THATS RIGHT PEOPLE IM GOING TO BERMUDA, SURPRISE!! I leave in two days and do not worry I will be blogging every day about it. I will be there from June 2nd to June 16th and will be with Dr. Munson and Washington College. I will be getting 4 credits for the course. I do have a 20 page paper to write and some test I need to take but people I'll be in Bermuda. Ill be posting lots of pictures.

On another note I got my first save! I was working in Lawrence township when my ambulance got dispatched for a cardiac arrest. Upon arrival I initiated CPR and shocked the patient. A few days ago I was glad to hear that my patient walked out of the hospital just fine.

Speaking of work I will be heading in now for a nice long 12 hour shift. I have some packing and organizing I need to do before I leave for my trip on Tuesday morning. I cannot wait.

--Brian--

Possibly One goal down..... depending on a paycheck

2009-05-22T13:26:00.001-07:00

I hate the gym. I hate driving to a place where a bunch of sweaty people are running on treadmills and where big buff guys are screaming as they lift weights that I cant even lift in my own dreams. A gym membership might just be a waste of money for me.

So instead of spending a few hundred dollars on a gym membership I've decided to invest in a mountain bike. I love being outside and I think riding trails would be a blast. There are so many bike trails here and at WAC for me to ride. The place that I plan to purchase the bike at goes on rides every Saturday free of charge. They said they would teach me how to change gears properly, how to take jumps, and ride up and down mountains. 420 bucks for a mountain bike seems reasonable and its under warranty for a year and because I purchased it from this place they service it every year for a discounted price.

If my paycheck is as big as I think it is Im so buying a mountain bike. See you on the trails.

--Brian--

I ended up sleeping on my grandmas couch and then working 16 hours on monday after the dentist let me have it

2009-05-19T11:51:00.000-07:00

Well my summer kicked off a lot differently than I thought. Instead of meeting up with James and causing all sorts of trouble I woke up on my grandmother's couch. Now I did sleep there by choice and I dont have some crazy story of what happened the night before but I decided it was time to pay my grandparents a visit. Its not as dreadful as one would think because my uncle and grandfather both have boats which I've practically grown up on. Instead of going out on my uncles and or grandfathers boat I took my boss out on the water. I've grown up down there and know the bay well enough to catch fish. We only caught three fish... well i caught three fish. The other 4 guys didn't even get a bite. They got sick of watching me catch fish so we ended the day.

Monday may go down as the worst day of this summer because I got to go to the dentist. For those who may not know I would rather jump off a cliff then go to the dentist. The picks, the suctioning tubes, and hands in my mouth is my biggest fear. It takes them twice as long to clean my teeth than any normal person because they say i squirm and move. I like to refer to it as protecting my mouth.

I got through the dentist and realized that I had a 16 hour shift in the wonderful city of Trenton. The first 8 hours I worked with an individual one may call... odd. I think he may be bipolar because one minute we were having great conversation, the next he was very cold towards me. The weirdest thing about working with this guy was we pulled up to this weird deli on a not so great street. He instructed me to "stay in the truck." Ten minutes go by and he comes out with a brown bag. I asked him what he bought and he told me that he was just talking to an old friend. I left it at that.

The second half of my shift I worked with an awesome kid. We went and go coffee and I legit slept for 5 hours and got paid overtime. It was the slowest night I have ever worked and I was getting paid overtime to sleep and do nothing.

Its been almost a week and I still haven't even made a dent in my summer goals.

--Brian--

Summer Day Numero Uno

2009-05-13T12:02:00.000-07:00

As of 2:39PM my summer has officially started for me. My plan to end this week is to work two 12 hour shifts Thursday and Friday. Ill probably sleep all day Friday and then Friday night Ill be in Cape May, New Jersey hopefully with my best friend James. Our goal: Start the summer off right.

--Brian--

GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-05-12T12:15:00.000-07:00

This summer I decided to try something a friend of mine has been doing for years. I decided that i was going to make a list of goals and accomplish them before the next semester at WAC starts. I wanted to be able to share the attempts that I make at the goals and updates. Here are the goals i plan on reaching this summer:

Read 2 books- I only read for school and the books are boring. I want to find two interesting books and read them before the summers end.
Join a Gym, Set a Workout Schedule (Get Buff)- I've put on a little weight this school year i need to loose a couple of pounds, get back in shape.
Buy A New Camera- Photography is my new hobby but I hate using other people's camera so I want my own now.
Buy An XBOX 360-My little brother has one and I always play his in the summer or when Im home visiting but I want one for my dorm room next semester.
Find A New 911 Job- Im an EMT now and the company I work for is loosing their 911 contract and will be doing strictly transport work. I need a new job.
Convince My Mother I am Capable Of Enrolling In An Online Paramedic Course and Passing- I know I can do this just my mother thinks it will be too much.
Surf For An Entire Week- Last summer I barely got to go out surfing and it is one of my all time favorite thing to do. I want 7 days of the beach, my board, and I.
Pass My Bermuda Class- I will be taking a 4 credit course in Bermuda from June 2nd to the 16th and all I want is my credits.
Buy A BlackBerry-They are mad cool and you can do so much with them. I want one.
Go To As Many Phillies Games as possible- Someone has to support the best team in baseball.

All these goals are reachable as long as I work at it. I need to get focused, get organized, and "just do it."

--Brian--