How do I use this cuteness to conquer the world?

I've realized something.  My daughter, Adorable Preciousness, can wrap anyone around her finger without even trying.  I went to a book signing tonight and they were giving away T-Shirts to "the most entertaining in line," whatever that meant.  My daughter was twirling and singing and running in circles, as most little ones are wont to do.  (She doesn't stay still unless she's either asleep or watching Bubble Guppies.)  I could have had a shirt, except I didn't want one.  There was a photographer that took about two dozen photos of her...  and then they asked me to sign a release.

I've got to figure out how to take that cuteness, bottle it up, and weaponize it.

Spring has sprung!

We've been dealing with bitter cold, and the other day was the first day of spring.  Oddly enough, we go from the 30's to the 70's for one day only.  

Thus, we took advantage of our 70 degree Saturday!  

Went out to the local Irish festival, held by a Catholic church the week after St. Patrick's Day.  Their reasoning is that you don't do an all out party on his day, but wait a week to celebrate it.  Yeah, sounds kind of awkward coming from me but I can see the logic in it.  On that note, it has no competition and it raises a ton of money for the church.  

Adorable Preciousness ate her first corn dog today.  She loved it.  Then she realized that there was a HOT DOG under all of that breading.  Next thing I know it's been devoured and she is gnawing on the stick.  Ha ha!  

I had a good day.  Good memories.  The rest of the week is supposed to be cold and rainy, and maybe even snow.  Glad I enjoyed it while I could.  

Chest Compressions

Before I start, a little history on me.  I used to be an EMT.  I was nothing special, low man on the totem pole.  The majority of the members of my squad were certified in Advanced Life Support.  IE: They could run the fancy electronic equipment, insert IV's, and push the drugs.  And a significant number of our staff were older.  Therefore with all of my training, I was pretty much relegated to the grunt work.  Cleaning out the ambulances, hauling the equipment, pulling the stretcher, et al.  I never really shined as an EMT because I was pretty much eclipsed by everyone else.

But on that note:  Due that I was young and strong and not allowed to play with the fancy equipment or drugs I would always be designated to do chest compressions during CPR.  It would be a team effort, one would run the IV, one would manage the airway/rescue breaths, and I would always be on the chest.  So, I've had a lot of practice.  But I've never had a save.

But, I've let my EMT certification lapse.  I haven't run in well over a decade and a half.  But I've kept my CPR certification up to date.

Recently I had to do CPR on an inmate.  (Guess my line of work.)  I can't tell you the last time I did CPR on someone.  But when the medical staff member said to start CPR, I jumped right in.  Just like the old days.  The inmate was packed up and passed on to EMS, and our day continued as what passed as normal at our facility.

Afterward, everyone congratulated me on the job I did.  But it wasn't just me.  I was just in the front when action needed to be taken.  And what I did could have been done by anyone else.  Also, I wasn't the only person doing something.  Another officer did rescue breathing.  The medical personnel did the IV.  It was a TEAM effort.  What I did, I had done before.  So it didn't feel any different.

Well, it didn't feel any different until someone asked me if I was OK.  I had no clue what they were talking about.  When they explained it...  Well, I had done CPR before, so I really didn't "think" about what I had just done.  It was action, not thought.

Thinking about something makes it a lot worse than it really is.  First off, I was coming off of the adrenaline rush.  Second, I had accepted it as something that needed to be done as opposed to something with emotional consequences.

But once I was asked that question, "Are you OK," that's when it kind of hit me.  I had to think of the issue, and about the inmates well being.  And then I got a little shaken.

Pocketbook, or kitty potty?

So...  The wife and I are trying to save money and pay off bills.  Of course that means that I am trying to save money, because every day we get a box of something or other dropped on our front porch addressed to my wife.  

Today, my wife got a box that contained two "pocket books."  Well, one hooks to the car seat so it's more of an organizer.   The second one was a HUGE canvas pocketbook with pockets on the inside and the outside.  And it is even insulated so you can keep food in int.  According to my wife, it would be perfect for travel and vacations.  

Sadly, I looked at them and all I could think was that they were just another container for our cats to pee in when they get miffed at us next.  

I'm done with this snow!

Being in the south, we normally don't deal with much snow.  Normally we'll get one or two snowstorms a season.  Sometimes they are big, sometimes they are small.  For the past few years, most of the snows where small and really didn't stick to the roads.  (There were about two exceptions.)

This year, the snow has been terrible.  It keeps coming.  And it keeps sticking.  The good news is that we've only lost power once.  The bad news is that it seems to keep hitting on my days off.  I work shift work so my days off rotate, but unfortunately that means that I've been stuck in the house on my free time for approximately a month.

Last week, enough snow had melted that I took Adorable Preciousness to the playground.  Of course, it was 40 and windy.  Kind of uncomfortable but I needed to get out.

Another snow.  Now I'm stuck in the house again.  And I hate it.  There is so much that I need to get done...  But it's not going to happen.  Heck, I need to make phone calls to get appointments scheduled, but the businesses are closed due to snow.

I really want to get out to look at and price firearms.  I've been looking at getting an AR and there are a handful that I'm trying to choose from.  Many of the dealers have been cleaned out since December and are now getting some nice models in.  I've been leaning towards a Windham, but a lot of people are complaining that they don't use quality materials or assembly.  My next choice seems to be a S&W, but I can't get any good evaluations on it because once I mention S&W, everyone says to go and buy a Colt.  I'm not going to get a Colt for reasons I won't go into on this post...  But if you ask I'll gladly tell you.  =o)

On that note, can anyone tell me the quality of a Palmetto State Armory rifle?  They keep putting out an $899 deal of AR + nice Optics.  (Such as an Aimpoint Pro.)  I'm half tempted, but not if it's a crappy rifle.