LIFE

Tonight was Angela's school wide field trip: dinner at McDonald's. All of the kids were having a blast running around the restaurant, yelling and screaming, playing in the Play Place, being served and cleaned-up after by the teachers and principal, and knocking the Christmas tree down. LOL Some of the proceeds earned from tonight's event are going to be donated to the school. That's a pretty good idea for a fund raiser; I mean, what kid is going to turn down a meal at McDonalds? LOL

My husband told me what he wanted me to buy him for Christmas. He wants three collectible die-cast buses to go with his train set. I can only afford one at a time, LOL, but he says that's fine with him. My husband has been especially gracious and generous to us all year. He has become an excellent provider. If you ask me, he don't have to buy us another thing. I am going to make doggone sure that I get him what he asked me for, and then some.

Last night was my last day at the airport. I turned in my badge and everything. I have taken the rest of the week off to rest up and get the girls ready for the coming days (I have to report to work in the mornings my first week, which means that they MUST catch that bus to school!). After my first week, I will be off four more days, then Monday I will start training on the floor. Tomorrow I go downtown for the drug test, and I just have to report for duty Saturday morning, 7 AM sharp.

I already know that I will have to study this city's street maps and area zip codes VERY WELL, because the information that I will be entering into the system for the callers determines whether the fire trucks or EMT's arrive at the right house! I asked Matt about a key map (his job provided with him with one), and he told me to ask them if they would provide one for me; they are VERY expensive. If they aren't able to, I am definitely going to make that investment myself. I realize that I will be responsible for people's lives (I have done this kind of work before), and I want to be as efficient as possible. Dispatchers can be very, very mean if you send them a crazy call, and rightfully so, because any errors in these types of calls can cause the loss of a life. And these dispatchers aren't civilians (I was a civilian police dispatcher in New Orleans), they are ACTUAL firemen, EMT's, and police officers! I know how important this job is, and I am preparing myself mentally. I don't take the fact that these folks were willing to take a chance on hiring me lightly. I am very grateful. I will strive to do my best, as always.

Still waiting for my tree; UPS says that it will be here tomorrow. Can't wait!!!

Adrian