So late last week, I came down with a cold, as outlined in my post a couple of days ago. It got me thinking about some other things regarding my health. Top of the list:
It's here. The H1N1 vaccine has finally arrived. It's available. It's out there for me to receive, for free, should I so choose. Heck, so is the regular seasonal flu shot, for that matter.
And I am so very on the fence about the whole thing.
I usually get the flu shot, as I do have (very mild) asthma, and my dad's a senior citizen. But, my god, are the 3+ hour lineups outside in the cold really going to be worth the possibility that I might be protected? But if I don't go soon... will there be enough?
Oh the dilemma.
Thoughts?
(In other news, I had my last two wisdom teeth taken out 1.5 hours ago. Let's see how I feel in another couple of hours when the freezing wears off...)
It's here. The H1N1 vaccine has finally arrived. It's available. It's out there for me to receive, for free, should I so choose. Heck, so is the regular seasonal flu shot, for that matter.
And I am so very on the fence about the whole thing.
I usually get the flu shot, as I do have (very mild) asthma, and my dad's a senior citizen. But, my god, are the 3+ hour lineups outside in the cold really going to be worth the possibility that I might be protected? But if I don't go soon... will there be enough?
Oh the dilemma.
Thoughts?
(In other news, I had my last two wisdom teeth taken out 1.5 hours ago. Let's see how I feel in another couple of hours when the freezing wears off...)
As indicated in my previous post, I spent the last couple of nights down at Fort Edmonton Park working their annual Spooktacular event as part of the logistics team. Which basically means either manning a bonfire (not exactly a painful job - you get to keep warm on a cold night!) or wandering around keeping an eye out for teenagers drinking or making out in places they shouldn't be, and possibly escorting some intoxicated folks out of the park. It's pretty low-key.
This year, I don't know how the volunteers found FEP, or how FEP found these volunteers, but there was a group of three guys on the logistics team that were, to put it mildly, hardcore. They showed up on Friday night wearing their all-black gear, the cargo pants, the "SECURITY" ball caps. One dude even brought his super-industrial sized St. John's Ambulance first aid backpack of black hugeness (seriously, it was almost as big as my "backpacking through Europe" backpack). They made a point of earnestly pointing out to the logistics coordinator that they work security for a living.
Apparently on Wednesday (the information session for volunteers) they weren't really listening, as they had to ask for clarification on what they could and couldn't do over the evening (bottom line, it's hands-off. You give verbal requsts/commands. If things need to go further, there's an EPS officer on-site). They tried to tell other security teams not to patrol in their area. They even indicated "if we need to get ahold of each other, we're going to use call sign delta on the radio, it's just what we're used to." And from then on in, Team Delta Force was born. At least, that's what we called them behind their backs.
The difference between trying to work security at FEP and just about anywhere else, is that FEP is huge. 160 acres of huge. Which is why it's actually probably better to have people that have worked there on a regular basis doing the security patrols. Saying "I'm right by the windmill" to get people to your location is a lot easier than trying to say "I'm by the old, broken down windmill. If you go out to the parking lot right by the actual Fort, behind the trading post, it's up on the hill, but you sort of have to go around a back path to get up to the top."
Case in point, these guys thought they heard something at one point. They were trying to tell us where they were. "We're at the back end of the park. By the railway tracks, near the houses. By track marker 6." "Houses?" "Yeah, the residential area." "Ok, so you're back by the fort?" "No, we're in the bush." (Translation, once we figured it all out - they were way on the far side of the horse paddock by the Fort, almost out of the park and into peoples' backyards. They were probably hearing someone bbqing on their back deck). Anyone who has worked at FEP will realize just how ridiculous saying "we're in the bush" is, in terms of a landmark.
And another classic Delta Force moment - first aid was required at one point, and they were looking for a first aid kit. If they had been paying attention at the briefing, they would have known that the only people who are supposed to administer first aid are the staff (unless it's a major emergency - arterial bleeding or whatever). In spite of this, dude #3 kept insisting that his hardcore backpack was there (in spite of the fact there were already 2-3 first aid kits on site). We sent first aiders to the location. Turns out it was one of Delta Force that had managed to scrape themselves. The only real first aid issue of the evening. Go figure.
Anywho. They mellowed out last night, so maybe someone had a chat with them. Nevertheless, Delta Force provided hours of amusement mixed with intense frustration on Friday night.
This year, I don't know how the volunteers found FEP, or how FEP found these volunteers, but there was a group of three guys on the logistics team that were, to put it mildly, hardcore. They showed up on Friday night wearing their all-black gear, the cargo pants, the "SECURITY" ball caps. One dude even brought his super-industrial sized St. John's Ambulance first aid backpack of black hugeness (seriously, it was almost as big as my "backpacking through Europe" backpack). They made a point of earnestly pointing out to the logistics coordinator that they work security for a living.
Apparently on Wednesday (the information session for volunteers) they weren't really listening, as they had to ask for clarification on what they could and couldn't do over the evening (bottom line, it's hands-off. You give verbal requsts/commands. If things need to go further, there's an EPS officer on-site). They tried to tell other security teams not to patrol in their area. They even indicated "if we need to get ahold of each other, we're going to use call sign delta on the radio, it's just what we're used to." And from then on in, Team Delta Force was born. At least, that's what we called them behind their backs.
The difference between trying to work security at FEP and just about anywhere else, is that FEP is huge. 160 acres of huge. Which is why it's actually probably better to have people that have worked there on a regular basis doing the security patrols. Saying "I'm right by the windmill" to get people to your location is a lot easier than trying to say "I'm by the old, broken down windmill. If you go out to the parking lot right by the actual Fort, behind the trading post, it's up on the hill, but you sort of have to go around a back path to get up to the top."
Case in point, these guys thought they heard something at one point. They were trying to tell us where they were. "We're at the back end of the park. By the railway tracks, near the houses. By track marker 6." "Houses?" "Yeah, the residential area." "Ok, so you're back by the fort?" "No, we're in the bush." (Translation, once we figured it all out - they were way on the far side of the horse paddock by the Fort, almost out of the park and into peoples' backyards. They were probably hearing someone bbqing on their back deck). Anyone who has worked at FEP will realize just how ridiculous saying "we're in the bush" is, in terms of a landmark.
And another classic Delta Force moment - first aid was required at one point, and they were looking for a first aid kit. If they had been paying attention at the briefing, they would have known that the only people who are supposed to administer first aid are the staff (unless it's a major emergency - arterial bleeding or whatever). In spite of this, dude #3 kept insisting that his hardcore backpack was there (in spite of the fact there were already 2-3 first aid kits on site). We sent first aiders to the location. Turns out it was one of Delta Force that had managed to scrape themselves. The only real first aid issue of the evening. Go figure.
Anywho. They mellowed out last night, so maybe someone had a chat with them. Nevertheless, Delta Force provided hours of amusement mixed with intense frustration on Friday night.
I guess it was a lucky coincidence that I managed to get sick the day before I had already scheduled my annual physical with the doctor. And that I had already taken today off work so I can mostly lie on the couch and recuperate. Fortunately it's just a cold, but I've been asked to watch and if a fever comes along I hie me to the ER to be tested for H1N1. Joy.
Annual physical went off without a hitch. Didn't pass out or feel weak during the blood tests, which is one step up from the last couple of times I've had someone try and take blood out of my body.
And tonight, I head down to FEP to throw drunken teenagers out of their Spooktacular event. Yay!
Annual physical went off without a hitch. Didn't pass out or feel weak during the blood tests, which is one step up from the last couple of times I've had someone try and take blood out of my body.
And tonight, I head down to FEP to throw drunken teenagers out of their Spooktacular event. Yay!
So... I think I'm kind of hooked. This whole running thing is actually kind of fun. Especially now that I know that if I work towards something, slow and steady, I can do it and I can accomplish my goals (yeah, I know that's one of those basic things you learn as a kid that's supposed to stick with you, but I'm one of those people to whom things mostly come easily, and when they don't, I get frustrated and give up).
Edmonton sort of becomes dead for running in the winter, but I'm thinking of doing the Running Room's Resolution Run. Which is outdoors. In Edmonton. In the winter. I'm trying to figure out whether or not it would be appropriate to try and seek sponsorship for my choir's upcoming trip to Italy for doing something so crazy as running.... outdoors... in Edmonton... in the winter... possibly hung over from the New Year's Eve celebrations the night previous.
Not to mention that I'd get a snazzy jacket out of the deal.
This is totally weird. I never figured that I would find a physical activity that I actually liked enough to do to this extent. I even went for a run (outdoors!) on Saturday when it was -6 degrees out! It was great! And with the exception of the stomach flu that I managed to get on the weekend (nothing says "Happy Thanksgiving" like being sick to your stomach), I have been feeling great lately too. Now, if it actually stops snowing tomorrow, then maybe I can go out for a run again..... If not, treadmill it is. :)
Edmonton sort of becomes dead for running in the winter, but I'm thinking of doing the Running Room's Resolution Run. Which is outdoors. In Edmonton. In the winter. I'm trying to figure out whether or not it would be appropriate to try and seek sponsorship for my choir's upcoming trip to Italy for doing something so crazy as running.... outdoors... in Edmonton... in the winter... possibly hung over from the New Year's Eve celebrations the night previous.
Not to mention that I'd get a snazzy jacket out of the deal.
This is totally weird. I never figured that I would find a physical activity that I actually liked enough to do to this extent. I even went for a run (outdoors!) on Saturday when it was -6 degrees out! It was great! And with the exception of the stomach flu that I managed to get on the weekend (nothing says "Happy Thanksgiving" like being sick to your stomach), I have been feeling great lately too. Now, if it actually stops snowing tomorrow, then maybe I can go out for a run again..... If not, treadmill it is. :)
I did it!!!!
I ran the entire 5k! Even better - apparently the course is actually 6.something km, when you pace it out with your pedometer or fancy iPod gadgets. So I'm thrilled with myself.
Next goal may have to be a 10k run. I'm trying to see if there's a way to work a 10k run into fundraising for my choir's trip to Italy this summer... :)
This would be me and my fellow runners clutching at our bottles of water after crossing the finish line. Yay us!
I ended up raising a little more than $600, and I'm super proud - I didn't think I'd even make $100.
Y'all are awesome. And for those of you who were wondering if the dogs were there again this year... the answer is yes. I left them with their owner whilst I ran, though.
I ran the entire 5k! Even better - apparently the course is actually 6.something km, when you pace it out with your pedometer or fancy iPod gadgets. So I'm thrilled with myself.
Next goal may have to be a 10k run. I'm trying to see if there's a way to work a 10k run into fundraising for my choir's trip to Italy this summer... :)
This would be me and my fellow runners clutching at our bottles of water after crossing the finish line. Yay us!I ended up raising a little more than $600, and I'm super proud - I didn't think I'd even make $100.
Y'all are awesome. And for those of you who were wondering if the dogs were there again this year... the answer is yes. I left them with their owner whilst I ran, though.
