The woman sitting next to me was part of a group of 9 people flying to America for the first time. I was enjoying watching their group....I think it was the first time some of them had flown. It was so cute, they were taking pictures out the windows, of each other getting on the plane, sitting on the plane, etc. It did make me pause and take a look out the window myself and remember how beautiful everything is from up there!
There was a problem with the landing when we got in the area of SFO. We started towards the runway and then the pilot pulled the plane back up. It was a little disconcerting...and the poor woman next to me was terrified. So, I just started making small talk to get her mind off what was going on (which helped me too!). When we finally landed (the pilot had to turn us around and make another go at the runway), we were both relaxed and ready to be on our way! I picked up my car from long term parking and headed "home".
When I arrived at the house Ingrid happened to be there, it was good to see her! She was there watering plants and taking the lock box off the front door. She said the new owner's came by the house earlier that day with a contractor to see about things they'd like to do with the house. It was about 85 degrees in Pleasanton....soooo hot I had to turn on the air conditioner!
Saturday I spent the day just going through the mail, went to Stoneridge Mall to pick up Andrew's new glasses, finished up our "family letter" with our new address to send to everyone, and prepared to go to work the next day.
At around 0300hrs I was wide awake, so I just got up and started getting ready for work. I did some laundry and started packing up the few things that are left in the house. At around 0415 hrs, I left for work, stopping at Safeway before leaving town for a prepared meal to bring for lunch.
Work went okay my first day back. Anytime I get less than 8 hours of sleep though, I still suffer from dizziness much worse than normal. Somehow I'm going to have to get more sleep.......I'm going to bed early enough, I just can't sleep till the alarm goes off! Every time I wake up I forget where I am and look for Andrew and Sammy......
Yesterday after work I stopped by to see Jackie, Allen and Dillon. Caitlyn was there too, so it was very nice to see her! It felt good to give them all hugs!
After I left there I went to Target to get a few things (ice cube trays!), went to Chipotle for a burrito in a bowl, then went to the house.
While I was taking out the trash for pick-up Reza and Sepi were out there, so we talked for about a half hour. Reza said he'll be in Amsterdam in the middle of May, so I gave him Andrew's email and phone number so they can meet up for dinner and/or drinks. I went to bed around 1930hrs, read for about 5 mins, and then was fast asleep!
This morning, I was wide awake at 0230hrs! I just can't sleep........Soooooo, I took a shower, did two loads of laundry, and packed a few more things for my trip back to the Netherlands. The duffle bag is almost full!
We watched a couple of training films today, one of them being "Dispatcher Cannibalism". They talked about how dispatchers have a tendency to be cliquey and exclude trainees. There was also a film about how Dispatchers have to be on Ready Alert Status at all times. We can be joking around one minute and busy answering 9-1-1 calls and dispatching calls the next.
"The telecommunications environment is unique because very few other jobs require such an attention to detail and accuracy performed in an expedited manner. Calls for Police, Fire or EMS response require precision and care. A wrong address, a missed word from the complainant as well as the failure to get pertinent information can spell disaster, not only for the success of the call, but may also pose a threat of potential liability for the department.
Because the typical telecommunications center is a fast paced environment there isn't always time to sit and plan an action. As a Emergency Dispatcher you must be ready to act fast, and decisively. Subsequently, there is very little down time available to where you can rest and re-group after each task. Emergency calls sometimes come in rapid succession, and even when there is a little downtime you are still in a Ready Alert Status never really knowing what the next call will bring.
This ready alert status is similar to what soldiers experience while in combat. That means that even when there is no actual threat, and there is no bullets flying around, the soldiers are still in a alert status ready to fight when needed. This is very much true for dispatchers. This is true even when the communications center is quiet and there are no calls or other activity going on. You might have a magazine out, or a newspaper doing the crosswords, and you think you feel relaxed. Yet your body is still in a readiness status. It is still in a heighten arousal state ready to react to the next event. This is native to the dispatch environment. Therefore unless you learn to adapt, cope and adjust to this work environment, over time, the sustained stress can burn you out."
One of my supervisors distributed an article the other day about PTSD in dispatchers that I found very interesting. I know this job takes its toll on us dispatchers.......
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The full article:
http://healthland.time.com/2012/03/29/study-911-dispatchers-experience-ptsd-symptoms-too/#ixzz1qX8FVnM0
Today I have an appointment with my doctor at Kaiser for the rash on my face, which has gotten worse. After that I will go to Costco and get razor blades for Andrew, and go to the house to water the plants.
********** Went to Kaiser and saw Dr. Urva. She called in a dermatologist to look at the rash on my face. He said I have "perioral dermatitis", which was made worse with the cream she prescribed earlier. He prescribed an antibiotic gel and oral antibiotics. He said it will probably get worse before it starts improving, and will probably take 4-6 weeks to go away!
After I left there I went over to REI and bought a cot to sleep on over at Jackie and Allens' house. Because I go to bed so early, I'll be sleeping in Dillon's room!
Headed over to Costco after that and then I also made a quick stop at Sozo Sushi for a Lion King roll! While I was waiting for that I went over to Rite Aid and got a few things. When I got home I thought, hmmmmm....a beer would be good with my sushi! I had the beer...but, no bottle opener! Then I remembered my handy dandy Swiss Army knife in my purse!!!
Then, I headed to the house......in bed by 2000hrs!
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