Excellent First Responder

This evening, after scouring the Earth for a Mother's Day present for my amazing mother (didn't find anything, in case you're wondering), I returned home to put on gym attire and head to the gym.

Funny thing is, it was 3 minutes after 6pm (when the office closes) and I don't have a key card. Damn. Surely, I thought, there has to be some people in there. There is always that one girl who takes up the only elliptical that forces me to run on the treadmill instead. Much to my dismay, no one was there. Not even her.

I waited around for a minute to see if anyone would be coming soon - then took the long way around one of the ponds back to my apartment. I wanted to go Roller Blading.

I grabbed my gear and headed out the door.

I turned onto the main street - and then right again on to a much busier one - headed for the highway. There's a "trail" by the OG that looks suitable for Roller Blading (well, it looks freshly paved with concrete - not asphalt - and appeared to be free of major debris) so I was going to check that out.

As I come up to an intersection before the highway, three of four lanes of cars are stopped and one didn't have any cars in it. A white SUV comes flying through the center. Just at the same time, a silver SUV is pulling into the wal-mart on the corner.

And there it was.

I was seven or more cars back. Surely someone will stop and call the police.

Between the three lanes, at least 30-40 cars had to have passed. Not one stopped to ask if they were okay. Onlookers only. Way too busy to deal with what just happened.

I'm strong. I can handle this.

I pull to the side, turn off my car and run to the woman in the car whose airbag deployed.

I open her door. Start talking to her. "Hi. My name is... Are you ok? Are you hurt anywhere?"

She looks at me and starts mumbling. She's somewhat disoriented. She doesn't know what just happened.

I go to the other car and the woman is yelling and crying furiously into her cell phone. I ask her if she is okay, if she can move, and if she's called the police yet. She's hysterical.

I calm her down and tell her that everything will be okay.

I run to my car, grab my cell phone, run to lady in the first car, call 911. I hold her hand. Tell her she will be okay.

"yes, there is an accident at this street and the freeway. two cars. one might have injuries. airbags deployed. she is talking to me but is disoriented."

I ask her to tell me her name, talk to me... tell me where she is...

"my chest, my chest. it burns."

English is a second language for both of these women.

"It's going to be okay. Stay still. They are on their way." I tell her.

"My brother, my brother. You have to call him. Call him please." Slow, faint voice. She's barely talking.

I find her phone - thrown to the opposite side of the car during impact.

"How do I find him?"

"Moussad. Call my brother. I need my brother"

I search. Dialing.

"Hi. My name is.... Your sister has been involved in an accident. She is at the corner of this main road and the highway. She is okay, but she may need to go to the hospital. You need to come here in case they take her in an ambulance."

Hang up.

"Your brother is coming. Everything is going to be okay. Tell me where you are."

"I, I. I don't know. How did this happen?" Disoriented.

I walk to the other woman, still crying, now sitting in her car. I ask again if she is alright. She was getting more and more hysterical. I asked if she needed a hug. She nodded.

I hugged her. She cried more. "I don't know what happened! What happens to cars now? I don't know what to do! I never been in accident. Never!"

Back and forth to both women. Calming one from hysterics and being sure this other one doesn't pass out, keeps talking to me.

Only one woman stopped to even asked if we called the police yet. At least 150 cars had passed in this 6 minute time frame. Only one. Pathetic people.

Three police cars, two ambulances, and a fire truck.

Paramedic approaches me.

"This woman needs medical attention. I saw the accident, stopped. I'm trained in first aid, cpr. She can talk, but is disoriented. The left side of her chest hurts, seatbelt burn, airbag deployed. She was hit at about 45mph or so, blindsided. She is coherent but doesn't know what just happened to her. I have been keeping her still and talking to me. I called her brother, he's on his way. Here is her cell phone.

This woman is hysterical and has called someone to pick her up. She tells me she's okay. She has been walking around."

"So, she's been talking to you the whole time?"

"yes."

"Did you see the accident happen?"

"yes."

"You are an excellent first responder." Smile.

"Thanks!" Smile.


Officer approaches me.

"You saw the accident?"

"yes."

"what happened?"

"Three lanes of traffic were stopped, at least 10 cars deep, I was 7 or so behind. This lane (pointing) was open, but the cars had stopped to let this SUV go and the other woman didn't see her. 45 mph or so."

"ok. this lane here? (pointing)"

"yes."

"ok, great. Thanks!"

"You're welcome. Do you need anything else from me?"

"No, thank you."

"You're welcome."

I got in my car and continued on to the trail. Roller Blading. Adrenaline rush. I have always been this way - able to act calm in ridiculously scary situations. Able to keep my cool. Able to be level-headed.

Breathe.

Things are bigger in Texas

Last week I decided that I am going to move to Dallas, TX. There's nothing left here for me in Atlanta except for a few friends and my family... whom I will miss dearly.

I just feel like it's that time. So, I've been looking for jobs in Dallas - apartments, etc. the whole nine. And everything seems to be coming together quite nicely.

Tonight, I was roller blading (made it around 4 times again tonight, only with a bit more struggle than the last adventure!) and all these thoughts were flying through my head. The past day and a half have been extremely hard dealing with this breakup. He's called and wants me to give it another shot... but I think I've given it all I can give. Sadly, I just don't want to go down that road again. It sucks because I know it hurts him, but there's nothing I can do about it.

The middle of September (sometime around the 15th) is coming up super fast and I have so many things to settle before that gets here.

Hopefully I'll get an email back from this lady I talked to with an AWESOME connection for me and I can get the ball rolling. I'm really excited about starting a new job and moving to a new city. It's a fresh start - and exactly what I need.

10 Things I accomplished today

1. I went to lunch with some really good friends I haven't seen in a while. One of which is getting married next week - and the other has a small baby. Perhaps this makes things a bit difficult for us to get together regularly! ;) Anyway, went to lunch with them and they gave me a tiffany's butterfly pendant for my graduation! It's GORGEOUS and oh so perfect. They even wrote a little hai-ku about me spreading my wings now that I've graduated. Love them!!

2. Took a nap. Hehe. Yep. Love me some sleep!

3. Cleaned the kitchen...

4. Then washed my car (by hand)...

5. Ran some errands...

6. Did some laundry...

7. I went roller blading tonight for the first time since the accident. It was a mix between being scared shitless from not being able to stop and the how hot it's been. Tonight was perfect weather. Working at the restaurant and running around all the time has given me incredible stamina, too. I used to only be able to go around my park 2 - MAYBE 3 - times in one session. I made at least 4 laps and then walked another lap afterward. This may become a regular thing if I can keep THAT up!!

8. I got home and made some oatmeal raisin cookies that are, in Rachel Ray's words, Yum-O!

9. I've been working on my Italy scrapbook since and have a few pages done. I heart scrapbooking!

Ok, I think that's enough for one day!!

Roller-disaster

Sunday, here in my city, was absolutely amazingly gorgeous. It was Easter Sunday, of course, so they forced every single person that works at the restaurant to pick up a shift. This meant I had to work at 4pm.

Michael and I got up around 11, had some breakfast, totally didn't make it to the church service because we'd both gone to bed around 4am (me because of work and him because he'd been out with friends), and then lounged around for a few. I walked outside and immediately ran back in with "oh, we have to get up and enjoy this beautiful day... we can't let it go to waste!"I grab my roller blading gear... he grabs his running shoes, and off we go to the park.

Normally, when I go rollerblading, I go to the park downtown. The lanes are wider, it's made specifically for people to ride around or run around on bikes, etc. Since I had to be showered and at work at 4, there really was no time for all that mess... we had to go to the park right around the corner.

We got there, found a sufficient trail... and were on our way. Some hills were scary but they leveled out eventually. At one point, we decided to turn back so we'd make it back in time. At the very last hill before getting to the parking lot, I'd met my doom.

I told Michael I'd just go ahead, so he could do his cool-down walk. He'd been running the entire time. So, off I went. And then I realized I was fucked. The hill was steeper and steeper. At the end, you guessed it, the road. The road with the parked cars. The sidewalk that ended with just a small metal post in the center of it wrapped in caution tape. The 90 degree turn that the sidewalk took. The curb. The parked cars. The "oh my God, I'm going way too fucking fast. What ever shall I do?!"

I decided to try to take the 90 degree turn. No telling what lurked around the corner, but I felt it was better than either A) ramming straight into the parked volvo at the end or, worse, B) getting hit by a passing car. Taking the turn ended miserably, and I ended up hopping the curb and out into the street anyway.

The transfer from sidewalk to asphalt was not a pleasant one for the good ole roller blades. They didn't like it one bit. I can't say that I wasn't screaming like a baby... because, oh, I certainly was. I ended up running into a parked car and sliding into home base.

In case you were wondering, there were a few people looking my way. Once I'd made the landing, imagine, in your best "guy" voice... "Uhh... are you alright?" shouted from about 100 feet away. My response? "Yah. That sucked!"

I was CRACKING up. I thought it was absolutely fucking hilarious that I'd crashed on my roller blades - the first time, ever.

Michael came walking down the hill, then slowly turning that walk into a run. Thank GOD he didn't see any of that actually happen. :)

The damage? Well, since I was wearing elbow and knee pads, very minimal. I scraped my wrist, have a HUGE bruise on my ass, and some scrapes on my leg. I'm pretty sore today (and this was two days ago) so that tells me something!

As for work, I called my manager and told her that she probably would think of this as the most bullshit excuse she'd ever heard but that it was true! She made me come in anyway and I ended up being able to go home (by some random luck).

Michael and I met up with Blaire and a guy friend of hers and we went to the 6 o'clock service and to On The Border afterward. Their margarita swirls are FAN-tabulous, by the way.

Gotta love a roller-disaster. :) Haha. It's STILL funny!

10 [random] Things...

1. I'm starting to roller blade again :) huzzah! (It's finally cooled off enough to where I can step out the door and sweat won't pour from my forehead)
2. School starts on Monday. Hrm.
3. I'm [hopefully] going to dinner tonight with a friend of mine. We haven't talked in forever and I haven't seen in her in even longer than that.
4. Someone opened their door into Michael's car... kinda like what happened to my car earlier this year. Inconsiderate people. Hrmph.
5. Matt Nathanson comes to town again soon, I bet Rae and I are going to see him again cause he's so fabulous!
6. I've discovered the music of Matthew Perryman Jones... and LOVE it!!
7. Yesterday was 6 months from Michael and my first date :)
8. I get to have lunch with my mom and my broham tomorrow. I haven't seen my brother in forever...
9. I had to get my car fixed... 3rd gear didn't like me, so they took apart the WHOLE transmission and rebuilt all 6 gears. Gotta love driving stick!
10. And, in the spirit of saving the best for last, I am proud to tell you that yesterday I booked TWO tickets to Hawaii for Labor Day weekend... Carrie is STOKED that we're coming to see her! Hooray for a mini-vacay with Michael to see my best friend!!! (My two favorite people in ONE place?!!) :)

10 Things I accomplished this weekend

Today is such a gorgeous day. It got up to the mid-seventies... it was sunny, not too windy... I feel great because I got to sleep in... ahhh... spring is here :)

1. I saw my sister hit two home runs at her softball scrimmage.
2. I went roller blading for 2 hours (ahh... felt so nice!) Funny story... I saw a guy on roller blades at the park in a lime green dress. Yep. More stuff about my park here. Michael even wants to go to the park to roller blade with me! Hooray!
3. I picked up the Girl Scout cookies I sold at work for my sister. Those fatties ordered 50 something boxes. Hah. Gotta love 'em though. They're all nice people. ;)
4. My roommate moved out. Finally... thankfully...
5. I have been working some this afternoon... and getting a ton accomplished... sitting on the porch outside with my laptop. I should do this every day!
6. I made a new friend. A new GIRL friend, thankfully. She's suuuuper cool and we talked for a little while. Hopefully it'll work out and I'll have a new buddy in town. It's been ridiculous with Carrie and M.Moon on the other side of the world practically.
7. I went to Verizon wireless and told them how much my phone sucked because it's 2 years old and they gave me another one. Hooray!
8. I signed the lease on my new place with my new roommate. It's her birthday today (well, it's also my sister's birthday today).
9. I got to see an old friend and hang out with some really cool people at my new roommate's birthday party.
10. I stopped by an old friend's house... whose parents are like my second parents that I love dearly. It was great to catch up.

It's a nice day outside.
C'est un beau jour dehors.

Observations in the park

As a normal routine, I go rollerblading in my park. It's the way I exercise - it's interesting, I have pink, grey, and black skates, and get to listen to my iPod.

I always go to the same park at around the same time of night (just before dusk - it's cooler then) but the scenery always changes. It's a great people-watching place.

My observations this week:
- There are overwhelming groups of young african american people. They walk stretched out across the roadway, extremely slowly, and don't move so other people can pass. This poses a huge problem [especially for me] because I can't always stop rollerblades as easily as they could move aside. At least they're not other places causing trouble.
- There are some people who smoke while they're taking a stroll in the park. This always baffles me because you can tell they're making an effort to be healthier by just being there - you'd think they'd try to quit smoking too?
- Extremely obese people walking. I haven't seen that much effort from an overweight crowd in, well, forever. Kudos to them.
- There was a group of people handing out chocolate ice cream bars. Another oxymoron perhaps?
- A wedding was taking place on one of the lawns. They hired a full band (we're talking flutes, clarinets, tubas, etc full band) to play. I thought it was quite cute and they obviously wanted their guests to have a good time.
- Two guys smoking pot. Yes, pot. In an open park where, at any time, a police officer could arrest them. Interesting. Complete disrespect. And, of course, it's unavoidable if you can't pass them.

This park is pretty much the only one in the area that's big enough to make my rounds - and also has clear roadways. Tons of debris in the way = a disasterous rollerblading experience.

Some of these things, I'm aggitated by, and others are just observations. It'd be nice if there was a mutual respect. But there's not. So I guess I'll just continue my people watching and keep my opinions to myself!