Mercedes Golf Championship

Wow - this was a great day at work! I LOVE my job. I got to drive a golf cart where ever I wanted on this final day of the Championship. I had a blast!!!!
We were to arrive by 7am as they wanted to start golfing earlier to avoid the approaching storm front which was due to arrive at 3 pm. Ha ha - Mother Nature fools us again. At 5:45am I was awoken by a total deluge of rain. Followed closely by flashes of lightning. I jumped on the computer with the satellite showing a wide band of approaching yellow and orange rain clouds. The fringe was just touching east Maui and it stretched west beyond Oahu. Now way, no golfing today.
I arrived at the Plantation Course in Kapalua at 7:30. Everything was on hold. As we all sat under a large tent waiting as it got cooler and cooler. Surprisingly the mountains cleared and they set a start time for 10 am. At 9am I asked if I could have my lunch box - I was starving. So I ate my lunch. It cleared some more so my partner and I decided we better wipe down the golf cart seat and do some pre-planning. That's code name for "joy riding". Off we went with map in hand.
Our first leg was a steep downhill run. S---t there are no brakes... I can see the headlines "Paramedics speeding, overturn on first bend" My partner is saying they need seat belts in golf carts. No wonder we go on the occasional call to overturned golf carts. Now I know why.
Dang someone zips past us too!
This course is huge. Lots of up and down and through gulches. You get your exercise if you walk here. I have visions of galloping across the green's. The Eventing in the Hong Kong Olympics was on a golf course. Every riders dream!
They started on time. You could hear the cheering. As the day wore on we parked by the 10th hole. We were people and whale watching mostly. Watched a little golf. You really got to pay attention, one ball plopped down right amid the spectators and about 15 feet from us.
Spectators would walk by and say "we are being careful.... heel-toe, heel-toe"
Just when I was getting hungry at noon I scored a hot dog and some mango from a film crew guy. All set!
We gave out 4 band aids, 2 pepto bismal and one evaluation of a film producers laryngitis.
Whew - we like it when everything goes well and nobody trips and breaks something, has a heart attack or stroke and the grandstands which are 3 stories high and packed stay up.
Woooh home free - or is that hole in one! The day ended under beautiful clear skys and a warm sun. Maui No Ka Oi !

WOLF MOON, SNOW MOON

The perigean moon. The moon is at it closest to Earth for 2009. 14% larger and 30% brighter. It is 31,000 miles away.

Of course I was waiting for this dang moon to come up. It was 30 minutes late due to thick clouds on the horizon. Then every shot was blurry due to movement. I was poised, one arm around the tree, leaning back against the coconut tree for stabilization when the fire fighter walked out of the station.....

Every medic or health care provider will tell you people get crazy during the full moon. It's true!

A payday weekend and a full moon. My partner and I hold our breath.

Sure enough out we go! As we arrive at the hospital. My partner starts to pull the gurney out of the ambulance. The patient says "Are you sure your strong enough" I say.. don't worry, she had her Wheaties today. Then in my minds eye I see a bowl full of colored cereal. "No it was Lucky Charms." My partner chimes in "Actually it was Fruit Loops." We all 3 laugh with the patient saying "That will match the moon tonight."

Happy New Year! I found the Waterfalls

It has been raining for a week! Thunder and lightning and Lots of MUD!! The horses are wanting out, out, out of this mud! I did squeeze in 2 rides as my arena drains quickly. Kinda cool listening to the rhythmic hoof beats in the damp arena. Mesmerizing!

I worked in Hana on the 30th. It was nasty weather. I could hardly see the road on the drive out in the morning. Lots of Waterfalls! In fact as I rounded one corner this mammoth waterfall was seemingly 100 feet wide thundering under a small old 50 foot bridge. How does that one lane bridge stay there? I better go fast across it. At 8 pm we get a Obstetrical call. I'll do any kind of call, I deliver foals, puppy's and cats... I dread delivering humans. Oh sure it is super easy and leaves you feeling great if everything goes as planned. But when it goes wrong, it is a long way to the hospital! And when your in Hana its like being on another island from the hospital. OK lets fly her out. Yes, I know it is pouring rain... dang they are not flying tonight. Now we have a 2.5 hour drive in pouring rain on a winding one lane road. I am praying there are no landslides or tree's down. The physician says "You better go." 30 seconds later I have her strapped on my gurney and I'm wheeling out the door. "Where are you going?" questions the physician. "You said Go, I'm gone". Wait I have to make some more phone calls. We handed off our Pt to the mid way relay ambulance and they did indeed make it to the hospital!

It has been fun having friends and family over. This year went by way too quickly.

New Years resolution; stretching and strengthening exercises and be diligent taking those vitamins.... I brought my body blade to work today and it is still leaning against the wall. :) Have a great 2009!