Stuff

[camrogers]

So tonight I'm taking one of the Cave Clan coordinators out to dinner as part of research for the novel. And this weekend I'll be getting my feet wet in a secret location. Which is perfect. A large chunk of the novel takes place in places subterranean and I'd much rather base it on fact than the kind of convenient settings and scenarios that you see in movies so often.

And Friday night it's Leonard Cohen. If I can I'll try and make it to Cahl's exhibit, but I've no idea when I'm likely to be in the area.

And as part of the 2010 overhaul I'm getting 'borged for a night as part of a sleep study. Mostly I sleep communally while away, and if I do wind up someplace volatile I'd rather not be the loudest thing in a three-mile radius. While unconscious. Also the energy boost will be fantastic. Downside is it's going to cost me almost two grand.

Going to apply to Queensland Ambulance on the weekend. Rob said he'd look into speeding me through, and my ex-supervisor from the cop days has a cousin who's with the SES and made the same offer. Hoping if the administration gets pincered over my application they might take a serious look at it. The idea of Brisbane is a major cramp, but I love the idea of being able to do this, paid, AND with enough time to travel. Even studying fulltime I'll get more writing done than I did over the last seven years, so I think this may be a good idea if I can get it happening.

Comments

[greylock]

And as part of the 2010 overhaul I'm getting 'borged for a night as part of a sleep study. Mostly I sleep communally while away, and if I do wind up someplace volatile I'd rather not be the loudest thing in a three-mile radius. While unconscious. Also the energy boost will be fantastic. Downside is it's going to cost me almost two grand.

Huh?

[camrogers]

What?

[greylock]

I'm assuming you're going in to the hospital to be monitored for snoring, so terrists don't kill you, but I'm a little bit fuzzy as to what that entails since I'm sure it doesn't cost $2k (unless you get te Darth Vader mask), and I have no idea why it should boost your energy.

[camrogers]

I'm being issued with a kit to run it at home for a night, mainly so I don't keep anyone else awake. It costs $1500 to go ahead with what comes after the test (not the mask.) More sleep = more energy and a clearer head.

[greylock]

That's interesting. I've only ever heard of it being done in the hosipital before.
I shall have to keep that in mind.

[camrogers]

The sleep study can be done at home just fine. It's a portable kit about the size of a laptop. You just need a 30-minute rundown on how to set it up and use it. Drop it back the next day, they use the info to sort out what happens next. It's pretty nifty.

[greylock]

I much prefer that idea to sleeping around with a bunch of strangers.

[camrogers]

By that I assume you mean 'sleeping in a room with a bunch of strangers.'

[greylock]

"sleeping with a bunch of strangers around" to be specific.
I need a coffee.

[damien_wise]

Sounds like a smart idea. Most sleep-studies I've seen done until now involve going to a hospital for the night. Like sleeping in an unfamiliar bed/setting ain't going to affect the way you sleep and screw with the test results.

Tell us how it goes...I might investigate the same.

As for the paramedic training -- did I miss something, or is there a reason you have to do this in Queensland? In a previous post, you said that training in Queensland would be a pain. I can't believe that's the only place in Australia that runs such courses.

[camrogers]

It's not.

I could also do it in Sydney.

And that's it.

Every other ambulance branch is a subsidiary of the Queensland or NSW branches. I have connections in Brisbane. I *suppose* I could consider NSW. The rent's the same if you can believe that. Not sure I can pull the same strings with NSW though.