Webb Family Blog

As 2009 is coming to a close, I am reflecting on what has transpired through the year. The first thing of significance is that Kellie and I finally completed our Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix. It is kind of frustrating that in and of itself, the degree is not worth much, but Kellie and I have both considered going on and a BS degree is an important stepping stone.

After completing school, I dropped to part-time with American Medical Response but picked up a part-time position with Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital and VeriHealth/REACH Training Institute (VRTI) as a contract instructor. Unfortunately, things did not go smoothly at Sutter Auburn Faith and I did not get much time teaching with VRTI. This was all taking place near the end of June, coinciding with a planned family vacation. For vacation, I was in a state of mixed emotions… it felt a relief to get away and take a week-long cruise to Alaska with my brother, in-laws, and my sister Vicki’s family, but I was haunted with the fact that work seemed to be self-destructing. Upon return from the cruise and another family gathering at our family favorite Fish Camp, I started teaching for National College of Technical Instruction (NCTI), a subsidiary of American Medical Response. NCTI took over the contract (from VRTI) to teach Kaiser Permanente employees on-going medical certification courses like Basic Life Support (CPR), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). NCTI kept me busy and had me travelling ALL OVER Northern California, including Fresno and Watsonville on numerous occasions; I racked up a ton of miles on my car with all this teaching. Teaching and the occasional shift on the ambulance allowed for flexibility, but overall income was less than when on the ambulance full-time. In November, I returned to full-time on the ambulance. I still try to teach classes with NCTI when I can, which is the best of both worlds.

As the 2009 is quickly coming to an end, I am remembering that it is the fifth anniversary of my first kiss with Kellie. Unfortunately, as fate would have it, we will not be together exactly at midnight, as I’m currently at work until midnight and Kellie has to be up around 4 AM. This schedule mismatch kind of sucks, but it makes the time we have together, that much more special.

Here’s to a good 2010 and the hope for a family expansion.