Vegas Series: Don't leave a man behind.

I still remember it like yesterday.

"Hi there" Fly boy uttered while taking a share of the glistening bar top set before him.
"I'm married" the reply from a lone woman sipping her drink of choice through a stir straw. Now she was an attractive lass, but no means had the right to be so persnickety. After all last I check it was nothing more than a greeting to make small talk by.
"Thats good cause I have a Fiancée, besides all I said was Hi" Fly Boy responded.

As simple as that the conversation began and the acquaintance was made, all sitting near the bar we chatted about nothing and everything it seemed. Until the young lass had to break it off because she had to work.
"Come over by the tree and take up refuge while I work" she invited. Dumb founded the conversation continued as she had to explain to us that it wasn't and actual tree we were going to.
"Like an imaginary tree? or like a magical one?" was uttered, neither to be exact. Being in the Paris Casino, it was mocked up like the base of the Eiffel Tower, park benches, fake cobble side walks, Merchant carts, and of course Metal trees. One of these fair trees was the landmark we were set to find to see our newly acquainted friend work. Though we really didn't know what she did, but honestly didn't care because of course what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

As some in our party staggered, we found our way to what was a lounge and our Lass standing up front with a band of guys preparing to take the stage. An honest to god lounge singer had invited us to watch her, what an honor. We settled in and prepared for what turned out to be a long night of singing, dancing and antics. "This first song is dedicated to my new friends, Fly Boy and his guys" she announced, The music started and we cheered.

"I love myself; I want you to love me

When I feel down; I want you above me

I search myself; I want you to find me

I forget myself; I want you to remind me"

Blondie's I Touch My Self, the minutes had turned to hours, our group of five guys had now included a group of ladies we had befriended. One who was getting hitched that coming weekend and her friend who liked Appletini's. While Nerf Herder and Fidney wore out the dance floor reenacting the Charlie Brown Christmas dance, the rest of us were thirsty. Convincing our lovely drink server Tatiana to continue our tab on Fidney's card, Which of course included free drinks being handed out to perfect strangers walking by the lounge. 

As the night progressed, a slightly inebriated Fly Boy walked the young bride to be and her friend back to their hotel room. In his mind set Paris at night was a dangerous place, Fidney had no doubt chased some tail to the other end of the casino and as for M.S, Nerf Herder and I, we were playing a game of hide and seek. More like me trying to find the two drunks through rows of slot machines. Unknowing it at the time I was searching, N.H was being kicked by a security guard threatening to be thrown out if he didn't stay awake. I knew it was time to call it a night. Finding M.S I told him to form a conga line with me and N.H, Calling Fly Boy I had to navigate him from the Hotel portion back to the casino. This being no easy task, seeing I didn't comprehend that there was a hotel at this casino. Finally finding Fly Boy, we discussed our option and noticed the swagger of Fidney with a lady under each arm heading for the bar once more. Fly Boy headed for him to continue the night of fun, "We don't leave a man behind F.B." I shout as I lose sight of him. To my surprise from around a slot machine reappears F.B sprinting back to us. "No Man left behind, AHHHH" Fly Boy with imaginary mortars and bullets speeding by in his mind, reminiscent of any memorable War Movie. "If N.H needs to get out of here then we go" Fly boy states, "* hiccup* agreed, but what about Fidney?" M.S says. "Bro's before Hoes, He made his own bed" I say "Agreed" in unison each chimed with N.H moaning in the background.

We head off to find a taxi back to Henderson, with drunken directions to the cab driver, finally arriving at the apartment complex, I fireman carry N.H who was way to drunk to be walking his ass the 500 yards to the front door. Fly Boy and M.S in tow doing their drunk renditions of songs and dance.

Our last night in Vegas went off with out a hitch. Tomorrow we return to the city that never sleeps!

But Fidney has our tickets and he's lost in Vegas!

Be Safe
Ambulance Junkie

Vegas Series: Meet Mr. Hero

Hanging out in the Centrifuge Bar at MGM in Las Vegas we are enjoying a night out. A bar filled to the brim with people enjoying them selves. Drinks in hand, Fly boy, Nerf Herder, and myself are comfortably set up against the wall people watching, life is good. Our other two former comrades, use to the crowded bar scene, work their way to the bar strategically near an unsuspecting group of ladies. M.S and Fidney anti up to the bar and buy two shots, enjoying them selves Fidney sets his eyes on his target.

Now maybe as outside observers, we could see the pack mentality, the configuration of these woman and the devotion to one in particular. A Petite blonde, the center of attention and the inevitable item of affection to Fidney. Making eye contact he strikes up a conversation, and buys the young lass a drink, on account of celebrating. Though he never really knows what the celebration is all about, and doesn't bother asking.

The rounds of drinks pass and we take notice of M.S with a shit eating grin on his face. We see the ladies look on in disbelief which quickly turns to horror. Fidney continues to ramble on in an animated fashion, arms flailing, head weaving side to side. Quickly M.S leaves his post as wing man and heads to us as to disassociate him self with Fidney. M.S weaves a tale of Fidney's feeble attempt to impress the ladies he was surrounded by. Mr. Hero's, as M.S renamed him, exploits of life as a medic in the big apple, include tales of dying baby's, being shot at, and saving those sworn to protect the people of NY. These are all in a days work for this man. By the looks of the ladies, what went from a casual interest, irrefutably changes to disbelief. With the bar tenders jumping on the bar to do a dance grabbing Fidney's attention in mid sentence these opportunistic ladies simultaneously finish their Cosmo's and beat feet.

Slightly dismayed Fidney heads to the rest of us and talks a big game. We let him chat on and on ever knowing the glorious ball of fire he was shot down in. We continue our adventures of the night and to this day we know Fidney as the man to drive an entire Bachelorette party from a bar, in Sin City.

Moral of this story guys: Never over play the hero card.

Be Safe

Ambulance Junkie

Vegas Series: Fidney's Surprise!

We were all boarding the plane and preparing to fly out of Vegas that morning. All taking our respective seats, I in the back quarter of the plane, isle seat with Nerf Herder the opposite isle side one row back. Fly Boy a row in front of me with his window seat and Fidney, likely still hung over, four rows up center seat. We were all muttering amongst our selfs of the fact that Las Vegas could be swallowed by the desert and we wouldn't care at all.

The welcome passengers greeting comes over the Jet Blue speaker system, along with notice of free movies extended to us all today due to a passenger having gum stuck on her seat. The Pilot, who likely was a former Red Bull aerial acrobatic pilot, tells of likely catching a great tail wind from the jet stream and cutting flight time down dramatically. Every passenger settling in for the trip to JFK. When suddenly from the quite comes a boisterous groan of disbelief.

"OH SHIT!" I hear, along with the rest of the plane.
"WHAT The Fuck" coming from a few rows up.
"I do not remember ordering that" Don't let it be him I remember thinking.
"THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS!" Comes exploding from the center seat four rows in front of me.
"Oh shit" I whisper through the seats to Fly Boy, ducking my head out of sight. I hear the faint giggling of Nerf Herder a row back.
"Think Fidney found the receipts" Fly Boy poses towards me as he slouches in his seat.
"I think so" replying as I glance over my shoulder at Nerf Herder who has assumed the proverbial airline's crashing position.
"A HUNDRED FIFTY!!" causing us to smirk and peak over the seats up in Fidney's general location.
"I did not order all this, No way in hell. Fly Boy what is this all about?"
"Um..." Fly Boy studder's "She really liked Appletini's?"
"She? Thirteen Dollar martini's Fly Boy!"
"NO, Actually they were Appletini's, and She really liked them" Not a valid argument from Fly Boy but a sarcastic and valiant effort.
"I don't remember ordering all of this for you guys last night?" a dumb founded Fidney says
"Well you didn't technically, Tatiana was not going to let us, But Ambulance Junkie kinda charmed her into it." Fly Boy jest's.
"Hey!" I utter "N.H and M.S helped too, I'm not only to blame here"
"Wait, Wait, Wait, Who's Tatiana?" Fidney wonders.
"Our Lounge Server from last night" We all chuckle.

As Fidney danced him self frantic last night, We had all been enjoying our lounge singer and being the life of the party. We had realized that Fidney had opened a tab, intended for himself, on our table. With a little sweet talking and over whelming peer pressure we had convinced out super nice Russian Lounge server to bring a round of drinks for the lot of us. Our group of five quickly included a group of three ladies we made small talk with. One of which was a mid forty's female who's father was the first Battalion chief of a major west coast metropolitan area. Needless to say our conversation was strongly centered around Fire and EMS. Our conversation continued and so did the rounds of drinks, including the Appletini's for the Chiefs daughter.

Fidney ever unknowing the booze which did flow thanks to him, well until he had to rummage through his pockets on the flight that is.

Vegas Series: The Prologue

"Vegas?" I jokingly pondered.

"Yeah it'd be fun" says Fly Boy. "think of it as a Man'cation"
"Wait...Vegas? like Las Vegas? Sin City?"
"Ya!! End of this month" Fly Boy burst out in excitement.
"Vegas" I say with confidence

 I hadn't really consider the proposition as usual, it was more the off the wall idea we entertained. This time was different though, it felt right. Why not? I thought, and as simple as that, we began to get excited. A trip away from the grind of work, away from this east coast existence. Fly Boy, Nerf Herder, and myself meeting up in NYC with Fidney and flying out to Sin City to hook up with M.S who now lived in Henderson. The five of us reuniting for the first time in a couple of years. We weren't age old friends, but we had all developed and honed our EMS skills together for a time. While we were traveling so far we'd of course take the time to head to Yosemite through Death Valley to flex our need for the out doors. See some sites, place some bets, and Fly Boy could even see his Grizzly bear he was so obsessed with.

It was a trip of a life time, and in all honesty it was the best thing to ever happen to me besides my bride and my son. It was just one of those moments that I was fully capable of letting go of control and decided to just go with the flow. The last time I truly did that was when I began dating the girl that became the love of my life, who is now the Mrs. Who, by the way was the ultimate decision

The antics we are known for carried over into our Man'cation and lead to some rather precarious moments. Whether in the NYC, aboard the air plane, in Las Vegas or Yosemite National Park we were never far from a laugh.

I hope you enjoy this sliver into my life outside of EMS.

Be Safe
Ambulance Junkie