I am back to full firefighting duty!  It's so great.  I am already booking my schedule up with all the extra stuff I do for work and our fun activities.  My first day back was crazy - the tread blew out on one of the engine tires on the freeway, we put a brand new aid car into service, then all of the dispatch/radio equipment quit working.  I was glad I was not sitting in the officer's seat on the aid car.  It was nuts.  But, that's the fun about this job.  You just never know what will happen next!  My second shift back was pure relaxation at our slowest station.  We didn't even go on a single call.

 

Brian and I went skiing yesterday for the first time this year, and it felt GREAT!  It was spring conditions and so very warm during the day.  We just bought new helmets that have audio capabilities, so we can plug our ipods right in.  The ear coverings of the helmets have the sound system, so you don't need earplugs.  We loved them!  I did my last run of the day to my favorite song by Korn - Twisted Transistor.

 

I thought I would post some of the hilarious comments that have been I've heard. 

 

Before I had my surgery, I was at work one night and one of the guys said, "Hey Camari, when you come back after your surgery, are you going to leave your uniform shirt unbuttoned so we can your new ones?"  Another guy said, "Yeah, are you going to show us your crack?"  Then he suggested I could buy some thong underwear for them and let them show under my blouse - the new version of the T-Bar hanging out. 

 

Last week at work we were playing a guessing game about how much the surgeries cost ($114,000 - of which I had to pay only $41) and one guy made a comment about how I had to work my ass off for this surgery.

 

I was talking to another guy and made a comment about something my plastic surgeon had said to me.  He mentioned before my first surgery that I would be going in with one breast (the right) and waking up with one breast since they were going to be reconstructing my left side and doing the right mastectomy the same day.  Well, this guy said in his best British accent "Are you suggesting that breasts migrate?"  Only true Monty Python fans will get the humor in that one.

 

I was with a group of my wonderful girlfriends a couple weeks ago, and we were talking about our favorite spa.  It's a women's only day spa.  I was telling my friend that my favorite treatment there is the body scrub and moisturizing. She said she had it done once, and they had scrubbed her nipples to the point they were sore.  Since I don't have my new nipples yet, I said I should go there, get the treatment then go up front, open my robe and say "I want my money back, look what they did to me!"

 

Speaking of nipples, I am scheduled to get mine on April 5th.  I was asking the nurse about them, if there is a catalog of styles to choose from or does each surgeon have his general style.  She said that he does great nipples, but she said when I first get them done, I will think he's crazy.  I guess they are really swollen at first and stick out like bullets.  Too funny.  After the procedure to create them and some healing time, then they will tattoo on the color. 

 

There has been a definite emotional benefit to this surgery.  I felt like I had dealt with the mastectomy well, but I feel much better about my physical appearance now.  Because of that, Brian is quite happy.  No more details needed..........

 

So, life is good and moving in the right direction.  I am thrilled to be able to get out and scuba dive, ski and do the job I love so much.  I have signed up to do the Firefighter Columbia Tower Stair Climb next month - wish me luck!