April's A - Z Challenge: My Pictures Beginning with the Letter "B"

Today is the second day of the A - Z Challenge, which is hosted by Arlee Bird.  Several of my blogging friends are participating, and as of this morning, there were over 1,000 participants.  It is easy, but you need to stick with it.  You post everyday, except for Sundays, and work your way through the alphabet.  

Just as importantly, when you sign up to participate, you are agreeing to visit the other bloggers who are in the challenge.  One thing that I really like about this meme is that when others visit, they see your whole blog, not just that post.

The fun part is that you get to choose the way to do it.  Some are choosing words.  I am choosing to post past photos that I have taken, except for the letter itself (I'll be getting those of of Live Search/Bing.)  I am going link up to the posts where the photos originated from too.  I'm liking this idea so much, that I'll keep adding to each letter over time and then use this project as an alphabetical directory for my blog. So, here we go!

 The Letter "B"

Source: Fubiz.net Galleries

Bend, Oregon and Best Friend Husband Cary
and the Bird Man

Bend Summerfest

Downtown Bend in Late June

Boat  
Found Fisherman's Wharf during our Coos Bay Trip.  
If you love fishing boats and marinas,
please click here to see these beautiful photos.

Baseball 
This one is autographed by MLB pitcher Jamie Burke.
Please click here to learn the story behind this!

Books
Love 'm.  Write about them lots and lots.

Recent Reads: Laura Ingalls Wilder Books

Recent Reads: Long Lost, Pigs in Heaven, and The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray

Benches  
These greet you when you walk into Trivia Antiques in 
Downtown Bend, Oregon.  Sorry, no further story 
on these right now; please stay tuned for more pictures 
from Trivia Antiques during the month of April.

Bike 
To read this retro story about me 

and my sister's Pink Stingray, please click here.

Bed 
Check out this awesome post about an old town in the Oregon Outback:  Ft. Rock Homestead Museum

Bob
Cary's Grandpa Jimmy Ellis, and NASCAR Driver Bob Ross.  Please click here to read more about Bob Ross ... interesting stuff!


Please stop by again tomorrow to see what begins with
"The Letter C"

Click here to visit other folks who have accepted this challenge!

If you miss a day, you miss a lot!  Don't miss out on the news ... Please click here to go to my home page and see what is happening in Mayberry today.

Kylie's Adventures, Continued: Air Link, Bend Oregon

Yesterday, Kylie went on another emergency services field trip that was set up by Grandpa Cary, and this time, I got to accompany her.  We went to AirLink, which is located next to the Emergency Room entrance of St. Charles Hospital in Bend.  In fact, AirLink is owned by St. Charles.  

We met with Dee Dee, a registered nurse, who flies in the emergency helicopter.  We could not have asked for a better tour guide.  Dee Dee is a wonderful, vibrant woman who really cared about Kylie's interest in Emergency Services.

First of all, Dee Dee showed us the separate bedrooms where the nurse and pilots slept while they were on call.  Then she led us into a large room with tables and equipment, where we settled down for a question and answer time.

Kylie and I learned that besides the pilot, AirLink flies with a registered nurse and a respiratory therapist on each flight.  The nurses receive months of training before being allowed to fly out on an emergency.  The job that Dee Dee has is very difficult to get, because there are not many of them around.

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Dee Dee told us that besides flying to automobile and motorcycle accidents, they mainly fly heart patients and those with difficulty breathing into the emergency room.  Farm accidents also rank high on their injury list.  Logging accident calls are down now, due to the slowdown in the logging industry in Central Oregon.

After we were done with our interview time, Dee Dee led us into the hanger.  We got to take a good look at their main emergency helicopter.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

This cool chopper holds two patients as well as the flight crew.  It can fly a 150 mile radius from the hospital and get back before having to refuel.  Sometimes they fly all the way to Boise, Idaho.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Dee Dee and Kylie.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

The Cockpit:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

The Patient Area:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Kylie and I were there for about 40 minutes, and it was one of the most awesome field trips that I have ever been on.  


Thank you, AirLink and St. Charles, for all you do for our community.  And, thank you, Dee Dee, for spending your valuable time with us yesterday.  We really learned a lot, and appreciate your hard work and dedication to saving lives.

For more about Kylie's Emergency Service adventures in Central Oregon, please click on this link:  Kylie Rides Along with Sheriff Pete.

Don't miss out on the news ... please click here to go to my home page and see what is happening in Mayberry today.