Hi Billy, well I hope your wife gets to move down soon also, being away from your loved one sucks. My oldest daughter is moving out this weekend, sucks. Do you have kids? my youngest is a senior. lose her soon too. I hope your wife makes it soon for you. take care and be safe.

just got back from s structure fire, they still have a house, just need to fix a whole in the wall to the outside.no one was at home.gonna go take bath now. be safe.

hi hope life is being good to you brenda told me about you take care. joe

that would be nice maybe some day we meet stay safe brother

Hey there billy. How are you? Good I hope. We made it back from our arkansas bike rally, had a blast. added 16 new photos will have to check them out. added all 200 and something on my my space photos. Ike moved in on us saturday night in arkansas but all is well and all were safe.

all is well we missed IKE thank god for that hope all is well for you and yours

I've been around Santa Barbara for decades now and have not heard the name before. Sorry brother... TCSS, Mike

Hello from the Caldwells hows it going.

Hey Billy, Thanks for the encouraging words on the forum. I personally feel that it's important to make a good representation of the fire department. The folks you go up against when it comes time for support or raises will have a preconcieved idea about who and what you are. Lot's of folks would love your job and the resentment factor is a given. I've always figured, why make it easy for them? : ) Mike

Hi Bill, thank for the add !!!

Take care !

great thanks for asking How is it going in greater downtown Texas

Once again, I believe that the very heart of the american fire service lies within the folks who are volunteer firefighters. A lot of kids getting hired these days are in it for the money and time off, not for their community. Very sad... Don't hesitate to call on me for favors, training stuff or whatever. I would consider it an honor to both help you and to be able to call you my friend. God Bless. TCSS, Mike

We voted in a old goat what can you say

Hi Bill. what was your Rank in the US Army, i'm a civilian but i work for the Canadian National Defence (Ministère de la Défence Nationale... MDN), I'm a "Actor" for the recruit training scenario BMQ (Basic Military Qualification & BOTP Basic Officer Training Qualification, I work on the CFLRS Canadian Forces Leaderships & Recruit School.

Take Care !

haha, yeah i thought about that, but i figured most people dont read it.. ill change it when i can

Hello there. Things have been about the same here couple grass fires not sure about medical asst. none from the time I get home till I go to work anyway. I hope you get you shed finished before winter. Bet you can. Glad things are fine there, Things are good here. Joe and I are fine.Have a bike rally in Jefferson next saturday, should be fun if not cold. Take care and be safe.

Why there are Firefighters

God made Firefighters so cops could have hero's!

To some extent we are all rookies, or at least we should act that way. There is always something you can learn, if there isn't you become a danger to your company. For example, my chief is too busy being John Wayne to worry about where his helmet is or what muck it floats above, he thinks there is no more to his job that being the only one of us that knows how to knock fire, and I hope he resigns before he gets one of us killed.

No its really more of an IAFF versus Volunteers thing. The volunteer departments here are considered to be basically a cleanup crew for the career guys. I have learned that as long as we have to depend on the county for everything, then we will be waiting for A loooonnnnggg time. So we are beginning to do things for ourselves. Our chief still thinks he is the only one in the department and is hopelessly tied to the dependence mentality. He has no real idea about how to be a chief but would probably make a good firefighter, if he can learn some teamwork. He is a haole too, not too many native hawaiians in our department, maybe 25% of the membership. Hard to attract volunteers when the economy is so bad.

Thanks for the comment. Joe and Brenda are great friends of mine and my husband's, Curtis. I hope you have a great weekend. Keep in touch!

yea but thats a lot of rust i should just sand it real good right, look at the rust on that thing

thank you for the comment got home from the hospital they took out my portacath.So now just get my strength back and then back to work.

Hi Bill, how are you? Greetings from Barbados - lookin forward to corresponding with you here at FFN. You may also find me here:
www.emergency-services.org/fire

Hope all is going well
man walks into a pet store and is looking around when he
> > spots a Chimpanzee in a cage marked, "$1000". The
> > man looks a little closer and discovers that the chimpanzee
> > is wearing a T-shirt bearing the
> > Maltese Cross and is cleaning a fog nozzle. Curious about
> > this, the man summons the storekeeper and asks him what the
> > deal is with this thousand dollar monkey. "Sir, You
> > have discovered our Fire Service Monkeys".
> >
> >
> > This one is our Firefighter version. It has a Basic
> > Firefighters certification with IFSAC seals, is also a
> > Licensed Paramedic, can perform vehicle extrications, high
> > angle rescue and is up to date on current CPR standards. A
> > very good value for a thousand dollars.
> >
> >
> >
> > The man is suitably impressed and moves to the next cage,
> > which is occupied by a gorilla - also wearing the same
> > T-shirt, but is gnawing on a pen and reading training
> > manuals.
> >
> >
> >
> > The storekeeper states, "Sir, You have discovered the
> > Captain model.This one has an Advanced Firefighter
> > certification, is capable of training the other monkeys in
> > basic firefighting skills, and can manage any emergency
> > scene. It can also type. A very good value for five-
> > thousand, Sir."
> >
> >
> >
> > Impressed, the man moves to the last cage. Inside, he finds
> > an orangutan, dressed in a white shirt and a tie, but
> > holding only a coffee cup. The man says, "What does
> > this one do that he's worth $10,000 ?"
> >
> >
> > The storekeeper clears his throat and says, "Ah, sir,
> > well, um. we have never actually seen him do anything except
> > drink coffee and play with himself, but he says he's a
> > Battalion Chief."
>
>



Get the Moviefone Toolbar. Sh

math911.wmv (1

Same here in Southwest Va quiet . just taking EMT Class

Yes Billy the girls here wear bikinis all year round. I must send you some photos that should bring a smile to your face and a litle warmth to your heart.
How is the weather over there at the moment?

Hey Billy, In regards to dress attire for the greater Los Angeles and Southern California area, always come prepared with a tank top, pair of shorts, and flip flops. As we speak it's a comfortable 73˚F and it's noon. Also, keep in mind that last week in a period of 4-days, over 1.4 million acres burned and took out over 800 residences. It's more than likely going to remain the same... no rain and continued sunshine. Cheers, Mike

This is one of the reasons why the latest fires did not burn to the ocean. Los Angeles County Fire Department Blackhawk Attack Helicopters converted for firefighting OPS. This also includes the use of night vision and FLIR which enabled copters to attack the head of the fire, hot spots and structures in totally insane conditions.

Thanks for the support. We have a Deputy Chief (not 144truck) who's big on the facial hair issue. The closed eyes is just not being used to posing in front of my own camera. I just bought it after the house sold in Nov.

Thank you for your comment.


MyHotComments

Hey Billy

Thanks for the add.

tcss
Mark

Dad at the Mall


I took my dad to the mall the other day to buy some new shoes (he is 92). We decided to grab a bite at the food court.

I noticed he was watching a teenager sitting next to him.

The teenager had spiked hair in all different colors: green, red, orange, and blue.


My dad kept staring at him. The teenager would look and find him staring every time.


When the teenager had had enough, he sarcastically asked, 'What's the matter old man, never done anything wild in your life?'


Knowing my Dad, I quickly swallowed my food so that I would not choke on his response, knowing he would have a good one, and in

classic style he did not bat an eye in his response.


'Got drunk once, and had sex with a peacock. I was just wondering if you were my son.'

to make you laugh

A college teacher reminds her class of tomorrow's final exam. 'Now class,
I won't tolerate any excuses for you not being here tomorrow. I might
consider a nuclear attack or a serious personal injury, illness, or a death
in your immediate family, but that's it, no other excuses whatsoever!' A
smart-ass student in the back of the room raised his hand and asked, 'What
would you say if tomorrow I said I was suffering from complete and utter
sexual exhaustion?' The entire class is reduced to laughter and snickering
When silence was restored, the teacher smiled knowingly at the student,
shook her head and sweetly said, 'Well, I guess you'd have to write the exam
with your other hand.'

Thanks for the comment. It was one of the things that I will remember all of my days.

Gopher

Thanks Billy, I'm glad you like my small home town. I've been with the department all my life, my father joined in 1947, was appointted asst chief in 1952,and appointed chief in 1956, the year before in was born. He served in the rank until 1983 when he retired from his job at Ft. Knox, but still at 81 year old is with the department. As for the old houses,we have very few fire in them, but when it's happens,you better be ready to go to work or you're going to make a parking lot. Once again thanks for the post... Jeff

Billy
How far are you from New Braunfels ? I'm the President of Fire and Iron Motorcycle Club Station 33 Fort Knox Area, I know the President of Station 18 in New Braunfels, he is also national Vice President of the club.
Speaking of my father, Yes he has some real war stories, but any of us who have been on the job for any time has some go ones to. I said for 33 years that you'll see more unhappyness in this job than happyness. But somebody has to do it and it might as well be me.... Jeff

Thanks alot for commenting.

yea my mom threatened to glue it to my head!!

Hey Billy, words just don't seem like enough, but, Thank you for your service. Were you active your whole Army career? I've been on both sides in the Army, active and reserve. Take care and stay safe. HOOAH!!

Yo Bill, I felt the need to go private with this response to you. The latest research I've found on smoke detectors is that kids tend to actually sleep through those alarm tones. If detectors are realy going to save lives, adults must now add alerting the children to thier part of thier E.D.I.T.H. plans. Good news. The first 30 years are the hardest. After that its a cake walk. Keep up the good work.

Hey Billy,

Yeah its still in service to this day....We mainly respond on brush fires with it, but its saved out butts lots of times....its the toughest truck that ive ever seen today, weve been in snow, mud, rugged wooded areas and it still keeps a trucking. The top speed of it might be around 53MPH but it will climb a 90 degree angle wall, lol.

Hi Billy, thanks for your kind sentiments. I will forward your remarks to the others here. Thanks again, stay low and stay safe.

Just wanted to stop by and say hi. you need to get my space or facebook. hope all is well. be safe

Hey my friend. We go on our next ride june 11,12,13, and come back the 14th . going to the ROT rally in austin. Joe says we need to meet up to visit sometime. take care and be safe.

Hey Billy, Very well said Brother. I hope all is going well for you.
Thank you for the friendship for all these years. Stay safe out
there Brother, talk to you again soon. Mick

Hi Bro. thanks for your comment on my blog. I guess in some ways, I am a bit more sensitive to his side of it, in that, I lost my dad this past November who died at 82 while in prison, and I have a young nephew currently in prison. Both deserved to be there for the things they did and the bad choices they made. But while my dad did recognize his mistakes and was trying to make amends, my nephew will likely spend more time than he was sentenced to due to his bucking the system in there. So I also certainly do recognize the difference when someone who has made a mistake in their life truly goes the extra mile in turning their live around as my friend has done. He will be ok because he is a survivor who has learned from and continues to learn from his mistakes, and strives to better his self so as he can better be of service to others. As you will note, some were less forgiving in their comments to the blog, and I do understand their point of view and respect it. But at the same time, when it is crunch time, and the saving of a life is at stake, like the examples I used in the blog, you and I are praised if we save a life or if a brother FF goes down and we safely drag them out. So in the end, if we are that life that was saved from imminent death, are we really going to be concerning oursleves afterward with the fact that the rescuer was an ex felon in the past? I believe the scorecard is judged on our lives when we reach the end of it & based on what we did with our life as a whole during our time of living, and Judged by one far greater than ourselves. despite anyones feelings or beliefs on the afterlife/ God etc. It does not take a rocket scientist to realize that life is a gift, and is ours only for a limited timeline, Thus, again, showing that the scorecard at the end will show based on the whole of it, not just on a mistake made at some point in it, whether or not we squandered it. Also as I stated in the blog, not all of us "have a record", but who among us has never done anything wrong? I can only fairly speak for myself. If I were the life this guy saved, the last thing I would ever be concerned with/about while treasuring my reprieve from an untimely death, is whether or not years ago, the guy who saved me made a mess of his life. Especially if after that mistake he had turned his life around for the good such as my friend has done and continues to do. Just the way I see it though. Everyone is entitled to their view/opinion. Life is about character. No question about it. But again, it is our whole life, not just certain fragments of it that truly determines our charater as I see it. I can also understand those who commented that the public could be concerned about an ex felon being in their home in an emergency. And I realize that the appearance and integrity of the fire dept as to public image is a due consideration also. But at the end of the day, and at the final "roll call," I believe, and I would hope, that my own life (and or this brother firefighters life) would be viewed/Judged by how the whole life was lived rather than just on one or two incidents in it. I also believe everyone deserves a second chance. When I was a Marine, we had guys who had been given a choice by a Judge for crimes they were being adjudicated for, and the choice was go to prison or join the military. I served and fought with some of these men in Iraq, Afghanastan, and in other perilous settings. I saw these men fight and die with honor, I saw them serve with courage, distinction and dedication. And I never once worried about them "having my back". And on more than one occasion, I helped load their remains into a bodybag to be sent home to Arlington where they were burried with full military honors as heroes. Never once did I hear a word uttered about their being a felon or an ex con. But my FF friend is alive, and also is a Marine veteran who made a mistake he is ashamed of years ago, but to me he is also an example of a life turned around completely. And to me, that speaks volumes as to his character. And my belief is he should not be judged solely by his one mess up in life all those years ago, But by what he has done with his life since that time. As for his being on parole, parole is an after effect. Not the crime or the punishment for it. The Parole board felt he was ready to return to society or else they would not have granted his parole afterall. Parole is the supervision of a released person for a period of time to see whether they sink or swim once released back into society. This brother has obviously swam as I see it. And it should be noted that his swim is and has been in shark infested waters of temptation. In the Marines we are taught to overcome, improvise, and adapt to get our task done. This brother Firefighter and what he has done with his life is a crystal clear picture of just that. I salute him and say, "Semper Fi Marine!" And when the scorecard on his life is tallied, I'm betting he will be declared a winner, not a loser.

Hey Bill, its been a while... whats happening over there? Hurricane Bill gave us a little scare over here.

ammuntion,ammuntion,ammuntion,ammuntion,ammuntion,ammuntion,ammuntion,ammuntion,ammuntion,ammuntion

I never was a good speller

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