Featured Blog Posts – July 2008 Archive (8)

Back on deployment!!!

Hey guys, our fearless leaders are telling us it's time to deploy yet again. I will be gone on monday morning and i will be gone for a while. If you want to email me here is me ship email,

finnelliwa@cvn76.navy.mil
and here is my regular mailing address if any one wants to send other stuff.

ABH2 (AW) Finnelli, William
Air/ V-1/Crash
USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76)
FPO-AP 96616-2876

Take care everyone and i will talk to you all soon.

Added by William Finnelli on July 29, 2008 at 7:25am — 6 Comments

Still Out There, But Slightly Swamped

My family (or as you could guess, my wife) seems to give me the best gifts. While not much can top a little SCUBA diving with the whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium (my birthday present this year, but I actually did the dive this past weekend), for Father’s Day this year my family (read: wife) gave me the super-cool T-Mobile Wing that I have been able to track my life with while on the road, which is a lot of the time. Just ask my boss what “a lot of time” is defined as.

The… Continue

Added by Mick Mayers on July 20, 2008 at 7:00am — 4 Comments

First DOA

For the second time today, I stand in line at the local ice-cream shop. This time, I manage to get my order in and make idle chit-chat with the couple sitting next to me. The boys wait outside, in the medic, enjoying their treats while I, the probie, wait inside with a grumbling stomach. We were here about 30 minutes ago before the tones dropped, sending us on an engine run that would be cancelled before we even got there. This time, however, the tones drop and the voice on my walkie tells me… Continue

Added by Stephanie on July 19, 2008 at 10:30pm — 10 Comments

TNT: The Accidental Runner; F.R.O.G.

Some people wonder why I run half marathons and fundraise for Leukemia, and I’ve posted some comments on here before in my TNT: The Accidental Runner blogs to explain, but I don’t think anything can say it better as to why I do what I do than the note posted below.

One of the kids that the Upstate NY/VT Chapter is running for is Dylan Mayo, 8 years old, from Clifton Park, NY.

He was diagnosed with AML M4 Leukemia on 1/9/07. He and his family have never given up hope. Their motto… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on July 7, 2008 at 9:36am — 9 Comments

WHOA! Morning Apparatus Check Interrupted By Oak Tree

Think about this one: You are minding your own business on a beautiful Sunday morning checking out the apparatus. The sun is shining, birds are singing, and the rookies are doing, well, what rookies do. Then all of a sudden CRASH! An oak tree falls in front of your station directly into the apparatus! That'll wake your ass up.

That's exactly what happened in Hillsborough County, Florida yesterday. An oak tree fell on Engine and… Continue

Added by Rockland USA on July 7, 2008 at 9:30am — 8 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

I am sure many people are wondering why I haven't written a Notes from a Rookie Firefighter column this week.

I was going to quit. Going to the Morris County Training Academy full-time had to be one of the most grueling and demanding things I've done. I was all battered up, frustrated from the heat and distracted from my children and my lack of work. I had a little doubt about having the fortitude to continue. My husband then realized that one day I would be going from a red to a… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on July 6, 2008 at 3:32pm — 3 Comments

The Continuing Chronicles of the FNG(irl): The Bruises to Prove It--Confined Space

Finally we get to go to the Guilderland Fire Tower and do our confined space drill....We were shut down two weeks prior...something to do with 97 degree heat and bunker gear and insurance liability.

Having never even seen a confined space drill, let alone participated, I was a little antsy on arrival. We pull up and I see four massive round concrete towers interconnected by these ridged plastic tubes......a Habitrail on a grand scale if you will. Little did I know that I was the… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on July 1, 2008 at 11:27pm — 21 Comments

Tribute to LODD's

I have had a series of discussions with a number of folks over the last few months regarding firefighter/EMS safety, and the sorrow for all involved when an LODD happens.

Those that choose public safety (either paid or volunteer) are a very unique group. Not only are they firefighters, EMT's, Paramedics (and yes I include the Police), but they are scout leaders, church deacons, political figures, community leaders from all walks of life. They raise funds for Jerry's kids, assist with… Continue

Added by Coach on July 1, 2008 at 12:39pm — No Comments