We had our 2009 Installation Dinner last night.



First….a word about something near and dear to all of us…..the food.



Holy Slab of Prime Rib. I’m no slacker at the dinner table, and if I’m really hungry, I can do a lot of damage. That’s why I run….so that I can eat what I want when the mood strikes. I can usually clean my plate, but this…..this monstrously huge side of beef …..beat me down.



It was literally the size of my head, and almost four inches thick. I… Continue

So close, yet so far….we had a BUSY day at the department today.



First, I missed a fire call. No, not an auto alarm at the high school….nope…not a basement pumpout….it was an Honest To God, Mutual Aid, Smoke Showing, Signal “Real Deal” call. And I missed it. Not a bonafide structure fire, Not a ‘cooker” , but the closest I’ve come to one. Damn that paying job anyway…..



We were offered a recap of the call (chimney fire) during drill. Our chief ran down the “who-did-what's"… Continue

Well, ok…so “Probie-ness” isn’t a word, but I added it to my Word dictionary, so according to MY word processing software…it is now. Maybe I’ll add it to Wikipedia too---dazzle them with confusion….it lets you get away with all KINDS of hijinks and lunacy. Hmmm....maybe "Probiedom" would be more apt.



Anyhoo….”Probie-ness” … When I first joined the department, I felt so stupid and clumsy and green (read some of my “Chronicles of the FNG (irl)" posts right here on FFN to get a… Continue

I’m pretty darned excited to be able to share that as of….well, right now actually….. I’ve joined Art aka “ChiefReason”, Mick Mayers and a group of very talented and passionate fire service bloggers on “TheKitchenTable” at www.firerescue1.com



I can’t state with any confidence or certainty that I’ve written anything of the same caliber as the folks I’ll be sharing that space with, but I will fully admit that I’m electrified and flattered to have been asked to join in. My writer’s soul… Continue

I already posted this as a discussion, but felt it merited a blog post as well.....so here goes...



Unused Resources, Lost Opportunities



I’ve been struggling with something for a bit, and decided rather than trying to be politically correct, or trying to avoid sounding like I’m giving a good friend a shameless plug…..I’m going to give a good friend a shameless plug for all the right reasons, and if you don’t like it…..too bad; Freedom of Speech and all that.



Have… Continue