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The Chronicles of the FNG(irl): Intro
My name is Mary Ellen. Those that know me fairly well call me Mel. The short story behind my nickname is that I used to cook professionally at one point in my life (among other occupations) and had a nasty habit of burning the bacon I was charged with cooking off on a weekly basis. As this was becoming an expensive habit, the chef in charge of the kitchen decided he needed to shorten my name; the thought process was that he had at least a shot at saving a couple of trays of porcine fatback if he used a shortened version of my name to screech at me that the convection oven was on fire....again.
I'm the state-wide training coordinator for the Firemen's Association of the State of New York (FASNY) and I spend approximately 50% of my time criss-crossing NYS running firefighter and EMS training seminars in hundreds of fire departments in every county. The other 50% of my professional time is spent setting up the logistics and ancillary details surrounding the seminars, and then reconciling the classes in terms of the financials and certification. I like my job, I LOVE being out on the road with the classes, meeting FASNY members and listening to the "war stories" and talking about issues facing the volunteer fire service.
I decided not too long ago that instead of talking about firefighter safety all the time, I'd practice firefighter safety and finally get off my rear and join.
So I walked the quarter mile down the road to my local fire department, talked to the chief, filed an application, and next up? (cue the Phantom of the Opera music)..."The Interview". As in tomorrow night, as in I'm sweating bullets, as in my type-A personality brain is actively attempting to second guess how the process is going to go. In general, when I obsess about something, the reality tends to be one million times better than my overactive imagination has portrayed. Take a peek inside my cranium...'What if they don't like me?" "What if they ask me something that I don't know, but should?" "What if they think I'm some weak girl and can't do the job?" ---the list of questions racing around my medulla oblongata is ENDLESS.
I know the following: I want this, I'm ready for this, and I'm physically and mentally prepared for this. I haven't been this excited about ANYTHING in a long, long time. I can't wait to start training, and my most fervent hope is that a.) I don't do TOO many stupid things and that b.) I don't do something so stupid that someone else gets hurt as a result.
My game plan? thanks to some sage advice from a friend...Shut up, listen,don't take any crap, train hard, stay safe, and try not to make too big a fool of myself (I'm a little klutzy).
Stay tuned...I'll be back with the results of my interview.
Add a Comment
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Comment by Paul Montpetit on January 10, 2008 at 9:23am
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Hey...Good call...join because you "care" right-on Sister...welcome to the family...if they don't take you come north..we would be proud to have you in our department..Stay safe....Paul...and as far as doing something stupid...well, its going to happen...at least once...LOL Don't let it scare you....again welcome
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Comment by Firegal77 on January 9, 2008 at 9:00am
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Congratulations Mel! I bet you did great, in fact I'd wager you sounded like a much better asset than a lot of applicants that simply walk in the door drooling and pointing and unable to say more than; fire, trucks, cool! Look forward to hearing about your results! :o)
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Comment by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on January 8, 2008 at 8:56pm
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Mel:
Don't sweat the little stuff.
Do I need to come there?
You're in!
Art
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Comment by Mick Mayers on January 8, 2008 at 4:59pm
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See, I told you that bacon lead-in would be a hit...
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Comment by Joe Stoltz on January 8, 2008 at 8:42am
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BACON? Someone say bacon? It's hard to ruin bacon but I suppose it's possible.
Mel, you will do well! With your background and honest desire to join the service you can't go wrong. We're all confident that you will have no problems. And looking forward to the upcoming (true) Chronicles of the FNG(irl)!
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Hey, but feel free to write stories about bacon. Everyone LOVES bacon.
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The first thing that attracted me to your new blog was BACON! But then I realized that was just a very brief part of your post. You'll be fine. Just go in there and tell them everything you've told us here so far. We've got your back; go get 'em.
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Comment by Bill Major on January 7, 2008 at 10:14pm
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Yeah MEL, relax.. you will be just fine.... Answer the questions honestly. This 2008, let em know you will pull your own weight. With your background and connections they would be foolish not to have you join... If they dont want give us a call....
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Comment by Jeff Betz on January 7, 2008 at 9:51pm
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YO...MEL...chill. I don't know you very well, but given what I do know, you will be fine. How do I know? Because you care! You are educated, caring, dedicated, honest...need I go on? That said, I still wish you the best in your quest, good luck.
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