This isn't going to be one of my longer ramblings......not that I COULDN'T bore you to tears with 20 paragraphs about what I had for breakfast today... and one of these days I just might, but this is just an equipment quickie today. (However.....I was contemplating some grapefruit and a bowl of---oh never mind. )

In a stunning turn of events, I was selected, along with nine other members of my department, to be fitted for brand-spankin new turnout gear!! I'm not sure how or why I made the cut when some other newbies didn't, but I'm not complaining.

Bunker pants that actually fit? Suspenders that I don't have to duct-tape in place? I'm so excited I could throw up!

We're getting Janesville gear---I didn't catch the specific style, but it's vented in all the right places, and weighs about half what my Globe stuff does. And I'm actually getting my name on the butt of my coat. (You know, ten years ago I don't think I could have predicted getting all hot and bothered about getting my name put on the tail end of a coat in day-glo yellow). We're also going back to the Cairns helmets. No more black plastic bowling ball cut in half with a sticker on it for ID and a face shield that has so many scratches on it I have to guess where I'm walking.

I tried on a demo set that was pretty close in size to what I'm getting.....and I had to stop just to appreciate the zipper.
No more fighting my way through all the snaps and clips....
It was so light compared to my current set that I literally felt like I could run a 5K in it. I'm not going to, but I COULD.

It's a good day to be the FNG(irl).