Thank you for the welcome.

Keep my posted on anything you see like this in Keokuk. Senator Grassley is keeping track of the cases as holds the drug makers and doctors taking kickbacks feet to the fire (maybe not the best choice of words there, huh :-).

Thank you for the welcome. Wish I would have thought of stopping by years ago. Firefighters have bought my books by the case because they are so tired of picking up the pieces after antidepressants have taken their toll in yet another tragedy. You guys are the ones who have to live with it day in and day out. I only have to read about it and talk about it where you are forced to see it first hand. I noticed that Utah has had THREE suicides by fire in just three weeks - if it is not some kind of hit on these three, it would have to be antidepressant-induced suicide. They are the only drugs I know of that can cause that other than maybe PCP, but then antidepressants are like a slow fuse LSD or PCP. They love fire!!! But when they cause so much mania and one of the manias is PYROmania why should anyone be surprised

Bill, that's great to hear. I bet you can't wait to sleep in your own bed. Coming back took some getting used to. Trying to sleep without the calming effects of generators running and helicopters flying was weird. I never thought peace and quiet would be strange. I'm glad your replacements are on the ground. Short time left, they start fielding missions/doing right seat rides, settling in. Feels good doesn't it? That's great news Bill, I'm happy for you.
Take care and stay safe (don't count the days, it'll make the time last longer)
-Eric

Hey Bill, I'm currently in Iraq as well serving as a medic with the 1-161 IN BN in Balad. We are a National Guard unit from WA state and are due to rotate home in August 2009. Can't wait to get back to my other job. I work as a FF with a small combination department just NE of Bellingham, WA (WCFD 4). I have been a paid FF for almost 2 years and a volunteer there before getting hired for 6. Stay safe and thanks for doing what you do.

You to. be safe

May GOd bless you and bring you home safely to your family. We are blessed to have people that do what you do. Thanks again

Can't wait to get you home! We missed a going away party but we sure can have a got you butt home party!

We ordered the new patches I think last week

How are you Bill? I'm just checking in with you. Figured I'd post this, maybe get a little chuckle.

In light of the world we live in Bill, all transportation accidents should be treated as not just a hazmat incident but a potential WMD incident. If I have a semi on fire, using a radiation detector is the norm, or at least for me. But then again, I'm a hazmat WMD Captain who knows better. Failure to prepare is preparing for failure... Hope you can celebrate Easter over there.

God Bless & Stay Safe
Mike

thanks for the add over here Bill. It seems things are more active for the 9/11 Patch Project over on FB--that is why I spend so much time there!

Bill,

Thanks for the warm welcome. Many of people have been baffled as to the wereabouts of Whitehall. It is on 67 just north of Jerseyville and south of Jacksonville. Little cow tippin town.

Class 9 stuff, which is miscellaneous are things that don't have a hazard rating significant enough to justify placarding. The only way there would be a problem is if there were really HUGE amounts otherwise, these things like WD-40 for example, just don't pose the same hazard as the others. Do you have the 9 hazard classes memorized?

I had a hard time at first and then wrote this to help myself and folks that I have been teaching nationally remember them as well. It's a pneumonic...

Every - Explosives
Great - Gases
Firefighter Loves - Flammable Liquids
Frequent Sex - Flammable Solids
Or - Oxidizers
Pretty - Poisons
Redheaded - Radioactives
Chicks - Corrosives
Mmmmmmm - Miscellaneous

Now, isn't it easy to remember the nine hazards classes?

Where in Iraq are you? And you drive a truck? I do this too for a local college one-month out of the year going on Geology field study trips.

Later buddy,

Mike

TKS, what do I owe you,
Stay safe and train often

I have to say Bill, I don't miss these!

Hey Bill,
Good to hear from you. Have seen you for some time. How the firefighting and EMT going. I joined the fire department June 2007 and completed my FFI last November 2008. I'll be taking my FFII this fall.

Bill, thanks for the comment on the blog. How was the mission? Everyone alright? Good to hear that your's is 12. I did 12 before they went to the 15 month tours, so I throw myself in with the "lucky" group. One of my buddies did 12 with my unit, we came back, he got reassigned to the 101st and went back 6 months later for 15 more. I was not jealous.

Good to hear. I'll bet you can't wait. 15 month tour right?

Bill,
How's everything? Good ole spring time in the Middle East, can't say I miss it. The nice cool mornings, maybe making you want to throw some polypro on, but dealing with it because you know in 3 hours you'll be sweating your butt off. I just figured I'd check in. Again, let me know if you need anything. TCSS.