ORGANIZED?

NICE ADDITION

Well yesterday I wrote that I was building a locking storage room in the garage for all the poison, gas, etc...that everyone has stored around their garage. Well it is done and it is really nice---not sure I would ever have done it without the pressure but now, for sure, the grand kids can't get into anything that is hazardous in the garage.

One of the guys that works for me, and is also a building contractor, came over yesterday and did it for me---he does good work. I am really happy to have it done and to have it come out looking so nice.

MORE CRAP

I am taking today off to build a cupboard in my garage to lock up all the stuff that every single family has in their garage. My gas, lawn fertilizer, weed spray, insect poison, slug bait, D-Con, white gas for the Coleman stove, oil, and everything else marked keep out of the reach of children. It is probably a good idea to do this but it irritates me to no end because it is a requirement of DCFS in order to get closer to meeting their requirements to get our grand kids here.

This has been one of the ordeals in my life where I am forced to believe that there is no one in charge...no one...they are just working and doing their own thing and never take anything to completion. We filled out another set of papers yesterday that we were supposed to have done several weeks ago...oh well...back to Murphy's Law and for you that don't know HE IS AN OPTIMIST.

MURPHY

After reading Inklings blog this morning about her law I wanted to go public with my belief in these laws---'MURPHY WAS AN OPTIMIST"---never, ever forget that.

STAFF RIDE

I just got back from a Staff Ride (a ride where a group of fire people visit a fatality site to try to learn what not to do) to the Esparanza Fire on the San Bernardino Forest. I have looked at and reviewed a lot of fires but this is the one that has bothered me the very most. In every single case, until this one, I have been able to truthfully tell the kids that work for me---I would not have been there.

This is one where I would have been there---I don't know if I would have stayed and taken the actions they did to save the house---and if I would have stayed it would be against everything I have ever told myself and the kids that work for me. This one really hit home. From start to finish of whatever went wrong here they had less than two minutes to do whatever they could do to survive. That is the time they had if in fact they saw whatever went wrong when it went wrong. From the evidence we reviewed I believe they had less than 30 seconds to make their decision and take the actions they took.

Anyone can arm chair quarterback any decision that is made or any action that is taken. These five from ENGINE 57 ARE ALL HEROES. The didn't make it out but they damn sure did all they could for what they thought was the right thing.

We have chosen a dangerous occupation and the best that we can hope for is to have the judgement, the skill and the luck to make it through to retirement. I, for one, will make it simply because I no longer do the real tough part of fire fighting.

BETTER THAN I CAN SAY IT

----- When a Firefighter leaves the "job" and retires to a better life, many are jealous, some are pleased and yet others, who may have already retired, wonder. We wonder if he knows what they are leaving behind, because we already know. We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times. We know that in a Firefighters life there is a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath that remains in his life. We also know how the very being of the man speaks of what he was -- and in his heart still is. These are the burdens of the job. You will see what others do not see or choose to ignore. You will always look at the rest of the fire service world with a respect for what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing. Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life. You are only escaping the "job" and merely being allowed to leave "active" duty So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in your heart you never forget for one moment that "Blessed are the Firefighters for they shall be called children of God," and you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.

Civilian Friends -vs- Firefighter friends:

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Get upset if you're too busy to talk to them for a week. FIREFIGHTER FRIENDS: Are glad to see you after years, and will happily carry on the same conversation you were having the last time you met.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
FIREFIGHTER FRIENDS: Have cried with you.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.
FIREFIGHTER FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it's yours.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
FIREFIGHTER FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
FIREFIGHTER FRIENDS: Will kick the crowds' a** that left you behind.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Are for a while
FIREFIGHTER FRIENDS: Are for life.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have shared a few experiences.
FIREFIGHTER FRIENDS: Have shared a lifetime of experiences no citizen could ever dream of.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will take your drink away when they think you've had enough.
FIREFIGHTER FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say, "You better drink the rest of that before you spill it!!" Then carry you home safely and put you to bed.

WAY TOUGH DAY

I spent part of today with an individual that used to work for me about 15 years ago. He had some personal and job related problems and has been directed to work for me again in an area away from where he currently lives.

He will start working for me this Friday so I wanted to meet and discuss with him my expectations and his expectations. It was great to get to sit down with him and talk again---it has been a long time but nothing much has changed. I was a little worried about this happening but his expectations and my expectations still match almost to the letter so this should be old home week.....I am way, way thankful for that.