Last Work Day for 2010

As far as work goes we certainly ended 2010 with a bang.  The shortage of staff since the September layoffs has really been felt throughout the holidays.  Mega run days with 25-30 runs  have been FUN.  But add the two house fire of Dec 29th AND the media's attention to the "droves" of volunteers responding to it AND then the the lack of action by our fire department administration...  all of this leads to a complacency by the public... "they can do their jobs with only eight guys responding to two house fires at once, Why bring back those laid off guys?".  Off my soap box,  it was a real pleasure to work with a crew of dedicated co-workers who fought the fire for three hours.  The "vollies" did help with handling hoses, mop-up and hose rolling (the real grunt work) but none had hoses nor entered the buildings for anything but mostly "lookie loo-ing".

I had a crew of Linn W (just back to work on the 20th from lay off following Doug P's retirement), Josh H, and later Mark H.  All of us were second responders coming from home or just coming on shift when the alarm went out.  The first house was so damaged that no interior attack was justified, especially since the occupants were already out.  As the first-on guys were trying to contain the original house from the outside; my crew was able to take attack lines inside and up the burning stairs of the second house, keeping the major damage in the roof and knee walls away from the family's living area.  What sometimes appears to be a losing battle or at best a pyhrrric victory to us, is really a win for the family. It was good to walk through the house afterwards and see pictures, clothes, personal items; not to mention all the household things.   I call that a save.

Back to work yesterday on the Medic, we encountered a truly weird day of multiple serious auto accidents.  Two occurred back-to-back where we transported three victims each. One of whom was taken to a Columbus trauma center.   On the way back into town from the second crash we came upon a crash scene with the police just arriving.  One of those drivers was also hurt and we packaged and transported him.  Later a single car head-on into a utility pole earned that driver a flight North, too. I hope she makes it.

Four out of our five afternoon runs were serious auto accidents... that's not normal for us.

Be careful out there... and Happy New Year.

Monday 12-27-10

Spencer and Parker slept in while Colleen and I returned to work today after the Christmas weekend. 

So far I 've spent the day on 8 medic runs, cleaning the station, making sure that maintenance was done on the trucks, picking vacation and days off for 2011 (we pick for the whole year in order of senoirity).  There is a little flexibility but so far I know when I'm going to able to go Westie camping, do major rides, take family trips and which Holidays and weekends I'll have off.  Not too much room for spontenaity (sp) but it makes me plan better than I probably would otherwise.

That said, I got off top dead center today and made plans to visit Sister Beth in Vegas soon.  After years and years of her begging us to come out, we have NO EXCUSE for not doing so.  We haven't flown since Spencer was a baby.  It will be fun to get away for a while.   Thanks to Godmother Connie and Aunt Gretta
we will be leaving Spenc at home and in school.  A Mom and Sdad getaway!

New Year's is just around the corner... thinking strongly about the resolutuions.  I will post them soon.
I take resolutions fairly seriously and try to keep them, once made.  My four year old one was to loose 15 pounds and keep it off.... so far, so good;  I'm actually about 18-20 down.  My three year old one was to go through the chairs in the Lodge; I'm in the third one now, three to go (one each year).  Last year I said I would ride less (harder when I did ride, but less time/miles) so that I could spend more time with Spenc; I did 2100 in '10 vs. 2800 in '09, IIRC.  This year... we'll see what resolutions evolve.

Christmas Day is over.

The Bumpus hounds (our Jack and Sam. Pres' Dexter) barked before 07early.
As I was letting them in the back door I thought I heard small feet on the stairs.
Nine year old-and-still-believes Spencer was ripping open the Santa gifts... Starwars Lego® parts flew.  Mom pried her eyes open with coffee,  Sdad did the same with Earl Grey.
Park, Pres and Megan sauntered down around 0900 and Heavan (nee Heather and Evan) arrived around 0930.  We waited for Ty by passing around box upon box of snap shots.
A planned "heavy" breakfast was cancelled in favor of cinamon rolls fresh from the oven and mimosas. We laughed and reminisced.  Megan commented on the size of my5sons' heads as babies... she also got to see Sayre's junk.  'Nough said.

Sometime before noon Ty, Jen, and Vera Paisley arrived from Clintonville and we quickly got into the gift doling, since Pres and Megan had to get on the road to Pittsburgh soon.  Practical, homemade and needed things soon covered the oriental rugs. We discussed doing a limited gift exchange next year with more emphasis placed on giving to the truly needy...  we'll see if we can get that off the ground.

With Pres, Megan and Dexter loaded and gone, Colleen and Spencer left for the in-law's.   Heavan had to be home, too.  Meanwhile, I fixed turkey and cheeze sandwiches and leftover vegetable soup.  More snap shots were poured over.   Ty and family bundled up to head to the cabin to help me feed the chickens and walk the creek as Colleen and Spencer returned. Spencer piled in with Ty.  Park and I took my TDi.

The new snow was just gorgeous.  The ten birds were ravenous as usual, to Paisley's delight.  We fed them as Jen made a small, hand-sized snowman for P to carry around.
The walk to the creek made all the camera equipment blaze in Park's hands.  I learned today that he will be home for over a week... I had anticipated his visit to be a typical 4-5 days.  Spencer and I pulled Jen and P around the walking paths in her new sled and back to the cars.  We parted there and returned via the heights of Grandview cemetery as the sun peaked out of the clouds in the Eastern sky.

I pulled the baked ham out of the oven and made broth-boiled potatoes, carrots and celery for dinner. Yum!  The '83 classic Christmas Story made a visual background to our several naps before Colleen, Spencer and Parker each made their way to bed.

Does it get any better than this?
John Prine and Steve Earl have joined me through iTune headphones as I made this entry.

12-25-2010

What a great Christmas Eve!
Last night was a  truly memorable Christmas Eve. At work, I was able to leave at 2000 on 12 hours personal leave but not before a bit of running (sorry about yesterday's abrieviated post).  True to the past, people don't call on Holidays unless they really need help.  Notably: A daylight mugging/purse snatching at the Ugly Store... An unconscious/unknown that was still undiagnosed after 5 hours in the ER... An acute respiratory distress in a locked home that resulted in a night time B&E by Medic 3.  And the goodies poured in... cookies, candies, fruit...  all from our adoring public, thanking us for being there when needed.  Many local businesses on closing early for a Holiday will clean their shelves and drop off the gleanings to the PD or us at the FD.  Straub's from the Smoke House ... AGAIN provided all of us with a fine dinner (Thank You Dane and crew). The Rennisen's dropped off TWENTY-FIVE DOZEN of their Crispie Creme® doughnuts.  We were up to our ears in eats.  As I was leaving, a call came about 7 Jerry's pizzas coming.  FB comments show it was not a good night for CFD Unit 2.

The soft snow began falling as I unloaded my gear from the Medic. Back on Caldwell Street, I was able to spend a few minutes at the Meyer's with Fred and Gretchen before sauntering over to the house to meet my 4sons (Ty and family were coming in the morning). We spent the remainder of Christmas Eve sipping Evan's Christmas ale and playing "Catchphrase".  We laughed and howled about the stinky fireplace. Colleen's candle brigade came to the rescue.  As snow blanketed the neighborhood for a white Christmas, we literally wrapped up the evening. The stockings were hung and we tucked in sometime after 0130.  Spencer, sharing his room with Parker whispered, " I think I heard someting on the roof."

Christmas Eve 2010

Merry Christmas!
At work 'til 2000 hours, then meeting with Park, Pres, Megan, Ev and Heather.
Breakfast in the mornig and then Pres and Megan will travel to Pittsburgh.

Spencer is excited that the Jolly Ol Elf is coming tonight. Las year for that probably.
Got to go .... on a call

Tuesday 12-21-10

At work, so if I get called out, this post may be a bit choppy, terse, or even unedited.
I got called in last night to fill in on overtime at 2100. Before that Colleen and I drove up to C'bus and picked up her new Camry... HER FIRST NEW CAR, ever. I high tailed it back and have been in the red bus ever since, or so it feels.  A real save last night and more than a few gomers in the last 23 hours have made the time go by.  Twelve hours to go.

FB today reveals that J Sayre P and Pres were able to talk recently... Horray! These kids deserve nothing but the best.  I will post some pics here as soon as I have time; unitl then see my FB page for some connects to these guys.

I called Ty today, no answer.  We relieved Evan this AM and he later stopped over at home to get my kegging equipment for his most recent batch... Christmas Ale. Can't wait to sample it. He has become quite adept at brewing. At least as good, if not better than Sdad.  I  laugh when I think of  past attempts, especially at root beer and cream soda at 386 Church when all the bottles blew in the basement!  Beer is much more comtrolled.  Thinking about my equipment, I cherish my Dad's old crank and crimper hand bottle capper and have bought several others as I have found them in my "pickings".

Last night, while C and I were in C'bus, Spencer went with U. Al and A. Gretta to Haller's for Sandy Krider Murphy's calling hours (N. Eric's mo-in-law). He didn't sleep well last night because of it, or it may have been A. G's candy, cookies, fudge, etc.  Anyway, we didn't realize it would be his first visit to a funeral home... not too traumatic, I hope.  We had a good talk about it on the phone today.  Sandy's dad was a Lt under my dad and had made Fire Chief about the time Pop retired.

I see that Park has become a my4sons blog follower... welcome son.

Monday 12-20-10

Tyler and Parker called yesterday.  Ty's prepping for his holiday drives up and down the state.  Park will fly in from Brooklyn on Christmas Eve. Pres and Megan will be passing through to Pittsburgh but will stay over with us on Christmas Eve. This is the one year out of three where Evan and I will both be off Christmas Day.  This year I'm able to take Christmas Eve off at 8pm.

Pres called yesterday afternoon, asking questions about jalapenos for chili.  All five can cook; they get their culinary skills from Sdad, I guess.

I sure hope all five can get together.  It'll be our last time 'til Pres gets his mid-deployment leave early next Fall.

Mundane day on tap today. Taking the recycling in. Spencer, on Christmas break, will be "helping" with some tasks at the Temple.  I will hopefully be finishing up the haggling on Colleen's new car (hers was totaled on 11-22-10, she's OK). She's leaving the VW fold and getting a Camry.

A CHS classmate posted sophomore Class o' '69 pics on FB... interesting how many of them I didn't know and also how many we have lost. This reminds me that I need to schedule June 18th at the Shrine Club for our Class o' 69's  60th Birthday Party per Kit's request.

Start up

Sunday Morning, coming down.
I worked only 12 hours yesterday, taking the last 12 as vacation. It was an easy halfday with only 4 calls, one ALS. It was nothing compared to Wednesday's 16 calls and a fire run. Ala B Pitt in Inglorious Basterds..."We're in the idiot hauling business. And, Cousin, business is a BOOMING!"    Thursday was Blue lodge and a light turnout of 22 in bad weather.
After a rousing Friday at the cabin, Pres and Meg headed back to Ft Knox.  He will be in A'stan in less than 3 weeks. I think about his next year constantly, for him, her and those of us here in 45601.  I'll post some pics of his vehicles soon.
Ev checked in, no news from Ty or Park. Spencer is smiling, wide eyed and waiting for Santa.  At Meyer's last night, he drew a Miami Beach scene, complete with pink and lime green hotels, palms and a cruise ship.
On tap today: chickens, church (ushering) and putting up the Chritsmas tree at the in-laws.
No ride... Hi 25º, 5-10 winds and wet roads. The forecast looks like I'll end up with current milage of  2067, without a single December ride.