Siftings
Jan
04
O Six Hundred
Six in the morning, Sunday. There are 180 gradations on the Fahrenheit O’meter between water being a solid or a vapor. Apparently, it takes only one of the water-is-a-solid degrees for a collection of state and local officials to muster for a firefighting rite of passage.
Firefighter One...
Dec
29
None Too Slick
Schroeckenthal (sp?). “Shrek”, for short. Captain 2 Zach’s nickname. But Schroeckenthal, in full, on the “butt tag”. Butt tags are the last name tag that hangs off the bottom of the back of a firefighter’s jacket. In theory, they are there so you know who is in front of you at a fire. So you...
Dec
09
Beasts of Burden
Uh-oh. I just had a negative thought about the fire department. Let me sit down and try to figure this out. Is it about somebody at the fire department? No. Is it about something at the fire department? Well, no (the radio thing seems to be moving in the right direction). Is it about the...
Dec
02
One Year, One Gross
The messes I make just pile atop each other. First winter storm warning of the year arrived on Saturday. Knew it was heading our way the day before so I stuffed a Christmas tree sized somewhere between reasonable and ridiculous into the back of the Jeep and lugged it onto the back porch to keep...
Nov
29
Winter Storm Watch Viewing
Viewing recommendation for staying inside on a snowy day:
#1 - This guy's Lake Superior Youtube channel.
Which reminds me, Maiden is a great documentary about the first all women crew in the Whitbread race.
Also ... just go outside and have fun in the snow.
Nov
12
While E.
Santa’s here. The first thing I see as I walk in the door of Fall River Village Hall is Saint Nick himself. I have made it through the pinball machine of pre hunting season deer on the roads of Columbia County at dusk to arrive at the monthly meeting of the Fall River Village Board. Quaint would...
Oct
22
Regrets, I’ve Had A Few
But then again, too few to mention…
Vehicle fire training was on the dance card last Thursday at the station. We had two pickup trucks to practice on. One was a crash victim provided by Brown’s Towing and the other was Park Force One. Park Force One was the old rusty Village Public Works...
Oct
16
Ups and Downs Part 2
Timidity is no way to go through the only life you have.
The Fire Department hosts hundreds of kindergartners to fourth graders each year for Fire Prevention Week. Over the course of two days, with assistance from the DNR and Smokey (the bear), we entertain and educate kids about fire...
Sep
24
Excuse Me ... What?
Is it just me, or does everyone feel like an alien? Dropped off on the planet to observe, take notes, and report back to galactic HQ whenever the mothership returns. I think they’re gonna like Wet Leg. At least I hope so because, at the moment, I can’t get that furniture song out of my...
Sep
14
Blessings Large and Small
“Ready Buddy?”, Chief Cam asks. Quick nod and a smile comes the reply. But we’re not on a fireground, or about to deliver a budget presentation. It is predator vs. leather orb prey in our native habitat; a ball diamond. So the nod and smile comes right before the infield pre-pitch ritual of...
