Siftings
Mar
20
Pair of Aces
Right door, wrong rig. I’m an idiot could be one explanation. Another could be that Engine 6211 and 6212 look exactly alike, and 6212 is on the Fire Station apron while 6211 is still in the station when the alarm goes off. Training on the enclosed space entry equipment comes to an abrupt end as...
Mar
18
Craig’s Friday Countdown - ELDP Prep
The ICMA informs me I’ve been matched with an Emerging Leaders Development Program participant and will soon receive an e-mail introducing my mentee. This gets me to laying in a supply of helpful, mentor-type things to say:
28. My outbox = your inbox. There are other systems. There is no...
Mar
15
Shadows
They want a tuberculosis test. Were I inclined to panic attacks, that would be the trigger. I thus begin the department head meeting with a question; where can I find the closest licensed health care professional to fill out my TB assessment form? Varied perspectives on how sick I’ll get by...
Mar
13
Thou Shall Count To Three
“Like you got a pair.” The instructions on how to shout fire in the hole are simple enough for a city manager (with either testes or ovaries) to follow. Shout it three times and push the button – hard – for three seconds. It seems the shift will end with a bang. A shaped charge of C4 to cut the...
Mar
11
Craig’s Friday Countdown Pretty Ponies
Best Mustang Colors
10. Wimbeldon White
9. Silver Frost
8. Kona Blue (GT500 in it's natural setting)
7. Hertz (the loud and fast ones)
6. Legend Lime
5....
Mar
02
Remain In Light
“Let’s go off the record”. A fourth estater stops by the office with questions. The door’s open, no appointment necessary. Question. Answer / smile. Negative question. Answer / smile. Slightly more negative question. Answer / smile. Even more negative question. Answer / I can do this...
Feb
26
Craig’s Friday Countdown - You Go We Go
Dexter Fowler returns to what has to be the best spot to earn a living on the planet for a season that is loaded with possibility. The Countdown below lists all the MLB teams with more weaponry than Joe Maddon has at his disposal.
Feb
23
Solo
Sophistication is overrated. You can have your luxury car. Jeeps rule. You can savor your artisanal coffee. I’m good with water. Save your complicated schemes for someone else. I’m fine with a few simple rules. One of which is to never walk past a neighborhood lemonade stand, Cub...
Feb
16
Taking Cuts
Goodbye ping, hello zing. Leaving the Seaside Spartans in the batting cages as the sun sets over the bay, I arrive at the Sustainable Seaside meeting at the Oldemeyer Center without changing out of my coaching garb. I take a seat in the back as about thirty-five people, including two Seaside...
Feb
14
Uncorrected
Live long enough, bear the scars. Hiking in Big Sur, I come across a stand of burned redwoods. An idyllic stream is burbling past the stand this morning, but I’m guessing it was dry as the fire flashed by years ago. I stop, look up, and see the trees are ok, still green on top and inching...
