I just fought an awesome fire, doodah, doodah
I just fought an awesome fire, all the doodah night.
THAT is why I do this.
Call came out as a structure, further was that the house next door to ____ was on fire. Always an indicator of a real fire - called in by the neighbor. I went POV and got there right after the engine. You could see it from a mile away. Charlie and a guy (who turned out to be Jeff, who was a the station studying) were attacking from the east side. I parked on the neighbors lawn (sorry) and geared up. I surveyed from the east and pulled a second crosslay off the truck, with Brandon's help, thank goodness. Charlie put me in the doorway as a fire break between the front of the trailer, which was fully engulfed, and the kitchen window they were shooting through. Charlie was funny taking the door out - trailer doors always open outward, but this was burning, so he hit it inward and it buckled. He hit it a second time and then had to shake the door off his axe. One of those scenes that you freeze in your mind to laugh at later. We had the kitchen dark and I was pushing the fire back out the front...when we ran out of water.
Roanoke hooked up to us, but Brandon had left our lines charged, and when the water hit the pump, their 80 psi and our original 120 psi knocked Jeff and I both on our butts. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't hold my line, (I didn't realize that the same thing had happened to Jeff) and it spun me and was shoving me back down the stairs and I was fighting it to hang on and shut it down...I got it off just as a Double Oak guy tried to come to my rescue. Being a big macho man, he walked up the steps and turned it on full bore - and got knocked on his butt, whereupon he fell through the porch. I suppose I could have helped him up, but catching the hose seemed more important at the time. And I felt extremely justified, although still a little pissed off. :) The fire had got it's hold back by then, but we jacked it back down and actually saved half of the trailer.
I fought a good fight, was on nozzle with no back the entire time except when I gave the nozzle to Roanoke who were going in (Idiotic - there are no floors left in trailer fires.) They didn't even get in there when Jon came and yanked their butts back out. Jeff's Double Oak team had already pulled out. I shot it through the kitchen window while Jeff had the window on the southern room. I don't know who taught Double Oak how to withdraw, but they ran like scared kittens and Jeff and I had to pull his hose back out through the window. After the worst of it was out, I went for an axe and pulled the crap out of the walls to get at the insulation (from the outside, I'm not dumb.) I was proud of my stamina, only once did I feel like I was going to have to give up my nozzle, but I kept it. I think I may have a bruise from letting the handle push back against my shoulder, but I did good.
Charlie came and told Jeff and I we stopped that fire, and he was proud of us. We went on knees after we suppressed it, and Jeromy brought us in water. I said we loved him, and he bonked my helmet. Probably the most positive interaction we have ever had. Brandon gave me fists and said good job. When we were overhauling Charlie was knocking the heck out of a kitchen cupboard, and Guy and I had the line (He was backing me, and it was awesome! You forget how great it is to have a good backer until you work without one for a while!) Anyways, Charlie was spewing some crap and we were getting sprayed, but I thought it was water, then Guy goes..."Aunt Jemina!" Happy homeowner apparently had syrup in the cabinet Charlie was demolishing, and it was all over us. The funny part? Some wierd sticky goo from a burning building sprayed all over us...and Guy *tasted* it! He was hilarious. Later, he said - "Geez, what if that had been caustic?" Duh, now you think of that! I got some burning goo on my face from the AC unit earler and it freaked me out, I wet gloved it real quick and it didn't even leave a mark. I am reinstalling my shield on my helmet, those goggles *suck*.
Anyways, it is 1:34 am, and I cannot go to bed this stinky, so I am off to the shower. But...
I fought an awsome fight today, doodah, doodah
I fought an awesome fight today, and won in every way!
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Thursday, March 08, 2007
I am definitely a genius
A genius is one who can do anything except make a living. - Joey Adams
There was never a genius without a tincture of madness. - Aristotle
Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do. - Isaac Asimov
Men of genius are the worst possible role models for men of talent. - Murray D. Edwards
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. - Albert Einstein
The world is always ready to receive talent with open arms. Very often it does not know what to do with genius. - Oliver Wendell Holmes
There was never a genius without a tincture of madness. - Aristotle
Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do. - Isaac Asimov
Men of genius are the worst possible role models for men of talent. - Murray D. Edwards
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. - Albert Einstein
The world is always ready to receive talent with open arms. Very often it does not know what to do with genius. - Oliver Wendell Holmes
Silly thing about life
found this list of things on Chris Jenkin’s Blog… “… the idea is to highlight the things you've done. I don't know if it serves the purpose of showing how crazy or wayward I've been or that i need to get out more. who knows?
this little experiment is supposed to be fun.
i think…”
Here goes (i've done everything in bold):
1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with dolphins (do stingrays count?)
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula YES! Finally, one I did! I didn’t want to, Ashley sort of dropped it in my hand when we were at the butterfly gardens and I was trying to be brave… but I was scared and half laughing and tears were falling out of my eyes…the guy gave both of us stickers that said “I held Edna” or whatever that thing’s name was. I was kind of proud of that sticker.
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone This is a good memory.
8. Said “I love you” and meant it
9. Hugged a tree I even had a favorite tree when I was growing up…I carved my name in it, with some boy’s initials that I would change periodically. You know.
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris – I am so going to take Mom one day.
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea With all my time in the Bahamas, probably, but I don’t really remember anything except getting cold and wet in the boat.
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise Yup, never for the romantic reason this sounds like, though, more like working all night at Tim Horton’s.
14. Seen the Northern Lights Being from Canada, this was a given. I remember Mom pointing them out as we were leaving Beaver Harbour.
15. Gone to a huge sports game – the Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens. I prefer the hockey.
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables – Absolutely! I still try to grow tomatoes, but the heat and my neglect of watering makes it tough…
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars - Many times, I think.
20. Changed a baby’s diapers - rarely. Not my job. I’d be happy to, though.
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower – Yes, laying on the sand at Old Orchard beach waxing poetic…
23. Gotten drunk on champagne – probably, since a glass would get me drunk
24. Given more than you can afford to charity – I wish I could say yes
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment YES!
27. Had a food fight – more than one, in fact.
28. Bet on a winning horse – Yup, I think I won $4
29. Asked out a stranger - oh heck no
30. Had a snowball fight YES! Many!
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can Yup, and I just did it again for good measure, the cats are quite worried.
32. Held a lamb – I don’t think so. Pete raised some but I don’t recall touching them.
33. Seen a total eclipse - Not that I recall, you’re not supposed to look, right?
34. Ridden a roller coaster – yeah, the Texas Star, awful wooden clanky thing that made my back hurt, and then the Superman Tower of Power and BatMan’ s Ice thing or something – they make me wanna hurl
35. Hit a home run – Not in this lifetime
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking - Probably when I was drunk in university
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day Maybe not the whole day, grin
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment YES! But not at the moment.
39. Had two hard drives for your computer – Do Zip drives count?
40. Visited all 50 states – I think so. California was my last one, I think.
41. Taken care of someone who was heavily inebriated – see the earlier college dancing answer
42. Had an amazing friend (and lost her) – Whatever happened to Sonja?
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country – In the Bahamas
44. Watched wild whales Off Vancouver Island, when we were in atiny boat fishing. A little scary, but cool.
45. Stolen a sign - Sorry, Mom.
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip – Oh so many – but very few just for the joy of a road trip… I think I need to do that, and soon!
48. Gone rock climbing – At the gym
49. Midnight walk on the beach - At Old Orchard, In Florida on Spring Break, and in the Bahamas
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love – I can’t make a call on this one. Or, I won’t.
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow – I am sure I did, not regularly, though.
56. Alphabetized your CDs - Well, I only have eight, so probably not.
57. Pretended to be a superhero – Every Day, Baby.
58. Sung karaoke – Badly, I might add.
59. Lounged around in bed all day – Sometimes because that was all I could do.
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving And I loved it
62. Kissed in the rain - I would love to, though…
63. Played in the mud – YES! Made mudcakes often.
64. Played in the rain – Of course, loved it, still do
65. Gone to a drive-in theater - We saw the cats cartoon and the Apple Dumpling Gang with Mom and Dad, I fell asleep at the Apple Dumpling Gang. John took Char and I to see Mad Max, Beyond the Thunder Dome.
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business Gotta say yes.
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married – a couple times so far.
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
76. Gone without food for 5 days - I wish
77. Made cookies from scratch – Yup, thanks Mom.
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason for myself.
84. Performed on stage Many times as a youngster, loved it
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music – Does Here Comes Peter Cottontail on CBC TV when I was a kid count?
87. Eaten shark Ugh, yes.
88. Eaten fugu (pufferfish)
89. Had a one-night stand Again, Sorry Mom.
90. Gone to Thailand
91. Bought a house – Yes, a blessing and a curse
92. Been in a combat zone
93. Buried one/both of your parents – Daddy, and I miss him
94. Been on a cruise ship – Yup, took Mom on one. It was a little wild for me.
95. Spoken more than one language fluently – Oui.
96. Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show
97. Raised children – For a short time
98. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over – Hello? A couple times.
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge - Yes, last summer…then I drove back from California in a company vehicle.
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking – All the time, it’s my car, dimmit!
103. Had plastic surgery - Twice
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived - Driving under that truck
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds If you count them five at a time, I have lost thousands
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray YUP! Before the Steve Irwin experience
110. Broken someone’s heart – probably. I hate that.
111. Ridden a bike – Yup, definitely. I was Daisy Duke.
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol - I love my FNC1A1
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild118. Ridden a horse – twice that I remember, once in Georgia and once at Texas Lil’s Dude Ranch.
119. Had surgery – three times
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours I am certain!
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states – Some day
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days – Wilderness Survival in my teens
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi nasty crap
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about loving me
130. Gone back to school – 19 years in a row
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes - Of course!
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey – made me sleepy so I gave up
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read – the Scarlet letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, but I didn't finish it
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - I tried, I really did
137. Skipped all your school reunions - Me, me, me!
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language – unless you consider smiling a language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you 145. Had a booth at a street fair 146. Dyed your hair - One BAD experience
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life - I don’t think so. I’ve been there for it, though.
I don't think I can assess whether or not I have lived my life based on that list.
this little experiment is supposed to be fun.
i think…”
Here goes (i've done everything in bold):
1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with dolphins (do stingrays count?)
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula YES! Finally, one I did! I didn’t want to, Ashley sort of dropped it in my hand when we were at the butterfly gardens and I was trying to be brave… but I was scared and half laughing and tears were falling out of my eyes…the guy gave both of us stickers that said “I held Edna” or whatever that thing’s name was. I was kind of proud of that sticker.
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone This is a good memory.
8. Said “I love you” and meant it
9. Hugged a tree I even had a favorite tree when I was growing up…I carved my name in it, with some boy’s initials that I would change periodically. You know.
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris – I am so going to take Mom one day.
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea With all my time in the Bahamas, probably, but I don’t really remember anything except getting cold and wet in the boat.
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise Yup, never for the romantic reason this sounds like, though, more like working all night at Tim Horton’s.
14. Seen the Northern Lights Being from Canada, this was a given. I remember Mom pointing them out as we were leaving Beaver Harbour.
15. Gone to a huge sports game – the Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens. I prefer the hockey.
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables – Absolutely! I still try to grow tomatoes, but the heat and my neglect of watering makes it tough…
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars - Many times, I think.
20. Changed a baby’s diapers - rarely. Not my job. I’d be happy to, though.
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower – Yes, laying on the sand at Old Orchard beach waxing poetic…
23. Gotten drunk on champagne – probably, since a glass would get me drunk
24. Given more than you can afford to charity – I wish I could say yes
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment YES!
27. Had a food fight – more than one, in fact.
28. Bet on a winning horse – Yup, I think I won $4
29. Asked out a stranger - oh heck no
30. Had a snowball fight YES! Many!
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can Yup, and I just did it again for good measure, the cats are quite worried.
32. Held a lamb – I don’t think so. Pete raised some but I don’t recall touching them.
33. Seen a total eclipse - Not that I recall, you’re not supposed to look, right?
34. Ridden a roller coaster – yeah, the Texas Star, awful wooden clanky thing that made my back hurt, and then the Superman Tower of Power and BatMan’ s Ice thing or something – they make me wanna hurl
35. Hit a home run – Not in this lifetime
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking - Probably when I was drunk in university
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day Maybe not the whole day, grin
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment YES! But not at the moment.
39. Had two hard drives for your computer – Do Zip drives count?
40. Visited all 50 states – I think so. California was my last one, I think.
41. Taken care of someone who was heavily inebriated – see the earlier college dancing answer
42. Had an amazing friend (and lost her) – Whatever happened to Sonja?
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country – In the Bahamas
44. Watched wild whales Off Vancouver Island, when we were in atiny boat fishing. A little scary, but cool.
45. Stolen a sign - Sorry, Mom.
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip – Oh so many – but very few just for the joy of a road trip… I think I need to do that, and soon!
48. Gone rock climbing – At the gym
49. Midnight walk on the beach - At Old Orchard, In Florida on Spring Break, and in the Bahamas
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love – I can’t make a call on this one. Or, I won’t.
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow – I am sure I did, not regularly, though.
56. Alphabetized your CDs - Well, I only have eight, so probably not.
57. Pretended to be a superhero – Every Day, Baby.
58. Sung karaoke – Badly, I might add.
59. Lounged around in bed all day – Sometimes because that was all I could do.
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving And I loved it
62. Kissed in the rain - I would love to, though…
63. Played in the mud – YES! Made mudcakes often.
64. Played in the rain – Of course, loved it, still do
65. Gone to a drive-in theater - We saw the cats cartoon and the Apple Dumpling Gang with Mom and Dad, I fell asleep at the Apple Dumpling Gang. John took Char and I to see Mad Max, Beyond the Thunder Dome.
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business Gotta say yes.
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married – a couple times so far.
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
76. Gone without food for 5 days - I wish
77. Made cookies from scratch – Yup, thanks Mom.
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason for myself.
84. Performed on stage Many times as a youngster, loved it
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music – Does Here Comes Peter Cottontail on CBC TV when I was a kid count?
87. Eaten shark Ugh, yes.
88. Eaten fugu (pufferfish)
89. Had a one-night stand Again, Sorry Mom.
90. Gone to Thailand
91. Bought a house – Yes, a blessing and a curse
92. Been in a combat zone
93. Buried one/both of your parents – Daddy, and I miss him
94. Been on a cruise ship – Yup, took Mom on one. It was a little wild for me.
95. Spoken more than one language fluently – Oui.
96. Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show
97. Raised children – For a short time
98. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over – Hello? A couple times.
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge - Yes, last summer…then I drove back from California in a company vehicle.
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking – All the time, it’s my car, dimmit!
103. Had plastic surgery - Twice
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived - Driving under that truck
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds If you count them five at a time, I have lost thousands
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray YUP! Before the Steve Irwin experience
110. Broken someone’s heart – probably. I hate that.
111. Ridden a bike – Yup, definitely. I was Daisy Duke.
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol - I love my FNC1A1
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild118. Ridden a horse – twice that I remember, once in Georgia and once at Texas Lil’s Dude Ranch.
119. Had surgery – three times
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours I am certain!
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states – Some day
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days – Wilderness Survival in my teens
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi nasty crap
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about loving me
130. Gone back to school – 19 years in a row
131. Parasailed
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes - Of course!
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey – made me sleepy so I gave up
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read – the Scarlet letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, but I didn't finish it
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - I tried, I really did
137. Skipped all your school reunions - Me, me, me!
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language – unless you consider smiling a language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you 145. Had a booth at a street fair 146. Dyed your hair - One BAD experience
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life - I don’t think so. I’ve been there for it, though.
I don't think I can assess whether or not I have lived my life based on that list.
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