Body for Life Done… Again

July 28th, 2008

This morning started out okay. John was giving me some crap about my shirt bring wrinkled. I laughed it off. We went on to our rig checks. Following rig checks we go onto cleaning. Normally I sweep and then clean the front bathroom and sometimes the back bathroom. No one has ever had to tell me to do anything in terms of the chores because I keep on top of it. I know as the new guy I get the jobs no one else wants, so rather than trying to skate on it, I just go do it.

As I was walking in the station from the bay Keeton told John “tell the probie to clean the toilets”. John then repeated it. That made me mad as I feel low as it is, but to be told to do something I have been doing for a couple weeks without being told, I felt like I was just being ridiculed. As I cleaned no one on the shift helped out. I ended up doing all the chores except for emptying the trash. I was livid about this. Every other shift helps out with the chores. It took me an extra forty minutes to get done.

I was very mad and I just didn’t feel like talking to anyone today. John realized that I was mad as I was leaving he stopped me to talk. I wouldn’t tell him what was wrong. I know as the new guy I am going to get crap and I am sure others have gotten it worse than me. I didn’t want to tell him because it would feel like I am whining. When you take what was said on the face it really wasn’t bad. But because of who it came from, my friends, and the fact that no one helped just didn’t sit well. I left without telling him.

I went to the rec center to weigh in. It was the final weigh in of this Body for Life period. I lost twenty eight pounds in this period and I am down sixty-five pounds total since January. I was disappointed. This last week at the fire department has been horrible. I have not had the time to work out like I need to. My eating has not been the greatest either. But I am still losing weight and that is important. I have a ways to go before I hit my goal, but I am still working my way there. I have seen a lot of loss and it feel good.

Nearly Passed It

July 27th, 2008

I went to the rec center to test myself on the cooper test. I dd my best on the sprint and pushups. I did the minimum on the sit up. Then it was off to the mile and a half run. I didn’t pass it, but I was only seventeen seconds off. I also did a short walk and stopped for water. Without those two interruptions I think I would have passed the test. So I know I am there.

I went home to clean up. I went to the golf course and spent about an hour chatting with Matt. I planned on getting Hang ‘Em High to finish watching it. I was going to invite Matt if he was interested.

I went to the video store and bought some movies, but they didn’t have it. So I went to Video Quest and found Hang ’em High. I rented it. I got some pizza from Pizza Hut. I got a cyclone from Cougar Country.

I had pizza and watched Hang ’em High. I wasn’t all the keen on the ended, but I had to watch it because I didn’t get to see it yesterday.

What a Great Day

July 26th, 2008

I started out this morning watching Hang ‘Em High, but I wasn’t able to finish it because I had to go to Spokane to hang out with Ryan. His birthday was on Wednesday and we were planning on going to see the X-Files and have lunch.

We started with Pizza at Rocky’s. I bought a large. We had some leftovers for Anna. We spent a fair amount of time talking about what names that could be used for naming a baby. We were joking about making sure the kid is named something cool and not doing the dumb things some parents do. Such as naming their kid a normal name but spelling it different.

We walked down to the mall to watch the X-Files. It was like watching a long episode. I guess you wouldn’t expect anything different though. When the movie was done we got some ice cream from Ben and Jerry’s. We did some people watching and we saw two people walking around with their kids on a leash. I told Ryan I would kick his ass if he ever did that to his kid. He laughed and said he wouldn’t.

I left and went down to Colfax. I hung out at the fire station for about an hour with Tim. Then we went to Jamie and Brett’s wedding together. It was a nice service. The jail Captain did the service. He did a very good job. There were some good laughs. After the service we went in to the banquet. I had some food and spent time talking to everyone up there. I had a chance to congratulate the newly weds and talk to many people I have worked with over the years.

I also spoke to Myers a while about being a reserve. I told him about about the situation that I am in and that I have been working hard to be a reserve. He said we will do something to make it work. I still need to make sure I get enough time off of work to make it work out correctly. I am going to have to talk to Dan and John and some of the other guys to see if they are willing to help me out as much as possible about covering some of my shifts so I can make the training.

After the reception I went back to the fire station with Tim. We went to let his dog inside at his house. While there he was showing me around the house. While there we got toned out on a call. We went to the scene and waited for the ambulance. When it was done I helped restock the Brush trucks’ EMS supplies and then I headed home.

First Morning Structure Fire

July 25th, 2008

This morning the tones woke me up shortly before four in the morning. They were calling a second alarm. I went to the fire station after having driven through the downtown area. I would smell smoke. When I got to the fire station they didn’t need us to go to the scene, so I stood by. For a couple hours.

When the rigs got back I helped put them in service. I went to the store and bought some donuts for everyone. I got my books from home and came back to work. I pretty much worked there from four in the morning until five in the evening.

I decided to go down to Colfax tonight. I hung out with Ralph for a couple hours waiting for a call to come in. While I was there we sat outside talking about fire services and more. It was getting to be around ten o’clock and I was getting a bit tired so I was getting ready to head out when a call did come in. It was a transfer. I took it. It was only from Colfax to Pullman so it wasn’t a big deal, but I did get to go code on the way.

More Check offs

July 24th, 2008

I went to the fire tower with C-shift to work on some more check offs. We did vertical ventilation and set up the master stream with a five inch hose. That is all we did, but it took a while to get everything completed because we discussed stuff as we went along.

Long Call on the Mall

July 23rd, 2008

This afternoon we were dispatched out to a natural gas leak up on the CUB mall. I came in on one of the engines. I got packed up and I manned the hose line for the time we were up there. It was very hot outside and I was sweating pretty good.

Nothing ended up happening other than the gas leak getting shut down, but we had to wait for them to jackhammer through the street bed and dig through the dirt to get to it.

Poker Night at Dan’s

July 22nd, 2008

Tonight there was some poker at Dan’s house because my softball game was cancelled for the night. John came over and Denise and Ben joined us. We played for several hours, and as the night went on I was getting all the cards. I built my stack higher and higher. We played until around eleven o’clock. I wanted to get home sort of early so I wouldn’t be too tired for work in the morning.

Week Two Under Way

July 21st, 2008

This is the start of week two for me. I got up to start the day in the Rec Center swimming pool. I was a little out of swimming shape again. I was able to do two laps then I was really winded. I finished a total of about six laps, but I am going to have to work my stamina back up.

I got into work and did more of the rookie book. I was able to get some questions answered and worked on various other things. It was weird not having Monday Night training tonight. It was the first time I haven’t had it in a long time.

Bovill Day Two

July 20th, 2008

I was up early again this morning on my way to Bovill. I got there around seven-thirty in the morning again. I got ready and we were playing just after eight in the morning. Our sticks were pretty cold. I wasn’t cold though. I have an inside-the-park homerun plus two walks and one fly out. We lost that game and got moved to the loser bracket.

The next game was two hours later. I had myself a cheeseburger and waited around for the game. We played a second team and beat them pretty easily. We had a big inning scoring a lot of runs. I have four doubles in the game including three that were ground-rule doubles. That is because there was a ditch in right field and if you hit the ball over the head of the outfielders it would go to the ditch. I did that three times.

Between that game and our next one the sun was beating down on us. There were several ten-six-seven’s walking around shirtless. It was something good to look at as I waited for the next game.

We played against a team with several players from the Pullman area. They went on to beat us pretty soundly. That was all for us. I would have liked to play some more, but it was good to get to head home.

When I got closer to Moscow I turned on my phone and found a call from Pete. He told me about a fatal car accident that happened near Clarkston last night. So I was right in my instinct that there was going to be a case last night. As it turned out though the person was taken to Lewiston before death was pronounced so it wasn’t really one of our cases, but I had a feeling it was a bad car accident.

When I got home I got some dinner at Cougar Country.

Softball in Bovill

July 19th, 2008

I got up early this morning to get ready to head out to Bovill for a softball tournament. I have never been there and I didn’t know who I would be playing with.

I got out there around seven-thirty in the morning. I met up with Jackie and I was able to find the team I was playing with. We were playing on a field that had gravel and rocks mixed in with the dirt. There were no side fences and the backstop was the side of a little league backstop. I wasn’t sure what to expect out of the tournament, but I was happily surprised.

There were a total of ten teams. My team would seem to be like a bunch of scrubs, but we were not a bad team over all. We won the first game to remain in the winners bracket. There were kegs at the field and it was free for the players.

The second game wasn’t as good. We lost the game, but we ended up getting the win because the other team didn’t have enough players and used some players from another team. That means we play again tomorrow morning at eight o’clock in the morning — AGAIN! No sleeping in for me.

I came home and got some dinner. I didn’t do a whole bunch around the house because I was relaxing over all. Plus I had to get up early in the morning. I guess I get to “sleep in” on Monday.

I was on call for the coroner and I heard a call get dispatched down by the river. I had a feeling I may be going down there, but I never ended up getting dispatched to it.

Week One Under the Belt

July 18th, 2008

With the first week under my belt I feel good about how it went, but I feel like I should be further along in my rookie book. But that is because I felt like I would tear through it quicker than I have been. Plus there are so many things to do in it that you have to multitask.

I got some drive time done in Engine Thirty-Two. I also got my box-streets project completed. We also responded on four calls after lunch time today as well.

I decided not to stay up too late tonight because I have to be in Bovill tomorrow for the softball tournament.

Coroner Training

July 17th, 2008

We didn’t do any evolutions today. That was okay because the last two days left me really sweaty. Chuck and I went to Campus and spent a couple hours walking around looking at the Knox Boxes and FDC’s on various buildings.

After work I went to Colfax for my coroner’s training. We were talking about water deaths. Pete talked about SCUBA. We also spent time talking about the recent drowning at the Snake. We were talking about what we would expect to find.

I also got a pager for the coroner’s office finally. Pete has been trying to get them for years. He finally just bought his own for us.

Final Regular Season Game

July 16th, 2008

Today we were at the tower doing some more evolutions. Today it was standpipe stuff.

After work it was off to playing softball. We were playing the final game of the regular season. We were not able to win the game, but it didn’t matter much we had second place locked up.

After the game several of us went to Pete’s to meet up with the guys who we played against. It was Bruce and Joe’s team — Tubbs. They beat us, so we had some good banter back and forth, but we beat them two of three times so I had that to hold over their heads.

Wildland Field Driver Training

July 15th, 2008

Started off today doing the daily rig checks and chores. We went to the CUB for a tour. I was underwhelmed by the new look. The colors make you question “why?” As we were completing the tour we got a call. I was in the ambulance and we went to the scene. It was my first ambulance call with them.

Later we went to the tower to work on evolutions to sign off Chuck and I on items in our rookie book. Today we were pulling the pre-connects and spraying water.

After work I went to Colfax for training. We went to Steptoe to do some field driving in the rural rigs. It was the first time I drove them off road. I was nervous at first, but I got a little use to it after doing some driving.

They pretty much knew I got the temp position with Pullman. They congratulated me and asked me some questions about how it worked.

First Day of New Job

July 14th, 2008

Today was the first day working as a temp full-timer at the fire department. I brought in some donuts. Heston and did our admin stuff. Then I had a task of changing the tires on a car that we are going to extrication training on later on this evening. I don’t have my rookie book yet to start working on. That is going to take a while once I do get it.

Towards the end of the shift we got a call where we went code in the PL. It has a growler and we were playing that all the way there. Turned out to be a nothing call.

Later on I went to extrication training. I was helping the reserves with it. This was my first Monday Night training that I didn’t have to be at, but I was able to get there. It was my one last chance to do something with the reserves. But when I get on shift, the Monday nights that I am working I will get a chance to work with them on training then as well.

Russell is Going Away

July 13th, 2008

We had more softball today. I was playing first base most of the time. We had our first game against Zeppoz. We were not getting timely hits and we were losing. I had called Kelly about playing. When he heard we needed him he came in. It was great it was the boost we needed and we went on to win the game. We were in the losers bracket and now we were going to face Sports Page in back to back games. We had to beat them twice.

We won the first game and then went on to win the second game. Ryan and Russell came down and watched the final part of the last game. We won the championship. We got the trophy and got out photo. I went to Pete’s for a while with everyone, then it was off to Cougar Country.

Rhonda was happy we won the whole thing. She loved that we beat the B league team yesterday because one of her cooks was on the team and we was talking about how they were going to take us down. She put up the championship trophy and couldn’t wait to show her cook.

Russell, Nick, and Ryan also came along to Cougar Country. After we ate Ryan and I went to get some cake and stuff for Russell’s birthday which was coming up really soon.

Russell is leaving Pullman for good and we wanted to have a day out with Russell and we decided to celebrate his birthday as well. We were at Russell’s for a couple hours eating cake and watching some video’s on YouTube.

Co-Ed Post-Season Tourney

July 12th, 2008

I started at pitcher and I wasn’t doing great. We were playing a coed B league team that was moved up into our league. I walked several people through out the first couple innings costing us runs. Finally I got Heston to pitch and the pitching problem went away. We started to get better at the plate and we started to get walked plus we were hitting the ball well. Sooner or later we finally took a lead.

It was a tight game but we ended up pulling it out and staying in the winning ways.

After the game we went to Pete’s Bar and Grill for some food and beer while waiting for our next game. But I was going to be going to the golf tournament.

I stuck around until the latest possible time I could wait until I had to go home and get ready to golf. Matt found a guy named Travis to cover for him on the team because Matt was unable to play. I called him and we planned on riding together to Colfax.

While the game was getting ready to start I got the lineup written and a couple umpired were roasting me in front of Heston and some others. I was laughing so hard. It was about my pitching. They said that Heston should never let me pitch. I took it very well.

As a joke I took the mound as the game was getting ready to start and one of the umpire who roasted me was there. I looked at him and pretended that I wasn’t going to pitch because of what he said. It was pretty good.

I went to home after that to get ready. I got my golf clubs and went to Dissmore’s. I got some water and picked up Travis. He is ten-six-seven. His complexion reminds me of BKoe.

When we got to Colfax he took his shirt off to switch to a different shirt. That was a treat because, as I said, he was ten-six-seven.

We finally got out on the course. I had Hansen and Pete playing with my team. We were not kicking butt, but we were holding our own. At the break we had some dinner and did the raffle. I won a couple prized including golf balls, a shirt, and a hat.

On the second round we were using the glow balls. It was harder, but I started to do better because I wasn’t trying to crush the ball. Towards the end of the round Pete hit a ball and it looked like he crushed it, but we don’t know where the ball went because he hit the glow stick out of the ball. Hansen did that twice as well. We were laughing so hard.

Last Full Shift

July 11th, 2008

Today was the last full shift on Rescue. I am going to be on Rescue again on Saturday, but I am also going to be playing golf late on that night.

Tonight we had several calls and I got a chance to drive Rescue code several times including saying my catch phrase “Whitcom Rescue-Thirty-Two”.

I am going to really miss running Rescue with the guys.

Starting On the Last Couple Shifts

July 10th, 2008

Tonight was the night to beat up on another softball team. We were playing K&K; again. The first couple games were close games that we won. Today it was a run away for My Office. We had no problems beating up on the other team.

After the game I was on call for the fire department. I am starting the final couple shifts as a reserve. I am sad about the end of the run of being a reserve Crew Leader. I am going to miss working with the guys and I am going to miss having a position with some responsibility.

I feel like there are things that I have not done yet, so I don’t feel like I am ready to move along. But that is the way it is. I am not going to be able to stay and make the changes to the reserve program that will make it stronger.

Palousitics Lunch with Guest

July 9th, 2008

Today for lunch we had our Palousitics lunch with a guest. It was the editor of the Daily News, Steve. We talked with him about the newspaper industry and about politics in the area and how the Daily News covers it.

We had a softball double-header tonight. We were playing Bomb Squad. We went on to beat them pretty easily tonight. It was the first time we beat them all season. Up until now we would not beat them for what ever reason. We took an early lead and then went on to win.

Then we played against Coor’s Light. But it was the opposite story. They crushed us. We couldn’t get the timely hitting, unlike we did in the first game. With that loss we are going to have to battle for second place.

The New Temp

July 8th, 2008

I went to the fire station this morning to update a couple photos on the photoboard. I was asked by Wilkins if I would be there after I was done. I told him I needed to go to the rec center but I could come back later on. I had a feeling that he wanted to talk to me about the temp job.

I went to the rec center and did the LE physical agility test. I am still not there on situps. I also made the mile and a half in about the same about of time. I need to shave about one minute off that time in order to get forty points.

I came home and cleaned up. I called the station and I set up an appointment to meet with the Chiefs at three o’clock PM. In the mean time I talked with Jon a little about the upcoming decision that I have to make. I guess I am sort of in the drivers seat, because I don’t need to take the position. I sort of feel like I need to take it however.

I went to the fire station and I met up with the chiefs. I was offered the temp positions. It was said that I would not be guaranteed a job due to this, but it could help if I do a good job while working as a temp. I was given some time to think about it. They said they would work with me due to my other job. I told them I couldn’t give up my other job knowing that there may not be a position when this is all done because they want to change it to a paramedic position. They said they would work with me in reference to my other job.

I left and called Jon. We talked about it some more. He pointed out that this temp period is a good thing for a couple reasons. One is that if I don’t work out, then I still have a job to go it. If I don’t take this, and wait until a fulltime position comes open. Then I take it and don’t work out, I am out two jobs. Plus with them working with me I should be able to do both for a while. I am very nervous about saying yes, but I went back to the station to take it.

I went to Heston’s office and said I that I am going to take it. He shook my hand and we scheduled my first day to be Monday of next week. I am going to only have three more shifts as a reserve. I am sad about that. I am going to miss working with those guys. I am now in a little bit of a haze as this is a big event in my life and I have a lot to think about now.

I got a call from Gollnick. I thought he already knew. He was calling about playing poker. I figured I would tell him in person.

I asked Heston to hold off on the e-mail until as late as he can so I can tell my guys in person. It was going to work out because everyone was coming down for rig checks early, and A. Wilcox and I had to be there to clean the bay. As I got to the station I got another call from Gollnick. He had been at the station and heard some rumors. He called me to ask me about it. I told him what was going on. I told him that I was going to tell him while playing poker. For my guys, I waited until everyone was there.

I told them that I was offered and accepted the temporary position. They congratulated me. But I am sad. The E-mail had gone out and by the end of my softball game I had a couple texts from people congratulating me.

We played against Tubbs. My head was not fully in the game as I was thinking about the change in my life. I had a good night. I pitched the whole game and didn’t walk anyone on accident. One guy we walked on purpose a couple times. I also hit the ball pretty well. We won the game in the bottom of the seventh. It was great to win that one. We let up eight runs in the first, but came back to win.

After the game I went home and Gollnick came over. We played poker at my place until almost two in the morning. We spent a lot of time talking about the things I should do while I am at the fire station. What I should do on my first couple days. I had a pretty good idea having been around the fire services as long as I had been. The one I didn’t know is to make sure there is coffee always ready.

I lost some money playing poker, but it could have been worse. I was only down nine bucks on the night, but at one point I was down to two bucks left.

Today is one of those days, I was expecting the offer for the temp position, but I am still not mentally prepared to leave the reserves. Though I have spent a lot of time thinking about that in the last couple months. I also realize my dreams of getting back on the sheriff’s reserves will probably not be fulfilled. I am disappointed about that because I was really starting to think about how nice it would be to get that under my belt. It seems like everything went so fast.

Working in the Office

July 7th, 2008

I went into the office today to put up my new computers. While I was there I talked to Barb a little bit about the future of the company. There is a chance they are going to sell us off. That would leave me somewhere that I don’t know. This uncertainty has been going on for several months now. I am still not sure what the next day or the next week has in store.

I went to lunch with Ricky. He is leaving the company and going to a new place because of everything that has been happening. That means it is only me after he is gone. I invited Noah and Chris to come eat with us. We went to Crossroads.

After lunch I headed back to Pullman. I had Monday Night training. We were doing a critique of the structure fire that we had last month at the Clarke Terrace apartments.

It lasted about two hours. I then went off to my house. I had to get caught up on the things I wasn’t able to do at the end of last week because of the softball tournament and being out of town.

It’s Time To Relax

July 6th, 2008

Without softball today I was able to just kickback and relax. I did need to make a trip to Jon’s to get my computers to take back to work with me tomorrow. I was waiting until he got home from camping in order to collect them.

I watched a movie on TV while I waited for him. When I got his text message I drove down there and picked it up. That is when I talked to him about the fire job. I think that because we are down a temp. firefighter and that I am number one on the list that they will offer the job to me. I bounced some stuff off him about how to approach my current company. I would like to keep programming, but I guarantee to them I will be available each and every day now. So we will have to work something out. This is one of those times where things can get pretty nerve racking.

I just mainly sat around the house today. It was nice to not have anything to do, but it would have been nice to hang out with some of my friends over here I don’t see often.

Bremerton Tournament

July 5th, 2008

After getting only one hour of sleep it was getting closer to nine o’clock AM. I started to get my uniform on and waited for the others to show up. We were planning on doing some batting practice before our first game.

We were playing in the E division instead of the D division that we originally signed up for. The competition level was closer to that of our play. The first game we won, I didn’t hit great, but the rest of the team did and we went on to win by several runs. We had an hour break before our next game.

But it sucked because I was hitting better, but the team overall didn’t hit well and we ended up losing that game. That put us in the losers bracket. That also meant that we would have several more games to play in order to win the whole thing. The team we played when we lost wasn’t that great, but they found a way to get the hits they needed to get in order to beat us.

We had a couple hour break before our next game. Several of us went to Dairy Queen for some food. We hung out there for around an hour and then went back to the field. We now need to win or go home. There were two games today we had to win in order to move on to Sunday.

The first game we did good. My hitting through out the tournament was sub-par. But we went out and won that game. We had one more game to play in order to make it to Sunday now. We were playing against a team that was able to put runs up on the board. But we were able to do that as well.

We went out and had a great first inning scoring a lot of runs, but then we couldn’t get anything going after that. We had left the bases loaded twice later in the game. We gave up one big inning to them and they took a lead. We lost the game and got sent home. That was okay to me I guess because I didn’t have to pay to rent a hotel room. But I would have enjoyed playing a lot of softball on Sunday.

So I headed back to Renton. I hadn’t slept much in the past forty-eight hours, but I wasn’t really all that tired. I made it home and got myself some dinner. I stayed up pretty late watching TV and relaxing around the house.

Happy Birthday America!

July 4th, 2008

I wanted to sleep in as much as I could because I was going to be making a trip to Bremerton tonight after the fireworks show. It didn’t work as well as I would have hoped. I woke up early. I tried to go back to sleep and I wasn’t able to. I think I did get one more hour.

I was getting ready to go to the fireworks show. I set up my cooler with some stuff to eat and drink up there. Then I went to station two and got the fire engine and drove down to station one. I picked up some supplies and it was up to Sunnyside park. I had forgotten my camera and used the Chief’s rig to go get it.

We helped to get everything set up. Heston and I got dinner and then went back to the fire apparatus. We showed it off to people and I took photos as that happened. Finally it was starting to get dark and it was close to the time for the show.

We got everything put away. I went on top of the fire engine to watch the show. It was a nice show and I got some photos of the fireworks going off. We waited at the park for about thirty minutes for everyone to clear out. Then we drove back to the station. We got the stuff put away and I drove home. I ordered a pizza to go and headed to Bremerton.

I was hoping to make it to Vantage before I had to take a nap, but the roads were clear and I was moving along very well. When I went through Vantage I wasn’t tired so I kept on moving. Soon I was in the Pass. Then I was on Highway Eighteen. Then I got on I-Five. Then I was crossing the Tacoma Narrows bridge. It wasn’t a lot longer before I got to the field. I found a place to park and tried to sleep. It was around five-thirty in the morning. I tossed and turned a lot. I couldn’t get very comfortable. I think I was able to manage one hour of sleep.

Fires

July 3rd, 2008

This afternoon I went to the Cougar Kids Camp to show the kids the Rescue and to talk to them about the fire department as well as answering questions. Then we let them play with the hose and spray water. They all were playing under the water stream getting wet. They had a really good time.

Later on we were going to be doing fireworks patrols around the city. Pretty much we were just being visible. We hit all four hills a couple times each. We were doing it four five hours. After two and a half hours it had been quiet. Then we got an EMS call. While waiting on that a delta – structure fire was dispatched. We were cleared by the PD from the medical call as there was no medical situation.

We went to the scene. It turned out to be a brush fire in front of the apartment building. Parrish got to pump Engine Thirty-One on that fire. It was his first fire. Williams also was command and that was his first time. I got Rescue there and we pumped that as well. Rescue mainly was just used for mop up.

We took a few minutes to get back in service and drove around some more. I had planned on staying on College Hill, but with the Engine driving there I said we would go to Pioneer Hill. I stopped at the gas station on Bishop just off of Main Street. I mentioned to A. Wilcox the last time I was there in a department vehicle we had a structure fire that night. We drove around and stopped in a couple areas briefly to chat with people lighting off fireworks.

It was getting to be past ten o’clock PM. We were going to call it a night at eleven. Just as we went up Whitman on College Hill we got dispatched to a delta response for a fire near a building. We lit up the lights and started to head that way.

Engine was on scene within seconds of the dispatch. They had seen the smoke and started that way to investigate. They were turning onto Deane where the call was. They saw the flames and then heard the dispatch. We spent more than an hour on the scene putting out the fire and overhaul. Which meant we cut away a ton of the shrubs and tree limbs to get into the fire area.

As it turned out Parrish pumped again, Williams was command again, and I pumped Rescue while there. Heston showed up on that one and just watched for the most part. He congratulated me on my position on the list. He asked if I would accept the position. I told him that if one was offered that I would take it.

It took about another hour to clean up and get both Engine and Rescue back in service and fueled up after the call. We got the Rescue washed and went home. I wasn’t home very long when we got toned out for another delta response for a wildland fire. This one turned out to be an illegal burn in a fire pit. We did go and put it out using Rescue to pump.

It was one heck of a long night.

Number One!!!

July 3rd, 2008

I just opened the letter I got from Pullman Human Resources with the information about my application and testing. I scored the highest of everyone and I am number one on the hiring list!

That means that I will get an interview when the first job opening come up. I still have to beat out two other people in the Chief’s interview, but I am that much closer.

I also think they will be trying to get someone to work as a temp for the next five months or so. I am not sure if they will do that. If they do I am not sure if I will be asked to do so, but if they do I will have some big decisions to make.

I was very excited when I saw that I was number one.

Double Header

July 2nd, 2008

I did my first workout for the physical agility test for the SO. I need to shave time off the mile and a half run. I need to shave about one minute. I also need to add more situps. The pushups and the sprint I am doing okay. I have about one month in which to get up to where I need to be.

We had a double header in softball today. Some of the guys were giving me a hard time about the fact that I have a moustache. Someone was saying we haven’t won since I started to grow it. I said it wasn’t true, but if we were to lose both games I would shave it off.

I started pitching, but I was struggling and I had Jake come in and pitch for me. I didn’t do well hitting in the first game either. I went oh-for. We had a small lead, but ended up giving up six runs in the sixth inning which allowed them to take the lead. That just sucked.

The second game I started to hit better. I went three for three with a triple. Jake also got me to pitch the final two innings of the game. I went through those two innings without much for problems. We had an early lead and never gave that one up. So we split the double-header and my moustache stays.

Town Crier III – Plastic Bags

July 2nd, 2008

Though I am thankful the Supreme Court reaffirmed the right to keep and bear arms, I am disappointed that it even had to go to the Supreme Court. There have been many laws that have assaulted the right to keep and bear arms. Many of the laws are advocated by people exercising their first amendment rights to trample on second amendment rights, when it is because of the second amendment rights we have been able to secure the first amendment rights.

When someone thinks back to the times when America was getting organized and people were fighting and dying to make this country work, you can’t help to realize some of the issues we face today pale in comparison.

One such issue is a Seattle-like mandatory twenty-cent tax added to each and every plastic bag someone uses when shopping at a Pullman-area store. To think that people have enough time on their hands to petition the government to tax its citizens even more, is embarrassing when compared to the founding of a nation.

On the other hand, there is a group of individuals who wear a pager day and night ready to drop what they’re doing to help someone in need. Sometimes at three o’clock in the morning these volunteer firefighters are needed to clean up somebody else’s tragedy.

Several times a year I see people standing outside of local grocery stores volunteering their time to collect food for the food bank. Others volunteer hundreds of man-hours to putting together the 4th of July Celebration at Sunnyside Park.

In their own way all these people are giving up something of their own in order to make our community a better place. In all cases what they give up is time. In some cases these volunteers also give up their own money to help pay of materials or gas to get around. They give up a good nights sleep, and when asked to do it again, they do.

In their own way each of the volunteers are helping to make our community safer, more comfortable, and more fun. Our community is a better place because of these people.

Those petitioning the Pullman City Council to make grocers charge twenty-cents per plastic bag used at the store probably think they’re helping to make our community a better place.

A recent article in the Daily News mentioned someone seeing 22 plastic bags on College Hill, but there was no mention of an effort to clean them up.

It was suggested that residents start to carry reusable bags and use those instead of plastic bags. No one, however, has volunteered to hand out these shopping bags.

It is argued that we shouldn’t view the proposal as elitist, instead we are showing respect and care for our community. But no one is standing in front of the stores to educate people.

It is suggested that we can use the new tax to donate the money to the local food bank or help pay for community improvements.

I would like to see this group of people go to the community and try to change their habits through education. Educating people is better than forcing the government to tax its citizens.

Some people see a need and they volunteer their time, their sleep, and their money to the cause. Others see a need and they want to use strong arm of the government regulation to further the cause.

Why stop at charging for plastic bags? Maybe there should be a tax on glass bottles, aluminum cans, and even “keg” cups. That tax could be used to clean up the broken glass, empty aluminum cans, and keg cups that litter some of the streets in Pullman. This may seem farfetched, but I would wager targeting plastic bottles is the next item on the list.

Is this group of citizen using Seattle as inspiration? If so, the city of Seattle is no longer buying plastic water bottles, how long until that is proposed in Pullman?

Final thoughts: Don Pelton – PARD is done holding Pullman hostage and Wal-Mart’s coming, I wish you were here to see it. T-85 goes the countdown.

Full Day in Jail

July 1st, 2008

I worked in the jail today. I saw Myers about something that he needed done. It was some printing stuff. Plus I talked to him about being a Reserve. He said I needed to fill out an application. Then I would go through the testing. If I made it the academy would start in September and go for a couple months. They are condensing the academy as much as possible. I am going to have to train for the physical agility test.

While working I had a couple guys working on doing the floors, windows, and doors. It was in need of being done, but no one was doing it.

We had a softball game against Coor’s Light. Unfortunately, we couldn’t hit when we needed to. We had a lead over them for most of the game. But in one inning we allowed them a free out. From that point on they scored five and took a lead. That was a hard loss to take.

After the game I was on call for the fire department. We had a couple minor calls.