I elf'd myself

Elfamorphis

Froggy

Greetings.

First. for those of you wishing to listen in to what's going on around here.
Scanwheatland

Second, this made me laugh out loud.

It was a wild week in Wheatland County.

Saturday morning 06:36 we got toned for a 2 vehicle MVA. truck vs. gravel truck. Both on fire.

Crappy weather. Foggy, damp cold.

The call was near Carseland which is nearly 20 minutes away on a good day. When we arrived the fires were out, and we were assigned to do traffic control.

Long story short... we were there 6 hours, and it sucked.

Home at 11:30, shower, eat, and out to get my skates sharpened. Toned out again at 1:30 for a field fire and baler fire... Home at 4:30. Shower, eat, drive to hockey.... (we lost), shower, drive to friends house for monthly poker night. home by midnight.

Sunday I woke up with a cold.... was flat on my back most of the day. until 23:00 when we got toned out again for a multi vehicle MVA on hiway 1 near 21 intersection. Was a non event except for a few ilicit items in one of the vehicles.


Monday, Toned out at 18:30 for a structure fire... turned out to be a farmer who was burning a trailer in his yard...

Whew...

bye.

I think I wet myself.

Too funny.


I almost wet myself when I saw it.

35% geek. Its true. Take the test yourself

I am 35% Geek.

You probably work in computers, or a history deptartment at a college. You never really fit in with the "normal" crowd. But you have friends, and this is a good thing.

Take the
Geek Test
@ FualiDotCom

My mug...

I wanted to add my photo to my blog... Two simple ways to do it. This is one of them.

Here's me:


Stud services now available. Discounted rates for a limited time.

I'm kidding, of course.

Not too much going on this week. Hockey has started up again. First game of the season was Tuesday evening. We got whooped bad 14 to 1 or something buy a group of guys who had been playing all summer.

Last night the FD visited the Bell Pole treatment facility to do a pre-survey. Its a nasty place with lots of bad, toxic, flammable stuff. I hope we never get called there. We are going back to flow water out of the newly installed fire hydrants next week. should be entertaining as long as its not 20 below.

This weekend is Canadian thanksgiving. I'm looking forward to eating my weight in turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy.

Oh... I was in Vegas last week for a fire convention. A good time was had by all. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. 'nuff said.

RSA

Bathroom Etiquite.

If everyone gave these simple rules a bit more consideration, the world would be a better place.


http://youtube.com/watch?v=IzO1mCAVyMw

Las Vegas....

Spent this week in Las Vegas at the Firehouse expo.

Some good classes on structural fire attack, training, leadership, and a trade show.

I went with a new captian from our department. We had a good time. Drank some beer, played some cards, ate at the buffets, and even spent some time and fired some automatic weapons and handguns.

Once again, it is good to be home.

Bye.

Rudy's. the worst BBQ in Texas

This is Dana at Rudy's in Austin. Great food. Especially the moist brisket
Delicious! 

This is the Guadalupe River. We rented tubes here and floated down the river. 

Home at last.

I made it home late Friday night.

I found this banner waiting for me when I arrived home. It was a nice treat.

Saturday morning, I was greeted enthusiatically by Wyatt. Its good to be home.

I build a sandbox on Saturday for Wyatt in the backyard. Tommorow, I find sand to fill it with.

Not much else going on here today. Had dinner and drinks with friends.

Found in Austin

I had an interesting weekend in Austin. Friday afternoon we got out of class at noon. I coaxed the team to head back to the Guadalupe river to rent tubes and float down the river. A good time was had by all. So much fun in fact that we decided to go back on Saturday afternoon.

We went to a different place this time. Canyon Lake.

There has been so little rain this summer in Texas that they are not letting water out of the dam at Canyon Lake. The water levels were a bit low, so not as much fun as Friday.

As we neared the end of the loop, another group of toobers (I'd spell it tubers, but I'm not from Texas) starting screaming and freaking out. One of the guys in the groop had gone unconcious on his tube after taking a drink of his beer which had a yellow jacket wasp in it. The wasp bit his tounge, and he had a bad reaction. I helped to pull his tube across the river and him up out of the water and onto a picnic table. He was unconcious, and when I checked not breathing. He had a pulse. Strong and fast. I tilted his head, plugged his nose and gave him a breath. It didn't go in, so I re-adjusted and gave him a breath that did go in. Almost immediately he took a big breath and snapped to conciousness. Almost immediately he blacked out again. I checked for breathing again and found none. I remember a girl at the end of the table on the phone with the 911 dispatcher.. I was calling out what I was seeing (unconcious, not breathing, strong pulse), and that I was a firefighter.. the 911 dispatcher wanted to know where from. Canada didn't help I guess.... The guy came to again after one more breath. and this time was a bit more lucent. He started asking how he got out of the water, and what happened. he complained about his tounge hurting. he started to black out again and I held his head while he collapsed and helped him down to the table again. I was checking again for pulse and breathing. In my mind I couldn't believe that this guy was actually not breathing. I stopped to be sure. Listen for breath, watch for chest movements. Right about then, a guy standing next to me identified himself as an EMT-B, and I considered turning things over to him. I think he' s the guy who offered an anti-histamine pill one of the times the guy was lucent... I told him no at that point as I wasn't sure about giving him anything and remembering the don't do anything more than you are trained to do. I didn't tell him the reason why, I just said no. One more breath and the guy came to again and sat up and started talking. Just about this time, the almbulance arrived. I helped to walk the guy over to the bus, and started to give patient history, but the emt was focused on his assesment. I went back to the water and gathered my beer mitt, and climbed back into my tube and went on my way.

I'm feeling a bit weird about the whole thing. Its kindof freaky. The guy's name was Shawn... or Shane. He is 28 and shaves his chest. (I know that because he has stubble on his chest).

I am glad I was trained and able to help. I'm damn sure I'll pay closer attention in my CPR course this fall.

Double Trouble in Austin

This is from last night (August 23) at Zilker Park. Blues on the green hosted by 107.1 KGSR. Lots of fun, great atmosphere.

Some pics to follow. 

Austin...

Well. Lots to tell since my last update.

Found out we are pregnant... Baby due February 8. Ultrasound this week will tell us more.

The Calgary Stampede has come and gone. I attended the Friday afternoon rodeo, and Wednesday afternoon drinking binge. Fun was had by all.

I attended a NFPA 1001 training course presented by the City of Airdrie Emergency Services, and Fire Etc. We took Fire Etc. Course S-700 which encompasses, Vehicle Fires, Wildland Fires, and Co-ordinated Structural fire attack. It was a great course. We spent 1 day doing classroom stuff, and the other 3 doing live burn excersizes. Vehicle fire's one day, and burn tower the other 2.

I found out last week that I am heading to Austin TX for 6 weeks of training. I leave Sunday, and come back Spetember 1. Yucko.

Had a fairly busy month so far with the FD. Up to 73 calls for the year.

Captains log...

Stardate... June 28, 2006 07:54.

I'm a little punchy this morning. Spent all of yesterday making customer presentations, and last night out for dinner and pint's with the yanks from Chicago...

5 Hours of sleep is just not enough. I need 8.

Canada day long weekend is just around the corner. I'm contenplating taking Monday and Tuesday away from work... I think we are going to head for Kalispel Mt.

I'm going to look into getting my vision correctedby a lasik Dr. I'm looking forward to being able to buy a $20 pair of sunglasses if I choose.

Nothing more to see here. Move along.

Lucky...

Its been 10 days since my last post.... (maybe its more. I didn't take the time to count)


I've had an eventfull few weeks.


Roz (The infamous Rossignol the dog) would up with cancer and we had to put him down.

It was a sad weekend. But at least we got to spend a final weekend camping with him. That was pretty cool.

The Fire Department has been exceptionally quiet. Which is ok I guess. I'm getting a little itch for a call. Even something less than dramatic would be nice.

On Friday we did catch a call but were stood down en-route. A guy in a mini-van rolled over and hit a train bridge on the hiway... D-E-D ded which is to expected. The unusual part of the story (or so I am told) is that this guy was engaged to be married. His fiance has a history with us. 5 years or so ago she was involved in a car crash where we had to attend. Her first husband was killed in that accident. Tragic. Sad. Unfair.

My wife was heading out this morning to visit her family on there farm. Its a 2 hour drive. I phoned her and reminder her to be extra safe on the hiway. Not that it matters. Its not like people set out to intentionally find a problem on the hiway (actually some do). The more I'm around the business, the more I am of the opinion that when it is your time, that's it. There doesn't seem to be any reason for why or when people go. Heck it could be my turn next...

I didn't start this tonight to get down...

I stumbled across something interesting. Its not illegal, or at least I don't think it is...

Lynne and Tessa

They lip sync to a bunch of cheesy songs. It looks like good girl fun. I wonder if there parents know?

Note to self. If I ever had a daughter, she will never own a digital video camera.

That's it.

P.S. Its raining here.

Sunday.

Sunday evening. I've done my duty this weekend as a father. Took care of a sick kid all weekend.

Its really hard to see your kid sick... bad cough, fever, lathargic... I knew he was really sick when he had 2 naps in one day. (he normally doesn't anymore). He's turned around today and has been laughing and been a bit more enrgetic.

Lynn and Wyatt both had a mid-morning nap today. I went to the fire station and scrubbed out the cabs of W91 tanker and W92 rescue. Both were overdue for cleaning.

Last few weeks we were quite busy with calls. Up to 45 as of today (30 april). That puts us well ahead of the pace for 98 calls we did last year. Officers meeting tommorow evening, and Training Tuesday. We are off to Agrium for an anhydrous ammonium emergency response seminar. Next meeting will be a hose testing, cleaning, inspection routine.

The new county emergency services co-ordinator starts tommorow. I pray that he has the foresight to bring the changes needed forward.

Flames won again. Series is 3-2 for the flames and they play at home tommorow night. Edmonton Oilers are also up 3-2 in their series with the Detroit Redwings. Ottawa has moved one to the second round. Montreal lost tonight and is down 3-2 with Carolina in their series.

It would be neat to see an all Canadian final... and even better to see an all Canadian confrence final EDM vs CGY and MTL vs OTA.


That's all for now folks.

I've been neglecting you.

I haven't been really spending much time blogging. Too busy with the business of living. Well, mostly working actually. I bailed on the skiamigos this year as I was just too darned busy. I was to New Jersey, Florida, and now most recently Delaware.

I'm caught up... I'm taking a day off tommorow and everything.

More later. The flames are playing.... in overtime.

Omens

I don't usually pay attention to things that happen and say ' That's an omen of things to come'.

Wednesday, I'm sure there was an omen that I missed. On my way home from work, I got pulled over by Calgary's finest. $172 later and I drove away with a ticket for expired registration. The subsequent fee's to renew my registration were another $250.52.
There was a sign. I'm just not sure what it was.

The very next day, I got a sign that I did recognize. I stop every morning at Tim Horton's for coffee and a bagel. This morning, I went in instead of driving through and ordered a crueller instead of a bagel. Nothing unusual about my visit. I get back in my car and head for Calgary. I reach into the bag and grab my crueller.

Just before pulling into my parkade, I reach over to crumpel up the bag in which the crueller came and find a second crueller... One which I didn't pay for or order. Sweet. Totally made my day.

There's no moral or lesson here...

I ended up having a good day. Must have been an omen.

Later.

Trout

This isn't a post about fish, or fishing. Trout seemed like a good topic... no reason. Look away.

I'm working form home today. We woke up to a bit of a snow storm. I don't suspecct it will last long, but I think about 10cm total....

I'm a bachelor this week. My boy is at Granny's house, and my wife is flying off to Dallas. Nothing too exciting planned. I lead a fire practice last night, and tonight I play hockey. 9:30 PM...

Tommorow is a night off. Perhaps I'll have a bubble bath.

I made the front page of the Strathmore Standard newspaper last week.

http://strathmorestandard.com/story.php?id=213690

Microwave popcorn

I sit near the kitchen in my office, and every day like clockwork, 08:30 someone makes popcorn. It is the most offensive smell know to man.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy popcorn as much as the next guy. It's just plain rude to make it in the office. Its like eating 10 bowls of chillie, 6 beers, and a been burrito the night before coming to work and walking around the office gassin your co-workers. Just plain wrong.


I challange Orvil and his boy to make a microwave popcorn that tastes like popcorn, but doesn't smell like popcorn.

CLEAR!

This blog isn't dead.

Thankyou. Please come again.