Hello Team!
I don't know about how it is where you all are, but here it is dark, dreary and drizzly out and has been for two days straight. It feels kind of, dare I say it? Depressing! No wonder Seasonal Affective Disorder affects so many people around here. It's gloomy and cold and doesn't show any signs of letting up. So here's a request: EVERYBODY THINK "SUN"!
Okay, my report: I slept well last night though I could have used about 24 more hours. I drank 2.5 quarts today on the nose, so far. And Pete logged 5,155 steps but I caught him playing Tarzan at least 8 times today so I know I did better than that! If anyone knows where I can find an ankle strap pedometer, let me know, please!
Coming events:
*Thursday is the next weight and measurement day! 0.0 Right after the holidays!
*Friday the 8th/Saturday the 9th I will be out of town and away from the computer to attend a Bible quiz meet in Dallas, Oregon. Hopefully I will meet Gigaherz while I am there. Gigaherz is a fireman that I sometimes talk to on the Crusty Jakes website. We are hoping it will work out for us to meet and for my husband and me to tour his fire station before coming home.
*Next Friday is Hotflash's birthday! Yay, I'm officially getting older! I guess that it beats the alternative, right?! I don't have any plans as of yet, but I have an idea for some. If it looks like the idea will pan out I will mention it in the blog.
Well, I can't think of anything else to say so STAY SAFE!
Hotflash out.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Report From Ladder Company 40 RE: Day 109
Hi Team!
In reference to the biographical blurbs and photos I requested, photos can be of you or of whatever you would like to represent you. (for my anonymous friends) and blurbs do not have to contain anything incriminating. Just whatever you are comfortable sharing about yourself. If you choose to participate, my email is monique_diva@yahoo.com and please remember to put flashpointz in the subject line. Thanks =D
Stay safe.
Hotflash out.
In reference to the biographical blurbs and photos I requested, photos can be of you or of whatever you would like to represent you. (for my anonymous friends) and blurbs do not have to contain anything incriminating. Just whatever you are comfortable sharing about yourself. If you choose to participate, my email is monique_diva@yahoo.com and please remember to put flashpointz in the subject line. Thanks =D
Stay safe.
Hotflash out.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Report From Ladder Company 40 -Day 109
Hi Team!
Not much to report today. I walked 8,565 steps by 10:15 this morning then I changed my clothes and accidently left Pete sitting on my bed so I have no idea of my actual count for the day. I drank right on two quarts of water and tea today, but I intended to drink 3+ quarts because I was really feeling dehydrated when I walked today. I will have to make a concentrated effort to do better tomorrow. I slept just okay last night and should have gotten more so I am only giving myself 2 of 3 today.
Other than that, I have nothing to report so here's an idea. If each of my followers/team members would send me a picture of themselves and a little biographical blurb by posting a comment (which I will then reject when I moderate the comments so that it does not post for anyone to see), I will feature each one of you on my blog at some point in the near future and you can all meet the rest of the team! Please do not procrastinate! (Says the pot)
Until I blog again, stay safe!
Hotflash out
Not much to report today. I walked 8,565 steps by 10:15 this morning then I changed my clothes and accidently left Pete sitting on my bed so I have no idea of my actual count for the day. I drank right on two quarts of water and tea today, but I intended to drink 3+ quarts because I was really feeling dehydrated when I walked today. I will have to make a concentrated effort to do better tomorrow. I slept just okay last night and should have gotten more so I am only giving myself 2 of 3 today.
Other than that, I have nothing to report so here's an idea. If each of my followers/team members would send me a picture of themselves and a little biographical blurb by posting a comment (which I will then reject when I moderate the comments so that it does not post for anyone to see), I will feature each one of you on my blog at some point in the near future and you can all meet the rest of the team! Please do not procrastinate! (Says the pot)
Until I blog again, stay safe!
Hotflash out
Report From Ladder Company 40 -Day 108
Hi Team!
Ah, Sunday! Sadly, I had to leave "Brother's Town" today. I love it there. "Brother's Town" is beautiful, the Northwest at her best! And Station 6is a great place to hang out. And my bro and his family are amazing! I will miss them until the next time. =(
I slept in after going to bed earlier than any night the whole trip. I got about 9-9 1/2 hours of sleep!! YAY ME! I barely made two quarts today between buttermilk, tea, coffee and water! I didn't concentrate on it too much. I also didn't have time for much walking so we'll go with 2 for three today.
After sleeping in, My bro and my sister-in-law and I sat around playing cards and drinking coffee for several hours. It was cutthroat triple solitaire, Peanuts or Oh Hell, whichever name you choose, at it's finest. It was also a very stereotypical firefighter sort of thing to do! LOL We forgot to cook a pot of chili though. =D
Sadly, no calls came in today so I didn't get to go on any runs. After the disappointment of a working fire that we didn't get to go to yesterday, I guess I can live with that. No calls beats not going to the action that IS happening! Sigh. Well, I guess that is all the more reason to go again soon!
Even though our calls were just to move up or cancelled before we got there, I had a great time, as usual and I am very glad I went. I can't wait to go back, though I suppose I will have to!
Oh, and before I sign off for this post, I just thought I would say, it is kind of cute to see a firefighter on the floor in the kitchen of the firestation, coloring! See below a picture of my brother, coloring on the new calendar! LOL And the picture after that is my brother with the Christmas present my mom sent him... Firefighter Monopoly! I'm hoping for one for myself for my birthday -even if I have to get it for me! LOL
(That's his three year old, Joe in the picture!)
Stay safe!
Hotflash out.
Ah, Sunday! Sadly, I had to leave "Brother's Town" today. I love it there. "Brother's Town" is beautiful, the Northwest at her best! And Station 6is a great place to hang out. And my bro and his family are amazing! I will miss them until the next time. =(
I slept in after going to bed earlier than any night the whole trip. I got about 9-9 1/2 hours of sleep!! YAY ME! I barely made two quarts today between buttermilk, tea, coffee and water! I didn't concentrate on it too much. I also didn't have time for much walking so we'll go with 2 for three today.
After sleeping in, My bro and my sister-in-law and I sat around playing cards and drinking coffee for several hours. It was cutthroat triple solitaire, Peanuts or Oh Hell, whichever name you choose, at it's finest. It was also a very stereotypical firefighter sort of thing to do! LOL We forgot to cook a pot of chili though. =D
Sadly, no calls came in today so I didn't get to go on any runs. After the disappointment of a working fire that we didn't get to go to yesterday, I guess I can live with that. No calls beats not going to the action that IS happening! Sigh. Well, I guess that is all the more reason to go again soon!
Even though our calls were just to move up or cancelled before we got there, I had a great time, as usual and I am very glad I went. I can't wait to go back, though I suppose I will have to!
Oh, and before I sign off for this post, I just thought I would say, it is kind of cute to see a firefighter on the floor in the kitchen of the firestation, coloring! See below a picture of my brother, coloring on the new calendar! LOL And the picture after that is my brother with the Christmas present my mom sent him... Firefighter Monopoly! I'm hoping for one for myself for my birthday -even if I have to get it for me! LOL
(That's his three year old, Joe in the picture!)
Stay safe!
Hotflash out.
Report From Ladder Company 40 Day 106
Hi Team!
I slept well, even though I did not go to bed until 4:30 in the morning. My brother went to bed around 1:00 but then Wendi and I got to talk and I learned so much about her and we shared experiences and mother tips and all kinds of stuff. She is so sweet and always seems so put together. I really admire her strength and determination in life. She is such a wonderful mother, wife and friend (and sister-in-law!)
Two stations got called out for medical calls at the same time today so we had to take squad 6 and move up to another station to cover the area better. When we got to the station we were sent to we prepared to wash the squad. Before we even pulled a hose for the job, the dispatcher requested we move to another station as one of the crews was already on their way back to the barn. So we did. When we got to the next station, we did indeed wash the squad. She was very dirty. Of course, being the goofball I am, I was thrilled to be washing the rig. I mean, that’s what firemen do, they wash the apparatus and keep it shiny. While I was hosing her off before scrubbing, my bro was on the radio to the chief. The chief asked him if I had been able to ride along with him and he told him I had and that I was washing the squad and loving it. The chief laughed and told my brother, “Way to delegate!” It doesn’t take much to amuse me or please me.
When we were released to return to station 6 we took a small side trip. "Brother's Town" has a major motor cross race track and holds national events. Today there was an event in progress and BTFR mans the event in case of injuries. We pulled in with the squad and were waved through. Because the fire department has official business there, they are considered staff. As such, my bro was able to take me up in the tower, where the ESPN announcer would have been had this been a national event today. From here you can see most of the track, and the general public never gets to see this view first hand. It was kind of cool to be able to do that. It sure was MUDDY!!! Of course we did this AFTER washing the squad. When we returned to station 6 we hosed her down again. She looks all shiny and pretty right now. Sorry I can't include pictures from the motor cross track. I apparently erased them accidentally. =(
There really wasn’t anything else exciting fire department-wise. My brother talked to us at dinner about some new department procedures and policies that will be very good for the citizens of Brother's Town Fire and Rescue’s district and I was very pleased to hear of these changes, as was my brother but I am not going to go into detail here about that.
I guess I should get down to the actual report for the day. I barely made my two quarts today. And because my day started with jumping into my clothes and running out the door with out combing my hair, to cover another area I didn’t have time to put Pete into service today. It is all good though since today is a national holiday. I guess I will give myself one for being a holiday, one for drinking my fluids and one for sleeping. That makes me three for three unless one of you takes issue with the freebie for the holiday in which case it is still 2 for three. I was having such a good time visiting with my bro and the kids and Wendi and her mother. The adults spent a few hours playing quadruple solitaire. The game is affectionately called "Oh Hell", or "Peanuts", among other things. It is a cutthroat game and we had a ball playing.
Later my brother and I spent several more hours playing Lego Star Wars again. We are really wasting a lot of time, but we are having such a blast spending time together and playing that I don't care about the wasted time. I am so glad he is only a few hours away and I can break away for a short periods and come see him.
Bro, you and your family are amazing!!!!
Until next time, stay safe!
Hotflash out.
I slept well, even though I did not go to bed until 4:30 in the morning. My brother went to bed around 1:00 but then Wendi and I got to talk and I learned so much about her and we shared experiences and mother tips and all kinds of stuff. She is so sweet and always seems so put together. I really admire her strength and determination in life. She is such a wonderful mother, wife and friend (and sister-in-law!)
Two stations got called out for medical calls at the same time today so we had to take squad 6 and move up to another station to cover the area better. When we got to the station we were sent to we prepared to wash the squad. Before we even pulled a hose for the job, the dispatcher requested we move to another station as one of the crews was already on their way back to the barn. So we did. When we got to the next station, we did indeed wash the squad. She was very dirty. Of course, being the goofball I am, I was thrilled to be washing the rig. I mean, that’s what firemen do, they wash the apparatus and keep it shiny. While I was hosing her off before scrubbing, my bro was on the radio to the chief. The chief asked him if I had been able to ride along with him and he told him I had and that I was washing the squad and loving it. The chief laughed and told my brother, “Way to delegate!” It doesn’t take much to amuse me or please me.
When we were released to return to station 6 we took a small side trip. "Brother's Town" has a major motor cross race track and holds national events. Today there was an event in progress and BTFR mans the event in case of injuries. We pulled in with the squad and were waved through. Because the fire department has official business there, they are considered staff. As such, my bro was able to take me up in the tower, where the ESPN announcer would have been had this been a national event today. From here you can see most of the track, and the general public never gets to see this view first hand. It was kind of cool to be able to do that. It sure was MUDDY!!! Of course we did this AFTER washing the squad. When we returned to station 6 we hosed her down again. She looks all shiny and pretty right now. Sorry I can't include pictures from the motor cross track. I apparently erased them accidentally. =(
There really wasn’t anything else exciting fire department-wise. My brother talked to us at dinner about some new department procedures and policies that will be very good for the citizens of Brother's Town Fire and Rescue’s district and I was very pleased to hear of these changes, as was my brother but I am not going to go into detail here about that.
I guess I should get down to the actual report for the day. I barely made my two quarts today. And because my day started with jumping into my clothes and running out the door with out combing my hair, to cover another area I didn’t have time to put Pete into service today. It is all good though since today is a national holiday. I guess I will give myself one for being a holiday, one for drinking my fluids and one for sleeping. That makes me three for three unless one of you takes issue with the freebie for the holiday in which case it is still 2 for three. I was having such a good time visiting with my bro and the kids and Wendi and her mother. The adults spent a few hours playing quadruple solitaire. The game is affectionately called "Oh Hell", or "Peanuts", among other things. It is a cutthroat game and we had a ball playing.
Later my brother and I spent several more hours playing Lego Star Wars again. We are really wasting a lot of time, but we are having such a blast spending time together and playing that I don't care about the wasted time. I am so glad he is only a few hours away and I can break away for a short periods and come see him.
Bro, you and your family are amazing!!!!
Until next time, stay safe!
Hotflash out.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Report From Ladder Company 40 Day 107
Hi Team!
Today is the last full day I will be in "Brother's Town" for a while. My bro woke me up around 9 am with a run to a chimney fire. I got dressed as fast as I could and ran out to the squad just as my bro pulled it forward to the front door of the station, which was closer to where I was than the squad's "bay" which currently is just a covered car port. I jumped in and we raced away! We are in a rural area so sirens are not necessary unless approaching intersections and hazardous areas so we ran with just lights until we got to a busier road with a hairpin turn off one road and onto another. We were flying down the road when the word came... NO FIRE! Yay for the home owner. Bummer for me. Seriously, I am glad there was no danger, but I can't help but be disappointed that I still haven't gotten to observe a working fire.
We went to see Grandpa shortly after returning from that run. It was so good to see him. I think it has been about 10 years since I last saw him. At least 5 but the years all blend together after a while and I really couldn't say for sure. (guilt,guilt,guilt) Grandpa was sleeping when we arrived and we debated about waking him up or letting him sleep. Finally my bro and my sister and I agreed that if it was one of us, we would want to be awakened so we did wake him. Grandpa seemed very glad we did. I am amazed at how sharp he still is after such a long full life and a pretty serious stroke. He is still quick witted and thinks a lot. He was thrilled to talk shop with us. (once a fireman always a fireman!) I think it really did him some good to have someone talk fire with him. He kept posing all kinds of questions about water pressure in certain scenarios needed to get the wet stuff to the red stuff. My bro knows how to figure out the math and such to do it, but he is kind of rusty in the kinds of questions grandpa was asking. See, grandpa was a large city fireman. My bro is a small rural area firefighter. Grandpa was asking about multiple story buildings and my bro rarely sees anything other than a two story house. I think grandpa was enjoying making my bro think about it. It felt like grandpa was really wanting to bestow some great firefighting wisdom on my brother, to pass it down so to speak. He clearly is proud of my bro and talked about how much my brother knew about pump operations and the engine long before he ever became a fireman. He said usually that info is kind of a secret, learned on the job. It impressed the hell out of him how much my bro learned ahead of time. He enjoyed the pictures of my bro's personal fire engine and the stories of when we picked her up. He also enjoyed the pics of me playing with the fire hose and wanted to know how I held that hose on my own. My bro told grandpa that if he would like, he would try to arrange to come pick him up and take him out in his pumper. Grandpa seemed to really like that idea.
When I was a teenager and told grandpa what I wanted to do with my life, he was SO supportive... an old school fireman who was encouraging and excited that his granddaughter wanted to follow in his footsteps in the early 80's! I didn't know then how rare and amazing that was. I was appreciative at the time, but I wish I had known what a big deal it was then. He is the best grandpa a kid could ask for. I remember telling him of my dream back then and the excitement he showed. He told me it would be hard but he encouraged me anyway and after I told him he said, "Come on! Let's go see some of the guys." He took me to one of the fire stations and introduced me to some of the guys telling them why he brought me. He got them to encourage me too. After that I heard him on more than one occasion bragging that his granddaughter wanted to be a fireman. I know he won't be around when and if that ever comes to pass, but I hope he sees it just the same.
After seeing grandpa today, my bro and his family, Wendi's mother and my sister and niece and I all went to dinner. After dinner we took my sister and niece home while my bro's wife took the kids and her mother home. We were headed back to Station 6/Home when the real call came in. Structure fire. We wouldn't have been first due but had we been home we would have gone. We got back to the station as fast as we could and reported immediately to cover Station 4 which is where I am writing this from. Right now we are it for most of the district. This time it is a confirmed working fire and we have to be here! I'm sad again. I mean, covering a fire station to help protect the rest of the district is a very important job, but it is not where I WANT to be!!! I know this is typical life in the fire department, at least in this rural area. I'm glad to be here. But I sure want to go see the guys in action! Sigh!
Okay, I guess I should get to the accountability report. I have had right about two quarts of liquid today. Truthfully I haven't focused on it too much. Pete has been playing Tarzan so much today that I can't give you any kind of account of my steps and I can guarantee that I have not had enough sleep in the last 24 hours. I guess that makes me about 1 for three! Some days are just like that. =)
Well, we could be here a while but there is nothing else to report. I will wait to post this until I get back to my home town because I have to post day 106 first and I want to add some pictures before I do.
Stay safe.
Hotflash out.
Today is the last full day I will be in "Brother's Town" for a while. My bro woke me up around 9 am with a run to a chimney fire. I got dressed as fast as I could and ran out to the squad just as my bro pulled it forward to the front door of the station, which was closer to where I was than the squad's "bay" which currently is just a covered car port. I jumped in and we raced away! We are in a rural area so sirens are not necessary unless approaching intersections and hazardous areas so we ran with just lights until we got to a busier road with a hairpin turn off one road and onto another. We were flying down the road when the word came... NO FIRE! Yay for the home owner. Bummer for me. Seriously, I am glad there was no danger, but I can't help but be disappointed that I still haven't gotten to observe a working fire.
We went to see Grandpa shortly after returning from that run. It was so good to see him. I think it has been about 10 years since I last saw him. At least 5 but the years all blend together after a while and I really couldn't say for sure. (guilt,guilt,guilt) Grandpa was sleeping when we arrived and we debated about waking him up or letting him sleep. Finally my bro and my sister and I agreed that if it was one of us, we would want to be awakened so we did wake him. Grandpa seemed very glad we did. I am amazed at how sharp he still is after such a long full life and a pretty serious stroke. He is still quick witted and thinks a lot. He was thrilled to talk shop with us. (once a fireman always a fireman!) I think it really did him some good to have someone talk fire with him. He kept posing all kinds of questions about water pressure in certain scenarios needed to get the wet stuff to the red stuff. My bro knows how to figure out the math and such to do it, but he is kind of rusty in the kinds of questions grandpa was asking. See, grandpa was a large city fireman. My bro is a small rural area firefighter. Grandpa was asking about multiple story buildings and my bro rarely sees anything other than a two story house. I think grandpa was enjoying making my bro think about it. It felt like grandpa was really wanting to bestow some great firefighting wisdom on my brother, to pass it down so to speak. He clearly is proud of my bro and talked about how much my brother knew about pump operations and the engine long before he ever became a fireman. He said usually that info is kind of a secret, learned on the job. It impressed the hell out of him how much my bro learned ahead of time. He enjoyed the pictures of my bro's personal fire engine and the stories of when we picked her up. He also enjoyed the pics of me playing with the fire hose and wanted to know how I held that hose on my own. My bro told grandpa that if he would like, he would try to arrange to come pick him up and take him out in his pumper. Grandpa seemed to really like that idea.
When I was a teenager and told grandpa what I wanted to do with my life, he was SO supportive... an old school fireman who was encouraging and excited that his granddaughter wanted to follow in his footsteps in the early 80's! I didn't know then how rare and amazing that was. I was appreciative at the time, but I wish I had known what a big deal it was then. He is the best grandpa a kid could ask for. I remember telling him of my dream back then and the excitement he showed. He told me it would be hard but he encouraged me anyway and after I told him he said, "Come on! Let's go see some of the guys." He took me to one of the fire stations and introduced me to some of the guys telling them why he brought me. He got them to encourage me too. After that I heard him on more than one occasion bragging that his granddaughter wanted to be a fireman. I know he won't be around when and if that ever comes to pass, but I hope he sees it just the same.
After seeing grandpa today, my bro and his family, Wendi's mother and my sister and niece and I all went to dinner. After dinner we took my sister and niece home while my bro's wife took the kids and her mother home. We were headed back to Station 6/Home when the real call came in. Structure fire. We wouldn't have been first due but had we been home we would have gone. We got back to the station as fast as we could and reported immediately to cover Station 4 which is where I am writing this from. Right now we are it for most of the district. This time it is a confirmed working fire and we have to be here! I'm sad again. I mean, covering a fire station to help protect the rest of the district is a very important job, but it is not where I WANT to be!!! I know this is typical life in the fire department, at least in this rural area. I'm glad to be here. But I sure want to go see the guys in action! Sigh!
Okay, I guess I should get to the accountability report. I have had right about two quarts of liquid today. Truthfully I haven't focused on it too much. Pete has been playing Tarzan so much today that I can't give you any kind of account of my steps and I can guarantee that I have not had enough sleep in the last 24 hours. I guess that makes me about 1 for three! Some days are just like that. =)
Well, we could be here a while but there is nothing else to report. I will wait to post this until I get back to my home town because I have to post day 106 first and I want to add some pictures before I do.
Stay safe.
Hotflash out.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Report From Ladder Company 40 Day 105
Hi team.
Today was a very laid back kind of day. We hung out at the house/station today, hoping for a call that never came in. Good for the residents of this fire district, not so exciting for me. Though I could never claim not to have had a blast!
I gave my sister-in-law, Wendi, a set of the firefighter cookie cutters like the ones I bought myself. The 6 year old, Mark, wanted to make cookies, of course.
My sister-in-law’s mom is staying here too and she took the boys to see the Princess and the Frog movie. We kept little Belles here with us and I rocked her to sleep while chatting with my bro, reminiscing. Wendi took a much needed nap in a rare quiet moment in the house. She was sleeping my bro started to make the cookies with Mark and Joe, the three year old wanted to help too. I took a couple pictures of the boys making cookies! They were doing okay until it came time to roll the dough and cut the cookies out. My bro, having little to no experience decided to sweet talk Aunt Hotflash to help.
None of the plans we tried to make for the day worked out. My bro was trying to make arrangements for us to see our grandfather during my visit. He recently suffered a stroke and is still in a rehab facility. He will probably be moving into an assisted living facility soon along with grandma. Grandma is 95 I think and Grandpa isn’t far behind. Amazing since Grandpa was a fireman OLD SCHOOL style. Way back when eating smoke was standard and getting into SCBA gear was considered a waste of valuable time. Amazing he hasn’t been taken out by cancer! I for one am glad. If all goes well we will try to see him on the second of Jan.
My sister Nancy and her adult daughter Mandy want us to come see them. I am looking forward to seeing them but we are trying to coordinate seeing them with seeing grandpa since they don’t have transportation and would love to see grandpa too. At the same time, we are trying not to schedule too much of our time away from the station because if we do it will guarantee an amazing and important call will come in for Squad 6, and we won’t be here! If we hang out, it will remain quiet as far as calls go. SIGH
I guess I should get to the actual report part of this “report.” Pete logged just under 3,000 steps today for me. I realized at 3:40 that I had only had 16 oz of buttermilk to drink for the day and so I made a conscious effort to fix that. I can honestly say that I have had 2 quarts of tea and 12 oz of apple juice since then, so I am at about 2 ½ quarts of fluid in addition to the buttermilk. I also got enough sleep last night even though I stayed up until the roosters crowed. (not really, but almost!) I slept in until I felt like getting up.
We finished the night by watching Bones, Season 1 on DVD as we waited to ring in the new year. Oh, but that was after I let my brother talk me into trying to play Lego Star Wars on the game cube. That was FUN! I haven’t played video games with my brother since I was 13. That was on the old Atari system. If you’ve ever played the games from NAMCO Museum, DIG DUG, Pole Position, Galaga, PacMan, etc. those are the games we played back then, when they were new! I even had one that was a firefighting game! LAME-O graphics and not really an exciting game to play, but I did because I was just as nuts about all things firefighting back then as I am now! LOL
Well, it is time to wrap things up and get some sleep so we can start all over. I’m still hoping for some action with Squad 6. Hopefully something minor and not to traumatic for the people we go to help. But hopefully more than a ride with flashing lights!
Until next time, stay safe!
Hotflash out.
Today was a very laid back kind of day. We hung out at the house/station today, hoping for a call that never came in. Good for the residents of this fire district, not so exciting for me. Though I could never claim not to have had a blast!
I gave my sister-in-law, Wendi, a set of the firefighter cookie cutters like the ones I bought myself. The 6 year old, Mark, wanted to make cookies, of course.
My sister-in-law’s mom is staying here too and she took the boys to see the Princess and the Frog movie. We kept little Belles here with us and I rocked her to sleep while chatting with my bro, reminiscing. Wendi took a much needed nap in a rare quiet moment in the house. She was sleeping my bro started to make the cookies with Mark and Joe, the three year old wanted to help too. I took a couple pictures of the boys making cookies! They were doing okay until it came time to roll the dough and cut the cookies out. My bro, having little to no experience decided to sweet talk Aunt Hotflash to help.
None of the plans we tried to make for the day worked out. My bro was trying to make arrangements for us to see our grandfather during my visit. He recently suffered a stroke and is still in a rehab facility. He will probably be moving into an assisted living facility soon along with grandma. Grandma is 95 I think and Grandpa isn’t far behind. Amazing since Grandpa was a fireman OLD SCHOOL style. Way back when eating smoke was standard and getting into SCBA gear was considered a waste of valuable time. Amazing he hasn’t been taken out by cancer! I for one am glad. If all goes well we will try to see him on the second of Jan.
My sister Nancy and her adult daughter Mandy want us to come see them. I am looking forward to seeing them but we are trying to coordinate seeing them with seeing grandpa since they don’t have transportation and would love to see grandpa too. At the same time, we are trying not to schedule too much of our time away from the station because if we do it will guarantee an amazing and important call will come in for Squad 6, and we won’t be here! If we hang out, it will remain quiet as far as calls go. SIGH
I guess I should get to the actual report part of this “report.” Pete logged just under 3,000 steps today for me. I realized at 3:40 that I had only had 16 oz of buttermilk to drink for the day and so I made a conscious effort to fix that. I can honestly say that I have had 2 quarts of tea and 12 oz of apple juice since then, so I am at about 2 ½ quarts of fluid in addition to the buttermilk. I also got enough sleep last night even though I stayed up until the roosters crowed. (not really, but almost!) I slept in until I felt like getting up.
We finished the night by watching Bones, Season 1 on DVD as we waited to ring in the new year. Oh, but that was after I let my brother talk me into trying to play Lego Star Wars on the game cube. That was FUN! I haven’t played video games with my brother since I was 13. That was on the old Atari system. If you’ve ever played the games from NAMCO Museum, DIG DUG, Pole Position, Galaga, PacMan, etc. those are the games we played back then, when they were new! I even had one that was a firefighting game! LAME-O graphics and not really an exciting game to play, but I did because I was just as nuts about all things firefighting back then as I am now! LOL
Well, it is time to wrap things up and get some sleep so we can start all over. I’m still hoping for some action with Squad 6. Hopefully something minor and not to traumatic for the people we go to help. But hopefully more than a ride with flashing lights!
Until next time, stay safe!
Hotflash out.
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