Monday July 27

Wow, the scorpions are really scarey looking! The dust is everywhere, I wish I could take a siesta in the afternoon when it is about 117. So I just live for the air conditioning. I have taken a photo of Chemical Ali's house here at Taji. It sure doesn't look like much but our LNs tell us he had an indoor pool and intertained many important people. Well take care, stay cool.

It's sandy!

I was warned! Yes, it is hot and sandy (actually dusty). The work is good, the people are great, the food is fine (hey, I'm not cooking!). My room is called a "chew" it is part of a "pod". We have a dog at the office, his name is Whiskey and he looks like a yellow border collie. Our equipment is sh*&^, it's all old and falling apart and mostly doesn't work. We don't have any spill supplies except 2 backhoes and lots of dirt.

I missed the movement of my engine, 233, out to the station. Drag! I know the crew is glad to see her and are probably breaking records for our station making calls with her. Maybe a conflagration with her this year too? Wouldn't that be fantastic!

A New Adventure!

This firefighter is headed for a new adventure. I have been hired as part of a HazMat remediation team. So. . .I am headed to Iraq for one year. I will be at Camp Taji, it is a very large Air Force installation, housing helicopter operations. I am excited, nervous, and ready for the adventure.

Today was the last day of school at Linus Pauling Middle School, the kids are out on summer break. I will miss those young people so much, they have been so much fun. They are learning and growing and discovering that the things they do will matter some day. They have made me a better person just by letting me share the growing up process with them.

* 1st and 2nd period: you learned so much this year, be proud of what you did!! Happy Birthday K.S.

* 7th graders: you really showed us that you could get excited about a book. Romeo Oscar Charlie Kilo-Oscar November!

* 8th graders: you were a great group! You really rock!! Have tons of fun in High School! CHS look out!

When I was a kid someone once said "to climb higher, keep on the level". I have always felt that was an important message to carry over as you travel down the road of life.

To the adventure!

Awsome Burn School!

Last Saturday we had a fantastic burn school (live fire training)! Wow! The house was great, it was solid, we got a lot of great fires in each of the 6 start sites. Our trusty photographer was there (one of 2 of the best photographers in the whole area, our own Mrs. Fyrman is the other). What a day well spent! Then on top of the great day, Wednesday our own 233 finally arrived. It just can't get any better than that.

233 - a mythical beast?

I have faith, otherwise what is there to believe in? The mythical beast will appear to the faithful. She will resemble, in spirit, the Phoenix that has been adopted in her predecessor's memory. Right or wrong, done or not, she is coming home next weekend. (We just won't be putting any water in 'er til the breaks are fixed!)

She'll be comin home soon! ROAD TRIP!!!

I can't believe it! My heart is broken,

delay after delay. We still have not

gone to bring our engine home yet.

It is almost too much to take being

led on that it is ready and then held

off because something else is not

right and has to be fixed. Someone

pour me glass of wine. I need to

ponder this one.

She is big, no doubt about it. Comes in, bumper to bumper at 32 feet! But is a light weight compared to the other engines, weighing 10,000 less, with a good angle of departure and great turning radius.

I am so stoked! After countless delays and I might add unnecessary delays. BME has nearly finished our new engine. They are working on the finishing touches and will be getting the final inspection later this week. Then Mr. Fyreman and I shall make the trip to Boise to bring our new pride home. It has been 16 months since our engine burned in our station. I do believe that September 26 is finally our pick up date! We have been so sick of waiting and the delays that now that the time is near it is very exciting. We shall take the new "flamey dice" with us to install right away!

Station 203 shirts

We received our new station shirts. They so kick ass! Our Chief is so cool, he encourages station spirit! I just couldn't let my crew go on too much longer without some inspiration. Hope this helps. Now if our engine would be ready, I am going crazy waiting for it. When Douglas and I finally go to pick it up, we are not taking the short road, we are going for a shakedown type drive. Besides I promised some folks that they would see it on our way home.