Search and Rescue Drill

Last Tuesday was the Training Meeting at BVFD. We discussed how to go about search and rescue. Things like, if you start a right hand search, you stay in a right hand search and you always come out the way you went in. The front of a building is side A, the left is side B, the rear is side C and the right is side D, ya know clockwise. You always report your position via radio to the command center. If a firefighter goes down, that becomes priority 1.

Then the fun began! They lined face masks with foil and put them on us, paired us up and made us get on our hands and knees and crawl around the floor of the garage keeping in contact with the wall or your partner at all times while sweeping for victims [represented by life jackets]. Then we got to crawl on our bellies under the trucks [to simulate debris or obstacles]. Sounds fun, doesn't it? It would have been more fun if I hadn't been in shorts and flip-flops.

After we finished that we pulled out our SCBA [self contained breathing apparatus] and learned how to use them. We learned about the motion detector, if we don't move for a determined length of time an alarm goes off increasing in volume. If you move it stops. If you are injured and need assistance there is a red emergency button to push and the alarm goes off like crazy! We learned how to shut that off my pressing the yellow button twice. Next, we removed the foil from our face masks and attached to the SCBA and tried it out. Mine wouldn't work and I almost panicked and I pulled my mask off my face. I guess my partner had turned it off. We also learned how to bleed air out to keep us cool and our mask clear but it uses up our air faster.

Our new bunker gear hasn't all come in yet but I did get my pager. Haven't figured out how it works yet. Haven't gotten any pages! I guess I will have to resort to reading the directions!

Fire Department Meeting tonight

Tonight was the 'business' meeting of the Belmont Volunteer Fire Department. We meet every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. The first meeting of the month is designated 'business' and the second is 'training.' Although we often do both at each. Some of our new bunker gear came in but not all and we don't have a list of what goes to who so I didn't get any of mine yet. I'm still amazed that they invested the money in me. I'm really awed by the job. I got to drive the big Engine 62 again this week. Last meeting I got to drive it, also. Actually, the first time they had me back the thing in the garage! Every meeting we start all the trucks and generators to make sure everything is fully charged and working properly. Engine 62 is a 10 wheel tanker truck that holds 2,000 gal. of water. Out here in the country we have to take our water with us.

I have really enjoyed meeting the guys of the department and have fun joking around and laughing with them. We had a super fish fry get-together a few months back. We are gearing up for our big fall fundraiser the BBQ and auction in September. I think I have been volunteered to be Historian and Webmaster for the department. I did have a good time taking photos of the last fire, an 18 wheeler tractor. Since I didn't have bunker gear I grabbed the disposable camera in the truck and started taking pics. Later, after the fire was out they gave me the hose to keep spraying it to cool it off for the wrecker guys.

Coyote Sighting!

At about 9 this morning I looked out my front window and say a coyote just standing outside my fence. I wanted to grab a camera but was afraid to move. He just stood there, looked around then turned around and trotted off! It was amazing!

2009 Spring Safety Conference

I had such a good time and learned so much at the TPWD 2009 Spring Safety Conference held at Parrie Haynes Ranch. The great majority of the speakers were excellent. Scott had some great photos from Hurricane Ike. Gary's presentation of mental illness was very interesting. The guy from NOAA had great information and gave us the number to be a spotter. The First Aid/CPR/AED instructor gave me an award for being the best Blower! The lady from PEC was very good as well. I met some cool people, got to know some people better and had fun partying, too.

When I got home, not sooner had I let the dogs out than we got a fire call to CR 466. So I changed clothes and headed that way and followed the trucks in. They immediately gave me a nozzle. Some lady's trash fire was out of control. The pit was really deep so somebody went and brought the big tanker truck. They put some foamer in it, ran the pump for a bit and then dumped it in the pit! That did it. This was only my 3rd fire but I was pretty certain we wouldn't be coming back to that one.

Brush Fire

A couple of weeks ago we got a call late Sunday afternoon, there was a fire on Co. road 102. I didn't know where that was. I was so proud to get dressed and out of the house and passing Kent's drive as he was headed out, too. We got to the Fire House about the same time and both got in the last truck and headed south on 80. We saw smoke and then the trucks on the side of the road just past Willie's place which is just south of my place. We parked the truck since it was a tanker and too big to get back in the brush and headed down the dirt road. Mike Turk the local DPS officer was headed out and stopped to say howdy to Kent. By then we could smell the fire and see the smoke. They put us in one of the smaller trucks with Bob and we headed out and back into my place along the south fence line looking for the fire which was supposedly crossing the fence line. We didn't see any fire so we cut the fence and headed toward the where it was crossing the fenceline. That truck had 2 hoses and we sprayed and got shovels and shoveled dirt on little fires. There wasn't much fuel to burn so it was just a bunch of little fires. A log here, a dead tree there, a piece of cow poop over there. The smoke did get a little thick at one point. We had it pretty much put out in 3 hours. We weren't entirely sure we wouldn't have to come back cause the wind kept picking up, but we didn't.

Too busy to blog

Arrrrgggghhhh! So many technological demands on my time. Must check email, update Calorie Counter with daily weight and food eaten, keep up with Facebook and geocach websites plus 8 hrs work per day, housekeeping, pet maintenance and volunteer firefighter calls. There just aren't enough hours in a day.

Yes, I've had a few firefighter calls. There were 2 medical calls I missed, the second last Saturday, March 21, a man passed out at Belmont Cemetary. I couldn't make it out the door before they had already been answered and on the way, plus I was a little scared of medical calls because of no training. Then Sunday night 3/22 about 7:15 pm there was a call to Garcia's Campground. I didn't get to the Fire House in time but was coming up to the turn to Garcia's when I saw our second truck to the scene so I followed them in. It was a campfire gone wild, burned a few big dead trees next to the river. There were no flames by the time I got there but they did let me use the hose and spray the embers and hot spots! I followed Dale back to the FH and helped fill the water in the big tanker truck and watched how he filled the gas tank. Nick brought out a BVFD cap and said since I got to squirt some water, here was a cap! At least now I have some proof I'm connected to the unit.

Wednesday, March 25, we got a call to a wreck, a vehicle had rolled over on CR 105. Again I didn't make it to the FH, I saw the truck turn on 466 and followed them to the scene. It appeared a young man and his friend were driving on the gravel road and swerved to miss a deer, ran off the road and the Extera they were in rolled over. The driver seemed to be ok and refused medical attention but the passenger was a bit banged up, I think he may have hit his head, was taken in the ambulance. All I did was hang out and try to hear what was going on.

Last night, or rather this morning at a 3:10 another medical call came in saying an individual kept passing out off CR 105. My first thought - it's 3 o'clock in the morning, maybe they're sleepy!!! I jumped in my clothes and then the car and still didn't get to the FH before the emergency truck arrived at the scene. I just sat at the FH in the car until I hear our unit left the scene and then I went home. It was a bit hard to get back to sleep after all the adrenaline and being up for an hour but I finally did and slept til 10 am.

Feral Hogs and the Jaws of Life

It's been an eventful and busy 2 weeks since I last wrote.

My good friend Bonnie's dear sister Debbie passed away this morning about 4:30. It was a "bittersweet" good-bye. She had been in Hospice for the last 2 weeks.

My friend and co-worker Russell, quit 2 weeks ago. I will sorely miss him at work but I believe his soul is greatly unburdened. I need to email him and keep in touch.

Speaking of keeping in touch, Melissa a dear friend I lost track of nearly 10 years ago found me on FaceBook! I'm eager to hear her adventures the last 10 years. We had some great times together.

Last Saturday I briefly attended a Geocaching event put on by the Central Texas Geocachers. It was a fascinating seminar on the use of GSAK. Unfortunately, this is a little past my level of non-expertise. I did meet a few very nice people.

Last Tuesday I attended a Feral Hog Workshop. It was great! I learned lots. Now I just need to know what to do after they're dead. How do you cut it up? Make pork chops? Bacon? I'm gonna need a bigger freezer!

After the workshop I was so fired up I drove around my property on the ATV and did a little target practice with my revolver. Very little because it really freaks the dogs out!

Then, I went to my second Belmont Volunteer Fire Department (BVFD) meeting. It was very exciting. A sales rep came and demonstrated a gas generated portable jaws of life and I got to try it out! It's amazing. Cuts through a vehicle like warm butter! Also, got to wear a coat and hat with protective visor! We also learned about extraction of victims from vehicles.

Back to Winter, Yea!

What a lovely Saturday morning! (to me) It's chilly and overcast, in the 50's I guess, I haven't checked, besides I don't think my thermometer is very accurate. After a week near 80 I was afraid we'd seen the last of Winter.

Wow, it's been a Wonderful week.

Monday was my birthday, I missed the alarm and woke up at the time I'm supposed to leave the house for work. I carpool with the boss and he waited an hour for me to get ready! My co-workers had brought me beautiful colorful flowers and a flashing lips pin to wear. We went to the Rockin' Tomato for lunch, a pizza buffet in Austin on S. Lamar. AWESOME pizza buffet for the same price as Gatti's.

Tuesday on my way home from work my neighbor called and asked is I was really interested in joining the volunteer fire department. He's not only a member, but come to find out he's the Training and Recruitment Officer! So, I stopped in Belmont on the way home and met him at the firestation. They were having a business meeting at 7. Kent showed me around the fire house and introduced me to some of the guys. It's really cool and exciting. I'm planning on joining!

Last week I started keeping track of what I eat and the calories therein with CalorieCounter at About.com. It seems to be a pretty good program and seeing the calories in what I'm eating has me cutting down and I lost 3.5 lbs! Yippeee! This week I finally signed up for Facebook. Wow, it really is the greatest time waster of all time! But, it put me in touch with some people from high school. Made me a little nostalgic. I hauled out all my old yearbooks last night and purused them for at least an hour. Then dug up some websites and looked up old classmates! I might even go to a reunion! Stranger things have happened.

Here are the Rodeo Pics as promised.

Rodeo Queens!

Ana & "Tim"

Double Trouble!

Let's Rodeo San Antonio with Gary Allan

Yeee-Haw! Took Friday off work and Ana & I went to San Antonio for the day and the Rodeo with Ana's friend Velia Chavez, a Realtor in San Antonio. They have been friends since she was 5 yrs. old! That is so amazing. I would love to find some friends from my past. It always suprises me I don't. Maybe I will when I sign up on Facebook. A few friends have been talking to me about it and I plan on signing up this weekend. But first we need to file the tax return!

Anyway, we had a BLAST in San Antonio. On the way down we passed a Tour Bus and Ana thought it might be Gary Allan's. Then we saw an 18-wheeler for Alan Jackson so we figured he must be playing the Rodeo the next day. We beat Velia to the meeting spot so we wasted time at The Matterss Firm. We tested out the Tempurpedic and Sleep Number beds. WOW, are they comfortable and expensive! Velia drove us around since she's the local. We went to this costume jewelry and accessory store called Serendipity Trading Co. We browsed for over an hour and each bought a few things. Ana bought me a beautiful ring for my birthday. After that we headed to Mi Tierra in Market Square for an early dinner. Right off we each ordered a jumbo Margarita. Velia is a lovely lady and we got along great! We laughed and ate and had a great time. Then we headed to the Rodeo! When we got there we we headed over to the vendors' area to shop. I found a fantastic small leather bag that I hope will fit perfect in my briefcase for only $10! We headed back to the arena and found our seats just as the opening ceremonies started. The rodeo was fun as always. They had the mutton busters and calf scramble! Then darling Gary came out and swooned us. During the show he confirmed Alan Jackson was in town for Saturday's show. After the show we walked around and stumbled on another tour bus that had to be Gary's! Ana wanted to hang and tried to get a guitar pick from the bus bouncer.

Scrap Metal and Memories

Out in the country you see where people just find a ravine or ditch out of sight and dump all their old metal junk there. My neighbors and I don't want to be like that. So, Kent pulled a trailer to my place for me to throw my junk metal on then after I'm done with it he'll move it to his place and his sister's. So, yesterday I spent the day thowing scrap metal onto a trailer to be hauled away. An old dryer, a small refridgerator, bird cage, remains of a dart board, grille to a Freightliner, muffler to a Jeep Waggonner, Coleman stove, 2 Coleman lanterns, Coleman heater, old bicycle, 2 metal cots, deer feeder, bbq grille, lawn mower, propane fryer. Some of the pieces were almost completely rusted away while some would last for years, same with the memories, most good, some not.

Week of Medicine

This past week is notable for it's doctor and varied medical appointments.

Tuesday morning I went to see my GP about some varied mild medical concerns. She gave me a couple of prescriptions and sent me for blood work to check my hormones and an ultrasound. She is also going to give me a referral to an allergist. One of the prescriptions required compounding so I took it to a small local pharmacy across the street from her office. The pharmacist graduated from UT Pharmacy school in 1980 where I had briefly attended in 1981. We chatted about it for the few minutes it took him to fill the prescription. I had only 10 minutes to drink 32 oz. of water and hold it for an hour before my abdominal ultrasound. Then I drove around the block before realizing I should go the blood-letting place next which was in the same center where I started. Excellent phlebotomist, I barely felt the needle. Then a short drive to the radiologist and wait till my appointment for the abdominal ultrasound which was followed by a vaginal ultrasound which I never hear of and wasn't expecting. My feeling on the vag ultrasound - All the goo and none of the fun!

Tuesday night after turning out all the lights and everybody tucked in bed, I leaned over to pet Arwen good-night. In the dark I didn't see her leg up in the air and thus poked her toenail with my right eyeball! I can't even begin to describe the pain! I was unable to utter a sound. Being a ranch dog, she runs around on 150+ acres, drags up dead things and chews on them, sometimes kills small creatures, mice, rabbits and such and steps in fetid water, wild animal excrement and the like. This made me terribly concerned about infection.

Arwen's Playground

I tried to wash my eye out with eye wash but it was painful. I went to bed and managed to get some sleep. I knew I had to get to an eye doctor the next day so I didn't bother to get up when the alarm went off. When I did get up I went to wash my eye out again because it was crusted up a little. It hurt even more than the first time. I could hardly blink my eye. Digging through the medicine cabinet I found an eye patch that had been there so long I couldn't remember why I bought it in the first place. I stuffed an kleenex under it to keep my eye closed, texted the boss and carpool, took 4 ibuprofen and went back to bed since I figured an optometrist wouldn't be open till around 10 am. In the morning I searched the internet for an nearby eye doctor (which isn't easy with one eye and that my weak one). I finally settled on the eye doctor at Wal-Mart in Seguin who opened at 9:30. I called and was told they would try to get me in around 10:45. I got in to see the doctor a little after 11, which really wasn't so bad. I liked the doctor very much and I may start seeing her for my regular exams. She prescribed some ophthalmic antibiotic ointment. I mentioned I thought I might stay home and she thought it was a good idea. I waited longer in Wal-Mart for them to slap a label on a tube of ointment than I had waited for the doctor. Long enough for me to buy a few new tops and a pair of pants.

My GP called Wednesday evening to let me know I have uterine fibroids which are quite common and very rarely malignat. The results of the blood tests will determine how we proceed.

Oh, did I mention this last week I was appointed our Division representative to the Safety Committee at work? It's a little more involved than I previously thought. I will have to attend quarterly meetings and be liason to our division. The committ decided to have the spring Safety Conference at Parrie Haynes Ranch this April. That should be interesting and I hope, fun.

Kent, my neighbor, has been emailing David Veale the TPW Wildlife Biologist for Gonzales and Guadalupe Co. to make an appointment for him to come out and look at our adjoining properties to discuss Wildlife Management and Prescribed Burns. Got email from David about the possibility of participating at a prescribed burn at Neasloney next Tuesday. We won't know for sure until Monday if the weather conditions will be correct and then only the first few email responders will get to go. Tim gave me permission to take off if I'm selected. But the whole thing could still be called off Tuesday when we get there if the conditions aren't right.

Also, I bought tickets to the San Antonio Rodeo to see Gary Allan on Feb. 6. Our seats are up in the nosebleed section but at least we have seats! Last time we went to see Gary Allan it was at Stubbs and it was standing room only! We wandered up as close to the stage as we could and had to stand through the opening act, too. I thought Ana was gonna pass out. It was quite warm. Ana and I are thinking about taking half or all day off on Friday for the Rodeo. Meet in San Marcos, drive to San Antonio, maybe have a late lunch/early dinner at Mi Tierra. Enjoy the vendors at the Rodeo and maybe check out the Livestock show.

Arrggghhhh!

Well, blogging is a habit I haven't gotten ingrained yet. I had so much I wanted to share about last week that I'll share it now.

My performance evaluation at work was the most enjoyable I have ever had and quite possibly anyone. My boss took me to Starbucks bought me a latte and a cupcake and told me he hoped I stayed his assistant as long as he was there.

Stellar Week

Girls turn on the couch!

This week started great with a holiday on Monday. Took the car to the shop for warranty work and got to drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo for the day. Man, I could get used to that vehicle. Decided to take the opportunity to do a little geocaching. It was a beautiful, clear crisp morning a little breezy. I found 10 geocaches before noon! Found my first Travel Bug. Which is a trackable dogtag with a mission. Probably could have found more but my GPS and laptop batteries ran down and so did mine. Stopped at Sonic for lunch and soon got the call to pick up the car. They pointed out my inspection had expired in November and I never even noticed so I asked them to take care of that, too.

Worth the Weekend

Ah, work is boring. This weekend was interesting! Yesterday I went to a Prescribed Buring Seminar with my neighbor Kent at M.O. Neasloney Wildlife Management Area. It was fantastic! We didn't get to burn, conditions were not quite right for the area but we learned a lot! Afterwards, Kent and I hung out and talked about our plans and ideas for our properties, which dovetail together very well.

Today was mostly a wash; clothes and dishes, that is. Until Kent called around 5 and asked if he could bring his sisters over to meet me. The house and I were a mess as usual so I jumped up and tried to straighten a few things. I could hear the ATV and went outside to greet them. It was a sight to see all three of them on the ATV plus a little dog, Lilly! Carol and Donna are wonderful! I almost feel like family myself. They brought me a bottle of wine. We walked around and visited and laughed like old friends! I think I've been invited to shoot skeet and drink egg nog next Christmas.

Recap - Week 1 2009

Finally made it to Saturday! Whew! For a while there I didn't think it would ever get here. Whereas I went back to work on Monday, my brain didn't arrive until Thursday!

Monday if felt strange going back to work, I think I could really get used to staying home 24/7. Doing what I want, when I want. All day was spent wading through 2 weeks of emails.

Tuesday I started to get back in the swing of things. Sonia, Chase & I went to the fitness center at lunch and had a really good work out! It took all day to update all the calendars. (I've been doing the Franklin Covey thing since July and I will testify that it works when you work it!)

Wednesday at the Production Meeting Tim distributed the purses from the Fantasy Football contest, my team, the Loominators were victorious! He also presented me with the Branch Monkey, a silly statuette of a monkey dressed like a cowboy. I'll get a pic next week and post it. Clemente, Chase & I worked out today, too. Chase says he's going to join me in my quest for 5 day a week workouts. On the way home I attempted 2 geocaches. One I did not find but in my defense the previous 2 cachers who looked for it didn't find it either. The other was a virtual in Luling which I did get credit for! That brings me to a total of 4!

Thursday Sonia & I had another good workout. Chase didn't make it because he had to go to Choke Canyon and photograph the Pine Flycatcher. First recorded sighting in the United States! Then the boss mandated we each turn in, by 5 pm Thurs. each week, a weekly report. This is in order for him to submit a weekly report to HIS boss. Nothing too wordy, short and sweet bullet type, highlights, lowlights, problems, projections, etc. This annoyed me no end. I felt stressed enough and one more piece of administrative BS was about to send me over the edge. Soon I discovered diving into the stacks of papers on my desk and compiling the requested report had the almost miraculous effect of ordering my world! Hallelujah! My ducks were finally in a row! Naturally, it wasn't as bad as I feared it would be and now I could make some headway.

Friday since my duckies we all lined I knew where to apply myself. A group of us went to Janitizo's for lunch in honor of Brandon's birthday. On the way home the carpool looked at and talked about the Pilot Knob volcano. I had printed out the info on the EarthCache there.

Now it's after 7 pm and I'm finally fixing some supper and going to watch some TV. I jumped in with both feet this morning with my moving project. Switching the Craft Room with the Guest Room. It's looking good and I've tossed quite a bit. I hate to stop but I'm starving. I hope I'm just as gung-ho tomorrow. I think I will be. It would be a miracle if I finish it tomorrow but I think I can make great strides.

Nice and cold overcast Sunday - Just like I like it, really!

Well, the last couple of days haven't been my best. A couple of highlights:

Friday I took the car to see if the paint peeling was under warranty, it WAS! The places where the paint is peeling from rocks hitting it is not, but they will touch it up! It won't look perfect but, it will look better and be protected from rusting out. I spent the rest of the day tormented over geocaches that were in crowded areas and couldn't figure how to be stealthy by myself. I need to bring Arwen with me. I made it to Sam's and bought some staples; dog food, dog treats, can salmon, can asparagus, can pineapple in juice, can fat-free refried beans, breakfast cereal (I decided to try Post Cranberry Vanilla Trail Mix Crunch, I hope it's not too sweet), and of course TP (lots of it!). Also, I stopped by Tractor Supply in Seguin on the way home and picked up some new cotter pins for the tractor, I don't know why they keep coming off! They had long sleeved ladies shirts on sale 25% off and I found one I liked in my size in a nice Turquoise, plain but nice.

Saturday I got up for the usual bathroom visit, noticed it was 4:30 am and remembered, amazingly, that there was a meteor shower scheduled for this morning (the Quadrantids) just before dawn. For info: http://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors/ I wandered outside and looked at the sky. Sure enough I saw a couple of meteors so I got my lawn chair with the footrest, a blanket, a glass of Pomegranate/Blueberry juice and sat down to enjoy. After about an hour and probably 20 meteors the clouds had finally obscured everything and I went back to bed. MISTAKE! I was practically worthless the rest of the day! I'm still obsessed with Geocaching, the website at least.

Today, Sunday, I'm hoping will be better. I like the weather better, anyway. It was 80 yesterday! Today, I doubt if tops 60! I did a little Yoga and worked up a little sweat.

HAPPY 2009!

First, I want to wish everyone the very best! May your God bless you!

How did I spend my New Year's Eve? I lit candles, put on silk pajamas and watched Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber of Feet Street then read my book. Did I stay up until midnight you ask? Yes. What was I doing? I was outside schlepping around calling for Angel to come in for the night! It was pretty chilly but she was no where to be found. Usually if I get up in the middle of the night I can find and bring her in but I was too tired last night and forgot.

The cows have been over already this morning. I love to watch them. My plans to switch guest bedroom with craft room/library are starting to gell. I've planned it all out on quadrille paper and now just have to figure out the sequence for least disruption, i.e. how to make it happen and finish in 4 days!

Yesterday I continued the housecleaning, it's getting closer. Did some more pre-sorting and planing for the room switch. The tire was flat on the lawn tractor so I put some more green goo in it, aired it up and took it for a spin, literally to spin the tire and spread the goo around. Of course I went too far and headed for virgin territory. The cotter pin came out again, glad I bought a spare! I still need to try and figure out why the Bronco won't start, put some air in a tire on the ATV and run it some.

1:00 pm Ahh, just got back from a hour walk around the property with the dogs. They had a blast rounding up the cattle. My treat for today? I got to watch them chase a poor little cottontail around. I say poor, they didn't catch if to my knowledge but it sure ran them ragged!

After looking at my plans for the bedroom again I discovered a couple of critical flaws. Damn, I hate it when that happens! All the bookcases won't fit like I planned. But, I guess that's O.K. I can leave the 2 in the cabin, it does need them. I need a sewing table, maybe I can use a TV tray?

Well, I'm hungry and going to go cook some Turkey Sausage with Mashed Potatos, Sauerkraut and Cheese with some Black-eyed peas on the side for my New Year's luck! Note to self: 1lb sausage/16 oz sauerkraut/4 servings mashed potatos.

6:00 pm The ATV started right off the bat, Yea! Had a nice long ride looking for some new trails. The Bronco still won't start. I think it's the starter. It's been through 2 or 3 in the 3 years I've had it. The new battery seems to have power. It does absolutely nothing when I turn the key. I can't keep off the geocaching site. It really enthralls me. Maybe I'll get out and do a few tomorrow.