Winter is definitely here. Rain, rain and more rain along with the southwest winds. Happy new year? A wet one for sure and driving becomes a bit more hazardous. A trip to the store can become an adventure. I'm glad that it is only a one mile trip for me.
Just as I was about to leave the store there was a flash, followed in a second by some very loud thunder. A gentleman who was standing just outside the door remarked that it was very close as it had set off car alarms. I dashed for my truck knowing that in a moment it would be raining severely.
As I pulled out onto the highway it began to pour. Then the hail began to fall. Harder, bigger and soon the road looked like a sea of marbles, bouncing back up into the air as they struck until the road seemed to disappear. I slowed to twenty miles per hour, searching for the fog line or edge markers. Only a quarter of a mile left til my driveway, street lights now guiding my way. As I turned up my driveway it sounded like marbles bouncing off the side of my pickup, the ground rapidly turning white.
Now into my parking space, I get a firm hold on the groceries and make a mad dash for the door. Safe! As I look back out at the deck and rock wall, the size of the hail seems to increase. A large stone lands within inches of the door and I grab it to check the size. Wow! No wonder I was having trouble seeing the road on the way home. The size of a marble easily and a lot of them.
Thankfully those traveling through my little town have managed to keep their vehicles on the highway in this nasty weather. I am always ready to respond to any emergency but am always grateful when I can stay inside, my cat in my lap and just listen to the storm.
Rescue Dog
Friday, January 4, 2008
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Rainy day handyman
Well it has only taken more than a year to put up the new shelves in the pantry but it was worth the wait. Now maybe I can find the floor again. Next is the laundry room so the top of the dryer will not be such a catch-all. Yeah, right! One can dream though...
Home projects seem to take forever most of the time. My rock walls are nearly completed but too many other things have had priority, such as playing games on the computer. Oh come on, you know what I mean. How many hours have you spent in front of the computer or TV?
Once in a while those projects we all put off become urgent, as in you are tired of looking at the materials to get-r-done and you get annoyed with yourself for being so **** lazy. Last night my shop was a beehive of activity as I prepared the shelving material and hardware. When I woke up to rain, the tools came out and at least one job is done.
The kitchen looks like a mess afterwards but now my wife can put things in the pantry in a more orderly fashion. As for me, I have to go to the store. If I kill enough time doing so she might have the kitchen back together before I return. No I aint bein' onry, just gettin' that lazy woman off her duff!
Its a good thing my wife loves me as much as she does. Of course I have a brand new shop with a wood stove to retreat to if she has had enough of me. The rainy day handyman rides again.
Rescue Dog
Home projects seem to take forever most of the time. My rock walls are nearly completed but too many other things have had priority, such as playing games on the computer. Oh come on, you know what I mean. How many hours have you spent in front of the computer or TV?
Once in a while those projects we all put off become urgent, as in you are tired of looking at the materials to get-r-done and you get annoyed with yourself for being so **** lazy. Last night my shop was a beehive of activity as I prepared the shelving material and hardware. When I woke up to rain, the tools came out and at least one job is done.
The kitchen looks like a mess afterwards but now my wife can put things in the pantry in a more orderly fashion. As for me, I have to go to the store. If I kill enough time doing so she might have the kitchen back together before I return. No I aint bein' onry, just gettin' that lazy woman off her duff!
Its a good thing my wife loves me as much as she does. Of course I have a brand new shop with a wood stove to retreat to if she has had enough of me. The rainy day handyman rides again.
Rescue Dog
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Well, excuse me!
I have always enjoyed being a firefighter. The years have been good to me and the respect and admiration I receive from people every where I go is awesome. Since 9-11 it seems that there is a bit more appreciation shown. Very seldom do I encounter someone who does not like firefighters. However the ones that do stick out like sore thumbs.
Last night I responded to a medical call, a cancer patient who needed transport to the hospital. The street was narrow and muddy so finding an appropriate place to park wasn't easy. Across the street was a spot in front of a fence with two "NO PARKING" signs posted. I left the motor running and emergency flashers going to help my crew find the house.
Ice had already formed on the steps to the house so we proceeded cautiously. In less than 10 minutes since I had arrived, the patient was on board and I returned to my pickup. As I was about to pull away I noticed someone flashing a flashlight at me so I rolled down my window to see what they wanted.
"Do you see these signs? They say NO PARKING", the woman says as she points the flashlight down to illuminate the signs.
"Do you see that ambulance across the street? Your neighbor needs transport to the hospital", I replied.
The woman started to say something else quite stupid so as I started to pull away I yelled, "Pardon me for serving my community!"
Unfreaking believable!! I wonder what she had to say when she found the paramedic's vehicle parked in her carport until the ambulance returned, an hour and a half later!
I have a simple philosophy that has served me well, "Be polite". Encountering people like this makes that hard to do but she should be thankful that I drove away instead of stepping out of my vehicle and explaining the obvious to her.
It would not have been a pretty sight.
Thank God there are very few people like this. I found out this morning that she is a transplant from California. Apparently being polite when your neighbor is in need is beneath her. Wait till it's her turn to need the services of our fire, medical or police. Any bets that she will be singing a different tune?
Rescue Dog
Last night I responded to a medical call, a cancer patient who needed transport to the hospital. The street was narrow and muddy so finding an appropriate place to park wasn't easy. Across the street was a spot in front of a fence with two "NO PARKING" signs posted. I left the motor running and emergency flashers going to help my crew find the house.
Ice had already formed on the steps to the house so we proceeded cautiously. In less than 10 minutes since I had arrived, the patient was on board and I returned to my pickup. As I was about to pull away I noticed someone flashing a flashlight at me so I rolled down my window to see what they wanted.
"Do you see these signs? They say NO PARKING", the woman says as she points the flashlight down to illuminate the signs.
"Do you see that ambulance across the street? Your neighbor needs transport to the hospital", I replied.
The woman started to say something else quite stupid so as I started to pull away I yelled, "Pardon me for serving my community!"
Unfreaking believable!! I wonder what she had to say when she found the paramedic's vehicle parked in her carport until the ambulance returned, an hour and a half later!
I have a simple philosophy that has served me well, "Be polite". Encountering people like this makes that hard to do but she should be thankful that I drove away instead of stepping out of my vehicle and explaining the obvious to her.
It would not have been a pretty sight.
Thank God there are very few people like this. I found out this morning that she is a transplant from California. Apparently being polite when your neighbor is in need is beneath her. Wait till it's her turn to need the services of our fire, medical or police. Any bets that she will be singing a different tune?
Rescue Dog
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