Let the madness begin

'Nuff said.

We're not in kansas anymore

Looks like Mother nature is pissed. Been nice knowing you all.

Baldgit's Tip of the Day

Never hire your colour blind firefighter friend to repaint rooms for you because you dont' have time to do them.

Pics will be posted once I stop cringing.

Versatility

While in class a couple of weeks ago, I was asked to introduce myself and say something about me. I couldn't really thinkg of anything witty or interesting. So I decided to ask the Great God Google who I am.

Hmm. Apparently I'm more versatile than I thought.

I am the drummer for Kim Mitchell. At the 2006 CCMA awards I was awarded Canadian Country Music Drummer of the Year. I have also contributed to many computer games (even Donkey Kong 64!). Really cheesy artwork is something I do in my spare time. I also do voiceovers. I love canadian football so much I was selected 28th overall in CFL draft by the Hamilton Tigercats. My brain is so big that I'm a reknown cryptographer who has presented papers and helped write books on Security Engineering, financial and applied cryptography, promotional marketing and how to get out of speeding tickets. Need help building your home? I'm also a featured masonary student. There is also a play, and a Washington Post article about my childhood in Western Kentuky.

What's really scary is some of this is actually true.

Fun times ahead

I'm trying not to be lazy and actually post stuff. This will help me be more lazy in actuality. By posting the minute details of what is going on in my world, I won't need to talk with my family and assorted friends as much. Moreover, they won't have to talk with me as much either. A win/win if ever I heard of one.

So a couple of weeks ago I was an 'igniter' for the recruit class at the Loudoun training academy. It was much fun, and kicked my butt. Lighting 11 fires back to back, hauling the hay and pallets and just sitting there baking in the rooms while flames roll over my head, while damned fun, it very tiring.

The recruit class is headed to Prince William county's burn building next week. I won't be igniting for them this time, I'll be driving one of the pumpers and pumping. Sweet. Given that I'm in the middle of a DPO (driver / pump operator) class, this is great training/experience.

I'm stoked.

Diary of a Cert Whore

I've been organizing my books and stuff in my home office (it's only taken 3 months)... I realized I have a ton of books from classes. I am a self professed 'cert whore.' We don't run a lot of calls, so I need to get my training where I can (getting people to train at my station is like putting square pegs in round slots (you need to use a hammer)).

Here's a list of my certs from the last few years:

Basic Fire Certifications
Fire Attack - Essentials
Firefighter I - NFPA 1001-02
Firefighter II - NFPA 1001-02
Hazardous Materials Operations NFPA 472-02

Misc Fire Certifications
MAYDAY, Firefighter Down 16 Hour Program
Rural Water Supply 16 Hour Training Program
Liquid Proprane Gas Emergencies 16 Hour Training Program

Emergency Vehicle Operations
Emergency Vehicle Operations – Class 2 (Ambulances)
Emergency Vehicle Operations - CLASS 3 (Class A Pumpers)

National Fire Academy / FEMA
N.F.A. Arson Detection for the First Responder (ADFR)
N.F.A. Strategy and Tactics for Initial Company Operations
N.F.A. Basic Incident Command System for First Responders

National Incident Management System (FEMA)
Incident Command System 100
Incident Command System 200
Incident Command System 700
Incident Command System 800

Heavy Tactical Rescue
Vehicle Rescue Awareness and Operations
Vehicle Rescue Awareness and Operations (second time I've taken it)
Vehicle Rescue Technician - NFPA 1006-03
Confined Space Rescue Awareness and Operations
Trench Rescue Awareness and Operations
Rope Rescue Awareness and Operations - Phase 1
Rope Rescue Awareness and Operations - Phase 2
Rope Rescue Technician - NFPA 1006-03
Swift Water Rescue Technician -NFPA 1006-03 - Unit1
US Park Police Helicopter Rescue Awareness

Fire Instructor
Fire Instructor I - NFPA 1041-02
Fire Instructor I - UPGRADE NFPA 1041-02
NFPA 1403 Awareness
Firefighter I and II Train the Trainer

Currently Taking
Driver / Pump Operator - NFPA 1002 (completion at the end of November 2006)

Registered for...
Fire Officer 1 (December 2006)
Aircraft Rescue Firefighting – NFPA 1003-00 (March 2007)

Plan on Taking in 2007... (Assuming they are available)
Fire Instructor II
Fire Instructor III
Fire Officer II
Fire Officer III
various other Train the Trainers (these are needed to teach specific classes)

So if any of you have been wondering why you haven't seen me in the last few years, this should explain it.

Maternal Unit Update

As in all things, there is good news and bad news.

The good news is my Mother seems to be going well. The CT scans show only minute calcium in her pancreas. The docs aren't sure what caused this attack, but they say she seems okay. So she was released this morning

The bad news is she will be staying at her Mother's (my Grandmother) house.

The silver lining here is that this is great motivation to recover quickly and return to her own home.