Thirty Days in the Hole

This—my pirate web site, my edgy blog site for my alternate universe—has sort of devolved into some anemic bulletin board about all the crap going on at work.

Didn’t really intend.

That said, here’s the latest: The chief was supposed to let me go back to a station spot on August 1st.

Ain’t gonna happen.

They’re keeping me in “The Bureau” for 30 more days, after which time, the department—by policy—MUST let me go.

I Didn't Do This!

....I just happened to drive up right after another County employee operating a backhoe snapped off the hydrant. Hey, stuff happens...

Note the large crowd of County workers beginning to gather. Note the presence of cell phone cameras. Note the two hapless firemen (second and third from right) from 114's ("Serving with Pride in a Single Wide!") searching fruitlessly for the underground valve which would shut off the geyser.

Not shown: Public Works supervisor searching for blueprints indicating exact location of paved-over valve.

Palmdale Fire

We drove up to the fire in our Bureau-issued white Ford Taurus with the County "double nickles" fire insignia on the doors. Me and Jason, who'll replace me when I go back to the station in August.

I looked at him and said, "Welcome to Prevention, kid. It ain't the fire service...but you can see it from here!"

Sand Storm

A typical drive home from work, after a long day in the fire prevention bureau: A desert sand storm out on K street, past 70th East. Near-zero visibility.

Late Breaking News

My bid to leave the fire prevention bureau in the desert and return to a fire station has been approved.

Some time in the next three and half months I'll be going to Fire Station 63 in La Crescenta. Ain't exactly the Taj Mahal, but it's my ticket out, baby!

Home Sweet Home

Last week's photo caption contest was such a huge success, I've decided to post another picture for your witty responses....

This was one of my recent inspections...

Flaming Sofa

Believe it or not, I can't really think of anything to write about this picture. Maybe you all could suggest a caption--you know, sort of like a contest. I'll look around my garage or music room and find something cool to give away as a prize for the best caption.

I can tell you this: The young man seated on the far left is the son of a firefighter, and if you ask me, it looks like a cry for attention.

How about the casual, almost bored, look of the guys standing in the background, as if they did this every night at the beach. But even more priceless is the expression on the face of the kid giving us the "thumbs up"--the one who looks like Will Ferrell.

No college students were harmed in the taking of this photo...

I couldn't really think of anything to write about it, but as you know, this blog is all about the "cut back"--those odds and ends that don't get posted on my other site. So once again, "Everything Must Go."