May 24 has not been a good day.  Started okay, as I had the party for the 2nd. grade students for the fire prevention program.  While there I learned that the 2nd. grade teacher was being let go.  I found it hard to believe that she was being let go.  I did a little research, and found that numbers where down at the school, so some positions were being eliminated.  She fit the profile of one teacher that could be cut.  In all three teachers are losing there jobs.  Tonight at the board meeting it was discussed as to  the whys and hows.  Long story, low student numbers, but the real story is that we as a school handled this in about the worst way possible.  At no time in the five years she taught there was she ever told that she needed to improve in the areas that we now say she is deficence in which is the reason she is being let go and not some other teacher. Our handleing of this and our lack of a firm,clear policy, and having that know by the teachers before hand, is in  my opinion something we should be ashamed of and should never allow to happen again.  If this had been private industry, someones head would roll over this.  The department runs as usually, lost one member this month, but their contribution was little, and so will not be missed. Had a busy week so far with 9 calls, including two structure fires and a large wildland fire.  Still need more members, and still need to finish a number of administration items that no one seems to care if they get done, and so the help to do them is not forth coming.  But if all hell breaks loose, you can bet that I will catch it for not having it done.  Such is the joys of being chief.  Retirement is looking better every day, and right now so is eastern Montana.    This thing with the teacher is really bumming me out so think I will close and fire off an email to a couple of people to make sure that they know my displeasure.

Been a long time

It has been a long time since I posted anything, not because I didn't have anything to say, but rather not sure it needed to be said.  Department is running as in the past, have 19 members, of which I can count on about 15.  One member's work schedule changed and she is making almost all of the calls, but lost another to a job promotion, and now she can't make as many as before so we are stuck on 7-8 members making the calls.Welcomed grandchild number 15 in late January and sent my wife to stay with her family for 5 weeks.  Must say I did okay, not great but okay.  Didn't get the two grants I tried for, but did make some changes in that we moved up the replacement of our air packs by about 4 years.  It will cost the district about $107,000 for the new Scott Air Packs, but will save us over $15,000 by buying now with another department instead of going it on our own.   Have a lot of work to do on getting the department compliant with Haz-Mat stuff, up dating our SOP/SOG's and some other stuff.  Have pushed the ISO survey to the rear for a while.  Deputy Chief did get the building done, new lights and wall covering. It make the station look 1000% better.  Now if I could get him to work on the stuff he needs to due and my training officer to get his stuff in order, I would be a happy man.  But, in the real world, that's not likely to happen any time soon.  Had a birthday party for my wife, and all the childern and grandchildren execpt for one daughter and grand daughter there,  If I had know the one child was coming instead of him semi-suprising us, I would have flown the missing child and grandchild home for the weekend.   So, it is now almost 8 years since we have all been together.  Had a great time, and NO fights.    Thursday this week I head for Indianapolis for FDIC and then hopefully the time commitments will lessen a little.   Finished the fire academy earlier this month, and had just one student who didn't pass his practicals.  Should know about the written portion any time now.   Well that is about it for now,  mostly just same old same old.

Boy did I forget!

In the review of the last 3 months forgot to mention, the financee of a missionary friend from Africa was finally able to get to the US.  Soon we will attend their wedding.  An answer to prayer.  Also an answer to Pray was the safe arrival of grandchild number 14.  Next to youngest daughter had a baby boy around Thanksgiving.  He did get one of his names from by in my family. So that part will go on.  Have one more baby due this year and that should be it for who knows how long.

Long time coming

Realized it had been a while since I posted anything, but doubt anybody missed it.  So, what has happened in the nearly 3 months.  Well, my bride and I took a long trip through Canada, entered in the Soo, went to Sudbury than down to Parry Sound and around to Owen Sound than down to Port Huron and home.  Get trip!  No problems.  Right after we finished the Fire Prevention open house, we left for GR and a short visit with a daughter and open house for some friends 50th wedding anniversary.  The next day we headed to West Branch, and I remember little of the next two days as I was sick as a dog.  Wife drove most of the way and would wake me up as to when to turn. It still is a blur.  November brought nothing new, the department continued on a steady course, my deputy chief go into the remodel mode full force and with a little creative budget moving by me, we will get the south wall done out of this years budget and not next years.  This week he headed up a work bee to remove all of the wall board, and move all of the blown in insulation that we thought was going into the dumpster and blow it back into the attic.  Should help greatly with the heat bill.  Must say that  on this job he stepped up to the plate and hit it out of the park.   Exploring some options as to some improvements to our fleet.  Nothing major, just a fix of some design deficiencies that we have noticed.  Really mistakes and misses on our part in the specing of the trucks. My wayward firefighter is back on the department. He completed the suspension without a problem, now we will see how he does back with the group.  Had one member quit, actually quit before we let him go.  Been with us for about a year and a half.  He enrolled in the fire academy, as needed to but for reasons I still am not completely clear on choose to drop out.  However, since he never told me that he was quiting the class, we paid the $400 dollar tuition for him.  It was only after the deadline that we found out he had dropped out.  In fact he never told us until I questioned him about missing some of the classes.   I came in the station the next day and found his gear and pager in the meeting room along with the books.  No note, no nothing.  Got to just love 21 year old kids.
Had family Christmas early in December, missed one couple who had tickets to Championship football game, and one son who didn't bother to even acknowledge that we were even having it or send a note that he couldn't be there.  The weather has been unseasonably warm and no snow.  Helps with the driving on the day job, but know we need the moisture and the snowmoblile business is hurting big time.   Got some snow yesterday and last night along with some high winds.  Hurt my leg about two weeks ago, and it is not getting better.  Swelled up real bad, painful and infected.  Doctor put me on antibiotic and did and Ultrasound but there has been any improvement in the last week.  If any thing it is actually worse, and I took a week off from work so it would heal  Go figure. Went to bad last night around 10PM and woke up this morning about 1AM and couldn't go back to sleep.  So figured I get a few things done and this is one of them.  Not sure how 2012 will go, but looking back on 2011, it wasn't a bad year,  no great disasters and not too many crisis to handle.    On ward into the new year.

A plate full

A lot has happen since I last posted.  Be busy getting things in line for fire prevention week.  Since I have not fire prevention officer at this time, the burden falls to me to get things done.  Sent a letter to all members asking for help and got the usual responses.  Have a program everyday next week.  3 of our 4 female members are taking time to help out, one for two days and one for 3.   Will have about 8 people help with the open house on next Saturday.  Told them we needed a commitment from at least 6 people to be there or we would cancel it.  So I guess it is a go.  Need to order refreshments and some other things but should be okay.  After the open house, my wife and I are leaving for a couple of days away.  Budget for next year has been approved without much comment.  We should be in good shape unless all you know what breaks out. Need to have an officers meeting soon.  Have an agenda put together, now need to get it finalize and out to the officers for their information  before the meeting.   Another department in the county was just hit by OSHA,  no word on any penalties but the needed to get their SOP/SOG in order.  They had more done on that than we do, so looks like I will need to get started on that as soon as possible.  Will farm some of that out to some other officers, but if past history is any indication of results,  I will end up doing  it.   Started to keep a log of my hours spent on department stuff.  Might not be a good idea, but need to know if asked how I spent my time.
Last week end was missions conference at church.  Has a couple of young ladies who were very impressive, at least in my opinion.   From what I heard and saw, those few, and I stress few, who got to know them at all seem to hold the same opinion.  Had thought we might get 25-30 people on Saturday night at my house for a informal fellowship, got 9 and that included the two young ladies and my wife and I. Most of the committee didn't make  it and neither did any of our pastor's.  I was a little discouraged but at least I got to know them very well.  Took them to lunch on Sunday and we spent nearly 3 hours talking.  This will be my last conference as chairman.  I have told the pastor that I will not be chairman next year.  Time for someone else to step up.  Have sensed that the last couple of years that our church has not been all that into missions.  Not sure why.  but I sense that the leadership has been giving it a low priority and as such interest from them has been low,  and if their leadership interest is low, the rest of the church will not be any higher.  There are a couple of people that I think still have a heart for missions, but also not sure that it is something that they feel as passionate about as I do.  I guess churches interest can change and I hope that someday it will again be a major part of our church ministry but I  really doubt if it will every happen.  I will keep a breast of what is going on, but not sure what the future holds for us.
It seems that of late I am always tired, I sleep for about 7 hours a night, and by early evening I'm ready for bed.  Today, we have a house full of grand kids and it is hectic around here.  Just getting them all to bed takes what seems to be 3-4 hours.  By the time the last one is in bed and asleep it is after midnight.  I seems that I find myself being a grouch when they are here,  but some times I think they need a little more structure in their lives.  Also, a little less adrenalin would be good.    For the most part, Grandma is good cop and me I'm the bad cop.  Have a busy week coming up.  Hope all goes well.

Running on fumes

It has been a very busy month, this month of September.  Had a trip to Ohio for the day job,made it down there and back with no problems.  Got a nice visit at the Sutphen Corp. plants and also visited the Columbus division of Fire museum.  The reason for the trip was a sales conference, and it was better then most if I do say so myself.  It could be my last one, as they are only held every other year.  Might retire before the next one, never can tell.  On the day after I got home, we had a call and while en route to the call blow the motor on my car. Will cost way more to fix then the car is worth, so for now, I am at the mercy of using the wife's wheels to get to fire calls.  Had training tonight, and it went very well.  Worked on RIT team functions, with about 2/3's of the department there.  Also had pictures, if I do say so myself, at least sometimes we look pretty professional.  Training ran a little long as we had to stop and look for an ear ring back that got lost.  No it was one of my younger male members who lost it.  Thankfully, my more seasoned female members were there to help him out.  He will not live that down for quite some time.  Talked with a friend today about somethings in regard to starting to pass the torch.  Not sure the person who wants the torch, wants everything that goes with it.  They will get a few more things on their plate next year, and who knows, they just might get it all.  There are a lot of days lately that the black hat looks awful good.  White helmets can be awful heavy at times.  Lost my file for ISO ratings and requirements.  Not sure what I did with it before I went to Ohio, but really need to find it soon.   Have still two AFG grants to finish before Friday at 5PM, so the week is still full.  Missions meeting tomorrow evening, church board on Thursday, and Fire Department dinner on Saturday.  Oh did I mention, 32 customers to see also this week, and meeting the boss for lunch tomorrow for my annual review.  Use to dread these, no so much anymore.  After 33 years, and with retirement close think I can handle this, but still need to remind myself to not put it in neutral and coast to the end. Need to get to bed,  the great drill and spirit that we had to night sure helped as at times certain parts and people can make the job very depressing.   Night all.

Short on Time & Sleep

This will be a short post.  I had figured it would be a long one, as it is 5:30AM and I have been awake since 4:30AM.  Have a busy day, and a lot to do in the next few days.  Got a bit of good news, the \hurricane on the coast has caused DHS/FEMA to extend by one week the deadline for filing AFG grant requests.  I have one already started, waiting on information to be sent to me to finish, but because of the delayed filing time, I think I will work on a second grant.  Nothing ventured nothing gained.  Will be gone much of next week for a sales conference for the day job.  Get to go to Ohio.  Use to look forward to these, now not so much.  Will have to go like crazy to get ahead, and then the week after go like crazy to catch-up.  Have to take two online tests before I go, and have to read a book as well.   The book is okay, better than most I have read on customer relations, but still think the guy could have said it in about half the pages he took.  I  guess people might bulk at paying $22 dollars for a book of only 100 pages.  Had a new grandson since I last posted.  Everything went well, have two more grand babies due before spring.  That will bring me to 15, and I think I might be done.  Realized that this one may never really know me,  as I think back, I lived in the same house (duplex) with my grandparents.  I tried to remember as much as I could about my grandfather, who was in his 50's and 60's during my growing up years.  He died when I was 16 years old.   I tried to recall events, family gathering, etc.  I think my total recall if written would be hard pressed to fill two pages.  Maybe because my memory is getting old, but I really think that any grandchildren I have, except for maybe two or three will not have very many memories of me, and those under 10 now will have very little tangible memories of me, and will not remember much of our time together.   Decided much of what is on my mind now, and has been for the last few weeks really needs to go in the hidden file.   That is a file in my office that when things are really starting to press and I need a place to vent, I will write out what I feel, what my thoughts are  and be really honest.  BUT, I also know that what I might say, write etc, could cause a lasting hurt.  Usually, that is in fact what brings the letter into being.   Things I would say are of a very personal nature, and most likely should be just as well not said.  BUT, I find it somewhat stress relieving to put on paper what I feel, think, and perceive.  What I usually do is write the letter, usually to the person or persons, telling them just what I think, feel, etc.  Than put it in a miss labeled file in my office.  ( Most likely when I am dead, someone will clean out the draw, and probably just throw the file away as it is such a file that it appears to be unrelated information of a general nature.  Nothing important.  Have several letters in there, many have gone in and many have later been thrown away after the passion of the moment or the event has gone past.  In these cases, if I had said what I thought, felt etc. it would have just made things worse, and probably damaged relationships.  SO, I vent where no one will get hurt.   Usually helps.  Today,  the file will increase by one.   Time to get ready for work.  Have long full day ahead.