#Firefighters – So Much with So Little. #DonateMexicali

Can you imagine going to a fire and not having (or not having enough of) the proper gear to gain entry. Heading into a fire without having SCBA gear? These were just a couple of the things that the Mexicali Fire Department was without (or in very low) supply of, putting the firefighters there at [...]



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#Firefighters - So Much with So Little. #DonateMexicali

Can you imagine going to a fire and not having (or not having enough of) the proper gear to gain entry. Heading into a fire without having SCBA gear? These were just a couple of the things that the Mexicali Fire Department was without (or in very low) supply of, putting the firefighters there at extreme risk at every fire. Thanks to "Donate Mexicali" A large amount of gear was donated to the Fire Department. Having old (but still passable in terms of safety standards) may not sound like much if your a large department with the ability to keep your equipment in good working order and replace as needed. But when you have nothing --- Even the older stuff can be a godsend. According to David Furtado (of thebattalion.tv - @the_battalion on twitter / TheBattalionSeries on FB) "Donate Mexicali was a huge success"

Read more about how the project went at Donate Mexicali

But it doesn't end here.... There are many departments around the world that are doing a dangerous job and trying to save lives and property without the benefit of proper equipment (sometimes none at all). Let's continue to help out these departments as they help their communities. Please, share this (tweet it, Facebook post it, Press it, Blog it, eMail it.... However you want to get it out) and let's continue to help these departments that give so much with so little. And while your at it make sure to bookmark thebattalion.tv and stay tuned for their upcoming new series of webisodes starting in December.

Stupid Shit #8... Make sure to remove hot pads from the oven

As you can see, I renamed the category this kind of stuff is in to "Stupid Shit - Not To Do" I probably should have posted this last night as that's when it happened, but I got a little distracted and involved in other things.... Truth of the matter is I just never got around to it... So what's this "Stupid Shit" I'm referring too?..... Yesterday evening I was busy cooking dinner.... Steak, Potatoes, Green Beans I had just checked on the food and had closed everything up and walked away to deal with other things while dinner finished cooking. Much to my surprise Smoke started pouring from stove. My instant thought was that something was too close to the side wall of the oven or had fallen down unto the elements at the buttom... Opening the door I saw flames (just small ones so don't worry)... This is what the culprit was:

Apparently I had, inadvertently, dropped the hot pad into the oven without realizing it - Could have sworn that I had placed thing next to the stove. Pretty stupid huh?? Well atleast it was only a small fire and dinner didn't get ruined. Moral: ALWAYS make sure that hot-pads (and any other cloth like, flammable, material is removed from a hot oven before closing the oven door. If not you might end up with this.

A Silly Rhyme

"What to do What to do?  At least I don't have the flu"
She said,  on a whim to her husband Jim
As she clothes to wear she sought though there was not

#WordoftheDay Weekly Story - Week Three - Warehouse Arson

Sandra  Looked around at the <strong>bedlam</strong> at the scene.  Another fire had ripped through one of the local warehouses, this time  during business hours, leaving it in ruins.  In fact, there had been a <strong>disproportionate</strong> number of warehouse fires in the city lately.  This had made the third in as many months.  The good news, with this particular fire, was that there had not been any fatalities.  Most of the workers had been on their lunch break.  Only a few people had been in the building when blaze erupted and, most all had gotten out with out any major injuries.   The bad part was that people were already milling around trying to <strong>maraud</strong> what was left. If order wasn't maintained valuable evidence as to the origination of the fire could very well be lost.

As an investigator, Sandra's job was to determine the cause of the fire  and whether it was accidental or arson.  Looking through the pile of rubble, Sandra tried to find something, anything, that would give her a clue as to how this fire had started but it all seemed <strong>nugatory</strong>.  The fire had been so  intense that any evidence that might have been left behind had, most likely, been burned away.  Painstakingly she continued to sift through piles of ash &amp; soot.  After hours of searching she found the remains of carelessly thrown cigarette into a waste bin.  The cigarette could explain the fire, but Sandra wasn't convinced that a lit cigarette was the culprit.  After all, how could a single cigarette cause such a devastating fire?  There had to be something more something she wasn't seeing.

The warehouse had been well known for storing some original, and very valuable, art work.  There had been rumors that some counterfeits were being sold in the black market.  Sting operations had shut down much of the counterfeit operations, but still a couple remained. One of the biggest, and most well known, counterfeit organizations was still in operation.  Police were having difficulty in shutting down this particular organization, but they were having some luck tightening the noose, so to speak, and because of the other sting operations there was beginning to be a <strong>disparity</strong> between the supply of counterfeit product and those interested in dealing in counterfeit sales.

The argument that the fire could have been deliberately set by one of the members of the organization to to remove the originals from the picture was <strong>cogent</strong>.  The difficulty now was in finding the evidence to prove that the fire wasn't accidental but rather arson.

#VeteransDay Blog Hop Photo Prompt Reveal - Angel Kisses

"Daddy your looking awfully peaked." Little Angelica said to her father, Lt. Jack Ramone, her little face wrinkling with obvious concern as they made their way down the hospital corridor. "You need to go back to your bed and rest." Angelica insisted. For only being four years old, Angelica was extremely bright and perceptive.

"Peaked? Where did you learn such a big word?" Jack asked. For a four year old, Angelica was extremely bright "My Aunt Cindy." Angelica replied. "She was always saying that I looked 'peaked', so I asked her what it meant and she told me it means that I look sickly and tired" "But I don't look like that anymore, do I Daddy" "No Sweetheart, you don't" Jack was thankful that his sister had agreed to take Angelica after his wife Bethany (Angelica's mother) had died in a terrible car accident just before he had called up for active duty. Jack and Bethany had made the mutual decision that if anything was to ever happen to Bethany and Jack found himself unable to care for Angelica that guardianship would be given to his sister Cindy. Cindy and Bethany had gotten on well together right from the start and had formed a strong bond. Being out in the country with her cousins and the livestock had done Angelica a world of good. Each time Jack had seen Angelica via an online link, each time Cindy sent a new picture he could see that she was looking healthier and healthier. His plan, after finishing his call of duty, was to get a place in the country - Maybe even on the river so he could use hydroelectric electricity. His job in the military had been in finding and harnessing various forms of energy and he had had no doubt that he could use that knowledge in his own place. That is he hadn't had any doubt before a terrible accident had left him badly injured with the possibility that he might not work again. The accident had taken place at a geothermal plant where Jack had been stationed. Everything had happened so fast that he'd barely had time to comprehend what was going on as the proverbial 'shit hit the fan' Without thinking Jack had immediately acted to ensure the safety of the others in his group making sure that everyone had gotten out safely. He was just moments away from safety himself when an explosion had ripped through the building. Something had fallen hitting him across his lower back. The last thing that Jack remembered was one of the other guys pulling him to safety. Doctors hadn't given Jack much hope that he'd ever walk again. He didn't know how he was ever going to be a father to little Angelica. The dream of having a place of their own in the country now seemed an impossibility.... "Come on Daddy," Angelica said, interrupting Jack's thoughts, "I'll help you" "Allright sweetie" Jack responded, we'll head back Angelica helped her father push his wheelchair back to his room, her red tap dance shoes clinking on the linoleum as the fairy wings of her favorite costume flapped behind her. "You know your my little angel girl, don't you?" Jack said as they rolled into his room. "Yes Daddy" Angelica responded as she climbed into his lap for his kiss.

Random Topic Writing Challenge – Trains

I absolutely can’t believe it’s been 4 days since I wrote a Random Topic Writing Challenge Blog… It just doesn’t seem possible. I do have at least somewhat of an excuse for a couple of those days….. On Saturday I attended 2 separate events and wrote a blog on them that took me into late [...]



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