FINALLY - SEALED THE DRIVEWAY!!

Well... been some time... but got a flyer thrown on my driveway a few weeks ago... quoting a great price for sealing my driveway...so I called the number listed and spoke to George... of Sealing Long Island... got a great price considering how big my driveway is... they fill cracks, and then apply coating with a brush rather than spray... much better coat... they did a great job... driveway looks great.See before...during and done pics...

LONG TIME NO SEE, again...

Wow...October 2011 was last post? ...Sheesh.... have been neglecting my blog... so let's catch up... Hmmm... OK... Dan did great his first semester back in college... 3.45GPA... like it.. He's no longer playing hockey, rather watching the NY Rangers try again for the Stanley Cup... He and brother Jay went to 2 or 3 of the playoff games... Go Rangers! Jay on the other hand is working in his first land-locked job in over 10 years... Jay had been sailing on tall ships...(got his Captains Ticket and all) ... but now is the Harbor Manager at the South Street Seaport in NYC... Rachel is engaged to Jed...no wedding date set but we're waiting patiently... Rachel is still working at Stony Brook University Hospital in the Emergency Department and Jed works for Poland Spring, delivering that "cont get there from here" spring water...heavy job (literally)... I, on the other hand am still working at NPFD...AS FIRE/EMS Dispatcher... (15 years) and still run my small home business. (I'm also an EMS (EMT) first responder... but they take pity on the old man and keep me in the radio room dispatching.... While I have had a few "relationships" over the years since Fran died, I just ended (or shall I say) correction... She just ended what I thought was a great 4 1/2 month courting... Anne, so I thought, loved me, as I did her... apparently not so and she cut me loose on April 22. So I'm back on the market, attempting to mend my broken heart.. I'm gonna be strong... (as Gene Pitney sang) and carry on with my life... I lost one love to death... I should be able to bounce back after such a short lived romance. But, she'll think of me (who sang that).. we did a lot together in our short time together... nuff said... So I'm back on a "over 50" dating site attempting to meet some new women...We'll see where that goes. Here's a recent pic of me...(more pics follow)

Here is a pic of Rachel and Jed (taken same night at our ambulance company installation dinner...

Here is a great pic of 2 brother having a blast at a Rangers game...(they won too!)

Well, there you have it... an update... of sorts...As Arnold Schwarzenegger said... "I'll be back" ...cya

Dan is back playing HOCKEY!!

LTNS everyone... just a quick update... My son Dan is attending college at SUNY Albany... now known as UAlbany... along with his studies, he was accepted to the UAlbany roller hockey team and the weekend of 10/23-10/24 went with the team to Glastonbury CT to play a 4 game event with other school teams... They won 2 and lost 2 and I got to watch 3 games... It was great to see him playing again, as he loves roller (and ice) hockey. His Uncle David and Aunt Marilyn were there to watch 1 game too. The pic is an impromptu group shot of the team just before they go on the deck to play... Dan is on the far right... more about this later...

Long Time No See....

Boy, I have really neglected this blog... But it's October now and new events are shaping my life..

About a year and a half ago, one of my many doctors advised me I was "borderline" diabetic. I knew this was coming... My brother has diabetes... I have a few of the signs and symptoms he has, particularly peripheral neuropathy, This is a feeling of numbness and pain in the feet.

I was advised to watch my diet, less carbs...etc. and I have tried... and failed...

Three weeks ago I came down with a heavy case of Bronchitis... Instead of going to my GP, (with whom I am not all that happy) I went to my pulmonologist... He is a great doctor and always takes his time with me when I have an appointment. Well... he examined me and decided the best therapy would be Symbacort Inhaler... and a 16 day regimen of Prednisone, starting at 40mg a day and winding down to 10mg a day at the end. Also, a Z-Pak 5 day anti-biotic. Got through the 5 day anti-biotic, but still had a bad wheeze and cough.. went back to the doc and he re-upped the Prednisone, and gave me a shot of Salumedral (sp) via IV... I was good for a few days... and congestion is breaking up though I still have a wheeze.

I feel fine but still, with the wheeze and cough I'm not 100% recovered. Did I mention I also have COPD? So I'll never really be recovered.

Anyway... Yesterday I did about 3 hours of yard work... mowed the lawn, (with my cute little Weed Eater riding mower) edged and blew away all the debris with my "electric" leaf blower... Lawn looks great. Felt good to do the yard work...

Then Jay and I went to see an attorney of mine for some "legal" advice and then went to dinner with Jed. (Rachel was a her own doctors appointments)

Came home from dinner and realized I was dehydrated,, even though I had been drinking lots of water all day, (I was also passing it almost as fast) . All day, however, my fingers kept cramping up and when we came home from dinner, my calves were cramping as well... I needed some potassium. (I bought two bananas on the way home to eat at work. (remember I work 10pm to 6am five nights a week)

When I got to work my co-workers(paramedics) said I looked pale... I told them about my dehydration and they check my blood sugar level. (WOW... 480...) too high and I'm in keto-acidosis...So they want to start me on an IV to flush out the system, but my blood pressure was 166/88, so no IV... Would put the pressure through the roof...

So I am advised to drink plenty of water...I drank five (5) 20 ounce bottles of water over the shift (8 hrs) and the blood sugar level down to 358... still too high... so this am... I will call the doc and see what we have to do... I'll get back to ya... Have a nice day...

Watch this and laugh...

The Real Reason

I'm alone... not only by choice, but by circumstance. I was going with, what I thought of as my second (maybe third) soul mate. for over 6 years...

We did everything together as our working schedules allowed. Family visits...trips, (including a 4 day Jamaica holiday I won from a radio station) weddings (on my side anyway)

But alas... her daughter was to be married and lo and behold, I was not invited with a lame excuse of her not wanting to subject me to her ex. (she's divorced for many years)

This hurt... a lot... but then I got sick with 2 bouts of diverticulitis... an intestinal problem. My first stay was only (ha only) 6 days in hospital. My second was 11 days... she visited my once during the 6 day stay and twice during the 11 day stay.

I am not the type of person that likes friction, conflict, fighting and rage... I find it hard to find the right words to explain my feelings in many instances and so I found it difficult to tell her just how hurt I was... It got to the point where I stopped calling her as often, we did not do out as often and eventually both of us stopped calling one and other altogether.

Fault... probably mine... for not having the balls to sit down and talk it out. Probably because the harm had been done and could not be undone. I miss her... and the good times we had together. But I believe I am better off to be without someone who was either ashamed of me for some reason (therefore no invite to the wedding) or there is some other embedded reason I am not aware of at this point.

So here I'll stay... alone... missing her... but without. So let it be written....

Tsunami hits Pacific Ocean

On Friday morning, March 11, 2011 (Japan time) an 8.9 magnitude earthquake off the coast of north/eastern Japan produced a very strong Tsunami throughout the Pacific Ocean at a very bad time. While devastation in Japan was enormous, I was worried for a different reason.

My Son, Jay, sails on a tall ship for SEA Semester (Sea Education Association) and was about 500-600 miles south east of Hawaii when the tsunami was to roll through that area. Jay is (2nd Mate) sailing on the Robert C. Seamans... a beautiful white tall ship.
Unbeknown-st to land lubber me, I feared for everyone's safety on board the Seamans...

However, SEA stated (on their site) Even major tsunamis are nearly undetectable to ships at sea. The damage caused by tsunamis results from the energy contained in these waves entering shallow water near a coastline, building into destructive waves and washing inland. During a tsunami, it is safer to be at sea in deep water than in port.

... So I am now somewhat relieved to know my son and his shipmates are safe. Jay is due home after a stint in Hawaii, March 31st... Can't wait to see him again.

All for now... see ya...

Wow..Time Flies..

I've been neglecting posting here... time flies... with my last post back in 2009...

Lots ha happened in that time... working at NPFD continues... I love it there... but things around home are quite regular... lol rather than normal, since my life is anything but normal...

My daughter, Rachel now working at University Hospital @ Stony Brook NY for the past year, working in the Emergency Department as a Nursing Assistant... She loves it and I am so proud of her.

Jay is still sailing around the world... mostly with SEA (Sea Education Association) and is presently in Tahiti. (poor boy) He will sail to Hawaii in late March and then be home for a short while until his next assignment. Jay had his Captains Ticket and I wait for the day her steers his own ship.

Dan has been in Israel (Ashdod) since October 2010 as a volunteer on a 5 month mission to teach English to elementary school children. Dans' sister Rachel, her boyfriend Jed, and I visited Dan in Israel for a week, Jan 14th to the 22nd. What a great trip. If, you'd like to see how that went, visit http://amstersinisrael2011.blofspot.com

Oh BTW... Jed and Rachel became "engaged" while we were in Israel... MAZEL TOV!!.

I'm still on the board of directors at MVAC... but that may change soon... don't know.. seems to be momentum gathering for replacement of many positions within the corps. If a new Chief is elected, the present Chief will take (probably) the position I hold on the board now (past Chief). I'll be off the board unless I am elected to the board as a director, a position I have been nominated for as a just in case measure. All in all, while I like being involved in the board of director activities (i.e. financial responsibility for the corps) I would not be devastated if I did not get back on the board...

I continue my work with my home business of 27 years. Medford Compu-List... and still enjoy getting the jobs done...the money does not hurt either...lol...

I'm organizing my finances, working out a proper budget and dealing with lowering my interest rates with many of my credit cards...

My social life is non-existent since a stopped seeing Liz...I miss her but could not deal with the manner in which I was treated... that's a whole other story. Things will get better...

I realized that all the walking we did in Israel back in January was GOOD for me and allowed for better movement... so I need to get into a proper exercise regimen.

We'll see how that goes... now to go out and clean out my car... Bye

NOT THAT ANYONE REALLY READS THIS...

well... time sure does fly when you throw the clock out the window...

Been quite some time since my last post...Lots has happened, much of which I dare not write about here... however... I will say, once again I am back on the board of directors of my local volunteer ambulance corps. Funny thing about it... I can't say it will matter much.

I'm on as past chief... a single, non elected position on the board, automatically held by a past chief, usually the most recent. I served as Chief 2004-2005... but the last Chief (obviously before the current elected Chief) wanted to stay on the board no matter what... If the current Chief did not win re-election, then the past Chief would be out and the most recent Chief would take the seat... Have I lost ya yet? ... So the person who had been a Chief and was sitting on the board as past Chief, decided to run for election as a director, for a 2 year term. This way, whether the current Chief was re-elected or not, this past Chief would remain on the board. Whew... So he was elected to a directors slot and so the board had to look back to the next most recent past Chief, me... I took the slot, as there was no other past Chief to take it.

I am also a Commissioner for the district which contains the volunteer ambulance Corps. I wear many hats... However, even though the state mandated the towns to develope and "create" ambulance districts and that they should have commissioners certain duties, commissioners in ambulance districts here are basically figure-heads with very little control or true oversight of the finances (tax-payer money) provided to the volunteer ambulance corps. They were originally supposed have veto power on budget submission, and were required to be consulted and approve or disapprove expenditure over $10,000.00... this is no longer the case. The commissioners in an ambulance district are nothing compared to fire district commissioners. Nuff said...

Since I was ill with diverticulitis a year ago... I have decreased my riding somewhat... Last year I answered only 110 alarms... The year before was in the 300 range and the year I was Chief I answered 528 alarms... We'll see how I do this year.

Anyway... that's it for now...

Passionately Pink

It has been way too long since my last post. This past September 18th was the 17th anniversary of my wife's passing. We still do not know if she started out with lung or breast cancer that spread into bone cancer. In any case, I received an e-mail about a family urging everyone to go Passionately Pink on October 15th. (that happens to be my wife's birthday... ) Participating is simple. Just wear something pink on October 15 and make a donation of $5 or more to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the leader of the global breast cancer movement.



Please wear something pink on October 15th and send a donation of any amount by visiting the web page...shown at the bottom of this post.

I post this in memory of my wife, Fran and my friend Bobbi's recently passed daughter in law. Thank you.

http://www.komendonations.org/site/TR/PassionatelyPink/PassionatelyPink?px= 3175376&pg=personal&fr_id=1080&et=iJpq3C5MiMZmp9a9gPCJjA

Old call... Back in the Day

(this true EMS story relates to the author and a volunteer ambulance company of which he is a member is not necessarily in any chronological order) Time frame, approximate 1990.

Most days my ambulance corps has set crews and each has a crew chief. The crew chief is usually the member with the highest EMT certification. I was not on duty the day of the following call, however, since I am a first responder, I respond whenever I am available, on call or not. Once on scene, I stabilize a patient until the rig arrives and then pass the patient over to the crew. I stay with the crew, to the hospital if I am needed.

It was a Saturday afternoon, about 2pm. I was enjoying the bright summer day, mowing my lawn and fixing up the front yard. My pager went off announcing a motor vehicle accident with the driver ejected from car. The Saturday crew was just coming out of the hospital after answering a call previously. I ran to quickly clean up and jump in my car to respond. I arrived at the scene after the ambulance but decided to see if I could help out anyway. I was needed.

My certification is EMT Basic. Has been for the past 22 years, and on this day I was working with what was then called, AEMT’s, (4 of them) which are Advanced EMT’s able to start IV’s, give medications, defibrillate manually, etc. Today AEMT is equated as EMT-CC. What I saw upon arrived scared the hell out of me. Our patient looked to be an 18 or 19 year old male, obviously ejected from his car after hitting a tree on the side of a service road for the interstate expressway that runs through our district. He was supine (face up) on the street with his head half on and half off the curb. He was unconscious.

In EMS, the rule is BLS (basic life support) before ALS (advanced life support). Our problem was to perform our ABC’s then immobilize this patient, properly, before doing much else. We did. It was not easy considering his position in which we found him as well as his obviously injured neck and other injuries. We moved him while stabilizing his head and neck, placed a cervical collar on him and then placed him on a long backboard for transport. Still unconscious enroute to the hospital, we assisted the patients breathing using a BVM (bag-valve mask) and our AEMT’s started their IV, then intubated the patient so our BVM assist was more efficient.

We retrieved the patients identification from his wallet and were stunned to see he was the son of one of our founding members of the corps. The time format in which this call occurred was before the advent of the cell phone, so notification of next of kin had to wait until we arrived at the hospital.

Our patient was taken into the trauma room upon arrival and the trauma team went right to work. While many EMS workers complain about care some patients get in the hospital, we had nothing but praise for the manner in which our patient was treated this day.

Not long after we completed the call (actually several days later) we learned, in a thank you note from the patients’ mother, that he had sustained a broken neck in the accident. The surgeon who worked on him said that if it weren’t for the extremely good care we gave him in the field, packaging him perfectly, he might have ended up a paraplegic. He wore a hallo device for several months until his injuries healed and walked out of the hospital on his own.

Today, the young man we assisted that bright summer day is alive and well, married, and living in Virginia. This is one of those calls where everything turned out well because we trained for it in advance. Putting our training and skills to work in the field and having an outcome such as this, is what makes working (even volunteering) so rewarding.

LOST - A BATTERED SOUL

DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.


My cousin Lillian, whom I've written about before, in this blog, died this past Saturday at North Shore University Hospital. She was 85.

Went to her funeral on Monday, along with my brother and my daughter. Lill was one of our last close relatives in our small family. (that we had contact with, anyway) It was a nice service and internment was simple in rainy weather.

Lillian fought off many different catastrophic illnesses throughout her lifetime and always surprised everyone by bouncing back. But not this time. This last illness was just too much and she succumbed quietly in her sleep while in the hospital.

Even though confined to a wheel chair, she was an active member of her temple in Great Neck, NY, as well as, her community in general. Lillian touched many lives and many of those she touched came to the funeral service to express their condolences and respect. She is survived by her brother, two daughters and five grandchildren and many cousins.

We'll all miss her. May she rest in peace.

Diverticu what?

DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.


Well... out of sync but here goes anyway...

From October 7th through the 14th, my daughter and I were in Orlando Florida at the EMS EXPO 2007. This was the first convention either Rachel or I had been to, her in 5years plus, me in 21.

Very interesting... lots to see and learn about, plus a vacation like atmosphere that I have not enjoyed in many years. Forgot all about the craziness back home. It was great.

Anyway... learned a lot, ate a lot, played a lot, gambled a little..lol (and lost this time)...then went home.

I was to return to work the evening of the Sunday morning on which we arrived home. I called my job on Saturday and told them I would not be in until Monday night. I did not tell them why... just that I was tired and probably needed a good nights rest after a 1 week vacation. I just did not feel right but could not put a finger on why.

Well, I slept alot after returning home Sunday... and slept alot on Monday... Awoke around 2PM and started cleaning up our scattered mess of souvenirs, luggage and such. I moved a heavy and, as of that moment not emptied, large piece of luggage from the living room and put it downstairs in Rachels' room. It was then I felt a pain in my left mid abdomen. I have a double inguinal hernia and thought I blew it out... Then thought, aw... a gas pocket.. it will go away... so in order to get ready for work that night (Monday) I went to catch a nap at about 6:00PM. I got up at 8:45PM and was climbing the walls in pain. I really thought I busted my gut...lol...

Luckily, Rachel was just returning home from work and I told her how I felt, she called my son Dan and he quickly returned home from a friends house.

By 9:45PM I was in the emergency room at Brookhaven Hospital. I'm lucky that there are a lot of people at the E/R that know me and my daughter from the ambulance company we ride with. I got some immediate treatment.

My surgeon, who I had already called to alert that I was coming in, would stop into the E/R when finished in the O/R. He did. He immediately ordered a Cat Scan and said this is no hernia...For the pain I was given 5mg of Morphine. Wow... heavy stuff...lol I had a bad reaction to it and was loopy for quite some time... Anyway... was able to drink the contrast fluid... then passed out. I don't remember the Cat Scan at all...lol

The scan showed I had had an attack of diverticulitis. I was an inch or so away from needing surgery. Lucky for me the surgeon opted to see if heavy IV antibiotics would reduce the possibility of needing immediate surgery. He was right.

Spent the night in the E/R and some time Tuesday (11/16) was moved to a semi-private room on 2 East. This was the only the second time I had ever been hospitalized (one time prior with pneumonia) and I was not ready for it. However, all things being equal, the staff at 2 East both day and night were great. I was there until mid day on Sunday 11/21. The entire time I was in the hospital, I was nauseous from the 2 types of antibiotics at was being given via IV. Even with anti nausea medication I was nauseous.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

Regarding an old lawsuit...

DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.


Seems like one part of a lawsuit has been dismissed as I had previously forecast (July 2007)... Seems a Supreme Court Judge (NYS) found no harm done by the newspaper involved and as such, dismissed the them from the suit. Now it's just a one on one thing.

Notice... no names here... only those involved might have the slightest idea what I am alluding to...Have a great day!:)

So Tell me...

DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.

So... AFTER A BRIEF DISCUSSION WITH AN AFFECTED PARTY, I HAVE DECIDED TO REMOVE THE " So Tell Me..." ENTRY. NO FURTHER DISCUSSION IS REQUESTED.
cya lata

For those who missed the excellent comments posted on a previous entry, I present them for you now, in their entirety and without commercial interruption. ( lol )
comment 1 Anonymous said... I HATE YOUR GUTS!!!! 7:23 PM
comment 2 Anonymous said... So MUCh 7:23 PM
comment 3 Anonymous said... weebles wobble but they don't fall down 7:24 PM
comment 4 Anonymous said... trix are for kids silly rabbit 7:25 PM
comment 5 Anonymous said... follow your nose 7:25 PM
comment 6 Anonymous said... spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down makes medicine go downnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 7:26 PM
comment 7 Anonymous said... I smell pooh 7:27 PM
comment 8 Anonymous said... cant we all just get along 7:27 PM
comment 9 Anonymous said... Will you marry me 7:28 PM (she is already married)
comment 10 Anonymous said... I learned from watching you ok! 7:28 PM
comment 11 Anonymous said... Scoooby doooby doooooooooooo 7:29 PM
comment 12 Anonymous said... sponge bob square pantssssssssss who lives in a sponge under the sea 7:29 PM
comment 13 Anonymous said... go go gadget brains 7:30 PM
comment 14 Anonymous said... I smell cheeseeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 7:31 PM
comment 15 Anonymous said... You are the weakest link! Good bye 7:31 PM

cool huh? lol guess she couldn't think of anything else to say...

Oh My... More Visitors

DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.


Well... it seems that some "members" of the ambulance corps I belong to are visiting my blog. How nice. However, many are perturbed about what I've written. No names mentioned, mind you... but perturbed none the less.

Seems that over the 3 years I've maintained this "online" diary... many of my experiences and thats all they are, my experiences...have come to light and people (as is their right, just as it is mine to write about it) are uptight. Well, excuse me...

I have been accused of a lot of things, only because I am a visible member, outspoken and at times downright loud. But that's just the way it is... Someone told me I am too passionate about the "goings on" in the corps... that I should reserve that passion for the bedroom... lol I like it...

Most recent events have accused me of having a MySpace page with all kinds of bad things to say about the corps. Please... lol if you know how... visit my page... there is nothing there except for pics of 5 or so people who have asked to be part of it. Their posts are there... (which I have nothing to do with except that I can delete them and none of them have related to the corps at all.)

In addition, recent events have provoked some members to plead with everyone to stop the charges... stop the lawsuits... stop the bullsh*t... lol It's a clic thing... They preach unity and yet one of their own is the ONLY one in the corps with an "active" (according to the latest from the Unified Court System, State of New York) lawsuit against another member as well as a local newspaper. LOL ... Is this a case of do as I say not as I do? Well... no matter... seems frivolous anyway... Seems that a local paper published an article which contained a picture of members of some corps tending to patients of a motor vehicle accident. Unfortunately, neither member is wearing his/her issued turnout gear as is supposedly required. Seems it showed these members in a bad light (brought on themselves). In the article, a member, correction ex-member (thrown out illegally with no hearing) was misquoted in his commentary. Thus a lawsuit... the first actual suit I am aware of in 20+ years in the corps.

I'll comment on that one when and if it is not dismissed. (there have been motions to do so already) ...

I've got to run... more craziness later... cya

[note to anyone leaving a comment... comments are always welcome...however, anonymous comments, vulgar comments and comments with no real meaning will NOT be published. There were on July 7th 2007, 3 different comments I had to review when I updated this blog, errors in grammar, spelling and such lead me to believe they were not serious in their commentary and therefore not published]

Been Awhile Again...

DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.


Well... with blogger switching over to Google... oy... finally with Dan's help I am able to get back in and update my blog.

Lots has happened... Word has it that some members of my corps have found their way to my blog and are not happy... oh well too bad... Most times truth hurts but I've used no names, not even the corps name, so those that are unhappy can shove it... hows that.

I will be back shortly to update what's been happening.... i.e. the elections, the aftemath, shittergate and much, much more... stay tuned... lol cya

Support Our Troops When They Come Home Too!

DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.


Today I found out about IAVA. Iraq & Afganistan Veterans of America. This organization is attempting to wake up the Bush administration and the general public as to the short comings of our Veterans Hospitals in helping returning vets with PTSD and other problems... I watched some videos of news shows, detailing the problems of being able to get help in a timely fashion and it was an eye opener. How can we, as a country, dismiss or ignore our returning vets in this way? We shouldn't and cannot afford to continue to do so. Our returning veteran sons and daughters need help and should get it without having to wait and wait and wait.

Contact your Senators, Congressman, write the President and whoever else you can think of to do something to make it right. Our veterans fought to keep us free. We should fight to keep them healthy. Please support IAVA. Thank you.

Dang... Call me Mr Fixit...

DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.


Owning a home is a great... But with it come the problems of things breaking down. Major things, like the oil burner, I leave to the experts.. I don't know squat about oil burners, except how to prime it with oil after I run out. I run out because I don't keep track of how much I have. A simple enough thing to do.. But I don't. So I run out, get more and have to prime the pump before it will run again... Nothing unusual here...Probably many others like me do the same thing.

However, about a month ago our washing machine decided if was old enough to want a rest and it gave out. Not the motor or the clutch or the main innards of the machine... Just the agitator. Now, I am NOT a mechanic. Never really been mechanically inclined, but I ain't stupid. (personal opinion)

Seems the upper half of the agitator was no longer interested in turning, thus not allowing for a full wash load to be done. I had thought there were two clutches, one controlling the lower agitator and one the upper... Therefore, thought it out and came to the following conclusion. Need a new washer. I thought this way since calling a tech in to check the machine would probably run about $75... Then the cost of repair, whatever that might be just did not seem worth it if a new machine might cost about $350...

I had taken the agitator apart myself, (yes, I am not totally un-mechanically inclined) and found that parts that were supposed to move the upper agitator in the opposite direction of the lower, did not seem to be doing their job. Poof.. Reality time and I am thinkin ok... Get a new machine.

So Jay and I go to Lowe's to look for a new washer. While there, I look at the parts on the new machine that are not working on mine... Wow... Those little rubbery thingys... They put a brake on the agitator... hmmmm... Seems mine don't do that... Jay and I go back home and look again... We don't buy the new machine.

I go on the internet to Whirlpool.com... sure enough... The little rubber thingys are called dogs... (why???) they are my problem. I call around to various (about 6) appliance parts stores and find one that has the "agitator cam kit"... $24.99. I buy the kit, replace the old dogs with new and voila... My washer works again.. I am GOOD. Whew... Almost spent $350 unnecessarily.

On another note, two years ago I bought a Fiesta Bar-B-Q... Nice unremarkable dual burner model, simple, as my taste runs...(cheap too $99)... Well, the other night I cooked 42 thin sliced chicken cutlets. My kids and I love chicken cutlets. Jay showed me how cooking with less oil is better than cooking with more... Sorry... Off the track here... While at the butcher shop getting the cutlets, I also picked up 5 beautiful filet mignons...So Let's have those tonight... Not exactly. When I went to start the BBQ, found that the tray that holds the lava rocks over the burner was completely disintegrated, lava rocks (in pieces and covered in old food droppings broken and on the burner itself. The burner is even worse off, holes everywhere... Now... What to do... Well first off we cooked the filets in the oven broiler... Perfectly and were they good. Next day I set out looking for replacement parts for the BBQ.

Lowe's had a replacement burner, $19.95 but no tray for the lava rocks... That's a special order item for the Fiesta brand BBQ. I attempt to improvise, using another type of grid. No go.. Too big...I take it back and low and behold... They have a new fangled cover that goes over the burner to evenly distribute the heat, no lava rocks needed. Perfect. ($19.95) Now I've spent $40 plus dollars (tax included) to fix a $99 BBQ. Hmmmm something not right here... But it works... and I saved bout $50 not buying a new $99 BBQ. Call me Mr Fixit. See ya.

The World is Very Different Now....

DISCLAIMER: The images and writing contained in this blog are the thoughts and opinions of the blogger. Obviously, all names have been left out to protect both the innocent and the guilty. Thank heavens for the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution which allows presentation of my own feelings and opinions. There are those that feel I have violated privacy or confidences, however, with no names mentioned, attachment can only be made by inference. If by chance you don't agree with what is written here, or, feel you don't like what you have read, stop reading and don't bother coming back.


Incoming President John F. Kennedy said those words in his inaugural address, January, 1961. "The world is very different now, for man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human suffering and all forms of human life."

If he only knew what was happening today.

On a local level I am simply amazed at the balls, chutzbah, nerve of some people. Especially those in the "volunteer" ambulance company located somewhere on Long Island, of which I am associated and ride emergency medical calls. As an EMT, I've been in the corps now, celebrating, well at this point I don't know if celebrating is the right word, my 20th year this year and seeing what our current officers and directors are doing to it hurts me and my community like all hell.

Somewhere, at sometime, someone said "ABSOLUTE POWER, CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY" How true.

It seems, having the headaches of being in a leadership position in the corps are outweighed by the benefits. You see the Chief and Assistant Chief get vehicles to use while they are in office. One uses the car for ambulance calls which is proper and correct, and the other uses the vehicle for more personal business than professional. The Assistant says answering emergency calls is not the priority and substantiates the use of the vehicle stating, "I do a lot of "administrative" work". Yeah right... O.K.

As in any organization, ours is a Not-For-Profit corporation, we have by-laws and rules and regulations. Well presently, all of them are being bent to the benefit and pleasure of our officers. One by-law promises a "fair and impartial hearing" should charges be brought against a member for any offense. But what is to be done, when one is charged and NOT given the benefit of a "fair and impartial hearing"?.

Our corps attorney offers us his " opinions" but rarely quotes the law. In one such case part of the law was quoted, "NYS state law dictates, that officers in a corporation cannot be disciplined for carrying our the official roles as officers", however our attorney told us only part of the law... left out was the last part of the above sentence, he left out "as long as they are acting in good faith". (found that out, surfing on the internet myself...) Well our officers recently acted, but NOT (in my opinion) "in good faith" . So what is to be done.

I'm rambling here...It's early in the morning and I've got another case of bronchitis and cannot sleep properly. I awoke thinking about the garbage going on in the ambulance corps and just had to write.

Anyway... Our elections for the coming year's officers are held in March and elected officers and directors take office on April first. How appropriate, April Fools Day they take office. As some people are slightly immoral, if you are interested in remaining in office, what do you do to assure that? You eliminate all those members you feel may not vote for you or run against you. Right? Well, unconfirmed rumor has it that it seems that of approximately 60 regular, voting members in the corps, there was concern that suddenly 29 were to have been eliminated from the priviledge of voting this year for one bogus reason or another.

As for me, I was advised that the seven (7) FEMA certificates of training I submitted during the year are astonishingly (but not surprisingly) missing! Therefore, I am told I cannot vote. Oops, I kept copies and resubmitted them to one of the officers, so whew... now I can vote. Others are not so lucky. They are being run off simply because they do not agree with the officers and have no recourse. Lame excuses, such as not enough committee work, or no doctors note when unable to ride due to injury or illness. Petty stuff but good enough for the officers to say you cannot vote. In good standing in November but not in January.

Discrimination is rampant. One member (not well liked by the officers) submitted a request for a copy of the tape recording of the hearing she attended regarding charges against her. She also requested to see her personnel file. She was told to have an attorney request that information and was denied access to her file. That same night, I verbally asked (and I'm not well liked by the officers either) to see my personnel file and was immediately granted access. Is this not discrimination? I believe it is, and unfortunately again, the courts will have to decide. And believe me... it'll probably come to that.

As an agency of a municipality, our corps is subject to The Freedom of Information Law or FOIL. But some of our officers, one in particular, think otherwise stating "we don't have to give them nothin" The big E goes up on the board people... Error, error, error.

In addition to this silly sh*t ... oops, stuff going on... One member (4-5 years in the corps) was thrown out of the organization without ANY hearing at all. He received a letter, from the board of officers, stating that the board of officers would be meeting on a particular evening to discuss the charges against him, but the letter was in no way asking, requiring or making it mandatory for him to attend. So they found him guilty on all charges, in absentia. And still no recourse (internally). But since it is a crime to deny someone their civil and constitutional rights, the courts will have to decide the final outcome. Again, time will tell... How unfortunate it has come to this. What will happen to the corps? Who knows. Anyway I'm goin back to sleep. Wish us luck.