Installation Dinner? or Farewell Party?

Saturday evening, April 2nd... an ambulance company from somewhere in Suffolk County held it's 2005 installation dinner somewhere in Suffolk County. With such a decidedly split organization, one found it difficult to discern, installation dinner or the outgoing chief's farewell party.

I had a blast. Giving out awards to those that earned them was a treat. Especially fullfilling were the "special" awards... We chose two probationary members of the year. One male and one female. I feel that this years recipients really deserved the title. In addition, the Chief's Award was given to a very hard working, dedicated individual who helped me throughout the year. He really helped me alot...pain in the butt sometimes...LOL but...he definitely deserved this award. Of course, no matter who gets what awards, some people will be unhappy... Oh well...


A Suffolk County Legislator presents the outgoing Chief with a proclamation. 

Invited dignitaries spoke briefly, extolling the outgoing Chief's (my)accomplishments...There were some cheers, some boo's (no couth) at various times through the night but overall... it went well.

One very special award was given out that night. As previously posted here... back in October, 2004, one of our ambulances was involved in a head on collission with an alleged drunk driver. (He hit our vehicle in our lane of travel) The EMT in charge, with an infant patient and the patients family in the back of the ambulance, with total disregard for her own injuries (2 broken ribs and sprained shoulder)


Shown here are the outgoing Chief, the high calls EMT/Driver (over 700), an outstanding hero EMT holding her award, and an Asst. Chief. 

evaluated and the evacuated the ambulance. She then settled everyone on the side of the road and went about rendering emergency aid to the alleged drunk driver. He was seriously injured and she remained with him until relieved by arriving EMS workers.

For this she was recognized before her peers and received a standing ovation. Everyone stood but a few...(we won't mention names here, as in this entire blog...) and that showed what ignorant people they really are. But we did not let that stop the great party from continuing on.


I got to dance with Rachel to "Butterfly Kisses" She looked great, didn't she? 

I got to dance with Liz,(oops there I go mentioning names...lol) and with my daughter Rachel...(to Butterfly Kisses) My brother David and sister-in-law Marilyn were there too. All in all we enjoyed my farewell party.


I surprised Liz with a bouquet of roses (a gift to her actually from the ambulance organization) 

I was going to make a long speech, about what I attempted to do during my first year as Chief... instead I simply congratulated the in-coming Chief saying, "Congratulations on being elected Chief, but remember, a year is a short period of time... I'll be back". Ooos and ahhs abounded...lol

Now I'll be able to get some personal things accomplished in my life. It'll be a great year. Later...

The End is Near.... Thank heavens....

The end of my term as Chief is here...Just One More Day. Thank Heavens.

Finding out that one was duped... in any forum is disheartening to say the least... But the realization that it happened in an organization of which I've been a member for 18 years, really stinks.

But for the few members that have some real intellegence, I can quite frankly live without at least 27 members of my corps. The fact that they (the 27) re-elected the past Chief, the one that tampered with ballots after last years elections, boggles the mind. (but then again... the country elected Tricky Dick twice... so.....)

None the less, the days have dwindled down and soon I'll turn over the responsibilities of being Chief to her. It's almost a relief for me. My entire first year was spent putting out fires... not real fires, but the petty squabbles, intentional sabotage and in-fighting that are the clearest indicators of a split corps.

It's funny how some people can join an organization like ours, one that is dedicated to saving lives, helping the sick and injured in their time of need, helping to bring new life into this world and keeping the grim reeper at his distance because of our skills, and then could even think of not responding, staying away from, emergency calls for help, because I was Chief. To make me look bad? To raise our mutual aid numbers, which in reality makes the entire corps look bad?? Unthinkable, really sad... but true...

I knew this was the case early on in my one year as Chief. But there was little I could do to change it. I tried to be the good guy... to always do the right thing, the ethical thing, whether it made people happy or not. The right thing. When one is attempting to pull 50-60 people together against a tide of 20-30 people pulling it apart at every turn, is very hard. And remember, it is difficult to remember the original task was to empty the swamp, when you are up to your ass in alligators...

Prime example of what these people would do, the under handed tricks... Example, how about a past female Chief (older one, not the one just re-elected) currently Chairperson of the Board of Directors, offered to help me out by calling membership to try and get more people to come out on calls and instead attempted to destroy me in the same breath... What was I to expect? The fact that she would even have the nerve, the balls, the unmitigated gaul to say to many other members, "Larry is a burnt out, crispy critter" This should not really be all that surprising. Smiles in your face and stabs you in the back... Luckily, I have learned to take a lot of what happens with a grain of salt.

So tonight at 11:59:59 I will take my leave as Chief of the ambulance company. April 1st will mark the reign of a returning April Fool... At least this year, that's not me.

For the next year, I'll go back to being a first responder EMT, and serve on a shift like any other member... I'll have time for doing some things for myself, for my family. Will I run again?? Maybe, just to keep them honest... Well....as honest as possible anyway. Remember.... "HE ONLY WANTED THE CAR"... later...

What was lost... comes home...

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.

OK this is gonna sound convaluted...(sp?) but it really is...You be the judge. My daughter Rachel answers several ambulance calls one day... During one, she places her cell phone on the bench seat in the ambulance. When another alarm comes in, instead of getting in the original ambulance (where her phone was left) but into another waiting rig. While going to the next alarm, she realizes she left her cell phone, (a Nextel i860) in the other rig. She contacts them on the radio and requests the other crew look for her phone.

The other crew reports no can find... no phone anywhere. Hmmmmm... So after all calls are complete, a further search of all rigs, the various scenes and the hospital emergency room (including garbage pails), no phone.

Rachel posts a note at the ambulance HQ. Lost phone... if found please contact. Now, Rachel had only gotten this phone a week or so earlier. Luckily, she purchased insurance on the phone and for $100 deductible... got a replacement phone.
Her sign at HQ yielded no phone...

Now, two weeks or so after her phone is "lost?" another member comes up to her and "accuses" her of "accusing him" of stealing her phone. Rachel says...."no way..." Then he proceeds to show her HIS new cell phone... a Nextel i860 that he says he got, coincidentally, 2 days after she "lost" hers. Hmmmmmm... and there is a scratch on the phone just like the one on her original i860. Hmmmmmm..,

But, Rachel is cool... She does not want to jump to conclusions... But it bothers her...and with good reason.

Waiting until the time is right... Rachel finally gets the chance to confront the member who might have her phone. Using a ruse... she is able to check the Motorola serial number inside the phone. Boink... her original phone is in her hands.

Quietly, in private she confronts this individual, (I'm there watching) who becomes quite agitated over the situation. He complains that he is being "accused" of stealing Rachels phone. Rachel says she has no beef with him, she just wants her cell phone back. The suspect says he bought the phone from a neighbor for $150.00. (this was a brand new phone, selling at the best discounter for about $400)...

After much debate... the phone is returned to Rachel. Matter closed. She has her phone back... no further actions needed... (or so she thought)

The individual who had and gave up Rachels cell phone, then speaks out... to about 25 other members of the corps... that he is being accused of stealing Rachels cell phone... that she had tricked him (which she did) into seeing his phone... (stealing it was nothing... the fact that he was tricked bothers him) OK... Now everyone is hearing the story... but it all makes Rachel look like the bad guy... She's the victim here... LOL ... What to do... what to do... I think a police report might be in order... then what? ... This is where the story ends for now... as we know not yet where it will lead. More later.

Post Election News

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... the feeling of exhilaration is simply amazing. I never thought losing an election could feel so good. Now I'll get the proper amount of sleep, something I've missed over the past year being Chief.

With all the petty childishness that went on, I'm surprised we survived. Between having one member tell others I was a "burnt out, crispy critter" and others actually believing it...I gotta tell ya...I'm very surprised and disappointed. I would have thought a greater majority of members could have seen though the bullshit. But alas, I was wrong. Promises win elections... And I made no promises. So...we'll see how this coming year goes. While I would have preferred being Chief another year, and was more than willing to devote the time and energy to do the job, the rest will do me good.

In the meantime, our annual "installation dinner" (where we feast and "install" [swear in] new officers, is now a dual celebration. Since we're still a split corps, one half will be celebrating my farewell party while the other half... well... watch as the new officers get installed.

All this would not bother me at all if there was some logical reasoning behind what has happened. I would have never thought that members with many years in the corps, many years of helping people in their time of need would stoop to such lows. To not come out and answer calls (which means a call is given to neighboring department) because I was Chief certainly must tell ya something. Patient care is not their goal. I asked, many times, "you wanna make me look bad... fine I can live with that, but don't let it affect our patient care." But alas, again I was wrong and that's exactly what many members did...Sad isn't it? Just one look at the stats and one can see what I'm talking about. Some members did not even do half of the calls they did the year before. Shameful. They short changed themselves and more importantly... our public. The residents we're suppossedly here to help.

Well... Enough of that. Now I'll stand my weekly duty shift and answer as many other alarms as possible. Will I answer 580 this year as the one just past? Who knows, but I'll not be riding for the "new-old" chief, I'll be responding for the residents of my community, my patients, not the chief. Somehow I don't think members got that idea, that you don't ride for the Chief... you ride for the public. That's what it's all about...

And another thing... (reply to this post if you will...) Maybe I'm confused... If I was a burnt out, crispy critter would I be more or less interested in patient care? I would think if I was burnt out I wouldn't give a damn. What do you think?

Now I think tomorrow I'll paint the new shed door. That's just one "around the house" job I've put off too long.

Till the next post...

Dan Returns to Iraq (tour 2)

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...Dan called March 9th and let me know he'd be free from duty on the afternoon of the 11th and not have to be back until 0'dark hundred on the 13th. On the 13th his battalion ships out. Dan was at Camp Lejeune, NC with the USMC training to return to Iraq.



So I called Dan's brother Jay, working at a ski resort in Vermont and told him, time to go... So he came home Thursday morning. Rachel called into work for Thursday night and Sunday night...I banged into my job and switched work days with two co-workers so I was off as well.

So off we went to be with Dan for a day and a half before he shipped out. Long drive, twelve hours plus, but more than worth it. Left in time to arrive at Lejeune just as Dan was getting off duty...About 8:30 AM. Found a hotel, checked in, got 2 hrs sleep and then on to the base.

Dan packing...at Camp Lejeune, Rachel,Dan and I watch.  

While I am really worried and concerned for my son's safety and well being, he seems to be hooked up with a great band of brothers in his company and platoon. We'd met most of them before and enjoyed meeting Dan's new friends and comrades in arms.

We shopped for last minute things Dan wanted and ate like kings. Twice at the Texas Roadhouse restuarant... great food. Good quality time that I hope Dan remembers fondly while away at war.

At the Texas Roadhouse.. (left to right) Jay, Cpl Dan and Rachel. 

Sunday morning came to quickly...and we had to say our goodbyes... The tears flowed and the hugs did not last long enough but finally we had to leave the base.

Jay, Rachel and I got home safe and sound in the wee hours of Monday morning. Jay left at 6 AM to return to Vermont. Rachel and I slept. Then I got a phone call from Dan at 7 AM (NY time). He called from Ireland... a stop over on the way to Iraq. He sounded good and was anxious to get there already. He said he'd call again when he could. I'm waiting patiently.

Trip was short but filled with great times and great memories. See ya...

To Elect or Not

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's time for me to get a new psychic...lol... With a snowfall and ice storm following, Tuesday evening elections were held and many of those that might have come out to vote, could not or would not. But a majority of our members wanted to still hold the elections, bad weather or not... and so they were held.

I can sleep at night because I do the right thing, the honorable thing... the moral thing...I am ashamed of what took place tonight at elections... but I am not a sore loser, I actually look forward to the rest I be able to get. I lost by 3 votes, just like 2 years ago... no biggy... But what bothers me most is that my opponent, a former chief, who admitted tampering with the ballot envelope after last years elections won and nobody cares that she did it. As a matter of fact there were charges brought against her for doing so, but they were dropped due to technicalities...So we have a repeat chief, that admitted her guilt in ballot tampering after an election. What does that tell ya about our membership?

In any case, I wished her good luck for the coming year... Shook her hand in front of membership. I had sent out a letter to membership, prior to the election... Lots a people commented as to how good and well written it was.... but obviously, not good enough for those stuck on wanting the "good" accomplished during the last year to be over shadowed by all the bad...

None the less, I'll get more rest this coming year.... instead of running on calls so often. (580 for the year 2004-2005)

OUT OF SYNC AND GOING TOOTHLESS...

IF YOU ARE NEW TO READING MY BLOG... PLEASE START AT THE BEGINNING... LOOK FOR ARCHIVES... GOTO AUGUST 2004 AND START AT THE BOTTOM AND WORK UP. THANKS.

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.


We're into February...Even I cannot keep up with my on line diary.. My blog...

My son, Dan is still at Camp Lejeune, NC with the USMC... Of course, the Marine Corps in it's infinite wisdom has Dan and his unit training for SASO and desert warfare in a wintry North Carolina with 20-30 degree temperatures... The CO writes in a newsletter, everyone is fine with the exception of some light colds... right... Dan says he thinks he's on the verge of pneumonia. But he'll live through it. If it snows in Iraq, he'll be ready for it. We'll hopefully get to see him around the 24th of February when he gets his last 96 hour pass before shipping over to Iraq for his second tour of duty. I can hardly wait to see him... I miss him so much.

Jay seems to be enjoying working at Okemo Mountain in Vermont... Time off a ship and onto the snowy slopes. He's working in the ski lodge rental and repair shop but in his time off he snow boards... Always nice to be able to play while you work...

Well... Newest news...I developed an infection on not one but 2 of my lower front teeth last week... WHAT a PAIN...for real... I wear a full upper denture for the past 2 1/2- 3 years... but the lower teeth have been going the way of the wind because I have been too dumb to go to the dentist (they scare the hell out of me)... and keep up with "dental care"... So I got a Doctor friend to write me a scrip for anti-biotics... (self treatment is great ... Isn't it?? NOT) and unfortunately... the infection was just too overwhelming so my pain scale went right off the meter... I can take a lot... and I mean a lot of mouth pain... but this got to the point of debilitating me for almost 5 days... So I decided to go to the dentist.

X-rays and exam and yep... These 3 and that 1 have to come out... Then we'll set you up with a lower bridge... have a full mouth of teeth again... Tada... That would be nice.

So Today (2/10/05) I had oral surgery... the pain following the extractions is NOTHING compared to what I felt before so I'm doin pretty well... Will have the stitches out next week... ok enough about my teeth...At least I can still talk straight...lol

I'm starved... But cannot eat yet... So here I sit typing... Got off work this morning at 7am and by 8:15 was on my first (and only today) ambulance call. An unconscious elderly female from our local nursing home. Seems no one else was around today besides myself and Rachel, we went to the scene to stabilize... and a neighboring department sent an ambulance and ALS provider. When the call was completed, I picked up Rachel at the hospital and we went on to the dentists office.

While at the dentist, our ambulance company has 4 more calls and other departments had to handle them because we had no one around... This is why we MUST get the board of directors to approve paid first responders during certain hours of the day when we just don't have enough people on duty. They (the board) are going to have to face it one day and it had better be soon.

On a lighter note, my brother David is now working for an Anderson Window distributor in Connecticut, he seems to like it... It seems like a hard sell though... but... knowing David... He'll sell it...

Let's see... OK... no big explanation... but the charges that were flying around the ambulance corps since December'04 have all been disposed of, finally. Elections for new officers are coming up in March with nominations in January and February. So we'll see how the elections go. I am running for Chief again... With the hope that in a second year, we can really institute some viable and meaningful change. We sure as heck need it. Hopefully a lot of the "old" will go out and some of the "new" will come in... Maybe then we can accomplish more. I say this because I have been stymied by the board of officer and the board of directors for the past 11 months. Hopefully membership will give me (and a new board of officers and some new directors) the chance to do some good. Time will tell, as it always does.

I'll take a break here... Maybe make some scrambled eggs... Should be easy to eat...

As Arnold Schwartzeneger said in a movie... "I'll be bach..."