MY Top 10 of ‘11

1. The people I have met in 2011 This should go without saying. I finally got the privilege to meet the folks behind the keyboards and @ signs that I have spoken to in 140 character blocks. It was worth being called an “ass” when I met Ted Setla, as much as it was worth watching @THEGrinderMedic order someone a drink called “uh…” in Vegas. Hope to meet more next year.

2. EMS Today 2011 Well, yeah, the first real conference I went to would make the #2 spot. It had its own set of adventures (to include a missed flight). When is the pre-party for next year’s at Pratt St.?

3. EMSWorld Expo 2011  Wow…the one thing I bitched the loudest about getting my travel approved for only made #3. The strip and the Las Vegas Convention Center will never be the same after the #CoEMS crew was done with it. Will NOLA be the same?

4. FDIC 2011 The biggest Fire Department conference of the year made the Number 4 spot on this year’s top 10. Finally meeting The Fire Critic, Capt. Willie Wines, and a few others.  Same place in 2012—the week before my 41st celebration of being alive.

5. My unit returning home from Iraq The 801st Combat Support Hospital (Detachment 10) was in Iraq for 10 months providing Detainee Health Care. All but two of my Soldiers are now home.

6. 21 seconds at FDIC The Globe Firefighter Challenge only took me 21 seconds to complete at FDIC in Indianapolis.  It would have been faster if I had known that the “rescue dummy” weighed about three pounds (I was expecting much heavier).

just crawl between the cones to take less time

7. Participating in #KiltedtoKickCancer The idea of a couple of friends not only increased awareness for the male specific cancers, but also ended up with a pretty penny being donated to LiveStrong and the Prostate Cancer Foundation. It also got the biggest reading from this headquarters while trying to make my kilt (which is now hanging in the closet and a 3rd one is being planned on for purchase eventually). I will say, though, that they’re nice in the summer…but one wintertime word:  SHRINKAGE. (Though they make life easier with the TSA)
 

8. Making the “Medic’s Mecca” The only reason this is not higher in the countdown is because 1) the LACoFD Museum was closed and 2) the crew from LACoFD Station 127 were out on a run when I arrived. It was still a nice retirement present from my unit given to me the day before Thanksgiving.
 

9. Attending the 9th Annual US Army EMS Conference I wasn’t expecting to go, but I got my first glimpse of the Alamo and Durty Nelly’s in San Antonio. This trip was much better than phase 2 of my BNCOC.
 

10. My Retirement Orders It took over a year to get them, and that included re-submitting the packet exactly one year after I first put it in. But getting them puts a chapter to a close that I am very thankful to have written in history. It had its high points and low points, and I actually got to see some beautiful parts of the country while I was in the Army Reserve, but now I get to watch the younger Soldiers fill in my place as I sit and watch from my rocking chair.

FDIC 2011—as traveled by me

Ahhhhh….returned home last night from another whirlwind weekend…and had no orders attached to the end of it like my trip to Baltimore.

Me and “the Deer Slayer” (aka “the Green Machine”, “WTF is that?”, and “Rescue 4”) made our way eastward on 74 at a good rate of putter.  The entire time knowing I had a goal of being there around 1400 EDT (Thanks, Boss, for not shoving me out and letting us shoot the wind). By the time I reached and crossed the IL/IN border, I had a few inquisitive tweets and texts as to my whereabouts. One was a Beautiful maiden telling me that she was going to be “living vicariously thru u this weekend”.

After a couple of missed turns (and too late to hit the convention center (especially after I was told it was $45 to get in per day)), I ended at my hotel.

I figured since I had time before the meet up, I figured I’d take care of about 5 days of weeds on my face before I went. I no sooner had my lower jaw covered with shaving cream when another text came in “We’re here…surprise.”

I made my way to the door and had to crane my neck when I opened it and saw gingermedic and the before mentioned beauty.  Needless to say, my jaw hit the concrete.  Here I was, shaving cream on my face, one path of a razor down my neck, and two beautiful women come to my door.

I let the ladies in and return to finish the removal of the beard from my face (Damn, a lot of grey hair shows in my beard when I don’t shave). We then draft some kind of game plan for the night.

While all the thinking was going on (explains the HA I had), @Ckemtp comes a pounding on my door.  Three medics and a basic 28 days out of the month (only a combat medic on reserve weekends) planning to invade a fire party.  This is gonna be fun.

When we finally found a place to park and got there we were greeted by @FireCritic and made our way to get a soda and a glass of water. was actually surprised he could stay out as late as he did

And of course Dave Statter already knew about the blog post before I even composed it.

Was a shock to have the publisher of EMS World sit and talk to us for a little bit.  Was also “very cool” to meet Tiger Schmittendorf, the host of “Firefighter Storytellers” on Firefighter Netcast.

We ended up going back to the room early and becoming pretty much asystolic.  Saturday’s events (to include my 21 second obstacle course time) in the next.

Just some writing…

Blog entry

ACT ONE

EXT. APPARATUS STAGING AREA - DAY
HALLIGAN and DEE DEE leave their engine parked in the staging area of the call and start to make their way to the mess tent, chatting as they go.

HALLIGAN

I honestly don’t see why Hush is crushing so hard on him. Jesus, is he that dense that he’s not even seeing it?

DEE DEE

This is Sam we’re talking about.

HALLIGAN

I know. Hell, when he’s with other medics, he’s talking like they’re all in a garage somewhere kicking back with a beer.

Dee Dee stops just short of being in front of a colored tarp used to triage injured people. Halligan gets to the other side of the tarp and notices that Dee Dee’s not next to her and stops to wait.
At the tarp treating a patient is CHRIS MONTERA and KYLE DAVID BATES. 

Chris and Kyle stop what they’re doing and the four just look at each other, then forward toward the camera. They all shrug their shoulders and continue what they were doing.
 

DEE DEE

You do have a point.

HALLIGAN

I know I do.

DEE DEE

I had to pick him up from St. Jonah a few weeks ago and all he could do was sit in that lounge and talk with AMT’s medics about “reform” and “community model” calling it something like “EMS 2 point 0”

Halligan stops just short of another colored tarp like the one they stopped at before. At the tarp treating a couple of patients are CHRIS KAISER, JUSTIN SHORR, and TED SETLA.
The three medics stop what they’re doing and look at each other, then at Halligan and Dee Dee.  The five look forward toward the camera, shrug their shoulders, and go back to what they were doing.

EXT. CANTEEN DINING AREA - DAY

Halligan and Dee Dee enter the dining area of the mobile canteen. There are a few tables scattered with firefighters and medical folks at each of the tables. The pair stop at the canteen trailer and place their order. They start walking back to the staging area, continuing their conversation.

HALLIGAN
I’ve heard it quite a bit, too. You know what kills me, though?
DEE DEE
What’s that?
HALLIGAN
The time he spends just sitting in front of that computer either in the station or at home just listening.
DEE DEE
Listening?
HALLIGAN
Yeah.
DEE DEE
Listening to what?
HALLIGAN
Various things.
DEE DEE
You know what we should do?
HALLIGAN
What’s that?
DEE DEE
Something like that on our own. Make our own thing to listen to. “By Firefighter for Firefighters”. You know, “This ain’t your daddy’s firefighting radio show.” Think he’ll listen to that?
 

Halligan stops just short of one of the tables as Dee Dee walks past. Sitting at the table are RHETT FLEITZ, ART GOODRICH, TIGER SCHMITTENDORF, CHRISTOPHER NAUM, and JOHN MITCHELL, all in their turnout gear worn down for comfort.

Dee Dee stops just as she gets past the table. The two women and five gentlemen at the table look at each other, then forward toward the camera. They all shrug their shoulders and continue what they were doing, except for John, who briefly interrupts the conversation.

JOHN
I think that’s already been done.