Welcome

I want to welcome you to my blog site.

I welcome comments. I will post all comments as long as they are not profane, obscene or a personal attack. An opinion is just that; an opinion and is not grounds to become mortal enemies. If nothing else, agree to disagree, but please do it respectfully.

This is a great platform for guys like me, because it allows a lot of stuff that churns around inside my head to spill out into what takes shape in the form of an opinion and a blog is born!

The beauty of a blog is that you don’t have to submit it for consideration, edification and then publication.

It is Freedom of Speech in free form. I decide what to write. I correct my errors and then post it as my blog.

I have been participating at the various fire service websites for several years now. My experience has taught me what is appropriate, acceptable, educational and hopefully, entertaining.

I will never be vulgar in what I discuss. I will be respectful of the subject matter. I will research topics to be factual. I will make every effort not to embarrass the innocent!

However; I will expose the mutts. I will show them no mercy. I will drive civilian mutts away from the fire service and I do what I can to drive the fire service mutts OUT of the fire service.

In a business such as ours’, we only have one shot at getting it right, so you don’t want to make an emotional decision, but instead, an informed decision.

As I was archiving my literary pieces, I was struck by the volume of my work. Several pieces are in the developmental stages, but still, I was surprised to see the number of pieces that had been published at the various websites.

And that doesn’t count the thousands of discussions that I have participated in. I believe that some of my best works lay between the pages of Firehouse.com, IACOJ.com and FirefighterNation.com.

Nothing like a good discussion to keep you young!

During my active time on the fire department, I was never one to sit back and take it as it came. I wanted to explore new equipment and new tactics. I wanted to push the envelope and to challenge those around me to raise the bar and then to raise it again.

In a way, I am still doing that, but now I do it through blogging and discussions.

When I write, I try to connect in some small way with everyone who takes the time to read what I write. I don’t expect it to affect everyone in the same way. That is why we have discussions.

An innocuous term, a subtle reference or an obscure sarcasm are all open to everyone’s own interpretation.

And there is the essence of what I do.

I would like to thank Dave, Chris and Tiger for all of their help and support in getting me to this juncture.

I am still tweaking some stuff, but I am very pleased so far with my still-evolving end result. It will continue to change, because, as I said earlier, I cannot sit back and take it as it comes.

The fire service has given me so much. You cannot survive it unless you give it your best effort every time.

THAT is what you will always see when my name is attached to an article-my best effort.

In this wacky world that we live in, there needs to be that “voice of reason”.

In the famous words of Dean Wormer of Faber College from the movie “National Lampoon’s Animal House”; there comes a time when someone has to put their foot down and that foot is me!

Enjoy!