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  1. In Memory of LAJ_FETT: Please share your remembrances and condolences HERE

The Life of a Fire Fighter

Discussion in 'Denver, CO' started by Bravo, Aug 25, 2003.

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  1. gra-co_o_hun

    gra-co_o_hun Jedi Master star 5

    Registered:
    May 5, 2005
    Hey Young Man, how ya doing? Are they working your Butt off? [face_mischief]
     
  2. Bravo

    Bravo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2001
    Working my butt off is an understatement. :p Lots of learning, making mistakes, learning from mistakes, etc.

    Might be in town Monday by the way.
     
  3. Bravo

    Bravo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2001
    Journal #623---The Exodus

    Date: Saturday, September 29th, 2007


    How do you celebrate a twenty-five hour straight of staying up, no sleep, and three and a half hours straigt of care for a patent?

    Go to the gym and run a mile. :p
     
  4. Bravo

    Bravo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2001
    Journal #624---The Exodus

    Date: Thursday, October 04th, 2007


    Went for a run today. One point three miles. Ran North on Hill Street to Moulton, East on Moulton to 3rd Street, South on Third to Savage, East on Savge to 2nd, South on 2nd to Legion, passing Clark, Park, Cook, Rio Grand, Apache, Galastio, Peco, Moro, amd then Legion.

    So, we have a street test on Friday, like you can't tell. :p We've all been failing the tests and now we're going to start getting write-ups for not passing them. So, today, I have the 'Porno Streets' down, which are off of Hart and Brillant. Going North from Hart and Brillant, they are:

    Oliver
    Berry
    Pimlot
    Flucia
    Colfax

    So it goes like this: "Oliver went to Berry to get Pimlot for Flucia to go to Colfax."

    And I also have the "KBW" streets down, which are off of Kerney and State and they are:

    Kerney
    Balchard
    Woodward

    At the end of our two daily pager/radio checks, we end it with KBW and then a series of numbers. I am missing a L named street with-in the KBW and I can't remember it...my map is in my vehicle.

    Let's see, then we have the North First streets. Coming off of North First, we have, in order:

    Sugerete
    Maxwell
    Tinja
    Morrow
    Wilson
    Highland
    Stevens
    Dale

    And then we have, what I like to call the "North Box" streets, which run North to South and West to East and are off of North First, starting with:

    North First
    North Second
    Third
    Fourth
    Fifth

    And then West to East:

    Tinja
    Umbrilla
    Pillot
    Las Casa
    Temaja

    It's either Tinja or Maxwell for the first one. I'm pretty sure its Tinja though.

    A lady from Church is going to help me with my streets tonight. She invited me over for some dinner and since she's been living here a pretty long time, she knows her streets pretty well. And no Donovan, its not a date, she's old enough to be my mother. :p
     
  5. Sith_Lord_Draco

    Sith_Lord_Draco Jedi Youngling star 2

    Registered:
    Jun 5, 2005
    ahhh... going for the oldies i see they will teach you alot, if you get my drift that is what Ed always said to me about older women.

    and there are "Porno Streets" down there, WOW!!!

    I have the 'Porno Streets' down,

    I think you thought of a different word [face_laugh]

    -Donovan

     
  6. Bravo

    Bravo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2001
    Donovan... :rolleyes:

    :p


    Journal #625---The Exodus

    Date: Saturday, October 06th, 2007


    Ran five miles for a chairty event today. First time I've ran for a chairty event and first time I've ran five miles. ;) Finished second place with two other runners, as we all decided to finish the race together.
     
  7. Sith_Lord_Draco

    Sith_Lord_Draco Jedi Youngling star 2

    Registered:
    Jun 5, 2005
    what i was just pointing some stuff out to you

    And is colfax down there is like the one up here?

    -Donovan
     
  8. Bravo

    Bravo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2001
    No, Colfax down here is by a group of nice houses.

    Journal #626---The Exodus

    Date: Monday, October 08th, 2007

    I was driving my Jeep today. And my Jeep is like my starship...a ship of freedom, a path to freedom. Much like Jack Sparrow's naval ship or my RPG character, Jim Palso, personal ship. A source of freedom, of break away wind and speed. My starship: my Jeep.
     
  9. Sith_Lord_Draco

    Sith_Lord_Draco Jedi Youngling star 2

    Registered:
    Jun 5, 2005
    Are you sure, or could it be a red light street...[face_thinking]


    -Donovan
     
  10. Bravo

    Bravo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2001
    Journal #627---The Exodus

    Date: Wednesday, October 17th, 2007

    Went for a run for 2.4 miles today.
     
  11. Bravo

    Bravo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2001
    Journal #628---The Exodus

    Date: Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007


    I've been so stressed at work lately. I just...yeah. I just would like to relax at work, mayben then I won't be getting yelled at so much and other bad stuff.
     
  12. Bravo

    Bravo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2001
    Journal #629---The Exodus

    Date: Tuesday, November 06th, 2007


    I'm on 'the bubble' according to my Shift Commander. I can't talk a lot about it, since 'What is said in the Fire House, stays in the Fire House,' however I am trying my best. Regardless of what happens, I know God will take care of me, but also, I did my dream: I became a Career Fire Fighter, I've completed what I set out to do. Now, the question is, do I want to do something else now in life? Does Jesus Christ want me to do something else, to work for Him more closely?

    On a sad note, my best buddy in the Fire House was let go yesterday. It's sad to see him go, but with his depature, it does mix up the shifts a little bit.

    On some other news, I am almost completely broke. I have two hundred and eleven dollars in checking and that's it. But God is already taking care of me, so I know I'll be okay and in fact, better.
     
  13. Bravo

    Bravo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2001
    Journal #630---The Exodus

    Date: Wednesday, November 07th, 2007

    God is already taking care of me. He gave me a few bucks and has taken care of fuel for the trip to Denver and on the trip going back to Raton.
     
  14. Bravo

    Bravo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2001
    Journal #631---The Exodus

    Date: Saturday, November 10th, 2007


    How deep is your faith? Could you give up your dream for His dream? I'm really confused right now, confused about what God wants me to do. What happened today...what happened the last four days that I had off...to what I'm feeling inside? What if my heart desires something more then what Fire Fighting has? What if, like Forrest Gump, Fire Fighting was part of the journey of life? What if you could feel a brighter future ahead of you...you could almost hold on to it, feel it with your hands---it's texture---and you almost see a brighter future ahead of you? What if you knew there was a brighter future, deep down in your heart, you KNEW there was a brighter future through Lord Jesus Christ? All you had to do was let go of everything this world says is important...

    Could you do it?
     
  15. Bravo

    Bravo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2001
    Journal #632---The Exodus

    Date: Tuesday, November 13th, 2007


    God is moving. That is all that I know.

    Is it time that I come home? Is the valley experience over with? Has The Lord completed in me what He set out to do with this exodus to Raton, New Mexico?

    I'm not happy where I'm at. There's so much more I want to do in life. I've completed the mission. Mission acholmished (sp?). Like Brennan put it, I'm like a Sophmore in college. I've experienced a little of college life and now it's time to figure out what the heck I want to do in life.

    I've been looking at Bible colleges and History courses over at community colleges. God asked me today what my heart truely desired. Two...three years ago, I would have said Fire Fighting. That was all I knew. Now, it's God, and I know so much more because of Him. I want to serve Him better.

    Like I said, God is moving. We shall wait and be patient...the hardest thing to do.

    It's times like these that I look back on our good friend Tim Tracy. He was always a good friend to me. I always wondered and was troubled by why he left the Marine Corps after twelve years. I always said, 'Why didn't you just finish up with twenty years?' I had always thought that was a waste of time, serve for twelve years and not get a full military retirement out of it. But Tim had replied, 'It wasn't about my Marines anymore. And that's when I knew it was time to leave.'

    I always gave Tim a lot of credit and courage for that. I never thought I would be able to leave the Fire Service. I ran on a patent yesterday who ran this amazing life. He was an older gentlemen and we had a three and half hour transport, so both of us being talkative, we got to talking together. I mean the guy did everything, just like my Dad. And one thing he kept on repeating was, 'You'll know when it's time to look for that new horizon.' I think it's time to look for that 'new horizon' as the gentlemen put.

    If I went back to Colorado right now, I'd get back with Jackson 105 Fire Department and keep my certifications up. But if I did anything in the Fire Service for a career job again, it would be what I got interested in towards the end of my time with Jackson: Fire Adminastration and Managment. I want to stay in the Fire Service in some capacity, that's for sure, since I will never have the drive leaqve me completely. But I also realize that I had been making the Fire Service my own false idol for years and over the last two years Jesus Christ has really opened my eyes to that.

    If four things I've learned from my time in Raton, New Mexico about myself, as a person, it's been the following:

    1) What reling on God really means (I'm going through that one right now)
    2) People who really truely care about you, your true friends and family, it doesn't matter to them what you do
    3) What makes you, you, is you, not your job or title
    4) I've recaptured that desire to help people, but I've also gained that desire to change people's lives as well. And the best and only way to do that is through Our Lord Jesus Christ. I'm the happiest (sp?) when I'm working for Him.
     
  16. Bravo

    Bravo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2001
    Journal #633---The Exodus

    Date: Wednesday, November 21st, 2007


    Been switched to B shift after a meeting with the Chiefs and my now former Lieutenant. I also been given one month to show improvement (Janurary 2nd, 2008). If I do not show a "mircle in improvement' per the Chiefs, I have been given the option to resign or be fired. I have taken the option to resign if it comes to that.

    My new shift commander, a Captain, has a completely different mind-set then my Lieutenant. The Captain said I would be a 'star' on his shift. He plans on helping me.

    I challanged God to action, to move, and it looks like He is moving, adding in His usual teaching ways and events in life to teach a lesson and His Truth.
     
  17. ArchaicRebel

    ArchaicRebel Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    May 11, 2004
    Good luck, dude! Happy Thanksgiving. :)
     
  18. Bravo

    Bravo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2001
    Thanks! :D :)
     
  19. Bravo

    Bravo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2001
    Journal #634---The Exodus

    Date: Thursday, January 10th 2008


    Well, not the best way to start out 2008, but I have been fired from my Fire Fighter job. The company I worked for---lets be honest here---was crap. When you have as high of a turn over rate that this Fire Department did (most people being fired or quiting in less then one year), you know something is wrong.

    But, I won't assign blame. The shame is mine. I took a risk to run after a dream I had. Although people can say, 'Look, he failed,' many more people can point to the fact that, like Peter in the Bible, Peter and I both got out of the boat. Peter failed, yes. I failed, yes. But I got out of the boat and trusted in God.

    Now, others can say, 'Well, God failed you,' and although in my deepest darkest thoughts I would like to agree, I know the truth and the truth is that God never failed me and He hasn't failed me yet. Look, just because I'm not a Fire Fighter doesn't mean I'm a failure in life. All it means is that I did my dream job and when its all said and done in life, I can look back and say, 'Look at what God and I did in my life. With God, not only did I do Fire Fighting, but I also did all of this...'

    Now, I work tomorrow and have the option to come in and work on Sunday, just to finish out the rotation to get a full check, which I will work Friday but still am thinking about Sunday still. Now, yes, I am down on myself right now. Yes, I am wondering why. Yes, I have cried my eyes out.

    But above all of that, I still went to God for consouling, help, and shelter and I know, if experience is to judge it at all, that He will come through and rescue me and have plans to propser me. A Bible verse came to mind today, guided through my local Pastor's wife, and it is (with certain lines in bold to high-light certain points in my life right now):

    Jeremiah 29:11-14 says:

    For I know the plans I have for you," Declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

    Is it time to go home, back to Denver? I have to pray on this more.
     
  20. Obey Wann

    Obey Wann Former RMFF CR & SW Region RSA star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Jan 14, 2000
    Keep your chin up. Just because you got let go from a crappy department does NOT make you a bad person, or mean that God has failed you.

    Back when I was let go from my Telecom job and had to completely restructure my life, I felt the same thing. As I look back, I realize it may have saved my life: The Military Police unit I was attached to in Denver has been deployed MULTIPLE times, and was on the initial invasion. I flat out did not have a lot of Army time under my belt (all of it was Navy), and I would have been had pressed to be trained up to the level the others were in my unit.

    Since then, I ahve rebuilt my life and am now going in a new direction. But that doesn't mean you have to: there are plenty of fire fighter jobs out there, and if that's the direction God wants you to go, then He will open the doors. Be patient, have faith and stay strong.

    Good luck and MTFBWY.
     
  21. Sith_Lord_Draco

    Sith_Lord_Draco Jedi Youngling star 2

    Registered:
    Jun 5, 2005
    you gonna get pissed of at me and vogt, k... first we were talking on the phone that day when i was in st. thomas, cuz you didnt have your funkin phone on, and we both agree on this is to that you do pass the test, but one thing you need is to pratice in the field a little more, so why dont you come back up here and get back on jackson for a while and work harder in the field and get the experenice, simiple has that... and vogt also said that you wish you were back up here.

    -Donovan
     
  22. Bravo

    Bravo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2001
    Journal #635---The Exodus

    Date: Sunday, March 02nd, 2008


    I'm still alive. I think that's good. [face_thinking] :p

    I have a test for another paid Fire Department this Wednesday, about three miles North of Alberqure (sp?). I got really short notice on the test date and I've had a rough last few weeks...just ask Donovan and Brennan. :rolleyes: I'm going to do my best I can on this test, but I'm going to have confidence in myself, instead of studying myself to death.

    I have a job now, basiclly a taxi driver job for pre-arranged clients. It pays the bills, if barely. I'm still living in Raton for right now. I have a girlfriend now, but things have been extremely rocky the last few weeks. And she's been the glue holding my life together it seems like and since the last few weeks with us have been tough, well yueah, it's been rough.

    My old Fire Department Jackson 105 is hiring part-time, figures how they start to go paid AFTER I leave. :rolleyes: I applied for them too, waiting on a call back. For the paid Fire Department I'm testing for, three former Raton Fire Fighters work there, at least one being fired from Raton too. The Raton Fire Department does not have a very good name in the Fire Service I'm finding out. He told me to not take it hard that I got fired from there. He said no one really cares when they here about that Fire Department, since they know the history of the Department and that the Fire Fighters that leave there or get fired are good Fire Fighters, just not the Fire Department itself.

    I've been a Volunteer/Paid-on-Call Fire Fighter with the Upper Huerfano County Fire Department since the end of January. My Dad is the Assistant Chief there. It's nice working with the Old Man for say. ;) I'm helping the Fire Department rebuild and regroup after a falling out of their old Fire Chief and staff over some political issues. Trying to help them find ways to keep certifications up, so case in point for me, I don't lose my certfications.

    On a sad note, my dog Mason, my Great Dane, passed away. Late January I got to my Dad's cabin and my Dad told me how Mason went on his usual run around the property with this other puppy they got and didn't come home. It's been a month now. Mason had been this running around thing for years. The puppy never came home either. We think that with the cows coming back out and Mason always liking to play with the cows, he got kicked. Or with the recent bear poop on the ground, a bear got to him. Or that a pack of wild dogs or cyotes that have been running around got to him and the puppy. Either way, Mason, like Duke, went out doing what they loved, playing and running around. Baily took it hard my Dad was saying, but his new wife (don't even get me started there) and him got two new puppies to keep Baily company. Baily and Mason were so close together. They did everything together. Baily has had to go through two deaths, both Duke and Mason, in her life. I feel so sorry for her. But she has taken a liking to the two new puppies after a little bit. I love Mason and I miss you so much, but your probably up there in Doggy Heaven with Duke right now relaxing on the beach, drinking some leamonde. Love you Mason and Duke so much, I miss you two.

    Donovan and I have been throwing around the idea of going to Radiology School together. After five years in the Fire Service, almost four of those years as a Fire Fighter, I'm getting bored/burned out on it. I still have the desire to do yet, hence why I'm still testing around and still with Fire Departments and still a Fire Fighter, but I'm looking inton what else I can with life. I've been in the Fire Service, like I said, five years since I was 18 years old (I'm 23 years old now), I've been at four seperate Fire Departments, three of those as a Line Fire Fighter, I've been certfied as an EMT-Basic Nationally and in two seperate States for over three years now, I've trained both paid and volunteer Fire Fighters, I've been a Volunteer, Career, and Paid-on-Call Fire Fig
     
  23. Bravo

    Bravo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2001
    Journal #636---The Exodus

    Date: Monday, March 17th, 2008


    I'm still waiting on wheather I'll get hired by the Fire Department I tested for. I passed all the testing. Went up against 55 people for 19 spots.

    I will now officially be homeless in 13 days. My back-up plan for a place has fallen through. I don't know what I'm going to do now. I don't have enough money for a place. I guess sleeping in my car isn't half bad of an idea.

    Donovan's 21st birthday is Friday. Brennan, Jason, and I are all going to take him out.
     
  24. ArchaicRebel

    ArchaicRebel Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    May 11, 2004
    That sucks, dude! Chin up--you can pull through. God helps those who help themselves, you know.
     
  25. Bravo

    Bravo Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2001
    Journal #637---The Exodus

    Date: Tuesday, March 25th, 2008


    Didin't get the Fire Department job. Passed all the testing except for the fourth and last test. Got very far in testing.

    Might have a place to live in Raton. Low on money. Single once again, I was lied to and cheated on...again. Forgiveness though is God's love and way, right? What would Jesus do?

    Back onto Myspace to stay in contact with friends. Myspace/Jasondukemason.

    Might lose my internet connection unless I can find money to keep it up.
     
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