I live a long way away - but want to thank you and your son for your service to your community!
How's your day been?
- Thread starter Kevin
- Start date
That's a LONG day!! My first sub-0 fire was at a truck stop, mutual aid so got on scene about 45 minutes from first alarm. Relieved a FF on a hose. Got a good stance, opened the bale and promptly flipped up on my back and started sliding on my air tank. Felt like turtle trying to flip back over. Amused those who were watching, and fortunately no video was taken!!
I chuckled but that was a potentially dangerous situation as you well know. Lots of fire water in sub-freezing temperatures is a nasty situation.
The guys like messing with me sometimes on drill and run the 2.5 hose with 30-40 in the line for the others and up it from 50 to 75 when I'm on the line. Not sure how many more "years" I'll be able to do that.
What size line were you on when you turtled? What pressure was it on? That can really mess up a user.
No clue--even if i knew then, it was 25 years ago....memory on some details is fading!!
So, I would like this to be a PSA. I really screwed up yesterday and it went from bad to worse. I got caught up in a scam from text to phone. And my gut told me it was and yet I got sucked in big time. Want to thank the 2 banking institutions for their final involvement and I should recover everything. But the time and emotion spent yesterday takes its toll.
PSA: if you somehow, like I did, start down the rabbit hole, hang up. Call your institution yourself and they will either say yes, it was them, or confirm you were almost had. It’s difficult because your emotions can take over as mine did yesterday. I am smarter than that but it was so well played and it was the text part that got me. And where I am frus the most is I got confused as to what was the spoofed text vs. the real text message. My institution flagged it…….but I got suckered.
I know I’m not the sharpest pencil in the can, but I thought I was better than that. This community means a lot to me and just wanted to pass it on. I don’t want this to happen to anyone else and have you feel the way I did, or worse, truly lose something.
PSA: if you somehow, like I did, start down the rabbit hole, hang up. Call your institution yourself and they will either say yes, it was them, or confirm you were almost had. It’s difficult because your emotions can take over as mine did yesterday. I am smarter than that but it was so well played and it was the text part that got me. And where I am frus the most is I got confused as to what was the spoofed text vs. the real text message. My institution flagged it…….but I got suckered.
I know I’m not the sharpest pencil in the can, but I thought I was better than that. This community means a lot to me and just wanted to pass it on. I don’t want this to happen to anyone else and have you feel the way I did, or worse, truly lose something.
how did it go down?
Text or call, I honestly don’t remember, but either one, I ended up in a call with them. Then they manipulated my phone, with my unknowing help, to start getting info. The biggest point of my confusion though was the string of spoofed messages that, with hindsight, i got confused with legitimate text messages from my institution. At that point, even though I had goofed, is where I ignored my gut for another hour or so. Then they pushed their luck to far and I figured it out and started back calling the institution. Waiting to see what one charge is doing and how I will have to deal with it. Of course it’s the big one.
dang that sucks
So many scams out there nowadays! I was tempted once a few years ago, and almost bit the bullet myself. Now, I treat every scenario as a scam, unless I was the one to initiate the action directly with the company. And, if it sounds too good to be true, it’s a scam undoubtedly! Hope all your $$$ are intact. Chuck
I was in the dollar store yesterday, there was a younger black couple with 3 kids & the MIL with them. The MIL took the kids off to another side of the store while the parents shopped for toys.
None of them was dressed in high fashion, name brand clothes. What they did have on was kind of tired & tattered looking. I heard them discussing getting toys for the kids. The mom said "Well if we get X a toy, then Y & Z will have to share one." She says "We don't have enuf to get all of them their own toys this year."
The toys were $3 each, even for the biggest one they had.
The dad says "you know Y & Z ain't gonna share no toys, so we'll have to get them a toy & skip X this year."
They both looked kinda sad looking over the toys. The mom says "Maybe things will be better next year & we can get all of them their own toys." She said " You know one of them is going to be sad they didn't get at least one toy this year. Too bad TFT couldn't get us on the list this year. We could really use it."
TFT = toys for tots.
I walked past them & kept looking around the store. I kept hearing the mom's last statement in my head.
I looked in my wallet & I had a $10 bill. I thot how sad it is when a kid can't even get one lousy toy for Xmas. Xmas is all about the kids anyway & it's a damn shame a kid won't get a single toy for the big day.
So, I walked around & came back down the aisle where the folks were still going over the toys.
I walked up to the mom & said "I couldn't help but overhear you talking. I want to help you guys this Xmas, so maybe this will help you. A kid deserves at least one toy for Xmas."
I handed her the $10 bill & told them both "Merry Christmas". She tried to refuse the cash, but I didn't take it back. I told her it's a gift from Santa. Both of their faces lit up & they looked at each other like it was a dream. I told them again "Merry Christmas", and walked away.
I heard the mom say "Thank you Jesus. Thank you Santa." It made me feel good knowing I helped 3 kids have a real Xmas this year. It might not be the biggest or the best one ever, but at least it is a real Xmas this year.
None of them was dressed in high fashion, name brand clothes. What they did have on was kind of tired & tattered looking. I heard them discussing getting toys for the kids. The mom said "Well if we get X a toy, then Y & Z will have to share one." She says "We don't have enuf to get all of them their own toys this year."
The toys were $3 each, even for the biggest one they had.
The dad says "you know Y & Z ain't gonna share no toys, so we'll have to get them a toy & skip X this year."
They both looked kinda sad looking over the toys. The mom says "Maybe things will be better next year & we can get all of them their own toys." She said " You know one of them is going to be sad they didn't get at least one toy this year. Too bad TFT couldn't get us on the list this year. We could really use it."
TFT = toys for tots.
I walked past them & kept looking around the store. I kept hearing the mom's last statement in my head.
I looked in my wallet & I had a $10 bill. I thot how sad it is when a kid can't even get one lousy toy for Xmas. Xmas is all about the kids anyway & it's a damn shame a kid won't get a single toy for the big day.
So, I walked around & came back down the aisle where the folks were still going over the toys.
I walked up to the mom & said "I couldn't help but overhear you talking. I want to help you guys this Xmas, so maybe this will help you. A kid deserves at least one toy for Xmas."
I handed her the $10 bill & told them both "Merry Christmas". She tried to refuse the cash, but I didn't take it back. I told her it's a gift from Santa. Both of their faces lit up & they looked at each other like it was a dream. I told them again "Merry Christmas", and walked away.
I heard the mom say "Thank you Jesus. Thank you Santa." It made me feel good knowing I helped 3 kids have a real Xmas this year. It might not be the biggest or the best one ever, but at least it is a real Xmas this year.
I hope that is the case. We had the same/similar situation at a Sam's Club in Scranton PA. My wife called them out as she saw the same couple at Sam's Club in Syracuse NY the week before doing the same. They immediately left. I hate when people use their kids to con others. I worry how those kids will grow up and what the will become. I hope as said that it was different for you.
well done!
Just picked up my last Christmas present from a friend. Knew he had a forging business but had no idea the quality of work. This is for my stepson who is a chef. Hope he likes it and if not it goes to my camper!! The handle is Claro Walnut, I gifted my friend a couple of blocks for this project and his own use. I think we may be fast friends now.
Nephew and family is in town, called this morning and said let go shopping for some olives, can't have just salami and cheese, got to have more to go with it.
Drive an hour to the big city(Peoria) and hit a couple middle eastern markets. About $80 later we have olives packed with thyme, some with hot peppers, two different types of grilled and brined olives and a wholesale bag (1 gallon) of an olive medley packed with a moderate amount of medium heat peppers. All he had was a couple pints of the olive medley packaged, but offered the wholesale bag so we bought it.
I also picked up a couple packages of whole dates for dessert.
The guy that owns the store thought we were nuts buying that many olives, but we are going to have 18 people Christmas Eve and 14 Christmas day.
Drive an hour to the big city(Peoria) and hit a couple middle eastern markets. About $80 later we have olives packed with thyme, some with hot peppers, two different types of grilled and brined olives and a wholesale bag (1 gallon) of an olive medley packed with a moderate amount of medium heat peppers. All he had was a couple pints of the olive medley packaged, but offered the wholesale bag so we bought it.
I also picked up a couple packages of whole dates for dessert.
The guy that owns the store thought we were nuts buying that many olives, but we are going to have 18 people Christmas Eve and 14 Christmas day.
Last edited:
After passing 5 major wrecks lately - some with fatalities, this popped up on a local forum. Thought it was well written. Now, the comments that followed were childish and rather boorish.
I have an honest question for those who feel the need to tailgate other drivers.
Why?
When you ride someone’s bumper in front of you… what, exactly, does it accomplish?
If you are not happy that the driver, in front of you, is traveling at the posted speed limit, behind a line of cars also doing the speed limit on a 2 lane highway … do you think that tailgating will, somehow, “force” the whole line of cars into driving faster and breaking the speed limit? It won’t…
Do you think that tailgating, somehow, teaches the driver in front of you some type of lesson? It doesn’t…
Tailgating is, actually, against the law and you can be ticketed and fined for doing it. You can even lose points on your driver’s license in severe cases.
Riding someone’s bumper sets up a perfect situation for an accident. If the driver, in front of you, has to slow down suddenly (for a deer or a kid on a bicycle)… you will not have enough time to react and plow into their rear bumper… and, in most cases, the accident will be your fault (for not following at a “reasonable and prudent” distance”).
As a professional CDL driver… I see it all… just about every day. The level of impatience and even anger on our roadways, in some cases, is bordering on a type of insanity. So many drivers seem to be driving with a “chip on their shoulder” these days… ready to explode at the least perceived infraction by another driver.
We all, really, need to focus on dialing down tension levels when driving. We all have problems and frustrations… but we can’t afford to try and vent those frustrations while hurtling down the freeway, at 70 mph +.
Safe and stress free driving is not really complicated. Observe speed limits, safe following distances, and all other rules and regulations. And, on top of everything, we should try to be patient and courteous.
Yes, there are drivers out there who do not follow traffic rules and regulations… but that does not mean we have to “retaliate” when we encounter bad drivers. Not excusing poor driving… but extending a bit of grace and patience goes a long way towards keeping frustrating traffic situations from escalating into accident causing situations. It, always, takes 2 to escalate into, needless and dangerous, road rage situations. We, always, have the option to swallow our pride and “back off”. Simply taking your foot off the gas, for a few seconds, can often completely diffuse potential accident causing situations.
If we all allowed “reasonable and prudent” spacing between ourselves and the driver in front of us… both frustration and accident levels would go down considerably all around us.
My temper tends to flare… just like most others… when someone does something really stupid and dangerous right in front of me. But, “tailgating” and other means of “retaliation” only serve to make bad situations worse.
As a CDL driver… I could lose my job for tailgating other drivers… so, for me, it’s not even an option.
Just remember that it “takes 2 to tangle”. We, almost always, have the choice to diffuse confrontational driving situations. Trying to teach other drivers “a lesson” never ends well…
When frustration rises… let up on the gas… count your blessings… pull over for a break. Do whatever it takes to keep a bad situation from getting worse.
Nothing is worth totaled cars and tombstones.
I have an honest question for those who feel the need to tailgate other drivers.
Why?
When you ride someone’s bumper in front of you… what, exactly, does it accomplish?
If you are not happy that the driver, in front of you, is traveling at the posted speed limit, behind a line of cars also doing the speed limit on a 2 lane highway … do you think that tailgating will, somehow, “force” the whole line of cars into driving faster and breaking the speed limit? It won’t…
Do you think that tailgating, somehow, teaches the driver in front of you some type of lesson? It doesn’t…
Tailgating is, actually, against the law and you can be ticketed and fined for doing it. You can even lose points on your driver’s license in severe cases.
Riding someone’s bumper sets up a perfect situation for an accident. If the driver, in front of you, has to slow down suddenly (for a deer or a kid on a bicycle)… you will not have enough time to react and plow into their rear bumper… and, in most cases, the accident will be your fault (for not following at a “reasonable and prudent” distance”).
As a professional CDL driver… I see it all… just about every day. The level of impatience and even anger on our roadways, in some cases, is bordering on a type of insanity. So many drivers seem to be driving with a “chip on their shoulder” these days… ready to explode at the least perceived infraction by another driver.
We all, really, need to focus on dialing down tension levels when driving. We all have problems and frustrations… but we can’t afford to try and vent those frustrations while hurtling down the freeway, at 70 mph +.
Safe and stress free driving is not really complicated. Observe speed limits, safe following distances, and all other rules and regulations. And, on top of everything, we should try to be patient and courteous.
Yes, there are drivers out there who do not follow traffic rules and regulations… but that does not mean we have to “retaliate” when we encounter bad drivers. Not excusing poor driving… but extending a bit of grace and patience goes a long way towards keeping frustrating traffic situations from escalating into accident causing situations. It, always, takes 2 to escalate into, needless and dangerous, road rage situations. We, always, have the option to swallow our pride and “back off”. Simply taking your foot off the gas, for a few seconds, can often completely diffuse potential accident causing situations.
If we all allowed “reasonable and prudent” spacing between ourselves and the driver in front of us… both frustration and accident levels would go down considerably all around us.
My temper tends to flare… just like most others… when someone does something really stupid and dangerous right in front of me. But, “tailgating” and other means of “retaliation” only serve to make bad situations worse.
As a CDL driver… I could lose my job for tailgating other drivers… so, for me, it’s not even an option.
Just remember that it “takes 2 to tangle”. We, almost always, have the choice to diffuse confrontational driving situations. Trying to teach other drivers “a lesson” never ends well…
When frustration rises… let up on the gas… count your blessings… pull over for a break. Do whatever it takes to keep a bad situation from getting worse.
Nothing is worth totaled cars and tombstones.
AMEN!!!
Does this makes sense? "You can even lose points on your driver’s license"
Our state, you start with 0 points and they add points for driving offenses. Only takes a few speeding tickets and they pull your privilege to drive.
I think the people who accrue enough points to lose their license probably don't have enough respect for the law anyway and they just keep driving without a license, or insurance. That's how it is here in Oregon anyway. Same goes for parking tickets. They catch one every once in awhile and try to make them atone but I rarely hear of anyone truly being held accountable.
Now start lopping off a finger or two for every point over a specified amount and it might start to have meaning.
Last edited:
BINGO!!! They do. It's amazing