So last week I had an interesting run in with Karma, God, whatever you choose to call it. I call it God.
Part time job took me to Altoona PA. What a cool town! Typical Pittsburgh type town, mountains on one side, river on the other. I got into the shady part of town and noticed a few homeless people meandering about. Felt bad, but really didn't think anything about it as I was more concentrating on my job and what I would be doing a few moments into the future. Setting myself up so "Future Bill" would be happy with what I'm doing right now. That's a WHOLE different entity in itself, I'll get more into that part in the near future.
So I get to the salvage yard in Altoona, GREAT people work there! Helped me out a ton and treated me like I owned the place. Even though I was only there to look at a burned up car.
Got done looking at the car, made my phone calls to clients and office. Then my mind starts. I KNOW Andrew Carnegie was in Altoona for a short time in his life, wonder if there is a museum, statue, anything I could stop and look at. Found a railroad museum but didn't stop for some reason. The reason would be revealed later in the day. In case you're wondering, Andrew Carnegie started as a telegraph runner, then migrated to the Pennsylvania Railroad upon his family moving from Scotland to Pittsburgh.
So I drive my butt back home, and need to make a stop for supplies to deep fry my turkey. On the ride home I start thinking about the upcoming Thanksgiving and the homeless guys I saw earlier in the day in Altoona. I'm not getting into specific locations to protect the innocent. Stop at a Walmart in a plaza. Run in, get my stuff, he goan! Homeward bound, 4 days off for both my cute blonde wife and myself! CAN'T WAIT to spend time with her and our dysfunctional family!
At the traffic light on the way out of the plaza sits a disheveled homeless man holding a sign that read "Homeless. ANYTHING will help. God Bless." I only had a few moments before the light changed, but I noticed he's huddled up protecting himself from the cold and hasn't shaved in quite some time. Light changes, and I'm on my way. About a half mile down the road, I hear myself "You should do something!"
So I turn around and head to KFC. Buy a 10 piece meal deal and ask if they have coffee, it's COLD outside. She says no, so I pay for the meal and head to BP because I know they have coffee. On the way past the homeless guy (he was in between KFC and BP) I notice he has a dog with him. DAMMIT! I get to BP, get a large coffee with all the fixings separate because I don't know how he likes his coffee, buy a bag of Cheez-Its for the dog, my dog LOVES Cheez-Its so that was my best bet. Tell the lady at BP what I'm up to, she thinks its great. I go to the check out counter and there is a power ball ticket with a note that reads "I'm a mistake. PLEASE buy me!" Oh HELL YEAH I bought it for $6!
Make my way back up to the plaza to drop off my care package. As soon as he sees me get out of the truck, he gets up and starts walking towards me. I tell him lunch is on me today, and explain the Cheez-Its. He says he doesn't know if his dog likes them or not, "But lets find out."
Ya know what my man did? He fed his dog first. Didn't take a sip of coffee, didn't root through the bag to see what I bought him. He got the dog dish out and filled it with the Cheez-Its. I get back in my truck, and as I'm pulling away I see the cops pull up.
With this new way of thinking, I'm trying VERY hard to keep all negative thoughts out of my head. Its just my brain being bored, and I don't need it. I very politely use my conscious brain to tell my subconscious brain "Thanks for the input! But you're not needed." and force myself to think something positive instead. What happened next amazed me. When I saw the cops pull up, I immediately thought "Aw crap, now I got him in trouble." And without TRYING my brain went immediately POSITIVE and said "No, now he has a warm place to sleep, and an avenue for help because of you!"
Think right, do right! What a lesson I learned from a homeless man that day. No, I didn't win anything on the powerball. What I did do was restore faith in humanity to the girls at KFC and BP and helped a fellow man. A man who was more concerned about his dog's hunger than his own.
With my heart smiling, I drove home. Positive thoughts, and had a wonderful meaningful Thanksgiving with my family and friends.
The turkey turned out perfect. And all was right with the world.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Ain't No Rest For the Wicked!
What an INCREDIBLE past few days! I didn't save any lives, or stuff like that, but learned something I want to share!
We have to rewind a few days to get the point of this story, so bear with me. This whole "mess" started a few days ago. But I'm gonna tell you, it was a mess at first, then I realized it was a learning experience, and OH what I learned!
This started Sunday. I was on duty at the fire station. QUIET day, with storms rolling in. I knew it was coming, just wasn't sure when. About 2130 we got the call for wires down. Neighboring Fire Dept was on scene, realized they were on my side of the border, called me. Gotta go. Around 0400 the following day, I made a decision and secured the scene and cleared. 7 hours with cat naps in the rig was enough. Ohio Edison is really busy with the storm, but I'm done babysitting wires.
Get back to the station, all kinds of tired and angry. Write my report, back to bed around 0430. EMS call at 0500. Really? I have part-time job stuff to do tomorrow!
Get out of work at 0700, try for a nap. No dice. Tones hit, and I'm off and running again. Get back home, get my paperwork together, make some phone calls, set up my day for my part time job. Car fire in Aliquippa PA, and structure in Lowellville OH. About 150 miles driving, and an all day project. Swell. "Warren J, you betta go to 7-11. I'm gonna need a Slurpee to figga dis one out!" That's a different story when I rode along in Fairfax County VA. So I get some Monster Rehab, and go about my day. Angry.
Drive to Aliquippa PA, figure out the car fire. Stop at the structure fire in Lowellville OH on my way home. I am SO beat at this point. Get home, just dragging ass tired. I've had 1.5 hours sleep in 48 hours. NAP! Curl up on the couch with my favorite pillows.
NO! Dumb ass! Get up!!!!! EMT class tonight, and a quiz! OMG! Let me sleep!
Where's the lesson? You have to read deep into this story to see it. I'll give you a minute to think about it. Hell, it took me 3 days to realize I was learning something! In the meantime listen:
Ya ready?
I was feeling sorry for myself, feeling bad I was so tired. Then I got to thinking about a good friend of mine that was handed a career death blow, but he didn't stop. It made him stronger. I believe he's off to bigger and better things because he always thinks positive!
Here's my lesson:
I went to school to do this.
THEY depend on me to fix their problems.
I continue my education, so I can help them in other ways.
They ask me to help them in other ways.
I continue to fix those problems as well.
I continue my education.
I will never stop learning how to be a better firefighter.
So let's go back a bit. It's all about the positive attitude. You want a puppy? You think about puppies! POSITIVE things about puppies! You don't think about the food, the accidents on the floor, the problems. You think about a new best friend, and scratching his belly.
I was taught a lesson, without even realizing it. Because I'm making an honest effort to be positive in all aspects of my life.
YOU wanted this training!
YOU went to school!
YOU want to be one of us!
YOU want to be a Warrior!
You want a better world? You don't have to fight fires for a living, but I do have the answer! It starts with YOU!!!!
We have to rewind a few days to get the point of this story, so bear with me. This whole "mess" started a few days ago. But I'm gonna tell you, it was a mess at first, then I realized it was a learning experience, and OH what I learned!
This started Sunday. I was on duty at the fire station. QUIET day, with storms rolling in. I knew it was coming, just wasn't sure when. About 2130 we got the call for wires down. Neighboring Fire Dept was on scene, realized they were on my side of the border, called me. Gotta go. Around 0400 the following day, I made a decision and secured the scene and cleared. 7 hours with cat naps in the rig was enough. Ohio Edison is really busy with the storm, but I'm done babysitting wires.
Get back to the station, all kinds of tired and angry. Write my report, back to bed around 0430. EMS call at 0500. Really? I have part-time job stuff to do tomorrow!
Get out of work at 0700, try for a nap. No dice. Tones hit, and I'm off and running again. Get back home, get my paperwork together, make some phone calls, set up my day for my part time job. Car fire in Aliquippa PA, and structure in Lowellville OH. About 150 miles driving, and an all day project. Swell. "Warren J, you betta go to 7-11. I'm gonna need a Slurpee to figga dis one out!" That's a different story when I rode along in Fairfax County VA. So I get some Monster Rehab, and go about my day. Angry.
Drive to Aliquippa PA, figure out the car fire. Stop at the structure fire in Lowellville OH on my way home. I am SO beat at this point. Get home, just dragging ass tired. I've had 1.5 hours sleep in 48 hours. NAP! Curl up on the couch with my favorite pillows.
NO! Dumb ass! Get up!!!!! EMT class tonight, and a quiz! OMG! Let me sleep!
Where's the lesson? You have to read deep into this story to see it. I'll give you a minute to think about it. Hell, it took me 3 days to realize I was learning something! In the meantime listen:
Ya ready?
I was feeling sorry for myself, feeling bad I was so tired. Then I got to thinking about a good friend of mine that was handed a career death blow, but he didn't stop. It made him stronger. I believe he's off to bigger and better things because he always thinks positive!
Here's my lesson:
I went to school to do this.
THEY depend on me to fix their problems.
I continue my education, so I can help them in other ways.
They ask me to help them in other ways.
I continue to fix those problems as well.
I continue my education.
I will never stop learning how to be a better firefighter.
So let's go back a bit. It's all about the positive attitude. You want a puppy? You think about puppies! POSITIVE things about puppies! You don't think about the food, the accidents on the floor, the problems. You think about a new best friend, and scratching his belly.
I was taught a lesson, without even realizing it. Because I'm making an honest effort to be positive in all aspects of my life.
YOU wanted this training!
YOU went to school!
YOU want to be one of us!
YOU want to be a Warrior!
You want a better world? You don't have to fight fires for a living, but I do have the answer! It starts with YOU!!!!
Friday, November 15, 2013
Hail to the King
I've been thinking a lot lately about where this crazy thing called life is leading me.
A short time ago, I read a book about how to think like a millionaire. GREAT book, but you have to read between the lines. It's the authors way of becoming a millionaire, literally. Buy my book, come to my seminars, etc. GOOD FOR HIM! Hell, he's literally a multi-millionaire because of it, got $25 of my money! But I started to read between the lines, re-read the book several times. It's about positive thinking on a whole new level. I'm not going to get into this part of it right now, that's for another blog in the future. What I will say, is try this for one week. Zero complaining! ZERO! Not even in your mind! Tell your mind, thanks for the input, but no thank you. You want money? Think about money! You want a parrot? Think about parrots! Try it, and trust me!
Now on to the point of this blog. I'm getting along in years, call me middle aged. Most of that has been spent in the fire service. If you take the 43 years I've been on the planet, 23 of them have been spent with fire gear, an understanding family, and a pager. Longer than without the gear. I had some really really difficult times with the whole business a few years ago. And the negative thinking that resulted just dug me into a deeper hole, and it kept getting worse. Then I met the Fire Service Warriors. About this time, I also read the above mentioned book. Because of all the negative thinking, my job sucked, my family hated me, my financial situation suffered, life in general was bad. I realized I was doing it to myself. The universe, or God if you will, saw all my negative, and figured that's what I wanted, so I got more of it.
I spoke with Chris Brennan, "founder" of the Warriors. Mark VanOppen, Barry Findlay, and other people in the fire service that I looked up to. I decided enough was enough. I embraced the Warrior mentality. Low and behold, things came around. Unfortunately it was a little too late in my career to change things for myself. I laid down a bad road that I have to drive on. So I focused on teaching new Warriors the right way to do things, and not make the same mistakes I did. Now all of a sudden, God sees all the positive thinking, and gives me more, because that's what I focus on!
Somewhere in all of this I stumbled on a quote from a philosopher, Heraclitus. Born Dec 30, 0534. Died Dec 31, 0474. Yes, that's B.C. Here's the quote, that more or less has become my signature:
A short time ago, I read a book about how to think like a millionaire. GREAT book, but you have to read between the lines. It's the authors way of becoming a millionaire, literally. Buy my book, come to my seminars, etc. GOOD FOR HIM! Hell, he's literally a multi-millionaire because of it, got $25 of my money! But I started to read between the lines, re-read the book several times. It's about positive thinking on a whole new level. I'm not going to get into this part of it right now, that's for another blog in the future. What I will say, is try this for one week. Zero complaining! ZERO! Not even in your mind! Tell your mind, thanks for the input, but no thank you. You want money? Think about money! You want a parrot? Think about parrots! Try it, and trust me!
Now on to the point of this blog. I'm getting along in years, call me middle aged. Most of that has been spent in the fire service. If you take the 43 years I've been on the planet, 23 of them have been spent with fire gear, an understanding family, and a pager. Longer than without the gear. I had some really really difficult times with the whole business a few years ago. And the negative thinking that resulted just dug me into a deeper hole, and it kept getting worse. Then I met the Fire Service Warriors. About this time, I also read the above mentioned book. Because of all the negative thinking, my job sucked, my family hated me, my financial situation suffered, life in general was bad. I realized I was doing it to myself. The universe, or God if you will, saw all my negative, and figured that's what I wanted, so I got more of it.
I spoke with Chris Brennan, "founder" of the Warriors. Mark VanOppen, Barry Findlay, and other people in the fire service that I looked up to. I decided enough was enough. I embraced the Warrior mentality. Low and behold, things came around. Unfortunately it was a little too late in my career to change things for myself. I laid down a bad road that I have to drive on. So I focused on teaching new Warriors the right way to do things, and not make the same mistakes I did. Now all of a sudden, God sees all the positive thinking, and gives me more, because that's what I focus on!
Somewhere in all of this I stumbled on a quote from a philosopher, Heraclitus. Born Dec 30, 0534. Died Dec 31, 0474. Yes, that's B.C. Here's the quote, that more or less has become my signature:
“Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.”
With the addition from myself, "BE the ONE!" In the fire service, in EMS, in LIFE! BE THE ONE! I try to instill this attitude on all of the new generation firefighters that look to me as a mentor. Now to the meat of this blog. I get a text message today from a great friend. He tells me he heard a new song from Avenge Sevenfold called "Hail to the King!" and immediately thought of me because it says "Hail to the ONE". I haven't heard the song yet, so I go listen to it. WOW. This friend of mine is well on his way to being a Warrior, and I'm so proud of him for that. The fact that he thought of ME is humbling.
But, ya know what? (Positive thinking!!!) If I hadn't screwed up in the past, I never would have had this mindset to pass along!! I'm grateful I met this group of young Warriors, and I'm grateful I can help point them in the right direction!
There was a long time in my life that I felt worthless, used, unappreciated, and abused. I did that to myself. No more. I can't be "The ONE" in that direction any longer, but I found a new way thanks to these new Warriors!
I am truly grateful that I have had the opportunity to meet these great men that have already changed the world around them for the better, and will continue to do so.
And now, I challenge you reading this to "BE the ONE!" Pay it forward, commit a random act of kindness, be a good person, and earn your place on this planet.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
The Country Song played backwards!
Well, not gonna lie, the positive thinking is really working. It's actually kind of amazing!
The "As good as AAA" Insurance Co called today, reimbursing me for as much of the towing as my plan will allow, which is $100. Fair enough, better than nothing! Then the customer service rep says she's cutting me an additional check for another $100 to help with my guardrail shaped butt cheeks!
Been running EMS calls as a First Responder since 1998. My good friend, and my wonderful wife finally talked me into becoming an EMT, started class recently. Now quite a few chapters in, the class sort of looks at me as a mentor. Well, I've been doing this for 15 years, so I've picked up on a few things. Taught myself how to read an EKG because I was curious. I know what PVC's, PEA's, A-Fib and V-Fib look like. I know what Narcan, Epinephrine, Antropine and Sodium Bicarbonate are used for. So the EMT class is quite challenging, but just a little easier for me than the rest in the class, simply because I've been around the block. NOT because I'm better!
I've had this infatuation with Helicopters literally my entire life. Even took a few pilot lessons in one. Flying 3,000 ft AGL over Cleveland Ohio with the doors off is absolutely indescribable! I've gone on ride-a-longs with StatMedEvac in the past, but I've HATED EMS calls, and everything to do with them. Just loved helicopters, so I rode along and figured the EMS end of it was my penance for sky time.
Well here we are, 20 years down the road. Sadly, my time as a Fire Service Warrior is coming to an end. I always said that when I wasn't able to do the job in a Warrior fashion, that I would walk away. Years of injuries, pushing my body and soul to the limit, and mental stress have taken their toll. Don't get me wrong, Ole Lucky Dawg has a few years left. I find enjoyment in teaching the young pups how to do it RIGHT.
So, let's think positive for a moment. The ONLY way, and I mean the ONLY way you can learn something new is to step outside of your comfort zone. The fact that I enrolled in EMT school is way outside my comfort zone, I hate EMS. But, it's already taught me to be a better First Responder. It's also taught me that the EMS world isn't so bad. Might be a good retirement career for an old crusty retired firefighter. THEN the mind gets to rolling...... What if?
What if I embraced another way to help people instead of fighting it? Another way that I used to be afraid of. What if I took it a step further? Two steps? FIVE steps?
New five year goal is what happens!!!! Once I pass my EMT, I'm getting a job on a Bambalanze (Pronounced Bam-Ba-Lanze, just like it's spelled). Letting it sink in for a few months, then off to Paramedic school.
Picture this: Kids will be out of school, out on their own. My honey taking care of our new home, and our beach home in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. I unfortunately still have to work the 24 on 48 off schedule, as a Flight Medic! On my 48 hours off, look for a fishing boat named "Porky's Revenge". My little blonde girl will be the Captain, taking us where we need to go, so Lucky Dawg can show you how to fish!
New career on a helicopter. New home in paradise. New "job" for my girl. I just can't picture a better way to walk away from the fire service.
The "As good as AAA" Insurance Co called today, reimbursing me for as much of the towing as my plan will allow, which is $100. Fair enough, better than nothing! Then the customer service rep says she's cutting me an additional check for another $100 to help with my guardrail shaped butt cheeks!
Been running EMS calls as a First Responder since 1998. My good friend, and my wonderful wife finally talked me into becoming an EMT, started class recently. Now quite a few chapters in, the class sort of looks at me as a mentor. Well, I've been doing this for 15 years, so I've picked up on a few things. Taught myself how to read an EKG because I was curious. I know what PVC's, PEA's, A-Fib and V-Fib look like. I know what Narcan, Epinephrine, Antropine and Sodium Bicarbonate are used for. So the EMT class is quite challenging, but just a little easier for me than the rest in the class, simply because I've been around the block. NOT because I'm better!
I've had this infatuation with Helicopters literally my entire life. Even took a few pilot lessons in one. Flying 3,000 ft AGL over Cleveland Ohio with the doors off is absolutely indescribable! I've gone on ride-a-longs with StatMedEvac in the past, but I've HATED EMS calls, and everything to do with them. Just loved helicopters, so I rode along and figured the EMS end of it was my penance for sky time.
Well here we are, 20 years down the road. Sadly, my time as a Fire Service Warrior is coming to an end. I always said that when I wasn't able to do the job in a Warrior fashion, that I would walk away. Years of injuries, pushing my body and soul to the limit, and mental stress have taken their toll. Don't get me wrong, Ole Lucky Dawg has a few years left. I find enjoyment in teaching the young pups how to do it RIGHT.
So, let's think positive for a moment. The ONLY way, and I mean the ONLY way you can learn something new is to step outside of your comfort zone. The fact that I enrolled in EMT school is way outside my comfort zone, I hate EMS. But, it's already taught me to be a better First Responder. It's also taught me that the EMS world isn't so bad. Might be a good retirement career for an old crusty retired firefighter. THEN the mind gets to rolling...... What if?
What if I embraced another way to help people instead of fighting it? Another way that I used to be afraid of. What if I took it a step further? Two steps? FIVE steps?
New five year goal is what happens!!!! Once I pass my EMT, I'm getting a job on a Bambalanze (Pronounced Bam-Ba-Lanze, just like it's spelled). Letting it sink in for a few months, then off to Paramedic school.
Picture this: Kids will be out of school, out on their own. My honey taking care of our new home, and our beach home in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. I unfortunately still have to work the 24 on 48 off schedule, as a Flight Medic! On my 48 hours off, look for a fishing boat named "Porky's Revenge". My little blonde girl will be the Captain, taking us where we need to go, so Lucky Dawg can show you how to fish!
New career on a helicopter. New home in paradise. New "job" for my girl. I just can't picture a better way to walk away from the fire service.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
The Country Song
So I've been reading a LOT about how positive thinking can change your life, and trust me it works! Here's how my Wednesday went. WHAT a day! But kept my cool, didn't go nuclear pissed, didn't kill anyone, and got a nice little reward for my attitude that day.
Had an assignment for my Part-Time job, a Peterbilt caught on fire. Truck was in Uniontown PA, about two and a half hours from my house. No biggie, I've driven three times that amount for an assignment. Getting paid for "Windshield Time" so gasser up and let's go!
About an hour into the trip, I check all the gauges just to make sure my Red Baron Ranger is doing OK. All is well, except I notice the odometer. 151,080 miles. I actually heard my father in my head from last summer, "Ya know, we should put a timing belt in your truck." I hear that EVERY TIME I drive it. We're good! This is an awesome little truck, I love it, it loves me. Look at my PA Turnpike ticket to guestimate how far my exit is, even though I drive this road literally 3 times a week. Looking for New Stanton, Exit 75. Tune in 102.5 WDVE, open up my Monster Rehab and settle in for another hour and a half on the road according to my Garmin.
Get past the Route 30/Irwin exit (I HATE route 30 BTW but that's a different story! LMAO!) and I know New Stanton is the next exit. Coolio, almost there. As I crest the big hill right before my exit, I feel a "pop" up front in the truck, and the oil pressure went to ZERO. "Well Billy-Boy, this can't be good." Immediately get into the right hand lane and start down hill, dump the clutch and coast the Red Baron. Try to refire it, and oh shit, I KNOW that sound! Timing belt went FO' SHO'! So I stay in the right lane until I slowed to about 50 MPH, turned the hazards on. Once I reached 45 MPH I got over on the shoulder and rode that hill for all it was worth. I was actually impressed with how far I coasted! For saving of space, pic below is small. Green Push Pin is where I broke, Red Push Pin is where I ended up:
It's 10:37, I left my house at 08:37. Instead of getting all gigantic pissed off at the world, I took a second to think about this. Hmmmm, 2 hours from home and sitting on the side of the road. First, text my wife to let her know. Second? Hmmmm. Well I have this giant elephant I have to eat now, so let's start at the tail and cut a chunk off. Get the Ranger off the road. Second step, get it back home so I can fix it.
10:41: Call Dad. Dad can fix ANYTHING. "Hey Pop! I need a favor. Not sure what the favor is just yet, but here's the situation." Explain what happened, took my beating because he literally told me this would happen. I don't have AAA, but I do have insurance that I was told was better than AAA by the person selling it to me. Sha-DUH!!! Have used this insurance a few times before for the daughter's car with no issues. The only stickler is they tow it to the nearest repair facility, not to your home. Remember that, it's important later. Dad says find a trailer, and I'll come and get you. Great Dad's are like that, if you don't have one and weren't aware.
Now that its all over, and I'm actually typing this out, I can't help but laugh! Cuz its friggin funny!!!
10:49: Pat is on duty at the Fire Department, but I can still count on him to help, regardless of the circumstances. His big trailer is full of his household stuff (see previous blogs) waiting to close on his new house. But he calls his Uncle who has a car hauling trailer to get plan B rolling. I'm CERTAIN my plan A insurance will take care of me, that's what I pay them for. But just in case...
10:52: Call my client and explain my situation, not going to look at the Peterbilt today. This guy doesn't know me from Adam, and offers to send one of his workers a half hour up the road to come and get me, and basically offers me ANY assistance he can give me! I tell him I'm OK here, I'll have this handled in no time, the "White Guy Mafia" is en route, plans are in place, but THANK YOU!!!
10:58: Call my "roadside assistance as good as AAA company" She says "Well CERTAINLY Mr. Kill Devil, we would be glad to offer you assistance! Let me get some information, your location, I'll find a service provider and call you right back!" Whoop Whoop! We got it humming now!
11:05: "Mr Kill Devil, unfortunately you are on a restricted access highway, and our service providers cannot come and get you, the PA Turnpike has a towing service and our providers will get fined if they enter the Turnpike to assist you. However if you call *11 you can get PA Turnpike assistance, and they will tow you to a location where we can come and get you." Alright, I can do that!
11:06: *11 "Pennsylvania Turnpike. How can I help you?" Explain my situation. "This is the PA Turnpike, we don't have tow trucks. Your insurance company WILL NOT be fined if you call them. The only fines are if they are driving down the 'Pike, see someone broken down and solicit the business. That's where the fines are. If you call them, you are 100% good. I'll send the State Farm Safety Safari out to you though." Thank you Sir!
11:08: Call roadside assistance back, and explain to them what the PA Turnpike just told me. "OK, I'll relay the information to our service providers, and call you right back." Giddy Up!
11:14: Call my client back, explain to him that I have it handled, and I'll be down to look at the Peterbilt tomorrow. Offers any and all assistance AGAIN. I've never met this man! Good people!
11:17: Call the wife to give her an update. She's VERY surprised that I haven't set the truck on fire and started walking home at this point.
11:22: Call Dad and explain the situation. Texted Pat, no plates on his uncle's trailer, and it'll be an hour or so before he's home, but uncle will meet you. "OK, Jr. Just let me know what you need."
Pat from State Farm Safety Safari shows up. Asks me if I'm OK, If I have help coming. I tell him I do. He offers me half of his lunch and a bottle of water. I respectfully decline. We kibbitz a bit, and he gets another call for an accident. I tell him I'm fine, go do your job and help someone that really needs it, not a dumb ass like me!!!! Pat leaves with a promise to check on me later.
11:49: I receive a voice mail from my "roadside assistance" explaining that they cannot, will not, come and get me because I am on the PA Turnpike and they will get fined. I call them back. I politely explain that I am sitting on the side of the road for over an hour, I understand it is not your fault, you're just a phone operator, but I DO NOT WANT AND OR NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE TODAY, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE F@( |< I'M PAYING YOU FOR! Have a good day!
11:53: Dad calls me back. "F this! I called Tim's Towing here in Youngstown. He's on the way. BUT, he won't be back to his shop for an hour, then travel time to you." OK Pop, that's my only option at this point! I decide to make some Lemonade, I have tools. I have a BUNCH of time on my hands! So, I start taking the timing belt off of the Danger Ranger. Yes, I renamed it at this point. Sitting on a bend on an exit ramp is not my favorite place to be. Here was my view:
Well THAR'S yer problem!!!
Yes, that's a timing belt all the way out from under it's cover. So I decide I'm gonna make Lemonade and start working on the truck like I said above. As I'm getting tools out of the toolbox in the bed, an unmarked PA State Trooper shows up. I have a LEGALLY loaded weapon on my hip, so I take my hands out of the toolbox in the bed of my truck, and place them in the trooper's view on the tailgate. "What are you doing?" Working on my truck sir. "No, with your hands on the tailgate?" I have a Pennsylvania Concealed Carry Permit, My weapon is on my person and loaded. "OK. What happened to your truck? Take your hands off the tailgate and talk to me like a real person please."
So I take my hands off the tailgate, explain my situation. The PA STATE TROOPER doesn't ask for my ID, doesn't frisk me, nothing like that. He is genuinely concerned for my well being. Asks if I have a tow truck on the way, if I need anything etc etc. Tells me if something goes wrong, call *11 "I know where you are, I'll be en route!" I ask as long as I'm OK with you guys waiting on a tow truck from Y-Town. "Yep! You're off the road, you're fine. I'll stop back and check on you."
Finished taking the truck apart as far as I could with the tools I had. Now my butt cheeks are taking the shape of the guardrail. Pat from State Farm stops back in, apologizes that he ate his whole sammich, but saved me a bottle of water. He's getting off duty, and going home to his family, but was worried about me! Really??!!??!! GO HOME Pat, I'm good. THANK YOU!
So I get bored at this point. Notice a bunch of trash in the area, and I have trash bags with me. Get one of them out, started picking up trash in the area. I'm in front of my truck at this point, not a safe place to be. A marked PA State Trooper pulls up in front of my truck, rolls down his passenger's side window. I immediately drop my trash bag, and place both my hands on the passenger's side window/door area in plain view of the Trooper. "I know you're packing! You're good! But WTF are you doing?" Bored and picking up trash Sir. "Can you just go sit in your truck please? We have people to pick up trash, you don't need to. How far away is your help?" About an hour away.
He leaves on good terms. I honestly have to say the PA State Troopers, and the State Farm Safety Safari guys are awesome!!! I sit there for another hour, find the Pittsburgh Pirates game on the radio. Then Tim's Towing finally shows up!!!! YAAAAAAYYYY!!!! FOUR and a half hours later, my nightmare is over!!
Sitting there on an exit ramp for 4.5 hours, there was ONE girl that stopped to ask if I needed help!
So now I meet "Billy-Ray". He's a tow truck driver from Tim's Towing. The world is good! I'm going HOME. I just want to be HOME. Load my truck up, have to turn the key on and put it in neutral. BR jumps in the tow truck, "Let's go!" Ummmm, I really don't want my fuel pump running for the 2 hour trip home, can I go get my keys?
THAT should have tipped me off. Now keep in mind, as stated above I have a legally loaded weapon on my person.
I called *11 again, apologized for any problems I caused, and thanked them for the help.
So here's me and Billy-Ray on a two hour trip home. I try to be friendly, make conversation. So about an hour into the trip, he mutters under his breath, "I need to find some diesel fuel." I politely explain that I'm not trying to do his job, but I travel the PA Turnpike frequently. The only place to get fuel between here and Ohio is Ellwood City, Route 18.
He actually got into the exit lane for PA 18. Then swerved back onto the Turnpike, because in his mind Route 118 is where the fuel was. I told him that exit was wilderness and we would have to drill for crude, and then refine it into diesel. So he get's off at the 118 exit, takes us up PA 376. We get through the toll booth and the tow truck runs out of fuel!
I'm about to put a .40 caliber hole in Billy-Ray's head!
He calls Tim. Tim is en route with fuel. Another hour and a half with my ass cheeks meshing with a guardrail. Fuel the tow truck up, get it running, then Billy-Ray wants to drive the rest of the way home 10 MPH UNDER the speed limit while telling stories.
So the moral of the story is this: While I was sitting there talking to Billy-Ray, pondering how to hide the body, I called my Supervisor and explained the situation.
Because I kept my cool, didn't go NUCLEAR even though I should have, Kill Devil Bill got PAID for all that!!!!
After hearing the story, a friend of mine said "You can write your own country song about that story!"
Had an assignment for my Part-Time job, a Peterbilt caught on fire. Truck was in Uniontown PA, about two and a half hours from my house. No biggie, I've driven three times that amount for an assignment. Getting paid for "Windshield Time" so gasser up and let's go!
About an hour into the trip, I check all the gauges just to make sure my Red Baron Ranger is doing OK. All is well, except I notice the odometer. 151,080 miles. I actually heard my father in my head from last summer, "Ya know, we should put a timing belt in your truck." I hear that EVERY TIME I drive it. We're good! This is an awesome little truck, I love it, it loves me. Look at my PA Turnpike ticket to guestimate how far my exit is, even though I drive this road literally 3 times a week. Looking for New Stanton, Exit 75. Tune in 102.5 WDVE, open up my Monster Rehab and settle in for another hour and a half on the road according to my Garmin.
Get past the Route 30/Irwin exit (I HATE route 30 BTW but that's a different story! LMAO!) and I know New Stanton is the next exit. Coolio, almost there. As I crest the big hill right before my exit, I feel a "pop" up front in the truck, and the oil pressure went to ZERO. "Well Billy-Boy, this can't be good." Immediately get into the right hand lane and start down hill, dump the clutch and coast the Red Baron. Try to refire it, and oh shit, I KNOW that sound! Timing belt went FO' SHO'! So I stay in the right lane until I slowed to about 50 MPH, turned the hazards on. Once I reached 45 MPH I got over on the shoulder and rode that hill for all it was worth. I was actually impressed with how far I coasted! For saving of space, pic below is small. Green Push Pin is where I broke, Red Push Pin is where I ended up:
It's 10:37, I left my house at 08:37. Instead of getting all gigantic pissed off at the world, I took a second to think about this. Hmmmm, 2 hours from home and sitting on the side of the road. First, text my wife to let her know. Second? Hmmmm. Well I have this giant elephant I have to eat now, so let's start at the tail and cut a chunk off. Get the Ranger off the road. Second step, get it back home so I can fix it.
10:41: Call Dad. Dad can fix ANYTHING. "Hey Pop! I need a favor. Not sure what the favor is just yet, but here's the situation." Explain what happened, took my beating because he literally told me this would happen. I don't have AAA, but I do have insurance that I was told was better than AAA by the person selling it to me. Sha-DUH!!! Have used this insurance a few times before for the daughter's car with no issues. The only stickler is they tow it to the nearest repair facility, not to your home. Remember that, it's important later. Dad says find a trailer, and I'll come and get you. Great Dad's are like that, if you don't have one and weren't aware.
Now that its all over, and I'm actually typing this out, I can't help but laugh! Cuz its friggin funny!!!
10:49: Pat is on duty at the Fire Department, but I can still count on him to help, regardless of the circumstances. His big trailer is full of his household stuff (see previous blogs) waiting to close on his new house. But he calls his Uncle who has a car hauling trailer to get plan B rolling. I'm CERTAIN my plan A insurance will take care of me, that's what I pay them for. But just in case...
10:52: Call my client and explain my situation, not going to look at the Peterbilt today. This guy doesn't know me from Adam, and offers to send one of his workers a half hour up the road to come and get me, and basically offers me ANY assistance he can give me! I tell him I'm OK here, I'll have this handled in no time, the "White Guy Mafia" is en route, plans are in place, but THANK YOU!!!
10:58: Call my "roadside assistance as good as AAA company" She says "Well CERTAINLY Mr. Kill Devil, we would be glad to offer you assistance! Let me get some information, your location, I'll find a service provider and call you right back!" Whoop Whoop! We got it humming now!
11:05: "Mr Kill Devil, unfortunately you are on a restricted access highway, and our service providers cannot come and get you, the PA Turnpike has a towing service and our providers will get fined if they enter the Turnpike to assist you. However if you call *11 you can get PA Turnpike assistance, and they will tow you to a location where we can come and get you." Alright, I can do that!
11:06: *11 "Pennsylvania Turnpike. How can I help you?" Explain my situation. "This is the PA Turnpike, we don't have tow trucks. Your insurance company WILL NOT be fined if you call them. The only fines are if they are driving down the 'Pike, see someone broken down and solicit the business. That's where the fines are. If you call them, you are 100% good. I'll send the State Farm Safety Safari out to you though." Thank you Sir!
11:08: Call roadside assistance back, and explain to them what the PA Turnpike just told me. "OK, I'll relay the information to our service providers, and call you right back." Giddy Up!
11:14: Call my client back, explain to him that I have it handled, and I'll be down to look at the Peterbilt tomorrow. Offers any and all assistance AGAIN. I've never met this man! Good people!
11:17: Call the wife to give her an update. She's VERY surprised that I haven't set the truck on fire and started walking home at this point.
11:22: Call Dad and explain the situation. Texted Pat, no plates on his uncle's trailer, and it'll be an hour or so before he's home, but uncle will meet you. "OK, Jr. Just let me know what you need."
Pat from State Farm Safety Safari shows up. Asks me if I'm OK, If I have help coming. I tell him I do. He offers me half of his lunch and a bottle of water. I respectfully decline. We kibbitz a bit, and he gets another call for an accident. I tell him I'm fine, go do your job and help someone that really needs it, not a dumb ass like me!!!! Pat leaves with a promise to check on me later.
11:49: I receive a voice mail from my "roadside assistance" explaining that they cannot, will not, come and get me because I am on the PA Turnpike and they will get fined. I call them back. I politely explain that I am sitting on the side of the road for over an hour, I understand it is not your fault, you're just a phone operator, but I DO NOT WANT AND OR NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE TODAY, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE F@( |< I'M PAYING YOU FOR! Have a good day!
11:53: Dad calls me back. "F this! I called Tim's Towing here in Youngstown. He's on the way. BUT, he won't be back to his shop for an hour, then travel time to you." OK Pop, that's my only option at this point! I decide to make some Lemonade, I have tools. I have a BUNCH of time on my hands! So, I start taking the timing belt off of the Danger Ranger. Yes, I renamed it at this point. Sitting on a bend on an exit ramp is not my favorite place to be. Here was my view:
Well THAR'S yer problem!!!
Yes, that's a timing belt all the way out from under it's cover. So I decide I'm gonna make Lemonade and start working on the truck like I said above. As I'm getting tools out of the toolbox in the bed, an unmarked PA State Trooper shows up. I have a LEGALLY loaded weapon on my hip, so I take my hands out of the toolbox in the bed of my truck, and place them in the trooper's view on the tailgate. "What are you doing?" Working on my truck sir. "No, with your hands on the tailgate?" I have a Pennsylvania Concealed Carry Permit, My weapon is on my person and loaded. "OK. What happened to your truck? Take your hands off the tailgate and talk to me like a real person please."
So I take my hands off the tailgate, explain my situation. The PA STATE TROOPER doesn't ask for my ID, doesn't frisk me, nothing like that. He is genuinely concerned for my well being. Asks if I have a tow truck on the way, if I need anything etc etc. Tells me if something goes wrong, call *11 "I know where you are, I'll be en route!" I ask as long as I'm OK with you guys waiting on a tow truck from Y-Town. "Yep! You're off the road, you're fine. I'll stop back and check on you."
Finished taking the truck apart as far as I could with the tools I had. Now my butt cheeks are taking the shape of the guardrail. Pat from State Farm stops back in, apologizes that he ate his whole sammich, but saved me a bottle of water. He's getting off duty, and going home to his family, but was worried about me! Really??!!??!! GO HOME Pat, I'm good. THANK YOU!
So I get bored at this point. Notice a bunch of trash in the area, and I have trash bags with me. Get one of them out, started picking up trash in the area. I'm in front of my truck at this point, not a safe place to be. A marked PA State Trooper pulls up in front of my truck, rolls down his passenger's side window. I immediately drop my trash bag, and place both my hands on the passenger's side window/door area in plain view of the Trooper. "I know you're packing! You're good! But WTF are you doing?" Bored and picking up trash Sir. "Can you just go sit in your truck please? We have people to pick up trash, you don't need to. How far away is your help?" About an hour away.
He leaves on good terms. I honestly have to say the PA State Troopers, and the State Farm Safety Safari guys are awesome!!! I sit there for another hour, find the Pittsburgh Pirates game on the radio. Then Tim's Towing finally shows up!!!! YAAAAAAYYYY!!!! FOUR and a half hours later, my nightmare is over!!
Sitting there on an exit ramp for 4.5 hours, there was ONE girl that stopped to ask if I needed help!
So now I meet "Billy-Ray". He's a tow truck driver from Tim's Towing. The world is good! I'm going HOME. I just want to be HOME. Load my truck up, have to turn the key on and put it in neutral. BR jumps in the tow truck, "Let's go!" Ummmm, I really don't want my fuel pump running for the 2 hour trip home, can I go get my keys?
THAT should have tipped me off. Now keep in mind, as stated above I have a legally loaded weapon on my person.
I called *11 again, apologized for any problems I caused, and thanked them for the help.
So here's me and Billy-Ray on a two hour trip home. I try to be friendly, make conversation. So about an hour into the trip, he mutters under his breath, "I need to find some diesel fuel." I politely explain that I'm not trying to do his job, but I travel the PA Turnpike frequently. The only place to get fuel between here and Ohio is Ellwood City, Route 18.
He actually got into the exit lane for PA 18. Then swerved back onto the Turnpike, because in his mind Route 118 is where the fuel was. I told him that exit was wilderness and we would have to drill for crude, and then refine it into diesel. So he get's off at the 118 exit, takes us up PA 376. We get through the toll booth and the tow truck runs out of fuel!
I'm about to put a .40 caliber hole in Billy-Ray's head!
He calls Tim. Tim is en route with fuel. Another hour and a half with my ass cheeks meshing with a guardrail. Fuel the tow truck up, get it running, then Billy-Ray wants to drive the rest of the way home 10 MPH UNDER the speed limit while telling stories.
So the moral of the story is this: While I was sitting there talking to Billy-Ray, pondering how to hide the body, I called my Supervisor and explained the situation.
Supervisor PAID me for all of this!!!!!
Because I kept my cool, didn't go NUCLEAR even though I should have, Kill Devil Bill got PAID for all that!!!!
After hearing the story, a friend of mine said "You can write your own country song about that story!"
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Go Bucs! Go Bucks!
Well, there's absolutely NO doubt what season it is here in Ohio. Exactly halfway between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Hate the Browns, "OK" with the Steelers, but I'm honestly a Miami Dolphins fan. Larry Czonka lives in Lisbon Ohio, about 40 minutes from here. Google him! Only player in NFL history to never fumble, and I know why. I've shaken his hand.... up to my elbow!
So I'm sitting here tonight, Pittsburgh Pirates in my ear, Youngstown State Penguins play tonight, and #2 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES play Saturday! It's all about football season here in Northeast Ohio right now!
I'm gonna rewind a bit. Way back in the best of my memory, in 1976 My oldest sister was a HUGE Pittsburgh Pirates fan. At that time, I was just getting into Little League baseball.
She taught me SO much about baseball without even knowing she was doing it. Dad was the coach, "Susany Construction" on my uniform, Connie showing me what to do. I played center field, short stop, and pitched a little. Because SHE was a Pirates fan, so was I. Willie Stargell, Dave Parker, Omar Moreno, Tony Pena, Burt Blyleven, and my favorite Kent Tekulve. I could never pitch like him, but oh did I have a HELL of a game one day thinking about what he would do. In my mind's eye today I had 37 strike outs! But we all know that's bullshit! But oh my, what a game! Literally bottom of the 9th, and even though I didn't understand what a "save" was, I guarantee you I go Susany Construction one that day.
So that being said, I've been a Pittsburgh Pirates, Miami Dolphins, and of course OSU fan pretty much my whole life. Then it happened. The Pirates set a record for ALL professional sports. The longest "losing season" record in all of professional sports.
WOW
I've spent $7 for a seat 3 rows from first base at 3 Rivers Stadium. Now PNC park is sold out, I can't afford a ticket to go see them, 4 games away from breaking a 20+ year losing streak.
I can't go to the games, I can't stand the band-wagon "fans". But I want you to know, there really are die hard, tried and true Pittsburgh Pirates fans out there! Just go anywhere in downtown Pittsburgh right now!
And if you need any further assurance, ask my sister Connie!
So I'm sitting here tonight, Pittsburgh Pirates in my ear, Youngstown State Penguins play tonight, and #2 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES play Saturday! It's all about football season here in Northeast Ohio right now!
I'm gonna rewind a bit. Way back in the best of my memory, in 1976 My oldest sister was a HUGE Pittsburgh Pirates fan. At that time, I was just getting into Little League baseball.
She taught me SO much about baseball without even knowing she was doing it. Dad was the coach, "Susany Construction" on my uniform, Connie showing me what to do. I played center field, short stop, and pitched a little. Because SHE was a Pirates fan, so was I. Willie Stargell, Dave Parker, Omar Moreno, Tony Pena, Burt Blyleven, and my favorite Kent Tekulve. I could never pitch like him, but oh did I have a HELL of a game one day thinking about what he would do. In my mind's eye today I had 37 strike outs! But we all know that's bullshit! But oh my, what a game! Literally bottom of the 9th, and even though I didn't understand what a "save" was, I guarantee you I go Susany Construction one that day.
So that being said, I've been a Pittsburgh Pirates, Miami Dolphins, and of course OSU fan pretty much my whole life. Then it happened. The Pirates set a record for ALL professional sports. The longest "losing season" record in all of professional sports.
WOW
I've spent $7 for a seat 3 rows from first base at 3 Rivers Stadium. Now PNC park is sold out, I can't afford a ticket to go see them, 4 games away from breaking a 20+ year losing streak.
I can't go to the games, I can't stand the band-wagon "fans". But I want you to know, there really are die hard, tried and true Pittsburgh Pirates fans out there! Just go anywhere in downtown Pittsburgh right now!
And if you need any further assurance, ask my sister Connie!
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Still Here!
WOW! I didn't leave ya, I'm still here. Honestly forgot about the blog, so I'll try to do better in the future.
Gettin colder here in NE Ohio, and that can only mean one thing. FOOTBALL!! From the Pee-Wee kids walking to practice, to the preseason NFL games on TV, and of course Buckeye Fever is running rampant,, there's NO doubt what season it is around here.
Busting my hump at work, 18 hours overtime last week in addition to my normal 72 hrs. Not to mention a 14 hour day at the part time job. Drove ALL the way across Pennsylvania, looked at a semi truck fire, then drove ALL the way back home. We drove an additional 20 min to Scranton PA to see Steamtown National Historic Site. Been a big fan of steam trains for a long time, and Steamtown has one of 25 Union Pacific "Big Boys" on display, so it was worth the additional 40 minutes drive time to see it. Really wish we had more time to spend because I could kill an entire day there, WAY cool!
I decided that since my part time job takes me all over the place, that I'm gonna start checking places out on the way home. Flight 93 Memorial, Steamtown, different museums and historical sites. Even to just pop in and say hi. Finding all kinds of wonderful food at local Mom-and-Pop places too.
Anyways, sorry for the delay in posts, but I'll be around! Stay safe out there gang!
Gettin colder here in NE Ohio, and that can only mean one thing. FOOTBALL!! From the Pee-Wee kids walking to practice, to the preseason NFL games on TV, and of course Buckeye Fever is running rampant,, there's NO doubt what season it is around here.
Busting my hump at work, 18 hours overtime last week in addition to my normal 72 hrs. Not to mention a 14 hour day at the part time job. Drove ALL the way across Pennsylvania, looked at a semi truck fire, then drove ALL the way back home. We drove an additional 20 min to Scranton PA to see Steamtown National Historic Site. Been a big fan of steam trains for a long time, and Steamtown has one of 25 Union Pacific "Big Boys" on display, so it was worth the additional 40 minutes drive time to see it. Really wish we had more time to spend because I could kill an entire day there, WAY cool!
I decided that since my part time job takes me all over the place, that I'm gonna start checking places out on the way home. Flight 93 Memorial, Steamtown, different museums and historical sites. Even to just pop in and say hi. Finding all kinds of wonderful food at local Mom-and-Pop places too.
Anyways, sorry for the delay in posts, but I'll be around! Stay safe out there gang!
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