Another Day in Paradise

So I didn't actually get to go bouldering last night. When I got to the cave, it was crowded, and since I prefer to do my monkey imitations (badly) alone, I left. I wandered around a bit, heading to Gallagher's (the non-smoking bar) first, since they were supposed to be having bands there. There were about 3 people in there. So I wandered over to the coffee house, figuring I would hook into the internet and upload some pictures. I got over there and met up with a woman who lives on my floor, and she got me involved in a new card game called "Screw Your Neighbor." Dead easy to learn, and while I washed out fairly early, it was fun to hang out with people in general. A bunch of them had been here last year and had some complaints about the fire dept here, and I did my best to promote a more positive view of us.

My plan for an early night was scuttled when I headed back to my dorm at 2100 to do the load of laundry I wanted to get done before today. Instead, I was up till midnight. I did get to watch the one movie I brought down with me, Happy Feet. Cute movie, but the animation wasn't what I would have expected. Still, it passed the time, so I can't complain. I also managed to get a full night's sleep, with no waking up, for 8 hours last night! WooHooo!!!

I didn't have to be in to work until noon today, so I took my time getting my stuff together and straightening up the room a bit. Sunday's they have a brunch, from 1000-1300, so I went over there. Usually, the kitchen staff do a pretty good brunch, (from what I'm told, and from what I've seen so far) and today was no exception. I had a sausage and pepper jack quiche, a piece of turkey sausage, and some watermelon. It wasn't all that sweet, but it was watermelon, so I'm not going to complain. Then it was off to work.

Today we did a drill on stretching hoseline. We have 2 300ft modified minuteman crosslays, so a lot of us haven't ever done it before. So we practiced stretching a line to the second floor of the galley building. I was on ambo 1 today, so I was just the RIT team, but it was good to see it done at least. Next weekend they're talking about another drill, only with water.

As we were leaving the drill, the ambo started making funny noises, and then just quit working. Turns out we were out of fuel in the one tank, and since it's diesel, the pump had to be re-primed. Talk about embarrassing. The driver didn't know we had 2 fuel tanks, and everyone had told him that both fuel gauges didn't work. And no one had filled up the second tank (which is what we were working off of) yesterday. So we had to wait for someone from the heavy shop to come down and show us how to prime the pump, and we were off for the fuel pumps. Still....it kinda sucked.

However, I think dinner tonight made up for it. Prime rib, nice and bloody, with potatoes and salad, and other stuff. So tasty, though as the captain said, it's kind of dumb to have your 2 best meals on the same day.

My hands are so chapped. They were getting better, having not been at work for 3 days, but one day outside not wearing gloves and they are horrible again. It looks like I have diaper rash on my right hand. The left one is slightly better, but not by much. I put some lotion on and it stung until it soaked in the rest of the way. I'm thinking I'll have to put more on in a little bit. At least my chin isn't chapped too badly this time though.

The wind has been howling all day, getting worse by the hour. I'm expecting Condition 2 in town tonight, and Condition 1 on the airfield.

Otherwise, that's been the day. Just general chores and getting stuff cleaned up in the station.