Notes from Mosquito Hill » Uncategorized

Scrub-a-dub-dub

mack505 — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:16:33 +0000

I’ve been going through the blog tonight, making sure it’s compliant with my employer’s current social media policy. I’m not sure if my standards had slipped, but HR’s seem a bit stricter. A few things were changed; some were removed.

It’s not an unreasonable policy, and it’s probably overdue for some enforcement. Basically it says be nice and mind everyone’s confidentiality. I can do that. Project 365 will be difficult to continue on the days I work, but I will just have to engage my creative side a bit more.

I love my job and my employer, so it’s worth doing. With over 500 posts, it may take a few passes to make sure I’m fully compliant. Although it is in the sidebar, I will reiterate the disclaimer here: the opinions expressed herein are mine alone and do not represent any employer past, present, or future. Details have been changed in the interest of confidentiality, and some things are pure fiction.

Now I’m off to police my Facebook timeline. I’m Mack505 and I approve this message.

War on terror

mack505 — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:57:30 +0000

No legs. Half a hand.
Only one arm; half my age
What life after war?

Speechless

mack505 — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 12:46:23 +0000

I’ve got nothing. Ten years ago this very minute, one of the darkest days in American history began. We discovered how much some people can hate, and we would discover the depths and strength of the American soul in the days that followed.

I don’t have anything profound to say. Please take the time to remember those lost, and to say a prayer for those still suffering. If you have the opportunity to help or heal, take it.

I will be in the same place I was in 2001: saving the city from the cab of an Econoline. Stay safe out there.

No related posts.

P365 resumes

mack505 — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 01:42:55 +0000

8/17 – stalls @ the Big E

8/21 – feeling a bit artsy

8/30 – Second grade!!

9/2 – Seen on the Mass Pike. I’m not sure what it means, but I bet the local fire marshal might find it interesting.

9/3 – Family weekend in Buffalo. You get to see a lot of Beth.

9/4 – Thirty Mile Point, Lake Ontario

9/5 – Medic 9 (but not mine) on the move

9/6 – Saturday I officially become a Soccer Dad

That’s all for now.

O Security Camera, I Wuvs U!

mack505 — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:53:10 +0000

A while back I set up a security camera using some old hardware and a software package I found on the internet. It was more to prove I could do it than anything else. It covers the yard and normally catches things like squirrels, turkeys, and me going to work. I also used it to film the RFD response videos by setting it up in the cab of the engine.

The response project is done filming, so the camera came back home. This morning one of the cats discovered it and decided it needed a little love. Unfortunately it didn’t capture the culprit, but I’m guessing it was one of the Siamese.

Security notes

And the hits just keep on coming

mack505 — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 02:07:49 +0000

“We deal with sick people all day long with detached efficiency, but when it’s one of us, the reality of our vulnerability hits home. This job has a way of making us feel invincible, untouched by the sickness and suffering that surround us daily. It seems inconceivable that one of our own may have succumbed. . .” —Lt. Michael Morse, Rescuing Providence

It’s been an interesting couple of weeks at work. Two weeks ago I worked a swap to get my Friday off. Early Friday morning, about the time I should normally be coming on duty, we ran into a crew from another company who asked us, “Did you hear about the fatal crash in Woburn? Channel 7 said there were EMTs involved.”

We activated the grapevine, and before I left for home that morning I learned that I had indeed lost a coworker.

Kristin Abreu was not a close friend; she spent most of her time in the other division. She was still one of us. We were all stunned.

By the nature of our business, we have a good idea what goes on at an accident scene. Our imaginations are fully capable of filling in the horrors. The few details I’ve heard only make it worse. I don’t know which is worse, knowing or not knowing.

Slightly more than one week later, the hammer fell again. We learned that Salisbury FD Lt. Tim Oliveira was seriously injured while performing preventative maintenance on a department SUV. Again the grapevine was activated; again the news was not good. Lt Oliveira survived for about 48 hours in the hospital before succumbing to his injuries.

Again, I did not know him personally but good friends did. It’s the closest I’ve ever come to a line of duty death, and it’s too close.

An off-duty car crash, and routine maintenance. It all seems so senseless. I’ll be on the porch with my dog and a beer if you need me.

Christmas is coming! (P365 update)

Vampire Bureaucracy

mack505 — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 02:33:59 +0000

I’ve had a rant bouncing around in my head for most of the afternoon, but frankly it’s hot and I don’t want to spend my energy ranting. As I’m sure you don’t want to spend your time reading it anyway.

In a nutshell, I’m annoyed at the ineptitude of the American Red Cross.

The local chapter of the ARC set up in my gym today begging for donations. (“Give Blood Today! National Shortage!”) After my workout, I duly presented myself.

They asked if I had an appointment.

*Really?*

Then they told me I could wait if I wanted, but they would take virtually anyone else before me. And they had no appointments available for the next three hours. I gave them 40 minutes to ignore me, then I took my pint of A Neg and went about my business. I wasn’t the only one. (Well, I’m not sure how many others were A Negative. . .)

Memo to the Vampire Bureaucracy: Please don’t beg for my donation, then turn me away because you can’t get organized. When you set up in a high-traffic area patronized by health-conscious people, you should expect some of them to want to donate.

EDIT: I forwarded this post to the ARC, and on 8/2 I received a response. They sent a nice email apologizing for not treating me well, and the CEO for Blood Services in the MA Region included his phone number if I’d like to talk to him directly. I’ve been on vacation and have not taken the time to call yet.

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DEFCON 3

mack505 — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 01:11:59 +0000

Tornadoes in Massachusetts are exceedingly rare. Much like a blizzard in the Carolinas, they happen every so often and are guaranteed to send the locals into a panic.

And for once I’m right there with them. Bring on the hurricanes, blizzards, and floods. Those I can deal with. Let’s leave the tornadoes with my friends in the Midwest.

The worst damage is in the western part of the state, over an hour away from here. Still, we are watching the radar minute by minute. (As an aside, I’m amazed by the sophistication of modern weather radar. They’ve been tracking these storms block by block.)

Here at the Mosquito Hill compound, DEFCON has been raised to 3. Crates are staged for the animals, the flashlights and radios are ready, and the chainsaw is prepped and ready to go. It’s looking like we won’t need any of it, but there is still a severe weather warning until 2300.

WARNING: The audio in this clip is NSFW, but I understand the sentiment. (It’s not mine, just found on YouTube.)

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Bad joke

mack505 — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 22:44:27 +0000

I’m not sure who’s having the bad joke, the weathermen or Mother Nature, but either way I’m not impressed. We may get snow, we may get rain; we will get a meteorologist-induced panic.

It does give a good opportunity to highlight an old favorite, though. Enjoy this blast from my past, exactly 14 years ago tomorrow.

It’s all in your point of view (3/30)

mack505 — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:57:48 +0000

So there I was strolling though my local branch of Big Orange Home Improvement Warehouse when this, umm, popped out at me.

I’m sure the staff was wondering why I was giggling like a schoolboy and taking pictures in the lighting department.

Chevy