One of the things I miss most about being at the firehouse is the steady stream of material for this humble, little blog. I mean, with minimal effort I was provided with multiple posts; whether it was the misadventures of new guys, unusual calls, or efforts on behalf of the union. Mostly goofy new guys, but still. On occasion I’ll get a text message from one of the guys, either from DG or one of the other places I wrote about here. For example, I got a copy of a text exchange the other day wherein I learned our former new guy Mike still has his “you’re so pretty” moments. I literally lol’d three or four different times as I kept reading and rereading the text. Btw, I love you Mike, don’t ever change. And congrats on the little one!
Another example is a phone conversation I had yesterday with a friend of mine that was recently promoted to Battalion Chief at his FD. Today is his first shift and he joked that he’d probably mark the day by burning down a historic building in his town. I, of course, asked him to wait until his second shift to destroy a city block, since I would then be in Illinois and able to harass him in person while also gaining first-hand information for a future blog post. Of course, I really hope he doesn’t burn down a city block (mostly) but I’m not even lying when I say it would give me ample material to write.
And so I don’t get accused of burying the lede there, yes, I’m heading back to Illinois on Wednesday. My dance card is mostly open, although Thursday afternoon/evening and Saturday are pretty booked. If you’ve got availability and feel like chatting up a retiree, hit me up and we’ll see if we can make something happen. Also, I’m looking for a little info on a phenomenon that seems to be a regular thing down here but not something I really recall seeing back home.
Now, I’ll grant you that vehicles sometimes break down along the interstate. But I don’t remember them staying there for every long. I don’t know if that’s due to people getting them towed home or to the zealousness of the ISP at keeping the highways clearish, but either way the sense of urgency to remove a vehicle from the side of the interstate down here is not remotely the same. Another thing, and this is more what I’m wondering about, I notice people down here will stick something out one of the windows of the abandoned vehicle. Sometimes a towel, rag, or t-shirt, but more often a plastic shopping bag. I’ve been told that is done to alert the coppers the vehicle is broken down and not, in fact, abandoned. Don’t ask, cause I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know what one has to do with the other, but that’s what I’ve been told. Just to kind of frost this cake, I noticed a tractor-trailer sitting on the side of the highway on my way up to Greensboro late last week. When I returned home, the tractor was gone, but the trailer was still parked on the side of the road. I think there were a couple of people by it still, looking at something on the back of the load. Building materials, btw. You know, 2×4’s etc..
You’ll never guess what I saw on the back of the load this morning on my way back up to Greensboro… Because yes, of course, the trailer was still sitting there unattended. Go on, guess. I’ll wait…
Did you guess a plastic shopping bag?
YOU WIN!!!
***Disclaimer- there is no prize for correct guesses other than your very own smug satisfaction for correctly peering into the mindset of people down here via my very own twisted little perception of said people.***
Ok, I just heard from the vet, Lilly is doing great and will be ready to be picked up in a couple of hours. I dropped her off pre-dawn today to get her spayed and microchipped. I should probably wrap this up and move on to my next group of errands before I go get her and bring her home.
Keep your eyes open for stuff sticking out of windows of any broken down vehicles and report back, aight?
Peace