Just wanted to post a quick update. I am off today, thru the week-end. I had kind of an odd, flash-back thought the other day. I had finished up my shifts and had a few days off, when I thought 'I gotta go back on day-shifts, when I go back to work'. Then I quickly realized that, no, I go back to nights again. What a great feeling! Working a straight shift is sooo nice. Especially when the straight shift is night-shift!


I am really loving my new job. I work with a great bunch of guys, and the job, itself, is very interesting. It is a lot different from what I left. The ARFF (Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting) part of the job is bringing new challenges, and presents a lot to learn. The Fire Apparatus that we have are amazing, in thier technology and capabilities. My Lieutenant let me drive Engine One (pictured) quite a bit the other night to get used to it. I even backed it into the bay at the end, and amazed myself...lol. It is about 13' tall and has a 685 horsepower turbo-diesel engine. It cost nearly one million dollars, making it clearly the biggest, most powerful, most expensive vehicle that I have ever driven. The tires on it are nearly as tall as I am.

I am getting more used to the layout of the runways, taxi-ways, and intersections on the airfield. We do two nightly inspections of the entire airfield. One is a lighting isnpection, and the other is an inspection for Foreign Objects & Debris (FOD). The lighting inspection is done while the Air Traffic Control Tower is still active and air traffic is still inbound. You have to radio the tower to get clearence, just as aircraft do. It's pretty cool.

I also wish to thank my loving wife for making my transition soo seamless. Without her support, love and encouragement, my change of jobs would not have been nearly so easy. Rusti, sweetie, you are my world!

Anyway, I am rambling now. Suffice it to say, the job is very, very cool. Hope all is well with everyone.