This has not been a very good week, so far. I am having some major issues with my truck. I first noticed the problem Monday afternoon, after I got off work. When I tried to start my truck, it took me three tries to get it started….very unusual. Then, it seemed like it was running very rough. It was not idling correctly and was making more racket than normal. That evening, I drove out to Spencer, Okla. For a REACT meeting and the truck seemed to do fine.
When I got up Tuesday morning and started my truck, I noticed it was not idling correctly and very loud. I pulled out of my driveway and headed down the street. No matter how hard I accelerated, the truck would not pick up any speed. It had no power at all. As I drove down Drexel, I continued to accelerate, but there was still very little power. Then, when I tried to get on I-44 from SW 89, I put the pedal to the floor….and nothing. As a matter of fact, I lost speed. Traffic was going 60-70 mph on the interstate and all I could get my speed to was 25 mph. I drove on the shoulder for about ¼ mile..and once I finally got up to 45 mph, I merged onto the highway. I drove 45-50 all the way to work. Once I got to work, I could still tell my truck was running real rough and something was wrong.
Since I know very little about vehicles, I decided to email my friend and ask him about it. He informed me it was probably something to do with the electronics on my truck. For the past couple of years, my “check engine light” has continuously stayed on, but I was told by a couple of mechanics it was nothing to be concerned about. This time, the light kept flashing off and on, which I had never seen before. My friend advised me that I needed to go ahead and take the truck to a mechanic that had all the up-to-date equipment and have them check it out.
So, After I got off work, I headed to the mechanics shop. Once again, I tried to merge onto the interstate and could only get up to 35 mph. Eventually, as I got moving on the interstate, I was finally able to hit 65-70. I got off at SE 89 & I-35 and drove into the parking lot of the mechanic’s shop. When I explained to the mechanic what the problem was, he didn’t act like it was anything major, so I left him the keys. As of this morning, they still had not had a chance to look at it, so I hope to hear something this afternoon.
Here’s the thing. The truck has 176,000 miles on it and is a 2000 model. It has gone through two transmissions since I have had it. It has been a great truck for me for the past 6-7 years. Karla and I decided if it was going to cost over $500.00 to have it repaired, we would just get rid of it and find something else for me to drive. We really don’t have the money to buy another vehicle, but we also don’t want to keep investing money in a truck that may be on its last leg anyway. Plus, if we have to get rid of it, I may have to spend a whole day taking all my REACT stuff off of it. I have all kinds of wiring for my REACT lights going throughout my truck, so all the wiring will have to be removed. I really don’t want to do that, so I am hoping the problem is an inexpensive one to repair.
Until we find a solution, Karla and I are sharing her car. It’s not what I want to do, but there is no other alternative.
www.centralokreact.org
CERT Training
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
The weekend is Almost Over
I had a very good weekend.
I am glad Thanksgiving is over...now it is time to focus on Christmas. In the past few years, our Christmas's have been less materialistic and more family oriented. Don't get me wrong....I see nothing wrong with buying gifts at Christmas, but I can't see charging everything on credit cards just so you can buy gifts for people. Most of the time, people don't really have the money to purchase gifts, so they start charging presents on credit cards. While there is nothing wrong with doing that, the fact is...the credit card bills will come in and they have to be paid.
This year has been an extremely tough one for us financially. Karla had her surgery, which put her off work for a couple of months. Even though she did get paid a little while she was off, it wasn't enough to keep us going. Because of that, I had to pick up as much overtime as I could to compensate for the difference. Many times, it still wasn't enough. The fact is, Karla's surgery was necessary and she is doing much better because of it. So, her being off was just one of those things in life you deal with and you pay whoever you have to pay with whatever you have.
This Christmas, we will make sure Stephen and Gayla get gifts. They will be the only ones we buy for this Christmas. Even if we have to sacrifice here or there, they will have presents. Karla and I are not concerned about receiving gifts. They are nice to receive, but the greatest gift we can receive is spending time with our children and the rest of our family. So, neither myself, or Karla are buying anything for each other this year. Plus, we have let our families know our situation, so they won't buy us anything either. It's rather awkward to receive a gift, especially when you did not give a gift.
Anyway, back to my weekend.........yesterday was a great day! One of my REACT friends invited me to the OU/Iowa St football game in Norman. It was only the second time I had been to an OU game. I took him up on the offer, despite knowing it was going to be a cold, windy and rainy day. The last time I went was last year. I wound up sitting in the upper level when it was extremely hot. The only good way to watch the game was through binoculars. It wasn't that much fun and I can't even remember who won.
The seats we got Saturday were great seats. We actually sat in the student section, right behind the OU band. We were at the 30 yard line. They were great seats....and despite the weather conditions, I had a great time. There's nothing like watching a college football game......live. I did dress warmly...with a long sleeved shirt, two heavy jackets, gloves and my stocking hat to cover my bald head. One thing I learned about sitting in the student section of the ball game, is they never sit down. If you want to see the game, you have to stand the whole time. It was a great game and OU did win, but my feet, my back and my legs ached from standing for four housr. After the game, we went to Furrs in Moore to eat. Then, I went home and crashed.
Today was another nice day, just a little windy. We had a great worship service and I enjoyed a nice afternoon nap. Our choir is presenting a musical in three weeks, and for once, I am not running the sound. It is actually a musical/drama and I am playing one of the main characters....and my daughter is playing a character as well. We had our first rehearsal this afternoon and although it went well, I am still a little nervous. I had already told our music minister that I am not good at memorization. He told me they would have all my lines on a power point so I would not have to worry about it. The thing is, I have never been good at memorizing anything......I think it is called the nervous factor. I memorize something, get nervous and then forget my lines. Hopefully, I will be able to see the power poing just fine and things will go well.
My rant........I am getting sick and tired of people proclaiming to be Christians, yet not living the lifestyle. I get emails from "Christians" that are not godly, yet they feel the need to send it anyway. I am in no way perfect, but I feel like I live the Christian life the way I should. Yes, I sin everyday....sometimes not even realizing it. The fact is, if you are a Christian, you should not be gambling, cussing, drinking in excess, posting dirty jokes on FaceBook, or posting questionable things on FB. What you post is who you are.
I know people that call themselves Christians, yet they cuss like a sailor, or tell dirty jokes. They are the ones who give Christianity a bad name. I actually try to stay away from these people because I just don't get why they feel they have to live a "fake" Christian life. Don't tell me you faithfully attend church and are very active.....and then tell a dirty joke or start cussing. Of course, going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than being in a garage makes you a car. It's that personal relationship with Christ.....that's what makes you a Christian. If you feel you have to cuss and tell dirty jokes, please don't confess to be a Christian. It makes all Christians look bad.
Facebook.....is a wonderful thing if you use it right. There again, many of my friends post on their profile they are Christian, yet their posts say otherwise. When they post profanity, questionable cartoons, or profanity in cartoons, it causes me to question their relationship with Christ. I am not being judgmental, just curious. This also brings to mind the students at church that have a FB page. I am very surprised at some of the things they post. I know many of them struggle with their Christina lives, but some of the things they post are embarrassing to me.
Anyway, if you are going to confess to be a Christian, act like one.....
Rant over...
http://www.centralokreact.org/
I am glad Thanksgiving is over...now it is time to focus on Christmas. In the past few years, our Christmas's have been less materialistic and more family oriented. Don't get me wrong....I see nothing wrong with buying gifts at Christmas, but I can't see charging everything on credit cards just so you can buy gifts for people. Most of the time, people don't really have the money to purchase gifts, so they start charging presents on credit cards. While there is nothing wrong with doing that, the fact is...the credit card bills will come in and they have to be paid.
This year has been an extremely tough one for us financially. Karla had her surgery, which put her off work for a couple of months. Even though she did get paid a little while she was off, it wasn't enough to keep us going. Because of that, I had to pick up as much overtime as I could to compensate for the difference. Many times, it still wasn't enough. The fact is, Karla's surgery was necessary and she is doing much better because of it. So, her being off was just one of those things in life you deal with and you pay whoever you have to pay with whatever you have.
This Christmas, we will make sure Stephen and Gayla get gifts. They will be the only ones we buy for this Christmas. Even if we have to sacrifice here or there, they will have presents. Karla and I are not concerned about receiving gifts. They are nice to receive, but the greatest gift we can receive is spending time with our children and the rest of our family. So, neither myself, or Karla are buying anything for each other this year. Plus, we have let our families know our situation, so they won't buy us anything either. It's rather awkward to receive a gift, especially when you did not give a gift.
Anyway, back to my weekend.........yesterday was a great day! One of my REACT friends invited me to the OU/Iowa St football game in Norman. It was only the second time I had been to an OU game. I took him up on the offer, despite knowing it was going to be a cold, windy and rainy day. The last time I went was last year. I wound up sitting in the upper level when it was extremely hot. The only good way to watch the game was through binoculars. It wasn't that much fun and I can't even remember who won.
The seats we got Saturday were great seats. We actually sat in the student section, right behind the OU band. We were at the 30 yard line. They were great seats....and despite the weather conditions, I had a great time. There's nothing like watching a college football game......live. I did dress warmly...with a long sleeved shirt, two heavy jackets, gloves and my stocking hat to cover my bald head. One thing I learned about sitting in the student section of the ball game, is they never sit down. If you want to see the game, you have to stand the whole time. It was a great game and OU did win, but my feet, my back and my legs ached from standing for four housr. After the game, we went to Furrs in Moore to eat. Then, I went home and crashed.
Today was another nice day, just a little windy. We had a great worship service and I enjoyed a nice afternoon nap. Our choir is presenting a musical in three weeks, and for once, I am not running the sound. It is actually a musical/drama and I am playing one of the main characters....and my daughter is playing a character as well. We had our first rehearsal this afternoon and although it went well, I am still a little nervous. I had already told our music minister that I am not good at memorization. He told me they would have all my lines on a power point so I would not have to worry about it. The thing is, I have never been good at memorizing anything......I think it is called the nervous factor. I memorize something, get nervous and then forget my lines. Hopefully, I will be able to see the power poing just fine and things will go well.
My rant........I am getting sick and tired of people proclaiming to be Christians, yet not living the lifestyle. I get emails from "Christians" that are not godly, yet they feel the need to send it anyway. I am in no way perfect, but I feel like I live the Christian life the way I should. Yes, I sin everyday....sometimes not even realizing it. The fact is, if you are a Christian, you should not be gambling, cussing, drinking in excess, posting dirty jokes on FaceBook, or posting questionable things on FB. What you post is who you are.
I know people that call themselves Christians, yet they cuss like a sailor, or tell dirty jokes. They are the ones who give Christianity a bad name. I actually try to stay away from these people because I just don't get why they feel they have to live a "fake" Christian life. Don't tell me you faithfully attend church and are very active.....and then tell a dirty joke or start cussing. Of course, going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than being in a garage makes you a car. It's that personal relationship with Christ.....that's what makes you a Christian. If you feel you have to cuss and tell dirty jokes, please don't confess to be a Christian. It makes all Christians look bad.
Facebook.....is a wonderful thing if you use it right. There again, many of my friends post on their profile they are Christian, yet their posts say otherwise. When they post profanity, questionable cartoons, or profanity in cartoons, it causes me to question their relationship with Christ. I am not being judgmental, just curious. This also brings to mind the students at church that have a FB page. I am very surprised at some of the things they post. I know many of them struggle with their Christina lives, but some of the things they post are embarrassing to me.
Anyway, if you are going to confess to be a Christian, act like one.....
Rant over...
http://www.centralokreact.org/
Friday, November 25, 2011
Uneventful Week
I realize I have not posted anything in over a week, but there is a good reason for that. It has been an absolutely uneventful week for me. This is Thanksgiving week, so there is not very many activities going on. I have had no REACT events, no CFAAA meetings, nothing going on at church and not much going on at work. I did stay and work some overtime on paperwork last Monday evening for a couple of hours, but that was it. It was kind of nice not having anything planned, but on the other hand, I was bored. I am so used to always doing something. Because of the uneventful week, I have had more time to spend with my family.
We had our normal Thanksgiving lunch at my sister-in-law’s house and then went to mom and dad’s for dessert and fellowship. We usually don’t go to mom and dad’s until Saturday, but I am going to the OU football game tomorrow with a friend and will be gone all day long. I have only been to one OU football game, which was last year. When I went, it was extremely hot outside and the heat was unbearable. Tomorrow’s game will be a complete contrast. It is suppose to be cloudy and 53 degrees, with the cold north wind blowing around 40 mph. That means dressing very warmly.
www.centralokreact.org
We had our normal Thanksgiving lunch at my sister-in-law’s house and then went to mom and dad’s for dessert and fellowship. We usually don’t go to mom and dad’s until Saturday, but I am going to the OU football game tomorrow with a friend and will be gone all day long. I have only been to one OU football game, which was last year. When I went, it was extremely hot outside and the heat was unbearable. Tomorrow’s game will be a complete contrast. It is suppose to be cloudy and 53 degrees, with the cold north wind blowing around 40 mph. That means dressing very warmly.
www.centralokreact.org
Friday, November 18, 2011
Ah Yes...The Weekend is Almost Here.....
Well, the fat lady has sung….so to speak.
We had our monthly CFAAA meeting at the church last night and we held our election of officers for 2012. Since I am term limited, I am unable to run for office again until 2013 (since I have been president for the last two years). I have to take the year off from being an officer. I was highly disappointed in the turn-out at our meeting, but there is nothing I can do about it. You can plan meetings until you are blue in the face, but you can’t make people come. We did have a good time last night and the elections went well.
Since I am no longer going to be an officer, I will have much less to do as a CFAAA member. My main responsibilities now will be keeping the CFAAA website updated and proof-reading the CFAAA newsletters each month. It will be a little strange, though, because for the last 6 years or so, I have been the main person who had been sending email reminders to the rest of the membership. Now that responsibility will be for the next president. As a matter of fact, today I sent out my last official email as CFAAA President. I feel a little bit relieved because the big responsibilities are gone. I will miss staying in touch with Fire Administration……since that is what the CFAAA President does. I will have to remember that I am no longer president, so much of the stuff I was doing, I will no longer be doing.
I am actually still the president until January 1, 2012, but I have pretty much turned everything over to the next president already…..and she is ready to take off with it. I hope to still make the monthly meetings each month and plan to volunteer for some of the CFAAA events, but my main focus now will be spending more time with REACT. I have been treasurer this year for REACT, but I am not really enjoying it. The main reason I am treasurer is to be on the Board of Directors. I would love to just give it up and just be a Board member. In December, we will be having our elections for officers and I don’t think I am going to accept the nomination for treasurer. Somebody else can do it.
Today has been a slow day at work. I am staying late to work on some paperwork and then coming in tomorrow from 7 am – noon and do more paperwork. Gayla is working until 10 tonight and Karla is going to Kansas with some friends this evening. She will be back tomorrow evening. Other than that, I really don’t have anything planned for the weekend….except that we are taking Scout in to the groomers tomorrow to get bathed and groomed.
www.centralokreact.org
We had our monthly CFAAA meeting at the church last night and we held our election of officers for 2012. Since I am term limited, I am unable to run for office again until 2013 (since I have been president for the last two years). I have to take the year off from being an officer. I was highly disappointed in the turn-out at our meeting, but there is nothing I can do about it. You can plan meetings until you are blue in the face, but you can’t make people come. We did have a good time last night and the elections went well.
Since I am no longer going to be an officer, I will have much less to do as a CFAAA member. My main responsibilities now will be keeping the CFAAA website updated and proof-reading the CFAAA newsletters each month. It will be a little strange, though, because for the last 6 years or so, I have been the main person who had been sending email reminders to the rest of the membership. Now that responsibility will be for the next president. As a matter of fact, today I sent out my last official email as CFAAA President. I feel a little bit relieved because the big responsibilities are gone. I will miss staying in touch with Fire Administration……since that is what the CFAAA President does. I will have to remember that I am no longer president, so much of the stuff I was doing, I will no longer be doing.
I am actually still the president until January 1, 2012, but I have pretty much turned everything over to the next president already…..and she is ready to take off with it. I hope to still make the monthly meetings each month and plan to volunteer for some of the CFAAA events, but my main focus now will be spending more time with REACT. I have been treasurer this year for REACT, but I am not really enjoying it. The main reason I am treasurer is to be on the Board of Directors. I would love to just give it up and just be a Board member. In December, we will be having our elections for officers and I don’t think I am going to accept the nomination for treasurer. Somebody else can do it.
Today has been a slow day at work. I am staying late to work on some paperwork and then coming in tomorrow from 7 am – noon and do more paperwork. Gayla is working until 10 tonight and Karla is going to Kansas with some friends this evening. She will be back tomorrow evening. Other than that, I really don’t have anything planned for the weekend….except that we are taking Scout in to the groomers tomorrow to get bathed and groomed.
www.centralokreact.org
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Wednesday....already??
Once again, it has been a week since I have posted anything. I have been rather busy at work, training co-workers how to dispatch and then going home and trying to have some relaxation. Last weekend was rather busy for me. Friday was Veteran’s Day, so I was off for the holiday. I did some housework, but I also went and visited the graves of Zackery Wells (Mike Weiss’ son) and Derek Calhoun. Both young men were in the military and died a heroes death. It was the first time I had ever visited the graves on Veteran’s Day of servicemen who had perished. It was an honor, but it was also sad. We all take our freedoms for granted some times.
On Saturday, myself and several other REACT members participated in the Blanchard, Okla. Veteran’s Day parade. It was a short parade, but we had lots of fun and was able to throw candy out our windows to the children. That’s one thing I learned about being in a parade. If you throw candy to the kids, they are happy and their parents are happy because you gave their child some candy. It makes a lasting impression.
After the parade, several of us drove to Chickasha to attend a funeral of one of our members’ mom. Since Chickasha is a small town and have limited resources, we were asked to assist with the funeral procession to the cemetery. Chickasha Police escorted us to the outskirts of the city, but the cemetery was outside the city limits, so our REACT team had to take over and escort the procession the rest of the way to the cemetery. It was a beautiful service and a beautiful day. After the funeral, we all headed back to the city. I arrived home at around 4:30 pm and stayed home the rest of the evening. I watched TV and did some computer work.
I was up early Sunday morning, working on the power point for the morning worship service. That afternoon, we had our annual Thanksgiving Dinner at the church. As usual, we had a large crowd and, as usual, there were people there I had never seen before. Everyone got plenty to eat and everyone seemed to have a great time.
I slept in a little on Monday. I took Monday off work because I had some things I wanted to get done. The plans I had made, changed early Monday morning. Because of the change, I had a free day, sort of. I still had two lawns and my lawn to mow one last time. I loaded my mower and my other lawn equipment into my truck and headed out. I mowed two lawns and then came home and mowed mine. The timing was perfect because when I got through with my lawn, it started raining. I spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning the house. That evening, several REACT members were coming to my house to meet and go over our REACT SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures), so I wanted the house to look good.
We had all decided to meet at Golden Corral at 5 pm to eat. Golden Corral was feeding all veterans for free and several of our REACT members were veterans, so we decided to meet there for dinner. Unfortunately, there were hundreds of other people with the same idea. The wait to eat was going to be over an hour, so we all decided to eat at a Chinese Buffet instead. The food was good and we had a good time of fellowship. Afterwards, we all met at my house and spent about two hours working on the SOP’s. After the guys left, I went to bed, but woke up around midnight with terrible indigestion. Karla told me to suck on a peppermint and to sit in the chair in the living room…..so I did. My stomach gurgled and gurgled for the longest time. I dozed off, but then I woke up around 3 am, felt better and went back to bed.
I woke up Tuesday morning at 5:30 with the worst crick in my neck. Since I slept in the chair for a couple of hours without good neck support, my neck was really hurting. All day long at work, my neck hurt. I could barely look down and could barely move my neck without it hurting. I was miserable. By the time I got off work, I just wanted to go home and get some relief. I did nothing last night but lie around and watch TV.
This morning, I felt better, but the soreness is still there. We are having a turkey party tonight for the youth at church. Fortunately, we are eating pizza, not turkey. It will be a time for fun, food, fellowship and games. Next Wednesday, we will not meet because it is Thanksgiving week.
Tomorrow evening is our CFAAA monthly meeting and our annual elections. I will not be running for any office because I am term limited. I have served as president for the last two years, so I have to take a year off from being an elected officer. I will be eligible to run for office in 2013. That’s fine with me, though. I need a break. I am doing quite a bit with REACT, so taking some time away from the CFAAA will help me be able to re-group. I will still be working on the CFAAA website and doing a few things here and there, but that’s it. I am looking forward to the change.
www.centralokreact.org
On Saturday, myself and several other REACT members participated in the Blanchard, Okla. Veteran’s Day parade. It was a short parade, but we had lots of fun and was able to throw candy out our windows to the children. That’s one thing I learned about being in a parade. If you throw candy to the kids, they are happy and their parents are happy because you gave their child some candy. It makes a lasting impression.
After the parade, several of us drove to Chickasha to attend a funeral of one of our members’ mom. Since Chickasha is a small town and have limited resources, we were asked to assist with the funeral procession to the cemetery. Chickasha Police escorted us to the outskirts of the city, but the cemetery was outside the city limits, so our REACT team had to take over and escort the procession the rest of the way to the cemetery. It was a beautiful service and a beautiful day. After the funeral, we all headed back to the city. I arrived home at around 4:30 pm and stayed home the rest of the evening. I watched TV and did some computer work.
I was up early Sunday morning, working on the power point for the morning worship service. That afternoon, we had our annual Thanksgiving Dinner at the church. As usual, we had a large crowd and, as usual, there were people there I had never seen before. Everyone got plenty to eat and everyone seemed to have a great time.
I slept in a little on Monday. I took Monday off work because I had some things I wanted to get done. The plans I had made, changed early Monday morning. Because of the change, I had a free day, sort of. I still had two lawns and my lawn to mow one last time. I loaded my mower and my other lawn equipment into my truck and headed out. I mowed two lawns and then came home and mowed mine. The timing was perfect because when I got through with my lawn, it started raining. I spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning the house. That evening, several REACT members were coming to my house to meet and go over our REACT SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures), so I wanted the house to look good.
We had all decided to meet at Golden Corral at 5 pm to eat. Golden Corral was feeding all veterans for free and several of our REACT members were veterans, so we decided to meet there for dinner. Unfortunately, there were hundreds of other people with the same idea. The wait to eat was going to be over an hour, so we all decided to eat at a Chinese Buffet instead. The food was good and we had a good time of fellowship. Afterwards, we all met at my house and spent about two hours working on the SOP’s. After the guys left, I went to bed, but woke up around midnight with terrible indigestion. Karla told me to suck on a peppermint and to sit in the chair in the living room…..so I did. My stomach gurgled and gurgled for the longest time. I dozed off, but then I woke up around 3 am, felt better and went back to bed.
I woke up Tuesday morning at 5:30 with the worst crick in my neck. Since I slept in the chair for a couple of hours without good neck support, my neck was really hurting. All day long at work, my neck hurt. I could barely look down and could barely move my neck without it hurting. I was miserable. By the time I got off work, I just wanted to go home and get some relief. I did nothing last night but lie around and watch TV.
This morning, I felt better, but the soreness is still there. We are having a turkey party tonight for the youth at church. Fortunately, we are eating pizza, not turkey. It will be a time for fun, food, fellowship and games. Next Wednesday, we will not meet because it is Thanksgiving week.
Tomorrow evening is our CFAAA monthly meeting and our annual elections. I will not be running for any office because I am term limited. I have served as president for the last two years, so I have to take a year off from being an elected officer. I will be eligible to run for office in 2013. That’s fine with me, though. I need a break. I am doing quite a bit with REACT, so taking some time away from the CFAAA will help me be able to re-group. I will still be working on the CFAAA website and doing a few things here and there, but that’s it. I am looking forward to the change.
www.centralokreact.org
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Still Alive and Kicking!!
Hello??? Anybody there??? Gee, it has been a week since I blogged any. Part of the reason is I was without my laptop for a couple of days. The other reason is…well, I have been a little busy at home and extremely busy at work, so my mind seems to be going into overload. It’s like plugging too many things in an electrical outlet. If you run too much power through, it blows a circuit. That’s how I have felt this week.
Last weekend…..is just a blur. After Karla and I spent three hours at our storage facility going through boxes and tossing junk, I spent the rest of my afternoon at a friend’s house in north OKC, watching the OU and OSU football game. After the game, as I was heading home on I-44, I turned my REACT two-way radio on to see if anything was going on. Almost immediately after I turned it on, I heard a few of my REACT team members discussing an earthquake. It seems as if we had a 5.6 earthquake in central Oklahoma and I did not even feel it. Of course, I was in my small truck, going against a strong south wind, so even if there was an earthquake, my truck was shaking already from the wind, so I would not have felt it anyway. When I got home, my whole family was still up because they felt the earthquake. Since Daylight Savings Time was ending, it was time for us to set our clocks back one hour. That meant I actually went to bed at 10:30 pm.
I was up early on Sunday morning so I could work on the PowerPoint for the morning worship service. It’s nice to get up before everyone else does because I can get more done with no distractions. It was a good day. After church, Karla and I went to lunch with a deacon from our church and his wife. We had a good time of food and fellowship. Then, it was time to go back to the church for a REACT team meeting. After the meeting, I was going to head home…..but I learned in church that morning our quartet was singing Sunday night, so I had to stay.
I have never liked Daylight Savings Time. I hate to Spring forward and I hate falling back. Why can’t they leave our time alone? Now, when it starts getting dark, I want to automatically go to bed. I was in bed early on Sunday and Monday night. Last night, I had to do some work in my office, so I actually stayed up until 10:15 pm. I was wide awake by 5 am.
The last two evenings have been very uneventful. Monday evening, the weather started getting bad in western Oklahoma and radar showed it was heading our way. So, at around 16:30, our REACT President activated our team and we went into storm spotting mode. Several large tornadoes were spotted in SW Oklahoma, but fortunately, they were in an areas that were open fields, so they did very little damage. The storms were moving in our direction, so we were getting prepared to meet them as they came in. As we watched the radar, we noticed the storms took a northward turn. Because of that, they were going to miss OKC, so there was nothing for us to spot. We were still going to eventually get some small hail, heavy rain and lightning, but no tornadoes or strong winds.
Today has been a very busy day at the office. To top it all off, I am still training a couple of people how to dispatch. Tomorrow, I will probably spend all day training, so I will not get much done at my desk. These busy days wear me out mentally.
www.centralokreact.org
Last weekend…..is just a blur. After Karla and I spent three hours at our storage facility going through boxes and tossing junk, I spent the rest of my afternoon at a friend’s house in north OKC, watching the OU and OSU football game. After the game, as I was heading home on I-44, I turned my REACT two-way radio on to see if anything was going on. Almost immediately after I turned it on, I heard a few of my REACT team members discussing an earthquake. It seems as if we had a 5.6 earthquake in central Oklahoma and I did not even feel it. Of course, I was in my small truck, going against a strong south wind, so even if there was an earthquake, my truck was shaking already from the wind, so I would not have felt it anyway. When I got home, my whole family was still up because they felt the earthquake. Since Daylight Savings Time was ending, it was time for us to set our clocks back one hour. That meant I actually went to bed at 10:30 pm.
I was up early on Sunday morning so I could work on the PowerPoint for the morning worship service. It’s nice to get up before everyone else does because I can get more done with no distractions. It was a good day. After church, Karla and I went to lunch with a deacon from our church and his wife. We had a good time of food and fellowship. Then, it was time to go back to the church for a REACT team meeting. After the meeting, I was going to head home…..but I learned in church that morning our quartet was singing Sunday night, so I had to stay.
I have never liked Daylight Savings Time. I hate to Spring forward and I hate falling back. Why can’t they leave our time alone? Now, when it starts getting dark, I want to automatically go to bed. I was in bed early on Sunday and Monday night. Last night, I had to do some work in my office, so I actually stayed up until 10:15 pm. I was wide awake by 5 am.
The last two evenings have been very uneventful. Monday evening, the weather started getting bad in western Oklahoma and radar showed it was heading our way. So, at around 16:30, our REACT President activated our team and we went into storm spotting mode. Several large tornadoes were spotted in SW Oklahoma, but fortunately, they were in an areas that were open fields, so they did very little damage. The storms were moving in our direction, so we were getting prepared to meet them as they came in. As we watched the radar, we noticed the storms took a northward turn. Because of that, they were going to miss OKC, so there was nothing for us to spot. We were still going to eventually get some small hail, heavy rain and lightning, but no tornadoes or strong winds.
Today has been a very busy day at the office. To top it all off, I am still training a couple of people how to dispatch. Tomorrow, I will probably spend all day training, so I will not get much done at my desk. These busy days wear me out mentally.
www.centralokreact.org
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Fall Fire Safety Tips.
So far, it has been a quiet, non-dramatic week for me.
I worked from 7 am – 8 pm on Monday, so that pretty much blew my whole day. I did not do much when I got home because I was way too tired. Yesterday evening, I got home, thinking I was going to rest and relax for the evening, but my son came by and reminded me I was suppose to help him move furniture out of his old apartment. I had forgotten all about it. So, I spent about an hour or so moving a huge couch from a fifth floor apartment to the back of my truck…and then to the house. Just what we needed….something else to store in the garage…..
It looks as if old man Winter is trying to show his ugly face again. I wore shorts to work today, but I did carry a pair of jeans with me…just in case it got real cold. I received some information via email today from the Oklahoma City Fire Department that I want to pass along. With it getting colder, more people will be firing up their furnaces. Here are some Fall Fire Safety Tips to help keep you safe.
Fall Fire Safety Tips
With colder weather approaching, it is time to think about fire safety in relation to heating our homes. First, the most important aspect of home fire safety is making sure that every home has a working smoke detector, and that these detectors are checked monthly and batteries are changed annually. Residents of Oklahoma City, who do not have a working smoke detector, may contact the Oklahoma City Fire Department’s Public Education section at 297-3318 for a free battery or smoke detector and installation. Second, here are some tips that may be used during the next few months of cold weather.
Carbon Monoxide Alarms are easy to install and can save lives. They do not take the place of a Smoke Alarms, however, having one is the next step to a safe environment in the home. Any open flame heater creates Carbon Monoxide gas and if your heating devices in the home are not functioning properly, this gas can be deadly.
They are becoming more affordable, more effective and if you have a flame operated heating device in your home, indispensable.
Space Heaters
Dust and lint may have accumulated in the space heater. Be sure to clean them thoroughly with a vacuum cleaner.
Gas space heaters need to have the flame adjusted to blue in order to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide build up.
Caution children not to stand too close to a space heater to warm up, as their clothing could catch fire.
Give space heaters their space! Be sure that all combustible material is away from the heater, at least three feet in all directions.
Floor Furnaces
Floor furnaces are safest when they are equipped with a thermostat and automatic shut off device.
Clean the floor furnace by removing the grate and using a vacuum to remove dust and lint from inside the unit.
During the summer months, people often place throw rugs on the floor furnace. As the weather cools, they may remove these rugs and turn the furnace on. During the warm days following a cold snap, people often throw the rug back onto the furnace without turning the unit off. Then, when it becomes cold again, the floor furnace automatically comes back on igniting the throw rug. Be sure to remove rugs whenever the unit is switched on.
Central Heaters
Clean or replace the furnace filter.
Clean the entire furnace area using a vacuum to remove dust and lint.
Be sure to remove any brooms, boxes, magazines, newspapers, or any other combustible material stored in the heater closet.
Fireplaces
Inspect the fireplace and chimney at least once a year. Look for cracks in the firebox, flue, and chimney. Also check for build up of soot and creosote inside the flue.
Open the damper enough to allow the smoke and gases to escape up the chimney.
Never start a fire with gasoline, kerosene, or any other flammable liquid.
Always keep a good-quality metal fireplace screen in front of the fireplace whenever it is being used to prevent burning logs from rolling out or embers from flying out.
Keep a three-foot area in front of and to the sides of the fireplace clear of any combustibles including, logs, kindling wood, paper, rugs, clothing, or furniture.
Never leave a fire unattended. Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving your home or going to bed.
Never burn charcoal in a fireplace. Charcoal gives off deadly carbon monoxide gas that can fill a room and overcome the occupants.
Never cook in a fireplace. Grease from the food can build up inside the flue and catch fire.
Never burn more than two or three natural logs at one time.
Artificial logs made of compressed sawdust and wax should be handled differently than natural logs because they generate more heat. Burn only one artificial log at a time and do not burn an artificial log with natural logs.
Always make sure fireplace ashes are placed in a metal container. Never place hot embers in a combustible container such as a trashcan. Allow ashes to cool thoroughly before disposing of them.
There are many potential problems when we are heating our homes during the cooler months. If you need professional assistance with heating equipment preparation, look in the Yellow Pages under "Heating Contractors" or "Chimney Cleaning". With a little caution, we can all remain safe and healthy during the fall and winter season.
www.centralokreact.org
I worked from 7 am – 8 pm on Monday, so that pretty much blew my whole day. I did not do much when I got home because I was way too tired. Yesterday evening, I got home, thinking I was going to rest and relax for the evening, but my son came by and reminded me I was suppose to help him move furniture out of his old apartment. I had forgotten all about it. So, I spent about an hour or so moving a huge couch from a fifth floor apartment to the back of my truck…and then to the house. Just what we needed….something else to store in the garage…..
It looks as if old man Winter is trying to show his ugly face again. I wore shorts to work today, but I did carry a pair of jeans with me…just in case it got real cold. I received some information via email today from the Oklahoma City Fire Department that I want to pass along. With it getting colder, more people will be firing up their furnaces. Here are some Fall Fire Safety Tips to help keep you safe.
Fall Fire Safety Tips
With colder weather approaching, it is time to think about fire safety in relation to heating our homes. First, the most important aspect of home fire safety is making sure that every home has a working smoke detector, and that these detectors are checked monthly and batteries are changed annually. Residents of Oklahoma City, who do not have a working smoke detector, may contact the Oklahoma City Fire Department’s Public Education section at 297-3318 for a free battery or smoke detector and installation. Second, here are some tips that may be used during the next few months of cold weather.
Carbon Monoxide Alarms are easy to install and can save lives. They do not take the place of a Smoke Alarms, however, having one is the next step to a safe environment in the home. Any open flame heater creates Carbon Monoxide gas and if your heating devices in the home are not functioning properly, this gas can be deadly.
They are becoming more affordable, more effective and if you have a flame operated heating device in your home, indispensable.
Space Heaters
Dust and lint may have accumulated in the space heater. Be sure to clean them thoroughly with a vacuum cleaner.
Gas space heaters need to have the flame adjusted to blue in order to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide build up.
Caution children not to stand too close to a space heater to warm up, as their clothing could catch fire.
Give space heaters their space! Be sure that all combustible material is away from the heater, at least three feet in all directions.
Floor Furnaces
Floor furnaces are safest when they are equipped with a thermostat and automatic shut off device.
Clean the floor furnace by removing the grate and using a vacuum to remove dust and lint from inside the unit.
During the summer months, people often place throw rugs on the floor furnace. As the weather cools, they may remove these rugs and turn the furnace on. During the warm days following a cold snap, people often throw the rug back onto the furnace without turning the unit off. Then, when it becomes cold again, the floor furnace automatically comes back on igniting the throw rug. Be sure to remove rugs whenever the unit is switched on.
Central Heaters
Clean or replace the furnace filter.
Clean the entire furnace area using a vacuum to remove dust and lint.
Be sure to remove any brooms, boxes, magazines, newspapers, or any other combustible material stored in the heater closet.
Fireplaces
Inspect the fireplace and chimney at least once a year. Look for cracks in the firebox, flue, and chimney. Also check for build up of soot and creosote inside the flue.
Open the damper enough to allow the smoke and gases to escape up the chimney.
Never start a fire with gasoline, kerosene, or any other flammable liquid.
Always keep a good-quality metal fireplace screen in front of the fireplace whenever it is being used to prevent burning logs from rolling out or embers from flying out.
Keep a three-foot area in front of and to the sides of the fireplace clear of any combustibles including, logs, kindling wood, paper, rugs, clothing, or furniture.
Never leave a fire unattended. Make sure the fire is completely out before leaving your home or going to bed.
Never burn charcoal in a fireplace. Charcoal gives off deadly carbon monoxide gas that can fill a room and overcome the occupants.
Never cook in a fireplace. Grease from the food can build up inside the flue and catch fire.
Never burn more than two or three natural logs at one time.
Artificial logs made of compressed sawdust and wax should be handled differently than natural logs because they generate more heat. Burn only one artificial log at a time and do not burn an artificial log with natural logs.
Always make sure fireplace ashes are placed in a metal container. Never place hot embers in a combustible container such as a trashcan. Allow ashes to cool thoroughly before disposing of them.
There are many potential problems when we are heating our homes during the cooler months. If you need professional assistance with heating equipment preparation, look in the Yellow Pages under "Heating Contractors" or "Chimney Cleaning". With a little caution, we can all remain safe and healthy during the fall and winter season.
www.centralokreact.org
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