I wish I had a photo for this one, but it's not cool when a responding firefighter snaps a photo of the accident he's supposed to be assisting with.
My pager went off just before midnight last night, right as Shirra and I were finishing up "Groundhog Day," one of our favorite movies. There was a one-car accident on Highway 87, just outside of New Paltz. There hadn't been any calls for days, it seemed, and I'm always (morbidly) fascinated by car wrecks, so I raced out of the house in hopes of catching up with the fire truck at the highway entrance.
Because we live so far from the fire house, it's rare for me to make it onto a fire truck except for these sorts of calls, and then only if I get to the highway really fast. Fellow firefighter Steve, who also lives a few miles from the center of the Village, had arrived just seconds before me. He was already in his gear, but I didn't have time to change so I simply grabbed my things. We could hear the fire truck heading towards us, but as it got close, it didn't slow down; we heard someone yell, "Full" as it headed thru the toll plaza. Luckily for us, the Ass't Chief's car was close behind and he picked us up. I changed in the backseat as we sped nearly 6 miles to the scene, getting there in just under 4 minutes. We passed our fire truck on the way.
There were already a lot of firemen at the scene of the accident. This was odd, since there was no fire truck on hand. It turns out that by coincidence, the accident happened just as a group of Plattekill firemen were driving home after a parade in Albany. They helped out for awhile before continuing on their way. NP Rescue was already there, too, as were lots of police. They told us that the driver was mostly fine (his lacerated wrist was wrapped up, and he was ambulatory), but his passenger probably had a broken hip. The car had slid off the road (reason unknown), driven along the grass, and then gone up the embankment before smashing into a big tree and falling onto its side. The passenger was still being tended to when we got there, and there were plenty of people to help him, so Steve and I worked on the car. It was on its side, but the keys were in the ignition and it was still running. I held back the hood and Steve cut the battery cables so that the car couldn't suddenly burst into flame. Later we put out the roadside flares that were no longer necessary. That was the extent of our work at the scene.
That's not to say that this wasn't an interesting call. It's always fun to hang out with state troopers and watch tow-truck operators in action. And there was a strange moment involving the driver's sneaker. It was found in the car, and then the trooper remembered that he'd been walking around with one shoe after the accident. We used this other sneaker to collect some belongings that didn't make it onto the ambulance with him: a Blackberry, both wallets, and a few knickknacks. The trooper was hoping to hand this sneaker to the EMTs, but the ambulance had already left. He would have to transport the sneaker to the hospital himself, making his night even longer. As we drove away, we saw the trooper changing direction by crossing to the other side of the highway. Perhaps he forgot about the shoe or decided to mail the items from the police station.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
Garbage Fires and Hidden Ponds
I reluctantly responded to a fire call today. It's not that I didn't want to attend, but I afraid that I'd run out of time since I had to drive to Manhattan by 10:30, less than 90 minutes later, and I didn't want to take the risk that this fire would be a lengthy job. But when the 2nd call came in, requesting more manpower, I decided I had to risk it. And when I listened to the address, I realized that this garbage fire was at the Clearwater Recycling Center, less than a quarter mile from me. I was there before the firetrucks.
The fire had apparently started in a large building that houses some huge Dumpsters filled with refuse. Some of this garbage comes off of private trucks, the detritus of farms, construction jobs, and businesses. It seems that something had been smoldering, and when it got dumped into this partially open building, it must have had a chance to ignite and to spread. Luckily it didn't spread far by our arrival.
Putting out a trash fire is dangerous because of fumes. You never know what's going to turn up in the mix. Firefighters need to wear protective masks connected to oxygen tanks; they're called SCBAs. [SCBA is like SCUBA, except it's not Underwater.] I discovered a few months ago that while most men need a medium or large mask, I need a small one because I lost 25 pounds recently, which affects the way a mask fits. There aren't any small-size masks handy on the trucks that responded, so I wasn't going to be allowed to hose down this fire. Instead, I went with another fireman to the tanker truck, and we drove to a nearby pond.
Clearwater has a pond that everyone sees as they drive to the dump, but that pond is a bit hard for us to reach with our hard suction tubes. The driver of the tanker, an expert on everything New Paltz, explained that we were instead driving to a little-known pond behind near the baseball fields. We hung out for awhile, trying to decide the best way to orient the truck, and eventually we dropped the suction tools into the pond. Later we filled up another truck using the pond water, and within a surprisingly short time, we were done.
I attended a garbage fire and learned how to help out with the tanker truck, and I wasn't even late for my drive to Manhattan.
The fire had apparently started in a large building that houses some huge Dumpsters filled with refuse. Some of this garbage comes off of private trucks, the detritus of farms, construction jobs, and businesses. It seems that something had been smoldering, and when it got dumped into this partially open building, it must have had a chance to ignite and to spread. Luckily it didn't spread far by our arrival.
Putting out a trash fire is dangerous because of fumes. You never know what's going to turn up in the mix. Firefighters need to wear protective masks connected to oxygen tanks; they're called SCBAs. [SCBA is like SCUBA, except it's not Underwater.] I discovered a few months ago that while most men need a medium or large mask, I need a small one because I lost 25 pounds recently, which affects the way a mask fits. There aren't any small-size masks handy on the trucks that responded, so I wasn't going to be allowed to hose down this fire. Instead, I went with another fireman to the tanker truck, and we drove to a nearby pond.
Clearwater has a pond that everyone sees as they drive to the dump, but that pond is a bit hard for us to reach with our hard suction tubes. The driver of the tanker, an expert on everything New Paltz, explained that we were instead driving to a little-known pond behind near the baseball fields. We hung out for awhile, trying to decide the best way to orient the truck, and eventually we dropped the suction tools into the pond. Later we filled up another truck using the pond water, and within a surprisingly short time, we were done.
I attended a garbage fire and learned how to help out with the tanker truck, and I wasn't even late for my drive to Manhattan.
1 Fire Department, 2 Cat Stories
I joined the NPFD in December but hadn't heard about a cat story till this week, when we had two. One was about a cat that had gone up in tree. The other was about a cat going up, near a bunch of trees.
During our meeting this past Monday, I learned that one of the chiefs and one of the firemen had been out on a call to rescue a cat. It's nice to know that fire departments still handle those kinds of calls, but really, who else could a person rely on in that situation? I didn't hear many details other than the fact that the presence of the owner at the rescue meant that certain proven techniques could not be employed (something about a hose, a jet-stream of water, and the whole thing being finished in minutes), but eventually the tree was defelinated.
A day before, I'd responded to my pager at 11:30 at night. There was a fire of unknown origin burning outside of a residence in the Village. I made it in time to hop onto a truck, and minutes later was hosing down a fire in a sloped backyard. It appeared that the owner of the nearby house had had a bonfire that went awry. It turns out that he was cremating his cat when things got out of hand. Apparently he'd used too much gasoline to ignite the material under the cat, which included roofing tiles, railroad ties, and copper plumbing (which may have been part of the cat-holding contraption; we never did find out). I got to experience some of what it's like to put out a fire. My gloves still smell like smoke.
As for my advice: Don't let your cats out in the backyard, alive or dead.
During our meeting this past Monday, I learned that one of the chiefs and one of the firemen had been out on a call to rescue a cat. It's nice to know that fire departments still handle those kinds of calls, but really, who else could a person rely on in that situation? I didn't hear many details other than the fact that the presence of the owner at the rescue meant that certain proven techniques could not be employed (something about a hose, a jet-stream of water, and the whole thing being finished in minutes), but eventually the tree was defelinated.
A day before, I'd responded to my pager at 11:30 at night. There was a fire of unknown origin burning outside of a residence in the Village. I made it in time to hop onto a truck, and minutes later was hosing down a fire in a sloped backyard. It appeared that the owner of the nearby house had had a bonfire that went awry. It turns out that he was cremating his cat when things got out of hand. Apparently he'd used too much gasoline to ignite the material under the cat, which included roofing tiles, railroad ties, and copper plumbing (which may have been part of the cat-holding contraption; we never did find out). I got to experience some of what it's like to put out a fire. My gloves still smell like smoke.
As for my advice: Don't let your cats out in the backyard, alive or dead.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Graduation
Shirra and I attended a graduation this morning. Aware of the circumstance but not of the pomp, we were just about the only parents in shorts and tee shirts. Siblings missed school to attend. Well-dressed parents and grandparents leafed thru glossy programs. The affair began with a rendition of Pomp and Circumstance played by a professional violinist. Then the 5-year-olds marched to the stage. The Huguenot Preschool Graduation ceremony had begun.
Teachers and Board members spoke briefly and movingly about how much the class meant to them. A class mom played guitar and sang an original song about love. My old best friend Ben, whose son was graduating, showed a snazzy slide montage to the tune of a slightly inappropriate Johnny Cash song about a love more carnal than anything these kids have experienced since their own births. Suddenly it was time for cake. Like the graduates, the ceremony was short and sweet. There was even a local reporter on hand, tho I suspect that this had to do more with the fact that her son was graduating than with the newsworthiness of the event.
Unfortunately the valedictorian's talk was garbled and altogether lost due to her inability to hold cookies in one hand and the microphone in the other. The class president more than made up for it with a rousing speech entitled, "From Diapers to Depends: Let's Make a Difference Now that We Can Wear Spiderman Underpants."
I was kicked out of preschool at age 3 and then changed schools two more times by 2nd Grade, so I didn't have anything to graduate from until I was 13. By that age, my little one will be wearing a cap and gown for the fourth time. And yes, the kids wore little caps today as they marched in. Then they flipped them over and used them as bowls for their grapes and pretzels at the party. If anything the school teaches about love,kindness, and recycling.
Teachers and Board members spoke briefly and movingly about how much the class meant to them. A class mom played guitar and sang an original song about love. My old best friend Ben, whose son was graduating, showed a snazzy slide montage to the tune of a slightly inappropriate Johnny Cash song about a love more carnal than anything these kids have experienced since their own births. Suddenly it was time for cake. Like the graduates, the ceremony was short and sweet. There was even a local reporter on hand, tho I suspect that this had to do more with the fact that her son was graduating than with the newsworthiness of the event.
Unfortunately the valedictorian's talk was garbled and altogether lost due to her inability to hold cookies in one hand and the microphone in the other. The class president more than made up for it with a rousing speech entitled, "From Diapers to Depends: Let's Make a Difference Now that We Can Wear Spiderman Underpants."
I was kicked out of preschool at age 3 and then changed schools two more times by 2nd Grade, so I didn't have anything to graduate from until I was 13. By that age, my little one will be wearing a cap and gown for the fourth time. And yes, the kids wore little caps today as they marched in. Then they flipped them over and used them as bowls for their grapes and pretzels at the party. If anything the school teaches about love,kindness, and recycling.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Check Out My New Blog: Unicycling Anthropologist
It's all about funny observations I've made as a unicyclist for the past 27 years.
It's the unicyclinganthropologist.blogspot.com, but you can just click on my top link on the right.
Enjoy!
It's the unicyclinganthropologist.blogspot.com, but you can just click on my top link on the right.
Enjoy!
Monday, June 04, 2007
The High Cost of Guinea Pigs
Anyone contemplating the purchase of guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, or (in our case) a hedgehog should consider the surprising costs associated with keeping a happy and healthy caged rodent in a house or apartment that does not smell like the monkey cage in a bad zoo.
We first caved in to our daughter's request for a guinea pig. But guinea pigs are communal, so we agreed to buy two. Later, our son wanted one, but guinea pigs are communal, so we had to buy two more, only he really wanted a female one, so we ended up with five. During this period, we also found ourselves with a hamster and two mice, but because of their small size, they don't account for too much of the expense except for a few vet visits and the initial costs of their cages. No, the main
expense associated with guinea pigs is their bedding.
Because they are not easily litter trained, they basically pee and poop where they eat, only with some discretion. That is, they usually leave one corner of the cage as their designated toilet, but they're not perfect, so turds end up pretty much all over. This is especially true of younger guinea pigs on account of their skittishness. As Johnny Cochrane might have said, if you say boo, they will poo.
Cage-lining material comes in a variety of colors and styles. Why anyone would want green-dyed fluff in a guinea pig cage is beyond me. It's not only ugly but is also dangerous for the pets on account of the chemicals. So we stick with the untreated stuff. Purchased at the local Agway, it's about $25 for a large bag. Thankfully, they only had the dyed versions, so I drove to a PetSmart in Kingston, and it was well worth the trip. They charge less than $20 for a large bag and also have a discount card. Nonetheless, it turns out that we're spending about $100 a month to keep the piggies in fresh cages, which comes to about
$240 per guinea pig per year.
Food is less pricy by far. I'd guess we spend no more than $200 a year for our brood, or about $40 a year per pig. And they love your leftover carrots and celery, so that healthy part of their diet is practically free.
Vet visits are not essential, and even when they are, some owners will neglect their responsibilities. We try to do right by our pets, and I'd guess $20 a year would seem a good guess, on average.
Here is the breakdown:
Startup costs: $75 (piggy, cage, toys)
Food, annual: $40-80
Vet: $20
Bedding: $240
Total = $300-340 per year. PER GUINEA PIG!
We first caved in to our daughter's request for a guinea pig. But guinea pigs are communal, so we agreed to buy two. Later, our son wanted one, but guinea pigs are communal, so we had to buy two more, only he really wanted a female one, so we ended up with five. During this period, we also found ourselves with a hamster and two mice, but because of their small size, they don't account for too much of the expense except for a few vet visits and the initial costs of their cages. No, the main
expense associated with guinea pigs is their bedding.
Because they are not easily litter trained, they basically pee and poop where they eat, only with some discretion. That is, they usually leave one corner of the cage as their designated toilet, but they're not perfect, so turds end up pretty much all over. This is especially true of younger guinea pigs on account of their skittishness. As Johnny Cochrane might have said, if you say boo, they will poo.
Cage-lining material comes in a variety of colors and styles. Why anyone would want green-dyed fluff in a guinea pig cage is beyond me. It's not only ugly but is also dangerous for the pets on account of the chemicals. So we stick with the untreated stuff. Purchased at the local Agway, it's about $25 for a large bag. Thankfully, they only had the dyed versions, so I drove to a PetSmart in Kingston, and it was well worth the trip. They charge less than $20 for a large bag and also have a discount card. Nonetheless, it turns out that we're spending about $100 a month to keep the piggies in fresh cages, which comes to about
$240 per guinea pig per year.
Food is less pricy by far. I'd guess we spend no more than $200 a year for our brood, or about $40 a year per pig. And they love your leftover carrots and celery, so that healthy part of their diet is practically free.
Vet visits are not essential, and even when they are, some owners will neglect their responsibilities. We try to do right by our pets, and I'd guess $20 a year would seem a good guess, on average.
Here is the breakdown:
Startup costs: $75 (piggy, cage, toys)
Food, annual: $40-80
Vet: $20
Bedding: $240
Total = $300-340 per year. PER GUINEA PIG!
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