Some people just don't want to work with the system, Do they?

Hello to all,

It is Friday morning as I again sit at my desk here at TCC. Came in to a busy morning after a long hard night for the off going shift. They had two really bad calls last night and all are kinda down this morning. One of the calls had seven (7) cheerleaders in a vehicle that killed three of them and seriously injured three more and one is already out of the hospital. the other call had several patients but it was not talked about much due to the other call being so tragic.

As for me, I have had a few good days even with them being busy. I was off Tuesday and slept in a little then spent the rest running a few errands and getting ready for the WEF meeting that evening. Amy and I meet with our insurance guy and worked on a life insurance policy to replace mine that is going to expire, then headed to the meeting. This is where part of my title comes from. The meeting was a board meeting of the foundation to figure out some old business that we (the new administration) did not understand. We have a good group of people that want to do good for the school, but are still working on getting to our goals as we see them now. But of course there is the old guard that gives resistance to change. I feel we are doing all we can to make the system work, but some people just don't adapt to a system. We ended up moving in a positive direction but still have a lot of work to do.

At SAS on Wednesday, it was a busy day all around. Besides medical calls, I ended up fighting a trailer fire by myself with a pump operator and one support personnel that really struggled to support due to medical problems. But by the time the other FD's that were coming to assist found us, I had it out and ventilated. Then, of course that rest of the day was busy. To make it worse, I don't understand what is going on with SAS. We are in desperate need equipment, trucks and many other things and it seems that we continue to fall further behind. The moral is so low, it is unbearable any longer. Then the next morning, I was told at about 0815 that my relief would be late if she gets to come at all. Of course the manager/director had no idea that this was going on even though the person had known she had court. I stayed till 11 and then just had to leave to make a appointment I had at noon. It just really gripes me that nobody is even respectful enough to handle themselves for this shift ad just dumps it on whoever gets caught. But My main complaint is the lack of leadership or discipline when these events happen. I just don't know how much more I can put up with. I don't feel that I work for a good company no longer and I do not feel the level of service is were it should be for the customers/patients we serve.

Like I said earlier, at 11, I just left with no relief. That bothers me so much, but I don't feel i was my fault that personnel were not in place. I went to the house and cleaned up, then headed to the school and had lunch with Amy. From there it was and afternoon full of errands and getting some grants submitted for the WEF. We had PTSA meeting last night which of course the same few people showed up for. I sure wish parents, teachers and students would get more involved, but like I told Amy - I just don't think they are going to. I think Amy has a hard decision of shutting it down due to lack of participation and support. Her and Rhonda can not do it all themselves.

Back at home, we relaxed and watched some of the DVR shows we never get time to see before I feel asleep. Then I was up at 4:30 to get ready to be here by 6:30. I can't wait to get back toward home. I plan on going and helping Hunter sell Christmas trees then again relaxing and preparing for SAS tomorrow.

I do not come back to TCC till next Thursday , but will attempt to give you an update from home before that. Next week is going to be an exciting week with band getting going again and meeting the new director and putting the train back on the tracks. besides that, I have a few off days to do some projects that I need and want to do. I can't wait.

Till then,

Jeffrey

Hunters questionable music is driving me crazy !

Hello everyone,

Its been a few days since I talked to you all. I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. I was at SAS but we had a very slow shift and I got to run to Sycamore for about an hour and visit. We ate too much at the ambulance service and slept the rest of the day. Unfortunately, we had a Bham trip during the night and then a wreck. So I was tired when I got off.

Friday, I was off and slept more than I was awake. It was relaxing for the most part. Amy did not feel well and did not rest well.

Saturday, I was back at TCC for a 1030 to 1030 shift. We were busy for the most part so the shift went quickly. Amy still did not feel well so Hunter and her did not do much.

Sunday, back to SAS, now you talk about a slow shift. it was absolutely slow. We ran 4 calls total and only transported two of those. I got a lot of rest but it still was a day at SAS which I would rather be home instead. Hunter aggravated Amy so that made life interesting for a little while. I sure wish I could get him not to do that when she feels bad. But he is 14 and showing it.

And now to today, I got off and spent some time working on WEF business. That is Winterboro Educational Foundation. Then after getting home and getting ready to go to work, got involved with working on band business. I don't know how much I have said about the band stuff, but it is in a mess. The school and us parents are getting it straightened out. They are working hard on getting a new director in place, and I can not wait. The kids need to be playing instead of goofing off. Maybe soon. I of course am at TCC now. We have been very busy. Then on top of that, I have been listening to music to approve or disapprove for his i-pod. I do not know where he finds some of this music, but then I have to remember how I listened to everything and found some weird music at times. And of course, if it was questionable I would try it. So I now find myself paying for that. He does not do to bad, but some is of question as to content.

It is now almost time to go to the house. I am ready. Tomorrow brings a off day, but I'm sure it will be full of things to do. I will let you know.

Jeff

Looks like a rainy Thanksgiving

Good morning to all of my readers,

It is Wednesday morning here at TCC, Its foggy and rainy so maybe we will have a easy day. I know we will not have aircraft to deal with today. We had a busy afternoon yesterday, so I will gladly take the easy day.

Not much to update you guys on. No exciting events around our place. Amy and Hunter are out of school for the holiday weekend and of course I am working.

I hope everyone has a good Thanksgiving and be safe.

Jeff

Band in kaos, WEF bussiness never ends but was off two days

Hello everyone,

Yes I am still alive and well, even though I have not filed you in for the week. I am again sitting at TCC and it is real busy, so forgive me if I seem spaced out.

This week has been both good and bad for me and my family. The good was that I was actually off two days in a row and got to rest and spend some time with Amy and Hunter. I enjoyed it a lot. The bad is the chaos at the school. We officially have no band director after she has been MIA for over a month. I wish I knew what happened? We have just been told that she resigned and the search for a new director will start. This does not make me feel good. We have put so much into this year and Hunter wants to play so bad. Then there is the WEF and all of its business which seems to be in a mess on one hand and becoming better on the other. And then on top of that, the VFD seems to be having another spell of personal conflicts that drags the department down so fast. I am beginning to question how many of these things I can handle at one time.

I feel guilty when I think about backing off of the "volunteer" position at the VFD, but I want more time for my family and myself. But is it wrong of me to not volunteer at the VFD with my skills or to pick and choose when I am going to respond and when I am not. I struggle with the fact that if someone close to me needs help, I want others to be able to respond. So I feel that I should do the same for the people of the community. But it is clear that other members do not treat it the way I do, so way do I worry? I don't think there is a way to win.

As far as the band and the WEF, I do those to try and help the school for Hunter. But as Amy tells me all the time, I do them for me more than Hunter. I do enjoy doing for them most of the time. I just wish the drama around them was different. It is not necessary at all. I sure hope we can land on our feet with a new director before to much time has passed and the kids miss getting to do all-county or all-state tryouts. Its going to make it hard for them to be competitive.

Well I do not have much more to tell you and my brain is in overload from the week, so I do not wish to go threw day by day with you. I did manage to get the power to my shop hooked up and on along with some organization of it done. And most of all, got to be at home a couple of days with my family. So it has been a good week, despite all the drama.

Till next time,

Jeff

Weather station is up and online

Good morning everyone,

I have had a great weekend and I hope that you have too. Friday, after I talked with you, I went and took a nap at the Rogers than back to TCC. We had a very slow night. Hunter and I got up early the next morning and headed to the abc3340 weather Xtream class. It was at the car show in B'ham. I really enjoyed it and Hunter seemed to get a lot from it also. We are now advanced storm spotters for Alabama Skywarn/NOAA. We did get to go to the car show free (thank goodness it was free, cause it was very disappointing). We stopped at Hooters for Lunch on the way home. I guess I am really starting to realize that he looks at girls (women) more than I think. That scares me! Anyway, after that we headed to the school for the Ms. Winterboro Pageant. Amy helped with the decorations and organization. I was asked to run the sound board. It went well, but once again, I realize that Hunter is growing up. His girlfriend Heather was a contestant. When her interest were read, one of them was "spending time with my boyfriend Hunter". I about barfed! Sunday was pretty relaxing with sleeping in and not much projects or stuff done. It was nice. We laid around last night and watched the movie "SICKO" by Micheal Moore. I would encourage everyone to watch it. It will really make you think about what is going on with or health care system. I may move to Cuba, Britain, Canada or France to take care of my family. It will make you mad when he shows that the people of CUBA get better medical service than we do with better equipment and at no cost. When they showed the ambulance and fire trucks in Cuba, I was shocked to see equipment we dream of in the ambulance and how clean the ambulance was.We have been lied to for our whole lives about how bad the health care systems of those other countries are. We need a new government system.

Well, I will get off my soap box now and get to work. Yes, I am again at TCC this morning. I get off at 2:30 pm. and look forward to going home to have a little more time with Amy and Hunter who are at home due to the holiday.

Talk to You later.

Jeff

P.S. ; There is a new link to the Right side bar. It replaced the weather that I was putting in. It is a link to my weather station and keeps its self updated. You can also click on it and it will open to a full station detail with current data and history.

Long Hours with Little Sleep

Good morning folks,

Its about 5:30 on Friday morning. I am working TCC an a 7:30p to 7:30a shift. I figure I will update a little about the last few days. I left you on Monday evening. So it wont take long to bring you up to speed. I went in early at 7 am at SAS on Tuesday morning and worked till 8 am Thursday morning. We did not have real busy shifts but just enough to mess sleeping up. Nothing exciting happened, just two boring days at my favorite place (LOL). I got off and went home, took me a sleep aid and slept till Amy and Hunter got home. Got up and got ready to come to TCC for tonight's shift. It has been a slow shift here. We did have a bad shooting early in the shift but since then, it has been sparse. I did finish the 3rd season on Emergency on DVD. I am headed to the Rogers to nap when I get off and have to be back at 2:30 this afternoon. So like I said, Not much to tell you about for the past several days. But you are up to date.

Love, Jeff

Football season is over but still can't get a day off

Hello everyone,

I am again sitting here at TCC and able to update you on the affairs of my life. I left you on Wednesday with nothing new to tell. It been busy since, so here goes.

Thursday, back to SAS. Nothing really to tell about that place other than I am so ready to get out of there. I do not understand how a company can go so badly wrong.

Friday, I was off during the day but had a list a mile long of stuff I wanted to do. I got home and did a lot of work on the tractor till I of course broke the fuel filter off the tractor. I decided to go ahead and get cleaned up that I could run to Talladega to get the part I needed so that if I ran late I could be ready when Amy and Hunter got home. I did make it back and got the tractor running just as they got home. We got ready to go do the last football game for the year. We are so ready for it to be over. The game actually went better than expected. Ms. Street was still out, so Buster substituted as band director. I did not even pull the trailer due to my truck problems. So I sat with Amy for most of the game. We got home late and tired as usual.

Saturday, I slept in a little, then headed in to TCC. We had a busy shift, so I did not even open my blog. Sorry you guys had to wait a few extra days for some info.

Sunday, Back to SAS. We were busy during the day but slept all night. Again, I will tell you that I live getting paid overtime and sleeping all night. It may be the only justice I do get at that place.

So now I am to today. I go toff late from SAS due to a late call. Went home, cleaned up and headed back to town. I had to go get my tags renewed since I forgot they were due in October. I then went to WHS and had lunch with Amy. It was good old lunchroom food (It actually was good). I then headed to work and am to the present time.

I have updated the Picasa link on the right side column with some new pictures. Yes Mrs. Rogers, this is were you will find the ones you want (look in Rogers family pictures). Hope everyone enjoys the pictures.

Talk to you later,

Jeff