here we go, again

Okay. So we all passed our finals. It was a stressful day but it all happened. Our group actually did really well. I guess on our last evolution the stress finally got to one of the guys I was partnered with. The trainers said we were done, finished, no more finals. I guess he didn't hear thought because he was still rolling with the evolution, pulling shit out of compartments on the engine, connecting it to the pump panel, and getting ready to pull more hose. The best part is is that it was all unnecessary, even if we were not finished with the evolution. I had my mistakes too though. Heeled the 35' ladder with the wrong foot when we were bringing it down. Tied a psycho knot instead of a figure 8 follow through. I always freak out on the knots. I can tie them fast, behind my back, racing a buddy in class. And then I need to tie it for a trainer on my test and it's like my hands are someone else's and I am just watching them butcher this thing I know. Pretty awesome.

So I am in Eugene now. Getting ready to plunge into a frenzy of last minute Christmas shopping and preparation for out first shift at station 2 on Christmas Day. Need to take my duty shirt to the dry cleaners and get massive amounts of presents for people. I thought I would have time this past week but it turns out that the down week after academy finals moves quicker than the past four months. I went to Seattle and saw everyone but left in the same tornado that brought me up there. I crashed in my armchair on Monday and Tuesday night this week, watching Dexter and drinking a beer curled up in a blanket in my cold house.

Tuesday I left work angry for the first time. Like, pissed, steam from the ears angry. We were given a scenario of fire in the fifth floor of the training tower and told to put it out. The guy leading the scenario didn't communicate the plan well and I thought we were doing two different things (and acting upon those thoughts) until I realized we were climbing the firefighters ladder to the fourth floor. I ended up on the fourth floor outside of the ladder with almost 100' of 2.5" hose on my shoulder. I hadn't done a great job of keeping my arms above shoulder level so the hose was slipping down my arm a little bit. And the wind was just ripping from the east, blowing the hose out from my shoulder like a skinny little sail. I wasn't sure how to get around the ladder because I had never had that much weight on my shoulder at that height and felt like dismounting the ladder (swinging around to the backside) would result in my losing the hose. So a trainer came up and took the hose from me, which led to humiliation. I kept going with the drill. But I was so frustrated at my crew member for not thinking that scenario through. I guess this is where we learn. That was my least favorite experience thus far though.

Okay, my fingers are cracked and I got places to be. I am happy academy is done with. I miss everyone more than I can say. I am nervous and excited for this next stage. And I am glad this blog is private.