Mighty Favog Posted March 10, 2002 Share Posted March 10, 2002 This post is definitely not a question but a commemoration to a very special man in my life. As I sit in my easy chair watching the documentary special on CBS of the tragedies that changed our total outlook on life and the bravery of Firefighters everywhere, well, this just has to be said. In 1962 my father was looking for a career to support his, then, four children all under five years of age. He found a posting that the Cincinnati Fire Department was taking applications for recruits. After Fire College his second assignment was Ladder 2, Truck 29 at the corner of Liberty and Linn Sts. Not too long after that he made the rank of ATO, Arial Truck Operator and so far was respected for his common sense approach to the profession. September 1965 I came into the world clueless of the scope and importance of the job he does. All I knew was that dad would come home some nights from work and sometimes he wouldnt. Twenty-four hours on duty, forty-eight hours off. In the off time he usually went to a second job as a butcher for a local grocery chain to keep us fed. I remember vividly of the nights he came home from the firehouse smelling of smoke. I would hop up from the living room floor from watching Sesame Street and run to meet him at the front door before it had even closed behind him. I would sit on his tired foot and wrap my arms and legs around his leg up to the knee and hold on for a long hug not letting go as he walked with a Western style movie limp to the kitchen to see mom and to put down his gear. At dinner he never left anything on his plate. We didnt need a dog for any leftovers; we just gave it to dad. Both my parents had one of those jobs where planned days off around holidays just didnt happen. Not one year went past when both mom and dad were home for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Needless to say we celebrated Christmas a lot on Christmas Eve. In 1975 all the families from the firefighters of shift two decided something different. If they could not be home with their families, let the families come to them. That Christmas day eve mom piled all five of us kids in the station wagon and went to daddys work. There were tables set up between the pumper and ladder trucks. The food started coming from the kitchen to each table along with dad adorning the familiar apron that he wore at home when he cooked for us. This was really good chow till a call came into the station. Over the loudspeaker came Truck 29, Ladder 2, Rescue 24Box 3217 West Eighth and Glenway---a structure fire.. The man in the joker room would give the response to the fire tower. The crew ran to get their gear on and pull us kids that were climbing on the trucks off so they could leave. The trucks roared out with the stench of hydrocarbons as it made every bite of Christmas dinner taste the same, but I didnt care, I got to see daddy at work. Since then he has been decorated with Fireman of the Year.twice. About 1979 he came home excited about the Fire Museum getting a new location. The old firehouse at 315 West Court Street. The very first firehouse that housed the nation's first paid firefighters. It needed a lot of work and was being funded with donations. Dad just loves to fix things. I honestly think we moved the last two times because there was nothing left to be fixed in the house we were in. He was in hog heaven now. Five years later I started a part-time moonlight job at that museum. That job lasted sixteen years for me. Though now retired since 1992, Dad is still volunteering his time to that museum scrounging materials, changing light bulbs, running new electric and fixing water leaks. And as alwaysloving every minute of it. Robert J. Blasing Badge #517 Dates of service: 1962-1992 Thanks dad. http://www.cincyfiremuseum.com/ ------------------ Tom's Money Pit This message has been edited by tblasing on 03-13-2002 at 02:39 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin_tx_16 Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 I remember when i was 5-6 years old we got a new firedaprtment by our subdivision. my father was teh president of the civic club and decided that the whole subdivision, or whoever could come, should welcome the firefighters to our area. it was a great show. lots of people bringing food and fun to the new station. i don't think that there was a day that went by that something was not sent to the fire department, much came from out house, my mother loved to make cakes and cookies for them (Neiman Markuss cookies especially, 315 cookies a batch!) My and my cousin spent many afternoons after school there, what great fun, and company (though i am sure we drove the firemen crazy at times... so many questions, so little time) What a great story. it is people like your father that seem to go uncredited, and by the definition of a hero by all naturalistic writers, steinbeck, hemmingway, etc, that is what makes your dad a hero. Someone who does something that can go unnoticed by the vast majority, but means something to the person he selflessly put his life on teh line to protect from danger. untill recently firefighters were only known to young boys who wanted to be one, and women who wanted to have one ... but the real life things that firemen go through was not recognized as police officers and members of the armed forces are recognized. where i live in houston, our fire fighters had not gotton a raise in years and years, were under staffed and under supplied. one of hte largest cities in america had a fire protection agency with less support than the parks department. it took the death of a firemen at a high rise upscale apartment building near my house in the galleria to spark the attention of the need for more support for the fire departments. the local democratic government would not agknowlege the problem, even after meeting with the fire cheifs. during the televised funeral of the brave fireman who died trying desperately save the lives of many in the apartment, his wife went to give his eulogy. i was moved to tears by her speech. at the end she gave a direct attack at Maylor Lee Brown's blatent ignorance to the importance of more pay and more staff for the firemen. since then things have began to change, but it will not be an over night ordeal. in time the fire distict in houston texas will be recognized as what they should be recognized as, heros, not the government workers less important than clean cut grass on the side of a free way. well, that is my story, tell you dad hello and thank you. it was a person like your father that saved the lives of our family when we had aan electrical fire, our niehgbor during her heart attack, and the young lady in the apartment fire down the street. thank you ------------------ -justin SoundWise Tech Support I am an amateur, if it is professional; ProMedia help you want email Amy or call her @ 1-888-554-5665 or for an RA# 800-554-7724 ext 5 Klipsch Home Audio help you want, email support@klipsch.com or call @ 1-800-KLIPSCH RA# Fax Number=317-860-9140 / Parts Department Fax Number=317-860-9150s> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenratboy Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 Great story. My dad was a firefighter and cop in Oakland in the 70's. He has done his duty. Picture what a white cop in Oakland (ghetto) was treated like! I can't say a firefighter/cop/military would be my first career choice, but I have unwavering respect for those sort of people who risk their life to keep America (or other countries) going. I am into a cushy, high-paying engineering job. For example, in parts of California, like Marin County and Berkley, our soldiers are thought of as EVIL SWINE, and the oppostition is persicuted, innocent, bystanders that are the victims of racism. **** those left-wing, anti-American slimebags to hell, what are they doing in our great country anyway!? I think there is a lot more patrioism in America after September 11th. Good ------------------ Receiver: Sony STR-DE675 CD player: Sony CDP-CX300 Turntable: Technics SL-J3 with Audio-Technica TR485U Speakers: JBL HLS-610 Subwoofer: JBL 4648A-8 Sub amp: Parts Express 180 watt Center/surrounds: Teac 3-way bookshelfs Yes, it sucks, but better to come. KLIPSCH soon! My computer is better than my stereo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin_tx_16 Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 my grandfather was in the navy at berkly and his navy office was blown up by left wing communists... grrrrrr. ------------------ -justin SoundWise Tech Support I am an amateur, if it is professional; ProMedia help you want email Amy or call her @ 1-888-554-5665 or for an RA# 800-554-7724 ext 5 Klipsch Home Audio help you want, email support@klipsch.com or call @ 1-800-KLIPSCH RA# Fax Number=317-860-9140 / Parts Department Fax Number=317-860-9150s> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenratboy Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 Hey! They **** the F word! Justin, the Bay Area is a strange place. I spent most of my life there, so I know. It is a combination of rich, conservitaves with a bunch of totally left-wingers. I LOVE the Bay Area for San Jose. COMPUTERS, COMPUTERS, and more COMPUTERS. It's just fun. I have a relitave who lives in an overpriced house and when I drive around, mainly going to Fry's (electronic store, with one of those phony Bose demos!) its fun when you see HQ's for big tech companies. San Jose is a pretty cool place if you have $$$ and more $$$ and don't mind traffic. There are lots of other cool areas, the Oakland Hill$ and the whole range streching down to Hayward. I also love Livermore, or the big lab areas, lots of cool industrial places for me to chill and get brochures of electron microscopes! The business district and tourist/Chinatown area is the BEST, the rest of SF can blow me. The whole Pennsula, or where all the Dot Com money went, is also a very nice area, but a 2 bedroom, 1 bath, 900 sq. ft. 1940's house can be a MILLION dollars, really. My former home, the Diablo Valley (Concord), is where all the normal people live that vote in a manner that keep California from converting to a 100% socialistic/communistic system! There is also a lot of that in LA and San Diego. What I don't like about the Bay Area. Too damn expensive, the extreme left political views (aka UC Berkley) I am 100 times happier in Reno than in the Bay Area. Here is an example of the Bay Area. I was driving across the Bay Bridge and saw this dude driving a BMW Z8!!! So I punched it to see who he (or she?) was like. So, vrooooommmmmmm, I speed up and pull along the $140,000 Z8, and OH MY GOD! It was about a 30 year old white guy (I'm white, so I'm not trying to make a point or something) wearing maroon robes (not martial arts) and a GAS MASK!!! What the hell! A gas mask in a Z8, I wondered what that guy was!!! Well, thats the Bay Area, lots of $$$ and lots of freaks to boot... ------------------ Receiver: Sony STR-DE675 CD player: Sony CDP-CX300 Turntable: Technics SL-J3 with Audio-Technica TR485U Speakers: JBL HLS-610 Subwoofer: JBL 4648A-8 Sub amp: Parts Express 180 watt Center/surrounds: Teac 3-way bookshelfs Yes, it sucks, but better to come. KLIPSCH soon! My computer is better than my stereo! This message has been edited by kenratboy on 03-11-2002 at 01:21 AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin_tx_16 Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 we have a condo in LA, a house and apartment in Sacramento and a cottage up north in teh wine valley... from what i have seen from all of that, plus my uncles place in San Fran., i totally agree with you up north there used to be a smokin gbar (marajuana) next door to an Oxygen bar, next to the Rainbow Cattle Company (use your imagination...) yeah, so california has its down sides, but it is a beautilful place, i love it, just wish i could make a fwe re-arrangements haha ------------------ -justin SoundWise Tech Support I am an amateur, if it is professional; ProMedia help you want email Amy or call her @ 1-888-554-5665 or for an RA# 800-554-7724 ext 5 Klipsch Home Audio help you want, email support@klipsch.com or call @ 1-800-KLIPSCH RA# Fax Number=317-860-9140 / Parts Department Fax Number=317-860-9150s> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 Tom, Great story about your Dad. I'm sure you must be very proud. I also watched the show last night (who didn't?) and it was very emotional for me. I cried like a baby when the two brothers were reunited in the Firehouse. Suffice it to say, I have a much bigger appreciation for what these guys do for a living... Mike ------------------ My Music Systems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 I also saw the show last night, and Tom, that's a wonderful story about your Dad. I'm happy to hear he's still around and enjoying life and his family. I lost my Dad 15 years ago Father's Day, one week after I married my wife. I was born on his birthday, and we had a very special relationship. He was a PG&E gas foreman (and a volunteer firefighter), and a big hero in my life. I miss him more than anything else. My 10 year old daughter really wants to see the show (we taped it), but my wife and I are trying to decide if she should see it, if we "edit" a few parts, etc. It was very well done, but very intense, especially for a 10-year-old (of course whatever we decide, we'll be there with her). fini Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Robinson Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 Tom, I missed the show last night since I was on the way from visiting my dad in SC, but I was listening to Imus this morning when he was talking with Tom Brokaw ... Mr. Brokaw's description was something like, "Stunning!" I have so much respect firefighters, police officers and military personnel. What they do on any given day is far better than anything I do in a year, or a decade for that matter. When I was attending NYU Stern School of Business, I would pass through those twin towers every day, on my way to the PATH trains to NJ -- they ran from the WTC's basement. When I was at work watching the towers implode, I left the room, went back into my office and barfed in the trash can. I just KNEW that thousands of people, just like me, died in those moments, and many of them were brave souls like your dad who CHOSE to be there, and was not just there due to their horrifically bad luck. Those men who went up the stairs to help people and got crushed in doing so ... well, I sure hope God has a special place in Heaven for 'em because there are no finer human beings who risk their lives to help others in their moments of true misfortune. Give your dad a hug for me, will 'ya? ------------------ If you don't like what is coming out, you wouldn't like what is going in." -PWK- --------------------- TWO-CHANNEL SYSTEM AES AE-25 "Superamp" AES AE-3 Pre-amp New Tube 4000 CD Player 1976 Klipschorns (ALK'ed) HOME THEATER Klipsch 1968 ALK Cornwall "II"s (LF/RF) ALK Belle Klipsch (Center) Klipsch Heresy (RR/LR) Klipsch KSW-12 sub Sonic Frontiers Anthem AMP1 (driving Cornwalls) Sonic Frontiers Anthem AMP1 (driving Heresy's) Denon AVR-4800 Toshiba SD-3109 DVD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenratboy Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 Chirs: I can't imagine. I was 3000 miles away, in my house in Reno, wating it on TV. I woke up, took a shower, and turned on the morning news. There was an interesting story, which was being told live, and right in the middle of the lady talking, they just cut her out and went to the Fox News roof cam. HOLY FU*K, there was a big hole in the top of one of the World Trade Center towers. I am a passionate skyscraper fan. I knew each one of the towers was 208.5 feet square and 1368 (+/- a few) and that the hole was OVER 150 FEET. I felf sick. So, I woke everyone else up and they were getting ready to come in. BAM! The second plane hit, I almost yelled. I knew it wasn't an accident. Not to try to sound smart, but I KNEW it was being done on purpose, but I dodn't know by whom. I sat and watched in horror. I wated more and more somke pour out, and well, finally, I saw the first tower collapse. I wasn't mad or frightened, just MADLY upset and confused, hoping I would wake up from a dream. I was in shock for the rest of the day, I knew what happened, and that this was the biggest thing that was ever going to happen in my life. I am getting chills just writing this. Everythime i think of the bright, blue, sunny morning in NYC with two smoldering skyscrapers in the foreground, I always feel sad and shocked. Its amazing, after six months, I still think about this constantly. I am not an emotional person in anyway, but this is the one exception. Justin: LOL!!! quote: smokin gbar (marajuana) next door to an Oxygen bar, next to the Rainbow Cattle Company (use your imagination...) Thats good!!! I agree with your "re-arrangements" idea, so would 99% of the people on this forum! ------------------ Receiver: Sony STR-DE675 CD player: Sony CDP-CX300 Turntable: Technics SL-J3 with Audio-Technica TR485U Speakers: JBL HLS-610 Subwoofer: JBL 4648A-8 Sub amp: Parts Express 180 watt Center/surrounds: Teac 3-way bookshelfs Yes, it sucks, but better to come. KLIPSCH soon! My computer is better than my stereo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 I think most of the people here on the site are way more tolerant than you, Kenratboy. Freedom and Liberty FOR ALL is what this country is founded on, and what we, as heroes ourselves, must embrace. "Rearranging" (cute word) has been tried many times throughout history. Be careful for whom you speak. fini BTW, Ilike the Bay Area just as it is. This message has been edited by fini on 03-12-2002 at 12:33 AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBrennan Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 Ken--I was gonna reply to your political views but this ain't the place, that stuff gets out of hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenratboy Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 I will have to strongly disagree with you on that last comment. I have respect for people of ALL genders, religion, race, education, social status, ect. I, however, have NO respect for people who either live or move to this country and think of me and you as a bunch of evil, capitilistic pigs. I have no problem with a person unless they want to undermine the very foundation of this country that I live in and enjoy. If someone wants change, fine. If someone wants to DESTROY us, humm, NO. Again, I am not even slightly distrubed by a above traits or other lifesyles of others (I do not even mind gay people) as long as they are not trying to change MY life or do serious damage to OUR country. If you want an example, if I saw a Muslim/Arab person getting beat up in a hate crime, I would do everything in my power to help, as I have nothing against a person until they do somthing I find unacceptable. Being Muslim/Arab does not count, blowing up skyscrapers counts. And I realize that not all Muslims/Arabs blow up buildings and want to destroy OUR country. I say I do not like SOME of the people in the Bay Area because they partake in some of the activities I find unacceptable and wrong. I have lived in some of the worlds biggest cities. London, Los Angles, San Francisco, and while in those cities, I was able to enjoy myself. There are many different ethniticities and religions in those cities, and none of it bothered me. What bothers me are people who chain themselves to construction equiptment after leaving their TRAC HOME or protect the use of cars, after DRIVING to the protest site. ------------------------------------------- I have no problem tolerating, and enjoying diversity, but I want to protect my life and what I find precious in it. ------------------ Receiver: Sony STR-DE675 CD player: Sony CDP-CX300 Turntable: Technics SL-J3 with Audio-Technica TR485U Speakers: JBL HLS-610 Subwoofer: JBL 4648A-8 Sub amp: Parts Express 180 watt Center/surrounds: Teac 3-way bookshelfs Yes, it sucks, but better to come. KLIPSCH soon! My computer is better than my stereo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clipped and Shorn Posted March 12, 2002 Share Posted March 12, 2002 Ken Rat Boy stated: "I, however, have NO respect for people who either live or move to this country and think of me and you as a bunch of evil, capitilistic pigs." I cannot really imagine you have met anyone like what you describe except in your paranoid imagination or fantasies from the 50s when some people thought there was a commie behind every bush because the FBI wanted you to believe that. People come to this country in order to take advantage of the free enterprise system not to denounce it and denounce us. I think there are way way more people who come here to become part of America and its vision than come here to destroy what America is. Obviously I am not talking about terrorists, that is a whole other thing. Those nuts are a much much smaller number, and if you really knew of some you would be turning them in not just complaining about them here. Turn off your right wing AM radio and tune in some nice FM and enjoy your audio. -Herb Philbrick ------------------ Cornwalls currently upgrading to all tube components Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin_tx_16 Posted March 12, 2002 Share Posted March 12, 2002 as the wise and youngest of the Tanner family once said, and I quote, "Can't we all just get along?c>s>" ------------------ -justin SoundWise Support A technical help site created by me and my fellow Klipschers I am an amateur, if it is professional; ProMedia help you want email Amy or call her @ 1-888-554-5665 or for an RA# 800-554-7724 ext 5 Klipsch Home Audio help you want, email support@klipsch.com or call @ 1-800-KLIPSCH RA# Fax Number=317-860-9140 / Parts Department Fax Number=317-860-9150s> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted March 12, 2002 Share Posted March 12, 2002 Justin- That is indeed exactly the point, to simply: Love one another. And it's been considered radical for thousands of years. fini Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenratboy Posted March 12, 2002 Share Posted March 12, 2002 Read my LAST post, then think about what I really wrote. First, I cannot stand the Right-Wing AM radio (KOH) as I have views that span from Left to Right. On the Left, I agree with the whole pro choice movement, and I am quite liberal about most social issues. This is my transition into the Right, where I am strongly FOR personal freedoms that you and me are enjoying right now. I also have little compashion for hardcore criminals. My idea idea being that I want these freedoms to exist in 100+ years. I am not sitting on my porch with a bunch of white buddies plotting agaist darkie or some racist crap, I have, and will continue to live, work, and happily co-exsit with people that are different than me and have different ideas than I. That is why America has grown so quickly and become as grand as it is. OK: A bunch of those September 11th terrorists were American citizens, and they changed the world forever. A few of my co-workers are NOT American citizens and they are here activly participating in American society. They pay tax, work, and love this country. I would LOVE to make them American citizens! As for my dislike for: Ken Rat Boy stated: "I, however, have NO respect for people who either live or move to this country and think of me and you as a bunch of evil, capitilistic pigs." I am not hiding in a Montana river valley, I am JUST expressing a dislike for people who want our country not-to-be. I know for every person like that, there are thousands of herd-working, honest Americans (and immigrants) to dilute them. Please DO NOT read into my posts deeper than they really are. I am not great at english, nor have the wit to try and place subliminal messages into the text. I am, as clearly and honestly as possible, stating my opinion. I am not racist, a hardcore right-wing person, or somthing else. I am just a person who is trying to get through life and hopefully make a positive change in the world. Nothing more, nothing less. Any more aquisations? ------------------ Receiver: Sony STR-DE675 CD player: Sony CDP-CX300 Turntable: Technics SL-J3 with Audio-Technica TR485U Speakers: JBL HLS-610 Subwoofer: JBL 4648A-8 Sub amp: Parts Express 180 watt Center/surrounds: Teac 3-way bookshelfs Yes, it sucks, but better to come. KLIPSCH soon! My computer is better than my stereo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clipped and Shorn Posted March 13, 2002 Share Posted March 13, 2002 "OK: A bunch of those September 11th terrorists were American citizens, and they changed the world forever. " Citizens? where did you get that info? Are you sure you are well informed? -chiffoned and sconed ------------------ Cornwalls currently upgrading to all tube components Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted March 13, 2002 Share Posted March 13, 2002 as the wise and youngest of the Tanner family once said, and I quote, "Can't we all just get along?"I wonder what the youngest of the Donner party said? Something like 'Don't Eat Me!!?' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boa12 Posted March 13, 2002 Share Posted March 13, 2002 justin, who's the tanner family? i thought that line was created by Rodney King's lawyer or pr agent. ------------------ My Home Systems Page This message has been edited by boa12 on 03-13-2002 at 07:00 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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