Catching Up

...I started this post last week and never finished it, but I thought I'd post it anyway.



Hello Everyone!

The State Fair starts next week! You know what that means don’t you? Summer is almost over! It’s been a hot and extremely dry couple of months, but I’ll take it over freezing temperatures and snow any day! Fall is my favorite holiday, but on the other hand I hate that it means winter is around the corner! There’s nothing like the 70’s and all of the beautiful colors…and that smell of burning leaves! Anyone have some trees so we can play in the leaves? Our lone Ash tree isn’t going to do it!

In the last few weeks nothing too exciting has happened. I started my job last month and I am still enjoying it. There are many nights I go home exhausted…mentally drained! There’s a lot to take in and yet try to figure out how to remember it all.

A couple weeks ago Jason interviewed for New Prague Fire. Over the past 5 years he’s been working for Mdewakanton Fire, but he doesn’t get to see fire like he did when he was on Prior Lake Fire. Mdewakanton also is an ambulance service, so 90% of their calls are medicals. He likes that aspect of his job, but simply misses the firefighting.

New Prague Fire is a volunteer service, like Prior Lake. They placed an ad in June and Jason played with the idea of applying. We’re both so busy and we needed to think it out before adding one more log on the fire! Finally we decided it was a go. New Prague doesn’t have a call ratio, nor do they have a high volume of calls. The only time he absolutely couldn’t go on a call is if I’m on call for ambulance. Any other time, he is good to go. His first meeting is Tuesday, which is also Family Night. The water rescue team will be training at the city pool and after their training the families meet up at the pool for a little party. Great way to meet people! I know a few of the guys because of the ambulance service, but we’re both pretty much walking into a situation where neither of us knows anyone. I stand corrected, one of our neighbors is a member but we simply know him in passing.

Next Friday Jason and I will be at the State Fair all day with our Explorer post. Every year the first Friday of the state fair is the Governor’s Fire Prevention Day. Fire services statewide come and show off their trucks and enjoy a day at the fair for free. This is also where our Fire Explorers get to compete against other posts and also do an auto-extrication demonstration. I’m excited for the day… not for the competition, but for the FOOD! I need to start fasting now! My all time favorite are Fried Green Tomatoes. If you haven’t had them, and you like pickles, try them! They have the tart taste of a pickle. Their booth is always by the food building, outside the KARE 11 Health Fair exhibit.

The fair is this week now... I haven't started my fasting! Better get on that!