Hey guys and gals looking for some advice on things not to do when with the girlfriend. This is in regards to responding to calls at the station at certain times and things like that. This comes from responding to the station for a call just as we sat down to dinner at a local restaurant nothing fancy. This hole relationship thing is a little new for me so just looking for some advice. She is very understanding since volunteer firefighting runs throughout her family.
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What not to do when with the girlfriend
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#1: Family
#2: Work
#3: Firehouse.
Family and Work always come before the firehouse. I've seen too many people get that confused and end up either burnt out, divorced, or both. If you want to volunteer long term its important to find a balance and that means putting the FD on the back burner sometimes.
I'm not going to say I've never done it, but I'd have to think really hard about running out of a restaurant to go on a fire call. It's good that your girlfriend is understanding, but you can't go to that well too often.
I usually ask myself if it is vital that I respond to a call when in that situation. If I'm going to be one of ten guys all standing by for BS then I probably won't go. If it is work, or I know we're strapped for manpower then I may. I try to make sure she's aware of those situations beforehand as well.So you call this your free country
Tell me why it costs so much to live
-3dd
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Sadly and unfortunately I can "One-Up" you on that story, nwadler. Not that I really want to, but true events over come all.
Back in the fall of 2001, after the 9-11 event, I was given orders to board HMCS VANCOUVER and prepare for deployment with the US Carrier Group, JOHN C. STENNIS. We were scheduled to depart for San Diego 29 October. On 28 October my (now ex) wife and I had reservations at one of Victoria's premier resturants, Milestones (home of the Bellini). Anyhow, time came and I was standing at the front door, reaching for the key hook to take down my car keys, when BBEEEEPP BEEEEPP BBBEEEPPP. Damn, there goes the pager.
Then I get "The Look".
Wisely, I pause, and then continue to reach for my keys, but now listening as the page starts to come through, and hearing the station siren begin to kick in. "... Malahat, report of three car MVA, possible entrapment, intersection of Aspen Rd and TransCanada Highway...."
Oh great, thats SOUTH end, and thats the way we have to go to get to the resturant.
Short end of the story is that I got "The Look" again, but it was tempered with understanding that all we would end up doing is getting caught in the traffic tie-up anyway. I ran the call, and we were about 45 min late for our dinner, but she called ahead and explained.
As voyager9 says, family comes (or it should anyway) first - but once in a while, circumstance will trump it all. AND it sucks when it does.If you don't do it RIGHT today, when will you have time to do it over? (Hall of Fame basketball player/coach John Wooden)
"I may be slow, but my work is poor." Chief Dave Balding, MVFD
"Its not Rocket Science. Just use a LITTLE imagination."(Me)
Get it up. Get it on. Get it done!
impossible solved cotidie. miracles postulo viginti - quattuor hora animadverto
IACOJ member: Cheers, Play safe y'all.
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When you're going out to dinner, leave the pager at home. The eff-ing thing isn't an implant. And dinner, generally speaking, happens in the evening. Which would be the time when volunteer fire departments have the least difficulty coming up with a crew.
And if you're in her bed, pager off. Period.
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I've always been told to "never leave one fire for another".Just know, I chose my own fate. I drove by the fork in the road and went straight.
Originally posted by FlyingKiwiGo put your pussy 2 1/2" lines away kiddies.
Originally posted by Explorer343
By the way KEEPBACK200FEET, you're so dramatic!
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Originally posted by randsc View Post
And if you're in her bed, pager off. Period.If you don't do it RIGHT today, when will you have time to do it over? (Hall of Fame basketball player/coach John Wooden)
"I may be slow, but my work is poor." Chief Dave Balding, MVFD
"Its not Rocket Science. Just use a LITTLE imagination."(Me)
Get it up. Get it on. Get it done!
impossible solved cotidie. miracles postulo viginti - quattuor hora animadverto
IACOJ member: Cheers, Play safe y'all.
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Originally posted by KEEPBACK200FEET View PostI've always been told to "never leave one fire for another".The only good thing was she was in the FD also, so we both went. Then, as per your comment, you get three fires if you're lucky!!!
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Some people are like slinkies, not really good for anything but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.
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Hey guys and gals looking for some advice on things not to do when with the girlfriend
Originally posted by randsc View PostWhen you're going out to dinner, leave the pager at home. The eff-ing thing isn't an implant. And dinner, generally speaking, happens in the evening. Which would be the time when volunteer fire departments have the least difficulty coming up with a crew.
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Ok... I'm sure the residents of the house that just burned down - do to lack of hands/resources would enjoy hearing that one. Sure, I know that most times One Man plus or minus does not make much difference, but when your initial fire team is at best, when all turn out for the page, maybe 20, with 4 trucks (one pumper, one tanker) and MA is still 20 min away......Last edited by dmleblanc; 02-16-2007, 11:38 AM.Chief Dwayne LeBlanc
Paincourtville Volunteer Fire Department
Paincourtville, LA
"I have a dream. It's not a big dream, it's just a little dream. My dream — and I hope you don't find this too crazy — is that I would like the people of this community to feel that if, God forbid, there were a fire, calling the fire department would actually be a wise thing to do. You can't have people, if their houses are burning down, saying, 'Whatever you do, don't call the fire department!' That would be bad."
— C.D. Bales, "Roxanne"
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Originally posted by dmleblanc View PostYou get 20 guys turning out for the first alarm? You're lucky...
I stand by my comment about turning off the pager at certain times. No one can reasonably expect volunteer firefighters to be available every minute of every day. You do what you can, when you can.
Malahat, I imagine that, being a Canadian, you enjoy an occassional adult beverage, or ten. Don't you turn off the pager?
In all seriousness, I would have qualms about turning off the pager if I happened to be in town during the day (doesn't happen much). But in the evening, at least around here, departments can get a good response. ANd the family, work, fire department mantra mentioned above, with which I agree entirely, means sometimes making time to spend with your family (or girlfriend) even at the expense of an occasional call.Last edited by randsc; 02-16-2007, 12:20 PM.
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time....
I would have to agree as most folks have said its a balance that you have to find for yourself. My wife was very "skeptical" at first about me joining the FD b/c of how much time it would take up. Although I have not been on very long I have learned to balance my time if we have plans to go out or are having people over I just turn my pager off, however, if we hear the sirens my wife is the first to turn it back on to see "what's happening"
Good luck!
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Originally posted by dmleblanc View PostYou get 20 guys turning out for the first alarm? You're lucky...If you don't do it RIGHT today, when will you have time to do it over? (Hall of Fame basketball player/coach John Wooden)
"I may be slow, but my work is poor." Chief Dave Balding, MVFD
"Its not Rocket Science. Just use a LITTLE imagination."(Me)
Get it up. Get it on. Get it done!
impossible solved cotidie. miracles postulo viginti - quattuor hora animadverto
IACOJ member: Cheers, Play safe y'all.
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Originally posted by randsc View PostCoincidence?Just the Transient Nature of the Beast in a small town volly station. Or so the Chief always says.
If you don't do it RIGHT today, when will you have time to do it over? (Hall of Fame basketball player/coach John Wooden)
"I may be slow, but my work is poor." Chief Dave Balding, MVFD
"Its not Rocket Science. Just use a LITTLE imagination."(Me)
Get it up. Get it on. Get it done!
impossible solved cotidie. miracles postulo viginti - quattuor hora animadverto
IACOJ member: Cheers, Play safe y'all.
Comment
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Wow...you read the title of a thread...think of some great smart*ss thing to say...got it all planned....then you read the post. Damn, now I'm depressed....this was meant to be serious.
Well Anyway....Don't check out the hot bartender too long....
Don't bring her to Hooters....least not for a few dates...
Don't try to gross her out by dropping *ss in front of her....least not the first year.
But to quote my former Chief...if she does gets P.O. about you being a FF.
"Yas...I thought I was in love once, but it was just gas"The thoughts and opinions posted here are mine and mine alone and do not reflect the thoughts and or views of city or dept affiliation.
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