SkyPilot. I am a retired Captain paramedic/firefighter in Hampton, Virginia. This is my second and last career. I served my country for 21 years in the USAF. I love helping people and serving my community. I now own a small photography business. My wife and I do weddings and just about any other photo event.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Today is Veterans Day 2009.
Applebey's and Golden Corral are offering free meals to veterans today. I thought about going out to Applebee's but this weather is not very pleasant, so I think I will stay in.
As usual I am listening to the scanner and there is a emergency situation going on in the James River. There was supposed to be a swimmer in the water and Newport News sent out investigations and so did Isle of Wight and Virginia Marine resources commission. It wasn't too long that it was discovered that these people were in a canoe and the swimmer was back in the canoe and they were headed to the Pagan River in Smithfield. It amazes me that in this technological age with nearly instant communications capabilities that we cannot communicate better with cities surrounding our own. From what I heard on the radio no one made any attempt in Newport News to contact Smithfield. I was tempted to call Newport News dispatch but I decided against it. Let them waste their gas and time if they want to and have their heads up their asses. After I heard Smithfield Fire Department had found these canoeist and were clearing the scene, I decided to go ahead and call Newport News Fire dispatch. They seemed interested in what I had to tell them and they did pass on information to command that they should call Smithfield Fire.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
I heard from my cousin Mike that his dad (Uncle Mike) is not doing well. Mike says - "Dad is getting weaker. He will likely be moving down to the other floor soon and out of the apartment. The fluid build up is competing with the kidneys. If they flush him too much the kidneys malfunction. He is hanging in there and goes up and down. The Tampa folks went to visit today. No report yet."
I'll call Mike later today to see if he got a report from Chris's family that visited.
I checked airfare to ORL - $164 round trip. Not a bad deal and much cheaper than driving. Of course I will have to rent a car.
Susan is teaching an acquaintance to drive.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The USAF Langley group called the Blue Aces played on the main stage. They were very good and I have made a not to try to see them again. It was weird seeing a people dance and sing while wearing BDUs.
I didn't work Bay Days on Sat.
Bay Days again on Sun from noon to closing at 6pm. Again nothing much went on - put on two band-aids! It was fun watching all the people.
I have decided that it is good not to be an ALS provider any more. I can just sit back and watch other do their thing, and help out where needed - not to be responsible!!
Friday, August 28, 2009
This is IAFF MDA "Fill-the-Boot" week. I went out and took some shots of three stations working intersections.
Getting ready to go to Pittsburgh on the 5th of Sept for the Imhof reunion. I called my cousin Maggie to see if I could stay with them, but they are going out of town. I could stay with my other cousin Peggy, but Susan says the she does not have A/C. So, I went on the Internet and found that there is a USAF Inn at the Pittsburgh International Airport. I was able to make reservations for the three nights that I will be in the area.
My Review of PRO-106 39,000-Channel Digital Handheld Scanner
Always be in the know with this digital handheld scanner.
The Best
Pros: Clear Signal, Lightweight, Excellent Reception
Cons: Difficult To Program
Best Uses: Emergencies, Listening to local PS
Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer
Primary use: Personal
This is my 6th scanner and my second Radio Shack/GRE scanner. The Pro-106 is by far the best scanner I have ever had. It also has the best "ears" of any scanner I have ever owned. I am able to receive a city FD that I have ever been able to copy.
A third party programming/control software is a must because these trunking scanners are tuff to program manually.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
I noticed that the spa cover lid removal mechanism was messed up. When taking the system off, I found that the bracket by the wall was severely rusted. So, I sanded off the rust and painted with Rust-Oleum. Everything went back together, but I could not use the same screw holes.
I had an idea about refilling the spa. I connected both 100' sections of the garden hose and spread them out in the back yard. The tap water temp was 79 degrees and the temp of the water coming out of the hose was 90 degrees!!
I noticed that the spa cover lid removal mechanism was messed up. When taking the system off, I found that the bracket by the wall was severely rusted. So, I sanded off the rust and painted with Rust-Oleum.
In order to put the cover mechanism back on, I had to drill new holes on for the from latch. It went back on ok.
I also drained the spa and put in new water.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Looks like the steroid injection is wearing off. I don't have any neck or arm pain, but I wake up with just a section of my right hand numb.
Rush Limbaugh made a great joke today:
What do Barrack Obama and God have in common?
Neither one of them have a birth certificate!
Monday, June 08, 2009
I have confidence in the doc as he is probably 65 or so, so you know he has been doing this for a while. Also, this is the first joint injection guided via fluoroscopy.
I laid down on the table in prone position and a pillow under my chest. The tech rolled the fluoroscope over to the table and it encircled me. The doc pulled his chair to the head of the table - above my head. He cleaned the area and then entered some lidocaine.
The next thing was interesting - the doc enters a catheter on needle and withdraws the needle. The he injects the steroid. There was an electrical tingling down my left arm with the cath, but I only experienced pressure with the rest of the procedure.
They had me hang around for about 15 min to make sure that I did not have any reaction to the procedure.
At home about two hours later, I started to have a headache and my right arm was hurting more than usual. I took some Ibprofun but that did not seem to help. Went to bed about 11:00pm but could not sleep. Went downstairs and messed on the laptop until about 2:00am. Still could not sleep - having a pain in my right elbow that seems to be keeping me awake.
Went downstairs again and went to work on Susan's church videos.
I did not sleep at all.
Friday, June 05, 2009
(First of all, I am disappointing cause I am shooting with the Nikon D-200. I had to send the D-300 in to Nikon for repair. She won't focus right.)
As usually, I arrived early to make sure all my stuff was in order.
Council chambers was crowded.
I am proud of all the promotes, but some even more so as I trained several of them.
Photos: http://photobucket.com/promotion_6-5-09
Others, well there is much to bee seen.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Sometimes I just want to throw my scanner against the wall! What happens to people when they pick up the microphone? Does all their common sense just fly out their ears? I can’t believe what I hear on the radio sometimes. For example, something I heard today:
"EMS-1 had to know that Medic-10 crew were in their unit or he would not have called them.)
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
I used to be pretty worried about injections into joints, but after having numerous injections in my knees and lately into my shoulder, I am not too worried about this. Dr. McAdam has been doing this for a long time and I am sure he knows what he is doing.
I had the steroid injection in my neck. It went ok but there was an "electrical" shock sensation when the doc hit a certain point.
Monday, May 04, 2009
I sold a pair of boots on eBay this weekend, but I ended up getting the short end of the deal. A bidder asked how much to ship to Canada. I went on the USPS site and put in their address and it came to about $14. Some how I miscalculated and it turned out to be $26. I doubt if I will ever send anything to Canada again.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Susan called me about 11:30 and said her plane was delayed and would not be leaving Newport News until around 3:00 pm.
When I got home and unloaded the stuff I bought at Costco, I realized that I was missing an item. I looked around the garage, and back in my truck twice and could not find the item. How could I have misplaced this item? I was thinking that someone might have stolen it from my cart while I was eating lunch at Costco or I could have left it in the cart. I thought the later was possible because I was distracted when loading the stuff in the truck when I ran into an old friend.
Later in the day, I decided to go back and check the truck one more time. This time I looked under the back seat and there was the item. Gesh!
Susan called to say that she is finally on the plane at Patrick Henry @ 5:15 pm but now they are on a weather hold because of a thunderstorm. She got in to Nashville at about 9:30 pm CT.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
I went to Sta-10 this afternoon to loan a friend my wireless mic. He needs to do some video work for his church. I also swung by Sta-6 to visit with Capt. Pereira. It is always fun to talk with Jeff. A long time ago he said he would get me a photo of himself when he had hair (Jeff has alopecia universalis.) He has changed his mind!
I then went to Mom's house and did a little cleaning in the garage.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I wanted to go the Tea Party, but things changed and I could not make it. I took Mom to the doctor.
I headed to the orthopedic doc for my own appointment. I have been having trouble with my fight shoulder for quite some time. Whenever I do strenuous activity, my right arm is useless the rest of the day and most of the next day. There are times when I have to steer my truck with my left hand.
Well they took an x-ray of my right shoulder.
The doc say's "you have quite an impressive bone spur." This may be causing my problem, as I have trouble lifting my arm over my head. He doc gave me a cortisone injection and told me to come back in 3 months. If the cortisone does not work, then they will do an MRI to see if I have a damaged rotator cuff.
The weather is crappy again. Oh well, "April showers bring May flowers."
I have posted a bunch of things on Norfolk Craigslist trying to get some extra money for Mom and of course clear up the house. Dinning room table and chairs and the smaller keyboard. Still have to try and figure out an asking price for the big organ.
Monday, March 30, 2009
I think I am gonna go mad if I don't see the sun soon!
I went to the fitness center again today and I did 26 min on the elliptical trainer. I even went up a level. I only did one set of shoulder pull down exercises cause the shoulder is hurting.
I was really embarrassed - I could not open my combo lock in the locker room. I tried 6-8 times. Eventually I asked a young guy - with much better eye sight to open my lock. What gets me is that I have done it before without my glasses on!
The sky finally cleared and that big bright ball in the sky came out around 1:30.
On the way home, I stopped at my favorite jet watching site - ask me and I let you in on it - if you can get on LAFB. It is only for runway 8. I knew there would be very little to no air traffic on Sunday, but I just wanted to enjoy the warmth and sun light. But, then I remembered that I had been cleaning our my M-in-L's house on Friday and had two boxes of .32 ACP rounds in the back seat. No firearms, but I don't need to upset the LE folks.
Gotta put another picture of Smokey here.
I know it's late and I should go to bed, but hell I am retired and I can sleep as late as I want.
Spent a lot of time outside this evening. The grass will need cut next weekend - and maybe sooner. Which means I will have to pull the mower out, change oil and crank her up. The weedeater also needs look at. Last time I used it the line got clipped of short, but that should not be too much trouble.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
I was messing with the camera the other day and Smokey was on the cat tree and I got a couple really good shots of her. Smokey appears to be very interested in what I'm doing while taking her picture. She sure is fun to have around. I love watching her chase a ball and all the other antics she does.
Susan is in Woodbridge, Virginia, she went there yesterday and stayed overnight for work. The weather today is pretty crappy, with fog and light rain.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
I went by Sta-10 and chatted for a while.
I have to go over to Mom's house to clean out some more cabinets.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
I have been wanting to have the backyard bird feeder closer to this kitchen window, so I started out to move the feeder today. I first had to set a pilot hole for the feeder pole, just like you would do when drilling into wood. I used my solid cooper grounding rod to make the pilot hole. I went in about three feet. It was a bitch getting the feeder pole out of the ground - it has been in there for about three years. What I did was take a crescent wrench and rotated the pole while I pulled it up. It worked, but it took me almost an hour. Now the feeder is about 10' closer to the kitchen window and only about 7' feet from the Fla room window. This will be very close for my big telephoto lens and may in fact have to back up a little.
I took my neighbor, Mike over to Mom's house to look at the sofa. He liked it and thinks he will buy it. I took several pictures and e-mailed them to his wife. He also wants the small fridge.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
We are still moving stuff up stairs for Mom. I finally have the family/computer room back! I have reinstalled my "charging station" next to the photo armoire and will be moving my "stuff" back into the armoire drawers.
Duke peed in the house again today. I am gonna drop kick that dog!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Then I work on the new wall cabinet for the guest bathroom. Mom needs a place for "things" and Susan bought a cabinet. Did not take to long to put together and hang. It looks good.
Next was a bath for Molly. She does not care for a bath at all and is always trying to get out.
I got Mom's computer set up in the "D" bedroom and transferred the scanner feed over to that computer. That computer is much newer and is a lot quieter. I could hear the fan of the old one downstairs.
We to the WaWa @ Little Creek and Chesapeake for a TFPA coffee break/fire prevention meeting. Nothing going on.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Mom was looking for something in the kitchen "junk" drawer. She removed the drawer from the cabinet and when I tried to replace it, I broke the guide. I had to go Ace and get a replacement guide.
Went to Mom's house and sprayed Home Owner's Agent Orange (Round-Up) over the fence into the easement. Hopefully this will kill or at least slow down those vines that grow over into the yard. If that does not work, I am going to get with the city codes compliance and find out if we can make the owner of the property do something.
Gesh, I just don't feel like doing anything today. Aches and pains from all that moving yesterday.
Of to the doctor at 1pm and then over to LAFB to get Rx filled.
The day is sunny and warm so it is time to get the Round-Up out on the vacant lot behind my M-in-L's. Went over there with Susan and Julia and forgot the hose. So the Round-Up will have to wait.
I moved the bed over to our house. Eric, Elizabeth, Robin, Robert and James arrived about 7pm and we started moving the chest of drawers and dresser. Everything went smooth and sure went fast with so many people helping. I am grateful for my pick-up truck.
Julia spent the first time since she has been her on Valentine's Day up stairs in her new bedroom.
Now I can start putting the family/computer room back the way it was.
Monday, March 16, 2009
I removed and shortened a lot of wires and it now looks much neater behind there. I put the TV back on the stand and plugged everything back. I hit the "On" button and nothing happened! Well, back to the Internet. There was a mention of "resetting the bulb ballast." No reset button. Back to the Internet and Google. I found a code to "reset the bulb," and it worked. Turns out that the old bulb might still have been good, so I am going to keep it.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
When I got home, I walked in the door and put my car keys in the disk by the door as usual. They, I took off my jacket and found an additional set of keys and I said "oops!" I forgot that I had used Jennifer's car over the weekend and then forgot to put her keys back on the hook by the door at her house.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Around 0700 I started to drink water like it was going away. I must have been very dehydrated.
I got up and went to the quick stop store here on the Marine base. I did not feel like eating much, but felt that I had to put something in my stomach. I got some chocolate milk and a pastry. It stayed down.
I stayed in bed all day sleeping on and off. I did watch some TV and also watched a couple of Heros episodes on Netflix. The speed of the WiFi was not that good so the Netflix feed had to pause quite frequently.
Friday, March 06, 2009
I went to dinner at a great Chinese buffet near Potomac Outlet Mall. It was one of the best buffets that I have ever had. They had Maryland oysters on the half shell!
The traffic out on I-95 was terrible. Gesh, I am so glad that I don't live around here.
Off to the National Museum of the Marine Corps in the morning.
I went to bed about 2345 and then woke up about 0045 and had to run to the bathroom. I puked my guts out all morning, even made it to dry heaves. Then it started from the other end. I also ached all over and I think I had a fever. I did not feel like going to the museum or even getting out of bed. Fortunately, the TLF was not that busy and I was able to stay an additional night.
I spent all day in bed with body aches and minor fever. I did make it our two times to get something to eat. That consisted of milk and small pastries.
Fortunately, I slept a little Sun morning, but I was still out of it on Sun morning. I went and got some more milk and pastries.
I was feeling good enough to drive, so I headed home. No museum this time. The traffic south was a pain but I made it home in three hours. It was still miserable.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Today is the big inauguration. I could care less and will not watch even one second. I was hoping it would snow it's butt of in D.C. so the would have to hold the swearing inside. That would sure piss off a whole lot of people.
Who was B. Hussein Obama before the 2004 Democratic National Convention? A brand new US Senator from Illinois. No one ever heard of him. Ok, so he can speak well.
B. Hussein Obama is an empty suit that has no business being POTUS. He has no executive executive whatsoever.
Martin Luther King must me rolling over in his grave. Whatever happened to Martin Luther King’s dream that someday we would judge a man by the content of his character, not the color of his skin? Seems the opposite is true with B. Hussein Obama. Maybe it’s the people who voted for Obama because of the color of his skin who have betrayed the legacy of Martin Luther King.