Long time no type

Sorry it has been so long since I posted a blog. To say I have been busy is an understatement. Illness has sidelined me for a couple of days. Since my pneumonia episode of 7 years ago any respiatory ailement knocks me on my ass. I hate and I do mean hate being off work. I grew up with a strong work ethic. I know being off is the best but it does drive me crazy. Since I last posted in July mutiple things have happen. I have been on a family vacation with Karen and Jess. My full time job has experienced a change in management that I strongly believe will be a good thing for the department as a hole. My passion for photography has grown and I am shooting more for both myself and my fire department. Find my work on Facebook and Flickr. Being the new father of a 15 year old girl in an entire new experience in frustruation and love. I have surrvived homecomming and the required photos and planning that only the US Military can out preform.
I am teaching fire investingation photography this week and helped with a great class last month. Fire Investigation photography is what I love. I have a couple of web sites to look at. One is www.strobist.com the other is firegroundactionphotography which has a flickr page.
Well I am going to bed now and will post more soon.....

Pleae read this it is from my friend Doug Cummings

My friend Jim Goldman, retired Chief of Police at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, forwarded this to me.

I thought it was worth including here.

From: Steve Morgan 
> Subject: FW: Band of Brothers Hero 
> Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:22:48 -0500 
> 
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:47:02 -0400 
> Subject: Band of Brothers Hero 
> From: kbkuklok@gmail.com 
> To: kbkuklok@gmail.com 
> 
>We're hearing a lot these days about big splashy memorial services. 
> 
> I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers. 
> 
>Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in 
several of them. 
> 
> I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't know who 
he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble reading his 
ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and 
noticed the "Screaming Eagle", the symbol of the 101st Airborne, on his hat. 
> 
> Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if his 
son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him 
for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many jumps he made. 
> 
> Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was 
in until sometime in 1945 .. . . " at which point my heart skipped. 
> 
> At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training jumps at 
Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . . do you know where Normandy is?" At 
this point my heart stopped. 
> 
> I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what D-Day was. 
At that point he said "I also made a second jump into Holland, into Arnhem." I 
was standing with a genuine war hero . . . . and then I realized that it was 
June, just after the anniversary of D-Day. 
> 
> I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France, and he said "Yes. And 
it's real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and those that 
are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my throat and I didn't 
know what to say. 
> 
> I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in Coach, 
while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said 
that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out of the 
seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in coach. 
> 
> He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some 
who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old man very 
happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are brimming up now as 
I write this. 
> 
> Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer.
> 
> There was no parade. 
> 
> No big event in Staples Center. 
> 
> No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage. 
> 
> No weeping fans on television. 
> 
> And that's not right. 
> 
> Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet way. 
Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the veterans. 
> 
> Rest in peace, Shifty.

Mark Spoo

Fire Inspector

Addison Fire Protection District

10 S. Addison Road

Addison, Illinois 60101

(630) 628-3100

Sent from handheld device. 

4th of July, Hurt Friends

Well this has been a non-stop weekend. Taylor was here and now gone. Downtown, Great America, Cub Game and Family Party. With all of that I need a week off from my weekend off. Fire works were a dud yesterday due to the weather. Lets see what we get tonight. Hit 2 small rain showers on the way home from the Cubs game.

I am sadden by the injury of a Fire Fighter/Medic from Chicago FD. I know him from his work with the fire department that I work part time. It sounds like things went to crap in a house fire. He is in the hospital getting the best care around.

Facebook seeming to be the newest form of communication is reporting that he is "OK" and will recover. Regardless of what you hear or read I ask that you take a moment to think not only of AL but everyone that gives their lives, and time, and sacrifice so others can be free.

Get well soon AL we are all pulling for you and your family.

-30-

Read this link

Janet Dahl has said what I feel to a "t". Please read this.

http://www.jntplnt.com/

Events of the week

I am struck by the fixation of death  of "famous" people. People demanding that Micheal Jackson be buried in Gary so the town of Gary can be like Memphis with the corpse of Elvis in the dirt there. I feel nausea when I hear how people want to capitalize on the death of a person. They are DEAD!!!  I really don't think after they are dead where their remains go. Family, friends and money will dictate what happens. I know when my time comes I want a simple, dignified service without all the crap that goes with it.

There were a number of deaths that went unreported this week. Mutiple military personal, a firefighter paramedic killed while on vacation with his family. Lets think about what counts.

 

30

Fathers Day 2009

The weekend is over and goes so fast. Had a wonderful weekend with Karen. It is the kind of rehab I needed. I sit quietly in my man cave just thinking, wishing and writing. In my quest to become a better photographer I am following the works of Peter Souza. He is the White House Photographer for Mr. Obama and Mr. Regan. I wish I could emulate him more is what I shoot. He must put in the longest hours in history. You can follow his work at http://www.petesouza.com/index.html

I know I need to shoot more and not just carry the stupid camera. I guess the better thing is the stupid photographer should shoot more. I did some this weekend and will post a couple.

30

Retirement

As most of you know I am in the fire service as an inspector. One of the fire fighters for my department last day of working is today. Les put in 30 that is right 30 years in one town. When I was young and only aspired to be a firefighter I dreamed of working for 30 years. Well as life would have it I most likely will never put 30 years in the fire service full time. I sit is silent respect of those people.  The knowledge that these people have, the history these folks can provide cannot be just swept under the carpet and forgotten. Shake the had of someone with that much time and tell them THANK YOU. Sit and learn from them. 

In closing Les thanks for 30 years of dedicated service. Enjoy your retirement you deserve it. Stay close however us new guys need to pick your brain every once and a while.