Yes, it was the last day of summer. Yes, it snowed. Yes, this is Colorado. Yes, we love it.
PS – Ski season is one step closer as two resorts fired up their guns.
IAFF Fallen Firefighter Memorial
September 20, 2009 by Leave a Comment
The third Saturday in September marks the annual IAFF Fallen Firefighter Memorial held in Colorado Springs. The memorial is dedicated to the union members who died in the line of duty over the past year (June – June), and this year 122 names of the bravest were added to the wall. Several thousand people from all over the nation were in attendance as each name was read with a bell sounding for each of the fallen. There were also flags given to each of the families, the Air Force Cadet Choir singing, and a flyover of F-16 fighter jets from Buckley Air Force Base. This year, the Honor Guard itself was made up of over 750 people, including 250 pipes and drums. It’s definitely something that if you live in/near Colorado you should come to next year (it’s going to be on Sept 11, 2010). Photo below is from the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Rock Climbing
September 18, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Technically: yes. By definition: no. Or is it by definition: yes. Technically: no. Who knows, but I can tell you that Ezra and I weren’t roped in on a lead climb with a harness, chalk, and extra quickdraws. We were however on the rock that gives Castle Rock it’s name. It’s a short 5 minute drive from the house and a relatively short hike that is normally door to door in about an hour. It was a pleasant morning with temps right around 50 degrees (winter is definitely in the air: it’s been getting into the low 40’s at night). Ezra got the ride up to the top, but then walked around the base of the entire rock noticing all of the flowers up there; which he is now calling ‘wowers.’
The Stair Climb
September 12, 2009 by 2 Comments
As mentioned in the previous post, I once again took part in the annual Denver Memorial Stair Climb. I was thrilled to be part of the few folks that organized the event and Friday was the culmination of many hours over many weeks of preparation. Five of us met at the Qwest building in Denver at 6am and did our climb early so we could work the event. The building is 55 stories tall (when you count the basement) and we climb it twice for a total of 110 stories, or the same height of the World Trade Center buildings.
The climb took us about 1 hour and 30 minutes and we wore all of our gear. Each year, we wear a picture of a FDNY firefighter that was killed and climb in their memory…since I am an organizer and get to choose, I once again climbed in memory of Ray Downey. It’s a very emotional and stirring climb. There are some amazing truths about what happened on 9/11 that you can only begin to discover when you participate in something like this.
We limit the climb to 343 firefighters (and the climb filled up in 7 days way back in July) since that was the number of brothers killed eight years ago. There is a picture below of everyone just before the climb began…take a minute to think about it….that’s what 343 firefighters look like. Just imagine the number of spouses, children, parents, brothers, and sisters left behind.
I ran Lobby Control this year, which is a position that has ultimate accountability for everyone entering the stairwell. Everyone has to check in with me before the first trip, before the second trip, and after they are done. It’s a great honor to be able to talk with every single firefighter that gets ready to enter the stairwell. This year we had firefighters from 5 different states and 48 different departments.
There are no pictures of me climbing…but there are several during the event (I am wearing the t-shirt that says “God Bless The Brothers From FDNY”). Photos were taken by my Dad and a photographer from the Boulder Daily Camera. In one of the photos you will see a piece of hose with names written on it. There was a firefighter from Arizona who came up and on that hose is the name of all 343 firefighters killed. Oh, there is also a nice video attached.
9/11
September 10, 2009 by 2 Comments
“Lord, take me where You want me to go, let me meet who You want me to meet, tell me what You want me to say, and keep me out of Your way.” – Father Mychal Judge, FDNY Chaplain, Killed 9-11-01. A prayer that he used to share with firefighters.
Do not let this slip by you. Do not go about your Friday as if it were any other day, or worse yet, any other day of remembrance that we never remember. Personally, I have a hard time thinking that people will do anything on this day other than remember. It’s not a day for yardwork, for catching up on studies, or for reading that book. It’s a day that you should take responsibility to put everything else down and remember: remember the victims in the planes, the victims in the buildings, and the firefighters. The brave men who went into those buildings knowing that they wouldn’t come out alive.
For each of the past 5 years, I have taken the time to remember by participating in a stair climb in downtown Denver with other firefighters. We choose to climb 110 flights of stairs, which is the number of floors in the World Trade Center. I will write more about that event afterwards….but I encourage you to find a way: climb stairs, talk about it with your coworkers and family, take a long moment of silence.
Here is a photo that sits close to my heart; it’s a photo that someone took of FDNY Ladder 118 as it responded into Manhattan. The stunning thing about the photo is the fact that every single member on that ladder company perished shortly after the picture was taken.
Never ever forget. God bless the FDNY brothers.
The list of the 343 FDNY brothers that died:
Joseph Agnello, Lad.118 Lt. Brian Ahearn, Bat.13 Eric Allen, Sqd.18 (D) Richard Allen, Lad.15 Cpt. James Amato, Sqd.1 Calixto Anaya Jr., Eng.4 Joseph Agnello, Lad.118 Lt. Brian Ahearn, Bat.13 Eric Allen, Sqd.18 (D) Richard Allen, Lad.15 Cpt. James Amato, Sqd.1 Calixto Anaya Jr., Eng.4 Joseph Angelini, Res.1 (D) Joseph Angelini Jr., Lad.4 Faustino Apostol Jr., Bat.2 David Arce, Eng.33 Louis Arena, Lad.5 (D) Carl Asaro, Bat.9 Lt. Gregg Atlas, Eng.10 Gerald Atwood, Lad.21 Gerald Baptiste, Lad.9 A.C. Gerard Barbara, Cmd. Ctr. Matthew Barnes, Lad.25 Arthur Barry, Lad.15 Lt.Steven Bates, Eng.235 Carl Bedigian, Eng.214 Stephen Belson, Bat.7 John Bergin, Res.5 Paul Beyer, Eng.6 Peter Bielfeld, Lad.42 Brian Bilcher, Sqd.1 Carl Bini, Res.5 Christopher Blackwell, Res.3 Michael Bocchino, Bat.48 Frank Bonomo, Eng.230 Gary Box, Sqd.1 Michael Boyle, Eng.33 Kevin Bracken, Eng.40 Michael Brennan, Lad.4 Peter Brennan, Res.4 Cpt. Daniel Brethel, Lad.24 (D) Cpt. Patrick Brown, Lad.3 Andrew Brunn, Lad.5 (D) Cpt. Vincent Brunton, Lad.105 F.M. Ronald Bucca Greg Buck, Eng.201 Cpt. William Burke Jr., Eng.21 A.C. Donald Burns, Cmd. Ctr. John Burnside, Lad.20 Thomas Butler, Sqd.1 Patrick Byrne, Lad.101 George Cain, Lad.7 Salvatore Calabro, Lad.101 Cpt. Frank Callahan, Lad.35 Michael Cammarata, Lad.11 Brian Cannizzaro, Lad.101 Dennis Carey, Hmc.1 Michael Carlo, Eng.230 Michael Carroll, Lad.3 Peter Carroll, Sqd.1 (D) Thomas Casoria, Eng.22 Michael Cawley, Lad.136 Vernon Cherry, Lad.118 Nicholas Chiofalo, Eng.235 John Chipura, Eng.219 Michael Clarke, Lad.2 Steven Coakley, Eng.217 Tarel Coleman, Sqd.252 John Collins, Lad.25 Robert Cordice, Sqd.1 Ruben Correa, Eng.74 James Coyle, Lad.3 Robert Crawford, Safety Lt. John Crisci, H.M. B.C. Dennis Cross, Bat.57 (D) Thomas Cullen III, Sqd. 41 Robert Curatolo, Lad.16 (D) Lt. Edward D’Atri, Sqd.1 Michael D’Auria, Eng.40 Scott Davidson, Lad.118 Edward Day, Lad.11 B.C. Thomas DeAngelis, Bat. 8 Manuel Delvalle, Eng.5 Martin DeMeo, H.M. 1 David DeRubbio, Eng.226 Lt. Andrew Desperito, Eng.1 (D) B.C. Dennis Devlin, Bat.9 Gerard Dewan, Lad.3 George DiPasquale, Lad.2 Lt. Kevin Donnelly, Lad.3 Lt. Kevin Dowdell, Res.4 B.C. Raymond Downey, Soc. Gerard Duffy, Lad.21 Cpt. Martin Egan, Jr., Div.15 (D) Michael Elferis, Eng.22 Francis Esposito, Eng.235 Lt. Michael Esposito, Sqd.1 Robert Evans, Eng.33B.C. John Fanning, H.O. Cpt. Thomas Farino, Eng.26 Terrence Farrell, Res.4 Cpt. Joseph Farrelly, Div.1 Dep. Comm. William Feehan, (D) Lee Fehling, Eng.235 Alan Feinberg, Bat.9 Michael Fiore, Res.5 Lt. John Fischer, Lad.20 Andre Fletcher, Res.5 John Florio, Eng.214 Lt. Michael Fodor, Lad.21 Thomas Foley, Res.3 David Fontana, Sqd.1 Robert Foti, Lad.7 Andrew Fredericks, Sqd.18 Lt. Peter Freund, Eng.55 Thomas Gambino Jr., Res.3 Chief of Dept. Peter Ganci, Jr. (D) Lt. Charles Garbarini, Bat.9 Thomas Gardner, Hmc.1 Matthew Garvey, Sqd.1 Bruce Gary, Eng.40 Gary Geidel, Res.1 B.C. Edward Geraghty, Bat.9 Dennis Germain, Lad.2 Lt. Vincent Giammona, Lad.5 James Giberson, Lad.35 Ronnie Gies, Sqd.288 Paul Gill, Eng.54 Lt. John Ginley, Eng.40 Jeffrey Giordano, Lad.3 John Giordano, Hmc.1 Keith Glascoe, Lad.21 James Gray, Lad.20 B.C. Joseph Grzelak, Bat.48 Jose Guadalupe, Eng.54 Lt. Geoffrey Guja, Bat.43 Lt. Joseph Gullickson, Lad.101 David Halderman, Sqd.18 Lt. Vincent Halloran, Lad.8 Robert Hamilton, Sqd.41 Sean Hanley, Lad.20 (D) Thomas Hannafin, Lad.5 Dana Hannon, Eng.26 Daniel Harlin, Lad.2 Lt. Harvey Harrell, Res.5 Lt. Stephen Harrell, Bat.7 Cpt. Thomas Haskell, Jr., Div.15 Timothy Haskell, Sqd.18 (D) Cpt. Terence Hatton, Res.1 Michael Haub, Lad.4 Lt. Michael Healey, Sqd.41 John Hefferman, Lad.11 Ronnie Henderson, Eng.279 Joseph Henry, Lad.21 William Henry, Res.1 (D) Thomas Hetzel, Lad.13 Cpt. Brian Hickey, Res.4 Lt. Timothy Higgins, S.O.C. Jonathan Hohmann, Hmc.1 Thomas Holohan, Eng.6 Joseph Hunter, Sqd.288 Cpt. Walter Hynes, Lad.13 (D)Jonathan Ielpi, Sqd.288 Cpt. Frederick Ill Jr., Lad.2 William Johnston, Eng.6 Andrew Jordan, Lad.132 Karl Joseph, Eng.207 Lt. Anthony Jovic, Bat.47 Angel Juarbe Jr., Lad.12 Mychal Judge, Chaplain (D) Vincent Kane, Eng.22 B.C. Charles Kasper, S.O.C. Paul Keating, Lad.5 Richard Kelly Jr., Lad.11 Thomas R. Kelly, Lad.15 Thomas W. Kelly, Lad.105 Thomas Kennedy, Lad.101 Lt. Ronald Kerwin, Sqd.288 Michael Kiefer, Lad.132 Robert King Jr., Eng.33 Scott Kopytko, Lad.15 William Krukowski, Lad.21 Kenneth Kumpel, Lad.25 Thomas Kuveikis, Sqd.252 David LaForge, Lad.20 William Lake, Res.2 Robert Lane, Eng.55 Peter Langone, Sqd.252 Scott Larsen, Lad.15 Lt. Joseph Leavey, Lad.15 Neil Leavy, Eng.217 Daniel Libretti, Res.2 Carlos Lillo, Paramedic Robert Linnane, Lad.20 Michael Lynch, Eng.40 Michael Lynch, Lad.4 Michael Lyons, Sqd.41 Patrick Lyons, Sqd.252 Joseph Maffeo, Lad.101 William Mahoney, Res 4 Joseph Maloney, Lad.3 (D) B.C. Joseph Marchbanks Jr, Bat.12 Lt. Charles Margiotta, Bat.22 Kenneth Marino, Res.1 John Marshall, Eng.23 Lt. Peter Martin, Res.2 Lt. Paul Martini, Eng.23 Joseph Mascali, T.S.U. 2 Keithroy Maynard, Eng.33 Brian McAleese, Eng.226 John McAvoy, Lad.3 Thomas McCann, Bat.8 Lt. William McGinn, Sqd.18 B.C. William McGovern, Bat.2 (D) Dennis McHugh, Lad.13 Robert McMahon, Lad.20 Robert McPadden, Eng.23 Terence McShane, Lad.101 Timothy McSweeney, Lad.3 Martin McWilliams, Eng.22 (D) Raymond Meisenheimer, Res.3 Charles Mendez, Lad.7 Steve Mercado, Eng.40 Douglas Miller, Res.5 Henry Miller Jr, Lad.105 Robert Minara, Lad.25 Thomas Mingione, Lad.132 Lt. Paul Mitchell, Bat.1 Capt. Louis Modafferi, Res.5 Lt. Dennis Mojica, Res.1 (D) Manuel Mojica, Sqd.18 (D) Carl Molinaro, Lad.2 Michael Montesi, Res.1 Capt. Thomas Moody, Div.1 B.C. John Moran, Bat.49 Vincent Morello, Lad.35 Christopher Mozzillo, Eng.55 Richard Muldowney Jr, Lad.07 Michael Mullan, Lad.12 Dennis Mulligan, Lad.2 Lt. Raymond Murphy, Lad.16 Lt. Robert Nagel, Eng.58 John Napolitano, Res.2 Peter Nelson, Res.4 Gerard Nevins, Res.1 Dennis O’Berg, Lad.105 Lt. Daniel O’Callaghan, Lad.4 Douglas Oelschlager, Lad.15 Joseph Ogren, Lad.3 Lt. Thomas O’Hagan, Bat.4 Samuel Oitice, Lad.4 Patrick O’Keefe, Res.1 Capt. William O’Keefe, Div.15 (D) Eric Olsen, Lad.15 Jeffery Olsen, Eng.10 Steven Olson, Lad.3 Kevin O’Rourke, Res.2 Michael Otten, Lad.35 Jeffery Palazzo, Res.5 B.C. Orio Palmer, Bat.7 Frank Palombo, Lad.105 Paul Pansini, Eng.10 B.C. John Paolillo, Bat.11 James Pappageorge, Eng.23 Robert Parro, Eng.8 Durrell Pearsall, Res.4 Lt. Glenn Perry, Bat.12 Lt. Philip Petti, Bat.7 Lt. Kevin Pfeifer, Eng. 33 Lt. Kenneth Phelan, Bat.32 Christopher Pickford, Eng.201 Shawn Powell, Eng.207 Vincent Princiotta, Lad.7 Kevin Prior, Sqd.252 B.C. Richard Prunty, Bat.2 (D) Lincoln Quappe, Res.2 Lt. Michael Quilty, Lad.11 Ricardo Quinn, Paramedic Leonard Ragaglia, Eng.54 Michael Ragusa, Eng.279 Edward Rall, Res.2 Adam Rand, Sqd.288 Donald Regan, Res.3 Lt. Robert Regan, Lad.118 Christian Regenhard, Lad.131 Kevin Reilly, Eng.207 Lt. Vernon Richard, Lad.7 James Riches, Eng.4 Joseph Rivelli, Lad.25 Michael Roberts, Eng.214 Michael E. Roberts, Lad.35 Anthony Rodriguez, Eng.279 Matthew Rogan, Lad.11 Nicholas Rossomando, Res.5 Paul Ruback, Lad.25 Stephen Russell, Eng.55 Lt. Michael Russo, S.O.C. B.C. Matthew Ryan, Bat.1 Thomas Sabella, Lad.13 Christopher Santora, Eng.54 John Santore, Lad.5 (D) Gregory Saucedo, Lad.5 Dennis Scauso, H.M. 1 John Schardt, Eng.201 B.C. Fred Scheffold, Bat.12 Thomas Schoales, Eng.4 Gerard Schrang, Res.3 (D) Gregory Sikorsky, Sqd.41 Stephen Siller, Sqd.1 Stanley Smagala Jr, Eng.226 Kevin Smith, H.M. 1 Leon Smith Jr, Lad 118 Robert Spear Jr, Eng.26 Joseph Spor, Res.3 B.C. Lawrence Stack, Bat.50 Cpt. Timothy Stackpole, Div.11 (D) Gregory Stajk, Lad.13 Jeffery Stark, Eng.230 Benjamin Suarez, Lad.21 Daniel Suhr, Eng.216 (D) Lt. Christopher Sullivan, Lad.111 Brian Sweeney, Res.1 Sean Tallon, Lad.10 Allan Tarasiewicz, Res.5 Paul Tegtmeier, Eng.4 John Tierney, Lad.9 John Tipping II, Lad.4 Hector Tirado Jr, Eng.23 Richard Vanhine, Sqd.41 Peter Vega, Lad.118 Lawrence Veling, Eng.235 John Vigiano II, Lad.132 Sergio Villanueva, Lad.132 Lawrence Virgilio, Sqd.18 (D) Lt. Robert Wallace, Eng.205 Jeffery Walz, Lad. 9 Lt. Michael Warchola, Lad.5 (D) Capt. Patrick Waters, S.O.C. Kenneth Watson, Eng.214 Michael Weinberg, Eng.1 (D) David Weiss, Res.1 Timothy Welty, Sqd.288 Eugene Whelan, Eng.230 Edward White, Eng.230 Mark Whitford, Eng.23 Lt. Glenn Wilkinson, Eng.238 (D) B.C. John Williamson, Bat.6 (D) Capt. David Wooley, Lad.4 Raymond York, Eng.285 (D)
Colorado Balloon Festival
September 9, 2009 by 2 Comments
This past Sunday morning we were all able to steal a little time together and head down to Colorado Springs for the annual Colorado Balloon Festival. We got down there early – 630 – for a 7am launch time, but soon realized that due to a fog bank and ‘aloft’ winds that the launch time would be slightly delayed. Luckily for us, it was only delayed about 45 minutes (on Saturday, they never launched) and we were witness to a great show of nearly 80 balloons getting prepped, inflated, and launching. Ezra walked the grounds only saying “oooooo” and “wowwowwow” for a long long time as each balloon appeared seemingly out of nowhere. We were able to meet up with a few other brave folks, some friends that we have through Ahna’s school, that also brought their youngster to the early morning fun. I think that we are going to put this on our calendar for next year…!
Directions
August 25, 2009 by 2 Comments
Been a little slow posting…big things at work that need lots of attention.
Direction definition #1: follow someone else’s. So here goes (this is for you, Tori). A few days ago we received the first Ski magazine of the year!!!!!! Super excited….it arrived the same week as the forecast for this season said that there will be less storms, but that they will produce a lot more….hopefully I will be able to time my trips skiing with those storms. 7 weeks until ski season!
Direction definition #2: give them and hope someone else follows them. We continue to be amazed at Ezra’s conversational understanding. Example: yesterday we visited Ahna for lunch and while there he was exploring the classroom getting into places that he shouldn’t. During one of these instances, in an attempt to divert him, I asked where his cow was. He pointed across the room to the cow sitting on top of the computer desk. I then asked him to go get it and bring it to me. Following a moment to comprehend the request, he immediately walked across the room, grabbed the cow, and brought it to me. Amazing.
Direction definition #3: subtle hints will change habit. Keep reading the blog. Keep reading the blog. Keep reading the blog. Keep reading the blog. Keep reading the blog. Keep reading the blog. Keep reading the blog. Keep reading the blog. Keep reading the blog. Keep reading the blog. Keep reading the blog. Keep reading the blog. Keep reading the blog. Keep reading the blog. Keep reading the blog. Keep reading the blog. Keep reading the blog. Keep reading the blog.
A Golden Day
August 20, 2009 by 2 Comments
Over this past weekend Ahna and I were treated to a date-day while Ezra was treated to a day with his Grandparents….thus the earlier posting about going to see Julie and Julia. We know that they went to Golden to walk around an art fair, they went out to lunch, and they walked a ton…..we also know that they all had a great time, and Ezra didn’t have much trouble going down to sleep afterwards.
Eggs Benedict
August 16, 2009 by 2 Comments
Yes, we did go and see ‘Julie and Julia’ while we had a date-day yesterday.
Yes, the movie was entertaining.
Yes, it did re-energize the desire to try to make hollandaise sauce.
Yes, it was successful.
Yes, it did use a lot of pots and pans to make Avocado Eggs Benedict.
Yes, hollandaise sauce is very needy in the cooking phase.
Yes, it is worth it.
Yes, there will be more to come.
Yes, Yes.
Cake
August 14, 2009 by 2 Comments
A few days ago we celebrated my brother’s birthday, and I got some of the pictures from the evening sent over today….
The Life of a Little Hippie 