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Posted
3 minutes ago, BabaYaga said:

Does he know any firefighters?  Half our family on the wife's side are in or retired FF's.  They see some gnarly shit.  It's not for everyone.  One friend of the family saw his first family disaster involving fatalities and that was it.  He was done.  For many it's a calling, so I might have the candid conversation about whether this is you scratching the itch to serve, or is this something you can see yourself doing for an extended period of time.  It's also very competitive.  More and more are leaning this route vs LEO or military, so check up on who you are competing against.  

Indeed, all are valid thoughts/concerns.  I think he's looking at doing so in the actual UK, so that's part of the "research" (he has some time, graduation is over a year away).  And he's still very much in the "exploration" phase of how to serve.  Personally, I think it's a big bite -- not just something you do for 2 years.  But...we'll see.  

Posted
Just now, Brisketexan said:

Indeed, all are valid thoughts/concerns.  I think he's looking at doing so in the actual UK, so that's part of the "research" (he has some time, graduation is over a year away).  And he's still very much in the "exploration" phase of how to serve.  Personally, I think it's a big bite -- not just something you do for 2 years.  But...we'll see.  

Yeah, I'd assume that it takes a few years in the pipeline just to be able to be a firefighter, here or abroad.  Then you actually start doing the job.  He could also apply his intellect at any number of non-profit agencies/shelters.  He won't make much money, but it can scratch the itch.  

Posted
29 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

  He talked about the fact that his career will likely take him to a place/world where he's wearing a suit, and managing projects/strategies somehow.  And he feels that having some real "boots on the ground" real world experience and perspective before he does so will serve him well -- I don't know.  

this is interesting.

 

obviously playing in a band and touring across the country in a van and doing shit like that is not "serving" but I'm often glad that I did something interesting and something that broadened my perspective a bit while I was young. At my last job I was talking to one of the sales directors and he mentioned he spent some time as a commercial fisherman when he was in his twenties and we connected a bit over having had a... I dunno, cowboy phase before settling into corporate lives. There are times when, of course I regret opportunities I missed when I was deep inside the bottle, and then related but separate I wonder "what if" about people who started with a focused direction really early. And there are also times I think about people who go off to college at 18 for career prep and go sequentially right through the steps and are in the burbs in a quarter zip and khakis with 2.5 kids in their mid twenties, and i do not at all regret fucking up and bouncing around and doing some cowboy shit for a while as I figured things out. And apart from just spice of life stuff, I do think that the broader experience and perspective is both useful and helps me enjoy life better.

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Posted
51 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

So, continuing to deal with adult kids.  Right now, we have the boy home -- he's almost 22, going to do his Sr. year of university next year.  He's home for his grandfather's memorial, and the gravity of the situation, the passing of generations, his coming adulthood...it's all connecting with him.  We had some time to talk about what he wants to do when he graduates.  He said that he knows that, to be truly marketable, he'll need a graduate degree of some sort.  But he also wants to dedicate some real time to "service," and experiencing the real world NOT as a student.  He's talked about trying to get on with some international development work, that sort of thing ( @InkaUtexas), but he is also looking at spending some time as....a firefighter.  He said "I know y'all are a 'no' no military service....and under the current regime, I am too, but I feel like I need to serve now, while I'm young."  So, he may stay in the UK, activate his post-uni visa, and be....a firefighter.

Is that a good thing (long term), or a waste of time?  I have no idea.  He talked about the fact that his career will likely take him to a place/world where he's wearing a suit, and managing projects/strategies somehow.  And he feels that having some real "boots on the ground" real world experience and perspective before he does so will serve him well -- I don't know.  But I know that his heart....is the size of the fucking moon.  And he so wants to help people, and that will lead him some places that we don't even know about.; he's already thinking ahead to what may be needed in Ukraine if/when the war ends, and he already has something of a network and connections there, so who knows.  It's a bit awe-inspiring to watch these young folks develop into adults who actually do and mean something to the world around them.  I am proud of him, but I can't take credit or ownership for a damned thing.  He is his own man.  And he's a good man, who cares.  I feel a little shamed in comparison, honestly.

Going to DM you. Got an idea for the kiddo. Tell him I said hi.

Posted
2 hours ago, Celery Man said:

obviously playing in a band and touring across the country in a van and doing shit like that is not "serving" but I'm often glad that I did something interesting and something that broadened my perspective a bit while I was young. At my last job I was talking to one of the sales directors and he mentioned he spent some time as a commercial fisherman when he was in his twenties and we connected a bit over having had a... I dunno, cowboy phase before settling into corporate lives. 

To this point:  I talk about my daughter too much, but she is dealing with this exact thing, a conflict between an immediate opportunity in music vs wrapping up her undergrad at UT and moving on to a PhD program.

I have yet to speak with a single prof in her department who says a year or two chasing the rock star dream will hurt her chances at an elite PhD program.  In fact, they all pretty much concede the opposite.  It is really difficult to stand apart from all one's peers when everyone has the same track record.  Schools and employers are looking for things that set candidates apart.  I don't think there is anything wrong with encouraging kids to branch out a bit in their early 20s.

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Posted

Crazy watching them grow up! He’s learning something new every day. Thought I would want to just wake up at 2 years and know he was good. Now i wouldn’t want to miss it for a world.

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Posted
10 minutes ago, BigDHornfan said:

The boy gave me shit for buying what he called,
“Busted ass Frosted Flakes.”
Did a switcharoo.
He won’t know shit.

They probably come out of the same factory.

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Posted

We’re doing our first overnight stay at a hospital with the little guy. He got RSV. We had him vaccinated and the medical staff said it’s good we have because all the kids they’ve seen come in with the vaccine and RSV have been better off. His normal oxygen when up and moving is about 93-100. When he’s sleeping it dips into the 85-89 range so they have him on oxygen for the night. Guess we will see what tomorrow brings but he does seem happy and aware when he’s not pissed they’re doing things to him or hungry. 

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Posted
12 hours ago, BurntOrange&White said:

We’re doing our first overnight stay at a hospital with the little guy. He got RSV. We had him vaccinated and the medical staff said it’s good we have because all the kids they’ve seen come in with the vaccine and RSV have been better off. His normal oxygen when up and moving is about 93-100. When he’s sleeping it dips into the 85-89 range so they have him on oxygen for the night. Guess we will see what tomorrow brings but he does seem happy and aware when he’s not pissed they’re doing things to him or hungry. 

Update: we hit a trifecta with viruses! RSV, adenovirus, and rhino enterovirus 

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Posted
On 3/1/2025 at 10:28 AM, jimmyjazz said:

I wonder how many wedding receptions have kicked off with this daddy/daughter dance?  I'm gonna fucking lose it when that day comes.

 

This Isbell song has always struck me as appropriate for that day as well.

 

Posted
On 3/6/2025 at 9:33 AM, BurntOrange&White said:

Update: we hit a trifecta with viruses! RSV, adenovirus, and rhino enterovirus 

I hope things are getting better. When our first was about 15 months and had recently started daycare, he hit the trifecta of rhino, adeno and RSV + bilateral ear infections and hand, foot and mouth. 

He had gone to his pedi a couple times and would seem to get better, only to shoot a temp up to around 103 right as our heater died during the first cold front of the year. So after a night in a hotel, we finally went to the ER.

Never had to deal with the low O2 sats, but the lethargy and fever was worrisome 2 weeks into the illness. He's fine now. Well, he has hit peak 2 year-old today, actually. But horrible temperament and lack of obedience notwithstanding, he's in great health.

Posted
3 hours ago, hookem2010 said:

I hope things are getting better. When our first was about 15 months and had recently started daycare, he hit the trifecta of rhino, adeno and RSV + bilateral ear infections and hand, foot and mouth. 

He had gone to his pedi a couple times and would seem to get better, only to shoot a temp up to around 103 right as our heater died during the first cold front of the year. So after a night in a hotel, we finally went to the ER.

Never had to deal with the low O2 sats, but the lethargy and fever was worrisome 2 weeks into the illness. He's fine now. Well, he has hit peak 2 year-old today, actually. But horrible temperament and lack of obedience notwithstanding, he's in great health.

That’s what was weird to highest his temp got was 99.5 which isn’t even a fever, technically. So we initially just thought it was a cold until we saw some labored breathing and weezing Tuesday. We got sent home Friday around lunch after he was able to maintain his oxygen levels without oxygen being supplied. He’s seemed to get better each day. Still not drinking the normal amount is bottles we had been giving him but pretty close within 6-8oz. Also doesn’t help he had a tooth beak through within the last week as well 

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Posted
On 2/28/2025 at 11:12 AM, Brisketexan said:

So, continuing to deal with adult kids.  Right now, we have the boy home -- he's almost 22, going to do his Sr. year of university next year.  He's home for his grandfather's memorial, and the gravity of the situation, the passing of generations, his coming adulthood...it's all connecting with him.  We had some time to talk about what he wants to do when he graduates.  He said that he knows that, to be truly marketable, he'll need a graduate degree of some sort.  But he also wants to dedicate some real time to "service," and experiencing the real world NOT as a student.  He's talked about trying to get on with some international development work, that sort of thing ( @InkaUtexas), but he is also looking at spending some time as....a firefighter.  He said "I know y'all are a 'no' no military service....and under the current regime, I am too, but I feel like I need to serve now, while I'm young."  So, he may stay in the UK, activate his post-uni visa, and be....a firefighter.

Is that a good thing (long term), or a waste of time?  I have no idea.  He talked about the fact that his career will likely take him to a place/world where he's wearing a suit, and managing projects/strategies somehow.  And he feels that having some real "boots on the ground" real world experience and perspective before he does so will serve him well -- I don't know.  But I know that his heart....is the size of the fucking moon.  And he so wants to help people, and that will lead him some places that we don't even know about.; he's already thinking ahead to what may be needed in Ukraine if/when the war ends, and he already has something of a network and connections there, so who knows.  It's a bit awe-inspiring to watch these young folks develop into adults who actually do and mean something to the world around them.  I am proud of him, but I can't take credit or ownership for a damned thing.  He is his own man.  And he's a good man, who cares.  I feel a little shamed in comparison, honestly.

I've been a volunteer firefighter for a decade or so, and was motivated by a lot of the same things your kid is.  I grew up farming (I farm now full time) but I was practicing law full time when I started doing and I was motivated by a desire to help out in the community and get back to doing some honest to goodness real god damn work.  Farming full time keeps me away from a lot of calls, but I plan to do at least another 5 years, and have found the experience to be extremely rewarding.  If I was doing things all over again, I would strongly consider telling young Al to get into full time career fire service.

But to @BabaYaga's point, you will see some shit.  I'm just a volunteer and I've seen plenty of dead bodies (we respond to all car accidents in our district).  The worst thing I was ever a part of wasn't even a fatality though - it was a lift assist (that's when EMTs need more man power to physically remove a sick or injured person) on a bed ridden 500 lb man who thought he was having a heart attack.  We go into the house, and all you could smell was BO and shit.  There were pizza boxes everywhere.  He was in bed naked, and shitting himself into a bed pad.  His feet were swollen and purple and the skin was peeling off.  I actually had to run out the front door and vomit into the bushes before I could really help carry him to the ambulance.

I told my chief later in the week that that experience (of seeing someone who was alive but clearly decaying) was harder than any fatality I'd responded to.  He agreed.

So, yeah, buckle up, but I doubt he'll regret it and this may be his calling.  Your kid sounds like a badass, IMO.

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Posted
On 2/28/2025 at 11:12 AM, Brisketexan said:

Is that a good thing (long term), or a waste of time?  

Catching up on this, Brisket.  For whatever my opinion is worth, and based on what you've posted about your kids' journeys so far, I'd say they have a pretty good knack for finding their own way, even with a little pat on the rear from Mr. and Mrs. Brisket, so I say let the boy go fight some fires.  He feels compelled to serve, and this is what is pulling at him. Hell, he might fulfill some European hottie's first responder fantasy.  Grad school will still be there down the line, if he wants that.  Not sure the law is his path, but I had a career cop in my 1L class.  

If I have any regrets in my life, one is that I didn't join the Marine Corps like my dad.  I mean, I don't want to change anything about where I am and the path that I took to get here, and even a minimum tour of duty in the Marines would have wiped all that out.  But in fantasizing about another life, I would have liked to have served my country in that capacity, even if it meant an overseas deployment during wartime, like one of my high school classmates experienced as a Marine.  

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Posted
On 10/8/2024 at 8:15 AM, Dutchrudder said:

Yeah, I had at least a dozen of the ones on this top 100 list:  https://brickranker.com/rankings/sets. It's got to be worth a ton to the right collector. 

Blackbeard's ship, the Clipper, El Dorado, Black Knight Castle, Forestman Hideout, Enchanted Island, Monorail Transport Base, Monorail Transport System, Inter-Galactic Command Base...  Tons and tons more, I had a whole city setup, the Aquanauts base with a bunch of ships, Western sets, the Robin Hood sets, space, pirates, etc.  So many sets, it's really all I asked for as presents for Christmas and birthday for several years. I hope it's all OK up there, I haven't looked at it in many years. 

I know I'm replying to this 6 months later, but rabbit holes and what not. I looked it up and had this one as a kid. It's still in a shoe box at my parents somewhere. Seemed so much damn bigger when I was 6. But had working drawbridge and everything. IMG_1169.thumb.png.6bba436747d9ef80c33069af1ed0018d.png

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Posted

Me: Hey baby, did you have a good Saint Patrick's day at school?

3yo: Yes! And I didn't get shot!

Me: 🤨wait, what? You didn't get shot? 

3yo: Yes, I wore green, so I don't get shot!

Me: You mean with a squirt gun??

3yo: No daddy, they shoot you with air if you don't wear green. 

Me: uhhhh, ok...

 

I was not able to figure out what the hell she was talking about. I assume she meant 'pinch', but she knows that word and would use it. 

 

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Posted

Excellent. We told both our kids straight up that the school may do what the school does, but they will never ge tin trouble at home for def diff themselves or someone else.
Because that’s how we should be. Good on your boy.

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Posted

IMG_2838.thumb.jpeg.6501dadd242490f1e24a7e6ece4b600e.jpeg

Sierra Feral

 

good on the kid for helping out the other kid. I’m trying to do a good job of explaining that, and being a good friend to anyone who needs one, being kind, etc. It’s also hard hearing about kids at school and some point realizing that the asshole I’m mad at is 3 years old and trying to pull in some perspective.

anyways, well deserved ice cream

 

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Posted
6 hours ago, Celery Man said:

IMG_2838.thumb.jpeg.6501dadd242490f1e24a7e6ece4b600e.jpeg

Sierra Feral

 

good on the kid for helping out the other kid. I’m trying to do a good job of explaining that, and being a good friend to anyone who needs one, being kind, etc. It’s also hard hearing about kids at school and some point realizing that the asshole I’m mad at is 3 years old and trying to pull in some perspective.

anyways, well deserved ice cream

 

This freakishly looks like my youngest only mine has lighter hair and eyes and definitely has an obsession with guitars.

Posted

Wife hosted a cookie decorating workshop in our house today so it was daddy and kids day. Dance, ice skating, picnic lunch, park, nap, different park. Tiredness washed over the dude.

 

IMG_2841.thumb.jpeg.53d5431518fda618ebe7db35f460154f.jpeg

IMG_2842.thumb.jpeg.1322c560f3e5474134921bc1d4e40fff.jpeg

IMG_2845.thumb.jpeg.6773b42f95ab0bf379bf58eedf9e2d3a.jpeg

IMG_2854.thumb.jpeg.6100021fd328f52e84e03068bdb24375.jpeg
 

my oldest sister (who has two sons) just pointed out that this jacket (that I got from my middle sister who has two sons) was originally her oldest’s, who is now in college. So, LL Bean for the win I guess.

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Posted (edited)

I have been given realistic hope for more grandkids.

Both my son and his wife are smart AF with regard to book smarts, both having their Masters.  They have had 2 children and we were told they are done.  Totally cool. Their choice. Accept my blessings. We love the grandbabies to death!
Then a few days ago, wife tells me the only "birth control" they are using is one of those rings that detects when ovulation occurs, among other health measures.  I just started laughing in disbelief and smiling in genuine happiness, "We're gonna have a third grandkid!!!"

They call people who use those methods, "Parents."

Edited by Iceman
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Posted
On 5/10/2024 at 11:45 AM, TankedBevo said:

That's good to hear, especially if any medication could possibly just be a short term thing. 

"We had a conference and I quite bluntly asked, "Are we doing this because it will help him, or because it will help the teacher deal with him?" I didn't want to do it if the answer was the latter, but everyone (including my wife) said it would help him focus better and I can see it has."

^This is exactly the conversations I've been having with my wife. Who's this really for, and is his lack of focus extreme enough that it's our best option. 

We've had two meetings (standard, progress report meetings rather than anything disciplinary) with the teacher and the second one with the counselor present. I part of me thinks that he would benefit from an older, more experienced patience-wise teacher. The one he has now, while nice, is very young and I think still trying to get her bearings. I may continue talking with the counselor and see how he does with his 3rd grade work and behavior before making any hard decisions. 

So an update since this post I thought I'd share. 

The boy started third grade and his focus was still so over the place after counseling throughout the summer. We went one grading period and his grades were not what we knew he could achieve. While not being disruptive, he would do anything except the task at hand during class, and if he did he would often leave his work incomplete. 

We talked with his doctor then both his teachers and decided it was time to start him on some medication, and to put aside my own anxiety about it before he wouldn't be able to make it up grades-wise. 

After the first grading period we started him on 10mg Focalin extended release on weekdays and his grades have improved impressively, towards the tops of his class even. 

No noticeable side effects or changes in his everyday persona otherwise. Still the same goofy kid, I just have to get his attention less during the week, until it wears off around 6-7pm. 

Overall, I'm feeling good about the decision so far. 

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Posted
18 hours ago, NotActuallyALonghorn said:

spacer.pngHe might be a little bit competitive...

 

 

 

18 hours ago, NotActuallyALonghorn said:

 

Better edit...

spacer.png

 

 

 

That’s fantastic. 

Posted

My 18 year old carries Narcan in his vehicle and we spent some time going over how to use it and the importance of calling 911 immediately and not waiting.  I stressed that he's not getting in real trouble over possession of anything or drinking but it would be real trouble if someone dies. He's had maybe 3 beers in his life all most likely after UT losses and only two with me. Fuck you UW

It's not, hopefully for him or his close friends, it's for the friend of a friend at some party that he saves.

I feel like having that Narcan also reminds him how high the stakes are these days and he will  just continue to abstain. Even if not he has a shot. I also provided test strips which he thought was crazy. But I know how that goes. It's an opportunity to save a kid. His buddies buddy might use those.

I'm going to try even if it's never used, even if I'm overly cautious.

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Posted
6 hours ago, jimmyjazz said:

Hell yeah little soccer dude.  My kid played just like that.  It wasn't malicious, he just cared more than the others.

He's come a long way this season where he spent his whole first game crying and refused to play at all. I need to figure out how to post a proper video, because his older sister's team is straight fire. Nationally ranked for nine year olds and every single one of them will be able to play D-1 in college if they stick with it. A few might even get the opportunity to play in the world cup. 

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Posted
He's come a long way this season where he spent his whole first game crying and refused to play at all.
My daughter dribbled down and scored a goal in her first soccer game, which was met with cheers from the players and parents.  She was so shy and timid at the time that she sat in my lap and wouldn't play anymore that game.  Next week, I convinced her to play again and told the parents not to cheer if she happened to score again.  She scored five goals to zero fan fair.

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Posted

Yeah, for that age those girls are fantastic.  My experience is that the girls get there faster than the boys in terms of teamwork, but it seems to peak in late middle school, at which point the boys' athleticism creates a pretty insurmountable edge.  I do remember my son's indoor team getting schooled by a girl's team that they took lightly.  It was a clinic.

Posted
7 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

Yeah, for that age those girls are fantastic.  My experience is that the girls get there faster than the boys in terms of teamwork, but it seems to peak in late middle school, at which point the boys' athleticism creates a pretty insurmountable edge.  I do remember my son's indoor team getting schooled by a girl's team that they took lightly.  It was a clinic.

Funny.  My daughter's indoor team started playing against boys teams exclusively when she was 12-13 because there was not enough competition with the girls teams.  At 14 they started to play indoor with coed adult teams.

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Posted
On 3/10/2025 at 9:32 AM, Al_4_ISU said:

I've been a volunteer firefighter for a decade or so, and was motivated by a lot of the same things your kid is.  I grew up farming (I farm now full time) but I was practicing law full time when I started doing and I was motivated by a desire to help out in the community and get back to doing some honest to goodness real god damn work.  Farming full time keeps me away from a lot of calls, but I plan to do at least another 5 years, and have found the experience to be extremely rewarding.  If I was doing things all over again, I would strongly consider telling young Al to get into full time career fire service.

But to @BabaYaga's point, you will see some shit.  I'm just a volunteer and I've seen plenty of dead bodies (we respond to all car accidents in our district).  The worst thing I was ever a part of wasn't even a fatality though - it was a lift assist (that's when EMTs need more man power to physically remove a sick or injured person) on a bed ridden 500 lb man who thought he was having a heart attack.  We go into the house, and all you could smell was BO and shit.  There were pizza boxes everywhere.  He was in bed naked, and shitting himself into a bed pad.  His feet were swollen and purple and the skin was peeling off.  I actually had to run out the front door and vomit into the bushes before I could really help carry him to the ambulance.

I told my chief later in the week that that experience (of seeing someone who was alive but clearly decaying) was harder than any fatality I'd responded to.  He agreed.

So, yeah, buckle up, but I doubt he'll regret it and this may be his calling.  Your kid sounds like a badass, IMO.

Career firefighter/paramedic here. I think my career is one of the most rewarding things you can do but it can take a toll on you and your family if you’re not careful. The terrible things you see combined with lack of sleep sometimes turns you into someone you don’t want to be. My advice is to make sure you find what works to decompress before you come home. For some that is sharing a few cups of coffee with the oncoming shift just bullshitting and laughing, others go to the gym and pump out an intense workout. Strangely enough, what bothers me most is things that should disturb me don’t anymore. Desensitization is real in this profession. My son graduates from the 40 acres in a few weeks and is waiting for his MCAT scores to come in. He is also finishing up an EMT course so that he can do that in a potential gap year. I’d be proud if that’s what he chose but also want him going in with eyes wide open.

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