Climbing Ladders
June 7, 2010
Fire Fighting is turning out to be something that is giving me a real charge. I really like forcing myself to learn things (if they interest me) and
Climbing The Ladder on Truck 2
being held accountable for them. Fighting fires and providing EMS/EMT services is only possible with excellent training, knowledge a team and a very organized, straight forward command system. Learning that system has really been interesting and rewarding. So I’m happy to report the FF1 is going well and although mentally and physically challenging (usually at the same time) it’s one of the best things I’ve done for myself in a long time. Last week we climbed up the telescoping ladder (stick) on Truck 2. It was an exercise that challenged people in both their mental and physical abilities. I am fortunate enough not to have a fear of heights, others have to struggle with it. Hooking in at the top of the ladder was interesting, as stable as the apparatus looks, once extended it really starts to move -
Our Fire Fighter Class
almost enough to make it unnerving We all got a turn climbing up, hooking in, unhooking then climbing back down.
This past weekend we worked on deployment, taking and repeating commands, establishing water supply, running hose and setting up a monitor. The style of of this course is great with lectures, skills and demonstrations. Sections at a time, then putting them together in scenarios for fundamental assessments. It’s a lot of work and a lot of fun.
Tonight we have a fire behavior lecture and then ropes & knots.
Really Short Kite Video
April 30, 2010
Just a warning this video is really short and it doesn’t really show much except Reid and I flying kites for a few seconds. The reason I posted it was more to test the embedding of my YouTube videos in the blog and to see how I can manipulate them once loaded up. Now that I know it works, I’ll be posting a few more that I have and some ones still in production.
Reid is flying a 4 line, 13m Waroo and I’m flying a 5 line, 14m Vegas. We were flying at Summers Bay in Unalaska / Dutch Harbor, Alaska. April 2010
Distractions
April 16, 2010
Damn Distractions
For some reason today is really difficult to get focused. I have a lot going on right now with work and although on the edge of finishing a big part of my current project, I find my mind being pulled away from work to thoughts of fishing and boating. Is the next fishing season really here already? I can’t put my finger on exactly what is pulling my attention from work to play but I’m sure I’ll figure it out.
I am one of the lucky ones that can fish year round where I live. Sure it’s a little slower from November thru April, but there is still some fishing to be done and when the weather is good, I’ll take the boat out and drop a few lines.
The last of my winter boat maintenance and upgrades are nearly complete. I added hydrofoil wings to the engine in hopes of improving it’s fuel efficiency and to keep the boat on step at slower speeds. So far, I’ve only had it out once with the wings and I have mixed feelings about them.
I’m happy to report I finally replaced the rubber boots on the toggle switches for the electrical distribution panel. I spent four or five months searching forums and service bulletins, calling and email marine experts trying to find the right ones. Then about two weeks ago I broke down and called the manufacturer, and as you might have expected they had them in the mail the next day.
Hmmmmmm... Distracted!
Also added to the boats fuel system is a tank selector / fuel shut off for the two 12gal tanks I’m running. I had originally tied the two tanks together with a brass T, however after reading several posts about connecting two tanks together it was obvious I needed to be able to isolate the tanks. The primary reason is that if the tanks do not empty evenly and one becomes completely empty, the fuel system will pull air from the empty tank because it’s easier than pulling fuel from the other.
I have bids in on a few more small accessories on eBay. I’m in need of a sea anchor to slow me down when fishing for halibut. The winds can pickup up and blow you around pretty quickly here. The other item(s) I’m hoping to get are some rod holders that mount to the rails of the boat. So far I have the winning bid on both, but I expect that at the last minute the bidding war will begin.
…. oh jeeez, where was I? Online inventory tracking and availability integrated with the PMS system and the global distribution system connector to travel agents? Hard to image getting distracted with this one.
Reservations Made
April 15, 2010
For those of you still wondering if the Free
A Few Contest Post Cards
Trip contest winner was able to make it, the answer is yes. I’m happy to announce that Diane Green will be traveling to Unalaska / Dutch Harbor this August. Her trip brings her up here at my favorite time of the year. The ten days she has decided to spend with us out here happens to cover the days of our Tundra Golf Classic and the Heart Of The Aleutians Festival. Congratulations Diane. And a big thanks to everyone who participated. I’m already working out the details of next years contest…
Diane your in for a good time, some things to look forward to during your visit are the Friday Deck BBQ and live local music, a little golfing, some fishing and boat tour around the islands, one of the best seafood buffets you’ll ever have, you’ll get the Sunday Brunch that Brian always posts about, a fun local festival, some great land touring, meet some fun. strange, odd and interesting people, and the list goes on and on.
Were looking forward to your visit!
Webcam Points North
March 15, 2010
Dutch Harbor ~ Unalaska Webcam
Happy Monday Everyone. I’ve got a few posts to catch up on, the first one being the direction of the web cam. The weather is amazing right now. It’s 15 degrees and the wind is at at 0mph. Oh how I wish I was climbing up Ballyhoo or Ski Bowl with the snow board to make a few runs.
I’ve changed the location of the web cam to point almost directly north. You can see the Grand Aleutian Hotel in the middle to the left, the museum of the Aleutians is to the right and closer. Behind the museum you can see the peak of Ballyhoo. The airport and runway are at the base of the mountain. Behind all of that is the Bering Sea.
You can visit the streaming camera at http://webcam.danslife.net.
Pyramid Peak, Unalaska Island
February 18, 2010
Let me first just say, this crappy Panoramic photograph is coming at a significant personal sacrifice. I’ve been sick for two days now, and the weather has been fantastic for a week. I can’t hold back any more. Come hell or high water, if the weather is nice here I’m going to get out in it. (eventually) … and so I did, taking the time after work to climb Pyramid Peak instead of going home an curling up with a blanket, a book and some hot tea.
Pyramid Peak, Unalaska Island.
So, while the image is odd shaped and not stitched together very well, it is a view that you will not see very often. Only a handful of people climb Pyramid each year and only a few of us climb it in winter.
To the left of the image is the head of Captains Bay, to the right is Constantine Point and the Bering Sea. Unalaska Valley is in the lower right, Ballyhoo and Dutch Harbor are in the middle right. Now, for those really interested. Makushin Volcano is directly across and slightly to the left from the the tip of Pyramid. If you zoom in you can see plumes of steam coming from the volcano.
For other images of the hike, you can visit the Hiking Album under the Hobbies menu link above, or you can go directly there by following this link.
Valentine Panoramics
February 15, 2010
Sunday our good weather experience continued with a slight breeze and some blue skies. I headed up the hill behind the Unisea Complex and took a few more pictures. I’m still working on taking horizontal panoramic photographs. Here are two more for your viewing enjoyment.
Unalaska Panaoramic - Click for larger image
Unalaska Panoramic - Click for larger image
For larger (almost too big) versions of all the panoramic photographs I’ve taken, visit the Other category in the photo gallery. The panoramic images are in the gallery for unsorted and other random images.
Jam Night & Two Pictures
February 14, 2010
Unisea Fleet
I think tonight went really well. The whole band was there (I think I was late though) Everyone sounded great. The vocals from Shawna, Wendy and Sharron were excellent, both Jim on drums and Chris on guitar sounded real good. I had a great time again and I think I played well. I was caught off guard playing some songs we hadn’t practiced for almost a year though. Lots of applause’s after the songs, people dancing and yeah I got to sing again.
Ok, moving on…
I can’t say enough about the weather this weekend, I had some obligations to attend though (and not to mention my truck is in the shop) or I’d have some photos of being out on the water. I did manage to get some quick hikes in and of course I took the camera. Here are two taken this afternoon. The image to the left is of the docks at Unisea Inc. The boats shown are mostly Cod & Pollock boats. Some of them pull double duty also fishing for crab. The image below is looking northwest towards Broad Bay, with Devilfish Point to the left and just above it is the entrance to Nateekin Bay.
Bay & Pack
Another Panoramic Picture
February 8, 2010
If you have been following my webcam or any of the FAA weather cams around the island you would know that a band of high winds and wet heavy snow fell through the night, blanketing the island with what I like to call cement snow. By mid morning the winds had gone and the snow fall had taken a break. I took the opportunity at lunch to grab my pack and head up Bunker for my exercise regiment and to take some photos. I managed to stitch together seven images to make this panoramic photograph, this time looking over the channel at Westward and down Captains Bay.
Panoramic Channel & Captains Bay, Unalaska (click for larger image)
American Pickers
January 24, 2010
American Pickers - History Channel
Please note that I am very familiar with the making of Reality TV shows. For the last five years I’ve worked with Discovery Chanel, Original Productions, Radical Media, BBC, Pilgrim Films, NBC and a few others. While the viewer sees mainly the end product I get to see everything including what the talent and execs think and says off camera. So if you know more than me about reality TV then feel free to correct me. If your just the person who watches the show – don’t bother telling me why I’m wrong ~ You don’t have a clue.
Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz. SCREW YOU! Your nothing more than two gold diggers making a popular scene in front of camera. If you really think taking advantage of people within a few hours for great, cool historic antiques from folks is how to make a name for yourselves.. well thats just lame.
It would be different if you were more interested in the history, and the linage in the items you were after instead of the stupid short story you put on film. Your show would be more interesting if you were interested in the items for a historical asptect instead of an interior design or whatever you claim aspect.
You are the reason bottom dwellers of television have become the prime time of a materialistic America. No one cares anymore about history per say, just the money it can bring.
Your show is interesting in such that the items you find are great and often amazing. The fact your a mobile televised pawn shop with no care or interest in the genuine story behind the people and the items found is saddening. Find something more worth while to do with your time.
