Soapy, you should be able to get to your temp file to retrieve the document.
Much to do today, not nearly enough time.
Hugs and smooches to all.
I couldn’t find it in my temp file- doesn’t it go away after I close the document? Anyway- I rewrote the damn report and got it submitted.
Grrrr.
But the upside is the weather cleared and should be nice for graduation! The golf tourney still looks bleak, though.
Cottonfield County has a short handful of nightmare fire scenarios. Among these are the county public library, some agriculture suppliers with lots of flammable chemicals, and three sawmills. All of them have lots of stuff to burn, the library is in the most densely populated area of the county, and the ag dealers are all hazmat situations by definition.
Today’s tale is about a fire at a sawmill, with a bonus punch line.
It was 4 AM. Because I’ve been dealing with sleep deprivation from external sources, I had gone to bed at a decently early time on melatonin and benadryl. The dog got me up twice in the night to go outside, and those were both before midnight. So, when the pager went off, I was for once mostly rested, and starting to stir because my alarm was set for 45 minutes later.
"Attention Stations 20 (Mayberry), 30 (Hooterville), and 50 (Pixley). Check in for traffic; structure fire at Cottonfield County Custom Milling.”
I have in the past awakened behind the wheel of my car, starting the engine to go to the station. Not this morning. The phrase ‘saw mill’ did the job for me right there, and I was bushy tailed before my feet hit the floor.
The mill in question is about a mile south of the station. I thought it curious that the horizon wasn’t lit. The engine came around the curve, and smoke was visible, but still no flames. Add that to the list of things that make you say hmmmmm.
The fire was out in back of the property. A chipper, used to make mulch out of mill scraps, had caught fire and spread it to a large pile of mulch. Sawdust and wood chips are a real PITA. If the fire gets down inside the pile, the pile has to be spread by heavy equipment to put it out, or it will smolder for weeks. This pile was burning on the surface, so that much was good.
The chipper was another story. Lots of water went in, on, and under the chipper, but the fire could not be extinguished because it was inside the mechanism. There was also a diesel engine and a big assed tank of fuel on top and right over the seat of the fire. After about an hour of dumping water and then foam on the chipper while a front end loader and Bobcat moved the mulch pile, the way was clear to pull the chipper out of it’s spot. The thing was pulled sideways and turned, then a different loader came from behind, a logging chain was attached to the bucket mount and the tow pintle of the chipper, and the whole end away from the fire was lifted about 15 feet up in the air, allowing access to the underside of the machine where the fire was.
“Bob, get the foam line and come here.”
Sure 'nuff, gung-ho me grabbed the line to spray foam.
“Don’t get underneath the machine.”
No shit? There’s 40 tons of steel over my head, held by one puny logging chain. You didn’t have to say anything the first time. I laid down on my belly, as close to the side of the chipper as I dared without getting underneath, and hosed everything down as best I could in the chipping mechanism.
Firefighting foam is neat stuff. It goes on with low pressure, so one guy can handle a line. It sticks to whatever it hits, and can bounce around corners a water stream can’t. When I was ready to get up, I closed the bail on the foam nozzle. I also made the mistake of pulling it up close to my face. There’s a series of vent holes at the base of the nozzle to allow air in when you are using it, to make the bubbles. Never having personally used foam before, I didn’t know the nozzle would splash back through the vents, and I caught a big faceful of foam. When I stood up, I looked like I was at the receiving end of a Three Stooges pie fight.
The chief and the Safety Officer were right there when it happened, and they howled with laughter. The SO uttered the phrase that titled this piece, and I dug out my cell phone for him to record the moment for posterity. Unfortunately, it wasn’t any good, so y’all need to engage your imaginations.
I got home a little after 7. We has a lot of hose and other stuff to clean. I’m still finding sand and sawdust in places Og never intended them to be, despite a more than thorough shower.
It could have been much worse.
Caffinating/sugaring with an overly sweet coffee drink. I was hoping the combination would inspire me to do work, but it’s not doing so well so far. I will get one thing done 'cause it’s got a 5:00 deadline. And I should do a second task that I’m supposed to work on with New Guy and he’s out tomorrow so we really need to get it done today. So why do I still have no motivation?
Stoopit dawg…
Our dog is a true California Blond.
Last night, we were relaxing in our sa. (You know the kind - it’s a cousin to an ool because there’s no “P” in it.)
The dog decides to hop up and see what its humans are doing. Apparently, she’s been able to hop up on top of the hot tub cover, and that’s what she thought she was doing. No cover this time, so she’s half in and half out of the tub, looking very surprised. And very wet.
It’s the weekend here but I’m still working. Big investment/financing transaction that has three months of work squeezed into 2 weeks, so I have been pulling 16 hour days (split between office and home) for the last week, and HRH and my husband are starting to get really fed up with me being home but always on frickin’ conference calls or working on the computer.
Plus, I am in a constant state of exhaustion and today reached the “if I don’t laugh, I’ll cry” point, so every little thing had me bursting into fits of the giggles! Yaaawwwwnnnnn! I am on “standby” for answering more questions from our external lawyers for the next 2 hours, but I have my fingers crossed I may actually get more than 4.5 hours sleep tonight. Pleeeeeeeezzzzzz!
**Dotty **- that doth well and truly sucketh. Hope it gets done soon and you can return to normal life.
SIL is picking up daughter and they’re going out to dinner and a movie tonight. So **FCD **and I are on our own. When he gets home, we’ll figure out if we’ll forage thru the pantry or just go get something.
It’s grey and dreary, and I guess we’ll get yet more rain. My yard is squishy and again I’m thankful we live at a high point in the neighborhood. The poor guy on the corner of Rt 5 gets major standing water when we get storms like these.
Glad tomorrow is Firday. My fun meter has been pegged and I need to reset. Or something.
It’s nice and cool - mebbe I should make that nanner bread now.
You know that rain I was talking about? It just came through here real fast and sideways. There are branches down in the building’s courtyard. I hope my car’s alright. And the radar says it’s now sitting over my house. Hope my house is alright.
bobbio, do the towns have a daytime contingent of fahr fighters?
Hahaha! Love it. The cat we had when I was a teen fell into the pond one day accidentally. She got startled while walking along the dam and jumped, landing in the water. She had a surprised look on her face that I’m guessing was very similar to your dog’s expression. And then the very angry expression of a wet cat.
Hope things get better at work soon, Dotty!
Good fire story, bobbio!
Back to trying to do as little work as possible. :rolleyes:
Yays, boos, hugs as needed y’all. Just checkin’ in. Not feelin’ real sociable. Nothin’ big just blah is all.
Two loaves of 'nanner bread just came out of the oven. After they cool a wee bit, we shall have to check them out. Quality control, you know. 
Aaaaah. Nothing like a refreshing glass of Diet 7up with Pomegranate!
Our particularly stupid cat, Aerin, likes to stand in the bathtub licking the curtains. It’s hard to convince her to leave because you want to shower. A few times she’s been trapped by the onrushing water and yje slipperiness it creates.
It’s awesome.
They’re no good. I’ll confiscate them and see to an appropriate disposition.
Confiscate them? Right. Just try it, scooter! 
Alas, just slightly overbaked - next time, 5 minutes less,
All volunteer, 24-7. The rescue squad has paid crews during the day Sunday-Firday.
I, too, see nothing wrong with tzatziki on tacos. Just consider it cross-cultural fusion. Trend-eee.
And your wet doggie story made me giggle, gotti.
We’ve had cold weather yesterday and today, too. I wore a coat to work this morning.
Pass the 'nanner bread, please.
Tired…long day at work, culminating with a 2-hour meeting that started at 4. We got a lot done, but it was exhausting.
I’d like to take a nap, but I’m really trying to get back into this time zone.
Back later…
GT
Today was my first day off in a week and a half. Naturally,my A/C died last night. At least it’s cooling down now, with the rain coming.Gordie needs to learn that asthmatic hoomans can’t run during summer. wheeze, pant. Papa Johns will bring dinner, on account of the heat.
gotti, LiLI great wet pet stories. Mine aren’t too curious about water.
Dotty, hope things get better soon.
: sprays de-blahing spray on bear :
: giggles at bobbio’s story :
{{{{Soapy}}}}
I’m feeling adventurous and I made Chicken Cordon Bleu for dinner. It’s in the oven. I hope it’s good!
Dotty - that’s too much. I hope it gets better toot sweet!
{{{Swampy}}}
You tell the best stories, Bobbio!
I’d like to send one of my special cocktails* to Dotty. Sounds like she needs one!
*2 cups of ice, 1/2 cup fat free chocolate milk, about a half a shot of Bailey’s made all nice and frothy like in the blender. Yum!
FYI… Did you know how many calories are in a shot of Bailey’s? 403. Yikes!!