This Cadet is on Fire

I’ve been pretty quiet about what Bicep’s been up to as of late. Mainly because I don’t know what I can or cannot talk about.

Not that it’s top secret, there are just some rulz I have to follow.

But-the light can now be seen at the end of the tunnel. And if all goes well, Biceps will be graduating from the fire academy in less than a month.

Once again, I will have someone to carry heavy things for me, tell me I’m pretty and generally just be around the house a little more. Thank goodness. This single wife thing stinks.

*Photos from this point on by TFD
So, while I’ve been at home studying for my real estate exam, doing Crossfit at the gym, or running errands…this is what Bicep’s has been training for:

Big white man fire.

There has been a lot of classroom work for Biceps. ALOT. It hasn’t been all fun and water games.

Bicep’s nose has been buried in a book for almost five months now. However, this is the culmination of all the preparation, the studying and the testing.

I’ve come to the realization that most men like to burn things, watch them burn and then put them out. I believe it’s some kind of control issue. Or some weird cavemanish remembrance.

At any rate, fighting fires together brings about a sense of camaraderie, accomplishment and victory for these men. Along with a lot of stinky clothes that find their way into my washing machine.

“But to have a wonderful man with stinky clothes is better than to have no man at all.” Or at least, I think that’s the saying….

So, now that you are privy to a little of what Bicep’s been up to. And, now you know how to pray. And I thank you. Seriously. Pray.

It’s Been 11 Years since 9/11

Dear Readers:
I would like to be completely honest with you. Are you ready? Are you sitting down? What I am about to say may shock you. You may never want to read my blog again, but that’s the risk I’m willing to take.

Photo Source
I can be downright rotten sometimes. I can be selfish. I can say really stupid things. I mean, really stupid things. I can want what I want, when I want it. I can complain and grumble. I am in a category of ridiculous humanism all by myself. (Or maybe I have a few compadre’s out there who occasionally join me.)

This morning, God-in his infinite glory-snapped my selfish, grumbling, complaining, humanistic bubble this morning using none other than my husband. Biceps, the firefighter, was getting ready to leave for work and asked, “Today is the 11th anniversary of 9/11. What are you doing today?”

May I repeat, my husband-the firefighter, said this to me-the whiner.

Photo Source
As I get ready to go to my Bible Study, make my phone calls, clean the house, and go about my day-this little question Biceps asked me will be gnawing at the back of my brain-“What am I doing today?”. Does it matter what I’m doing today?

What mattered to me, 11 years ago, was not my job (or lack thereof), not my blog, not my latest recipe. What mattered to me was only:
How many people survived?
Did my friend’s daughter make it to work that day in the Trade Center? Did she survive?
How many kids won’t have parent’s after today? And, how many parent’s won’t have kids after today?
What can I do? How can I help? WHAT CAN I DO?!

Instead of me, me, me, I was worried about everyone other than me. I was worried about people I didn’t even know, about the firefighters, the pilots, the passengers, the workers.

It’s ironic that I start my Bible Study Fellowship class today. God, once again-in his infinite glory-keeps this little whiner in check.

There. I hope I didn’t scare you off by revealing my ugly, selfish, whining side. I know, it’s disgusting. Please forgive me.