Baked Basegasket

If I close my eyes and lean over the sink I can still feel the Sensations rolling as if I were still on board. Soon this tipsy feeling will be gone and all we'll have are memories of our first "real" family vacation. The four day cruise to Freeport and Nassau on the Fun Ship was a moderate success. Plenty of sunshine, food and fellow shipmates. Fun was had by all... I just wish they made a SPF 75

Enjoy the pics.

Basegasket Smoke Eater

How time flies. It's been over a month since I have posted here, and the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. So just to recap the happenings... I sold the Rodeo, bought a truck, the van broke, softball started, basketball ended, baseball started, I started running... Stop... Fast forward... to what prompted this post.
I got my letter...
It all started last April. I filled out a job application for the COK FD. Through all the testing, and physical fitness performance performances, I was interviewed, printed, drug tested and polygraphed. After that I was physically examined by some crazy redheaded female doctor. Then another 3 months of waiting... finally... I got my letter.

"Congratulations, you have successfully completed all the requirements for the
City of Knoxville Fire Department recruit training class."

In the regular world this process would have taken a max of 3 months, but in the world of Civil Service, almost a year, and get this - still no start date for the Academy. I'm very happy and excited about what lies ahead for me, but I have to admit it has been a very stressful time for me. At the tender age of 42, even in my wildest imagination, never did I expect to be in this position. Amazing!
So here I am - still waiting. I hope to get word of a start date in a week or two. Until then I'll get caught up on some side jobs, get the van running and did I mention, we cruise to the Bahamas for spring break? A nice prelude to 6 months of boot camp, ya think? I hope I can post from the boat. Check back around the 3rd week of March.
Only one disappointing note through all of this. Tennessee Jed started the employment process with me back in April. I only wish we could have done this together. Going through the boot camp without an (ally, partner, friend, someone to pick your head out of the mud... choose one) will definitely make matters worse.