Ardsley Firehouse Demo Continued (Friday 9-8-06)

Updating on my last blog entry on this subject on Wednesday, I stopped by the Ardsley firehouse demolition site this evening (9-8-06) and got some more photos (and video) of the progress. Look like they made it down to the concrete and stone basement. Considering the amount of debris they have to sort and cart away, I would say they are making quick progress. The construction site is well sealed off, and suprisingly clean and organized considering it's a demolition site. Here are the photos, video is at the bottom.

Are Construction Workers Trying To Kill Us?

I wrote my second article for FireEMSAlpha.com this morning during another creative fueled bout with insomnia.

Are Constructioon Workers Trying To Kill Us?
http://www.fireemsalpha.com/node/50

I know I'm just a probie (for three more days-hopefully!), but I also have been around a while in different aspects of this field and like to report on things, as many of you know. I truly like to share information and knowledge, especially when it can spark thinking and hopefully change.

I hope the article looks good, I've got a lot more ideas for articles in the future. Usually stemming from things that annoy or piss me off.

My August 2006 In Photos

My August 2006 In Photos has been posted on EMTBravo.com

http://www.emtbravo.lunarpages.com/x635Photos/x635August.html

I didn't realize it, but I really worked what little butt I have off to get a lot of diverse photos this month!

As always, special thanks to the ducks.

-Seth

Ardsley's Firehouse Finally Demolished

Ardsley Fire Department's 100+ year old firehouse was demolished today, to make way for a brand new facility. I was working, so I couldn't get in progress photos or video, but I swung by this evening for some aftermath pics. Pretty impressive to see, I always said I would believe it when I saw it and tonight, I saw it. Thanks to Bob Reid and CM36 for giving me the heads up it was coming down. Must've been impressive to see. This building used to house the village offices, court, and police station (where my father was an officer) until they moved next door in 1998. Here's the photos.

Here's the firehouse before:


And as it stands tonight (9-6-06):

LA Bliss Trip Photos

Photos from the L.A. Bliss trip, as described in previous blog entries, have been posted

http://www.emtbravo.lunarpages.com/x635Photos/LABliss.html

-OR-

www.emtbravo.com

Although it wasn't an official "buff trip", I sure got lucky with the shots I got. And I'm all ready and have a list for my next trip during the first week of October. My favorite shot it of the one of me swimming in the pool with the LA skyline in the background. Kris actually took that one, she actually took several of them.

-Seth

Back from L.A.!

A little late on keeping up with the blog, but it's been hectic. Just got back from vacation, am in the middle of a day tour swing, and I'm setting up the new computer, so I'll make this entry quick.

We're back from L.A., and had an awesome last day...basically just explored the OC coast before heading to LAX to catch our return flight, which this time had no delays and was also a Boeing 767. LA is awesome, awesome, awesome, and can't wait to return in October. The traffic annoyed me a bit this time, but that's just because we had such a packed itinerary. I definetly want to spend a few more nights at the Hyatt Newporter, what an awesome hotel, and sitting on Newport Beach at night. That was my favorite moment of the trip. Second favorite moment, eating at Spagos. Best meal every. Best moment of the trip...Kris being there! I love SoCal! Good photos too which I will be sharing soon.




I had to work yesterday, and my new computer arrived. I took today off (Thanks Timmy M. for covering on a Kelly day!) so I could set up and play with the new computer. So far, I've spent most of my time try to migrate my Outlook emails and contacts over. Ugh. I think I've finally figured it out. The new computer is AWESOME, I will take pics once everything is settled. It flys, and multitasks very well. Having two monitors makes life so much easier when you multitask, and the ability to watch TV while working on the other on one is great. Will save me from missing some shows. Can't wait to Outlook is finished exporting so I can straighten everything up, remove my old computer, and put this new computer into full service.

I went birthday shopping for Kris today, tommorow is her 27th. I'm so excited to give her her gifts, I always have to do my shopping a day before because I have trouble holding onto good gifts. Hopefully, I'll be able to convince her to open them on "Birthday Eve". Tommorow nighjt, we're doing dinner at our favorite sushi joint, Sushi Mikes on the corner of Cedar and Main in Dobbs Ferry. I love the Dobbs Ferry Roll there, and havent had it in a while!

Anyways, be on the lookout on EMTBravo.com for my LA Bliss Trip In Photos and my August 2006 in Photos coming soon!

The Real Orange County

Well, we made it down here to the real Orange County- Califonia, and it is BEAUTIFUL! We're staying in the Hyatt Newporter, where Kristen's friend hooked us up with a HUGE suite! The weather is beautiful- perfect acutally- I hear it's not so much like that back home. We met up and I met for the first time Dave, Christine, and Jenn, who are awesome people and I look foward to spending more time with. Kristen has kept in close touch with them, but hasn't seen them in 3 years, the reuninon was exciting and they had a lot to catch up on back here at their old stomping grounds (Kris was a manager here at this beautiful resort of a hotel)

This hotel has 3 pools, and hot tubs, and I think it's time to go for a swim!

Today, we'll be exploring the OC a little more, then heading up to LA and LAX to catch our AA flight back to NY, and work tommorow for me. :-(. I'll be back in a month, and better yet, another trip with Kristen to Orlando FL to visit friends in 2 weeks. I wish my mother would get on a plane, she would totally love it and move out here and I'd have an excuse and capability to come anytime. But she loves her hometown sort of.

'Till the next update! Haivng fun in SoCal!
-x635 & Kris (x635A?)

P.S. Just to tease, caught some more LA City FD stuff on my way down here. Here's a sneak preview, look for more of my LAFD photos coming soon to EMTBravo.com & LAFirePhotos.com!

I'm going to live in the pool at The Standard

I've decided I'm going to live in the heated rooftop pool at The Standard in Downtown LA. It's AWESOME! As you can see, I have no compelling reason to leave if Kristen stays and Hartsdale FD moves to cover downtown LA. Did you read about our day yesterday? Keep scrolling down.....after you watch this short video clip, produced by Liptak Productions.




Scroll down to the next entry to read about our AWESOME day yesterday!!!!!!!

LA Bliss!

Well, our first full day in LA was awesome! We had such a great day!

The day started with checking out the awesome club and pool on the rooftop of the hotel (The Standard Downtown LA), which was complete with a view of downtown L.A. and waterbeds....yes, waterbeds. This place is funky. Last night when we got back, it is one of the hottest nightspots in town, they were turning away a lot of people, and we were able to waltz right in (even though we went right to our room, tired from the day- we both aren't into the club scene, especially this trendy LA one. I will swim in the pool Saturday morning though.

And, while on the roof, this LAFD light force was responding somewhere downtown. I'm pretty sure it was a small parade my friend Orlando organized to welcome me back to LA. (and, on a completly different subject, by the way, my friend Mike Marino from GPD, looks like he is a Southern California motorcycle cop. GPD needs a motorcycle division with him. I'm telling you, all the CHP and LAPD motorcycle guys must be related to him!) BTW, thanks Orlando and Mike Truck 4 for telling me the major emergency high rise fire WAS A BLOCK FROM MY HOTEL!!! That's where this light force was going when we were chilling on the roof!! And I missed it, lol! But without Orlando, I'm horrible at buffing LA fires unless I directly come upon one.

Next, it was off to cruise Sunset Boulevard, from Hollywood to Santa Monica, a ritual for me. First stop was for lunch, at In 'n' Out, which is one of the best places ever. We had the double-double combos with vanilla shakes. (All ingredients are FRESH, In'n'Out doesn't own a freezer, microwave, or heatlamp. The food is delicous, and I am addicted. It's fast food, but nothing like what you would think. Ask Jim Arena, Truck4, or tbendick, they know what I'm talking about!














I should mention, having a truck that you can put the top down on and ride around LA is AWESOME! However, putting the top down on a Jeep Wrangler is a HUGE pain in the ass, and I can't figure out why Jeep needs to make it so difficult. Plus, having a beautiful girl to cruise around in this type of truck with is always a plus!

Next, I was able to get a shot of one of my favorite engines, Beverly Hills Engine 2, a 2005 Pierce Dash with a Pierce CAFS system which they train on and know how to use, have used, and love. I hope to shoot their whole fleet in October, the guy invited me back to.

Next, continuing donw Sunset Boulevard, we caught LAFD Truck 69 pulling into quarters in Pacific Palisades. Engine 269 and Rescue 69 were right behind it, and got photos of them too. T-69 is one of the last remaining open cab tillers in LA City, and is going to be replaced soon with one of the new ALF's. .

And then we hit the Pacific Ocean, before we had to head back to the hotel to change for the Tonight Show And Spagos. Will Rogers State Park Beack, the Pacific Ocean sand was so soft, and we both love the beach. Hopefully we can do some ocean swimming when we're in the OC.

The Tonight Show was AWESOME!!! Jay was hilarious, and very down to earth.The whole live taping process was very efficient. On the show were Brooke Shields, Jerome Bettis, and the Foo Fighters, all very enjoyable. I liked Jerome the best, seemed very down to earth, and a big guy. Brooke Shield was pretty down to earth and smart considering as well, and taller then I thought.

Then, we had some time to burn until Spago's, so we cruised Mulholland Drive. and Bel Air Very scenic and awesome road to drive, and very curvy. Here's a photo of us from the the Mulholland Scenic Park overlook, near the foot with Cayunga. Kristen and I checked out future real estate aspirations as well.

While driving down Sunset Boulevard, we caught this LAFD light force responding. It's so easy to shoot from a Jeep Wrangler! Here's the video, it sucks...but I'm just learning this video thing and I was driving in heavy traffic (yet pulled over and stopped!)

Then, it was off to Spagos, which was the BEST meal I've ever had. Kristen enjoyed it a ton as well. I had for first course, the Maine lobster, baby shrimp, mussels with hand cut linguini in a great oil sauce. For second course, it was the pan seared liberty duck which was the best meal I've ever had. Kristen had the Angoltti, which was a delicious sweet corn pasta. I loved it as well, and tried to steal it many times succesfully. For her second course, she had the veal shank, which was very tender juicyand all around great especially with the accompanying polenta. BTW, Spago's is Wolfgang Puck's Signature resturant on North Canon Drive in Beverly Hills. Prices are very reasonable too, considering the quality and service you recieve.

Well, we are exhausted, it's late, and this report is being filed from our hotel after a LONG action packed day, and I can barely type on a laptop. I wanted to write more. Tommorow, it's down the coast to Orange County. Look for a more complete photograpic and trip report from photos gathered today coming to EMTBravo.com upon our return. Sorry I couldn't share more about this awesome day, but I'm beat. I'll try to update the blog again tommorow. I LOVE LA and Kristen! Goodnight!

We've arrived in L.A.!!

Well, after being away from LA for nearly a year, I've finally back in L.A., my favorite city and third home. This time, it's ten times better because Kristen is here!! I'm actually writing from our hotel room here in downtown LA. Flew American Airlines from JFK into LAX, which is not nearly as good as jetBlue, the lack live Direct TV and friendly attentive staff on AA make a big difference. The new AA terminal is very nice. The plane was awesome and clean, it was a Boeing 767 and we sat in an exit row with just two seats, so we had a ton of legroom and nobody sitting next to us. There were ground delays at JFK, and at LAX. We left JFK around 1900 NYC time, and arrived in LA around 2330 LA time. We got an awesome rental car, a Jeep Wrangler soft top with Sirius Sattelite radio. Kristen's ears havent popped yet, so I'm speaking loudly.

We're staying at an awesome, very trendy LA hotel, The Standard Downtown. It's pretty neat.

Here's a video from us descending into LAX aboard AA Flight 165.


And here's a video from the landing:


Anyways, we're exhausted...its 5AM NY time right now/2AM LA time and we will try to give you updates from here in LA as internet access permits. Will be up early tommorow, and having a great day! Swim in the hotel pool, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Dinner at Spagos, and a cruise down Sunset Boulevard with the Jeep's top down is on the agenda, and hopefully some LAFD photos as well.

P.S. My new x635 computer arrived today, so I will have something to look foward to when I get back.