Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Fire team. To fight fire or not to fight fire? In NCCC we are given a rare chance to be certified as a Type 2 Hand Crew. What’s a Type 2 Hand Crew? Oh, well the USFS (United States Forest Service) will train 18 of us as wild land firefighters to assist with wild land fire emergencies. Basically they train you to run 6 miles at 8,000 feet (headed up hill) then hike 6 miles with 45-80 pounds on your back. In addition, most likely carrying a chain saw. Sweet! CO is expected to have its driest season in years. Which correlates to plenty of action. Tryouts are Saturday and I'll post the results ASAP.

Monday, January 30, 2006

Water Unit... This quote was found in the city hall building, seemed appropriate.

Here is a land where life is written in Water the West is where the Water was and is Father and Son of old Mother and Daughter following Rivers up immensities of Range and Desert thirsting the Sundown ever Crossing a hill to climb a hill still Drier Naming tonight a City by some River a different Name from last nights camping Fire

Look to the Green within the Mountain cup look to the Prairie parched for Water lack Look tto the sun that pulls the Oceans up look to the Cloud that gives the oceans back Look to your Heart and may your Wisdom grow to power of Lighting and to peace of Snow

Thomas Hornsby Ferril

Sunday, January 29, 2006

Free time? Found a person with a car, Adam. Cars are a hot commodity since few people brought them. A couple us piled in and drove to Garden of the Gods. Check out the pictures. We hiked all 8 miles of trails and chilled out for a wicked sun set.



My roommate Steve and I. Steve is also referred to as Hawk (his last name is Hawkinson).



My eye view of the sun set.



My shadow.



Album cover photo shoot. (Adam, me, Steve, Kelly)

Saturday, January 28, 2006

Physicals! Yes that means peeing in a cup and getting shots. On the bright side no head turn and subsequent cough. In the PM a group of us explored the SW Denver bar scene. Its a choice between the 4-G's (Guacamole, Gorditas, Gauchos and Gringos) and Carol's. The acronym is our creation.

Friday, January 27, 2006

Scavenger hunt! Traveled all over downtown Denver. Got free entrance to the art museum thanks to some nice Coloradoans.



View outside of DAM (Denver Art Museum)



Native American dream catcher (similar to Kelly's one with the snakes).



View from the dinning hall. The campus is the highest point in the city of Denver.

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Driver training day! Ever wanted to drive a 15 passenger van full of 18-24 year olds in downtown Denver? Yeah me neither. Its not a requirement to drive the vans but it is encouraged. So, I took the wheel for two hours as we traveled to Red Rocks Theater and some other sights around town. Safety is extremely important as the rollover and stopping distance is horrible in a 2-ton van. In the last 12 years only one corps member has died in a van accident (2002). The rate of accidents and injuries is much higher.

Also, the cafeteria food isn't too bad.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

First full day as a government employee! I'm in the Water unit (which means I'm not in Fire, Earth or Sun). My team leader is Ashley who will be our guide through the first week. My team got issued our uniforms which consist of one hoody, 2 shirts, 2 long sleeve shirts, 3 pants (one of which we're not allowed to wear), 2 shorts, winter hat, baseball hat, fisherman hat, coveralls (sweet!) and a winter jacket. This is all we can wear for the next 10 months while on the job.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Today I arrived at Denver airport via a lay over in Chicago. In the Rochester airport I meet my first Americorps buddy Sarah "with an H" (from Avon NY). On the plane I spotted another corps member Beth (from Canandaigua NY). In Chicago I meet a bunch more corps people and met expediently more people all day. At campus I got in-processed and introduced to my roommate Steve. We've since been referred to as "The Steve's" or "One Of The Steve's". Steve is from Wisconsin and strangly (almost freakishly) similar to myself.