As a good friend said, there are no words to describe 'Graduation' except graduation.  What a joy, an accomplishment.  I have mixed feelings about everything.  Yesterday at 12:30p, I didn't really care for anything - didn't want to be there, didn't want to do anything except sleep.  During the graduation ceremony, things started to change.  It was a slow realization of what I'd done, a realization of the true bond and brotherhood I have with most of the guys.  It was hard to leave after the ceremony because it's hard to say bye to people you know you won't see again.  I spent 10 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 12 & 1/2 weeks with these guys--some of them so close with they were a brother by true definition.

So many funny things happened yesterday (it's actually Saturday, but due to the calender on the right, it's important to keep order - that little calender has been a good pal marking off days for me), like a couple guys showing up late just because they knew they could.  One was 20 minutes late (and had it of been a week ago, he'd of never been late again in his life probably), walked right in, looked the chief in the eye and said, "hey" in a 'big deal' tone.  Everyone including the chief just laughed.  It's funny because for every positive adjective to describe my experience, there's a negative one (it was the most fun I've ever had - it was the most tedious thing I've ever done).  One of the guys, the clown of the class, had a heck of a joke played on him and the chief instructor at the end of our class video.  He basically was just 'sticking it to the man' because he didn't think the camera was recording... Well, it was, and everybody had a great laugh about that.

My parents put on a party at Ninfa's later, and it couldn't of been better.  My mother thankfully did most of the organization and inviting of guests.  I have a lot of people who really care, and of this I'm more appreciative than words can express.  Hopefully I had a chance to make enough rounds I didn't leave too many people out.  I wore my duty uniform from class for the last time [upon request of parents and grandparents].  It's extremely comfortable, and is any different from my average day attire.  I imagine I will make use of these clothes with the exception of the name tag (was required daily, only did push-ups 1 time for that crap) and maybe the short PT shorts.

I will stay in touch with my best buddy from the class personally, others by email, and the same with the instructors.  They are such great guys, and it was an honor to have been their student and friend.  I had been waiting since week 1 to tell one of the instructors about the encouragement he'd given me back on the first PT test, when my pull-up score was 0.  I will be back to see them all, and they all said if I need anything, just holler.  There are instrumental people that made this possible, and I will never forget them.

My father's best friend, a man I've known my entire life asked me a question last night that put things in perspective for me.  "What would you say about your experience there" (or something similar) he asked.  I thought about it, and everything above came to mind; however, there was one thought more predominant than, and could sum up in one sentence, the rest: If I were told to be on the pad for PT or in the class on Monday morning at 0700 hours prompt, ready to go, I would be there with hesitation..

It's 0107 hours on the 30th [contrary to post date and time], and I just arrived back in College Station.  Today we did our TCFP & Pro Board Skills testing.  I passed, and as such, am feeling much improved upon yesterday.  I'm arriving back because having completed the skills at 2p, I decided to celebrate by returning to my home town of H to see family and attend the weekly Thursday night meeting at the station I've not attended in a little over 3 months.  It was a blast, and well worth a few hours of driving.  Of course it wouldn't of been a true day if we weren't in some way treated differently due to our last names, so as myself and two other of my Indigo pals were about to walk out the door to test (as prepared as could be), the staff decided a lunch break was necessary.  They said 20 minutes, but we all knew 20 = 45.  We laughed and really it wouldn't of been the same with out it.  It was a relief to finish today, and tomorrow can't come soon enough.  The guy who sits next to me said as we had both just completed our skills, "It's all over."  How right he was and how good it felt, wow..

Today was the Texas Commission on Fire Protection Certification Examination.  I woke up with the worst migraine I've had in 4 months, and feeling like I had the on-set of the flu.  I was a couple seconds away from calling the Chief Instructor to inform him I'd be late because I was throwing up, but I figured if I could just make it to school, I'd be okay.  I made it there, and spent the next 3 hours with my head on my desk, mostly asleep.  In that time I'd taken 4 Excedrine so by lunch, my migraine was about gone.  Unfortunately I didn't begin feeling better until about 2/3 way through the Commission.  The guys said they thought I had the flu as pale as I was, but I'm worried I had severe test anxiety.  I'm very weary about the Commission, especially the HazMat-specific parts.  Worse yet, it appears it'll be at least Tuesday next week before I find out the results.  Sadly, I'm not very optimistic.  My parents came up when I sent them a text message requesting prayer because I was feeling sick - While I wasn't too fond of this initially, I'm glad they came and we went out and enjoyed a good dinner together.  Tomorrow is skills and word is it'll be a long one.  I'm going to again, try to get some sleep tonight, and hopefully tomorrow I'll feel up to par..

Today was the Pro Board National Certification Exam.  It consisted of two, 50 question exams., and needless to say was more difficult than any so far.  I was concerned I was borderline passing on one of them, and while I may have been, I passed both.  This is a relief, but the war is not yet won.  Tomorrow is the Commission Written, Thursday the Commission Practical.  Those are the two that count, and those are my greatest concern.  I received my grade on the Final back, making a 94%.  This is better than both what I expected and the Mid-Term exam.  I am pleased, and this should put my final class average at an A.  Our graduation uniforms came in today and I don't think they look half bad (goofy maybe, but that's not much of a change for me).  We went out today to learn to march so that we may march into graduation, but I question the capability of such a "complex" task of some of the guys.  It's frustrating because I don't care if we march or not, but if we're going to do it, let's take it seriously.  I'm fortunate enough to have both grandfathers alive, and both were military men.  It'd be nice if we could pull off a half decent march for them.  I was frustrated but I can't control the imbeciles.  Overall it was a swell day and better yet, I don't have to be back until 0800 hours tomorrow!!

So week 12, the final days in the final week have finally come about.  Today was our class final, more or less completing the class.  I'm 100% sure I passed (we find out tomorrow), and I hope enough to think I may have pulled off a 90%.  It was more difficult than any test so far and I'm expecting the next two days to only be worse.  Tomorrow is Pro Board, a national certification, and Wednesday is the Texas Commission, the one that counts.  I went and got my hair cut today which was somewhat of a mistake.  You wouldn't think it's hard to buzz a head with a 1 on the sides and a 5 on the top, but after a year of cosmetology school (apparently the time frame on that trade school), it seems to be a dime in a dozen to find someone who can properly blend the two different buzzes.  I went over to a friend's for dinner tonight, and it was excellent.  Afterward, and against my better judgment (as it's 2242 hours and will be 2315 hours before I'm asleep) I went to see a movie with him and another friend.  Anyway, I don't regret it.  My laptop is acting up but I managed to fix it tonight.  Hopefully, it'll pull through for at least a couple more days..

Well, I really screwed up today and lost something that meant much to me - The ability to say I'd never been late to fire school... I'd like to say I have an excuse but the fact is I choose not to get up on the alarm (as I do every day) and this time fell back asleep.  Fortunately, the train woke me up at 5 after 7, making me only about 12 minutes late; as such, the only people who noticed were my company [who kept quiet].  So while as far as the school is concerned, I've still never been late, personally, I failed myself (it's not really a big deal though either way).  We had our final CPAT/FAST test today and I scored 6 seconds slower than last time.  This is fine as I surpassed my goal by 17 seconds.  They let us out early as you can see, and have given us the rest of the week off.  Next week will be intense as we take on 3 written exams. and 1 practical.  I'm looking forward to a long weekend and furthermore to the following weekend.  I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving, pt out..

Things are definitely winding down here at the school.  Things are much more lax, instructors and all.  We did the most realistic burn yet today, having every company per battalion acting at the time in use, with different assignments.  Unfortunately, Indigo got majorly shafted, and never did any of the assignments inside the fire building (all ours' were exterior).  This was upsetting, but came as no surprise.  We've done the interior assignments enough we just didn't make a fuss.  I imagine if I were in Alpha Co., I'd of had a fair bit more hands-on time, but it's all swell.  We made jokes about other people going in and Indigo just being exterior firemen.  In the end it's all worth it for the laugh I guess.  We had another skills test, and if I can do as well on the commission as I did on the one today, I'll be set..

So again it was 7 in the morning, and I sat in my chair 'til 4 minutes to 9 before I actually 'needed' to be there--no worries, it's just getting old.  We had realistic skills testing [in preparation for the commission] in the morning, all of which I passed, and search and rescue practice in the afternoon.  I arrived home this evening about 9p, as we had night burns today.  It's been an incredibly long day, literally, physically, and even mentally (even though not much thought went into anything today - firefighting is mostly common sense it seems).  The night burns were neat in that we did the industrial type facilities.  The highlight of the day and probably the week was that during the final burn, it was my turn to back up the nozzle-man.  This position's job is to hold all the kick from the nozzle so that the nozzle-man doesn't have to work hard and can just focus on his aim.  At the end, I asked the nozzle-man how I did, as it's very important to me that I do well as the #2 man.  The instructors often say, "The definition of the firefighter is how well they can back up a hose-line."  Anyway, the nozzle-man said, "Phil, that was the best back-up I've every had, and I mean it."  This meant quite a bit, because I kill myself backing up that guy.  So finally, after 11 weeks, we got to partake in what we came to Texas A & M Fire Academy for..

As I drove home after completing the longest, quickest moving week so far, I realized I only had 7 days left in this academy (graduation don't count...).  Oh how fast it has flown by.  We found out yesterday everyone, including the few who were struggling, pulled off an 80%+ weekly average just about ensuring that the 41 recruits who started this academy will walk that stage on the 30th--incredible.  I found out my weekly average was a 90.26%, which is very satisfying.  We've been blessed with cool weather for the most part throughout, and especially this week.  We've been in bunker gear more this week than any other so that's be an incredible help.  Today we burned liquid gas from a train car and a dumpster.  The dumpster lacked everything but the train car took a lot of teamwork and was excellent practice.  Indigo got the shaft several times this week, but have decided we like it that way [honestly!].  It was a good week, fun even, but I'm thankful it's over and get a break..

We had a chance to play ARFF today, an acronym for 'Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighter'.  The school has a 747-style aircraft model to simulate aircraft fires, which we got to "burn" today.  The burn more or less consisted of a hose-team putting out enough fire for the rescue team to get by to continue their search for the victim [as the focus of Crash Fire Rescue is rescue].  We all had a chance at each position, and with the aircraft being so small (while actual size and thus a big plane) in comparison to the house, complex, and mazes we're used to, it was fast moving and pretty fun really.  I don't know that I'll ever actually do it again as I have no real interest in airport firefighting, but I'm glad I had to chance to experience it in part at least once.  The week seemed over since yesterday and really the class seems about over.  One more day and I get a much needed break to rest a much fatigued body..

I would have to say today was better in the sense that it was more realistic.  I still arrived before 7a, and still sat until after 9a, but we won't dwell on that...  I'm glad I'm here practicing this stuff, because as tedious as it is, I don't think you can get enough practice before the real thing comes about.  The focus today was a lot on teamwork, and my team did well enough.  We couldn't see anything inside the structure, which is again, good practice.  Everything was chaotic and disorganized as usual, but this is not all that different from actuality.  I was the guy with the radio in our company today and I felt I did a fairly decent job.  I went out to eat with two different friends than usual tonight, one being the best friend I have and have had since the first day of class.  We went back to their place and watched Kitchen Nightmares, and just had an all-around swell time hanging out.  On another note, I will admit I'm really getting tired of being here, and thus being tired all the time.  The week has been passing much faster than I expected, but the end can't come soon enough (don't worry though, I could go as long as it takes).  The closer final testing gets too, the more the slight little feeling of concern grows stronger.  I'm not worried about anything but the commission, and as long as I score 70% in all sections, I'll be fine--this I should be able to do without question really, dunno why I'm worried.  So long as I'm lucky enough to avoid a couple, 'difficult for me' skills in the skills test, I'll be fine there too.  Anyway, the clock just hit 10p, and I need to rest, g'night..

So today we basically did more of the same type of fire practice as yesterday - Lots of crawling on the ground, little fires in the buildings, and some search and rescue.  It's okay, but I know of a few of us who are hoping they spice it up some soon.  We did skills practice before lunch today, and burned afterward again.  They say we'll switch tomorrow, but I don't really mind either way.  I almost failed one of the practice skills just by habit of the way I was putting on my air pack.  It was funny actually as I caught it and adjusted.  I passed them all first time around with maximum points.  I really wish the commission test was this week.  The most frustrating thing we experience now is they still have us show up at 7a, but we sit in the classroom entertaining ourselves for up to 2 hours while the instructors arrive, set-up, etc. (understandable as they get off shift and what-not).  I just wish they'd let us come at 8a instead...an extra hour of sleep would be mmm-mmm-good!  Sadly, such is the most unlikely thing since spacewalk..

We began burning today, though it was a lot less actual burning than that may imply.  I actually arrived at school before any of the other guys in my company--first time that's happened, and worth mentioning!  We started off the day sitting in the classroom for an hour or more, which was okay I guess as it gave us time to study a little.  We then took our exams and did about as well as usual, better than I thought I would.  After that we hiked down to one of the burn buildings and watched a demonstration of live fire behavior in a room.  It was more interesting than I expected, though I'd like to feel some more heat.  Due to the National Fire Protection Agency's safety requirements and thus a lack of sufficient number of instructors, we will be burning half days and doing skills there other half (switching battalions).  This is fine by me because it would be my bet that by the end of this week we'll be tired of burning.  I went to lunch alone today--not by choice (my friends had gone by time I got outside), but it was nice.  We did some revolutions after lunch, to which by no surprise Indigo was shafted.  They were long and tiring, but it'll build good teamwork to an already pretty solid team I think.  I can tell already this will be a long week in the sense of tiring, but probably short in the sense of quickly moving.  I went to work out a few minutes ago at my gym here at the apt.  I plan to keep in the shape I'm in or as close to it as possible.  I don't think it'll take much, which is good because I'm not one for long work-outs.  Did some driving of the engine at the station this weekend and am feeling fairly solid about it.  So, the school is located right next to an airport, so we watch planes take off all the time.  Well, today three jets took off.  As we watched them so far ahead of the sound their engines made not even having lifted off yet, then pull-up almost vertical, it made me wish I was them.  What a cool job..

 ..And with that, the final PT test.  I did incredibly well today, scoring a 90% over-all grade.  I managed to pull off 3 pull-ups much to my surprise (I was so nervous about just getting one), and made the 1.5 in 11mins, 42secs.  We completed our HazMat studies today, and will probably test in stress over the extensive topic Monday.  It was interesting suiting up in a HazMat suit (very hot), enough so that I learned [that while I can do it] I hope I'm never actually in that situation - I'll take a burning building over a HazMat spill anyday.  Class is almost over and a week from now, it'll seem done.  It sounds as though burn week starting in two days will be intense with long days--be prepared for such posts.  My friend's girlfriend got sick today and thus he couldn't join me.  No worries as I can do my own thing.  I drove back to Houston in the dark for the first time today due to the time change, not a fan!  I ran into another fireman in the department tonight who asked what all was going on with me.  It took him a while and a bit of hit and miss but eventually got out of me my current pursuits.  He bragged up A&M's Fire School just from what he's heard so I was pretty proud of that.  In all it's been a good week and I can only ask that next week be equally as swell..

For this first time I looked at both today and my experiences here at A&M and fire school, and thought to myself, "This is a blast!"  What lacks interest in Death by PowerPoint aka HazMat, is made up for by just being around the guys, including the morons.  I'm at the tip-top shape of my life, accomplishing things many including myself wondered if I could do (wake up before noon, etc.), and doing well in something challenging.  I hope this attitude will stick with me throughout the next few weeks.  I'm going back to Fridays Restaurant for the first time in weeks with some friends of mine, so that'll be fun since I ran out of chicken to cook.  I plan to get as early of a night as possible tonight in preparation for that final PT test tomorrow.  I'm shooting for an over-all grade of an 85%, and I intend to achieve it!!

Well, we ran our last tower today in the third to last day of PT.  It was nice, only 8 towers, the same as the first day of towers in fact.  Afterward we did HazMat, which was so boring, the instructor was letting people sleep in class.  About half were standing up in the back to stay awake, and half of those left were passed out on their desk, some to the point of drooling.  All in all there were less than 10 people actually paying attention (I was in and out with my thoughts as usual, lol), haha.  I did as well as I expected on my Rescue & Extrication test, a 96.25% of 80 questions--not bad.  This brings my average back up to where it belongs.  So it sounds like my friend is actually coming to Houston this weekend.  I'm not sure what all will do with him being from Houston originally, but I figure we'll prolly hang out a lot at the firehouse.  My friend came up from Houston again this evening, and we went and enjoyed an exceptional meal at 'The Chicken'...mmmmmm-gud..

Today was a dull but easy day.  It seems to have gotten to the point that it doesn't matter what we do, it's all just 'another day at the office', in a fun type of way.  It began raining this morning right before we were about to go run, so we got to do push-ups and other stuff instead.  I don't really care, but I think we all planned to take it easy on the run in preparation for our final PT test this Friday.  After our workout, we were given 1hr 15mins break to clean up (mostly due to the fact there wasn't an instructor to be found so the weekly captain just gave us extra time).  My buddy who comes over every day during clean-up time said we should go grab some real breakfast, something neither of us have had in 9 weeks.  We went to McDonalds, and it sure was tasty.  I had Pita Pit, a burrito place like Freebirds for lunch, and it was pretty darn good.  Our Chief Instructor bought us ice cream today for being a good class, so that was nice.  The subjects this week are pretty dry but it's the last week of classroom instruction.  I have no idea what to expect come next week during burns.  I do know it will be fun so long as I can get with a group of guys who can work together real well.  A friend says he may come down to Houston this weekend (he's originally from there, so), so we'll see if he sticks to it..

Today was a pretty fun day.  I got up this morning with light outside for the first time on a weekday in 8 weeks.  I always start with PT in these posts I guess because I go in the order of the day, and this morning, what I even consider as a difficult morning, was easy.  I plan to stay in shape because this is awesome.  We had our test over last week's topics today, Rescue.  I went into this test more prepared than any other so far and I feel as though I did incredibly well--expecting in the 90%'s.  After the test we had some down time until after lunch and we were assigned inventory of all the trucks in the bay (that's in the upwards of 10).  It was funny because at one point my company was assigned un-chaining webbing, a type of rope, and rolling it.  This was funny because we knew that in the not too far future, we'd be unrolling it and re-chaining it.  After we got through about ten rolls, one of the guys asked the instructor why we were rolling it when we should be chaining them.  The instructor asked if we knew how to chain them, and off we went to unrolling our new rolls, and re-chaining them.  We'd of been there for hours if we'd of had to finish rolling all 45 ropes, so that was swell.  That long with a few people and the way they act on a daily basis just made for a pretty fun day..

Well, it's official... Not only can I do a pull-up, all alone, without any assistance physically or psychologically, I can do 2!  During today's PT test, I successfully did 2 pull-ups without anyone remotely near me.  This confirms my 2-a-day over the past two days, and hopefully I can keep it up.  For those of you who've been following along for a while, you understand why half of this post is in reference to a silly exercise.  I did just as well in push-ups, sit-ups, and run, and expect an exceptional grade for the first time in 8 weeks.  On that note, 4 weeks from this moment, I'll be a proud individual.  We did vehicle extrication today which is cutting up cars with the Jaws of Life, etc.  It was alright, and I did okay, it's just not my favorite firefighting activity.  That's not helped by a bunch of know-it-alls either.  That's pretty much sums up the day and a better week than last.  Off to the great city of H with a little caution on the highway 'eh?

So it's the first day of the last month, an exciting time for us.  It seems like every day graduation is spoken of among other ending-things.  Today was the easiest day of PT so far, and probably forever.  With the exception of the pull-up (maybe 2), I could've done everything we did today weeks before the academy.  This came as a surprise but with no complaints.  Hopefully it will assist me tomorrow with my PT test.  We repelled today and did some other repel type exercises.  It was a blast for the few moments I got to do it, and I wish I could do it for a whole day and/or down a whole cliff-side.  I was initially nervous but as it came closer to my time, it became no big deal.  I hopped over the edge and down I went.  It's amazing how safe it is and how in control we were of our decent.  Supposedly I was even wearing a multi-thousand dollar harness.  We had elections at the station [Cy-Fair] tonight, and they went well I figure.  While I'd of liked to have been there, I called in my proxy vote just the same.  A buddy of mine came up here [from H] to hang out with me yesterday evening.  It's been a real blessing to have someone to talk to, watch TV, and just hang out with.  We watched our regular TV shows together and tomorrow morning he'll head out.  We've done so good eatin' over these two days, and right now, I plan to follow up with some good sleepin'...ciao!!