Snow. Cold. Inside and out.

I don't really know how to start this off, so we'll start at 2300 last night. Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep. Pager goes off, we're requested to mutual aid Schenectady City Fire for a working structure fire. Sweeeeeeeeet. Off we go, holy shit it's fully involved. Flames through the roof, visible through windows, massive smoke condition visible for miles. And there were also containers full of an explosive substance that made us think we were getting shot at. When you hear "SHOTS FIRED SHOTS FIRED," you find something large and metal and get behind it. Apparatus wheels work well. Oh ok, wasn't a shooter. I didn't really do much of anything on that scene except for carry shit, and was requested back at our station for medicals. I wasn't in the door for 10 seconds when we got toned out to a foot laceration. I didn't throw on my turnouts and was in jeans and sneakers. Zero traction + snow = me slipping and sliding all over the patient's front walk. The crew members who are all senior over me got a really good laugh out of that. I was mandated to wear my turnouts the rest of the night. This proved to be a good thing as our next calls were all some pretty long walks. Had a lovely stroke patient. 95 years old, sweet as ever, not very oriented though. Talked to her, calmed her down, got to the ER. Of course the ER was absolutely packed with 2 nurses running the whole thing. Those poor gals. Got back to the station around 0345, and the ladder truck was still in the city. We hurried up and waited, got one more medical and then back in quarters around 0430. We got back the same time as the ladder truck, helped get them squared away, hosed down, squeegeed the floor and such. Finally got home around 0500. I had literally just sat down when our home phone rang. Oh shit. Something happened to grampa. Sure enough it was my hysterical aunt. His breathing had changed and they don't know how long he has. That was around 12 hours ago. His breathing is still shallow and labored and he is sleeping most of the time. I haven't slept yet, but I did take a shower which was the best thing in the world. That got me all back on track. Ran one medical a few hours ago, am now hunkered back down at gramma's house.

Time to hurry up and wait again.