Does blowing out someone else's candles make yours shine brighter?

I read this once and thought to myself how fitting of a saying considering where it was so predominantly displayed.

Everybody knows people who operate this way in their day to day activities. Self proclaimed gods of their craft who feel that no one in their profession is as good as themselves. They don't have to necessarily come out and actually say this but the "world pales in comparison to me" attitude is quite prevalent. This same personality type is also threatened very easily by someone who they feel has the knowledge and/or experience to rival them and their status. And they will resort to many different tactics to keep at bay what they believe to be a new adversary.

I want to make one thing clear with all of you now. Even though the situations that I'll share with you are true and have actually happened, I'm not going to use any names in this article. Neither individual nor organization will be disclosed. I'm not even going to resort to silly games involving pseudo names. If anyone reading this is a friend or colleague of mine you'll most certainly draw a conclusion as to whom I may be referring to but to avoid litigation I'll keep it anonymous. Combined with the fact that you can't be too careful nowadays in avoiding a defamation of character law suit, I also feel I posses far more tact than the individuals that I'm referring to.

The verdict is in: Mean people still suck!

There are a few people that I know in the EMS field that make it very difficult for one to work with. Their style is not very conducive to learning and when you know that more times than less you could be publicly chastised on scene for your actions it effectively takes the wind out of your sails every time the tones go off. It's hard enough to be waken out of a deep sleep to respond to a call, much less work with people who have little or no concern for you. And I'm not implying that any of us are perfect and due praise. The skills of some people in our department do lag from time to time and I as well need refreshing more frequently due to our lower call volume. To stay on top of this, I know, is our responsibility and not theirs. What is their responsibility though is to conduct themselves in a professional manner in front of patients and their families. No condescending attitudes and no ridicule. If intervention is needed they should zip their mouths, assist with the job, and critique later.

Nothing good can come from making a public spectacle of yourself and others, especially in the presence of the very people we care for. Regardless of what the perceived infraction is, outside of plain negligence, everyone should be treated with the same amount of professionalism. We need to convey a unified front when dealing with the public. Not the look of a mixed group of individuals who are at odds with one another and don't see eye to eye. The best possible care that we can give our patients should be the ultimate goal for both sides. Not who's technicians are better than the others. If an ego trip is what you're looking for then you should do everyone a favor and just stay home.

Hi, I'm Mr. Know-It-All and you are?...

Although it would be nice if I could say that I posses half the knowledge that the next individual has, I'd be lying if I did. The sad thing about this person is if they weren't so self-absorbed with a definite Christ-like complex and an absolute lack of people skills, they could be someone of great respect in my mind and in many others I'm sure. Why this person probably won't see this from me is because I have always been a firm believer that respect is earned, not given. And after hearing for years how second rate my town, the department, and the members involved are, it's no wonder it won't be reciprocated any time soon. And now after I've just finished reading the last article published by this individual I can say there's a good chance it won't happen in my lifetime. This person made a concerted effort to stray from the intended subject of the column, bring up some one's past history, and attempt to further damage their reputation. A definite cheap and very low move in my book. Tasteless and unprofessional to say the least but nothing shy of what I've grown to expect from this person.

I have a vivid recollection of a pretty serious mistake made by this individual that I haven't breathed a word to anyone of. No one was hurt or killed but the severity of the infraction was nonetheless something of concern. A very basic rule was broken that neither veteran nor rookie should have committed but it was done. And unless I had a sadistic urge to throw this person under the bus there was no other reason for me to publicize it. What benefit would I really have in doing so?

There's absolutely no reason to justify any of this type of behavior. Like I've said in the past there are people that can complete a task with little or no fanfare and there are others who need their ego constantly stroked. There are bright individuals who see opportunity and learn from others and there are people who feel they are better than the rest and share nothing. But to belittle someone or treat them in a diminutive manner is not an effective way to teach, no matter what a person's shortcomings are. When this occurs it merely breeds a lack of respect, mistrust, and a loss of enthusiasm to try harder. How long could you go on if you were constantly reminded how inadequate you are? And to those of you who treat others in this manner I have to ask how can you look at yourself in the mirror every day?

On the other hand all of my respect goes to people who lead by example and who understand the proper etiquette of management. I've had the pleasure of working with people like this in the past, and I still know a few individuals today who are very charismatic and can rally their troops in a heartbeat. Most successful people want to generally be around leaders like this. Someone who rolls up their sleeves and gets in the trenches with you. A person who has an objective and a goal and who takes you along in reaching them. They never view their subordinates as pawns in their personal chess game of life. Success comes from the team. And making sure that everyone involved feels that they play a pivotal role in obtaining these goals builds successful organizations. Mary Kay Ash built a cosmetic empire on the thought that you have to "Make people feel important". A powerful statement but very simplistic in the fact that if you treat people with dignity results will follow.

And when problems do arise good leaders do not forget rule #1 in handling a crisis. As an example, if someone is not performing a task properly you first explain to them how to do it, physically show how it's done, then let them complete it on their own. If additional scrutiny is needed, it's done discreetly on a one-on-one basis. More can be learned and retained by individuals who are treated in this fashion verses putting them on public display and humiliating them.

The unfortunate fact in all of this is that it's tough to shake who you are. People are people and some have more abrasive personalities than others. If that was the case I could live with it. But in these circumstances it goes beyond that. No one deserves to be treated rude or cruelly. I have no control over these and other individuals who choose to act this way, I can only control myself. And with any luck I'll be able to let it roll off me and move on. I know I can be the better person for it.

What Hometown Heroes Act?

Every day I get news updates and e-mails from a favorite website that I subscribe to. And more than I care to hear, there are stories about line of duty deaths involving police officers and firefighters and yet another family fighting an uphill battle with the Department of Justice to receive death benefits for the loss of their loved one.

Back in 2003 the Hometown Heroes Act was introduced to congress and signed into law amid great fanfare. Then-Attorney General John Ashcroft guaranteed that all claims filed would be processed within 90 days. But anyone familiar with the Fire Service and people affected under this law know that things aren't happening anywhere near that quickly.

As of July 2007, a little more than 20% of the 253 pending claims have been processed with only 7 being approved! Instead of these families receiving the benefits that they duly have a right to, they are caught up in an endless jungle of red tape and countless hoops that they must jump through. "It's total administrative foot-dragging", says lawmakers on both sides, with the DOJ asking families to submit 10 years worth of medical records in some cases! Chief Billy Goldfeder said it best when he wrote: "All that this DOJ game does is allow the families to replay the nightmare of their loved one's death over and over, as their Federal Government, in one breath, thanks Americas First Responders and then out of the other side of their mouth tells that family to stick it. All courtesy of the Department of Injustice".

It scares me to death to think that, God forbid, if I should go down on the job I could leave my family in a situation like many of these families are experiencing. I don't understand it and frankly the whole thing disgusts me. If the Act has parameters set of which one must fall under to receive this benefit, and a claim falls clearly within them, then why must the DOJ subject these families to additional scrutiny and cause more anguish than they need? Particularily at this point in their lives.

Currently under this Act if a Firefighter dies in the line of duty or succumbs to a heart attack within 24 hours of being on duty, a $300,000 benefit is paid to the surviving members of his or her family. Obviously a small amount compared to the loss of a loved one's life but many of the deceased leave wives and children behind that could use this money for education or every day needs. Since most of these bloated puppets in Washington are pulling down a pretty penny I wouldn't expect them to understand this. And when you factor in that Volunteer fire fighters outnumber career guys by a ratio of 3:1 nationally, a fair portion of these deaths are vollies who do not collect a dime! This is a fine thank you to all these individuals who put their lives on the line every day when the alarm sounds. All the while saving our taxpayers and the government billions of dollars each year.

And when you know that sudden cardiac death is the most common cause of firefighter fatalities, even ahead of burns, it's a major concern to all of us in the industry. Nearly half of all on-duty firefighter fatalities from 1995 to 2004 were due to sudden cardiac death. I once feared building collapse or running out of air would kill me but I now worry more about what could happen to me while we're cleaning up or hours after we return.

I hear of it all too often. A thirty or forty-something who dies of a heart attack after returning from a call or even a day later. When I was a young buck this sounded old to me but now that I'm in this demographic it shocks and concerns me even though I feel that I'm in about the best shape of my life today. Most of the time these articles don't provide a picture of the person and I disclose it as just another individual who may have let himself go a bit. Face it, some of the people I see on departments could use a fitness plan but does this make them any less deserving of these benefits? On the contrary though, and to my amazement, many of these deaths I read about involved individuals who were described as physically fit and took very good care of themselves. Runners, weight lifters, and cyclists. Guys who were as strong as a bull and took great strides in staying healthy.

So what do we do? All we can hope for now is that our current Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales, is a man of his word. In a prepared statement, Gonzales said: "I know that the administration of the Public Safety Officers' Benefits program, specifically those claims filed under Hometown Heroes, is of grave concern to the FOP and its leadership. The delay in providing benefits is unacceptable to me. And I want you to know I have directed that improvements to that program be made immediately".

With all due respect Mr. Gonzales these are nothing more than words for now. Action needs to be taken and it needs to be done now. No more passing the buck and sitting quietly on this one. There are lives involved here who are counting on you and your administration so roll up your sleeves and deliver. We'll be waiting.

Tailgating 101

I couldn't believe what he was saying. "What are those people doing in the parking lot of the stadium?" asked my son. "That's Tailgating" I replied. "Tail-whating?" he said.

I assumed everyone from birth naturally knew what this form of pre game ceremony was. And being from Wisconsin, I'm pretty darn sure we invented it. I don't think there are many cities that put such an emphasis on this activity aside from the lightweights in Minnesota who brave the cold before Vikings games only to come into a heated stadium afterward. We Packer fans endure the elements from start to finish with only our knuckleheaded neighbors to our south being able to rival us.

I wasn't about to baptize the young one into our tailgating rituals at a Packer game (not just because of the climate but I can't afford the tickets) so his grandfather and I took him to a Brewers game instead.

We got to the stadium and set up about two hours before the game. We arrived just in time as all the prime real estate in the lots were gone in literally minutes. I thought we came well prepared with chairs, a full cooler, grille, mits and ball, etc. But looking around at others I quickly realized that I don't take it as seriously as some do. There were grilles the size of my truck's bed, tents, and tv's, you name it they had it. I was once at a game where a group brought old living room furniture with them.


So there we were in our own little den in the parking lot. It was about 90 degrees and the sun was baking directly on us but I wouldn't have it any other way. My game plan was to stuff us all with beer, soda, and burgers so we didn't have to spend a dime once we got in. It's relatively easy to go broke on four dollar brats and six-fifty beers. Although my dad and I were content, I underestimated the stomach of a 13 year old boy as I still had to pay double eye gouge plus tax for 2 ice creams and a soda pop. All money well spent for the kid's first time and a great win by the home team.

My Cat has ADD

No real story here other than the fact that this crazy feline of ours has Attention Deficit Disorder. He can't sit still for 2 seconds regardless of the situation, and just watching him wears me out.

Uh-oh! I feel a tangent coming on here. Could be gas but.. No, it's definitely a tangent.

You know, come to think of it everyone must have ADD. At least that's what the medical society is trying to make you and I believe. I heard somewhere that within about 15 seconds of a person speaking to you, you're already thinking about what you are going to say to them about yourself. So none of us really listen to each other as attentively as we should anyway. And with 600 channels on your TV to choose from, verses the six I had as a child, it's no wonder someone can't stay on one program for long. Compared to 30 years ago, we now live in a world with so much visual stimulation that it's hard to keep focused on any one thing for a lengthy period of time. Combine that with the fact that we carry our ability to multi-task as a badge of honor, and you're bound to get a little distracted once in a while.

So what do we do, medicate the whole damn world? Actually I think the medical community and the pharmecutical companies have begun doing just that. I still can't believe it when I go on rescue calls and I see the amount of meds some people are on. And anti-depressants, There must be a vending machine somewhere selling this crap because everyone is on it!

I do realize that there are bona fide instances where children need intervention but my worry is that they (being our doctors and their clinics) have been too hasty in prescribing medications for some kids. We better get a handle on this situation before they start crop dusting our schools with Ritalin at recess time.

The world according to Gus. Today's subject: Music

For several days now I've been listening to a local radio station that's been playing a chronological of rock music spanning the past three decades. Today they're on 1978 and man have I forgotten how good music was back then!

My personal collection includes Big Band, Classical, Blues, Jazz, Rock. And I find myself equally at home listening to New Wave, Punk, Disco, and Old School R&B. I'm pretty diverse in my tastes in that I can easily listen to ABBA's Greatest Hits after finishing Ministry's "In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up". ("angry white boy music" as a co-worker of mine calls it).

I really don't have a favorite year or decade that I consider better than others. The 50's are timeless in my mind. The 60's and 70's had music that I feel I grew up with more or less, and influenced a lot of my tastes today. And the 80's ushered in the New Wave era of which I'm not ashamed to say I was a big part of. The 90's didn't hold that much for me but I still enjoy just about every genre of music that I've heard to date. Almost every one that is. I still find it very hard to stomach Hip-Hop and I just can't understand the whole culture, language, and it's fashion.

Before you're quick to say that I'm launching a direct attack on it let me digress and say that I have all the respect in the world for past groups and artists who were pioneers of Hip-Hop. Voicing opinions on government, questioning the system, and expressing their anger- these were pressing issues that needed the world's attention at that time. And regardless of how rude they appeared to some people it was for a noble cause and it had to be said. No doubt they all made a truck load of money also but it was the changing times and current issues that motivated them to give birth to this form of music.

But now it seems like anyone who can cover themselves in ridiculous jewelry, mispronounce words, and shout obscenities, finds themselves with a big fat record contract and truly annoying videos on MTV. And to be fair it's not just Hip-Hop that seems to be lowering their standards to produce the next big thing. The "angry white boy" music industry that spawned such great acts like Pantera, Slayer, Nine Inch Nails, and Ministry have begun a downward spiral in my opinion as well. No pun intended for all of you NIN fans. From what I see most of the new bands coming up in this genre of music just have to possess the ability to loudly clear their throats on mic and another star is born. Not long ago I even heard a band who's lead singer was a girl trying to perform in this style and they sounded idiotic. Tell me, is today's talent pool that shallow that this is all we can come up with now?


That's why I have and always will say that music from 20 plus years ago was head and shoulders above what's being made today. There is absolutely no comparison, and I accept any challenges on this one. Artists like Hendrix and Clapton, and groups like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Boston, and Rush were as great back then as they are today. And they continue to have more staying power than any of today's talent. Back then they had bands that actually had musicians in them. They sang with their own voices and played their own instruments! Quite the concept to the younger generation today. These artists were not techno geeks who could program grunts and beeps from a computer, or someone who wears a hole in a record while sampling another artist's music. And when one of these greats passed away they were immortalized by their work, not their east coast or west coast affiliations. Back in the day you wrote, composed, and performed your music by yourselves. And the whole bling factor, if any, was in your set and it's light show, not half dressed women prancing around combined with an entourage of posers.

And that my friends is what separates true artists from a flash in the pan. Call me an opinionated old fart who thinks the current generation lacks substance from his but that's how I see it. In a way most of us all grow older in this frame of mind. And not being able to understand the next generation from yours has and will go on forever. But regardless of your age, if you truly call yourself a music aficionado, I'm sure you'll have no problem agreeing with me on this one. Now go put on side two of Dark Side of the Moon and see what I mean.

They really do grow up fast

The other day my family and I were in a restaurant where another foursome with much younger children was seated next to us. I watched as the mother went up to the buffet table to get her food and a dish for her 4 year old daughter in tow. Dad was back at the table trying to feed a very cranky toddler when it hit me that we were that very same family not long ago. I remember many times when our appetite came second to our young ones who would stomp and shout until they were fed. Taking turns holding or feeding the youngest, and diaper changes when the inevitable happened in underventilated public places were all part of a normal day in the life of a young family.


Grandpa and Sam at the racetrack

I told my wife how I would see other people back then with older kids and think how simple it must be when they become a little more self sufficient. I never really wished for it to happen since I always recalled my elders telling me the age old line: "enjoy them while they're young because they grow up fast". And I did, and still do. I enjoy every moment that I can. But in doing so I thought I could slow the hands of time and make it last a lot longer than it would. And honestly I have no regrets. I was there enjoying all of this time when they were alot younger. More so than alot of parents who work long hours and have other commitments to tend to in their lives. Anyway, I thought, this time wasn't coming for many years so I have nothing to worry about.


The family in the new house on wheels

Jump forward to 2:30am this morning. I'm sitting in a fire truck staged in the parking lot of our hometown high school. We just got a call of a fire alarm sounding in the school and being the second-in engine company, we were assigned to wait in this lot until given further orders. At any other call in this situation I'd be engaged in some sort of mindless banter about who makes the most powerful diesel engine or how so-and-so is doing. All while trying to breathe in a truck so full of morning mouth that it could knock a buzzard off a ... well, you get the idea.


But none of this was to happen on this occassion. I sat quitely in my own little corner of the world and pondered the thought that in one year my oldest will be here and the younger one is soon to follow. Seven years ago we moved here and it feels like only yesterday. We do that over again and both of them will be graduated and possibly out of the house. Compounding all of this is the recollection of what I was exposed to when I was at that age. I've tried to teach them well since birth but I think I'm still living in some sort of denial when I think my kids aren't going to get into the situations that I did. I know it's a right of passage of sorts. They're going to get in trouble, they're going to struggle to find their identity and the right crowd to fit in with. All we can do as parents is hope that when they are presented with these situations they will choose good judgement.

The call is over but my train of thought isn't. We return to quarters and I still have about an hour or two of things running through my mind that prohibits me from even trying to fall back asleep. This topic is one of which I lose the most sleep over. It's not money, or the fact that my house needs repairs. It's not even the thought that my retirement may not be what I plan it to be. It's the kids. How far we've all come, the road ahead, and what little time we really do have with them.

Deja' Vu

On a recent trip back from a race in Shawano, my family and I stopped for dinner at a truck stop on Hwy 41 in Fond Du Lac called The Stretch.

When I was a kid my family and I would stop there from time to time to grab a bite to eat when driving up to Omro to visit my grandparents. My grandfather always said it was the half way point between Milwaukee and Oshkosh, and I remember my father always disagreeing with him, saying it was clearly alot closer to Oshkosh than Milwaukee. After a few hundred trips back and forth in that direction I've come to know that Dad was right. Sorry Nan.

Next door to the diner still stands a motel. And on the grounds of this motel are a couple of fiberglass sculptures of dinosaurs. Over the years the two of them have weathered the elements far better than the motel has. The building appears to have fallen into such disrepair that it looks like a movie set for a low budget slasher flick. Eerie looking or not, I had to walk over there and have a closer look. Yep' there it was just like they were all those years ago. I still remember my sister and I playing on these things when we were younger and if my parents dig deep enough, I'm sure we have a picture somewhere of the two of us on them. They did seem a lot taller though back then.

So on this last trip I decided for posterity's sake that I needed to click a picture of my two kids in this once familiar setting. Over 35 years later and the next generation is now introduced to this roadside icon. (You can almost sense the excitement and see the look of fascination in their eyes). To most people this is just another truck stop, with just another motel, and not much more than that. And to the masses, they're probably right. What makes it special for me is that it's not only the place where I thought at a very young age that I was going to make my living as a trucker, it was also a point along a journey that I loved as a kid. One that took us out of the city and into our grandparent's home on the river for a few weekends every year. It's just another reminder of a simpler time in life when your parents took care of everything and standing on a fiberglass dinosaur was fun enough.

Who knows, if either of my kids feel the same way in another 35 years I'll bring you shots of my grandchildren on them.