Retirement is Grand!

The Fire Chief Has Retired!

(Jim Ashcraft, President of the RSFFD Board of Directors honors Nick.)

It's official! Nick has retired after 35+ years in the fire service. He started as a paid call volunteer "fireman" in Pismo Beach, California, while attending Cal Poly State University, in the mid 70's. He soon discovered he had found what he wanted to do with his life. After working with Pismo for about 3 1/2 years, and much testing with several fire departments, he was hired by the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District in San Diego County, after we were married.
So we moved to Encinitas the month before he started at the "Ranch," and "the rest is history" as they say.

He was the first Fire Chief of the RSFPD to have gone through all the ranks: fireman (now called firefighter), engineer, lieutenant, captain, Training Officer, Fire Marshall, Deputy Chief of Operations, and lastly the Fire Chief. He spent almost 20 years of his career as a chief officer.

(Nick, DennyNeville, friend, MC and fellow retired Deputy Chief, his wife, Kandi and Karen)

To say he was well respected in his profession would be an understatement. One might think I am prejudiced. But those who were at his retirement party were witnesses to the honor his professional peers and friends paid to him!(Tony Michel, friend and new fire chief of RSFFD and Nick)

He dedicated his life to serving others. He always gave his all when he was on the job. We are so proud of him and his accomplishments!The Battalion chiefs and Nick; from l to r: Gary Snavely, retired, Jim Sturtevant, Fred Cox, Mike Gibbs
and Bret Davidson)

Check out all the pictures we have of this big event and Nick's fire career on my flickr page:

Nick's Fire Career: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157624595026485/

Nick's Retirement Celebration: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157625553609249/

SOUL Encouragement

Your future is full of...

HOPE because God is working on your behalf.
In all things God works for the good of those who love Him. ROMANS 8:28

JOY because God has a plan for you.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "...plans to give you hope and a future." JEREMIAH 29:11

PEACE because God will be wherever you go.
I am with you always. MATTHEW 28:20

LOVE because God deeply cares for you.
How wide and long and deep and high is the love of Christ. EPHESIANS 3:18

STRENGTH because God gives you everything you need.
I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. PHILLIPIANS 4:13

CONFIDENCE because God made you who you are.
God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. GENESIS 1:31

COURAGE because God can do more than you can imagine!
With God all things are possible. MATTHEW 19:26

Filling My Soul

I was reading a few friends' blogs and came across this wonderful saying over at Peg's that seems fitting for today! Such a great reminder:

Every now and then,
when the world sits just right,
a gentle breath of heaven
fills my soul with delight...

A SAD GOODBYE

A BEST FRIEND

Today was a sad day. We had to make a really tough decision. Today we said goodbye to Lacy, our beloved Brittany Spaniel. She was a part of our family for the last 9 years. She was a great dog! She started life as a "hunting dog, a Flusher." She was our best friend, Rick's dog first. Rick gave her to us when she was 3 because he knew she'd be a great gentle family dog!
He knew we would give her a good home.

She loved to go camping with us. She loved to be close by us at all times. She was a "mother" to Sydney ( a lab and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever mix!)
when we got her almost 5 years ago as a puppy. Sydney and Lacy played and had fun together all the time, until Lacy went blind 3 years ago. Lacy loved to go for walks. Then their roles reversed some, and Sydney always looked out for Lacy, helping out of the pool or helping to guide Lacy when we called the dogs into the house. We didn't want Lacy to suffer or be in pain. So we made the only decision we could make when the vet told us her eyes were degrading, a painful process for a dog. We tried to convince ourselves that she was acting better and that she might not be in pain. But in the end we knew what had to be done so that she wouldn't suffer anymore.

Lacy will be missed by our whole family.
We loved her so much and she loved us back.
Now Sydney keeps walking all over the house looking for her friend and whining....so sad.
Saying goodbye to a best friend like Lacy is always hard.

Another CUTEST GRANBABIES Post!!!

ALL SMILES

I'm smiling today--it's another happy day, following a happy weekend of spending time with our kids and our grandbabies. Little ones can do that to you--melt your heart and force you to smile just because they are so precious and cute and cuddly. I think I've mentioned in a previous post that we have the cutest grandbabies. Well I am telling you again-they are the cutest. If there's any doubt just check out these little darlings.

We spent Saturday morning with Gigi, Brody Nicole and David. For some reason Gigi is into nicknames and making up other various words. She loves to talk and talk and talk. (Guess she takes after her mom, her Yaya and her Papa!). She likes to repeat, over and over, phrases that seem to really impress her.

Gigi: "Your phone didn't answer! Your phone didn't answer!"
Me: "That's because I was in the shower."
Gigi: "Your phone didn't answer cuz you were in the shower. Your phone didn't answer cuz you were in the shower.............." I smile and laugh!

For quite a while Gigi has been calling Papa, Popie and then just Pop! Now I thought Yaya was short enough that it wouldn't need a nickname. Not so! Recently she gave me a nickname, too. Yaya has become: Yai (pronounced "yi"). I smile and laugh!

Brody will be 6 months old in a couple of days. He has found his toes!!He is rolling over and over and almost sitting up. He can balance a bit while sitting before he rolls over again! He is all smiles and talking quite a bit (probably getting ready to carry on a conversation with his big sister one day very soon!). His smile is contagious, and I can't help but smile and laugh when he giggles.

Sunday we drove to Orange County to spend the afternoon with Micah, almost 5 months, and Alex and Angelina. Even though he is 5 weeks younger than Brody, Micah is almost the same size. I think Brody may be longer but Micah may soon pass Brody in the weight department. Micah wins in the hair department-he still has a full head of hair; Brody's hair is just starting to grow! Micah is a bit more chubby, but oh those chubby cheeks are so cute and when he smiles, (he's a bit more stingy with the smiles,probably because he doesn't see us that much) he's adorable! Again I just have to smile and laugh when I see him!

So you see, I just can't help but smile when I'm with our cute granbabies!

CGQC Goals for September/October

MY GOALS AND A FEW FINISHES
FOR THE CHARMING GIRLS QUILT CLUB

I know, I am late posting my goals for the Charming Girls Quilt Club. It's already September 2oth..........dare I say I've been busy. It seems we've been gone a lot in the last 3 months: a wonderful trip to Yellowstone National Park, a couple of long weekend camping/RV trips to Pismo Beach and Julian, a couple of day trips to visit our grandbabies, and I spent a few days in Simi Valley with my mom.

In between these travels, I have managed to sew and complete a few small projects, also listed on my sidebar under OPAM finished projects:

(1)several pillowcases for the Conker Cancer Project in conjunction with Project 9 of Craft Hope (my daughter, Nicole and I hosted a few friends one night
and we all made pillowcases to donate)(2)2 sets of placemats for gifts (one set I forgot to photo so will have to post it later) (3)re-made the "cupcake" apron for my d-i-l, Angelina;
(4)a new "Charger" dress for my granddaughter, Gigi;
and (5) my husband's "Fire Patches" Quilt. Below is a preview pic, full pictures and details will be in a future post, following the "chief's" retirement at the end of October!
I've been working on a couple of baby quiltsboth baby quilt tops still to be completed, pinned, quilted and bound.
I hope to finish them both by the end of October.

Other projects I hope to also finish include my "Moose Junction"
quilt by Mckenna Ryan. I made the top at the February quilt retreat
and it's time to complete it!

I need to add another border to make it into a small lap quilt,
then I need to pin, quilt and bind it.
I think I will finally make the Moose tablerunner, also by Mckenna Ryan,
pictured here in an earlier post.

This coming weekend we will head north once again, to meet our Redding buddies at the Flying Flags RV Resort for yet another Brown Bag Quilt Retreat,
our last one of 2010! Here's to a great weekend with friends and lots of quilting!!

HONORING AMERICAN HEROES

As all of America remembers and mourns the horrific events of September 11, 2001, on this day, the 9th anniversary, it is fitting that we remember all those who died that day, and the families they left behind. (PICTURE TO LEFT TAKEN FROM THIS SITE)

There were about 3,ooo victims, including working people, innocent people, 72 police officers, and 343 firefighters of the FDNY, who gave their lives to save the lives of others, without any regard for themselves. They did it because that is what they do. They save lives and protect property.
Being a firefighter isn't just a job or a career. It is a true calling. Those who accept that calling know that at any given time they might be faced with such a tragedy, as 9/11 was, that they might not return to their families or the job they love. I know a bit about this because I've been married to a dedicated firefighter, and the Chief, for almost 32 years. All those connected to the fire service feel the deep pain and loss of these brave men.

Last year my husband and I had the privilege to visit ground zero and the FDNY Firefighter MemoriaL Wall where each and every name of all 343 firefighters is forever engraved for all to see. It truly touched our souls.

These courageous firefighters (aged 22 to 63 years) deserve our honor, respect, remembrance, and gratitude, for their selfless dedication to mankind, and they should be remembered by name (A complete list with pictures of the firefighters can be seen by clicking here.):

Joseph Agnello, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Brian G. Ahearn, 43, Huntington, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Eric Allen, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Richard Dennis Allen, 31, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

James Amato, 43, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Calixto Anaya, 35, Suffern, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph Angelini, 63, Lindenhurst, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph Angelini, 38, Lindenhurst, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Faustino Apostol, 55, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

David Gregory Arce, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Louis Arena, 32, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Carl Asaro, 39, Middletown, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Gregg Arthur Atlas, 45, Howells, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gerald Atwood, 38, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gerard Jean Baptiste, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Matthew Barnes, 37, Monroe, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Arthur T. Barry, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Steven J. Bates, 42, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Carl John Bedigian, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Stephen Elliot Belson, 51, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John P. Bergin, 39, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Paul Michael Beyer, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Peter Alexander Bielfeld, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Brian Bilcher, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Carl Vincent Bini, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Christopher Joseph Blackwell, 42, Patterson, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael L. Bocchino, 45, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Frank Bonomo, 42, Port Jefferson, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gary R. Box, 37, North Bellmore, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Boyle, 37, Westbury, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Kevin H. Bracken, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Emmett Brennan, 27, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Peter Brennan, 30, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Daniel Brethel, 43, Farmingdale, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Patrick J. Brown, 48, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Andrew Brunn, 28
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Vincent Brunton, 43, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Ronald Paul Bucca, 47, Tuckahoe, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Greg Joseph Buck, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. William F. Burke, 46, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Patrick Burnside, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas M. Butler, 37, Kings Park, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Patrick Byrne, 39, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

George Cain, 35, Massapequa, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Salvatore B. Calabro, 38, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Frank Callahan, 51, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Cammarata, 22, Huguenot, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Brian Cannizzaro, 30, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Dennis M Carey, 51, Wantagh, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Scott Carlo, 34, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Peter Carroll, 42, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael T. Carroll, 39, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas Anthony Casoria, 29, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Joseph Cawley, 32, Bellmore, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Vernon Paul Cherry, 49, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Nicholas P. Chiofalo, 39, Selden, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Chipura, 39, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Clarke, 27, Prince's Bay, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Steven Coakley, 36, Deer Park, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Tarel Coleman, 32
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Michael Collins, 42, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert Cordice, 28, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Ruben D. Correa, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

James Raymond Coyle, 26, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert James Crawford, 62, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. John Crisci, 48, Holbrook, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas Patrick Cullen, 31, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert Curatolo, 31, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Edward Alexander D'Atri, 38, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael D. D'Auria, 25, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Scott Matthew Davidson, 33, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Edward James Day, 45, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Martin DeMeo, 47, Farmingville, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

David Paul Derubbio, 38, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Andrew Desperito, 44, Patchogue, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gerard Dewan, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

George DiPasquale, 33, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Kevin W. Donnelly, 43, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Kevin Christopher Dowdell, 46, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gerard Duffy, 53, Manorville, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Martin Egan, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael J. Elferis, 27, College Point, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Michael Esposito, 41, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Francis Esposito, 32, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert Edward Evans, 36, Franklin Square, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Thomas Farino, 37, Bohemia, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Terrence Patrick Farrell, 45, Huntington, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Joseph Farrelly, 47, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lee S. Fehling, 28, Wantagh, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Alan D. Feinberg, 48, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Curtis Fiore, 46, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. John R. Fischer, 46, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Andre G. Fletcher, 37, North Babylon, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Joseph Florio, 33, Oceanside, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Michael N. Fodor, 53, Warwick, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas Foley, 32, West Nyack, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

David Fontana, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert J. Foti, 42, Albertson, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Andrew Fredericks, 40, Suffern, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Peter L. Freund, 45, Westtown, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas Gambino, 48, Babylon, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Charles William Garbarini, 44, Pleasantville, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas A. Gardner, 39, Oceanside, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Matthew David Garvey, 37
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Bruce Gary, 51, Bellmore, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gary Geidel, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Denis P. Germain, 33, Tuxedo Park, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Vincent Francis Giammona, 40, Valley Stream, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

James A. Giberson, 43, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Ronnie Gies, 43, Merrick, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Paul John Gill, 34, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. John F. Ginley, 37, Warwick, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Jeffrey Giordano, 46, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Giordano, 46, Newburgh, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Keith Alexander Glascoe, 38, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

James Michael Gray, 34, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Jose A. Guadalupe, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Geoffrey E. Guja, 47, Lindenhurst, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Joseph Gullickson, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

David Halderman, 40, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Vincent Gerard Halloran, 43, North Salem, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert Hamilton, 43, Washingtonville, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Sean Hanley, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas Hannafin, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Dana Hannon, 29, Suffern, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Daniel Harlin, 41, Kent, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Harvey L. Harrell, 49, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Stephen Gary Harrell, 44, Warwick, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Thomas Theodore Haskell, 37, Massapequa, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Timothy Haskell, 34, Seaford, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Terence S. Hatton, 41, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Helmut Haub, 34, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Michael K. Healey, 42, East Patchogue, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Heffernan, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Ronnie Lee Henderson, 52, Newburgh, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph P. Henry, 25, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

William Henry, 49, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas Hetzel, 33, Elmont, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Brian Hickey, 47, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Timothy Higgins, 43, Farmingville, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Richard Bruce Van Hine, 48, Greenwood Lake, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Jonathan R. Hohmann, 48, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas P. Holohan, 36, Chester, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph G. Hunter, 31, South Hempstead, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Walter Hynes, 46, Belle Harbor, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Jonathan Lee Ielpi, 29, Great Neck, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Frederick Ill, 49, Pearl River, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

William Johnston, 31, North Babylon, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Andrew Jordan, 35, Remsenburg, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Karl Henri Joseph, 25, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Anthony Jovic, 39, Massapequa, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Angel Luis Juarbe, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Vincent D. Kane, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Paul Hanlon Keating, 38, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Richard John Kelly, 50, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas Richard Kelly, 38, Riverhead, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas W. Kelly, 51, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas J. Kennedy, 36, Islip Terrace, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Ronald T. Kerwin, 42, Levittown, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Kiefer, 25, Hempstead, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert King, 36, Bellerose Terrace, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Scott Kopytko, 32, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

William Krukowski, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Kenneth Kumpel, 42, Cornwall, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas Joseph Kuveikis, 48, Carmel, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

David LaForge, 50, Port Richmond, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

William David Lake, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert T. Lane, 28, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Peter J. Langone, 41, Roslyn Heights, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Scott Larsen, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Joseph Gerard Leavey, 45, Pelham, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Neil Leavy, 34, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Daniel F. Libretti, 43, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert Thomas Linnane, 33, West Hempstead, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael F. Lynch, 33, New Hyde Park, N.Y.
Firefighter, Ladder 4, New York Fire Department

Michael Francis Lynch, 30, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, Engine 40, New York Fire Department

Michael J. Lyons, 32, Hawthorne, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Patrick Lyons, 34, South Setauket, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph Maffeo, 30, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

William Mahoney, 38, Bohemia, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph E. Maloney, 46, Farmingville, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Charles Joseph Margiotta, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Kenneth Joseph Marino, 40, Monroe, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Marshall, 35, Congers, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Peter Martin, 43, Miller Place, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Paul Richard Martini, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph A. Mascali, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Keithroy Maynard, 30, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Brian McAleese, 36, Baldwin, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John McAvoy, 47, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas McCann, 46, Manalapan, N.J.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. William E. McGinn, 43, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Dennis P. McHugh, 34, Sparkill, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert Dismas McMahon, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert William McPadden, 30, Pearl River, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Terence A. McShane, 37, West Islip, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Timothy Patrick McSweeney, 37, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Martin E. McWilliams, 35, Kings Park, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Raymond Meisenheimer, 46, West Babylon, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Charles Mendez, 38, Floral Park, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Steve Mercado, 38, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Douglas C. Miller, 34, Port Jervis, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Henry Miller, 52, Massapequa, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert Minara, 54, Carmel, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas Mingione, 34, West Islip, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Paul Thomas Mitchell, 46, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Louis Joseph Modafferi, 45, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Dennis Mojica, 50, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Manuel Mojica, 37, Bellmore, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Carl Molinaro, 32, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Montesi, 39, Highland Mills, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Thomas Moody, 45, Stony Brook, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Vincent S. Morello, 34, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Christopher Mozzillo, 27, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Richard Muldowney, 40, Babylon, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael D. Mullan, 34, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Dennis Michael Mulligan, 32, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Raymond E. Murphy, 46, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Robert B. Nagel, 55, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Napolitano, 33, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Peter Allen Nelson, 42, Huntington Station, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gerard Terence Nevins, 46, Campbell Hall, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Dennis O'Berg, 28, Babylon, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Captain Daniel O'Callaghan, 42, Smithtown, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Douglas Oelschlager, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph J. Ogren, 30, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Thomas O'Hagan, 43, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Samuel Oitice, 45, Peekskill, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Patrick O'Keefe, 44, Oakdale, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. William O'Keefe, 49, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Eric T. Olsen, 41, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Jeffrey James Olsen, 31, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Steven John Olson, 38, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Kevin O'Rourke, 44, Hewlett, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Otten, 42, East Islip, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Jeffrey Matthew Palazzo, 33, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Frank A. Palombo, 46, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Paul Pansini, 34, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

James N. Pappageorge, 29, Yonkers, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert Parro, 35, Levittown, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Durrell Pearsall, 34, Hempstead, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Glenn C. Perry, 41, Monroe, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Philip S. Petti, 43, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Kevin Pfeifer, 42, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Kenneth John Phelan, 41, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Christopher Pickford, 32, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Shawn Edward Powell, 32, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Vincent Princiotta, 39, Orangeburg, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Kevin Prior, 28, Bellmore, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lincoln Quappe, 38, Sayville, N.Y.
Firefighter , New York Fire Department

Lt. Michael Quilty, 42, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Leonard Ragaglia, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Ragusa, 29, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Edward Rall, 44, Holbrook, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Adam David Rand, 30, Bellmore, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Donald J. Regan, 47, Wallkill, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Robert M. Regan, 48, Floral Park, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Christian Michael Otto Regenhard, 28, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Kevin O. Reilly, 28, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Vernon Allan Richard, 53, Nanuet, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

James C. Riches, 29, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph Rivelli, 43, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Edward Roberts, 31, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, Engine 214, New York Fire Department

Michael Roberts, 30, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, Ladder 35, New York Fire Department

Anthony Rodriguez, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Matthew Rogan, 37, West Islip, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Keith Roma, 27, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Patrol

Nicholas P. Rossomando, 35, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Paul G. Ruback, 50, Newburgh, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Stephen P. Russell, 40, Rockaway Beach, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Michael Thomas Russo, 44, Nesconset, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas E. Sabella, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Christopher Santora, 23, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Santore, 49, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gregory Thomas Saucedo, 31, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Dennis Scauso, 46, Dix Hills, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John A. Schardt, 34, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Thomas G. Schoales, 27, Stony Point, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gerard P. Schrang, 45, Holbrook, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gregory Sikorsky, 34, Spring Valley, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Stephen Gerard Siller, 34, West Brighton, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Stanley S. Smagala, 36, Holbrook, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Kevin Smith, 47, Mastic, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Leon Smith, 48, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Robert W. Spear, 30, Valley Cottage, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Joseph P. Spor, 35, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Timothy Stackpole, 42, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Gregory M. Stajk, 46, Long Beach, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Jeffrey Stark, 30, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Benjamin Suarez, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Daniel Suhr, 37, Nesconset, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Christopher P. Sullivan, 38, Massapequa, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Brian Edward Sweeney, 29, Merrick, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Sean Patrick Tallon, 26, Yonkers, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Allan Tarasiewicz, 45, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Paul A. Tegtmeier, 41, Hyde Park, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John Patrick Tierney, 27, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John J. Tipping, 33, Port Jefferson, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Hector Luis Tirado, 30, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Manuel Del Valle, 32, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Peter Anthony Vega, 36, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lawrence Veling, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

John T. Vigiano, 36, West Islip, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Sergio Villanueva, 33, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lawrence Virgilio, 38
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Robert F. Wallace, 43, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Jeffrey Patrick Walz, 37, Tuckahoe, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Michael Warchola, 51, Middle Village, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. Patrick J. Waters, 44, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Kenneth Watson, 39, Smithtown, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Michael Weinberg, 34, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

David M. Weiss, 41, Maybrook, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Timothy Matthew Welty, 34, Yonkers, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Eugene Whelan, 31, Rockaway Beach, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Edward James White, 30, New York, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Mark Whitford, 31, Salisbury Mills, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Lt. Glenn Wilkinson, 46, Bayport, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Capt. David Terence Wooley, 54, Nanuet, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

Raymond York, 45, Valley Stream, N.Y.
Firefighter, New York Fire Department

WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER AND BE THANKFUL FOR ALL THESE HEROES DID!

CUTEST GRANBABIES!!

OUR GRANBABIES ARE THE CUTEST!

We have the cutest granbabies! Seriously! They really are. They smile a lot and laugh a lot and generally just warm your heart when you hold them close. On a scale of 1 to 10 they are each, by far, well above the 10 mark! They are super huggable and squeezable and have oh so soft skin. We love holding them, although on a hot summer's day they don't much want to be held too close since they get too hot. We love spending any amount of time with them that we can.

Yesterday, Nicole and her two kids, Gigi and Brody, and I drove up to the OC to visit Micah, oh and his parents, too, for the day. It turned out to be quite a hot day...but our time together was so nice. We walked to a local Mexican cafe for lunch, hung out at Micah's pad near the fan, and enjoyed some frozen yogurt before heading back to San Diego. (I have to admit the yogurt was yummy despite my protests (I'm an "ice cream SNOB"usually!)!

Because it was hot the kiddos lazed around a bit:

Brody, 4 months, trying to roll over while eating his hand!

Gigi, 3 yrs, resting under a blanket (oops! don't tell dadddy she's using Unc A's PADRES blanket, which she choose herself!) on a HOT summer's day!!
(she got warm, go figure, pretty soon after getting the blanket situated!)

Micah, 3 months, sleeps while we all enjoy some frozen yogurt.

Oh, how we love these grandbabies sooooo much! Don't you agree they are the cutest granbabies!? Well, at least we think so and that's all that counts in our book!

Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks

THE GRANDEUR OF YELLOWSTONE

We spent a fantastic week with friends, Marc and Nancee and Rod and Donna, touring through Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, and venturing a bit into Montana, Idaho and the Grand Tetons National park! What an unbelievable trip!

Rod was our tour guide, promising wonderful sights and he delivered!! The views were awesome and spectacular, breathtaking and beautiful! Words cannot truly describe the wonder of it all.

Rod also promised we would see an abundance of wildlife, which we did, including deer, elf, osprey, moose, bison and grizzly bears!!

Nick and I flew from Orange Co to Denver on a Sunday. As we were making our approach into Denver the pilot quickly took off into the sky just shy of the runway. It seems at the moment before we were to land a "microburst" of air-wind was crossing the runway and we were unable to land. After a bit of circling, we were told we would have to be diverted to Colorado Springs, as the Denver airport had been shut down for an hour and we would need to refuel. About 40 minutes later we took off for Denver again and caught our connection to Cody. Talk about an exciting start to our vacation!

We arrived in Cody, only 45 minutes late! Rod and Marc picked us up at the small regional airport and as we drove to Rod's dad's house, literally on the other side of the airport property, we saw our first deer on the side of the road, about 5 feet from the truck!!

The next morning we started out on our adventure from Cody, Wyoming, where we were surprised to see golden brown flat ranch land, with almost no trees of northeastern Wyoming. Soon the landscape changed to rolling hills with trees and every shade of green mixed with colorful flowers, as we drove to our first destination, Cooke City, MT. Along the way we took a side trip and rode Rod's ATV's about 30 miles through the forest.When we arrived in Cooke City we were greeted by a grizzly bear crossing the highway. This bear proceeded to gorge himself on the high grass and many flowers about 100 ft from our car!! It happened we saw him in the trees close to the Skyline Guest Ranch lodge, bed and breakfast where we were staying, just a few miles outside of Yellowstone. The second morning we were in Cooke City we were awakened to some strange grunting sounds. When we looked out our windows we saw about a hundred buffaloes walking around our lodge. They had ventured out of Yellowstone, through the town of Cooke City, right down the highway in the middle of the street, stopping traffic as they passed the cars!!! What strange and homely creatures they are.

Nick took a private fly fishing trip one day. What he thought would be a short horseback ride in and out turned out to be 5 hours of riding a horse (2 1/2 hrs on horseback each way) into some remote back area of Yellowstone.He really loved the time to fly fish, caught a few small ones, but was quite sore the next day!!

From Cooke City, MT we drove through Yellowstone National Park. We saw hundreds more of bison, as well as deer, elk and moose. The flowers were so gorgeous and abundant. Everywhere we looked we saw greenery and mountains, clear blue sky with soft white clouds, and the blue of water! Lots and lots of water, Yellowstone River and Yellowstone Lake go for miles!! (Unfortunately we also saw many a brown pine tree being killed by the whitebark pine beetle--a huge problem in Yellowstone-over 3 million pine trees are infected and/or already dead. We also saw the remnants of the '88 forest fire, as well as a few more recent fires.)

The vastness of Yellowstone is amazing...so much to see. We visited the Tower Falls,

Lower Yellowstone Falls,

and Lower Yellowstone Falls--incredible views!!

We hit a thurderstorm and some rain as we ventured through the parks to Jackson, Wyoming, and could only see a peak of one of the Grand Tetons sticking out above the clouds. We headed east through Jackson to the Teton Valley where we rented a 4 bdrm cabin in Driggs, Idaho.

We rode ATV's again for about 50 miles in the Bridger National Forest, riding alongside the Greys River, about an hour and a half away from Driggs. We rode past many beautiful camp spots right next to the river and open fire rings were allowed-something we haven't seen in the national forests of California in more than 20 years! We spent a day walking around the town of Jackson, Wyoming, and visited Jackson Hole Ski Resort, where the slopes look pretty steep! More beautiful sights everywhere we went!

Saturday, our last day, we returned to Cody via another road through the Grand Tetons National Park and then through Yellowstone National Park. This day we were able to see the massiveness and beauty of the Tetons--glorious!

We couldn't go to Yellowstone and not stop to see "Old Faithful!" True to it's name Old Faithful shot hight into the sky about 30 minutes after we arrived. Such a fantastic sight to see and watch!!We saw more wildlife-- a mama moose and her baby moose right along side the road and another bear, who was also loving all the flowers and grass around him. He was up on a hillside so it was hard to tell if he was a grizzly or black bear. I'm inclined to think it was another grizzly!

We loved Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons!! Thanks to Rod and Donna (pictured above on my right; on my left Nancee and Marc)
for being such great "tour guides" and for planning this great vacation! We will go back someday in the near future!!!

All our photos can be seen:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72308330@N00/sets/72157624463799659/