Zaca Fire - P6's Blog - Tehachapi News

Christmas Soldier

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of the life of another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people
stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq

FIRE SAFETY

I know you have all heard this before, but you would be amazed at how many people ignore important safety advise. Please use this as a checklist for your home and the safety of your family.

Autumn Fire Safety

With summer behind us and shorter days ahead, one might believe the threat of fire has diminished. The varied fire safety challenges of the approaching seasons present hazards equal to, if not potentially more destructive than the summer months. While many regions of the country are entering the wet season, Southern California is entering what is typically the most destructive period for wild fires. The current dry spell, which has brought very little rain since February, has created critically low moisture content in the vegetative fuels covering our mountains and with the coming months, the threat of strong, dry east winds often referred to as Santa Ana Winds will likely compound the hazard. Along with the rest of Southern California, the fire danger in the Tehachapi Mountains often becomes critical due to the influence of the east winds gaining strength while funneling through the pass. It is, therefore, very important for property owners and residents to maintain clearance of hazardous vegetation and other materials that will burn when exposed to fire. Adequate clearance around dwellings and other structures will provide a “Defensible Space” and will greatly increase the protection level of your property and your family. To learn more about Defensible Space and how local fire agencies and your neighbors are preparing, all residents are invited to attend meetings of the Greater Tehachapi Fire Safe Council. Meetings are held at the Golden Hills CSD on Reeves Street every second Wednesday at 2p.m.

With the cold, wet weather of winter comes the need for warmth and comfort, resulting in the increased potential for fires in our homes. Gas and wood burning appliances require regular maintenance and now is the time to prepare for the chill that will surely come. Have your heating appliances inspected by a qualified person before it is time to use them. Change furnace filters regularly and be sure combustible items are removed from hot surfaces. Wood burning stoves require regular cleaning and inspection to ensure that dangerous combustible deposits are removed from flue pipes and chimneys and that all parts are properly intact. Candles add a significant risk of fire. With the increased use of candles, the incidence of fires started by their improper use has been on the rise. Candles should be used with care or not at all.

QUICK SAFETY CHECKLIST

Test smoke alarms monthly; replace batteries when you change the time on your clocks. Smoke alarms should be replaced every ten years.
Smoke alarms should be placed in every bedroom and in areas directly outside of bedrooms.
Install a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless deadly gas that is produced as a result of combustion. If heating equipment is not properly operating the gas may be fed into living spaces instead of being vented through chimneys.

Have a fire extinguisher near the kitchen and know how to use it.
Practice escape routes with children.Be sure all family members know at least two safe ways out of every room in your home and have a safe meeting place familiar to all.
Never leave cooking food unattended.
Use candles safely. Burning candles should be kept two feet away from anything that can burn, never leave candles unattended, pay particular attention to curtains and draperies near candles.
If you have a fireplace in your home make sure the chimney is clean.
If you have a fireplace always place a screen in front of it when in use.
Check electric blankets for damage or frayed cords before placing on the bed.
Take care to keep curtains, tablecloths and bedding away from heaters.
When using your clothes dryer make sure you clean the lint filter after each use.
Use only one appliance per power outlet and switch off when not in use.
Store matches or lighters in a secure place not accessible to young children.
Clean out basements, garages and attics. Remove old paints, thinners and other hazardous waste products that may have accumulated over time. The next Household Hazardous Waste Collection day is November 8, from 9am to noon at the Tehachapi Landfill, 12001 Tehachapi Blvd.
Remove fuel from lawn mowers before storing them for winter.
Reduce the use of extension cords.
Post your address so it is clearly visible from the street at night.

For additional safety tips and advice visit your local Kern County fire station or go to the following web sites.

www.firewise.org

www.firesafecouncil.org

www.nfpa.org

www.redcross.org

www.fema.gov

www.cpsc.gov

Rocket Launch

DELTA II LAUNCH

A Delta II rocket is scheduled for launch this Friday evening from
Vandenberg AFB. The Delta is scheduled to lift-off from Space Launch
Complex 2-West, at 19:28:21 PDT during a launch window that is one
second long.

The Delta will rise vertically for a few seconds before slowly
pitching over and heading south. The booster will later deliver
Italy's COSMO-3 satellite into a near-polar orbit.

After it becomes operational, COSMO-3 will provide high-resolution
radar images of Earth.

Weather permitting, the launch should be visible for at least 200
miles.

Mariposa Fire Radio Traffic

Use the link to listen to radio trafic on the large fire near Mariposa/Yosemite.

http://www.incidentfeed.com/index.php?view=article&catid=1%3Alatest&id=61%3Atelegraph-incident&option=com_content&Itemid=2

Flood Preparation

Be prepared for heavy rain and high wind this weekend. Home Depot sells sandbags for 25 cents each. The other hardware stores may have some also.

Very Powerful

If you don't get misty after watching this you're hibernating. Watch and listen to the entire 7 minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZFkZiwMLZ4

Where Have All The Apples Gone?

Any good local apple info out there in blogland? I took my family to Pulfords the other day and bought a box of Golden Delicious. My daughter and I made a pie that turned out OK but with gooey bottom crust. We should have baked the bottom crust before putting in the filling. I ate one of the goldens today and was disappointed, hope the rest are better. I remember how enjoyable it was touring all the local farms when the kids were younger, good memories. Any advice out there for an experience beyond just buying a box of apples? How about some good apple pie recipes? Remember the Holiday season coming up, count your blessings and stay possitive and you will have better days.