For Those We Love

Yesterday morning, I jumped in an ambulance to help be part of the treatment of 15 people for carbon monoxide poisoning. The extended family was celebrating the holidays together in their large home north of Jackson. The furnace man came to service a heater that was not working properly, started feeling bad, recognized the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, fetched his gas detector, immediately notified the family, instructed them to call 911 and got them all outside into clean air. Jack, the furnace man, was the hero of the day.

As an emergency responder, events like this tend to shake you up a bit. You start thinking about the ones you love and how tragic yesterday could have turned out and how you would never want it to happen to those you love. Make sure you understand carbon monoxide and if you don't, call Michael or me. Make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector - at least one - installed in your home if you have a fuel-burning appliance.

Here is the link to the news article. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, deadly gas. Thinking of all those we love!

Click here for news article

Merry Christmas to All!

Wishing you all a safe and joyous Christmas. Here are some pictures from my afternoon cross country ski trip. We're certainly having a white Christmas!

Thanksgiving Blessings!

What a nice visit back to Illinois! My Dad's father, Pop, at 96, Mom (who would rather I not mention her age!) and me on Thanksgiving Day at the LaSalle County Nursing home after a really good Thanksgiving lunch. We had great visits with family and friends. I regret not having taken more pictures. Would have liked one of Dad and Linda, Kristen & Mark, Mike & Liz - guess I was too busy eating chicken wings! And since when does eating a half pound of wings translate into gaining two pounds of weight?? I also missed getting one of you and Gary, Diana. You'd think a past pro photographer would do better....

Got word of a Lewis family get together up at the new place out by Starved Rock. Here's a funny picture of Michael and Mom taken in the Adventure Park while we were trying to figure out how to find the Lewis Family.

Dr. Lewis, his wife Nancy, behind them John, Mom, Bob, Me, Bob's wife Laura, John's wife Sue.

So many blessings this Thanksgiving. We made it through Wyoming in a snow storm just ahead of Interstate 80 being closed for the rest of the day. Phew!