Still waiting...

It is Friday, finally. Still no block layer. How hard can this be? We do have a line on a new one. We are waiting for an estimate. He is apparently available immediately so I hope the estimate fits into the alloted fianacial slot. Could we be so lucky? The old guy is gone again. He is back in Montana, basically the same area, just a different fire. The one they went for is mostly contained and has been given to a Type 3 team for monitering. The were assigned to another, the Schoolhouse or the Lolo, I am not sure which or maybe it is both run together, but it got really big, really fast. It evidently went to crown with big wind. The have now assigned it to a Type 1 team and they will close out tomorrow. They are being staaged in Missoula for a day or two based on weather predictions for wind with dry lightening. So, nice beds, great food, laundry and, based on what he says, boredom. Nothing to do but wait. He is not a good waiter, nor the others, I bet. What they do is a bit of an adrenaline rush and they kinda like it, or they wouldn't be there. If they get do not get a new assignment by Monday, they will probably disband and go home for a day or two to reset their clock and then come back for a new stint. Right now it is at a level 5 nationally. This means that they can be kept indefinately, for 21 days at least. The old guy will probably just hole up out there rather than come home. Coming home would mean 2 days to travel and then 2 more days to rest, in addition to the cost of tickets on a right now basis both ways. Most of the rest of the team are more local and they drive to and from, approx 2-3 hours one way so the 4 days he would use is far greater than any of the rest of the team. It would be much cheaper time and money wise to stay. But, as it is with this business, time alone will tell what happens. Mother Nature is absolutely in the driver's seat and she doesn't give out details of the trip she has planned. I work all weekend so I will be busy at least. The gal next door has a birthday tomorrow and her husband is having a surprise party tomorrow night. I will probably go for a bit after work. We have really great neighbors. One downside to moving. The kids are good kids and keep my lawn mowed while the old guy is gone. They like the cash and I like that I don't have to wrestle the mower around. It is a win win situation. This is the first year all 3 of the boys are in school. Kristi will graduate from nursing school in December. This has bee a trying couple of years for them but they seem to be bearing up pretty well. She is a good student and will graduate with honors, unless something unforseen happens. Her husband is so proud of her, and rightly so. I look forward to watching her graduate almost as much as our daughter in law a few weeks ago. She, too, graduated with an associate in nursing. She missed graduating with honors by about a tenth of a point. I was as proud of her as I could be. She did well and it was not an easy task for her. Going back to school when you have been out for years is not the easiest thing to do. Both will make wonderful nurses and both will continue on for their bachelors degree. Well, I have certainly gotten off subject. But, like I said in the beginning, we are still waiting.