Happy New Year to all

It is nice to see a close to another fun and enjoyable year. I look forward to closing in on a full year here on the internet, which will happen in March. I hadn't really thought about it until now, but I am now off of probation as a Lieutenant. I am happy to have been a part of so many lives this year. There are firefighters here in Roanoke, whom I have hardly even met. Yet when I do meet them, they know my name. I am not sure if that is because they have seen this site, or they are thinking "oh that is the one they put on the ARFF crew". Either way, any publicity is good publicity. I also appreciate the other readers I have. Some of the ones I have talked to include several blog owners from California to South Dakota back to Pennsylvania as well as numerous local bloggers like this and this and this. I have bumped into past Roanokers in Atlanta and Nashville, who I hear from regularly. I have been talking to firefighters who are interested in working for the Department from here in Roanoke, to North Carolina all the way to Florida. I have come into contact with Firefighters in Australia and even Singapore. Oh I cannot forget another Site from somewhere across the pond. There have been so many others. So many people who contact me and leave comments. It amazes me how such a localized blog about a small city in Southwest Virginia can receive so much attention.

I have to admit that when I started this thing, I did not know what I was doing. I did not have an agenda, a plan, or a guideline. So many firefighters I work with did not know what it was, what it meant, or how this came to be. Well I have found a path, I have found a cause, I have found a hobby. That is to bring national attention to our profession, the way we do things, and the incidents we are involved in. I put a face to stories written about us. I now know that so many of you past critics out there read daily to see what is going on, to see pictures, to find out what is new.

I know I have had some controversial posts in the past. Controversial that is if you do not see things the way I do. Controversial if you do not feel I should have an opinion, or a voice in the matter. Many of you have said "told you so" when certain comments were made, and quite possibly the threats made true. Oh well, that is life, and life goes on. I will continue to bring you the news of the Roanoke Firefighters, pictures, stories, and history. I will even mix in some other news of national importance. You can rest assured knowing that this is my site and that these are my views and my opinions.

Happy New Year and God Bless