Firey

Weee ... three days after I got back from seeing Marc in steamy Gallup, I got called out on a fire. I was on the coolest handcrew in the world, with the coolest crewbosses in the world, when lucky me, I had an epic asthma attack due to the sagebrush or oakbrush or who-knows-what pollen. In my defense, there were several brawny youngsters with eyes swollen shut, nosebleeds, etc. And this was all while we were MILES from any smoke or actual flamage, so I know it wasn't that. Sooo, got "de-mobed" and sent to the ER in Dysfunction which took hours, even though by then I was on massive antihystamines and the Wheezefest was over.

Now that I'm back to spanking trees with chalk paddles and breathing spray paint and DEET, I feel much better! My barracks roomie is (lucky him) still out there somewhere near the Utah border making $150-$200 a day tunnelling around in the dirt looking for hotspots.

The good news is: I made some friends and impressed some important people. As soon as I do the follow-up visit at the occupational health shack, I can get back on the availability list. AND, I've got the numbers of some engine captains in Vail and Rifle who will be short people as soon as half their crews go back to college the end of August.

The trip to Marc's was memorable, mostly for the heat. It was like 200 degrees in my car all the time. We did a little anti-Bush protest during the 4th of July parade in Gallup, and I was blown away by how many Navajos honked their horns and then gave us the peace sign versus that other sign. Amazing, but even in the Four Corners people are more progressive than in Drainsuck, Nevada.

Also met some cool school teachers while I was there, all friends of Marc's. One had some ideas on getting sponsorship/work permits in Germany (she's Austrian). I got a couple of tentative job offers but I'd like to finish poisoning myself with government marking paint first and then go see a little more of the world before I unpack all my stuff in yet another apartment.

-- Mz M.

P. S. Will be posting pics of my cutie crewboss and the Brush Mountain Fire as soon as I get the CD back from Mall-Wart.

P.P.S. Congrats to my artist friend Valerie on her upcoming exodus outta Draino and back to civilization in Santa Monica.