Getting Close

Well it is true this Monday is the day I get to embark on my new career as a full-time firefighter starting out in the academy. I have to say that I look forward to the academy experience; I know it is going to be tough but I believe well worth it. Can not wait to be yelled at :). Getting up early in the morning and going thru the routine like an academy I believe will benefit me well in getting my body acclimated to the academy. We found a place that we are going to move at for the next 6 months. We feel like this place is not the best place in the world but it is what we can afford while I am in the academy. The location is close to the academy at to the Interstate 10.

Cresent Ridge Apartment Homes


For the month of April I will be traveling from my house here in Gilbert to the Academy location. Below is a link to the directions I will be taking. It really has taken about an hour and 15 mins. Not almost 2 hours.

Directions

I imagine the academy being like the "THE ACADEMY" OFCA but hopefully it is laid out the way it is suppose to be. I was told that this academy is not going to be focused on being a running academy, which I am thankful but I am prepared if it is needed to be a running academy.

In thinking about preparation I believe I have done everything to be prepared for this academy. By waking up early was a start, working out focusing on losing weight, maintaining strength and also working on my cardio I think I will do well. As always your prayers and support is appreciated as I go thru this rigorous and exciting process. Thank you again.

Waking Up is Difficult

Today I am writing to you to let you know that I am sore. But like I stated before in the academy I will be sore as well. So have to suck it up I guess. Already had breakfast got the things done I needed to get done and planning on starting my workout here at 530 in the morning till about 7 or 730. So hopefully I will make it till 7ish. Today we might drive out to Tucson again to see if we can find a place to live out there. We are thinking cheap and close to where I will be in the academy. It has not been too difficult letting go of things that we really do not need to bring with us to the next place we are planning on living at. The location here has been wonderful but with the lower pay etc, we have no choice but to start thinking about other options. Today's workout is going to be like this:

0330 - Get Up / Get Ready
0400 - Studying / Emails / Etc
0530 - Lifting & Academy style Workout
0730 - Stretching
0900 - Drive to Tucson today
1400 - Back & Belly DVD
1500 - X Stretch
1600 - Cardio Routine
1730 - Sell ADT
1930 - Bed

Should be a good day I will report what we find out in Tucson. Thanks for following

Mimicking Isn't Easy

Starting out this process of getting up really early, @330 am in the morning and then working out hard every hour or so and then studying and trying to maintain life is becoming difficult and it is only the first day. Monday was a great day felt like I got a good consistent energized workout in. Maintaining good form, making sure that I focus in on power, strength and flexibility. With all of this in mind, being tired. I know I am not going to be as tired as I will in the academy that is for sure. The nice thing is that I have 3 more days of this then I can rest over the weekend and recoup. Tuesday I will be getting up again early, working out hard in the morning. My morning workouts have consisted of the activities like Crossfit style workouts that I will most likely be doing in the academy. For example I have a station that I do for a minute, then rest for 30 seconds, then go to the next station and continue doing multiple reps of this. There are a total of 8 stations that i work on doing. I will let you know how it goes the next day.

So the rest of the week was spent being overwhelmed by the details.

Mike had uniforms and gear to get fitted, physicals to get done, and everything else that goes along with starting a 14 week academy. So many trips to Tucson this past week.

Wednesday we had a Firefighter's for Christ breakfast. It was an amazing morning of blessing and praying and celebrating. In addition, there was great excitement for their trip to Hume Lake in CA for their annual weekend retreat with all of the chapters from all over. Wonderful morning!

Friday night Bethany and I went with Mike to the family night at the academy. It was great to hear from the chiefs and various captains about the departments and life during the academy. Families were encouraged to seek out the support of the wives and family of veteran fire fighters that were in the room. They made an effort to make us all welcome and feel a part of the fire family that we are now a part of. Reality sunk in a bit deeper that night. They spoke to the 22 recruits reminding them that they are the cream of the crop. That out of over 1000 applicants, they were the best. What an honor.

We have a wild and crazy ride ahead of us the next few months. Financially, emotionally, physically, mentally challenging. But it's comforting to know that we don't have to go it alone. We have the support of family, friends, and most of all a faithful God that will provide and sustain all of our needs.

The Final Week

This Sunday marks the last week before the 2010-01 Academy with Golder Ranch Fire / Northwest Fire and Casa Grande Fire. This academy is a big deal because in 14 weeks I am planned on being pounded to the ground day after day. The nice thing is that the academy is only 4 days a week vs 5 days week. The bad thing is that it is 10 hour days. We were told that this is going to be a tough experience and the fire service is a paramilitary environment. So with that being said I am expecting to puck, be sore, get beat up, and enjoy every second of it. This next week is a big deal. My buddy CJ from Phoenix Fire and my mentor from Firefighters for Christ recommended that I start the week before the academy like I was in the academy. I setup my week to do the following: Please comment if you have any suggestions to this, but here is how Monday thru Thursday this week is going to play out! The Academy starts at 6am and goes till 4pm in Tucson.

0330 - Get Up & Get Ready
0400 - Study Firefighting Essentials
(This would represent driving to the academy)
(A Note on this is that I purchased a Audiobook of the Firefighting Essentials that I can listen to in the car)
0530 - Lifting Routine at the Gym
(My workout is a circuit workout 1 min workout, 30 seconds rest, then the next station 3 times mimicking Firefighting activities.)
0700 - Stretching Routine
(X Stretch from P90x)
0800 - Studying Firefighting Essentials
0900 - One on One Routine from Tony Horton
(Butt & Belly, Back and Belly, or Masons Choice Cardio)
1000 - Studying Firefighting Essentials Again
1100 - Running (2 miles, 3, 4, 5)
1200 - Lunch
1300 - Cardio Routine at the Gym
(Elliptical, Treadmill Routine, Stairclimber etc)
1500 - Stretching Again
(Focus on injury prevention, cool down, and flexibility)
1600 - Studying again
(This would represent driving home from the academy)

By 1730 - I need to go out and sell some ADT security systems door to door, we can use the money for sure for our family till about 1900 and then go to bed at 2000.

THE Monday...THE big one!!

So with one more day of spring break to get through with the kids, we were set to go to the zoo as soon as I got home from my Monday morning class.

I had a quiz, then a lecture, then a quiz on the lecture that we just heard. So I got through the first quiz and then began the most interesting lecture in the world-PPE for Hazmat incidents *yawn* However, the material is important, after all, there was going to be a quiz on it before class was over, something different for this week only-no time to go home and study the material for a week. Being attentive in the lecture was imperative! Then I get a text from Mike who is home with all of the kids:

"Call me"

(moments later) "ASAP"

I text him back:

"In lecture. is everything okay?"

Mike responds:

"On the floor"

"Can't get up"

"Fainting"

My heart skips and a million catastrophic possibilities run through my head...All this while my instructor is going on and on about type A Hazmat suits as opposed to type B and scenarios for each...I get up and exit the class as I hear the instructor, "This will be on the quiz so listen up..." I think, Oh great, this better be good Mike.

So I step outside and call him.

"What's going on?"

"Golder Ranch just called me...and (unintelligible)"

"What?"

"GOLDER RANCH JUST CALLED ME AND OFFERED ME A JOB...They want to hire me"

Thoughts going through my head- What? What happened? What does this mean? What about Prescott? Will you be able to make your interview on Monday-Oh wait, you don't need to interview on Monday-You have a flippin' job now!!! Holy Heck...

What came out of my mouth-

"Wow! That's amazing! Awesome...Can I call you back at break?" UGH, screwed that one up in the middle of the whirlwind of shock!

I called him back at break about 15 minutes later. Got all the details and before noon we were on the road down to Golder Ranch/Oro Valley to sign all the papers.

While Mike signed papers, the kids and I spent over 2 hours driving around neighborhoods and checking things out. It is definitely different than the Valley of the Sun up here, but it is beautiful there!

When we got back home that night, we went to Freddy's to celebrate the amazing news!

WHAT A DAY!!! So much better than the zoo...

Spring Break 2010

Life has been a whirlwind lately in the Clesceri house. In fact, as I type this I am sitting at the library with the two older kiddos having our "library day" making an attempt to multi-task and capitalize on my time here.



So, Spring Break...it was a fun, relaxing, low key week with the kids. Mike and I still had 'stuff' scheduled that kept us extra busy, but the kids still managed to have fun and play a ton!

Monday started the week kind of dull trying to catch up with some house work and not really DOING a whole lot of anything. Mike had a chief's interview down in the Tucson area with Golder Ranch Fire. By the time he got home from that, the day was pretty much done.

On Tuesday, knowing that this was supposed to be the only day that both Mike and I were both home with the kids, we decided to head out to the desert mountains and go for a hike. We went up to Silly Mountain outside of Apache Junction and went up a little mountain that gave us a great overlook of the blooming, green desert! It was a gorgeous day...After our hike, we went for burgers and then later on that night we headed to the dollar theater and finally saw Alvin and the Chipmunks Squeequal-glad we only spent a buck on that one, however, the kids thought it was a great movie and that's what counts, right?

Wednesday, Mike was supposed to have a shift, but I guess he had too much fun on Tuesday and wasn't up for it (hu-hum). I took the kids to the library and the riparian reserve for some computer time and then a picnic and then a nice looong walk around the lakes there. We watched the birds and explored the park and had fun running around. We got home just in time to have our St Patty's day corned beef and cabbage and then head to Royal Rangers and Stars. While the kids were there, Mike and I snuck away to the Mesa Fire Fitness Center and got a great workout in together. It was another busy day, but beautiful, perfect weather and many good times and laughs and fun.

Thursday, I had a shift at Mesa Fire...actually two. So I was gone from 6 in the morning until 6 that night. Mike and the kids took it easy. The kids played outside with their friends at the park, they watched some movies, did some chores, read some books, and didn't get into too much trouble...

Thursday was also the day that Mike got the phone call from Golder Ranch letting him know that he did NOT make the cut and was no longer in the process for hiring. He called me while I was on shift and it was pretty difficult to not be there with him when he received yet another rejection after being so confident that this may have been the one. It was tough. He stood up though, brushed himself off, and started looking forward to and preparing for his chief's interview with Prescott. Determined, persistent, hopeful...He went to his Fire fighter's For Christ meeting that night and was encouraged and refocused.

Friday Mike was supposed to have a shift with Phoenix Fire, but on the way in, his sup called him to let him know his partner was in the hospital so he ended up being able to come home and then pick up a shift that night instead. So we were once again able to spend another day together as a family. We packed up our picnicking gear and headed to Tumbleweed park. There were so many kids there. The kids had a great time finding other kids to play with and run around with. The park was a buzz of happy kids and excitement. So many dads there too. We had another full day in the great outdoors and then that night Mike was off to his shift and we were off to bed.

Saturday we headed to the park, yet again. Their was a nice breeze so we packed up the kites and spent a long time flying them. The kids did great and got the hang of getting them up themselves and then keeping them up. Such a peaceful content day for sure. and again the park was a buzz of kids and people and excitement. That night our friends had a big get-together potluck. It was so fun to see old friends, meet new ones, the kids played in the snow that someone brought down from the mountains, we all shared in communion and fellowship with one another and it was really just great time...

Sunday was church first thing. Then we saw that the Gilbert Rodeo Park had a rodeo going on so we ran home and changed and then I took Bethany and Niko back to watch some of it. We got to watch the roping event. It was a bunch of kids in the competition so that made it pretty cool for us to watch. Niko got thirsty and tiered of the sun so after a while we headed back home just to go out again. We had such a fun time at the parks over the past days that we decided to go back. Only problem is is that it was Sunday and the parks aren't as buzzing with excitement or kids on Sundays around here. They are a lot more quiet. But we still ended up enjoying the park with just us and then we wrapped it up, ate dinner and then headed to Mike's dad's to celebrate his birthday. We had a nice time visiting, watching Fox News, talking about all that hoopla, and then blowing candles, making wishes and eating some YUMMY carrot cake!!

With Sunday coming to a close, I was getting things ready for class on Monday morning and the kids had just one more day left of their lovely break.

But that day-Monday-deserves a post of it's own. So, stay tuned!!!

Another week

Winding up 'the week before spring break'...

I think people around here are getting cabin fever. We're going to have to take some hikes next week and get out in the beautiful GREEN desert!

Mike got invited to the Chief's interview for Golder Ranch. His interview will be on Monday afternoon. He also interviewed with Boeing Fire in this past week too. He started up with a company called First Responders and he also singed up to get on the wildland fire list with the BIA. So many eggs in his basket...or is it 'not putting all his eggs in one basket'?

We all seem to be fighting this yucky cold, sore throat, cough, headaches, congestion...It kinda drags ya down. The weather's been pretty cold and on/off stormy, so that probably has a lot to do with it. AZ is getting a ton of snow!

I know that spring break will come and go all too fast, but we'll be there with camera in hand so we can come back here and share our week with you.

Have a good week everyone!!

Bizarres and Shooting Stars

Tonight was the Spring Carnival at Matthew's school. It was such a fun night. Music, food, goodies, games, rock wall, petting zoo, inflatables...WOW! Love that you pay at the door and then have free run of the place. No tickets or tokens to worry about, just get in a line and have FUN!

The weather was so pleasant tonight, too. Niko loved the inflatable relay course. He found a lot of his friends from last year. They were able to pal around together most of the night. Another favorite was a sports inflatable with football throwing, darts, basketball, and soccer. Lot's of time spent there with both of the boys. Niko also scored on the game booths.

Matthew couldn't stay in a line long enough to do anything. And when he did, he'd get ready to go for it and realize he had to take his shoes off then he'd back out. Finally towards the end of the night, he waited long enough to go on the obstacle course with Niko and he went in the petting corral and spent a LONG time in there. He got a hold of a bunny and didn't want to let go of it. His friend was picking up ducks and roosters and goats, but Matthew was content with the bunny :) He also had fun with the games too.

Bethany found some of her friends from the neighborhood and also from school last year and she disappeared with them. She'd check in every now and then, but she was off climbing the rock wall and "talking"...

After the raffle drawings and the results of the contest that involved certain teachers "kissing a pig" we gathered everyone together and headed home. It was such a nice evening to walk and talk about all the fun times we had, kids holding their goodie bag with tattoos all over their arms and sticky residue all over their happy faces.

When we got into the neighborhood, we stopped in the greenbelt and looked up at all the stars in the sky. Matthew saw a shooting star and made a wish. We admired all the different constellations and guessed at their names. Ahhhh, blessed with such a peaceful, feel-good evening :) and even better-they were all ready to crash as soon as we walked in the door...

What's been going on?...hmm...A LOT!- let me tell you...

Kids-still busy with school. Bethany has been sewing up all kinds of things now that her sewing machine is set up. No patterns yet, just her own creations...Niko has been tearing through the Magic Tree house books. He LOVES those things. He has also entered the Webkin world. He has a pet frog that he plays with a couple times a week. He's pretty excited about that, too...We just got new neighbors next door. We were excited to hear that they were bringing with them 3 boys. Turns out there's one Nikos age and one that is Matthew's friend from school. Matthew is more than ecstatic about that discovery. He has been asking about 20 times a day to go over there and play. Unfortunately, right now they are getting all settled in and the answer has been no. But they have been talking over the wall quite often. Pretty funny.

I have been pretty busy with school. This past weekend, and the next two weekends, I have a class I am taking from 8-5 each day. Makes for some fun daddy-kids time at home. and to top it off, it rained all weekend last week and it's forecasted to rain again this weekend. Lots of movies...We're almost at mid-terms already for this semester. My HazMat class is surprisingly going well. It's the Spanish in the health care setting that I'm worried about. Getting an A in it, but nervous about the mid-term. Tons of vocab in that class!! A bit worried about the fitness class being that I'm missing 3 weeks of it for the other class I'm taking. Just have to work harder on my own.

Now, as for Mike...Mike, Mike, Mike...Gosh, I love that man!! He has been keeping busy with job search, interviewing, working on his sales for ADT, working shifts at Ak-chin...He also has been making use of all this spare time working out at the gym again :) Back to lifting weights and being on a workout schedule has been really good for him overall right now, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.

Royal Rangers Pinewood Derby

The boys participated in their annual pinewood derby a couple weeks ago. Though they didn't place in any of the events, they worked hard on their cars and had a lot of fun preparing for it and racing in it. Matthew's tank was left at the event and we're still tracking it down, so not a whole lot of pictures of his car. It was his first year participating.

Here are some photos from the event.

Back view of Niko's car

Front view