So I have wonderful news!! My friend Kevin is coming home from his second tour in Iraq today. He'll be at his base in upstate New York before returning home to Mass. this weekend. Couldn't be more delighted that he's back in the states. Kev was the only person I knew over there and he was one too many! So happy to have him back...and this time, for good.
My sister and I first met Kev while working at a grocery store (Sudbury Farms) during the high school years. We were cashiers and Kev was a bagger extraordinare!! His great sense of humor and deadpan delivery made most shifts easier to get through. He's truly a gem and I can't wait to buy him a Sam Adams...or two...or three...or four on Friday night when we take him out!!
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In other BTD news, I'm going to a meeting tonight in support of my stepdad, Charles. He's the fire chief in Randolph and the Board of Selectmen are refusing to offer him anything other than a temporary contract, which is total BS. Basically, it limits his power enough so he can't promote existing firefighters or hire new ones. Again, BS.
So, he's been working without a contract for a few months and the board is basically threatening him to stop paying him until he signs on. They have a meeting tonight to try to come to a compromise and I hope, for their sake, they make the right decision.
Charles has been the chief for six years. He has completely turned the place around and is garnering respect from his own staff, fellow officials, and neighboring firehouses. More than 30 fire chiefs from around Mass. attended the last selectmen's meeting two weeks ago in a show of support. He knows just about everyone in the town, most of whom have written letters or made calls on his behalf. In short, the board is toast.
The guy causing all the drama is the selectman chairman, who just also happens to be the man Charles replaced as fire chief. Essentially, he's jealous about how well-received Charles has been since becoming fire chief and feels the need to torment him simply because he has the power to do so. Ridiculous!! There's a petition going around to have him recalled and if that happens, he'll be out of office!!
Two of the other four selectmen are on board with this guy, one of whom happens to be someone I was once in a brief relationship with...that was until he told me he was gay!! He's such an attention-starved, power-hungry jerk and I really feel like outing him tonight!! Can't wait until he sees me!! He'll be shaking in his boots!!
But what's perhaps most troubling is that this chairman is still a member of the Fire Fighters Association of America, an organization that was developed to help promote the sense of family amongst those who serve their communities so bravely. These guys eat, sleep, and work together and are essentially brothers. We all saw how they banded together in the wake of 9/11, most of us have seen at least one episode of Rescue Me, and we all know what to expect to see in the soon-to-be-released movie, World Trade Center. These guys are heroes and Charles is one of the best firefighters I know. For someone who served to turn their back on another would be like me disowning my sister. Just shouldn't happen.
Anyway, keep your fingers crossed for Charles. I think the board's going to get what they deserve!!
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