Brownies & Firemen

Better-than-crack brownies (I didn’t name ’em, I just baked ’em!)

What can you add to brownies to send them over-the-top?  Peanuts?  Check.  Reese’s Cups?  Check.  Milk chocolate chips, Rice Krispies and Peanut Butter?  Check, check … and check.  Good golly.  These are very sweet.  They looked too interesting to pass up but I should have known better!  This recipe peaked my interest when I read it on How Sweet.  I held it in reserve until the right opportunity came along.  That opportunity was today!  For the full recipe click HERE.

For years my son Patrick has asked me to ‘ride-along’ with him when he works as a volunteer firefighter. I think the main reason he wanted me to come is he knows I hate to drive / ride fast.  They often drive fast in emergency vehicles.  But this is a BIG emergency vehicle.   I sucked it up and hoped I didn’t have an anxiety attack and request permission to be put out on the side of the road.  I’m a big chicken, what can I tell you?  Today was the day I got my brave face on and headed over to the fire station.  I baked brownies because everybody knows firemen will throw down some chow, and I thought they’d be good guinea pigs for this particular recipe.  It also never hurts to come bearing gifts.

One of the firefighters on the crew today was Tom.  (Nice smile Tom!) 

Patrick looks so happy dwiving his big wed twuck 🙂

“Mom, this is serious.  Stop playing on the headset!” 

We got a call (trouble breathing) and headed out to back up an ambulance. 

I sat in the back with all this stuff.  Don’t ask me!  I have no idea. 

It’s easy to see why men love emergency services.  They have all the great toys equipment.

This is my limited view (thank goodness) from the back as we rode along with lights and sirens. Patrick really likes that big air horn!  And although you may see something different in the movies, we did not, and they do not, run red lights or stop signs.  He did a great job (if you ask me) of being careful not to run over anybody.

Once we arrived at the call to back up the ambulance Patrick and I waited at the firetruck. 

Smile for the camera Patrick 🙂

Pretty red truck.

Communication is a big part of what they do. 

They often talk with the 911 center to relay information and ‘mark on the scene.’

Geez – I’m so short I can hardly climb up in this thing.

And I’ll just tell you now, I have no idea what all this is used for. 

I did figure out that these are the different nozzles they use to fight different fire situations.

Once back at the fire hall, Patrick and Tom hooked up a hose to the hydrant to run water through the pumper truck.  This serves several purposes.  One, it cleans out any old water still in the truck, and second it helps make sure the equipment is in good working order.

OK.  We have several things going on here.  Patrick is hooking up the hose to the hydrant and the truck.  And being his mother, I found it necessary to inquire about the issue of his pants, doing what pants do these days.  “It looks like you’re wearing four pairs of pants Patrick.”  “That’s because I am wearing four pairs of pants Mother.”  Oh, glad to clear that up.  Apparently he always dresses in layers when riding his motorcycle and it was very cold this morning. Sounds reasonable to me.  But I really don’t know if he call pull them all up.  Good thing you’re cute son!

Tom is turning on the water.

Check out the nozzle thingy on the top of the truck.  I think that’s where the water will be coming out.

Checking a few more things, turning on the controls, etc.

Oh there she goes!  I wonder if they use this on all fires.

Check it out – it’s remote control water.

You can adjust the stream, or apparently make it rain.

And there is a third reason to do this.  You can wash the firetruck without a garden hose.

Yup, I don’t think I trust him that much.  I’m staying behind him.  He is my son after all.

A nice clean truck.

I’m glad they mark it ‘hose.’  What else would that thing be!

They got everything put away and we went on a non-emergency CO2 call. 

When we pulled into the neighborhood for the CO2 call, I mentioned to Patrick that our former neighbor Amy had moved in here.  What a coincidence that it was Amy’s house that had the CO2 alarm.  They were surprised to see me and I was surprised to see them!  They know Patrick too since they used to live across the street from us.  When Tom and Bob were done checking out the alarm, we visited with Amy and the neighbors and all the children.  I think all little boys love fire trucks.

And girls too!  Amy’s twin girls are so cute. 

What a smile – you’re going to have your hands full with these pretty girls!  So sweet and growing like weeds.

So this ended my first day as a ride-along Mom.  Here’s my crew Patrick, Tom and Bob.  Thanks for being volunteers and thanks for letting me hang with the guys.

Here’s my favorite firefighter in the whole world!  Thanks Patrick – it was fun.  See you Thanksgiving.

Sorry for the delay in getting this posted.  I wrote it Friday night and thought it posted.  There was some sort of error so I had to recreate the post today.  Next up, a pumpkin roll!  This should be fun.  Thanks for stopping by!  Tricia