Denver Metblogs » valerie

It’s Fire Season

valerie — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:41:28 +0000

A couple of times in the last week, I’ve smelled wood smoke at night, smells that get my attention then dissipate. Once I went so far as to call the non-emergency emergency number and they sent a truck by with the big spotlight to check between houses. Sunday, the smell returned and we heard the big diesel on the next street scouting for smoke. Last night, it was just the smell of someone toasting garlic bread.There was a story today about some kick ass firefighters who handled a fire up in the foothills west of NCAR . They hiked in for a mile and contained the fire with water that they carried in. Amazing!

"Hark, Hark the Dogs Do Bark!

valerie — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:25:58 +0000

The beggars are coming to town
Some in rags and some in jags
And one in a velvet gown.”

Can’t Obama help Denver pay for the move to Invesco? We’re having trouble getting the basic requirements and now this is going to cost an extra $3 million which would be a small portion of the interest he gets on his campaign funds.

How ’bout helping out the common man a little, mister?

The Wetness has Arrived

valerie — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:51:50 +0000

You have to live in a place that has only had 3″ of precipitation the whole year to appreciate a KCNC weather map like this. Boulder is a little ahead of Denver in the moisture levels but, still, I’ve been looking forward to the monsoons like a little kid waiting for Santa. The sky has finally let loose and I’m wishing I could record the sound of water hitting the sidewalk. Oh, wait - the gutters are spilling into my empty cistern. Joy, joy, joy!

Be Careful Out There

valerie — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:15:17 +0000

I’ve noticed lately that the summer sound of helicopters overheard makes me wonder if a fire is in the area. Sometimes there actually is one but yesterday there was no helicopter warning our neighborhood about this fire.

We headed south to walk the dogs thinking that the only danger in the area was the pollen in the air but when we turned north, we saw the plume of smoke that was very close. Too close for my comfort. It turned out to be a grass fire by the road that took off between a couple of houses and luckily didn’t touch either one. The one neighbor was hosing down her backyard and the other neighbor across the street worked the street side.

Still, 3 fire trucks, an ambulance and a police car came to make sure we didn’t all go up in flames. I love those guys.

Happy Summer.

valerie — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:20:56 +0000

Here’s a Boulder-eye-view of yesterday’s big thunderstorms. Breathtaking!

More DNC Reassurance

valerie — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:44:47 +0000

I’m impressed!Lots of consternation related to the fact that no one notified the public about the training exercise. In a real life event, though, no one notifies the public beforehand. I’m thinking that testing the 911 and other lines was part of the drill. A whole week of this is pretty amazing.(photo from rawfish.com)

Yes, Ok, It made me wonder.

valerie — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:55:56 +0000

I’ve been seeing the Disruptive Thinker Transport around town and thinking that it was possibly a bus for the Recreate 68 training camp but no, it’s Crispin Porter + Bogusky. These are the people who crafted the big tobacco Truth campaign. They recently joined the Famous Boulder Innovators community and while I’ve seen news about their new Microsoft account, this is the first local noise that has gotten my attention. Thanks to John Winsor for the picture and the explanation.

Hometown Heroes

valerie — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:52:02 +0000

The Boulder Rural Fire Dept. opened their doors to locals yesterday so we could see the equipment and heros up close. Highlights were the arrival of the Flight for Life helicopter (just after a drop off) and the Boulder Emergency Squad’s demonstration of the Jaws of Life. Near the top of the list: aiming the big hose into a pool of water.

There were lots of little kids in awe of the big trucks and hoses but the exhibit that most impressed me was Code 3 Associates.

It’s a non-profit that provides animal disaster response across the US. This Big Animal Rescue Truck (BART) is the only one of its kind in the US. The crews live there and work in the Vet clinic on board. They come fully equipped and they don’t charge for their help. What an amazing mission and they’re based in Longmont.

Democrats to Party with New Orleans Relief Funds?

valerie — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 04:26:03 +0000

The Denver Post reported that the one big Denver party for the DNC will be hosted by Friends of New Orleans whose mission is to help Katrina Victims and rebuild New Orleans. Nothing on the FOE website mentions that they will be siphoning money off to help the Denver economy which (I venture to guess) is doing a lot better than NO. Maybe this is going to help pay for those 16th Mall renovations?

That was some rain!

valerie — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:22:12 +0000

This chart from NCAR shows it:

It filled the cistern and then some: