Joe profile picture

Joe

Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes

About Me

What are you really supposed to write here? Hi my name is Joe (ok, good start... duh).
This last December, I have been married 5 years. Bunny and I have been together 13 years. She is patient and impatient all at the same time, makes me laugh and seems to be able to put up with my crap.
I have (2) 14 year old step-sons, one a gifted artist, one a talented football player. Both are good students and good people. We have a beautiful 7 year old daughter. When I look closely, I am pretty certain that I can see little wings. She has taught me more about life than I will ever teach her. There is a special bond between a father and a daughter.
We have a nice house on the hilltop that we bought 2 years ago and I can actually park my 2 cars in my two car garage... (really, how many people can say that?)
I work 2 jobs and enjoy both of them. I am a Range Safety Officer for the county range and work in the firearms industry. I am also a volunteer firefighter-paramedic in the community I live in. I have been in Fire and EMS 23 years now. What could be better?...guns and hoses.
As I work about 6 days a week, there isn't a whole lot more to write unless you want to hear more about work. (and really, who does?) On my days off, I try to spend time with my family and if I am lucky get outdoors.
We have just recently started getting serious about leading a more healthy lifestyle and have joined and actually go to a gym. Hopeful I'll be posting all sorts of success stories soon. (until then, its 20 minute miles) :)Sorry, I do not know what drink, pair of pajamas, care bear or color of skittle that I am.

My Interests

I love hanging out with my guys from the firehouse, they are my second family, doing anything with them is always fun.

My other interests include Firearms (practical/tactical competitions, pistol, shotgun and rifle), firefighting, emergency medicine, Surfing the web, watching my son play football, working on house and yard projects. I like to get outdoors when I can.

I'd like to meet:

Hmmm... Well I am already married, so that cuts down this section quite a bit, doesn't it? So, if your a single gal who just moved into my area and has webcam... I'm fat, bald and ugly, so proceed at your own risk.

I've grown to like to meet new people and have come to try to appreciate people for who THEY are. (I didn't use to, I guess this happens when you get older)

One of my best friends and brother firefighters was killed in Iraq recently (on Memorial Day, 2006) and I miss him greatly. If a place such as Heaven exists, I hope to see him again.

Myspace Layouts at Pimp-My-Profile.com / 3D Multi Blue - Image Hosting

Music:

Generally just about anything country will do. (Big and Rich's "8th of November" strikes a cord right now).

Movies:

Dances with Wolves, The Last Samurai, Forrest Gump, Platoon, and The Postman are some of my favorites.

Television:

My Name is Earl, The Office, (the new) Battlestar Galactica and The History Channel. I really don't have time to watch TV too much anymore.

Books:

Unintended Consequences, Shooter, War Letters, The Book of Two Guns, The Martial Art of the 1911 Pistol and the AR Carbine, Fight to Win. I do most my reading on computer forums, www.glocktalk.com www.ar15.com www.thehighroad.org www.thefiringline.com and www.firehouse.com

Heroes:

My heroes are not sports figures or the like. My heroes are the people who take action when others watch. The people who step forward when others stand back. You don't have to wear a uniform to be a hero.

The 343 F.D.N.Y. firefighters who ran in, when they should have been running away and all of our our soldiers who are sitting in a desert because they had the courage to act...

All my guys at Estacada Fire, who bust theirs, saving yours, without expectation, but simply out of a desire to serve.

These people are heros.

My Blog

On Sheepdogs

On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs - Dave Grossman By LTC (RET) Dave Grossman, author of "On Killing." Honor never grows old, and honor rejoices the heart of age. It does so because honor is, finally, a...
Posted by Joe on Mon, 07 May 2007 11:14:00 PST

Blue man

So, Blue Man Group is coming to town on Feb 3rd and I have already bought tickets for family and friends to join me in the experience.  If you have never seen Blue Man Group before, I could only ...
Posted by Joe on Fri, 02 Feb 2007 06:15:00 PST

Broken cars and long walks.

Well it finally happened, After 160,000 miles the Chevy Tohoe finally left me stranded. She's been a good truck, really she has.  The truck could have stranded me anywhere on the long drive home....
Posted by Joe on Fri, 27 Oct 2006 06:24:00 PST

Memorial Day and Cpl. Jeremy Loveless, Combat Medic

I met Jeremy 3 years ago at the Clackamas County Public Safety Training Center (a combo civilain-law enforcement training center) where I work as a Range Safety Officer. He was an inquisitive young fe...
Posted by Joe on Wed, 20 Sep 2006 03:14:00 PST