DSO in your community concert series

This past week the DTE Energy Foundation sponsored the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in your community concert series.  The DSO played 4 free concerts in St. Clair Shores, Detroit, Taylor, and Clawson.

My family chose to go see the concert in Clawson at the high school and were very impressed.  The show was spectacular, the crowd was great, and the venue is awesome.

The DSO started out with the Star Spangled Banner and finished up with Stars and Stripes Forever.  In between those patriotic songs they played pieces from Aaron Copeland, Duke Ellington, and music from Star Wars and Indiana Jones.  The conductor was great by giving background on some pieces and even interjecting some humor.

If you ever get the chance to see the DSO whether it be in Detroit, Greenfield Village, or any other number of events they participate in, I highly suggest going to see them.

The only complaints I had were not enough handicapped seating for some of the elderly and no signage outside directing people where to go.  Otherwise this was a great event and I hope that they continue this series of concerts in the future.

2013 Detroit Area FD Open Houses

Here is a list of 2013 Metro Detroit area Fire Department open houses events.  If you have any to add feel free to comment.  Aldo feel free to share with others.

9/28
-Berkley from 10-2

10/5
-Waterford, Crescent Lake Station from 10-2

-Pontiac, Home Depot from 9-12

-Trenton, Station 1 from 11-2

-Huntington Woods starting at 4pm

-Bruce Twp, Twp offices from 10-1

10/6
-Troy, All Stations from 1-4

-West Bloomfield Twp, Maple Rd Station from 12-3

-Roseville from 1-4

-Centerline from 10-2

-Rochester from 12-3

-Bloomfield village from 1-230

-Clinton Twp, Romeo Plank station from 12-3

-Sterling Heights, 15 Mile Rd station from 11-3

-Armada Twp from 12-3

-Argentine Twp from 10-4

-Commerce Twp, Richardson Community Senior Center from 12-3

-Oxford, station 1 from 12-4

-Chesterfield Twp, 23 Mile & Baker from 12-3

-Utica from 11-3

-St. Clair Shores, Central Station from 12-4

10/11
-Farmington Hills, 11 Mile Rd Station from 3-7

-Rochester Hills, Meijers at Rochester & Auburn starting at 7pm

10/12
-Birmingham, Adams Station from1-4

-Allen Park from 11-3

-Gibraltar from 10-1

-Canton, Canton Center Station from 10-3

-NOCFA (Holly & Rose Twps), Rose Center Station from 1-4

-Burton, All Stations from 12-4

-Addison Twp (Oakland), Station 1 from 1-5

-Dearborn Heights, Station 1 from 10-2 

-Garden City from 11-3

-Royal Oak, Downtown Station from 9-???

-Wixom from 10-1

10/13
-Clawson from 12-3

-Brighton, Station 1 on Grand River from 10-3

 -Rochester Hills from 12-3 at Station 1 (Livernois), Station 2 (Auburn between John R and Dequindre), and Station 4 (Walton)

-Brighton, Station 1 on Grand River from 10-3

-Bloomfield Twp, Station 1 from 12-4

-Milford from 9-3

-White Lake Twp, Station 1 from 1-4

-Almont breakfast from 8-12, open house from 12-3

10/19

-Mt Morris City from 11-3

10/27

-Hazel Park from 11-2

Updated: 9/25 to include RHFD 

Updated: 9/28 to include Bloomfield Village, Clinton Twp, Sterling Heights, Dearborn Heights, Addison Twp, Brighton, Bloomfield Twp, Mt Morris City

Updated: 9/30 to include Pontiac, Armada Twp, Argentine Twp, Commerce Twp, and Garden City

Updated: 10/1 to include Trenton

Updated: 10/2 to include Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Milford, Royal Oak, Oxford, White Lake, Wixom, Almont

Updated: 10/4 to include Utica, St. Clair Shores, Chesterfield Twp, Bruce Twp

What a trip!

My family recently took one of the good old fashioned style road trips.  We got to see and do lots of incredible things.

We went to several different attractions including zoos, museums, and even a race track.  We hit several cities in the Gulf Coast states including Pensacola, Mobile, and New Orleans.

I plan on going into more details on the specific locations we stopped in future blogs, but until then just know it was fun and a definite area to visit.

Discipling students for saving a life?

We are bombarded with advertising to stand up and stop the bullying and stop the violence, so why then were 3 students who saved a fellow students life suspended?  According to this article, Fox4 is reporting that when 2 students were arguing on the bus, one pulled out a loaded revolver and pointed it at point blank range at the other student.  Three fellow students witnessing what was going on quickly jumped into action and tackled the gun wielding student.

The article goes onto say from several witnesses and parents, that the actions of the three students saved one life and likely others.  I cannot figure out why these students have been suspended, there is no reason for it, in fact we should be throwing them a parade.

The suspect's charges also leaving me scratching my head.  He is being charged with possession of a firearm on school property and assault with a deadly weapon WITHOUT intent to kill.  Without?  He had a loaded revolver that he not only threatened to kill a fellow student, but pointed it at him! I just don't get it.

When Fox4 tried to ask the principal questions, she did what everyone else does and quickly sped off without comment.  I would love to hear the superintendent and school board's opinions of this.  What if these were your kids that were suspended, what would you do?

So I ask, how would gun control laws have changed this case?  This gun obviously did not belong to the student, which means he obtained it illegally.  The public does not need to fear the licensed and responsible gun owners, but thugs like this who obtain weapons illegally and intend on using them for evil.

2012 year in review

2012 what a roller coaster year it was.  I'm sure I will forget some high points and low points, but here is my brief summary.

The year started out great, in March we went on a vacation to Kansas.  We were able to see many new places including the St. Louis Arch, Titanic exhibit, several zoos, and a TIV ( tornado intercepting vehicle).

In May, Alex and I went to Sterling Heights to see their Memorial Day Parade.  On our way over we picked up my Grandpa and spent the day together.  Looking back I am so glad I chose to do this, because we all had so much fun and my Grandpa really enjoyed hanging out with his Great-Grandson.

Shortly after Memorial Day came a very low point, I got the sad news that my Grandpa had passed away.  The thing is, he was more than a Grandpa, he was a mentor, listeiner, and my best friend.

Then came September, when we had a huge family get together to celebrate Alex's first birthday.  We had a great time and Alex recieved tons of great gifts from everyone.

Shortly after Alex's birthday we loaded up the car and went on a mini vacation to Tennessee.  We love Tennessee, everyone is so nice and friendly there, I dont think I can say one bad thing about the state.  We will retire there one day.

After returning, we had the rush of holidays to close out the year.  All in all 2012 was not too bad, but it definitely does not rank #1.  I want to try and get back into blogging more in 2013, so lets hope this is the start of many posts.  What are some things you want to hear about?

Arts, Beats, & Eats review

I know it's a couple weeks after the fact, but I wanted to share my experiences. First off let me share this was my first AB&E experience, and it was average at best, but has potential.

When we first arrived we were already through the turnstiles before security chased us down and stopped us to look through our diaper bag.  Also, the whole entrance/exit gate areas need to be reworked, they put them right next to concert stages so its hard to hear the cashiers and ask questions.

Next we started walking around aimlessly, because again I could not hear the cashiers if there were maps of the event available.  We finally found the main stage and my wife and I enjoyed watching Saving Abel and Theory of a Dead Man.  The only complaint I have was lack of shade over part of the area to be cool, as it was hot & sunny.

After the musical acts, we started walking past a few food booths and was suprised at how expensive some of the food was.  I was not expecting things to be that expensive so we ended up holding off on eating until after we left and ate in Downtown Royal Oak.  We did find a carnival food trailer that was accepting cash or tickets and I did the math it was $2.50 for a pop cash or the cash equivalent was $3.15 using tickets.

On our way out we walked past some art booths and I was disappointed.  I was expecting better quality or at least a juried event, but some of the items I saw were not even made they were bought at a store and trying to be resold for profit.

I do want to salute the men & women of the Royal Oak PD & FD.  I saw the FD run 3 medical calls in the same area within 30mins, they were so busy even the Chief and other fire officers were getting hands on helping out at medical calls.  I do suggest that the city make the event hire a private EMS agency to assist with the call volume.  The PD was great they were there and you could see them, but at the same time they stayed out of sight, unless needed.

I don't know how the event faired later in the evening, but I did not see any serious issues while we were there and will definitely be back in the future.

Where were you?

As tommorrow marks the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, I wanted to share my memories with you.

I remember that morning, not a cloud in the sky and I was on my 2nd day as a 911 Dispatcher for Rochester Hills FD.  My supervisor, training officer, and I were over at the Oakland County complex for computer training.  The supervisor's pager started going off like nuts from the office saying find a tv a plane crashed into the WTC.  We were thinking a small plane, no big deal until she got another page about a 2nd one, and then the Pentagon.  She went looking for a tv and couldnt find one.  We still really had no idea the seriousness of the situation until we went to lunch and saw pictures for the first time.  After lunch we went back to training and this time there were armed OCSD deputies outside checking id's of everyone going in. 

The ride home that night was erie, I saw gas gouged as high as $5 a gallon, and I remember getting home in time to see one of the smaller towers collapse.  I, like many of you, stayed glued to the tv and felt a sense of patriotism and wished thete was something we could do to help. 

Over the next few days it was odd not seeing or hearing planes in the sky with exception of the occassional military jet.  The out pouring of support from residents as they showed up at our fire station bringing us baked goods, cards, and just to say thanks was amaizing. 

Some agencies from Michigan sent groups of workers to Ground Zero to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts, while other agencies organized drives collecting money and supplies to send over there.

One of the fire information paging groups I belong to has this archive of events from that day showing how the information was spread across the country to fire buffs.  As you can see it was very hectic and confusing.

Our lives were changed forever that day.  Nothing will ever be the same again, but I do believe we are better prepared to handle disasters because of it.

Two years ago I was able to stop out at the Flight 93 Memorial construction site.  The experience was very sobering and made you realize how lucky we are.

Now leaving out any conspiracy remarks or other negative feedback what are your memories?