Pulled 80 hours of EMS time in the seven days between the various event medicine jobs and my overnight at the firehouse. Not a bad way to spend furlough week #3.

Spent a long weekend working as the paramedic at the HYROX regional championship in DC. I love working event medicine b/c I get to see passionate people doing what they love, and it feels great to be there when folks need help. #HYROX #Paramedic #MedSky

Midway through my first of two consecutive 18 hour shifts in a medical tent. I brought food, but I eat it private so I don’t scare people.

Tones dropped five minutes after I took this selfie, and I was bummed that I wouldn’t get to complete the lifting portion of my workout. Aaannnddd….then we had to carry an adult patient from his second floor bedroom to the cot outside with the Reeves Stretcher, so it all worked out in the end.

For diehard Aubrey/Maturin and Hornblower fans out there: Two captured French naval cannons are posted on FB Marketplace in Alexandria, VA Also, kudos to the algorithm for knowing exactly what I like. #BookSky

Finished Kevin Fedarko’s “A Walk in the Park” about his trek through the Grand Canyon and caught this comment at the end about how we long for trails b/c they promise to deliver us to where we need to be. As a hiker/backpacker and former USFS trail dog, I understand this. #backpacking #BookSky

Reading “Where There is no Doctor,” and the section describing traditional healing practices that need to be addressed and overcome is pretty wild. Curing pediatric diarrhea by giving the infant a snake-fang neckless is pretty based even though it doesn’t work.

These kids are tough. Just trying to put laundry away, and I get caught in an ambush they sprung on me.

Taught my 5yo my Dad’s cornbread muffin recipe. Feels good to pass this along.

The deck is free of snow for the first time in weeks, and I know exactly what needed done.

I lost another friend and brother firefighter to cancer this week. He was 48. I’m tired of this shit.

BAD KNEES FAST SKIS. Let’s Go!

Victory Comics in Falls Church, VA straddles a creek, and I think that’s pretty cool.

Caps/Flyers game last night was pretty rad.

Illustrations are not just for kids books.

Interviewed and go an offer for a part-time position as an EMT instructor this morning (exciting, right!?!) and celebrated by visiting the National Postal Museum. One of the most underrated if not unknown Smithsonian museums.

Recertified last week. Eight years as a medic. Nine before that as as a FF/EMT. Wildfire time before that. Been a good ride so far. I hope to keep going for a while #PreHospitalSky #Firefighter #Paramedic

I watched the USA lose the Olympic men’s hockey gold medal to Canada with one of my best friends in 2010, and I was with him and our kids when the USA beat Canada today. This is joy. #Olympics #Hockey

We delivered a baby! I love paramedicine!

I can’t prove it, but I’m convinced the skin condition I developed in my 30s was caused by rescue swimming in the Potomac River. Even before this leak, the water was foul. We wore dry suits almost year-round to protect ourselves from the contaminants. #SearchAndRescue #SAR #WaterRescue #Swiftwater

FB memory from ice rescue training in the mountains of western Marland in 2013. I never felt more cold in my life. #IceRescue #WaterRescue #FirstResponders #RescueOperation #SearchAndRescue #FireDepartment #Lifesaving #Winter #FrozenLake #ExtremeWeather #ColdWeather

Spent part of yesterday reading “Ditch Medicine” and learned about finger-assisted intubation and field amputations. People who know me understand why I find this interesting. The looks on passersby suggested they did not. #MedSky #WildernessMedicine

Managing the first day of my latest furlough with a new book and a pack of heaters. #BookSky

Spent the day as paramedic for a youth volleyball tournament, and I’m leaving convinced that volleyball is a contact sport. Absolutely impressive to see a volleyball hit hard enough to knock a dad sitting in the stands insensible. Also impressed to watch how well so many played through injuries.

In Berkeley Springs, WV and just for funzies visited the antique clock museum located in what was an antique mall the last time I drove through town. Hands-down the most interesting collection of antique clocks I’ve ever seen in my life. #OffTheBeatenPath #HiddenGems #MechanicalWonders

A few years ago, the doggie daycare down the street hosted a Mardi Gras party and took pictures. That look on Radar’s face, folks. It gets me every time. 😎 #Dogs

It was a long day for me, and Radar understood his job at the end of it. He is and has always been the best. #Dogs

The special guest for our “Second Sunday” authors group was Eric O’Neil, the spy catcher who caught Robert Hanssen. Was a great talk, and I’m proud of our group leader for pulling it together. #BookSky #Author #WritingCommunity www.kensingtonrowauthors.com

Always ski fast and take chances.*

Last stop was Chap’s Pit Beef in Baltimore. First visit since they moved into the larger building across from the original restaurant and just as good as I remember. Kudos to Guy Fieri and the Food Network for promoting local restaurants all these years. chapspitbeef.com

The Revolutionary War Brandywine Battlefield visitor center is closed the for the season, so I made a short trek to the American Helicopter Museum because I keep getting older, but I never grow up.

I was warned that the regional ski resorts would close today with the 50mph wind gusts, so instead I made my first trip to Baldwin’s Book Barn in West Chester, PA. I feel shame for not visiting sooner. #BookSky bookbarn.com

This week marked ten years of (intermittent) work on my second book, and I crossed the 80k word threshold for the first time. It feels like a more cohesive work now with every revision, and this is deeply satisfying to me. #BookSky #Author #Iowa #WritingCommunity #Farm

Ten years ago today I started writing my second book. This one about our family and life on a small, hilltop farm in Iowa. I’m still working on this book, and I’m proud of our family and our story. I hope to share it soon. #BookSky #WritingCommunity #Iowa

Rock and Roll Radar has no time for this nonsense.

Some inspired reading for these troubled times.

Went for a walk after work and stopped at Lost City Books in Adams Morgan. One of the best bookshops around. #BookSky

My Iowa high school ag teacher / FFA advisor was sitting at the table with Chick Grassley when he signed the bill that ended my latest work furlough.

Didn’t take many pictures this past week, but I like this one. A subtle reminder of what dedicated public service looks like. #FEMA

In my never ending quest to prepare food my kids will eat, we tried fried pork chops and breaded baked chicken. Progress is slow, but we are making gains.

My cousin lives in Ankeny, IA, and his wife and kids made the local news for their igloo building skills. The Midwest is best.

Took the kids snow tubing today, and on the last trip down the hill they decided to go together. These kids are the best.

For anyone on a budget or with young kids but also anyone and everyone else visiting Gettysburg: The Lincoln Diner down by the old train station is where to eat when in town.

The weather was terrible, so I asked the kids to help me rearrange the den into a family “library.” My 5yo made the sign, and my 7yo picked the lamp while thrifting with me at the ReStore. #BookSky

As further proof that firefighters went hardcore in the 1980s and had style — Let me introduce you to our retired rifle / linegun and the 20 foot tall mural celebrating its use. #FireFighting #Swiftwater #SearchAndRescue

Field Training Officer for new EMTs tonight. Spending time with eager, smart, young people who want to do good in this world and don’t mind riding with a grumpy medic like me is the best part of this gig.

When I typed my name into Google to find the new links for my recent emergency management academic work, the AI overview (of me!) shows a picture of who I think is @preparednessjoe.bsky.social. The sad truth is that I’m not that good looking, but I’m not an identity thief either.

Old knees still feel good on skis.

Slightly diminish a band. Cast Iron Blimp

Attending our “Second Sunday” writers club via Zoom from a ski lodge where it’s snowing outside. I have night ski tickets for after the meeting. Today is a good day. www.kensingtonrowauthors.com/authors #WritingCommunity #Author #BookSky