A fuulllll disclaimer – I probably won’t buy many — if any — of the things linked below.
I’m very much on a no-buy/low-buy streak right now. Given the current economic recession, the plunging of my retirement accounts, the incoming tariffs, the insecurity and instability of my employment as a federal employee, and some big life events coming up… the thought of spending money on stuff seems kind of senseless.
Some big day job-related news!
I recently opened my Complex-level Public Information Officer (PIO / PIOC) task book, which brings me one step closer to working as a lead PIO role on big, complex wildfires (and other incidents) across the country.
What, more packing content?!
*surprised Pikachu face*
3/12.
Well, most of March was pretty well documented over here.
Sometimes I forget I live in the southwest.
I mean, Flagstaff – with its snow-capped mountain peaks, towering Ponderosa pine trees and rolling meadows — is definitely not the first thing that comes to mind when someone says “southwest.”
But you know what probably is the first thing that comes to mind when someone says “southwest?”
Monument Valley.
I mean… it’s literally this (
) emoji.
With everything going on right now re: the federal government (gestures wildly) I’ve been extra, extra grateful for my day job lately.
If you’re new here, I spend my weekdays (and- nights/weekends/every second during the summer months really) working as a public affairs officer for a National Forest here in northern Arizona. I’m really lucky to have an incredibly fun, rewarding and challenging job.
My favorite part of my federal day job is working as a Public Information Officer (PIO) on wildfires. I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned it, but taking on wildfire assignments actually isn’t a required part of my job duties.
Like, sure, if a fire starts on my forest, I’m responsible for communicating that info with the public of course.
But the other stuff? Working the 16-hour days (for 14 days straight), obtaining incident qualifications, taking safety refresher classes, accepting off-unit assignments, rostering with an Incident Management Team (IMT), making myself available nationally through dispatch, etc.?
That’s all 100% by choice.
I do get paid for it hourly (of course) but it’s also really long days with often difficult work. The easier option is turning down fire assignments and sticking to my day job, but I don’t ever choose to do that.
Mostly because I really do love my job. I love serving the public, I love using my skillset to help people, I love feeling like I’m doing meaningful work when I show up to do my job every day. That’s why I chose a career in journalism before my Peace Corps service before what I’m doing now.
I’ve never really been profit-driven or corporate-minded. So public service has always been a natural fit for me.
Which means that when I was invited to teach S-203: Introduction to Incident Information at the annual Arizona Wildfire and Incident Management Academy hosted in Prescott, Ariz., it was an obvious “yes!”
Let me start by saying I only left Italy because I had to – not because I wanted to.
This is just a quick post to share a few final photos of my recent trip to Italy — including the results of the glass-modeling workshop Kelly and I both took during the first portion of our trip, because I know you’ve all been on the edge of your seats waiting with baited breath to see how our creations turned out!
Yes, I went to Pisa just to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
As one does.
Physically, I’m back in Arizona and at my day job, but mentally, I’m still in Italy.
After Kelly and I wrapped up the Rome portion of our two-week trip, we hopped onto a high-speed Frecciarossa train bound for our next destination: Florence!
