Randi with an i

A week back home in Michigan: Kayaking, a Tigers game, Detroit cocktail bars and Ann Arbor restaurants

July 31, 2023 Randi

What a week!

I got back from a quick four-day trip to Michigan that I booked last-minute and kind of spontaneously for an unexpected family thing.

It was kind of nice in a way. During my last trip home to Michigan, I booked it faarrr in advance, and let everyone know about my travel plans, which means I spent way too long trying to cram in visits with friends I haven’t seen in forever.

Booking so last-minute this time around meant I had a lot of unstructured free time, and a lot of time to spend with family, which was something I didn’t realize I needed until I had it.

Working on wildfires: What’s in my ‘PIO kit’ + tips for how to build a PIO kit

July 22, 2023 Randi

Well, here’s a unique version of the typical “what’s in my bag” posts that were popular circa 2014.

I’ve shared quite a bit of info about my day job, and even more info about the wildfires I work on as part of that job.

One of the tools I really rely on to do my job is what I call my PIO kit.

Visiting my little Arizona mountain town? What to eat and things to do in Flagstaff! (Tourist advice from a local)

July 8, 2023 Randi2 comments

After about three years of living in Flagstaff, I’m finally comfortable writing out a post detailing some of my favorite places in town.

Back when I lived in Chicago, exploring the city was a never-ending task. I spent YEARS exploring neighborhoods and never felt comfortable giving a “guide to Chicago” or anything of the sort. The closest I got was a neighborhood guide, and even that felt like a reach.

But, given that Flagstaff is a biiiiit smaller, after years, plural, I feel very comfortable letting you know some of my favorite places around here, if you’re looking for things to do in Flagstaff.

S#!T I’ve been loving lately (July 2023 edition)

July 5, 2023 Randi

Here we are, just a few weeks after the May edition of S#!T I’ve been loving lately, and I’m back with a few more fun discoveries that I’ve been really into lately.

This post? VERY fire-heavy. I’ve spent the majority of the past six or so weeks hopping from wildfire to wildfire to wildfire, so I’ve spent a lot of time loving things like industrial staplers and backpacking meals (made with hotel coffee pot hot water).

Up to the Kaibab National Forest for the Hull Fire (and also kind of its forgotten redheaded stepchild the Ridge Fire)

June 26, 2023 Randi

I’m back home after 14 straight days of fire — most recently the Hull Fire up on the Tusayan Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest.

Life lately, spring 2023

June 24, 2023 Randi

Well, things have certainly been busy lately.

I blame fire season, obviously.

The Volunteer Fire, the Wilbur Fire — and the process of managing fire for forest health

June 17, 2023 Randi

Did you know that our forests here in Arizona actually need fire?

I just wrapped up two back-to-back (well, almost — there was a weekend-long break in between) assignments on the Volunteer Fire and the Wilbur Fire, two lightning-caused wildfires located on the Flagstaff Ranger District and Mogollon Rim Ranger District, respectively, of my forest.

All the way down Woody Mountain Road: A weekend at Fernow Cabin / Sedona’s Edge of the World (aka East Pocket)

June 11, 2023 Randi

After 19 (NINETEEN!) straight days of work, I finally had a short break this past weekend JUST in time for a girls (plus Andrew) weekend camping down Woody Mountain Road (Forest Road 231)!

What I read: May 2023

May 31, 2023 Randi

Well. After back-to-back aircraft-related posts about my first fixed-wing single-engine flight with Ryan, who just recently got his private pilot license, and my helicopter ride over a Sedona-area wildfire for work, this post is incredibly lame in comparison.

However, May was a GREAT month for reading! Before the Miller Fire broke out. I was able to finish six books. Ryan was gone the whole first part of the month on a fire assignment, so I had a lot of time to cuddle up with Yukon and my Kindle during his absence.

Memorial Day weekend work stuff: The Sedona-area Miller Fire

May 29, 2023 Randi

WHEEWWW I am TIRED.

I mentioned it in my last post about Ryan obtaining his pilot license, but while we were flying around northern Arizona, we saw smoke from the Miller Fire, which I’d been doing a little bit of public information work on early last week.

(Before we get too far, if you’re new here, here’s a little bit of an explainer about my job as a Public Information Officer (PIO) on wildfires, and how incident management as a whole works!)

My forest decided to pull in a Type 3 Incident Management Team to suppress the Miller Fire, and since the team they ordered — the Northern Arizona Type 3 IMT — doesn’t have a rostered PIO…

…that meant I got to work as the PIO.

Sweet!