And I also wasn’t discouraged.

I didn’t tweet much about SB 5 yesterday, choosing instead to follow twitter and Facebook quietly as the day progressed toward the eventual outcome. When it eventually passed the Senate again with the changes the House passed, I simply said:

Horribly disappointed in Ohio's elected officials tonight. Trying to remember that this is not over. We will prevail. #sb5

March 30, 2011 8:34 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@FireMom

Jenna Hatfield

That tweet got me multiple replies, some retweets and a handful-plus of Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio-loyal followers. Do you know what that says to me?

It’s not over.

Those who passed this bill with the rush to get it in by the end of the month did so with the hope that our referendum in November wouldn’t garner the same amount of voters as next year’s Presidential election. They have underestimated us. If people are following twitter search results after ten o’clock at night and following people with like-minded views on the passing of Senate Bill 5, then those in charge are greatly underestimating the power we have when we band together.

We will turn out in large numbers. We will get the required signatures to get the referendum on November’s ballot. And we will turn out in droves to vote. We will be heard. We will be seen. We will provide for the middle class what those in power have taken away.

I promised at an earlier date to keep those who are interested up-to-date with information on how you can help and be involved with the process. If you are interested in getting involved immediately, please email killthebillohio@gmail.com with your contact information to volunteer. I did when I saw it on the Ohio AFL-CIO page this morning. Or you can sign up via the SEIU page with a simple form. And the Ohio Democratic Party has a form up as well.The first step will be collecting signatures. Our family will be participating. If you have the time, I encourage you and yours to do the same.

An email from the Ohio Democratic Party just let me know the following:

• 231,149 – Signatures needed to place a referendum of the law on the ballot.
• 1,000 – Number of signatures needed for petition language to be approved by the Attorney General and Secretary of State, before additional petitions can be circulated.
• 44 – Minimum number of counties where the petition signatures need to be collected.

As I learn more information about the efforts, I will keep you updated. My blog isn’t going to become an All Politics, All the Time blog as my family still lives a balanced life, but I will let you know what we’re doing and how you can get involved. I’ll be creating a specific SB 5 section of the site which you can choose to follow or not. New in that section today is an email from Andy Thompson about why he supported the bill.

If you have any other information about local or statewide efforts, please leave a comment or contact me.

SB 5: It’s Not Over is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

Via ProgressOhio and Save Ohio Firefighters and Cops.

Wordless Wednesday: Save Ohio Firefighters and Cops is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

We’re not going to leave Ohio.

It was suggested to me that, if we’re so unhappy, we could “just move.” Except that it isn’t an option for our family or other professional firefighters in Ohio. Why? Fire certification is state based. Some states will accept certification in another state, but not all. And it usually requires some additional schooling. Add in the fact that he’d have to compete (civil service test, physical test, followed by interviews) to get in with other firefighters, and it’s not just an easy pick-up-and-move type option. And then there’s the losing of seniority and pension for which he has already worked six years. When FireDad and I started dating, he had already finished his fire training in Ohio. As such, the decision on whether I would move to Ohio or he would move to Pennsylvania was already decided. Ohio it was.

I have learned to love the state of Ohio, though I will always be loyal to Pennsylvania and, more specifically, Pittsburgh. I will never cheer for the Bengals, the Browns, the Blue Jackets, the Reds or the Indians. But I will teach my children the history of Ohio. I will help them learn the geography of their home state. I will work hard to make my now hometown the best version that it can be. I will be active in state politics. I will encourage my children to pay attention to things that affect them when it comes to said politics, whether that’s locally, state wide or nationally. I may not agree with the majority of political viewpoints in my specific area, but I’m pretty sure that’s allowed by law.

But we won’t just up and leave. I know we would survive if it came down to a Worst Case Scenario, but it irks me that people think we can just up and move and make a new life for ourselves in the blink of an eye.

Ohio is home now. We can’t, rather, won’t just leave because some politicians got their way. We’re in it for the long haul. If you don’t like that, well, your decision is up to you. But I’m not simple-minded enough to suggest you leave just to make me happy.

I promise to keep readers, especially my Ohio friends, up-to-date on any political action to repeal if (er, when) it passes the house and is signed by our Governor. Until then, be kind to your neighbors. I always tell my boys that if someone is bullying them to just walk away. In this case, I still suggest walking away — but don’t walk too far. The fight is just beginning.

The Passage of SB 5 Won’t Make Us Leave Ohio is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

I love how they explained why they’re standing with the other unions.

“We appreciate the fact that Governor Walker recognizes the unique work that firefighters do. However the PFFW is unable to stand by while legislation moves forward that undermines the rights of our brothers and sisters in other public employee unions,” Mahlon Mitchell, State President of the PFFW said in a statement today.

“We work with these public employees every day and cannot support a two-tier collective bargaining system that treats them so different than we are treated.

“We are all dedicated public servants. We each have unique duties and responsibilities and all are important to making our communities better places to live, work and raise our families.

“We therefore call on state legislators to reject the portions of the Budget Repair Bill that would permanently undermine the state’s collective bargaining law,” Mitchell concluded.

We stand with you, Wisconsin.

That second video made me cry last night, I admit it. As someone else said on YouTube, “Solidarity is? better when it comes with bagpipes. Go Wisconsin!”

It looks grim, but we will keep Wisconsin in our thoughts and prayers while the vote remains delayed. Our family hopes that our Senators here in Ohio listen to the masses more than they have in Wisconsin. No on SB 5!

Wisconsin Firefighters March on the Capitol is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

I did not rock the blue and white as I didn’t want to have to explain myself every third minute as to what I was doing on the field at Ohio State taking photographs for an Ohio newspaper while being a Penn State fan. I was going for inconspicuous.

Speaking of inconspicuous, do you know how hard it was for me — ME — to keep my mouth shut during that first half of play? Me! The one who yells at the TV when watching games at home! The one who doesn’t have an inside voice! ME! I did a good job. I smiled. I thought things to yell. But I kept my mouth shut.

It was much easier to keep my mouth shut in the second half. Obviously. Despite the fact that “my” team lost, I have to admit: The Ohio State football experience is really unmatched. I’ve been on the field for a Steelers playoff game as well. That was awesome and unique in its own way. This? Today?

Amazing. Inspiring. Freaking awesome. Best day of work. Ever.

I’ll upload my real photos — you know, with the fancy pants camera — tomorrow. For now, I’m finishing a much deserved glass of wine and sending myself to bed. I earned a good night of sleep. Penn State and Ohio State fans alike may want to stop by tomorrow. Photos for both sets.

Until then, WE ARE!

Did I Mention I Love Football? is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

One of the parks was the Columbus Park of Roses. I didn’t know it existed. Despite the fact that no roses were in bloom (it is only March, after all) it was still fantastically beautiful. I caught some beautiful photos of the rose bushes that will soon spring forth with beauty, color and new life.

Throughout the park there are beautiful pathways. These pathways have 12×12 (and 8×8) engraved stones that people have purchased in honor or memory of someone in their lives. I enjoyed reading some of them as I walked and soaked up some much needed sunlight. Some included eulogies, like my favorite, “She never slowed down.” Others were wedding dates and names, most likely having been married during blooming season at the park.

And then I tripped over this one.

I literally read it as my foot passed over it and I had to stumble backward and reread it. I took a few pictures. I stood there for a few moments and wondered what individual or group of individuals thought to dedicate a stone in a park of roses to these firefighters. Was it someone who lost a loved one? Was it another firefighter who, living in Ohio, felt helpless in 2001? Was it a group of firefighters? Was it a family who felt a tug to honor their heroes? I don’t know the answer. Someone spent $200 to forever remember those firefighters.

I wish I could thank that person myself.

Fire life seems to touch so much of my own life. As we walked down the Short North last night after supper, a group of Columbus fire trucks raced to a scene that I assume was a false alarm. The aerial truck responded and a bit of fear pulsed through my veins. I didn’t get a picture because my fingers were frozen at this point, the sun having dipped down behind the buildings. But, like the stone in the park had said earlier that day, I gazed upon the scene with a hopeful heart that everything would be okay and said a prayer and a brief thank you. They may not be my firefighters from my department but they’re still part of our fire family, wherever I happen to be.

Even in a rose garden.

Thanking Firefighters with Roses and Stones is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

Open-burning is particularly dangerous in the spring and fall, when the leaves are on the ground, the grass is not green and the weather is warm, dry and windy. As a result, open burning in Ohio is prohibited in unincorporated areas in March, April, May, October, and November, 6 am to 6 pm.

A few weeks ago, my husband’s department had a large number of brush fires on their hands. In the month of March while the burn ban was in place during prohibited hours. Why? Sadly, not many people know about the ban or understand what and where burning is still allowed. That’s why sites like Ohio’s Department of Natural Resources are so awesome. It spells out in pretty easy to understand language that you simply cannot burn much of anything between the hours of 6pm and 6am during these months. If you are needing to burn the land for reasons like vegetation regeneration, you actually need to have it approved first. If you don’t, a wildfire that could not only endanger your property but people’s lives.

A brief look at other states shows me that we’re not alone in this one. As an example, West Virginia only lets you burn between the hours of 4pm and 7am. That begs the question: does your state have a burn ban in place? Some states are like Ohio and have specific months every year with limitations on burning. Other states watch things like air quality and weather and issue burn bans for specific counties as the need arises. Do you know how your state mandates burn bans? You can do a quick google search by entering “burn ban” and your state’s name to find out pertinent information. Of course, there’s an even easier way to go about it: simply call your local fire department. Whether they are a paid or a volunteer department, they will be able to give you the information that you need that will keep you, your neighbors and, in the end, those same firefighters safest with regard to this topic.

Please be safe. While it’s been rather chilly here, it’s also been relatively dry. Do your part and clean up the leaves and other debris. Keep your burning set to appropriate hours and on days without wind. And pass on the word to others about the burn ban or information that is pertinent to your state. We can all do our part to keep wildfires at a minimum this year.

Are You Following the Burn Ban in Ohio? is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

To start, FireDad walked to work today. There’s absolutely no way our vehicles were getting out of our private road (read: no plowing). Four wheel drive does nothing on a solid sheet of ice. Or, it may do something but it may be something that doesn’t get stopped when you get started thus causing you to careen off of our hill and onto the roof of the old school below our road. Not great. So he walked. Word is that he didn’t fall on his way. Either he’s telling the truth or is bruised and embarrassed. I’ll let you know tomorrow.

At 8:25 this morning, our apple tree looked like this:

That was while the ice was still falling. Well, I might be skewing the facts a bit. I don’t think ice was actively falling when I woke up (before 7:00, thank you very much, BigBrother) but it was falling when this photo was taken. Because as I leaned out of our front window (I’m a classy photographer), my hand and camera got wet. So, yes, active ice falling in this shot.

Then sometime after 11:00, I noticed the snow falling. And hard. At 11:48, I took this picture:

Same apple tree branch, now accumulating snow. In fact, after I snapped that photograph and while I was busy uploading, we went through a brief period of absolute White Out (and not the Penn State kind, either). I couldn’t see our back fence or my neighbor’s house. Right now (1:04pm), the wind is howling, the snow is blowing and it just keeps falling from the sky, piling on top of the ice which is on top of the snow that fell the other day which was on top of the leftover melted snow from the eight inches we had a week and a half ago.

NBC4i in Columbus, Ohio sometimes ignores us over here, about an hour (plus) east of the city, but watching the newscast let me know that we’ve still got a couple hours of snow left. I do know, thanks to their wonderfully organized website, that we are under a Level 2 Snow Emergency. What’s that mean?

Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow. Only those who feel it is necessary to drive should be out on the roads. Contact your employer to see if you should report to work.

Columbus is actually under a Level 3 which means that unless you are safety personnel, you aren’t allowed on the road. You could be arrested if you’re on the road without actual cause like, oh, I bet labor would qualify. And with a storm like this, I’m sure quite a few mothers are going into labor today. I wish them well.

At 2:10, I opened the window again, causing BigBrother to have a meltdown that he couldn’t hang out the window with me. Parenting fail.

According to the news Special Report on right now, the snow is “essentially over.” Now we get to deal with drifting and blowing due to the crazy winds that pushed the snow in, through and back out. The temperature has dropped six degrees since I noticed that the snow was stopping/stopped. However, I decided it was warm enough to shovel the snow off of the porch and front steps… without gloves. I will tell you that was a poor decision on my part. Just a heads up in case you’re like my friend Amy who commented on this post and said she broke the ice off of her front porch with a hammer. My tip: wear gloves. Seriously.

[I will continue to update this post until the craziness stops. Do you have a post about the Ice & Snow Storm hitting the midwest and other locations? Hit me up with a link. I'd like to pull them together tonight or tomorrow.]

Live Blogging the Ice & Snow Storm is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.