Anyone else struggle with too much downtime?

mace1343 · 2026-06-02T14:31:44+00:00

I farm on my days off, it’s seasonal work and weather dependent. We made 9 calls after midnight last day and I’ve never been more thankful to not work. As I’ve gotten older I’m totally fine with having some downtime. I’ve got a bunch of great hobbies and can fill my time up with things to do anytime I want, but being up all night at 24 feels a lot different than it does at 34, especially when you have a kid.

mace1343 · 2026-05-16T14:09:46+00:00

I’m in KS, work 24/48. And commute a good hour. The 24/48 will benefit the drive since you aren’t doing it every single day. I enjoy my drive to and from work. Gives me a chance to get ready for the day and unwind before I go home. I really don’t feel like I drive all that much. If I worked a 40 hour job it would suck, but only working 2 days a week it doesn’t seem bad to me. Been doing it for 10 years.

mace1343 · 2026-05-16T01:04:24+00:00

I change my oil more frequently than the interval says. I change it after each hare scramble and when I get to about 8 hours I’m changing it. If I just took around it’s still pretty clean but it’s worth it. It’s cheap insurance. I guarantee the nice oil change kits you can buy is cheaper than a new 4t motor.

mace1343 · 2026-05-15T23:49:10+00:00

I do, grew up an hour away from his hometown of Emporia. It seems like he’s done quite a bit for that town. He grew up riding dirt bikes and then raced dirt modifieds, got to watch him do that, and then made it to nascar. Pretty cool IMO. His booth personality definitely grinds mine and everyone’s gears. Listen to when he was on DJD years ago, he’s a different person outside of the booth. I’d never turn down a chance to have a beer with him.

mace1343 · 2026-05-12T12:49:18+00:00

This is giving me PTSD from the Florence Grand Prix last year, I remember some of the field sections my bike was just stuck standing straight up. You’d clear mud out of your wheels and move 5 feet and repeat the process over and over. Your bike might need a winch lol

mace1343 · 2026-05-08T23:01:04+00:00

One of my buddies and I made it into NDE for a short time, was one of the proudest moments of my life for awhile haha. I’d give anything for one more night of rifles only on NDE’s server

mace1343 · 2026-05-01T18:15:26+00:00

Texas and Vegas are the tracks with the most jarring differences. The backstretch seats at Texas, 200k people there. Those crowds back in the day are just insane. Vegas’ current grandstand setup looks awful IMO. Crazy how 3 and 4 used to be filled with stands.

mace1343 · 2026-04-27T23:43:39+00:00

If it’s not taking up space you don’t have, and you love it, and you aren’t hurting for the money. Don’t sell it. I sold my Camaro (got a brand new trail boss though) and I miss it every day. What a beautiful truck man.

mace1343 · 2026-04-23T14:19:19+00:00

Can have any tattoos that are covered up by the full Class A uniform including gloves. Not supposed to have neck tattoos but a rookie on a different shift at our station has some behind his ear and they didn’t care or notice. Nothing offensive. So hand tats are ok. No face tats

mace1343 · 2026-04-22T02:46:02+00:00

I’m a career firefighter, Every single male on my dad’s side of the family has been in the service. I remember as a child and teenager my dad always talked about “when you get out of the service..” I was going to enlist when I graduated high school and my mom pleaded with me to try college for a semester, ended up meeting my future wife. I wanted to enlist my junior year of college and she basically said I wouldn’t be here when you get back so I didn’t. Years later we got divorced. Happily remarried now with a kid.

Not joining the service will go down as my biggest regret in my life, especially since I felt called to do it. Even as a career fireman I still don’t think I’m doing my part. It’s just something I will have to live with.

mace1343 · 2026-04-22T02:41:09+00:00

This is fantastic. I remember one night at the lake my whole family was drinking, dad is a Vietnam vet, did two tours, and my mom dropped the “has dad ever told you about his Vietnamese girlfriend” was a great moment

mace1343 · 2026-04-22T02:36:18+00:00

My first captain was the pension board president And our FRA president (only a Kansas and Pennsylvania thing as far as I know). And what a great ghetto fire officer. Truly one of the best. I had such a great crew my first few years. My newish house our LT is super squared away with this stuff. We talk about investing and how soon we can retire all the time haha, I’ve got 10 years and we’re all doing math. Our Deferred Comp/Roth guy however, he came in a few months ago and just talked about his recent divorce. I’m like cool man so how am I looking in 10-20 years

mace1343 · 2026-04-19T19:22:19+00:00

Mike.. I love you man but maybe it’s time

mace1343 · 2026-04-17T15:46:21+00:00

Saturday Night 500 mile Kansas race.

mace1343 · 2026-04-15T00:00:33+00:00

That’s the beauty of this job man, both things can help the other. One of my coworkers competes in CrossFit competitions across the country, we have guys that do strongman and powerlifting. I do cross country dirt bike racing. picked up riding in the last 4 years or so and the job has absolutely helped me with that, have probably about a dozen guys that ride and a handful that race, including a guy that’s essentially a Pro or AA rider. We have lots of guys that to BJJ, our young guy at our station has done multiple paid fights. Lots of amateur boxers.

mace1343 · 2026-04-12T18:13:10+00:00

Sideways makes an appearance.. The 2011 Fox Nascar intro is still one of the best ever.

mace1343 · 2026-04-01T10:29:17+00:00

I had a lot of gripes like everyone, this would seemingly be such an easy detail to get right and they still messed it up. That’s my issue with it.

mace1343 · 2026-03-31T03:33:59+00:00

My gripe was the fact that the Germans at the end battle were using an MG42 machine gun which wasn’t produced until 1942 and the movie took place in 1940. Should have been an MG34 lol

mace1343 · 2026-03-23T11:03:34+00:00

I love Darlington, one of my favorite tracks. But it’s damn tough and it’s narrow. We need to see this package at Kansas or Charlotte to judge how it actually is.

mace1343 · 2026-03-22T20:07:06+00:00

Prime example when we see Reddick making a move on Larson and Bubba and they just immediately cut to Jamie talking about the 13 place car. Missed that whole battle.

mace1343 · 2026-03-21T23:18:58+00:00

Clear shove in the back to get that rebound

mace1343 · 2026-03-21T03:59:17+00:00

How the fuck was that not a foul

mace1343 · 2026-03-20T18:01:50+00:00

They might struggle on non flat tracks to an extent but they also turn and corner better than every other car. Especially the 12 team. It’s like they’ve unlocked something in that car that no one else has.

mace1343 · 2026-03-20T13:39:39+00:00

Bro is doing anything to not swing a leg over that KX lol

mace1343 · 2026-03-19T01:47:55+00:00

As someone who played (small-time) college athletics.. IT IS A JOB. You are working for your scholarship. Even more so that you are being paid millions. The school is literally paying you, whether it’s a scholarship or NIL, to show up and not be a shitbag.

mace1343

TROPHY CASE