John your recall is amazingly accurate, except for one small detail. In removing the hydrant harness the perpetrator stole not one but two bent pieces of metal suitable for removing hydrant caps and turning the water on.

To prove the fragility of my memory: who was your sceptical 7th grade instructor? Can you say "sheltered childhood?"

Note the use of the colon in the paragraph above. I believe that you are all rubbing off on me, and it's starting to give me a rash in the shape of the State of Pennsylvania.

I'll never forget a fire in the apartment building on 16th Avenue and 39th Street. They called in the "Super Pumper." As Tim Allen said, "More power! Argh argh argh!"

As I blog the Yankees lead the Mets 7-3 at the top of the 7th in the Bronx. Thank goodness for ESPN. I was womdering what Ray Romano was doing tonight and they neatly provided the answer.