We've ground to a halt on the basement reorganization of 2011. All of our house decorations, personal mementos, and things are organized and in bins. Shayne's LED stuff? Not so much. Some of it is in bins, baskets, and bags. Some of it is strewn on the shelves. There are a few things on the floor. I'm trying not to rip my hair out, because the man insists that it is organized. *snort*
Seriously, though, it is much better. It's not photo-worthy yet, but we have made lots of progress. We need to figure out exactly what's going on with the "family room" portion of the room, because that will dictate where we put things away over on that side.
Progress is so slow when you don't ever have time off with your spouse. But speaking of that... I have something in the works that may solve it. There's a good chance that I'm going to transfer into an IT position at work and be on day shift. I have seriously mixed feelings about this. It will, unfortunately, take me off road patrol for a while, but the trade-off is that when I get pregnant again (this summer??) I won't have to worry about "light duty". I'll also have a position where I can pump at work and not worry about the logistics. I'll also have my evenings with Shayne and Ethan. We'll be able to have dinner together, and I'll actually get to cook it!
I'm a bit sad about it, though. I'll really miss my guys from the road. We have lots of fun, and I missed them a lot when I was pregnant last time. I'd also miss the feeling of directly making a difference in people's lives. Granted, not all of them are exactly grateful for our interference, but sometimes... sometimes you know that you have truly helped someone. Or when everything comes together and you catch the guys that held up the pizza delivery person. Or the chronic shoplifters from a pharmacy. Or even just a drunk driver that could have killed someone. When everything happens just right, there's such a rush of accomplishment. Even if you're not instrumental to making it happen, just being a part of it and knowing you're making the world a safer place is a great feeling.
I should know what's going on by March. I guess it's already been approved for me to transfer, but we're waiting on our new recruits to be done training so that our manpower is up where it needs to be. We'll see what happens!
Showing posts with label Work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Work. Show all posts
11/04/2008
Saying goodbye to a friend
On Saturday afternoon we lost a friend and coworker to a DUI crash. Craig Toner, the Town Marshal of Roseland, was killed after being hit and then run over by a drunk driver. I knew Craig through work; Roseland backs us up on a lot of our calls, and we help them out as well since they are a small department. He was a good person, always willing to help out, and he will be sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers are with Toner's family and friend, as well as our brothers and sisters in blue.
9/15/2007
Housiversary
The anniversary of our 2nd year as homeowners went by without us even noticing. On August 24, 2005, we took possession on the Prairie Box. In the past year, we've accomplished very little as far as the house goes... The living room still isn't done, the office is a big mess, and our budget has sort of disappeared. On the plus side, the stairway is all but stripped; the all of the woodwork (except for the door and window headers) is scraped, sanded, and awaiting stain; and the original garage has been insulated and drywalled to use as a workshop. We also found the door under the paneling in the office...
But for me, this past year has been more about personal progress than house progress. In February I was promoted from correctional officer to patrol officer, and since then I've been working my butt off training for my new job. I've gone through about 4 months of on-the-job training, followed by 15 weeks of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. It's been extremely fulfilling and exciting, but I haven't had any time off in about 18 months. It's been really rough to be gone 5 days per week, and the days that I'm gone, I'm working my ass off. Literally. I've never been overweight or really out of shape, but with all of the running and PT I've done (voluntary and mandatory), I'm definitely in the best physical condition I've ever been in.
But when I come home, I'm tired, sore, and stressed. Throughout my weeks of training, I've engaged in mock vehicle pursuits, performed high-risk traffic stops, been shot with Simunitions (soap-filled 9mm bullets fired out of real handguns) during live-fire exercises, gotten my ass kicked during groundfighting and physical tactics training, been exposed to OC/CS spray (apparently once wasn't enough, eesh!), and lived away from home in a paramilitary environment. It doesn't sound quite as bad when I write it out, but it's enough to stress me out even though I've had a lot of fun as well. I sometimes wonder how Shayne has put up with me during this time, but he does, and he's been wonderful and supportive throughout my training. I graduate in less than a month, and we can't wait until our lives return to some semblance of normal and we can take a vacation!
My goal right now is simply to finish the living room. We're so close right now. If I can just have it done in time to decorate the house for Christmas, I'll be a happy individual.
But for me, this past year has been more about personal progress than house progress. In February I was promoted from correctional officer to patrol officer, and since then I've been working my butt off training for my new job. I've gone through about 4 months of on-the-job training, followed by 15 weeks of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. It's been extremely fulfilling and exciting, but I haven't had any time off in about 18 months. It's been really rough to be gone 5 days per week, and the days that I'm gone, I'm working my ass off. Literally. I've never been overweight or really out of shape, but with all of the running and PT I've done (voluntary and mandatory), I'm definitely in the best physical condition I've ever been in.
But when I come home, I'm tired, sore, and stressed. Throughout my weeks of training, I've engaged in mock vehicle pursuits, performed high-risk traffic stops, been shot with Simunitions (soap-filled 9mm bullets fired out of real handguns) during live-fire exercises, gotten my ass kicked during groundfighting and physical tactics training, been exposed to OC/CS spray (apparently once wasn't enough, eesh!), and lived away from home in a paramilitary environment. It doesn't sound quite as bad when I write it out, but it's enough to stress me out even though I've had a lot of fun as well. I sometimes wonder how Shayne has put up with me during this time, but he does, and he's been wonderful and supportive throughout my training. I graduate in less than a month, and we can't wait until our lives return to some semblance of normal and we can take a vacation!
My goal right now is simply to finish the living room. We're so close right now. If I can just have it done in time to decorate the house for Christmas, I'll be a happy individual.
7/22/2007
The Academy: Week 1
Week 1 was something of a revelation. Jason (the other new recruit) and I drive down to Plainfield on Sunday night, since we had to register by 0740 hrs on Monday morning. We were both incredibly nervous, having heard horror stories about the terrible food and the evils of the drill instructors. Neither of us was looking forward to the next 13 weeks.
By Monday morning we were a little less nervous, but neither of us had gotten much sleep. We registered, then stood in the doorway of the little auditorium where we had been told to go for briefing. I think we maybe had a foot each out in the hall, but it was enough to incur the wrath of a drill instructor. "Get your asses out of my hallway!" he shouted. We scrambled into the auditorium, then looked at each other, wondering what we had gotten ourselves into.
All through the briefing, I could see the drill instructors up by the doorways, hovering like angry shadows in their black BDUs and straw hats. I pride myself on being an independent and somewhat fearless person, but I was more intimidated than I think I ever have been in my life. In the background we could all hear the state police recruits getting yelled at by their drill instructors. All I could think about was how long these 13 weeks would seem to last.
After briefing we were sent out numerically to be issued our linens and towels and bring our gear from the cars to our rooms. A guy in front of me was very intimidated and turned the wrong way down one of the hallways. A D.I. swooped down on him without mercy, berating him loud enough for everyone in the building to hear. He got flustered and asked a question, which only resulted in him getting yelled at for not paying attention the first time. I put my head down and hoped nobody would notice me and I wouldn't screw up.
It was back to the auditorium after collecting our gear, without any time to unpack or attempt to settle in. We were told the rules and expectations, then turned over to the drill instructors so they could "have some fun" with us before lunch. We'd been assigned squads upon arrival, then each squad was placed into order by height. Each recruit was assigned a particular tile on the gym floor. That tile is ours until we leave the academy. We were taught the intricacies of the position of attention, and I thanked God for my 4 years of marching band. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad...
Some people weren't so quick to catch on that when you're at attention you do not look around, especially at the D.I.s. One unfortunate guy made the mistake of scratching his face, and he was made to scratch that same spot until the D.I. was satisfied that it wouldn't itch anymore. Then we were all placed into the "front leaning rest" position (the up position of a push-up) to get acquainted with our tiles. I don't know how long we were down there, but it felt like an eternity. We were then made to "stand" at attention face down with our noses on the floor. I don't know about everyone else, but I was thrilled to be laying there unable to see anything around me. Throughout this entore lesson in drill, the D.I.s were shouting at those unfortunate enough to make a mistake or to catch their attention. Thank God I wasn't one of them.
We were marched down to the chow hall at a 6 inch interval, which meant that we looked like a train wreck as we all crashed into each other and tried desperately to stay in step to a non-existent cadence. Chow wasn't much of a break, as there are protocols for the way you can get your food and how much you can take. There was also no talking, and we were given maybe 10 minutes to wolf down our food. Through it all, the D.I.s were still yelling, and I was wondering how I'd ever survive the week, let alone 13 of them...
By Monday morning we were a little less nervous, but neither of us had gotten much sleep. We registered, then stood in the doorway of the little auditorium where we had been told to go for briefing. I think we maybe had a foot each out in the hall, but it was enough to incur the wrath of a drill instructor. "Get your asses out of my hallway!" he shouted. We scrambled into the auditorium, then looked at each other, wondering what we had gotten ourselves into.
All through the briefing, I could see the drill instructors up by the doorways, hovering like angry shadows in their black BDUs and straw hats. I pride myself on being an independent and somewhat fearless person, but I was more intimidated than I think I ever have been in my life. In the background we could all hear the state police recruits getting yelled at by their drill instructors. All I could think about was how long these 13 weeks would seem to last.
After briefing we were sent out numerically to be issued our linens and towels and bring our gear from the cars to our rooms. A guy in front of me was very intimidated and turned the wrong way down one of the hallways. A D.I. swooped down on him without mercy, berating him loud enough for everyone in the building to hear. He got flustered and asked a question, which only resulted in him getting yelled at for not paying attention the first time. I put my head down and hoped nobody would notice me and I wouldn't screw up.
It was back to the auditorium after collecting our gear, without any time to unpack or attempt to settle in. We were told the rules and expectations, then turned over to the drill instructors so they could "have some fun" with us before lunch. We'd been assigned squads upon arrival, then each squad was placed into order by height. Each recruit was assigned a particular tile on the gym floor. That tile is ours until we leave the academy. We were taught the intricacies of the position of attention, and I thanked God for my 4 years of marching band. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad...
Some people weren't so quick to catch on that when you're at attention you do not look around, especially at the D.I.s. One unfortunate guy made the mistake of scratching his face, and he was made to scratch that same spot until the D.I. was satisfied that it wouldn't itch anymore. Then we were all placed into the "front leaning rest" position (the up position of a push-up) to get acquainted with our tiles. I don't know how long we were down there, but it felt like an eternity. We were then made to "stand" at attention face down with our noses on the floor. I don't know about everyone else, but I was thrilled to be laying there unable to see anything around me. Throughout this entore lesson in drill, the D.I.s were shouting at those unfortunate enough to make a mistake or to catch their attention. Thank God I wasn't one of them.
We were marched down to the chow hall at a 6 inch interval, which meant that we looked like a train wreck as we all crashed into each other and tried desperately to stay in step to a non-existent cadence. Chow wasn't much of a break, as there are protocols for the way you can get your food and how much you can take. There was also no talking, and we were given maybe 10 minutes to wolf down our food. Through it all, the D.I.s were still yelling, and I was wondering how I'd ever survive the week, let alone 13 of them...
5/17/2007
Coming clean
Lest you think I've fallen off the planet, rest assured that I'm still here. Not so productive, but here. And, in case you think I'm a complete putz and never accomplish anything, I do have something of an excuse. In February, I was promoted from corrections officer to police officer. At the end of that month, I moved out of the jail and into dispatch to begin my training. At the beginning of April, I began my field training, which I'm still working on. I should be done by the end of May, and then I'll ride double with another officer until I go to the police academy in July. I'll graduate in October, and then my life will hopefully return to some semblance of normalcy.
Since being promoted, I've been pretty stressed out. Most of it is good stress, but when I come home, I just don't feel like doing anything. I went through about a 6 week period where I was lucky if I could get 6 hours of sleep per night. I've been so wound up and excited and nervous... I think now it's starting to pass, and I've been getting more sleep and feeling a little more normal. Just in time for me to start getting nervous about the academy. The part I'm most nervous about is the physical agility test, which is on June 26. I know I can pass, but if for some reason I don't, my career is over. No pressure there...!
Bue enough excuses... Here's what else we've been up to. Shayne decided to make the back part of the garage his workshop. Over the past few days, he's cleared it out, cleaned it up, and painted the floor with an oil-based primer/sealer. Today he put on the final coat of paint, making the floor a nice, clean gray. Next up is insulation and drywall...
I've been busy pruning our trees and shrubs, along with weeding our flower beds in preparation for making them into raised beds like we did in the front. We're also going to install a brick patio behind the parking pad next to the garage. It's currently a flower bed, but a rather unsuccessful one. I can't keep it weeded long enough to make it look nice, and I haven't come up with any other ideas for it. We have been planning to add a patio, but were unsure where we wanted it. This area is already grass-free, reasonably sized, and convenient to the house and garage for storage. Shayne's uncle has a roto-tiller, which we'll be using to get rid of the weeds, and we can hopefully get started on that within a few weeks.
Since being promoted, I've been pretty stressed out. Most of it is good stress, but when I come home, I just don't feel like doing anything. I went through about a 6 week period where I was lucky if I could get 6 hours of sleep per night. I've been so wound up and excited and nervous... I think now it's starting to pass, and I've been getting more sleep and feeling a little more normal. Just in time for me to start getting nervous about the academy. The part I'm most nervous about is the physical agility test, which is on June 26. I know I can pass, but if for some reason I don't, my career is over. No pressure there...!
Bue enough excuses... Here's what else we've been up to. Shayne decided to make the back part of the garage his workshop. Over the past few days, he's cleared it out, cleaned it up, and painted the floor with an oil-based primer/sealer. Today he put on the final coat of paint, making the floor a nice, clean gray. Next up is insulation and drywall...
I've been busy pruning our trees and shrubs, along with weeding our flower beds in preparation for making them into raised beds like we did in the front. We're also going to install a brick patio behind the parking pad next to the garage. It's currently a flower bed, but a rather unsuccessful one. I can't keep it weeded long enough to make it look nice, and I haven't come up with any other ideas for it. We have been planning to add a patio, but were unsure where we wanted it. This area is already grass-free, reasonably sized, and convenient to the house and garage for storage. Shayne's uncle has a roto-tiller, which we'll be using to get rid of the weeds, and we can hopefully get started on that within a few weeks.
4/26/2007
Officer Down... Again.
Right on the heels of the 1 year anniversary of Cpl. Scott Severns, South Bend Police lost another officer in a shooting incident. Cpl. Nick Polizotto was shot and killed on April 24, 2007. His partner, Ptlm. Mike Norby, was also shot, but survived.
This is happening much too frequently. Just one police officer being killed is too many, but we're averaging at least 1 line-of-duty death per year in this area. Thankfully, none have been from my or Shayne's department, but it's no less a tragedy. It affects us all, whether we knew the victim or not. It seems like so few people have any respect for the law, and even less respect those of us who have sworn to uphold it. It makes me so angry when an officer is killed. I know that we choose this career, knowing the risks, knowing we may be called upon to make that ultimate sacrifice, but it's so unfair. Our country shouldn't need to be defended from its own citizens.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Cpl. Polizzotto and with the South Bend Police family.
This is happening much too frequently. Just one police officer being killed is too many, but we're averaging at least 1 line-of-duty death per year in this area. Thankfully, none have been from my or Shayne's department, but it's no less a tragedy. It affects us all, whether we knew the victim or not. It seems like so few people have any respect for the law, and even less respect those of us who have sworn to uphold it. It makes me so angry when an officer is killed. I know that we choose this career, knowing the risks, knowing we may be called upon to make that ultimate sacrifice, but it's so unfair. Our country shouldn't need to be defended from its own citizens.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Cpl. Polizzotto and with the South Bend Police family.
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