Brief end of year post

Today was a much better day (in terms of my performance) at work - still a ways to go, but some of the dog stuff is starting to make sense. And yes, it is far more than just grab the leash and walk around, for those who wonder! But, we got some good training in & ended the week well.

I plan to take the family in this weekend when I feed and clean him to start the introductions - my partner can't come home to stay with us until I'm off light duty, so he's currently at the police kennels. I'll try to get a picture or two if he bothers to sit still long enough - right now he rivals Jacob for energy and desire to run around.

I should probably do some nice, introspective end-of-the-year discussion, but I just don't feel like it tonight. A lot happened this year - some good, some bad, some I couldn't control, plenty I brought on myself. But, all-in-all - my life is ending this year better than it was 365 days ago, and for that I am grateful.

I have a wonderful family I never dreamed of. A wife of beauty, strength and intelligence - we challenge each other, and both are far from perfect; but I still smile when I think of her at random moments and am amazed she still puts up with my own crap. I have two children that have every indication of being all I could have hoped for - intelligent, curious, happy and healthy. The fact that both of them think the greatest thing in the world is when I walk through the door; and that they have incredible smiles they share as they look in my eyes, makes any sacrifice worth it.

As for the blog - I have enjoyed being able to write and share my thoughts, and hopefully somehow grow from it. While I am nowhere near the caliber of many I admire, and will never have all their readers, I have been stunned at the ones who have wandered by and read my words and shared their own comments. So, I hope I can continue the same in the future.

In regards to the changing of the year (at least for those following the Gregorian model) -

I wish you all a happy, safe, and wonderful New Year.

For any I may have harmed, I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me - as I am seeking to forgive others.

Enjoy your day.

One tired puppy...

No, not the dog - me!

Yep, started working with my new partner this week.

First off, we are taking what is normally a 12-week school, and compressing it into six. So Sean has to be somewhat on the ball & play catch-up.

Second, I have a great, intelligent, enthusiastic & energetic two-year old Labrador retriever who loves his job (going out and finding explosives), and can't wait to do it every time as fast as daddy will let him.

And third, I am pushing 40, a few health issues recently that have slowed me down some, and coming off of six years of working midnights trying to adjust to a daytime schedule.

So yes, this all combines to have me a bit worn out! Between mentally trying to learn what I'm doing (I'm fortunate - this dog is already trained - HE knows what to do, I just have to figure out how to do my part correctly), and keeping up with him running everywhere he goes plus working the practice scenes, it's adding up. Not in a bad way - I'm certainly not complaining. And I can definitely say that I found a challenge of something new that I know pretty much nothing about (the dog side of things). But it's definitely a change from the life I was living this time last month, and yep it will take me a little bit to adjust.

Other than that, the new job definitely looks good. Much more personal freedom than I had even on midnights, and once I get done with school a bit more flexibility in my schedule as I need it. About the best comparison I have is when I moved over from the regular Navy to the special side of things - a corresponding increase in training and self-responsibility, but more trust to go with it.

So, sorry it's a light post tonight, but my brain is done & I also have a wife and children who don't feel well & need me well rested to assist.

I'll see if I can come up with more to share tomorrow.

Not much here, but visit the link...

For some reason I'm hitting one of my introspective, quiet moods again - nothing wrong, just a phase I go through here & there...

But

I would like to ask folks to drop by and wish my wife a happy birthday today! Comments to that effect would be appreciated by those up on the helm here.

What with taking care of two kids, an insane husband and everything else, sometimes she loses track of how incredible she is... So, hopefully today I will get a few chances to remind her.

Thanks ya'all.

The holiday greeting

I did want to take a moment to wish everyone out there, no matter what your faith or belief, a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Blessed Solstice, or whatever you may or may not prefer. May you find time this season to be with people who love you, and to enjoy a bit of happiness in your life.

Storytime

So I'm sitting in Domestic Court the other day, dealing with an unfortunately rather typical boyfriend/girlfriend dispute which involved him hitting her & tossing her around. The prosecutor is one that I work pretty well with, and since the defendant was gone when I got to the initial scene I am mostly around to verify what was reported and charged at this point.

The first sign that this was going to be fun was when the guy showed up without a lawyer and said he wanted to defend himself. Now, on some traffic tickets, this may be an alright choice... but for a criminal charge? No thanks - I'll take the professional who knows how a courtroom works, what laws apply, elements of the offense and all that stuff... but that's just me. This rule is pretty much proven true in this case as well though, since when he gets up to testify in his own defense, his statements pretty much make the case for us even without the victim.

Well during said assault he had helped himself to her cell phone from her purse, for which he got charged the larceny, along with some other alleged items. So as the prosecutor starts asking him about this in court he says sure, he still has the phone - he has it here today. Then, asking about what else he may have taken, he spouts off that yes he took a bottle of her medications from her purse, along with some other "drugs", because they were bad for her and she didn't need them...

I'm already shaking my head as the prosecutor jumps on this like a cat on a mouse. So what happened to those drugs?

Oh - I brought them here today as evidence. (Of what, I'm not sure.... )

And do you have a prescription for any of those?

No, like I said, I took them from her.

I'm just writing things down, more and more amazed as I listen to this guy not only dig himself deeper into his already-present hole for the larceny, but into brand new drug possession charges as he hands all the stuff over to us right in front of the judge.

So, instead of a nice, quick court appearance and going home, I end up spending the rest of my afternoon packaging 11 different kinds of drugs, plus writing a new report and swearing out new warrants. Which means I now get at least two more appearances in court with this guy, after watching what can only be described as a painful crash landing in front of the world...

The only good part is, he said now he "thinks he wants a lawyer for this stuff."

Nice to know some people CAN learn.

Preview spot

Question: What do you call someone who represents himself during a trial, and manages to talk a whole slew of fresh charges out of it?

Answer: Tomorrow's blog post, when I can get home at a normal hour and spend time with my family first!

Tune in for the fun.

Weekend stuff

Got up this morning & did a few house things, while my wife got the presents wrapped for the kids.

Worked on getting a "to-do" list going for the week in the new job.

Now she has gone to spend some time with her family & pick up our spawn, so I have the house for the afternoon.

Which started out by finishing up a viewing of "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" as I cleaned the work guns...

See, in my own way I am adapting to this weekend life!

Today

Woke up and had the privilege of spending the morning with two wonderful, intelligent, beautiful and unexpected blessings of my children; playing & laughing and just getting to be their father while mom went off to do some things she needed.

Bundled them off to spend the night with her parents, who are in town and bravely volunteered to help with the care of the two handfuls.

Took a wonderful nap (this daytime thing is still throwing me), then took care of some of my work stuff preparing for the new job.

Relaxed quietly in the house for a bit.

Took my wife of ten years today to a Spanish tapas bar in town, where we had a great meal that reminded us both of where we met and the life that grew from that point. Then we came home and spent some quiet time together before she went off to a VERY well deserved night of sleep with nothing to wake her before she is ready.

Now I'm sitting quietly, answering a few emails from friends old & new, and listening to music in a home with holiday lights and the warmth of a family.

I have nothing to complain about at all.

Updates

Figured out that I hadn't updated my blogroll in far too long, since I've been using Google Reader & not paying attention to it - so hopefully I've corrected that! If I've missed anyone who would like a link just let me know.

Remembering the balance

Marko makes an excellent point about the first and the second amendments here. I like to think the rest are in the same package - all of them support each other.

Well said sir!