Ummmmm yeah....

I think some of society's issues can be summed up in the call I backed a unit on today: Custody dispute where the father in question was having issues picking up his kids from the mother. The part that struck me being that he "wasn't sure what her name was."

You know, I do have an episode or two in my sordid past - but I just can't fathom having a child with someone and not even knowing their gorram name...

New link

For those not already reading it, I've added Raindogblue to the sidebar here. A street cop who does his posts in verse, poetry and other means - and who captures the job incredibly well in doing so. Drop by and give it a read, I have a feeling you'll like it.

Foggy

The past few days have gone by in a bit of a blur, and I'm not in full mental shape, but I'll do my best here...

- Thursday we were up early to drive to Highly Respected Hospital/Medical School east of here & see a specialist (pediatric rheumatologist) for Kyleigh about her persistent knee swelling & associated problems. Fortunately the visit went well - we finally have a diagnosis of sorts (juvenile arthritis - remains to be seen if related to mine or a separate issue,) a treatment plan, and most importantly a very competent doctor working on things. Thing the last part is the best, at least in terms of easing our minds. Too soon for a definitive prognosis of course, but he seems confident of the odds and that we caught things early enough.

- Came home from that and went straight out to the range for rifle re-qualifications on a record hot day of the year. The nice part was just going out to shoot & worry about my stuff, instead of teaching and babysitting others. But, it made for a long day & night, and the heat definitely wore me out.

- Had the phone ring last night at "is this considered really late or really early?" for a four-hour callout due to a bomb threat. Multiple agencies involved, at least one of which raised incompetency and a lack of communication to an art form; plus a hot night and a lot of work searching and doing things. On the good side, no device found & everyone got home safe.

All this has combined to leave me pretty much exhausted and mentally drained today. I have a feeling I need to talk with my own doctor about tweaking my medication a bit at the next appointment.

Finally, in the good news category, the little man turns five tomorrow. Hard to believe that it's flown by so quickly - so many things have happened since that first bit of news that yes, this child was actually going to make it. He's turned into such an incredible boy throughout the years - bright, full of energy and curiosity, and so sensitive and full of love that it amazes me. His mother and I spent the evening getting the last of the presents, cake and all such things ready for his big day, and I'm looking forward to seeing him smile at it all.

The daily bits

- Apparently some of our road supervisors have given up even the pretense of trying to call out the bomb squad for stuff. Hopefully this gets straight soon before someone gets hurt on another "nothing" call.

- I swear sometimes my truck must be invisible. I mean - it's bigger than some places I have lived, the big "POLICE" letters would you think be obvious, the whole blue lights on top thing - but yet again today I had someone go screaming by me in the triple digits on the interstate & then have that moment of shock when I not only followed them, but stopped them. Yes Virginia, police trucks can stop you just as well as the cars can...

- The guy the other night who got my gun pointed at him, some loud verbiage, and four tickets before we were done? Said gentleman called in to Internal Affairs today - to leave a COMPLIMENT for me... No, no misspelling there. He was apparently pleased with how I treated him, and not going to jail and all that. Sometimes folks still surprise me.

Teaching

Between Saturday night's DUI hunt and a bit of free time this afternoon, I got to help teach a few drivers some lessons I thought I'd share with the interwebz as well.

- Yes, we really do check on those stickers when they look like crap after you took them off your other car & taped them on this one... so don't act so shocked when I stop you for it.

When you're blowing past every car like it's standing still, and then leave a block-long scorch mark at the stoplight, again don't be so surprised you got my attention for a bit of a conversation.

- No, the whole "tears-and-my-parents-are-going-to-kill-me" routine won't get you out of a ticket when your license expired six months ago.

- These wonderful inventions called mobile computers let me double check the story on your driver's license, registration, insurance and all those other little things... and when I catch you in a bold faced lie don't blame me as you wave goodbye to the loaded tow truck.

- When it takes you a block to stop, you pull into a dark lot behind a building, and you pop out of your car in the middle of the night you're going to see the other end of my pistol and hear some very loud, aggressive and clear commands. Complying with them immediately will improve my mood; not making a series of dumb mistakes like that in the first place would be even better.

and, finally,

- Even if you were speeding enough for me to normally write you, when everyone else in the car is drunk, and you are demonstrably sober, and absolutely polite explaining you were just trying to get them home safely and hadn't had anything as the designated driver, you will get a smile and a thank you as I let you go.

Umm....

Has it really been a week since I've posted? Ooops... sorry... not my fault though. There was this thing, then this other thing, then a bunny... Fires, floods, and all sorts of other things.

Anyway, I'm sure my loyal minions will understand - now if I just had minions...

Got a chance to get my partner out of the kennel and back to training this week after our time off. The poor dog was just about bouncing in glee - did everything but look at me and use the words "Please, oh please, don't make me stay at home so long again!" We're back to our "normal" routine next week, which will be good for both of us.

Had yet another frustrating day at the range - getting very very tired of "experienced" cops who don't know any gorram weapon safety rules, and of having guns pointed at me. I swear I need to start taking a TASER to the range as a reminder.

Our other current frustration is the fact that we aren't getting called out for things we should because they don't want to spend the overtime money if they don't have to... So, we have patrol officers clearing packages on their own, or places not getting a dog search because we are off (even though available.) The bad part is the only way it will get resolved is when someone gets hurt - and then of course all the finger-pointing will start.

On the other hand, spent a long call last night helping another agency. Crazy guy left his car at the gate, while making suspicious statements and then running away - so we had to treat the whole thing as a threat. Shutting down roadways, calling road units for support and plenty of staff showing up. Plus sweating in the bomb suit as we try to check everything out in the heat and humidity. Fortunately nothing to it - except for the dead bunny that was left under his seat for some reason... Even when we picked him up later & before he went to spend a few days for mental observation he wouldn't explain the rabbit thing. You can guarantee I used plenty of hand sanitizer after finding that though.

Ambulance Driver has a great post up reminding folks about the immigrant heritage of this nation (even Natives like me had ancestors immigrate at some point), and a point of perspective some need to remember...

I'll leave you with your Firefly moment of the day - a YoSaffBridg video from a group I've never heard of, but which I think meshes nicely somewhere in the 'verse.

Some perspective

An interesting link here - use the sliding scale to realize how big and small we are all at once in the scheme of things...

Health news

In this week's lesson from the medication front: When the warning label on the medicine says "May cause sensitivity to sunlight" what they mean is that after a week of dealing with the effects of a few hours at the beach, you would much prefer to have gotten some simple second degree burns and peeling, than to be dealing with the spreading rash and insomnia and other fun.

So, this formerly able to tan nicely half native will be investing in some SPF 10 million soon I guess...

The Secret Manual

Apparently my mom & Sarah's parents got it from the same publisher:

That chapter wasn’t included when my parents’ edition was published. Instead, their version of chapter five was called If I Count All the Way to Three, You’re Getting an Ass Whoopin’. Apparently, the limited-edition run that my parents received also included full-color diagrams that illustrated exactly what part of the body to spank, how hard, and how often. Mom and Dad perfected the fine art of the ass whoopin’ long before I was old enough for school; the fact that I’m the oldest demonstrates their ability to very rapidly learn new concepts.

Other chapters that my parents’ edition contained:

No, You Don’t Need a Freakin’ [Current, Hot Item]

I Don’t Care That You Bought That with Your Own Money: You Are Not Going Out Dressed Like a Prostitute

You Can’t Be Anything You Want to Be When You Grow Up: Understanding Limitations Based on Individual Personalities and Strengths (You Need Advanced Math Skills to Be an Astronaut, Kiddo)

Scream All You Want, But I’m Not Buying Ice Cream: “No” Means “No”

Go read the whole thing for a good morning laugh from those of us old enough to recall...

New look

Yes, trying one of the new Blogger templates here - if anyone has any thoughts or problems with how it is showing please let me know.

Also cleaned & added to the blog-roll a bit. If I left someone out or accidentally deleted anyone, or you would just like a link, please let me know.

Other than that, had two demon children today, so going to enjoy an evening of quiet now...

Glad that's over

Long, hot, annoying day at the range. I do hate having to yell, but I tend to get grumpy when weapons are pointed at me by inattentive folks...

Fortunately I'm home now - wife & kids all glad to see me, a nice dinner and now a quiet evening.

So how was your day?

Slow week

Been enjoying my days off - took a trip to the beach, got a bit of a sunburn, and time with the family, so not many stories to try to share.

Did have an amusing time in court this morning, watching a gentleman who didn't know when to stop arguing with a judge - turned a simple traffic ticket into double the fine & almost talked himself into jail. It was all I could do to keep a straight face after I said my piece.

Bits

- In watching TV tonight we have discovered that apparently you now need to subtitle the Southern accent for folks to understand it. Hmmm....

- The two winning lines are "The perfect storm of pork," and "Getting the pig bomb under control." Either one just has way too much potential for abuse...

- A local "service" has opened for want of a better term - it's called "College Tutors and Nannies," and I really hope that they have some sort of client screening process. While yes I do know what they are actually providing, I think it would be hilarious (although the wife forbid it) to go in as the perv customer trying to order a co-ed to meet the particulars desired... Just saying the name could be a bit better, that's all!

Insanity

In true fashion to the genre, I'm going gorram nuts because I can't find my copy of The Collected H.P. Lovecraft anywhere in the house, despite tearing every shelf apart....

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Advice for the clue impaired

When you slam on your brakes at the last minute, half of your car over the stop bar, keep inching forward until the light changes and then peel out from the intersection...

Don't act so surprised that you drew my attention enough to go ahead and run your plates and find out about your expired tags and license.

Just a thought.