Bad Apples

Just found out from my mom that my younger brother has been arrested again. His unlawful antics have created quite a burden on our family. Its been especially rough on my parents and its hard to watch them have to go through all of this.

I just wish he would man up.

Worst Mother of the Year award

In this line of work, Sam meets some colorful, quirky and most often deplorable characters. And I get to hear all about them. The drunks probably make for the best stories. Like over the weekend Sam pulled over a girl who was drunk and while trying to give her the field sobriety tests she went on and on about taking off her shoes. Back and forth about them and when she finally took them off, Sam said to place them on the hood of his patrol car. She wouldn't put them on the hood because she didn't want to ruin the paint. She was a hoot to watch on the video.

But then you get the people who are just lowest forms of life on the face of the earth. Sam was late coming home from work the other morning because of a DUI stop and arrest. He had pulled over a woman with a child in the backseat. He smelled alcohol coming from the car. But wait it gets better... or in her case worse. The woman is pregnant! Really lady? Sam said she was over the legal limit when he had stopped her. It's just so sad. She's endangering the lives of her children. Yeah, definitely worst mother of the year right there.

Stand Tall and Strong

Back to the grind

Its. The. Final. Countdown!

Sam goes back to the graveyard grind the day after tomorrow. Oh yikes! I have a pair of uniform pants to sew somewhere in this house.

He gave them to me to sew but it was during his days off before his surgery and that was three months ago. No rush then. I should have just sewn them and got it over with before having to scramble to get it done now.

Blowing bubbles

Sam had his follow up the doctor yesterday. His shoulder has been getting better but he is still in some pain and discomfort following certain motions. Like he tried putting on his gun belt, something he hasn't done since the middle of May. The verdict is in: another month of light duty in the office.

I don't think he's happy. He'll be bored unless they televise some other trial for him to watch off his phone. He did report that the ladies in the office are super excited. They like having him in there because he gets all the work done. I think they've been backlogged on their paperwork.

His other spot of brief news is that he probably wouldn't get the traffic position when going back on full duty. He definitely doesn't want to go back to day shift though...even if I would love it.

Luckily, one of his Lt.s stuck their neck out and it looks like Sam is going to be guaranteed into the Traffic Division. Drunk drivers better watch out when Sam is on duty!

Please stay safe!

I can imagine everyone is upset about the verdict and acquittal of the George Zimmerman trial. Sam was saying (before the verdict was given) that if Zimmerman was found not guilty the department may have to move him from light to active duty in preparation of riots in the city.

We were driving back from my parents when we heard the news on the live stream. All ready to go to bed when we got home to full blown vigil of if he would get the call to go in. We'd been so certain that the jurors would have gone with manslaughter. Of course his phone blew up from fellow officers talking about the verdict but luckily no official call to go in. Luckily it seems, the city and much of Florida didn't seem to partake in the riots that I've read other cities and departments are having to deal with.

I know it's been a few since the initial riots but the people are still experiencing unrest. And unfortunately the police probably have the largest target on their backs. Your presence is the most public.

(disturbing images of Oakland riots after the acquittal in Zimmerman trial - via NBC news)

Stay safe and stand fast brothers and sisters in blue.

Gonna need a storm warning

Sam is doing well since his shoulder surgery earlier this month - he had a bone spur on the end of his clavicle that was tearing up the muscles and tissue in his shoulder. I would say he has about 85% full range of motion and if keeps up with his exercises he'll be back to his old self in no time at all. He also got cleared for light duty yesterday and will be back at work doing odds and ends in the department office starting Monday - no more late nights and sleeping in for this guy!

And wouldn't you know it, it's that famous time of year here in Florida - HURRICANE SEASON! This year I want to get us prepped. Only took three or four years to get there. I think because I've lived in the state all my life and have always dealt with hurricanes that I guess that it's no big deal (I'm sure there are so many others that think this way too). And mainly because my parents were always the ones doing all the prepping.

So instead of working, here I am looking up Hurricane Prep (but you know, it is kind of work related). During my search I've stumbled across FEMA's page (site) and saw they have a section dealing with first responders and their families. I haven't gone through this whole brochure (Here: Ready Responder Toolkit)but it looks well put together - it's in a nice PDF file so you can save it to your desktop if needed. And it can probably serve as a nice guideline for other severe weather climates.

We've been lucky here so far that we haven't had a severe enough storm where Sam has had to bunker up at the department for the duration of the storm. I think I worry about that the most. I would hate to be separated from him during a disaster of some sort and left to fend for myself and four critters (that's right, I said four. We just added a new dog to the mix - Zelda, black lab mix puppy). Dealing with them is a hurricane in it's own right.

And since season starts tomorrow, I guess I need to start building our emergency kits. I'll have to make a post of everything I include. Suggestions are always welcomed!

To Boston, We're With You. With Love, Florida

Ever feel the need to throw in a little Wong Foo and Julie Newmar into the mix.

I was at the AT&T store with my parents upgrading our phones when the headlines on Boston came out of the TV.

I've got my mom and the sales consultant (who just so happened to be a Bostonian) were trying to talk to me about phones and plans all the while I'm too distracted by the scenes on the news. Not to be harsh or insensitive in any way, but it felt like a 9/11 moment. I haven't looked at any of the news lines or images from the explosion, especially staying away from the story about the little boy - I just don't think I could just yet.

But I wanted to share the good that has come out of this terrible incident. Here are a few snippets taken of the everyday heroes that put on their capes and took to the streets and the web. I'm sure there is more out there.

photos-15-acts-of-kindness-during-the-boston-blasts

I'd like to kick you where the sun don't shine

Taking time out of my work day to rant.

Sam texted me right after lunch, not sure when the recruiter called him today but he's not going to get hired with the City. Sucks.

They rejected him because his chief told them not to. It goes back to this deal the chiefs of the two city departments struck up because they were losing officers left and right. This would be the second time he's been rejected for that reason.

Of course Sam is pissed and you can't blame him. What's worse is that the chief has told the department that they shouldn't feel trapped or pressured into staying, and if they want to leave the department they are more than welcome - of something to that affect.

I met him a few weekends ago at an award and recognition ceremony that Sam was a part of and right away I didn't like the guy. He seemed fake, at least that was the vibe I got from him.

Doesn't look like there is anything Sam can do except continue to put up with his department. I'm sure I'm never going to hear the end of it when he gets home tonight.

Maybe he can try putting in for the County. I don't think they had any kind of stipulations with his department about hiring.

His mind is made up

Sam told me this morning as we're getting ready for work that he's made a monumental decision. He's going to be putting in his application to the County. "Go Green!" And he's also putting it in for the other City department again ..."Go Blue."

I mean it's nice that his department is putting him through all the special classes and certification courses, but he was a little fed up with the last one in that he had to use his own vacation/sick time in order to attend the class during his work schedule. And the fact they haven't approved the step plan on getting him a raise. His whole department has gone without one for about 8years I think he said. And with the cost of their insurance and benefits going up, it's hard to keep up.

Fingers crossed everybody!!! Let's hope he gets in.

Fresh start upon the horizon?

Sam recently talked to me the other day on the way to dinner at my parents that the our house has increased in value on the market. Already he's making plans of talking to a realtor of what we could sell the place for. Nothing is set in stone but I've spent all afternoon looking at homes for sale.

Tons of houses for sale, I had no idea. Just about everything built from the 80s and 90s, cute little single family homes and more affordable. Then there were the newer homes. Nicely built, a little more on the expensive side and there is the instance of Chinese drywall. Something we'll have to keep in mind when we're house hunting.

If we do move, I'm going to miss our little dwelling. So much has happened here in such a small amount of time.
***
Poopy, Sam just called. He doesn't know when he's getting in. There was a fire in the county and apparently the whole department is out there and he's helping divert traffic.

5:30 AM, too early for tasks?

On my way to work I got thrown a little task to work on. As if driving at 5:30am isn't difficult enough.

Usually when I'm driving to work, I will see on average 1 cop sitting in his little parking lot waiting for something to happen or playing games. I'll see a few at Dunkin Donuts but that doesn't really count. But that's when I'm almost at work

Well this morning, I hadn't really gotten far from the house when I see a cop car sitting just off the intersection no lights. Okay, I come over the bridge and sitting at the light opposite me is a cop car with no headlights on but just the red/blue lights on the front grill going. Very strange, make my turn and keep going. I'm starting to hit some of the more major roadways. There's another cop sitting a little bit away from the intersection but no lights, a couple miles on and there's too more sitting a few feet from each other in the middle of the roadway - one had his back white lights flashing. Oh look another one!

Time to make the phone call. I call Sam and ask if there's anything going on in the city this morning. He asks why. I say the cops are pretty much everywhere. Him - Where am I and how many have I seen? Me - almost to US1 and I've seen maybe 8-10 officers. So while I'm on the phone he gets on the radio with dispatch, something I didn't think he would do but I guess it's legit.

Turns out they had set up a perimeter because they were looking for a stolen lawn care truck and trailer. He tells me if I see it to call 9-1-1.

Good lord what a morning and it's barely even started.

Turbulence

The past few months I've been absent from here and I hate it. I have yet to follow through with anything on my life resolution post. This past month has been just about the worst ever.

On the same day that Sam went to the doctor about his shoulder. It's been bothering him since late last year - I can't remember if I posted on it or not. I'm pretty sure, after watching the dash cam footage that he got it at work, but it didn't start to bother him until a week after the incident. So on 2/28/13 when he saw the doctor for his steroid shots and possible talks of surgery there was a horrible crime committed against a fellow officer.

The whole ordeal of that day put Sam in quite a nasty funk. He's just starting to come out of it now and getting back to his usual self. I'm hoping with our upcoming weekend to the Florida Renaissance Festival will put more spirit in his step.

Sergeant Morales - Our prayers and love are with you and your family in this dark hour. Love Marie and Sam.

2013

Sam and I were at a personal best, we made it to 10pm last night! Last year we had his parents over and they left around 6 and by 6:45pm we were both in bed. Even my parents were up until 1am last year. We did stay up to midnight though the first year we were together....eventually we might get to that point again.

This year I've decided to come up with a life resolution rather than just one for the year because it seems that year resolutions don't seem to make it past the first month and I'd like to work on these for the next few years and maybe even longer than that.

In no particular order:

• Exercise regularly at least 3x a week to lose about 30lbs (goal is between 125-127lbs - currently at 153lbs), tone muscles and maintain figure.
• Drink more water and tea
• Eat healthier and work on portion control.
• Take vitamins and get to bed at a more normal hour (this will be good once he's on days within the next month, because we'll both be on the same schedule)
• Finish writing fantasy novel series (at least books 1-3), work on art and crafts for Etsy store.
• Blog more. I kind of got away from it towards the end of the year.
• Don't let work stress get me heated and follow me home. Work limited overtime per week - only about one or two days. Get further organized and cleanup aging work.
• Don't let Sam's work stress me out and keep me up at night. (This will probably be the first one I break...tomorrow!)
• Have more date time with Sam.

I'm sure I've forgotten something but I'll be sure to add it.