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.

Thankful

Just wanted to throw this little list together for the holiday.

1. Family
2. Friends
3. Our pets - or "Monsters" as we refer to them
4. Holiday traditions both new and old
5. Mimosas and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
6. Sam
7. Being employeed
8. Friday Happy Hours
9. New adventures
10. My health
11. Sam being safe at work.

It's that time of year again.

To be honest, this image was too good to pass up. Who'd ever think to make a turkey shaped cake except Buddy, the Cake Boss?

I can't believe the holidays are upon us already and the new year just around the corner. And has it ever been a whirlwind of joy and crap. I can't complain. I've been quite blessed with with everything that has happened to me this year - I'll have to post my list tomorrow morning; much too exhausted tonight after waking at 5am for work plus overtime...again. In fact, I have yet to go home - currently at my parents house making an experimental pumpkin cheesecake for Thanksgiving tomorrow and waiting for them to get home to start and eat dinner.

Sam is working again this Thanksgiving so he won't get to enjoy festivities until Friday and Saturday. Then he'll have a nice little stretch off.

"We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude." - Cynthia Ozick

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone near and far. And if your officer is out there tonight, may he be watched over and kept safe so you can have Thanksgiving together when he comes home.

Winter blues

We've been busy. Really busy. Nothing new or exciting has really happened in all that time. I wish I had something more positive to report about Sam.

And me? Work was going fine this morning even in the freezing cold until like 20 minutes ago. I've just become depressively unmotivated to work today. I just learned (which I'm supposed to keep under wraps - shh!) that NFI's ( the company I work for) contract was denied for renewal by Triumph (we operate in their warehouse and shipping area). So by the end of this year I could be in limbo if Triumph doesn't want to hire me on. My boss said that the manager for Triumph did mention my name as someone he wants to roll over onto Triumph. He's been trying to get me to work for them since he started earlier this year.

It just sucks because if I leave to look for a job else where or decide to go to Triumph, I have to go through that lovely 90 days stint without benefits and I just got benefits and I was going to fill out for my 401K. I guess I'll have to reconsider that one. And to let my family and Sam know...yeah this is going to go over well. But at least I do have a high possibilty for the job, though I'm sure I'll have to apply for it, and negotiate my pay and title.

Both companies are supposed to be in talks today before publicly announcing to our little group about it. I'll definitely keep all up to date on this wonderful end of the year job chaos.

Let's have a riot

Sam is up with the sun today for work and he's not exactly happy about that. All yesterday he went on and on about how he didn't want to come into work today; a common occurrence in our house. But it's understandable. He's attending riot training all day today. In his words, he'll be getting gassed. I'm sure they'll be doing other things to train then just get gassed for 12 hours today.

Good luck at work today and see you when you get home.