Week 3

Week 3

The week started with with the realization that I was already into a routine. The first thing is a change in routine. I actually arrive EARLY for work and not just 30 seconds. I’m sure part of it is the later start to my day and the shorter commute but I finally followed Dena’s persistent suggestion (not nagging mind you) that I make a habit of arriving early. (She’s right but don’t tell her.)

I’m learning my morning tasks but still forget to get the mail till after lunch sometimes but most of the day is open so I keep spending most of my time working on the rules and regulations manual. Now that’s another subject altogether.

Should it be called rules and regulations or policy and procedures or general orders and what difference does it make? I don’t know but I’ve changed my mind twice on just that issue. Poo!

Tuesday I decided that I would get in uniform and into a patrol car and explore the city a little. I’m lucky I didn’t have to find my own way to a call. I’ve got a lot to learn there too. I did go on one call and seemed to slip through a space portal to Owosso. I guess people are the same everywhere.

Wednesday morning when I walked in the office I saw three “used” stop sticks on the desk. There was a sudden swirl of thoughts in my head. “What questions should I ask?” “What questions will I have to answer?” and “So this is what it like be be the one responsible.” I used to get an adrenaline rush when heading to an exciting call, the anticipation of danger, dream of success, your heart racing created a thrill... and this was nothing like that. It was more like that moment you see the deer running toward the front of your car. Actually it was okay.

There was a chase of a stolen car on US-31 that came northbound in the southbound lane and Sgt. Morris and Officer Kozal used the stop sticks to help end the chase. The bad part is that somehow TV13 thought it was enough to put a sound bite of mine in their story which means I’m supposed to buy lunch for everyone in City Hall. I think I was set up.

I spent most of the rest of Wednesday in front of the computer working on “the project” and for all that time I didn’t feel like I got anything done. Thursday wasn’t much better. It seemed like it took a hour to type one sentence. (Maybe it did.) I really hate the feeling that you didn’t get anything done all day.

Friday was little better but just as I got started moving forward I ran into Microsoft. Oh, you all know what I’m talking about. I’m typing along and suddenly Word decides to reformat the whole document then by the time I got it straightened out my blood pressure meds were totally wasted. I made some headway but it’s gonna be a long road.

Have I mentioned that there’s a lot of snow here. When there was about 14 inches of snow I put a yard stick by my patio chair so I could see exactly how much there was. Now there’s only a small part of the middle that’s visible. There’s over 18 inches of snow on the ground. Is it summer yet?