The Day After Hump Day Thoughts

• I finally had to turn the heater on in the well house today...winter has arrived!
• Is it a good thing when your wife wants a gun for Christmas?
• The January schedule at work finally came out, I'll be going to day shift January 2, 2009.
• My middle daughter turns 20 Saturday. Thank God she made it through her teenage years.
• I have candles at my house, lots and lots of candles.
• There was a party last night that involved some underage drinking. When I ask the home owner why she was allowing this to go on, she stated that due to her house being so big, she could not keep up with who and what everyone in the house was doing...good grief.
• Just to let you know, at 3:45am, it is cold.
• I have received over 10 calls since I have been "cut loose", and I have not had to look at my map book yet.
• I can drink Racetrac hot chocolate all night long...I likes me some Racetrac hot chocolate.
• We have stats to keep up with at HVPD. You need to average 5 this and 5 thats and 5 thoses , each shift, and so on, with only two days worked this month, I'm above average so far, I got 7 thats last night.
• The cats and I are on the same sleeping schedule right now, it is really going to throw them off when I switch to days.
• I went to Wal Mart today, it is the first time I've been in a store since the "holiday season" is in full swing...two words...damn it.
• I wonder if the Rosetta Stone language software is worth the money.
• Christine and I went to Highland Village's Village Glows festival Tuesday night, what a nice time we had and the 35 foot Christmas tree is beautiful on the square.
• I want a Bill O'Reilly bumper sticker that says " I say Merry Christmas".
• I like the new show "Secret Millionaire".
• Happy Birthday to Jethro "Max Baer Jr" of the Beverly Hillbillies.
• We have a night vision monocular to use on midnight shift, I watched satellites in space last night, way cool. I thought at first it was an UFO and then I was able to "identify" it. At least I think I did.
• I like Beyonce's new song about "It you liked it, then you should have put a ring on it" , I am now learning the choreography, so I can break out at the Christmas party.
• You know you've slept good and hard when you wake up and you don't even know where you are, what time it is or what day it is. That happens sometimes to me even when I have had nothing to drink.
• It is official, Red, Hot and Blues, is the best BBQ ever...
• You just got through reading random thoughts from a very blessed man...

Till next time,

G

I am finally "CUT LOOSE"

Well, I made it, final phase, cut loose, E.O.T., on my own, cut loose...I passed training. Tonight will be my first night in Highland Village on my own. My own car (Unit 422), my own streets, turn when I want, go here or there when I want...I get to have my bag in the front seat with me, finally. Being cut loose has both its positives and negatives. The positives are some of the things listed above, like, I get to do what I want, go where I want, wherever I want...the Independence of being your own person and making your own decisions. However, the down side to all of that is you loose your "security blanket" your FTO (filed training officer). I have had three of the best FTOs I believe I could have ever had. Not only were they my trainers, but now they are my partners and friends. So it is with mixed emotions I venture out on my own tonight...I'll find my way...it is still just so new and exciting for me. A few things that should be mentioned about the HVPD FTO program that I must pass along to all those who read this here blog....

• If your FTO just got coffee, be very careful how you drive.
• If your FTO just got coffee, don't make him laugh so hard the coffee comes out of his nose...I have been informed that that really burns.
• Don't "lock out" the FTO's windows...it makes them feel like they are "not in charge".
• Don't review your FTO's reports and point out their mistakes...it hurts their sensitive self esteem and macho image.
• Don't hide your FTO's thumb drive....man, that really gets them going.
• Don't hog the MDC (vehicles computer)...you must share.
• When you turn on your 3 million candle power spot light, make sure it is not facing your FTO's eyes.
• When you and your FTO go for a midnight cruse on the golf cart, don't run his side through the sprinklers....because while you are laughing, they are not.
• Don't stand in front of the complainant, while your FTO is behind the complainant making faces...and laugh...you'll be called names.
• Don't ever lay your vehicle keys down around your FTO...they wont be there when you need them.
• When you are through with the computer, make sure you sign out...if you don't your FTO might send an email to the Captain and Chief using your sign on name. The email might be very sweet and caring.
• "Work in circles"
• Listen to every word and take all their advise, because through it all, their number one concern is your success.

To each of my FTO's...thanks from the bottom of my heart. I will do my very best to not let you down.

G

I'm thankful

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !

Things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving

• My wonderful family, my wife, mother, daughters and beautiful grandson.
• My wonderful fantastic job.
• Although my wife seems to think I am on my death bed, I am very thankful for my health.
• Good friends.
• An appetite for good pumpkin pie with a pecan strudel glaze on top.
• Very good economical vehicles that are paid off (thats the best part).
• Low debt.
• A warm (sometimes too warm) house in the winter and a cold one in the summer.
• Food in the pantry and back room.
• Peace in this Country, at least for now.
• Two healthy little kittens that get on my nerves and don't let me sleep, but they bring a smile to my wife's face and that's good enough for me.
• I'm thankful I had the opportunity to work in Azle, Texas.
• I'm thankful I had the opportunity to retire from Azle, Texas.
• I'm thankful that I feel confident I am going to have a wonderful future.
• I'm thankful to be able to have a nice TV to watch "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving".
• I'm thankful that the Dallas Cowboys are winning right now.

To each and everyone, have a very good day and happy holidays.

Greg

Happy Holidays

Nine whole years and counting

Approximately 9 years and 45 minutes ago, I married my very best friend. I can't say it has been a bed of roses these past nine years, but I would say it has been a bed of tulips at the very least.

The following is a VERY brief re-cap of the past nine years that have brought both happiness and sadness, but nonetheless, it is our life...a view from inside our own little part of heaven. Some of these are only one words...but they really say alot - to us anyway.

• Country life..
• The attack of the "Killer Ginny Hen"
• Skunks...skunks....skunks...SKUNKS...
• Cousin It tree take down
• Remodel
• Travel Miles
• Alaska
• Las Vegas
• South Carolina
• Georgia
• Florida
• Grandma and Nanny
• Northside
• China Doll
• Sentra = Conservative
• BASEBOARDS...ON MY GOD...THE FRIGGIN %^&$#$% BASEBOARDS
• Boat
• Tent Camper
• Coupons cutting
• Lia Sofia
• Socks
• Seps and Turbs..." Yes Honey, I'm okay!!!!!"
• Gall Bladder
• Don't drops weights on your big toes
• Don't leave rabbits in the heat and go away to class...they will die
• Goats
• ED the Emu
• Warm Cookies
• Turtle Cheesecake
• Fresh baked cupcakes
• " Millie "
• Oil cans in shoeboxes, they are good boxes...really
• Cleaning out barns for the 7th time
• Wood floors
• Picking the runt of the litter is not always so bad
• Short hair ain't that bad
• "Buta anyway sa Christie"
• I like being a "Punkin Noodle", I really didn't think I would, but really....its not that bad.
• When your job sucks....your home life sucks
• When your job is cool...your home life becomes better
• I love you and thanks for sticking with me for 9 years....
• I look forward to the next nine and the next and "so on and so forth"...

Hump Day Thoughts

• Today is "My Happy 9th Anniversary" eve.
• I finally noticed the leaves are really beginning to change colors here in North Texas.
• I'm not really sure if it is "leaves" or "leafs"...either way I know you know what I was talking about.
• Midnight shift ain't bad...the hours aren't kicking my rear like I thought they would.
• My wife brought some new fandangled cat hair picker upper gadget home tonight, the thing works pretty darn good. I think I am going to go into business making wigs or full body pelts for bald cats...I have enough hair right now to help out most bald cats in this country.
• Since I am adapting well to being awake during the night, I am beginning to wonder if my suprachiasmatic nuculi has somehow been damaged over the years...or if I just have very good ones.
• The 2007 Texas Crime Statistics came out recently, information that is published by the Texas Department of Public Safety from information local law enforcement departments provide to them. Azle's crime statistics are appalling.
• I am off tomorrow, Christine and I are going to a very nice restaurant for our anniversary.
• I saw gasoline for $1.63 today.
• I find the "Google Maps Street View" both cool and creepy as all get out.
• A DVR is a life saver if you work the midnight shift.
• I see more rabbits running around in the village at night that I ever could have imagined. Hundreds of them, all over the place.
• Most nights when Christine and I come home from eating or the store, we see deer in our front yard.
• It really is going to be weird working the holiday season.
• Je suis béni plus que n'importe quel homme devrait être!!!!

Dairy Queen Trivia

• In 1940, the first Dairy Queen store opened in Joliet, Illinois.
• The Dairy Queen in Rhome, Texas employees idiots.
• Banana Splits appeared on the DQ menu in 1951.
• The Dairy Queen in Rhome, Texas employees idiots.
• The first Dairy Queen opened in Canada in 1953.
• The Dairy Queen in Rhome, Texas employees idiots.
• In 1955, the "Dilly Bar" is introduced.
• The Dairy Queen in Azle, Texas is filthy and the color of their lettuce is NOT green.
• The first Dairy Queen to open in Mexico in 1991.
• The Dairy Queen in Azle, Texas is filthy and the color of their lettuce is NOT green.
• The "Blizzard" is introduced in 1985.
• The Dairy Queen in Azle, Texas is filthy and the color of their lettuce in NOT green.

Just a little DQ trivia...just thought you would all like to know.

Trailer Shopping

I'm in the market for a travel trailer. I never knew there were so many models. I like the bumper pulls but I think I like some of the smaller goosenecks also. It seems as those types have a little more room because of the "bed over" design. I've learned a bunch about trailers today, winterizing, blocking, auto levels, propane / electric fridges and pottie rooms. So many choices and designs. The reason for the trailer is not so much for camping and vacationing, do not really have the time for that, plus if my wife travels, it always involves airplanes.

It is because of the 80 miles I drive each day and winter is coming and I do not want to get snowed (iced) in or out of work. There is the best camp site inside HV city limits who will let me stay there free during inclimate weather plus any other times at a reduced rate. Even with gas going down ($1.75 a gallon) right now, one week a month in the trailer would save a lot of money and time traveling.

We will see how is goes, I just know with whatever I buy, it has to have enough room for the kittens when they and their mommy comes to the lake to visit for the weekend.

Day After Hump Day Thoughts

• I watched the CMAs when I got home last night, boy the DVR is really paying off right now since I am working all kind of weird hours.
• Cary Underwood is absolutely stunning.
• I just dont get Kenny Chesney.
• George Strait really is the "King"
• Why does Sugarland's singer Jennifer Nettles keep the guy with the weird cowboy hat around?
• I really like Trace Adkins song " Your going to miss this"
• Did I mention that Cary Underwood is stunning?
• Nothing weird really happen during the actual full moon night, I guess the moon thing is just a bunch of hype. We will see how the next month goes.
• The gym thing is going pretty good.
• I start midnight shift next Monday...it has been a long time since I have worked deep nights.
• I am really not ready for the holidays.
• The Shops at Highland Village has one of the biggest Christmas Trees I have ever seen. "Our Village Glows" is going to beat the shops this year, I can't wait to see that thing light up.
• Christine and I went to see the movie "Role Models" funny in a very goofy way, but, nonetheless funny.
• Did I mention that the best BBQ around is Red, Hot and Blue, I hadme some Sunday.
• Just so you all will know, AOR #3 has a 78% "Neighborhood E Watch" participation.
• I think my little truck is going to need a brake job before too long.
• I came home the other night from work and my sweet little wife had the heat turned on in the house to just under "hell" on the thermostat. I thought I was going to have to open up the windows in the house just to be able to breathe.
• I put up a brand new American Flag on our flag pole today, our Texas flag was getting too faded. I like looking out the front door or driving up our driveway and seeing "Old Glory" waving in the breeze.
• Just in case I did not mention it, I wanted to make sure you knew that I think Cary Underwood is amazing.
• For just under the past nine years, I have been married to the most wonderful person in the world...I love her so much...November 20 will be nine whole years...and "they" said it would not last.
• It should also be noted that I think my wife is just as, if not soooooo much more friggin Hawt as Sarah Palin and Cary Underwood.
• I can not beleive how blessed I am in so many ways each and every day.

A Full Moon

Everytime there is a full moon, you here news reports of hospitals being more busy, crazy things happening and so on. I always thought "whatever"...I really didn't see a change in police reports, arrest data, etc...to substantiate the theory that crazy things happened on a full moon night.

As you all know, I've been a desk jockey for the past several years, not outside actually dealing with the "full-moon atmosphere". Well let me tell you something, if last night in Highland Village is a precursor to what is going to happen tonight, there just might be something to all this hype about full moon = crazy crap happening.

Last night, "full moon eve" I believe I met each and every weird person who lives in Highland Village. I can't go into too much detail however, I now have memories that will never fade away.

Lets say the following may have occured while I may have worked last night.

• Talking to a lady who bridge kept popping up and down, she kept pushing it back in with her tongue...it is very distracting not to mention her shirt was so low cut that her yahoo kept falling out too. Again, very distracting.
• Talking to kids who ride their skateboards in the house. When a kids does this, evidently the parents want us to solve that problem. The dialogue goes a little something like this...

OFFICER "What can I do for you?"

PARENT "My kids rides his skateboard in the house"

OFFICER "okay"

PARENT "We would like for you to tell him that he can't ride his skateboard in the house"

OFFICER "No problem, where is the kid"

PARENT "In his room, I'll go get him"

OFFICER " Hey kid, your parents don't want you to ride your skateboard in the house"

KID "Okay"

PARENT " Thank you so much officer for coming by and doing this for us"

OFFICER" No Problem"

Can you believe I get paid for this??????

• Lesbians in the nail salon after hours...they really really really REALLY should have locked the door.
• If you pick up "whores on Craig's list" you might get crabs...FYI, no criminal offense has occurred with this scenario.
• If you take a cell phone away from your 16 year old daughter and she argues with you about it, give me a call, I'll come over and tell your 16 year old daughter to quit arguing with you (can you believe I get paid for this???)
• If your brother is crazy, I can not put him jail. Even if he is asleep in his room and that would make it easier to "sneak up on him and put the handcuffs on"
• I can not "fingerprint" a beer can that you found in your front yard after it has rained. Also, trash and evidence can be the same item, but not in this case, trash is trash.

Tonight is the "real" full moon, there is no telling what will happen.

Later

The Day After Hump Day Thoughts

• It is sorta neat living through a historical event.
• Barack Hussein Obama was elected President of the United States of America, that gives me shivers just to write that.
• If a man is half black and half white, why does he only claim the black part? Why does the media only say "The first African American President? Why don't they say, the first half and half President?
• I really feel sad for Sarah Palin, I hope she is as Hawt in 2012 as she is right now.
• I can not believe that Lupe Valdez won the Dallas County Sheriff's race. She is a nut job. Not because she is a woman, not because she is a democrat, not because she is Hispanic, nor is it because she is a lesbian, it is just the mere fact she is a nut job.
• Yesterday was my last day on day shift for a while. I like the midnight shift, but evenings is a beating.
• My little Nissan Pickup is averaging 27.5 MPG.
• Gas in the area is averaging about $2.05 per gallon, I still see it around $2.20 at some places and last night I saw it as low as $1.96.
• My cousin is getting married this Saturday. When she was born, I took her to Tandy Center one day, she was only a couple of months old then, it seems like yesterday and now all of a sudden she is all grown up, starting a family and I feel so old. Congratulations and Best Wishes LaDayna.
• If a vacuum cleaner really "sucked", would that mean it is a good one?
• My new favorite Bar B Que Restaurant is "Red, Hot and Blue" it is some of the best BBQ I have ever eaten.
• I can not believe it is the "Holiday Season" already, I've already seen a Christmas commercial on TV.
• I conducted a traffic stop yesterday. a lady was driving 37 MPH in a 20MPH school zone, talking on a cell phone (ordinance violation during school zone hours), she did not have her DL with her, she was not wearing a seat belt, her tags were out of date and when she put on her brakes to pull over, she had a brake light out, that is a total of six violations. As I walked up to her Benz SUV, she asked "Is there a problem officer?", I laughed.
• By the way, she got three citations and three warnings...I'm a nice guy, what can I say.
• One of the things that I do each and every day is stop by some folks houses that have there garage doors open and remind them that it is open and warn them that a burglary can happen in a matter of seconds, 99% of people I talk to are very appreciative of this service and say how proud they are of the police department's efforts to make Highland Village the "Safest City in Texas". I smile real big as I walk back to my patrol car.
• Just to give you an example, The Azle News reported last week that Azle, Texas, population 11000 is expecting to have over 100 car burglaries (BMVs)this year. I looked up Highland Village's BMV rate for the year and we have had 7, oh yea, Highland Village's population is 17000, plus we have acres and acres of retail parking lots, Azle does not. I totally believe that this rate is 100% dependent upon the proactive Value Based Policing Model that the Highland Village Police Department adopts each and every day.
• And as each and everyone of you knows, I am a very blessed man and for that, I am so grateful.