It's amazing how quickly 8 years has come and gone. 8 years ago I was in 9th grade. 8 years ago getting my Driver's License was only a year away. 8 years ago the world changed.
I lost my cousin on the 104th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. They didn't find much of him to bring home to my Aunt and Uncle. My Uncle on the other side of my family almost went down there, but it was just his luck that he was off that day. Each year it has gotten better and better, and I keep thinking about how some of the things this county set out to do never really got done, and it all boils down to this question: "Where is Osama?" I mean, Afghanistan is not exactly the largest or most populous nation in the world. I'm sure we could have turned that country upside down by now to find him, or any neighboring country for that matter. As Robin Williams said, "He's a 6 foot 5 Arab on Dialysis.... why is that so fucking hard to find?"
In any matter, despite the anniversary of that date I conducted business as usual. Wrote some tickets, went to some calls, did a few checks, sat checkpoint, and over the course of the week I've lost 3 pounds, which makes me only 6 pounds shy of my goal of 185. By no means am I heavy, nor have I ever been over 200 pounds, but I'd like to be as fit as I can be. After struggling with a man in a hospital bed whose blood alcohol level was .451, I feel I can generate a bit more power from my body. That's my short term goal for the moment. 5'11'' and 185lbs of sinew.
In the next day or so I should get my shift assignment, and I heard that seniority was a factor. I may be headed to the shift where the sun is simply an optical illusion. Wish me luck!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Day 24: "Traffic" -8/29/09-09/10/09
Well, this update was far long overdue, but I've been quite busy lately.
I have been doing tons of business checks and deterring crime, both on the sidewalk and on the roadway. I do let some people go, but most end up with a citation. To someone who has received a ticket or two, I can relate that a ticket sucks, but at the same time is a valuable lesson. It is true that some people will never get it until it's too late, but even a warning, written or verbal, does the trick more often than not.
The new shift bids are coming up, and surprisingly seniority isn't too much of a factor, so hopefully I'll get mornings or afternoons. If I do end up getting midnights, I will make the most of it.
I am actually being quite productive, even on checkpoints. I am getting a chance to meet new people and remember people, as well as what they drive. I also have been creating a new way to view the Standard Operating Procedures for my Department... ones that don't have so much wind stuffed in them. I'm letting out the sails and giving you the basic bits. Hopefully it'll be a good boost for the guys just getting on FTO.
In other news, a buddy of mine does professional photography, so I had my car shot. I take fantastic care of my car if I do say so myself. It is a 1999 Chevrolet Camaro SS SLP with 119,000 miles on it, and it is immaculate, down to the last detail. The exterior is no exception. Below is a pic. The Miami sky came alive for the shot, and I love it. Keep in mind, this was taken with a 20 Megapixel camera, and all lighting was done on scene. No photoshop was needed or used.
Camaro picture
I have been doing tons of business checks and deterring crime, both on the sidewalk and on the roadway. I do let some people go, but most end up with a citation. To someone who has received a ticket or two, I can relate that a ticket sucks, but at the same time is a valuable lesson. It is true that some people will never get it until it's too late, but even a warning, written or verbal, does the trick more often than not.
The new shift bids are coming up, and surprisingly seniority isn't too much of a factor, so hopefully I'll get mornings or afternoons. If I do end up getting midnights, I will make the most of it.
I am actually being quite productive, even on checkpoints. I am getting a chance to meet new people and remember people, as well as what they drive. I also have been creating a new way to view the Standard Operating Procedures for my Department... ones that don't have so much wind stuffed in them. I'm letting out the sails and giving you the basic bits. Hopefully it'll be a good boost for the guys just getting on FTO.
In other news, a buddy of mine does professional photography, so I had my car shot. I take fantastic care of my car if I do say so myself. It is a 1999 Chevrolet Camaro SS SLP with 119,000 miles on it, and it is immaculate, down to the last detail. The exterior is no exception. Below is a pic. The Miami sky came alive for the shot, and I love it. Keep in mind, this was taken with a 20 Megapixel camera, and all lighting was done on scene. No photoshop was needed or used.
Camaro picture
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