10 years... ! And gifts.

I received an email from my "boss", asking what year service pins we had.

I checked, mine was 5 years.  I wear the pin when I am working, so I was pretty sure. 

Then I received another email telling me, and a few others, that we would be receiving a 10 year service pin, at a lunch sponsored by the Office.  I thought that was cool.  The last time I received one, it was put on the desk when I showed up.  Which was fine, too, I still received the pin.  But this sounds like it will be more fun!  And one person will get a 15 year pin!  So, we shall celebrate longevity, I guess... ; )

*******

I don't know if I mentioned it, but there is a comic I very much like. (It's a very unusual comic, a dystopian society, with animal characters, and a very involved backstory... It's called Endtown.)  I have ended up writing to the gent who does the comic, and though we've not met, I like to consider him, at least a pen friend.  Well, I have bought a print of his, and Husband bought two for me, so we have his art up in the house.  I sent off a Christmas card, and wished him a Merry Christmas, the usual, and didn't think anything more about it. 

I received a card a bit later from him, and my jaw dropped.  I received, not a print, but one of his original comics, hand drawn.  I quickly sent off a thank you, with probably waaaaay too many exclamation points, and now I need to get a picture frame or some such, I want to display that, too!

So, how's that for something a bit different?

Quiet... Good and... Well, guess it's good...

I am sitting here again, doing my usual Tuesday Volunteer Receptionist gig.  

And no one has come in, or called.  This is really a good thing.  Really.

Since I work at a substation, people frequently come in with reports of, oh, theft, driving problems, disputes with neighbors, and so on... This generally means, I take information, call dispatch, and a deputy has to come out and take care of the problem.  

So if I am doing nothing, I am not adding to the workload of the group...  Although, there are folks I can help with problems, like directions, (most of the time), boating manuals, or paperwork that people need for various things like getting permits, or signing up for things.  And just the occasional one or two that need someone to talk to... 

But, I am sitting here typing, looking over at the phone, which is dark.  Dark means it hasn't been activated (i.e. ringing, or my making a call) for much more than 30 minutes.  

I try not to be grumbly about this, I know when the various deputies come in and ask how it's going and I say "Very quiet", I generally see a large grin, "OH, GOOD!"  Not that they don't want anything to do.  Far from it, they are usually coming in to get the latest umpty-umpth report taken care of, or a quick bite to eat... Which I have seen more than once, they walk in, ready to have lunch, they get a call, run over and grab a handful of candy, or an apple from the snack area, and say, more philosophically than I could, "Lunch!", and run back out the door.  

I have asked, there is a shortage of Law Enforcement nation wide, how about here?  Yep... Sigh. Oh... 

So, I am teased a bit about my "Bag of Tricks" that I bring in.  I generally have writing paper, knitting, a book...  And I know one or two of the other volunteers do the same.  One has knit several hats and small blankets.  One has read most of the Tom Clancy and Clive Cussler books...  

We don't have much to do on occasion, but when we do, it's nice to help.  But you know, I keep thinking, maybe I should see about getting a few of my DVD's out... ; )

The mysterious ticking noise*...

There it is again... CLUNK.  I wait, and then listen carefully.  Get back to work, typing, and...

CLACK.

What in the world IS that?  I am the only one who seems to hear... Or care.

There is something that sounds like someone hitting the wall with a rock.  Now, in the day of a deputy, a thing at the substation that clanks is not exactly spellbinding.

Clank.  Wasn't so loud that time.

But for at least a month or two, there has been a continual clinking, clacking noise in the back of the sub. I have even asked a few of the others, do you hear that? (Cue Christmas music, Do You Hear What I Hear? Ahem)

And, they do.  But, it's a, "Yeah, hear it.  Oh, you brought more cookies?" or some such.  Like I say, not exactly Earth Shattering.

CLANK!!

I have walked to the back when I am not busy, and I still can't quite figure out where it's coming from.  I have narrowed it down to the back wall, or the back roof area.  My bet is the roof, probably having to do with the air conditioning/heater... But it's so strange to have this odd noise.  And there is no set time.  Sometimes it clicks several times in 5 minutes, then nothing for a few hours.  Then, it might click and clank every few minutes for an hour or two.

Who knows, maybe it's a poltergeist, this used to be a convenience store, before it was a substation.  Maybe it's the ghost of some kid who ate too many roller hot dogs...

Click...

The mystery continues.













* The title is from a goofy video on YouTube by the Potter Puppet Pals. Click here if you want to see said goofy joke.

"Bear butts"

I think I may have figured out how to get pictures on here with my phone!

This is the view right now from my desk. I think someone here is going through a second childhood...

I can't decide...

If I am crazy at the sub, or if the others are.

The little creepies are back...

And there are more of them...

And they are ALLLL on the counter.  I have had to move the blasted things to assist people.  My boss came in and piped up, when he saw the menagerie of toys, Oh, I just love Halloween...

Greaaaaat...

I moved one of the things, I despise spiders, and so it, of course, was dead center of my vision... So, it's now dead center of a box on the counter, so it's readily visible to public, and I don't have to see it!  At least the Hee Haw Child of the Corn is facing AWAY from me. 

Some of the things are kind of cute, a lantern with cutouts of a haunted house, so the windows glow when lit.  An amply endowed derriere witch, and some neat wood cutouts of cats and things. 

But, I guess I find it really not fun to continually have to move stuff to do work.  I seem to be the only grump of the group, so I guess I will let the crap  decorations stay where they are.  Oddly, they are solar powered, so when the lights come on, things on the counter swing and sway...

I guess I should be glad that we don't have haunted house sounds!  Sheesh! 

Grumpy,
Signing off...

People.

It is... a unique experience working at the Sub.  I deal with all sort of folks.  I had a few recently that were, um, memorable. 

A gent walked in, and tossed 4 life jackets  on the counter.  I said, "is this a donation?"  (We have people that check the jackets for safety, we also have a donation program.)  He looks at me as if I have brayed like a donkey, and pipes up, "Well, you have the boat program, and I don't need these  d*** things." Snorted, and walked out.  I tossed a quick thank you to him for the donation, if not the attitude. 

Another gent came in and needed X thing.  Basically acted as if I was invisible.  He saw one of the plain clothes deputies, who came over to see if he could help.  Well, no more than that, it was, yes, sir, no, sir, I would like this, sir...

Meh. 

I went and sat down, as I knew said gent wasn't going to give me the time of day.  He got what he wanted, I thought, and left.  About an hour later he comes back in, and says, where is Deputy Guyperson?  I tried to be polite, and said, Guyperson went to a meeting, I don't know what time he will be back, but probably more than an hour out. 

"But, Honey, I need to talk to him.  Sweetie, could you call him?"

I tried not to growl.  "No, I don't have his number, and I told you, he's out of the office for at least an hour."

But, Darling, I need this information. 

I looked up, barely managing to be polite, and told him, if it was urgent, he could always call dispatch, or go to the city police.  He waited for a bit, then asked if I had something to eat.  Turns out he was homeless. 

I was still not impressed with the Honey, Baby crap, but I told him that no, we didn't have any lunch service or such.  He then turned to the coordinator that had walked behind me, who is male, and ASKED THE SAME QUESTION.  And received the same reply.  I went back to my desk, and started typing.  He stood there, trying to get me to answer him, Honey, Sweetie, ad nauseum, and I just decided to say Uh-huh.  Finally, after about 15 Uh-huhs, he got the clue, and wandered out.  Didn't see him the rest of the day, don't know if he went to the city police, got the info from another source, or what, but you know... I am not sure I care. 

Meh...

A gent came in and had a big problem with someone, and was shaking.  He was rambling on for a bit, and I finally asked him to stop for a moment.  Do you need some water, or need to sit down?

He actually stopped for a moment, and then said, no, I am okay, I think, but... And was off again.  I stood, while he described his problems in excruciating detail.  When he finished, he was nearly in tears, I am sooo sorry, I must be wasting your time.  I told him, no, that's what I am here for, besides, it sounds like you needed to tell someone.  He leaned over the desk, took my hand, and said, thank you so much, a lot of people just tell me to shut up.  I told him what to tell the deputy, so that is was (a lot) shorter, and he was able to settle down quite a bit by then.

A gal came in, and she was just shy of being in tears.  She was getting harassing phone calls, and there was one that was supposedly from the FBI.  I tried to explain that it was most likely a scam, but she was so freaked out, I don't think she entirely understood me.  I got her a tissue, and she asked if I could get her some water.  I did, and called dispatch.  Turned out, she needed the city police, which I then called.  Her phone was buzzing non stop, and she whimpered, "what do I do?" 

I asked for her phone, and looked.  As I suspected, it was an out of country number.  I hit the "ignore" button, and told her to do that until the city officer showed up.  When he did, he explained to her that it was indeed a scam, and how to delete the number from her phone.  I then explained how she could tell an international number from a US number.  She said, I am not going to be arrested?  We both assured her, no, they were playing mind games with her.  She snorted, then deleted the number, under the officer's watchful eye.  She smiled, and then said, "Thank you, you two just made my day a lot better!", and was smiling when she left.

One thing about helping out here, it's never the same day!

They are multiplying...

👀

That is my expression at the sub.  You remember when I was talking about the Halloween toys on the front desk that I moved?

There are more.  

I think when we leave them alone, they are getting frisky.  There were about 5 or so, there is near to a dozen at this point.

So far we have witches, scarecrows, a lantern or four, skeletons, ghosts, and some tombstones.  Plus, they all are solar powered, so in the morning, at about 8:30 a.m. or so, they start swaying, wiggling, what have you.  Most of them don't bother me. 

Most of them.

There is a little... Scarecrow? I guess.  He has a crow on his head, and the eyes are creepy.  Think "Children of the Corn" meets "Hee Haw."  

But when the sun hits it, the eyes 'blink', sort of.  They move up and down, but whoever painted it, put it so the eyes aren't quite centered, and they look sunken.  Generally, I think I am quite glad that thing is about 3 inches high.  I am not scared, per se, it just sort of creeps me out.

But, it is Halloween-time, so I guess it's okay.  (I draw the limit at spiders, however...)

But come November 1, I am in here with a bag, and they can make friends with the Christmas decorations!

(So, Mom, no, not scared, just think they are odd...)

(I will be so happy when I can put pictures on my blog again...)

Cooo-kieeees!

(With acknowledgement to Cookie Monster...)

Husband loves cookies.  So, I try to make them fairly often.  I also try to make ones HE likes, that I don't care for all that well, so I stay out of them. 

For the most part...

Well, he would go through a standard batch of cookies in, oh, less than a week.  I started getting tired of making a batch every three days, so I doubled the batch.  That has worked well.  He enjoys the cookies, I enjoy baking them, so it works out well. (Except for one type, the Snickerdoodle.  It's the glitter bomb of cookies in my house! I make them, and I am cleaning sugar and cinnamon off the table and floor for at least a day or two. ARGH!!) 

But as time has passed, Husband isn't quite as ravenous.  I still make the same amount, however.  I just split it, and take some to the Substation.  I have found out that the various folks, volunteers, deputies, people who come in for other reasons, all seem to gravitate to the cookie box I bring.  I know one of the guys that works here, he manages to have a reason to go by and grab a cookie at least two or three times, when he knows I've just brought it in, and usually right after he has fresh coffee.  One of the volunteers told me he goes to the cookie box (actually, a Tupper-Rubber-Brand type bowl with a seal-able lid), before he sits down to work. 

So I have definitely started something!

One of the deputies always quizzes me if there is cookies when he walks in, I made the mistake of saying yes once, he was SO disappointed when it was 'boughten' cookies, rather than homemade.  (I happen to like the particular brand, but I guess he really likes homemade.) I make a point of putting what cookies are, on the white board we have for notes.  I suppose I should date it as well, but I try not to have it there more than a week or so.  Although, it usually doesn't last that long.  Maybe one or two half cookies, or a box with crumbs, but I don't think any have been left sitting for long...

I think the hands down favorite is chocolate chip, plain.  A lot like the ones I make with oatmeal, too, but some don't care for oatmeal.  Snickerdoodles, when fresh, do well, but don't seem to have the 'staying power' of some of the other cookies.  I also make peanut butter.  'Junk Cookies', which is whatever bits and pieces of cookie making material goes into one, like coconut, M&M's, flavored chips, what have you. One we call Conser Cookies, because of a friend of mine who adored them, which are peanut butter cookies with chocolate cake mix in, and sometimes chocolate chips.

I have decided though, I might make some different ones, just because I haven't made them, and for something different.  Husband isn't wild about Gingersnaps, but on occasion, I would like some.  Well, if I make a batch, I can freeze some, and the rest can be vacuumed eaten by the group, where I won't have them around to nibble on.  I have some others I'd like to try as well.

Do you think they'd mind?  ; D

Snow, confusion, cookies, my work is done...

We had some snow a bit ago.  Not like back east, but about... 5-6 inches, maybe.  I ended up not going into the sub, for two Tuesdays.  Now, I am a volunteer, so this is not exactly the end of the world.

However, the first week, I just called my supervisor, or more accurately, the person I thought was supposed to be the supervisor, and told them I wasn't able to come in.  My little electric car is not built for snow and ice.  Not really all that comfortable with my little truck, either, so I passed on going in.  (If you don't need to be out, don't go.  Good advice.)  So, I cleaned house, made cookies, watched a little TV, felt weird because I wasn't working on reports...

And the next day, I receive a phone call from one of the OTHER volunteers, who could get in, (lives in town, and the snow wasn't as bad there), she was asking if I was okay.

Yeessss... Why?  I called in.

Oh, the guys in the sub, they were worried when you didn't come in, that you were sick...

???  I called in, to Mr. X, wasn't that the one I was supposed to call?

Huh? Oh, now it's Mr. Z, the one that works here, not the one at the main office.

Oh...  Well, let all and sundry know I am okay, just enough snow and no plowing here, so I can't safely get out.

The next week I emailed Mr. Z, and asked him to leave a note on the volunteer desk that I was fine, just still snowed in.

I built a snow cougar that day, about scared the mail lady to death, she obviously hadn't seen me, while putting the mail in the box, I called out a hello, and she nearly hit the top of her car, she jumped so.

When I came back, there was much happy with the crew. Mr. Z had indeed left a note, and there was much discussion on how I could have made it in, with the fire truck we had.  But, among other things, we've sold it, so...

It's nice to know I am liked and appreciated here.

The fresh batch of cookies didn't hurt 'em, either...  :)

The good, the bad, and the hopefully better...

As you can see, I've not blogged for a long bit... The internet is getting WORSE out our way.  So, I have tried, and had, (obviously), no success.  I try to blog or upload pictures, it overloads the system, throwing me, and my writing out, unless I get up in the wee hours to do it.

So why haven't I gotten up in the wee hours? 

That's the good news.  For me, at any rate.  I found a class, approved by my doctor, to learn meditation and relaxation.  It seemed a tiny bit foo-foo at times, (Using all your senses to eat ONE raisin.  I am not fond of raisins overmuch.  The councilor was admonishing us to listen to the raisin, that was a physical sense, too.  I told her that if that sucker talked to me, I was out of there.  It did make a slight noise, if you hold it near your ear, you can hear the sugar crystals crunch on it while squishing it a bit. We were in a quiet room...)  This was an intensive class, and while I can't say I am now perfectly sublime and saintly blissful, I am slowly learning to be hopefully less irritable, at least sometimes...  And, the biggie, I CAN SLEEP!  I notice I am awake, I go to a couple of the practices that she recommended, and I am dozing again quickly, as a rule.  Which makes me less groggy, but not awake during the small window of "usable" time for internet.

But we have called the company multiple times, even threatening to leave them.  Basically, they said, you are finished with your required contract, "we give you permission to leave."  (Husband rarely gets angry.  I thought he was going to break something when THAT phone call was finished...)  So, we have been looking, and considering our next plan of action.

We noticed a gent that was in construction wear, with a transit, and he kept showing up around our place, measuring... Something?  I missed him the first couple times.  It's not terribly unusual to have power folks come out, because the farms need power put on, and taken off of the water pumps seasonally, and they have to check on some of the poles, as they are, um, extensively used by cows for derriere scratching.  I do hope no one has to climb one of those messes in the near future! 

Anyway, finally, he was stopped right near our driveway, and Husband walked out to see what he was up to. 

After a bit of a chat, Husband comes in and tells me the 2 local schools, which we are more or less in between, are getting fiber optic high speed cable. 

Okay.  Good, I guess. 

No, they are putting it in for the schools, and he is measuring pole distances to install lines, for anyone who lives near the schools, and is on the power company's system...  So they can sign up for FIBER HIGH SPEED! 

Um, is that good? (No, I am not quick on the uptake, occasionally.)

He explained that yes, it was very good, and because it would involve the schools, there would most likely be a built in "make sure it works" as it is not just the usual one or two people, but a 'business'. 

(I hope he's right, we had a national carrier tell our county law enforcement that they would come fix a problem with the call in lines being down at DISPATCH... with in 10 working days.  After a something call, I was never told exactly what happened, but it did get fixed.  The next day.  But that's when the Sheriff decided that that company was no longer the supplier of the phone for them. Yep, good times...)

So, somewhere along the lines of September, when the next school year starts, is what the goal for the set up is.  Will we get it?  What's the speed?  How much data allowed?  What's the COST?  All of that will be found out later.  But, there is a chance that we might, just maybe, be able to have real internet that doesn't compete with 2 cans and a string for quality!  Hope, hope, hope...

So, I kept considering, I want to write my blog BEFORE September, but how?  I haven't had much luck with some of the stuff I had been trying at home. 

At home... 

Hey, I am on the computer when I am at the sub!  DING! 

You know those stupid trees make it very hard to see that big forest I am looking for! 

So, I will save up, and try and write my blogs at least on Tuesdays, if possible.  I might occasionally write more than one, and then I will time them to release over a few days, too, but I won't be able to answer as often.  Oh, and at this point, no pictures, sorry.  The IT guys are wonderful here, but they get extremely paranoid a little jumpy about uploads that aren't protected, so I don't want to have to do all the happy dance work arounds to get a picture on.  If it's important, I might try, but right now, I am just happy to have a brain cell light up again with the concept, hey, you can do this at work!  YAAAY!

Celebrity Impersonation.

I was working at the substation, and so I see the various deputies, detectives, and such that come in for meetings, or to get paperwork, or what have you.  In walks one of the detectives, to meet with another agency member, to go do some investigation.

While he was waiting, I commented that I thought he looked nice in his suit (he’d been patrol, so he was in a business suit as a detective, rather than the standard uniform).  He mumbled his thanks.

Now, to give you an idea, this gentleman is bald, and was wearing a dark pinstriped suit.
He said, while staring at his phone, checking texts:

Yes, this is my Kojak outfit, I have been told.

Who loves ya, Baby?  All I need is a lollipop.

I couldn’t resist.  I had one in my desk, and handed it to him when he looked up.  He stopped dead in his tracks, staring at the sweet.  Then he cracked up.  He didn’t take it, as the other agency member showed up, and they had to leave, but I must say, I was pleased to have tickled him that way…

Election Day, amazingly non-political!

So, since I had the sub today, and today is elections in Oregon, I was vote counter... And that was about all I did today.  To wit:  I came to the door to open up for the morning, and there were 47 ballots that had been pushed under the door.  45 were fine, 2 looked like an accordion, and had to be straightened out before I could put them in the ballot bag.

Yes, a bag.  In fact, it looks a whole lot like a saddle bag for a horse.  Turnout was pretty good, and when the gent came by to pick up the morning haul, he grunted mightily when he lifted it!

I was in at 7 a.m. to open up, but people were so intent on reading the little hours of operation sign, they didn't pay attention/see me at the desk, and went back to their cars to leave! Launch to the door, wave, and get them back... So, a quick sign, OPEN ELECTION DAY 7 AM TO 8 PM.  Ahh, no more problems...

Ok, small problem. I put it on the same side as the hours of operation, and everyone started trying to open the door on the wrong side.  Quick change!  Ahh, no more problems...

(You see where this is going, right?)

Almost all the folks coming in at that point didn't know where the ballots went.  SIGNAGE TO THE RESCUE!  A nice sign with an arrow pointing to the box, telling them to put ballot in slot. Aaah, no...
Who am I kidding? I was still asked about every other time where the ballots went!  Oh, well.

I would try and greet everyone as they came in, and thank them as they left.  That lead to one gent turning around and looking completely bumfuzzled.

"What are you thanking ME for?"

"For making the effort to vote."

I swear, I heard gears grinding... "Huh. Ok. Bye."  I wonder if he's still pondering the thought.

Most of the rest of the day was either "You're welcome", "No, Thank You", or one very disgruntled gal who growled, "Yeah, for the good it did, screw 'em all..."

"Uh, well, have a nice day?"  She did laugh at that.

I think my favorite, though, was a lady that brought her son in, and showed him the voting 'booth' set up over the ballot bag.  It's mostly for show, but it can be used as a privacy screen if someone actually wanted to vote there.  So the lady lifts up the little boy, and says, "this is what Mommy used to vote on."

Little guy pipes up, "why don't you now?"

She smiles, and responds, "Silly, we vote by mail, that's why Mommy needed the pen last night!"

So, after the tally was figured, (I left a bit after 3), we had taken in 300+ ballots at that point.  My replacement no sooner had her tush in the chair when 3 more came in at once, while the phone started ringing.

So, no matter the candidate, levy, bond, etc., that was there, people were making an effort.  And, in the end, I consider that the important thing.

(And better yet, I didn't get any lectures on why X candidate was the worst/best/only!)

Yak, yak, yak, YIPE!

(Yep, late, but still, it's up now... I guess I lost track of time...)

I love to go to fiber festivals.  I usually get my quota of spinning fiber, and yarn.  It's a cash only thing for me, when the $ is gone, I am finished.

Well, with the spending...  Not the looking.

So I've found that it's absolutely a great time for me to check out the animal barns...  I have found that I know several of the sheep owners, goat owners, and get to check out the rabbits, and some exotics...

Like- a yak that was there one year.  I walked up, just a bit shy of something that large.  It was bigger than most male cattle I'd been around, and was well armored with a set of horns that were wider than said yak.

I was watching the animal, when the owner of said yak showed up...  She was telling me all about it, that it was a friendly animal, and was not one to be aggressive, and the fiber was awesome!  Come and feel it!

Tentatively, I walked up to the stall, and stroked the back of the yak, to let it know I was there.  It turned to look at me, sniffed slightly, then went back to the hay bale it was mowing though.  I talked with the gal about the care and feeding of yaks, when the owner, realizing I hadn't felt the fiber (the part used on a yak is the protective undercoat), she patted, then said, "dig in, feel that wonderful fiber!"  (Not a bit of a salesman, no siree...)

But, I will admit, I was looking at it with some thoughts... And so I, indeed, "dug in", pushing the hair apart, and sticking my hand down in the soft warmth of the undercoat.  She was right, it was just lovely soft!  I rubbed it some more... And suddenly got a right cross of a slightly dirty yak tail in my face, knocking off my glasses!

Turns out, yaks can be tickled... My glasses were not damaged, and after a quick run to the restroom, my face was okay, but, I decided to let someone else raise yaks.

I think Husband probably appreciates that more than anyone.

*******

Had a busy day at the substation... I can't talk about the specifics, but I am glad I was able to help, but sad to know that the kind of help rendered was necessary.  

But, I did have one funny thing I can share.  The Sheriff's Office has Community (Compensatory) Service work crews that are picked up and dropped off there.  At the usual drop off time, I saw a trickle of folks jump out of the work van, and leave.  And a few that stood around talking, smoking, or getting bikes unlocked to leave.  I took no notice, until a gal came in asking to use the phone about 15 minutes later.

Not unusual either.  She called, checking if X was going to pick her up, sighed when she heard the beep, and went back out.  

I finished my day, and she was still out there, about a half hour later.  I went out the back, to my vehicle, and there was a car parked behind me.  This WAS unusual, and I kept my eye on the guy.  He waved, and then poked his head out the window, "Hey, was the crew truck here?"  

"Yes, about a half hour ago."

"Huh.  I guess I missed her."

"A gal, round faced, wearing this 'n that clothes, name Pickmeup?"

An awestruck look, if I ever saw one, and he said, "Uh, yeah... Do you know-"

I pointed, "She's out front, has been waiting for you-"

He made the fastest 3 point turn I've ever seen, and was out front at near warp speed... 

Oopsie!!!

Cookies and bears.

Had not made cookies for the deputies for a while.  Made up some chocolate chip ones, and set them in the back area where the desks are.

One of the deputies came in, who is known to be a card.  I mentioned there were cookies available.  In true drama king form, he moaned, "I just lost the weight from Christmas, you are horrible..." and other things implying that I was trying to raise the BMI of all county law enforcement.

On and on...

So, I piped up, and said, "Geez, should I have brought in rice cakes, instead?"

He replied, loudly, "Haven't you ever heard, 'DON'T FEED THE BEARS'?"  However, the effect was somewhat spoiled by his mouth being full of cookie...

I laughed, as I noticed that the poor new person kept looking at the two of us like we had lost our respective minds...

Hope for 'em yet...

Working at the Substation on Wednesday.  I had a semi-busy day, one of the other volunteers left ornaments out, and asked me to decorate.

I then found out that the ornaments had enough glitter on them to decorate the office without even putting them up... The volunteers wear black, and when I finished, I had to spend about 10 minutes brushing off all the gold and silver from my clothing... My face... My hair...

Then the usual folks in and out, and saying hi to the deputies.  I was happy to see that one deputy was back, he'd been in a pursuit, and the guy he was pursuing decided to turn tables and play destruction derby!  But it was just scrapes and bruises.

And the county getting him a new patrol vehicle...

Had a bit of empathy for one of the other deputies, he fell and broke a leg. Kinda know what he's going through.  I don't wish that on much of anyone, especially this time of year!!!

Anywho, I was getting ready to leave.  The sub here is where the work release folks get picked up and dropped off.  Work release allows the "good behavior" people, who are either working off fines, or doing community service to show up for work release and go home at night.

You get all kinds in this crowd.  Some who are just biding time until they can get out of the work, some who are... clueless.  A few who you wonder how they aren't locked up.  I don't know how many times I have been asked for cigarettes and use of the phone, (usually in that order.)  I don't smoke, but I have let a few use the phone. If they ask nicely.

Then there is the one that was there Wednesday.  After my shift is over, I am to take down the flag, roll it up, and take it in the building.  I went out, and the flag was all tangled up (we had wind).  I carefully untangled it, rolled it up, and turned to go back in the building.

And saw one of the work crew standing at full attention, saluting.  He did so, respectfully, and waited until I'd gone into the building.

It's nice to know that we have a few of those guys, too...

Well, that's a first... :-/

Doing my shift at the substation.  Right next to it is the post office, and some group had set up very inflammatory politcal signage.  I didn't like it, but it is everyone's First Amendment right to do. They were not blocking anything, or agressive, so I just sighed, and went into the sub. 

I live in an area where it is not unusual to have people who know me, or conversely, I know them, show up for a complaint.  Soon enough, a gal I know, (and dread dealing with), stormed into the sub.

"WHAT are you going to do about the people next door?!?!???"

I tried to put on a professional smile, and answered, "They are legal, it is a public sidewalk."

She glared at me, and nearly snarled, "I PAY for that sidewalk, and I PAY your salary!"

I didn't say a word.  I knew if I pointed out that she lives outside the city, so she doesn't pay city tax, she would be angry... 

And that little detail that I am a volunteer, so she doesn't pay me Jack, uh, Cheese, would really set her off. 

I just demurred with, " If you want to report it, you need to call the local police."

She then stormed out like a furious tornado, all but bellowing, "THAT IS A HATE CRIME!  IT'S A HATE CRIME!  YOU ARE ALLOWING--"

Thankfully, the door closed on her diatribe...

So, I must say, that is the first time I have had the "I pay your salary" card played.  The deputies thought it was a kick, too, when I told them. 

One suggested that I point to the half inch "VOLUNTEER" written on my work shirt.

But...  I doubt she'd notice.

On the bright side, I had a gent come in, and I was able to help him update his voter registration.  So, it all works out.  I think.

Well, it's March 1st.  Or one-eth, if you want to be funny.  The weather people said we have passed the normal frost date.

Uh... Huh...

I remember it snowing on April 20th before, and while it is not QUITE freezing, we awoke to this:

Just enough snow to be kind of pretty (and cold, and wet, and sloppy... Ahem).  So, I guess we shall see what the next few days foretell for Puxywhatsis Pete's predictions.  

Stupid rodent, anyway...

In the hopes that spring will eventually BE here, I planted about 25 kohlrabi in peat pots, and about 6 long season tomato plants, which are now toasting tootsies on a heat mat.  I am hoping the early start will allow early(er) harvest.  The kohlrabi are for a friend of mine, he requests them, and last year, when I had a nice row for him, and a couple set aside for me, (that I forgot to mark), I see Husband and him walk out of the garden with ALL of them.  I am going to cure that, (hopefully) this year.  I am planting green kohlrabi for said friend, and I am planting RED kohlrabi for myself.  I am also thinking of planting my kohlrabi in a planter tub, where it's in a completely different spot than the ones I am raising for him...  

Yesterday was sort of blustery, with spots of sun, then wind, rain, and snow crossways, then dark, dark, clouds.  The weather was fitting, as it was my bosses' last day.  We all came in early for a meeting with the new boss(es, they seem to work tag team for some reason...), who were the OLD bosses' boss...es.  (Okay, I hope that sentence is semi-coherent, it sounds a lot better in my head than it does on the screen...)  

So, we showed up, not quite sure what to expect.  The bosses that were leaving were not there for most of the meeting, when they did show, they were getting ready to go, picking up papers and getting things together.  The new boss introduced himself, and we had a question and answer session.  It went rather well, I have worked with the one boss before in other capacities, and he is pretty straight forward, and refreshingly, he's one that, if he doesn't know, will say, "I don't know, let's find out."  That is such a nice thing to have, rather than filling the air with stuff and nonsense, in my opinion!  

We had cake and coffee. (We also had the great Cola Caper.  I had brought in a small Coke, and another gal had a bottle of Root Beer.  The two of us are known for not drinking coffee, and usually having sodas or, in my case, tea.  There was a quart soda cup on the table, and all eyes turned to us.  We both held up our respective cups, and shrugged.  The big soda was never claimed, I suspect it might have been forgotten by a deputy when leaving...) 

The bosses didn't eat, I think it was one of those 'gut' things, neither were acting like they were hungry, big surprise...  I was sitting down, just taken a big bite of cake, when the new boss asked me about my book.  Urg.  I motioned, then managed to get the bite taken care of.  Then I told him he'd make a great waitress with that timing.  He laughed.  

He is quite interested in the idea of my writing, and has offered to look over what I have written, so I am quite pleased.  A bit nervous, too, as I am NOT a cop, and while this is true, I don't want it to be where someone in law enforcement would laugh themselves sick at my errors, either...  I worry too much, I guess.  To wit: he'd asked how much I had finished, I told him about 8-10 pages, somewhere around there, but I kept writing, then not liking what I wrote, then starting a section again, then again, and again.  He looked at me, and said, "That's what editors are for, just write."  (As did Mom, later... Do I sense a trend?) 

Then I said goodbye to them as they left, hugs all around, and I managed to get out of there without crying.  Sniffing and sounding like I was going to, but I managed to keep it together.  That was the last thing I would need, come onto my shift with 'rat eyes'.  Ick.

In other news, the new avatar is up for the month.  This month's St. Patty's picture with BTK makes me think of a cross between a WW1 Dough boy, and Alex from Clockwork Orange.

Milk, anyone?

Sorry, flying my Geek Flag again...

Husband decided that I am doing well enough losing weight, (???) that he has set a date for us to go to Alaska.  So, I have a while yet, but we have several things that need to be figured out before we can go.  Everything from passports (we need to get them), to cell phones (can we use them?), to the tea I like, (should I take it with me, or can I get it at port?) 

I still don't know if I will be down to 150, my goal, by then, but I guess it gives me a definitive "point" to strive for.  I don't think he realizes that it took well over a year to lose 20 pounds and keep it off, but I know what I need to do, and if I don't manage to break something else, I should be able to get back to regular exercise.  I am walking some, on the road, which I don't like. (One of the neighbors has a Doberman, and it does NOT like me walking past "its" house.  Why, oh, why do I seem to have dog troubles so much???  I think I was a dog catcher in a previous life...) 

I don't have any good shoes right now for walking the hill, and Husband doesn't want me to, until it dries out. A lot.  So, I walk the road.  It will do, I guess.

And The Challenge.  I managed to get a letter out most everyday the mail ran, except for about 2 or 3.  I took a lot more than 24 addresses, however, so I am still writing letters!  I found out some won't write back, after February, some will.  I think I will just finish with the ones I have left, and go from there.  That way, I know I did what I said I would do, and write the people I said I would.  I have received several responses, that was very nice, and a few that sound promising as pen friends.  And I found I really like using fountain pens.  So, I consider it a general success.

Llama is putting on a little weight, and she now knows that she is going to be fed in the chicken house.  The only problem with this is, I walk in, and have to move her out of the way, as she then stops in front of the feed barrel.  Which is where I need to be, to feed her!  This also aggravates the chickens, who seem to think they should be fed too, for some strange reason. And they don't really like playing "Dodge the llama feet".

Ah, the life of my critters.

Sorry, Jerry Garcia...

What a long, strange day it has been.

Well, you know how I blog about volunteering for the Sheriff's Office?  Well, BOTH my bosses were laid off.  It was really abrupt, and things are crazy at the moment.  We had a meeting/pot luck to see what was going to happen.  Basically, they will be there until the end of the month, and then THEIR boss will be our boss, if we are kept on.  The Sheriff would like to keep us on, so he can keep the substations open, but the one that is going to be the 'new' boss has about 3 or four groups he is working on now, he has other things that have been added, with the cuts, and gee, he really should do the 'catching the bad guy' stuff, I suppose... (Yes, heavy snark content...)

I have so enjoyed this 'job', and it has been as near to a family atmosphere as I have ever seen with a group, and this is just tearing the absolute guts out of nearly everyone.  I have started writing letters to whomever I can think of on how this can be changed.  I don't know if it will help, but at least it will make me feel like I am doing something besides gnashing my teeth.

Okay, enough with the unhappy s***.  In other news, I know spring is coming!  Because:

First egg of the season! Yay!  I don't have to buy eggs now.  (I buy them begrudgingly, as I don't use lights in the chicken house, so for a few months in winter I get zippo in the egg department...)

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I was going to put this last section up in the morning.  Well, it is morning. Barely.  To explain.  I am signed up with a county wide notification system.  It notifies big stuff (chemical leaks, major weather events) and then it can notify in specific areas, about localized events.  This is what occurred this evening about 6ish.  I received a phone call that a woman had been lost about a half mile or so away from me, as the cliche'd crow flies.  I filed it away under "Hmm", and went on.

We went to bed a bit later, and realized we heard helicopters.  They were doing a grid search, I suspect, as I heard LOUDquietLOUDquietSORTAloudquietquietquietquiet gone.  I went to sleep.

I woke to lights in the bedroom!  

I panicked, jumped out of bed, and as always, tangled in the **** bedsheets, waking Husband.  I headed to the window.  Husband, who seems to always be a bit more clear headed right after waking up, unlike me, said, it's probably just the Search and Rescue (SAR) kids.  

Oh...  Right. 

I went to the door, while Husband went and shushed Rudee, and listened.  3 or 4 "kids" were walking up the road, shining flashlights in the ditches, on the road, across the pasture, anywhere a person might be, while talking about what direction they were going next.

Yep, SAR.  I think my heart rate slowed to less than 100 at that point.  I went back to bed.

And didn't sleep.  

Between thinking about the bosses being canned, worrying about the woman, and if she was okay in the latest weather we've had, (somewhat chilly, and heavy rain, with cooler weather to come), wondering how the deputies were doing out there, and the fear spike, I didn't go back to sleep.  I tried several things, and calmed down, but still couldn't sleep.  So, I got up, turned on my computer, (light level as low as I could get it on same) and read comics, wrote an email or two, and decided I would add to this blog.  

Sooooo, I will let you know how all this turns out, but even with cuts, it looks like the Sheriff is still going to be busy!  I might even see if I can take some water and snacks down to the group later, if the search is still going on.  

And, it's 2 am by the computer clock, so I am going to TRY to go to bed again, and see if I can at least salvage a LITTLE sleep.  

Which, the way things are going, means Husband will be up at 3ish to finish some job...  : /

(Update:  At approximately 9:30ish a.m., the woman was found, and is safe, so the end to this story was happy, if nothing else!)

Neighbors visiting... And back to the "shop".

Had a few visitors the other day...

We have avoided scaring these birds, they seem to keep the bug level down.  They seem to realize this, they will watch us, and make little nervous sounds when Rudee is out, but except when I have opened the door and they are on the porch (!), they don't scatter or fly, as a rule.  They just keep doing what they do.  

(Which, fortune would have it, hasn't included much doo, at least in the walkways...)

I was worried they would get into my garden, as one year they completely destroyed my shade garden, tore it to bits.  Turns out, they were going after seed dropped from the bird feeder.  I moved the feeder, no more problems.  And they never went into my vegetable garden, Husband and I kept track, but never found evidence of it.  

They seemed a bit shy when I came out with the camera and started taking photos, but once they figured out I wasn't going to walk to them, they settled a lot, and I think I took some fairly nice pics.  I don't know if they were wet, or if that is normal, but they looked glossy.  Almost as if they had oil on their feathers...  I think some of the old men birds are gone, we have looked, the males in the group are just starting to get blue wattles and beards.  One of our neighbors does not like turkeys, and calls Fish and Wildlife to have them moved.  I don't know if these birds have figured it out, (she lets her dogs roam "to keep the birds out"), or she just hasn't called yet.  We, as well as the neighbor across from us, would like the birds to stay, both for the enjoyment factor, as well as "bug patrol". 

Ah, life in the megalopolis... (HA!)

In other news, I was finally, after about a month and a half, able to go back to the substation (or, as informally known, the "cop shop") yesterday.  It was nice getting back, I started a newsletter, so I was busy most of the afternoon.  One of the deputies realized I was back, and I heard the broadcast radio click on to a country station.  (He's not a big Petty fan...)  I played some Junior Brown, Asleep at the Wheel, and Doc Watson, just for fun, and he looked rather oddly at the computer when he went by...  

Ah, and had a "regular" come in.  She comes in about once every month or two.  She complains about the same thing, I explain that it is a job for the State Police, because of where it's located.  I give her the phone for the State Police.  She thanks me, then leaves.  I am so curious if she ever actually CALLS the State Police...  I would guess not, since I see her so regularly.  At least she's polite, I guess.  Better than a lot of them I deal with.  I am not even sure if I am the only one that has dealt with her.  Somehow, it wouldn't surprise me if the whole lot of our volunteers have probably met her at some point...  

I picked one of the deputies brains about a story point, and I forget how often they have to deal with people's questions.  I started with "I hope this question makes sense".  He responded, "I'll work with what I get..."  with a big smile.  As it turned out, I was on the right track, and will be able to use the information he gave me in the story, which pleases me immensely.  We also swapped some personal stories about families, law, and less than legal doings in the community.  

It is nice to be back!

Leave it to "my" deputies...

Went to the substation for a little bit yesterday, to deliver some things, and one of the deputies saw me with my big ol' boot on.  He glanced down...

"That doesn't look good..."

I replied, "Beware llama poop."

He looked up, and in mock seriousness replied, "Good to know."

Then chuckled all the way out to his car...