Girls Vegas Trip

I enjoyed a much needed vacation with two of my best friends (since about 5th grade) Rachael and Kate. We ventured to Vegas and enjoyed the pool, shopping and sun. But what I was most excited about? The Phantom Of The Opera. It was amazing. I'd seen the Phantom when it toured through the US but this was astounding, I can't even begin to describe how amazing it was. The pyrotechnics, the singing, the small details. It was amazing.

While I enjoyed our time down there, I think we decided Vegas was more of a males venue. We're shooting for a Zions or Moab trip next year.

Day at the Park

This past weekend my sister came out to visit. We had a great time and I took her down to Riverfront park. We enjoyed one of the first warm days of spring (yes-we did have a few sprinkles of rain throughout the walk ). We munched on warm mini-donuts, a staple if you go to the park! JJ enjoyed the trash eating goat, and the grown-ups all played on the carousel.

Bruises and Paper Work

At my job I've encountered several scuffles, but none that I really count as all out brawls. Of course, I knew my time would come eventually. And it came this past week.

Unfortunately I was very sick. I had no almost no voice whatsoever and had a terrible cough. One of my teammates offered to chauffeur me around and we partnered up for the night.

For those few random people who read this blog and don't know me you should know I'm kind of a small girl. My partner for the night however is not. He's a good 6'2 -220+ lbs.

It's 4 in the morning, the ground is wet from a freak snow spring snow fall. Myself and my partner, call him J for short, get ready to knock on a house door because we see someone with a warrant had just walked in. Before we can knock that male comes walking out the door towards us.

We exchange a few words (or I attempt to because I have no voice) and our suspect turns to start running. He makes it about 3 steps before he slips on the wet grass. J, who was closer to the male to begin with, tackles him in attempts to keep him on the ground. Now our suspect is probably a good 6'0, 180 lbs. So I am the little Chihuahua in this fight. Suspect starts resisting and rolling around, throwing elbows at J. I jump into the pile in attempts to control our suspect. This suspect now starts throwing elbows at me and pops me in the mouth. I deliver a couple knee strikes but nothing seems to be working.

One thing that is almost impossible to explain and convey until you've been there, is how quickly fights change and things can either escalate or deescalate. Also, as police, we have to react to what the suspect does and match suspect actions, we can rarely act first.

So as quickly as the three of us our rolling around on the cold, wet ground on the lawn and sidewalk, I hear my partner yell. "He's got my gun! He's going for my gun." As you may or may not know, once a suspect begins going for the deadly weapons, we automatically elevate our behavior to deadly force. Believe it or not, those holsters that hold our duty weapons are not impossible to defeat.

So now I'm thinking "Ok, time to shoot this guy who's trying to shoot us." Unfortunately I was a bit pinned by the two heavy guys rolling around who now have rolled onto my lower half. I think I better get into a better position if I need to deliver deadly force so I don't shoot my partner.

As I shimmy on up to get into position the suspect to jumps out. Deadly force is no longer necessary. Me and J are able to pull him back down again.

I've had this tazer attached to my belt for a year now and I've never got to use it. I'm pessimistic in how it will handle but I figure I'd give it a shot (No pun intended...well maybe it was) I pull out my Tazer and drive the prongs into suspects lower back and pull the trigger. I know it's working because the suspect immediately tightens up and I can smell flesh burning.

I was amazed at the instant compliance we received. He shot his arms out from under his body and yelled to us he was done fighting. Me and my partner are winded and of course were all a bit beat up.

It was the best feeling in the world to hear the sirens and see the lights of our fellow officers (as we call it the Cavalry) respond to our location and grab the suspects wrists in order to apply cuffs.

A first fight, a real fight, as I've figured out, was alot of fun and very intense. Unfortunately, it also comes with ALOT of paper work.

But the best words one can hear is all the good guys are OK and the bad guy goes to jail.

Thoughts and Prayers

To the family, friends, police family and others of the three officers killed in the line of duty in Oakland this weekend, and the fourth whose hanging on for dear life.

And those who don't know, We too encountered a fatal shooting this week. Thankfully, it came out on our side.

http://www.kxly.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp?vt1=v&clipFormat=flv&clipId1=3562474&at1=News&h1=Thief dead, K9 wounded in late night shooting

As if my job doesn't remind me enough, these have been other strong reminders why you should live life to the fullest. Three things you should do everday:

1. Say "I love you"

2. Laugh

3. Don't sweat the small stuff

5 lbs. Dumbell vs. The Quarter Pounder

Summertime is approaching and it's no surprise that most women must "prepare" for their summertime body. Well as you know my body role model is Jillian Michael's from biggest loser. Unfortunately I'm a far ways off. Also unfortunately, My eating is not as healthy as it should be.

Last night, after watching Biggest Loser with Ivan I get this very, VERY, odd craving for french fries. Gross I know. I could not tell you the last time I've eaten fast food, let alone french fries. So Ivan being the nice guy he is goes out at 10:00 pm and get's me french fries and a cheeseburger...oh did I forget the chocolate shake?

Moral of the story? While the greasy french fries were a foreign, unfamiliar, yet welcomed taste to my body, an hour later, it is not worth it. I felt so gross. The feeling of guilt accompanied with the feeling of nausea.

I have to wonder. What does Jillian do when she's craving something unhealthy? Or am I the only one?

My Internal Clock is On Drugs....

I know, I know, I can't complain. New mothers, or most mothers for that matter will always win the title of having the most screwed up sleeping/living/eating/slightly functioning schedule. But I'm coming in at a close second.

Wake up at 1600 hours (4 p.m. for you non military folk). Shower. Find out through my hubby we are taking his parents out to dinner at 5:30. Now I have less than an hour to get ready. Make it to the fancy restaraunt. Eat a medium-rare steak for breakfast. Hug our goodbyes. Head to the nearby mall for some quick shopping. It's now about 8:00 at night, I'm just starting to wake up. Go home. Curl up on couch and watch "Biggest Loser" with my husband. Both of us drift off to sleep. He-because he's tired. Me-because I fall asleep pretty much anytime I lay down. He goes off to bed around 10:00. I read until I fall asleep at about midnight. Wake up-Fully Awake at about 2:00 in the morning. Mess around on the computer until 4:00-5:00 a.m. Wake my husband up for work. Go to bed.

Do it all again.

On A Serious Note

This is not a political post whatsoever. Don't worry. What it is a small "shout out" so to speak. Yeah, we are at war right now....in case you didn't know. Whether your for or against, up to date or only know what you hear on the "Jon Stuart" show it shouldn't matter. I've got a fellow co-worker who was just re-deployed over to "the sandbox" as they say. I know it takes a lot for his family to have him gone and I just want to say thanks to all those who have done the same.

I also had the opportunity to come in contact with a returned soldier of Iraq. He was only 23 years old. He was younger than me. Whatever he had experienced over there had really changed him. His wife sat and pleaded with me to take him to the hospital because she now feared for her children and his safety. She told me how now he had tried to hurt himself in numerous different ways and couldn't even be around people anymore with his anxiety attacks. At first I thought she was exaggerating...but she wasn't.

I was invited into the home to find him hiding underneath his bed. A grown man hiding from us. When he did finally come out from the bed he kept his hands over his eyes and made me lead him to the back of the patrol car because he said he would "freak out" if he could actually see us. It was definitely a solemn feeling. He was a great guy who I had a great conversation with on the way down to the hospital, but his anxiety from the war had made him unable to function.

I guess it just takes a few stories that hit a bit close to home to make me be extremely grateful for every person whose taken it upon themselves to change something for the better.