Really? Again?

 After the week of working doubles and working on the holiday this week, I was all set to go to my bestie's and enjoy a nice long quiet weekend.

Didn't happen.

We have had this planned since January. Last weekend of August we go to Hobby Lobby and see what we want to add to our collections for the holidays.

Last weekend in August- was at the hospital with Son and taking care of him. (I know he's an adult but sometimes you just need mama to take care of you. Being a parent doesn't end when they turn 18- Heck, I'm almost 67 and I still want my mom when I'm upset or hurting... AND my dad.) Postponed.

First weekend in September- Worked the doubles all week. Didn't feel up to anything except catching up on lost sleep. Postponed.

This weekend, Saturday I took Daughter to have teeth pulled and was planning on going to besties after I got daughter back home and settled in bed. My son and her daughter were planning on taking care of Daughter while I went to besties. Was sitting in car for a few minutes before I headed into the dentist office when I got a call from Bestie. She had a woken up with a horrible sore throat and had an inkling it might be strep again... I can't lose time off work, so she suggested we postpone until next weekend and she figures out if it's contagious. Fair enough- Postponed.

So, this weekend I'm clearing my room and setting it up for autumn. And doing laundry. Blek. 

I'll find something fun to do this weekend if it kills me.

On the upside I'm looking forward to a postal delivery from a sweet buddy beginning of the week and I have my coffee all ready!!!

Life is still SWEET!!!

Normal......for me.

 In my last post Spo commented That he hoped things returned to normal for me asap.

I had to chuckle at that one. 

Honestly, being on that long boring double shift was more relaxing than my "normal" routine (except for that 3.5 hours of sleep thing).

As soon as my feet hit the floor when the alarm goes off, I'm literally up and running.

This morning, for example, I rolled out of bed- did the morning shower/teeth brush, and hair comb. Then I dressed, went to the kitchen, cleared out the fridge and disposed of all the rubbish in the trash bin. And I washed up all the dishes. 

After that I went downstairs, put on a washer load of bed linens, then went back upstairs and replenished my med tray before I backed the car up to the side porch and loaded 3 trash bags into the back to take off to the recycle center...which I did after feeding all 4 cats. (Nu-Nu, Meepers, Floofy, and EmNem.)-don't ask.)

I drove to the Recycle center, then on the way home I swung by Wally World and picked up a new belt for the Hoover.(Actually, a Bissell, but I call them all a Hoover now after living in the UK for so long.) 

Then I drove home and coming in I noticed my front door autumnal wreath looked a bit on the sparse side, so I stopped long enough to add a few more colorful leaf picks to the arrangement before coming inside and waking my daughter. Soon as she is dressed, I'll be taking her up to my tire guy so she can buy a new tire for her Optima so I won't be the only one with an operational vehicle in the house.

Then we'll come back home and make and eat a sammich before I get changed into my uniform and head back out for my shift at work- 2p-10p. Then drive home, have a glass of sweet iced-tea   and wind down for a half hour  or so before I come to my room, check my email, maybe write a post if anything comes to mind before having another shower and then going to sleep- finally. 

Every day I swear is the same- only with different priorities involved. But always work...... that is my one constant.

I don't mind- usually. Sometimes soon though, I'm going to take a couple days, pack a sleeping bag, cooler of food and water, a fishing rod, and my weapon and go solo camping for a weekend.  That's one reason I want to get my Ranger running again- put the cover on it and a full size mattress (NOT an inflatable one either. HATE those things.) in the truck bed and I can go camping anytime I want to at the drop of a hat. 

Sometimes you just need some time alone to commune with nature and God.

It's Done. For Now. I'm Back!

 Well, since my last post I have been crazy super busy.

On Thursday before last our Site Team leader at work walked out mid-shift. It surprised the heck out of everyone because she seemed happy as Larry with her position there. But at 10:30am she came to the office, dropped off her equipment, got in her car and left the site. 

Apparently, she had gone for a job interview that morning and accepted their offer (she was a few minutes late that same morning).

I sat and though on it about an hour and then texted my account manager and told him I could cover Ery's position the following week to give them time to get a replacement hired. I told him it would be a short-term offer because I hadn't had a vaca in almost 3 years and I just wasn't up to a long-term commitment of consecutive double shifts. He thanked me, told me that that was a long time to and asked if I could cover the next morning as well- as it was a Friday I agreed to do it- I had the weekend to recover and prepare for the following weeks doubles. I had a bit of a shortchange on my pay schedule because of the job change- you know they hold a week back and pay you for the it the following week so the additional shifts would put me back on track with my bills.

I wasn't able to keep my schedule as planned, however. Monday and Tuesday I worked the doubles, but I had to call Mike(manager) and asked could I come in a bit late the next Wednesday. He said of course just let the other first shift guy know. So, I went home, crawled in bed after the double and slept until 10am the next morning. I then got up- opened up my laptop and created a couple of forms we need for the new site before heading into the rest of first shift. 

Just working those two days showed me part of the reason why Ery left. The site documentation is nonexistent and that can lead to some serious consequences. I have been told that they have been requesting documentation forms since we took the site over but for some reason it hasn't shown up yet. So, instead of waiting on forms to arrive I took it upon myself to temporarily fix the problem myself. I created two for patrols and two for Parking ...one a citation and the second a log sheet for the citations issued with Date & Time issued, Make/Model/Color of Vehicle, License Plate Details and a space for issuing officers initials. Repeat offenders have a star asterisk by their name and after 3 citations will be subject for towing.  We have a very limited parking area and although we have an overflow parking area, we are still having to park employees on the grassy areas to accommodate everyone. ALL lanes must be kept clear of vehicles in case of emergencies- the week prior to the double shifts we had a medical emergency and the responders couldn't get thru to the area they needed to because of all the vehicles parked on the curbside. The end of this week we had two and the curbsides were free and clear.  We have a very large Hispanic workforce there and in addition to the citations being worded in English- I have added under each line the Spanish translation for them.  Citations do work when they are prepared properly and fairly.

Anyway, so then I went in to work and finished out the week. Friday, Mike the Manager sent us a new officer and James and I had him trained and ready to take over by half shift, so I clocked out, went to the bank, fueled up the car and paid my rent and was back at the site for my normal second shift hours.

 I averaged about 3.5 hours of sleep between end of second and being back on site for first shift except for Wednesday.

Thankfully- that is done for now. I might work the odd double here and there to fill in for officers taking a vaca or needing a random day or two off, but I'm done with that for now.

Normally this weekend I would be decorating my house for Fall, but not this year. Next weekend I'll be staying at my besties house for our normal monthly Girls Weekend, but I'm pretty sure the following weekend I will be autumn-ing it up at Casa De Camelot. It's already smelling like Autumn... I bought a big Cinnamon Broom for the baker's rack in the kitchen. it smells delicious in there!!!!

So until next time(hopefully I'm back on my normal 2-3x a week posting schedule now)

Yall stay safe and enjoy yourselves this Labor Day Weekend!!!! 

Double Shifts

 Double shifts this week... unless they get someone hired for 1st shift, trained, and vetted. 

Need the extra wages, but my body is already giving me the side eye after only 2 doubles. 

I'm tough... I can do it.

See y'all after the fire is out!! xx

Clayton ..Always In Our Heart. 1983-2007

You are missed. Our hearts are still broken.  The pain never leaves for any of us. 

Til we meet again. xxx Mama, Julie, Frank,

Dear Lord

 Dear Lord,

Give me Strength today.

Give me strength everyday- but especially today.

Hold us tightly in your hands because we are all at a breaking point right now.

Amen

Too Busy To Breathe...

 Long Story short-

New Job, sick kids, 

Two loose teeth that need to be taken care of, 

Loving the new job, meeting new people.

Hoping will settle into some semblance of a routine soon so I can get back to the fun stuff in life- 

ie, blogging, cooking, gaming, writing......

Trying to read blogposts and comment here and there, mostly reading before having to jump up and do stuff tho.... 

It will settle soon- I have faith.- and I pray- a LOT.