It’s Friday Night in Iowa City

Ohmygod! What a night so far!  We have had traffic stops, a couple of fights, several drunks, a naked man running through downtown, a man who was hit in the head who had a concussion, two people struck while in the crosswalks right outside our building, and a suspicious guy hanging out down by the river.  City has called us several times to back them up because they were so busy that they couldn’t handle it all either.  What a mess!

I really don’t know what the city is coming too.  I guess it is a sign that things are returning to normal after being so repressed by the flooding.  Students are out in force living it up on a Friday night but if they could use a little common sense, that would be nice.

It is after 3am now and the bars should be getting the last of their customers out.  The streets have cleared, the rain has stopped, and one would hope it means things will slow down now.  Our campus has become a non-smoking campus - meaning people can’t even smoke outside anymore.  It isn’t overly enforced and we haven’t had time tonight to even think about dealing with people violating the policy.  The City has also gone smoke free but they are not writing citations for people who still want to smoke.  Guess most people feel about it the way I do, if the smokers are outside, who cares?  I get tired of “big brother” always out there trying to dictate our civil liberties.

No, I don’t smoke either - never have.  The policy makes me angry because, as I said, it is just one more thing government thinks they can force on us as if we are not capable of making decisions for ourselves.  It is reminiscent of Sarasota trying to enforce a “no cussing in public” ruling.  If I want to cuss in public, then damn it, I’m going to.  It is ridiculous.  I feel like lighting a cigarette and walking around just to rebel against the idiots who think they have the right to dictate my rights.

Whew, I’ll climb down off my soap box.  Just irritates me.

Bonkers

This is the set

I must admit I think I’ve gone over the edge mentally. That deep, dark abyss is waiting to lay claim to my mind - it’s only a matter of time before the men in white come with that straight jacket to escort me to a padded cell. I really can’t explain what happened - I think my brain just snapped.

Why do I think so? Because I just spent almost four hours looking at dishes…again. This must be the fifth or sixth time I have spent an extensive amount of time looking at them and I really have no idea why.

Dishes have never been a big deal with me. If I can eat off them then that is a big plus. However, since renting an apartment, suddenly picking out the “perfect” dishes has become an obsession. Seriously, I can’t seem to stop myself from pouring over the dishes offered by Walmart, Target, Kohls, and Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Each time I come back to the same set of dishes - confident that they are the ones I want. So why can’t I just let it go??? I don’t know.

It seems to be very important to me that I have a matching set of creamer, sugar bowl, salt/pepper shaker, serving bowls, serving platters, baking dishes, and glasses. WHY??? What is this obsession and WHY do I have it? I’ve never had this before in my life! It certainly perturbs me.

Even now, I feel this need to start looking at them again. The set I have picked out numerous times does not come with a matching anything. I don’t know why as it is a newly released set from Corelle - you’d think it would come with that stuff. So I have had to surf the net trying to find something that would work with the set - look good and be functional. {sigh}

My wrists hurt from all the typing I’ve done on the keyboard just searching for those perfect matches. I don’t even want to venture a guess at what is wrong with my brain. I know it has something to do with the move and not being settled into my own place yet - but why dishes???

Why not shower curtains, bookcases, bed sheets, towels, pictures for the wall…or a countless other things I have to think about buying?? Like the bedroom I’ve decided to do in butterflies - why aren’t I obsessing about that? The living room I thought I would do in woodland animals so you’d think I’d be looking at things to decorate that way.

But no, I’m stuck on dishes for the kitchen. I have looked at so many different salt/pepper shakers, tea sets, platters, and oh, don’t forget the butter dish!!! It makes me want to just buy the one I want so I can stop thinking about it but I don’t because I don’t want to spend any money until I find out what moving in is going to cost me.

February 13, 2008

Honestly, I don’t know what to say about today’s 12 hr shift. We have been extremely busy - really, really, really busy. I’m in the last four hours and am not sure where the time went. Yes, that is a good thing.

I have had so many rude people today - it irritates me. I mean, seriously rude people who call 911 over stupid things. One lady accused me of somehow altering the raccoons so they come out during the day - she said they never use to. If the people weren’t rude then they were drunk - some were both.

We’ve had some teens calling in fake shootings - I wish the police would catch the little buggers and charge them for misuse of the emergency system. It is a misdemeanor but at least the police would get the opportunity to speak to their parents. Stupid brats.

We had one place call in because a man fell in their parking lot. They then cancelled the ambulance because the guy said he was OK and was getting in his vehicle to leave. Twenty minutes later we got a call about a man unconscious in his car in the same parking lot. It was the same man and he was dead when we got there. Goes to show that you should get checked out if you hit your head.

In the nine hours I’ve been here, we have had twelve suicide threat calls - its an epidemic!

Highlights

Just racked up another extremely busy night at 911. If there is a quota on stupid calls, I’d say we’ve reached ours for the entire month. I dread tomorrow’s 12 hr day - the last three have just been nuts and tomorrow probably won’t be any different.

I spent 40 minutes on the phone with a crying teenager who was upset her boyfriend broke up with her. Her grandmother had reported her missing so I had to stay on the line with her until the deputies could catch up with her. She told me not to send her any “angry” deputies who would yell at her. By the time the 40 minutes were up, I wanted to yell at her. Her name was Keira…

Then I had an older woman call who wanted a deputy to come over just to chat. She had no problems save loneliness and asked that I send over a nice deputy. She said she’d bake brownies. I did send over a deputy who chatted with her some so that was nice.

We had a lot of drunk drivers, a home invasion, a lady complaining about teenagers dancing, a complaint of a semi with a silver trailer (about 98.9% of trailers are silver) driving erratically somewhere on I75, etc.

I had a young man who was upset because his mom kept letting loose his dog in hopes that it wouldn’t come back. He loved the dog and it was really a crappy thing for her to do.

Had a few lost people who called 911 for directions…yes, 911. Had one guy call 911 because someone told him there might be someone else whom he didn’t know angry at him for some perceived problem with a bicycle he didn’t own…I sent a unit - let them straighten it out.

Anyway, I’m home now and the house is looking somewhat better. I have to work 12 hrs tomorrow and then have 3 days off. I hope to get a lot accomplished. Guess we shall see.

Friday Night Highlights

You wouldn’t believe how much my job can be frustrating one minute and funny as hell the next.

We had four vehicle vs pedestrian/bike crashes tonight. It seemed they came one right after another in synchronized chaos. Everyone lived. We did have a motorcyclist who lost control and wasn’t wearing a helmet. He had to be airlifted - they weren’t overly hopeful on his prognosis.

Then we had a guy call in countless times to apologize for bothering us. It was rather comical - he was so sincere too. Plus let’s not forget yesterday’s guy who couldn’t figure out how to dial *fhp on his cell phone - he called 911 for help.

All in all, it wasn’t a bad night. Towards the end it got tedious and aggravating but I knew it was also because I was getting so tired.

Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday so we get to wear civvies and everyone is bringing in their favorite football watching foods. I hope it is fun. The next day I work four hours and then have a day off. I have so much to do but I suppose the money will be nice too.

Oh, Come On Now

Tonight was CRAZY at work. I swear to God all the nuts were out and it wasn’t even a full moon. One guy called to say he was on sr776 and wanted an officer but wouldn’t say where on sr776 and it is miles upon miles long. He called back a second time and told the call taker it was none of their business why he wanted an officer - of course we won’t send one without knowing what is going on.

We had a shooting - 19 year old boy out in his yard was shot to death. We think it was over a girl but that is just our speculation. The police know who the killer was though so that is a good thing - shouldn’t take too long to track him down.

We had a man who lives just a block from my house call in three times. He was very upset over another tenant in his apartment building taking his Suzanne Bessette picture. I think they finally told him to quit calling but one can’t be sure. I know the man from my work with the Housing Authority…he even threatened to kill me once. I caught him with some crack cocaine and reported it to my supervisor which really pissed him off. He is known for his violent tendencies but about that time I quit to join the sheriff’s office so that took care of that.

We had a home invasion where the man was disconnected and deputies heard shots fired in the neighborhood but can’t find the house. The guy apparently didn’t give the right address when he called in - he was more then a little stressed though when someone broke into his house with a gun. We hope he isn’t dead.

Had one guy call in over four times just to cuss at the call takers - apparently his friend was tazed and he felt we somehow contributed to the problem.

Last night we had a mental prisoner escape because they called for an ambulance and the paramedics didn’t realize they weren’t suppose to take him. The police caught up with the ambulance though and pulled it over. Would have liked to have seen that! Bet it was comical. The prisoner was recaptured and no one was the worse for wear - though the paramedics were a bit out of sorts over it.

I could go on and on about the calls. Had one guy call me who said he just knew it was his destiny to finish out his days in prison so even though he had not broken the law, he wanted us to come arrest him and get it over with. It was a strange conversation - one for which I got pulled into the office over though not in a horribly bad way. I have no idea what they ended up doing with the guy.

Had an elderly woman whose husband was having a seizure. She was cussing at me on the phone even though I was just trying to help her. It is very disconcerting when foul language comes out of an 80+ year old woman’s mouth. Just seems wrong somehow.

Did I mention the home invasion was also within a mile of my home? Don’t think Baxter and I will be out walking tonight.

Scatterbrained Thoughts

I know I have said this again and again - but why don’t people in scary movies ever shoot for the head? In Halloween Two, Dr. Loomis knows that shooting Myers won’t kill him - he had already shot him six times in the first movie and Myers didn’t die. So why in the hell, in the second movie, would he continue to shoot him in the chest? Why not just blow his brains out - I don’t care how sinister Myer’s is, he can’t operate without a head. Think of all the co-eds Loomis could have saved by killing Myer’s in the second movie. How many spin offs were there…five, six, or more?? {sigh}…guess it’s hard to get good hero’s these days.

My sister kindly offered to have her husband and youngest daughter drive down with his truck so we could move some of my stuff. Looking around my condo, I can’t come up with a single piece of furniture that is so valuable as to warrant such a thing. Not to mention, the trip is an adventure for the two of us. I’m really looking forward to it. We haven’t done anything just the two of us since my son was 15 years old - that is 13 years ago so I think it is time. She has been talking about needing a break so this will serve that purpose too. I think we’ll have a blast.

Most of my stuff has already found new homes anyway. Once I announced I was moving, people started asking for different things. Kind of funny in a way how everyone is looking at my garbage resurrected furniture as if it is worth something. Every piece was given to me or gotten out of someone’s roadside trash. I will want a different style and stuff when I move back up there - something newer, more in line with my design style then any of this stuff is. I figure Iowa is where I will be settling in permanently now so will begin buying furniture and things new that will last the rest of my days. I’ve always loved decorating and can’t wait to buy a house to decorate when money allows. I can see every detail of it in my head.

I was hoping I was in the fire pod today so I could steal a few minutes on the computer to answer my emails and post these posts on my blog. That did not happen though. Maybe I’ll get the fire pod tomorrow as I’ll be the only call taker working that knows how to do that position.

Well, it is bed time - after 1 am - so will hope to get this posted on Sunday. Have Monday through Wednesday off though I think I have OT on one of those days. Hope everyone is well and safe - remember folks, it’s a jungle out there.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

It is Christmas Day. I don’t feel it at all but I haven’t any of the other years I’ve been down here either. It just isn’t the same without snow and family.

Took Baxter for his morning walk. He chased some squirrels up a tree then exhausted himself trying to climb up after them. It was laughable. He’d go from tree to tree trying to climb up to get at not only the squirrels but some birds he also found sitting up there. When I thought it couldn’t get any funnier, he noticed a fast moving cloud and tried to chase it. He barked and growled at it but to no avail - it still floated away.

I saw, for the first time ever, the family who lives in one of the three bedroom units across from me. They never come out. Today they were sitting on the patio and wanted to pet Baxter so we went over. They are Jamacian and seem very nice. Whatever they were cooking for their Christmas dinner sure smelled good. I didn’t stand there and talk to them because it is Christmas and that is family time.

I’m suppose to work today at 7pm. It was originally 3-11pm but they told me last night they didn’t need me first half. Of course, I’m suppose to call in about 2pm to confirm no one called out sick - I think it would take a lot of balls and disregard for your coworkers to call in sick on Christmas.

We had a lot of domestic disturbances yesterday. We also had one bank robbery and one armed robbery of a person out walking. Those really tied up a lot of officers. We had several suicides attempts but none were successful. There was a couple who lost control of their motorcycle going over 80mph on the interstate - neither was wearing a helmet…neither will live. We had one guy who called about nine times to cuss at the call takers. We finally sent a batch of deputies over to chat with him - he didn’t bother us the rest of the night.

My worst call last night was a man who said his wife suddenly “went nuts” and he didn’t know what to do. This woman was in the background screaming and repeating herself over and over. First it was “Call 911” then “call 119”, then “my hair”, “open the door”, “the clouds” and so forth. I think she sounded strung out on some hallucinate but the man, of course, swore she hadn’t taken anything. This woman was screaming and repeating herself so loudly that the paramedics got there and didn’t want to go in. I sent law too just because it sounded like the paramedics would have their hands full and I didn’t see how anyone could go that nuts “suddenly” like her husband said. I played the tape back for the other call takers to hear - they couldn’t believe I managed to stay on the phone for eight minutes with her screaming like she was. I really can’t do it justice telling it like this, you’d have to hear the tape. Even the deputies that responded wrote me an instant message telling me that my comment “patient is going nuts” on the screen did not adequately describe her mental status…guess “insane” would have been a better word.

What a night!

Merry Christmas, Mom

“Merry Christmas, Mom” is a phrase I haven’t been able to say to my mother for over a decade. You’d be surprised how such simple things like that can elicit such strong emotions. It’s Christmas time and I wish I had the opportunity to talk to Mom just one more time. But the sands in the hourglass have shifted closing that chapter of my life forever.

I have some bad memories of my childhood, yes, but they seem to have faded into the archive vault in my head - no longer able to hurt me.

Most of my memories now are from the more fun things we’d do - like UFO watching. If you haven’t read “Advantages of…”’s post “Midnight” from 6/28/06, about our UFO adventures, I highly recommend it. You can find a link to his site under “blogroll” on the right of the screen.

I remember searching the paper for disasters - pretty much any kind as long as it was on a grand scale. Finding one for Mom to read to me was a real treat. Yes, I know how that sounds but Mom like disasters and her reading them or telling me about them was one of the few moments we felt really connected.

I’d ask questions about why earthquakes, avalanches, mud slides, etc., happened and she’d tell me to look it up in the encyclopedias we had. If I needed more information, the school library was also an excellent resource. Thus my love of research was born - I loved finding answers to all my questions.

I miss how Mom would laugh - always with her hand covering her mouth as if she was afraid it might explode from her uncontrollably. The real reason, of course, was her embarrassment over the way her teeth looked but we never cared.

I remember nights of cowering on the couch together as we watched another terrifying episode of “Creature Feature” or “Twilight Zone.”

We’d also be found on the couch when episodes of National Geographic would come on about Jacques Cousteu or the great mysteries of the world. Mom and I would try to figure out what great scientists couldn’t - like the theory of Atlantis, the disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle, and how the stones came to be at Easter Island. Of course, the more outlandish the reasoning, the more fun it was.

We’d look at travel books - marveling at the majestic mountains, the Painted Desert, the Grand Canyon and the clear blueness of the oceans. We’d talk about how “someday” we’d see it all.

Of course I could go on and on. Her love of reading and writing inspired the same in her children. She also enjoyed drawing along with an artist on TV and even took a few art classes. She was good though she didn’t think so. That trait was not something, unfortunately, that was passed on to me though I try my hand at it every now and then - trying to will the creative juices within to flow onto the canvas. It never works.

For those of you who really know me, reading this post will make you smile. You’ll realize why I love to go out at night with my telescope to gaze at the stars, why I’m fascinated by the cause of disasters, and a whole slew of other “strange” interests I have…like scary movies.

I am a combobulation of my past - a dim reflection of all the good things my Mom shared with me. We are all, whether we like it or not, a shadow of our mothers to some degree.

I wish I could tell my Mom one more time how much she meant to me and how much I still miss her after all these years. “Merry Christmas, Mom.”

The Joyous Holidays

It has been very busy here at work both yesterday and today. No doubt building up to the joyous holidays again.

We’ve had several fatal car accidents, several bayflights, a ton of domestic disturbances, three home invasions, numerous heart attacks, at least five successful suicides and too many attempts to even count.

Everyone is tired and worn out and the holidays aren’t even here yet. The next thirty days will continue to be this bad and steadily get worse till next year.

Whoever said the holidays were joyous obviously didn’t work 911.