Posted on February 26, 2010 by Sandra in Uncategorized
As we head in to the final weekend of the Olympics, I can not help but feel full of Canadian pride.
As a country we have done so well – from Joannie Rochette with her inspirational bronze medal performance less than a week after her mother suddenly passed away, to the women’s hockey victory with bringing home the gold (personally, I think it’s pretty cool the hockey team celebrated on the ice with a couple of cold ones). The Ice Dance left me breathtakingly speechless, and I was a bit teary when Alexendre Bilodeau took the podium for our first Gold. All the other medals leave me in awe of our athletes. Way to go Canada!
I’m a snowboarder so I can appreciate how insane those runs were – I would not willingly submit myself to the same course. After watching the bobsledding I thought that would be the uber-cool sport to train for – kind of like driving a police car Code Three but with a much smaller ‘vehicle’ and a much more difficult navigational requirement. I’m serious. Either that or the biathlon. How do you even get started in sports like these??
In any event, Canada currently leads 3-1 in the men’s hockey game against Slovakia, with less than seven minutes left in the third, and I’ve no more time to spend here as I really must go watch the rest of the game.
Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
(a) freedom of conscience and religion;
(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
(c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
(d) freedom of association.
Be proud of your beliefs. Stand up and make your voice be heard. Gather together, march for your cause, and sing your allegiances.
But to hide behind the anonymity of a balaclava while wrecking havoc in the pursuit of your cause lessens the cause you are so desperately trying to support.
Posted on February 2, 2010 by Sandra in Uncategorized
If there had been a prize for the person who guessed where we went on our get-away then reader Nic would have won. Yes, we went to Las Vegas.
Here is my first comment about the trip – Las Vegas is a total gong show, as I’m sure many of you know.
The people watching was a treat (you could fill a book with anecdotes about the weird and the bizarre), the architecture was amazing, and the rides were breath-takingly-scary. First we dangled ourselves off the edge at 866 ft up in the air, and then we catapulted up to 1149 ft on a ride called the Big Shot at the top of the Stratosphere building. I thought hubby was going to have to change his shorts.
Me? I screamed like a little girl.
The thing about Vegas is that people go there to gamble. We’re not gamblers, as can be seen by the cashout voucher on one of our only foray’s into the casinos:
Vegas was quite the experience, but by day three I was more than ready to head home. Now that we’re home it’s the day before I head back to work and I’m exhausted. Time for a good night’s sleep in my own bed so I can get up and get my head in the game (more on getting your ‘head in the game’ in a future post).
One thing I did notice was the number of police units with the Nevada Taxicab Authority. I’m still not sure if they were a police agency unto their own as I cannot find a website, but the officers were armed and drove marked Crown Victoria police cars.
Too bad they weren’t around when we encountered the one cab driver who was of the sort to give all cab drivers a bad name when he tried to scam us…
‘Tried’ is the operative word in the above sentence.
Posted on January 30, 2010 by Sandra in Uncategorized
I am about ready to scream.
If anything can drive me over the edge it is when my computer system fails to work. The actual computer is fine – it’s the Internet service provider I’m using that is driving me squirrelly. One day it works, but then the following three days it works only if the moon and stars are aligned, which in turn causes me a great deal of stress because not only do I rely on the computer for blogging, I rely on it for everything else as well – kids sports schedules, banking, trip updates and printing out our e-tickets.
E-tickets, you say?
Oh yes. We are going away for a couple of days - I’ll tell you about when we get back, but it should be people-watching at its finest.
Also, an update on the recent post “So Many Directions“. You have made it clear that I should keep doing what I’m doing, with only maybe a bit more emphasis on what people interested in a career in law enforcement can expect and what they can do in preparation. I’ve struggled with what to put in the proposed poll as many of you have already voiced what you would like to see more of, so the poll might end up being for fun.
Here’s one bit of advice before I leave – if you have not watched the mini-series Band of Brothers, then do so. Not only is it amazing tribute to the soldiers of Easy Company, US Military Army Airbourne, and their mission in WWll, it’s an excellent example of the bond between warriors.
There are quite a few parallels between the military and law enforcement, and several of the scenes in Band of Brothers made me sit up and think to myself, “Hey, we have an NCO just like that (both good and bad), we have a guy with that same sense of humour, I have a similar bond with a couple of my comrades” etc etc.
What our men and women serving overseas have to endure, what they train for, and their commitment to our country is very humbling. My hat goes off to all of them. I guess what I’m trying to say is I don’t think law enforcement even holds a candle to the military in the level of sacrifice, but there is something to learn by watching this film.
That’s it for now everyone, have a great weekend and stay safe.
I’m astounded at the number of people talking on their cell phones and driving at the same time since the new law came into effect on January 1, 2010. So, in case you missed it, here it is – it’s a bit boring so skim if you must, but please, at least read my last two sentences:
Prohibition against use of electronic device while driving
214.2 (1) A person must not use an electronic device while driving or operating a motor vehicle on a highway.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), a person must not communicate by means of an electronic device with another person or another device by electronic mail or other text-based message.
Use of Electronic Devices while Driving
“electronic device” means
(a) a hand-held cellular telephone or another hand-held electronic device that includes a telephone function,
(b) a hand-held electronic device that is capable of transmitting or receiving electronic mail or other text-based messages, or
(c) a prescribed class or type of electronic device;
“use”, in relation to an electronic device, means one or more of the following actions:
(a) holding the device in a position in which it may be used;
(b) operating one or more of the device’s functions;
(c) communicating orally by means of the device with another person or another device;
(d) taking another action that is set out in the regulations by means of, with or in relation to an electronic device.
$167.00 and three points on your drivers licence, or $20-$100 for a hands free device to use with your phone.
Posted on November 12, 2009 by Sandra in Uncategorized
As I said in the post Honest Scrap, I really do think I’m a decent driver.
Not for the fact that I’ve been driving for along time, but for the fact much of that driving is done at high speed, through heavy traffic, with lights flashing and siren blasting, around those who do not know what it is to yield to an emergency vehicle, and all the while processing information about the emergency call I have been dispatched to.
All without losing my cool and causing or being involved in an accident, and with arriving at my destination being able to deal with whatever situation the 911 call center has seen fit to throw my way.
For all the ‘crazy’ driving at work, I’m relatively serene on my days off when behind the wheel.
I obey the ‘yield to car on right’ at four way stops, I merge well, I slow down to 30 kms/hr in school zones, and I wave a ‘thankyou’ when another driver goes out of their way to make driving a more pleasant experience.
But there is one intersection only a few blocks away from our home. An intersection my family goes through every single day, most days more than once, and one that severely threatens the serenity of my off-duty driving.
The east/west street has the right of way. The north/south street has stop signs where it intersects the east/west street, meaning everyone approaching the intersection while driving north or south has to stop. The southbound drivers have got this figured out, likely because the area on that side of the intersection is home to only twenty houses.
The northbound drivers, as far as I’m concerned, need a swift kick in the butt.
Without exception, almost all northbound drivers do not stop until they are well into the intersection and signalling their westbound turn. It is so bad that now, when approaching the intersection on the east/west right-of-way, I slow to crawl and creep through to avoid a collision. With clock work regularity, I have to make an abrupt stop to allow a peson through who has not stopped for their stop sign.
It’s infuriating.
Citizens in the area have complained to City planning (I don’t live in Vancouver, so don’t go giving them a hard time), have asked for stepped-up police enforcement, and have requested that the intersection be turned into a four-way-stop. While we have seen a few cruisers monitoring the intersection on an intermitent basis, residents have been told a four-way-stop is not practical as our intersection is too close to another intersection.
But I digress…
Road safety is paramount. Stop at your stop signs. Yield to on-coming traffic. Be courteous as it will likely make someone’s day – probably your own.
Posted on November 11, 2009 by Sandra in Uncategorized
Today, my friends raised a toast to the men and women who have made sacrifices for our country.
Those who would stand between Canada and war.
Two of our work mates have recently served overseas. One has just returned. One is still on tour. What they have experienced is something I cannot even grasp.
Some people say the police are heroes, but I beg to differ.
Lest we forget….there are no heroes other than those who would lay down their lives for their country.
Posted on October 17, 2009 by Sandra in Uncategorized
This post does not have so much to do with policing as it does knowing when to laugh at oneself.
In truth, there’s nothing in this post even remotely connected to policing, unless of course, you count the fact that our family does not have a pet hamster because my police dog would likely eat it.
Anyways, on with the story….
This summer our family went on one of our annual group camping trips. At final count, there were 43 children, 15 sets of parents, 13 RV’s, 2 tents, 7 dogs and 1 hamster.
Yes, you read correctly – 1 hamster.
According to the hamster’s owners, whom I love dearly, no one was able to look after ‘Mimsi’ for the duration of the trip, so the little beige and white teddy bear hamster made it’s first road trip. For all the kids around, Mimsi was a huge hit, particularly with the girls of middle school age, and she spent several days being carted around in various pairs of cupped hands, in pockets, and in the little clear sphere designed to give the little bugger some exercise.
There were several side bets on when Mimsi would make a break for the wilderness, never to be seen again. But to give the kids credit, they were very watchful and very careful with their ward. Mimsi never so much as touched the gravelly ground that made up our group campsite.
A couple of days into our trip found me chatting with my friend Lisa inside her RV. Mimsi was in ‘Hamster Haven’, a cage with an elaborate array of tubes, wheels and hidey-holes set up on the RV’s kitchen table. Lisa rolled her eyes when I asked if Mimsi was going to be a regular camper from then on.
“Not a chance,” was Lisa’s response.
As Lisa busied herself at the counter, I sat at the table and peered in at the hamster. Mimsi was curled up on her haunches, munching away on whatever it is hamsters eat. Very cute. I asked Lisa if I could pick the hamster up and I got an answer in the affirmative.
I should have known better. Rodents and I do not get along.
After sliding open the door, I reached my hand in and stroked Mimsi’s back. So soft. Then, as gentle as I could, I slipped my fingers around her and lifted her into my hand.
What a mistake.
Maybe it was because I had just come from playing with Hondo, or maybe it was because I picked her up wrong, but Mimsi was none too impressed with me on that fine summer day. She showed her displeasure by wrapping her tiny body around the end of my right index finger, clinging to it with all twenty tiny claws, and by sinking her two bottom incisors into the sensitive pad of my finger.
Mimsi had really long teeth. I swear they hit bone.
Fire lit up my previously well functioning appendage and my jaw dropped as I looked at the minuscule stole now encasing my trigger finger. I was tempted to flick my hand and send Mimsi into the nether world across the airspace that made up the interior of Lisa’s RV, but I feared the end of my finger would go flying off as well. And, I thought, in times like this, it is best not to panic.
I placed my hand on the table, Mimsi still in an incredibly impossible Yoga pose with my finger as the main prop, and cleared my throat.
“Lisa,” I said.
“Yes?” she replied, her back to me as she mixed what I suspected was one of her killer margaritas. I could have used one right about then.
“Um, Mimsi’s biting me.”
“What did you say?” she asked, turning to see if I was joking.
“Your hamster. It’s biting me,” I said. My GOD, it HURTS!!!!!!!
“Oh,” she said, realising what was happening, ‘OH!”
I gently applied the thumb and forefinger of my left hand to the teeny-tiny scruff of Mimsi’s neck and tried to pull her off me. No such luck – the bloody hamster was as pliable as silly putty and she simply s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d out across the chasm between her teeth and my poor finger. I let Mimsi’s scruff go, and she snapped back into place like a rubber band.
To add insult to injury, the hairs on the back of my neck were at full attention due to the completely unreal sound Mimsi was making, which sounded like a cross between a Star Wars Ewok and a killer whale. No animal so small should be able to emit such a noise.
I flattened my hand down on the table, forcing Mimsi into a pretzel which cause her to finally release her grip. The hamster wandered back to her ‘Hamster Haven’ while I inspected the new indent to the center of my finger. It’s not too bad, I thought, moments before the blood started to gush across the table.
Oh dear. Who knew fingers could bleed so much.
Lisa hollered for her husband as I tried to stem the bleeding, a blush rising up from my collar. You have GOT to be kidding me. I didn’t just get bitten by a freaking hamster, did I?
Oh yes, I did.
A couple of band aids (and margaritas) later, I figured I was going to be fine. I was up to date on my tetanus shot, and I had applied a liberal dose of antibacterial stuff beneath the bandage. But the next morning, my finger was puffy and red with it’s own pulse. Not good.
The local medical clinic was full to capacity, so off we went to the next town as they had the closest hospital. The triage nurse did a double take when I said I was there for a hamster bite, and she let loose with a hearty guffaw when I told her it was okay to laugh. Even the Doctor had to look up ‘animal bites’, confessing he had never seen anyone for an actual a hamster bite.
How embarrassing.
And the Doctor was young and really good looking too…just how I want to be remembered – the 30-something mom in for a hamster bite sustained while camping with the family.
Yeah. That’s cool.
Anyways, a round of antibiotics took care of the infection, the scar is all but gone, and I now have a good party story.
Posted on October 3, 2009 by Sandra in Uncategorized
After watching the evening news and seeing the absolute devastation in Indonesia and surrounding areas, I’m at a loss to comprehend what those citizens are going through.
I simply cannot imagine losing my family, my home, and everything else important.
It really brings everything into perspective. Just when I think I’ve had a hard week, all I have to do is think of the plight of those overseas and it all comes into focus.
