Well that was a long time between posts…

February 5, 2010 in Stamping or Scrapbooking, Travels | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hi everyone!  I just thought I’d pop in to say hi and see how you’re all doing out there in virtual party land.  Anything new with you?

I have been busy these last 10+ days.  We had our bi-annual scrapbook getaway in Bodega Bay in January.  It FINALLY STORMED while we were there!  We’ve always wished for that and this time we got it.  We rented a different house and it is the perfect scrapbook getaway for 8 girls.  Here is the link to Sea Treasure so you can either book it yourself or just drool.  ;) 

My weekend project?   To catch up 3 decades of photos that were in boxes.  A few years ago, I read Stacy Julian’s Photo Freedom and decided to adopt her brilliant photo organization plan.   A bit of it anyway!  So I purchased the WeRMemoryKeepers Photo dock and organized all my printed photos a few years back (you can read this post for that story).

For this trip, I grabbed my compactly organized photos from the 1990’s and 2000’s.  I used 2 American Crafts 3ring binder 12×12 albums and divided photo sheets (either 5 or 6 4×6 photos per protector – double when you use the back too).  I digi scrapped the titles only - 4×6 – such as this one here–>  and slipped them in one of the pockets. 

I was able to finish the 1990’s and start on the 2000’s and I feel sooo accomplished!   Here are a few pics of my 1990’s album.  I will hang a round tag on the spine with “1990’s”.  The album title page was done using Sweet Pea digi papers from Stampin’ UP!.




dreary… drab… january days….

January 18, 2010 in Digi | Tags: , , , , | 1 comment

Right now we’re having a wet & wild rainstorm. I LOVE IT!  Power is out, trees are falling left and right and streets are flooding… and I’m sitting inside warm & cozy with a chai, a portable heater and 2 fun co-workers while the guys are getting wet outside.   It’s days like these that make me glad I changed my mind about being a cop!

But if this kind of day doesn’t appeal to you and you’re DYING for some spring like color, why not download this free PC desktop?  It’s guaranteed to relieve SAD symptoms immediately*.

*I am not a doctor so take the guarantee with 2 aspirin and call a doc in the morning if this doesn’t cheer you up!

To download the desktop, right mouse click and save to your computer.  It is formatted for wide screen monitors, but it looks “ok” on the standard size. 

Police Expose’: Conduct Unprofessional

January 11, 2010 in Police Stuff | Tags: | 3 comments

This week some funny things have happened and I thought my dear readers (or nosy readers) would enjoy hearing about them.

I mentioned earlier my shift changed and now I work a combination Day/Swing shift.  Swingshift is much different than Dayshift.  When the “brass” is gone after 6pm, things relax a bit…

The other night, we received 3 separate complaints of dogs barking in 3 separate parts of town within a 10 minute time frame.  We weren’t that busy at the moment so I assigned 3 different officers (thank you economy- our city laid off our Community Service Officers so now cops respond to these calls) .  We thought it was funny that 3 barking dog calls would come in at the same time from different areas- so I joked  “Well you know what that means, right?  We’ll be having an earthquake!”   After they yelled at me for cursing us with an earthquake, we laughed.  I also sent the officers that very pertinent info to their MDT (mobile data terminal).   One officer responded back  ” No, the dogs are alerting us to the fact we no longer have CSO’S!” 

True, that.

But wouldn’t you know it?  We had an earthquake!    Okay, it was the next morning, but still less than 12 hours later.  And then the next day, a 6.5 earthquake a few counties north of us. 

Radio traffic later that same night:

Officer 1:         K1, tow is 97.    [tow truck is on scene]
Me to Officer 1:         K1, copy
Officer 2:       U20, tow is 97.  
 
(this is another officer, on the same traffic stop saying the same thing immediately after the first officer said it, not realizing it had been said)
 
(this happens a lot- and it’s always funny to us)
 
Me to Officer 2:     U20, copy!    (with a hint of giggle- we all giggled a little)
Officer 1 again:     K1, tow is 97   (now he has an obvious chuckle)
Me to  Officer 1:    copy, tow 97! 

We waited a few seconds… and my co-workers doubled dog dared me, so of course I had no choice…

 Me to Officer 2:    U20, is the tow 97?
              U20:   Uh, let me check- stand by. 
              U20:   The tow is 97!”

 Yes, we’re easily amused.

And finally- 

Woman Caller:   Yes, can you please send the cops to my house?  I’m paranoid.
Dispatcher:  Okaaay…. what is going on that you need the police to assist you with exactly?
Woman Caller:  Nothing, I’m just feeling paranoid.

We can’t make this stuff up. 

 
 

rambling while intoxicated (endorphin high)

January 7, 2010 in Homefront | Tags: , , , , | 3 comments

this photo has absolutely nothing to do with my post today- it's just funny

Last week, I started a new shift.  11am-9pm Sunday-Weds, with some Sundays off as a furlough day (thanks economy!).   I have to say that so far, IT’S AWESOME! 

There’s a huge difference between getting up at 4:45 am and 6am (or 6:30).   So far, I’ve been getting up no later than 7am (sometimes the dog & cat jump up and snuggle and how could anyone resist that??) and CAN YOU BELIEVE IT-  running.  I’m training for a 20k trail run and have only missed 2 days so far this month!   

If you are one of 400 million people who resolved to lose weight or exercise more this year – have you started?  I want to encourage you to JUST DO IT.  Don’t set ridiculous challenges if you’re just starting – keep it simple.   Save the lofty goals for when the habit to do it has taken hold and you don’t feel right skipping a day.  Get out and just WALK.  30 minutes every day.  WHY am I saying this?  Because just in these last few days, I feel great.  I relish the sore legs.  I have more energy.  I feel like I’m onto something.   

I’m doing an accelerated version of the Couch to 5k training plan.  Yesterday was a 5 mile run/walk and my heart rate monitor said I burned 600 calories.  Just that alone makes you realize you don’t really want that bag of cookies… maybe just one will do.  Or none.  It’s weird how your brain works like that. 

Or… it may be that my OCD has “locked on” to exercising and not stamping, scrapping, or cleaning the house.   That’s probably it.  Works for me!   :)

2010 is off to a great start!!

January 6, 2010 in Geekstuff | Tags: | 3 comments

I haven’t seen or heard of any Evil Raccoon Militia activity in my area for some time.  Have you had any in your area?

Maybe they’ve all been rounded up?

This one is pretty cute, looking all sad and all.

Keep your guard up.