Camping Photos Part One

We had a wonderful time camping this weekend at Pearrygin Lake. The weather was beautiful, the kids had a blast running wild. We did a little fishing, explored the town of Winthrop, kids rode bikes, roasted smores. Relaxed!!!! It was great.

Getting Out Of Dodge

I am headed to the east side of the state to beautiful Spokane. An all expense paid trip courtesy of Rivercom. Well...It's training, but that's OK. I am kinda excited for the class. I have heard from many that it's a great class. I was reading the flyer this morning and it said the purpose of the class was " to avoid becoming cynical, angry and self destructive." Hmmmm, hope it's not to late. Just kidding. I am always up for a road trip no matter what the purpose. Weather is great, I have my mp3 player loaded up and ready to go. See ya!

Happy National Telecommunicator Week

A Tribute To Dispatchers

By Chief Thomas Wagoner
Loveland (Colo.) Police Department

Someone once asked me if I thought that answering telephones for a living was a profession. I said, "I thought it was a calling."

And so is dispatching. I have found in my law enforcement career that dispatchers are the unsung heroes of public safety. They miss the excitement of riding in a speeding car with lights flashing and sirens wailing. They can only hear of the bright orange flames leaping from a burning building. They do not get to see the joy on the face of worried parents as they see their child begin breathing on its own, after it has been given CPR.

Dispatchers sit in darkened rooms looking at computer screens and talking to voices from faces they never see. It's like reading a lot of books, but only half of each one.

Dispatchers connect the anxious conversations of terrified victims, angry informants, suicidal citizens and grouchy officers. They are the calming influence of all of them-the quiet, competent voices in the night that provide the pillars for the bridges of sanity and safety. They are expected to gather information from highly agitated people who can't remember where they live, what their name is, or what they just saw. And then, they are to calmly provide all that information to the officers, firefighters, or paramedics without error the first time and every time.

Dispatchers are expected to be able to do five things at once-and do them well. While questioning a frantic caller, they must type the information into a computer, tip off another dispatcher, put another caller on hold, and listen to an officer run a plate for a parking problem. To miss the plate numbers is to raise the officer's ire; to miss the caller's information may be to endanger the same officer's life. But, the officer will never understand that.

Dispatchers have two constant companions, other dispatchers and stress. They depend on one, and try to ignore the other. they are chastened by upset callers, taken for granted by the public, and criticized by the officers. The rewards they get are inexpensive and infrequent, except for the satisfaction they feel at the end of a shift, having done what they were expected to do.

Dispatchers come in all shapes and sizes, all races, both sexes, and all ages. They are blondes, and brunettes, and redheads. They are quiet and outgoing, single, or married, plain, beautiful, or handsome. No two are alike, yet they are all the same.

They are people who were selected in a difficult hiring process to do an impossible job. They are as different as snowflakes, but they have one thing in common. They care about people and they enjoy being the lifeline of society-that steady voice in a storm-the one who knows how to handle every emergency and does it with style and grace; and, uncompromised competence.

Dispatchers play many roles: therapist, doctor, lawyer, teacher, weatherman, guidance counselor, psychologist, priest, secretary, supervisor, politician, and reporter. And few people must jump through the emotional hoops on the trip through the joy of one caller's birthday party, to the fear of another caller's burglary in progress, to the anger of a neighbor blocked in their drive, and back to the birthday caller all in a two-minute time frame. The emotional rollercoaster rolls to a stop after an 8 or 10 hour shift, and they are expected to walk down to their car with steady feet and no queasiness in their stomach-because they are dispatchers. If they hold it in, they are too closed. If they talk about it, they are a whiner. If it bothers them, it adds more stress. If it doesn't, they question themselves, wondering why.

Dispatchers are expected to have:

the compassion of Mother Theresa
the wisdom of Solomon
the interviewing skills of Oprah Winfrey
the gentleness of Florence Nightingale
the patience of Job
the voice of Barbara Streisand
the knowledge of Einstein
the answers of Ann Landers
the humor of David Letterman
the investigative skills of Sgt. Joe Friday
the looks of Melanie Griffith or Don Johnson
the faith of Billy Graham
the energy of Charo
and the endurance of the Energizer Bunny
Is it any wonder that many drop out during training? It is a unique and talented person who can do this job and do it well. And, it is fitting and proper that we take a few minutes or hours this week to honor you for the job that each of you do. That recognition is overdue and it is insufficient. But, it is sincere.

I have tried to do your job, and I have failed. It takes a special person with unique skills. I admire you and I thank you for the thankless job you do. You are heroes, and I am proud to work with you.

[This piece was written by Chief Wagoner in 1994 in connection with National Telecommunicator Week. He has graciously allowed us to post it here, and gives others permission to use it for non-commercial purposes.]

What have we been up to?

T-ball, horseback riding, swinging, sunshine, playing, running, jumping, being happy.......

Happy Easter

We had a great Easter this year. The kids woke up early to find the Easter bunny had left a trail of marshmallows leading to their baskets. I think they ate the whole trail. What a sugar high to start the day! Next it was off to church, then Easter dinner at my mom and dads. We had a small little egg hunt in the front yard. Simple times yet wonderful memories.

April Already??? Really?!?!

My blossoming photographer friend (Nicole Conner) took these pictures of me, it was kinda weird being on the other side of the of the camera for once. It was a great experience. I am not sure what to do with the pictures but maybe someday I will look back and be glad I had them done.

Oh my poor neglected blog.... Life seems to be going at a whirlwind pace lately. Work, kids, t-ball, horseback riding, an occasional workout, housework, house projects. You know the usual. It is spring break this week. I wasn't able to get the week off so it's kids home and mommy trying to sleep. It works out OK. Not ideal but hey it's only a week. While I slept today Emilee folded laundry, Cody mopped the floor. They are such sweet children, they really do try so hard to make me happy. Yesterday Cody surprised his big sister with breakfast in bed. Apple Jacks cereal, orange juice and a banana. He is so considerate. I love that about him.
I picked Caitlyn up today from daycare and she informed me that her best friend Ally was no longer her friend. Apparently Ally called Cailtyn a baby. I couldn't help but laugh a little, typical girl behavior. She is two and I am almost thirty and yet I can relate so well.
I have been busy getting home projects that have been neglected over the past two years caught up on. Lots and lots of painting, yard work and some deep cleaning. It's exhausting. Hoping the house will sparkle, and maybe attract a buyer if I decide to list it???
So that's the general gist of whats going on. At least all that is worth sharing. Pray for me. I seem to be stuck in a place in which nothing seems to be the right decision. It's rough but I am surrounded by love. What else matters right? K- I will check back a bitter sooner. I hope.

An Afternoon Drive

I took a drive the other day. Long, straight roads for as far as the eye could see. Some great music from my MP3 player, a great afternoon.

What a nice relaxing weekend. Had a nice double date at my favorite Mexican restaurant Friday night, Saturday night had some friends over for some Wii bowling, Sunday relaxed at home and enjoyed Valentines day with the loves of my life and Monday took some photos for a friends new baby. Overall a great weekend! Back to work tonight. It's been a busy weekend, workwise so there should lots to catch up on. Have a great week.

Romans 8:38-39 (New International Version)
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I just love that scripture. I have been searching a lot lately through old devotionals, old books, old prayer journals. I am not sure what I am searching for. Whatever it is I haven't quite found it yet. But in the process I have discovered a lot of inspiring passages, quotes, stories and such. I guess I am looking for the warm and fuzzy feeling. You know with busyness, stress, reality of life.....sometimes you forget what that feels like. I know that I have a lot of love in my life, for that I am so grateful for. Don't get me wrong. I feel love, I really do. But I can't help but feel some days that there is something missing. Looking out the window right now, that something is probably the sun. Winter blues are kicking in right??

My Day With Emilee....

It's back to work tonight. I have thoroughly enjoyed my two days off. I had big plans of getting so much accomplished. Most of which didn't happen. There is always next weekend right? I did get the downstairs bathroom painted! I have been talking about painting that room for months now. Emilee was begging me to do it so we woke up early this morning, picked out some paint we had leftover from something else and got to work. She is a great little helper. We finished up by lunch time. Now that I took the initial step to start the painting process, it is so apparent how badly the rest of the rooms need a fresh coat of paint. I guess it's paining for the next couple of months for me. Oh well, could be fun.
It was so much fun just hanging out with Emilee. She is growing up so quickly. Our conversations today seemed so "grown up". It scared me just a bit. She asked me today how old she had to be to have a boyfriend??? What?
Cody and Caitlyn spend the day with Grandma and Grandpa. They took a trip to the dollar store and the to McDonalds. What could be better right? It was nice having some one-on-one time with Em but I sure miss the littlest buggers when they are gone. We had a lazy afternoon nap and now are just having some cuddle time on the couch. Good times!

Monday Bliss

Had a great day of cleaning house, editing photos, a quick workout and a nice long nap. What can be better? It's back to work tonight. The kids all woke up with stomach aches, hopefully we are not getting round two for the flu bug.....

Here's a few of the photos I have been working on editing. Now what could possibly need fixed on a photo of such a cutie??? It was all me, the lighting was terrible so therefore lots, and lots of photo shop. I think they are okay though.

Boo Boos and Tutus

Today was my day to snap some tutu shots for a friend of mine who is trying to get started in a home business. The plan was three little ones together for a few shots that would make beautiful marketing photos. Not so simple. We did get some great shots but it definitely wasn't as easy as we were hoping. It is taking A LOT of editing but we will have some beautiful ballerinas to show off.

I woke up this morning to find little drops of blood all over the kitchen. Of course I questioned the resident vampire and he was quick to say he was drinking blood last night. He of course was lying and I had to figure out where the blood truely had come from. It turns out our cat has some sort of bite. No good. Sunday morning would mean a very pricey vet bill so I called the next best thing, my nurse/mother in law. She came over and assured my very upset little Emilee that the cat would be fine.

Next, Caitlyn decides to take a tumble off the kitchen stool. Bloody lip, bloody nose. All is fine, but more drama! Geesh. What a day!

Lazy Saturday!

Codys baking project. He was so excited about making a cake, he talked about it all week long.

Lazy Saturdays. Gotta love em! I woke up to breakfast in bed. Courtesy of my sweet Cody. I had the biggest bowl of Special K cereal I have ever seen. He is so sweet. After that I rolled out of bed to find a hurricane had touched down in my kitchen. I didn't know making mommy a bowl of cereal could create such a disaster but oh well. I clean that up and head out to tackle the leaves. Yes, it is almost February and I am still raking leaves. Not because I am lazy and never did it in the fall, but because the darn things are still falling. Now they are soggy and gross. Oh what fun. I raked and raked until my hands were bleeding from the blister I got. (Can you hear the violin playing in the background) Come on, this is my blog I can whine a bit. Leaves are picked up, dog doo doo is scooped. Children are fed and ready for "quiet time". Awwwww. My heart is happy! Tonight is hockey. We are making out first attempt at taking Caitlyn. Should be interesting. Eric is at the academy today, is suppose to get out early. We shall see. The weather is beautiful today. Sun is shining, warm enough for just a light jacket. Better go enjoy it. See ya!

Cody the Vampire

A random conversation that occurred just this morning:

Cody: "Mom, I am a vampire. Yesterday at school I drank somebodies blood. It was yummy. Also, vampires have cold skin, feel my skin. I am a vampire."

How can you argue with logic like that?

Last week he was a super hero. Hmmmm. I wonder what he will be next week? My household is so weird. I love it!