Boykin. (Laughs) What's Boykin doing in there by himself? (laughs) umm...(laughs)-- 265's TPD double
It's official. I am JINXED as a ride-along!!!!
So I got back from Tallahassee today. The drive down was ok but the drive back was HORRIBLE. I was really tired and the drive was boring. Then some jackass had to tailgate me and the lane suddenly ended and I was practically ran off the road by that asshole. Anyhow.
I finished most of my Christmas Shopping today. I just need two gift grab gifts, which I'll get tomorrow. Yes I will be one of those crazy slackers shopping on Christmas Eve. But it really isn't entirely my fault. I tried to do it all in Tallahassee, but it just didn't work out. Oh and I did break down and get some people gift cards which are "so impersonal" as the officer I rode with put it. So to get to that:
I drove down to Genny's after work on Wed. I grabbed about an hour and a half of sleep at her house then went to eat lunch and left for Tallahassee. I arrived shortly after 6pm and after having to stop to ask for directions, I found my hotel. I settled in a bit and then went to the PD to fill out my waiver forms. They have a NICE lobby. Much nicer than the ugly pink thing we have (oh and our chairs are hideous too. LOL) anyhow. I fill in and the Duty officer tells me to call before I come to make sure the paperwork goes through. Well I was thinking, "umm.. I'm riding regardless. I just drove 5 hours." But it was all good cause I was pre-approved. Anyways. So then I stop off at a store to get me something to drink and dropped back by the hotel to figure out where I wanted to eat. I found this Irish Pub called Shenanigans (Yes and they DID have crazy crap on the wall...I took pictures which I'll post sometime) and I was adventurous and got Sheppard's pie. It was Good! Oh and I found out it was a completely local place so I was supporting local business which is a big plus!!
So then I went back to the hotel and RELAXED!!!! I just lazed about watching Law and Order SVU and Criminal Intent on USA. It was GREAT! I was so completely relaxed. I honestly can't remember the last time I felt that perfect. So then I fell into a beautiful dreamless sleep. It was great.
I got up at 8:30 the next morning and went to eat breakfast in the hotel restaurant. I had a super hot waiter named Krill. I think he was from Sweden or some place like that cause he had an awesome accent. So then I went up and packed while watching Mr Holland's Opus. I left before it completely ended cause I wanted to go shopping. So I get directions to the nearest mall and here is where the craziness begins.
I get out of my car and I hear this "RIIIIPP" and I think "????" I look down and there is this HUGE HUGE tear in my pants right down the leg from the crotch to the middle of my thigh. I DO NOT understand it because those pants were actually a little BIG on me. So I'm thinking "OH SHIT!" they are pretty much my only clean decent pants I have and I have to be at the PD in 2 hours!! So I rush into the mall trying to find a GAP cause I liked the pants I had on A LOT. I find one, but they don't have my size. So I go to New York and Company, yet again cause I really like their pants, but they don't have my size either. I finally went to Old Navy and THEY don't have my size. So at that point I just bought the next size up and had to cuff the pant leg which looked bad because I was still walking on my pants.
Me to Old Navy fitting room person: I know this sounds weird but I have to change into these pants I just bought and wear them out of here.
Old Navy Person: That's not weird.
So with that taken care of, I went to shopping. I was going to leave at 2:15 to give me plenty of time to find the PD, but I was stuck in line and didn't leave until almost 2:35! I asked the cashiers at Burlington Coat Factory for directions but they didn't sound to sure. Then I saw a Sheriff Deputy so I asked him. I got to the PD alright with plenty of time and I met Sgt. Brannon (the guy I emailed) briefly..(at least I think it was him. He never said his name, but I just got the impression that's who it was). He was really nice. So I sat and waited and then it was time to ride.
I rode with Off. Reggie Lawyer. He was really nice too. So we ride around and get a call about some dude having problems with an ATM. He gets out with the dude and says something to me, but I didn't quite catch it. Turns out I can get out of the car (awesomeness) on their calls as long as it's safe. I missed that one, (apparently the guy just didn't know how to work the ATM..LOL)but I'm thinking it's ok lots will happen.... BOY WAS I WRONG!!! We had one traffic stop (no ticket) and one call about a purse snatching. That was it.... He even said Thursday was unusually quite. I just laughed to myself at that point. I am TOTALLY JINXED!!! I mean, for nothing to happen her in C'ton is one thing, but I'm in the freakin Capital city of Florida and NOTHING. I STILL haven't seen a proper arrest. I mean reports are all fine and good, but I want the officer I ride with to arrest someone and take them to jail. Not just transport them to the PD for someone else. I want to see an arrest from start to finish. I mean, I've only ridden what 110 hours or something. I mean JEEZ can't I get a break? (Ok jinx rant over....)
So after we went to the purse snatching I watched him enter a report. They ask for a LOT of info on their reports! I was surprised. But they have the COOLEST in car computers. I mean it was a NICE and I mean NICE little set up. Totally kick ass! So after he wrote the report we went to Chili's to eat. I'm thinking it was the entire Bravo district shift that ate because there were about 5 officers and their Sgt. It was SO funny to me because one looked and acted almost exactly like 265! LOL and there was one who looked and acted a little like 226 (yeah Celeste I liked that. When he walked in I thought "Hello. Who are YOU?"....LOL) and one looked like 227 (sorry no magical candy tickets or unicorns). It was WAY too funny. I was thinking "WOW I drive five hours and see doubles of the guys I work with." Anyway. They were all pretty nice. A few spoke to me, but mostly I was just quite and eavesdropped. It was SO funny. 265's twin had this pic of his three bulldogs with Santa. Apparently Tuesday is "Pet Day" at one of the malls. And they were all talking about their animals and stuff. 265's twin has a pig and he said something about it sleeping in the bed and I thought of my dad and how he always jokes with my sister about her pig. It was great. Then they started talking about the recruits and one was named Boykin. 265's twin just thought it was the funniest thing. It was so insane. But like I said, they were all very nice. They just talked amongst themselves like I wasn't there and it actually made me feel very comfortable. So after Chili's I went back to the PD and signed out. I drove to Genny's and crashed till about 11am and then drove back home. I stopped off in Newnan and did the rest of my Christmas shopping. and now I'm at work...and hungry.
Beep..255?...My food is all cold and uneaten... LOL
Well I did extract some valuable info from Off. Lawyer that I'm mulling over. There are some things I really like about TPD (the friendly people, kick ass in car computers, and the town seems pretty well laid out) but there are some other things I'm not too wild about, which I won't get into here. Overall I had a good visit. Now I need to fully check out Cobb County and compare them. There are also other things I need to consider, but I won't get into that because this is already long enough.