Productive!

Today, I had the day off due to bad weather (which in North Texas means ice). I was very productive and made good use of my time. Here is what I accomplished:

1. Finished reading Malcolm Gladwell's, "Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking."

2. Cleaned out my hall closet and am getting rid of 35 dresses and 11 purses/bags! I have been meaning to get to this closet, but have not found the time. Tomorrow I am tackling the kitchen...wish me luck!

3. Organized my Itunes library...which is an ongoing project.

4. Answered TONS of emails (personal and professional).

5. Talked to my friends and family on the phone.

6. Blogged three times!!!

I even had some time to watch a few shows and take a nap!

I am off tomorrow as well and hope to do some heavy-duty cleaning, laundry, bills...how much fun can one girl have???

Which One?

As you may (or may not) know, my best friends are Julie and Meg. I met Julie in London in March of 2005; Meg and I did a show at Backdoor Theatre back in 2001 (maybe it was 2002). We are all very close, but very different (from our lifestyles, hobbies, taste in men, etc). We couldn't be any more different (which sometimes causes some GREAT drama) ! I am going to pose 10 questions and we will see which one is best described in the scenario:

1. You have two tickets to the Monster Truck Show that's in town. Whom would you NEVER invite? Julie...Julie would absolutely HATE this type of event and would never even agree to go! Now for Meg and I, this would be right up our alley. We are all about new experiences and meeting people through those experiences.

2. Whose diary would you most want to read? Meg...before I met her, Meg lead a very exciting life. I bet that girl has some stories :-)

3. Felix Unger was the neat freak in "The Odd Couple." Who is the Felix Unger of this group? Me...I have OCD. I like order and cleanliness. Julie is never home to worry about cleaning (she travels for work) and Meg is living in a house that she inherited from her father...with all of his things (Don is now married and living in a different house). Plus, Meg is so busy working three jobs that she is never home.

4. You dare one person to "moon" a tour bus for a dollar. Who would do it? Meg and I doubt it would be her first time...

5. Who is most likely to do something totally out of character if she could remain anonymous? Me. I am "Cautious Casey" most of the time, but would love to let my hair down every once in a while (especially if there were no repercussions to my actions).

6. Who do you think is wearing the sexiest underwear right now? Julie...Julie cares about stuff like that and spends money on the finer things in life. I wear very boring cotton underwear; I have no idea about Meg (perhaps she wore racy things when she led exciting life or maybe she still does). I really don't care to know what either one of them wears :-)

7. Who doesn't act her age? Me...if you have met me, you know this is true. I hope to never grow-up. I think being playful keeps you young. I hope my niece and godchildren think I am the most FUN person ever!

8. Whose baby pictures would produce shrieks of laughter? Julie...and she admits to this. She thinks she was the UGLIEST baby ever. I can't remember if she had a misshapen head or was an ugly color, but she can't believe that her parents took her home. She has improved over the years, however.

9. A very attractive person of the opposite sex is sitting alone in the airport lounge. Who is most likely to sit down in a nearby seat and strike up a conversation? Meg...she is not shy! I have seen this girl in action.

10. If the building were burning, who would run back in to make sure that the lights were turned off? Me...it's the OCD. I need therapy!

Movies

This past week I watched three movies (which is not unusual for me).

First up, it was "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." I liked this movie, but think it would have been easier to follow had I not DVRed it (having to fast forward through the commercials ruined the continuity). I thought the movie was smart, but it had its strange moments. It reminded me of "Being John Malkovich," which I also enjoyed. After the movie, I asked Meg if she would ever erase someone from her past and she said yes. She went on to say that sometimes relationships are not worth the pain. I totally disagree. I think the pain is what makes future relationships better. Sometimes relationships do end badly, but the pain eventually subsides and you move on (apparently, I am the type that moves on quickly...evidenced by the number of people that are "Dead to Me.").


On Martin Luther King Day, Meg and I went to see "Gran Torino." We ended up seeing half the town there! I was very disappointed with this movie and hated the ending. The movie did have a good message about getting rid of past prejudices and helping one's neighbors, but felt that the car had very little to do with storyline. By the way, the acting (other than Clint Eastwood) was TERRIBLE. If you enjoy the, "Go ahead and make my day," Clint Eastwood, then you will probably enjoy this movie. However, I would suggest waiting until it goes to the $2.00 move theater (which should be soon!).



On Saturday, Meg, Roma, Liz, and I went to see "Slumdog Millionaire." I can't even express how wonderful this movie is (it is definitely living up to its hype)! I was worried about having to read subtitles, but it was no big deal (the movie is VERY easy to follow). The visual images in this movie really stay with you. I was shocked to see the slums of Mumbia and to realize that people actually live there. It makes me very appreciative to live in The United States. Compared to those in the movie, we are very lucky. The story is incredible. I had seen very few previews, so I was intrigued at every twist and turn. This movie is an amazing portrait of the human spirit. I urge you to go and see this ASAP, no telling how long this movie will be in WF.

The balcony is now closed...

Am I?

Last night, while hanging out with my friends, Jules pointed out that I have turned into a B since taking this new job. I was appalled! She said that I NEVER return phone calls, check my voicemail, and am now screening calls more than ever. She went on to say that we don't talk daily; now it's more like two to three times a week. Furthermore, when she does actually get to talk to me, I am Debbie Downer :-( She even said that I am no longer fun and/or funny (which hurt more than being called a B).

Maybe she is right. My job is more rigorous than any I have had before. I am busy from the time I enter the building until the time leave (which is usually later than when I am supposed to leave). I don't have time to talk on the phone during the day. When I get home, being on the computer is the LAST thing I want to do at night. I, myself, have noticed that I am not the same "Carefree Casey" that I was while working at Lamar; there are just too many obligations and deadlines!

I think that once I get more experience in this job, I will be more relaxed and my stress level will decrease dramatically (plus, it will help when I have my assistant full-time). So, to adhere to my 2009 goals, I am going to try and be better friend.

Try calling me, see if I answer :-)

Week-o-Randomness

Today, while thinking that I had nothing to blog about, I discovered that it's been a busy week in Caseyworld :-)

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend a scrapbook retreat at Hobby House Hill (www.hobbyhousehill.com) in Bowie, Texas. I was invited by my co-worker, Misti way back in August. Two weeks prior to the event, I started gathering my supplies (which is not an easy undertaking because scrapboooking involves lots of materials). We arrived at 10:30 on Friday morning and began the weekend-o-scrapping. This place was ideal for scrapbookers as evidenced by the all the small details that the owner had in place. You scrapped until you were exhausted and then made your way to a bedroom...which had eight beds (some of them bunk beds, which made it feel like camp). The schedule was totally up to you! We had three home cooked meals a day, a 24-hour dessert bar, and unlimited beverages. There was also a swimming pool and hot tub on site, but it was much too cold to enjoy. You could even get a massage...I opted to get two 30-minute massages (one on Friday and one on Saturday). I can finally turn my head without pain! During this weekend away, I was able to complete 50 pages...which is the most I have ever completed at a crop. I am working on my 2005 album and was able to complete my New York City trip! This place surpassed my expectations and I can't wait to go back :-)

This week I attended a birthday lunch at Alfredo's...I had terrible service and now refuse to go back (which is a shame because they make awesome salsa and tortillas).

Lunch may have sucked, but dinner totally rocked. There is a new restaurant in town called The Spot and it is awesome! They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 5:00pm to 4:00am...that's right, now you have more choices for dreakfast (drunk breakfast)...sure beats going to IHOP or Denny's. They serve several items, but are known for their pizza (made to order) and fried foods (i.e. Snickers, Twix, Reece's Cups, cookie dough, and ice cream...just to name a few). This was my third trip and I had chicken wings for the first time...yummy. The owner and her boyfriend are awesome. The place is very eclectic and cool: they play great music, have bizarre movies playing on flat-screens, and you can even play a game a LIFE if you so desire. Definitely check them out!

Yesterday, after work I was approached by a homeless man (which is not unusual since I work downtown) who wanted $0.50 so he could buy a hamburger. I said no, but wanted to ask where one could get a hamburger for that cheap. Perhaps if I had jumped in his shopping cart, he could have driven me to this town's best deal!

Last night, Meg and I purchased tickets to AZ...we are off to see our friends Dennis and Jason. My friend, Julie, may also be joining us...she will have a birthday while on the trip so that could lead to some definite good times. I am not looking forward to the heat, but I guess sometimes you have to suffer the heat to see cool things...like The Grand Canyon! It's only taken me 32 years, but I am finally going to see it! There also may be some skydiving during the trip; not me, but my 70-year old friend, Roma (her grandson lives in Tempe and works at Skydive Arizona). I am going to go and watch her for moral support, but really hope to get to do the zero gravity chamber thing.

Well, it finally happened. I had my first interview with the Times Record News since being in my position. I would post the links to the stories, but they are so riddled with mistakes and misquotes, I would rather you not read them...now if you want to Google them, go ahead, but know that, "I didn't say that!"

Tonight, I was elected Director of Communications for the WF Citizen's Police Academy Alumni Association. This is a great organization that donates time and money to the WFPD...it's a great way to meet new people in the community and a lot fun (and if I just so happen to meet a hot cop, so be it :-)

So my brother has a birthday this weekend. It's his last year as a 20-something. Saturday, we are going out to eat, then to karaoke, and finally to the casino. I am really looking forward to getting out and about...especially since I will have Monday off to recover.

I am getting SO EXCITED about Tuesday's inauguration! I am trying to decide if I want to take half a day off on Tuesday so that I can watch the proceedings live or just DVR it. I think this is going to be one of those things that people ask you years later, "Where were you the day that Obama was inaugurated?" I know that some of you may not be a fan, but regardless, it's a momentous event in history.


Until next time...

New Year's Resolutions...I Mean Goals

Since January is well under way, I should post my New Year's Goals (I hate the term resolution...it seems so final).

So here they are (in no particular order):

*Spend 30 minutes everyday doing something in the house. I love to come home and drop off my school bag, take off my shoes, throw the mail on the table, etc. The problem is that this stuff just stays there (imagine that, no magic fairy comes in to clean-up every night). Then on Sunday, I usually spend 2-3 hours trying to get my house in order. If I were to do a little bit everyday, I would have more time to spend doing more pleasurable activities.

*Write and return emails and phone calls. Not only do I not return emails and phone calls, but I also screen my calls. If you haven't heard from me in a while, just wait...you will soon!

*Blog 2-3 times per week. I love the blog and am an avid reader of several. However, I can't find the time to update my own. I have lots of ideas in my head and really want to get them down on paper...or computer, whatever :-)

*Read 30 minutes per day. I love to read, but since taking this job, my free time is limited. I hope to get back to doing something that I truly enjoy.

*Hello, my name is Casey and I am a hoarder. Yes, it's true...I have become my mother and grandmother. I love to collect things (office supplies, Bath and Body products, scrapbooking materials...the list goes on). This year I vow to NOT buy anything that I don't need or already have on hand at the house. I am throwing money away on these frivolous items. If you see me buying these items, it is your duty to slap my hand and say, "NO!"

*Work on my addiction to fountain Coca-Cola. I love this beverage, but I don't love the empty calories.

*Buy fresh flowers once a month. I love fresh flowers, but never buy them for myself (and I can't wait around for a man to buy me some). This is how I plan to treat myself (and yes, I am worth it).

*Go paperless...billing that is. It's time to save paper and time and effort.

*Last year, I vowed to go green and that is one goal that I kept! This year, I hope to conserve water. I am not quite sure how I will accomplish this, but I am looking into some options.

*Speak to people I know. I see people all of the time (especially from HS) and avoid talking to them...why, I don't know. This year if I know you, I will be speaking to you (even if it's just a simple hello).

*Connect with old friends. I have several friends that I have lost contact with. I hope to reestablish these old connections.

*Perform good deeds and random acts of kindness often. I am going to actively look for opportunities to help others. Meg and I are also going to "adopt" one non-profit each month in Wichita Falls and make a donation to them.

*Send handwritten cards or notes to family and friends. I hate that people don't write anything anymore...I used to LOVE to get a letter or card in the mail. I hope to bring this tradition back.

*Write my will. I know that I will not live forever and think it's time to start planning for the future (since I won't have a husband or kids to take care of this matter). I pretty much know how I want things to be done; I just need to get it down on paper. I also have definite ideas about my funeral...which I will blog about soon!

*Continue to support local business and restaurants. While Meg and I didn't eat at every restaurant in WF this year, we ate at quite a few. I really do hope to one day say that I have eaten at every restaurant in town.

*Keep up with the yard work and my scrapbooks.

*Stop cussing...this is a hard one for me, but I am really going to work on this this year.

*I don't know if this is a unobtainable goal, but I would love to go off the grid one day each month. No phone, no electricity, etc. I think this will be VERY hard to accomplish, but I love a challenge.

Each year I come up with a slogan for the year. Here are past slogans:

2006--More Sex in '06 (which started out as, stop saying the f-word and start doing the f-word)...by the way, this one really didn't work out for me

2007--Celibacy in '07...which didn't work out for me either (wink, wink)

2008--Open the Gate in '08 or Find a Mate in '08...not one of my better slogan years

2009--Live Undefined in '09...kind of cheesy, but I really want to strive to live a life with less rules and restrictions

Starting the New Year Off With a Bang!

New Year's Eve 2009 will be a celebration that I will never forget. Back in June, I graduated from the Citizen's Police Academy (www.cwftx.net/index.asp?nid=1067). One of the perks of being an alumni is having the opportunity to do a police ride-along four times a year.

In November, I asked my friend Meg if she wanted to do her ride-along on New Year's Eve (she was a 2005 graduate of the academy). She thought that was a GREAT idea. I have done many things for New Year's Eve: been to swanky bars (and gotten kicked out of swanky bars), been to house parties, been home alone, heck, I have even been at church on the big night. So, I knew doing a ride-along would be different and memorable.

About a week before Christmas, Meg and I went to the police station and filled out some paperwork for our ride (which involved a background check). Then we waited...and waited. Finally, Meg called the station on Monday and was told that our paperwork had not been cleared by the Sergeant. So, I called on Tuesday and found out that I was approved (Meg later found out that she had been approved). We didn't know what to expect, but were told to be at the station at 10:30p.m. on New Year's Eve. We got to the station and had to turn in our driver's licenses for badges. We found out that I would be with Officer B on the Southside Beat and Meg would be with Officer M on the Downtown Beat.






11:00p.m. Our guys showed up! My guy looked like he was 12 years old! After the introductions, we headed to the cruisers. We were allowed to sit in the front seat and ask lots of questions (which Meg and I undoubtedly did!). We were told that sometimes we would be allowed to get out of the police car and at other times we would have to stay in. My guy was a three-year veteran and as it turns out my mom works with his mom and my brother used to date his cousin...small world. We chit-chatted for a bit, but then it was off to our first call.

11:05p.m. We headed to an apartment complex because someone was outside being loud and possibly had a knife. I was not allowed to get out on this call :-( Fortunately, the guy did not have a knife, but was just drunk. Officer B told him to go home, go to bed, and that if he had to come back and deal with him, he would be going to jail. While all of this was going on outside, I just sat in the car and listened to the police scanner (which offered tons of information).

11:20p.m. We headed to SW Parkway where we found a woman that had been hit by a car. She tried to illegally cross SW Parkway on foot and was clipped by a minivan's mirror. She was not injured (although her leg had some serious burns on it) and refused treatment. She didn't speak English so they had to bring in a translator. There were three cops on the scene and I got to get out. One of the passengers in the minivan decided to chat me up. I think this was her first time in the big city or perhaps she was on something, I am not really sure. I didn't know what to say to her so I kept my responses to a minimum (which is not easy for me!).

11:45p.m. After the hit and no run, we headed to a domestic disturbance. There was already a police officer there and he had the situation under control by the time we arrived. Again, I had to sit in the car.

12:00a.m. The New Year came with us speeding (90+mph) down Kell to a foot chase. However, it was called off before we arrived. At this time, the sky over WF was lighting up like the Fourth of July (and people were shooting guns in the air...like in downtown Baghdad). I asked if we would try to stop the fireworks, but was told that we had bigger issues to deal with.

12:15a.m. Over the radio, we heard that there had been a shooting off of SW Parkway. We flew over to the house, but had trouble finding the cul-de-sac. Finally we found the address and were the first on the scene. The facts were these: a man (that was a trained hunter) choked his wife and threatened to kill her. She then ran and hid in the bathroom and called 911 (with her dog). The man then proceeded to shoot his rifle three times in the house. When we arrived, Officer B told me that this could be a stand-off situation and to stay in the car and lock the doors. He then proceeded to get his semi-automatic weapon out of the trunk. At this point, I was a little scared. I was hoping the hunter wouldn't run out of his house and open fire on the police cars! The policemen on the scene asked the 911 dispatcher to have the woman open her garage door and run out to them. She refused as she didn't want to leave the bathroom (remember, I am hearing all of this on the radio). Then the garage door opened half-way and then closed again. So the policemen again asked dispatch to tell the wife to come out. Apparently, the garage then opened all the way and the hunter came out and surrendered...even throwing his guns in the grass. The next thing I know, two cops and a hand-cuffed man walk right by me. By this point, I have been sitting alone in the car for 30 minutes. My officer then comes back and tells me that since he was the first on the scene that he will have to stay behind and do paperwork. So, I am left alone again for another 30 minutes. The whole time I was in the car I was texting Meg and trying to find out what she was doing (which helped pass the time). She was dealing with a kidnapping at one of the super stores. She got to sit with the perp for a little bit by herself in the car. At first he talked to himself and then he started crying. At some point, the perp wanted to engage Meg in conversation and thought her and her officer were married! In the end, the guy got really angry and abusive. At this point, Meg and her officer took him to jail. Around 1:20a.m., my guy came back. He informed me that the police had been at this couple's house a few nights prior. Apparently, the husband likes to take Xanax and threaten his wife. However on this night, she decided to press charges.

1:30a.m. At this time, we headed to the jail to drop off paperwork on the shooting case (the jail is located at the County Courthouse). We parked in the garage and my officer had to take off all of his weaponry. We saw Meg and her officer, but they were leaving as we came in. We entered the jail and I saw the shooter being booked...which was really quite interesting. We talked to a few guys who were also booking people and doing paperwork. One of the officers told me that Meg was upset that I had seen lots of action tonight (initially, we thought that Meg would have the more exciting night). We then left the jail and patrolled the streets for a while (at very high speeds). I saw parts of this town that I never knew existed!

2:00a.m. We were called to another domestic disturbance (this one by a school where I used to work). Apparently a man and a woman were fighting and the woman broke a beer bottle over the man's head. The man tried to retaliate, but another man intercepted with a knife. Then one of the men ran out of the house. We left the scene and drove around the area looking for the man...with no luck. I asked if their were children in the home...the answer was yes. Poor babies had to witness 1)their "parents" fighting and 2)the cops coming into the home in the middle of the night! While we were dealing with the bad parents, Meg and her officer were involved in a high-speed chase!

2:30a.m. We were driving around and found a guy with his license plate light out. Officer B asked if we should pull him over and I said no that that was minor. While we were discussing, this other idiot slams on his accelerator (while at a red light) and rolls his tires...causing lots of smoke. Officer B does a quick U-turn, turns on his lights, and pulls the jerk over. I don't know if the guy didn't see us or just wanted to show off, but he ended up with a ticket! While Officer B was dealing with the driver, another shooting came over the radio and Meg started texting me.

*Side note, Meg and I were supposed to finish our shift at 3:00a.m.*

2:55a.m. Officer B finished up with the driver and told me that we would be heading to the shooting and he would get me back to my car ASAP. He turned on his lights and sirens and we flew downtown (going over 100+mph down Brook!). There was a shooting at a downtown club and one man was down with multiple gunshot wounds. After attending the first shooting, I was a lot less scared this time around. We pulled up and there were probably 20 cop cars already on the scene. My guy jumped out and told me to stay in the car and to lock the doors. I have never seen so many people in the downtown area! Club-goers were just standing around in their celebration attire. Now if I were somewhere and gunshots started going off, you better believe that I would high-tail it out of there! Anyway, there were hundreds of people at the scene and then Meg pulled up behind me. A building was blocking her view so she asked me for a play-by-play since I had a front-row seat. I really couldn't see anything because the cops were blocking my view. Then an ambulance showed up, we saw a man being put in the ambulance, and then we saw the EMT doing chest compressions through the window as the ambulance sped off. Officer B finally came back and said that he was going to be here for a while and would I mind calling someone to come and pick me up. I told him that my friends and family would not appreciate a call at 3:30 in the morning asking them to pick me up where someone had just been shot. He agreed. He told me to sit tight and wait it out. Again, Meg and I talked and texted while we waited. By this point, the media had made an appearance. I was just sitting there waiting when I saw Meg walking up to my car. She and Officer B got in and he driove us back to the police station (Meg had to ride in the back like a criminal :-) Here is a link from the Times Record News about the story:
www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2009/jan/01/police-investigating-nightclub-shooting/

3:35a.m. We get back to the station and say our goodbyes to Officer B. We then headed in to the station and turned our badges in for our licenses. We had originally planned to go and eat afterward, but I was really ready to go home. Although once I got home, my adrenaline was pumping and I wasn't able to go to sleep until 5:30a.m.

Meg and I talked later and we didn't want to say that this was an amazing night due to the fact that someone lost their life, but this was an experience that I will never forget. I have a new appreciation for the police...they run in when everyone else is running out. My officer made it look so easy, but I know that being a policeman is not an easy job. If you live in Wichita Falls, rest assured that you have a wonderful force of men and women looking out for you.