Mission Accomplished!

A HUGE thank you to my oldest daughter who unknowingly helped me accomplish my mission of getting a picture of the TIV (Tornado Intercept Vehicle) 2 from Discovery Channel's Storm Chasers show.

Surprisingly just a few days after posting my mission, a chance run-in with my oldest daughter at the gym provided necessary information to finding TIV. She went to have her car inspected, and what should happen to be at the automotive shop? You got it! The TIV 2 is there getting some work done. The best thing is my husband worked with the co-owner of the shop years ago (pre-LE days!), so not only did I get to take pictures of TIV 2, but the Little Miss got to actually sit in the driver's seat!

So, missioned accomplished beyond wildest possible expectations!

On a Mission

For those who don't already know, I live in the panhandle of Texas. The area is also part of a larger place commonly known as "Tornado Alley". Each year, weather geeks descend upon our area of the country in hopes of chasing big storms and possibly catching a glimpse of a tornado. In fact, the Discovery Channel even has a show called "Storm Chasers". I love this show!

Well, today while driving my son over to his dad's house, my husband calls. Apparently one of his fellow deputies told my husband that he had seen the TIV here earlier today. If you don't watch the show, the TIV is a Tornado Intercept Vehicle, and it's just freakin' cool looking (that's it in the picture, but not a picture I took). And my husband, knowing how much I love the show, had to tell me that it had been here in town. Like less than 5 miles from my house.

Since hours had gone by since it was spotted, I know it's too late to go find it. So, on a whim, I check online at the Discovery Channel site. Probably not a good thing. Because now I know I can track the vehicles. Live.

So, I have a mission. A goal, if you will. I want to get a real picture of the TIV sometime during this tornado season.

Like my husband said when I told him this a few minutes ago...everyone has to have a hobby, I guess!

Results from the shooting range

Here are some pictures from our trip to the shooting range yesterday.

My son's result from shooting husband's sniper rifle.






Little Miss's results from shooting the .22.

Pretty good shots, I'd say!

PWO blog-a-thon success!

Well, we didn't quite reach the goal, but we did raise $300 at last count and I think that is a huge success.

A huge thank you to everyone who read and supported the blog-a-thon and to those who donated.
A huge thank you to all of the blog authors that stayed up to participate.
And to MJ who took on the task of organizing this challenge and managed to actually stay up all night to continue. You are a force to be recognized and we are blessed you are part of the site. Thank you, yet again.

It was a great project although I'm embarrassed to admit I fell asleep about 4am. I didn't mean to. I meant to simply lay in bed and read until the husband fell asleep...but I actually think I passed out before he did! Even still, it was great fun!

Writing prompt response

This writing prompt is from MJ, the Blogger Extraordinaire and organizer of the PWO blog-a-thon.

Writing Prompt: Everyone has a bit of nerd in them. Tell us the nerdiest thing about yourself.

I am a total book nerd. I'll read anything. I get a rush from being in a bookstore or a library. Every now and the, I get the opportunity to visit a "real" bookstore. You know the kind. Locally owned, been at the same location for decades, and it just smells like old books inside. They usually sell new and used books. It doesn't smell or feel sterile like the big name bookstores. We have one here and there is no way that place makes money - it must be threre because the owner just loves books.

That's what I'd love to do. Own a bookstore like that. I'd sell old and new books, and coffee because I can't live without it, and my photographs.

Yea. I'm a total nerd.

Reflecting

It was a gorgeous day here today. Mid-80's with a ligh wind. Bright, sunny. Just a perfect day.

And while we were driving out to the shooting range, I notice many people enjoying the day while riding motorcycles, and I felt envious.

You see, one of the things I really enjoyed doing when I was a teenager and in my twenties was riding. I had many male friends with motorcycles so there was always someone available to catch a ride with on days like today.

However, the husband doesn't ride. And after becoming a cop and working so many fatalities involving motorcycles, he refuses to ride. And me being a married woman, the opportunites of having male friends who DO ride are few.

I respect his need for caution. But I'm still a little envious.

I miss riding.

Through a child's eyes

This is a story the husband just shared with me. I thought it cute enough to share with you.

Last week, while the husband was away as sniper training, I bought Little Miss a set of police gear she found in the toy section of Walmart. During his absence, part of her writing assignment consisted of writing letters to Daddy. After we bought the police gear, she wrote him a letter. It read:

Dear Daddy,
When you get home, will you play police stuff with me?

Earlier today, she took him upstairs to show him all of her new things. As she is showing him, she is telling him what each thing is. This is my handcuffs, and the keys really work! This is my helmet. These are my radios and they work, too! Then she holds up the police baton - the old style with the hand grip. She couldn't remember what it was called, but she remember it started with a "b" sound and was used to strike at someone. Finally she says, and this is my basher.

I guess that's one way of looking at it!

Spending time with my son

I have had to divide my time between the blog-a-thon and my family. It happened that the same weekend that we had the blog-a-thon planned was also the same weekend the husband would return from his week at sniper training and my son would be here over the weekend. So, like most moms, I have to divide myself between two equally important but vastly different priorities.

One of the things that bothers my son is that I spend a lot of time on my computer. I really do but not all of my time is spent online. I write. I edit photos. I work on web updates for the site. And, yes, I also socialize. But regardless of what I'm doing while on the computer, I'm not spending time with him. Until yesterday I didn't realize it was an issue. I figured he was texting most of the time anyway so he probably didn't want to spend time with me.

But, he does. And now I know this.

So, tonight we watched a movie. I'll admit - he baited me a bit. He said, how about we watch Twilight, because I haven't seen it yet.

Oh yea. I'm in. I made popcorn, we watched the movie. I didn't get up once to come make a post. And at the end, he said "That was much better than I thought it'd be."

I know, son. On all accounts. It was really awesome, and I'm glad I chose that priority.

Role of PWO

Police Wives Online was launched in April of 2004, so this year marked the fifth anniversary of the site. A lot has changed since the initial site. Cat, the founder, stepped down, and we are actively working towards gaining non-profit status.

I found PWO in the summer of 2004. My husband had been on patrol for about a year and a half, we had a daughter who was almost a year old, and I was in need of some adult conversation with people who could understand this life of being married to a cop. I honestly didn't expect to find anything when I did a google search. I was amazed when I signed onto the forums. These women knew exactly what I was talking about!

I made some wonderful friends over the years - some were long term, some have come and gone, but each are cherished. Yes, even the ones that didn't work out so well. I still consider these women to be sisters because we still share a common bond, and if God forbid something ever happened to any of their husbands, I'd be the first to extend a heartfelt hand in sorrow. I'd like to think that if tables were turned, they'd do the same.

Police Wives Online is a special place where bonds are formed, friendships are made, and support is given. We have come so far in five years but we have lofty goals for the future. Please, help us with our goal of raising $1000 during this blog-a-thon. Even if you can only give a dollar, every bit helps. And if you can't give, spread the word.

Thank you!

Home from the Range

We spent two fun hours in the windy sun - me shooting the camera, the others shooting various guns. I took a bunch of pictures that I will upload to show you after I cook dinner.

Little Miss (5) made some excellent shots, including one center mass, with the .22 that once belonged to her big brother. It's the gun he learned to shoot with and has now been passed down to her as he's moved on to bigger and better weapons. Although, he did fire off many rounds with it today.

The boy prefers to shoot the AR-15 but after stopping at two different Walmarts (both being out of ammo), he stuck to shooting the Glocks, the .22, and dh's sniper rifle. He shot a perfect head shot with it, too. Not bad, at all!

I don't know how my shots turned out yet.

Late start - story of my life!

I'm just getting around to the productive part of my day. I have never been, nor am I now, a morning person. So, until mornings start at 10 or 11, count me out.

But, here I am, ready to start the blog-a-thon. I'm excited although until later, my posts will be sporadic. You see, the husband just got back from a week-long training and the kids want to "do stuff", so we're taking them to the shooting range this afternoon.

This will be fun for everyone except me. While I completely support our 2nd amendment rights, I'm just now a big fan of guns. Shooting is not a fun thing for me. However, my son who will turn 15 next week, and my youngest daughter who is 5 love to go shooting. So, I play along.

After all, that is part of being a mom.

Blog-a-thon for Police Wives Online

One of my most time-consuming passions is Police Wives Online, an online support system for the wives of law enforcement.

Today, April 25th from 9am until Sunday April 26th at 9am, bloggers will be posting around the clock with hopes of raising lots of money for PWO and the programs we offer there. The more money raised, the more support we can offer.

Information about being a supporter or even a blogger for this great cause can be found at:

http://policewivesonline.blogspot.com/

There are ways EVERYONE can participate - be a blogger, be a donor, be a cheerleader. Everyone can do something.