Re: 911:: On Line DL database and continuation of travails

[Guest guest]

At 09:34 06/23/2002 -0700, Bob noticed:

>WOW....It really is a small world.....I just tried this site, ...used my

>name, your name and O's name.....it would appear we are all related.....

<original msg from elsewhere ties this bit together>

> Hey just got this info from a friend..

> It's a great online database for DL's from all 50 states. Some of them

>have to be updated so be patient..

> http://www.license.shorturl.comm

After the odd hours I just worked this weekend, that could be a fairly

accurate photo of me! Actually, I think it is... <snorting and scratching>

So much for the " start my weekend early " plan; I worked 0100 to 1000 after

a strange turn-around on Friday, thought wahoo! I'm free! and watched a

couple of movies at home. Crawled into bed at 1400-ish.... The phone

rang at 1700 - one of the afternoon dispatchers was suffering from some

cyclical " need to go home 'cause my insides are hurting me " issue and I

slithered back to work at 1830.

At 2050 hrs, the only dispatcher actually assigned (not working some bit of

overtime or adjusted schedule) to the graveyard shift called to say she was

on her way in and her aunt called to say her mother needed an ambulance.

So she was sorry but she was turning around to go home.... ( " Drive safely,

let us know how everything is when you can! " ) What else can ya say???

Lessee.... because we have been doing some innovative scheduling, I knew

that the Comm Center would go critical at 0300 with no one left from

maximum overtime and no one to come in to cover that hole. Just two hours

from 0300 to 0500, on a Saturday night/Sunday morning... but ummmm.... a

trainer/trainee radio mix and a borrowed dispatcher from SLO did not

" cover " two radios and at least one phone console.

Minimum staffing on a Saturday night until 2400 or 0100 is 4 (but should be

five). I was one of the four. Everybody watched me mark the wall schedule

with the new absence and stand there for a minute or two. The radio

trainee offered to work the radio without his trainer for those two early

morning hours; he's almost good to go, so it seemed to be a good idea for

about 5 seconds. He was in early on OT and his trainer wasn't there yet.

I muttered that I could cover it but I would HAVE to leave to get some more

sleep before then and the other two dispatchers said, " Leave! Go sleep!

The F'n phones can ring if it gets bad; it's [surprisingly] doable right now. "

So I told the gal I would relieve at 0300 to call me at 0215 to make sure I

was up.... and before I left the Comm Center I managed to put my headset

in the recyclable cans bin and an empty Diet Pepsi can into the fridge

before I realized that wasn't quite right.

When I called the Comm Center at 0210, all gravelly voiced (more so than

usual), the trainee's trainer said apologetically, " It's still kinda

cooking, .. I'm sorry... "

We put the trainer on one radio and the trainee on the other, with me

plugged into him to monitor him while I staffed a phone console. It died

off right about 0400. Y'all know, if I hadn't dragged myself in, it woulda

stayed busy and probably even gone to hell if I'd made the decision to let

them wing it. TWO fresh dispatchers walked in the door at 0500, along

with a trainee. Another dispatcher was going to arrive at 0700...... The

trainer and trainee set from the graveyard shift exited stage left. I

didn't put my headset in the recyclable bin this time but I did tell them

all not to even consider calling me for anything, no matter what. And then

I snuck out just minutes before my partner Comm Sup arrived for her day

watch shift at 0600. Didn't want her to catch me in there again, looking

the way I knew I felt. Or something like that.

Probably pretty close to that " all 50 states' DL photos, " I imagine.....

Happy to be here, proud to serve.

Olmstead

Communications Supervisor

~on the Central California coastline~

" Not presumed to be an official statement of my employing agency. "

Home E-mail: mailto:gryeyes@...

http://www.gryeyes.com/

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/24/02 12:06:54 PM Mountain Daylight Time,

bbarbeau@... writes:

<< free time? is that a real thing? >>

If you all want free time, come out to my agency.. my goodness graveyards

have lived up to their name!!! I'm so friggin bored - last night I cleaned

out my locker, re-did my " cheat sheets " , and updated my sop book ...

so yea... there's free time out there. Seriously thinking about next year of

not bidding any graves (which have always been my favorite shift!)

Kathy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/24/02 12:23:38 PM Mountain Daylight Time,

scott@... writes:

<< What agency is that Kathy?

This fall wife & I become " empty nest " types. Might be just the right time

to move and leave no forwarding address! >>

Golden, Colorado. www.ci.golden.co.us

We MIGHT have an opening next month, one of our employees is waiting for a

judge to give her permission to take her child out of the state and if gets

this permission (keeping fingers crossed she does!) she'll be out of here in

a flash. Supposedly has a job waiting in Florida.. they'll be in for a

surprise, but hey, gets her out of our room.

And if the gal on medical doesn't come back, there will be that opening.

We've been solid for near 2 years.... funny how things cycle .

Kathy

[Guest guest]

free time? is that a real thing?

brandi

Burlington, VT, Police/Fire Dispatcher

[Guest guest]

> free time? is that a real thing?

> brandi

> Burlington, VT, Police/Fire Dispatcher

********************************************************************

Free time? Well...how about Drastically Reduced time.

Real? What is real? Reality is a concept.

Iowa State Patrol Communications, Cedar Rapids

Werling NØXZY

scott@...

http://www.ia.net/~anachamb/pumpkin.html

http://www.jonescountytourism.com

http://www.earthsat.com/wx/dotwx/winter_roads.html

I have a new address for my Olympic photos.

http://www.photoisland.com

Login: ridgeroader password: blah

[Guest guest]

> so yea... there's free time out there. Seriously thinking about next year

of

> not bidding any graves (which have always been my favorite shift!)

> Kathy

********************************************************************

What agency is that Kathy?

This fall wife & I become " empty nest " types. Might be just the right time

to move and leave no forwarding address!

Iowa State Patrol Communications, Cedar Rapids

Werling NØXZY

scott@...

http://www.ia.net/~anachamb/pumpkin.html

http://www.jonescountytourism.com

http://www.earthsat.com/wx/dotwx/winter_roads.html

I have a new address for my Olympic photos.

http://www.photoisland.com

Login: ridgeroader password: blah

[Guest guest]

At 11:53 06/24/2002 -0500, that fellow at another SP Comm Center

wondered:

>What did you do with all of your free time?

Slept FAST and in short bursts. (Try telling one's companion animals that

it's NOT play time, dagnabbit! LET ME GET SOME SLEEP!)

Today is a day off but I had a meeting to attend for a new program starting

up in one of our dispatch areas, which took me 35 miles and 2 hours away

from home. Got a free cup of officer-strength coffee out of it plus

several hand-outs; was able to express some Communications concerns (AND

that particular Area Commander LISTENED to 'em!) so there should be few

bumps in getting the process implemented in the Comm Center.

I don't have to go back to work until tomorrow morning. <looking around>

Laundry, dishes, yard work, all that stuff piled up. It's a nice sunny day

- maybe I'll pretend to catch up on some weeding.

Happy to be here, proud to serve.

Olmstead

Communications Supervisor

~on the Central California coastline~

" Not presumed to be an official statement of my employing agency. "

Home E-mail: mailto:gryeyes@...

http://www.gryeyes.com/

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/24/2002 10:19:22 AM Pacific Standard Time,

scott@... writes:

> What did you do with all of your free time?

>

What is this " free time " thing?

[Guest guest]

> Got a free cup of officer-strength coffee out of it plus

> several hand-outs; was able to express some Communications concerns (AND

> that particular Area Commander LISTENED to 'em!) so there should be few

> bumps in getting the process implemented in the Comm Center.

> Olmstead

********************************************************************

Is that the kind you have to cut with a pair of scissors when you pour?

Iowa State Patrol Communications, Cedar Rapids

Werling NØXZY

scott@...

http://www.ia.net/~anachamb/pumpkin.html

http://www.jonescountytourism.com

http://www.earthsat.com/wx/dotwx/winter_roads.html

I have a new address for my Olympic photos.

http://www.photoisland.com

Login: ridgeroader password: blah

[Guest guest]

> What is this " free time " thing?

********************************************************************

shhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Don't say anything more, or everyone will want some!

Iowa State Patrol Communications, Cedar Rapids

Werling NØXZY

scott@...

http://www.ia.net/~anachamb/pumpkin.html

http://www.jonescountytourism.com

http://www.earthsat.com/wx/dotwx/winter_roads.html

I have a new address for my Olympic photos.

http://www.photoisland.com

Login: ridgeroader password: blah