What a weekend!!

As many of you know, I've had to really work some rather hellacious hours this past week. One..well no..actually two of our units were involved in a disturbance. I say two because the first unit was actually de-escalated before it started..which led to the second..more "explosive" disturbance at our FlightLine Unit on Friday evening at 905pm. For more information, you can look on http://www.newswest9.com/ or http://www.cbs7.com/ and look under the videos section regarding Big Spring prison riot. Fortunately I don't work at that unit...I say fortunately although a part of me was chomping at the bit to get over and help..instead I was at my own unit trying to make sure that nothing got started there...basically we played it off nonchalantly as if nothing was going on. Needless to say I had work another shift to cover the unit since my relief is on the Emergency Response team.

There's an old saying about war and the spread of information in times of battle...called the "Fog of War." There's nothing worse than listening to events unfold on the scanner and you can't do anything about it...plus some officers panicking and spreading ill-timed reports of death and mayhem when none of it is true.

One thing I know for certain...these rookies who are 18 and 19 yrs old coming in to work for a so-called great paycheck may not be coming back to work tomorrow. Personally, I say let them find another job because I don't want to depend on them when the next one occurs and I feel the breeze of feet flapping behind me heading the opposite direction. I know where I stand at least...my recent experience in Mississippi has taught me that..it only hurts for a little bit...hah. Nothing like the smell of tear gas and OC to wake you up.

Well anyways...that's a wrap on that debacle for now. I'm including some pics of Sierra's first soccer game...she's numero tres.

Moving Day

Well..today's the day that parents dread the most...the moving off to college. Well, Nick's been in the dorms now for a week since he's a resident assistant or "rezidentura" in Russian lingo....all mine in college seemed to have heralded from the Soviet Bloc of yesteryear. They were strict...you couldn't breathe without permission...no funny business...etc.

As for the moving off part..Rosie's actually handled that well..it's the two kids who say "Where's my Nick? Nick? Where Nick?" Of course Sierra is getting Nick's old bedroom...boy is she excited. She came in tonight and said "Daddy..hold my hand...let's go to my room." It was as casual as saying "Step into my office Mr. Hurt." She's also glad because as she puts it "Stevie wone bahvuh me anymore (Stevie won't bother me anymore).

We've been dismantling the waterbed with the help of my brother-in-law Chon...that's a trick in and of itself...and vacuuming the floors and basically chunking anything left behind.

Well, that's all for now...I put two bookcases together for use in the den and living room...and I still don't have enough space...guess that means I have to get rid of some of stuff as well.
Who'd have thought that one can accumulate so much stuff in just a short time? Just not going to throw away ANY of my Star Wars DVDs, VHS tapes, or Star Wars books. May be worth something in about 400 years.

Permission Granted...

Anyone who would like to see pictures of my nephew Joshua Clayton can see him at my brother's blogsite hurt hoopla. I've acquired permission per se from Josh to do so..so feel free.

I say he looks sorta like his Big John...albeit with more hair. Hah.

Dog Days Part Deux

Well, I managed to get Shadow back from the vet's office today. I told them to keep her overnight because I had to work evenings and Rosie really wasn't too keen on wrestling the dog and the kids at the same time. Not to mention I did get a call from the vet earlier that afternoon stating that "Everything's fine...Shadow's fine...um..there were some complications. Nothing major..just that..um...she had an extra artery in her fallopian tubes which led to some bleeding. But she's fine..." Well, I panicked naturally. As it turned out, there was some major bleeding but they were able to cauterize it without any problems.
Now, the trip home......
All I can say is that Shadow didn't act like she'd had major surgery. In fact she was standing up on the toolbox in my truck watching the semis go flying by and drooling lots of slobber all over the sides of my truck. When we got home...she wanted to play but I had to sort of calm her down and walk slowly up and down the block until she was ready to go into her backyard and settle down.
Shadow's doing fine...sore...eating fine...doing doggy business fine. Let's just hope I don't wake up and find her up to her normal shenanigans...i.e. chewing my water hoses up.

Dog Days

Well, I had to take Shadow in this morning to have her future generations methodically snuffed out. For some of us who aren't as awake yet..I followed the advice of Bob Barker to "Please have your dog or cat spayed or neutered."

For those who don't know, Shadow is our black lab who currently is 18 months and 95lbs of solid kinetic, frenetic, schizophrenic energy. I've been trying to work with her more on training...I've been "reading" Cesar Millan's books on being a pack leader and how that translates from humans to dogs also. I say "reading" because I tend to gloss the essential points and try to find the stuff which is a quick fix. Not gonna happen.

I can tell you this though...the several times that I've actually succeeded in relaxing and just projecting the mental image of "I'm the Big Dog," Shadow's attitude and demeanor totally changed. For example, I figured out that if I ignore her when she wants to jump on me...she stops...then looks around as if bored and finally just plops down next to me. But I also figured out how sneaky she is....you know how dogs will sometimes just lie down and roll their stomachs towards you as if in a submissive manner? You think you're in control then right?
WRONG. I found this out just yesterday when she did that after a quick little training exercise. I thought to myself...okay, she's starting to recognize my authority...but then I reached out and petted her. All she did was think "If I roll over, HE will pet me...therefore I'm in charge here."
After several minutes of wondering how in the world I'm going to learn to deal with this dog's diva complex...it dawned on me...just ignore her and pet her when she's not expecting it...therefore she's not in control.

Let me tell you...this Cesar Millan guy is one cool character. What he says is the truth. Dogs can more or less read your emotions like a book. I can walk outside all stressed or tired and the dog will absolutely run me over...she becomes hypervigilant per se. But if I mentally project image of coolness or calmness...then she calms right down. It's still hard for her to be around the kids because when Steven screams that high-pitched "dog-whistle" scream...she takes it as her "Pups" are acting up and she's got to go regulate by nipping or knocking them down.

Well, hopefully the surgery goes well....I'm glad it's getting taken care of because I was worried that my little pup would become a teenaged mom...Hah. How's that for a Maury Povich show...or a soap opera.

Addictive

Man this blog's addictive. I can't quit writing on it. Can't stop....must....quit....(mumbles incoherently)

Anyways, I got the first pics of my nephew Joshua Clayton. I'm not going to post them because I'm gonna let Josh and Lauren do the honors on their site. There's an idea...everyone knows how Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were paid a kazillion bucks for their twins pictures. Hmm. Josh? Interested in getting rich quick? I mean I don't have a kazillion bucks...much less enough to feed the dog some days...but would Monopoly money count?
You can have ParkPlace and a Get Out of Jail Free (believe me, I CAN arrange that last one) as well.

Open Letter - Words of Advice

Josh and Lauren...
My family wishes to express our deepest and heartfelt JOY AND LOVE for the arrival of Joshua Clayton!!! Woohoo. But there are however some words of advice that I would like to pass down (as the elders are wont to do in the olden times...yes Josh I did call myself an elder..I am older than you remember?)

Rule 1...when changing the diaper...as in karate..never allow your opponent (in this case your son) an opening in which he can attack you. This primarily pertains to changing his diapers. Steven knew better...Sierra on the other hand was a different story. Let's just say sneezing and liquidated assets don't mix...or miss for that matter.

Rule 2...when burping...don't get too close...don't wear your good clothes...and never assume that the first burp was the "good" one. The ones which come from the toenails are the worst...not to mention the messiest.

Rule 3...don't do what I did and mistakenly tell Dad that "Boy I can't wait to get home from the hospital and get some rest...." It ain't gonna happen...not until Joshua Clayton's at least 25..maybe 30 years old.

And finally, Rule 4...introduce him to the color Orange early on. Believe me, he'll thank you for it.

Love you both...well...all three of you...and Congratulations!!!!

Proud Uncle

Boy...let the title speak for itself. As most of the readers know, Josh and Lauren were expecting Joshua Clayton to be born sometime towards the end of August and first of September. However, Joshua Clayton decided that he'd had enough of the fanfare and decided to brighten up this world by arriving early. I was at work and left my cell phone in the truck to charge up...I can't bring it inside the facility of course but exceptions have been made...when Rosie called about 4:30 saying that Dad's been trying to call me...Josh and Lauren are at the hospital. The baby's coming!!!

Then finally after pacing the floor of my control room and answering the phones in a rush...hoping that it's news from Rosie or Dad..only to be disappointed that it was in reference to an inmate, or someone wishing to talk to one of our food service personnel..I finally heard my cell phone ring that strident tone that announces that the phone lines are indeed operational and the bill's been paid (It's a cool tone by the way...ever watch the movie "Crank?" It's that ringtone which sounds like the batteries are dying as it rings.) All Dad said was "He's here."

A good buddy of mine was with me in control and we high-fived...shook hands...passed congratulations around..my name was changed to "Uncle" and I've been giddy ever since.

Now...Joshua Clayton...let me introduce myself. I'm the BIG uncle, your dad's BIG brother, and you don't have to call me Uncle John, definitely not U.J., just call me "Big John."

Proud to have you aboard kiddo...you're in for a great ride.

Just don't listen to your mom and dad when they say Mississippi State is the best...and please for the love of all that's good and holy DON'T EVER THINK ABOUT OLE MISS...just follow the advice of your loving uncle Will and Big John...GO TENNESSEE - GO BIG ORANGE!!

Go get 'em Cowboy.

Never too Late

This is a little late...but I didn't have this site up until just recently and my cousin Holly has her site up with a tribute to Inelle "Grammuh" Hurt. So in keeping Grammuh's fun-filled spirit alive...I feel that all of the Hurt clan should indulge in a specific post or two detailing Grammuh's wonderful spirit and life which no doubt has been thoroughly carried on and will continue to be carried on through the years.

On March 9, 2008, Inelle Broadway Hurt..affectionately known as "Bertha," "Grammuh," "Grandmother"...passed away quietly in her sleep after dealing with Alzheimer's for many years. She is greatly missed by all...but sometimes I feel that whenever I'm down or worried about something...she's somewhere nearby. Whether it's a perfume, seeing someone in WalMart with tons of jewelry doodads on...or even hearing an older woman in our small church singing off-key but with lots of love and joy for the Lord...those moments make me smile and say "That is just like Grammuh."

It's hard not to blink back some tears at this point...but my pride (especially in my line of work) was to show no emotion until I was alone. Oddly enough, I was in the hospital with a fellow officer and an inmate that last Sunday night when my unit control officer called me to call home immediately. I knew then that it was ending long years...days and nights of worry, concern...and finally acceptance of the final journey.

And now...having just recently passed my 34th birthday...I can still vividly remember Grammuh and Granddaddee visiting our house in Monticello, MS. Man, how the years fly by.

I've posted some pictures of Grammuh taken within the past several years...I wasn't able to find any of her and Steven but I'm sure they're floating around somewhere.

To paraphrase CS Lewis briefly "morning has come...the holidays have begun. Our lives are but the title page...now we're beginning the first chapter of the first of many chapters to come...in the story which is neverending and with many more adventures to come."

Next Door Neighbor

Our next door neighbor's daughter was in town this summer with her dad, so Sierra got to spend some "girlie girl" time for once in her life...playing dress up..etc etc. Steven of course likes to interrupt things...but once he found a "Rey Mysterio" mask...he couldn't have been happier.

No..we did not use trick birthday candles which then blew up the cake. The cake literally self-destructed the moment Steven laid eyes on it..as evidenced by the amount of debris and "fallout" surrounding the mouths of the two primary perpetrators.

Steven Birthday

Steven's Birthday...."Then and Now"...

Hard to believe it's been 3 years. Sierra's being the good big sister she is...Seems like last week that he squirmed into this world kicking and screaming.

As you can tell by the kids' reaction...they're more in tune to Spongebob than actually enjoying the cake. By the way...who can blame them since Spongebob is being viewed in Hi-Def widescreen. Hah.

June 8...Kidding around...

Sierra and Steven enjoying much needed playtime "en agua."

Also included is a shot of the fire-fighting helicopter battling a fire just to the west of our

neighborhood. If you look closely, you can even see the smoke rising above the telephone poles in the center of the screen.

Playtime

Today was a hot one. 102 degrees. But the kids wanted to go outside. Steven's not afraid of anything...he wanted to jump off the fort but I convinced him to slide instead. Sierra is definitely not afraid of the camera. She sees the camera and begins her posing...maybe we need to see about getting her a guest shot on Living with the Kardashians. Hah.

Nicholas Anthony Garcia...Class of 2008. The roars and cheers heard as his name was called was profoundly earthshaking...I've never heard Sierra yell so loud in her life. All you could hear was "NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKK"

New Beginnings

To everyone out there...Hello, and welcome to the OesteTejasHurts site. Seeing as how this is a first time, it'll be limited as to what is on here. However, you will be the first to see Nick Garcia's graduation from Big Spring High School as Class of "cero ocho."