Half-Way

CC is halfway through Academy. Well, almost. 12 weeks left (halfway would be the end of 11, but the 11th week starts this week, so it feels better to say it's already over.)

I have been doing fine so far. Like I always say, it's not ideal, but we're dealing.

For some reason, him being gone is starting to get to me. I miss having him here. I miss just laying on the couch during the week watching our shows together. I miss having dinner at the table with him. I miss getting to snuggle with him in bed. And when he does get home, most of the time he wants to just chill. I have to do so much on my own during the week, that when he's here, I don't want to do anything by myself, and that's not always what he has in mind.

But, I also have to realize that when he gets back, that doesn't necessarily mean that I'll have all of those things again. This is kind of something I can wish for, but who knows what shift he'll have. I just have to pray that God takes care of us and continues to help me not be "needy."

On top of that, CC's agency gave him a credit card to put his expenses on. They originally told him to just make sure that he got receipts and that they were travel related. He gets to his agency this weekend to turn in some receipts, and he finds a note in his box. This note lets him know that they will only pay for gas for one trip there, and one trip back. They also are expecting him to repay the account for the previous gas purchases. So, if we add this up, this is approximately $40 per one way trip. 2 times a week = $80. 10 weeks= $800 that is going to have to be repaid, as well as the other 12 weeks that are going to have to be taken in order for him to come back each weekend. So, needless to say, this sucks. The deal is that he is given a certain living amount to be there. He's been living very cheaply on food so that the majority of the money could be sent on his trips there and back. Now, if they won't let him spend it on gas, he's decided he will probably be going out to eat for every meal. It just doesn't make sense. He originally said he was going to ask the chief about it, but then again he didn't want to make a bad impression. He's going to spend the money he's given, just now it will be on expensive food instead of getting to come home. Either way, this is no fun. This also means that he might not be home every weekend. Agh.

Anybody want to contribute to the gas fund?! (just kidding....sort of :)


"When I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me the strength I need." Psalm 138:3

Police Gear

CC is very lucky at his agency because he has almost everything he will need provided to him. Since we live in a big area, this is one of the perks for this particular agency. He is provided his gun (I believe a Glock 22), his hand cuffs, his OC spray, his flash light, his uniform, and all of the necessary duty belt items. When we began looking into this profession, there were several places that he wanted to work that looked like it might cost a great deal of money to get into because of all of the equipment he would have to supply himself. But, after he got hired on in his current agency, I was relieved. Since we are young, we don't necessarily always have a lot of extra money just laying around to fund a new career choice! So this was a blessing to us financially and a weight lifted off of my shoulders. CC was also excited about this as well.

Until Academy.

First came the flashlight. He didn't like something about the one they provided, so he started researching new ones. He got one for Christmas, but it wasn't something that he thought it was, so he sent it back and figured he'd wait to get a different one when he'd seen more. (And I loved the post by HF on A Police Wife, so I will definitely share this review with him and maybe we can save a little bit of money!)

Then came the hand cuffs. His agency provides one set, but it's "crucial" that you always have 2 pairs on you. So, he "needed" to go to the Law enforcement supply store to get another pair that also weren't as stiff.

Now it's the gun. CC is a skinny guy. And here in TX you must conceal your gun off duty. So, the Glock 22 is just too wide to conceal easily without have a huge, awkward bulge on his side. So now we're looking into purchasing an off-duty gun.

I am not a gun person. I've never been around guns, I've never liked guns, I don't ever intend to have to use a gun. This whole career change, of course, is going to bring me around guns much more frequently (as CC will probably be carrying his gun at all times, now which one is still the question). So, the thought of one gun was hard to imagine. Now, knowing we will probably have 2 guns in the house while he's home is even harder to imagine. I know I'll come around. And after my incident after serving on a murder trial jury (the jury was threatened by the defendant's friend) I have agreed that I will at least learn how to use the gun for safety. But still, that doesn't mean I'm going to go buy one on my own! I know time will help me get used to them, but I just don't like them.

We went from not having to buy anything except boots to practically buying a new duty belt! (I know, that's an exaggeration!) I'm hoping that this is not a habit that will continue, but I'm sure it only gets worse as he is introduced to more and more products out there that are the new "cool" thing to have!

Do you have husbands like mine?! Should I go ahead and prepare myself for buying new gadgets regularly?