A series of unfortunate events...

I know that's a movie title, but it very much describes one of my days last week. It was one of those days that went from bad to worse real quick.

First, I've been in a 'holding pattern' with this 4th pregnancy. My hormone levels continued to rise slowly on their own, but nothing can be found on an ultrasound. Again, we heard, 'let's just wait & see' from the doctors.


Where is my forever home?


On what we thought was a good note, we were going to complete Stella's adoption. A couple wanted a companion for their 7yr old pit. We watched Stella & Buster play beautifully for over an hour.  Not even 5 minutes after we started on our return home, I received a frantic call from the woman that we needed to come back... the dogs had gone 'ape shit'.  Her words.  So we asked what happened.  The man was sitting on the ground petting both dogs.  The dogs started to play.  After a few minutes, the man decided 'he' didn't want them to play anymore & tried to get in between them to stop them.  We, by no means, are experts on dogs.  But we have learned Stella's triggers. And we went over them thoroughly with the adopters.  She has a past & she has fears.  Once she feels safe & trusts us, those triggers diminish.  The biggest no-no is getting between her & another dog- especially pulling them apart by collars.  I don't know if she feels threatened or is trying to protect her human or the other dog, but we have recognized that & manage accordingly.  We drove home with Stella feeling failed yet again. 

As we got out of the car at home, I realized Stella didn't have 'just' 1 or 2 bit wounds, the whole left side of her face was pretty chewed up.  Off to Dr. B to make sure she didn't need stitches.  Luckily, she did not.  Some antiseptic spray & antibiotic pills & we were good to go.  UNTIL the receptionist next door from the law firm walked into the vet's office.  She told the vet that she was by herself next door & there was someone sawing something by her alley side window.  She didn't know who he was & he said he was replacing her air conditioning unit.  As it is second nature, my husband went over to check it out to insure she was safe.  I would say only 50% of the time does he carry off duty.  Today was one of those days.  Here is how the scene played out for me... I was talking to the vet assistant & seconds later, I heard 3 shots.  I looked at the vet assistant & said 'those are gun shots'.  She plainly stated (in a heavy polish accent), 'no, no, they are just working!!!'.  My instinct was confirmed when Dr. B walked in through the rear entrance with his eyes the size of oreo cookies & said 'call the police'.  I dropped Stella's leash & ran through the office as I tore through my purse looking for my off duty weapon (my purse pistol as I call it).  I haven't been actively on the street for almost 2 years, but training (& fear for my husband's life) took over (my husband's account of my arrival is very amusing).  When all was said & done, everything & everyone was okay.  It turns out, a heroin addict, felon did in fact steal the commercial air conditioner off the back of the building.  When my husband walked out of the door, this guy had just lifted it by himself into the trunk of his car. For those of you that know my other half, he is not small in stature... & neither was the thief, adding the fact that he was probably high.  My hero husband announced who he was & confronted the thief.  The fight was on & my husband had already drawn his weapon.  3 shots were fired, no one was hit except the car & when I ran outside, the car had already fled.  The homeland district responded quickly & caught this moron on the expressway (a beige sedan with a commercial air conditioning unit in the open trunk is not very stealth!).  The day of disappointments turned into a night of exhaustion.  I think it took 3 days for my heart to return from my stomach to it's intended spot. 

I believe everything happens for a reason.  Had our events of the day gone 5 minutes in either direction, everything would have been different.  In the meantime, the Chicago media highlights the poor decisions made by a couple of officers that do not represent the majority of a great department.  Yet, no one recognizes the heroics of off duty officers on a daily basis.  I guess that doesn't make good entertainment. 

Always carry off duty & always go home safe.  It may be your own life you save or that of an unknown citizen.  How many of us think... 'that would never happen to me'...?

'When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.'