Desperate times...

Last night I stayed up working on a huge mound of growing paperwork that I was supposed to do this weekend. I had gotten behind because I got called in twice over the weekend to help mitigate domestic disturbances. Not that I'm any good at that kind of stuff, it's just another part of my job. Each time I got called in wasted several hours until the situation was under control and I could return to what I was doing. So last night I was trying to get caught up. I worked until 12:30 and I couldn't think well anymore. Then I hit the sack and slept like a rock. For three hours. I had to get up at 3:30 a.m. to finish up the rest of my paperwork before I had to go into work. I made good time, then got dressed and ready for work hastily. I was heading out to the car at 5:00 a.m., right on time when I realized I didn't have my phone. CRAP! I can't go to work without my phone. I'll be trying to get a hold of people all day and have no idea where anyone is or what's going on. I had to go get my phone. I couldn't find it. In a panic, I darted through the house looking everywhere I thought I might have left it. By the time I found my phone it was 5:20 a.m. I had to be at work by 5:30. I was going to be late. This was really bad. I hopped in the car and headed for the highway. I had one more chance and it was a desperate move. I got on the highway and pushed heavily on the gas, passing cars to my left and right. I paid no attention to my speed or the speed limit signs. It didn't matter how fast I went, I would never make it there on time, but I still had a chance. Then finally I saw it. Red and blue lights in the rear view mirror.

I slowed down and moved to the right lane to make sure he was pulling me over and not just trying to get around. He followed me to the curb. YES! I breathed a sigh of relief as I came to a stop and searched for my drivers license. I would be late, but I would have an excuse, and being detained by local law enforcement was one of the few acceptable excuses for being late in the Army. My boss called right as I was signing my ticket. I had to make an effort not to snicker on the phone as she started to yell at me then realized I was being pulled over. I got a ticket, yeah, but it was as good as a doctors note for being late. It will probably cost a lot in the end and half a day of defensive drivers training, but it was well worth it. And that's just how my day started. I can't even talk about what happened once I got to work. But it's just another day for me.