Shift Change

As an employee in law enforcement, I'm destined to work shift work for my entire career. I've been working the day shift, or 1st shift for 9 months now. I got lucky.

From today through January, I will be working nights. We call it PM's; some people call it swing shift and/or 3rd shift. My shift is from 4pm to 2:30am. I work Fridays through Mondays. Yes, that is what being last in seniority gets you. I'm 5 out of 5, and I've been doing this job for 6 years now.

It's very hard for me to work nights now. When I was younger, I found it very easy to stay up all night, and sleep all day. Now, with a 3 yr. old, I just can't do that. Even if Angry Husband is home, AT and him are very loud.

This morning Angry Husband was fighting with Angry Toddler about picking out some clothes. Seriously, you give the child 2 options, you don't give him the entire closet to pick from. well AH got tired of AT fighting with him. When I got out of bed at 8-something, AT was running around in Gymboree underwear with surfboards on them. Whatever...

Another thing about working nights, is that it's hard to see. I had Lasik done in 1999. My eyesight sucks at night. I have to wear glasses now to read the street signs. I bought these glasses last year when I worked PM's then. I can't even find them today. They are probably in the center console of my personal car. I better have not lost them, they cost like $500. I have expensive taste.

I was able to get some running in today though, which made me feel a little better. I did it while AT and AH took a THREE HOUR NAP. I also did some laundry and ran some errands. Unfortunately, while running my errands my gas light came on. Ugh, I was almost late to work and did not want to get gas.

So guess who will be getting gas at almost 3am? ME!

I hope I can survive this shift. I'm still trying to figure out my eating and workout schedule. I usually gain weight when I work nights, because I eat like crap. Maybe I can do some better and longer workouts in the mid-mornings, and then nap on the days that AT is at preschool.

Wish me luck!!

I made it!!!

YAY!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight is my very last night of swing shift. After 2:30am, PST, I will be on day shift until September. I can't wait for some good sleep.

I used to be a night person, unfortunately Angry Toddler's early wake-ups ruined that.

Hopefully, it won't rain too hard and the criminals won't come out to play like they did last night.

Working, Nine 2 Five

It's been ten years since I graduated college. I graduated in December of 1997, and in January, I joined the work force. My parents stressed the fact that I needed to get a full-time job with health insurance. I did. I've been working full time since then without a break, at the same damn place!!!

But alas, the life of a public servant. We work shift work, yes crappy, non-normal hours. So I'm sitting here at 2am writing this post, why, because I'm at work. Normal people work Monday through Friday, from 9-5. Noo, Angry Julie works Friday through Monday from 4pm-2:30am.

I'm half asleep, waiting patiently until the clock turns 2:30, so I can run out of her, jump in my SUV and drive home. Then I will try and crawl in bed. 75% Angry Toddler will be on my side of the bed, under the covers. So I will have to make the decision, sleep in our bed, or go to the couch.

Then, at around 7:30am, Angry Toddler was come to wake me up. Most likey by hitting me on the head with some small toy, "Mama mama, wake up!".

It's been busy here tonight. Lots of drunk people and Halloween parties.

On a positive note, I did get to visit one of my favorite places tonight. Yes, Target. I am one of those nuts hunting down The Little Einsteins Pat Pat Rocket. Does my son even like The Little Einsteins, probably not! But I must hunt one of those things down. It has become my quest. Knowing my luck I will finally find one, and decide that he doesn't need it. I think I just like the hunt. I ended up walking about of Target with a skull shaped trick or treat bucket, and some cleaning products.

I've been sitting here in the office the rest of the night lurking on all my favorite blogs and websites. I've found a couple of new ones tonight. I'm always anxious to read about people like me.

I hope I survive the day tommorrow. Angry Husband is going to be working and it's up to me to entertain. We can't go outside, there is tons of ash from the fires. Then back to work, I go, same time, same place. But alas, definately not 9-5.