Exposed

For the last few days one of my instructors had been sick. Yesterday afternoon he came back. While in formation on the grinder, before our daily routine of push-ups, my instructor looks at and me and says aloud, 

"Miss Bray?"

"Yes?" I replied.

"What beach did you use to work at."

"Huntington Beach City."

"That's what I thought. While sick in bed yesterday I saw you on TV. I didn't know we had a movie star in our group."

I laughed shyly and asked "what episode was it?"

Smiling he said, "It was the one with the over caffeinated young girl."

I said, "Ohh yeah, that was the first season."

"There's more than one?" He asked.

 "Yes Sir." I replied. 

He added, "Well, I recorded it. I had to keep rewinding it to make sure it was you. Good job."

All the cadets giggled and we went ahead and completed our push ups.

How embarrassing. 

By Popular Demand...

Pirate Patch 

Defensive Tactics

Last week I...

Manipulated the movement of others by a twist of the wrist

Took people down to the ground

Was arrested over a hundred times

Arrested half of my classmates (more than once)

Had really sore wrist

Was reminded that I have absolutely no coordination 

Realized the idea of becoming a baton twirler probably won't happen  

Did a lot of cursory searches 

"Lightly" applied a carotid control hold on someone

Retained my gun when taken 

Couldn't believe all the skills, techniques and information thrown at me retained in this overloaded, wee-little brain

 

Morning Trail Run

Del Monte Forest Trials

My friend and I ran for about a hour and a half

We cut the trail and ran through Pebble Beach Golf Course

When we cut through the golf course there were no trespassing signs, we had no intent to damage the property and we would have left the premises if asked, so I was not in violation of Penal Code 602 Trespassing. 

Drugs and Guns

This week I learned how to shoot heroin, start a meth lab, hide my drugs and weapons, weapons that are legal/illegal and I had three scenario test.

Monday was scenario practice day. I was so nervous that I felt sick to my stomach. I had know idea what to expect. The day was real casual and it was the best time to make all the mistakes. The day ended up being a lot of fun and at the end I felt real confident about the scenario test.

Tuesday I was exposed to many different types of drugs. This was great planning on the instructors part because on Wednesday all the cadets had scenario testing. It was real beneficial to know what drugs we could get away with taking after the stressful day of testing.

Wednesday, the big day of testing, was long. All the cadets had to sit in a small room for eight hours without talking to each other. We were each slowly dispatched to our scenario. Thankfully, I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be. The scenarios were Death Investigations, Felony Assault and Ethics. I walked away from my Death Investigation scenario thinking I failed. During the scenario my murder suspect ran away from me. The suspect ran when I went to check the victim, silly me, I didn't keep an eye on him. I ended up passing the scenario, I have know idea how, I must have done everything else perfectly. The other two test felt okay and I ended up passing. It was a big relieve when the day was over.

I can't believe I made it through Thursday without passing out. The instructor brought in about 50 syringes for all of us to practice with. I actually mixed up some heroin(simulated) on a spoon, loaded up a syringe and injected an orange. I fought the oozie feeling for a few hours. It was real hard, I felt like I was going to pass out. We also watched a few videos of people actively injecting drugs with needles. While watching the video the instructor asked, "Elisabeth, you okay?"

Today, we played with all types of weapons. We learned what was legal and what to watch out for. It was a lot of fun. I can't believe all the creative places people come up with to hide weapons and drugs.

Vulumpsious Lips

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I am never going out without my Mabelline Lip Plumper again. While out at a small pub in Monterey with one my friends we sat at a small table talking casually. When she got up to use the restroom I pulled out my lipstick and applied it to my lips. In the middle of putting on the lipstick a man walks up to me, stops, looks at me and says, "Mmmm. Wow! You just made my night. Im not trying to hit on you but that was nice. I don't normally buy drinks for anyone, but when you want a drink come find me and I would love to buy one for you." He went on saying that he was having a wonderful day because the Charges won and I had just made his day even better. When my friend came back from the restroom we chatted briefly and then he went back to join his friends. A little later in the evening he came back around and bought us both drinks and we chatted some more. At this point he seemed a bit liquored up and went on saying how great we were and said, "you are both my dream girls, I could marry you both." My friend said it would never work because we would never get along if we lived together. He then told us he was going to Belize and asked us to go. I couldn't help but to go along with his offer, I said, "really, when you going?" He said March. Unfortunately, I'm busy in March. This guy was pure entertainment. It's unfortunate that he wasn't my type or I may have taken him up on the Belize offer. The evening all ended on a bad discussion of politics. It was fun overall though. I have to say, thank you Mabeline for the entertaining night. My Mabelline Lip Plumber didn't only give me beautiful fully shaped, natural lips. It got me a flattering complement for my graceful application, a drink and a possible trip to Belize. 

New Year in Big Sur

I spent all day hiking in Big Sur. It was a great way to spend the first day of the year. Pictures on the right. 

Last night I went shopping and bought new shoes, a  sweater & hat from Banana Republic, and some stuff from Victoria's! After my shopping spree another cadet and I went to a restaurant across the street from Asilomar for some clam chowder and a glass of wine. The rest of the evening I watched a little TV and munched. 

New Shoes for the Blues

I had a wonderful Christmas with my family and friends.  It was difficult to come back to Asilomar.  The plane ride home was long, my flight was delayed an hour and a half and my motivation to jump back into a fish bowl(academy) was low.  When I finally landed into San Jose I took a small transfer bus into Monterey.  It was an uncomfortable ride, at one of the stops a women came on and she stood in the middle of the bus looking around for a seat,we made eye contact so, I offered the seat next to me. There were probably eight open seats on the bus and she happily excepted my offer. Funny thing is I had the small seat where the floor is raised because below there's a tire. I sat a hour with my legs up to my chest and behind me were eight large open seats. The lady even looked at me and said, "it's kinda tight." I just smiled and nodded.  The bus dropped me off downtown Monterey where I transfered to a bus that would take me back to my temporary home.  Now, Monterey is real nice, but the central bus station was a bit shady.  I had been there a few times before but this particular afternoon I felt a bit suspicious.  I waited 40 minutes for a crime to happen before I got onto my transfer bus which smelled like body oder.  I paid my two bucks and read my book. At the third bus stop an old man was waiting, when the bus doors open the man yelled and waved his cane at the driver, "don't talk to me!"   It appeared to me that this old man was a regular because the driver just laughed.  The old man plotted down in a seat next to me and said to the bus driver, "Get me home so I can drink!"  I couldn't help to giggle and think to myself I'm the one who needs a drink. 

This week is only a three day week.  It's been a low week for me.  I don't know why, I just feel a little down and overwhelmed.  We've also been learning about domestic violence which isn't a cheerful topic.  I hate to be negative in my blog but it's just how I feel, I know the feeling will pass, it's just a natural emotion I know we all experience at some time or another.  I have to keep reminding myself of the reward at the end.  I had a plan to go to San Francisco for New Years but I caught a little flu and felt it be smarter to stay here. I also have a few big test and scenarios next week so this four day weekend I'll spend time to study. Im just hoping that someone is around for new years eve. Most people I know are going home. I might have to go buy some canned oysters (mom's tradition) and other fun goodies and watch Dick Clark on my own. 

Tomorrow I get out of class at noon!  I plan on going shopping to find myself some new shoes.

Fully Loaded

This week the class was split up into two groups. Half the class had self-defense tactics and the other half went to the range. I got to go to the range! The week was information overload but a ton of fun. Here are a few highlights of the week... 

Monday was the first day on the range in Hollister, it's about 45 minutes away from Asilimar. When we arrived we unloaded all our gear and holstered up our Smith & Wesson 4006 handgun. The moment we got out on the range a large dark cloud came across and it started to pour down rain. Most of us didn't have on our rain gear because it was clear outside before we went out. We stood in the rain laughing at the perfect timing. After two minutes of rain it started to hail!!! The hail was the size of small pellets used in a BB-Gun. During the hail storm the instructors sent us back into the classroom to get our jackets. Once we put the jackets on the skies cleared up again. The picture above was taken after the rain and hail. 

My shooting wasn't too bad. Unfortunately, I am left eye dominant and I can't wink with my left eye.  My instructor put tape over the left side of my  glasses and it seems as though I shoot better with one eye. So, my homework is to learn how to wink with my left eye. 

Tuesday morning I woke up to find a little bit of snow outside. It was a cold day shooting our Remington 870 shotgun. Lots of kick in this gun. My shoulder is a little sore from the recoil.  My eye disability was a huge issue with the shotgun and it became a laughable topic amongst my classmates. 

Wednesday was a warmer day and we spent it to re-cap on all the techniques we learned on Monday and Tuesday. I brought a small lifeguard patch and used it to cover-up my left eye. I got a good laugh from all the instructors and my classmates. I was the lifeguard pirate. 

Today, we played with the handgun and shotgun again. We also learned how to use our Colt AR-15. It was so much fun, a little complicated at the beginning but fun! 

Overall it's been a great week. The days were long and at times frustrating but I was real impressed with the instructors. We basically got one on one training because there were so many instructors. This was the first week of four that I get to train with firearms. The next three weeks are spread throughout the next four months. Hopefully I'll be able to wink by the end ;) 

On the left is the Colt AR-15 and the right is the Remington 870 and my Smith and Wesson 40

Jingle Bells

I bought bells for my regular shoes and wondered what would happen if I put bells on my work boots. I have class on Christmas Eve and thought it would be funny to wear the bells out to formation that morning. I'm curious if I would get in trouble. I think the laugh I'd get from my instructors would be worth any form of discipline. Take a vote on the left... should I wear bells? Or an even better idea, I can pass out one bell to every cadet and we can all wear them Christmas Eve morning in formation and all take the blame.