I start back on nightwatch tonight. I had originally been under the impression that I would finally have my car to myself again after two+ months of having one trainee or another with me. I much prefer patrolling solo, though I also like doing the training, just for the fact that it really keeps me sharp. Mike finished his time with me and is due to move on to another FTO (trainees rotate through 3 FTOs during their 12 weeks of field training.) The other trainee on our shift was not due to come to me for another two weeks, so I was anticipating having a two week break--and on nightwatch too!

No such luck. I was 20 minutes into my cardio on the crosstrainer at the gym when my pager went off in my gym bag. Crudpuppies! Climbed off the machine, dug my pager out, saw that it was from Sarge. Called him from the phone at the front desk, whereupon Sarge informed me that we had another new guy coming to the team, and since I was the only available FTO, he would go in my car.

I really hope this guy has some experience so that all I have to do is train him on our policy and procedures, how to use the Mobile Data Link, and show him the area. Training someone from scratch (as I was doing with Mike) is some friggin' hard work.

Kelly offered a modification to my protein pancakes. She told me that she puts in about half the oatmeal that I do and then throws a couple of large spoonfuls of fat-free cottage cheese into the blender. Tried that this morning, and Yum! No more rubbery texture and nice and fluffy.

Yeah, I know, it's still not real food, but it makes for a halfway decent compromise. My taste buds gradually become transmogrified so that they don't notice that I'm not eating real food anymore.