When I am blue.....

Nobody has a perfect life.....not even AHOP. Trying to juggle everything in a single working girl's life is not always fun. I down right hate it sometimes. I have to put my big-girl britches on many times and do things I am not particularly good at, like calling the cable company to yell at them and tell they have the worst customer service on the planet; bartering/negotiating when getting quotes for projects around the house (painting, yard help, etc.) I'm terrible at it.

And you would think I would get some kind of satisfaction when the negotiations turn in my favor, but I don't. I am so emotionally exhausted from the whole thing that I just want it over.  

Today was one of those days I had a lot on my mind. When the crapola comes down so fast I think I need a hard hat, but then the thick clouds of life seem to pass and I get a text message that chases away my blues almost instantly, like this one. Still, after almost 4-1/2 years of cooking for my sweet friends in blue, a simple text message puts a smile on my face and a few happy tears in my eyes.

♥

What a mother sees.....

In December 2009, four officers came to my very first dinner. That was over 4-1/2 years ago and I remember exactly what I served -- lasagna, salad, garlic toast, sweet tea, and I think I made a cheesecake for dessert.  

One officer reached out to give me a hug to say thank you before he left. I patted him on the back (my secret way of checking to see if he had his bullet proof vest on, and he did), and I thought to myself that very first night, "Oh my gosh...you're just a baby to have such a big and dangerous job!" And I can say this to some of these officers because I AM, after all, old enough to be their mother.    

So many of these officers right out of the academy are so young, but they have been put through the endurance wringer with extensive testing and training (written, psychological, and physical.) They have chosen a noble profession and certainly not a profession for the faint of heart.  

Whether an officer is 21 or 51 they are out there doing what they love....serving and protecting their community, and so many in very volatile and dangerous areas.    

In reality, they may look like this.....

Picture credit: Tampa Police Department (my hometown)

But in a mother's eyes, they will always look like this.

    

~  ~  ~  ~

What is a policeman ~ by Paul Harvey

~  ~  ~  ~

"When God Made Police Officers"

When the Lord was creating Police Officers,
he was into his sixth day of
overtime when an angel appeared and said,
"You're doing a lot of fiddling
around on this one."

And the Lord said, "Have you read the spec on this order?
A Police Officer has to be able to run five miles through
alleys in the dark, scale walls, enter
homes the health inspector wouldn't touch,
and not wrinkle his uniform.
He has to be able to sit in an undercover car
all day on a stakeout, cover
a homicide scene that night, canvass the
neighborhood for witnesses, and
testify in court the next day."

"He has to be in top physical condition at all times,
running on black coffee and half-eaten meals.
And he has to have six pairs of hands."
The angel shook her head slowly and said,
"Six pairs of hands... no way."
"It's not the hands that are causing me problems,"
said the Lord, "it's the
three pairs of eyes an Officer has to have."
"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.

The Lord nodded.
"One pair that sees through a bulge in a pocket
before he asks: May I see
what's in there, sir?
(When he already knows.)
Another pair here in the side of his head
for his partner's safety.
And another pair of eyes here in front that
can look reassuringly
at a bleeding victim and say:
You'll be all right ma'am."
(When he knows it isn't so.)

"Lord," said the angel, touching his sleeve,
"rest and work on this tomorrow."
"I can't," said the Lord, "I already have a
model that can talk a 250 pound drunk into a patrol
car without incident and feed a family of five
on a civil service paycheck."
The angel circled the model of the police
officer very slowly, "Can it think?" she asked.

"You bet," said the Lord. "It can tell you the
elements of a hundred crimes; recite Miranda warnings
in its sleep; detain, investigate,
search, and arrest a gang member on the street
in less time than it takes five learned judges to debate
the legality of the stop... and still,
it keeps its sense of humor."

"This officer also has phenomenal personal
control. He can deal with crime scenes painted in hell,
coax a confession from a child abuser, comfort a murder
victim's family, and then read in the daily
paper how law enforcement isn't sensitive to the
rights of criminal suspects."

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger
across the cheek of the police officer. "There's a leak,"

she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to
put too much into this model."
"That's not a leak," said the Lord, "it's a tear."
"What's the tear for?" asked the angel.
"It's for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades,
for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the
American flag, and for justice."
"You're a genius," said the angel.
The Lord looked somber.

"I didn't put it there," he said.

~ Author Unkown

Note:  I would like to point out that the above poem "When God Made Police Officers" was adapted by an original story by the late Erma Bombeck.  I didn't realize it until a friend mentioned it.  The story I found had no author's name linked to it.  Nobody could tell a story like Erma Bombeck. She was an extremely talented writer and a very funny lady.  Click here for her original story entitled "When God Created Mothers."

Picture credit:  Boy Officer (Google) and K9-Kid from Facebook.

♥

Sweet dreams, Miss Isabelle.....

I have always tried to preserve this blog to only AHOP-related stories and recipes, telling my readers that "it's not about me."

But sometimes it is about me.  I said goodbye to my sweet Miss Isabelle on Thursday and I am heartbroken. I held her sweet little face in my hands just like I always did at home and told her how much I loved her, and then she drifted away. 

When the AHOP light was on in the window for breakfast or dinner, Isabelle always enjoyed making an appearance in the dining room to say hello to the 1st and 2nd shift officers.  She would weave her little black and white body in-between their legs at the table or just sit there long enough so Officer Tom would pet the top of her little head.  She also knew if she bothered them 'just long enough', I would stop and feed her (again).  

Officer Tom always looked for Miss Isabelle before he left so he could say good-bye.  He would pass through the den where she was usually on the ottoman or in her big comfy chair and he would give her a pat on the head and say...."Bye Izzie".

The quiet in my house now is almost unbearable.  I would give anything to flip a pancake or two, or make a meatloaf right now -- just to keep me busy.  I have never missed my friends more.   

Sweet dreams, Miss Isabelle.....  ♥

"What we have once enjoyed 

we can never lose. All that we love 

deeply becomes a part of us."

~ Helen Keller

   "The risk of love is loss, and the price of loss is
grief. But the pain of grief is only a
 shadow when compared to the pain of 
never risking love.”
– Hilary Stanton Zunin

Do what you love.....

This year has been a discombobulated year for AHOP. 

It has increasingly gotten harder for the officers to come to my home for Saturday breakfast. They are busy from the get-go and their territory is huge, and my own work schedule doesn't offer me the flexibility any more to host weekday dinners. As much as I miss them sitting at my table, we have found it easier if I take dinner to them, and more officers get to enjoy it that way too.  

To say it hasn't made me sad to not hear the chatter and laughter at my table and to see the officer's sweet faces as they walk through my front door would be an understatement. But nothing THIS wonderful lasts forever, right?  Or does it?

"When we lose one blessing, another is often most

unexpectedly given in its place.”  ~ C. S. Lewis

In June of this year, I became an official CMPD volunteer. I knew my own division couldn't use me since I work during the day and have a part-time job, but I figured something would come along (eventually) and it would be a perfect fit. I knew it had to be something special to fill my sadness from losing my breakfast bunch.  

In July, I made a midnight cream puff drop to Charlotte's unsung heroes -- the 911 call-takers and dispatchers. I met a supervisor that night whom I hadn't met before and I told her that I was a new volunteer without a project. She told me about the police gift shop which is located at the CMPD headquarters. She said the shop was always closed during 3rd shift. 

Enter blessing #2.....

The next day I emailed the officer who oversees the volunteers and I told her I was interested in volunteering in the gift shop for 3rd shift. I think she must have read my email and thought I was a little nuts, after all, 3rd shift IS in the middle of the night. 

So, after a brief interview with one of the Sergeants, I got the job! A volunteer job, that is. Of course, some training was involved, so I took a few vacation days and trained with Miss Judy, another volunteer. I love her! She was so kind and patient.

And here's the best part....the gift shop has allowed me to expand AHOP's hospitality to even more officers. 

Halloween treat table

I set up a little treat table in the break room outside the gift shop with hot coffee, cream puffs and whatever else I decide to make. Not only have my treats been well-received, it has made me realize how neglected 3^rd shift is. They are hard at work while most of the Queen City is asleep. When I refer to 3rd shift, it is not only the officers, but also the 911 call-takers and dispatchers. It makes me so happy to offer them a snack while they take a break. 

I guess you could say 'AHOP has her groove back!' It has been a long sad year, but my joy is back. The busyness, the planning....all of it! 

So the moral of the story is, if you're doing something you love and there's a bump in the road.....stop and regroup. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and figure it out!! We have to create our own happiness in this life.    

Will I ever see my officers at my table again? I hope so. The AHOP neon sign is still in the window and I miss lighting it up from time-to-time. 

But the truth is, I really don't know. But that's what makes life so grand. Something wonderful has been replaced by something wonderful, and I get to continue to do what I love....showing my friends in blue how much they are loved and appreciated -- one division and one officer at a time.     

♥

   

The Gift Shop is Open!!

Fall treat table

Christmas treat table - 12/7/13

Another Christmas treat table (12/14/13) -- see video below

The last Christmas treat table for 2013 - December 21, 2013

This last picture above, I cheated and had to stop by Krispy Creme donuts -- just too much to do.  But isn't it the cutest!!  

I took this quick video of one of my holiday treat tables so
you could see the blinking lights. Cute, huh?

For more information about the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Benevolent Fund Gift Shop, click here.

Charlotte's Finest Legacy

I had the pleasure of volunteering at the 4th Annual "Thin Blue Line 5K Walk/Run" last Saturday. It was my first volunteer event since my volunteer orientation in July. I had the pleasure also of meeting other volunteers who were there for the same reason I was. They were all so sweet and  genuine. I hope our paths will cross again soon. I worked the registration table for a short time and then helped pass out water to the runners at the halfway mark.

The event was sponsored by Charlotte's Finest Legacy Foundation -- a foundation established to honor and remember Officers Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton who were killed in the line of duty on April 1, 2007. The foundation is a scholarship foundation that rewards scholarships to deserving high school seniors who are seeking a career in law enforcement. When you support this foundation, you support future generations of police officers.

For more information on Charlotte's Finest Legacy Foundation, or to make a donation, please visit their website at: www.charlottesfinestlegacy.com

We will never forget.....time will not diminish our respect for these two officers....they gave the ultimate sacrifice.

End of Watch - April 1, 2007
Officer Sean Clark

Officers Sean Clark and Jeff Shelton were responding to what should have been a routine disturbance call for service at the Timber Ridge Apartments near Milton Road in east Charlotte the night of Saturday, March 31, 2007.  They were both shot in the head around 11:15 p.m. while struggling with a suspect in the apartment complex parking lot. They died at Carolinas Medical Center in the early morning hours of April 1, 2007, but not before officers picked up Demeatrius Montgomery, who later was charged with their murder. The suspect was later arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The suspect has five prior convictions for resisting arrest and assaulting a government official. On September 30, 2010, he was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Officer Clark, 34, was hired January 23, 2006 and graduated in the 148th Recruit Class. He was a 1991 graduate of West Mecklenburg High School and had served in the United States Air Force before joining CMPD. He was married, with a 3-1/2 year old son. He and his wife were awaiting the birth of their second son. Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/18829-police-officer-sean-clark#ixzz20cdd4CDY

End of Watch - April 1, 2007
Officer Jeff Shelton

Officers Jeff Shelton and Sean Clark were responding to what should have been

a routine disturbance call for service at the Timber Ridge Apartments near Milton Road in east Charlotte the night of Saturday, March 31, 2007.  They were both shot in the head around 11:15 p.m. while struggling with a suspect in the apartment complex parking lot. They died at Carolinas Medical Center in the early morning hours of April 1, 2007, but not before officers picked up Demeatrius Montgomery, who later was charged with their murder. The suspect was later arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The suspect has five prior convictions for resisting arrest and assaulting a government official. On September 30, 2010, he was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Officer Shelton, 35, was hired February 28, 2001 and graduated in the 136th Recruit Class. Officer Shelton had served with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for six years and was assigned to the North Tryon Division. He is survived by his wife. Read more: http://www.odmp.org/officer/18830-police-officer-jeff-shelton#ixzz20cZv4LV8

                                                                                 ♥

How to deseed a Pomegranate in 10 seconds....huh?

It was less than two weeks ago that I tasted my very first Pomegranate seed - ever - in my entire life! Although, I have to admit, I do enjoy a good Pomegranate Martini....does that count?  I didn't even know what a whole Pomegranate looked like until I saw this video. It looks kind of like an apple, if you asked me. Anyway, my sweet co-worker, Tammy, had a little container of Pomegranate seeds and she let me try one.

Since having only recently tried my first Pomegranate seed, I don't know that much about them, but one thing I have quickly learned is they are, apparently, a big pain in the butt to deseed....until now!

Thank you to my friend, Kat, for sharing this video with me. I immediately shared it with my friend, Tammy. She said she tried it and it works!

Any Pomegranate eaters out there....if you try this, would love your feedback.
   

♥

Peeling garlic....what my mom never taught me

I don't remember my mom ever cooking with garlic when I was growing up. Bless her heart, she didn't really enjoy cooking at all -- not like I do -- so I'm not sure where I inherited my love for it. And notice I said 'love for it'....not 'talent or skill'. I don't know what I'm doing half the time, but I can follow directions and use my own common sense and, most of the time, I'm happy to say, it turns out pretty good.

I love garlic and use it in almost every dinner I prepare for 2nd shift. It has a bunch of medicinal/health benefits too. But it can be quite time-consuming and messy to peel, and then you have smelly garlic hands for the rest of the day.

Here's a quick and easy way to get the job done!

And the 'culinary' teaching method - very easy also.  

If my mom were still here, I think she would be very proud of her little girl. I know she would be happy about AHOP and she would love all my little stories.

♥

Unsung heroes.....911 call-takers and dispatchers

Friday night, about 12:10 a.m., my little Honda was 17 (that means 'en-route' in Po-Po language) heading North to the CMPD headquarters downtown with a special midnight 'Operation Cream Puff' delivery for the Communications Department -- home of Charlotte's unsung heroes -- the 911 call-takers and dispatchers.  Word of my little cream puffs has gotten around this past year, and this is my third delivery to the Communications Department. 

Here you'll find the hard-working 'behind the scenes' men and women who work tirelessly around the clock 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to answer approximately 68,000 calls a MONTH! They are so many times the lifeline to not only the public, but to the officer as well. They make a positive difference to everyone who hears their voice. 

They handle both emergency and non-emergency calls and must quickly assess the situation and accurately process the call.

Emergencies include:*
  -  crimes that are in progress or about to happen  
  -  crimes that have resulted in serious personal injury, property damage, or property loss
  -  situations in which the suspect may still be at the scene 
  -  some suspicious activities

* For more information, click here.  

They are all so sweet to me when I come, but I didn't hang around long Friday night like I have in the past.  It was after midnight and the Queen City was hopping -- they had work to do!
 
The next time you need police, fire, or medic, remember.....your call starts with these hard-working professionals.  Please let them know how much you appreciate them!

This isn't a picture of my 911 call center, but it is very similar. Day and night, there are no bright lights. 

Maybe to create some calm in what can otherwise be a very stressful atmosphere.  

♥ 

Special Deliveries .... "Operation Cream Puff"

When I made my first cream puff delivery to the Steele Creek Division last October 2012, I started calling my visits "Operation Cream Puff". I thought an email with "Operation Cream Puff" in the subject line might not get lost in their email Inbox. My visits are monthly and a date on the calendar I always look forward to. 

I have received so many wonderful emails and thank you notes from the officers in several divisions (including my own) over my cream puffs and other AHOP things I do. I save them all and I read them often -- they just make me feel good when I'm having a less than perfect day (and there are many).

My cream puffs made the rounds last week while I was on vacation....or rather...."staycation." I wanted to visit other departments and agencies that aren't so easy for me to get to since I work a full and part-time job. Last week just seemed to be a good week to do that and I had a BLAST! In-between the massive cream puff production, I also managed to clean out my garage, make about 100 trips to Lowe's and Home Depot, and do a little yard work. Not the 'ideal' vacation to some, but (for me), it was the most perfect week. 

Special deliveries went to:

Engine 16/Ladder 16 -- just a hop, skip and a jump from my front door. I love hearing the big horn blow when they head to a new call. I don't like the fact that there is an emergency on the other end waiting for them, but the horn just tells me they are hard at work. "There goes Ladder 16....be safe!", is what I always say. Thank you firefighters at Engine 16/Ladder 16 for your service to ME and the citizens in my very own community! I hope you guys can come for breakfast or dinner sometime -- I would love it!

~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

Pineville Police Department -- I love Pineville, NC! It is such a quaint little community and just a little more than 5 miles from my home. A Saturday morning stroll through all the little antique shops is good for the soul. I am in Pineville often because it is so close to my home, so I always see the Pineville PD officers hard at work. They have a beautiful new police station, so I was happy to see the inside finally. Thank you for your service and for keeping the citizens of Pineville safe.

~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

Matthews Police Department -- Proud to say I have a few friends in the quaint little town of Matthews, NC. Super cute downtown area - original buildings - and I would venture to guess the oldest hardware store for miles and miles! Renfrow Hardware has been in business for over 113 years. Check it out sometime. I always see the Matthews PD officers hard at work and saw two officers while I was en route to their office. Thank you to the Matthews PD for keeping my friends and the community of Matthews safe.

~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

CMPD 911 Call Operators and Dispatchers -- What an absolute treat this was to meet a few dispatchers on the CMPD Communications floor at the CMPD Headquarters downtown. The voices  on the other end of the 911 calls and the voices I have heard on the police radios for the past 3+ years when the officers are at my table for a meal. I think I may have made a few new friends that day. :o) A big thank you to the Captain and Miss W. for their time and for sharing with me a little about what they do. I don't know how they all remain so calm under the pressure and call volume. They are all  true professionals at what they do! Thank you for the service you provide to the ENTIRE City of Charlotte.   
  

    

AND....as I mentioned in a previous post, I have been super busy making cream puff deliveries on my way to work to a few CMPD School Resource Officers. They miss out on all the food dropped off at the stations because they're at the schools Monday through Friday (I'm sorry I didn't think of this sooner.) For being a working girl with no children, it has been YEARS since I have seen the inside of a school, so this little project has been especially fun for me!
  

Carmel Middle School

Community House Middle School

James Robinson Middle School

Quail Hollow Middle School

South Charlotte Middle School

Thanks to all the SROs for what you do and for providing the students and teachers of Mecklenburg County a safe environment to learn and teach.

How my puffs looked in April 2013

How they look now - October 2014

♥  

A pep talk on the road to AWESOME!

We all need a 'kick in the britches' sometimes to put us on the road to awesome.  I guess you could say my kick in the pants came when my home was broken into -- twice -- in one year.  

Don't wait for something bad to happen to give back or to find your purpose and passion in life.  I love cooking for my special friends in blue.  I guess you could say they are my road to awesome!  

If you don't like your dream....find a better dream.   

Get out there and find YOUR road to awesome!   ♥

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The older I get, the more I realize all the 'little things' I haven't done -- especially when holidays roll around. For one, I have never been to a St. Patrick's Day party.  And I have never had green beer. Shocking, isn't it?  

Have fun today, whoever you are, and please....if you drink too much green beer today, designate a driver or take a taxi.  Don't wreck your life or the lives of others.  Drive Sober or GET PULLED OVER!

IRISH BLESSINGS

May you always have walls for the winds,

a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,

laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,

and all your heart might desire.

♥

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields and,

Until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

♥

May the sun shine, all day long,

everything go right, and nothing wrong.

May those you love bring love back to you,

and may all the wishes you wish come true!

♥

578 days later....

On August 14, 2011, I posted my very first blog post for AHOP. I new absolutely nothing about blogging, the Blogger program, or how to design it -- I just jumped in and started doing it. It was a Saturday, and I think I stayed in my PJs the entire day, so eager to get my arms wrapped around this project. Thanks to Heather, my friend, 'safety net', and an avid blogger in her own right, she was just a Facebook email away to answer any questions I had (and there were many.)

Until I had my own blog, I had no idea how big the blogging community was. It's huge, I tell you, huge!

578 days after my very first blog post (click here to read it), my visitor count reached 10,000....and that's thanks to you, my readers, my subscribers, my Facebook friends, my colleagues, and those of you who just happened to wander in by accident. 

More importantly, and it should go without saying, a big thank you to my special friends -- the men and women in blue who stop by AHOP for breakfast or dinner. For without them, there would be no blog....there would be no AHOP.   ♥

AHOP goes to the Academy...

The day -- Friday, March 8, 2013.  The place -- Charlotte Police and Fire Training Academy.  The event -- 2013 CMPD Promotion Ceremony.

What a special day for me - a civilian - and even more so for the officers being promoted and for their families.  It was an honor to be invited.

I arrived early to get a good seat, so I 'people watched' until the ceremony began.  I saw friends and family pour into the auditorium to stand by their loved ones as they walked up on-stage to receive their collar pin.

I have thought about this many times, but it really hit home today seeing all of the officers with their families.  These officers are someones husband, wife, brother, sister, mommy or daddy. They leave their homes every day never knowing what danger may lie ahead.  I don't know of any other profession in the US where there is a chance you may take a bullet from or for a total stranger....yet cops do it every day.

One other thing I do know for a fact....police officers have such a thankless job.  Wherever you live, if you see a police officer who is approachable, take a minute to let them know how much you appreciate them.  I can guarantee you they don't hear 'thank you' enough from the people who they have sworn to serve and protect.

2013 Promotions

7 Non-Sworn Promotions

11 Officers promoted to Sergeants

10 Sergeants promoted to Lieutenants

6 Lieutenants promoted to Captains

3 Captains promoted Majors

1 Major promoted to Deputy Chief

Congratulations to you all!  

A beautiful day in Charlotte - just look at that Carolina blue sky! 

♥

No worse for the wear....

I was clearing off my dining room table one Saturday morning after breakfast for 1st shift when I noticed, for the first time, how one of my dining room chairs looked a little scuffed up.

I stopped for a minute while my brain tried to figure it all out.  Then I looked at the second chair, and then the third.  All six chairs were the same.  

And then it hit me – the dings and scratches were from the handcuffs and guns and whatever else the officer’s shiny black belt is packing. 

Before I knew it, I was smiling.  I really do have the family I have always wanted.

Now when I look at my well loved chairs, I am reminded of my big-hearted officers -- the Captain, the Lieutenants, the Sergeants, and the 45-50 Officers who have sat at my table -- all of the officers with whom I have had the joy and privilege of cooking breakfast and dinner for these past three years….and it makes me so happy! ♥

      

Happiness at Thanksgiving.....

I am thankful this Thanksgiving to have enjoyed another year of cooking breakfast and dinner for some of the kindest and most big-hearted CMPD police officers you'd ever want to meet.  They all mean so much to me.  I received three text messages this morning from officers wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving.  Their messages instantly put a smile on my face, but it also reminded me of how many officers around the country would spend this beautiful day in their patrol car instead of at home with their family.  Many officers worked an extra long day for the Black Friday retailers who opened their doors early.    

I shared my Thanksgiving with my good friends in Midland, NC.  I am thankful for their love and friendship throughout the years.       

Wishing all of my readers, wherever you are, a bounty of blessings and a safe and peaceful holiday season.  ♥

Just for fun.....

Last weekend I took some QUIKRETE cement and finally filled the hole in the walkway leading to my front door. I couldn't resist personalizing it just a bit. For a girl, I thought I did a good job. Turned out cute, don't you think?  ♥