What an odd combination of topics, eh? Well, today was a very busy day at The Voice.

First, I learned (very early this morning) that I had tickets to giveaway for the Junior Achievement Ice Cream "Sunday" social this weekend -- so I had to quickly post the contest on both sites (in my jammies, no less) so that y'all would have enough time to get your email and enter.  I'm sorry to anyone who didn't get the word in time!  I posted the contest as soon as I could.  We had two winners from the Northwest-- "mandidarrin" and "chrismcconne" who each won a 4-pack of tickets for Sunday (a sundae on Sunday).  We had one winner on the other site.

Next, I attended a luncheon hosted by the BPD activities league (PAL), along with others from every other media outlet in town. Here's what I learned and the point I want to get across to our neighbors: At any given time, there has been and can be 75 emergency calls holding at the Bakersfield Police Department. So, when you call about a break-in or a stolen car, or a suspicious person in the neighborhood, and it seems as if you've been on hold for an hour (or it IS an hour), THAT is why!  There are only roughly 250 cops to patrol our city of nearly 350,000, and those 250 police officers are spread out into 5 shifts (allowing for vacations, illnesses, etc., too).  They are getting to our calls as SOON as they can, but each call can require a squad car, and if every squad car goes and takes care of something, then those calls holding have to keep holding until an officer is available.  How awful, huh??? 

Just makes me appreciate the job they are doing all the more.  Thank you, BPD.

larger view

Rusty had his book signing at Barnes & Noble this weekend from 12-4.  It was lucky I got there at 1:00, though, because Rusty sold OUT of his book by 2 p.m.!!

Congratulations to Rusty, who is now #1 on the Barnes and Noble Best Seller list!! 

You can still order your book at B&N and they will call you when it comes in.

A very successful first run for Shoopster -- AND a good read!!

Have you ever been in a work situation or just somewhere you'd never think you'd see someone you knew, and then POW!...out of nowhere, you run into someone from your past.  It happened to me today.  Within a split second, I was transported in time more than 20 years, everything else disappeared, and it was like I was 18 again.  WEIRD... because in that moment, I was 18, living back at home with my parents, no children, and seeing this man as a boy again.  It wasn't deja vu, it was more like stepping quickly in and out of a time machine.  It lasted about a minute. 

It was cool, but not something you can recreate or even order up.

Occasionally life just offers us really cool moments like this.

Wow!  I love this!  Check out when you can catch them on TV:  Bakersfield family on Family Feud!