The Greatest Night of My Life
Tonight was one of the most memorable nights ever. What, you may ask, was so special about tonight? At first, nothing. It was a normal Monday. I went to class (Steph Thronson was here Sunday night, but she left this morning before I got a chance to see her). I went to my WISE program (good times). I came back and went to class again. I did some stuff then went to work. It was after work, at my training that things got interesting. You see, I worked until 6PM and we had training at 6:30PM. When I got off of work, I came up to my room and checked out a few things concerning my schedule. We get paid for the trainings, so I went down to sign in for work. I then stopped by the office to see where we were going to meet. As I was sitting there, Craig and my boss, Josh, came out of Josh's office. I think they had been talking about what we'd do at training. There were a few people that were going to training waiting in the office, so we asked Josh where it was. It ended up being in the same place it always is.
While we were discussing, Craig had gone in to the closet where we keep all of our stuff for security. He came out with three cans of Mace (it's actually pepper spray). My first thought was, "Oh, they must need filling." Once he put them in the box with our manuals though, I knew that tonight was the dreaded "mace in the face" training. I was freaked out. I said that there was no way I was getting maced and that I was going to sign out and not go to training at all. They assured me that we were having a normal training and that I didn't have to get maced if I didn't want to.
Well, training was normal. We talked about procedures and scenarios (with some sparring and cuffing thrown in) until about 9:30PM. Then it was time for me to choose. I had thought it over and decided that if I had a choice between my first macing experience being either at a training surrounded by people who know exactly what they're doing and who are going to get me in to a shower as soon as it's over or on the street while some situation is happening, I'd choose the training. I signed the consent form, Craig called Ruth and she came, and we headed outside for my macing. I was the only person that was going to get maced so everyone was watching. They took pictures. I was so nervous. I was so convinced that I was going to wet myself that I made sure to go to the bathroom before I went outside.
Josh was the one that was going to mace me, which was encouraging because he is my boss, and I know he knows what he's doing. I stood about 3 feet away from him. As I was getting ready, other officers were giving me pointers (keep your eyes open, but look up; don't open your mouth; breath through your nose; good luck; ect.). Josh started to count, "One...two...three." I could see the line of liquid heat coming towards my eyes. I felt it. At first it felt like water (it was, after all, a liquid). Then, a few seconds later, it started to burn. It felt like I had just rubbed my hands all over a really hot pepper and then rubbed my eyeballs. They led me in to the shower (we were right outside the locker rooms). To get the oil off, you have to put soap on it. I spent twenty minutes in the shower trying my hardest to keep my eyes open long enought to put soap on them and then rinse them under the shower. Everyone was so helpful. They were supporting me and giving my tips. When my eyes didn't hurt anymore, they had me get out (the water wasn't very warm and I was shivering a lot). My eyes had become so dry though, I really had trouble opening them. Ruth was right there with a towel, and Sara (another security officer) and she helped me back to my room. I got some funny looks because like my whole face was swollen (or at least it sort of felt that way). I had to get out of the wet clothes and then put them aside to be laundered sperately.
By the time I was in dry clothes, I could at least keep my eyes open. They told me that once I changed I could go back to the security office and help them do fire checks. I got to go pull a fire alarm. It was cool. I was so excited that I survived that Ruth, Craig, and I all went to a nearby gas station to celebrate with ice cream. It was just a fun night...okay, so it was an interesting night (I'm sure that "fun" is the correct word for describing being maced). Either way, it was a night I'll never forget. Here's to a great job that sprays mace (technically pepper spray) in your eyes and pays you for it, and to the dedicated roommates that stand by and watch. *Thanks. And now, picutres:
Me after I've been maced, showered, and changed in to dry clothes. My face felt a lot better.
Me reenacting the pain, and Ruth feeling sorry for me (she's so sweet!).
Well, that's about it. Until next time!
-chelsea
*I didn't mean that in a sarcastic manner. I really do love the people I work with. They did so much for me tonight. The same goes for Ruth (and she wasn't even getting paid for it!). They are amazing for sitting around while I ran my face under the shower for 20 min. They're great!
While we were discussing, Craig had gone in to the closet where we keep all of our stuff for security. He came out with three cans of Mace (it's actually pepper spray). My first thought was, "Oh, they must need filling." Once he put them in the box with our manuals though, I knew that tonight was the dreaded "mace in the face" training. I was freaked out. I said that there was no way I was getting maced and that I was going to sign out and not go to training at all. They assured me that we were having a normal training and that I didn't have to get maced if I didn't want to.
Well, training was normal. We talked about procedures and scenarios (with some sparring and cuffing thrown in) until about 9:30PM. Then it was time for me to choose. I had thought it over and decided that if I had a choice between my first macing experience being either at a training surrounded by people who know exactly what they're doing and who are going to get me in to a shower as soon as it's over or on the street while some situation is happening, I'd choose the training. I signed the consent form, Craig called Ruth and she came, and we headed outside for my macing. I was the only person that was going to get maced so everyone was watching. They took pictures. I was so nervous. I was so convinced that I was going to wet myself that I made sure to go to the bathroom before I went outside.
Josh was the one that was going to mace me, which was encouraging because he is my boss, and I know he knows what he's doing. I stood about 3 feet away from him. As I was getting ready, other officers were giving me pointers (keep your eyes open, but look up; don't open your mouth; breath through your nose; good luck; ect.). Josh started to count, "One...two...three." I could see the line of liquid heat coming towards my eyes. I felt it. At first it felt like water (it was, after all, a liquid). Then, a few seconds later, it started to burn. It felt like I had just rubbed my hands all over a really hot pepper and then rubbed my eyeballs. They led me in to the shower (we were right outside the locker rooms). To get the oil off, you have to put soap on it. I spent twenty minutes in the shower trying my hardest to keep my eyes open long enought to put soap on them and then rinse them under the shower. Everyone was so helpful. They were supporting me and giving my tips. When my eyes didn't hurt anymore, they had me get out (the water wasn't very warm and I was shivering a lot). My eyes had become so dry though, I really had trouble opening them. Ruth was right there with a towel, and Sara (another security officer) and she helped me back to my room. I got some funny looks because like my whole face was swollen (or at least it sort of felt that way). I had to get out of the wet clothes and then put them aside to be laundered sperately.
By the time I was in dry clothes, I could at least keep my eyes open. They told me that once I changed I could go back to the security office and help them do fire checks. I got to go pull a fire alarm. It was cool. I was so excited that I survived that Ruth, Craig, and I all went to a nearby gas station to celebrate with ice cream. It was just a fun night...okay, so it was an interesting night (I'm sure that "fun" is the correct word for describing being maced). Either way, it was a night I'll never forget. Here's to a great job that sprays mace (technically pepper spray) in your eyes and pays you for it, and to the dedicated roommates that stand by and watch. *Thanks. And now, picutres:
Me after I've been maced, showered, and changed in to dry clothes. My face felt a lot better.
Me reenacting the pain, and Ruth feeling sorry for me (she's so sweet!).
Well, that's about it. Until next time!
-chelsea
*I didn't mean that in a sarcastic manner. I really do love the people I work with. They did so much for me tonight. The same goes for Ruth (and she wasn't even getting paid for it!). They are amazing for sitting around while I ran my face under the shower for 20 min. They're great!
posted by Chels @ 7:56 PM
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