It's gonna be a long couple of weeks...

Let me just say it straight out: the next couple of weeks will see several
cadets failing the academy. We have started scenarios and EVOC (driving) and those are the two classes that see off the most people. I've already failed my first (of four) skid pan attempts. I have my second attempt on monday. Some people may have failed out from physical methods of arrest yesterday. I hate to think about it but it's reality: people will fail. I hope I am not one of those.

I've take an "expect nothing" approach to the academy lately. Do I want to graduate and succeed? Of course! But I know that I am trying my absolute best and if I were to fail (lets hope not) then I know I tried. The academy life grows difficult, even more so than before. Sooooo much is going on lately and so much more is to come.

On a happier note, I finally got off the fat table :) I went from wearing size 33 jeans to size 31, though I still buy 32...just in case :) Hopefully this time next week, the next blog will be about what happened during the week.  All blog posts from this point forward are tentative.....Feel free to drop any comments!

P.S. I LOVE the shot gun. I'm getting better at the rifle and better at the pistol.

inching closer...

Well this week was crazy. Monday, for PT we had a PT staff officer who can run. I mean, he was running 5:30 pace, and NO ONE could keep up with him save for one. When we finished our 2 mile, run, he made us do it again! Then we still had to do the floor workout, and at this point everyone was just dead. As y'all saw on my facebook earlier in the week, I was broken, absolutely BROKEN. I had nothing left in the tank on Monday. NOTHING.

Tuesday was no better. We got chewed out something fierce. Wednesday was better, but still challenging. The rest of the week dragged on. At this point in the academy, we have started to learn the meat and potatoes of the the CHP. Stuff is more hands on now and driving has really kicked up. 2 of my quadmates are in danger of failing of out of the academy (3rd of 4th attempts already). That adds stress to me that I really shouldn't allow. I should worry about driving when its my turn. I am however worried abotu my quadmates...good people.

Our next physical fitness test is on Monday and I think I'll be good to go. I just get a higher score than last time which I think I will. I think I MAY start phase two of driving this week but we'll see. We started shooting on the AR-15 (rifle) this week....I don't really like it. I like the shotgun much better.

Oh, vehicle code for all those people who throw their cigarette butts out the window: 23111 VC. Should I graduate from here...I'm going to cite that all day.

Week 11

Sorry about the no go last week. It was a tough week. This week I finally had restriction; it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I figure 11 weeks before I finally had restriction ain't bad.

In the last two weeks, I got my gun, I started range and actually fired my gun, then was introduced to the shot gun and rifle. Cool stuff but I definitely prefer the shotty. Love that thing. I just love the way it sounds.

Our company got in trouble again (big surprise) and we paid for it dearly today. I don't think I'll be able to feel my legs in the morning. Also, I almost drowned in the pool. Lets just say, I can swim laps ok......I just can't tread water. It was not a pretty site.

This week has been particularly hard on our seniors. We lost 10+!!! When we see all their stuff out in the hallway, its hard not to be demoralized. They had reached week 22...terrible.

The stress level around here just keeps on picking up. There is sooo much we still have to learn and I've no idea how I'm going to pull it off. I've definitely been pushed to my limits...and then some...

Lets see....no cool vehicle codes this time around...I started accident investigation class and that is super interesting as is DUI class. I have a whole new view on DUI drivers.

As always, feel free to ask me any questions. To all who have continued their contact with me, thank you. Your contact keeps me sane. Goodnight everyone.

Whew....

Sorry everyone. It's been a crazy two weeks. Last week, I had a test which I'm pretty positive I failed. I have yet to receive the results. This week, we had two more tests that I'm afraid of. Haha, its not been a good two weeks academically.Cool stuff that has happened, I had my first drving test which was waaaay fun. WAAAY fun and I passed. Second, I got my gun. Nothing really special but finally have it.

Last weekend my friends came to visit me. It was great seeing people from San Diego; I'm one of the few people at the academy who has yet to go home or see family. People say I'm crazy....I'd like to think I'm focused :) This weekend my parents and brother came to visit me and its awesome. They said I've lost lots of weight but I don't know...I don't really see it.

The workouts have been getting more difficult. My hamstring is still holding up and doing well. I ran a 6:30 mile today...I was quite impressed with myself. I think I may have finally lost a Wednesday....I forgot to take out my headphones out of both ears when driving even though I was only on the phone. I'm so used to using both head phones when talking to my family that I didn't even think about it. Vehicle Code section 27400. I don't have any cool VCs this week, sorry y'all.

I really don't have much to say this week. Tomorrow my family and I are going to do the tourist thing around San Francisco. Should be good times. I have much hw to do tomorrow night and Sunday as well. And then, week 10 begins. Wish me luck!

What a week

5 days...5 tests. It was that kind of week. Of course, what week would be complete without Company C getting in trouble from the PT staff. Yep, Wednesday and Friday....BRUTAL.

We started accident investigation. Its really interesting but will be challenging. We're going to be taking 98 hours of it! Night classes are also tiring...everyone is struggling to keep their eyes open by then. But so far so good.

I never mentioned that swimming wasn't too horrible. It was challenging, but not as bad as I thought. Dive in, swim across, do 10 pushups, repeat 5 times. Then jump off a 10 ft platform. It was interesting.

We finally got our shiny new name tags; mine says "R.J. Rojo." People have been calling me RJ now.....its different but I like it. I have friends coming up next weekend and then my parents are coming up the weekend of the 16th. I'm really excited! I probably already mentioned that but I'm tired and my mind doesn't work like it used to :( haha, Friday's workout is still wearing off.

I don't have any new cool vehicle codes to share with y'all this week....do I? Did I mention the white cane vehicle code? According to 21964 VC, "no person, other than the totally blind, shall carry/use a predominantly white cane on any highway, public building, public facility or other public place." THATS right! I can cite you for carrying an all white cane. And with that, I leave you all. Have a good week everyone.

6 Weeks

Lets see.....
440 - Wake up
545 - Work out
656 - Chow
730 - Drill/Marching
800 - Class
1151 - Chow
1230 - Drill/Marching
1300 - Class
1652 -Chow
1730 - Drill/Marching
1800 - Homework/shower/etc
2230 - Sleep

Yep, thats my weekly schedule. How is everyone doing this week? Still haven't failed a test (though I still haven't received results from last Thursday's test.....which I'm really worried about). We had our vehicle code test yesterday which was ok. I missed more than I would have liked, but oh well. I'm actually realllllllly liking that class. I can't wait to start citing people for that stuff. Good times.

This week went by quickly. There is so much info to cram into our heads. Week 7 will take longer: we officially start night classes this week.....3 of them. Yikes. PT is going about the same and on Tuesday we have to take our baton certification test.....nerve racking stuff.

I stayed at the Academy last night in order to do as much hw as I could. Today I'm going to take it easy and just relax. OH, since we are forced to eat healthy now (yep, still on fat table), I notice that when I eat "gross" (i.e. anything not exactly "healthy") I get a horrible stomach ache. Its bad! I don't like this. How am I going to go home and have carne asada, tacos, etc and not get sick. No bueno.

Not sure if I mentioned this before, but I am going home for Thanksgiving and Xmas, but we do NOT get new year's eve/day off. And since lights out is at 11pm, we can't even say "Happy New Year's" to each other. Happy times! I suppose I should get used to it if I do make it as a CHP because we rarely have holidays off.

Anyway, I have nothing new to update y'all on. Oh wait, I have friends coming to visit in 2 weeks and my parents in 3 weeks so that will be great! Ok, time to go. Have a good week everyone.

P.S. To all those who have written to me, emailed me, sent me texts etc.....thank you. You have no idea how much that helps. Truly, I thank you.

Week 5

The classes are starting to ratchet up. Starting this next week, we will have night classes and often. There is so much information to retain here; it's overwhelming. We average 3 tests a week. I'm keeping up well in the PT sessions now, but on Monday....we swim! OH NO!!! If I drown, please remember me as a nice guy.

Our company is still HATED by the Staff Office and the PT Staff but oh well. We get special attention every day that we have PT. We are up to running 3 miles now and have to chant. Im waking up at 4:40 or so every day...once we become seniors (i.e. when we become the senior class) we'll be waking up even earlier. Good times!

There is not much more to tell. I'm still on the fat table....um....oh we did a suicide prevention walk today (hence the late blog). I actually spent the night at the academy on Friday and it wasn't too bad. I got a lot done. I'm thinking I may do this from now on.

Ok, this blog will be short because I'm pretty tired. I need a nap. Lets see...do I have any new vehicle codes that I can share....oh, did y'all know that if 4 different cars all stop at a 4 way stop sign at the same time, by definition no one can move? And the first that does move can be cited? Crazy huh? There are others that are more interesting but I can't share those.  Have a good one everyone.

One month later

It's been a month....geez. Really? I don't want to bore y'all with the same old story, but we are very much routine now. Wake up at 4:45, work out (MWF), chow, drill, class, class, chow, drill, class, class, chow, then drill one more time. After, its off to the room to study until lights out (2300) and repeat.

I've taken 7 tests, and passed 6 (still awaiting results on that 7th one). I'm deathly afraid of the EVOC (driving) tests, but oh well. I'm strongly considering going to a weekend high performance driving school. My weekends still consist of doing nothing but relaxing on Friday nights, then studying on Sat and Sun. I never realized how much I enjoyed/missed driving until I came here (since, you know, I don't drive until the weekends come).

On weekends I totally don't watch what I eat and I still lose weight during the week. We had another brutal PT session today (apparently, one of the senior companies made a stupid comment to the PT staff and when you do that, they take it out on everyone.....no bueno). Today I very nearly threw up.

I'm finally getting the hang of vehicle codes and am starting to apply them. I still have lots to go, but at least i'm not as lost as I was last week. Anyway, I'm off to sleep and actually sleep in tomorrow morning. Thanks for reading. No picture this week, sorry.

Week 3

What a week. PT on Tuesday and Thursday was brutal. We were waking up at 3:45 am. It was horrible and PT itself was crazy. They really punished us this week. I still have 24 weeks to go! Crazy!!! I literally have time for nothing. I wake at 4:30 usually (except for those PT days) and sleep at 11pm (mandatory). On weekends, I leave the academy and just get a hotel. There is no way I'd stay at the academy.

Once Saturday hits, I rest, catch up on sleep and do homework all day. The academy thus far is like boot camp and grad school in one. I never use my phone during the week and even on weekends I don't as much as I probably should. Sorry everyone. Please feel free to call me; I just get so paranoid about not using my time wisely and just immerse myself in hw. On the bright side, I've lost weight while at the academy. I don't remember if I said this last week but I'm on the "fat table." Yep! I'm too fat!

I'm 1 more blue card from losing Wednesday liberty...never fun. We have still so much to cover. This week I learned a lot about vehicle code and what is and isn't legal (did y'all know that you can always make a u-turn over double yellow lines?) It's intense stuff. Anyway, I've said enough. Please feel free to contact me. Thanks for reading.

P.S. This pic was taken last weekend.

Week 2

This week went by better. Had our first 3 tests and I received the results for 1: I passed. I still have not been picked on thankfully but I know it's coming. A lot of memorization this week and I was tested on the spot by 2 different officers: I passed both tests. The PT (physical training) picked up, but so far so good.

However, today someone in my company made a joke about the PT staff. Our Instructor did not appreciate it and went and told the PT Staff. The result: 4 hours of PT on Tuesday. Lets just say, they work us so hard during normal PT (about 1 hour) I can not even imagine how incredibly shattered I will be on Tuesday. I'm scared....

I have a lot of studying to do this weekend but its thankfully nothing like last weekend. Tonight I'm going to relax. Call me if you would like! You have until Sunday night to do so.

Week 1

Well.....I'm alive. The first week was....BRUTAL. There's no other way to put it. I didn't expect this at all. But don't worry anyone, I'm not going to quit. The only way I'm leaving this place is if they kick me out.

The days here are so packed with information. I have so much to do all the time. I wake at 0430 and don't come back to my room till around 2100 (9pm everyone). I think this is only because it's the first week, but week 2 and on I should be doing nothing but studying from 5pm and on. There is so much to memorize, now I know what 1Ls were referring to when they told me that they had no life and no weekends. I honestly have no time for anything. Everything has to be perfect: your uniform, your brass, your shoes, your knowledge of radio codes...EVERYTHING. If something is off, you risk being "written up" and losing your Wednesday liberty.

I do completely understand why this place isolates you so much; if we had laptops or tv as distractions there is no way we'd get anything done. I'm glad we don't. On weekends, everyone flees the academy like roaches! I'm actually staying at a hotel (thank you hotwire.com!) and am glad I am doing it. I don't think I'd survive if I stayed there. A couple of fellow cadets and I are probably going to do this every weekend and just share a room to save some money (with individual beds....come on now, I'm grown man!)

To make a long story short, week 1 was crazy and so was the first physical workout (I didn't last :( And here I thought i was in decent shape..). It was definitely a culture shock. In any case, thanks for reading and I'll talk to y'all soon. Thanks for all the comments, emails, and facebooking.

A-Day -1

That's right, academy day -1. We had orientation today and it was interesting to say the least. The next 6 months are going to be brutal. The senior cadets pretty much told us that no matter what we do, it will be wrong and the instructors will chew us out. The academy very much puts you in isolation; there is nothing really there but classrooms, gyms, a track, and a driving track.

I'm currently sitting in my hotel room and I'm getting that first taste of isolation. For now, I kind of like it. I'm sure that will change sooner rather than later. I will try to post up when I can, but I highly doubt I'll be able to for at least a week. Until next time...

Mega Update

Jesus it's been too long. I'll try to fill you in on everything.

Since September 08, I applied to the CHP last July and finally got accepted this past...June. haha. I may be going to the Academy August 17 if my medical clearance is reinstated. And that's it, that's pretty much all that's been going on since. I still go to the gym, I still go to classes, and I still work at TJSL. Oh I got a update car (Acura TSX '04). Right now I'm studying so this update kinda sucks. Sorry y'all.