I decided to go out on patrol tonight, I was gonna be out for a few hours. a few blocks from my house, about 20 minutes in, I realized I was really hungry and stopped at the ATM to get some food at a gas station across the street from there. that's when I realized I forgot my wallet.

I remembered my utility belt, goggles and phone... but not my wallet. even if I didn't need the money,I at least needed my ID in case anything happened. which, according to spotcrime.com's map for the last week, would be jack diddley.

so I went back home, but on the way there I became extremely tired, and yawning to the point where I actually had to stop for a second and compose myself. now I don't know about the rest of you, but I get really frustrated when I get that tired, especially since I was just fin e minutes beforehand. but its like someone flipped a bloody switch on inside me.

I realize I wouldn't be very useful under these conditions, so I've decided to postpone my patrol until another time. this just really frustrates me I can't go out more often. its hard enough finding time between work, school and family, but the time I do have I am generally lethargic and can't do much else.

but I can sure as hell sit on these forums for hours at a time. i just feel utterly useless right now.

If it helps, I had a patrol fail of my own tonight as well. I wanted to diversify my patrolling, so I headed to Oxnard park, a small forest-like area near the edge of town. I quickly noticed a few things:

1. I'm miles away from any streetlights. It's really dark.
   
2. I could have sworn my flashlight was brighter than this.
   
3. the map of major trails I printed off is a lot less helpful if I have no idea where on the map I am.
   
4. it's really, really dark.

A few times i heard voices in the distance and went to investigate, but because of my lack of navigational ability I was pretty much chasing shadows.
Total bust :/

In my mind, it would only be a problem if you were CONTENT with sitting on the forums all day.

As long as you keep it all in perspective and remember that streets > internet, you're just fine mate.

Do what you can. It sounds like your doing your best!

Hey Urban Avenger:

Here's a thought. Maybe you need a checklist that you go follow before you head out on patrol. It doesn't have to be a great hideous 2 page list, but just something you refer to as you're getting suited up.

And don't beat yourself up about a failed patrol. You didn't hurt anyone, no one hurt you, and there's clearly something here that you can learn from. In my book, that's a win.

And it's good that you shared it with people. Bad patrols happen to the best of us. Talking about it takes guts.


BOOSTERMAN

Yeah, you forget your wallet you're boned. Especially for me, my Weapons permit is in there.

as for you are you sure you aren't hypoglycimic? I mean getting that wiped out because your hungry is a bad sign. I'd get checked out.

Supes, I dunno if the two are related. sadly I have no health insurance to go get it checked out without costing an arm and a leg. where are you NOW obamacare???

but to make things worse, I got a text alert about an assault that occurred in the very area I was headed too, of course it happened 2 hours before I even started my patrol, but that's not the point.

things happen to everyone. it's a part of life and growing.
I have a list on my whiteboard that reminds me to take things like ID, money, phone, underwear, etc....

eat something before going out and keep hydrated.

if your too tired then it's smarter to just post pone the patrol. trying to balence what we do with our real lives isnt always easy. I find myself wanting to go out and I'm just tooo wiped from work to do any good. poop!

the fact that you tried, and want to and dont want to spend all your time here on the net says lots about you. it takes time but I know after meeting you that you will get it together and get out there and make a difference.

It happens. We maybe Super Heroes, but we're not superhuman.

Shrug it off, do better next time.

Might want to add an energy bar or something to your kit as well as eating before you go out. It might come in handy, not just for you, but for someone else that needs food maybe.

everything we do is a learning experience while doing this. you learned something. you made it back alive. (not kidding) no one got hurt. chalk up a minor success.



collect four minors and trade up to a major

collect four majors and win a gold start. and we KNOW aobut gold stars around here.

You seem like you're developing into a better RLSH quite rapidly. Don't sweat the small stuff.

I agree with SH, see if you can get in on a free hypoglycemia/diabetes screening, sometimes the free clinics run them. After that, it's cool, we all have off days, Sh!t happens, murphy's law, etc.

i have a super high metabolism and i know how that goes, that is why i carry my homemade beef jerky with me.also fret not cool friend master legend seems to forget one thing almost everytime.