Spouse @ MindSay 
May 1, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) The May 7, 2008, program of Conversations with Cops at The Watering Hole features a conversation with Renee Anderson, the author of Police Wife: My Life Married to the Badge.
Program Date: May 7, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: A conversation with author Renee Anderson
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
About the Guest
Renee Anderson was raised on a farm in Missouri and moved to Los Angeles in 1994. She worked in the newspaper industry, but now owns her own business and works as a virtual assistant in the business administration and marketing sectors. Shortly after moving to Los Angeles, her dry cleaners arranged a “blind date” with her future husband, “Officer Jake.” She and Jake were married in 1996. Officer Jake has been a Los Angeles Police Officer for over 19 years.
According to Renee Anderson, after five years of marriage she found “there was not much out there for the law enforcement wife.” She realized there were only a handful of books, websites and social groups. While she was thinking about writing a book, a friend introduced her to blogging. After a little more than three years of blogging three times a week, she had a tremendous amount of content, as well as an impressive following. Renee Anderson’s blog led to the book – Police Wife: My Life Married to the Badge.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
909.599.7530
DREAM LOVER
I looked into scintillating eyes
I seemed to have missed the memo
That said beware of wolves and spies
Such as was this loathsome fellow
Handsome is as handsome does
Is what mama used to say
But that act was so handsome because—
My grin is on display
A wolf disguised, could do no harm
He came across as meek
And went right in with valiant charm
Kissed me on the cheek
Before I knew what had occurred
I turned to meet his mouth
And was lost in love’s embrace
Inhibitions going south
His mouth and hands worked miracles
On flesh so long neglected
Not like octopus tentacles
For I’d not a snare detected
He’d kissed and wooed and quieted me
With not only words but action
‘Twas certain he had captured me
And elicited reaction
I stretched and reached toward his arms
Woke in time to discover
That he who loved with ardent charms
Was my husband and my lover!
Bonniegirl April 8, 2008
Your partner and the doctor greet you as you enter the room. Unsure what is going on, you look to your partner for a clue. She is smiling and has a certain strange glow. The doctor introduces himself (or often, herself, though almost 65% of OB/GYNs are men), and your partner makes a similar introduction. Feel free to give the doc a nice hello and a handshake. You might as well get to be friendly with him or her. You are going to be relying upon him for the next nine months.
Most doctors have a special seat or spot that is their place. Your place is next to your wife or politely standing by the wall, not peering over the doctor's shoulder while he does the exam. Listen politely as the doctor goes through the standard introduction.
Often times the doctor or a technician will perform an ultrasound. While watching the image of your new baby, you will suddenly be sucked into fatherhood. Yikes! There is a heartbeat and little appendages wiggling on the black and white screen. Life insurance, 529 college saving plans and a minivan flash in front of your eyes and the dreams of ever driving a two-seater convertible go up in a puff of smoke - you need a four door car!
As for questions, let your partner go first and then it is your turn. Most doctors appreciate your involvement and interest. Here are a few questions you can and should ask, if they haven't already been addressed:
1. Are there any warning signs at all we should be aware of?
2. Are we on schedule for the planned pregnancy date?
3. Does the baby look to be the right size for this date?
4. When would we be able to tell if it's a boy or a girl?
5. Should we get an amnio (short for amniocentesis)?
6. What happens if your OB/GYN is away when your wife goes into labor?
Renee Anderson started writing online for the website “lapdwife.com” almost 4 years ago about her life married to an LAPD narcotics officer and is still going strong. What began as a quest to reach out to other wives of law enforcement, sharing stories of both humor and heartache, turned into a wonderful discovery. No matter the location or department, we all go through the same ups and downs that life with an officer can bring. And it's nice to know that we're not alone. This book takes you through Renee's life with Officer Jake and shares personal stories of her fun, often frustrating and yet always fantastic life married to the badge.
Renee Anderson has received many accolades from national and international police and their wives for both her web site and this book. Competition in this category is scarce – this is a niche market that has not been addressed well so far by the publishing community. There are thousands of law enforcement officers in this nation – and hundreds of books written about the life of a cop. But there are less than a handful of books that directly address the life of an officer’s spouse – let alone written by an officer’s wife.
Renee Anderson’s husband, “Officer Jake,” has been an LAPD officer for 19 years. They have been married for almost 12 years and have been through many dramatic and noteworthy incidents during his career that officers and their families can identify with. Renee has a journalism background and utilizes her writing expertise to successfully share their experiences and knowledge of the ups and downs life with a law enforcement officer can bring.
Feedback from officers and their wives:
"’POLICE WIFE’ is a must read for anyone who is married to a cop, related to one or just considering being in a relationship with one in today’s world of Law Enforcement. By sharing her touching and heart felt experiences and anecdotes of being married to Officer Jake of the LAPD, Renee speaks to the reality, sometime difficulties and awesome rewards of knowing and loving a Cop… I’m going to buy one for my Mom!" -- Terry, Deputy, Los Angeles County Sheriff Department
"I could easily visualize every scene and found myself rapidly involved with the characters. It left me wanting to read more, which is always a fantastic thing. This is an excellently written book and a captivating read." -- Alice Sturdy, Director, LAPD Wives Association
"I LOVED IT! So many of those stories are exactly spot on! Everything from dating an officer, to re-arranging holidays, to the dreaded phone calls of accidents, I experienced every one of those! It was great, and SO funny! (Even my husband laughed through it!)." – Diane, wife of a Signal Hill police officer
MORE INFORMATION ON POLICE WIFE
By Heather Graham
Special to American Forces Press Service
Nov. 28, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates met with soldiers and family members here yesterday to present Purple Heart medals and get a first-hand look at issues and concerns he usually sees only on paper. Gates began his morning by joining soldiers for breakfast at the Eagle's Nest, a 4th Infantry Division dining facility. Over scrambled eggs, bacon and grits, Gates discussed Army issues with the soldiers.
After breakfast, the secretary met with 30 Army spouses representing the 4th Infantry Division, 1st Cavalry Division, 13th Sustainment Command and 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment to hear their issues and concerns. The spouses were selected for the meeting based on their active roles in their units' family readiness groups, Col. Diane Battaglia, 3rd Corps public affairs officer, said.
The meeting was Gates' first with spouses, he said. "I look forward to hearing from you," he told the group before his closed-door meeting. "The nation owes each of you a great debt of gratitude."
Spouses were able to ask questions of the defense secretary during the meeting.
On most of their minds was the deployment length and cycle. "The first majority concern was how long the 15-month deployments would last," said Sheree Weller, the wife of Capt. Shane Weller, a pilot with 1st Aviation Combat Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. "He gave us a good time frame."
The spouses at the meeting said they felt the defense secretary adequately addressed and answered their concerns and questions.
"I had four questions," Mariah Murdoch, wife of Maj. Timothy Murdoch, rear-echelon commander of 1st Cavalry Division's Special Troops Battalion. "Every question was answered before I could ask." Gates addressed other concerns she had not even considered, she added.
"He talked about incentives for family members other than spouses," she said. One incentive would be the possibility of soldiers being able to pass Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits on to their children. The secretary emphasized that can't happen overnight, she noted. "He made it abundantly clear there is a lot of bureaucracy involved," she said.
Both women agreed Gates was prepared to answer their questions and concerns.
"Every question posed, he had already considered," Weller said. "I felt he was listening."
Weller again met with Gates, albeit briefly, during the 1st Cavalry Division Purple Heart and volunteer recognition ceremony following the spouses' meeting. She was honored for her volunteer efforts for the First Team.
At the ceremony, Gates presented 12 Purple Hearts to division soldiers and certificates to the volunteers.
Gates wrapped up his two-day trip to the area following the ceremony. He had been a guest of the Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce at a Nov. 26 dinner reception. In his speech, he addressed the progress being made in the global war on terrorism and the need for the passage of a supplemental war spending bill.
In a question-and-answer session following his speech, Gates addressed the troop surge and improved security in Iraq.
(Heather Graham is news editor for the Fort Hood Sentinel.)
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