Routine

JP over at the Empty mags Podcast talks about routines, and a day when he completely forgot to bring his gun along with him.

For me I’d forget ANYTHING when leaving in the morning. So I like to set “Checkpoints” on my day-to-day. Like before I close the door to the house I check to make sure I have my keys, my wallet, my phone, my knife and my gun with me. If I’m on the way to the office I need to make sure I have my lunch, my tea, and my keycard for the office. Of course after I shut the door I always attempt to open it just to make sure it latched and is locked.

When I get out of my car I always jingle my keys. Used to lock my keys in my truck a LOT more before I started doing that. And again double-check the lock to be sure.

And of course before I holster my gun I always check the chamber(s) and any reloads for ammo.

Routines can help you out when you’re half-asleep, or have your mind on more pressing details.

Of course always be safe!

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0 Responses to Routine

  1. LC Scotty says:

    I always knock 3 times on the door to the Mini-Vault when closing it because I had discovered that I walked away without closing it once.

  2. JP says:

    For me, that morning was just a complete failure on my part all the way around.

    I think I did a poor job of trying to fully explain the situation and voice what was going on in my head. I actually recorded that bit 3 times and still was not completely happy with it, but with the T-Storm bearing down it was time to either get er done or postpone the episode, so being mostly happy with it, I opted to put it up.

    Here is what happened in better detail: I ALWAYS am checking my pockets for what should be there, constantly through out the day. Twice in the morning before I leave, etc., etc.
    That Monday morning. I didn’t. I couldn’t tell you why, but it just didn’t happen. My normal checks didn’t happen in the morning. By the time I got into work, I am now used to my firearm not being with me. My routine checks for my gear in my pockets doesn’t include a firearm check at this point, so it still went un-noticed.

    My big problem, when I do something EVERY DAY at the SAME TIME, I eventually get lazy about it. Then I can forget it, and completely and truly think I did whatever the task is. You can bet I wont be making this mistake again though. I’m not sure why I am beating myself up over it so much, but at least it’ll help me be more aware in the mornings.

    Thanks for the link

    JP

  3. Teke says:

    I managed to leave my keys in my car on Monday. I always park at the the Bus station, grab my stuff get out and lock the door with the keys. This time I sat them down to grab something off the floor. I got out and locked them in the car. It wasn’t till 2 hours later that I realized that pocket was light. I backtracked ever step as far as I could. I called the bus company but it would be 24 hours. 6 hours later I made it back to my car to see them stuck between the console and the drivers seat. I went through a rough spot a few years ago where I forgot my computer bag with my laptop in it inside the house and drove to work without it. Realizing what happened when I went to get out of the car. Another 45 minute round trip so I can work.
    I now give myself pat downs on the way out the door. Sometimes the pat down get a little personal and I have to tell myself off like I was some TSA agent.

  4. alcade says:

    “Used to lock my keys in my truck a LOT more before I started doing that.”

    Shouldn’t that Ford have a keypad entry??

    • Weerd Beard says:

      Not a bare-bones I-4 Ranger! That truck didn’t even have AC!

      Current truck still has manual locks, but at least it rings a bell when I open the door with the keys in the ignition.

    • R says:

      The keypad entries on Fords kick ass.

      In high school I had a 1991 Ford Explorer that didn’t have one, and I accidentally locked my keys in it during football practice. Luckily, I had left the moonroof open, so I had a small friend (I think he was maybe 5’4″ or 5’5″) crawl up on my roof, release the latch that kept the moonroof on and take it out, then crawl in through the hole and unlock it.

      • Weerd Beard says:

        Lol! My shitbox ranger was a ’91.

        I-4 XLT with no Options! It had a tape deck…and power steering! 0-60 in about a month.

        I got the 4.0 6 in my current ranger just to get a truck that could MOVE!

        • Robert says:

          Luckily, I had the 4.0 V6 in mine. Still wouldn’t win any races, though. Biggest problem with it, other than the fact that it didn’t have a keypad entry, was that the air conditioner didn’t work, and I lived in Nevada. Bad combination. I had to roll down all four windows and remove the moon roof just to keep from frying during the summer.

          I replaced it with a 1996 Explorer. It’s air conditioner works, and it has a keypad entry. I’m going to see if I can drive it until the engine croaks (it’s got 170,000+ miles on it, and is still running fine), and then I’m going to see if I can replace tit with one of the new EcoBoost V6’s that Ford is putting in their F150s.

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