What A Great Day For A Drive!

Got me out of the office, even if I had do go do my (very less than) favourite job of fingerprinting (FP).

Had a offer for me to drive out to Grand Rapids (GR) to fingerprint a new crew of enumerators, and given the mileage, I couldn't say no. Also helping to convince me, was that normally I have to work 12:30p to 9:00p on Weds, but having to be out in GR after lunch (by 1p) meant I'd need to leave around 11a and then under the 8 hr rule, be done at 7:30p. Nice.

I made the drive out to GR and then set up for the prints, only to find that the crew leader hadn't been given a FP kit, meaning we'd have to share mine, and it would take twice as long to get the prints. It is required we take two sets of prints from each new hire, and two people have to take the prints, one set each so that they can be compared by headquarters.

Good thing this crew leader was right on his job otherwise and all ready, as well as on the ball. I also gave a bit of a prep speech this time to the enumerators so as to really relax them more, and clue them in on what it would take for us to get good prints off them - more than what the verbatim training explained. I think it really helped as it only took 3 hrs to print 12 people - and we had no do-over cards and really relaxed (for the most part) people. Three of them were stellar, the kind you dream of printing: relaxed, flexible, soft fingers and perfect prints from each finger first time through - so much so that you could just whip through their cards. Three out of twelve, and of the other nine, only two or three were really only slightly problematic, still, no do-overs were needed, so BONUS!

We're not given much training to be FP'ers, and even so, no matter how much you do it - for me it's been three classes of 12-16 people and a few in the office - it still is a bit stressful and really is dependent on each person's attitude and ability to just work with you and let you guide them through the process. This had to be the best group I had ever worked with and I told them so, and thanked them for their being so good and helpful. We're told not to joke around or stray from the procedure at hand, but sometimes, keeping it light and reassuring them, as well as having a laugh or two really helps to put them and us at ease. Also, as I said, the pressure was off of me given the hours I was working today, that I didn't have to race back to the office by 4:30p; I could take my time, and we had to anyway, due to not having the extra kit.

Driving home was so relaxing; just flying down the road in the mid-afternoon sunshine, and coming back into Duluth:
(too bad I had to still go back to work for an hour and a half vs going home to enjoy the remainder of the gorgeous afternoon.) It was so warm out even into the evening.

Arriving home I noticed the remaining snow patch had really shrunk down with today's 50-something degree weather.Tomorrow it will be gone! YAY! I am so ready to play in the yard and start some seeds and welcome the activities that come with spring and summer, as well as the warmer temps, not to mention all the gloriously long sunshiny days. BRING IT ON!