New Adventure

Want to hear something really cool? My dad is a private investigator.

Seriously.

He has been for the last 30+ years.

And yes, it did make dating very interesting after a prospective suitor found out his occupation.

Over the years, he's taken many different types of cases.

He's done the insurance scam stuff - documenting proof that someone that was "disabled" could change his own tire when no one was looking.

He tried the personal stuff, like cheating spouses and nasty divorce investigations, but quit them because it just wasn't his cup of tea. Those are nothing but unpleasant and uncomfortable.

Dad found his niche working for small businesses and large corporations, doing casino surveillance, employee observations, security evaluations and recommendations, suspected theft investigations - just to name a few.

His only child is a girl.

He never considered that fact relevant to my tagging along on his jobs, thank God. He was happy to share that world with me, and I soaked it all up. He worked as a consultant and investigator with different hotel / casinos, so we'd visit a few each night. I spent countless nights of my childhood in The Eye in the Sky of a casino, contentedly sitting in front of surveillance monitors - or, as in some of the older ones, peering over the edge of the makeshift catwalk looking directly down at the tables - hoping to catch a cheat. I was allowed because I was "Bob's daughter." I knew how to wrangle a comp from one of the casino bosses or my dad when I got hungry, and I always knew right where the coffee shop was. In fact, I roamed around - in many places I probably shouldn't have been - like the roof. And yes, Dad knew and he thought it was funny. Besides, what kind of security could a hotel / casino have if a 9 year old girl can easily gain rooftop access?

I think it's safe to trace my OCD and "spooky" (per my husband) observational skills back to those days. And I am quite happy to own them. My little mind was shaped and trained to genuinely see the world and people around me. I have seen people try to rig a slot machine a hundred different ways. I've seen the shoes cheats made with touch pads to count cards with their toes. I've seen dealers fake deal, steal chips, and tip off players who were actually accomplices.

Then I got older and got to work with my dad while he mystery shopped. I can sit in a bar or restaurant and tell you if the bartender is over pouring, under pouring, giving fake comps, not ringing drinks properly, or pretending to ring up the drinks and palming the money. And best of all - the bartender has no idea how closely I'm watching.

They tend to underestimate me - just write me off as another chick at the bar.

And that's fine by me.

When I was a kid I wanted to be the youngest woman to get a PI license in the state of Nevada.

But then I got into eye care, and got married, and the kids were born.

All this history is necessary background for the next part of my story.

My dad has pretty much stopped doing the mystery shopping. The past few years he hired a few trainees, but they never worked out for long. When Kirk and I were dating and then newly married, we worked for Dad whenever he needed us. Dad just didn't want to do "the shops" much himself anymore, because you usually have to do the visits late at night. And now, he'd rather be in bed, watching Leno.

So, a few days ago, when he got a call from a bar owner requesting a mystery shop - Dad asked me if Kirk and I would want the job.

Hell Yes!

We get a few date nights, get advance money to spend on drinks and bar food (one of my favorite food groups) and then get paid by the client after I write up and submit the report.

Honestly? Forget that the money is good. Forget the date night bonus. Forget the yummy food.

I am so totally stoked to be doing this work again. I had forgotten just how much fun it is.

I love turning up my antennae and noticing every little thing.

I love picking out the cheaters and dishonest people.

I especially loved meeting with the client a few days ago and suggesting a few things for the nights of the surveillance that might help this particular "shop" and having my dad agree that they were good ideas.

Dude, I learned from the master.

I can't give specific details, of course, but I'll tell you what I can about the job once it's over. I am really, really looking forward to this new adventure.