Dog (he's not), Dental Work, and Doc's

So let me ask you this.....Question: When is being a repeat customer a bad thing for you, but a good thing for the business? Give up?!?!? Answer: When you are a repeat customer to Doc's Bail Bonds. Doc's Bail Bonds is located in downtown Garland and since I have never been in the need of a bails bondsman - I decided I needed to check it out. So I ditty-bop in the door and glance around quickly. Sparsely decorated - two desks, some Texas-style bird houses in the window, reproduction of Starry Night on one wall, and, multiple volumes and shelves of law books. Behind the desk stands a man and I quickly maneuver over to the man standing behind one of the desks. He immediately asks, "Can I help you?" I said, "Well, I hope so." And with a wink, he says, "It depends on what you need" (A little bail bondsman humor). So with hand extended I began my spiel, "Hi, my name is Donna...." and just that quick I was shaking hands with Randy. And just as quick, Randy introduced me to Lee who was sitting behind the other desk. I learned that Doc's has two locations and the Garland office is housed in an old filling station which appears to be about 50 years old. They have been at the Garland location for about 1 1/2 years. Randy has been in the "business" for about 20 years and before he was a bail bondsman; he was on the apprehension side of the business (ooh, I bet there are some good stories there). I also learned that not everyone who is need of a bondsman is a felon or violent....according to Randy, "Some people just make stupid mistakes and some aren't even guilty." (On the last part - don't they all say that?!?!) I also learned that Doc's is not open 24 hours, but instead they work in two shift and are open about 18 hours a day, open seven days a week, and are only closed on Christmas day. Randy was very talkative and told me that in about four weeks he was going to Mexico to have some dental work done and that he would be taking the train to El Paso. There is an American doctor he will see and if he had the work done in the United States it would cost him about $10,000. In Mexico - $5,000. Randy is the first person that I have ever met who was taking a medical vacation. I told him that I would come back in about 5 weeks or so and check on him and the work that his international mouth. Did I mention that Randy was taking the train? Randy loves taking the train - he just recently went up to Chicago to meet up with some of his "Federal Agent friends" and took the train. He told me, "The train is cheaper, you can drink all you want, 5 star meals, the chairs you sit in are nicer than some beds that I have slept in and great scenery along the way." I told him that I had always wanted to travel somewhere on the train and had just never gotten around to it. Randy asked that I when I wrote my blog not "to not make bail bondsmen look like a Dog the Bounty Hunter or someone crazy. We are just normal." I told him that I make sure of that. Randy told me that he needed to get going - he was going to sign a lease on a new apartment. As Randy and I moved toward the door, a car pulled up with two gentleman inside - one young, one not so young. As the gentleman entered, Randy decided to hold back so I wished Randy good luck with his mouth, his apartment and I told both he and Lee good-bye. As the door closed I heard someone say, "It's good to see you again." I thought to myself, yikes, maybe a repeat customer. And as I got back in my car, I looked over the one the business cards I picked up and on the back of the bright yellow card there were six rules:

1. Check in by telephone every Tuesday or Wednesday between 9 am and 9 pm;

2. Notify office immediately of any changes in address, phone numbers, or employment;

3. Notify office within 10 days with name, address, phone number of my attorney;

4. Notify office before leaving the county;

5. I understand that bond jumping is punishable by up to 5 years in the penitentiary;

6. I am responsible for keeping up with my own court date.

And then this blurb: Violation of any of these rules would be just cause for a warrant to be issued for my arrest. Most of the above rules seem pretty easy and obvious, but I had no idea about rule 5.

And since I gave my word to Randy - Randy was nothing like Dog the Bounty Hunter. Randy had really short hair, black briefcase, yellow polo-type shirt, khaki pants, and not one tattoo (that I could see). Sick of Jail? Call the Doctor.