Friday, April 29, 2011

A Day In The Life

Work Out Music

On a fabulous evening at a minimum security woman's prison somewhere in the United States, I was working a normal, quiet shift. Well, I was.

It had been a long week. There had been a rash of theft at the camp and it was getting pretty brazen. Someone had woken up to another inmate in her locker. Another had come from work to find her under bed bin ransacked. Inmates had been complaining about their laundry being stolen from washers and dryers. This is not a general problem at the higher security male facilities. Of course, over there you are much more likely to get shanked if you steal a guys laundry.

That evening I'd had enough. A girl had come to me and told me her radio had been stolen. Radios are a big deal. You can't hear the TV's without a radio. It is just about the most valuable thing an inmate owns. Anyway, the inmate claims she was walking on a treadmill in the gym. Her radio was in the holder on the front of the treadmill. She was listening to it as she worked out. Another inmate asked her a question. She took off her headphones, placed them with her radio and turned around to speak to the other inmate. When she turned back around, he radio and headphones were gone. I was done. This had to stop.

So I made up some signs and spread them around. The signs stated that if the radio was not returned by count time, 9:30 PM, that I would be making them stay up all night while I searched room by room. I figured that since they generally went to sleep after we count and many of them get up early for work, the radio would turn up.

I was wrong.

Count time came and when it was finished, the radio was still missing. So rather than turn off the lights and allow the inmates to go to sleep, I made them all stand by their bunks and I went room to room searching for the radio. I searched until it was midnight and it was time for me to go home.

I never did find the radio. It did turn up however. The next morning it was found in one of the unit's bathrooms in a pile of maxi pads.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Sick

So, remember this post... It's Getting To Me

Yep, it's gotten worse. My job stress doubled. Don't ask. But that along with all that other junk was too much for my little body to take. The lack of sleep and the crazy eating habits are doing me in.

I have decided that seeing a doctor is my only hope. So I am going to.

In the mean time, please know that at a job like mine, people tend to become very cynical and think the worst. About the inmates, it's probably a good thing. But about staff, hopefully we can all learn to get along and trust one another. Until then people, be careful in there.

Luckily I do have people I trust. It certainly helps.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Going Green

Today is Earth Day. Yep. Save the planet and all that. And you know what, saving the planet could save you some cash too. Don't believe me? HA! Let me tell you how we do it around these parts.

1. RECYCLE!

Yep. For starters, we get back about $20 every 8 weeks or so when we take all of our recyclables to the redemption center.
There our old bottles, cans and jugs can be used to make new ones, cutting down on waste and giving me enough for maybe ½ a tank of gas or two days worth of groceries, if we shop smart.

Next, I don't know about your town, but here in my town, they charge for garbage pick up. It costs about $20 a month for them to come each week and empty 1 green trash can like this one
Just the one. They charge more for each additional one. I don't know about your family, but the four of us in this house use more trash than that in a week.

However, they will give us an unlimited amount of recycle bins, provided you only put items that can be recycled in them. Of course. We have two blue recycle bins.
We put in cereal boxes (not the liners, but just the boxes, flattened), cans that once contained tomato sauce or green beans (rinsed), plastic shampoo bottles, and other plastics that they don't take at the recycling center. This seriously cuts down on waste put out by our household.

2. Water Conservation

There are many things we can do to save water, which you have to pay for. Save more, spend less. Turn of the faucet when brushing your teeth. Take shorter showers. Only run the dishwasher or clothes washer when it's full. Water your plants in the evening to allow the water time to soak in and not evaporate. Displace some of your toilets water with heavy objects in the tanks. You can used anything water proof... large Ziploc bags full of sand, water bottles or here, I have used a large rock David's mom brought back from the beach.




3. Compost

We are not doing this yet, but as soon as we move to our own home, we will. You can put leaves, vegetable peels, egg shells, fruit bits, coffee grinds, tea bags and more into your compost pile to make a rich soil for your plants. Think about the money you will save by not having to buy potting soils, fertilizers and plant foods. Plus think about the waste you will reduce.

4. Garden

I love to garden. But here, it is not allowed. I don't own this house. But when I move, look out green thumb! And since I will have all that nice composted soil, my garden will be fabulous. You can grow your own vegetables and herbs. It will add green to your yard, help give back oxygen quality to our air, and save yourself the money you would have spent buying those same tomatoes and basil at the supermarket.

5. Carpool

If you can find people in your area to car pool with, think of the money you'll save in gas. Buy car pooling with just 1 other person, you will save 50% of your usual gas costs. The more people you get involved with, the more you save. It is kind of hard with my job and my working varying shifts. But if you can, do it. Unless you have to car pool with this guy...


Of course, I would car pool with that guy. Twice.

So with just a few simple ideas, we can save money and save the planet. Happy Earth Day everyone!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Happy Birthday Carolynn

Nope, you won't find a Thursday Thirteen today. Instead, you find 15. That is how old my tiny baby is today. She isn't so tiny anymore.

We did some celebrating yesterday. We had pizza and chocolate cake, at her request. I got her a new shirt from Hot Topic. Today she is on a physics field trip to Disneyland. And I had to learn science from a book... in a school. Can you believe that?

She also has plans to see a movie and do some shopping. Her dad got her a new camera. Overall, I think she is having a pretty good day.

She sure came a long way from that tiny baby I brought home from the hospital. It's kind of sad.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Wordless Wednesday




"Why yes, I am holding a treat over my head while taking a picture. How did you ever guess?"

Drizella and Elvis
March 2011
Apple Valley, California

Monday, April 18, 2011

Do You Have A Pen I Can Borrow?

A package just arrived from the mailman. It was a pretty big package. It was heavy and rattled. So I had to open it and see what was inside. It was addressed to David, but I knew he wouldn't mind. (On a side note, David is not here because he is at a job interview. Keep your fingers crossed.)

This turned out to be the funniest package I had ever opened.


The whole box as stuffed full of pens and pencils. Big ones, little ones. Old ones, new ones. Fat ones, thin ones.


We found this candy cane pen. There is a mechanical pencil from a Japanese airline with a tiny chicken attached to it. Then we found this funny stick pencil with seashells on it that says Cebu and came from the Philippines.

Carolynn and I were just busting up.

So then Carolynn goes out to the mail box to get the rest of the mail. She brought in a second box. It was smaller and it rattled.

We had to open it.


Yep, it is full of markers and highlighters.

Then Carolynn said...

"All that and no pencil sharpener? Classy."

I laughed until I cried.

The note in the box says "Study aids for all."

Apparently by all, he meant all of the city.

I loved it.

Friday, April 15, 2011

A Day In The Life

Freshly Popped

There is an inmate in a special housing unit who insists on calling me Orville Redenbacher. I don't know why. This inmate certainly is a special one. (Based on episodes like this one and this one. Both this same inmate.) He will tell anyone who listens that I am the famous Orville Redenbacher. When he calls for me, he calls for Orville. It is ridiculous.

He calls another officer I know “Little Sister”. Perhaps she reminds him of a little sister he once had. We don't know if that should be considered a compliment or an insult however. This inmate happens to be in prison for murdering his brother with an ax.

Go figure.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Thursday Thirteen


Thirteen Things That Happened On This Day In History

April 14

1. 1865- President Lincoln is shot.
2. 1912- RMS Titanic hits and iceberg.
3. 1969- Katherine Hepburn (The Lion In Winter) and Barbara Streisand (Funny Girl) tie for the Best Actress Oscar.
4. 1818- Webster's Dictionary is first printed.
5. 1935- Country star Loretta Lynn is born in Kentucky.
6. 1986- US bombs Libya.
7. 1960- Montreal Canadiens win fifth consecutive Stanley Cup.
8. 1775- First American abolition society founded in Philadelphia.
9. 1918- U.S. flyers in first dogfight over western front.
10. 1975- Operation "Baby Lift" concludes.
11. 1965- 173rd Airborne Brigade ordered to South Vietnam.
12. 1944- Explosion on cargo ship rocks Bombay, India.
13. None of Your Business- One of the best people I know was born. Happy Birthday Adrienne!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Just Thirsty


On Tuesday, David and I took Catherine to see Rango. It was part of her Spring Break plans. It was pretty cute. Some of the humor was a little over the heads of smaller children. But Catherine liked it a lot. The animation was amazing. Johnny Depp was funny as Rango. Rango is a pet lizard that accidentally gets lost in the Mojave. And all he wants is a drink of water. He meets other animals in the desert and they need water too. Then the adventure begins. I won't give it away in case you go see it. But it was worth the ticket price.

Saturday, April 09, 2011

It's Getting To Me

It really is. The stress. It's overwhelming. I don't sleep. I am not eating right. I either don't eat or I stuff myself. I have been getting migraines. It's been awful. David thinks I need therapy.

There are somethings going on right now that I have no control over. Some stuff happened, I won't mention it here right now, but there is nothing I could do. It didn't even happen to me, but I can't stop stressing over it. I hate that. But it is a mess and it won't be resolved for a little while still, so I can do nothing but sit tight and wait to see what happens.

In the mean time, have I mentioned I work in a prison? Talk about stressful.

Oh yeah, and a teenaged daughter.

Also, we are trying to save up to move. This house is falling apart and no one cares as long as I pay the rent on time. And even if I didn't pay it, we'd have to move anyway.

Oh yeah, and what about that budget? No budget means I have to work, but I don't get paid. Luckily that seems to be worked out, but that was scary.

Maybe I should take up drinking.

In the mean time, I am going to just keep on going. I am going to go to work, cook dinner and go to bed.

Thursday, April 07, 2011

Thursday Thirteen



Thirteen Things We Would Like For Our New House

1. Four Bedrooms- More is always good
2. Two Bathrooms- More is always good
3. Fenced Yard
4. Gas Appliances
5. Sidewalks- That's a David wish.
6. A Pool
7. A Huge Bath Tub- With jets
8. Wood Floors
9. A Fireplace
10. Proper Furniture
11. Cable In The Bedrooms
12. Grass
13. Millions Of Dollars...

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

For All The Pups I Have Loved Before


I don't know what I would do without my pets. We currently have three dogs and three cats. We also have a turtle. They have been there through good times and bad. I can't remember having a home without a pet. Even when I lived in a place where dogs and cats were not allowed, I had a cage full of parakeets and a tank full of fish.

We have gotten most of our pets from local animal shelters. Over the years we have loved nine cats. With the exception of the two that we got from Chris and Sherri, all of them have come from shelters. We have loved 4 dogs. Two of those dogs were shelter dogs. We got Gibby from a lady who had puppies because she wanted to breed her chihuahuas and so she didn't have them spayed. Too bad there was a pomeranian mix loose in the neighborhood, who also was not fixed. Elvis is a purebred beagle and we got him from a breeder who was a friend of my mom.

I know that right now, in this economy, it is hard to want to spend your money to give to animals. But I just don't know what I would have done without my Gibby to snuggle when I am sad or Betty to chew my fingers or Muffins (IBK) to hop in bed with me at night.

So here is a way to help. The ASPCA is going to give $100K to an animal shelter in the ASPCA $100K Challenge. First thing you have to do is vote. The 50 animal shelters who receive the most votes between now and April 15, will be eligible to win the $100K, possibly up to $300K with other donations and grants associated with this project. So go to the website, votetosavelives.org, and vote for your favorite shelter or rescue. My town, the neighboring town, and the county animal control are all in the running so far. So remember to vote everyday to make sure your town becomes one of the top 50 qualifiers.

Then, the contest is on. Between August 1 and October 31, it is a race to see how many pets can be saved. Winners will be announced November 30.

How cool is that? All you have to do is vote. That is it. A simple few seconds of your day, everyday until April 15. Easy.

Because without animal shelters, I wouldn't have...

Betty and Muffins (IBK- Itty Bitty Kitty)(She isn't so itty bitty any more though, more like giant and fluffy)



Drizella



*******************


And even though we got Two Face here from Chris and Sherri, we had her fixed at the local shelter. And since we take good care of her, she will not end up in one.


Elvis here was fixed at the animal shelter as well, and when he was sick, they treated him there as well.


And of course Gibby... Who proudly wears his license from the animal shelter and he was microchipped there.


Have you seen that much cuteness? You know you want to save the pets. Do it or I will play this commercial over and over again until you cry yourself to death.