Well, it's Saturday already. And it's almost over - today was a busy day.
Yesterday was my grandson's first birthday. So hard to believe a year has gone by since he was born, harder to believe how much has happened in that time. We had his party today...was very nice! He seemed especially fond of a blue and green striped shirt someone gave him, and I suspect the child will be a clotheshound.
As much as I loved having everyone over, I hope tomorrow will be more peaceful. There's a lot going on around here, still, and I'm beginning to wonder if there will ever be an end to it.
Mom now has a vertebral stress fracture and a bulging disc in her back, so she's in a lot of pain. Mike and I took her to a bone specialist last week to see if she was a candidate for gluing the fracture, but...no. We did finally get her pain medication straightened out, which has helped a lot.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Routine
The week has been a fast one - tomorrow is Thursday already. And there's a three day weekend coming up! The joy of it! I can sleep in for three straight days, barring disaster!
Let's see...work. My boss has given me a new responsibility. In her absence, I will arrange swaps with other units. There are times when it's necessary to find one of our guys a new "home", either because he is a security risk or he is in danger from another inmate. In those situations, we try to find a unit who also has a man they can't keep. For instance, a few months ago, two guys went to an officer and told him they were being forced by a gang to execute a hit on another man. They turned over their shanks to the officers, and those two and the intended victim were segregated until we could find a place for them (which we did, that very day). The gang leader was also locked up - but he was demoted, placed on intensive control and was eventually sent to a higher security facility.
After months of having a minimal role in the process, Ms. L. seems to think I'm ready. She even gave me a swap to work out on my own, for practice, and gave me a list of the transfer coordinators across the state. I was so excited!
I had three men to choose from for my swap....none of them winners, none of them even near honor grade material. So I chose what looked to me to be the lesser of the three evils, and wouldn't you know...he is a liability and in danger of being "food" for a certain gang anywhere he goes. We had no idea until he arrived. See, when they want to get rid of a man, those transfer coordinators aren't going to give the whole story. And I am so freaking naive.
At any rate, that deed is done. This is a responsibility I'm not at all sure I want.
Let's see...work. My boss has given me a new responsibility. In her absence, I will arrange swaps with other units. There are times when it's necessary to find one of our guys a new "home", either because he is a security risk or he is in danger from another inmate. In those situations, we try to find a unit who also has a man they can't keep. For instance, a few months ago, two guys went to an officer and told him they were being forced by a gang to execute a hit on another man. They turned over their shanks to the officers, and those two and the intended victim were segregated until we could find a place for them (which we did, that very day). The gang leader was also locked up - but he was demoted, placed on intensive control and was eventually sent to a higher security facility.
After months of having a minimal role in the process, Ms. L. seems to think I'm ready. She even gave me a swap to work out on my own, for practice, and gave me a list of the transfer coordinators across the state. I was so excited!
I had three men to choose from for my swap....none of them winners, none of them even near honor grade material. So I chose what looked to me to be the lesser of the three evils, and wouldn't you know...he is a liability and in danger of being "food" for a certain gang anywhere he goes. We had no idea until he arrived. See, when they want to get rid of a man, those transfer coordinators aren't going to give the whole story. And I am so freaking naive.
At any rate, that deed is done. This is a responsibility I'm not at all sure I want.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Wow
It has been so long since I posted a blog here that I almost (accidentally) created a new blog instead of a post. *Looking around* Things are a little different, aren't they?
Hi to all who might remember me. It has been a long nine months, but here is what has been going on with me:
I think I've finally moved completely into this house now. This summer, we were finally able to move George and Lacy into the fenced back yard with Boogie, my brother's dog. They love it! I bet all that time I was gone, they wondered why they had been deserted. When Jim brought George over, I went to the truck to take him to his new home. When he saw me, I swear, it looked like he caught his breath.
We have spent a lot of time on the patio, watching the hummingbirds. There were dozens of them, and only two feeders. I never realized how aggressive they were, and how assertive. There were several that hovered in front of me and stared me in the eyes. They may have been sizing me up. Who knows?
I have been taking care of Mom. Her spirits have been good, but, physically, she is declining. She doesn't go out on her Friday shopping trips anymore because they take too much out of her. She does, however, believe in the power of take-out, and she enjoys her Panera soup whenever she wants it!
As for me, I'm fine. Just tired lately. I really want to reconnect with all of you, though, and make this a part of my daily routine. It's time to get back to something that resembles my old life, just for the comfort of it.
Hope you're all well.
Hugs!
Hi to all who might remember me. It has been a long nine months, but here is what has been going on with me:
I think I've finally moved completely into this house now. This summer, we were finally able to move George and Lacy into the fenced back yard with Boogie, my brother's dog. They love it! I bet all that time I was gone, they wondered why they had been deserted. When Jim brought George over, I went to the truck to take him to his new home. When he saw me, I swear, it looked like he caught his breath.
We have spent a lot of time on the patio, watching the hummingbirds. There were dozens of them, and only two feeders. I never realized how aggressive they were, and how assertive. There were several that hovered in front of me and stared me in the eyes. They may have been sizing me up. Who knows?
I have been taking care of Mom. Her spirits have been good, but, physically, she is declining. She doesn't go out on her Friday shopping trips anymore because they take too much out of her. She does, however, believe in the power of take-out, and she enjoys her Panera soup whenever she wants it!
As for me, I'm fine. Just tired lately. I really want to reconnect with all of you, though, and make this a part of my daily routine. It's time to get back to something that resembles my old life, just for the comfort of it.
Hope you're all well.
Hugs!
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