April 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Friday, May 04, 2012
A Day In The Life
Liquored Up
I knew it was going to be a bad night when I was driving to work that evening. As I came around a corner, a fluffy bunny ran out into the road. I swerved to avoid it, but it swerved too. Next thing I knew, I felt a little bump and saw a cloud of fur fly out from under my tires.
A bad omen.
I get to work and it is count time. Another officer and I begin counting in his unit. We finish and head over to mine. We both notice the overwhelming odor of homemade intoxicants.
Great.
We start counting. We make it all the way around the bottom tier with no trouble. We get started upstairs. Just a few cells in we run into the first problem of the night.
The inmates are required to have their lights on and be standing up for this count. I had been in this unit for several months so they knew my deal. Which is why when I got to this cell and found it dark, I was surprised. I could see the inmate in there.
Sort of.
I wasn't sure if he was asleep or hurt or just had his headphones on loud or what.
So I banged on the door.
Nothing.
I kicked it and banged on it.
Nothing.
My partner, who was a big guy, pounded and kicked.
Nothing.
So we made the decision to open the door.
I unlock it and we go in. My partner gives the inmate a shout and he jumps up.
And falls over.
The inmate smells strongly of alcohol and can not stand up. He is insisting he is fine and had not been drinking.
Sure.
We lock up that cell and finish our count.
After we finish the count, my partner and I are deciding how to handle this situation. Th inmate in question is a guy who usually is quiet and causes very little trouble. And he didn't seem violent. Just drunk. Probably sleeping it off would fix him. But I did what I was supposed to do and called a lieutenant.
Usually drunk inmates are sent to the Special Housing Unit. But it had apparently been quite the day and the Special Housing Unit was a bit full. Since that inmate was alone in the cell, we decided to just leave him there and check on him frequently.
My partner and I decided to go have a chat with the head of the drunk inmate's gang. We just wanted to let him know what was going on so he wouldn't think something else that started another thing and in prison.... Every little thing could lead to something bad.
We go to that cell and open it. The inmate is sitting on the bed and stands up as we open the door.
Then he falls over.
Oh good. He's drunk too.
So I laugh and tell him I am locking him and his buddy in for the night and shut the door. He is good with that.
As I start to unlock the other inmates, I check each inmate for drunkenness.
I find two more white guys. (The first two were white guys.) I find two black guys. I find three Hispanic guys. All drunk.
I call the lieutenant back. I let him know. All drunk inmates are to remain locked up. Incident reports are written. They will be going to Special Housing Unit as soon as there is a space.
I decided to call the SIS. (Special Investigations) and let them know of my situation. I find out all the drunk inmates are gang leaders. The SIS guy is a little disturbed by this. So they decide to lock down my whole unit to investigate.
I knew it was going to be a bad night. I just knew it.
I knew it was going to be a bad night when I was driving to work that evening. As I came around a corner, a fluffy bunny ran out into the road. I swerved to avoid it, but it swerved too. Next thing I knew, I felt a little bump and saw a cloud of fur fly out from under my tires.
A bad omen.
I get to work and it is count time. Another officer and I begin counting in his unit. We finish and head over to mine. We both notice the overwhelming odor of homemade intoxicants.
Great.
We start counting. We make it all the way around the bottom tier with no trouble. We get started upstairs. Just a few cells in we run into the first problem of the night.
The inmates are required to have their lights on and be standing up for this count. I had been in this unit for several months so they knew my deal. Which is why when I got to this cell and found it dark, I was surprised. I could see the inmate in there.
Sort of.
I wasn't sure if he was asleep or hurt or just had his headphones on loud or what.
So I banged on the door.
Nothing.
I kicked it and banged on it.
Nothing.
My partner, who was a big guy, pounded and kicked.
Nothing.
So we made the decision to open the door.
I unlock it and we go in. My partner gives the inmate a shout and he jumps up.
And falls over.
The inmate smells strongly of alcohol and can not stand up. He is insisting he is fine and had not been drinking.
Sure.
We lock up that cell and finish our count.
After we finish the count, my partner and I are deciding how to handle this situation. Th inmate in question is a guy who usually is quiet and causes very little trouble. And he didn't seem violent. Just drunk. Probably sleeping it off would fix him. But I did what I was supposed to do and called a lieutenant.
Usually drunk inmates are sent to the Special Housing Unit. But it had apparently been quite the day and the Special Housing Unit was a bit full. Since that inmate was alone in the cell, we decided to just leave him there and check on him frequently.
My partner and I decided to go have a chat with the head of the drunk inmate's gang. We just wanted to let him know what was going on so he wouldn't think something else that started another thing and in prison.... Every little thing could lead to something bad.
We go to that cell and open it. The inmate is sitting on the bed and stands up as we open the door.
Then he falls over.
Oh good. He's drunk too.
So I laugh and tell him I am locking him and his buddy in for the night and shut the door. He is good with that.
As I start to unlock the other inmates, I check each inmate for drunkenness.
I find two more white guys. (The first two were white guys.) I find two black guys. I find three Hispanic guys. All drunk.
I call the lieutenant back. I let him know. All drunk inmates are to remain locked up. Incident reports are written. They will be going to Special Housing Unit as soon as there is a space.
I decided to call the SIS. (Special Investigations) and let them know of my situation. I find out all the drunk inmates are gang leaders. The SIS guy is a little disturbed by this. So they decide to lock down my whole unit to investigate.
I knew it was going to be a bad night. I just knew it.
Thursday, May 03, 2012
Showing Those Nazi Jerks Who's Boss
Several weeks ago, David and I were watching a show on the Smithsonian Channel about Iwo Jima.
No, I don't know why. These are things we watch when David has the remote.
Anyway, after that came a show about World War II Victory Gardens and how the Smithsonian still grows one. Then it had another show about Native American gardening. We watched that too.
Then we decided we too could plant a Victory Garden.
It took us a few days to get the area ready. We weeded it. We threw bags of manure on it. We put up fencing to keep certain fat beagles out. Then two weeks ago, we planted.
We divided our garden in to 4 parts; 2 large rectangles and 2 smaller squares. In one rectangle we planted things that spread- zucchini and watermelon. In the other large area, where Catherine is planting in the picture, we planted alternating rows of corn, green beans and peas.
Corn.
Green Beans.
Corn.
Peas.
Repeat.
We got that idea from the Smithsonian show about the Native American garden. Green beans and peas need a place to vine up. Corn stalks give them a place to go as well as keep the corn moist.
In one of the smaller squares, we planted various herbs, onions and peppers. And so far nothing in the other square, though we will probably buy some tomato plants to go there.
One week later, we had our first sprout. Zucchini. Yum.
Now it has been two weeks. Yesterday. And this is what the garden looks like.
This one is the corn, beans, peas.
This is the Zucchini patch.
So far so good.
Take that Nazis.
No, I don't know why. These are things we watch when David has the remote.
Anyway, after that came a show about World War II Victory Gardens and how the Smithsonian still grows one. Then it had another show about Native American gardening. We watched that too.
Then we decided we too could plant a Victory Garden.
It took us a few days to get the area ready. We weeded it. We threw bags of manure on it. We put up fencing to keep certain fat beagles out. Then two weeks ago, we planted.
We divided our garden in to 4 parts; 2 large rectangles and 2 smaller squares. In one rectangle we planted things that spread- zucchini and watermelon. In the other large area, where Catherine is planting in the picture, we planted alternating rows of corn, green beans and peas.
Corn.
Green Beans.
Corn.
Peas.
Repeat.
We got that idea from the Smithsonian show about the Native American garden. Green beans and peas need a place to vine up. Corn stalks give them a place to go as well as keep the corn moist.
In one of the smaller squares, we planted various herbs, onions and peppers. And so far nothing in the other square, though we will probably buy some tomato plants to go there.
One week later, we had our first sprout. Zucchini. Yum.
Now it has been two weeks. Yesterday. And this is what the garden looks like.
So far so good.
Take that Nazis.
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Wordless Wednesday
Top Picture- Gladiolus
Bottom Picture- Dahlia
May 2, 2012
Apple Valley, California
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