The Monster.

I know its been a long while since I last updated you all. Please forgive me.

I just wanted to share with you all a poem of sorts that was written by an inmate who is in one of my classes. His story is one that really hit me--it just proved to me that sometimes in life there are people who just have no chance to make it, due to the life they were subjected to as children. As a result, Prison is their destiny.

 The Monster

Mutiny, toxic influence, separation of man from logical thought process. A virus that spreads a sickness, a plague that wreaks havoc inside the minds and hearts of not only the detained, but the gatekeepers themselves. In rare cases a cure has been given. In others, the only escape is death. At this moment I am infected, leaving me in a lopsided fight for my life. Never will I return to the days of old. Seeing normalcy in the mirror is now a long shot. My purpose is to take a stand. Arrive in the face of the soul breaker himself; to him I speak these words. You have inspired horror and disgust far exceeding your welcome in my life. Today the battle has begun. It may rage on for years to come, it may bring me to my knees, but God as my witness, I will rein victorious over your wicked ways, your power will be not. I will slay the vicious animal known as the monster. 

The "monster" is what we call the inmate sub-culture and the correctional system itself.

I don't really know why, but this "poem" affected me. It made me see how the system is failing so many people. This boy is less than one month older than I am, and has received a 26 year sentence for Robbery. I know what he has done in his past, is not okay--and believe me--I do feel that he does owe a repayment for his wrongs, however, I now realize that prison is not a "cure-all" and that this boy will re-offend because the system is not giving him the necessary skills to succeed. Working in corrections has taught me so many things about life, on both sides of the fence.

I only hope that this young man can overcome his childhood, his adolescence, the system, and the Monster.

So, You want to be a C. O.

Incase you were wondering what it is like to work in Prison. This video is pretty much spot on.


** Before you press play... just know the video does contain some profanity.

Hawk's Nest State Park

I spent the last week at a work related training in Anstead, West Virginia--more specifically at Hawk's Nest State Park. The training was boring, but the scenery was amazing. We spent the evenings exploring and sight-seeing. 

Hawk's Nest State Park is 276 acres that border the rugged ridges of the New River Gorge. The lodge of Hawk's Nest is on built on to the side of the mountain, surrounded by miles and miles of river, cliffs, and trees. The views were absolutely stunning. 

The first night that we were there, we went to see some of the falls of Hawk's Nest.  

Our first stop were the Cathedral Falls. It is named Cathedral Falls, because the falls are so tall and they run into an amphitheater at the bottom. Its hard to describe, but the base is like a big bowl shape. 

There wasn't too much water flowing over the edge of the rocks this day, so we were able to climb pretty close up to the top. 

They were pretty cool none the less. 

Our second stop of the day was the Kanawha Falls of the Kanawha River.  They are on the southern edge of the gorge, near the Gauley Bridge. The Kanawha Falls are only 15 feet tall, but are really wide. In addition, the water is pretty intense on this end of the gorge, so the falls are really loud. 

On the left side of the photo you can see just how powerful the water on this end of the gorge is.

Our final stop of the day was the New River Gorge Bridge. It was amazing! I have been wanting to check it out for a while now, and i am so glad that i did. 

First we drove over the bridge, then we stopped at the lookout to see the bridge from up high. We actually had to walk down about 120 steps to get to the lookout. 

It was so amazing to see in person, the photos don't really do it justice. It is enormous, and spans the entire gorge. 

We then went down "stupid's hollar"  also known as Fayette Station Road--to see the bridge from below. These views were even better than the views from the top. 

This viewpoint offered a unique perspective on the bridge. The New River Gorge Bridge was completed in 1977 and is the World's largest single span steel bridge. It is 876 feet above the water below, making it America's 2nd highest bridge. The bridge dramatically changed travel patterns in the area-- the Fayette Station Road was at one time the only way to cross the water. The bridge turned the over 40 minute drive up and down a hollar into a quick drive straight across the gorge. 

Then we went back to the lodge and headed out a trail to "Lover's Leap"

This is a photo from the edge of the cliff at Lover's Leap. The gorge curves right at the edge of Lover's Leap--these are photos of each side. 

The next day, after training--we headed out the Cliff's Side Trail. The brochure described it as a rugged trail with spectacular views. It was supposed to have two overlooks and one view of Turkey Falls. It was supposed to be about 2 miles long, and then you would return back on the service road. As you can tell from the photos, it was not really so much a trail as it was a rock climb. It was intense and at times scary. There were a few times that i would put my foot down, and the ground would crumble away--almost causing me to fall down the side of the mountain cliffs. It was really cool, but i was glad when we reached the end. 

This is looking up--overhead, much of the trail passed under the edges of  higher cliffs.

Here on the trail you had to climb part of the rock to make it between the edge and the tree. Just on the left side of the tree was the edge of the mountain. 

This is also looking up and into a cavern on the underside of a cliff. The marbling of the rock colors is absolutely amazing in real life. 

In this section, the trail passed underneath that overhang. It is hard to tell, but there was not much space there--we had to crouch down pretty far to make it under that rock. 

On this section the trail passed really close there next to the rocks. It was pretty intense at times--definitely not a beginner trail. We also saw some cool plants--and bugs. There were so many bugs. 

I almost walked into an enormous spider! it was disgusting. 

On the way back we stopped at the overlook from the road. It offered some pretty amazing views. 

As always--you can see all the photos on my Facebook Page. 

I hope you enjoyed the photos. I sure enjoyed the scenery. Who knew West Virginia was so beautiful. 

Double Header

Alright. I know I have been pretty absent lately, but it was for good reason. I have been working tons of overtime lately--i haven't had a day off since before the 4th of July!! So, today I have some good stories for you all.

Story #1 : West Virginia Bugs 

I am from the North country--where the only bugs we have that are really scary are spiders. Okay.
I am not used to these foreign southern bugs!

This is the story of how I saw my first ever cockroach and the hilarity that ensued.

So, I was working overtime--and for this reason i was working as an officer in a hallway. Opening doors and helping with Counts and watching Chow and stuff like that.

This guy comes over and needs me to open up the janitor's closet so that he can get out the cleaning supplies--as he is paid to clean the hallways in the evenings.

I open up the padlock and pull the door open--

I kid you not there must have been a million and one cockroaches in there!!!

This wasn't the first time that i had opened that closet--but i had never ever seen a cockroach in there before. They were all tiny--about an inch or so long with long antennas.

When i saw the first one, my mind started racing--my heart was beating faster and faster, and my eyes were darting around the closet--trying to decide what to do. As my eyes paced back and forth, i just kept seeing more and more cockroaches!!!

I was so freaked out that they were going to come out of the closet at me, that i just slapped the lock back together and yelled, SHIT!!! and started running away!!!

 the guy looked at me and kept laughing as he was smashing them with a mop.

Gross.

The very next day...

i get in the elevator at work to go up to the Seg. Unit.

There i am standing in the elevator minding my own buisness...and what do i see on the wall?

a big, huge, gigantic...cockroach!

Flailing its long wiry antennas at me.

Holy Shit!!

Now, what to do. I am trapped in an enclosed space with a cockroach! WTF??

I just froze!! I didn't want to get too close--in the event that it could jump. (Do cockroaches even have the ability to jump? I don't know--but in my brain at the time, it was a possibility.)

My only option was to move to the middle of the elevator and hope to hell it didn't move off of that wall.

You better believe i am going to take the stairs from now on.


Story #2: The day I became my grandmother...

If you know my Grandmother, you know she is incredibly forgetful. I guess thats part of getting older...

Well, the other day--I had some bills that were due, and a friend of mine had a Birthday--so i had some mail to send out.

I write the checks, fill out the card, and address everything.

I go to the mailbox and drop it all in.

The next day i decide to stop and check my Post Office box.

What do i find inside??

All the mail i had just sent out a few days earlier!

WTF??

Why the hell did these all come back?

Well, it would help to put a flippin' stamp on the outside.

yep. I did that.

Sent mail with no stamps on the front.

Who does that?

A 90 year old woman....and this kid.

Nice.

Have it your way...

I got the shock of my life today at work--in a good way. It was really funny actually.

and so the story begins....

as most of you know, we have been really short handed at work lately. Because of this i was forced to move to the Segregation unit and help for the last two months. It has been hell! I didn't want to move, and my unit team didn't want to let me go. It was a big fight at work for a while--the Seg. unit wanted to keep me for good, and my unit team wouldn't let me go. Needless to say, i had to go help for a while. Today was my last day on Segregation--and i couldn't have been happier.

As the day winded down, i decided to move my manuals and books back over to my old office--so that i wouldn't have to do it tomorrow. But, when i entered my office this is what i saw. 

An entire office--wallpapered with McDonald's bags!!! 

I was in shock. I think  i even yelled out loud, "What in the hell--OMG" Apparently they have been saving these McDonald's bags from a fundraiser we had a few months ago. 

If you look close at the photo, you can see at the top--a Banner made from bags that says "Welcome Back Sarah"

They also made a slip cover for my chair out of bags. If you count about 5 bags from the left--you might notice a few bags that look like they are out of order--well that would be my chair. 

They also covered my garbage can in bags! The only thing not covered is my tower for the computer. 

Then they took a photo for me--so that i could show you guys!! I still can't believe it. I left it like this for now, we will see how long i can stand it. 

I  actually had work under there somewhere!! 

Its too funny!! 

In return I made them some cookies and a veggie pizza! They are the best! I am so glad to have moved half way across the country and found some really cool people, who have my best interests at heart!! 

Home.

Just a quick one to let you all know i survived my week at the Academy :)

In fact it was so much fun! Incredibly hard work, but a blast!

For the first time since moving here, i really feel like even though i have had to sacrifice so much--that this was the right move for me. And more importantly, i feel like i am in the right place at this point in my life!

The good vibes are flowing!!  :)   Hope you all are doing fabulously!! Miss you guys like crazy!

Another Week...

at the Academy that is.

Tuesday morning, I leave for the Academy again. 

Bummer.

I have to attend a training with my boss--for the Dept. of Ed Class that I have to facilitate at work. I guess the training is pretty intensive, but it should be interesting. 

Ginger has to spend another week over at her friend Soma's house--I think she really enjoys it though. I am just hoping they don't destroy anything this time. 

As a "thank you" for watching her, I made these cookies.

Oreo Cheesecake Cookies! 

I don't even like Cheesecake, but I love these cookies--they are so yummy!!

I got pulled over the other day-- apparently police in WV can clock your speed when you are  coming up from behind them--they must have eyes in the back of their heads.

 It wasn't embarrassing at all, when he asked where i was coming from and i responded with,  "Prison"

Not only did he claim that i was going 56 in a 45... I got new insurance cards this week and didn't put them in the car. Nor did i ever get that Motor Vehicle Inspection sticker...

He only gave me a written warning--i think he felt bad that i work in prison, because he stood and asked me questions about it for like 10 minutes. I was like, c'mon buddy--there is a cold one waiting for me at home. Just kidding about that last part, but really. 

 The only problem now is that i have to try and find time next week to get to the police station to show them i have proof of insurance and got a MVI sticker--the only problem is that i will be gone Tuesday-Friday and Monday is a holiday. 

What holiday you may be asking????

Well, its West Virginia Day! 

A paid holiday off for State Employees--i am just hoping that someone will be there, otherwise i don't know what i am going to do.  Lets hope they don't come and arrest me at the Academy, cause that wouldn't be embarrassing at all.