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. 

How much is that doggy in the window?

Not many of you know this, but since moving away from home--i have saved two different dogs lives on two separate occasions. Its like I am the Mountain State Dog Whisperer or something. Where ever I am, dogs in need find me. Or maybe i am like that kid in that old Bruce Willis movie where the kid sees dead people--I just see doggies who are going to be dead, if i don't help them. For reals. 

Story #1: The Dangling Yorkshire...

A few Saturdays ago, I headed North over an hour to get to the mall (ridiculous-I know!) When I returned home, i grabbed my bags and started walking to my apartment when i could hear a puppy barking. The bark was tiny, and so i thought it must have been someone's new puppy or something. I headed into my Apartment, which was sweltering hot...so I headed to open the doors to the patio--and thats when i saw it.

The neighbors whose patio faces mine, had let their dog out on a leash attached to their deck rail. Well, the little Yorkshire was small enough to fit in between the railing posts. The little thing had jumped up and down and back and forth enough times that she had got her long leash all tangled up--she then went to jump down to the grass again, and the leash wasn't long enough! The poor little doggy was hanging herself. I throw my stuff down and rush out of my apartment to save the doggy! I got her untangled and back on the porch without the people who live there noticing anything. I don't know if they even know to this day that the dog had gotten herself all tangled up and was strangling to death. 

They are weird people, so I don't plan on ever telling them. They recently had three adults and some children move in with them--you can hear them yelling and arguing all night long. I secretly think they are drug dealers or something. 

Story #2: Little Allie Girl

Today, when i came home from work I saw this little cute puppy running around the back yard. I didn't recognize her--and she wasn't on a leash. So, I went to assess the situation. The sweet little thing came running up to me and was all excited!! I looked around and didn't see anyone--so i picked her up and brought her inside.

Her and Ginger were running wild, having a blast. This little doggy was tiny and fluffy with a little curly tail--her tag said her name was Allie. So, here i am chasing Allie, who is chasing Ginger--who thinks this is some kind of fun game. Not Fun. I finally catch Allie and call her phone numbers. No one answers at either number. 

Okay--now what? Just keep the dog? What the hell?

So, i give it a few minutes. Allie and Ginger are playing--and I finally get ahold of a woman. She says she isn't home, but that she lives in the townhouses near here, she says her fiancee is home. So, I take Allie out on a leash and walk her home.

I can see a guy standing out in the street in front of the house that she belongs to. When we get close, he just keeps starring--then he goes, "Allie? How did you get out?" Like she is gonna answer or something. He tells me that he must have left the front door open, and thats how she got out. 

Ummm....what an idiot. 

You think they would have offered me something--I gave their dog a free walk! 

Just Kidding... a little.  :)

Sunday Adventures.

This Sunday, Ginger and I took the trip to Spruce Knob, West Virginia about an hour or so from our house. This post will be photo heavy, I hope it doesn't slow your computers down too much.

A little backstory-- Spruce Knob is the highest elevation in West Virginia at 4,863 Feet above Sea level. The Spruce Knob lookout, is the summit of Spruce Knob Mountain-- and is the tallest mountain of all the Alleghenies'. It also features hiking trails, picnic and camping areas.

We had a good time. It really was breathtakingly beautiful.

This is a photo I took while driving, this is about 5 minutes from my house...

It was a cooler day, in the mid 70's and as you can tell--it was overcast for most of the day. The clouds in the photo look worse than they were. This is due to the fact that we are really high elevation here, and so the clouds are much closer and tend to look scarier than they really are. 

I stopped along the side of the road to take this photo and the next one. 

I took that one, just to show you guys how the roads are cut into the side of the Mountain. 

On the way there, we passed through the town of Seneca. In Seneca, there are these really pretty mountain cliffs. We stopped and snagged a few photos. The sun was really bright behind the mountains, so they are hard to see. They are really beautiful in person.

You can actually climb these mountains, but you have to pay to have a guide help you. This is something that I want to do while I am here. 

Pretty soon we were headed up Spruce Mountain to reach the summit. I stopped to take this photo. 

We call these, "Kiss your ass" curves. They are ridiculously sharp. I wasn't kidding when i told you all that driving in the mountains is insane.

We stopped at one lookout that was about half way up the mountain.

Ginger got out and stretched her legs a little bit. It is hard to see in the photos, but those shadows are the layers and layers of mountains that you can see. 

In this next photo--I know its really hard to see. Its almost like a Where's Waldo, but if you look at the bottom right half of the photo, just above that close greenery you might be able to see some opening in the mountain and some whitish spots. That is a little town down there. In person you can see all the little houses, its really cool--and it gives you some idea of how high up you really are. The mountains are all so covered in trees and foliage, that you can't really tell where you are. When you can see things like houses, it really gives you a perspective. It also makes you a little scared, because you know if you slip or fall--you are going to tumble all that way. 

As we kept driving up to the summit, we saw these run out in front of use. I took this photo for Jerry and David.   :) 

A little mamma and really tiny baby deer ran out in the road a few hundred yards in front of the car. They trotted down the road in front of us for a good 1/2 mile before they veered off into the wilderness. The information sign at the top of the mountain said that deer, bear, mountain cats, porcupine, skunk, and other types of wildlife live on the mountain. 

We finally reached the top.

We set out down the trail to the observatory, and then to the different outlook points. I was hoping that there would be some other people on the trail, so they could take a photo of me and the dog on a lookout, but no such luck. I kept hearing people, but the forrest was so dense that i never actually saw anyone else. 

This is the observatory. 

This is the best photo that i got from the top of the observatory. These photos really do not do it justice--When i got up there i was blown away with the stunning views. It truly is gorgeous.

Ginger loved it, she was running around wild. I think maybe the altitude got to her head. haha! she got thirsty and found a little patch of rain water to drink.

We saw tons of funky and beautiful plants and bugs. 

Can you guess  what this is?

It is a wild strawberry. I wish i would have had something to lay next to it, so you could get to see how tiny it was. If i had to guess, i would say it was about the size of a dime or smaller. It was the tiniest little red strawberry i have ever seen. 

I don't really know what kind of bug this is, I think it must be some sort of beetle. The colors of this bug were really vibrant and pretty. 

For the rest of the photos--of mountain views, bugs and plants, check out my facebook page. 

I can't wait for some of you to visit, so i can take you all to see these amazing views!! 

Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia...

If ever you get the chance--you must watch this movie. You must also call me after you watch it, so that i can give you some inside scoop on the White family of West Virginia.

Just a little warning, you will be offended by this movie. It is crude, vulgar, and often times rude--its also not kid friendly, obliviously.




Here is a little description of what you will be getting to witness as you watch this epic documentary...


Tucked deeply in the hills of the Appalachian Mountains, the White family lives an existence more like something out of the Wild West than modern-day rural America. The legendary family is known as much for their disturbing and excessive ways as they are for their famous mountain tap dancing legacy, which includes living legend Jesco White (star of the PBS documentary Dancing Outlaw). From MTV Studios and executive producers Johnny Knoxville and Jeff Tremaine (Jackass), this edgy and often hilarious look into a dying breed of American outcasts exposes the powerful forces of corruption, poverty, and West Virginia's environmentally and culturally devastating coal mining culture.

Julien Nitzberg follows the Whites over the course of one year to document their tangled history, intelligently weaving a jaw-dropping portrait of a family that will live on in infamy. From stabbings and attempted murder to drug trafficking and a child custody battle, the Whites run the gamut of 'drama.' Nitzberg brings humor and levity to the White's shocking lifestyle, but he is quick to ground us in their cyclical, brutal reality.




It is sort of like a train wreck or a horrible car accident--even though you want to, you just cannot look away. 

Country Roads, Take Me Home...

To The Place I Belong....

Well its official. I am now a licensed and registered West Virginia State resident.

I got up early today and made my way to the DMV before work. In order to get my driver's license and new plates for my car. Sad Day.

I took some photos to commemorate this horrible day.

The before shot....

Got to love that beautiful blue license plate. :) 

Here is the after shot...

Ugly gold and blue.

In West Virginia--you register your car for 2 years!! Which i thought was weird. You also only pay a flat rate for registration--unlike Minnesota, where you pay for how new or old your car is. 

You also only get one plate--for the back of your car. Everyone here has a "vanity" plate on the front, I am thinking i need to find a Minnesota vanity plate for the front!  :)

Plus, in WV when you get your license--they take your fingerprints and they make your driver's license right there, and you walk out the door with it that day. Which was kind of nice--no paper license to carry around for weeks!  On a positive note, i actually like my Driver's License photo--it turned out pretty good! 

All i need to do now is get my inspection sticker. Each year you have to take your car to a mechanic and they have to check it out and make sure it is "safe" to drive on the Mountain roads of West Virginia. I have 10 days to get that done--then it will be really official. 

When i was at the driver's license station, there was a woman standing next to me finishing her paperwork. She overheard that i was from MN and all that jazz. She started asking me questions, about the weather (on a side note: that is the first question everyone here asks me. "How cold is it there." Like its the Arctic or something.) Anyway....I turned to look at her while she was talking and all i could notice was that she had not one tooth in her whole mouth! NOT ONE!! She would not stop talking either--I kept trying to keep myself from starring at her toothless mouth as she kept smacking her gums. The look on my face must have been pretty good. 

Good Grief.