Hey Everyone,

Not a whole lot has changed around here. This week at work, I am training on the unit that i hope to be placed on. I enjoy the job there, and really like the co-workers that i have on that unit.

 I found an apartment building that i wanted to get into, and got a call this week that there will be an opening in February. Which is pretty exciting. The apartment is a 2 bedroom, so it is more money than i wanted to spend on rent. However, in the Spring the landlord has some 1 bedrooms that will be open, so the plan is for me to move into a smaller apartment later this year. Each apartment has its own washer and dryer, which i was really excited about. Also, the building is laid out so that each apartment is a corner unit-- so you get natural light on all sides, and you don't have as much noise from neighbors. And they all come with a small patio or deck. I am ready to get out of the Crouch House. Its just too cramped, and there are more and more people staying here, which means more and more noise and such.

We had a pretty big snow storm here the other night. We got about a foot of snow here in the mountains. It was the heavy wet kind of snow, so there were plenty of downed trees and power lines. They even started shutting down roads, before i left work for the day. I wasn't sure if the road i live on was closed or not, because it is considered a "Mountain Road." My boss gave me his phone number, incase i needed to stay at his house overnight. thankfully i made it home without incident. One of my co-workers sat on the road for over 2 hours, because they had closed the south mountain roads due to disabled semi-trucks. I guess when semi-trucks get on the mountains in snow like that, they loose control and jack-knife coming down the steep terrain. In West Virginia, the snow removal is just not up to par with Minnesota. Often they don't plow roads at all, and they don't scrape down to the pavement. Driving in snowy conditions here is pretty sketchy sometimes. It all makes for a bad combination.

That's about it. Hope things at home are going well for all of you! Miss you guys!
Sarah

Hey guys.

Not too much is new around here. I finished my first week of the new job. I like it so far, but I am going to be on another Unit next week. Each Unit does things a little differently, so it may take a few days to adjust. Today was a really busy day. We had some extra stuff come up in the middle of the work day, that had to be dealt with immediately. Needless to say I am tired and I have exactly 4 blisters on my feet from wearing "professional" shoes. 

I thought i might have found an apartment today, but when i got there it didn't exactly work out. The landlord had someone else who rented it right before I met with him. However, it was the cleanest thing i have seen so far. So, the landlord put me on his list, and hopefully by February or March i can get into his building.

 You wouldn't believe the housing down here. I looked at one this week that had dead mice in it, it also had spray paint on the walls. I am thankful, that my fellow employees are knowledgeable about the buildings in the area-- I later found out that the apartment was a "crack-den" and had a recent outbreak of bed bugs. Real Nice!  For the mean time, I am just going to continue living at the Crouch House. 

I really hate weekends. I used to always look forward to the weekend-- there was nothing better than being able to do what i wanted, whenever i wanted- and not have to worry about going to work. That is not the case anymore. On the weekends, i realize how home sick i am. With nothing to do all day, but sit around here and think about it. So, tomorrow i am going to drive the 2 hours to Clarksburg--in order to go to Target and the mall. 

In other random news: 

• I found a Walmart and a Kroger (grocery store) about 30 Minutes from here. I was pretty excited about it. If you really know me, you know how much i hate Walmart, but i was pretty happy when i saw that place. 
• This week i went and got a P.O. Box, so that i can get mail. If you would like the address, let me know. 
•  I realized that i forgot my toothbrush charger at home--now its a manual toothbrush. ha! 
• I also forgot my blow dryer, so i bought a new one at Walmart. I forgot my straightener too, but i will just have to wait for that. 
• I hear its pretty cold in Minnesota....It was about 50 degrees here yesterday, but we had some snow last night. Its not nearly as cold as Minnesota though. Its pretty funny to hear people down here complaining about the cold. I was outside without a coat the other day, and i saw a woman wearing a jacket, scarf, hat and mittens. haha!  
• You wouldn't believe how badly i want to come home. Another guy staying here and working with me goes home on the weekends. I despise him for it.
•  I could really go for some Town Club pizza and a beer--friends and family too. 

Miss you guys! 

Sarah 

First Day.

Today was my first day working at the Correctional Center.

It started horribly-- when I parked my car and started walking into the building, I brushed against someones car on accident and got mud all over my sweater! I tried to clean it off, but there was still some on my shirt. It was SUPER embarrassing.

I can't say too much about what I did today--for confidentiality reasons. Although, I will tell you it was pretty interesting. There is tons of stuff to learn and know. I will be working in the same unit all week, and then I will transfer to a different unit for one more week. After that I will attend a 3 week class ( not the boot-camp) and they will decide which unit I should work in. I guess there is a back-log for the boot-camp, so I they don't know when I will be doing that yet. I survived, and am going back for more tomorrow :)

I still haven't found anywhere to live. I looked at a place yesterday, but I didn't really like it. It would be nice to have an apartment to myself--with a kitchen and a television. Hopefully I can get something lined up soon.

Miss you all like crazy-- you have no idea! 
Sarah 

Hey guys.

Not much new here. Today I pretty much just hung out and watched movies on my computer.

A little on the Crouch House--
* I am staying in the "Cheat Mountain" room. Pretty much everything in the room is green.
*The room is pretty small, but i have my own bathroom, so that is nice.
*I also have a sliding glass door, that leads to a deck.
*I thought I might have a good view, but all i can see are trees. I realized its because the house is on a road that winds up a mountain, so the house is sitting on land that is cut out of the mountain. If that makes any sense.
*The view out the front of the house is pretty, because you can see layers and layers of mountains on the other side of town.
* There are 36 German Shepherds here. Apparently they breed them. All of the dogs I have met have been really friendly, it really makes me miss my dog.
* I did eat dinner the other night with the owner, and the three other people who work for him. They served salad, vegetarian lasagna, Italian Sausages, and "Red Gravy". I have learned that Gravy means, anything that is a pourable sauce. All the food was good. I didn't eat any of the Italian sausages-- not only because I don't like them, but because they used a Swiss Army pocket knife to cut it up. They also tossed the salad with their fingers.--- I have learned that this life style will take some getting used to.

I took pictures, but can't find my camera cord. It may still be in the car, or at home in a box. If I find it, I will find put some photos on here for you all.

I am going to try and look at apartments tomorrow. I got a paper today, to try and find some listings. Inside the paper was a Target ad. What kind of sick punishment is that! :)

Love you all! 
Sarah

Quick one.

just a quick note to let you all know, that I made it to the Historic Crouch House. I had some trouble finding it. It's kind of a funny story--I will have to tell you sometime.

The house is big ( i got lost trying to get outside... more than once.) and pretty much unrestored (Read: old and smelly) The owner has invited me to dinner tonight. Apparently his wife cooks all the meals here. I am a little nervous. Those of you who know me well, know that I am pretty picky. I might just have to eat something I don't like.

I am the only one who is renting here currently, but on Monday someone else from the Prison will be staying here. Which makes me feel a little better about the situation. At least I will know someone.

I actually contemplated driving back home today. Hopefully, I will settle in and things will get better. 

Love you all. Miss you more than ever! 


Sarah

Ohio.

Hey guys! 


I made it to Columbus, Ohio for the night. It ended up taking me close to 13 hours to get here. I only got lost once!! Pretty amazing! There ended up being tons of construction in Indianapolis and Ohio, so that slowed me down a bit. I had some trouble staying awake in the early morning, but after the sun came up I didn't have any trouble. I stopped for gas in Illinois and paid $3. 65 a gallon! I couldn't believe how expensive it was. I ate at Bob Evan's for dinner. You all will have to try it if you get the chance. It is actually pretty good food, and super cheap! I went through a time change, so I am now an hour ahead of you guys. This was sort of a boring update, but today was pretty boring! :) I better get to bed, my butt hurts from all the sitting I did today.


Thank you all for the well wishes! You can't imagine how much I miss you all! 


Love, Sarah

Here goes nothing.

Hey guys.

I wanted to start a blog to keep you all updated on the new chapter in my life. I can't say for sure how often I will be posting, but for now I am going to give this a shot. I hope to be able to keep you all informed on what is happening and maybe get some photos posted on here. We will see how it goes.

The plans so far, are for me to head out early tomorrow morning (Friday). I am hoping to make it to Columbus, Ohio by tomorrow evening. Then finish the trip on Saturday. I should arrive at the Historic Crouch House in Huttonsville, West Virginia by Saturday afternoon. I am going to be staying at the Historic Crouch House for about a month or so, until I find an apartment. Hopes are that I will find some place where I will be able to bring my dog Ginger along.  I start my new job on Monday the 18th. The first day should just be paperwork stuff, and then from there I will find out when I will start the "boot-camp" training. The boot-camp is supposed to last for 3 weeks.

Thats the latest. I am supposed to have free internet at the Crouch House, so i hope to be able to keep you all updated. I recently got Skype, so hopefully I can get the hang of that--and maybe video chat with some of you.

I will miss you all like crazy, and already can't wait to get back for a visit!