The YM are going to Jail

We took the Teacher's Quorum (14-15 year old boys from church). to the County Prison. One of the TQ advisers works at the prison (that would be Corrections Officer Darling).

HIGHLIGHTS...

• We went to the 'padded' room. This is for the 'out of control' people that are brought in. The floor, walls, door and ceiling are all a rubber coated kind of thing. The tour guide also told us that those put in these kinds of rooms (there were four) that they were a little crazy in the head. He said that they like to 'paint' and were called Poop-casos. They have had inmates 'paint' so much that a bio team has had to come and clean up the room. Just two minutes after he told us that, one of the youth, with is hand full flushed on the wall, said, "Why are the walls squishy again." I said, "Dylan, remind me not to shake your hand on Sunday".
• We got to visit the various wings of the Jail - min, mid, and max security. While in Max security for the men - one of the inmates just happened to be looking out of his cell. He started hooting and hollering at the group. The tour guide said that they all do that, because they don't every see anything but guards and other inmates. The max-security inmates get out of their mini cell to a larger room (about the size of an oversize class room) for one hour each day. 23 hours in the little cell, one hour in the group cell.
• We went through the women's wing. No one from max-security of the women's section saw us. All the others just kind of stared at us with blank looks on their faces.
• Some of the inmates worked at the jail. They did janitorial, laundry, and other minor duties. They would get paid for their services - in either reduced time or phone privileges. We say maybe 15-20 workers the whole night. We even passed some in the hallways of the prison. When we near the end of the tour, someone asked why some workers were in blue while others where in orange. The guide told us that the orange suits were people who had done something bad - attacked a guard or inmate, or something like that. He said that the guards never turn their back on an orange. What about a Pear - two inmates...After I heard that, I noticed that C/O Darling became more attentive every time we passed working inmates...great! It's not that he started doing it...he was being overly attentive all night when we were around the inmates. I just noticed it at the end.
• We also got to see the psych ward. They get to were heavy denim 'gowns' so they can tear them or use them as a hanging device. They are under 24-7 watch. they were happy to see us too and let us know.
• It was a good night - it helped those who were interested in law enforcement and helped those who needed to see what happens to those who don't make wise choices.

On a funny note...the next day, I was at the Chevron that I go to every morning. The clerk there is Tammy. I told her about our tour of the prison. She asked if we visted the C or D wing. I said yes. She said that is where she used to live. She said she has changed her life around. Last week she told me that her Dad and Step mom (converts of one year) just went to the temple to be sealed. One of the other customers at Cheveron asked what that meant and she proceeded to tell the customer exactly what that meant...and yes, I have invited her to church. Our mission has what's called invitation Sunday...but that's a different story.

Long lost friend...

I had my laptop stolen from my car last month. I was coming home from work and stopped off at Fred Meyer's to pick up 3 things. I got out of my car, opened the back door and put my laptop on the floor in the back, locked both door and went into the store. Five minutes later I came back to the car to find two doors unlocked and one missing laptop bag. I called the police and waited on now, an even cloudier afternoon. The officer showed up and it began to rain and then hail. I think the rainstorm was only a three foot radius around me. I lost my laptop, bag, Megan's CT scan disk, a few music cds, two spare batteries (one for my phone and one for my laptop), my sd card reader, and some misc office supplies (leather binder and the coolest pen known to mankind (it had Jacobsen construction printed on the side). It took 10 days to get a replacement from work. That was very frustrating. Most of my day is spent connecting to client's systems across the USA...I had all my short cuts and links all set up. The temp laptop was slow and old and not worth setting up any short cuts until the newer computer was secured. I've had my 'new' laptop for a couple weeks now - I think that everything is set up again.

Toys will be Toys

These are items from my desk at work... First is the sheriff badge that Lori bought for me at DIA after a Fourth of July week at Mom's in Colorado. I had a plastic badge when I was in Ft Collins and was flashing saying I was the Sheriff and in charge. The funniest look I got was when Mom, John, Lori and I were getting food at Sam Club.

This is the HITACHI the Sumo wrestler - he is a stress ball. He is part of my collection of 20+ stress balls. They just sit there - not much stress relief there. Maybe I should start using a couple. Yes, he is wearing Bronco helmet.

Nappy D is a talking statue - He says things like "Get me my chapstick, my lips are real dry" and "Tina you big fat lard come get some dinner" and "Go with your heart, that's what I do". The person I sit next to has one also...sometimes that talk back and forth.

This is my talking Hulk - Connor gave him to me for Christmas. I get a new desk item from someone in my family every Christmas. Hulk talk. Hulk say 'Arrrrrrrrgh' and 'Hulk Smash' and Hulk favorite - "You're making me angry...you won't like me when I'm angry" He hold conversation with Nappy D. Yes, I put a candy heart in his mouth. (for the curious - it says "Yes Dear"

And this is Darth. He too is a talking statue. He too likes to join everyone else in conversation. He says things like "Most impressive" and "Never under estimate the power of the dark side. When we get all 4 talking (2 Napoleons, hulk, and Darth there can be some great conversations.

**** All my picutres are taken with my cell phone...that's kind of my personal touch on my blog. It really doesn't like close ups, but did a great job on Connor's birthday pics.

Spring Has Sprung...

Above are the rouge flowers that jumped over to the grass...rebels.

There were white ones

Yellow ones....

And purple ones... this is what they look like on a cool afternoon

And this is what they look like on a warmer afternoon.

They are gone now - short lived, but let us know that warm weather is just around the corner

Too Cute to Kill...

Cats have time clocks in them...The cats (Steve [above], Peter, and Turbo get feed every morning aroung 4:30a - that's the time I get up to work out (or Sunday it's the time I leave for my first Sunday meeting). On Saturday, they have little or no patience. The jump on the bed, meow or fight amongst themselves UNTIL they get feed. Jen and I both pretend that neither of us hear them until it gets sooo bad that one of us gives a heavy sigh and gets up and feeds them. After they are feed they all come up on the bed and sleep around Jen.

Here is Turbo passed out from sheer exhastion...

Peter, curious who told him to cut it out

Hey, let's go to the Doctor's office...it's been so long

After Megan's doctor appointment we picked up and Connor and headed out to the Sushi Factory for a Post Valentine's Day Lunch. Connor spit only one of his sushi pieces in a napkin (raw salmon roll).
From there we went to Connor's doctor appointment. Not really an appointment, but his weekly allergy shot. He gets his shot and then we wait twenty minutes in the lobby making sure he doesn't over react to the allergy shot.

Megan is a knitting machine...she completed a beautiful mohair shawl today. It's pretty impressive. She has completed a handful of scarves and now a triangle shaped shawl. Aren't all shawls triangle shaped?

Doctors...Doctors and MORE Doctors...

Megan Rusty and I went to OHSU (Oregon Health and Science University) to meet with a MF specialist recommended by the dermatologist. Well, we found out that Megan has MF and that the patches need to be dealt with. The specialist said he was just asked to be consultant and so he recommended that we go BACK to the dermatologist. The good news was 1. the dermatologist is in Vancouver so we don't have to go to Portland for every treatment. 2. OHSU is covered with insurance 70/30 Dermatologist is 90/10. Bad news - 1. Another doctor/specialist visit telling us everything we already knew and 2. Another doctors bill to pay...
Today we went to the Dermatologist...


Here is a picture of Megan in a hospital gown laying on the doctor table. We got to the appointment at 9am and sat in the waiting room for 20 minutes. They took us back to her room...three magazines and a couple of cell phone games later (over an hour) we met with the dermatologist. He looked at her her new spots. He told her that they want to make sure the new spots are MF and not eczema - so they will know how to treat each of them. Megan has been taking anti-histamine for the itch - it makes her really drowsy. She asked if they is something different she can take. He said her dose was 10mg and a normal adult dose is 100mg. She said she would fight it out. Also, the doctor is going to get insurance approval for UV-B treatment...if approved, treatment will start in 3 weeks...and now a word from our UVB sponsor -
Broadband UVB has been used for treatment of MF for several decades. A new form of UVB called narrowband UVB uses only a few selected UVB wavelengths. Narrowband UVB is generally more effective than broadband UVB; however, narrowband UVB phototherapy has only been available in the U.S.A. since 1997, but is gradually becoming more accessible. UVB penetrates the skin less than UVA; therefore, it is used primarily for patch stage mycosis fungoides.
Phototherapy is initially administered three times a week. It typically takes 20-30 treatments for a response to become apparent. If no response is seen at that time, an alternate light source (phototherapy) or medication should be considered. If improvement occurs with phototherapy, the frequency of treatments will be reduced and eventually discontinued.
The side effects of phototherapy differ with each light source, but early side effects include: skin redness or sunburn, blistering, itchiness and tanning. Premature aging and wrinkling of the skin is increased with phototherapy, but is more common with PUVA than UVB. Damage to the cornea can occur with all types of phototherapy.
Meet Happy the encouraging Trash Can...

While we were waiting I found Happy the encouraging trash can. The said part was, he wasn't very positive. It took me a while to figure out why...

• He eats garbage all day.
• He is always in the dumps
• He is always trashed
• Everyone bags on him
• Everyone says he stinks
• Everyone wants him to shut up.
• No one will play with him and adults say he is full of germs.