There's been a lot going on in my world...and yet...not.   I sometimes feel like I'm in a 'rinse and repeat' cycle of life.  Oh sure, there is a sprinkling of drama, anxiety, that other earthlings interject into my day.  Or the occasional scary health bullshit to throw a wrench in an otherwise mechanical day.  All in all, dare I say that I am (insert dramatic gasp) boring?   Or is this age...pardon me...MATURITY... talking? I can't say that it's a bad thing really.  I mean, I'll take 'rinse and repeat' over constant angst, drama, anxiety and stress any day!   That shit can kill you! But on the other hand, I'd like to feel like my life is something other than boring or monotonous.  

So here I sit, in my office on a Sunday afternoon trying to think of something witty and entertaining to write.  Just how does one write about entertaining things when life is monotonous?

I thought about writing about President Baboon and his boy Elroy.   Nah, not really feeling it.  That borders on toxicity, and I just don't need that on a day of rest.  

I didn't go to the gym this morning.  I wasn't feeling that either. I've been there 5 days this week and my body was in strike mode when I climbed out of bed this morning.   

I did watch a peculiar little murder mystery on Netflix recently.  If you haven't seen The Residence, it's a good one to binge in a weekend.  It had me guessing until the last 5 minutes of the last episode.  If you watch it and tell me you guessed it in the first episode, we can no longer be friends!

Books?  Well, I'm proud to say that I've now read 8 books in 2025.  Were they books of substance?  Not a chance in hell.  They were pure spicy, dark romance; I loved every scintillating page! This is a judgement free zone!

I had a consult with a knee surgeon on Tuesday.  She said that I'm in the severe range and will definitely need a knee replacement. I guess I'll have to figure out a time frame and schedule when the timing is right.  Until then, it's cortisone shots, leg and quad strengthening exercises, yoga, bike riding and a shit-ton of Voltarin (topical anti-inflammatory) and Extra-Strength Tylenol Arthritis.  (Here's that age and maturity) thing creeping in!  

The family is doing good - everyone is still alive.  (A little dark humor there since my siblings are in their 70's and 80's).  I'm really going to HATE myself if something happens to any one of them now.  

I have had 3 alcoholic beverages since December.  I was in the mood for going on a good bender this weekend.  I went to the liquor store to purchase wine and a 4-pak of a mixed drink - something called Peach Paradise.  I think there was Vodka in it.   Everything is still in the fridge.  Once again, age and maturity? 

So here I sit, trying to think of something witty and entertaining to write about my boring, monotonous life and can't come up with a single damn thing.  

I'm going to go fold laundry.  (Age and maturity)

 I can almost see it.... the weekend is within sight!  

January felt like it was an entire year.  This week felt like someone was holding my head under water and I was trying to breathe.  Good lord, it is taking forever!!!  The Universe also decided that it was 'shit all over admin services week'.  

• The requests that range from fixing something that has been wrong in the system since Elite (our offender management system) was put into play.  That's real fun.  NOT! 
• The "heyyyy, I can't figure out how to fix the margins on this document.  Oh, and I need it fixed in 10 minutes because we're doing a forced med hearing on a guy in SAU (Special Assistance Unit - houses criminal mentally ill inmates) and I need this doctor's recommendations to go on file so another doctor can review and sign off on it"    Ohhhh oK then...let me just get right on that for you.    
• Legal court cases that need to be scheduled for the inmates
• Family members calling in to check on lil Johnny who 'always calls me every day and I haven't heard from him for 3 days.  Is he ok?"   Hmmmm, nooooo Lil Johhny can't call you because was involved in a major fight and is on RTQ (Restriction to Quarters) and lost his phone privileges.
•   I can't tell family members anything other than the inmate is here, he's alive, what he is here for and when he'll get released.   Century Code prevents me from giving any other information to anyone unless it is another LE (Law Enforcement) agency.  
• Family members get pissed.  I usually get hung up at least a minimum of 3 times a week.

The open position closes today; tomorrow I go over applicants with HR to score them out and select those that qualify for an interview.  We're looking for qualifications and of course someone that will fit into the incredible team we have right now.   Fingers crossed!  I do not want to go in to summer vacation season short staffed.   We can manage if we need but I'd rather not.  

I went out for supper last night with a former co-worker who has become one of my 'besties'.  She's been retired for 13 years and has become quite the social butterfly; she's in two quilting guilds, two book clubs, participates in multiple 'happy hours, suppers, lunches' gatherings per week.   She's well read and informed, educated, opinionated and highly political.  The 'grand Cheeto and his chainsaw massacre sidekick' was a dominant subject of conversation.  I normally do not talk politics or religion unless I know my audience.  My thoughts and beliefs on the current administration align with hers so I felt safe and venting.  We both agreed that we're more than likely going to be alcoholics by the end of this 4-yr term.  

Blaine called me at work today.  He said "I miss you Auntie."   With his parents in town now, they've been taking over my driving duties.  I used to see him every single day; I'm now down to maybe 1 day.  

He is heavily involved with the sports teams of UJ (University of Jamestown) and told me he has basketball games on Saturday.  I had hoped that I could take him out for breakfast but maybe I'll grab him for supper tomorrow night.  

One more day of work to tackle, then the weekend is here, and I can relax a bit. Hopefully.  

Every week the management team tours a department or housing unit in the prison.  Today I selected the prison's commissary department.  It had been a hot minute since I had been there, and it was one of the only locations left that we haven't visited.  

I couldn't believe how much it had changed. The amount of product on hand is mind blowing not to mention the system in place to fill, pack and ship inmate's orders to the other facilities within the ND DOCR.  Quite impressive!  

I asked one of the inmates to explain the process to me; you should have seen him puff up with pride.  He did very well with giving details of each step and even commented that he had been instrumental in developing once of the processes for the "Family and Friends" program.  I commended him and thanked him for his time.  His smile made my day. (Hopefully I made his too).

The ND DOCR is extremely overcrowded; JRCC is the fullest I've ever seen it.  We're in a differed admission situation right now.  This means that the DOCR will not accept any inmate from any county jail until 1) we have an available bed and 2) those that we accept must meet the criteria for entrance (ie length of sentence must be 3-5 years, crime must be medium to maximum.   As one can expect, this does not make the county jails happy.  There isn't much anyone can do about it.  Crimes are becoming more and more violent with longer sentences.  Longer sentences mean more time in prison (duh!) which takes up the bed on the 'revolving bed' count (usually those serving 6 mos to 1 yr).  The Parole Board doesn't seem to want to give out cuts in sentence either (not that some of them deserve it, but it would help the bed situation). 

With the increased inmate count, comes increased pressure for treatment programs, increased staff, etc.  My department is sure feeling it.  We have three fantastic ladies who bust their behinds every day and generally with a smile and maybe a wisecrack here or there.  Hey, you have to have fun at work, right?

We're busy - no ifs, ands, or buts about it.  I could have stayed and worked a couple of extra hours tonight, but I didn't.  It was absolutely gorgeous here ...springlike with 43 degrees! 

 Yes, I have Spring Fever!!  

Yes, I am already thinking about getting my bike out!

Yes, I am already thinking about gardening, sitting on my patio AND wine! :)

It takes a North Dakota winter to appreciate a North Dakota Spring!  :)