Weekend Update

So, it’s Monday and I’m exhausted. I have a raging headache this morning. All I can think is that, it rained in the middle of the night, I woke up all congested and I didn’t get a whole lot of sleep this weekend. Yay me.

Let’s see…the weekend:

Friday night was my Scentsy party. I was dreading it but overall, it wasn’t bad. I ended up getting 1 party booked from it and 1 potential party. She hasn’t closed her party yet (this week) but right now she’s at $230. I got home around 9, unloaded my crap, and went to bed. I couldn’t sleep and laid awake until probably around midnight.

Saturday was busy. I got up and got ready; mom and I went over to the West Side to a used purse sale. We got 5 purses for $46 dollars. We also met up with Cindy and the boys, shopped with them, I think Cindy got one purse and then we all went to breakfast. After that, we went shopping and then we left mom to go to the movies. We had to stop and pick up Jakob some hearing aide batteries, his aides weren’t working (so he couldn’t hear us) and then we spent like 10 minutes searching ALL OVER Cindy’s car for her ATM card which was in her wallet the entire time. LOL We saw Despicable Me. It was really adorable. Most of the funny parts were all of the parts in the previews but it was still a REALLY cute movie. Then we headed back to my house for pizza.

This is where things got interesting. While eating pizza, Bobby was sitting there, talking to my mom and I. Cindy had gone to the bathroom and Jake was in the living room, watching TV – Bobby got his arm stuck in the rung of the chair. We tried to get it out, we even tried to pull the rungs of the chair, and we couldn’t get it unstuck. Mom kind of panicked and called 911. It took like 7 firefighters and some Dawn soap to get Bobby’s arm unstuck. They applied soap to the arm and the chair, twisted and slid his arm a little and out it came! I can’t even tell you how that little booger got his arm stuck!

Sunday, I was up at 4:15. UGH. We picked up dad at 5:45 and headed to Madison to see James. I slept like CRAP the night before. Cindy left our house around 10:45 I think and I headed to bed, RIGHT after she left. I think I finally fell asleep around 1AM and tossed and turned all night. I was up and down….it was weird.

We got to the prison around 7:20 and checked in. It was hella intimidating stepping out of that van. There is barbed wire fencing as far as you could see. We all kind of just stood there for a few seconds, taking it all in.

You have to get a number once in the building and just wait, basically. When our number was called, we showed our IDs, gave our conformation # and headed across the parking lot to “Zone B” where my brother is “housed”. We went through another security point, got stamps on our hands, and showed our IDs again. After that was all done, you go through a huge medal detector and then are cleared to go into the visiting area. Then you go into another area, sign in, show your IDs (AGAIN) and then you are assigned a table.

We opted to sit outside at the picnic tables, since it was so nice out, so we sat in the shade and waited. My brother came about 10 minutes later and our visit started. He looks GREAT. When he went in, in December, he weight 165 pounds. He now weighs 215. He looks like a grown up now, instead of this really tall, 12 year old with facial hair. I wouldn’t have known him if he passed me on the street.

The visit went really well. It was awkward at first, the 4 of us sitting at the table but after awhile, everyone relaxed and enjoyed our time together. The grounds are gorgeous up there. James lives in a camp type setting, since he’s minimum security. They all live in dorms and have jobs. Some of the intimates work in the kitchen, some work the grounds, and some have indoor duties. They also rehabilitate abused or neglected dogs there. So, we saw a lot of guys out with dogs, training them with leases and tossing balls around. There was a basketball court and a walking trail around the perimeter. The C.O.’s (correctional officers) walked the grounds as well; you also saw some of them on bikes, riding around the grounds. It honestly looked like a big camp for felons. About once an hour, you’d see a C.O. car ride around the perimeter and you’d also hear a helicopter fly overhead. So, even though it appeared to look like an overnight camp, you are reminded often that it’s not.

I’m honestly not sure what I expected; maybe some high towers with guys with rifles looking down, rough looking old men that were smoking non-filter cigarettes, inmates hollering rude remarks…it was NOTHING like that.

We got home around 2, we stopped in Springfield (right outside of Madison and had lunch). I was pretty exhausted but made myself stay awake. I was really afraid a nap would cause me not to sleep later in the evening and I had to work today. I did some laundry and mostly laid on the couch, watching TV. My head had started to hurt a little so I was trying to take it easy. I headed to bed around 9PM and laid there. I was so hyped up on caffeine I think that I couldn’t sleep. I was up until after 11 and then the storm that moved through woke me up around 4AM. I’m pretty sure that’s why I have a giant headache today. I’m going to really try not to complain about it though. No sense in it.

Tonight, I’m supposed to go to Ultimate Bingo with Kim Carney. We’ll see how I feel. Wednesday, I get my hair cut, Thursday is “diet food” day here at work (I’m making Blueberry Cream Pie) and Friday is our jewelry party. Saturday, I see my therapist and I think on Sunday, we might be going to visit my brother again. (Ugh.) Oh, and Tuesday is dad night. I also need to do some grocery shopping for more “diet” food, do my laundry and finish off my closet cleaning. I’d also like to really go see that apartment, which I’ve been putting off.

This was a HUGE blog post. If you’ve made it this far and you aren’t asleep and are still my friend, CONGRATS!!! =)

Off to get more water and take my medicine.