First Conversation with my P.O.

I am not yet under the supervision of my probation officer, since the RRC is in charge of my supervision. I've never met him either, since I had no supervision prior to my self-surrender, so I decided to give him a call yesterday. I'm curious about what supervision will be like and how much freedom I'll actually have. Obviously, not freedom to do anything bad, but will I still have a curfew? Can I plan to do a special weekend away with my close friends? Etc.

My P.O. seemed like a nice guy when I talked to him on the phone. He knew exactly who I was with just my name - he's talked with Sporty a couple times since I'm living with her. He didn't want to answer any questions until my official out date - July 2nd. He was like, "wow, that's right around the corner, isn't it?" So, we made a time for me to meet him at his office that afternoon and he said he will give me all the details then. It's crazy that people only tell you what to expect when the day arrives... No ability to prepare oneself. Just another unknown in the future.

I tried to see if my 2x weekly check in could get transferred to him for the remaining time of my home confinement... His office is 15 minutes away, the RRC is 1 1/2 hours away. It isn't possible. So, after this morning, I have 3 more times of that ridiculous drive.

I did get him to answer one question in the positive, though. He says I'll be limited to the western side of my state for the first 60 days or so of my supervision, which will allow me to do my special annual weekend retreat with my close GA friends. Eleven of us will be doing the retreat this year and since I had to miss last year's, I'm super pumped for it. I started this retreat, but it has really become part of all of our lives. I do a lot of the organizing, still, and I've already planned some weekend activities! I can't wait to sit around a campfire and eat s'mores!!

Also, even though I'm restricted to the western side of my state, my P.O. gave me permission to attend a Queen (with Adam Lambert) concert next month on the eastern side of the state. I've been a Queen and Adam Lambert fan... the two together just sounds like an amazing concert! Glad my P.O. said yes. He sounds like a pretty reasonable guy!

I don't know what my life will be like once supervision starts (being on paper, as we call it in prison), but I know it should be more relaxed than my home confinement. It's just one more step closer to real freedom. I think it really depends on who your P.O. happens to be. As long as mine has a sense of humor, I think it'll be all right.

Almost Normal

For two days, life was nearly normal (whatever normal means). I think this was one of the best times I've had with my parents visiting me. Perhaps nothing was different on their end, but everything rolls over me now. Maybe they were nicer than usual. I don't know. We had about 24 hours together and it was really nice.

When I was told that I'd get home confinement, I really didn't know what that would look like. I though it went through probation, but it goes through the RRC (residential reentry center) that I stayed at. Some people are tethered (electronically monitored), I am not. Some people have to pay fees for being on home confinement, I do not. Some people only have curfews and can use their days however they want, that's not me either. However, with advance notice, I can do many things, as long as it can be verified. I'm not allowed at a park or to take a walk outside, because no one can verify that. I can do a lot of things, though.

Yesterday, I went shopping with my parents and out for a good steak dinner. I had my verification sheets all prepared in advance and knew what times I needed to be home by, in order not to violate. We went to the store for shopping, I walked up to the manager, and I asked if she would sign the verification with my time of arrival. She refused. She called her supervisor and said, "I'm not putting my name down in this..." Well, I was in a quandary, I was already there and now I couldn't get my necessary verification. So, I called the RRC on what to do, my parents were pissed at the manager and restless, so I ignored them, and the person at my RRC said to just save the receipt. Problem solved. 

My parents helped me buy some workout equipment (mat, hand weights, resistance band, etc.) and some food. I'm so grateful! The money that would've bought me a plane ticket home from Carswell, is now helping me stay active and eat healthy. Thank you parents!!!

I got home literally at my end time on the dot... Careful to always leave enough time to get home... Just before I left home and when I got home, I called my RRC. They note every call, time, and location.

Today, my step-father made his famous pancakes for breakfast and then we went to see the film "Chef." I must admit, it was a great first film to see in ten months. It's about having passion for what you do, I know a little about that. Who wants to wake up every morning and hate going to their job??  To verify the movie, I just had to keep the ticket voucher.

Last, I had lunch with my folks. The people there had no problem filling out my verification form, neither did the people at the steak house last night. But now I know to be prepared for people to possibly refuse to sign. Thing is, while my parents got visibly upset that the manager at the store wouldn't sign, I didn't. I just needed to ensure I could take care of the problem by calling in. The manager was rude, but not half as rude as many of the CO's I had to deal with at Carswell. I'm so used to things not going as they are supposed to, that it doesn't even phase me. However, I won't choose to shop in that store again in the near future.

Tonight, Traveler stopped by and we did some more catching up. She is absolutely one of the best people walking this earth. What always amazes more is that she doesn't even realize it. I can learn a lot about being humble by spending time with her.

Being out so much over the last few days really felt good. I look forward to many more days of near freedom. My life may not be normal, but sometimes normal is overrated. I'm just glad to be here and I can handle any limitations. They certainly won't last forever. My normal after all this may be entirely different than my normal before my self-surrender. So, maybe I'll just stay "almost normal."