[color=”black”]I went to do my jail time last weekend. I went in on Friday morning and was released on Sunday morning, almost exactly 48 hours later. And may I just say, the longest 48 hours of my life. I could regale you with dozens of stories and how I felt about this, but I just want to put it behind me now that it is over. I have done lots of time over the years, but it had been years and I wasn't used to it. When I said doing 3 days would be no big deal, I was thinking of the last 3 days of a sentence, not the first 3. There is no comfort and acceptance that occurs in the first 3 days and God willing, I will never go back again!

Daron insisted that we have a feast to celebrate my homecoming. It was just him and I, so the menu was a little overwhelming but I really enjoy spending time with him. Cooking is one of his favorite things. He says he wants to be a chef when he grows up.

We made Havana garlic chicken with mushrooms, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, broccoli with cheese sauce, garlic butter crescent rolls, salad and rice pudding. I think I gained 5 pounds at this meal!

Here is Daron sauting the mushrooms, garlic and green onions for the chicken.

[img]http://www.soobools.com/jail/cooking.jpg[/img]

And here is the finished result.

[img]http://www.soobools.com/jail/dinner.jpg[/img]

We made banana pudding before I went in, too. It's funny how he already has such a grasp of comfort food at the tender young age of 8.

[img]http://www.soobools.com/jail/bananapudding.jpg[/img]

Tomorrow will be my last day of vacation from work. I'm going in the morning to speak on a panel at a rehab where my sponsor's husband works. I'm a little excited about this because I was first introduced to the program of NA when I was in jail about 14 years ago and I want people to know there IS a solution, if they are ready for it. I was hoping to be “useful” in my weekend in the pokey, but no one really seemed to care. I was sitting there and actually heard a conversation that when like this:

Convict 1: What are you going to do when you get out?

Convict 2: Hit the pipe … oh, it's on!

Convict 3: Get a bottle

Convict 4: Smoke some of that weed

Convict 5: Have some post-jail sex [i](okay, I can handle that one)[/i]

Me: Go to an AA meeting

After that, the ratties and I are going on a field trip to Daron's school. He gets to do a classwide presentation on the ratties and then they are going to break into small groups and manhandle my babies. The ratties are teenager size already, not big ol' ugly RATS, but not the cute little baby angels they were a few weeks ago. Oh, how quickly they grow. I'd say they are the perfect size for 2nd grade hands. Daron is VERY excited about this little show and tell and to tell the truth, so am I. I really missed my little boy when I was away from him for 48 hours and he is the reason I do just about everything I do … including going to jail. Heck, if it weren't for food and videogames and karate lessons and rat cages, I would have just paid the fine. It's nice to remind him that I love him and he really matters to me. I didn't get clean to suffer.

Love to you,

~Suzy :punk: [/color]