Jail, Jail, Jail #6b

Ok, so where were we?...Right getting to school from jail. Well, FINALLY my transportation, and class, and homework schedule was approved.

I figured out the whole bus thing. There was a bus stop just down the block from jail. I then transferred to a freeway flyer that dropped me off about 6 blocks from school. Not bad.

I had a locker at school. I kept things like my Bath, and Body Works products, toothbrush, and good deodorant, make-up, shoes etc. It worked out well because if I needed something I could let DH know, and he would drop it in my locker when it was convenient for him.

It was funny, because a lot of the same people seemed to used the same bathroom at the same time every day. So  I would get to my locker at school, and grab up my supplies. I then proceeded to the bathroom down the hall, immediately remove most of my clothes, so I may slather, my very tired, dry jail skin, with the amazing flavor of "Sensual Amber" Bath, n Body Works lotion. Ya know that small crack between the stalls where you can catch a glimpse of some one's eye when ya didn't mean too. I had a lot of strange looks. Some thought I simply crazy, a few might have thought I was homeless. Either way, I really didn't care. I needed my good product fix. After the lotioning was done, I would dampen my hair, and  blow it dry with the hand dryer. I put in some hair product, and then proceeded to brush my teeth in the public bathroom. Finally, I followed with some make up. So many strange looks I received in the public bathroom. Ya might even say I was a "regular", or at the very least a "regular 8:30am attraction in the 2nd floor bathroom.

So it's the first day of the semester. I got to school with time to spare. I then went to check my school e-mail. I had gotten an e-mail about 10 days prior(which I had not read because I had no computer access), that said, "I had been dropped for non-payment". WTF! Panic immediately overcame me. I went to registration, to figure out what was going on, I KNEW I paid. I had gotten good at getting my ducks in a row before reporting to jail. Hell, I even set up the locker plan before I went in.

 Of course, because it was the first day of the semester the line was a mile long. I finally got to talk to someone. They look me up, and saw that I did indeed pay. BUT, apparently there was a computer glitch for a few days, and anyone who had paid on-line...well the payment didn't cross over to the right place, and all of their classes were dropped.  "WHAT?!...my classes are dropped? I need THOSE classes, at THOSE times. Lady, I don't think you understand". She was nice enough, she explained that, "I was not alone many students are going through this". "Yea, but how many of them had to explain the whole schedule thing to guards to get permission to go", I thought.

Luckily, she was able to get me back into all of my classes, except 2...they were full. She said, I would have to talk to the instructors to get special sign off to get my classes at the times I needed. Great, it the first day of school, I was high on life getting to get out of jail for the day, I was happy to have figured out the bus with no problem, I was actually looking forward to doing homework..and then before I have even taken note one, I have to run around campus like a mad woman trying to find my instructors to beg them to let me into their full classes. I started, to talk to myself, "Common' God, REALLY?, REALLY?"

I am happy to say by the end of my stressful day, everything did work out. Thank God! I had taken a pretty heavy class load knowing I would have plenty of time on my hands. I was able to be out 12 hours MWF, and 5 hours on Saturday.

I was able to see DH on those days. He would pick me up from school. It was against the rules. I was supposed to be on the bus. We would sneak in some fast food dinners. He would take my dirty clothes, and give me clean ones. We got to get in a kiss, and hug or two. Then he would drop me off at the bus stop,and I would walk the rest of the way.

There were a couple of other girls that were in school too. We would all sit at the same table, and study. Most of the others were respectful of our need for quiet. Like I said it was a more civilized facility.

There were some nights we didn't study. Like the nights when "The Bachelor" was on. Everyone was into that show. We all gathered around the flat screen TV on our plastic stacking chairs, munching on our vending machine snacks. In some ways, it was kind of like a slumber party at times. Well a slumber party, where every one has on the same pj's, has to have the lights out by 11:00pm, and ya can't go home if you're homesick.

What was VERY hard on me though, was, for the second year in a row...I was spending my wedding anniversary, AND birthday...my 40th birthday in jail. I felt horrible for my DH. It was a hard choice...do I delay, and spend our anniversary together, or go in right away, so that I could be home for DD graduation. Well, you all know, the choice I made.

On a happier note. The girls, my fellow criminals, and the guards gave me a birthday surprise. I was on my bunk studying. I heard the guard call my name over the PA. I thought, I was in trouble for something. When I got to the day room, I was met with the girls singing me "Happy Birthday", several hand made cards, and gifts of treats from the vending machine. It almost made me cry.

OK, I once again have to get ready for work.

More tomorrow.