Notice to new members intending to register - from January 9th 2012

grannyG · #1 09-21-2009, 03:47 PM

Howdy all, Here is our Fall Chitter Chatter. I was thinking with the start of fall tomorrow, I would get this put up today and ready for us .

Seattle118 · #2 09-22-2009, 02:30 AM

Thanks Granny, I really look forward to connecting with other WA/OR families and friends.

My fall begins with a trip to DC for a Veterans and Military Families conference. Weather there shouldn't be so hot and humid, but I'll be indoors for most of it. I won't be doing much sight seeing as I lived there for two years and got all that in.

My pen pal and I are getting along famously, I visit on Fridays and he says when he gets out of the regular area to spend time in the visiting area with me it is like getting out of prison, even just for a little while. I don't have a lot of money, but my time and friendship seem to be enough...Lesson learned: Even the little things mean a lot. I'm also learning a lot about prison, his life and myself. We have a mutually enjoyable friendship.

sw33tness052709 · #3 09-22-2009, 07:55 AM

nothing really different going on here.jus have all the back to school events for my daughter and then next step is halloween.time to find costumes and decorate. what is everyones kids(if you have)going to be for halloween?

gabbygirl372001 · #4 09-22-2009, 11:38 AM

Hello everyone! I have decided that I love Fall! Today it is beautiful outside, and I plan on going for a walk to take in some of that fresh air. My kids are older, so no back to school for us, but for some reason, this time of year makes me feel like getting things organized. So, that is what I plan on doing for the next month or so, going thru closets, and getting rid of things I don't need.

grannyG · #5 09-23-2009, 11:22 AM

I really must admit, I like all the seasons, and am always so glad to see the next one arrive. Seattle, have a great trip to DC. I am glad you and your ppl get along so well. Yes, it is the little things that help our incarcerated so much, just the visits and letters make all the difference in the world.
sw33tness, isn't Halloween so much fun! I used to put on a big Fall Harvest Party every year at Halloween, with my church. We'd have pumpkin carving contests and three legged sack races, pin the head on the skeleton, you get the idea. We'd have a big bon fire and have chili, hot dogs, and just a great time. There were no losers in the races, everyone got a treat for participation. I like witch costumes, I was told I played the part so well. I also like the skeletons and things, oh mummies are nice.
gabbygirl, I could sure use a hand with that organization, I might be having to move here in the next month or two (don't know yet). I really need to get busy down sizing, but keep procrastinating at it.
Well, I got to get going, I have things to get done today. Have a good day everyone.

Seattle118 · #6 09-29-2009, 01:54 AM

Just about to head home from DC. At our conference, considerable discussion occured about PTSD treatment for incarcerated veterans. currently there is none. i plan on researching the situation for my own information. I started a thread in the Military Forum looking for family members of veteran prisoners.

Funny how my fairly recent involvement in the prison system and my service to veterans and their families have intersected... Thanks to PrisonTalk, I was able to share general information about prisons with those less informed...

sw33tness052709 · #7 09-29-2009, 10:13 AM

so my son is going to be a football player and my daughter isnt into the scary costumes so we will check around.think imma take a cam n take pics of me n costumes to send to my baby too. other than that he has finally been able to call me so we have talked a few times and things are better than ever. counting the days till we get to see each other.im so excited

gabbygirl372001 · #8 09-29-2009, 12:39 PM

I am working this halloween, but have the evening off. Planning on making carmelled apples and lighting my pumpkin and answering the door for the little goblins! I love Halloween! One year my ex husband and I had a party...everyone dressed up, and everyone brought their kids too! It was so much fun! Maybe when my guy gets out, we'll have to do that!

grannyG · #9 09-29-2009, 09:08 PM

sw33tness, one suggestion for your daughter, where she isn't into the scary, and your son is going as a football player - maybe she would like to be "his cheerleader". It would be a fun little project to have her help make her pom poms, even. They could be made out of painting some newspaper, and cutting into strips (don't cut quite all the way through to the fold). Let me know if she's interested, and you need any further help. My kids are all grown and living elsewhere around the Country.
Seattle, that sounds like a good project you are undertaking, with that research. Way to go.
gabbygirl, when you have that Halloween party one of these years, don't forget the peeled grapes - (eyeballs), served out of a dish set in a box with a hand hole cut out. Also, got to have slightly bloody brains (spaghetti noodles with just a little spaghetti sauce over them).
So, is there any interest here in having a winter get together? It could be held at my home in Oregon. We could bake cookies for our Christmas baskets, and things like that, make candy, do some sewing, build some Christmas toys. I am throwing it out there for an option. We could hold it the end of November or the first part of December, or even the middle of November when the roads should still be better driving. I have a huge two story home, so there would be plenty of space. I have double ovens, so we could do lots of baking. We could all pitch in to get lots of things done for Christmas, and have a good chat about the prison system, etc. I would also post to Oregon to see if there is any interest there as well. We could combine the two states. So, just let me know who might be interested, or if there is any interest in doing this.

Seattle118 · #10 10-03-2009, 02:18 PM

Sw33tness, I envy you having kids that are still in the "costume" phase. Mine are in college and may indeed do costumes, but I can't experience that anymore...LOL.

When they were little, we would buy rather expensive ($30), well-made "princess dresses" or costumes and then put them in the toy box. Those outfits were worn for hours EVERY DAY throughout the year... a great investment and always more popular than most Christmas presents! Dressing up was their thing.

Granny, you are so creative with your costume ideas... any ideas for me? I am going to a party and am looking for something that is simple, clever, cheap, makes me look young and thin and will make the men drool, the women green and the children cry! Any ideas? LOL

By the way, I would definitely drive down from Seattle for a get together, and be willing to carpool with anyone who wants to head south for some holiday fun. Thank you so much for being willing to open your home to us all.

Gabby, have fun with the trick or treaters, I will miss that as I now live in a condo with security.

There is a new gal, bobshoney in the WA forum, I invited her to come here and hang out with us.

Bye for now.

sw33tness052709 · #11 10-04-2009, 04:50 PM

thanks for the idea we are going to check out the thrift stores and see if we can find old cheerleader outfits also. i would love to come to the get together but unfortunately i cant. hope you guys have lots of fun maybe you can send me sum cookies lol

DBsgirl · #12 10-06-2009, 01:56 AM

Hello….thought I would stop on by and see what the “chitter chatter” is all about. Sounds like everyone is pretty busy or at least going to be busy as we get moving into another season. I myself am not doing much other than anticipating the holidays. Anyway I thought it may be a good idea to drop in and see what other people are up to and stay a bit grounded.

grannyG · #13 10-07-2009, 02:03 PM

Oh Seattle, when I was 20, I took a gunny sax (sp) pattern and made it out of really nice black material. That was my witches costume then. It was stylish, very pretty, and was the "hit" with the guys, and made the girls turn green. When I was 35, I dressed up as the "slutty nurse" - made me a short white skirt, strapless blouse, a long blond wig, had really long fake nails applied (red of course), and put on make up reallllllllll heavy. Those were the days when I still had a figure to flaunt. Now, I am fresh out of ideas.
sw33tness - in looking for that costume, it doesn't have to be an actual cheerleader outfit. Go more for the "school" colors that you want, get her a pair of tights or leggings to help keep her warm, a little skirt of the right color, and a top, tennis shoes are the shoe of choice, and then the pom poms.
DBsgirl - welcome to our chat. Everyone is welcome. This is the place that we get better acquainted with one another.
Well, we recently had a little showing of snow this past weekend. So much for skipping fall and going straight to winter. I tried making it to "hunting camp". I decided I didn't want to go after all. I made it up there yesterday. Turning around at camp when I was ready to come home proved interesting -- in 18 inches of snow. I am not kidding, the snow there is over my knees. That is also the area where I usually go wood cutting. I usually get my wood during hunting season, as the stuff I get early goes to my kids. I may be needing to find a lower place to get my firewood this year. Also, yesterday morning the temp at my house was down in the teens. Yes, today I am warmed back up and in shorts. Go figure, this is definately Central Oregon weather.

gabbygirl372001 · #14 10-07-2009, 10:58 PM

Granny.....thats funny....about 15 years ago....I too, went out as 'the slutty nurse'...now Im an RN....and I could only hope to be slutty....haha...only get the 5 second kiss in the visit room! That Holiday gettogether sounds fun! Unfortunately, I only have every other weekend off, and I always spend that time with my hubby. My days off the rest of the time are split. It sounds like so much fun though. I wish we lived closer. I need some things to keep my mind off of this situation right now. You sound like my kinda gal. I like all that homey stuff too!

grannyG · #15 10-09-2009, 11:59 AM

Think I better make something clear for those that don't know me: I am on PTO supporting my incarcerated brother, not a husband or boyfriend. Also, I was married, but have been widowed for almost twenty years. I am straight laced, but do know how to have good clean fun. With the talk of my Halloween costumes of past, I thought I had better clarify these things, wouldn't want you all thinking I am "cheating" on my guy. And, the witch costume was done while attending (shhhh - don't let this out) bible college no less. And, I think I failed to mention that I was a nurse at the hospital, when I did the slutty nurse costume. It just happened to be my night off work, and several of us were going to a costume party. Now most of my dirty little secrets are out.
Gabbygirl, you are right to treasure your weekends off. We wouldn't want to take you from your visits with hubby. So far, I am not sure we'll be doing the get together. As of right now, only Seattle has spoken up willing to come to one. We'll keep waiting to see if others are interested.

Seattle118 · #16 10-09-2009, 02:53 PM

DBsgirl - Welcome!

Gabbygirl - what is your favorite distraction technique? I like reading, time just slips away, I also go out for karaoke. In fact, I am now friends with my pp's parents and after they visit him (about once a month) we all go out to sing karaoke. I actually have sung some songs in the visiting room for him (softly - I haven't been busted yet) Once, I was teasing the guards that WA SOU should have a visiting room event - Karaoke! you never know

Granny - I understand how you want to explain your position. My pp is a random person I became pen pals with and we are just friends, so I often feel I need to qualify my statements so people don't get the wrong idea when I post. Now that I am friends with his whole family, I guess he is like a brother to me. Maybe I should hang out on the Siblings Forum, nothing else really fits for me....Thanks for clarifying your situation, it's nice to know more about you.

As for being straight laced, hey, I sing in the church choir...LOL. I got so tired of being the "good girl" I decided to be "bad". What's the "baddest" thing you can do in Seattle? SMOKE. So now I am aspiring smoker. I am up to a pack a month and anything I can bum (I don't carry cigs, but try to get some practice in when I am around other smokers

) Oh, my favorites are CLOVE cigarettes, a lot of real smokers hate them because they smell/taste so sweet. So now I can be despised by non-smokers and smokers alike. I am just a rebel....

Seattle118 · #17 10-09-2009, 02:53 PM

Hey Sw33tness - where are you, girl?

Seattle118 · #18 10-16-2009, 01:39 AM

Hi Granny,

Hey, I just popped over to the Oregon thread, you have quite a few pages going on over there and the women seem pretty nice.... if this thread stays quiet, how about I join you there?

I could subscribe to this one and leave a note: "Hey, I'm out visiting but leave a post and I'll come right on home" LOL

gabbygirl372001 · #19 10-16-2009, 07:15 AM

I don't understand why the Washington forum is so quiet! I know there's plenty of us here!

grannyG · #20 10-16-2009, 10:30 PM

I think it takes time to get people "more acquainted" so to speak. Some people aren't comfortable joining in the friendly chat sort of things that we do in the chitter chatter thread. I saw Seattle, that you visited us in Oregon. Thank you. You better go visiting again, as we left a question for you to clarify something for us. And, I have met in person several of our Oregon PTO members. I vacationed this summer with one of the gals from the Oregon forum. I think that is what we are here on PTO for, to support one another through the incarceration process, not only answer the questions that arise from dealing with the DOC and the legal system. And, if anyone ever wants my phone number, I would be more than willing to share it via pm.
Oh, Seattle, we have an Oregon member wanting to come to a g2g. You got any preferences for a date?

Seattle118 · #21 10-17-2009, 01:13 AM

Any in person get togethers would be fun.

I am all about the road trip! Have I got some stories........

Granny - what's a g2g? If might girl to girl get together? Perhaps that holiday gathering you were suggesting... just fill me in and I'll go through my busy social calendar (not) LOL.

Gabby and all, I just got home from my weekly visit with my pen pal. It was a lot of fun. SOU is a metal health facility in the WA system. It's amazing to me that even though there are 400 beds there, the usual crowd in the VR is three guys and their guests. Of course that is usually Fridays and Mondays. One Sunday, there were 8, that was the most. I am so happy I live close (25 miles) and can get there to cheer him up. There are tables for about 15. So the COs are pretty comfortable with us regulars and there is a lot of jokeing around.

I have to preface the following story with a clear statement that Todd and I are platonic friends. I am now friends with his whole family, we go out for karaoke together after visits to Monroe, I think of him as a brother... anyway....

Tonight I got tired of doing the whole, stand side by side for a picture and wanted to make Halloween masks on paper towels to hold up to our faces for a pic and the COs said it was against regs... they qualified as a disguise... LOL. Ok, I can see that... Then I suggested perhaps another idea and they basically said "no props of any kind" They were pretty amused and patient, because obviously it was the first go round for me with the rules.

So Todd and I came up with a good one, I said let's do a Halloween "senario".. you know "Trick or Treat". I was wearing a large quartz ring. I sat in a chair, he got down on one knee and holding the ring as if to put it on my left hand ring finger, we took the "proposing to me" picture. TRICK!

The other two tables (whom we are very friendly with) were wondering if it was for real and I explained it to the women as we were leaving. The COs really couldn't object, hey, we had no props and I am sure they let real couples proposing take those pics

I am saving the pic and will post it on my facebook page for "April Fools Day". Oh, I will get everyone good with that one...they don't expect me to get married again - LOL.

Can you think of any other senarios (acceptable ones!) for us to build our collection? Maybe I will pose like the Mona Lisa, trying to wear clothing that is similar or something like that.

OK, that'e enough out of me... I have to go explain to the Oregon gals about logging and the various tools of the trade.

Take care everyone! Julie

Quote:

Originally Posted by grannyG

I think it takes time to get people "more acquainted" so to speak. Some people aren't comfortable joining in the friendly chat sort of things that we do in the chitter chatter thread. I saw Seattle, that you visited us in Oregon. Thank you. You better go visiting again, as we left a question for you to clarify something for us. And, I have met in person several of our Oregon PTO members. I vacationed this summer with one of the gals from the Oregon forum. I think that is what we are here on PTO for, to support one another through the incarceration process, not only answer the questions that arise from dealing with the DOC and the legal system. And, if anyone ever wants my phone number, I would be more than willing to share it via pm.
Oh, Seattle, we have an Oregon member wanting to come to a g2g. You got any preferences for a date?

gabbygirl372001 · #22 10-17-2009, 07:17 AM

It sounds like you had a great time visiting! Its nice that he has you for support, as obviously, not many of the guys there have any visitors. Sad. Where I go, visiting is packed, on most days. Have fun with the pictures! How about making goofy faces? Thats always fun...or grab a chair and have one sit and one stand...or even both sit. I don't know....just get creative! Have fun!

grannyG · #23 10-17-2009, 11:01 AM

g2g translates to: get-to-gether. Gosh Seattle,

I thought you'd know that

. Sounds like you had a great visit. I would ask to see the photo, but I'm about protecting our loved ones and not posting my brother's photo here for all to see, so won't ask you to do it. Does he have hair? My brother doesn't, so it would be one sided if we did something strange with our hair for photos. Have photos done playing air guitars. Grab each other cheeks with noses together. That is all the suggestions I got. Does Washington have the fake pull down backgrounds for photos? Get different Holiday scenes, to do up Christmas cards, or a calendar.

sw33tness052709 · #24 10-18-2009, 10:36 PM

im still around jus been sick and i started school n they asked me to come bak to work so doin that too. other than that jus kiken bak n relaxin countin dwn the days till i go to wa.i jus got the form to fill out for housing in wa so hoppefully by next summer i can get a place. we will see.

PhilB · #25 10-20-2009, 10:05 PM

Anyone interested in a little GTG on Sat Nov 7 at Monroe Dennys @ 8PM.??