A Night In The Hive

I wasn't really sure I could come in today. I debated with myself about calling in sick.

But I decided to pull up my big boy pants and go on in to work after all.

They had me scheduled to work the Hive 2-10 in BG's old spot. Doing rec.

I just wasn't really sure if I could do that. But I did. I hadn't been down there for a shift in quite some time. I'd been down for a few moments, dropping off knuckleheads or their property, but not for an entire shift. And certainly not in that spot.

It was comfortable and uncomfortable all at the same time. I knew the job because I had done it for so long that I slipped right back into my getting things done mode and got things done. But I was extremely uncomfortable several times thinking about whose spot I was filling. To me, that will never be any spot but his.

There had been alot of excitement on day shift. Apparently some drug activity and fights over the drugs on B-side. They locked up fifteen (?) I think, during the day. Mostly from B-side.

I think it was a good idea that that big metal shank appeared and disappeared when it did. Do you think somebody knew this would happen? It sure looks that way. It might just be coincidence, but I no longer trust those inside the fence.

Big M was my partner for the evening and he helped me out with the things that had changed in my absence. There had been quite a few changes. I liked some of them and disliked some others. And it kind of galls me that some of the changes that had occurred since I left were some of the things I had been trying to get changed in the six years I was down there.

And the evil swine waited until I left to get them done. Don't that just figure?

Ah, well. The night went well and we got some rec done. Not as much as the Big Guy would have done (he was a machine), but enough. We only left them with maybe a round and a half to get done tomorrow and that aint too shabby.

And I managed to get through the night down there without having to bite my lip or slam anybody to the ground. I consider both of those to be a victory.

For some reason midnight shift has been calling out like crazy but I managed to make it all week without having to pull a double. It was bloody close, though. On Thursday I was number five on the list. If I hadn't been 2-10 tonight I would probably have gotten hit. Tried to volunteer to work a day this weekend to get me off the doubles list, but they were pretty solid so no takers there.

**sigh** I suppose that Monday I will have to volunteer so I can pick a decent spot to work in. Hopefully I pick a spot where I can stay awake and not have to do the Del Norte walk. What a pain. I hate working doubles. But it's been a good long time since the last one so I guess I'm due.

So Saturday will be Log Cabin Day. I don't know if they mean real log cabins or just the syrup. Maybe both. It will also be The Great American Backyard Campout.

Sunday will be National Chocolate Pudding Day. Yay! It will also be America's Kids Day and Descendents Day.

Monday is National Columnists Day, Decide To Be Married Day, "Happy Birthday To You" Day and Please Take My Children To Work Day. Whoever came up with that last one must be a friggin' genius!

There's No Place Like Home!

Well, yeah. Actually there 's places much better.

Much much better.

They sent me back down to the Hive today to work the floor and the place gave me a headache just as soon as I walked in the door.

Noisy, stinky and full of the exact same idiots that were there when I left almost six months ago. Some of them had gotten out and come back and some where exactly where they were when I left.

The Stork was down there pulling some nutty crap about how he was a three star general and how the CIA needed him to get back soon or there was going to be some serious trouble.

I told him to knock off the crap because I knew he wasn't crazy and how it was just a stupid act. And he's not crazy. Not like that. Yes, he has severe emotional problems and the mentality of a ten year old, but he's not crazy.

He tried to bluff his way out of it but he knew that I knew I wasn't buying his present line of B.S. and he toned it down for the rest of the evening.

Schmelvin, on the other hand, was pulling his same old carp and I wasn't buying it either. He wanted to talk to Sarge and said it was too important to tell me. I said "If you can't tell me, then I can't tell the Sarge. That's how it works here." So instead he launched into an hour long screaming tirade about how he could beat up any CO that dared to try opening his door and how he could kick the door off of it's hinges if he really wanted to.

On my way out of the wing I said "Go ahead. Kick that door loose. I'll be down here waiting if you get this far."

He never showed up.

Imagine that.

In a way it was kind of entertaining, but it was mostly just irritating.

I'm so glad I don't work down there regularly anymore. I miss working with LB and BG and Little B, but not bad enough to go back down there full time.

If they want to hang with me, they can come out to the yard.

Tomorrow, according to the national list of such things, is Pepper Pot Day.

I don't know about this one. Sounds like it would burn your lips.