Beer, Beaches & Root Canals

Just over a year ago I wrote about the trip I took to go get X-rays on my teeth in preparation for a root canal surgery.  I guess there was plenty of preparation needed as it took them just over a full year to perform the repair.  They had told me a year before that I would need a root canal.  The alternative would be extraction.  I'm just now 35 and I really don't want half my teeth missing when I come home.  Call me vain if you like, but I'm quite proud of my smile and besides I'm a big fan of steak and prime rib.  I don't want to be gumming them when I finally get to sit down to a T-bone and a cold Bud Light. 

As stated earlier this was a repeat of the road trip I took over a year ago.  Shackles, strip search, a trip in a van with security officers and finally to the surgery.

You have to think, if your tooth give you a problem, you call, make an appointment and get results.  I began to feel as if they were trying to corral me into pulling it.

At last the surgery was performed and I felt a wave of happiness.  I shook the doctors hand and told him thank you.  I brush and floss after each meal.  I am a health conscience person and knowing I have some funk in my mouth was unsettling at the least.  I truly feel repaired.  Not to mention, I just had a $2500 surgery on you.  Well, you're the taxpayer here.

I paid a $5 co-pay.  I feel like a million bucks.  So, I wanted to tell you thank you! You helped pay for my surgery and I'm one happy dude.  I would like to point out I have been paying taxes through employment since I was 15 years old.  Truly I don't feel bad about finally taking advantage of a benefit.  Still, I'm real blessed to have this thing done.

My countdown continues.  Six year here in prison.  Only four left.  And really, I'm just under that.  Time is rolling past.  I remember having those perfect days in the free world.  The sun shining, you're on a beach soaking up the sun, the seagulls are flying overhead and the waves gently come ashore.  You sit there and wish time could stand still.  Well.....right now I pray them Godspeed.   

May the days pass quickly and bring the day that I will once again pray for time to stand still.

Prison Art: Helping Many Inmates Better Themselves

This is exactly what we've been saying!  As a community we should all want men and women to "come out better people".  Art plays a massive role in how J.J. does his time in a positive and productive way.   

The other day J.J. received a letter from his good friend Norm.  (You have heard of Norm before!)  Norm always arrives with positive and encouraging words along with stories of great things happening on this side of the fence.  This letter was no exception.  Norm shared a story from the  Ionia Sentinel-Standard: "PRISON ART: We want them to come out better people."

Here at the Judicious Jailbird, we believe in just that.  Encouraging inmates to stay connected to family and friends, the power of art and sharing stories......all to help men and women to come out better people.

Here is the latest piece of prison art from J.J.

Dear Jenn

Jennifer....without you there is no me.

Happy Valentine's Day, baby girl!

Love ya!

Valentine's

It's been said that behind every good man is a great woman.

Looking back over my life that seems very true.  As a boy your mom showers you, dresses you, makes your lunch and makes you brush your teeth.  Some years later other women come along and take their place in your life.  I smoked three packs a day before prison.  Once in prison, I then smoked a box of TOP hand-rolled, non-filters a day.  One day I had enough and decided to quit.  That lasted a week and I was smoking again.

I had to come from a different angle, so I thought of my daughter.  She will be 20 when I get out.  I want to set a good example and I also want to enjoy a long life with her and all the people I love.  With that in mind, I quit on her birthday.  August, 2010.

I took that promise serious and have not had a smoke since. 

Now, I enjoy visits from the woman who rocks my world.  I don't need someone to tell me to shower and brush my teeth.  But I do like it when this special little lady tells m she loves me and that I complete her.

When you think about it, there is no physical contact in a relationship over a fence.  What you have is much deeper.  Our minds work together.  Our souls and hearts grow together because that's what we have.  Men tend to come at these things from a physical angle and that was me at one time.  This is the first time I truly made my lady my best friend.  Learned to appreciate her for the wonderful person she is and took the time to learn to love and enjoy everything she has to offer.  If more men would take the time to do just this, the rate of failed relationships would change drastically.

I'm currently in the best relationship I have ever had.  It's based solely on a friendship and love I have for a woman who loves me for me.

When you can communicate your deepest feelings of love, hurt, anger, disappointment and shame over a fence and to someone hundreds of miles away you have reached another level of your relationship.

All my life I have looked out for me.  Dealing people the hand that suited me best.  These days I'm living life and doing time so I can come home and rest my head on my lady's pillow.

They open the gate and I walk into a visiting area and my lady stands.  I walk to her and put my arms around her.  The world stops.  I'm 15 again and it's just the two of us.  Nothing else exists.  I smile.  I have the great woman who when she stands beside me, makes me a great man.  Happy Valentine's Day, my lady.  Forever and a night, your man