Hi All- I have noticed a few more Iowans are joining in..Yay!!
So I wanted to say Hi to everyone. :wave:
Anything new with anyone?
Ricky has been in Anamosa almost 3 weeks already and is adjusting well, he is back to calling and Im getting lots of letters, my visiting app is in and Im just waitting for that :D

And also, Has anyone seen Evy (Iam422)?? I havent seen her online in almost 2 weeks, and I hope everything is ok. Does anyone know? I have talked to her almost dailey up until a couple of weeks ago, so I know she hasnt even been online. Last I knew she was still waitting to hear about Aaron's possible parole.

Binky's gal Glad that Ricky is adjusting to Anamosa. I have only been in the visiting room of course which is not bad. But it is a scary looking prison. It always gives me the creeps when I go there. When are you thinking you will be able to visit? How far are you from Anamosa?

Hi Weddings- Ya Ricky is on "on call" Status now. I am about 45 mins away (Annie is the closest to me). My app has been in about 2 weeks now, so will see when I hear. I may be starting a new 2nd shift job On 1/5, so That is gonna restrict me from weekday vists. So tell me about the visiting process, what is the procedure you go thru there?
I have only seen a picture of Annie online, and ya although it is a very pretty building (looks like a castle) is still is scary looking. And Im sure, my first visit (pending approval) I'm gonna be scared as hell! I know you only visit on Mondays usually, but do you ever go on a weekend?

Btw- I say he is adjusting, and he says even the food isnt too bad, the only complaint he has had so far is about his cellie, his cellie is 65, and is nice but I guess he is not the best smelling, I guess it could be worse.

Man it is real quite in here .Were is everyone hideing at? I got some good news this week on Thursday, The Judge wants to see John Dec 31st in Polk County for reconsideration. Man were all happy about this. I've heard it's good news when the judge wants to see them. It would be a good New Years gift if he gets to come home. But anything can happen They can say they want him in a haft way house thats better than Fort Madison and they Have Fort Desmoines haft way house here in Des moines. So Im praying for good news 9 more days I can't wait!!! :p

Tami~ Awesome news and I hope it is a good thing! Make sure ya keep us posted. ;)

Evy~ I am glad everything is ok with you, as you see earlier I was wondering.

Weddings~ I am still waitting to hear from you about the visiting process at Annie.

And as for me, nothing real new, Ricky is still doing good, still no word on the visiting apps, I was hoping to make it up for Christmas, but by the looks of it I prolly wont get my answer now til after the 1st of the year :bummed:
But the letters are rolling well and he calls alot!!!
OH and I got my Christmas present from him.....Check this out, I got a 27in Color Tv and a DVD/VCR player, plus 60 bucks!! Am I spoiled or what???
Oh and on my Good news~ I finally got a job!! Yay! I start 1/5, and its awesome money and benefits. Im excited to get going, I have been not working since June and Im totally busted at this point.

So all is as good as can be with me. Oh and 1 more thing~

Merry Christmas everyone!!

just saying Merry Christmas to all!

it is quiet in Iowa...is everyone snowed over in a drift somewhere? lol.

as for me, all is quite well! going home to visit the fam for four days starting tomorrow...scary too, b/c i told my dad i wanted to talk to him. he doesn't know it yet, but it's about my relationship with aaron...we have NEVER talked about it and i don't even know if he knows about aaron!!! talking to your dad probably doesn't scare most of you, but i'm young and daddy's little girl...and this is scary. but God has seen us through thus far, and will carry us through my parents, too!

if anyone has any tips...let me know, it would be helpful from either the child or parent view!

later gators!

Hi everyone!

Got to see my Jimmy on Christmas day...I surprised him with a visit...good visit...so good to see him again down there in Clarinda...hopefully, he will be coming home to me sometime in January or February...he will finish up with Phase III on the 31st of Dec. and BEP on Jan 7...after being incarcerated for 14 months, I think it is about time we had some good news and he gets to come home...by the way, he is not a batterer (referring to the BEP previous)...I should know, my 18-year-old-son's father was the batterer in my life and I learned how to spot one a mile away...and, Jimmy definitely is not one...Jimmy is in for a three-strikes-you're-out OWI...he got one a year and a half ago and they pulled two more in on him that he had gotten almost 12 years ago...with no money for a desent lawyer, well you all know the rest of that!...all I can say is watch out, everyone, as far as drinking and driving...you could end up in hell for quite some time...you could slip through the cracks, like Jimmy, and have "felon" behind your name...

Binky's Gal: Congrats on your new job...hope you have gotten to see your guy

Night Magic: Sure do hope the interview with the judge goes great with John on the 31st

lam422: Just be yourself with your dad when you go to talk with him about Aaron...don't know how old you are, but apparently old enough to know who you want in your life right now...just make sure to give it gently to your dad...but, if he has a bad opinion about your relationship, listen to his advice...you are his little girl...ultimately, you will do what you want to do in your life...good luck

what is phase III and BEP?

okay, parental peace talks are over. i think i've upheld my "duty" to be honest and forthcoming. now it's on them as to how they want to deal with it and how long they want to take to come to terms with aaron being a permanent part of my life.

i'm in the mood for a joke, anyone have a good one?

Hi Everyone! I am new to this stuff so bare with me. I posted a message for Binky on another thread but just found this one! I think this is the place I need to be. Iowa is quite, hard to find out things but I am learning with the help of Binky's Gal! THANKS My daughter was sent to Oakdale last Friday and I haven't heard anything from her so I am just trying to find out about this Oakdale and how it works. I told Binky that I got the guts to call up there and talk to her counsolor today and he said she was doing ok. Binky I just read again the information you linked to me to about Oakdale. That does answer alot of my questions. Thanks alot! CAn you send me that link again. I need to print off that information for others. I hope all of you have a wonderful New Year. Here is looking for a brighter and blessed year ahead! Where can I get the visiting forms? Thanks Patty

Patty~ I posted all the links for your in the other thread you wrote. I know The iowa doc site doesnt give you much info, I can honestly say the Iowa Doc site sucks!!
And as far as visiting forms go, I believe your daughter has to send that to you, but Im sure she will soon ;)
Again, keep us posted, and ask anything, we are all here to help you through this.

Evy~ I cant answer you on PhaseIII, but I do know that BEP Is Batterer's (SP?) education. And If I can think of a good joke, I'll post one soon :D

Crisslee~ Thanks for the congrats on the job, this is my last week of laziness ;)
And no not yet on the visits, still waitting to hear, hopefully soon!!!

Tami~ any word yet on John's hearing??

LadyDi~ Where are you?? Havent seen you on in awhile.

And to all the other Iowans~ post away, we all would love to hear from ya :cool:

Best Wishes to all~ Heather

It's just me again with another question. Thanks for getting back to me so soon.YOU are GOOD! If she has money left on her phone account will it go with her when she leaves? In her books too? Thanks bunches! Patty

Patty~ yes the money on her books (her regular account) will transfer with her. The phone account money will stay where it is, as thats where all inmate phone money goes. They get a pin number to make phone calls, and as long as she has money on her account, she will beable to call from anywhere she goes.
Glad I can help ;)

LadyDi hasn't gone AWOL on us...lol...she was having some computer problems and it might take a while before she is regularly posting again.

heather, don't worry about the good joke...when i read the latest posts i remembered the best joke we iowans have...the iowa doc! lol, lol, lol!

i'm still hunting for info on work release rules, etc. i know aaron's brother is looking into stuff, so i don't want to hound the poor woman at the work release center to death...so i'll keep being patient. the most exciting thing i've learned about work release came from aaron this past weekend...he said it shouldn't take too long before he earns furloughs! HALLELUJAH! can you just image...72 hr. furloughs! guess who will be a mrs. soon....lol

okay, that's all for me right now.

happy day before new year's eve day!

Evy~ You are too funny :haha: And you are right, the Iowa doc site is a joke!

Glad to know Ladydi hasnt left us, hope she gets her puter problem fixed soon, we miss your posts Di!!

And to all that may have missed my post in the husbands and boyfriends forum, the news is in, I got approved for visiting!!! And I am going this Saturday for the first time, I am excited but again a little nervous. But just think now I get kisses and hugs, Yay!!!

Happy New year All.....Stay safe, and keep on a posting ;)

Hi Binky's Gal and everyone! Binky I am so happy that your visitation went through!!!! I know how important it is to have contact with the people you love! I got a letter today! I was so excited to her from my daughter!!!!! Gosh it sounds pretty tough in there. She is really having a hard time adjusting. Her roommate snores, the lights are on all night, she has trouble sleeping anyway. They are in their rooms 24 hours a day there is no opportunity there. They get out every other night to shower and stay out for two hours. She said the food is better and the blankets are warmer there. She said they are constanly taking head count and you have to sit up on your bunk each time. They can only mail things out twice a week. They have changed her medicines which are always hard at first. She said she hopes she can do it there.... She is falling into a big depression, very sad and scared and lonley. So everyone out there with big hearts, keep Nikki in your prayers. She says she has nothing to reasure herself now...she misses talking to me. we use to talk everynight when she was in polk county. Sorry everyone that this is so long, but I thought maybe it might help out others that might have loved one in Oakdale. I like details, I like knowing what's going on. Please pray that GOd will keep His hands on her and get her though these 30 days! thanks to you all for being there for me to vent! Love ya all, patty

Hi Patty~ So glad you finally got a letter, I know how it is to always be waitting for something. Sorry to hear that Nikki is having a hard time, write alot MOM, that will help her. Hope she gets to call soon too. Have you sent money to her phone account yet??
We are all praying for her out here Patty, stay strong for her, she needs you most now. Keep us posted.
Best wishes and God Bless~
Heather

John is home as of 10:30am Im so happy . Thank you all for praying for us .I love u all so much!! :p :wave: :dance: :hee:

lam422:
Phase III is the last phase in "Relapse Program" (TOW) at Clarinda...they put Jimmy in Clarinda after classification at Oakdale...after being taken out of OWI facility at Fort Des Moines for a "bad med count" (his med count for enzyme prescription was off...he has chronic pancreatitis)...

BEP is Batterers Education Program...he had to go thru this due to the fact that he and I got in an altercation because he had been a daily drinker for some time and our relationship was being threatened because of it, along with his health...very mild altercation since neither of us is violent...however, the State saw it differently...and as we all know, the State is never wrong...lol. He was supposed to have had that program a year ago...but, with no money to hire a good attorney...as I have said before, you all know how that one goes. He is no "batterer" in any sense of the word...I should know after going thru the hell I went thru with my son's father many, many years ago...he is the one who should be locked away and the key thrown away.

But, all my guy and I can do is be stronger from all this crap and find the good in it...which we have...our love has been tested to the limit with the "system" and we are coming out on the other side stronger than nails and are ready to spend the rest of our lives together being as healthy and happy as we possibly can...We both fell thru the cracks together.

Hi Binky's Gal,

Sorry I havent been on for awhile. I am a Catering Sales Manager and the Holidays are BUSY!!! I normally go and visit on Mondays, but I have been on other days. I really dont like to go on Fridays because the CO that works is not really that nice! Also on Saturdays and Sundays I can only visit for 2 hours. They are not opened on Tuesday or Wedsdays, so since I work Tues-Sat I usally go on Mondays. Sometimes I miss him too much and go on the weekends and usually regret it because I cant see him very long! Hope this helps!!

Hi Heather, Thanks for the words of encouragement!
Her hubby to be just rec a call from her tonight!!!!! He said she sounded pretty up beat and alot better after being taken off one of her meds. She is suppose to call me on Tues. but that is the one night I have to cover for someone at work. DARN! But I am keeping up the hope that I know I will be hearing from her soon! I am so glad that she finally got to call out and talk to a real person! Yes we put some money on her phone account and her books and she came through with a call! I am so tickled can't wait to talk to her!!!

Crisslee: Great to here you come out on top with a positive attitude! A positive attitude will go along way! What doesn't kill you will make you stronger! Hang in there! Just think of the stories you can share to help others going through what you guys went through. Maybe then you guys would help someone else not fall through the cracks! Use your life story to help others! You have a lot to offer to others and you may not know that right now....My thoughts are with you, Patty

Tammi, see there are fairy tale endings! Be sure to HUG each other everyday! God luck! patty

Man it really is quite in here were has every one gone? Im just hanging out readjusting to life. I hope everyone is having a nice snowy weekend.

We are really quiet. Someone should really get things livened up in here. I know there's lots going on here. LOL...nothing but too much snow.

BOO!

did that stir things up at all? lol.

hey everyone...

not much new here. time seems to be dragging while we wait for aaron to transfer to work release. i'm half hopeful he will get moved while i'm in europe...and half hopeful it will be shortly after i return so i can drive him! oh well, it would be better to have him out and begin chipping away at the work release requirements as soon as possible.

NIGHTMAGIC: CONGRATS! i'm so happy for you! are you two still having the time of your lives? i hope so.

Binky Lady: what's the word on the visits? did they reconsider yet?

okay...how is everybody else?