Unfortunately, I cut the spikes off my calla lily today so no pretty white flowers there. But my fuscia seems to be doing well, along with another mini-colored calla, another daffodil, my jade plant and some more ivy.

From left, my white pelargonium from my mom, a miniature blue agapanthus, a Martha Washington pelargonium, a miniature white gapanthus, my columbine, a rosemary topiary and a poor, pathetic hibiscus that got too cold this winter. It's sprouting leaves though, so there's hope!

My Mexican Primrose, because it's just too beautiful not to have it's own shot.

We've got ivy and a Mexican primrose in the front, a ficus and a Meyer Lemon tree in the background. There are daffodil bulbs (that must have been exposed to radiation) spiking up in front of the lemon tree.

The fountain! There are about 50 mosquito fish in there, living it up! I really should cut that white handle off though, huh?

867-5309

I wasn't home the first time it happened.

Chris, from called me collect from Pine Grove Conservation Camp, last night. The recorded male voice that announced his call sounded cold, metallic, strangely upbeat. Chris sounded down, bored and a little angry. I don't know Chris, so I can't explain where the anger was coming from, other than the anger of incarceration.

I listened to the message three times. I do not know anyone in prison. I chalked it up to being a wrong number.

And then Bernard called me from Chuckawalla State Prison, at 8 am this morning. The same metallic, upbeat voice announced that Bernard wanted me to accept charges and speak with him. He sounded tired and his speech was slurred.

The recorded voice said that I had the option to refuse all calls from correctional facilities if I pressed 7 on the keypad. And while I'm intrigued (not to mention a bit startled) at how these men got my phone number, I'm not up for a prison pen-pal right now.

I spoke with David at the MCI Inmate Services Call Center. I told him I wanted to be removed from their list of available phone numbers. He obliged, cheerfully. I apologized to David because even though I know it's not in his job description, I asked him if perhaps he knew how a prisoner could have gotten my telephone number. He laughed a bit and said sometimes inmates dial random numbers, sometimes they pick exchanges that are near their those of their relatives (relatives who have perhaps denied their calls or do not have phone service) and then ask the person on the other end to contact their relatives or do a favor for them. He said it's very much like the "For a Good Time Call..." on the bathroom wall scenario. If one inmate doesn't have luck reaching a person, they'll pass the number on to another inmate. I thanked him for answering my question, which I'm sure he gets hundreds of times a day.

I am a bit weirded out by the whole thing. David's answer makes perfect sense. I am sure that's what happened. My phone number is not unlisted.

I am struck at my own ambivalence, however. I feel compassion for those in prison. Perhaps it's because I think that if they had better role models, parenting and/or education they would have made better choices. And yet, I am unnerved that I was contacted. Twice... from individuals in prisons that are MILES apart.

Perhaps they have internet access, I don't know. The one individual I do know who has spent three years in prison says computers were not allowed at her facility because they could be used as weapons.

As of now, no inmates at prisons served by MCI can call me.