I have to tell you, I had the most pleasant surprise on my birthday this year! Totally unexpected and out of the blue, a complete and total surprise, I received 12 large brown envelopes full of birthday cards! I couldn’t believe it! Oh how it made me feel so very good! I had no idea I’d made so many friends, both male and female, that cared enough to take time out of their lives and busy schedules to send me love and well wishes in the form of a birthday card! The feeling I got was indescribable! A wave of happiness came over me that was out of this world! And true to the saying, People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.” I will never forget how each and every one of you, my forever friends, made me feel! To all of my myspace friends and readers, you made me feel wanted, happy and alive and I love you all! Thanks so much for the birthday surprise. And a special thanks to my personal representative Nic for making all this possible. Turning the Big 5-0 didn’t turn out to be so bad after all!

Thanks to Vicki from Heath Ohio who I think is totally adorable. To Mickey from Texas, a friend and reader from the onset of my blogging career for the card and “Vampire Kiss!” I love you Christine from the high desert in Lancaster, California. Cliff my old buddy, TjE, Diana my homegirl, Amanda K of TXT fame and a real good looking young lady! Special thanks to Crazy Rachel because she not only sent me cake, she sent me ice cream too! And a kickass calendar! Love ya Rachel! Thanks to my special friend Little Debbie and homegirl from Oklahoma. Now if only I could talk her into those panty shots. Heh! Heh! Debbie with the Crown who sent me a really cool, happy doggy birthday card. My friend Catwoman, aka Trisha from England - loved the cat! Meow! Barbara, her hubby Robin and son Dolan - you are truly great people! And thanks to Albi and her twisted sense of humor. Say, was that the pop star Pink when she got old? Just wondering! Ha! Ha!

Love you Bethy. My friend here “Whisper” enjoys your letters and thinks you’re the bomb too! Sativa, you’re a doll. Would love to have been able to patronized you during your days as a dancer. Hot everyone, HOT! To Shadowgrrl, loved the Harley. Me and you for real! Verla, who I just saw a real picture of! Wow! Beautiful lady. Thanks for the birthday card Verla! Darlene, my special lady friend from Dallas and the Harley stuff! She knows how I love motorcycles and biker babes! Love you Pepper and your words, “The older you get, the younger you feel!” You’re so right Pep! Thanks to Claire Denise who I know Nic is very fond of. Road Trip Junkie, the picture was AWESOME! Man would I loved to have known you out there! Wow! The Wise Sloth had the right idea. A naked chick! Well, as close as he could get to sending me one anyway. Thanks Travis! Love you Ms. Kitty, Roxanne and Jade. Smile You Won’t Feel The Pain Till Morning, you’re a doll! Thanks for the card and personal message.

Then there’s that beautiful, hot, little chick Brandi Shae! Thanks for the well wishes and the picture of you and Eddie’s Girl, the winner of my first annual Lipstick Kiss Contest! Both of you girls are drop-dead, knock-out gorgeous! Suzette in Seattle, yes Libras do rule! And if I could move to the west coast and kick it with you, I would! You’re both sweet and beautiful and I admire you in every way. Thanks to Siobhan and Scooter the Squirrel. He can keep his left nut by the way. Wouldn’t want any nutless forest creatures running around. Micah, you’re a good dude. And I appreciate your friendship. Ladies, the cake! Just wish you could feed it to me like in a marriage reception or some­thing. You’re a very pretty lady too by the way! To John, aka LiveLoveLife, thank man! Strangers, aka Marlon, you’re one cool mfer too! Oops! Please excuse my language ladies! But you know how I am! (Smile). And thanks to Ms. K, aka Karen, who I wish wasn’t married! You’re a super cool chick and good lookin’ to boot. Lucky hubby, please tell him I said hello! And I want a picture of his Harley with you in a pose like the ones in “Easy Rider” or “Outlaw Biker!” (Wink) Okay?

Thanks to George Jung, my compadrae and his girlfriend Alura. Hope you’re doing okay George! Better Days are comin’ man, just hang in there! Love you Shelly, aka Pink Panties from OKC. Thanks for the phone sex card! To John, Tarina, Katie and Little Heather - my family from Guthrie! I love you guys! Thanks Katie for find­ing me on myspace. Rotten Rob! What’s up dude! Rob sent a handmade birthday card everybody! Special, just trying to figure out if he did the watercoloring or maybe one of his kids. Ha! Ha! Feathers in Kentucky, love ya! Jamie, thanks for the “boo-bees”. You have a great sense of humor! Can I get some real boo-bee shots, or at least cleavage? (Ducking here!) Sunshine Daydream, you are a truly special gal! Peace and Love to you too doll! Thanks to Nicole’s mom Chris who I’ve loved and adored for years! You know how crazy I am about your daughter. She’s the bomb and much of the reason I’ve been so successful as a blogger here on the net. Love you Sour Girl and Kat and thanks Mikey Crocker too!

Sue, aka gypsyadair, you truly rock! Loved the picture of you! But then again, you already KNOW that! Women with long, beautiful hair instantly steal my heart! Olga, you are “My Obsession” just as in the blog of the same name. A true blue beautiful fair haired maiden everyone! Olga is gorgeous and much appreciated as a friend and pen pal! Love you Jane, Lisa King (another knock-out blonde) and Rhianna. Thanks for the beer girlfriend and welcome to “Tales From The Cells!” She’s a new reader yall! And Jackie from the Austin Texas area, you KNOW I love you too girlfriend and you too have been with me from the beginning. If ever there was a totally cool, righteous, sweet lady on earth it’s you - FOR REAL! Love ya Moms! To Ms. Muppet and her sister Black Wolf, you two ladies are very sweet for send­ing cards and well wishes. Black Wolf, you’re hot too by the way now that I got to lay an eyeball on ya! And thanks to Lacey! I love and appreciate you all like you’ll never know! I had a WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY!

And if I missed anybody, please, please forgive me! To tell you the truth, my mind is still a bit befuddled by all the excitement! But believe me, you’re all like family to me and you truly give me a reason to live, thrive and persevere! This year on Tales From The Cells is going to be even bigger and better than the first! And too, again, I appreciate all of you nice men and women out there that acknowledge the goodness in the heart of Nicole who takes care of me on all this. Without her, none of this would be possible. If ever I get rich yall, I’ll throw a BIG party and you’ll all be invited! I’ll never, ever, from this day forward forget how each and every one of you made me “feel!” God bless your hearts! As I remain your loyal forever friend … and one crazy ass, sick and twisted, deranged and demented, womanizing sex maniac, been there/ done that BLOGGER FROM HELL! Tripper! Better Days to All!

Something hit me like a ton of bricks today. And that something is … I’ve suddenly gotten old. October the 18th, 2008, is my birthday. I just hit “The Big 5-0″. Don’t really “feel” fifty. If the truth were to be told, I still “feel” 18. I would loved to have been able to celebrate with a full catered affair. You know, a big ass party, strippers from Baby Doll’s and lots and lots of booze.Instead, I’ll just lie here on my cold steel bunk, reminiscing and day­dreaming of better days passed.

I was born before the age of color TV, compact discs and certainly before the invent of PC’s and the Internet. All we had was black and white, record players and one of those old fashioned dial telephones to communicate with friends from across the United States. With all the new technology in the world today, I guess I really do feel a little bit old. Bunnies were small rabbits Grandpa had out back in a pen, not the Playboy variety. Grass was mowed, not smoked and gas for daddy’s lawnmower wasn’t an issue. Because it was one of those kind you pushed by hand.

Some of my earliest memories as a young boy was my mother teaching me to tie my shoes, buying sodas at the barber shop for a dime and watching JFK’s funeral on TV. Oh how everyone in the Mansell family cried the day President Kennedy was assassinated. I’d just barely turned 5 years old. At age 6, the Beatles came to the U.S. and appeared on the Ed Sullivan show. At 7 there was a huge anti-Vietnam war march On Washington D.C. and a couple of months before I turned 11, an astronaut named Neil Armstrong set foot on the face of the moon. And yeah, I’m old enough that I remember it all.

At 12 I got my first pair of bell bottom jeans, I discovered the Edgar Winter group on 8-track and I french kissed my first girl. It was 1970 and I was starting to realize my body was changing; I was definitely well on my way to becoming a man. Even though I loved my family, I remember thinking to myself … man I can’t wait to grow up so I can get a job and move out on my own! I made good grades in school, I loved my country and I dreamed of buying my very first motorcycle. Peter Fonda in “Easy Rider” was my idol and I had a crush on Sally Struthers after sneaking into the movie theater to see “Five Easy Pieces,” rated R.

Yeah, I miss being a little kid. What’s the big attraction in being a grown up anyway? When I was young, I wanted to be an adult. And now that I’m an adult, all I want to do is be a kid again. Another thing, I used to wonder why all old guys chased young girls. Hell, when I was young, I always wanted an older woman. But now that I’m old, I see why old men want young girls for mates because they make them “feel” young again. I just wish I could go back to age 12, knowing what I know now, and start all over again. I guarantee you one thing. I would not be where I am today. I’d be free, have a job and be happily married for real!

As it stands today, my knees are starting to buckle and my pants won’t zip. I’m set in my ways and “good morning” is an oxymoron. My eyesight is going, my hearing sucks and a rocking chair is starting to look pretty darn good. Where women are concerned, well I just hope I’ll still remember how to have sex when I get out. Because I have exactly six more birthdays to serve in federal prison before they let me leave. All I can say is … thank God for industrial strength Viagra and women who like to ride reverse cowgirl! And surely the girls will still want me. Right? Who the hell knows!

Wish I’d never started drinking, smoking weed and doing drugs. All which led to my present situation of course. My kidneys have suffered and so have my lungs, and even my back from doing all that time in the state joint hoeing in the fields. Should have stayed in school, studied hard and went to college instead of choosing to attend the school of hard knocks. I should have listened to my grandma and pursued a career in music or became a doctor, lawyer or joined the military. Well, maybe not a lawyer. All those guys are crooked as hell. After age 12, shit just seemed to go downhill. Know what I mean?

Despite all my shortcomings however, I really don’t feel too bad about the way I lived my life. Sure, there are some regrets. But all in all, I had a hell of a lot of fun. I did stuff a lot of people will never get to do and I’ve met people I might never have met hadn’t I lived the lifestyle I chose to live.Like you for instance. All my friends and readers here on MySpace. With tears in my eyes I can honestly say to you all … turning the big 5-0 hasn’t been that bad after all, thanks to real friends! That is one thing I’m just fully understanding in life now, and I’m the big 5-0. I’m Tripper! Better Days and upcoming birthdays to all!

So in the end, was it worth it? Jesus Christ. How irreparably changed my life has become. It’s always the last day of summer and I’ve been left out in the cold with no door to get back in. I’ll grant you I’ve had more than my share of poignant moments. Life passes most people by while they’re making grand plans for it. Throughout my lifetime, I’ve left pieces of my heart here and there. And now, there’s almost not enough to stay alive. But I force a smile, knowing that my ambition far exceeded my talent. There are no more white horses or pretty ladies at my door..

George Jung

** Wanted to let you all know I talked with Tripper on the phone early this evening. He was utterly floored with all the cards. He got 45 cards on Friday. There are another 15 on the way from a few late stragglers. He said he is going to get a sweatshirt and stock his locker with food and hygiene, and get that new pair of reading glasses he’s been needing for so long. None of it possible without ALL of you. This turned out absolutely fantastic. I’m so proud of all of you readers and friends who took the time out of your day to send a card, a gift, a better days. Tripper very emotionally told me that this was the best birthday he’s ever had, and asked me to thank all of you that send cards. He will be doing a thank you blog very soon he says. He spent all day yesterday from mail call until he fell asleep looking through the cards, and then today re-reading them all. You did good guys, you really really did! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, it has meant a lot to me as well that you would all come together like this. Incredible!!

One more thing to ask of you. Tripper has never had a blog hit the number one spot in the life category (or any other category for that matter). Please pass this around, read it twice, tell your friends, let’s get this to number 1!! We have a hard act to beat with Miss Stephanie; she is usually always number 1. Thanks guys, thank you all! Be Good and Be Well………Tripper’s Rep, Nic

Today is my one year anniversary as a blogger on myspace. And honestly everyone, it’s been a helluva lot of fun! You see, for those of you who may be first time readers, and might not know exactly what in the hell is going on here, they call me “Tripper.” I’m in the custody of the Justice Department and serving time in a United States federal pen. And even though I don’t personally have hands-on access to a PC or the net, a lady friend of mine on the outside does. Through her hard work and dedication, and my bullshit style of unorthodox writing, we are able to put out this blog. Through these blogs, I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of cool and interesting people. Many of whom I never would have been able to meet hadn’t it been for the success of Tales From The Cells. Even though I don’t know what numbers should be considered a success, with well over 100,000 hits in a single year, don’t you think that’s pretty good? I mean, it’s not like I’m some college literary major or something. I’m just a lonely old convict doing time in prison for possession of drugs. Which brings me to another point. This blog has helped me pour out memories, things I’d long forgotten, put away, tired not to think about. Walking out of here clean and sober is a victory I have never had. Inside these prison walls or outside on the streets. The support I’ve been given here has helped me on levels I think not even I fully understand.

“Prison - The School of Hard Knocks,” one of my earliest blogs, best describes how I feel about doing time. Some of my personal favorites are, “Alley Cat Annie,” “Benny,”, “The Eat,” “The Crystal Vision,” “Teenage Derelict,” and of course “Pipe Dreams,” which brought it all back. Also, please forgive me for forcing my poli­tical views on you in “Let’s Elect a Democrat,” and through the brief lived but popular series, “The Redneck News.” Because sometimes, just like they say here in the pen … “a person just ain’t right.” Many of my writings detail past life experiences. “Bumble Bee,” was my first blog to break the top 100. “I Miss My Life,” was written for my lady friend Albi. And “The Lion and the Monkey” helped me win the Mad Goat’s “Goat Bucket Blog Bash” earlier in the year. Then, there was my first ever attempt at a cliffhanger, at the suggestion of my neighbor “Wild Bill,” which got a lot of hits. And “Early Childhood Memories,” which showed everyone the once innocent Tripper, that was immense amount of fun to write. And hey, “The Lipstick Kiss Contest,” was my first blog to make it to number two!

The following is a list of my myspace friends who’ve been with me since the beginning. My homegirl “Diana,” who I’ve always thought was really cool. “Brenda Kay Smith,” *’Jackie/Moms,” “Kayla” and “Harry,” “Connecticut Cliff,” “Mikki, aka Patron Saint, and a very talented blogger I might add. The other “Mickey,”, “Roxanne and Leah,” two more hotties from my area, “Christine,” “Marjie,” my forever friend “Feathers,” and the always beautiful “Toe_Knee_Stew_Ert” and the “Dutchess of Detroit.” I love and adore you all! And I know I’m forgetting people here, forgive me please! Leave a comment with your name and how long you’ve been a reader. Clue me in, and tell me why you come and read Tales From The Cells. Those who helped promote me, pimp me, and generally just helped me along my way … The ever charming, popular and talented “Mayet,” whose advice and direction has been invaluable!”Le Ann,” who always needed a spanking, “The Mad Goat,” “Aerobroken,” “Dan the Gentleman of Leisure,” “Spidey John,” who I think is very, very cool. “Road Trip Junkie,” and of course the beautiful “Grey Anderson.” You guys are the greatest! And I’ll never forget everything you’ve done for me!

A special thanks goes out to the following ladies who wrote me personal letters and sent me sexy pics. “Little Debbie,” “Darlene, aka Harley Girl,” “Olga Van Wassenaer,” the beautiful blonde bombshell from the north of Spain. That smokin’ hot little “Brandi Shae!” The wise Jackie/Moms, who’s hung with me and helped my forever friend Nicole on several levels. And my homegirl “Lory” from Charleston, Arkansas! All you girls are cool and sexy! Then there’s “Barbara,” and “Brandi, aka Eddie’s Girl,” the two winners of Tripper’s first annual “Lipstick Kiss Con­test,” (previously mentioned). These two gals have the hottest, kissable lips in all the land and they’ll go down in history, being in the hearts of men forever! I love you Barbara and Brandi! You’re both the straight-up bomb!

Then there are the bands “Corpus,” “Banished,” and “Missing Links,” with my friend Jason. I wish you guys the best of luck and huge record sales in all your future music making endeavors! And two of the hottest, sexiest, female celebrities on the face of the planet, the unbelievably beautiful “Adrienne Curry” (Damn that Peter Brady! Ha! Ha!) and “Shanna Barker (Moakler),” who is my obsession when it comes to gorgeous blondes! Prison staff actually had to force me to remove a picture of her from the outside of my locker where posting photos or girls in bras and panties are against the rules!

And finally, the rest of my dedicated fans, friends and readers and some of the new ladies who I hope will continue to hang around. There’s “Siobhan,” “Ms. Kitty”, “Deanna,” the drug counselor, “Micah,” the former prison guard turned straight, “Gypsy Adair,” “Not Your Usual Teacher,” “Kim” and “Cinsuze who I really think is cool! “Daisy Duke” from down under, “Bethy,” “Crazy Rachel” with the blue hair extensions, “Kari,” “Sexy Fairy,” “Starla,” and “Sister Kerry” of the Immaculate Heart who I find it hard to believe reads my stuff and who is also very, very beautiful! And the very attractive “Bitchit in Hollywood,” “J$$$$$,” “Muppet” and her sister “Black Wolf,” “Patti,” the raven haired fox, “Vicki” from Van Buren and the new “Vicki” as well, and another “J!” This one Jamie who I also love and adore! Then there’s Supergirl “Angie,” “Verla,” “Sabrina “Lori” and “Lori,” Sherry aka “Pink Fairy Princess,” who showed up around the time I penned a blog titled, “Pink.” And one of the most beautiful, loving, kind and caring creatures on earth with a heart of gold, “Fallen Angel,” who I’d never let fall! “Joann” from the Dakotas, Heather aka “Rockstar,” “Shadowgrrl,” “Lisa King, “Ann” and “Ann,” “Chavelle,” “Mia,” another fox I’d like to get to know. “Tasha,” and “Michelle,” and my friend Marlon, aka “Strangers Have The Best Candy.” And girls … he really does! You should give him a call!

“Dawn,” “Hippie Chick,” “Laura” and “Elaine” who are both breathtakingly beautiful blondes. “Sativa Maria” and her new baby about to be born, “Linda Lee Simon,” from Reno who owes me a kiss, “Claire Denise,” “Luna Cat,” “The Queen of Mischief,” “Amanda K” of TXT fame, “Queen Debbie” who signed on, left and came back again. And “Ms. K,” also known as Karen who I’m secretly after and “Mista-licious”, and boy she sure is delicious! And any and everyone else I’ve failed to mention. It’s been my pleasure and hopefully, with a lot of luck, the blogs this next calendar year’s “Tales From The Cells” will be bigger, better and even more entertaining than the ones before! Special, special thanks goes out to my forever friend, rep and handler, “Nic”. Because without her, none of this could have been a possibility at all!

This year blog anniversary has meant a lot to me. Giving me a voice, giving me a chance, holding out your hands and your hearts to just be a friend, a buddy. Over the years I’ve lost so much. Yes, I did it to myself, I know that, accept that, and live with it day in and day out. When I was 20 years old, I did not aspire to be an old man in prison, cold and alone, far, far from home. You don’t plan for a life like this, it just happens. Once you are here, all you can do is look back and remember. Drive yourself crazy with the thoughts of the what could have been, the lost loves, the friends who were never really friends, the memories of the good times albeit jaded with drugs, missing my family, knowing it is them I let down in life the most. Regret is a hard thing to swallow. A shot of disappointment and a chaser of “I told you so” are some of the things and thoughts that run through my convict mind. I have one more shot at life when I blow this popsicle stand. It will be my last chance, as I am too old now to come back here. Coming back to prison would mean dying within these walls. I want to make it out there, and with my new found true blue friends, I feel a glimmer of hope that it’s possible. Thank you, thank you for giving me some hope in this world within a world. Please continue to read and let’s make year 2 of Tales From The Cells bigger and better than ever! Happy Anniversary Tales From The Cells! I’m Tripper! Better Days to all! I’ll meet you on the airwaves….