4:20 PM - Shopping With Granny (Part 2)
Category: Life

Shopping With Granny Part 1 Click Here

About to shit a ton of bricks, I sheepishly rolled down the driver’s side window of the Impala. “License, registration and proof of insurance,” the stern faced, ex-military type immediately demanded. “Uh, here’s my license sir. But the car belongs to my grandma here. You’ll have to ask her for the registration and so forth.” Bending down further looking to the passenger seat, to my surprise the Highway Patrolman said, “Well, hello Evelyn. I didn’t know that was you. How are you today ma’am?” “Why, little Eddie Bauer. What in the hell did you pull us over for? We weren’t speedin’ or nothin’. I know that because I was watching my grandson like a hawk. How’s your mom and dad? And say, those pants you dropped off for me to alter down at the cleaners, they’re ready to pick up any time.” You see, grandma Mansell worked at Red Fork Cleaners in West Tulsa doing sewing and alterations. She knew just about everyone around. She even knew John Zink. The guy who played Mr. Zing on the Channel 8 kid’s program Mr. Zing and Tuffy.

“I’m sorry Evelyn. He just swerved a little bit and I thought maybe I had another drunk on my hands still hung over from the night before. Let me just run a warrant check real quick and I’ll let y’all be on your way.” “Okay Ed. And straighten your tie! It’s crooked. You’re suppose to be a pillar of the community and you sure wouldn’t want to be known as the kid whose momma dresses him funny.” “Er’a yes ma’am,” the OHP caught off guard grabbing his necktie with both hands tightening it up. “Damn grandma. Do you like know everyone around or what?” I said speaking to her once Officer Bauer walked back to his cruiser. “Shut up boy! And just pray to the good Lord that cop doesn’t check warrants on me. I got a speeding ticket out on the beeline a couple of years ago and never did pay the fine!” About that time, grandma pulled a prescription pill bottle from her purse took out a little blue pill, popped it in her mouth and chased it down with a drink of Dr. Pepper.

Carefully leaning over to pick up the white crosses that had ran down my pants leg onto the floorboard, I gathered them as quickly and efficiently as I could without bringing unwanted attention to myself. I watched in the rearview mirror as the Highway Patrolman checked warrants on me speaking into his mike. I then took the handful of speed and dropped them in the car’s ashtray. “What are those grandson?” my granny inquisitively asked. “Uh … just some antihistamine pills grandma. You know how my allergies have been acting up.” I replied. “Yeah right,” she said raising one eyebrow. Soon enough, the OHP returned to the car window, handed me my DL and said, “Try not to cross the center line any more Mr. Mansell. Wouldn’t want to see you and Ms. Evelyn get in a wreck.” “Yes sir,” I quickly replied looking straight ahead hoping he wouldn’t see how fucked up I was. It sure as hell sucked getting pulled over by the cops when speeding my butt off and tripping on LSD.

Pulling back onto the highway from the shoulder of the road, I said to my grandma, “Say, think I might could have one or two of those blue valium in your purse? My nerves sure are shot.” I said reaching toward her pocketbook. Slapping my hand away she said, “Why hell no! Keep your eyes on the road and drive. I knew you were messed up soon as we ran that first stoplight back in Brookside. Now what have I told you about getting high? Just drive. That’s what you do boy!” The OHP ruined my high and I felt like I might be coming down a bit from the drugs I’d taken just before heading out shopping with granny that day. All I wanted to do was make it back to the house and off the streets. When I pulled off on 33rd, I put on my left turn signal and proceeded to head south. I guess I wasn’t paying much attention because I pulled right out in front of a van, the driver of which suddenly slammed on his brakes almost hitting us right smack dab in the ass. “Goddamnit Allen. That’s it! Pull over! I’m driving!” Doing as told, I whipped into the Git-N-Go and got out of the car.

Known in the Mansell family as a speed demon from hell, I hung on tight as grandma hauled ass down 33rd. By the time we got to the top of the hill in front of Mountain Manor I felt a bit nauseated. But not as bad as I did when she shot down the hill at about 60 miles per hour then rapidly climbed the other side. I felt like I was on the rollercoaster out at Bell’s Amusement Park. Please, please Lord. Let me make it home alive! The silent prayer I was saying to myself as grandma topped the next hill. When we pulled onto 41st I saw my Uncle Joe’s three little boys playing outside. All covered in dirt and mud, they came running hollering, “Grandma, grandma, grandma!” When I got out of the car the littlest of the three kids came up to me and said, “What’s wrong with you Allen? You look like you seen a ghost!” Winking, grandpa who was using a post hole digger to reset the mailbox, he knew what I’d just been through and was glad to see me make it home.

By the way, I want everyone reading this blog to know I loved my grandmother Mansell very, very much. In early ‘96 I knew the feds were about to lock me down. My court date was June 26th and my lawyer already told me the Assistant United States Attorney had filed a motion for detention in my case. Knowing I was about to be sent away for a few years, I made it a point to go by my elderly grandmother’s house to see her. Lying in her bed, I held her hand for a long while visiting with her. She passed away in the late 90’s while I was in federal prison. I did not get to go to her funeral. I miss her very much. But I am glad I went to see her that day, to let her know I loved her.

Sorry to have left you on the cliff for so long by the way. I really did run out of typing ribbon that day. But, it was fun! Right? Ducking here from all the foreign objects being thrown my way. Don’t be surprised if I throw another cliffhanger at you in the near future. After all, I do want to keep all my readers coming back! To each and everyone of you, love and much respect! I am Tripper! Better Days!

4:20 PM - Ask Tripper Replies…. Really LONG, but worth the read! Thanks Guys….
Category: Life

Editor’s Note: This is Tripper’s Response to the overwhelming questions and Happy 4th ya’ll wished him. Thank you SO much for participating. Thanks for just being so damn cool about all of this. Good Karma will follow you all, I know it will simply because it takes a special kind of person to come and comment on this type of writing all the time. You are helping to change a man who was seriously lost. I’m not bullshiting any of you here. Myspace and YOU guys have done it. If any of you were mistakenly left out, bring it to my attention immediately, and I will get Tripper to go back and look. He was excited to get this back out right away!! So it is possible be missed a few, but not intentionally. I hope this isn’t TOO long. Better Days!   Tripper’s Rep
The Link to part 1 is:
My Friends
I’d like to take this opportunity to personally thank each and every one of my friends and readers who sent me well wishes via the blog Ask Tripper this 4th of July. Your stories and memories of Independence Days’ passed touched my heart here in federal prison as Independence Day is the greatest secular holiday ever celebrating our free United States. As proud Americans, it is “our” holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. I personally love the United States of America. And as far as I’m concerned, it’s the greatest single free country in the world!
Brant aka “SPAZ” - My personal thanks goes out to you for serving our country. I can’t tell you how many times I wish I had joined the military opposed to becoming a professional inmate. If the Justice Department came here today and said, “Okay you guys. We’ll let you out of prison if you’ll go to Iraq and fight for your country,” you just couldn’t imagine how many proud Americans would go. And to everyone reading this, please don’t ever think that we as convicts hate America just because we got locked up in United States Federal Prison. We don’t. We just dislike some of the crooked government officials and the unfair judicial system that put us here. Again Spaz … thanks for being an American!
MIKKI - I enjoyed your story of 4th of July in prison. We’ll be lucky here if they give us a piece of watermelon. We might be able to see some fireworks as you did when you were serving time. But only out the windows as like you were, we are locked down by 10:00 pm at night. You’re a very talented writer, I can see that from the piece you wrote. I only wish I were out there to read all your blogs and comment as you do on mine. And too, the flirty part of me just has to say again … you’re both hot and gorgeous! In reference to your question. What are my plans for the day I walk below the razor wire and through the prison front gate? Well, to be perfectly honest with you Mikki, I still have so much time to go that I have yet to make any specific plans. I do know I want a good lookin’ woman to be waiting on me. Something like that old Easy Rider Magazine Centerfold where the convict’s biker bro’ shows up with his Harley, and a chick standing there with her shirt pulled up and a bottle of whiskey in her hand. That would be great! By the way, loved the WAVE sitting there in uniform holding the two American flags!
HARRY & KAYLA - To two of my all time favorite friends and readers … hope you had a great 4th of July and Kayla, hope they kept the bottle rockets out of your house! And hey Kayla! They do have doggy downers. I know that because my DJ lady friend in Oklahoma City has to give them to her two dogs when it storms. They freak out on the thunder and lightning. And as far as downers go, got any suitable for human consumption? Just kidding. Hope you both had a great Independence day!
DARLENE - Your personal memories of the 4th while living in Hawaii were awesome! I would loved to have been with you watching the fireworks display, over the Pacific. Hope you had a fantastic Independence Day! If I could have been out there with you, I know we would have partied out asses off!
DEBBIE - Ah Debbie, Debbie, Sweet Little Debbie! You are such a special  forever friend! Hope you had a great 4th of July, You and I really should have been at Lake Tenkiller together, don’t you think? Maybe at Pine Cove or Chicken Creek? Or holed up in a cabin at Six Shooter or somewhere? Thanks for remembering me this Independence Day and thanks for all the kind, supportive comments you gave to my friends and readers who participated in the first ever “Ask Tripper” blog. Take care and rock on!
ANGIE - Superwoman! There you are! So, you met Mr. Olsen from “Little House on the Prairie” huh? I once saw Fess Parker at the State Fair when I was a kid. He was the guy that played Daniel Boone and before that Davy Crocket on TV. I actually got to reach out and touch him when he passed by on his horse. And I got an autographed 8″ x 10″ photo of him too. In reference to your question, “What did I want to be when I grew up (as a kid)?” Well Angie, I’ve thought about that long and hard and here’s what I came up with. To tell you the truth, I always had aspirations of becoming a Professional Wrestler. I know that may sound crazy, but I use to be so into great wrestlers like Gorgeous George, Danny Hodge, and later on guys like the WWE’s Undertaker. I figured I was big enough and I always liked doing physical stuff when I was a kid. Just never was able to pursue my dream. Thanks for asking Angie! Hope you had a happy 4th of July!
SUZETTE - Well Hi there good lookin’! Always happy to hear from you! Sorry to hear about your many losses near this time of year. I will say this though, if your father the firefighter could see you now, know he’d certainly be very, very proud. In reference to your many questions. Here goes. Some of my favorite music? That would have to be rock and roll with my favorite rock band being Aerosmith. Of course I like anything from the 70’s and lots of mellow stuff too. Access to music in here? Just the radio and the occasional stuff on VH-1. No cassette tapes, CD’s or Internet access. 99% of the music you hear on my page was personally chosen by me. First home cooked dinner when I get out? Any old thing you’ll make me, how’s that? Really, I prefer a good lasagna! If I were going out to eat, just take me to Wendy’s and I’d be happier than a queer in a peter patch! (Laughs). Moving on … Where did I learn to write? Well, for one thing, I’ve served a lot of time in prison and I’ve always written a lot of personal letters. I excelled in English, grammar, punctuation and spelling in school. And for a time I submitted short editorial type articles to my hometown newspaper in what’s known as “Your Views” and later ..d to “Letters From The People”. But hey, ask me to do anything more than add, subtract, multiple and divide where math is concerned … and you can hang it up! Hell, I even have time adding up my commissary list! Screen-writing? You know Suze, I’ve typed several screenplays for guys here in prison. And they were very, very hard. Too much to it. I’d probably rather write a book. Ever been in love? Several times actually. The problem was, my counterparts were never truly in love with me. Favorite Motorcycle? I prefer a Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide (FXDWG) for their half ape hangers, forward control linkage and flip up back fender. But I wouldn’t turn down any HD. But keep in mind, I’m way too big for a Sporty! As far as my Rep Nicole goes … YES, as a matter of fact I DO tell her what a great ass, er a I mean what a great asset she is to me all the time! Without her Suzy, none of this would be possible for me. You just could not fathom how far she’ll go the extra mile when it comes to my myspace page and my link to the outside world! If you haven’t already, please get to know her. She’s the absolute bomb! Top ten things I miss about the outside? I miss having a steady girlfriend, wife or live-in. I miss having a vehicle and the freedom of going anywhere I want when I want. I miss my parents, nieces and nephews. I miss good food. I miss smoking weed. I miss all my friends no matter how rotten some of them are. I miss rock concerts, flea markets and shopping at the grocery store when I’m stoned. I miss being able to personally tell my mom and dad face-to-face how much I love them. I miss being able to go outdoors at night - always locked in at night here. I miss kissing! And finally, number ten … I miss wearing my expensive watch and black leather jacket! Top ten I worry about/fear the most about being outside? Hmmm … I worry about the fact that my parents are getting old and are going to pass away. Because you see Suze, I love them more than anyone or anything in this world. I fear the cops will never leave me alone due to my past and criminal record and they’ll do everything in their power to send me back to prison once I am released. I worry that once out, I’ll get frustrated and just throw my hands up in the air and say, “fuck it!”. Something which I can no longer afford to do - getting too old Suzette if you know what I mean. I fear my United States Probation Officer will have no understanding and send me back inside for the least little thing. I worry about dying alone, not having a woman in my life when I do so, someone who will go to my grave and sit and talk to me, never forgetting all the good things I did in life or who I was. I fear not being able to adjust after all these years in prison. I fear rejection by each and everyone I come in contact with. I worry about not having the financial stability it’s going to take in order for me to stay out of prison. I worry about my and my family’s health, I worry about dying in prison. And number ten, what I fear most in the whole wide world is … DYING and not knowing where I’ll end up at afterward. Your next question was, about guys paying big bucks for legal defense if they knew they would be released from prison. Well, there’s a vast difference in the state and federal system. In the state, you can sometimes literally buy your way out of trouble. Way, way different in the feds. You simply can’t. You can hire a good attorney with your money, but the bottom line is … you’re going to federal prison regardless. And if you made your money illegally, the feds are going to steal that from you anyway. Thanks for asking all these questions Suzette. I’ve enjoyed answering them and rest assured I answered each and every one of them with complete honesty. Hope to hear from you again soon! Personal messages coming your way!
CATWOMAN - Hello there! Thanks for participating in “Ask Tripper”! If I could meet anyone from history who would it be and why? That’s a great question Trish. And one I’ve thought about for a long, long time. If I could meet anyone from history I’d probably want to meet former United States President Ronald Reagan (now deceased) so I could kick his fucking ass! You see, he was the President that chose to discontinue parole in the feds. And because of that, I’m serving 85% of my time. Of course I would have liked to have met Cleopatra, Aphrodite, and maybe Anna Nicole Smith before she passed away. I’ll leave it to your imagination as to “why”. Nice hearing from you the all infamous Catwoman! Hope to hear from you again soon!
STRANGERS HAVE THE BEST CANDY - Man! A new Big Dog? Man how I envy you! I’ve always wanted one of those Boss Hog’s made over in Dyersburg, Tennessee. You know, the ones with the V-8 car engines? Make mine a big block Chevy with roller rockers and two-fours! In response to your question will I have to go back to Arkansas when I get out? No Marlon, I’ve long since flattened out any sentence I had in the state. My parents live in Fort Smith, so I will go back there. But sometime before late 2014, I plan to get my shit together and find a place to go. Still looking for that perfect woman … and you know what dude? I think she’s right here with us now somewhere on myspace!! Wish me luck man and maybe she will just find me and come my way! Better days!

FEATHERS - Hi there! Thanks for the Southern Chick with the Rebel Flag! I’d sure like to check out a little of her “Dirty South” if you know what I mean. In reference to your questions Dear Miss Feathers. What do I do with my days in here and do I have a job of some kind? Well, I spend my days in the library. I type blogs and letters to my family and friends. I’m not required to work because I have degenerative disc disease in my lower spine. It’s not that bad, long as I don’t lift anything heavy or twist in any unusual way. But it does keep me from having to sling uneaten food off of serving trays in the kitchen dishroom if you know what I’m saying. Oh, I could work. But I choose not to do so. That way I have all this time to write and deal with myspace! Pwetty dawn smawt wouldn’t you say? Let’s just say, I’ve learned how to work the system instead of letting it work me. Second question, how do I get money on my books? What little I get comes to me from friends who send it to the National Lockbox in Des Moines, IA. You see, the feds started this system a few years back where all incoming inmate money orders are sent to one central location so THEY can draw interest off OUR money for themselves? Isn’t that some dirty shit? I mean with over 200,000 men and women in federal prison today, they draw a lot of free money from interest! I personally do without a lot in here. I never ask anyone for money but if they send me some I’m glad to get it. I’m not a wasteful person. I only buy necessity items then if there’s anything left I might buy sodas or food. These darn Swintec typewriter ribbons run me ten bucks a pop and I go through about one of them a week! That’s not counting the correction tapes, copy cards I need to copy my blogs and stamps to mail them out. Nor the great expense my PR rep Nicole puts out toward helping me try and make it to the top! With luck one day, I hope to be able to sell the copyrights to my blogs or maybe get a book deal. Until then I just have to depend on what little I get mailed in to me from my friends to survive. Thanks for asking Feathers. And most importantly, thanks for being a friend! Be looking for personal messages as soon as I get mine here.

BARBARA - How are you? Glad to see you again! Love the cat pic by the way! And hey, Sally just had another litter of kittens here! I got worried about her the other day when she briefly disappeared. Don’t know WHERE she had them, but with luck they’ll start coming around when they get older. In response to your question. “If you could give one piece of advice to others, one lesson, one thing that you have learned in your lifetime, what would that be?” Well Barb, here’s the deal. I’d probably tell young kids still in grade school NOT to ever use drugs, to STAY in school, to CHOOSE a career early on and stick with pursuing that career, and above all to ALWAYS love their mom and dad!

J! - Jamie … Loved the way you referred to being “Beer Big”. I’ve never heard that one before. But rest assured, I’ve been there/done that for real! Ha! Ha! Hope you and yours had a happy 4th of July!

YVONNE - aka Albi, or is it Alibi, the Racist Dragon. I be’s confoozed! (Laughs) Okay, okay, so you got rid of that big old blonde. But hey! Who is this? Marilyn Manson in drag? Because I KNOW it’s not you. You’re a stone cold fox and I really know what you look like! When did I lose my virginity? In a way I’m ashamed to say. I was a bit of a late starter I guess. I was actually 16 years old! And as stated in a previous blog, one that I’m not sure has been posted yet, it was with the County Sheriff’s daughter in the back seat of my very first car! Keep in mind though Yvonne, I’d done a hell of a lot of stuff before that. I just hadn’t actually “stuck it in”. (Laughs). And yes, just as Nic said. You shake things up just by being one gorgeous HOT MAMA! When may I ask might I get some REAL pictures of you? An inquiring mind wants to know! And all the guys too. Take care! Personal messages coming soon!
SAUCY BITCH - Did you blow something up for me? Watch for an upcoming blog titled “Kablooie”! I think you will enjoy it! And as far as your one true love Dave goes … I’m sure he’s thinking about you wherever he may be! And I hope it’s in a good place my dear. I wish I could give you more comfort, I just don’t know for sure what the afterlife is all about. Be well little girl and keep taking good care of that baby of yours! Hope you had a happy 4th of July!
BRANDI aka Eddie’s Girl- Hello Brandi, not Brandi Shae one of my regular readers. Nice to meet you. And thanks for reading Tales From the Cells! I read your stuff in “Ask Tripper”. And I can see your both an intelligent and very lovely girl. Ya know, I never had a chance to try and of those oxy’s out there. I’ve been locked up since mid ‘96 minus five months of freedom from January to June of ‘00. Listen, glad to see you are on the road to recovery. Like I always tell my friends who are like me. As long as you NEVER do that first hit, take that first pill, do that first shot, NADA! You’ll be alright! There were many times when my friends were all doing cocaine around me and I chose NOT TO. My problem was … I always wound up falling off the wagon sooner or later when what I should have done was simply say NO each and every time I was offered dope or felt the temptation. I applaud your efforts at quitting. Just look at it this way Brandi, you have those beautiful little babies out there that NEED you. And you can do this if you really want to. I picked up this little religious pamphlet one time, something that I rarely ever do. And it had three short words in there that made a hell of a lot of sense to me. They were, “Make Better Choices”. And basically hon, that’s all you have to do. And some more personal advice for you, GET AWAY and STAY AWAY from any old friends that are still involved in that kind of lifestyle. That will help immensely! Trust me! And for your question. I think it’s cool that people read my stuff. Anyone and everyone is welcome. Does it make me want to get to know them? Why certainly! Especially all the good lookin’ females! My sister is kind of like you. What I mean by that is, when I use to be out there running wild in the chatrooms, she’d talk to a few select guys. Hell, I’d kick it with anyone! She was always very private but I noticed something one day. She was actually a little bit jealous of me! And I can understand her not putting herself out there like I did. After all, she was/is a female. But for me, this is what I do and I enjoy meeting new friends! As in I thoroughly enjoy meeting you! Take care Brandi! Hope you had a happy and fun 4th of July!
I’m Mikey Crocker, cuz I got cakes - Any kin to Betty Crocker Mikey? Hey Dude! Congrats for winning the Judge’s Choice Award in the Mad Goat’s blog contest! You must be a pretty damn good writer although unfortunately I was not able to read your blog. I can see by what little I’ve read here in your comment that you are a very, very funny guy! A cabdriver you say? How fuckin’ cool! Did you know I use to take a cab at night much of the time because I’d always have so much dope that it was safer for me to ride in a cab than drive my own car after midnight? And believe me dude, I always tipped good … not money either! Thanks for reading and commenting Mikey! And to you and yours, I hope you had a happy 4th of July!
KRYSTALLA - Did you save me any of that BBQ? Glad you had a happy 4th of July! You should be very proud of your son! And hey, if I would have been at the party, I would have helped to calm down those two female friends of yours. And as far as you being a professional mommy … I can totally relate. Why? Because MY mom is/was exactly the same way. All she ever knew was raising babies! She had three including myself. Nothing wrong with that Krystalla. What do I suggest? Well, I’d probably try to find some kind of job that I’d enjoy. I would NOT work unless the job I took was fun! Maybe something to do with the Internet? Once I get out of here I plan to do so much! I have endless ideas! And hey! Thanks for the Mwah! If you weren’t already taken, I’d be scheming on you for real! Take care Krystalla and be looking for a personal message from me in the near future!
MISS SMITH - aka the infamous “Brenda”. Damn you’re good lookin’! Love this new picture! How big is “it”? Depends on who’s getting “it” aroused. You do know I am partial to petite little California blondes, don’t you? I thought you did. Now come on. Let’s see what we can do! As far as me being able to adjust when I get out. I’m not going to lie to you Bren. It’s really going to be hard! No, not my penis. That stays hard all the time. I mean it’s going to be hard to adjust. See where you put my mind with that first question? Straight up in the gutter. If yours is down there, make sure and move a bit so I don’t step on it. Okay? And as far as the new fancy gadgets out there. I get to see them on TV or in an occasional issue of STUFF magazine. I want to mess around with one of those camera phones and get an IPOD or one of those music player deals. Do I get to know what’s in the news? I watch CNN Headline News with Robin Meade every morning. Am I able to go to school? I probably could. I took a couple of college courses at one federal prison but here all I do is write blogs and letters home! Is my hair still long? Why yes of course. If this west Texas wind would ever stop to blow, I’ll comb it down in front, take some pics, and post them for you to see. I need a hot blonde to come and braid it for me. Know anyone? Sorry you had to work on the 4th. Just glad to know you’re doing okay!
THE MAD GOAT - Hey fucker! What in the hell is going on? Hope you had an eventful 4th and you woke up in some good lookin’ chick’s bed somewhere! No Crown Royal and Coke for me this year. No bottle rocket wars, BBQ from Fat Jack’s, or hookers giving me blowjobs in the front seat of my car! Damn the bad luck dude! Damn the bad luck! Just wanted to say hello! In reference to your question. My best dope dealing years were ‘83 and ‘95. I probably made my first hundred grand in ‘83. But keep in mind, I wasn’t like some major high end weed smuggler or drug trafficker or anything. Just your mild mannered, simple, hang around the grade school selling two dollar joints street dealer. Not really, the COs in here treat all guys in for dope as if they sold to 10 year old kids. Yeah right. In ‘95 I might have made double what I made in ‘83. Of course that includes all the trafficking and trading I did in stolen merchandise as well. I hope this has satisfied your curiosity. Hope you had a great 4th of July even though like you said, you probably don’t remember shit about it!
MS. KITTY - Wow! What a Fox! How many tattoos? Rough estimate … about 75 to 80 I guess. What are they and why? Okay, my first one was my girlfriend at the time’s name. It’s now covered up with the head of a black panther. Then, I have two tigers, some wizards, lots of moons, suns and stars. A Pegasus, an eagle, some rocket ships, two cocaine demons, a couple of dragons, a bunch of skulls with flames shooting out of their heads … don’t ask me why on the flames. I have a rebel flag shaped like the United States. I’ll leave the meaning of that one for you to figure out on your own. An eight-ball on my left outer arm and a nine-ball on my right in the same place. A rebel soldier, a demon reading a book on how to manufacture meth, a biker shooting pool in a bar on my back, and a winged demon sitting on top of an old time tombstone bearing down on it with his pitchfork, flames all around, a rat in front of the stone and a piece of cheese. Inscribed on the marker is, “Tommy Boyd - Burn in Hell - Date of Birth and Date of Death included”. I have a parrot, and a guy with his tongue hanging out and a half naked girl sliding down the tongue and a flaming lion, a Superman emblem (me on cocaine ten foot tall and bulletproof) and a Rolling Stones lips and tongue. That’s not all but close. Why did I get them? Simply to fill space and look mean. Got any tattoos I need to know about Ms. Kitty? Meow! And too, in re to your second question, my PR rep Nic pretty much explained that in detail. I damn sure wish I could have care packages but I can’t. Way back in the day, guys were smuggling in too much shit so the feds put a stop to incoming stuff real quick. On books, I’ve pretty much stopped reading just about everything. I maybe read three to five books a year. Too time consuming although I do look at a good Curves or MAXIM magazine every once in a while. I spend most of my time blogging and writing my family. I do like getting pictures and lipstick kisses and the occasional money order for typewriter ribbons and correction tapes. Thanks for asking Ms. Kitty! Meow! Meow!
MARJIE - Hi there! Thanks for responding. How did Nicole and I meet? I’ll leave that one for her to explain. Please message her. In a way, it’s kind of a well kept secret. Let’s just say she is like the most special friend I’ve ever had! And I love and appreciate her more than she’ll ever know. Talk to her. I’m sure she’ll be glad to let the cat out of the bag! Thanks for asking Marj! Hope you had a great 4th of July!
VERLA - Hi there Verla! My favorite season of the year? Believe it or not … Fall! Why? I guess because I have my best childhood memories of the Fall. Raking leaves in the yard with my dad and burning them. Marshmallow roasting over an open fire. Thanksgiving. The State Fair. A cool breeze. Not too hot like in the summer time and not too cold like the winter. Just always loved Autumn. What’s yours?
HIPPIE CHICK - Hope you really didn’t have to spend the 4th all alone. Thanks for thinking of me on the 4th. BTW, Do you still do hippie chick things? Just wondering … now, I have a question for you! Are you a blonde and are you around my age? A fellow inquiring hippie mind wants to know.
TASHA - Yeah Tash, you’re so right about that stupid burn ban here in Texas. That’s why they’re not grilling our hamburgers and hotdogs on an outside grill here this year. And to think, they use to always give us BBQ ribs! Not any more. Feds got cheap on us. In re to your questions. I get out in late 2014, or maybe a few months earlier depending on how much halfway house they give me. Will I continue to write? Yes, I most certainly will. I plan to do big things with www.talesfromthecells.com. I just need to physically get out there so I can get with the program! That’s all. As far as your jealous boyfriend … tell him to stop “tripping”. Now, if I were out there he might have a reason to trip on old Trip. Know what I’m saying? How can a guy get jealous of another man when the other man is in prison? That reminds me of my third wife getting jealous when I said Fran Drescher was good looking when watching “The Nanny” on TV. And, finally, in reference to the previous blog “Shopping with Granny”. Is that what it was called? Hmmm … can’t remember for sure. I’ve slept since then. It was meant to be my first ever attempt at a cliffhanger and I will finish the story … just for you! Thanks for asking!
SIOBHAN - Would loved to have watched that fireworks display in the Bay area. That’s where my friend Sam lived much of his life by the way. I hope you and yours had a great 4th of July celebration. And thanks for your comments and memories as I remain your special friend … Tripper!
Well! That about does it with the exception of me sending out special “hellos” to the rest of my friends and readers. To Jeanette … love your angel icon! And “Happy Birthday” to you Boo! Hello to Gabe, Cupid and Jason - hope you didn’t have to work too hard! And ah … the Fallen Angel! I love you too little girl! Thanks for the hugs and kisses! And Toe_Knee_Stew_ert … Hope you and your twins, not your kids either, had a great 4th of July Friday! You’re still lookin’ hot as a firecracker! Hello to Linda Lee up in Reno! Brandi Shae in Colorado and Lee Ann, come here and let me give you a spanking here in the great state of Tex-Ass! And where is my Pink Fairy Princess by the way? Hi to Cassie, Mickey, and her royal highness the Duchess of Detroit! Hope you’re doing okay Mayet and Elaine. You’re two of the prettiest girls around! And my special thanks and much love goes out to my best of the best girl friend… Nicole! I am the one and only infamous Tripper! God Bless America! Better Days!