Just A Shout Out

Just a shout out to say hi and let everyone know Tammi will be back in the free world within the next six months.  She'll be back to talking on Facebook and Blogging on here as well.  If you want to write her you can send a letter via Jpay.com  using her inmate #1700208  or traditional mail at the following address:
Tamara Corbett #1700208
Dawson Unit
P.O. Box 650051
Dallas, TX 75265

Tammi Could Use Some Mail

Tammi could use some mail from you guys.  It's real easy to write since it is what you do on here anyways.  You can go to Jpay.com and sign up costs nothing and use her number 1700208.  Buy postage .44 cents per page.  That's all it takes or you can send snail mail to the following address:

Tamara Corbett #1700208
Dawson Unit
PO Box 650051
Dallas, TX 75265

I Know she would love to hear from you all.  She 'll be back soon we hope in the real world. This is Bill her fiancee' and I know she would love to hear from everyone.

Monday Morning Postings

Damien's Note: I apologize, everyone for running way behind on this one. There may be another blog posting today as I'm anticipating receiving another letter from her. I just sent one off about four days ago and received this one the day I sent this one off. They'd literally crossed paths. Looking through her letter one more time to ensure I wouldn't miss anything, I did see that she wanted me to send shout outs to Letti, Monogram Queen, Walker and Tweety30. She's been blogging with you four for quite some time now and she wanted to say hello to you all. Okay I'm not about to hold you guys up any longer, just wanted to get the apologies and shout outs here and here comes the show!

8/6/11 - Saturday

I freaking hate Saturdays and Sundays. They drag on until 1:30 am with the TVs full blast (as if you can hear them) because, obviously with 52 women in a dorm (54 in the last dorm) there is hardly ever a quiet time. Whoever invented closed captioning must have been to prison. The lights stay on until 1:30 am on Fridays and Saturdays too and that's a bummer. The one good thing about this unit is that we have air conditioning. I feel sorry for the other TDC units that don't have AC because, holy crap, it's been 100 - 106 degrees out there from what they say on the news. I know people are burning slap up in this Texas Heat!It would still be nice to be out there on the lake floating around on an air mattress getting a tan, though.

8/7/11 - Sunday

Slept half the day. That's the best way to get through a weekend. Never slept in the world. Went to church and got really irritated at the way these broads disrespect the church lady that takes her time to come up here. They always talk over her and kiss and bulldag in church which is totally disrespecting her and God. Shame on these people!

Watched the movie "Monster-in-Law" again. Love that movie. Thank goodness for closed captioning because there is no way you could hear the TV in here even with the volume all the way up. I have a new joke for you. What's the difference between Hard and Light?


You can sleep with a light on. Ha ha!

Postscript: So this thing got published before...on my stinkin blog! I had written an article about the recent release of the West Memphis Three and I think that my internet connection thought I still wanted to be logged in. No wonder I was having such an issue with the Italics key. Don't worry, I caught my mistake and deleted it! This needed to be here. This is it's home. 

New Postings 8/14/11

Damien's Note: Everyone, be ready to feast your eyes. I got two letters from her within two days and there were lots of little posts in there for all of us. Keep in mind that, up until today, I've only read the letters and I plan on writing her back right after I post here. That's right, You've read correctly...this will be a first for me too. No filter, no editing (save for minor spelling corrections) and no B.S., all uncut, all raw. Happy to say that she's still keeping it upbeat and lively in true Tammi style. Read on! Dosvidanija, tovarisch!

7/29/11

Okay enough complaining about being back in Hope - Literacy. It's a "God Pod" and you don't get classes in a regular dorm like you do in here. So I'd rather be here learning something as opposed to being on another floor just doing dead time. Obviously, the chances of getting maced in here are a lot slimmer, so that's a plus! I'm just now starting to breathe right - That mace ain't no punk.

I was just thinking...I used to have the craziest nightmares while I was in the free world. I would actually wake my ex up screaming. I even blogged about it a few times. What's so weird is that it's like some things are coming true. I even had a recurring nightmare that I got locked up in a cell alone which actually happened when I went on medical chain to the Goree Unit in Huntsville. Weird huh?

8/1/11

I just want to publicly acknowledge the person putting my crazy rambling on my blog for me :-).
Thanks so much, Damien, for being such a good friend to me for so long. I have appreciated & cherished your words of wisdom, advice & feedback each time you gave it. And unlike some of my friends that seem like they've forgotten me (just cuz I made a mistake)I want you to know that it means a lot to me that you are still hanging in here with me (Huggs) "Ride or Die."

I went to see the psyche today to do a madatory evaluation and it's confirmed I'm still crazy. Kidding! Ha! But I honestly that I could have played the depression card and got put on a psych med like a lot of people do. But the thing is, since I abused Xanax and Vicodin in the world, I absolutely refuse to become dependent on any prescription medication. I've gone this long without anything and I feel great. Sure, this place is depressing. It's actually meant to be because it's meant to be punishment for people that break the law. I figure if I can handle this stress without crazy meds, then I can do anything. Change is beautiful because if nothing changes, nothing changes."

8/2/11

I'm thinking about cutting my hair off. It's past the middle of my back and it's like a big headache in here. I mean it's not like we have access to Paul Mitchell or Pantene in here. I wish. I'm just not too sure I wanna drop a form to go to the beauty shop because they only use clippers to cut your hair. No shears at all. What??? I've never used a pair of clippers to cut long hair. Never seen it donw so I think I'll pass. I have seen some haircuts done with fingernail clippers. It's a prison thing. Ha ha! I think I'll pass on that too. I think I'll just wait til I get out of here.

8/3/11

My really good friend is going home today. She's been locked up for a year and, even though I'm so happy to see her go home to her kids, I'll admit that I'm a little sad. Only because we've grown so close, I'll feel lost without her. She's about the only person I know with a sense of humor as warped as mine! Ha! We really have been trying to laugh our way through all this craziness but we've had our share of tears. So if you're reading this right now "Mama-K" - you keep being strong out there and doing the next right think and you'll never have to worry about coming back here. I miss ya already, ladybug!

They always say never get too close to anybody in prison because you didn't come with anybody and you won't leave with anybody but it's almost inevitable because you're around people literally 24 hours a day and well I've never been a "loner". I guess I probably should have been a few times in my life but I guess I'm just a people person and I cant do time without someone to B.S. with. That's why segregation almost drove me ding batty. Ha ha! Of course I don't make it a habit of associating with some of these convicts. I mena you can't take a lot of criminals (druggies, prostitutes, thieves, even mentally ill) people off the streets throw them all in a dorm and expect everyone to get along...just sayin'. But sometimes there are people in here that just don't seem to have that criminal mentality that others do. Even first time offenders that were stay-at-home mom, good wives, went to church and basically lived the Leave It To Beaver life that went out and broke the law and wound up here. Sad, but it happens. And then there are people out there breaking the law all the time and just don't get caught. Maybe they are just smarter than the rest of us (doubt it) or maybe they're just lucky.

Eventually that luck will run out though. It usually does. Hate to be the bearer of B-A-D news.

8/4/11

Today is commissary day and, as usual, people are swinging off the rafters, all hyped up an sugar and caffeine - so it's like, so loud in here. It's a total drag going through the whole process - waiting in a two-hour line, etc. But, of course, it's worth it because I buy a lot of stuff like Ramen soups and all kinds of crazy stuff to put in them (pickles, mayo, fritos, squeeze cheese) there are a lot of different ways to make a soup when you can't eat this nasty mess they try to feed you. On top of that TDC stopped feeding three meals a day on weekends. If it's not nasty, you eat at 6am and 6pm on Saturday and Sunday and please believe even though I'm not a big eater, my stomach has an affair with my backbone before lights our at 1am (10pm Monday through Friday). Anyways - So I'm stocked up until next store day (10 to 14 days unless we go on lockdown).

Speaking of lockdown. Seems as though one of the men's floors are all on lockdown. Yikes!. They've got caught with drugs - plus they all got U.A.s (urinalysis) and of course, a bunch of them came up dirty, so they all lose contact visits for, I think, 45 days. Dummies. Yeah I said that. Plus some freeworld charges and TDC cases. Duuuuhhhh! Like they won't know they're wigging out on cocaine & heroin. These police watch every move you make in here. Well, some do anyways.

News Flash - I'm almost positive this new legislature law is gonna get me out sooner than I thought. It's called CSHB-2649 law that goes into effect September 1st. YAAAYYY!!! *High Five*

Damien's Post Script: Tammi will be sending me new stuff every few days and I'll be updating from either here or my tablet every time it comes in. If you're reading this, write back to her and let her know. I've been spamming the hell out of my Twitter because my Facebook spamming just isn't working and I tend to spam it a lot from my phone. Those anti-spam measures on Facebook stink worse than the butthole of a skunk.

On another note, I have to make a retraction. Tammi isn't in jail as I've previously stated. This is a prison run by the state of Texas. You would think that I would know the difference (and I really should have by now) however, I made a huge error in that part. My bad. Anyway, get ready for more updates and I'll be posting them for the little while longer that Tammi's not here with us. Personally, I can't wait til she is.

Tammi's First Post

Damien's Note: With this one I'm simply going to write it how it was written to me. It seems right to do so. This is the raw, uncut first episode that all of us get to view. Here, there are no cameras. No one is putting on faces trying to make themselves seem tough. This is the kind of material you won't see covered in any documentary but we are documenting it nonetheless. After this I'll be writing my letter to Tammi and including this and the forward posted today. I'll toss some ideas back and forth with her to see what she would like to have posted. There are chances that she may write something in longhand and just send it every few days. So you may see posts more often. Let's keep our fingers crossed. 

Sincerely,
Damien.

From Tammi:

About Me: 

What's up freeworld? Glad you could stop in :-) My name is Tammi and I'm doing a little vacation (prison) time at Dawson State Jail in Dallas, Texas. I've been locked up since March 3, 2011 on a 20 month sentence. My release date was originally October 23, 2012 but with my time reduction I should be released before then. I'm originally from Tyler, Texas but have lived in Houston, El Paso and a few places up north. My best friend who is a sweetheart is posting this as I don't have access to the internet. I'm hoping that, in telling my story, others might read this and hopefully, avoid making the same mistakes. At the same time, maybe I'll meet some cool new friends along the way, so I hope you'll stick around. (smiles)

I don't consider myself a "Bad Girl" - just someone who unfortunately chose to break the law (theft under $10 enhanced to a felony) and yes, I'm old enough to know better. Since I can't go back and change anything, I've decided to try and remain positive and go ahead and do this time and not let the time do Tammi. I'll get out and back on the straight and narrow soon enough. I'll also be back with my two beautiful daughters.

Unfortunately, this is definitely hard time (for all of us) but I do see a valuable lesson to be learned from all of it in the long run. Feel free to use the comment section to ask anything you want or even comment on anything posted here. It will be forwarded to me thanks to my long time friend and confidant.

If you want to write to me directly, the address is as follows:

Tamra Corbett #1700208

Dawson State Jail

P.O. Box 650051

Dallas, TX 75265

Looking forward to you taking this journey with me. Thanks for stopping in. Hope to see you back. Take care and bookmark me! :-) -Tammi

Part 2: The Very First Episode

July 21, 2011

This is my first entry and I'm not sure where to even start. Hmmm.....well life here in a TDC prison unit is basically like a romper room but with fifty-four grown women in a very small dorm. A good example is like right this very minute, it's often lights out and since so many people were loudly talking and jumping from one bunk to the next, we are all jacked up. The lights are back on and we all have to sit in the dayroom until who knows when. Since people won't behave themselves, this happens a lot. 

I go to a life skills (changes) class at 5:15am Monday through Friday, so it's gonna be another long night. Oh, thanks to Life Skills, I stand a lot better chance of getting my time reduced YAAAYYY!

Here are a few interesting Factoids I learned in Life Skills today:

Watermelons have an even number of stripes on the rind.

Oranges have an even number of segments. 

Each ear of corn has an even number of rows. 

Each stalk has an even number of grains and the waves of the sea roll in on shore exactly 26 to the minute in all kinds of weather. 

I have lots more interesting facts but I'll save 'em for later. Sounds odd to me being the "Skeptical Sue" I am. I'll probably get out and count the stripes on a watermelon at the grocery story HA HA. 

Have a blessed day!

Forward

Hello everyone,

I hope to find everyone reading this in good spirits because I do have some news for those whom haven't been following Tammi on Facebook. Tammi is not with us at the moment as she's currently in jail with a release date of October 2012.

I'm Damien V. Cross, author of The Night City Chronicles (Tams has me listed as Vampy Red...A Must Read...long story on the username) and I've been friends with Tammi going on about seven years now. During that seven years of chatting over the phone and sharing Tammi's many victories and tribulations, the day I got the news that she had been incarcerated, I was crushed. It's hard to see anyone you know going into a place where they're separated from their friends and family and, for those of us following here, praying for good news or an update, it's especially hard. We are all emotionally invested in one way or another depending on how close you were with her.

Through Tammi's blog, we met her, her family and watched her many misadventures. We laughed with her, cried with her and opened our doors to her when she needed help in any way possible. I have done the same with this.

Through my letter correspondence with her, I've asked if she would like me to keep up this blog (I'm putting mine on hold right now for various reasons but may post some things from time to time) and, I'm happy to inform you all, she accepted. As I now have access to channeling her own words and experiences from her to you in the form of writing (which being the slight spelling/grammar nazi I can be I will also be editing at her request), poetry or whatever else comes to mind.

As of this very moment and two letters where she intimated this particular fact, she knows who her true friends are now and she's more than happy that we've all followed and stayed with her throughout all of the latest that she's been through. In my own opinion, Tammi is one of the best friends that anyone could have. There's never a dull moment with her. She always has a story to tell. She always has a kind word for her friends. Though she may seem like a simple country gal from Texas with the accent of a Southern Belle and simple values, she's actually more complex than what the surface allows us to see. Not many of us have had the privilege of being able to take care of some small affair here or there for Tammi but we keep her and her family in our thoughts and prayers...let's not let it stop there. Let's keep it going. Keep the comments coming and, if you haven't already, Write to her at the following address:

Tamara Corbett #1700208

Dawson Unit

P.O. Box 650051

Dallas, TX 75265

Ladies And Gentlemen, without further delay, I give you a new season in the episodes of Tammi's life. It is a temporary but exciting time filled with cliffhangers and dangers, triumphs and agonies, love and understanding and another uphill walk on the road that is Tammi's Self-Discovery. Ladies and Gentlemen I give you the long awaited return of Tammi...

"I've got a black eye of a soul, morals in a hole, 

Wish I was so dead, now the TV says it's Topical Depression

 Pointless intervention, legal separation, call my dealer or my lawyer

I've got a situation..."

-Marilyn Manson "Arma-------------------geddon"

MAY GO TO JAIL TODAY!! ;-{

Tues. the 15th(TODAY) I have 2 go see my probation officer.I've been going once a week
for a year..no missed appt.'s...no failed urinalysis's...semi caught up w/
community service(would be caught up,but have had scratched/abrased eyeballs
that took forever 2 heal)....but I STILL can't find an employer that wont run a
background check & not hold it against me.I have no violence,all stuff like
driving w/ license suspended (13 yrs ago) theft by check..my own checking
acct....theft from a hospital(6 bandaides & 7 q-tips) and,well,right now I'm on probation 4 a
Walmart theft under $20.00....4 yrs probation (state jail felony b/c its my 3rd
offense after 16 years)...not minimizing anything..just putting it out there.I
am guilty of sitting in the breezeway talking 2 the Walmart greeter while
waiting on my roomate 2 bring my purse 2 pay for the items in my lap when I got
smart with a lady that I had no idea worked 4 Walmart..basically my mouth got me
taken 2 jail..and it snowballed (3 misdeameanors=felony)no matter HOW old they
are.After a year of perfect probation,I am off of once a week visits & on to a
new probation officer once a month.And he's NO JOKE! He yelled @ me for leaning
on his desk twice.Gosh I'm such an idiot.But one big issue is that I PROMISE,I
KNEW that any felon can't associate with another person on probation...but as
God is my witness I "thought" if u were off of probation or parole(for 13
yrs.,btw)that u could be friends w/ someone as long as they were not breaking
ANY laws & she doesn't.WRONG.I brought her upstairs right 2 my probation
waiting room.He asked me who she was,and I told him she's a good
friend..good girl..not on paper(probation/parole)THATS when he informed me that
even her being off parole for 13 yrs. doesn't matter.I'm not supposed to
associate at all.I feet like an IDIOT!!Sooooo.... If I do go to jail for
association,its MY fault....which bring me 2 my point..I was just
wondering(hoping)....can someone plzzzzz keep me company?Write 2 me?? That would
mean the world. Here is my facebook acct. in case ur wondering who I
am(moreless)MY FACEBOOK
I will definately write you back.But in jail,u dont need an inmate number.Only
when they send me to prison.................................so u would have to write me soon before they send me to TDCJ(where I will be given a # that has to be used)..OMG!! I hope I'm worrying 4 nothing.But I doubt it.Stupidity is NO excuse 2 fail ur probation.THIS is definately God's way of saying"Do what ur supposed to do...and you won't live in this kind of fear"!! I just wish I could kick my OWN self in the a***!!! Only a short time to go &  I'll be off probation..but if I DO get arrested I will get anywhere from 1 year to 4 years in Dallas Sate Jail,which is the SAME as prison,but a different setting.Same guards/gray suits..same TDCJ number system..just a place that u go and don't have to wait to be paroled out.This is flat time.You know ur release date the day u are sentenced,which would be after I am in the county jail about 4-6 weeks..this is why I am asking for a pen-pal...someone to hopefully write to for maybe a lil moral support.If u DO write 2 me,I would be so so so grateful...if the Lord sees fit for me to come home today.I will NEVER put myself in this awkward/scarey/.terrified situation again.I know how that must sound..but from the bottom of my heart,I mean every word
The address is:
  Tamara Corbett
  206 East Elm St.
  Tyler,Texas
          75702

Prison Nightmares!

OOkkk,this is getting ridiculous.I can understand if I had a guilty conscience,or doing no-no's...but I have been such a good girl for so long,that maybe I'm getting too ahead of myself,or getting to "proud".But I keep dreaming the wierdest crazy penetentiary nightmares.So I wake up,re-think them & jot down notes in a lil dream/nightmare book I keep by the bed.Last night I dreamed that I was in a desert-type facility w/ family members there on the inside with me.Miles & miles of dirt,and we were told to keep walking,keep walking...crap.I woke sooooo thrirsty.I was even dreaming "damn,I wish these officers would let us stop & drink something".Maybe I'm watching too much news or something.Hell...I dunno.This is like the 3rd really horrible scarey nightmares in just a few days.I wake up freaking out.Go back to sleep,wake BACK up freaking out sometimes 2 or 3 times a night.Fuck it...got a doctors on the 14th...gona address this bullshit.I either sleep TOO hard,or when I can't sleep,I stay up too long & just drop.
 Gona ring in the New Years Fri. in a big way...so I bet I sleep good THAT night!LOL