Where to begin with this one?
Hmmmmmmmm?????
Let's start in the middle.
Since we were already in that region of Colorado yesterday, Lorraine and I went to check out Supermax. What is Supermax? It is the federal pen that houses the most dangerous criminals in the United States and is otherwise known as the "Alcatraz of the Rockies." Some of these convicts are so out of hand, they are kept isolated underground. Let me just say this was totally Lorraine's idea. I was just along for the ride.
Famous Residents of Colorado's Supermax (some now dead):
Unabomber (Ted Kaczynski)
Shoe-bomber (Richard Reid)
Atlanta Olympics Bomber (Eric Rudolph the "Christian Terrorist")
OKC bomber (Timothy Mcveigh)
OKC bomber (Terry McNichols)
Original WTC bombers (Ramsi Yousef & Co.)
gosh so many bombers-- they call it "bombers row"
Zacarais Moussaoui (9-11 conspirator)
Charles Harrelson (Woody's dad who killed a federal judge for hire)
Robert Hannsen (FBI agent convicted of espionage)
Many other bad dudes
Earlier while at an antique store (on the cell phone with Matt):
Me: We are in Florence. It is really a cute town. By the way, isn't Supermax around here? Do you know exactly where it is?
Matt: ????? Um. Lori, you know they do not have a gift shop at Supermax right?
Me: We just want to drive by.
Matt: Bad idea.
Heehee. Lorraine and I have never let a bad idea stop us before. I give a "bad idea" (i.e. breaking the 3 margarita limit at the Rio) full credit for our walking accident/rescue, ER visit and eventual marriage and 2 kids on Lorraine's part.
Well, we found our way to Supermax.
I did not think that it was a good idea to take pictures, but acting on Lorraine's "advice" I started snapping away.
Right after I took this picture, we were chased down by a guard who tore through a field in a flashing white truck and told us that we absolutely could not take pictures (I took one of him as he drove off. I have authority issues, plus they had Lorraine's license plate. Not mine.). Gaaawww, I wasn't planning on helping the Unabomber tunnel out, I was doing it for my blog. RUDE!
In other prison news (and the reason we were in that area), earlier, Lorraine, her boys Alex and Zach, and I were in Canon (pronounced "canyon") City to take the train to the Royal Gorge (the "Grand Canyon of Colorado"). Canon city is home to both the men's and women's state penitentiaries.
Lorraine and Alex
Me and Zach
(the original Colorado State Pen is in the background)
Lunch
World's highest suspension bridge.
View looking out from the bar car.
A lot of people were rafting on the Arkansas river.
MUCH LATER . . . (AFTER WE WERE CHASED AWAY FROM SUPERMAX), we went to the only on-site prison museum in the United States.
Alex and Zach were totally indifferent to Supermax (they were engrossed in the Harry Potter movie playing in the backseat), but they both protested going to the prison museum.
Alex: Prison is a bad place. Why would you want to visit?
Being the sensitive mom that she is, Lorraine told the boys "Too bad. We are going. You can wait in the car if you want." (hahaha. We were at the prison. They declined waiting in the car).
And guess what???? This prison totally had a gift shop (take that Matt).
Original Colorado Women's Prison (next to the still-used men's).
Mock-up of typical women's cell circa 1960s. Prison doesn't look so bad right?
Oh wait. There was that flogging thing.
and, the mini-gas chamber model.
complete with a model dead guy.
and the actual gas chamber,
without a dead guy.
I talked to Lorraine this morning and we both had creepy dreams last night. The boys did not.
PS. BE SURE TO JOIN ME FOR MY UPCOMING 100th post. I am having either the best (or worst) giveaway in the history of blogs!!!!
PS. BE SURE TO JOIN ME FOR MY UPCOMING 100th post. I am having either the best (or worst) giveaway in the history of blogs!!!!