Day 20 - April 1, 2019

Today I’m traveling back home. As I went through airport security, I again tell them I have a device on that I cannot remove, show it to them by pulling up my pant leg and that I cannot go through the metal detector or the body scanner, paperwork in hand. The TSA agent asked me “So you really can’t remove it?” Um, NO. Believe me lady, I’m not exactly wearing this for my comfort or sanity. 

She instructs me to put my shoes through the scanner (I was prepared this time & wore footies : ). She told me to go through the metal detector anyway (totally different protocol than my home airport...) and if it set it off I’d need a body search & swab. To her surprise it didn’t set off the metal detector at all so she told me to just keep on going...okay...

Look, I get this is court ordered, but this is highly intrusive into my private life when I follow specific parameters given to me by SCRAM for traveling and I’m still questioned asked for additional information that’s extremely personal. You’re treated like a leper. TSA doesn’t know anything about these devices, what they are or how to treat them. That seems very irresponsible and just begging for a tampering violation or worse their decision to do other than what my paperwork instructs breaks the device and costs me a $1,700 replacement.

Day 19 - March 31, 2019

Tonight I had dinner with a colleague at a restaurant in Kansas City where I’ve been working. My steak arrived with a sauce atop. I hate when the menu doesn’t say a sauce comes on top of the steak. 😡

I was about 3 bites in when he & I proclaimed simultaneously “WHAT IF IT’S A F$@%!+G RED WINE DEMI GLACÉ?!”

I immediately motioned the server over and asked her about it. She just hollowly blinked and replied “Why, are you allergic to alcohol? You should’ve told me that when you ordered.” Of course I explained I was not allergic but I am not allowed to consume any alcohol and that I was wearing a device that would detect ANY injested alcohol and that the menu should make it clear that there would be a sauce and if that sauce contained alcohol. She said she’d check...

She comes back out from the kitchen and assured me they do not cook any of their dishes with alcohol. I told her that’s not exactly what I asked, the sauce could be made with alcohol and not necessarily be “cooked”. She said she’d ask again. I didn’t see her go back there, rather she attended to other guests and as my food grew cold and I grew frantic my colleague motioned her over again to which she assured us there was no alcohol in the food. I sincerely hope not. It was clear she didn’t care and doesn’t know what I have at stake of there was. Needless to say my colleague finished my steak. I ate the mashed potatoes and green beans that hadn’t touched the sauce.

Normally, I would’ve just run to my car and blown into the breathalyzer for a 0.00 on record but I’m traveling and I flew here. No car to save me. Fingers crossed.

Day 17 - March 29, 2019

Today I had to fly out for a 4 day work trip. I was told I should not have a problem getting through TSA screening and that it should be less difficult since I am Pre-Check, but to allow myself extra time. I was told I could not go through the metal detector or the scanner due to the device’s sensitivity, but that they would likely subject me to a body search and swab.

When I approached the TSA agent in line I informed him that I was wearing a device that could not be removed and I pulled up my pant leg. He asked me to go in the body scanner instead of through the metal detector and I showed him my SCRAM paperwork saying that was not something that should be done, however, he insisted. I wasn’t about to stand there and argue with him and it’s on camera I showed him my paperwork and he still made me get in the mschine so if anything happened to the device it’s on him.

Even though I’m Pre-Check and not supposed to have to remove my shoes they did make me remove them. I didn’t really care but I wished I would’ve known they would do this because I was wearing ballet type slippers and didn’t have on socks. Who wants to walk around on that funky ass floor without socks?!

Once I got through the scanner the monitor still set the scanner off (go figure - I tried to tell you!) they asked me to sit in the chair with the device exposed (pant leg up), pat the device with my hands and then swabbed my hands. After a few minutes they let me go and I was on my way.

Day 16 - March 28, 2019

I went to the nail salon today. I skipped the pedicure for obvious reasons but I had to be manicured for a work event for the weekend. I made sure I removed my SNS powdered nails myself before I went in so they wouldn’t have to use chemicals that likely contain straight alcohol in direct contact with my skin to dissolve them before they applied the new SNS powder. I was very nervous every time the tech next to me sprayed anything or did anything to the lady next to me but I told my tech that I could not have contact with alcohol and he performed a ‘botanical’ manicure which contained products that are all natural and he assured me did not contain alcohol. Of course it came at a higher price.

Day 8 - March 20, 2019

Nothing much new to report. The home base has started to audibly beep REALLY LOUD very randomly a few times a day and when I look at the screen it says ‘connecting to network’. Then it goes right back to ‘monitoring’ a few seconds later. I don’t recall it doing that prior to having my monitor replaced on Monday.

Now that it’s been over a week and I’ve received no notifications of alerts, I’m much more comfortable with wearing the anklet. I don’t feel like I’m constantly walking on eggshells any longer. I really believe the key is simply not drinking and using common sense when it comes to the products you choose to use. I was even so bold as to use perfume on Monday before work (one spray on the back of my neck - my hair is pixie short). However, I would never choose to hose myself down or be brave enough to slather my hands in alcohol based hand sanitizer.

I also recently realized a brand of shampoo and conditioner recommended to me to use during this time that is supposedly ‘alcohol free’ actually depended heavily on the scent you choose. Different scents for the same brand had very different ingredients and much to my chagrin I happened to notice the one I chose had isopropyl alcohol in both the shampoo and conditioner! However, I’ve been using it daily for over a week now and no alerts. I also have very short hair and so I don’t use a lot and I’m also very careful not to rinse anything directly over the device.

I primarily work from home, however, I did have my first client meeting on Monday afternoon. It was very awkward. I went out of my way to make sure my clothing did not reveal my monitor and I was also on high alert to make sure my pants or heel straps didn’t catch in the device and accidentally cover the monitor. That’s something I’ll have to continue to be extra vigilant with. 

It’s also not very easy for me since 99% of my work clothing consists of skirts or dresses. In addition, the few pairs of pants I have are skinny bottomed, which absolutely will not work with this monitor. I found myself at the mall yesterday buying 2 pairs of ‘barely bootcut’ jeans at Express for the weekends and a few pairs of dress pants from White House Black Market. I also purchased a few wide leg jumpsuits on Poshmark made by Bebe and Michael Kors. I’ll just Posh the stuff I don’t want any more when this is over. It’s nice that we’re just entering Spring and this is scheduled to be over for me early June, right in time for bikinis, shorts & sandals : ) Besides, since the device cannot be submerged in water I really wanted to get this over before pool season.

Day 6 - March 18, 2019

I have not felt this device test (no audible noises or vibrations) since yesterday afternoon after all the random succession of vibrations occurred and the light on the anklet has illuminated a solid green as opposed to not having been lit at all before. The home base box still just reads ‘monitoring’. I called this morning first thing to inquire about what’s happening because the last thing I want is any trouble and the lady that answered the phone said she isn’t knowledgeable enough with the device and that the office is closed and to call back in about two hours. Extremely frustrating when you’re scared something is wrong. So, I have no clue what’s going on with this device and if there is a problem.

*UPDATE* - I called the company back and they had no clue what was wrong with it. They sent a tech out to my house. Apparently I had a faulty device and it needed to be replaced. The replacement device is much louder than the last one : ( He said he was surprised I noticed it wasn’t working, that they usually have to notify people that they aren’t receiving data from their anklet anymore. I’m just thrilled I’m not in trouble!

Day 5 - March 17, 2019

I guess it was a wild night out last night for some people with St. Patrick’s Day being today. Yesterday evening I was on my way out for a client meeting and there was a BIG sobriety check point. As I rolled to a stop and lowered my window, the officer approached with “ma’am have you had anything to drink tonight?” to which I replied “absolutely not!” as I kicked up my SCRAM anklet in his view and shook my breathalyzer machine simultaneously. We both couldn’t help but laugh. Don’t get me wrong, drinking & driving is a serious matter but I doubt this guy has ever had that happen to him at a checkpoint before. And I needed the humor.

I went on about my way. Afterwards, I met up with a guy I’m seeing. When we kissed I immediately tasted beer/wine. I pulled back and my eyes got as wide as saucers! Even though I’ve been assured you’re able to be intimate with people that have consumed, I didn’t want to test that theory. It put an initial damper on the evening, but I thought, well, damage is done at this point, and it’s not supposed to be a problem, so…😈. 

My best friend was relatively close to where I live and she was too intoxicated to drive. She stayed over at my place. I made sure I laid on my side with my monitored leg guarded by my bare leg, back to her. I didn’t want her to somehow accidentally set off my monitor. See how stupid neurotic this device will make you?

I did have a couple of instances, both Friday & Saturday nights where the power was tripped from my daughter dying her hair to her preferred shade of red (hair dryer, plus makeup light plus electric fireplace doesn’t work on my breaker apparently) and the base station went out and started beeping. I ran it out to my car and plugged it in since I have an AC adapter until I stabilized things inside. Once I even took it to another residence and sat and waited for my daily download there just to be safe. Now, the company knows I travel and the base, to my understanding, is really only used for the 2 am download, which I haven’t missed.

This afternoon, while out, the anklet started vibrating a bunch for a solid few minutes. As the days wear on, I don’t notice the audible noise/vibrations hardly ever, but when they’re in that much rapid succession I did wonder what was going on. Luckily, I was in the car, which requires me to blow into my breathalyzer every 5-15 minutes, so whatever was happening I have it recorded that I was at a 0.00 BAC for the 10 minutes prior, during and about 15 minutes after this occurred. As soon as I got home I went up to the home base box plugged into my bedroom to see if there was any sort of change. It still just said ‘monitoring’, as usual. I went back downstairs and a few minutes later it did it again - a bunch of vibrations in close succession. I ran back upstairs to look at the box. Still said ‘monitoring’. I haven’t noticed the device vibrate since and the light is glowing solid green on the anklet. This weird stuff is the type of occurrence that bolsters the paranoia around the device. I’m sure as the days roll forward and nothing happens because I haven’t done anything wrong I’ll learn to relax.