For the millions of Corrections Officers in the United States, the phrase, “Work hard, play hard” takes on a unique meaning.  Never glamorous and often unpredictable, the nature of the environment leads many of its practitioners to develop a thick skin rarely exhibited in other fields. 

For this reason, finding a balance between the world of corrections and life beyond the cement walls is essential.  As Michigan Department of Corrections librarian Joseph Bouchard recently noted, “Anxiety relieving amusements take the edge off of our sometimes cynical profession.” (See Vocation and Avocation)

George Showalter, a 14-year corrections veteran at Alaska's Wildwood Correctional Complex, couldn't agree more.  George and his wife Tina own and operate the Blonde Bear Bed and Breakfast in Kenai, a region famous for its world-class King Salmon fishing.

“It's just an Alaskan getaway,” he explained in a low, laid-back voice.  “We're out of town 12 miles – there are moose walking through the yard.”

Globetrotters from as far as the Netherlands, Uruguay and Australia, have stayed in one of the four Blonde Bear bedrooms to enjoy “everything Alaska has to offer.”  At Blonde Bear, that includes giant campfires where guests are privileged to sample Alaskan delicacies including salmon and moose sausage.

Because of the summer's midnight sun, Alaska's COs work grueling 12-hour shifts for a week straight, then take the following week off.  “I tend to play a bit harder on the outside,” smiled Showalter, “I hunt, fish, and pick blueberries with my five kids.”

Another officer that knows a thing or two about making the most of her leisure time is Missouri's own Linda Pankau – she and her husband Danny, along with fellow Corrections Officer Joyce Benight, raise emu and sell emu healthcare products from their website, DiamondEmu.com.

“Emu are large, flightless birds, between 145 and 160 pounds, that grow to be about five feet tall,” explained Pankau.  “We have four adult pairs that we breed here at Grand River Ratites.  At one time we had about 350 birds on four acres.”

DiamondEmu offers oil, lip balm, and soap, all of which have amazing medicinal properties: “Emu products are anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, they don't clog pores, and they they're all natural.” 

When Officer Pankau isn't in the control center at Western Missouri Correctional Center she's caring for the birds. 

“It keeps us very happy and very busy and that's the wonderful part of it.  It helps a lot of people," Pankau says.

Arizona Corrections Officer Larry Brown also has a unique take on how to best spend his off: he's an R&B singer.

“I've been doing music since I was 5 years-old.  When the grown-ups would have poker parties, we were the entertainment,” said Brown with a hint of a southern drawl.

Officer Brown, now 41 and married for 19 years, recently sang the national anthem for the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks, not to mention performing at a slew of other gigs throughout the state.  “Once people hear my music and see that it's not a joke, they act differently towards me,” laughed Brown.

With over 200 original songs in a stack of notebooks, Brown has been gearing up to explode into the scene since he wrote his first lyrics in 1987, but don't expect to hear anything over-the-top.  “I'm more into real singing.  I want to hear a storyline.  I'm more into that one, that love, that woman – none of that degrading derogatory stuff.”

Before he releases his album, though, Brown is hard at work alongside his cousin, Navy Recruiter Stephen Powell, to get Powell's daughter Ashley-Jolene a recording contract with former Capitol Records exec Wayne Martin.  “We went out there, let him hear some of her stuff.  I saw his eyes go, ‘ca-ching!'”

Although Officers Brown, Pankau, and Showalter all found very different ways to spend their time, they all agree on the importance of distancing themselves from the job. 

“When I'm there I'm focused.  When I'm not there, I'm not there,” said Brown.  Showalter added, “It's challenging, but there's got to be a separation.”