Saturday, July 6th
Time to layout some goals as we kick off the second half of 2024! So for 9/30/24, my targets are:
* run 2 laps in 8 minutes
* 200 pushups/day
* 100 sit-ups/day
* Getting medical treatment or file compassionate release
* filed my appeal
* filed for Canadian Exchange Treaty
* A Better Tomorrow letters sent to 30 Influential People
* 2 Sections of ABT Book written/sent in
* Finally speaking sentences in Spanish
* Catchup on 90 days of backlogged journals, blogs etc
* Consistently post blogs beginning Sept 1
For some of these its a lot of prep work which should keep me occupied:)
Sunday, July 7th
Have to admit, 4 day weekends in prison aren’t great. First of all we have Holiday weekend schedule for all 4 days, which means extra in cell lockdown daily 9:30-11 am. That’s 6 extra hours cell time. Then we had 2 yard recalls, Thursday and Sunday, where they shut down the Yard due to staffing shortage or a drone or both, another 4 hours inside. Then we had fog 2 days from 7-9am lockdown in cell. So basically 14 hours extra in cell, or 3-4/day average! That’s a lot out of 10 open hours a day.
Looks like another week of 75-80 all week, just perfect weather. We could use more wind to keep the morning fog away. Reminds me when I was a kid living in San Luis Obispo nearby, with the morning fog and hot afternoons.
Helping Derek now on his settlement filing, kind of fun to think through the issues and how to quantify them monetary wise. I can’t imagine this goes anywhere given there haven’t even been depositions, but guess we’ll see.
Reading anther book by Lynn Austin, “Among the Gods”. This one is on Joshua, and trying to kick Manasseh out as King of Judea after Hezekiah dies. Manasseh goes polar opposite of his father Hezekiah, only worshipping idols, and not Yahweh/God. Really brings alive the issues Judea had with Egypt and Assyria’s big armies, as well as all the challenges Joshua had accepting God’s will as well.
Monday, July 8
Well it finally came. Not the fog lockdown again from 7- 8:30 am. But the “Everyone in the Yard” shout at 8:30 as today is Day 1 of a 3 week fire sprinkler upgrade project. So we will have to be out of the Unit and our cell from 8-3 every day. Of course no notice, so we all scrambled to get what we need to be outside or at the library all day, including khakis for inside stuff like chow or library and gym clothes for outside.
At least the weather isn’t too bad. I ended up outside till 12, and the library till 3. Not so bad. Should be an interesting 3 weeks as this will change up our normal schedule. I’ll try library 7:30-10, lunch, and library 12-3,that way I’ll be outside a couple hours which will help my tan without getting burned like some of the guys!!
Tuesday, July 9
Every day is an adventure, that’s for sure! Good news is I was able to help Steve, the new guy , learn how to use the legal library. Wish someone had done that for me:) After being productive in the library till 10, we were outside 11-3 as the library didn’t want us “stragglers” hibernating in there avoiding the sun and making noise with their jabbering and no reading/research and avoiding being outside, which what most of the Hispanics try and do, so the rest of us pay the price. Oh well….
Finished helping Derek on reviewing cases where damages for similar cases were awarded, and the elements of causes he can cite in his filing. I finally got a reply to my BP- 9, the Admin Remedy Coordinator stating 4 things I completed improperly. The good news is I have the BOP Program Statements supporting everything they say is wrong is actually in accordance with their policy, so just need to refile and explain their errors:) I’m pretty sure they don’t need me to tell them that by the way:) Meanwhile the clock keeps ticking on my medical symptoms.
Wednesday, 7/10
Well today was my most productive/non stop day so far. Every once in awhile the schedules/guards workout. Was at Education 7:30-10:15, straight to early chow with the rest of the Unit who are outside, 10:30 pushed Derek back to Education(he’s an employee) and was there till 3! Perfect!
Ended up working on 4 legal cases for the most part- 2 guys BP-8’s for wrongful BOP behavior, my cellmates’ appeal, and Derek’s settlement prep. Both Derek and I were beat at the end of the session, but felt like we got a lot done.
Lousy dinner, so skipped and did 5-6:15 workout, and relaxed rest of the day. Why can’t every day be so productive like this? Someday I will write a blog about how prison trains inmates the exact opposite of being productive-hurry up and wait just creates bad habits and morale….
Thursday, July 11
Fog kept us in till 9:30. So no library, but was nice to do my quiet reading plus get organized after yesterdays frenzy. At 9:30 they sent us to the Yard till 10:30, so pushed Derek round the track as we chatted on what is now a beautiful morning. I really enjoy our chats when we hit the track, even when we stop and just talk about things. Going to really miss him when he leaves as I haven’t found anyone else so compatible.
Finally able to go to the library at 12:30-3, another productive session. Tried to turn in my reply to Counselor on a second BP9 but each time he wanted to meet “later” and that never came:) Guess there’s always tomorrow!
Decided to skip workout and go to movie, Equalizer Three with Denzel Washington and just get some R & R. Tomorrow if we go outside I’m skipping the library, will workout hard, tan, and write a bit!
Friday, 7/12
Well, well, maybe the BP-9 did help! Had a full day in the Yard due to our project in the Unit, but around 1 pm I heard my name on the speaker system, so went to the Yard guard. He told me Medical wanted to see me. As I hoped, the Assistant Director finally got my hearing aid shipping figured out and in 3 days they will finally be sent out-hallelujah!
Even better on the way out of Medical, he pulled me into meet the Director, Mr. Christopher who my doctor had sent the letter 4 months ago. They brought in the Clinical Director as well, and apologized “really want to help me”. So we discussed what I need/want, and since they didn’t ever see a copy of the 12 page letter, they want me back next Tuesday 8 am with the letter. All one day after my BP9 rejection, what a coincidence, but fine by me.
