Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful fathers out there! Here is my weekly update:
This past week went by quickly, and I am grateful, as the days are getting more humid and balmy inside this prison camp with no air conditioning. It’s the kind of humidity that warrants another shower AFTER you shower, because you’re already soaked with sweat after drying off.
I am going to include in this weekly update the highs and the lows of the week’s events, so buckle up.
There were several new dogs added to the dog program this week. A couple new olde english bulldogs, Rosie and Rebel, who were breeding dogs rescued from a puppy mill. Both reminded me of my own olde english bulldog, Lord Bentley, who I miss every day. Their temperament and wiggle butt walking stride are unmatched- they are my new two favorites. We also have a couple new boston terriers and a spingerdoodle- which was a first for me to see. All the dogs are awesome, because they are DOGS and truly a light within this prison.
We also had a new horse come this week during equine therapy named Finn. He is a former racehorse- gorgeous coloring and showed off his racing skills, as he got the zoomies during our session. 16 hands high and a fantastic creature. He would follow me around like a 2000 pound puppy, right by my side. Simply beautiful.
We had numerous extra counts this week and shake downs recovering vapes, vibrators, phones, makeup and money. I still will never understand the concept of the prison enterprises in a prison camp- don’t these women WANT to go home??
We also had a visit from the new Deputy Director of the BOP, Joshua Smith. He has only been in his role a week, and his visit lasted about an hour. He took the time to share with us his own journey through being incarcerated in Manchester for drug dealing, and now appointed by Trump to head the BOP. He seemed very down to earth, but he was unable to give any solid answers to our questions (as most were about FSA and stacking), however, he did say changes were coming this week. We will see. FMC Lexington was his first prison visit of his new role, and he seemed to have the support of the administration here as well. I hope he truly makes some much needed changes for the inmates in the BOP custody.
Yesterday, I had an incident with a super aggressive CO within visitation, and I have reported it to the Warden, as it occurred in front of my husband and a full house of inmates and visitors. While I am used to being accosted and yelled at by some CO’s, it broke my heart that Alex and others had to witness how we are treated in here at times. Fortunately, there are more kind guards in the prison camp than at the main large max prison across the street, but when they come over here, you never know what rule that you don’t know of will get in trouble for. I have had several panic attacks since the incident, but I will recover eventually from this place. God gives us nothing that we can’t handle.
In closing, I am hopefully getting my date tomorrow from my Case Manager. It has been pushed off a couple weeks, but I had a note to see her at 1pm tomorrow. I think having a solid date of release will help my anxiety tremendously. I am creating and hosting a “Juneteenth Jeopardy” this week on Thursday, which I am looking forward to, and my bible lesson that I named “Daddy Issues” for Father’s Day went really well too. Also, I am designing a blueprint for the house I am building in carpentry- which is a new skill I never have acquired before now. I am becoming quite well versed in sawing and drilling here 😉
I hope you all have had a great week, I can’t wait to be home.
Sending much love and light,
Carolynne (Mom)
