1) I am still doing my 300 sit-ups & 300 push-ups nearly every day (I am doing a test with push-ups to see whether doing them every other day helps me increase the number of push-ups in each rep). I do ~35 pull-ups whenever I can go to outside rec, where I also walk 1-2 miles. There is a friend of mine who is averaging 100 miles per month! Good for him. He also works at Unicor in a different division, so when there is no work, his boss lets him go home early — allowing him to get more time at outside rec.
2) I am now taking three classes:
Threshold – this is an FSA class designed to help me re-enter society. It is held 1.5 hours/day, 1 day/week for 26 weeks.
Spanish II – This is an ACE (Adult Cooperation Education) course taught by another inmate. It is 2 hours/day, 1 day/week for 8 weeks (ochos semanas).
Nutrition – This is an ACE class taught by an inmate who was a doctor on the outside – helping high impact athletes (like U.S. Olympians) with their nutrition. This is 1 hour/day, 4 days per week for 2 weeks. I am halfway done with this course.
3) As a result of the nutrition course, I am going to alter how and what I eat. I have been just eating oatmeal and a cup of coffee for breakfast for about two months now because I have unfettered access to the computers while everyone is at breakfast in the morning. I have noticed that lunch is probably the bettter and certainly the higher protein of the meals. I have been skipping that to eat something at my desk, but will now start going to lunch most days. Instead of going to dinner (very high carb meal), I will stay in my room and eat tuna, mackeral or other meats with some cheese to keep my protein up and my carbs held to a lower number. No doubt this will be a healthier option. Plus, since we go to chow sometime between 17:00 & 17:30, I no longer have to wait around for it to be called. It will be like gaining half an hour of my life back – half an hour that can be spend studying Spanish, reading books, etc.
4) Speaking of books, there are two books that I have been watching for in the library. I was in the library on Thursday and saw someone bring back “”James,”” the story of Huck Finn told from the perspective of Jim, the escaping slave. The other one is called “”Pillar of the Earth”” and comes highly recommended from multiple people. I noticed it was finally on the shelf, so I grabbed it immediately as well. I will read it, even though it is fiction (I usually read non-fiction, classics and self-help books) since so many people, both outside & inside, are raving about it.
5) As of today, I have read 52 books on which I completed book reports and placed on PrisonProfessorsTalent.com. I also read another 21 books that did not warrant a book report. I finished “”Liar’s Poker”” yesterday and will do a book report later today. Other books to read this weekend are James, Jane Eyre, and Ethics by Spinoza.
6) On the topic of education, I will be teaching math to two individuals on Sunday afternoon. One of them has a test to take to get him a better job at Unicor. The other is my one cellmate – not sure what help he needs. There is a third guy from Unicor I offered to help with math since his tutor, Patterson, is in the SHU. We will see how it goes. I know that I helped Eric with his math for his GED. Personally, I think he is ready to take the test, but they did not yet schedule him for it. I guess I could always get another job as a math teacher!
7) I wrote last week how I could not believe Patterson got sent to the SHU. As it turns out, the CO (who is on administrative leave) was giving him direct access to watch YouTube videos, search stuff on Google, etc on her work computer. I guess it was common knowledge. I cannot believe that someone as smart as him “”took the bait”” and used her computer. He has been in for about 9 years and I guess the temptation was too much for him. Too bad because as a result of going to the SHU, he will lose access to his one-man room. Already someone took his higher quality mattress out of his room. Back to square one for him. I feel for him because he is really a nice guy and a credit to the GED department where he worked (until now). This is a good reminder to stay “”between the lines”” while in prison and not jeopardize your out-date.
8) I have a weekend of reading books, going to the library and teaching math – so I better get back to it.
Dennis Zeedyk
