Saturday, February 1
My plan for this morning was to continue catching up on my typing. On my 15 minute break between sessions,I worked on organizing my cell after this weeks move. Another inmate glued an extra shelf inside my locker for me, now I’m back to normal:) Cost me one stamp- hilarious!
Weather is beautiful, 70 and light winds, so was outside 12-3. Friday and Saturday I allow myself to take leisure time for 1-2 games of Bocce ball. Not the best courts but playable. I’m 5-0 after 2 weekends:)
Other than outside or movie, there’s not much to do on weekends. That’s when I really notice how much prison life sucks. Email people and no response. Call people, no pickup. Its no ones fault other than mine for even being here. Its just that everyone’s living their life as they should, while I’m not. Really hits home on days like today.
After 3:30 lockdown, watched Bill Maher which I enjoy. He isn’t as near a “Centrist” as he claims, but generally funny. No movie tonight as apparently not enough guards, so watched a biography of Kobe Bryant on CNN till 7:30. After 2-3 hours of TV, that’s about all I can handle so read the rest of the evening.
Ran into Jeffrey on the track today, the guy who has been reviewing the ABT book and has the prison comedy idea. He thinks after 12 years he’s finally getting transferred to camp, and then should have a year till half way house. I’m happy for him as he needs a new environment in my view. I’ll have his contact information for ABT going forward as well.
Sunday, February 2
Spent the morning finalizing two weekly journals to post and finalizing my blog post on DOJ and statute reform. I’ve really had a hard time getting this blog post right, so taking a 3rd week to finalize. I think the issue for me is one about all the hypocrisy around the topic. Slogans like” equal justice for all” and ” No one’s above the law” or ” Freedom and Liberty for all” seem very hypocritical sitting in a prison on a 14 year sentence. Turns out 11% of inmates have a sentence over 10 years, so that makes me in the top 11% offenders in the country. I’m really trying not let my circumstances impact this blog post, but its easier said than done:) But I think I’m getting close.
After morning lockdown/chow, we were held inside from 12-1:30 for some reason. But finally got outside for a 1:30-3 full workout on a beautiful sunny afternoon of 70 and no wind. Not much on TV this evening, so decided to email friends and read, back and forth.
Monday, February 3rd
Started with a fog lockdown from 7-10. Not the worst way to start a Monday. Gave me time to get everything organized, plus write a bit and read. Then off to chow and outside till 12. Lots of laps until 12, then education 12-2.
Starting to dig into my background info for the last section of the book, A Better Tomorrow. Slowly but surely will finish in February while working on my appeal response. Still haven’t seen the Govt.’s filing from January 24th responding to the appeal. My family has, so I have tidbits from my daughters analysis:) Hopefully I get legal mail today/tomorrow!
Spoke to my son in Florida, he’s bringing his 2 1/2 year old daughter on a visit end of this month, and my daughter is coming as well so she can have some “auntie” time as well. Should be a fun weekend and something to look forward to in a few weeks!
Tuesday, February 4th
Today is my self appointed medical day. The doctor had asked for 3 weeks to discuss my labs and Doctor’s letter with Region so I’m heading to to see what they decided. 50% chance they tell me to come back later:) The other item I need to address is getting my hearing aids shipped for repair. Well, today I was 1 for 2, as I successfully got my hearing aid shipped. But after 2.5 hours waiting for the doctor, the guard told me to come back tomorrow. I hadn’t realized, but apparently another inmate had a heat attack around 7:30 this morning, so my guess is the doctor was preoccupied with that this morning. I’ll just have to go back Thursday:)
Outside 11-1, windy and a storm coming in, 63 or so. Walked about 10 laps anyways. Now in Education till 3, writing, getting couple books to read. Tomorrow is supposed to be lots of rain, so hopefully I can hibernate in the library instead of being stuck outside or in the gym!
Library 1-3, always seems I need couple hours a day to write my daily journal and whatever else the days projects are. Today I’m ramping up Section IV of ABT book on Release and Reentry. Came across an organization called “Fairshake”, a non profit dedicated to this area. Led by a woman who had trouble early in life, went on to build a successful business and sell it, and has spent the past 15 years building up resources and tools and lecturing inmates and families to assist on reentry. Definitely an overlap with what ABT’s business model is about, so read her 200 page “owners manual” these past few days to better understand Fairshake. I think I’ll send her a letter to establish a relationship, and then see where things go.
After lockdown, went downstairs at 5 to watch the news. Several of us watch Jessie Waters for 20 minutes before chow. Well tonight we had drama, as one of the guys really wanted to watch National Geographic show( repeated 100 times by now) at 5. Even though rule #1 is first come first served, and rule #2 is majority rules, he decided to have a temper tantrum and change the channel, argue with everyone how he never gets his way, as opposed to getting the remote upstairs for the other TV. I feel bad for him, he’s been in prison 8+ years, has literally no one on the outside, no money for commissary except for whatever menial jobs he does for inmates here. I’ve tried to be nice this whole time and help him with books, stamps, coaching on re reentry resources, even got him going to church and getting baptized. But he’s recently started acting like a 6 year old, showing real anger and threatening fights to resolve things, As I write this I guess he is stressed about going to halfway house in 2 months and then what? No Job? No Money?where to live? Its sad.
He’s literally a former commercial fisherman from the Seattle area, broken family, sold drugs to provide for the family, got busted and 10 + years later, he wasted or wasn’t provided sufficient educational opportunities, so all he knows is fishing and engines, mixed with anger management issues. Those issues haven’t been resolved, thus the TV issues. What’s going to happen with his co workers someday? I could go on…. Really sad and why I’ve been blogging so much about what has to change for inmates as well as BOP and Congress with laws to make it happen if we truly want to increase success of reentry and lower recidivism.
FYI, ended up going upstairs myself and getting the remote and putting Jessie Waters on the other TV anyways:) Rest of the evening was TV and reading.
Wednesday, February 5th
First major rain storm of the winter during the night, so should make for interesting day. Our Unit being outside should necessitate some interesting logistics as well:) For me, I’m planning on library 7:30-10, chow plus track till 1, then movie 1-3 to keep from being outside. Not the most productive day or active day, but once in awhile… Well, best laid plans. At 12 wanted to go to Education, but the GED instructor only let students having class into education and none for the legal library. So annoying and against policy, these are the little things that can so easily trigger my annoyance level! So I sat in the barber shop across the hall and read my book an hour before going to the movie. Red Dawn Kill 3. Another rainy day avoided, but not much exercise:) Rest of evening same boring TV, email, reading.
Thursday, February 6th
Another day trying to see the doctor. The only way to get treatment ( like I’m some expert after a year of no treatment) is self advocacy and persistence. Well, I’ve got plenty of time to be persistent. Turns out he’s not in. So went outside with our Unit at 9, walked the track in the cold and wind till chow. After chow they stuck us in the gym for 45 minutes so found a spot to read with 207 of my friends:)
Noon – 2 was my Threshold class, personal development with spirituality is the focus. Two hours, first hour was all kicking illegals out who cant speak English, and putting a seating chart together for names of 21 people. Next hour was supposed to be about reviewing first 5 pages of workbook/homework. But after 30 minutes , there was a total prison lockdown, so that ended class:) Everyone raced back to their cell, but our Unit had to be outside. Lucky me. After 20 minutes they moved us all into the gym till 3, then back to our cell for normal 3:30-5 lockdown. Never did hear what prompted all this.
Coming up on two weeks, and still haven’t gotten my legal mail with the governments response. Based on the evening “callout” report, which lists who has legal mail to pick up next day, there hasn’t been anyone in 2 weeks for the entire prison. I know that’s impossible but what can I do about it:)
Friday, February 7th
Looks like the sunshine is back. Had a productive 7:30-9 in the library. Jorge, who is trying to get home to his daughter, got his BP-9 rejected because there was no BP-8 attached. Heaven forbid the “Administrative Remedy Coordinator” actually looked at the file and saw the Warden had already rejected the request, so the BP8 is futile, a waste of time, and the reason why the counselor gave Jorge the BP-9 instead. So had to amend it for him. Never ends….
At 9, went to medical the 3rd time this week and got lucky! The head clinical doctor came out for 5 minutes and told me to come back next week as he doesn’t have time now, but that they decided to to send me to a rheumatologist to get their assessment, and that they will do whatever they recommend. Finally a small step forward!
From there went outside till 10:15,chow,outside till 1. Walked the track, read a bit, walked again. Beautiful out though a bit nippy.
1-2:30 was a Trivia competition in Education. At first i declined thinking it would be kind of cheesy, but then one team had a person drop out, so I agreed to step in. Actually was 4 rounds of 10 questions, with 10 teams, and ended up being quite fun. Glad I did it, though next time I’ll pick my own team:) We ended up 7th…..
After lockdown, typed and read rest of day.
Praying for Liberty and freedom and to see my Family and friends soon! BJ
