Saturday, March 8th
With my new relaxed perspective, I took advantage of the morning 6-9:30, to reorganize my working folder into several new folders that I just got. Between a macro investment planning overview I’m helping my son with, to blog topics, to the ABT book next steps, plenty of work the next few weeks.
After 9:30-11 lockdown, went outside 11-2, did a great workout, enjoyed a perfect 67 degree day with no wind.
Rest of the day spent reading,TV, typing. I have a decent TV schedule Saturday night, from 5-7:30. Starting with Bill Maher at 5-6, and ending with Jimmy Faila. I get comedy on both sides getting slammed that way:)
Sunday, March 9th
Well this day started S***** and stayed that way. First day of Daylight Savings Time, and our doors opened at the new 6 am, or old 5 am. Within 5 minutes,a PISA stoner loudly started puking his guts out in his cell, echoing through our Unit and likely waking everyone up. So the guard came running over, called for help, and immediately locked all the cell doors down again. Even before we could get hot water to make out instant coffee! They then wheeled the idiot out 20 minutes later( sorry Jesus for not loving my neighbor as myself right now). I say idiot because he just got back from the SHU(for 60 days) 5 days ago, and already had an episode his first day back. But apparently he passed his piss test, so they had to bring him back. This stuff they inhale is some form of synthetic cannabinoid, lasts 30-45 minutes, and sometimes these guys lose it like this guy, though they can come down quickly.
After the doors were open for 45 minutes, the cell doors locked down again, guessing as a penalty by the guards for all the incidents in our Unit recently. There were like 5 incidents this past week…. Turns out morning went by, then afternoon, then evening. Lovely to spend a 68 degree sunny day shut in our cell the day before the rain comes in, and for all those guys with visitors to not be able to see them because of the selfish acts of a few.
The only good news out of all this is I had a productive morning organizing all my content I’ve been saving for a couple blog series, plus I wrote quite a bit. But by noon I was over all that. Thankfully I had picked up 3 books Friday at the Library, so just read until dinner an autobiography by William Zeckendorf, a NY real estate developer from 1920-‘s-1970 or so. Similar in status to Trump though I never heard of him. Quite a story, he sold his land for the United Nations building in 1957, and did many other projects around the US as well like century City in LA. Got halfway through and wanted something lighter so also read a David Baldacci international crime book till 10.
Nice, totally unexpected waste of a day thanks to those idiots!
Compared to a year ago, I found myself much more relaxed being caged in which was interesting to me. I wasn’t sure why we were locked in, but handled it despite wasting a day inside for something someone else did. These past 3 weeks we’ve been adding 100+/week new inmates at this location, so now at capacity of 2000. Always happens we when we grow population so quickly, daily fights, and drug issues. Seems last 2 weeks we’ve been having daily issues/events. Like clockwork every time. I’m sure the guards are over it as well, but that’s what happens when Victorville sends their best and brightest:) Its such a shame to see so many criminals, who have been incarcerated 5+ years, serving time based sentences as opposed to outcome based, and are not much better than when they arrived. What is society/government doing to itself?
Monday, March 10th
6 am door didn’t open apparently, as I slept till 7:30, 6:30 the old time as my body thinks. Oh joy another day of a locked door. Could definitely use a shower….
8:30 the door opened and they had us march downstairs to grab breakfast clam shell box of cereal. My cellmate told the guard he had a medical callout, and he smiled and said “No one is leaving today. There’s been too much partying in the Unit”. Apparently the prison wasn’t locked down just us. Obviously as I thought, punishment’s for all these idiots and their paraphernalia sure enough.
Then at 9, a bunch of guards came and took 6 more illegals for drugs which was fine by me. I was surprised at a couple of them, had no idea. Somebody must have been snitching which is a big no no for them. Pretty sure I won’t be seeing them again:) Afterward around 9:30 the doors opened so I raced to the showers, hallelujah! As they say all good things must come to an end. But at 10:45, 2 illegals, arguably stoned, got in a fight, so boom! Another lockdown in our cells until 5 pm. That was special.
When the doors finally opened at 5, it was nice to be able to have a normal evening. I can’t get to camp soon enough!
Tuesday, March 11th
Commissary morning, which for once was quick and easy. Left the Unit at 7:45 and was back at 8:30 unpacked and organized by 9. I didn’t feel clear headed as I didn’t sleep well last night. 2 days of laying on a bunk must have caught up with me! I tried writing and typing but not much there.
So at noon decided to go out, even though there were light showers’ in the morning. Turned out we got kicked out of our Unit for maintenance anyway, Outside was sunny, 65, light wind, I got almost 3 hours of track and weights. After the first hour started feeling so much better:)
Came in for lockdown,chow, TV then reading. Hoping I sleep much better tonight!
Wednesday, March 12th
Hallelujah, great night sleep! Energized to get a lot done today after a couple wasted days. Looks like a rainy afternoon coming, so will try to go out in the morning. Then Boom! At 8:30, sitting there doing my quiet reading in the cell after my shower, the guard screams outside again! Uggh. So had to switch out of my gym clothes into my khakis prison clothes’ so I could get into the library when it rains later. Then packed a bag of stuff for the day and went outside. As we walked outside the Unit into the hallway, there were 20 guards plus Unit managers standing there waiting to come in search all 100 cells, top to bottom, aka “shakedown”. So went outside till 9, it just started sprinkling then off to the Library till 10. Back outside till 12, including chow. Luckily the sun poked through so was able to walk the track without getting wet!
At 12, just as it started sprinkling again, went to bible study till 1. Great session on Hebrews and faith vs. drifting away, really enjoyed it. Luckily Library let us in at 1 so worked there till 3.
The “best” part of shakedowns is what the guards do to your cell. In my case, a bunch of commissary groceries were on the floor, my cellmates mattress was taken, just leaving his foam pad, and they grabbed a bunch of garbage and threw on the floor. Wrappers/empty pill bottles from outside the window which were caught in the grill(from previous inmates) and threw it on our nice clean floor so we could pickup and throw away and then of course sweep. Guess that’s one way to send a message to “knock off the partying”. For those of us who never use paraphernalia, we’re just along for the ride:) Wonder what shakedown they do with the “folks” who smuggle the stuff in here to begin with?
Thursday, March 18th
Today was my Threshold class from 12-2, so since I have to journal a summary of the first phase(2 months) of class, thought I’d copy here as well:):
This Threshold class does a nice job laying out, on an integrated basis:
1) 8 Dimensions of Life,with spirituality at the center connecting all 7 others
2) life skills/learning tools such as goal setting(SMART goals), planning daily/weekly calendar of activities, journaling etc.
The combination of weekly class discussion with time for homework requiring reflection at times is more effective/helpful than I expected. Being in prison, its much easier time wise to take the time to use various learning tools, even though they are more useful in the real world if one takes or has the time out there. Guess that’s the point of it isn’t it?
Of the 8 Dimensions of Life; personal relationships, accepting personal responsibility, decision making, creating a healthy structure, physical wellness, continued educational growth, managing emotional and mental health, I enjoyed the exercises of addressing each one in depth, and then identifying which 3 I’d like to strengthen the most. Those being personal relationships, accepting personal responsibility, and decision making, with spirituality being at the core of strengthening each.
The spirituality section, probably the largest in the workbook, wasn’t a big lift for me as compared to most of the class. As I see in society in general, most “want to” spend more time on their spirituality, but don’t prioritize it. Or take the time for it. I recall the same tension during my adult/working/raising kids life. But this section raised some good questions to think about like” a self centered life”, easy to do in prison, or incorporating spiritual practices. I found this section useful in terms of confirming what I am already doing and further documenting/refining one of my goals of helping others as an act of service. Acts of service is one way to show God’s love while honoring Him, which is partially why I do it. I do need to do a better job praising God when folks ask what I want for helping then, instead of just saying I want nothing.
All this, combined with classroom sharing is what makes Threshold class more meaningful.
At 5 my favorite chef made a huge burrito for my cellmate and I. Beef, carnitas, pepperoni, rice, beans, cheese. Every once in a while:) First day of the week without incident around here, kind of nice!
Friday, March 19th
Nice rainy morning, which extended to the whole day, hopefully the last of it till next week. Was really cold so was in sweats all day. So I took the extra time to email friends,type and catch a nap:)
Tomorrow will hopefully be a great day as my girlfriend/partner will drive up with her sister to spend the day! Well, another week and still no legal mail. Guess I’ll have to start chasing again, so frustrating.
Praying for Freedom and Liberty and to see my Family and Friends soon! BJ
