Saturday, March 29th
Had a great visit with my sister today. She and her hubby winter in Arizona for 3 months, and swung by as they were driving back to Oregon. Always a relief when a first time visitor makes it in and out smoothly:) In the Unit, we know nothing, so all we can do is stand by the guard and wait for our name to be called. Every time the phone rings for the guard, we look to see who gets called. After 30 minutes, I always get nervous just because. We covered a lot of ground. Was just great to spend time and catchup on things! Probably been 18 months since we’d seen each other!
Pretty benign rest of the day, got outside twice, 8-9 and 2-3. Otherwise TV, reading. Would have gone to the movie, but it was Dracula so decided to pass:)
Sunday, March 30th
Rained overnight, so perfect morning to go to the library 7-12:30. Naturally, walked down at 7 when the guards called the move, but the door was was locked and no guard in sight. So went back to the Unit and typed till 8 and tried again. Fortunately the guard showed up this time.
Brought my friend Steve with me so I could help him on his court filing. Trying to show three areas in the BOP’s BP-11 response where there was misrepresentation, putting it mildly:) The rest of my library time spent with journal and blogs. Was also expecting to see the other Steve with terminal cancer, to help him on his injunction order to get treatment, but he didn’t make it. I can imagine why unfortunately.
A gent who is in another Unit, but I see at chow and on the track from time to time, approached me the other day. He is exploring an ineffective counsel filing, and wondered if I knew the criteria to be successful. Ironically I had just come across a case that the judge clearly included all the criteria to attain a positive ineffective counsel ruling in his written opinion. So printed and reviewed and reviewed and will explain when I see him next.
My oral arguments come up this week, haven’t had a chance to discuss yet my 3 judge panel concerns with my attorney. My girlfriend/partner is doing some reconnaissance tomorrow, listening to these same 3 judges on separate cases’ oral arguments just to size them up. So nice to have such support on the outside, that’s for sure! Its inevitable/unfair to me being an inmate how it limits our ability to communicate with counsel, research judges or even watch our own oral arguments. Or now, in my case, having 2 judges with recent history with my trial judge whose work they will be reviewing for unfairness.
Wasn’t my most productive day in the library this morning. Got some decent thinking/notes written for my blog, but not much actual blog writing:) Seems to happen every once in a while…
At 12:30 was going to church, but just felt tired, maybe the grey weather/drizzly day? So I bagged church, laid on my bunk,read for awhile, which thankfully led to a long nap:) Felt much better afterward. Pretty much just did the inside stuff the rest of the day/evening.
Monday, March 31st
Drizzly morning, same weather should be off/on most of the week it seems. Finally had my labs in medical at 8, which was nice to get off my 2 month to do list. Rest of the morning till 1 was a reorganization effort, as I printed a ton yesterday at the library. Seems paper just builds up around here and eventually needs to get handled:)
Nothing from my attorney on the judge issue, though I sense there’s not much one can do. My girlfriend/partner watched some oral arguments online real-time and it looks like the senior judge is sick and out this week. Just my luck… Or maybe its part of Gods plan!
Went outside planning for a 1-3 workout, weather wasn’t bad. At 2 though, the guards shut it down and sent us all back to our Units for some reason. So annoying as I was just getting going on weights. Oh well, tomorrow I’ll do 1-3 and 5-6, as we have a lousy pork sausage dinner which I will skip:) That should make up for today.
Rest of the day/evening was TV, reading,couple phone calls.
Tuesday, April 1st
Finally feel much better and motivated. Nothing planned today other than powering through things till 1, then outside 1-3, and 5-6. Look like will be 60 degrees with 20-30 mph winds, not my favorite:)
This Thursday is my office visit to my case manager to begin the “persistence” campaign to get moved to camp by June. So I’m making sure all my First Step credits and calculations are ready for his review to offset whatever his computer says:) Thursday is also 60 days since my rheumatologist doctor referral appointment, and still no confirmation of such an appointment. I’ve pinged 2 people in medical these past 30 days, same old story” its a 3rd party who handles this, out of our hands, check back in 30 days”. Guess I’ll hang out for my doctor and see if I can persuade him to get more aggressive. Always need to self advocate inside here, that’s for sure!
Tomorrow is my oral argument hearing for my appeal in SFO. Really frustrating how a defendant can’t listen or even be present in their own appeal hearing, but that’s life in the BOP. Had a very encouraging email from my attorney stating she felt our judges would be fair and not to worry, which is all I can ask for.
Wednesday, April 2nd
Today is the big day for my appeal process. I’ve prayed all I can pray, and am still at Peace that God’s Will be done, and I’m determined my faith will be strong regardless the outcome.
Making good progress helping Steve on his court filing. The first part, his wrongly accused incident with a weapon hidden in an airduct( a type that inmates can’t even open) is almost done. Next section will be his incident here at Lompoc where he couldn’t urinate in his first test, even through the BOP knew or should have known of his difficulties. That will be next weeks project.
Around 10, was just writing/typing knowing the oral arguments were happening. Throughout the entire 10 year legal journey, I haven’t been at peace as much as I have since we filed the appeal in November. Noonish I called my girlfriend/partner, learned how many people had listened(like 7-8 folks!) and she shared her thoughts. Made me feel really supported and loved! Have to admit, I wasn’t sure how the first 2 minutes of our call would go if the hearing hadn’t gone well, but she felt( and she has great street smarts:)) it started tough but ended well. Hallelujah!
Between feeling well and the adrenalin from the call, I went outside 1-3 for a strong workout. Sunny and 60, but with 30 mph winds. So conditions were tough. Always amazing to me how 50% of the Yard has the wind, and the other half almost none. We really have strong microclimates all around us.
Rest of the evening was TV, reading, and lots more TV about Liberation Day and Tariffs:) Sure hope the sun comes up tomorrow:)
Thursday, April 3rd
Well, rumors of a lockdown were true. Every year the prison does a celebration of life for a guard who was murdered by an inmate 15+ years ago, and I remember last years as well. So we had lunch at 9:30, and they supposedly were to lock us down 11-2, which turned out to be 11-5. So that pretty much wiped out the day.
Obviously not a lot one can do in a cell all day. Just read, write, nap or listen to TV on our radios. Given this was day after “Liberation Day”, was interesting to hear perspectives for awhile anyway. Reading wise,I’ve recently started a workbook called ‘Experiencing God”, which I received a few months ago. One of the inmates moms along with some friends sends free bibles and this workbook to anyone who wants them that he refers, direct from Amazon. I’m literally reading each chapter, one a day, and then will go back and do the homework. Really good workbook, so spent part of the day on that as well.
Friday, April 4th
Beginning today, we should warm up, going from low 60’s with 20-30 mph winds to 70-85 mid next week. Definitely looking forward to that!!
Pretty well finishing up Steve’s Victorville portion of the filing for him, so decided to to go outside twice today, 9-10 being the first. Sure enough they cleared the Yard at 9, shut it down and brought everyone into their Unit. So I thought here we go again, just like yesterday. Then lunch at 9:30, what turned to be the dinner menu item, hot dogs and they gave us a box when we left chow for tonight. Basically ingredients for a bologna and PBJ sandwich. Fortunately noon came and they called yard again. Things ended up normal the rest of the day, so went outside 1-3 and had a a great workout. After 3:30-5 lockdown, went back outside 5-6 on the track as well.
Turns out they were doing maintenance in the kitchen all afternoon which was why the change in schedule. To me one of the most annoying things in prison life is the lack of communication/treatment of inmates. All they have to do is tell people the plan, and folks can be productive to accommodate things. Instead, the way they do it, it just demonstrates lack of respect and teaches people to quit planning their day to be productive, its really stupid in my view.
End of the day going to the movies and saw Alex Cross with Tyler Perry. Having read the book, it turned out to be even better than the book for a change!
Praying for Freedom and Liberty and to see my Family and Friends soon! BJ
