Saturday, April 26th
Rained hard last night, and a cool 62 today. Good thing I have 2 visitors today so I’ll be inside! Both my daughter and her fiance and my old pastor from Portland are here at 11, hopefully able to stay until 2:30.
The morning was really productive writing on my ABT book and other things. After lockdown I got right down to visiting at 11 where my pastor was already waiting for me. But no daughter/fiance. Turns out after 3 1/2 hours waiting in line, they never made it in. All due to the new policy of having visiting every other weekend, thus the long lines. My pastor and I had a terrific visit, catching up on things like we just saw each other last week, though its been since August!
When he left at 2:30, I went immediately back to my Unit and called my daughter , worried what had happened. Turns out they got here at 11, at 12:25 the guards told everyone to come back at 1. They came back at 12:45, stood in line till 2:20 when they could finally get in. But it would have only been for 20 minutes until closing. To their credit, a lady with small child had driven up from LA was behind them the whole time, so they gave her the slot so she could at least see her husband before driving back. Really a tough situation for all the visitors. When I got all this low down, I was glad to hear everyone’s OK and just hoped tomorrow would go smoother.
After lockdown at 3:30, went outside for an hour, 6:30-7:30 to a surprisingly mild evening, looks like the weather is finally changing!
Sunday, April 27th
Just at the last minute, 9:25 am right before our 9:30 am morning lockdown, the guard called for me to go to visiting. Hallelujah! Turns out my daughter and her fiance were the first to be cutoff from going in this morning, but in her own charming way, pleaded with the guard to let them in because of yesterday and thankfully he did! Turns out he remembered my empty two chairs from yesterday, so was extra accommodating this morning. Thankfully! So we had a great 2 1/2 hours till they had to leave at 12. Nice to see them as it had been since December when I saw them last!
Went to church right after 12:30-2. Rest of the day was lockdown, TV, rewarding. My “personal chef” made tamales today, so had for dinner, cost $5:). No class this next week , so short of a random event, every day will be my normal 6 am -1 pm writing/typing then 1-3 workout in the yard. Fingers crossed!
Monday, April 28th
Should finally be nice weather next few days, so will get lots of workouts which will be nice after not much this weekend. Commissary tomorrow, which usually uses most of the morning. My projects to focus on this week:
1) Finish ABT Book, last section on Reentry
2) Work on finalizing a court filing to get an injunction forcing the BOP to give my treatment plan proscribed by me doctor 18 months ago
3) Pardon Package
4) Application for treaty transfer to Canada if my appeal doesn’t reverse my conviction.
Seems just when I’m done with major projects, more pop up:) After a “get organized and caught up ” morning, was ready for my normal 1-3 outside workouts. That’s after getting outside 9-10 for a brisk walk after no exercise yesterday. Sure enough no Yard 12-1and then all afternoon as well!
I always find it annoying and then don’t react well to switching my agenda dueto guard shortage for the time slot I planned a certain activity, so end up filling with TV and reading. I need to learn to do better at that.
After lockdown and chow, fortunately there was a 6:30-7:45 Yard so at least got out for that. Rest of the evening was finalizing the list for commissary, getting my laundry ready and dropping off into the cart etc….
Tuesday, April 29th
Hallelujah! Commissary finally. My cellmate is in maintenance also(actually works sometimes), so he said we could go at 6 am, so since I’m also in maintenance, went as well. So got up, threw our khakis on made instant coffee as the door opened, and raced down there at 6:05 am. There were 4 people is all. Got our stuff by 7, then waited 30 minutes for the guards to let us out so we could return to the Unit/cell. About as efficient as it gets:) Wouldn’t you know it, walking into the Unit the guard ordered everyone outside for the day, ughh. There went my plans again:) No shower, can’t unpack commissary, and have nothing packed for outside workout or to write on. So scrambled for 15 minutes as best I could and went outside.
Of course forgot library isn’t open till 12 due to “staff training”, so went outside and found a picnic table to write at. At least its 60 and no wind yet. After chow at 10:30, back outside till 12 walking the track, then library finally 12-3. After library so nice to get back and just unpack and get things organized after commissary, in our big 54 sq. ft. cell. We both were so beat we napped after the 4 pm count till 5. Recharged, after dinner went outside 6:30-8 had a great workout with the weights.
Tomorrow I’ll be better prepared for going outside that’s for sure!
Wednesday, April 30th
Not sure if we’re going outside or not, but I’ll be ready. Weather is turning cool again, and low clouds so headed to library at 7:30 just in case we ‘re outside again. If not, I’m still productive:) If so I’m ready to go outside at 10 when its warmer:) Good news is I had a great nights sleep and feel energized!
Making some decent progress on my in junction court filing to ask a judge to order my medical treatment. Between that and my clemency/pardon work, lots to do! Unfortunately didn’t bring enough files with me so had to stop working on it at 9. So left to either go back to the Unit or outside not sure what happened this morning. Well outside it is so walked the track 9-1, breaking for chow. Cool and cloudy but got 20 laps plus weights in. Decided that was enough so went to the movie at 1-3, saw Pentagon Papers with Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep from years ago. Also had “Saul” from Breaking Bad and a young Matt Damon( who I almost didn’t recognize!) in it. Most of the inmates didn’t like it as they didn’t understand or before their time but I thought it was entertaining:) One of the few perks of being older:)
All the guys were worked up this morning about Steve, as the guards came to get him at 9:30 last night, everyone assuming another urine test as they first woke him up at 5 am yesterday and then said it was a mistake to boot. But he never came back last night, so the assumption he is in the SHU again after failing his test. Everyone worries about him given the history here. But after half my coffee was gone I remembered he was going to maybe get a colonoscopy anytime, and that’s what it was thankfully! We’ll confirm out tomorrow as he isn’t back yet.
Thursday, May 1st
Happy birthday to my amazing daughter in law down in Florida! Called her today and perfect timing as she was driving by herself, so we got to catch up a bit. Not so easy with 2 little ones running around plus working full time!
Spent 3 hours this morning in my “Office” inside education/Library working on my updated Release Plan plus court injunction. My daughter updated the Release Plan WORD doc for me from a year ago, then sent 2 five page envelopes so I can edit. Reminds me of the 80’s:) Literally took the mailroom 2 weeks to copy her mail and then deliver to me. Well, at least I got it! One more turn of this doc and should be ready to go. I try and do this annually, so will be ready for my case manager in June/July.
Have to admit, writing this injunction, which is essentially a lawsuit, brings back 15-16 months of painful memories. I’d forgotten some of the Health services miscues, but thankfully kept an ongoing diary of visits/topics/issues of 3 pages typed now. I’m sure a judge reading it will just shake his head. I’ve probably got another week of work ahead of me, but I think I’m going to do a blog for the legal filing someday to bring more awareness.
Not having to go outside today all day, made it so convenient to catch up on things in the Unit till 1, when I went outside till 3 and had another great workout.
Tomorrow will focus on typing as I haven’t been able to type all week being outside, and looking forward to it!
Friday, May 2nd
I decided to take the “risk” we wont be sent outside , so didn’t shower early, and spent the morning writing and typing. Thankfully I was right:) So updated edits to my Release Plan so my daughter can finalize and mail back. Also made good progress on the court injunction for medical issues.
Haven’t been able to get any feedback from ABT on the book status, which always deflates me and makes me less motivated to prioritize, thus the last section is still sitting there. I’ll bring with me Sunday to the Library and see if it bubbles to the top of the pile:)
Naturally, the day I tried to get a haircut at 1 today the barber shop is closed. Apparently as part of the “camera project”, contractors are installing in here but I can tell you nobody was there at 1, that’s for sure! So headed outside 1-2 and walked the track, as I didn’t want a hard workout after the past 3 days. Back at it tomorrow though!
This week I finished Section 8, five chapters on ” Adjusting Your Life to God” in my “Experiencing God” workbook. Whether it was Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and so forth, all made major changes to their lives. Arguably sacrifices to their own journey at God’s request as documented in the Bible. Some had to leave their country, change values, abandon their own goals and desires in exchange for God’s plan for them. And there were many more, Elijah all the way through the Apostles, all examples of people with changes they made in their lives in faith to follow God’s will. This section spends quite a bit of time on the concept of obedience, whether that be consistently attending church/synagogue, to observing what God is doing around you and jumping in as appropriate as opposed to sticking to your plan. Probably my favorite chapter is about how the Holy Spirit, if you listen, will assist you in accomplishing God’s will. Quite a few encouraging verses such as Mathew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and the one who knocks, the door will be opened”. Or Mark 11:24 ” Therefore I tell you, everything you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it and will be yours.” Some books I’ve read call this the “power of positive thinking” or “visioning”, but the point is being strong in your belief that God/ Your Higher Power will deliver if you are obedient and follow through with your belief system. Kind of a good reminder sitting here in prison:)
And everyone can probably guess what one of my asks is!!
Praying for Freedom and Liberty and to see my Family and Friends soon! BJ
