Saturday/Sunday, September 21/22
Fog lockdown to start the day till 9:15. But supposed to be 80 today, so not complaining:) I find it interesting how I feel some mornings vs. others. Like today, clear headed, crisp, very productive from 6:30 am on. Other days like yesterday basically brain fog, hard to remember things, probably symptoms from my auto immune/mold issues. That’s why, despite getting no where of the “Administrative Remedy Process” here with BP-8 and BP-9’s, I’m having my attorneys get involved to press for treatment. Kind of strange as I’ve always been relatively healthy, so I find it hard to be so persistent on this. But since the risk of irreparable harm is very real, it definitively provides motivation!
Computers were down till 5, and we didn’t get outside till 2 pm. So I did 2-3 and 5-6 workouts. Spent rest of evening on email and typing….
Monday, September 23
Doors opened at 5:30 am today for some reason! Apparently the guards were to have training, so we had to go at 6 am and grab a box lunch or skip lunch, which is what I did:) Hopefully they don’t keep us in cells all-day, and let us get out side at 2 when training is over.
On the Canadian transfer front, one of the guys going through the process lost his attorney as he was promoted to the British Columbia Supreme Court. But that guy referred an attorney in Boston who apparently is an expert in this area. Hope to get her contact info and see how she can help.
Sending Michael Santos a letter today seeing if he would consider broadening his advocacy to include the First Step Act and Second Chance Act as a way for Prison Professors to be more relevant to inmates. My view is he would get more followers, and them starting posting through him so he can grow and have better clout and data. Curious how he responds!
We ended up being stuck in the Unit till 5, so had a choice of workout or Education to catchup on things and get a couple books. Went to Education, got my books, printed some things, but the guard wouldn’t let me copy for some reason….
After 9 months here, I’ve started keeping a list of all the books I’ve read by Baldacci, Patterson, Grisham, etc. as I keep checking out ones I’ve read:) Over 70 books and counting! Crazy for 9 months!
Tuesday, September 24
Human nature is fascinating sometimes. Maybe because I just finished a Michael Santos book, Triumph! The Straight-A Guide- How to Adjust to Success from Prison. More on that book in a minute, as it contrast inmates who do nothing all day, get out of prison, return again, as opposed to inmates who work hard, maybe earn a college degree in prison, and contribute to society once again.
There is no starker example than yesterday and today for so many inmates, white, black, Hispanic, just doesn’t matter. Yesterday we knew we would be stuck inside a lot of the day, and you could hear a pin drop until 10 am, as so many just slept in. Today, a commissary day, they’re all up at 6 am in line for the 6:45 am first group. What a contrast. Clearly the supermajority have little purpose/focus on achievement and nothing to work toward, that’s for sure. Without a drive or attitude to improve, the BOP can offer all the programming it wants with little or no effect unfortunately.
Back to Michael’s book he wrote during his 26 years in prison, one of several actually. My sense is it was earlier in his sentence when he wrote this one. Having read 5 or more of his books/workbooks, its hard to imagine a more positive, hard working, smart guy who has endured so much time, yet achieved as much as he has. Even when in prison, he was trying to show others what he was doing to become successful, trying to help role model and assist others. Hard to believe, but the same challenges he identifies then exist inside the BOP exist today, its almost unfathomable. I know his non profit, Prison Professors, is making big in roads on the advocacy front, as well as trying to be a resource for prisoners to prepare for success while in prison. But I think he struggles to get enough inmates to sign on and do the work. Derek and I saw the same thing in writing our book, A Better Tomorrow. If we can help even 5% of the 2.3 millions incarcerated folks, that would be success given the overall mindset of this community.
Clearly its such a vicious cycle of kids from broken homes, who don’t focus in school, thus have no real reading/writing skills, can’t make a living wage legally, turn to drugs to make a quick buck and having a “new family” so to speak, and eventually end up in prison. Most have no desire to improve themselves, as they can’t even appreciate what benefit that would get them, so they don’t. Voila! Round 2 of incarceration, and Round 2 of another generation of broken family with kids and on it goes. There just has to be a better way.
Wednesday, September 25
Well after 22 days we finally had another commissary! Turned out pretty well, given their low inventory. Why is it low you might ask:)? Turns out BOP, as a government agency, runs low on its cash budget in September before the new October 1 fiscal year of the government. So there was no new inventory purchases in September, just use up the old stuff as they say!They were out of staples like Peanut Butter, but I got lucky finding someone willing to sell. He demanded selling 3 at one time for 40 stamps, or 2x the commissary price(yes price gouging and inflation even in prison:). With my 9 months of wisdom here now, I knew to jump on it as its likely the next commissary wont have peanut butter either. These commissary mornings always chop up the morning, waiting in line to go, waiting there, and waiting for the guard to allow us to return, so basically unproductive until after commissary and chow.
Rest of the day was productive , Bible study 12-2, which started with 6 guys and now up to 20 guys and growing. Haircut 2-3, lockdown, chow, and workout 6-7:30 with Thursday night football 4th quarter to watch after:) One more day down….
Thursday, September 26
Been a pretty productive week, Literally every morning I sit down and think about what I can do to get out, given my medical issues and desire to get home. First priority is appeal, second is letters by counsel, then Canada treaty. I feel like I made progress on all three.
Then I focus on First Step Act credits, which get me to home confinement quicker. As of now that’s 4.5 years from now worst case. But there always BOP calculation issues that come up to potentially delay that so need to always work it. For example the Law and BOP policy say we go from 10 to 15 days/month credit after 6 months here. When my case manager recently told me 12 months, basically losing 30 days credit during my first 12 months, I sent a cop out stating not consistent with the Law or BOP Policy. He relied the computer software automatically does it that way and there’s nothing he can do. So at lunch this week I found the Director who oversees all the Units/inmates and First Step Act issues and asked her. Sure enough she said the same thing suggesting if I want , I can appeal the issue. Wow!
On the outside, a Director would say Thank You, let me get that addressed and send IT a message for a bug, copy the CFO. Why? Well at 75000 inmates eligible for FSA at $4000/month cost per inmate for one extra month each that’s real money, like $28 million BOP could save. So now I have to do a BP-8 process and convince the BOP! I wonder if it would trigger them thinking abut everyone? Good thing I have lots of spare time:)
Friday, September 27
Sometimes things are generally normal during the day, and then boom! You’re reminded you’re in prison. Guess that’s just the way it is and supposed to be. Like most people within the “schedule confines” like access to Yard or Education hours,one plans their day. Then it happens. Just a little reminder that you’re an inmate living in a cell with no real discretion over your schedule. Today is one of those days I guess.
Started with minor fog this morning, lifted by 8, but were kept in our cell till 9:15. So much for education till 9, and then going outside for a 9-10 workout, My plan was to go to library from 12-1, get books to read and sign up for Sunday 7 am-12 to miss 9:30- 11am Sunday lockdown and be proactive. Then Yard 2-3 and 5-6. But then the rumors started at 10 am, we’re getting locked in at 2. Sure enough, at 12 Yard and Education were cancelled by not announcing a “MOVE” and at 2 they sent us to chow to get dinner in a clam shell.
In the outside world, you generally become aware of preplanned things and learn to work around them, depending on the situation. Seems like that would be a good skill to teach inmates as well assuming you want them to be successful out there? Share information so one can plan ahead? Otherwise, people already inclined to be lazy and non achievers are just inclined to stay that way knowing whenever initiative they take gets washed away once again.
For a cherry on top, no Yard, movie tonight as well, though there was college football:) Then 7 pm, not 6 like scheduled,out of the blue they change their mind and call both. Incredible! Should have seen the scramble:)
The good news in all this is we had teamed up with a couple Hispanics who make amazing soups, so given we skipped the clamshells, that was our dinner. We provided the protein, they had the vegetables(don’t ask me how:)), plus cook everything. Always turns out great!
Praying for Liberty and Freedom and to see my Family and friends soon! BJ
