This page will serve as a weekly blog space for Scott to share news and updates from his life with the outside world
Thursday, January 20, 2022
Well, I would generally be excited to be writing my first post for my new website, but some recent bad news puts a damper on it. You see, yesterday I had my first parole hearing, and I got a ten-year "flop" (continuance), which is the maximum they could give me. I think this is the latest example of the desperate need for parole reform in Ohio. I'm a model inmate, yet I got the maximum possible continuance, which should be saved for the worst of the worst. It's a bizzaro-world parole board. I have a good institutional record; I've taken programs; and I'm low-risk of reoffending. If parole candidates meet these three criteria, they should be released.
They focused a lot on my long-ago crime. But parole should be about reentry, not retrial. The trial court sentenced me for my crime.
I wish I could speak to my victim's family face-to-face. I want them to see how sorry I am now, how much I've changed. Truly, I'm no longer the same crazy kid I was decades ago. If they ever requested a victim-offender conference, I would eagerly accept.
I think they should eliminate the parole hearing and just base parole decisions on a review of an inmate's institutional record. The hearing tests interviewing skills more than anything else. Besides, the board members don't have the credentials to evaluate answers. Many of them are former prosecutors, cops, wardens -- professions like that. All parole board members should have a background in risk assessment, such as a degree in forensic psychiatry.
I consider this to be the first day of my overincarceration. I'm doing okay though. I am now a resilient person, and I'm going to use the coping skills I've learned to deal with this. I'm disappointed by this decision, but not surprised. I know the board has some unwritten rules, such as not releasing guys at their first hearing, and wanting a certain amount of time for certain offenses (despite the minimum set up by the court and legislature). That's another area where reform is needed, eliminating these unwritten rules.
At the same time I'm dealing with this flop, there is an Omicron outbreak surging through the institution, causing us to be on quarantine. That means we have extremely limited outdoor recreation time. This is an especially big hit for me because I use outdoor exercise as a coping mechanism.
Anyway, that's about it from here. Thanks for reading my initial post.
Sincerely,
Scott
Monday, January 24, 2022
Well, today is my birthday. Unfortunately, it comes during a bit of a rough stretch due to two events. First, I'm still recovering from receiving a 10-year flop (the maximum possible) from the parole board despite being an excellent release candidate. I was expecting it, though, so that helped dull the blow. There is one small glimmer of hope. They are supposed to implement "half-time reviews" for guys who receive eight to ten year flops. I just sent an e-kite (a form of electronic communication within the institution accessed through kiosks in our dayrooms) to the parole liaison, asking about these reviews. Even if they are a real thing that have been implemented, there still needs to be parole reform before these reviews would even be meaningful.
About a decade ago, the Ohio legislature mandated that the parole board conduct special reviews of all inmates over 65 years old who had already seen the board at least once to see if they would be suitable for reconsideration. Of the about 350 eligible inmates, the board found that NONE of them were suitable for a special hearing. The problem was, the board shouldn't have been tasked to review there own decisions. That's why our justice system has separate trial and appellate courts. The legislature should have had a special panel of experts in risk assessment review the board's decisions. Incidentally, the tendency to violence plummets to virtually zero after 65.
The other major thing going on is that my entire prison is on quarantine due to an Omicron outbreak. This means we are stuck in the block most of the day. I currently feel as though I'm in a maximum-security facility rather than a minimum one. For me, outdoor exercise is a major part of my routine, so this has impacted me greatly. I have to admit, though, if I had to choose any time of the year to stay inside, this would be it. For example, it is about 17 degrees out right now, and the ground is covered with snow. The other time my block was completely locked down for Covid, last year, was in September during a stretch of perfect weather.
This quarantine also makes going to chow more of a hassle. They will now call only one block to chow at a time, which makes the meals take much longer to run. Plus, we have to go to chow and come back as a group, meaning we have to wait for everyone to finish eating before we leave. Also, we can't eat wherever we want; instead, we fill in the tables in the same order as we go through the chow line, and we are crammed in together in one section of the chow hall, leaving many tables completely open. They're doing this because inmate workers spray down the tables with disinfectant in between each block, and they want to minimize the number of tables they have to spray down. Because going to chow is more of a headache now, many guys are deterred from going. Not me though. I always go for the free nutrition, especially the vegetables, fruit and protein. During these times, with the "health care" offered to us in here, staying healthy is more important than ever.
Despite these hard times, I will try to make my birthday as decent as possible. In here, one of the few pleasures you can indulge in is food. I plan on breaking my normal strict routine and have a cheat treat. The main thing I will have is a Hostess, chocolate cupcake. Truly, you learn to appreciate the small things in here.
Anyway, that's about it from here. Until next time, take care and stay healthy.
Sincerely,
Scott
Monday, January 30, 2022
Hi everybody,
Well, good news around here. Today my block gets off quarantine. This means that every block will be open because my block is the last one on quarantine. At one point, the entire prison was locked down because every single block was on quarantine. So, the Omicron strain hit the prison hard and spread fast, but it seems to have run its course.
This quarantine hasn't been too bad though. First, I didn't really mind the indoor workouts too much considering the weather out there. Some mornings the wind chill was in the negatives.
Furthermore, in the middle of the quarantine, the ODRC came out with a new directive that helped me out. Basically, if you've been fully vaccinated, which I have been, you would be allowed to leave your block and go to work, programs, recreation, and so forth. Basically, vaccination equals a get-out-of-quarantine-free card. So, even though my block was on quarantine, I was able to do my mail cart job, going to every single block in the institution twice one morning. Bizarre. Cool, but bizarre. This new directive imposes a lot of restrictions on the unvaccinated. Basically, the policy boils down to this: the unvaccinated are on quarantine; the vaccinated are not. There are even rumors that they might house the vaccinated and unvaccinated separately. That would be a lot of work, though, for the administration to implement all those moves. We'll see.
I am recovering well from the bad news at the parole board. The key has been to keep busy with my regular routine. That's the best way to do time in general, keeping busy with wholesome, productive activity.
One new thing is that I'm finally going to be able to invest my stimulus money. I'm creating my own personalized portfolio with about 20 assets. This portfolio will reflect my values, my vision of the best possible future world. My portfolio will be diversified, including assets from all eleven sectors of the market, and oriented to the long-term.
Anyway, that's about it from here. Take care, stay healthy, and thanks for reading my post.
Sincerely,
Scott
Tuesday, February 1, 2022
Hello everybody,
I've decided that, even though I'll only post once a week, I will try to write something daily.
Today was an eventful day. The big news was I received a letter from a childhood friend who I hadn't heard from in at least 23 years. I sent him a JPay invite, so hopefully he'll receive and accept it. This was such a pleasant surprise, helping cheer me up.
My block is off quarantine. That is nice, but because I am vaccinated and could leave the block anyway, this change doesn't impact me much. It does help during chow time though. While on quarantine, my block would be called last to chow. It's nice to be able to get meals over with as early as possible.
I'm proud to say that today is day 500 of my exercise streak. To celebrate, I had a cheat day, eating a small bag of potato chips, a banana-chip granola bar, and a rice krispees treat.
Thursday, February 3, 2022
Today has been an ugly day weather-wise, raining, sleeting, and snowing all day. Unfortunately, today was a workday for me, and I had to go outside, delivering the mail (I'm a mail cart runner). I did skip my usual afternoon and evening walk; instead, I stepped up and down off a pile of books in my dayroom while listening to my radio.
Today I had my first class for Victims Awareness. I'm glad to be able to get this class under my belt. It's one of the "big three" classes, and one the parole board wants to see guys take. I can see that the class could be intense and uncomfortable. Today, for example, I was assigned an exercise where I had to imagine somebody, I cared about got carjacked. I do think this class will help me grow as a person though.
Another good development today. I sent out an email to that childhood friend of mine -- the one I hadn't heard from in 23 years -- and he already replied! I'm glad to hear he's doing well. Unfortunately, his mother -- a wonderful, wonderful woman -- is suffering from cancer. I will email him again soon.
Right now, Madison is divided into two parts, a minimum-security part and a close-security part. They are converting the close part to minimum/ medium, and today they put up a memo, asking for volunteers to go over there. Specifically, they were looking for OPI workers (Ohio Penal Industries). I don't see any benefit in it. I have a good setup here, so I don't want to disturb it. I just hope they don't try to force people to move over there if they don't get enough volunteers.
Friday, February 4, 2022
Some bad news. I just learned that neither my mother or sister will help me invest my stimulus money. My mother fears online investing, and that's the only financially feasible way to invest it. I will now work on finding somebody else.
On a more positive note, I've exchanged more emails with my long-lost childhood friend. He has lived an exciting life, working on a cruise ship, living in Hawaii. That definitely sounds good to me, considering I'm in prison and the wind chill this morning was 0 degrees! Again, it is so uplifting to hear from him -- especially in the aftermath of the ten-year flop.
I obtained a copy of the most recent parole board handbook. I'll read it, but I'm not too optimistic. It's usually the same-old stuff, and I never see any improvement in their behavior.
Saturday, February 5, 2022
Today provides a good example of how you must improvise in prison. Our ice machine has been broken for months, so one guy in the block will go retrieve ice from the maintenance department. Sometimes, however, the staff don't want to be bothered with it, so they won't let him get ice, which is what happened today. Because our ice machine was bone dry, I went out and filled a bowl full of snow to keep my milk cold.
This past week, we received two out of the three new catalogs. You see, inmates are allowed to order stuff like food, clothes, and hygiene items from three catalog companies. At the start of the year, these companies put out new catalogs. We eagerly await these catalogs to see what new items they have. For minimum-security inmates, we can order four boxes from those catalog companies each year, two of those being food boxes. The receipt of these boxes is a special event in here, like a mini-Christmas.
February 8, 2022
I learned some good news the other day: my brother agreed to help me invest my stimulus money. I basically want to create my own customized portfolio that reflects me and my values. With 1000, I would like to invest 50 in each of 20 equities. I would like this portfolio to be diversified. There are 11 sectors in the stock market, and I would like at least one equity from each sector. I am also looking long-term. This portfolio will also reflect my best possible vision of the future. For that reason, I would invest in things like clean energy. I also want to support companies that share my values; that's why I'll favor equities with good ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) ratings. In short, my portfolio will reflect the traits I strive for personally: balance, future orientation, positivity, and social responsibility.
I'm thinking about fighting this recent parole decision in the best way I can.
Thursday, February 10, 2022
Yesterday, we received the food from our fundraiser. I had ordered two sides of sautéed vegetables, which included mushrooms, green peppers, and garlic. It is such a treat to get such nutritious, delicious food in here. The breakfast burgers they sold looked good too. These burgers included sesame seed buns, fried egg, hash brown, and a sausage patty.
The administration is trying to get volunteers from the minimum side to go over to the empty close side. Not many guys are volunteering for this. I'm certainly not. There doesn't seem to be any incentives to go over there. Some people are attracted to the cells over there, but I now actually prefer a good dorm to a 2-man cell (a single-man cell is a different story). I hear they don't have any cable over there. Plus, the staff over there are so used to dealing with close inmates, we don't think they will give up that oppressive mentality easily. For me, the biggest drawback is that it would probably be a temporary arrangement. We believe that they will eventually convert it back to close security, and when they do, who knows where they will send the medium and inmates to. I already went through that in 2016 when they converted that side from medium to close and bussed 600 of us halfway across the state to the private prison North Central, a chaotic dumping ground. I believe this move is a trick, a trap.
Saturday, February 12, 2022
Well, I saw on the kiosk today that they finally updated my parole hearing date from March 2022 to January 2032. That means, by my next hearing, my incarceration will have spanned five decades: the end of the 90's, 00's, 10's, 20's, and into the 30's. I sure hope there will be reform between now and then.
I've heard that they are going to do a 2.4 here next week. A 2.4 is the process where they go around to make sure that inmates don't have excessive property. They call it 2.4 because our property, with a few exceptions, is supposed to fit in our locker box, which is 2.4 cubic feet. I'm not too worried because I keep my property pared down. It can be a hassle, though, packing up and unpacking all your property. This process can take a whole day. Hopefully it will be more of a "walk through"; that is, they'll walk through the block and, if your cube looks tidy and uncluttered, they'll leave you alone.
After the 2.4ing, I'm going to order a food and/ or clothes box. I'm going through the catalogs now, preparing my list. The perfect time to order these boxes is right after the 2.4ing.
I especially enjoy the food boxes. I consider them my semi-annual nutritional booster shots. I always try to order healthful food that I can't get in here, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and the like.
There is a rumor that there is some recent article floating around out there about some sort of bill about prison reform the Ohio Legislature is working on. I called my mother and sister to look into it. Hopefully, it's something real and something good.
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
I just learned that the Ohio legislature is considering a major bill on criminal justice reform, a Senate Bill 288. My sister sent me an article about the bill, so I know that it's a real thing. I asked my sister to check the bill to see if there is any parole reform in it. I created a list of ten proposals for parole reform, which I'm including at the end of this post. I'm going to ask my sister to forward these proposals to some key legislators. I know the desperate need for this reform first-hand.
TEN PROPOSALS FOR PAROLE REFORM:
1. Require parole board members to have a background in risk assessment.
If you needed heart surgery; you would want a physician with expertise in heart surgery. Similarly, parole board members should have credentials in risk assessment, such as forensic psychology.
2. The maximum continuance should be five years.
A decade is an excessive amount of time -- it's like a brand-new prison sentence, and it is demoralizing.
3. Continuances should be capped based on an inmate's security level.
It is ridiculous that the parole board gives a decade-long continuance to a minimum-security inmate. The maximum continuance for a minimum-security inmate should be one year; for medium-security inmates, two years; for close inmates, three; for maximum, four; and for super-max, five.
4. The parole board shouldn't operate under unwritten rules.
The board has unwritten rules, such as no parole eligibility at the first hearing, and those certain crimes should get a certain amount of time -- regardless of what the legislature and judge declared the minimum to be. There should be no such secret practices.
5. There should be a presumption of parole.
If inmates have served their minimum, taken relevant programs, and achieved a good institutional record, then they should be released. The only reason inmates should be denied parole is if there is a legitimate showing of continued dangerousness.
6. The nature of the crime should be eliminated as a parole consideration.
This factor was already considered at sentencing, and its use results in excellent parole candidates perpetually being denied release. Parole should be about release, not retrial.
7. The parole hearing should be eliminated.
The only thing this interview accomplishes is to test a parole candidate's interviewing skills. Poorly educated inmates, inmates who don't perform well under pressure, and inmates with anxiety -- they are all at a disadvantage. Smooth-talking inmates, in contrast, are advantaged. A review of an inmate's decades-long record is more predictive than an hour-long interview.
8. There should be a clear path to parole.
Currently, there is no clear path to parole, and the process is inconsistent, unpredictable, and unfair. At the start of incarceration, ODRC officials should evaluate inmates and devise rehabilitative programs for them, such as what classes they need to take. If inmates complete their parole programs, they should be released.
9. Parole should be about public safety, not public relations.
The sole focus of a parole hearing should be risk assessment. Considering factors unrelated to risk, such as victim and community reaction, turns parole hearings into glorified popularity contests. The parole board should be given the following simple directive: if their risk is low, then let them go.
10. There should be a meaningful appellate process.
Currently, the board reviews their own decisions, and they will only reconsider a denial if there is "new information." Inmates should be able to appeal their decisions, and these appeals should be reviewed by an entity other than the board, such as a panel of experts in risk assessment. The parole board’s inability to review their own decisions can be seen by the over-65 review, in which they found 0 out of 350 eligible inmates were suitable for reconsideration. The same newly created appellate board should also conduct halftime reviews.
Friday, February 18, 2022
Well, fortunately there was no 2.4ing this week. Apparently, there is going to be a big inspection next week, and the unit staff are more concerned about everything looking nice and tidy. As long as our areas remain uncluttered, they should leave us alone. I'm lucky to be in a cube where all four guys keep minimal property.
Yesterday they served us a special lunch for Black History Month: two chicken patties, black-eyed peas in rice, green beans, cinnamon apples, "cake", corn bread, a small bag of doritoes, and ice cream. It was pretty good -- a cheat day for me. We also got a bag dinner, which consisted of PB&J sandwiches, a small bag of chips, 5 duplex cookies, and an apple.
I got to see the new catalog for the third and final catalog company. This was the one with the best new items, including hot pots, pillows, sheets, and pillow cases. A hot pot is nice because, if you need hot water, you don't have to go out to the dayroom and wait in line for a microwave. A pillow is nice because they don't provide pillows or pillow cases for free anymore. They sell a pillow at the commissary, but it is covered in plastic. I hope the catalog pillow is cloth. If so, I'll probably order it. I might wait for somebody else to get it first -- let them be the guinea pig.
Yesterday was pretty much a rain-out. It actually made my job feel like a real job, delivering the mail. The rest of the day I exercised inside instead of doing my usual walking. I will take two small piles of books and do step-ups for an hour while listening to my radio I also had my second class of Victims Awareness.
Saturday, February 19, 2022
Another example of how we have to improvise here is how I had to get my runs in recently. One stretch of the track, about one-fourth of it, was iced over. Therefore, I did what I call "horse shoes," running three-fourths of the track and then turning around to run the other way, avoiding the icy part. Similarly, yesterday I had to limit my run to one-third of the ball court because the rest was covered in ice.
Friday, February 25, 2022
Well, the other day I finally received the written decision from the parole board -- over a month after the hearing. This not only reopened that old wound but outraged me for new reasons. For their justifications for denial, they of course mentioned the nature of the crime. I don't believe that should be used as a release factor, effectively resulting in a perpetual retrial. But I was expecting that and at least understand it. Another one of their denial justifications is what really outraged me. They said that there was a substantial risk of me reoffending or not abiding by the conditions of my parole. That is ridiculous. My ORAS risk score states that I'm a low risk of reoffending. And my institutional record shows that I can abide by the rules. There is nothing in my record to justify that conclusion.
They mentioned something else in their summary section that outraged me. They said I showed no remorse and poor understanding of my criminal risk factors. With regards to the remorse, that's a damn lie. In my letter to the board, I explicitly stated how much sorrow I felt for my crime. That's in writing, and it contradicts this statement. Also, during the hearing, even though they didn't ask me any question at all regarding how I felt about the crime now, I expressed remorse several times. For example, when they asked me to verify various aspects of the crime. I answered a couple of times, "I'm afraid so." Plus, I had sent an apology letter to my victim's family over 15 years ago. This false remark they made about remorse upset me more than anything because I feel the exact opposite of that now. With regards to the criminal risk factors, I don't know where they get that, and it's ridiculous.
I'm going to fight this decision. I'm not sure how though. The parole board does not allow for an actual appeal, but they do offer a request for reconsideration. These requests, though, are supposed to be limited to new information. The use of demonstratable inaccurate information should be enough. But if they neglected to consider my letter, then that could be viewed as new information relevant to their decision. They also made one factual mistake about an element of the crime.
This is yet another example of the desperate need for parole reform in Ohio. Right now, there is no meaningful appellate process for parole decisions. Again, the requests for reconsideration are limited to new information, and these "appeals" go to the board -- the same people who made the bad decision.
I think I'm going to write certain people and organizations about this decision, including the ODRC director, inmate advocacy groups, legal groups, and legislators. I'm even tempted to sue due to them using verifiably false information.
Contacting the legislators might be especially important because they are currently working on a huge criminal justice reform bill right now. Parole reform definitely needs to be a part of that bigger reform bill.
In other news, the ODRC seems to be cutting back on what they give us. Usually, each inmate would be provided a bar of soap every week. Yesterday, they didn't provide us that. We'll wait to see if that's a permanent thing or not. Also, they gave us four cookies for lunch instead of the usual five. I got the fruit instead of the cookies, but this downgrade impacted other inmates. Incidentally, this is another example of a cutback: they used to provide fruit and desserts; now, at most meals, you have to choose one or the other.
This week outside people are coming into the institution, doing an audit. That means we have to keep our areas and property more organized than usual. Unfortunately, these inspections don't seem to address the bigger problems without criminal justice system. It seems to be more of a check that all the paperwork is in order.
Saturday, March 05, 2022
Today was the nicest day of the year, reaching almost 70 degrees. Everybody was out on the compound today, and it was quite crowded. This won't last, though, for it's supposed to get crowded again. I walked and talked with someone who had just recently come over from London -- a guy I hadn't seen in about four years.
Probably the big news here is that next week they are going to distribute the body cams to all the CO's. I definitely am glad to see this. I know it won't be perfect, but it should help. I can think of an example from earlier this week. Some new crazy CO was working the chow hall and caught a guy trying to sneak out bread. After making the inmate get up against the wall, he searched him. Afterwards, this CO told the guy that if he ever tried to take bread out under his watch, he would "dump him." That's why I was glad to hear that these cameras supposedly record audio. I read an article that said the body cams would be distributed throughout the entire ODRC by May.
I learned some disappointing but expected news today. I talked to a guy whose "people" work with an inmate advocacy group called EPIC. He said his family read every single page of that 1800-page criminal justice reform bill, and there was no parole reform in it. Worse, EPIC members met with some legislators who said they thought the parole board was doing a good job.
Speaking of the board, they held hearings here last week, but they only had three members present. They need five members to reach a majority and come to a decision, so that means nobody got a decision that day. They will have to wait a month or two for a COBR (Central Office Board Review) hearing before they can receive a decision.
I've had a little more insomnia lately. Also, with regards to my bronchiectasis, I experienced some hemoptysis for the first time in a couple of years. It cleared up after a couple of days though.
Some good news: I learned that my brother should receive my government stimulus on Monday, and it should be ready for investing. I've been looking forward to this for a long time.
Other good news: they lifted the mask mandate in my prison! I kept a mask with me for the first couple of days just in case everybody wasn't on the same page, or if there were secret exceptions, but I haven't needed it. The only exceptions seem to be the visit room and outside medical trips. It's weird not to have it with me anymore. I wore the mask as a necklace, 24/7, so that I would never forget it.
Saturday, March 12, 2022
Today something cool happened in the block. One guy had his birthday today, and instead of receiving presents, he gave. More specifically, he spent his own money to make food for the entire block. Some of his buddies helped with the preparation and distribution. All that was special enough in itself, but what was really special was that he offered the food not just to his buddies, but to the entire block. To whomever wanted some. This became an unscheduled cheat day for me. The food was good too: a burrito, pizza rolls, a fish patty, Doritos, Oreo cookies, and a Kool-Aid packet. He has done this birthday give-away before. In fact, this is what inspired me to do my Thanksgiving and Christmas giveaways. The generosity was touching.
The other day I received a clothes/ hygiene box. For inmates, receiving these boxes is like Christmas. The big-ticket item in this box was a pillow. The ODRC stopped providing us pillows a long time ago. They sold them at the commissary and then they stopped for a while (supposedly because they needed to find a flame-resistant one). They eventually started selling a plastic-covered one at the commissary, which I've had for about a year now. It was alright, but the new one I just got is cloth-covered. Prison makes you appreciate stuff you take for granted out there, such as real, cloth pillows.
Another cool thing happened this week. One of my former bunkies who got released returned here to facilitate a program. And when I said he returned, I mean as an outside guest, not a reoffender. He is doing very well. The media doesn't focus on the successful release stories enough. This was also special in that he's doing something to help us in here. Too often, released offenders forget about us.
Unfortunately, the one rumor about them doing the mass distribution of body cams didn't come true. Hopefully it will happen soon.
I hear through the grapevine that the administration has approval to convert Zone A to a minimum/medium camp, but they're undecided whether or not they just want to keep it close. They just can't seem to make up their minds on this one. I feel sorry for the guys who volunteered to go over there.
They distributed a pizza fundraiser this week. I didn't order any, but my bunkie shared a slice with me. Also that day, they unexpectedly served a small vanilla cup of ice cream with lunch -- a delicacy they usually save for the holidays. So, pizza and ice cream -- a second cheat day this week.
Friday, March 18, 2022
Well, I hear the body cams are supposed to be distributed next week. That's what they said about this week though. Hopefully it will happen. I can think of a recent example that shows the need for them. I recently talked to a guy I knew from London, the medium-security prison across the street. I asked him if he liked it better here or at London, and he said London because of the way staff treat you here. It's sad that somebody would prefer a medium facility to a minimum one. He mentioned how recently a CO at the chow hall knocked his tray to the floor.
I heard that two of the parole board members are quitting. Unfortunately, the two people who will replace them don't sound much better.
There was some excitement in the block today: we learned the Cleveland Browns signed Deshaun Watson as quarterback. Being from Cleveland myself, I was excited to hear that too.
I've heard from food service workers that they're about to come out with the spring/ summer menu. You see, the ODRC has two menus they use each year, a spring/ summer and a fall/ winter. We often get a few different foods on each menu. For example, I hear they're going to add a hard-boiled egg to the chef salad meal. Also, there is supposed to be a diced turkey wrap, using the same turkey they serve on Thanksgiving. Because we get the same food all the time, new items are a big deal.
I'm especially interested in the new menu because I keep a strict nutritional regimen. In addition to the three chow hall meals, I have an after-work out smoothie in the mornings, and a protein snack in the afternoon. Here is a typical week regarding the protein snack:
Mon: sardine/ mackerel
Tue: almonds
Wed: tuna/ tropical fruit cup
Thu: black beans
Fri: salmon/ olive oil
Sat: sunflower seeds
Sun: oyster/ cup of peas
My victims awareness class has been surprisingly meaningful. Each week, we have a homework assignment of taking a crime in the news, identifying the primary and secondary victims, and describing how they were affected by the crime physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually. It forces you to take a look at crime from the victim's perspective -- an uncomfortable prospect. Some examples I chose to discuss were the January 6th incident at the capital, and the war crime in Ukraine where the Russians bombed a maternity ward. They've had some interesting in-class exercises too. At the first class, we had to describe somebody important to us. Then, we took a notecard from a pile. Each notecard had a type of crime written on it, and we had to imagine that crime happening to our loved one. The crime on my card was carjacking. Definitely an unpleasant scenario.
In this victim’s awareness class, we were told to start writing a letter to our victim. It is voluntary, however, whether or not we send it to our victims. Even though I sent my victim's family an apology letter eon ago, through my lawyer, I would like to submit another one. The letter won't go directly to them though; apparently, the letter would go to victim’s services, and the victims will only receive the letter if they had signed up to receive updates on the case.
My brother has agreed to help me with investing my stimulus money. I've been enjoying selecting assets. The three main characteristics I strive for in my portfolio are the same I strive for myself personally -- that is, being balanced, optimistic, and future-oriented.
Monday, March 21, 2022
Some good news: they actually distributed the body cams to all CO's today! The rumors finally came true. Many guys noticed that the chow hall CO's were quieter today. I think this is a great thing. I remember hearing about a study on TV about cameras impact on people being observed. They said that after about three weeks, people forget about the cameras and return to their normal routine. I hope so. I hope these cameras catch some bad behavior.
I got an email from my brother. He said he put in a request for a Fidelity account over a week ago but didn't receive any response, so he submitted another one. I hope it comes through fast because I'm eager to invest my stimulus money while this dip in the market lasts.
I finally started writing my request for reconsideration to the parole board. I've been procrastinating on it because I've been in my feelings over it. Definitely not a fun project.
Saturday, March 26, 2022
I submitted my appeal to the parole board. Here is a copy of it:
Adult Parole Authority
4545 Fisher Road, Suite D
Columbus, Ohio 43228
Friday, March 24, 2022
REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF PAROLE DECISION BASED UPON NEW INFORMATION
Dear Parole Board Members,
I am sending you this request for reconsideration based upon new information with regards to my first parole hearing, which occurred on January 19, 2022, and the subsequent Ohio Parole Board Decision and Minutes, dated February 07, 2022. The board members gave me the maximum continuance of ten years at this hearing. I am requesting reconsideration based upon the following two grounds.
GROUND ONE: INACCURATE RECITATION OF CRIMINAL CONDUCT:
At the beginning of the parole hearing, during the recitation of the facts of the case, the main questioner said that I shot the victim in the buttocks -- an allegation I had never even heard of before. This statement is verifiably false. Because the parole board members used the nature of my crime as justification for their decision, this vulgar and inflammatory misinformation likely influenced the outcome of my hearing.
GROUND TWO: INACCURATE STATEMENTS ABOUT REMORSE AND CRIMINAL RISK FACTORS:
In the Ohio Parole Board Decision and Minutes, the Rationale section says that "He shows no remorse or insight into his criminal risk factors." This statement is verifiably false.
With regards to remorse, I sent an apology letter, through an attorney as intermediary, about fifteen years ago. Furthermore, in a letter I sent to the parole board before the hearing, I said "I now feel nothing but great sorrow, shame, and heartbreak for the harm I caused her and her family." I've expressed remorse on my website -- specifically, my post of January 20, 2022 (see https://ch872526/wixsite.com/scotts-story). Finally, at my parole hearing, even though the members didn't ask me any sort of question about how I felt about my crime now, I still expressed remorse at various times, such as when I said that "I felt especially bad about my crime because my victim hadn't done anything wrong," and, when asked about various aspects of my crime, I would often respond by saying, "I'm afraid so." I find this false statement about remorse especially upsetting because I feel exactly the opposite.
The claim that I had poor insight into my criminal risk factors is false too. I mentioned in my letter to the parole board that mental health was the main contributing factor to my crime. Furthermore, at the hearing, I mentioned how my Anger Control class helped me deal with anger, and how my meditation classes helped me deal with obsessive thinking.
These inaccurate statements about remorse and criminal risk factors are significant because they were the only "facts" the board could have used to justify their false conclusion that there was a substantial reason to believe that I would engage in further criminal conduct or not conform to the conditions of release. This conclusion is absurd, for my ORAS score shows that I have a low risk of reoffending, and I've abided by the rules in prison, as my clean institutional record demonstrates.
CONCLUSION:
The members of the Ohio Parole Board have wide discretion, but they cannot legally make false statements and then use this misinformation to render their decisions. For all the above reasons, I would ask the board members to reconsider their decision in light of this new/ corrected information. In the alternative, I would ask them to at least correct the inaccurate information in their official records as well as their written decision and minutes.
Thank you for your time and attention in this matter.
Sincerely,
Scott Strothers #A378-003
MaCI
PO Box 740
London, Ohio 43140
Sunday, March 27, 2022
I'm doing well here. Well, it didn't take three weeks. After 3 days, the staff are getting comfortable with the body cams, reverting to their old ways.
I've heard they are about to transfer 600 medium inmates from London to Zone A. They will have controlled movement on Zone A. The only inmates left at London will be a skeleton crew of essential workers, such as OPI and maintenance. But supposedly after they finish renovating London, they will move the level 2's back there and reconvert Zone A to close. Definitely no advantage in going to Zone A.
They are going to serve us a special meal for the start of Spring. Many guys thought this meal was a practical joke, considering it's scheduled for April 1st, but it's a real thing. The meal will include two angus burgers, chocolate cake, mac & cheese, hamburger buns (they usually just give us bread), creamy coleslaw, and a piece of fruit. I'm looking forward to it.
I started a Money Smart class. It is an inmate taught class. The guy teaching it had business experience out there.
I'm about halfway through my Victims Awareness class. The coordinator of the class, a case manager, said they would usually have an outside guest come in and speak, but Covid might prevent it. I will start working on my letter to the victim soon.
Most guys got bad news from the parole board lately. I hear that two guys got COBR (central office board review), one guy got five years, and one guy got ten. Two guys got bad news back from COBR. Both of them got two more years. The one guy is back on a parole violation and has been flopped for 11 years. The other guy was at his fourth hearing. He is a talented artist who I've gotten amazing, homemade greeting cards from before. It's sad he had to wait seven weeks to get a denial. There is some good news though. One guy who got a parole just learned he will be released to a halfway house next month. He was released on one of those special, juvenile offender hearings though.
I've been experimenting with my after-work out smoothies, adding oatmeal to them. It has worked out pretty well.
There is a rumor that we're about to get a new ice machine next week. Our block has been without one for about half a year now. To get ice, one guy in the block has been taking a cart with a big recycling can each day and retrieving ice from a ice machine at maintenance. Sometimes he can't get any though. Last night, for example, I had to fill a bowl with cold water to keep a milk chilled overnight. This is an imperfect solution, though, for that water was just barely cool by the time I woke up this morning.
Friday, April 01, 2022
I had Victims Awareness class yesterday. I was dismayed by our discussion of family violence. When the topic of spanking came up, I was the only one to speak out against it. I remember in the psych classes I took that non-physical correction was just as effective as physical and had less negative side effects. That's why all the professional parenting organizations recommend against it. I think the fact that a lot of inmates received spankings helps show it's ineffective. What got me was even the coordinator took a neutral stance.
On the bright side, they fed us a special meal yesterday to celebrate the start of spring. It was good too: two Angus burgers, cheese, real hamburger buns, good mac & cheese, 1000 Island dressing, cabbage, a banana, lemonade, and an iced brownie. A definite cheat day for me.
They gave us a dinner bag too. That included the standard fare: 2 PB packets, 2 jelly packets, 2 slices of bread, an apple, a small bag of potato chips, and 5 duplex cookies. Some guys gave me extra PB and apples. I gave away some of the food from the meal and the bag.
They came out with the new Spring/Summer menu, but I haven't seen a copy of it yet. I use the menu to plan out my nutrition regimen.
Earlier this week was the delivery for the Giant Eagle fundraiser, but I skipped that one.
This month, my block is 9th out of 10 in the eating order, meaning we have to wait forever to go to chow. I adjust though. For example, this morning I started my work out before they called breakfast.
There has been some wild Ohio weather around here. One day I'm putting on sunscreen so that I won't get burned, and then two days later I'm putting on Chapstick.
Friday, April 08, 2022
Well, I had an early wake-up this morning. Shortly after 3:00 AM, some CO's came in and did a surprise search of two cubes, one of which was next to mine. They turned on the lights in the bedding area to conduct that search. Even with a sleep mask, I couldn't sleep through it because they were making a lot of noise, banging things around, pulling out locker boxes from underneath the beds, going through drawers. I couldn't get back to sleep. Apparently, they found a phone in the one cube, so that guy went to the hole. They apparently have new devices to find those phones. So, I was tired for the rest of the day, as were many other guys, who couldn't fall back to sleep. Also, during the search of the two cubes, they closed the bathroom for the entire block. I would hate to have woken up with a full bladder at that time.
In other institutional news, they moved about 20 to 30 medium-security guys out of Zone B (the minimum side) to Zone A (the new medium side). Apparently, they are going to clear all the medium guys out of here, making my side completely minimum. I am in favor of this change. I hope that making this side minimum-only would increase the chances that they give us back some privileges usually associated with minimum camps, such as being able to leave the block as soon as count clears. With this place, that's probably wishful thinking.
I'm not sure what's going to happen to Zone A. At first, we were told it would be medium/ minimum. Now, I've heard it might become medium/ close. It's hard to tell because they keep changing their minds.
They started the Spring/Summer menu this week. Aramark uses a 3-week, repeating cycle. I use that menu to plan out my nutrition schedule. Here is an example of my daily snacks.
Mon: mackerel/ sardines
Tue: sunflower seeds
Wed: oysters/ peas
Thu: almonds
Fri: black beans
Sat: tuna/ fruit cup
Sun: salmon/ olive oil
These foods I buy from the commissary.
My one friend hand-copied the menu, condensing it down to one page instead of the three-page menu Aramark provides (one page per each week). I then got the idea to make mass copies of it to distribute it to guys in the block. So, I got somebody to make those copies. Then, I learned my friend had made a mistake, mixing up the 3 Sundays of the menu. So, I had to go back, correct the menu, make more copies, tell people to discard the first menu, and redistribute the corrected menus. This process was kind of clumsy, but I see potential for the future. Each time they come out with a new menu, we'll copy it, condensing it down to one page, and make mass copies for guys in the block.
There was a Covid scare this week. They locked down MD, but it turned out to be a false alarm. They were only locked down for a few hours.
Speaking of these false alarms, at one of my programs a few weeks ago, the woman running it was coughing the entire time. Why not stay home? Although she was wearing a mask, and although she claimed to be fine, we were all together in a small room, and I don't want to catch anything, even a cold. Fortunately, nothing came of it.
Saturday, April 09, 2022
Well, it's snowing out right now. That's Ohio weather for you. Actually, in a way I don't mind. When it's cold out like this, many guys won't go outside, and it'll be less crowded on my daily walks. Last night, for example, there were only about ten other guys on the track. As long as it's not bitterly frigid, I'll take cold overcrowded any day.
I talked to a maintenance inmate this morning about Zone A. These guys are usually privy to more accurate information than other inmates. He says that Zone A will become a level 1 and 2 camp (minimum and medium). In addition to the level twos, they will also move all the level ones with a lot of tickets from Zone B to Zone A. Then, supposedly they will make this side a "merit minimum" -- whatever that means. The only concrete perk I hear we'll get is weight machines in every block, but my block already has one. I'd like for this to become a merit camp, but I'll believe it when I see it.
Monday, April 11, 2022
Well, there was some drama in the block the other day. A group of COs came into the block and shook down some cubes. According to rumor, they caught a guy with a phone, and he ran into our block and handed it off to someone, which prompted the shake down. It sounds kinda wild, but it could be true.
There was some drama in the cube too. My one cubie apparently flops around in his sleep and bangs into the bed, waking up his bunkie. I believe this is a problem that stems from overcrowding.
Recently, the third-shift CO has been removing the shower curtains from the shower stalls at night. She's doing this because the smokers go in there at night. Well, the other night she removed the curtains from the toilet stalls too -- for the same reason. My block is supposed to be a merit block, but it really isn't. I wouldn't mind them cleaning it up, getting rid of some of the riffraff. This would be a drawback to them making the whole place a "merit camp." If the whole thing is merit, then there is no need for a merit block. If they want to make the whole place a merit camp, then they should stop accepting brand new guys straight off the bus from the reception center. Instead, guys should have to work their way here, get their securities lowered, prove themselves someplace else first. Instead, they are likely to take the opposite and less effective approach: send new guys here and then weed out the ones who don't belong, who aren't merit material. That's assuming they try to make this place all merit (that's a big "if" because it would require a lot of work).
Some good news: they finally fixed the broken kiosk today. It had been down for almost a week. There was just one kiosk for 130-some guys.
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
Well, I completed my last Money Smart class. I may take another business class now -- I haven't decided yet. This class would be in the morning, however, which would interfere with my daily workout.
Speaking of classes, I finished a rough draft of my letter to my victim's family, which is an upcoming homework assignment for my Victim's Awareness Class. Even though it's not mandatory to submit such a letter to your victims, I am going to do so. Actually, it won't go directly to them. Instead, it will go to some sort of office for victims' services, and the victims will only receive it if they had signed up to receive updates on the case. I hope they signed up for it because I definitely want them to read it. Writing this letter was definitely a tough task though.
Apparently somebody committed suicide here the other week. He was on the medium side when it happened, but he had been on the minimum side previously. He supposedly only had a year left on his sentence. Sad.
I went to the library yesterday to make copies of a blank menu form. I handwrite a copy of the menu and then make mass copies of it for guys in the block. The librarian did make the copies for me, but she viewed the blank menu form with suspicion, saying "Don't let me hear you using this for betting slips." It's sad that you can't do anything in here -- such as trying to help people -- without being regarded with suspicion and false allegations.
I just learned that the commissary is no longer going to sell corn. Apparently, the major called the commissary manager and ordered him to stop selling corn, saying it was some kind of security risk. I have trouble imagining what it could be. I doubt they can turn corn into hooch -- corn wine. Perhaps they found a way to smoke it. That's why they stopped selling both Italian seasoning and tea bags: guys were smoking them. Now, the few remaining pouches of corn around here will become as valuable as gold -- a corn black market, if you will. It's sad that I'm stuck in an environment where I'm not trusted with corn.
Friday, April 15, 2022
Well, I verified that they stopped selling corn was because guys were trying to make hooch out of it (trying, not succeeding).
They posted next month’s fundraiser. They are offering four different types of 8-inch subs for about $8.00 each: Italian, turkey & cheese, salami, and veggie. There is a limit of two of each type of subs, but a total limit of four subs. I may order one; I haven't decided yet. They screwed up the announcement of the fundraiser though. They are supposed to post a fundraiser before guys go to the store so that they can purchase them at the commissary. They didn't, so they had to call a few blocks back to the store just to order their fundraiser. The problem is, guys didn't budget in this fundraiser, so they had already spent their money. This really hurt the "state babies" -- the guys whose only source of income is their state pay, which is about $20.00 a month.
I finished the rough draft of my letter to my victim's family for my Victims Awareness class. I showed it to the facilitator of the program, and she granted me approval to submit it. The problem is getting it typed up, considering my typewriter has been broken for several months now. I will try to find another way to get it typed around here. Speaking of this class, we're flying through it, already completing 9 out of 13 sessions. Next week, to speed things along, we are going to do three classes instead of the usual one. They usually have an outside victim of crime come in and speak during one of the last classes, but they may not this time due to Covid.
I have a pet peeve about guys running jokes into the ground. This may not be a prison thing though. For example, there is one guy here who likes to say, "I need that sink," referring to the specific sink you're using in the bathroom (there are about 14 total sinks). This wasn't exactly hilarious the first time, yet by the fifth time it had become like scratching nails on a chalkboard. Perhaps it's me: I'm not the most "jokey" type to begin with.
The Parole Board is going to be here this coming Monday. My one friend is going to have a hearing. He has about 45 years in. I think he got locked up when he was about 18. He is a good guy, and a good parole candidate, but the parole board is not too nice right now, so I'm concerned for him.
On the bright side, my one friend is going to get released within the next two weeks. He got a parole after serving 28 years. He, however, got a special hearing due to that new juvenile offender law. He was fifteen when he committed his crime, and he was just the getaway driver.
Saturday, April 16, 2022
The other day I broke a couple month streak I had of exercising 3 times a day. My block was called late to lunch (my block is next to last in the eating order this month), and I had a class in the afternoon. I consider breaking this streak a success in a way though, showing that I'm not like Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory, having an OCD need to keep the streak going. My daily exercise streak, however, is still alive.
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
The parole board was here yesterday. About five people at Madison had hearings, including my friend in this block. Sadly, the board gave him five more years. He already has 45 in, so that means he will have 50 at his next hearing -- a full half century. He got locked up when he was only 18, so he's not technically eligible for the special considerations of that new juvenile offender law. Admittedly, he has three "bodies," but he is an excellent release candidate now, having maintained minimum security for 32 years.
I heard another guy, who has 41 years in, got a 16-month flop. The board apparently wanted to release him, but he didn't have a sufficient release plan. After four decades, however, one's support system often deteriorates, with many family members dying off.
Another guy got referred to COBR (Central Office Board Review), the second hearing. You see, you don't have to endure just one hearing; you have to endure three: the institutional hearing, COBR, and a public hearing. In other words, it's like a three-hurdle race. In my opinion, it's a waste of resources. Incidentally, getting COBR is not necessarily a good thing; it might just be a delayed denial. For example, a couple of guys in my block, after waiting a couple of months, recently got denials in the mail from a COBR hearing. I would rather get an instant denial than be left waiting and wondering for months.
In other news, it's snowing outside right now, as it was yesterday. In a few days, however, it's supposed to be in the 80's. Ohio weather.
My block went to the store yesterday. I heard that a CO messed with one guy for helping somebody else carry his bag of commissary back. They had been doing that previously but stopped. There are many old, disabled, and infirm guys around here who need help with their bags. For example, my one cubie has only one leg. It doesn't help that we no longer go to the store every week; we go every other week now. It's outrageous that an old, handicapped guy should be expected to drag back two weeks’ worth of groceries by himself. I think this might have been an isolated incident this time. The CO's don't like the guy that was helping carry the bags because he likes to take a whole lot of food out of the chow hall -- something he's not supposed to do.
I sent out a bunch of e-Easter cards over the weekend -- until I ran out of "e-stamps." It was funny though: I sent my mother the exact same card that she sent me, and my sister sent me the same card I sent my brother. I don't know if it's that we have similar taste, or that there's just a limited selection of good cards.
There's good news and bad news about investing my stimulus money. The good news is that my brother set up an e-trade account. The bad news is that they wouldn't let him do fractional trading, so he had to message them and ask why. Unfortunately, my investing has sort of become like that scene from the Monty Python movie, Quest for the Holy Grail, where the calvary perpetually seem to be about to surmount the hill but never do. Hopefully it will work out soon.
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
They sent all inmates here an email that the Access catalog mistakenly sold hot pots on the catalog. Many people bought them, including two of my cubies. They used to sell them in the past, but stopped after they decided they were a "great security risk." The guys who already had them got to keep them; they were "grandfathered in." It is so convenient for guys to be able to heat up water at their bunks rather than have to dress up in their blues, go to the dayroom, and wait in line for the microwave. Now some guys who recently bought the new hot pots are wondering whether they'll be able to keep them, or if the staff will come by and confiscate them -- the unsigned email was unclear on that point. Obviously, the ODRC reviews these catalogs before they enter the institution, so they should have better screened these catalogs before they let guys order from them.
I finished my nutritional plan for the new Spring/ Summer menu. On average, I will consume about 2050 calories and 120 grams of protein per day. In reality, though, I will consume more because I try to eat extra fruits and veggies down at the chow hall.
Thursday, April 21, 2022
My friend who just got five more years at the board, and who will have 50 years at his next hearing, told me something interesting. First, I should mention that he was acquitted of a murder case. He said he was watching the World Series on that date (October 23). Well, at the last hearing a board member said he was lying about that. He had looked up the date of the world series, and it lasted from the 11th to the 18th. This was the first time my friend had heard of anything like this -- even at the time of trial. He was stunned. After the hearing, he had a friend look up this info. Although the World Series was indeed on the 11th through the 18th, there was a replay of the final game on the 23rd. So, the board flopped him, in part, due to their mistaken belief that he was lying. My friend is going to file a request for reconsideration based upon this new/ corrected information. He is also wondering how many of his previous flops were based upon this misinformation he didn't even know about. He's even considering litigation. I think this is a great example of why the board's focus should be reentry, not retrial. The board members aren't equipped to relitigate stuff that happened 45 years ago, and if they want to play detective, they should get a job with the police department, not the parole board.
I had trouble sleeping tonight, and I woke up shortly after 2:00 AM. After 3:00, some CO's came in and raided some cube in my block, conducting a surprise search. This is unusual. I wonder what that's about?
The hot pot controversy swirls on. Nobody knows whether guys who already bought their pots will get to keep them or not. Staff members are saying conflicting things. The talk is that they aren't a security risk but a safety risk. Apparently, somebody left one running and it caught fire, setting some nearby papers ablaze. One staff member said that if guys didn't cause any trouble and kept the pots out of sight, nobody would say anything. When one guy here voluntarily turned one in, the sergeant said, "Good, I won't have to write you up for it later." In short, the legitimacy of the hot pots is a gray area to say the least. My bunkie just changed his food box order because of all this, cutting out food that required hot water, like pasta.
I had Victims Awareness class again. Because I couldn't find a way to type up my victim letter, I just handwrote it. Although it's not as neat-looking, it at least has a more personal touch. The coordinator says that she thinks an outside crime victim will be able to come in to speak after all. This might happen after our victim’s awareness class is over, so we might merge our class with the next class for this event. Attendance would be voluntary, but I will go and hear the speaker.
Friday, April 22, 2022
I found out more about that 3:00 am raid last night. It was against one of my former cubies -- a nice, young Black guy. He said he was just crouched over, reading a book late night/ early morning, and a staff member thought he might have been smoking or something. I tend to believe him because I never saw him do anything like that when I was in the same cube with him. Plus, the search turned up nothing. Also, I think the staff may have been paranoid because smoking has been a problem lately (they took down the shower curtains again that night -- something they hadn't done for a few days). Plus, there could be some stereotyping going on: a young black guy up early in the morning must be up to no good, right? Incidentally, this guy gives me two milks a day that he doesn't want from his Ramadan meal, and I use them for my after-work out drink.
The rumor mill about the hot pots is still swirling. The talk is that the staff will give us two weeks to get rid of them. Supposedly a memo will be posted soon. Now I've heard the reason they're taking them is because some guys at higher-security institutions used them to intentionally start fires. Who knows?
I heard they are going to install a new body scanner here. The COs won't have to use it though. Supposedly their union fought it, saying that daily exposure would pose a medical risk. The thing is, the tan pants -- the tan-jumpsuit-clad inmates who go outside the institution to do landscaping-type work -- will have to go through the scanner once or twice a day.
Incidentally, a friend said he saw the ODRC director on the TV the other day, and she said the saturation of controlled substances didn't subside during the pandemic even though outside visitors weren't allowed in and the tan pants were confined inside. She didn't explicitly state this, but the process of elimination shows that staff are responsible for bringing in most of these substances.
I hear they are going to install the scanner in the room currently used for the drafting class down at Education. This puts the future of the drafting class in jeopardy. They already ended the horticulture class. After they closed down, he greenhouse for some reason, the horticulture teacher apparently retired out of frustration.
Saturday, April 23, 2022
Well, there has finally been some clarification to the whole hot pot dilemma. The administration sent out an email to all inmates that we had until May 13th (incidentally, that's a Friday the 13th) to either turn the pots in or send them home. My bunkie has used up all his tea and will do a lot of cooking. I don't have a hot pot myself, for I don't use hot water that much, but I do borrow one once in a while, mainly to heat up peanut butter and get it nice and melty. For the most part, though, I can accomplish the same thing with my mush fake hot pot (a bowl of hot water from the tap). Incidentally, there is no word on guys getting reimbursement for the pots that the ODRC changed their minds about letting guys have. It would be a waste of time to spend $50.00 to file in small claims court over a $20.00 pot. I had an irritating experience with one of my acquaintances from another block who I hadn't seen in a while -- he came outside because it was so nice out, I guess. He asked me what the parole board did to me and interrogated me, which irritated me to have to relive that again. He then went into a blame-the-victim tirade, saying that I hadn't done all I could because I didn't take some reentry program. This claim is nonsense. I pointed out that guys who have taken this program have gotten ten-year flops. Plus, I remember a few years ago that a newsletter from an inmate advocacy group featured an article about a similar program at another institution (an actual accredited version of this program), telling how none of the inmates who had taken this program had received a parole. I have taken a boatload of programs, and other guys who have taken every single program possible (some multiple times) still get flopped continuously. The problem is, programs don't matter; the board focuses on the original crime. This guy has been down a long time, is a parole inmate, and has outside people who work on parole reform for an advocacy group, so he should know better. I think some guys want to believe they will get parole, so they try to find a way to blame the victim when other guys don't get parole rather than believe the system is broken.
I will start another business class on the 26th of this month.
Although it's Saturday, I will have a Victims Awareness class this afternoon. Today I will turn in my letter to my victim’s family. This has been a busy week for me -- by prison standards. Four out of the five last days, I've had either a program or work. Although I'm in here, I always keep busy.
I have changed up my sleep schedule recently. I will get about six to seven hours of sleep at night and then add a nap at 11:00 AM count. In the morning, I will work on these posts.
Sunday, April 24, 2010
It's 2:30 AM and I'm awake, writing this post. Sometimes I have trouble sleeping through the night. I will try to go back to bed in a couple of hours.
Well, I finished my final class of Victims Awareness. I turned in my victim letter today also. It's nice to have that program under my belt.
They did the monthly block inspection, which determines the eating order for next month. Our block did fairly decently, getting a 99 out of 100, so we should move up in the rotation (this month we are next to last, 9 out of 10, in the eating order).
Yesterday and today are going to be in the 80's. I'm one of the few guys around here who uses sunscreen, but I'm seeing a whole lot of guys with burnt red skin -- true red necks.
Monday, May 25, 2022 6:13 AM
Today one of my friends goes home after 28 years, which is great to see. He left me a top for my water bottle (mine was cracked). We did time together at five different compounds. I hope my turn comes one day.
I evaluated my statistics for the Fall/ Winter menu, which just recently ended, and which spanned 168 days (or 8 of their 3-week cycles). I averaged 2270 calories per day and about 132 grams of protein. I also tabulated the results of my first 3-week cycle of the new Spring/ Summer menu. I averaged 2250 calories and 120 grams of protein per day. I guess my goal is 2200 calories and 122 grams of protein.
I hope the kiosks are working this morning. For the last two mornings, the kiosks wouldn't let anybody log on. This problem was institution wide. At first, the kiosk said it didn't recognize me as belonging in that block, and if I had recently moved over there, it might take a while to update. I've been in this block for over four years. Then, the kiosk actually got worse, saying that I didn't even exist as a user. Well, if I'm not supposed to be in the system, then let me go home!
Apparently, they are going to reconstitute my neighboring block, MB, into a military block once again. My one friend moved back over there and was telling me about it. He said they are moving some veterans back in there while moving some of the troublemakers out, cleaning up the block. I was also glad to hear that the riffraff they're moving out of MB will not be put in my block. I hope they will make my block a merit dorm again, for it needs cleaning up too. Just yesterday, I had to delay my shower because somebody was smoking in one of the stalls. In prison, you have to worry about false allegations, and I wouldn't want to be showering in a smokey stall when a CO might happen to walk by.
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Today is the first day of that business class for me.
After asking around, I believe my block will be 2nd or 3rd in the eating order next month -- a definite upgrade from 9th.
The staff took my friends coat at the chow hall. They told him that we are no longer allowed to have black coats because only staff members can wear black. He didn't care because he got it for free from some guy who went home. It reminds me of the hot pot confiscation. They let us have something, but they eventually change their minds for some reason.
I sent an e-kite to the food service department about the peanut butter packets they give us. I raised two issues. One, the packets don't contain the amount of PB we're supposed to get. Two, there is no reason that we shouldn't be able to bring the PB packets back from the chow hall. We're allowed to bring one milk back already, and the PB packets are way less perishable. Here is a copy of the e-kite I sent:
PB E-Kite:
I would like to ask two questions about the peanut butter packets we receive at the dining hall.
First, the amount of PB in the packets vary widely, and we usually get less than what we are supposed to. I've measured the amount of PB, and we should get about six teaspoons per packet (or two tablespoons), but we really receive about four teaspoons (or about two-thirds of what we should receive). I was wondering if something could be done to rectify this?
Also, I was wondering if we could be allowed to bring the PB packets back with us from the dining hall. I offer the following reasons for this request:
1. It is difficult to open and retrieve all the PB in the time we have to eat.
2. This would make meals run faster.
3. PB can't be made into hooch.
4. These packets are nonperishable.
5. We receive these packets in meal bags anyway.
Your attention in this matter is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I will see how they respond.
Understaffing is a major problem here, and one area that is hard hit by this is outdoor recreation, which seems to be one of the first areas they will pull a CO from to work somewhere else. Usually, they have one CO running indoor rec and one running outdoor rec. We heard a rumor that they would now allow outdoor rec to be open as long as there was a CO to run indoor rec. We just leaned, however, there is a caveat to the rule: there needs to be both one CO and one "red shirt" there to open outdoor rec (a red shirt is one of the non-CO staff members that run rec, known for the red shirts they wear).
I will soon prepare a food box order for May. We are allowed to order two such boxes a year. I call it my semi-annual nutritional booster shot because I focus on healthful food that I can't get in here.
A friend just received a letter from somebody at London, the prison next door to us. It said that all inmates received an email that they were going to ride out about half the inmates there, leaving the level-1's and OPI workers. They are sending most of the outgoing inmates to Zone A here, which will be the new close/medium section.
My friend went home yesterday -- the juvenile offender who got a parole after 28 years. He actually went to a halfway house. There is some question as to whether the parole board would rather release somebody to a halfway house or to a family member's home. Well, I heard the board gave one guy a 16 month flop so that he could get an address with family for his parole plan; apparently, he only had halfway houses listed on his parole plan. To cover all bases, I included two home addresses and two halfway house addresses on my last parole plan (not that it mattered).
Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 4:38 AM
I saw on the local news that the wind chill in London, Ohio, is in the 20's. Over the weekend, we were in the 80's. From shorts back to my winter coat.
Outside rec was closed again today. So much for it being open more.
I started that business class. The inmate leading the class had businesses out there, so he seems knowledgable. I've been talking to him about websites and an online presence.
I have been working on my food box order. It is nice to have access to nutritious food, but it's so expensive. And I'm limited on how much I can order, so I have to choose wisely.
One thing I've noticed is guys around here have stock responses, saying the same thing over and over again, repeating cliches, running jokes into the ground. For example, my one friend -- the one who just got that five year flop -- will always arrive to the weight room late, and he'll say to me "About time you showed up." He says this ever time. He's a good guy, but he is especially bad at these repeated phrases. He will also say that it's a "beautiful day" no matter what the weather. He did this yesterday despite it being cold and windy. Now, I'm all for positivity, but I'm also into reality.
A common cliche you hear around here is guys saying, "Don't be scared now. You weren't scared when you caught your case." Now, this may have been clever the first time somebody said it, but by the millionth time -- not so much. A food service worker used it on me the other day. I was going through the serving line, holding my tray up to receive each item. The one guy was opening up a bag of bread, so I refrained from holding my tray up for a minute, giving him time to get his stuff together. He met this attempt at courtesy with disrespect, saying, "Hold up your tray. Don't be scared now..." Incidentally, this exemplifies how I could have gotten into hundreds of fights over the years, yet the parole board did not reward me for my self-restraint.
Thursday, April 28, 2022
I just finished filling out my food box order. Because these catalog companies often run out of supplies, I included alternatives for each items. I also had to revise my list to get it under $200.00 (everything is so expensive). These were the main areas I ordered from: nuts/seeds, fruit, veggies, fish, condiments, drinks, candy.
Although I call the food boxes my nutritional booster shots, you will notice there is a candy category. Most of the items in this category, however, I give away to my friends. And some "candy" items actually have nutritional value, such as dark chocolate and the "protein cookie." I do, however, get one pure cheat treat for myself that has zero nutritional value. My cheat treat for this box is a snowball -- a pink, crème-filled treat. My alternative item, in case they don't have snowballs, is Lucky Charms, my favorite childhood cereal. I need to have a treat, something to look forward to.
I feel bad: a friend gave me a medication reorder slip before dinner last night to drop off in the medical box, which is located in the chow hall, and I forgot. People regularly give me med slips and envelopes to drop off because I go to every meal. He is submitting this med slip about 8 days before his meds run out, so it shouldn't be a big deal, but I hate to let people down.
I saw that they took the curtains down from the showers again. Just the other day a guy in my block went to the hole for refusing to take a urine test. Supposedly our unit sergeant has said that he plans to clean up the merit block after he gets our neighboring block, the military block, in order. Many of us are skeptical. He did, however, move some riff-raff out of the military block, replacing them with veterans. So, we'll see.
That one guy repeated the sink joke again. I just ignored him. This was something we trainers were taught in the dog program, to ignore bad behavior, such as barking for attention. I know this is a minor complaint by prison standards. For the "outrage-o-meter," on a scale of 1 to 10, these nuisances are about a 1 or 2. I nickname these complaints "Seinfeldian" because of how Jerry would keep dumping girlfriends over minor flaws. Still, I don't want to encourage these guys to keep running the same lame jokes into the ground. I think this problem is not just limited to prison.
There is a gorgeous sunrise right now with a orangish red horizon. This is one of the little, free pleasures we can enjoy in here.
Friday, April 29, 2022 5:54 AM
Madison got a busload of new inmates here the other day, and they put some of those guys in my block. That just goes to show my block isn't really a merit block: we shouldn't receive brand new guys. The sergeant could still move them out, but it's unlikely.
Outdoor rec was closed again this morning, but it was open afternoon and evening.
Every Friday morning I watch a PBS show called Fit n Delicious. It sounds like a phrase that one gay guy might use to describe another, but it's actually a neat little fitness and nutrition show.
My one friend got a food box in yesterday, and he splurged a little bit, having a lot of candy. Then, he learned he would have mandatory fasting labs this morning. This is bad because he is on the borderline of having to take insulin, and if his numbers are spiked, the doctor might put him on these meds. He gave me a dark chocolate Snickers bar, which I will save for a designated cheat day.
A successful day for me is when I get my 5 W's in: work, workout, walking session #1, walking session #2, and writing.
They closed down the yard at 3:00 instead of the usual 3:30. I heard the reason was that they couldn't find somebody. That's what they'll do when they can't find someone: shut down the whole yard.
Friday, April 29, 2022 11:51 AM
I got a reply from my peanut butter e-kite. The food service coordinator's response was something like, "Thanks for the feedback. The manufacturers fill the packets based upon weight. As for taking the packets back, the institution decides that, and they are the ones who don't want you taking food back." So, the response was polite, and they actually responded, but they did nothing to address how we're getting shorted on PB, and they gave no specific individual who I could contact about bringing the PB back. Our kiosk doesn't give us an option to send an e-kite to "the institution" or "they." So, the response to my e-kite was like a dead-end road. I'm not sure if, or how, I should further pursue this. I had sent an e-kite to the deputy warden in charge of food service before about this issue, but received no reply. I don't think I want to go the whole complaint route over this. I'll think about it over the weekend.
They moved some guys into the block today, including a nut they had kicked out before. Most guys call him Radio, after the mentally challenged guy from the football movie. He does weird stuff like digging bread out of the chow hall garbage can with his bare hands to feed the birds. He is a harmless goofball, but I want to avoid him because he tried to glom onto me before.
When he was here before, he would offer me his tray of food at the chow hall, which he didn't want, but it turned out not to be worth it. Instead of giving me the one item I wanted, he would leave an entire tray with me. The thing is, he usually would eat the few high-value items on the tray, and leave me the rest that was hard to give away. I would get stuck with the hassle of dealing with an extra tray. Also, it's rare, but the C.O.s can mess with you for having a second tray. Did you go through the line twice?
The bigger problem with accepting the extra food from him, however, was that it opened the door for him to glom onto me. After accepting these trays at the chow hall, he started to stop by my cube. He would then see me eating at my bunk (high-value food I bought from the commissary), and he would ask for some. When I said No once, he brought up the food he gave me at the chow hall -- the low-value stuff that half the people either don't get or throw away. I stopped accepting food from him after that.
In short, I don't want this guy stopping by my bunk, which is my home. To understand the free-world equivalent of this situation, imagine you're in your living room some evening, relaxing, eating a snack, and then some weird stranger appears.
There is some good news. They posted the eating order for next month, and MA is in 2nd place. That sure beats ninth place (next to last).
Saturday, April 30, 2022 4:43 AM
Well, my day is getting off to a good start. Although I only got 6.5 hours of sleep, it was a deep sleep, so I woke up feeling completely refreshed. Even better, it was one of the rare nights were I had zero leg cramps.
Well, I already had a predictable confrontation with Odd Todd -- the nut they moved back into the block. On the way to the chow hall, Todd offered to give me his tray. I politely told him four times "No thank you," but he wouldn't listen. Then, at the chow hall he tried to give me the tray. I had to tell him firmly, "No, I don't want it." He then set the tray on an empty table and left the chow hall. You see, I learned my lesson from the last time he was in the block, and I won't give him an "In" -- an excuse to glom onto me. I don't want to have any interaction with the guy. It was tough to be curt, but I had to nip this in the bud. I have to admit, resisting the temptation was hard this time, for there were actually three items I liked on that tray: cabbage, peas & carrots, and applesauce.
On the bright side, I saw a good movie: the new multi-verse Spiderman. This was on the institutional movie channel, and it's hard for me to catch them. In here, you often have to watch movies in segments. For example, I watched the first hour of Spiderman from 8:00 to 9:00 PM (my bedtime), and I watched the rest of the movie two days later at 5:00 AM.
They had e-Mother Day cards available on the kiosk today. This is nice because they often wait to the last minute (or even after the holiday is over) to offer these cards. Even better, they actually had a decent selection this time.
They had the water turned off in our block for about four or five hours the other day. They brought in a big recycling can full of water along with some smaller, empty buckets for us to use to flush the toilets. At least they gave us advanced warning this time.
Sunday, May 1, 2022 3:06 AM
Well, I'm suffering a bit of insomnia right now. I woke up around two and couldn't fall back to sleep. This time, it wasn't my lower right leg that contributed to my early awakening; instead, I had trouble clearing my lung.
There was some disappointing news. We go to the store on Monday, and one of the commissary workers posted an "Out Of" list on the bulletin board. Unfortunately, sugar substitute was on the list. I'm addicted to artificial sweetener, using it on everything, from flavoring my water to sweetening chow hall food. I will have to ration my remaining sugar sub and hope that it will be available in two weeks when we go again. My one cubie made a trade for another one, so that will help.
There was an "orange graveyard" outside the chow hall last night because the CO's were confiscating them from guys trying to take them out. My one friend counted 32 of them on the ground. What a waste of food.
No more run-ins with that Todd guy. He's glomming onto other guys. And I know he will find people willing to accept free trays of food. In fact, my one cubie said he made the mistake of being nice to him. He has also started talking so some of my friends. That's the problem of being non-threatening around here: these guys view you as safe to approach. I hate to be rude, but I don't want to throw out a welcome mat either. This might be irritating, but I would take these minimum-security type problems over the close-security problems I previously had to deal with any day.
This month we are second in the eating order, so I will have to get ready for chow fast after they clear count -- especially for breakfasts on the weekends.
Monday, May 02, 2022
Well, it wasn't the greatest day yesterday. First, that Todd has noticed I've been snubbing him, and he met that with some unpleasantness. For example, he saw me taking food from somebody else's tray at lunch, and he made some comment that I suspect was directed at me, "You have to watch out for these liars around here." It's not a matter of honesty though; it's a matter of selectivity. In addition to avoiding the glom on, now that I know he's a dumpster diver, I don't want to accept food from him. Hopefully he will get kicked out of the block soon. Last time he was here, he bothered some female CO, asking her personal questions, like her middle name and where she lived, so she had him thrown in the hole.
Another bad thing that happened was that I experienced some hemoptysis again for the first time in a few months. Thankfully, it only seemed to last one day.
I try to look on the bright side (sometimes it's hard around here), but there are a few good things going on. First, this month we go to chow second in the eating order. It's nice to get that out of the way.
Plus, I had a super low resting pulse rate. For several months, I couldn't break into the 30's, and then suddenly it got down to 35 for a while. Go figure.
I'm starting a "cramp log" for the month of May. I'm going to try to see what factors may be contributing to my nightly leg cramps.
Here is an example of how they don't update the selection of cards on the kiosk. I noticed that one of the Mother's Day cards said the 13th of May on it. Mother's Day is the 8th this year. I believe this card is left over from last year (or maybe longer than that).
We go to the store today, and I will check to see if they have any good Mother's Day cards. They better have those cards this time because we won't go to the store again for two weeks, and by that time it will be too late.
Tuesday, May 03, 2022
Well, I went to the store yesterday, and it was a successful trip. They didn't get my Lemonberry, which is a sugar-free drink mix, but I forgot to put salmon on my list. I try to keep extras of essentials, like salmon, so I will be alright. They were out of Sriracha sauce and artificial sweetener, which are two of my staples. They did have three types of Mother's Day cards, and two of them were nice. One of them especially spoke to me, so I got that. I mailed it out later that day, so hopefully it will arrive before Mother's Day, which is this coming Sunday.
Because they were out of artificial sweetener, I will take this opportunity to try an experiment. I am going to go an entire day without using any. I doubt it will make a difference, but I'm curious to see if it will impact my nightly leg cramps. Going without this sweetener will be tough though. I use about 20 to 25 packets each day. I will especially miss it with my flavored water.
I had another odd, yet civil, encounter with that Todd. He came up and told me about how he was waiting to get good shoes before he goes out to start running. He then said he would like to go out and race with me some time. I politely explained I was a solo runner and that I didn't race. I've noticed that he seems to have trouble understanding the word No because, despite me explaining I don't race, he still said at the end of the conversation, We'll go out and race some time. Sigh.
At lunch yesterday, I wanted to sit with my one friend, but he was sitting with the guy somebody else nicknamed "Mr. Bitter" -- the guy who said I hadn't done enough at my last parole hearing because I didn't take that one dumb reentry program. Well, later on, when I explained to my one friend why I didn't sit with him, he told me that Mr. Bitter was complaining about how the board had treated him at past hearings. I sarcastically joked, "He didn't do enough to get a parole." He wants to blame the board when they deny him, but he wants to blame others when they get denied.
I have that business class today. The inmate instructor said that at the last class we will present a business plan, receiving feedback from the class and instructor. Instead of doing a business plan, I think I will use this opportunity to come up with my five-year plan for my halftime hearing.
I'm still waiting to hear the board's response to my request for reconsideration.
Yesterday the chow hall had tubs of peanut butter that the workers served using scoops rather than the packets of peanut butter. inmates prefer the scoops of peanut butter because we get more PB, and we don't have to mess with those difficult-to-open packets. The type of PB we get varies, depending on the "variant' that is provided to us. In fact, there's not just one type of packet; there's at least three different variants. One is labelled "Correct Choice." Another "Sunshine Peanut Butter Company." And one just says "Peanut Butter." Once in a while we get more PB than we should, but we usually get less, sometimes much less. I did an experiment to see how much PB we're getting. Twice, I've taken an empty PB jar and filled it with PB packets. The serving size for the jar was 2 tablespoons, and there are 16 servings per jar. Because the packets are also supposed to be approximately two tbs, that means I should only be able to get 16 packets per jar. Instead, both times I filled a jar with packets, I was able to get 20 packets into the jar. Doing the math, this means we are getting about 80% of the PB we're supposed to be getting.
Wednesday, May 04, 2022 5:11 AM
Well, I went a whole day without using artificial sweetener. I don't know if it helped, but I didn't have any leg cramps last night. There are so many variables though. For example, yesterday was one of the rare days where I took the evening off from walking. I will have to look into this some more.
I just got some mail! Two of them were from an outside friend, containing articles about criminal justice.
There were a few interesting things in those articles. First, we have been waiting for a new system where we will no longer receive paper mail. Instead, we will receive all mail digitally on new GTL tablets. This program has been pushed back to the summer. Also, they are going to install a whole lot of body scanners to try to curb the flow of contraband into the prisons. They will be used on the inmates who work outside the fence, but not on the staff members. This contrasts with Virginia, which mainly uses the scanners on the staff, who are the main ones bringing this stuff in.
There was also updates on some criminal justice bills. The one big reform bill, 288, has nothing for parole inmates. One bill would establish halfway houses for difficult to place offenders, like me. When I was preparing for my parole hearing, I had to list some halfway houses on my parole plan. With both an agg. murder and an arson on my record, I found only a couple of halfway houses in the entire state that could have accepted me.
My brother said Etrade finally got back to him about the issue trading my stimulus money. He said that I can only buy ETF's through automatic purchase plans. I don't know what that means, but I guess that I can fractional trade stocks but not ETF's. I emailed him back, asking him to try to just fractional trade the stocks for now to see if that will work. I'm eager to hear his reply.
Outside rec was closed all first shift again yesterday. I'm not sure about second shift.
That Todd interrupted my workout with another odd comment. It was raining out, and he said "I wish a maelstrom would come and wash everything away." I would have been impressed that he knew the word "maelstrom," but I was more irritated that he was in the way of me doing lunges.
We got cheated out of food for dinner last night. In the past, we would get both a fruit and dessert at many meals. Then, they changed the menu, making us choose between a dessert or a fruit. There was one meal that was an exception where we could get both a fruit and a dessert. This exceptional meal was the "breakfast dinner," nicknamed for the main item: scrambled eggs. Well, last night they made us choose between a banana and the pastry. I wonder if this is a one-time thing or a permanent change.
Did I mention that they prevented guys from helping others carry their bags back from the commissary the other day? This is a bad thing for the old and infirm.
The hemoptysis has pretty much cleared up. I guess this will just be something that might flare up for a couple of days every few months.
Thursday, May 05, 2022 4:23 AM
Well, I used sugar substitute yesterday, and I had leg cramps again last night. I will try another day of skipping that sweetener to see if it makes a difference again. I use about 20 to 25 packets a day, so I definitely missed it that day I refrained from using it.
Today is Cinco de Mayo. I don't think we are going to get a special meal today, for we probably would have heard something about it already. Getting a special meal on Cinco de Mayo is a relative recent development and it's hit or miss.
That thing about people running jokes into the ground isn't just a prison issue. On the View yesterday, that Sunny said every May 4th she would go tell her daughter, "May the fourth be with you" -- a play on the date and the Star Wars saying. Sunny's daughter said, "You've been saying that same thing for the last 16 years." Sunny said she thought it was funny, but the other host, Joy, said "Maybe the first time, but not the tenth time."
I hurt my knee a little yesterday. Rec was closed again in the morning (both inside and outside), so I ran for an hour on my ballcourt instead. That constant turning messed with my knee. Fortunately, today is an upper body day for me. I may take off from walking.
Inside rec was closed yesterday due to a graduation ceremony. My one friend attended that graduation. He said they served cake (real, outside cake) and Kool-Aid. The thing is, my friend already had a GED, and he was forced to get it a second time because the institution couldn't retrieve his outside records. Incidentally, they misspelled his name on the graduation letter and program guide (it's unclear whether or not that misspelling contributed to them being unable to retrieve his records).
Even after the graduation was over, they closed down outside rec again. It seems like a coin toss as to whether or not outside rec will be open.
I have a dentist appointment this morning for a routine cleaning. I put in for it so long ago that I thought something may have gone wrong. I am disappointed by the timing of the appointment though. Thursday morning is my one busy time of the week. This is something I've noticed in prison: nothing happens for long stretches of time, and then everything happens at once.
I apparently had missed some drama in the block yesterday when I was in my business class. A CO came in and took a guy out of our block in handcuffs. One thing I learned is that apparently those body cams only work when a button is pressed. That is a major loophole.
Yesterday, I saw that Todd digging through the block dumpster. Shortly after, he offered me a piece of French toast he was holding in his hand. Needless to say, I declined. This incident further verifies my decision not to accept food from him. By the way, I learned that he got moved over here because he got into a fight in another block. This just goes to show my block isn't really a merit block anymore. How can a fight be an admissions ticket to the merit block. Incidentally, this further supports my decision to avoid this guy: there's definitely some instability there.
I try to live a moral life now, but there are perhaps two exceptions. One, I sometimes have to be curt and even rude with dysfunctional people I don't want to glom onto me. Also, I am a little hesitant to be fully generous in here because there are guys who will take advantage of it.
Friday, May 06, 2022 4:26 AM
I believe they moved Todd over here as a sort of PC (protective custody) thing. After that fight, the administration thought they might have to protect a small, mentally ill guy like him from general population. This wouldn't be the first time the staff has used merit blocks for PC purposes. It was especially common at North Central. I remember that it took me a couple of months to get into a merit block while some guys got over there after a couple of days.
Speaking of North Central, I had breakfast with somebody who just received a letter from a mutual friend who is still there. He said it is still "off the hook" there, mentioning two incidents of extreme violence. In one, a young guy stole a bag of rice from an older guy. The older guy then went and stabbed the younger guy with a shank. The younger guy then took the shank from the older guy and stabbed him. The older guy then returned to his bunk, bled out, and died. The whole compound was locked down for two days as an investigation was conducted. No, I don't miss North Central.
Although I did my upper body workout yesterday, I skipped walking, allowing my knee to heal. It is feeling much better today.
Despite skipping artificial sweetener yesterday, and despite resting my legs, I still experienced cramps last night. Sigh. Back to the drawing board.
I had a dental appointment for a routine cleaning yesterday, apparently my first one since 2019. Fortunately, I had no cavities. It took a long a long time between when I requested this cleaning and when they actually saw me.
Here's an example of some of the idiotic stuff guys do around here. As some sort of lame joke, one guy apparently paid a box of peanut butter crunch bars to some heavy guy nicknamed "Doughnut" to shave off his eyebrows. This Doughnut, a sugar addict, actually did it. Sigh.
The CO in our neighboring block, MB, apparently got suspended. I heard he "got into it" with a yard CO the other day, telling him not to come outside his block and mess with guys over petty stuff. I will ask my friends in MB to find out more.
I learned some good news: my mother already ordered my food box, and most of the items were in stock. Hopefully it will arrive quickly. I'll ask guys who recently got food boxes from that company to see how long they're taking.
I got a letter from a friend at Grafton Correctional the other day. He gets out in September.
I heard another cautionary tale about hardship transfers. A guy has family in Cleveland, so he requested a hardship transfer to the Northeast region, hoping to get Grafton, the prison closest to Cleveland, and the only decent prison in that region. Instead of getting Grafton, they sent him to Lake Erie, a crappy, private prison near the Pennsylvania border. He got beat up and robbed his first day there.
Saturday, May 7, 2022 6:00 AM
I had a great cheat breakfast. Usually I give away the pancakes to somebody, but he didn't show up, possibly due to the rain, so I ate one of them myself. With it, I had syrup, margarine, and peanut butter. It was great!
At lunch, my one friend noticed how everybody tries to look out for each other. For example, I gave away my mac & cheese and bread, and other guys give me their veggies. We also share our condiments with others. And it's not just our friends either. I will try to give my bread away to strangers before I have to throw it away. This pattern of guys trying to help each other out contradicts some of the stereotypes the public may have about inmates.
Bad cramp night. Still can't find a cause or pattern.
My knee is fully recovered.
It was a rainy day, so I had to do a lot of my exercise inside. Fortunately, there was a dry window in the afternoon so I could get my walk in.
I'm taking advantage of my bunkie's hot pot while he still has it. I melted some peanut butter and poured it over a diced banana. I'll miss that hot pot.
No news on the MB CO's suspension. Everybody is rooting for him to return. He talks to inmates like human beings. The other guy has a reputation for mistreating inmates and other misbehavior, including the sexual harassment of female staff. It is amazing this guy has kept his job despite all the trouble he's gotten into. It's sad that we seem to lose the decent ones, but the problematic ones persist.
Sunday, May 08, 2022 2:56 AM
A little trouble sleeping, in part due to cramps, so I might as well do my post.
I could have sworn we got cheated on the amount of peanut butter we got for breakfast, as though they used the wrong scoop size. I later asked one of my neighbors who works as a blue shirt (an inmate worker that serves as a sort of supervisor), and he insisted that it was a different scoop but the same amount. My friends and I all thought we got significantly less.
I learned some good news. That neighboring CO got "sentenced" to only five days working over on Zone A, and he'll be back. Apparently, the bad CO used his body cam on the MB CO.
JPay is offering Mother's Day cards for "free" today. That is, the card is free, but you still have to attach the card to an email, which costs and e-stamp. So, in reality, these cards are half off.
They closed outside rec in the middle of my walk last night, perhaps because they had an outside group come in to play a basketball game.
I noticed that JPay offered Cinco de Mayo cards. I'm not sure, but I don't think they posted those cards until after May 5th. By the way, we didn't have a special meal this year for Cinco de Mayo. Oh, well. Maybe next year.
Monday, May 09, 2022 4:56 AM
Good night sleep last night, minimal cramps -- a good start to the day.
I like doing my posts at this time of day: it's quiet, and I have nothing better to do. The only problem is that it's so backward looking; that is, I have to recall the events of the previous day when I'm ready to start a new day fresh.
They closed outdoor rec again yesterday in the middle of my walk. I am tempted to keep a log of the rec hours just to see how often it's closed.
Today is another peanut butter breakfast, and I'll be interested to see if we get the smaller scoops again. Incidentally, we got cheated out of green beans the other night at dinner. I know it may sound like a small thing, but when they cheat us out of what we're supposed to get here and there, it adds up.
I have an example of a guy with a negative, defeatist mindset. Every time you ask him, "What's up?", he says, "Just waiting for the day to end."
I tried to send an e-card for Mother's Day, but the kiosk wouldn't let me. The advertisement they sent said you would only need one e-stamp to send it rather than the usual two, but that wasn't true. I just happen to have only one stamp left, and the kiosk told me I didn't have sufficient e-stamps to send it out. I bet it was a programming error where the kiosk would only charge you one e-stamp, but it still thought you needed two to send it out. I had already mailed out a regular, physical Mother's Day card, so the mix-up was no big deal, but it was still disappointing.
Oh, somebody said they thought JPay did offer the Cinco de May cards before May 5th. I'm not sure.
I went to breakfast alone yesterday because my friends made some breakfast burritos together. I skipped out because I have a strict nutritional regimen. That was a cool thing for them though.
For my after-workout snack, I had refried beans and melted peanut butter. I'm using my bunkie's hot pot as much as I can while he still has it. He's going to turn it in this week.
I pretty much finished my five-year plan. I will present it tomorrow at my business class. This plan will help me organize my next half-decade, specifically my efforts for the half-time parole review.
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Well, today is the delivery date for the sub fundraiser. I ordered one myself: an Italian sub. I'm not sure how I will incorporate this cheat meal into my schedule. I'm tempted to eat it without the bun.
One small problem you have to deal with at the chow hall is "table vultures." We can bring condiments down to the chow hall with us, and I bring some form of condiments to every meal, such as hot sauce or Mrs. Dash. I will then set these condiments in the center of the table for the friends I eat with to use. The problem is, these condiments can attract "table vultures," guys who will stop by or sit down at the table solely for the condiments. As I have mentioned before, I don't mind sharing, but sometimes it goes too far. Last night was such an example. I was sitting at my table with two friends when a stranger stopped by my table, asking to use some of my hot sauce. Yeah, I shared it with him -- no big deal. Then, he sat down at a nearby table with his friends. A few moments later, he called my name. Since I don't know him, he must have "eye-hustled" my ID while he was at the table. He asked if his buddies could use some hot sauce, and I reluctantly shared it with them. Everyone at that table -- all strangers -- used some hot sauce. My friends at the table all felt this was a bit much. As I have mentioned before, inmates try to look out for each other at the chow hall, especially with friends, and especially with the free stuff that we would throw away otherwise, but I can't share my condiments, which I pay for, with the entire chow hall.
The news stations have been focused on this one female CO who ran off with a male inmate. This incident exemplifies something you see in here: although staff and inmates aren't supposed to "establish relationships," you see it all the time. And I'm not talking about just romantic relationships either. More common is guys buddying up, kicking it. My cubie told me about an incident yesterday. That one bad CO -- the one who recently got the MB CO in trouble, the one who harasses inmates and staff -- was riding his bike past our block. One inmate called out "Hi" to him. Disgusted, my cubie then said, "Why are you talking to the police?" Another guy said, "I can't believe he just did that." I could understand if he had called out to one of the decent staff, but not one of the guys who tries to make our lives harder. At least this guy received negative feedback, which usually doesn't happen.
I think guys do this for one of three reasons. First, I think they try to curry favor with these staff members. Their thinking may be that, if they are on good terms with them, then they will leave them alone.
Second, they may have some Stockholm Syndrome going on, having fallen in love with their captors.
Third, it is a way for them to put themselves above other inmates. I think some guys don't want to accept their status as lowly inmates, so they try to associate with staff, perhaps thinking, "Look, I'm more on their level than on the level of other inmates." I remember an incident from a couple of years ago. A mail room CO was about to go postal on other staff members, but another CO turned him in before he could. After that, I heard an inmate say to a CO, "The scum of the earth are housed in here, yet he was targeting other staff." I was shocked and disgusted. Doesn't this guy realize he was the scum of the Earth too? He obviously hadn't accepted his status as an inmate. But this incident just goes to show that statement isn't true. Most inmates are not the scum of the Earth. There are many good people in here. Many of the staff are as bad, if not worse, than the inmates.
Tuesday, May 10, 5:38 AM, continued
Admittedly, some guys may have done bad things, but they are not necessarily bad people. That is one of the main things I've learned about inmates, and human nature in general, during my incarceration.
I may be guilty of chasing a false rumor. Guys here were talking about some sort of newspaper article dealing with the release of parole inmates. As I investigated further, it sounds as though it may be a big nothing-burger. Due to wishful thinking, these guys may read things into articles that aren't there. I feel bad because I emailed my family, asking them to look it up. I hate to have sent my sister, who is busy, on a wild goose chase. I may have gone down a rabbit hole and taken my family with me.
Apparently because a truck didn't come in, the chow hall switched the Monday and Tuesday breakfasts. Unfortunately, they didn't have oatmeal either days, replacing it with grits. This is bad for me because I'll eat some oatmeal but not grits.
Wednesday, May 11, 2022 2:54 AM
Well, today was the fundraiser delivery. The subs were pretty high quality, providing plenty of meat and cheese. Even though fundraiser day is a cheat day, I still gave the bun to a friend, and I split the meat and cheese into two servings, putting the one on ice for tomorrow. If they do this fundraiser again, I think i'll get the veggie sub. They just gave them the ingredients to assemble themselves: a tomato, half an onion, olives, pickles and more. I would order that just for those ingredients.
I melted some more PB today. There's only a couple of days left until the deadline for turning in the hot pots.
I got an email from my mother. First, she couldn't find any article about releasing parole inmates. Unfortunately, I had sent my family on a wild goose chase. On some brighter news, she did receive the Mother's Day card before Sunday. Also, my food box got sent out on the 4th, about a week ago. With any luck, I might receive it before the week is over.
I had my business class today. There was only one other student in the class. I thought tonight would be the last class, but we have one more next week. Disappointing. After this, I think I'm going to take a break from classes and programs for a while.
Today was the first day of the year that reached the 80's. It was warm and sunny. Many people went outside. That's why I think many people skipped that business class today.
I'm having another bout of insomnia right now; that's why I'm writing this post so early. I call it a "hole in my sleep." That is, I'll sleep for a few hours, wake up for a couple of hours, and then go back to sleep. That sleepless period is what I call "the hole." There are three types of insomnia: trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, and waking up early. I mostly have trouble staying asleep.
That MB CO hasn't returned yet. I hope it's true that he only received a 5-day suspension.
Thursday, May 12, 2022 5:11 AM
A good start to the day. I got a good night's sleep -- a rare no-cramp night. I don't know if it made a difference, but I tried to only sleep on my "good side." I'll try that again tonight.
I got a letter from my friend at North Central. It is still wild up there. He said there were six major incidents in the past four weeks, including a stabbing where a guy died. With that incident, the CO didn't do rounds for 3 hours (caught on camera). In another incident, some guy was beaten into a coma and may never walk again. There have also been several gang fights between Cincinnati and Toledo guys, and they rode out 37 guys the previous Friday, mostly to Lucasville, a Maximum security prison. My friend said just the previous night, the CO had left the block, locked the front door, and went out to help with the institutional count. The inmates were on their own in that block for 45 minutes. Yeah, I'm glad I left that place.
Today is going to be a big day for me. First, this is day # 600 of my workout streak! This will be a cheat day for me.
The other big thing is that I'm on the pass list this morning to receive my food box. So, I will be able to get some good cheat food to celebrate day 600.
Remember when I said that nothing happens in prison for long periods of time and then everything happens at once? Well, it seems that I always get passes on Thursday morning -- my work morning. Last week my dental pass was Thursday morning. This morning the food box. Still, incorporating a food box into a busy morning -- that's a good problem to have.
I got an email from my brother, answering some of my investment questions, asking how I wanted to proceed. I quickly emailed him back, telling him what I would like to do. Hopefully I'm finally closing in on becoming a real investor. It would be a good time to start, taking advantage of this dip in the market.
During my run yesterday, my knee started hurting again. so I had to cut down my run from an hour to 30 minutes.
I enjoyed the bright, sunny 80-degree day yesterday. The only problem with the nice weather is that everybody goes outside, including some of the more seedy characters. Some of the conversations I overhear -- just dreadful. Some guys do belong in here. At least during the heart of winter, it's only a few hardy individuals out there, the ones who are serious about getting in their workout.
I got an email from a good, outside friend yesterday. In this email, he had some helpful info about the limit of how many fruits and veggies I should eat. One surprising thing was that too many veggies might inhibit the absorption of certain key minerals. Since cramping may be related to mineral imbalance, this caused me to wonder if over-vegging it may be related to my nightly leg cramps. I'll definitely monitor this to see if there's any correlation. Yesterday, however, after having 11 servings of veggies, I had a no-cramp night. Go figure.
Thursday, May 12, 2022
Another example of a joke that's been run into the ground: tapping a guy on one shoulder and then walking in the other direction. This one is especially annoying because it should have stopped being funny in grade school. This joke shows the maturity level of some of the guys around here, many of them being kids in adult bodies. Incidentally, that's why many of these guys are dangerous.
My fundraiser food is now gone. It was nice to have real, outside meat and cheese.
With the warm weather here, our block's lack of an ice machine may become an issue. One guy here will go get ice from another ice machine, but I don't know if that will suffice now. We have been without an ice machine for about eight or nine months now. They supposedly ordered another one a long time ago, but nobody knows why we haven't received it.
Friday, May 13, 2022 6:04 AM
Well, I couldn't string together two cramp-free nights in a row. Back to the drawing board.
Yesterday, was a good day. First, I completed day 600 of my exercise streak. Then, I was able to get my food box. I already had my cheat treat, a snowball, which comes with a coconut-flavored outer coating, a chocolate brownie-type middle, and crème in the center. For my afternoon snack, I had pumpkin seeds. I then shared some of my food box. I received a box of 10 zingers, a chocolate-covered, crème-filled pastry that's sort of like a twinkie. I gave those away. To my laundry guy, I gave a snowball and a zero bar, which he had mentioned in the past was his favorite candy bar. I gave a container of black pepper to a friend who always brings pepper and shares it with us at the chow hall. And, to take advantage of the last couple of days that hot pots remain legal, I shared some tea with my cubies, and we had a mushfake tea party. I was a little disappointed with the tea health wise. It wasn't a tea bag; rather, it was a powder, and the main ingredients were sugar and creamer, with actual tea way down on the list. So, you wouldn't ask, "Do you want some sugar with your tea?"; You'd ask, "Do you want some tea with your sugar?" The tea was definitely tasty though. This morning I will give away some more of my food and have more treats. Already this morning I used some powdered, real lemon juice, along with artificial sweetener, to make some real lemonade.
They did the monthly inspection the other day. After speaking to guys from other blocks, I've determined my block should be fourth in the eating order, which isn't too bad. It certainly beats 9th -- our ranking last month.
They raised the security and moved out a guy in our block who had multiple smoking tickets. They sent him over to the medium side. He was apparently one of the major troublemakers in the block. This is a good thing. I hope they do some more cleaning up.
The regular MB CO hasn't returned yet. Some say he will return; some say he won't. We'll see.
Today, Friday the 13th, is the deadline for turning in hot pots. Tomorrow, they will be considered contraband. My bunkie made mac & cheese for the last time.
One thing you have to watch with food boxes is "eye hustlers"; that is guys will try to see what you got. At this camp, theft isn't so much a concern; it's mooches. Guys will stop by your bunk and ask what you got. Many of them may want to trade commissary items for food box items. The thing is, the main point of getting a food box is getting food you can't get in here.
Saturday, May 14, 2022 4:30 AM
Yesterday, I tried something different, walking and running clockwise on the grass inside the track instead of the standard counter-clockwise, hoping that working my legs differently might help with the leg cramps. No dice. My knee hurt less running that way though.
I noticed one of my five meals contained the daily requirement of fiber, so I will explore the possibility that I'm "over-fibering" it.
I'm still enjoying my new food box. I had a golden zinger for an after-workout cheat treat -- a small pastry that's kind of like a twinkie.
I've been making my own real lemonade, using powdered lemon mix from the food box along with artificial sweetener. I shared a glass with a friend who loves lemonade. I've also been sharing the tea with others.
I had an unusual afternoon protein snack: mushrooms, seaweed, and roasted, wasabi edamame. This was the meal that I mentioned that was super high in fiber.
We go to the store on Monday, and they posted the "out of" list. They are still out of artificial sweetener and sriracha sauce, two of my staples. I had been thinking of reducing my use of artificial sweetener anyway, but they are forcing me towards that goal. Incidentally, they don't sell sugar because they're afraid people will use it to make hooch (homemade wine). This lack of artificial sweetener is an impediment to making lemonade.
They moved five guys straight off the bus into my block, further showing it's no longer a merit block -- no matter what they might say.
They busted five guys smoking in the block on third shift.
Today is the first day hot pots are officially considered contraband. My bunkie already turned his in.
That Todd is telling people that he's going home soon. I hope that's true, but he's obviously not a reliable source of information. Many guys, though, do a poor job at interpreting their own cases. For example, many people will confuse the filing of a motion for judicial release with an actual out-date. We'll see.
Sunday, May 15, 2022 4:57 AM
After breakfast, I went to put my milk on ice for later and found the ice machine was bone dry. In this 80-degree weather, the lack of an ice machine is becoming a problem. I talked to an inmate maintenance worker, and he said they began the ordering process last October, and just three weeks ago they were told that they were still waiting for some part.
Sunday, May 15, 2022 continued
You can't blame this delay on the current problems with the supply chain because stuff like this has been happening for years. This maintenance worker, who I was talking to in the weight room, then said that they didn't do the preventative maintenance on the weight machines that they should be doing. The leg press machine has been broken for a couple of months now. Before the pandemic, the leg press machine had been broken for at least a year before they fixed it.
An outside reentry guy has said that the parole board hired a pair of investigators. It is unclear why though. If true, the hope is that they would be looking for guys to release, reviewing cases where the board has flopped people for no good reason. Probably wishful thinking though.
I found a helpful case while doing some legal research. The Ohio Supreme Court basically ruled that the Ohio Parole Board has to use accurate info when reaching decisions. If the board doesn't correct the inaccurate info in my case and grant me a rehearing, I may consider litigation.
This inmate maintenance worker I was talking to is going up for parole in a few months. I asked him what number hearing it would be for him and, after thinking about it for a minute, he said it would be his fifth. I've seen guys have to count up the number of hearings in their head before. It's sad when guys lose track of the number of hearings they've had -- especially good release candidates.
I had already heard the rumor that they want to make Madison into a merit camp. Well, I heard a new rumor that they want to make it into a reentry camp also. I don't know if this would be a good thing or not. My only concern would be that they may only want short-timers at a reentry camp, and I have a decade until my next hearing. I'll believe all this when I see it.
Inside rec was closed the other day for a family day event for the reintegration block, JC. This event was for some short-term inmates and their outside family members. This event was great for them, but I hope they expand it to other inmates and their families. Before the pandemic, they would have a Family Day for eligible inmates throughout the entire institution.
I had more fun with my food box. After my workout, I had a "protein cookie," which contained 15 grams of protein and tasted like a real cookie. I gave away more tea to my friends.
I made my own healthful mixture of seasoning from condiments I got from the food box: curry, cumin, ginger, garlic, sesame seeds, and chili powder. I was disappointed in some of the seasonings, though, because the main ingredient was actually salt; in other words, it was basically flavored salt. Because I'm eating a reduced salt diet right now, I may bless one of my friends with this seasoning.
In the evening, outside rec was closed again. Then, they closed the entire compound briefly. One guy said it was because somebody fell out in another block. It's hard to tell around here.
Monday, May 16, 2022
Well, another bad cramp night. It's frustrating.
A rainy start to the morning. I will have to venture out, though, for breakfast and the store.
Today is our commissary day. Because I recently received a food box, I won't have to buy that much.
Today is also parole day; that is, the parole board will hold hearings, through video conference, for all inmates who have hearings scheduled for May. On the pass sheet, there were about six guys who were listed for hearings. I will be interested to see how they fare, but the board hasn't been treating guys well lately.
In that one favorable case I found while doing legal research, the Ohio Supreme Court said, "Therefore, where a credible allegation of substantive inaccuracies in a prisoner's record is made, the OAPA is obliged to correct those errors before considering the inmate for parole." See State ex rel Keith v. Ohio Adult Parole Auth., 141 Ohio St. 3d 375, 381 (2014).
I gave away my seasoning that had salt as the number one ingredient. I kept the chili powder, though, because salt was just the number three ingredient. I'm enjoying my own, healthful mixture of spices.
My friend said he was sitting in the dayroom when he felt something hit his neck. He turned around and saw that only Todd was around. He suspects Todd may have thrown a pebble or something at him. I hope that guy goes home soon. My strategy is avoid and ignore.
I set a record for number of emails sent out: nine. I decided to send out all my emails and posts at once.
The nurses had to come to my block to treat an older inmate who was having some sort of diabetic problem -- something that has happened multiple times before. He never exercises, and he eats a ton of junk food, buying several twelve-packs of pop at the store each store day.
I tabulated my nutritional info for the last three-week menu cycle. I averaged about 2224 calories and 117 grams of protein per day. Not bad.
Oh, and I got to weigh myself for the first time in several months at Medical: 133 pounds. There is a scale down at recreation we can use, but it is erratic and unreliable. For a while, it was 20 pounds off.
Tuesday, May 17, 2022 4:40 AM
Finally, I had a decent cramp night. It wasn't cramp-free, having one cramp, but it was pretty close. I did a lot of massage and stretching of my bad leg before bedtime. Movement is the one surefire cure for these cramps, so I'll try to use it as prevention too. I don't have access to foam rollers in here, so I will have to manually massage my leg. When I get up to take a leak at night, and when I roll over, I will try to move my leg around.
That's the good news. The bad news is I suspect one of my neighbors may be on some of that creepy stuff, and he may have expressed interest in me. Hopefully I'm wrong. I'll monitor the situation and, if need be, let him know that I'm not into that "scene." Sigh.
We went to the store yesterday. While there, they were taking donations of food or money for some veterans' organization. I gave a mackerel and a sardine.
The parole board was here today. About six people from Madison had hearings, two from my block. I haven't heard any results yet though. I'll ask around today.
Remember my one friend who the parole board members accused of lying about his alibi? They said he couldn't have been watching the world series because it was on at a different date, but they didn't realize that there was a rebroadcast on the date he mentioned. Well, I gave him the citation to that one parole case I found -- the one where the Ohio Supreme Court said the board must use accurate information. He's filing a request for reconsideration too. No news on mine.
One of my friends is an aspiring writer too. I helped read and edit one of his chapters yesterday.
I had to skip another run yesterday because my knee was hurting again. Instead, I did cardio in my block. There was no pain while I was walking though.
Oh, I hear they have come up with a new, absurd mail policy. We already can't receive in pictures of topless females. Now, we apparently can't receive pictures of topless guys. The thing is, we can go out and see plenty of topless guys on the rec yard already. In addition, we can't receive pictures of topless babies. So, if a mother is holding a baby wearing only a diaper -- we can't get that in! I will have to read the email myself, but it's ridiculous.
This new restriction reminds me of something. At all the institutions I've been at, we have been allowed to be shirtless on the rec yard -- with one exception. At Toledo Correctional, we weren't permitted to be shirtless, even if we were exercising in hot weather. Because ToCI was in a residential neighborhood of the city of Toledo, some of the neighbors apparently complained about seeing topless men. They eventually changed this rule, perhaps because they put up a screen around the fence near the houses, blocking the view.
They actually served us pizza at lunch. Even though it is on the menu, they have been serving us some alternate item instead for the past couple of months. It's not great pizza though. I will often just eat the topping and leave the crust.
Wednesday, May 18, 2022 4:18 AM
Good news: a cramp-free night! This follows a one-cramp night. I think the stretching, massage, and movement has helped. We don't have access to foam rollers to use post workout, so we have to make do. I've also been walking the opposite direction on the track so that it's not just my right leg (the bad one) doing all the turning.
When I woke up this morning, I found a Dateline rerun on about lifers in Louisiana, especially juvenile lifers. Some of these guys had been in prison for 50 to 60 years. It showed some of these guys aging and dying in prison. Furthermore, it showed the parole board denying some of these low-risk guys release. I think this program did a great job portraying the humanity of these lifers.
Speaking of parole, I have only learned one result from the parole hearings the other day. Apparently one guy got a "nickel" (five years). I will keep my ears open.
I have been giving my one creepy neighbor the same treatment I've been giving Todd: avoid and ignore. I think this guy is getting the idea. This is one way I actually miss the cells of higher security: you at least get your own space. Here, in an open dorm, you can't get away from these nuts and creeps.
The one diabetic inmate they sent to the infirmary the other day came back. He doesn't look too well. Apparently he's suffering more than just a regular diabetic problem. In fact, one friend said he overheard this guy saying on the phone that he thought he was dying. This guy is a little, 70-something-year-old man who gets around in a walker -- hardly a threat to society anymore. He's a parole inmate that has been denied release by the board numerous times. He has a horrible diet, though, drinking an ungodly amount of pop. Some guys seem to have given up.
I'm now hearing a rumor that the MB CO got sent over to the medium side for 30 days as punishment. Previously, I had heard 5 days, but it has been well over a week now. We'll see.
I participated in my final business class yesterday. During this class, I presented my five-year plan. Afterwards, the teacher and fellow students gave some suggestions. I will finalize my plan and then email it to my family for their critique. I'll definitely need their help because I won't be able to do it on my own.
After this, I'm going to take a break from programs and classes. As my one friend said, the parole board doesn't seem to consider them anyway.
My bunk is at the end of my row. In between my bunk and the wall is a large open space. This is a bit of a drawback because that open space is often used as a hangout area, a mini-dayroom. Furthermore, there is a "wheelchair parking lot" in this area; that is, there's about a dozen wheelchairs and walkers that guys in the block store there. This wheelchair parking lot is another sad testament to the aging of the prison population.
Yesterday that Todd was sitting in one of those wheelchairs around sunrise, looking out the window. I hope this doesn't become a regular part of his routine. It's bad enough to have him in the block; I don't need him in my area. Plus, I don't want to go look out the window at the sunrise myself with him there, so it messes up my routine.
Thursday, May 19, 2022 4:36 AM
Things are going pretty well here. I've had two days in a row without leg cramps! I'm not sure what's been going right. Before bed, I've been massaging, moving, and stretching my leg. On the track, I've been walking and running in both directions. I've also had to cut back on running because of my unrelated knee problem. I'll figure it out.
Another good thing: neither that creep nor the nut have spoken to me within the past day. I think they're both getting the idea. It's against my nature to be rude, but I have to make sure to not to put out the welcome mat for these guys so that they won't invade my personal space.
My decision to push away that Todd has been especially wise because a pair of my friends, who happen to be cellies, have had problems with him. The unwise one helped him out and talked to him, even after hearing about my experience with him, and Todd glommed onto him. Unfortunately, my wise friend then had to endure Todd's visits because they were bunkies. While visiting, Todd kept asking my wise friend for food. Wisely, he consistently said no. Yesterday, Todd stopped by my wise friend's cube six times, asking him for food. My wise friend consistently said No. Then, apparently Todd went and complained to some other inmate that my wise friend wouldn't give him food, and then this guy, who had no business intervening, came up to my friend and said he should have given Todd food. My friend was rightly furious.
They give us sufficient food at the chow hall. Todd, however, will give away or sell this free food, often for coffee. Then, he will go around and mooch food from strangers or eat stuff from the trash. My other friend saw him take a styrofoam container with some leftover food out of the trash the other day and say something like "Jackpot!" Furthermore, my friend is one of the most generous guys I know, sharing a large amount of his fundraiser food with deserving people. I hope my friends, including the unwise one, will now ban that Todd from visiting their cube, considering he did something to bring trouble there. I will recommend this course of action to them. I'm outraged, so I know my wise friend must be furious.
I completed my five-year plan for my halftime review and printed it out. This plan will help me organize my next half decade.
Speaking of parole, I learned that nobody who saw the board the other day obtained a release. I heard three guys got a five and another guy got a two. Furthermore, I heard a story that somebody who had a public hearing lost a Yes vote. At his institutional hearing, one board member voted Yes. Then, this board member resigned between his institutional hearing and the public hearing. So, this guy lost a Yes vote, perhaps changing the outcome.
A big ride-in of new guys came into Madison yesterday. We received a number of them in our block. I know one guy who is mad about this. He used to be in this block and has been trying to return. He got moved out when he was suspected of having Covid. This incident exemplifies how the ODRC deters guys from reporting symptoms.
We ran out of ice. We're getting to the time of year where the lack of an ice machine will be a problem. Tomorrow is supposed to be the first 90-degree day of the year.
They did some urine testing yesterday, calling in a few guys from my block. I am glad to see it.
Because my knee was hurting, I didn't run. Instead, I did some other non-knee cardio, including "invisible jump ropes"; that is, I'll do jump roping, just without the actual jump rope. We don't have jump ropes in the block, which is where I did my workout. In here, you have to make do.
Friday, May 20, 2022 5:12 AM
Well, my brief streak of cramp-free nights ended. I will still work on it.
The one old guy they took down to medical the other day -- they took him out again. He was apparently slurring his speech and drooling. Hopefully he will get the help he needs. He's in bad health anyway. In fact, when the pandemic first started, I thought of him first as guys who would be hit hardest. I was wrong. But it looks as though his unhealthy lifestyle is finally catching up to him.
Some outside CO's came in yesterday and shook down my creepy neighbor. I'm not sure why. I overheard him talking, complaining that it was retaliation for some conflict he had with them. I also heard that he was mad that he didn't get some sort of move he wanted. I've heard rumors he lurks outside the showers, as though he may be a peeper. I always try to cinch the curtains tightly so there will be no openings. Hopefully he won't be in here long-term.
I recommended to my pair of friends, who happen to be bunkies, that they ban Todd from the cube after he caused trouble by having some stranger stop by and telling my one friend that he should give Todd food. Unfortunately, they aren't on the same page, and instead of showing resolve, they expressed some wishy-washy sentiments. I feel bad for my one friend who is doing the right thing, ignoring him. In addition to his bunkie, apparently his other two cubies feed Todd too, the one giving him candy, the other giving him coffee. This just goes to show another problem of sharing a small space with three other guys: you can't control who they allow to visit the cube.
I wouldn't mind getting this one friend moved over into my cube one day. My long-term goal is to form a cube with three other good, long-term parole inmates. My bunkie meets this criterion, but my other two cubies are short-termers. It's sad that I have to look for parole inmates specifically, but I know they will be around for a while.
Those dehydrated mushrooms from the food box upset my stomach. I don't know if they expand in my stomach or what.
Today will be the first 90-degree day of the year. Last year, I sent a kite to the deputy warden of operations, asking if we could be spared from the requirement of having to wear our state blues during this hot weather. He responded to me, saying that this was already permissible. This policy was never enforced last summer, and my regular CO's, veterans who have been around for years, had never heard of it. I just sent a kite to the unit manager, asking if he would consider posting a memo about this policy. I'll see what he has to say.
Saturday, May 21, 2022 2:41 AM
Well, I woke up and couldn't fall back to sleep, so I thought I might as well get up and write my post.
I didn't have any cramps, but my lower leg did feel "throbby" and "twitchy." I created my own mush fake "foam roller" -- that item I read about in fitness magazine that you use to massage yourself for muscle recovery. My foam roller is just a pair of rolled up socks. I used it to massage my bad lower leg.
I shared some of my writing with a friend who has his own, more-established website. He posts guest writers occasionally, so hopefully that might help my site get more attention.
No response yet to my kite about wearing blues in the hot weather. I'm more concerned about some of my friends than myself. For example, I have a friend who spends most of his time in the dayroom, doing arts and crafts. He is nearly 70 years old and heavy. It makes no sense that he has to wear his hot blues in the sweltering dayroom. It will take some guy falling out due to heat exhaustion or heat stroke before they change this dumb rule. We didn't have to wear state blues in the dayroom at all until we got a new, hateful unit manager chief.
I learned what happened to my creepy neighbor. Apparently the third shift CO fell asleep one night. So, my neighbor went out to the dayroom at 2AM, which he wasn't supposed to do, and pointed to his watch in front of the camera. The CO was wrong, but my neighbor was out of place. So, they probably shook him down as retaliation for getting that CO in trouble.
Neither this creep nor that other nut have talked to me in a few days. Hopefully they're both getting the idea. Prison life is often like navigating a minefield, trying to avoid these toxic figures.
Sunday, May 22, 2022 4:50 AM
Just got a good night sleep. I can't say it was cramp-free; I did have one cramp, but it was small and brief. I've been using my homemade foam roller. I don't know if it has been helping or not though. It rained in the evening, so I did less walking.
I am focusing my attention to solving this cramp problem. Instead of trying to treat the symptoms, I have to face the most likely cause: overtraining. There are 21 rec sessions a week: 7 days a week multiplied by 3 rec sessions a day (morning, afternoon, and evening). Of these 21 rec sessions, a full 19 of them involve legs, whether it be walking, running, or leg strength. The smaller muscles in the lower part of my dominant leg are the weak link in the chain, breaking down. These cramps are my body's way of telling me something -- that I'm doing too much. I have to face that my workout is out of balance. My recent knee pain, on the same leg, is further delivering that message. I don't have to stop working out; I just have to tone it down some until my workout comes back into balance.
I will start today, Sunday, which is known as a day of rest anyway, Since my regularly scheduled Sunday morning workout is upper body anyway, I will do a no-legs day. I will have to figure out a low-impact, calorie-burning, leg-free cardio exercise.
Although overtraining may be a negative for my physical health, it has been good for my mental health. I have a lot of energy, which I need to burn off. Also, exercise gives me structure and purpose. My workout regimen definitely helped me deal with the recent flop.
Speaking of working out, I would often work out in a corner of our dayroom, but I will apparently no longer be able to do that. There is one of those little red fire alarm boxes in that corner, and somebody supposedly bumped into it the other day while working out. This caused the fire alarm to go off a few times that day. So, no more corner. Incidentally, many of the hateful staff members wanted our regular block officer to throw that guy in the hole, but he told them he wouldn't do that over a mistake.
With a pair of nearly 90 degree days, our ice machine has been bone dry. I had to use cold water to preserve a milk.
My one friend said he liked the writing I shared with him, and he should post it within the next few weeks.
My friend who works at maintenance says he will be laid-in for a while because they are down to just one boss. He says one guy was going to transfer, but he heard it was "messed up" over here and changed his mind.
My strategy of "polite rudeness" with the nut and creep has been working.
As another way to tone down my workout, I have been walking at a regular pace rather than speed walking.
With regards to fire drills, they have so many false alarms and tests that guys ignore them until somebody comes and tells them to leave the building.
Monday, May 23, 2022 5:20 AM
Well, I'm still focused on this leg cramp thing. I did a no-leg day, and I took the evening off entirely. Unfortunately, that didn't have a clear immediate impact: I had two cramps last night.
I'm going to modify my schedule some, replacing walking with more abs and upper body work. I'll see if that helps.
I may try breaking my time-restricted eating. If I have something right before bed, maybe those nutrients will last the night, preventing nutrient imbalances and cramps.
I had requested money to be transferred to my JPay account to buy some e-stamps and send out some emails. I had the emails all ready to go, but then I was informed my request for more funds had been denied, something that had never happened before. It said the reason was because my account was apparently closed. This is absurd. There is no reason my account should be closed. I re-requested the funds, so hopefully that request will go through and I'll be able to send out those emails this morning. I have a theory about it. I requested those funds before 7:00 AM, and for some reason the kiosk won't let you pull up your account before that time. If so, I may have further problems because I re-requested those funds before 7:00.
There is a guy here who has been locked up for 45 years, denied by the parole board numerous times. Because his case involves the death of a cop, he will have trouble ever getting released. Being down so long, you would think he knew how things worked, but he falls for all these rumors and deluded thinking. He will keep saying things like, "Get ready -- we're going home soon," and, "Any news on when we're going home?" The thing is, the parole board is especially brutal right now, and there is no legitimate signs of reform on the horizon. This reminds me of the "saving lie" I read about in an Ibsen book for one of my literature classes -- a falsehood people believe to sustain themselves. It's sad.
I'm on the pass list today for the graduation of my Anger Control class. We usually get some sort of food for these graduations, such as cake and Kool-Aid, but one of the blue shirts (inmate supervisors at food service) said the food didn't get approved in time. So, I'm not sure if we'll have the graduation, or if it will be postponed. I'll be prepared either way.
The commissary raised the prices on about twenty items.
My friend saw two disturbing things in the bathroom yesterday. First, some guy used the communal soap to clean out his food bowls. I never use this communal soap because you don't know where it has been or how it has been used. For example, some guys will take abandoned soap off the shower floor and put it out on the sinks. I always bring my own personal soap to the sink.
The other thing my friend saw was that Todd pick up a potato chip off the bathroom floor and eat it. Incidentally, my friend's bunkie fed that Todd when he stopped by the cube, so now all three of his cubies have fed him, drawing him there.
One good thing about my block is that we have three good, regular CO's. They leave people alone as long as they aren't doing something wrong. On their off days, however, we get a Russian roulette of relief officers. The one we got yesterday morning was a bit nutty. At 6:00 AM sharp, she yelled and swore at guys to get out of the bathroom for count time, and turned on the lights in the bedding areas. Later, she called out in the dayroom, "Who's going to the hole today?" when nobody was doing anything to prompt that comment. She seemed to settle down after that though. One problem we've seen is that when we get relief officer from the higher-security side, they bring that intense attitude with them. I am in the "merit block" of a minimum camp; things basically run themselves here.
Good: my regular first-shift C.O. is here on his off day. So, no Russian roulette of relief.
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Another bad cramp night. I wonder if it may be related to my doing a few thousand of those invisible jump ropes this morning. I had to do those, however, because my knee was still hurting. I think I have to cut back even more.
I broke my intermittent fasting, which I've been following for about a year, last night, hoping it might help with the cramping. It obviously did not.
I was able to order more e-stamps and send out those emails. Fortunately, that one day where the kiosk said my account was closed seemed to be just a fluke.
That graduation was cancelled, probably because of the lack of food. The one unit manager called to the block and told my CO to notify a couple of guys that the program was cancelled. He neglected to include me, which is weird because my name mistakenly appeared on the pass list twice, but I already knew it was cancelled.
I avoided working out in the corner of the block, right next to the fire box, after the incident where the one guy bumped into it. While I was working out, I saw another guy start working out right next to it. I decided to give him a heads up, mentioning to him that we weren't supposed to work out there anymore, but he basically ignored me and continued to work out there. Sure enough, the CO shortly after that told him he had to move. I was trying to be helpful, but sometimes guys around here take things funny. Perhaps he thought, "Some inmate's trying to tell me what to do."
Another reason not to accept food from Todd: somebody observed him taking an orange out of the garbage, rinsing it off, and then giving it to somebody. Speaking of Todd, I feel bad for my one friend. His bunkie keeps feeding him, drawing him to their cube.
I hate to have to reduce my walking, for that's my favorite thing. I've turned down the intensity, though, doing regular walking versus power walking.
There was a rumor that we were going to have a special meal for dinner. Fake news!
After the ten-year flop, I know I'm going to be here for a while, so I'm going to try to get a new mattress. The mats they give us are exceeding low-quality, and it's hard to get a new one. They are about three to four inches thick, and they seem to lose thickness as time goes on. Some guys "double stuff" their mats, taking the stuffing out of one mat and putting it in another. This is against the rules, however, and I've heard they can charge you about $200.00 for doing that. We should be given new mats periodically. I've been here 4.5 years and haven't received a new mat. There are some spare mats left behind by guys going home, but they are in even crappier condition than my current one. My one friend who works at the quartermaster says that when the outer covering of the mattress gets torn up, they will just put a new coating over that same old stuffing, which he claims is illegal. I wonder about the deleterious effects of long term use these mats on sleep and health. I wonder if the mat could be a contributing factor to these nightly leg cramps.
Wednesday, May 25, 2022 3:05 AM
Well, I woke up shortly after 2:00 AM and couldn't fall back to sleep. I will work on this blog and hopefully get some more sleep before breakfast.
I still had cramps last night. I was going to walk leisurely today, but I bumped into someone who wanted to power walk, so I walked faster than I had wanted to. It was a worthwhile conversation though. He runs his own blog, and he had some good advice. Also, he liked some of my writing, so he's going to post it on his site.
I saw my block sergeant today and asked him about the mattress. I told him that I hadn't gotten a new mat in the 4.5 years I've been here and, with my recent ten-year flop, I'll be here for a while. He said he would try to get a new one and switch them out. I hope so. I'm hoping that might help with both my sleep and leg cramps. I hear the new mats are clear -- a security measure so that guys can't hide anything in them, I suppose. I guess I'll see soon -- hopefully.
I have to say one thing about Madison: they keep the grounds well-manicured. The grass is mowed; there are flower beds planted in front of a few buildings; and the trees are currently blooming. It was a beautiful Spring day, and I enjoyed my walk. Even in here, you can find small moments of joy, like the scent of those blooming trees. I want to cut back on the amount of leg work I do, but that's tough for me to do because walking is my favorite form of exercise, especially in this weather.
I hear Todd has received a lot of criticism for digging through the garbage can, so he's doing a new thing. He will now take the bag out of the can, take it to an out-of-sight place in the bathroom, and dig through it there. It's hard to imagine that someone would sell or give away good, healthful food at the chow hall and then dig through the trash. This is the kind of guy who should be in a psychiatric hospital and, in the past, that's where he would have been housed. As a PBS show once declared, prisons are the new asylums.
My brother said in an email that he would set up an account with Robin Hood for me this week. I hope so because I am eager to finally become an investor.
I got my edition of Men's Health -- the only magazine I subscribe to.
I've been watching the reaction to the mass shooting in Texas. I hate when they use terms like evil and demonic because it dehumanizes the suspect and obscures the factors that can contribute to such a tragedy. These tragedies are never justified, but they are often comprehendible when we take an honest look at them. I see that in here. Many inmates have committed monstrous acts, often in the distant past, but they are far from being monsters. That's something I've learned about human nature. Everybody has both good and bad traits, and many guys commit their crimes when they don't have the coping skills to deal with a tough situation.
Thursday, May 26, 2022 5:06 AM
Well, another rough cramp night. I am tempted to take up to a week off from doing any sort of leg work to see if that helps. Even if it doesn't, I could at least rule out overtraining as a contributing factor.
There is a phenomenon that I call the "secret talk walk." Around here, with the cramped conditions, it's hard to talk to somebody about private matters because there are so many ears around the corners. Often, when I'm walking back from breakfast with my friends, there aren't as many people around, so we can freely talk about personal matters, such as problems with other inmates -- the "secret talk walk."
Today is the deadline to turn in our "free letters"; that is, once a month we are allowed to write somebody for free. In the past, we got to use one free letter a week. To save money, they reduced it to once a month.
I am writing a friend who I lost touch with a while ago. We served time together at Toledo, a close-security prison, but we both eventually got our securities lowered, and we ended up at different medium camps. We corresponded for a while but then lost touch. Then, a while back, I saw a show on PBS that featured him. He had written a book and started teaching some rehabilitative program. It's nice not only to see an inmate improve himself like that, but also that the media devote attention to it.
I heard a ruckus in the laundry room the other day. Unless some idiot put a couple of blankets in the drier, it was probably some minor skirmish. I haven't heard anything more about it, so it must not have been that big of a deal. It seems that you see more of this at the start of the warm weather. I don't know if people get restless or what.
Today, Thursday, is the day each week they deliver supplies to the block, such as toilet paper and soap. I hear this is also the day the Sergeant would get mattresses from the warehouse. I hope so. I'll see. Hopefully he doesn't forget me.
I'm glad I have an honest neighbor. The CO delivered my mail to him instead of me.
I hear that a guy at another institution got a parole after 39 years. He supposedly didn't even have a "body" (murder case).
No news on my request for reconsideration.
I'm still enjoying my food box. After my one workout, I enjoyed some dark chocolate and dehydrated strawberries.
I heard that this recent school shooter had been bullied, reminiscent of the Columbine shooters and others. This brings to mind the saying that "hurt people hurt people." The shooting of his grandmother suggests there may have been family problems too. I studied behavioral science at O.U., taking many classes in the field of criminal justice, such as Deviant Behavior, Social Psychology of Justice, and Criminology. Due to my studies, and due to my personal experience, I watch and try to analyze these tragedies, and I've come to two overriding, unsatisfying conclusions: there are no easy answers, and a variety of social, biological, and psychological factors contribute to these crimes. I make an analogy to a hospital. Although each patient has an individual reason for being there, some overall trends can be seen, like poor diet, lack of exercise, and smoking.
Friday, May 27, 2022, 4:14 AM
Well, I was disappointed: Despite having a no-leg day, I still had leg cramps last night. One day is probably not enough, though, to come to a conclusion. I will try it for longer. If I can rule out overtraining, then I'm a bit at a loss. My next two guesses, then, would be circulation or nutrient depletion.
The big news around here is the apparent return of Covid. They have JB on lockdown due to a positive case. This messes up the movement of the entire institution. They close down the yard when they go to chow, and they close down rec when they're down there. Hopefully this outbreak will remain in JB and not spread throughout the whole institution. Remember my 600-day exercise streak? Well, it started after I had recovered from the original Covid. About half a year ago, I believe I had that Omicron too, but I was able to work out through that, doing a couple of light exercise days.
A C.O. told one of my coworkers not to go into JB. When I was delivering the pass sheets, I gave the JB pass sheet to the JA CO. I then heard her say to one of the inmates hanging around her desk that, "I don't know why everyone's scared to go in there. You guys were mingling with them out on the yard just yesterday." I wasn't scared to go in there. The block was on quarantine, and the administration ordered that we not go in there. Again, they specifically told my coworker that we shouldn't go in there.
Speaking of the pass sheets, they emailed a copy of them to all inmates on the kiosk yesterday -- something they had never done before. I wonder if this was a weird, one-time thing, or if it's the start of a new, regular practice. Usually, we mail-cart runners deliver a physical print-out of the pass list to each block, which gets posted -- or is supposed to get posted, at least. Perhaps guys have been not showing up on passes, saying that the pass sheet wasn't posted in the block. My concern is that if they do the pass sheet digital-only, my job will become more obsolete. Still, with all the times that one or both of the kiosks are down, the staff can't rely on that method only. Perhaps they will do both a digital and physical pass sheet, thinking that two unreliable methods might add up to one reliable method.
The big news is that my brother bought five stocks for me. I'm finally an investor! He emailed me a couple of questions, so I sent him a follow-up email, answering some of those questions. So, hopefully he'll be able to purchase more of those stocks and ETF's soon.
I did an upper body workout in the morning, but I took the afternoon and evening off completely, trying to heal up my leg. I felt a little antsy though. I'm the type that has trouble slowing down, relaxing, letting go, and taking my foot off the gas pedal. Hopefully this rest and recovery will help me.
About a week ago, I sent an e-kite to my unit manager, asking him about whether or not we could forego wearing state blues during the hot weather. I mentioned how last year the deputy warden said in a reply to an e-kite that this was already allowed, but nobody seemed to know about or follow this policy. The unit manager's reply was that he didn't know and that he would have to ask the deputy warden. Hopefully he follows through because I see a 90-degree day on the forecast.
We are going to get a special meal on Memorial Day. Two chicken patties, a small container of chocolate ice cream, a small piece of iced white cake -- those are some of the highlights. It will definitely be a cheat day for me!
I chose a good time to cut back on my exercise. It has been a couple of rainy days; there's Covid in the institution; and rec time is reduced due to the quarantine.
With the time off, I've been watching CNBC, trying to figure out how to round out my portfolio.
I'm still going to pursue the issue with the PB packets, but I'm not sure how yet. We continue to get shorted on the PB. They recently gave us a new variant of PB packet called "Squeeze Em's." The other three variants have been "the Sunshine PB Co.," "Correct Choice," and one that just said "Peanut Butter." All four of these variants, however, frequently short us on the PB.
I don't want to see anybody on lockdown, but JB's quarantine will benefit my block in one way. Next month, JB was scheduled to be first for chow, and with them out of the eating order, MA will be upgraded from fourth to third.
Saturday, May 28, 2022, 4:21 AM
Well, I had mixed results last night, following two no-leg days. The good news: I had no cramps. The bad news: I only got about six hours of sleep, and I had "pre-cramps," where my leg gets spasms and twitchy, often preceding outright cramps. I'm hoping this is progress though. I would like to see results fast, though, because we are about to experience nice weather.
The big news around here is that the virus seems to be spreading. MB, my neighboring block, is now on lockdown. That is starting to get too close for my comfort. The last time they had an outbreak, they would allow asymptomatic, vaccinated inmates to leave a quarantine block. This time, however, they were keeping everybody in a quarantine block locked up -- at first. Then, they seemed to remember how they were doing it before, and now they're allowing the vaccinated to leave their blocks again. This is good news for me. If my block gets put on quarantine, I'll be able to leave the block because I'm vaccinated and boosted. I would hope the virus stays contained, like a small brush fire, but with both the original and Omicron, it was more like a wildfire, spreading to all blocks.
I don't wish anybody to be on lockdown, but MB's quarantine will benefit our block. Both JB and MB were ahead of us in the eating order for June, so my block will be bumped up from 4th to 2nd. When a block is on quarantine, they are fed last, and only that block is allowed in the chow hall at that time, preventing them from intermingling with other blocks. That will only be for the beginning of the month because, as long as there are no new cases, a block is only kept on quarantine for about 14 days.
I hear the guy who got sick in JB was a food service worker. This is bad because food service workers come from every block, so that makes it more likely to spread.
They apparently allowed JB guys to leave the block and intermingle with the rest of the institution for a couple of days after they took the one guy out, awaiting the result of the test, allowing the virus to spread.
We have been getting a lot of new inmates from CRC, the reception center, lately. I don't know if the virus came from there, but I heard the outbreak was very bad there recently. They were even on lockdown for a while.
I think the sergeant forgot to get me a new mat. It looks like one of these things were I'll have to be politely persistent. I'll remind him next week.
That one diabetic inmate returned to the block from the hospital. Apparently he had a heart attack.
The other evening, some CO's came into the block and confiscated a big batch of hooch from some guy. This guy then went around the block, complaining about snitches. This incident made the one regular CO angry because it made him look bad. I hear he's now going to be more of a stickler for the petty rules, such as wearing blues in the dayroom even to quickly use the microwave.
I sent a polite e-kite to food service, asking them two things. One, which staff member should I kite to ask about bringing the PB packets back. And, two, why have we been made to choose between either a dessert or fruit on the scrambled eggs dinner when the menu says we should get both.
I see that there are a couple of 90 degree days coming up. I'm not sure how to pursue the issue of wearing the state blues during the hot weather.
They put the pass sheet on the kiosk again, so it looks as though it will become a regular thing. But it also seems that, for now at least, they will distribute a physical pass sheet too, so my job is secure.
I made an after workout smoothie for the first time in a while: powdered milk, mushed-up banana, a packet of chocolate powder instant breakfast, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. I have it on ice now. I can't wait.
Again, I love the scent of the blooming trees out on the yard. I enjoy passing that area. It's one of the few areas of the prison that actually smells nice.
Sunday, May 28, 2022, 5:07 AM
Good start to the day. I got a second cramp-free night in a row. Even better, I didn't get any pre-cramps for about 7 hours, which is after I had already gotten a good night sleep. I'm hoping this means the time-off is helping. Two days, though, isn't a sufficient enough sample size. I'm hoping that the problem is improving. It's hard for me to take time off because I am somewhat of a workout-a-holic.
Other good news: no more blocks have been put on quarantine -- yet. I'm hoping it won't spread. I wouldn't be too hard hit even if my block is put on quarantine. Basically, the policy goes like this: if you're unvaccinated, you're put on quarantine; if you're vaccinated, you're not. When Omicron had my block on quarantine, I was still able to leave my block and go to every other block to do my mail runner job because I was vaccinated.
Speaking of my job, they put the pass sheets on the kiosks again, suggesting that this will become a regular thing. They still seem to be distributing the paper pass sheets, though, at least for now. My workload was already reduced when they went from paper kites to electronic kites. I don't want technology to put me out of a job.
Speaking of kites, I sent an e-kite to the medical department, asking if my COPD/ Emphysema diagnosis qualifies me for the most recent booster shot.
The big institutional news is that we are going to get a new warden here within the next few months. His name is Gil. According to rumors, he was here at Madison in the 90's, and he was recently the warden of Marion. Details about him are sketchy. It may be wishful thinking, but each time we get a new warden or deputy warden, I always hope for reform. Simply put, I would like to see our minimum camp run more like a minimum camp. There are three main things I would like to see. First, I wish we could leave the block as soon as count clears. Second, I wish mail could be delivered second shift rather than third shift (although this will be less of a factor when they start sending us our mail digitally to our players). Third, I wish we could be relieved from having to wear our state blues everywhere, such as rec, the ball courts, and the dayrooms. Whenever the new warden starts, I'll at least ask for some reform, sending him a polite e-kite about these issues.
The other big news is that they posted a memo in the J-units that they are going to do a 2.4ing on May 8th. A 2.4 means that they make sure our property is within the space limitation, which is one 2.4 cubic foot locker box. My property is generally within those limits, but it's still a pain to pack everything up and then unpack. I hear they want to get this done before the new warden comes in. I wonder if it might get postponed, though, with the recent outbreak, especially if it spreads to more blocks.
The "wheelchair parking lot" next to my cube got reduced. A nurse came in and took out the extra ones.
There was apparently a bit of drama when the CO announced that they were collecting excess wheelchairs. The one guy who got his hooch taken the other day yelled, "You need to get the rat out of here." He's still mad that he got that stuff taken from him and assumes somebody told on him. Then, another guy yelled, "We all know that it's 181." That's Todd's bunk, but I don't know if he was referring to Todd or his bunkie. We'll see if anything more comes of that.
I learned there was more to the story about that one guy getting parole after 39 years. First, he was only RECOMMENDED for parole at his institutional hearing. Second, he did indeed have a "body." The guy who told me this is notorious for misinformation He was the one who wrongly told us there was going to be a special meal last week (he was probably thinking of Memorial Day). There is often a kernel of truth in these rumors; you just have to peel off the surrounding BS.
Monday, May 30, 2022, Memorial Day, 4:53 AM
Well, I had a bit of a regression last night. I got one leg cramp along with some pre-cramps, breaking my 2-day cramp-free streak. It wasn't until late into my sleep though. I will continue my rest.
I am getting a little antsy in this nice weather, wanting to get out and walk.
Because I still wanted to get some fresh air and sunshine, I went outside the block to stand and listen to some music in the shade. One of the worst CO's was out there, messing with people. They call him "Sippy Cup" because of his diminutive size and youth. Despite his smallness and cutesy nickname, he is one of the biggest haters in here. When he worked one block, he left the lights on past the 9:00 PM count, which is the time most CO's turn off the light. When somebody asked him if he could turn off the lights, Sippy Cup said, "If I had my way, I'd leave the lights on all the time. I don't think you guys get punished enough." That reveals his mindset. He's not qualified, and it's not his job, to be our punisher. His job is security. We come to prison as punishment, not for punishment.
Anyway, he came around randomly patting guys down, including me. Before he patted me down, however, he changed his mind and said, "F#k you. You're weird." After that, I talked to a group of guys, and another shared his story of verbal abuse by him. This inmate, who happens to be homosexual, told how this Sippy Cup called him a f#g. He then said that he was probably a chomo (nickname for child molester). Sippy Cup then said he should turn off his camera and beat his a#s. An unstable bully-coward like him shouldn't work here.
I'm hearing that Todd is apparently the rat. Another good reason to avoid him.
Again, a big part of prison is avoiding the "landmines," which can include both inmates and staff.
Turning to some brighter news, I'm looking forward to the special Memorial Day meal. We will also get a bag meal for dinner.
Some good news: the one decent MB CO returned today! When asked about the incident with the other CO, he said he didn't like bullies. I'm glad we didn't lose one of the normal CO's that treats us like humans.
At dinner, our table attracted a table vulture. He actually got up from another table and came to ours (something you're not supposed to do), and asked to use some of our condiments.
I'm in a weird transition state with regards to my workout. Usually, I direct my body to do it. Now, I'm allowing my body to lead me. I may have to add more recovery into my routine.
Tuesday, May 31, 2022, 4:20 AM
Well, I had a mixed sleep night. I didn't technically have any cramps, but I had bad pre-cramps, and I had to "shake out" my leg several times to keep from cramping up. I'm beginning to wonder if there's more factors contributing to my cramps besides just overtraining. Maybe there's some nutrient depletion or circulation issues too. I'll see.
I had a good Memorial Day. The highlight of it was a special meal. We had two chicken patties with two slices of cheese, real hamburger buns, BBQ sauce, mac & cheese, lettuce with ranch dressing, a small container of chocolate ice cream, a piece of "cake," and an apple. I gave away the mac & cheese, buns, and "cake," and I used mustard instead of BBQ sauce. I ate three apples though. Usually, they don't let us take food back, but they made an exception today. I brought back a chicken patty, cheese, "cake," ice cream, and an apple for later. It was overall pretty good. The only disappointment was the "cake." It was supposed to be iced white cake, but it was something else -- something with a small glaze over it rather than icing.
We also got the standard dinner bag: two PB packets, two jelly packets, 4 slices of bread, a bag of potato chips, an apple, and 5 cookies. I got some extra PB and apples from people who didn't want them.
I made my store list. Because I recently got a food box, and because there's a possible 2.4ing coming up, I will not get too much stuff. I am glad that they are supposed to have artificial sweetener again. I also hope they'll have sriracha and Q-tips again.
I got a reply from the e-kite I sent to food service. In this e-kite, I asked her two things. One, I asked which staff member I should contact about getting permission to bring the PB packets back. She suggested the Deputy Warden of Administration. I also asked her about the "breakfast dinner." Usually, we have to choose between a dessert and a fruit. This meal was the one exception where we can get both. Although the menu said we should get both, at that meal they were making us choose one or the other. In her reply, the food service coordinator verified that we should be getting both. She also said that I could get double fruit instead of the fruit and dessert if I wanted. She needs to notify the other food service staff, but I'm not confident that she'll do that. So, I talked to one of my neighbors who happens to be a "blue shirt" (inmate supervisor), telling him about the issue. He said he would straighten it out next time. I hope so. We have been cheated out of food for two meals now. I will remind this blue shirt shortly before this meal comes around again in the 3-week cycle. I will also kite the DWA about the PB packets.
Today the temperature is supposed to reach over 90 degrees, higher with the heat index. Last year, I sent an e-kite to the Deputy Warden of Operations about relief from the rule of having to wear state blues during the weather, considering the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. He replied that there was already a policy regarding that. The thing is, none of the staff members were aware of this policy, and it wasn't followed. I might send him another e-kite, asking if he might distribute a memo concerning this policy.
I sent an e-kite to the infirmary, asking if I was eligible for the most recent BOOSTER SHOT with my COPD/ Emphysema diagnosis. She replied that I should send a health service request form if I was interested in a VACCINATION. So, she didn't answer my question, and I'm not even sure she took the time to properly read it: I asked about a booster shot, not a vaccination.
No new Covid cases around here. Yet.
I sent an invite through JPay to an inmate advocate the other day, and he accepted. A former inmate himself, he has been involved in advocacy since his release. I just sent him an introductory email and asked how I could participate in parole reform.
Wednesday, June 01, 2022, 4:40 AM
Well, a disappointing night. Six days into my rest experiment, I had a bad cramp night. I'm beginning to think overtraining might not be the problem. I'm wondering if it's related to circulation. The longer I lay in bed, the more my lower right leg stiffens up, making me susceptible to cramps. I can avoid the cramps by getting up and moving. I'm usually good for the first couple hours of sleep. Then, I need to get up more frequently to keep my leg from cramping. I have a slight ache in my lower right back and hip that's barely worth noticing, but I'm wondering if there's some inflammation, injury or something there that's interfering with circulation, impacting my lower extremity. Maybe sitting on this bunk puts a strain on my lower right back. I don't know. I have one more day to complete a full week of rest, so I'm going to see that experiment through. I don't know.
With more spare time over the past week, I took care of some odds and ends. I sent a polite e-kite to the Deputy Warden of Administration, asking for permission to bring back the PB packets from the chow hall. I also mentioned how we get cheated on the amount of PB we get.
Today was the hottest day of the year, reaching at least 90 in the heat index. I didn't mind staying in today so much. I sent a kite to a different deputy warden (operations) asking if he would consider putting out a memo to inform staff members about the secret policy that says we don't have to wear the blues in the hot weather.
The unit staff didn't post a notice of the new eating order for June, so I put an informal one up on the bulletin board. I compiled this from asking guys from different blocks what score they got on the monthly inspection.
I went around and distributed some extra copies of the menu to some of the new guys in the block.
After my workout, I ate the duplex cookies from my Memorial Day dinner bag, along with some milk. Definitely a nice cheat dessert!
I went to the store today. For the upcoming Aramark sale, I bought two veggie bags, which contain two green bell peppers and an onion, and one yogurt parfait, which contains yogurt, granola, and blueberries. Fresh veggies are always great, especially in here, and that yogurt sounds like a nutritious and tasty cheat treat.
I hear that they're going to start writing tickets for "possessing hooch paraphernalia" for guys who take oranges out of the chow hall. I'm definitely not going to take any out of the chow hall. I like oranges for the nutrition, but the risk is not worth the reward. I'll simply just have to eat any extra oranges I get down there.
I tabulated some personal statistics for the month of May. I averaged about 6 hours and 45 minutes of sleep per night. This, however, is about an hour less than what I was getting a year ago.
There's been an interesting trend lately. One newer guy in the block asked me about my nutrition regimen. Then, one of my cubies said that he comes to me for advice. I am touched and a little surprised that people are looking to me for advice. I'm so used to being the advice-seeker, especially when I first got locked up at a young age, so this is a bit of a reversal. It's a bit of a responsibility though: I've got to keep my stuff together if people are looking to me for help.
Todd's block porter job is taking out the garbage. Obviously he took the job so that it gives him an excuse to root through the trash. I think I'm going to nickname him Oscar the Grouch. He's always in the trash, and he's kind of surly.
There is a related phenomenon that I call the "garbage can men." In the chow hall, there are two old fat guys, one white and one black, that always sit at the table by the garbage can. They will then ask for the food that some guys are about to throw away. The one guy is kind of nasty and will even take partially eaten food. He will then shovel all the different foods he collects into one bag, forming a gross mixture, and take it back to the block with him. This guy is quite disgusting. When he used to be in my block, he would apparently take the skin he peeled off his feet and eat it.
Thursday, June 2, 2022, 4:13 AM
Today ends my week-long experiment of resting my right leg. The results have been ambiguous. It didn't magically fix the problem. I'm now starting to think it's more of a circulation issue than an overtraining issue. I think I'm experiencing problems with my lower leg not because that part is overtrained or injured, but because it's just the lower part of the extremity, and that's where the effects of the circulation would be felt. I've had some aches in my lower right back and hip, but I've largely ignored it because it hasn't interfered with anything I try to do. Sitting on my bunk the wrong way for too long can aggravate it. I'm wondering if this problem is interfering with the circulation to my lower right leg at night. I notice that, even during the day, my right foot has less mobility than my left foot.
I'm going to try to practice better posture when I'm sitting in my bunk, avoiding slouching. I will either sit up straight or lie down completely. I will also try to stretch and massage my right hip and lower back. I had a decent night last night -- no cramps. Whenever I get up to take a leak, I walk around and stretch my legs/back, which seems to help.
Another thing I'll do is try to get a new mattress. I talked to the sarge again, and he admitted that he just forgot. He told me to remind him tomorrow. That could be his motto: remind me tomorrow.
While I was there, I asked him about the 2.4ing memo in the J-units. He said that was a J-Unit thing, but that he wouldn't be surprised if it trickled over here. I'll be ready either way.
It was a hot day, reaching 90. I got a reply from the deputy warden about getting relief from the requirement of wearing state blues in the hot weather. He flip-flopped on me. Last year, he said we could get such relief; in this reply, he said we couldn't. With many inmates being at increased risk of heat stroke and heat exhaustion, such as the old and infirm, I believe it is inhumane to require us to unnecessarily wear these hot clothes. At other prisons, we never have to wear blues in the dayroom, rec, or ball courts ever. It's just a punitive rule here. I don't know how I'll pursue it now.
I called and spoke to a pair of inmate advocates. They have apparently started up not just one, but two, advocacy groups, including a renewed version of CURE-Ohio. They have a parole reform proposal that they plan on presenting to some legislators. It's a small presence, just the two of them now, but at least there's somebody working for reform out there.
I heard another gross story about Oscar the Grouch (Todd). He was spotted gargling with a small amount of blue mouthwash. Then, about 20 minutes later, he was gargling with a small amount of a yellow-colored mouthwash. My friend figured out that he was taking mouthwash bottles out of the trash and gargling with whatever was left over.
I am looking forward to returning to walking today. I've been a bit antsy over the past week.
I should be due for a chronic care appointment at any time. I have them about twice a year, and my last one was exactly six months ago. Even though it's not a respiratory issue, I think I'll ask the nurse practitioner about my leg cramps.
They started the new eating order for June, and my prediction was pretty close.
The lack of a working ice machine has become a problem in this weather. The one guy who goes and fetches ice from other machines had to make multiple trips today. They posted a note on our ice machine not to fill up coolers with ice in this weather so that others can get some.
Friday, May 3, 2022, 4:33 AM
Well, I got a "new" mat today; that is, the sergeant gave me a better used mat. So, it's definitely more comfortable, but I would like to get an actual new mat down the road.
The problem is, it didn't help with the cramps. I don't know what's going on but I had the worst cramp day in a couple of weeks. I also started back with my walking today, so I don't know if that played a factor. Thinking the new bed may help, I didn't do as much stretching. So, just when I thought I had this cramp thing figured out, I'm back to square one.
I enjoyed going out and walking again after a week of resting my right leg. It was a perfect day, just how I like it, temperature in the 70's, overcast so that I didn't have to wear sun screen.
When I was in the sarge's office about the mat, I overheard him on the phone, talking to a woman in the business office. She was complaining that he had offered us too much food in the fundraiser, that he was "spoiling" us. The more food you offer, the more money you'll make, and the proceeds go to a charity. Her hatefulness towards inmates overruled her urge to help a charity. It's sad.
Speaking of that fundraiser, the sarge posted the flier for it. They will sell gyro kits, coney dog kits (pork or turkey), an apple pie, and veggie bags. I might go with the veggie bags, which will include an onion, a green bell pepper, 2 tomatoes, and a clove of garlic.
I made a bone-headed mistake this morning that just happened to work out. I was doing my job, delivering the mail, and I dropped off some mail in JB. I forgot, though, that JB was one of the quarantine blocks. It worked out because they had actually lifted the quarantine on JB that morning, but I didn't know that at the time.
MB is now the only block still on quarantine. I was surprised that the virus didn't spread. I heard, though, that the infected guys were both new guys.
I got a reply back from the e-kite I sent to the deputy warden about getting permission to bring the PB packets back from the chow hall. She said she would consider the proposal, consult the proper staff, and I should check back with the food service coordinator in about a week. So, at least it wasn't an instant No.
My bunkie was telling me how there were three guys running on the track today. Instead of running together in a line, which would allow them to all fit together in the small running lane, they ran side-by-side, making it more difficult to pass people. I think it's an ego thing -- nobody wants to be the trailing runner. This reminds me of an incident at Toledo where some stranger joined me in a run for a while. I like to run alone anyway, but he especially irked me, wanting to run side-by-side.
I kited Nutritional Services, asking them if the vegetarian substitutes provide as much protein as the regular main items. I had previously kited them, asking them about nutritional info for specific items on the menu. They referred me to the warden's assistant for these records. I kited this individual, and I'm still awaiting a reply, but I suspect it might be a wild goose chase. I've been trying to obtain this info for years, but they've been keeping it a great secret.
There is a phenomenon here that I call a "table wrecker." At the chow hall, you try to sit with your friends, but it’s often crowded down there, and each table has only four seats. The other day, I sat down at an empty table, and I had three friends coming, so everything should have worked out perfectly. Then, before my friends could arrive, some stranger sat down, preventing all of my group from sitting together. That's a table wrecker.
The one lady who is starting that new advocacy group appeared on my JPay account. I think I'll email her my parole reform proposal.
Saturday, May 04, 2022, 6:08 AM
The bad news is I had another bad cramp night. The good news is I've now seen something that has made a clear difference. There are two variables I can narrow it down to: on the same day, I got a new mattress and resumed walking. If it's the mat, then it suggests a circulation issue. My new mat, although thicker, is less firm and more uneven. If it's the walking, then it suggests overtraining. If I have some sort of injury or overuse thing going on, then perhaps I needed more recovery before I resumed walking. I'm leaning again towards the overtraining. I seemed to do a little better during my week of resting my right leg. I'll keep working on it, trying to figure it out.
Some good news: my multi-year quest to figure out the nutritional content of the food may be nearing an end. The warden's assistant replied to my e-kite, saying that if I send in a cash slip for $2.20, I can receive a copy of that information, which is 22 pages. I already turned in a cash slip, so hopefully I'll get that info next week.
I got a reply from nutritional services to my question about whether the sub provides the same amount of protein as the main. They said that generally that was the case, but it varied. Hopefully I'll get to see more details next week.
I emailed that new inmate advocacy group, including my suggestions for parole reform. Hopefully they'll like them and perhaps even include some of them in their own proposals.
There's a rumor that the new warden starts next week. We'll see. Whenever he starts, I'll at least try to ask him about some possible reform. I have 3 main things I'd like to see: 1.) we should be able to leave the block as soon as count clears, 2.) we shouldn't have to wear state blues all the time, and 3.) mail should be delivered 2nd shift, not 3rd. I sent an email to a friend who knows guys at Marion, the prison this new warden is supposedly coming from, to ask what he was like there.
Sunday, May 5, 2022, 4:40 AM
Well, I had a much better night cramp-wise -- only one. Because I had a clearly worse couple of nights after resuming walking and getting the new mat, I wanted to figure out which one of these variables had made a difference. Therefore, I rested my right leg again to see what would happen. Because I had a good night, I can rule out the mat. So, I believe there is something going on with the right side of my body. Now, I have to figure out whether it's an overuse/ injury with my lower right leg, or if it's a problem with my back that's either impacting my lower right leg through decreased circulation or a pinched nerve.
The answer, then, is to heal up my right side. It's a little hard, though, to figure out an exact healing method before I know whether it's my back or leg. I will try to avoid anything that strains either of them. I'm almost leaning more towards my back, though, because that's the part that actually aches. I will do stretching and massage.
I'm not saying that the mat didn't play a role in this problem. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it originally caused the injury. The mat definitely aggravates the problem. I noticed as I was lying in my bunk during the day, my back started to ache, and my lower right leg started to stiffen up. Oh, that's another thing I've noticed: even during the day, my lower right leg has a more limited range of motion than my left leg. So, to spare my back, I'm going to reduce my time sitting in my bunk. In fact, right now, as I'm typing this, I'm standing rather than sitting. I will try to only get in my bunk for sleep.
In sum, I suspect my cramp problem is 75% injury, 25% bunk. I think I'm getting closer to solving this long-standing, annoying mystery.
On another note, I was wrong about "Oscar the Grouch" being nasty. After digging a piece of cheese out of the trash, he rinsed it off in the sink before eating it.
I heard a rumor that the new warden doesn't get along with the major. If so, this might be a good thing because our major is a proponent of oppressive measures. He's one of the main obstacles to reform here. I hope this warden isn't coming here just to retire. I've heard that retirement pay for staff members in the ODRC is based on the average pay of their last three years, and many wardens come to Madison to retire because the pay is higher here. The ODRC pays wardens more here because Madison is basically two prisons in one, containing both a higher-security and lower-security compound. Retiring wardens here are bad because they usually just delegate to their subordinates, who support the repressive status quo.
I was talking to one of the blue shirts about my efforts regarding the PB packets. He informed me that Aramark is in Florida prisons too, and there the inmates get three packets rather than the two we get.
Monday, June 06, 2022, 5:09 AM
Well, overall, a good night's sleep. I didn't have my first cramp until 3:00 AM. Unfortunately, I couldn't get back to sleep after that. Still, six hours is sufficient, and it was an uninterrupted sleep. I went out twice and walked yesterday, albeit at a moderate pace, but that didn't seem to impact me. What I did differently yesterday was that I didn't lie in my bunk at all except for when I took a nap and went to sleep at night. That way, my back wouldn't get sore, and my leg wouldn't start to stiffen up. Instead of lying in my bunk, I either stood or sat in my chair. All that standing tired me out a little, and I kind of crowd my bunkie's area by standing in the cube. I also tried to stretch and massage my back. Since I seemed to experience some success with this method, I'm going to pursue it some more and see what happens.
I heard from a reliable source that the new warden is going to start this week. I also heard that this warden is pretty decent, similar to a former warden we had named Ms. Richards, who ran the compound in a less restrictive manner.
It was a headache when I had to repeatedly answer guys about my parole hearing, even months later, but I forgave them all except for the guy who wanted to blame the victim because I didn't take some stupid reentry program. Well, there was another inexcusable ask. There was one guy who asked me about it, months after the hearing, and then the other day he asked me again. He either forgot that he asked me already, or he wanted to dig for more information. Either way, it was inexcusable.
Still no reply to my request for reconsideration.
I'm thinking about kiting the Unit Manager Chief about relief from the state blue requirement during the hot weather. If there is no policy on that, there should be. A guy here who served some time at Warren Correctional, a close-security prison, told me a story regarding this. According to him, a guy at Warren died years ago due to the heat. After that, the staff overcompensated, bringing ice to the block, and doing other heat-beating measures. The problem is, the ODRC doesn't seem to learn their lesson. As another example, despite all the times cellies have killed their cellies, they still don't have a reasonable, state-wide policy on bunk moves.
It was such a nice day out that I couldn't resist going out and walking twice.
MB is supposed to come off quarantine today. I'm glad that stuff didn't spread this time.
A different friend of mine gave Oscar the Grouch some coffee. He didn't learn from our experience.
I tabulated my stats for the last 3-week menu cycle. I averaged about 2185 calories and 110 grams of protein per day. Not bad. A little bit of decline in the protein, but that's probably due to eating special items from my food box.
Speaking of my food box, I had been making my own homemade lemonade with a powdered lemon juice and artificial sweetener. Similarly, I had been making "limeade" with powdered lime juice. Unfortunately, I ran out of both the lemon and lime today.
A neighbor gave me a milk to put in my cooler overnight. Because there was no ice, I had to use cold water. I already made my after-work out smoothie, and I'm using the cold water for that too. Not ideal but sufficient.
No news from my brother on the stocks.
No reply from the parole board on my request for reconsideration.
This week I should get the nutritional info I requested.
Tuesday, June 07, 2022, 4:55 AM
Good news: a cramp-free night! Plus, I didn't even get "pre-cramps" until about six hours into my sleep at 3:00 AM, just like the night before. So, I may have stumbled upon a winning formula to manage these cramps. I went out and walked twice, but I went at an easy pace, making it more of a relaxation and recuperation thing rather than an additional exercise thing. I stretched and massaged my back and lower right leg. I only got in my bunk to sleep, spending the rest of my time either standing or sitting in my chair. I will keep playing back this strategy as long as it's working. Maybe I can eventually conquer these cramps. I'll see.
I made my own mushfake foam roller. I take a small, empty salt shaker, fill it with warm water, lubricate it with lotion, and then rub it over my leg and back. I'm not sure if it helps, but it kind of feels good.
My knee still hurt too much to allow me to run. This injury has been frustrating. I've been able to do other cardio though, even jumping jacks.
The unit staff will be back today, so hopefully I'll receive the print-out of that nutritional info.
I saw on the news that some big study said that low-carb is the way to go. I will be interested in hearing more about this. I already minimize my carb intake, as much as I can around here, but I might step it up some, depending on what the study actually says.
In my block, instead of throwing stuff away, guys will set it on the bookcase for other guys who might want it. Somebody did that with some clothes the other day. Oscar the Grouch then took those clothes and walked around the block, asking if anybody wanted them. I suspect this was his way to make somebody feel indebted to him, making them more receptive to future mooching.
Speaking of Oscar, remember my pair of friends who happen to be bunkies, the one who would feed Oscar, the other who wouldn't? Well, apparently the feeder finally got tired of the mooching, not finding it funny anymore. He has stopped feeding him too. After leaving me alone for a while, he tried talking to me again, forcing me to ignore him and be rude. I hate to do it, but he leaves me no choice.
I kited the unit management chief, asking him about relief from wearing the state blues during the hot weather.
This was my ideal weather, in the 70's yet overcast, allowing me to avoid the use of sunscreen.
I think that week off from walking had an impact. For the first time in months, my waist measurement crept over the 30-inch mark.
Wednesday, June 08, 2022, 4:57 AM
Well, a third good night of sleep in a row. I've found a formula that allows me to sleep problem-free for six hours. It's weird though: the cramps keep hitting me at about 3:00 AM. Yesterday, it was 2:58; today it was 3:07. I wish I could eek out one more hour.
3:33 PM
I put my post on hold to watch the rest of the Batman movie on the institutional movie channel. It was alright, kind of dark, as many of the recent Batman movies have been, but it was long, lasting almost three hours.
My recipe for cramp-free sleep is as follows: 1) walk at an easy pace rather than power walk, 2.) stretch, massage, and "foam roll," 3.) only get into my bunk for sleep, and 4) stretch my leg out whenever I get up at night to take a leak. I'll keep practicing this technique.
I've heard from a reliable source that the new warden started. I am going to send him a super polite e-kite, asking him about three possible reforms.
I heard the old warden is getting transferred to central office due to his failure to address problems on the higher security side.
I hear the new warden was previously the warden at Marion. I've heard mixed and contradictory things about him. I've heard that he won't let his staff overrule his decisions, which is a good thing. I've heard that he worked as a CO at Madison in the 90's. I hear he knows the major, but I've heard contradictory things about that. On the one hand, I heard they didn't get along. On the other hand, I heard they were drinking buddies. We'll see.
Thursday, June 09, 2022, 5:53 AM
Well, a bit of a regression with regards to cramps, experiencing two of them, the first at 1:45 AM. Still, they weren't bad, and I was able to get a decent night's sleep.
I heard a story about one of those toxic CO's from the other side who works at rec over here once in a while. Well, one inmate rec porter went up to this CO and just asked if he would mark him off the attendance sheet. This CO then told him if you were on the other side I'd kick your #ss. This one porter won't work there now whenever that guy's on. I hope this new warden will try to clean up this toxic culture.
I hear these body cams are pretty useless. They apparently will only record if the CO's turn them on. If not turned on, they only record the previous half-hour -- and no audio. So, the CO's have no incentive to record their own misbehavior. And audio is crucial, such as the example with that one CO threatening the rec inmate.
A guy in MB went to the hole. Apparently, he got into some sort of verbal altercation with a nurse, and then a CO came to his cube and tore up his stuff in a retaliatory shake down. Angered at the mess, this inmate went to a white shirt to complain, cussing him out too. He went to the hole, and they have already filled his bunk, so it looks as though he won't come back.
The yard was closed down in the evening. There were thunderstorm and tornado warnings nearby. In fact, the sky was a weird, grayish-orange color that I had never seen before. I didn't mind the evening off though. From now on, I'm not going to feel the need to work out in the dayroom when I can't go outside.
Friday, June 10, 2022, 5:01 AM
Good night sleep. No cramps at all. I did start to experience "pre-cramps" at around 3:20 AM. These can be nearly as bad as cramps though. With a cramp, it's intense but brief pain; pre-cramps, in contrast, can last a long time, up to an hour, and they can interfere with my sleeping too. These pre-cramps are a twitchy, throbbing, stiffening type feeling in my lower leg and upper foot. Getting up and moving around can cure both cramps and pre-cramps, but this physical activity can wake me up and prevent me from falling back to sleep. I will continue to work on it.
I have heard so many conflicting things about whether or not the new warden has started yet. It seems as though we're in some weird, transition phase. I'm going to hold off on sending him that e-kite.
I heard a rumor that the unit manager chief was leaving too. This would be good because he had implemented many of the repressive policies, like having to wear state blues everywhere. But he's definitely still here because I just received a reply from him to an ekite I had sent him.
Speaking of that e-kite, I had asked him about relief from wearing blues during the hot weather, and he said that was already the rule for when the temperature reached 90 The problem is, the CO's don't seem to know about this secret policy, and it wasn't followed last year. I'm debating on whether or not to send him a follow up kite, asking if he might consider posting a memo about the policy.
I talked to the sergeant about getting a new mattress, mentioning the problems with the current used one he gave me. He said he would eventually get me a new one. My current one is good in the short-term though.
My bunkie and I get along well, but there is some occasional drama between my other two cubies that I'm trying to avoid getting sucked into. My one cubie told me that he thought his bunkie's water jug smelled bad, more specifically, the cloth he wrapped around it. He then put some fabric softeners up around his bunkie's area without telling him why. The guy with the jug then asked me if his bunkie had said anything to me. He then asked me if I thought his bunkie smelled like garlic. I do not want to get dragged into their drama.
I asked somebody I know who just came from Marion about the new warden. He said that, although he wouldn't describe any of these guys as inmate-friendly, this warden would at least talk and listen to you. This warden apparently revamped Marion when he started there, bringing in a new major and two new deputy wardens. That's what's needed here. To change the toxic culture here, you need to cut off the head of the snake.
I may contact that fledging inmate advocacy group to see if they will help us with reform. I think the ODRC chief should give the new warden the directive to run the minimum side more like a minimum camp.
After sending that ekite to the deputy warden, the one asking for permission to take the PB packets back with us from the chow hall, she said to get back with the food service coordinator in 6 to 8 days. Well, it has been 8 days, so I guess I'll ekite to ask if any decision has been made on that.
Saturday, June 11, 2022, 4:55 AM
Well, another mixed sleep night. Only one cramp, but some pre-cramps starting at around 12:45.
I am currently watching the rerun of the NBA finals game on ESPN. Because they start after my bedtime, I watch the replay at 4:00 AM. I cover the bottom of the TV with a piece of cardboard so that I don't accidentally see the final score on the ticker.
I have been pursuing my quest to relieve us from having to wear our state blues during the hot weather. There is a batch of 90 degree days coming up. I talked to my first shift CO. He hadn't heard of that 90 degree policy. He suggested I talk to our unit manager, for he can do pretty much anything he wants in his unit. I followed his advice. The unit manager said that he was going to have a meeting next week with the deputy warden, major, and unit manager administrator concerning operations on the minimum side, and he would ask about it then.
I need some help pursuing this heat issue. Other guys need to ask about this too.
I'm curious about this meeting he mentioned. When I hear about operations on the minimum side, my inmate fantasy is that they will finally decide to start running the minimum side as though it's minimum. Not likely though.
They took the money off my account for the copies of that nutritional info a few days ago, but I haven't received that info yet. Now, with the weekend here, I won't receive it until Monday at least. If there is some sort of problem, such as the info getting lost in the mail, I want to address it quickly, but I don't want to rush and bug the warden’s assistant. If I haven't received the copies within a week, I think I'll rekite and ask about them.
I rekited the food service coordinator, asking if any decision had been made about the PB packets. No reply yet.
Good news: they are going to hold a Family Day event in August, the first one since the pandemic. I requested an application for it immediately. This is a great event. Family and friends can come in to visit with you down at recreation rather than the crowded visit room. They also bring out a grill and serve a special meal. I will contact my family to see if they are available on that date.
Sunday, June 12, 2022, 5:16 AM
Another bad cramp night. It's frustrating. I don't know if I will be able to solve this problem.
Today is the delivery date for the food sale. I ordered a couple of veggie bags along with some yogurt. I learned from one of the blue shirts that it isn't Greek yogurt but Dannon's, which means it's probably laden with sugar. I will view it as a semi-nutritious cheat treat.
I've been focusing on my leg cramps, but my knee issue deserves just as much attention. I haven't ran in about a month. I can do most other cardio though. I think I will have to avoid any activity that hurts the knee, and I will have to gently stretch it out and move it.
My one cubie thanked me for counseling my other cubie. He says that he's noticed an improvement in his behavior too. I am flattered that he has looked to me for counsel, and I'm overjoyed that I have made a difference. I'm still used to being the advised, not the advisor. I think I will spend the rest of my life seeking advice though. It's good to get a variety of opinions on an issue, avoiding group think. Even a president has a cabinet.
According to the weather forecast, a heat wave is coming, and some Ohio cities will see temperatures in the 100's. I hope the heat issue will be worked out by then. I don't spend a lot of time in the dayroom, but my one friend does -- a nearly 70-year-old, heavy-set fellow who is more susceptible to the heat. Sometimes I feel like a shepherd, and I have to make sure my flock is taken care of.
I sent an email to this fledgling, small inmate advocacy group, telling them about the new warden. I also asked if they might advocate for the minimum side here being run like a minimum camp again.
Monday, June 13, 2022, 5:20 AM
Well, overall, a good sleep night -- only one cramp. I can go for about six hours cramp-free, but I've been trying to get closer to 7.5 hours of sleep, which results in more cramps. I'm also discovering that getting up and walking is the best activity for shaking out the cramps.
I have a busy morning scheduled. As I've mentioned before, nothing happens in prison for long periods of time, and then everything seems to get scheduled at once. Well, this morning I have not only commissary, but also that postponed graduation for that anger class. I should be able to do both though: commissary should be called at around 8:00 AM, and the graduation isn't scheduled until 8:30. It will be close, but I should be able to get it all in.
There's a possible monkey wrench though. It's foggy out right now. If we have a fog lockdown this morning, neither the store nor graduation may happen.
I received the yogurt from the Aramark sale. I was also supposed to have received two veggie bags, but the distribution of them was postponed until Thursday. I don't mind the delay because that will be the last day of a heat wave, making the veggies easier to preserve. My one friend was mad, though, because he had wanted to use the veggies on his pizza fundraiser, which is supposed to be delivered on Tuesday.
The yogurt was great. This was perhaps the first time I had yogurt in decades. Plus, there was a good amount of real, fresh blueberries in it -- an antioxidant hit. Cold yogurt was a special treat in this weather.
We have a heat wave coming up, three days in a row that are supposed to be in the mid-90's. I've been trying to spread the word about that one secret policy. Hopefully someone else will help pursue the issue. I've done enough work on the issue, kiting the deputy warden, unit manager, and unit manager administrator, and talking to the unit manager, regular first shift CO, and the regular 2nd shift CO.
Somebody asked a certain white shirt about that 90-degree policy -- one of the hateful ones. He didn't seem to like the idea that we could be relieved from the blues in the hot weather. He said that when it was over 90, we could get ice and, if needed, receive medical attention. So, he doesn't want to take preventative measures, but he's willing to get medical attention after they've fallen out. Makes sense.
I hear the unit manager administrator might retire if he doesn't get the deputy warden job. I hope he doesn't get that job for many reasons. Also, I heard his name mentioned in that Zone A scandal. If true, it's sad that he could be involved in such misconduct, yet still be in line for a promotion.
The ice machine was bone dry, so I had to use cold water in a bowl to keep my milk cool overnight.
I wasted some sunscreen in the evening, lathering it on before I went out. It was overcast, however, for the entire time I was out there.
My friend is writing a book, and I edited one of his chapters.
One of the drains in the bathroom is flooding again, and it smells like open sewage.
According to one of his cubies, Oscar the Grouch took some food from the garbage and heated it up in the microwave. It had started to turn, though, and it smelled awful.
Tuesday, June 14, 2022, 4:32 AM
Decent night's sleep. No cramps, but plenty of pre-cramps. I get up several times a night to go take a leak, and this movement helps my leg. I wish there was a way, though, to avoid cramps without having to get up a zillion times a night.
I had both commissary and graduation in the morning. I hurried through commissary and got to the graduation in time. I worried about being late for nothing. They took about half an hour after the starting time to set things up.
The big thing about this event was the cake and lemonade. They offered both chocolate and white. I chose the white, which I heard was the good choice because it was the better of the two. I love icing, and I will eat around it, saving the best for last. I was happy with it until I learned that in the past they served "outside" cake along with pizza. Still, I'll be happy with what I got. It was a good cheat day.
I got the opportunity to talk to the one-unit manager at graduation about the whole heat thing. He said that they were going to put out a memo about it in the next day or two. I don't know if the policy they come up with will be good, but at least it will no longer be secret.
This morning was a good example of me holding back, not trying to do too much. Instead of trying to get my usual workout in the morning too, along with graduation and commissary, I just held off until the afternoon.
The one disadvantage of working out in the afternoon, though, was that it had gotten hot by then. We are at the beginning of a multi-day heat wave.
Successful store trip. I ordered three veggie bags from the fundraiser. A new item I got was a chicken chili, which looks like a lean source of protein.
I did "knee-free" cardio this afternoon. I've been so focused on my leg cramps that I've neglected my knee, which has prevented me from running for a month now. I am just trying to get healthy and whole now.
I had two interactions with Oscar the Grouch. At breakfast, he tried to give a tray with oatmeal to my friend, saying "Take this!" My friend said he didn't want it. Oscar said, referring to me, "He'll eat it." I said, "I don't eat that stuff." He then took the tray and tried to dump it off on somebody else. Incidentally, he had apparently already eaten, given away, or sold all the high-value items. My friend said that, even if he had wanted that food, he wouldn't have taken it, considering the rude way it was presented. I won't take any food from him now that I know strings are attached. Plus, I won't give him an "in," an excuse to interact with me.
Oscar tried talking to me again later when I was at the drinking fountain. I ignored him. He asked if the cat had my tongue. He definitely won't take the hint.
I had to avoid another goof ball glomming onto me. This guy asked if I was using my bread at breakfast. I said Yes because I didn't want him following me to the table and perhaps trying to eat with us. Plus, that could become a regular thing at breakfast. It wasn't totally dishonest because I knew I would be able to give the bread away to somebody, which I did.
Wednesday, June 15, 2022, 2:09 AM
I am currently experiencing a "hole" in my sleep; that is, I woke up at about 1:10 AM and couldn't fall back to sleep. It wasn't cramps, though, that woke me up. I think it may be the heat. We reached about mid-nineties today, with high humidity that made it feel more like 110, and it's still pretty soupy.
Well, the day went by and I heard no announcement and saw no memo regarding the heat. Unfortunately, both my regular COs, who were both supposed to work today, did not show up, and we had relief CO's on. When my unit manager happened to stop in the block, he said that we could wear our "street clothes" when it reached 90. I asked him if they could post a memo because nobody seemed to know about it. He said that they sent out emails to staff, so our regular CO's should know about it. Indeed, I later found out that the regular CO in MB knew about it and was informing guys in his block. Here's the problem: when they grant us something, they allow it to spread by word of mouth; when they take something away, in contrast, they basically wallpaper the entire place with memos on it. When the regular CO's return, I'll ask them about notifying people in the block, perhaps even posting something.
They served the "breakfast dinner." This is the one meal where we're supposed to get both the fruit and the dessert, but they've been making us choose between one or the other. Unfortunately, I forgot to remind the one blue shirt to make sure that matter was cleared up. Well, they didn't give us both; they made us choose between one or the other again. I immediately rekited the food service coordinator about it, asking her to inform the rest of the food service department about the issue, and I mentioned it to that one blue shirt neighbor of mine. Hopefully we'll get this straightened out eventually.
They passed out the Family Day applications to those who asked for them. I filled mine out and returned it already. Hopefully I'll get approved. I invited my mother and sister.
Today they passed out the pizza fundraiser. I didn't order any of this one. My cubie offered me some, but I declined. It didn't really tempt me as a cheat treat. The meat lovers looked kind of skimpy on the meat. I made myself some homemade ice cream instead -- something that suited me more in this weather.
I got an email from my brother. He said that he would have to get a new Social Security card, which he lost, before he would be able to transfer funds from Etrade to Robin Hood. If that's a process that would drag into weeks or months, I may just go with a split account, fractional trading the expensive ones in Robin Hood, buying whole shares of the cheaper ones in Etrade. I can replace expensive stocks with cheaper versions. For example, instead of getting a couple hundred dollar gold ETF, I can buy a gold miners ETF for around $50.00. I'll think about it and email him. I want to invest soon because I think the market is near the bottom -- the 30,000 the Dow is at now seems like a nice, round number that could be a bottom.
I went out and walked twice today. Even though I used sunscreen, I still reddened a little.
When I kited the food service supervisor, I asked her about the PB packets too. With the packets we received at breakfast, it looked as though we received about half of what we were supposed to. I think I might try to get somebody with access to a scale, perhaps in OPI or the kitchen itself, to weigh the packets and see what we're getting.
There was some drama at the weight room this morning. When I arrived, I saw the regular CO putting a guy who shares my weight room session in handcuffs. He is an older black gentleman who uses the exercise bike. I found out that he was being "arrested" for going into the weight room 10 minutes early. The thing is, the other rec CO gave him permission to go in early. They let him go later that morning. Needless to say, I waited until well after 8:00 to go into the weight room.
I still haven't received that nutritional info even though it has been a week since they took the money off my account for the copies. I'm going to rekite the warden's assistant to make sure there's no problem. I could see something like my sergeant giving my cash slip directly to the cashier's office, who took the money off my account without notifying the warden's assistant. You have to anticipate mistakes in here.
I did an upper body workout today instead of my usual lower body, trying to heal up my knee, which is feeling better today.
Thursday, May 16, 2022, 4:43 AM
Better sleep night. Maybe I'm getting used to the heat. One cramp.
It's a little bit of a tense time around here: there's excessive heat, uncertainty, change, and talk of them taking more stuff away from us.
It was a busy day.
First, I sent an email to my brother about investing my stimulus money. Half of it is currently in Robin Hood, half in Etrade. After we found out that we couldn't fractional trade in Etrade, we were going to transfer all the funds to Robin Hood. This turned out surprisingly difficult though. He said he would need to get a social security card, which he had previously lost. I thought it might just be easier to go with two accounts, buying fractional shares of expensive stocks in Robin Hood, and whole shares of cheaper stocks in Etrade.
I can also choose cheaper versions of the types of stock I want. For example, instead of buying GLD, a gold stock that costs a couple hundred dollars, I can buy GDX, a gold miner's stock that costs about 50.00. I gave him a list of stocks to order in both Robin Hood and Etrade. I hope to move fast because, with the Dow at nearly 30,000, I suspect the market is near a bottom, and I want to "buy the dip."
Just when I thought the heat policy was resolved, I found more uncertainty. A staff member said that our unit manager and another one weren't on the same page. Although they were practicing heat relief in our unit, they weren't in the J-Unit. Although they weren't making us wear our blues in the block, he suggested we not do that outside, his concern being that if the guys in the J-units complained that we were getting this relief but not them, they might shut down the whole thing until they hammered out a policy. At least they didn't make us wear blues in our block.
Outside it was unclear. Some guys walked down to rec without their blues, but others were wearing them. I wore them just in case.
My one cubie saw guys wearing their regular clothes on the compound, so he went out there in his regular clothes too. Then, a hateful, white shirt -- one they call the garden gnome -- came up and, of all the people wearing regular clothes, confronted his group, asking what they were doing. When they explained they had all heard we could do that, this white shirt then called them stupid.
So, we're in a state of uncertainty with regards to heat policy, and staff members aren't on the same page. My second shift CO said they were supposed to put out a memo in the next couple days -- probably after the heat wave is over.
Here's my question: why don't they have a heat policy already in place? Prisons aren't a new thing, and heat certainly isn't. And why is a heat policy being decided at an institutional level, allowing local officials to come up with, or not come up with, a reasonable heat policy. This should be an ODRC-wide policy, devised by a medical professional.
I also notice that this whole dilemma arose because they insisted on this unnecessary, petty rule about us having to wear our state blues everywhere.
Because it had been a week since they took the money off my account for the copies of the nutritional info, I rekited the warden's assistant, asking about it. I then received that info later that morning. I went through the whole three-week cycle already. Most of my estimates were pretty close, some were a little off. It was definitely eye-opening, and there were a few surprises. I'm going to examine it thoroughly over the next few weeks, but I've already decided to make a few changes. Seeing that the hot dogs and pizzas have more protein than I expected, I'm going to start eating them. I'm also going to start getting the chicken gravy instead of the peanut butter on Tuesday morning. I may also start to get the French toast instead of the peanut butter.
More good news: I got a surprisingly polite reply back from my kite to food service about the breakfast dinner. She thanked me for bringing the matter to her attention and promised to inform the staff that we are supposed to get both the fruit and dessert at that meal. She even apologized for the inconvenience. I was floored.
The bad news from that kite, though, was that they said No to taking the PB packets back with us.
They posted a notice on the ice machine that we cannot fill coolers, bowls or other containers with ice -- just cups. It said that anybody storing ice will get a ticket. We have now been without an ice machine for nearly a year, and it's becoming a problem in this weather.
I also heard that some new lieutenant wants to take away all the coolers they sold us.
Here's the worst news: I hear that a CO at the chow hall announced that we can no longer take milks back from the chow hall. I hear the reason is that they went around, checking people's coolers, and found that many people were icing milks, including one guy who had a whole cooler of milk (you're only allowed to bring one back). I will find out myself this morning. This will be a big hit to my regimen, for I drink a lot of milk.
I notice a common theme in many of the recent actions: a war on icing stuff.
I wonder if staff are taking away a lot of this stuff before the new warden arrives so that it will already be in place and established. I remember that they implemented the policy of having to wear blues right before our last warden started.
Friday, June 17, 2022 5:00 AM
A bit of a rough sleep night cramp-wise. It may have been a bit of a dehydration thing, considering the weather. I got up and drank some water.
Well, it turned out to be true about the milk thing: they announced no more taking milks out of the chow hall. This will be a big hit on my after-workout nutrition. Not only did I bring a milk back, but other guys who didn't want their milks would give them to me. So, this will be a financial hit on me, forcing me to buy more at commissary to replace these milks. I can drink milks at the chow hall, but since you can only absorb so much protein at one time, any milks I drink beyond that are wasted and provide excessive calories.
Another 90-degree day. Although they haven't posted a heat memo, the practice seems to have solidified. When it gets to be about 90, we don't have to wear blues in the dayroom and ballcourts. We still have to wear blues on the compound and when walking to and from rec. So, that's something. And we are going to get a break from the heat this weekend before another stretch of 90-degree days next week.
They did the monthly inspection. Our block seemed to do alright. When I was doing my mail running job, I asked people at each block what score they got. So far, I've found my block outscored 4 blocks, but three blocks beat us. I still have two blocks to find out their scores, but it looks as though we'll be in the middle of the pack again next month, about where we're at now.
I picked up the veggie bags today: four bell peppers and two onions. It's hard to store them in this weather, especially since we are not allowed to use ice to keep them cool anymore, so I'm going to eat them up fast. I've been filling a plastic container full of cold water, putting the veggies in plastic bags, and then storing the veggies in this mushfake cooler. Why am I not using my real Styrofoam cooler? It leaks. I can line it with a plastic garbage bag, but I can't get a hold of one right now. In fact, I wouldn't be too sad if they did come around and take the coolers. It's big and takes up a lot of space; it leaks; and I hardly use it anyway. Actually, I'm considering getting rid of it myself.
I'm enjoying having access to the nutritional info for the chow hall. I'm going to revamp my nutrition regimen here soon.
I've got my semi-annual chronic care appointment today. I will be interested to see if my reduced salt intake will have improved my blood pressure numbers. Although these numbers were good anyway, I want to see if reducing my salt will improve them further.
I may also ask about reducing the use of, or weening myself off, my inhalers. I don't notice them making any difference. I'm even considering asking about being taken off chronic care again. It doesn't seem to benefit me except for allowing me to automatically get shots, like flu shots and covid boosters.
Finally, I'm going to ask about my leg cramps. Although it's almost certainly not related to my respiratory problem, and I doubt this nurse practitioner will be of any help, I'm going to try.
Saturday, June 18, 2022 5:37 AM
Decent sleep. A couple of cramps though. I tried hydrating whenever I woke up, but it didn't seem to help.
Finally, the hot weather broke. We get a weekend of relief before another upcoming hot stretch next week.
They finally posted a memo about the heat policy -- right at the end of the heat wave, of course. They hardly gave us any relief. Whenever the temperature reaches 90 or above, we won't have to wear blues inside the building. No such relief for outside the building or the picnic tables. At North Central, we wouldn't even have to wear blues to the chow hall in this type of weather. There are just so many haters here. That's why there needs to be a statewide policy implemented by medical professionals, not local prison staff. I might contact that one advocacy group about it.
Oscar the Grouch got beat up on the yard. Somebody who saw him in the infirmary said he looked pretty bad. Sadly, it's not surprising though: he's mentally defective, he is abrasive, and he bothers people. In fact, this is the second time this has happened in the last few months -- that's how he got put in my block in the first place. I'm sorry to hear about what happened, but at the same time I hope he doesn't return here. I don't know where they can put him that's any safer; he's already in the "merit block" of an all-minimum camp. He needs to be in a mental unit.
They installed a whole bunch of new cameras around the compound.
My knee is starting to feel better. Hopefully I'll be able to run again soon.
One of my former cubies went to the hole today. He worked as a porter at medical, and one of the nurses had two tomatoes in her office, which disappeared. She called our block officer to ask if he had any tomatoes, and sure enough he did. They hadn't sold us tomatoes in a while, so there's no legitimate way he could have had them. I liked the guy, but that's a blatantly dumb move.
I went around asking people about what scores their blocks got on the monthly inspection. I estimate my block will be fifth out of ten next month -- not bad. We're fourth this month. I'm thinking about in the future developing a more organized method of gathering scores. Instead of walking around, eye-hustling guys block tags, and asking random strangers what score they got, I will have one contact person in each block who will find out their score. Then we would all get together, tabulate our scores, and figure out the eating order in advance. That's one of the problems with these inspections: there's no instant feedback (some guys aren't even aware an inspection has taken place).
I've been enjoying my veggie bag. It's so nice to have fresh vegetables. In this weather, though, it's hard to store them, especially considering now that I have to use cold water instead of ice to keep them cool. I got four green peppers, and I plan on eating one a day so that they'll be gone after four days. The onions can last much longer.
I had to avoid a table vulture at dinner. Before we even left the block, he eye-hustled my condiments, commenting on them. Then, at dinner, he tried to sit at my table. I got up and sat at another table. I don't like the guy anyway because he talks too much, specifically about himself.
I heard one guy who used to be here got a ten-year flop, and this wasn't his first hearing either.
One friend had a bad experience at work. Apparently something came up missing, and the boss threatened to fire the whole crew if it happened again. Two of the workers, including my friend, had been there for a long time without anything coming up missing, so it obviously wasn't them. It obviously must have been one of the new guys. In here, you can get punished for others actions.
Sunday, June 19, 2022, 5:53 AM
Decent sleep night. Only one cramp in the first six hours, two in the last ninety minutes.
I'm looking at the weather forecast, and I see five straight days of nineties coming up. Sigh.
I heard a rumor that the staff are supposed to crack down on guys taking stuff back from the chow hall, even small stuff like pink sugars. They are supposed to write tickets if they find anything in your cube. I will be surprised if they actually enforce it, and this might be a temporary crack down, but just in case I'm not going to take anything back from the chow hall.
I was thinking about Oscar the Grouch, and I wonder if his recent incident on the yard something had to do with his propensity for telling on people.
Outside rec was closed all day. That reminds me: I want to record how often rec is closed for about a month.
I have only one bell pepper left, which I will use up today.
I'm leaning more and more to giving my cooler away to a friend.
I've started to tabulate the nutritional info that I received. There is one good problem I discovered: some meals provide more protein than the limit of what you can digest at one time.
Tomorrow is Juneteenth, and I hear we're going to get an ice cream with the meal. I hope this is true.
I heard the one guy who got a ten-year flop had over forty years in. He's had hearings in the past, and he made it all the way to a full board hearing. The victims objected, and the media cheerleader their efforts.
I noticed that even during the daytime my right leg often has less mobility than my left leg.
Monday, June 20, 2022, 6:06 AM
Horrible cramp night. Six. I was in bed for over eight hours though. I don't know if I had more cramps just because I was in bed longer, especially during the later hours when I'm more susceptible to them, or if I stayed in bed longer because my sleep was interrupted more. One thing I've been slacking on is walking in both directions outside, working both sides equally. My right hip has been aching a bit more too. I will keep working on this problem.
Good news: Oscar the Grouch is doing alright. Furthermore, they put him over in one of the J-Units. That's how I like to see him: okay but away.
Two related things happened. My one friend said that I was the leader of the "cool kids" -- our group of friends. Later, my one cubie asked me for advice about dealing with some of his self-destructive tendencies, such as being too hard on himself for mistakes. I am kind of tickled that people are viewing me in the role of leader/ advisor. It's definitely a change from when I was the clueless youth at the beginning of my sentence. This new role is flattering, but it's also a great responsibility, forcing me to have my own stuff together. I think I have to use this role to help people.
I am going to keep a log of when rec is closed for a month. Over the weekend, outside rec was closed for three out of four shifts.
I tried a new after-workout snack. I put some peanut butter and dark chocolate in the microwave and melted it -- a yummy experiment. I've learned, though, that heating PB too long has the surprising effect of turning it solid again.
I used up all my green peppers. Four of them in four days was a reasonable rate, especially in this weather.
I contacted that one inmate group, asking them if they would advocate for a reasonable heat policy across the entire ODRC. A health professional should devise such a policy for the entire state rather than local prison staff coming up with different ones for each institution.
I think I misinterpreted a former email from my brother. I thought he said he had put 500 in my Robin Hood account, but rereading it I now think he was saying that he had invested that 500. I hope this is the case, for that would mean I am halfway there. I emailed him, asking for clarification.
My knee still hurts, so no running today. This lingering injury is frustrating.
Tuesday, June 21, 2022, 6:39 AM
A second horrible cramp night in a row. I'm not sure why. Perhaps it's because I went back to walking twice a day, and the cumulative effect of that has finally taken its toll; in other words, maybe it's overtraining. I'm going to reduce my workload again. I've been walking in one direction again, perhaps overworking my one side. I will try to walk around the track in both directions, sparing my dominant leg. I'll keep working on this.
Despite my knee still hurting, I went out and did an easy run today. I was frustrated at not being able to run, so I wanted to see if I could work my way through it. It may not have been the best idea, but it seemed to work out. My knee's not feeling too bad now.
I started recording the hours that rec is closed. This weekend was especially bad: outside rec was closed more than it was open.
There was a crazy rumor about why rec was closed in the evening: they needed to pull the CO working outside rec from his post because somebody on the higher security side killed himself -- in the chow hall! The chow hall part of that rumor is the hard part to swallow. Then, another guy said somebody else had killed themselves over there last week. I'm skeptical, but nothing would surprise me around here.
I had a nice, long talk with one of my cubies. He had asked me how to deal with certain issues, such as anxiety, being overly self-critical, and a lack of satisfaction even when things are going well. We are travelling a similar path, dealing with similar issues, so I try to advise him on how I've worked on these issues. I gave him two main pieces of advice. First, slow down and relax. Because there's a mind-body connection, I find that physically relaxing, such as walking slower and breathing deeply, helps me relax mentally.
I also advised him to watch his thoughts. I said that he should try to avoid obsessing over negative things -- admittedly, something easier said than done. Plus, he should focus on the positive rather than the negative.
This is what I try to do. In fact, advising him has forced me to up my game. I try to "count my blessings" while I walk, for example, but sometimes I neglect to do this because it can get boring.
In a way, I feel as though my cubie is Luke Skywalker and I'm OB1 Kenobi from Star Wars. I also view my bunkie as Yoda because he advised me when I was young and new to the system.
We didn't really have a full-fledged special meal for Juneteenth, but they did serve a small vanilla ice cream -- a rare treat around here. In fact, this was one of the rare times I got the dessert rather than the fruit. Many guys complained about the "cheesy" rice because it didn't taste cheesy at all. I don't know because I skip the rice.
In two weeks, we will have the breakfast dinner again. I've started some prep work for it. That is, I talked to the blue shirts in the block, informing them that we're supposed to get both the fruit and dessert. Then, closer to the time of the meal, I'll remind them. Although the food service coordinator said she would take care of it, I'm not going to rely on staff to take care of it.
Wednesday, June 22, 2022, 3:48 PM
I am starting my post at a different time today, the afternoon instead of the morning. Although it's convenient to do these in the morning, I don't like it because I'm trying to look back, trying to remember the previous day. I like to have a fresh start to every morning, to be forward-looking. From now on, I will do my journaling on the same day as the events I'm relaying, perhaps even breaking up the post into multiple segments throughout the day.
It's not just my journaling that I'm changing; I'm revamping my entire schedule. Because I think overtraining is a significant factor in my cramps, I may just go back to 2-a-days rather than 3-a-days. I will work out once and walk once a day. I think I will stay in during the afternoons, the hottest part of the day. If I go out in the evenings to walk, I can often avoid the need for sunscreen.
If I'm less active, I will need to eat a little less to compensate. I want to keep decent definition. Having accurate information about the chow hall food, I am revamping my nutrition regimen.
It was another hot one today, the temperature rising above ninety. I was curious to see if they would actually allow us to go into the dayrooms without our blues. Shortly after noon, I saw on the weather forecast that the temperature was ninety in London, yet there was no announcement. Eventually, though, they did allow us to go into the dayroom without the blues. I even heard a rumor that they went beyond that policy, allowing guys to wear just a t-shirt to rec, but I don't know.
Good news: the ice machine our block was getting ice from got fixed. Still, our machine is broken.
According to the weather channel, it's 98 in Columbus right now.
I ran again today. My knee hurt a little, but not as bad as it did on Monday. Afterwards, my knee didn't hurt at all. It was kinda a dumb risk, but it worked out.
The heat index is 109 in Columbus.
Outside rec was closed again this morning -- at least until 7:40 AM. The CO reprimanded a couple of guys for being out there despite it being closed. They told how nobody had announced that rec was closed, which is true: they often don't announce rec is closed, leaving people guessing.
Thursday, June 23, 2022, 4:06 AM
I know I said I would start writing my post later in the day, and for the most part I will. If I write in the morning, I may just mention my sleep and be forward-looking.
I overall got a good sleep, but I woke up at 2:30 and couldn't get back to sleep. I feel well rested, but I should be getting more than 5.5 hours of sleep.
One problem with getting up so early, especially if I'm journaling later in the day, is that I have trouble finding things to do during that time.
Thursday, June 23, 2022, 6:10 PM
Good day. Somebody said the new warden had actually started and visited our compound. I then verified this through an inmate who works with staff. He further said that the warden had a meeting with staff and said that he wanted the medium side like medium and minimum like minimum. Supposedly this directive comes from the ODRC Director. I hope it's true.
Knowing that he has actually started, I sent the warden a polite e-kite, asking for the following two reforms: One, not having to wear our blues in the dayroom, ball courts, and to recreation, and two, being able to leave the blocks as soon as count clears. I eagerly await his reply.
I was going to also ask him about the delivery of mail on third shift, but I heard talk that they might do that state-wide because second-shift CO's say they're busy enough already. Plus, if they start sending our mail to us electronically, that won't matter.
I heard that some guys in the block complained to Columbus about us not having an ice machine for over ten months. Often, staff members didn't want to help the one inmate who went to fetch the ice. Suddenly, staff members brought two big coolers into the block with bags of ice. I heard that Columbus ordered a new ice machine. Finally, some action.
I finished revising my nutrition regimen. I will average about 1900 calories and 125 grams of protein per day. That's before extras though. That is a pretty reasonable amount. I reduced my calories because I am cutting back my walking from twice a day to once a day.
Friday, June 24, 2022, 1:51 PM
I got a reply from my kite to the warden. Unfortunately, the warden's assistant responded, saying that I should kite the deputy warden, who will present suggestions to the warden. A disappointing result. I may try to speak to the warden when he's walking the compound.
I've been hearing good potential rumors though. A decent source -- a guy who works for staff -- said that at the beginning of July they're going to "open up the yard" -- that is, allow us to leave the block as soon as count clears. I'll believe it when I see it. We'll find out soon enough because July is less than a week away.
I had an annoying experience with an inmate chow hall worker. I use my hat to grasp the pepper shaker because it's unsanitary, considering hundreds of people touch it each meal. This worker said, Why don't you use some tissue instead of contaminating it with your hat. I said my hat was clean. He said the hat touched my head (I was actually using the outside of my hat). What I should have said is that the shaker was already contaminated and that was the reason I was using my hat. It gets contaminated every time somebody touches it. Unless they would sanitize it after every person touched it, it will stay contaminated. That's why the food service workers wear gloves. The dirtiest thing my hat touches is that shaker. It's frustrating having to deal with ignorant people.
My knee was hurting bad again today, so I didn't run. Disappointing. It's a regression.
My regular 1st shift CO is on vacation for a week, so that means we're going to get a Russian roulette of relief officers during that time. The inconsistency sucks, and we may get some knucklehead.
I ran out of my special mix of herbs and spices that I made from my food box. It lasted over two months though. Back to salt-free Mrs. Dash.
I heard a rumor that, once we get the new tablets, we will be able to order commissary from these tablets. An outside company would then supply our orders rather than our local commissary. Then, once a week, we would pick up our orders. I like this because we would get a larger selection of items. Due to the small space available at our commissary, we receive a limited selection. A downside is that, if something's out of stock, you won't be able to make a last-minute substitution as you could if you were at a counter in the store. But we'll receive supplies once a week rather than once every two weeks. Again, I'll believe it when I see it.
I'm feeling tired after two nights of minimal sleep.
They sent us an email, announcing what they've already been doing for a week: not allowing us to take milks back from the chow hall. Incidentally, this email was unsigned, giving no indication who sent it. When they first allowed us to take the milks back, they didn't send any memos. When they took away that privilege, they made sure to announce it. Typical for around here.
Saturday, June 25, 2022, 4:07 PM
I switched out the mat I got with another one. Even though that new clear mat looked nice and thick, it was mostly air and scrunched down to nothing. I hope to eventually get a decent one.
I called that one inmate advocacy group today. They still only have two people involved, so it's a struggle for them.
I posted a sheet with the projected eating order for July on the bulletin board. I didn't have scores for JC and JD, so I left them off.
Last night, the power was out for a couple of hours. Today, we were under water restriction for about four hours, meaning they intentionally shut down the showers and laundry room. After I finished my workout, I had to delay my shower for several hours.
No water, no power -- I feel as though I'm in a prison from the 1800's.
I saw Oscar the Grouch for the first time since he went to the hole. Fortunately, he is in another block.
I saw on the pass list that the parole board will hold video-hearings here Monday.
Sunday, June 26, 2022, 2:04 PM
Another horrible sleep night cramp-wise. I woke up shortly after two and couldn't fall back to sleep. I got a half-hour nap, though, before breakfast, and I napped during the 11:00 AM count. Today will be a no-legs day, and I'll see if that helps.
Starting tomorrow, I will try a week of no intermittent fasting to see if that impacts the cramping at all. I have one radical idea. I could go to bed at 9:00 PM, sleep for about four hours until 1:00 AM, stay up until 2:30 AM, and then sleep until 6:30 AM. Because I don't start cramping until about four hours into my sleep, I would avoid the cramping. Plus, I would get almost eight hours of sleep. This plan is more of a "nuclear option" if I can't cure the cramps.
I heard more good talk about the new warden from a guy who works for staff. Supposedly, even after the close side of Madison got converted back to medium, the staff still ran it as though it were close. Many of the medium guys who arrived there from London complained to central office, and the director told the new warden to run the medium side like medium and the minimum side like minimum. I hope this is true. We'll see soon enough.
I heard that somebody from Central Office said they get more complaints about Madison than any other institution. I can believe it.
Monday, June 27, 2022, 1:16 PM
Good sleep night. No cramps technically. The thing is, when I got up at 3:30, I could tell if I didn't get up right then my leg would cramp. So, it seems as though the no-leg day helped. I think it's safe to say that exercise load is moderately correlated with the cramping.
I think there is something wrong with that right leg. When I did planks this morning, I noticed my right lower calf felt tighter than my left calf as they were stretching out. As I've mentioned before, my left foot has greater mobility than my right foot.
Today I will take a break from my intermittent fasting to see if it has any impact on my cramping. I doubt it, but I've got to try.
I am going to sit in my bunk rather than my chair. I don't know if it helped any, and I am not invading the space of my bunkie this way. I will try to sit with proper posture in my bunk though.
I ran today, pushing through my knee hurting. I took a couple of breaks though. A good sign was that my knee was hurting less at the end of the run.
Successful store trip today. The only thing I didn't get was the peas, and that was because I forgot. They accidentally charged one guy for 85 12-packs of pop, but they were cool about correcting the mistake.
My cubie thanked me for giving him advice. I am touched that I've been able to help him. I am about a dozen years older than him, and we are dealing with similar issues. I told him that I look at it this way: we are like two runners on the same path, and I have a twelve-second head start on him, so I'm warning him about certain obstacles on the path, such as a pothole right in front of him.
Tuesday, June 28, 2022, 5:06 AM
Well, I tried to end my time-restricted eating for a day to see if it had any effect on my nightly cramping. No dice. I know one night is a small sample size, but I don't think there's any point in continuing the experiment. It was worth a shot.
I'm tempted to try sleeping for only 4 hours at a time.
A guy went to the hole. He apparently tapped a female, Aramark worker on the arm or shoulder to get her attention. That is a major no-no. Inmates are not supposed to touch staff members, particularly females.
Tuesday, June 28, 2022, 7:50 PM
Somebody asked me to read their legal brief and provide feedback. I read it and jotted down some notes. I think and hope my feedback will be helpful.
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
My experiment of trying to get up in the middle of the night to allow my leg to "reset" didn't work that well. At about 12:30 I woke up to take a leak and decided to stay up. I tried to read for half an hour, but I was so tired that I could barely comprehend the words on the page. After 30 minutes, I went back to bed. I still started cramping up, albeit later in the night (around 4:00). I'll keep trying.
One thing that may help is that I'm about to order a clothes box here soon, including shoes. I've put a lot of miles on these shoes over the last 18 months, and the treads are starting to wear significantly.
Of the ten blocks around here, I've found guys in six of them who've agreed to help me tabulate the scores from the monthly inspections. That way, we won't have to wait until the beginning of the next month to learn our places in the eating order.
Somebody took down the July eating order I posted on the bulletin board.
I'm finally scheduled for my chronic care pass this morning. I'm glad I'm on the pass list rather than getting one of those unexpected calls. I hope it's not another fake appointment that gets rescheduled.
Wednesday, June 29, 2022, 1:00 PM
I had my chronic care appointment today. I discussed the possibility of going off my inhalers and chronic care in general. The nurse practitioner was open to this possibility. I asked him about the leg cramps. He said something generic about staying hydrated. I had a good blood pressure: 115 over 68. To celebrate, I used some salt on my lunch today -- the first time in months. My numbers seem to be good both with salt and without salt. Plus, we get so much salt anyway in the food we eat. So, I may start using some added salt again sparingly.
I ran again this morning, pushing through some knee pain.
I read the brief that guy gave me. It needed some work. I couldn't even tell what court he was filing in because he had the wrong caption and the statement of case was incomplete. Now that I realize what court he's in, I see another problem: he's arguing state law in the federal court. The federal courts only deal with federal law.
Thursday, June 30, 2022, 6:04 AM
Great news: the best night's sleep cramp-wise in weeks! None. And I was in bed for seven hours. I don't know what went right, but I'm going to try to repeat it.
I think the cramp problem can be summarized like this: there is something wrong with my right leg, as can be seen by the decreased mobility and increased discomfort/ tightness. Then, the lack of movement coming from sleep causes this leg to cramp up. Exercise is lightly correlated with the cramping, aggravating the problem. This is my best understanding to date.
I'm sending out two letters today. One is to a law office that deals with correctional issues. I want to see if they can help me with my parole denial. I'm considering litigation.
Last day of the month. While I'm doing my mail running job today, I'm going to check to see if they posted July's eating order in any of the other blocks. They haven't in my block yet. If they don't post it by dinner, I'll put up my homemade list again.
Once in a while, I find a decent book on the block's bookshelf. I found one entitled Becoming a Citizen Activist: Stories, Strategies & Advice for Changing the World. I'll see if it has any helpful nuggets of wisdom. I have a few suggestions for that new, fledgling inmate advocacy group.
Thursday, June 30, 2022, 1:39 PM
I tried something new with regards to my job. Instead of making two trips, one for mail, one for pass sheets, I did just one trip. It worked out well. I think I'll do that from now on.
While doing my job, I saw that they posted the new eating order in other blocks. I copied it down and posted it in my own block.
I heard more talk about us being able to order our commissary through our tablet. Supposedly Aramark bought one of the catalog companies, and they would be doing the commissary. We would be able to order stuff once a week. The prices would be high though. I hope it happens because we should get a greater selection of nutritious food. We'll see.
I heard a bad rumor that this new warden would like to have the laundry rooms and porter closets locked at all times. This would be bad because some of the CO's don't want to unlock the laundry room once a shift, let alone dozens of times. This would go against the theme of running minimum like minimum.
I began the process of getting new glasses. Unfortunately, it's a long, tedious process. Because I haven't had an eye exam within the last two years, I have to get another exam before I order glasses. For some unknown reason, we have to put in a request for nurse's sick call before we can even get put on the waiting list for the optometrist. Then, we have to wait several months for an appointment. Then, we have to go through a little bureaucratic paperwork before we can order the glasses.
Friday, July 1, 2022, 2:08 PM
I just came back from nurse's sick call. Now, to get new glasses, you must jump through more hoops, having to go through nurse's sick call and doctor's sick call before they will put you on the list to see the eye doctor. I did get to have my blood pressure and heart rate taken again, and my numbers were even better than they were on my chronic care appointment from a couple of days ago: 107/67 and 53.
I made and sent home a list for my next clothes/ hygiene box. Of the three catalog companies, I went with Access because they had the running shoes, I like the most. Plus, they're the only company that sells probiotics.
I had another great, cramp-free sleep night. That makes two nights in a row. I'm hoping this is the start of a trend and not just a fluctuation.
The rumor about them "opening up the yard" on July 1st did not materialize. I'm not surprised.
I got a letter from a friend at Marion. He also said that our new warden is a good guy. I hope his assessment is right. He didn't give any details though. We'll see.
I was able to get a run in despite knee pain.
A guy in the block went to the hole for having a big bag of h#ch.
Saturday, July 2, 2022, 3:26 AM
Well, the bad news is I'm experiencing a hole in my sleep right now -- that is, an insomnia night were I wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back to sleep. I woke up at 2:00 to use the bathroom, couldn't fall back to sleep, and got up at 2:30. This is no big deal though. I'll stay up for a couple of hours and then try to get another hour or so of sleep before breakfast. I got a full five hours of sleep anyway, so I'm not doing too bad.
The good news is that I had another cramp-free night. It wasn't a full test, though, because I didn't get a full night's sleep. I was going strong though.
The year is halfway over already. I may do a review to see how well I've been doing on my 2022 resolutions.
I got a letter from a friend at North Central.
Saturday, July 2, 2022, 3:53 PM
I got an email from my brother today. Some good news. He has basically invested half of my stimulus money in Robin Hood. He suggested that we invest the other half in the already existing account with ETrade. I think I'll take his advice on that. I'm making up a grocery list of the remaining equities I would like to buy.
Inside rec was closed this morning, so I missed out on my weight room time. And they didn't even announce it was closed. Still, the weather was so nice that I didn't mind finishing up my workout on the track. I did a "lap o lunges" and a "lap o calf raises."
I traded out mattresses once again. This one doesn't have one of those annoying, fake, built-in pillow things. I hope to get a good mattress one day. I'm tempted to get a blanket just to use it as cushioning.
Sunday, July 3, 2022, 4:17 AM
Great news: a fourth no-cramp night in a row! It was close though. My leg started getting "pre-cramps" (twitching, throbbing, and stiffening up) shortly after 3:00 AM. Since I've been keeping my cramp log, I haven't had four no-cramp nights in a row. I think this is actual progress. And I'm hopeful for today because it will be a no-leg day.
It is two days until that breakfast dinner. I'm going to remind some of the blue shirts to give them advanced notice this time. They might be distracted by tomorrow's special meal though (4th of July).
I'm going to send my brother an email about investing. Hopefully I'll be able to get my portfolio in order.
Sunday, July 3, 2022, 3:52 PM
I learned what the special Fourth of July meal is supposed to be: charbroil patty, hot dog, mac salad, cake with icing, and ice cream. I'm looking forward to it.
At the same time I asked this blue shirt about the special meal, I asked him about the breakfast dinner -- the meal where they're supposed to give us both the fruit and dessert but haven't been. He said he talked to the one staff coordinator who would oversee that meal, and she said it was taken care of. He said he would mention it again.
Monday, July 4th, 2022, 5:31 AM
Another great sleep night. I can't say it was cramp-free, though, because I did get one mini-cramp. So, my streak of cramp-free nights comes to an end. Still, things are going well.
I've been doing a bit of legal research for the guy who asked me to read his brief. I'm trying to prepare him for what the state's reply is going to be.
I've also been doing some research with regards to the parole board. I'm going to write some outside legal groups to ask for help. Most likely, though, I would have to do something like that on my own.
Today is the 4th of July! I'm looking forward to the special meal. I hear we're also supposed to get a dinner bag.
Tuesday, July 5th, 2022, 5:07 AM
Had a good holiday -- a definite cheat day. I had a hot dog, charbroil patty, cheese, two salads with ranch (I usually skip the dressing), a small cup of chocolate ice cream. We also got a dinner bag, and I got extra peanut butter and apples from people. They allowed guys to bring food back from the chow hall -- something they usually don't allow.
I did some more legal research. I found some helpful cases for the one guy who asked me to look at his paperwork. I also did research on my parole issue. I'm writing to three legal organizations that sometimes provide help to inmates. I'm still debating whether or not to file some form of litigation.
Today the breakfast dinner has come around again in the 3-week rotation. I've been assured by both inmate and staff food service coordinators that we will get both the fruit and dessert at dinner. We'll see. If they don't provide us both, I'm going to file an informal complaint immediately afterwards.
Tuesday, July 5th, 2022, 8:03 PM
Great news: they gave us both the fruit and the dessert at dinner tonight! Finally! I'm so relieved that my weeks of effort finally paid off. In here, you really have to relish these small victories. It's sad, however, that just getting what you're supposed to get is considered a victory. I actually had half the dessert, as a cheat treat, to celebrate. This was a good moment -- several hundred people finally got all the food they were supposed to get.
Wednesday, July 06, 2022, 7:22 PM
Some great news: I learned that the ACLU, in coordination with Miami University, is running a project in which they will publish inmate writing online. I'm going to contact this project to see about publishing some of my writing.
Over the past week, I've only had one leg cramp total. That used to be an average nightly total. I think it's safe to say that the path I'm on -- decreased workload, "foam rolling," and massage -- is working, finally showing some results.
I received the latest edition of Men's Health last night, and it had an article about a 35-year-old MMA fighter who was trying to compete with 20-year-old competitors. He found that adding more rest and recovery to his routine produced better results. In other words, he achieved more by doing less. This fighter reminded me of my overtraining and leg cramps.
Thursday, July 7, 2022, 1:37 PM
As usual, my pass to see the doctor fell on my workday. It turned out well though. I had to see the doctor due to the dumb new rule that you have to see both the nurse and the doctor before they'll put you on the list to see the eye doctor. While I was down there, I got my blood pressure taken and set a record: 95/54. My job went well too -- not much mail.
The new Thursday breakfast is a definite downgrade. Instead of two hardboiled eggs, they are giving us some mixture of scrambled eggs and potatoes they call "hash." They are obviously saving money on eggs by replacing it with cheap filler. I picked out some of the bigger potato chunks and ate the rest.
I sent some writing to that ACLU/ Miami U. project. Hopefully they'll like it. I haven't heard anything back from them yet.
I sent my brother instructions for filling out the rest of my portfolio. Two of my previous picks, Beyond Meat and Rivian, have been doing well.
Friday, July 8, 2022, 4:22 PM
I had a bout of insomnia again last night, waking up at 2:00 AM. I used the time productively, however, preparing a letter to that ACLU/ Miami U. writing project. I was then able to put it in the mail box at breakfast, which was my last chance to mail it out before the weekend.
I went out and ran this morning. My knee felt better than it has in a couple of months, so it's improving.
I heard they wrote a guy a ticket for taking a single milk out of the chow hall. I don't know if that's a crackdown on milk specifically or any food in general.
Saturday, July 9, 2022
I heard that they are writing guys up for taking anything out of the chow hall, not just milk. As long as they're on this kick, it's a good idea to not try to take anything back.
My one cubie asked me why I haven't tried to run a rehabilitative program, to try to help people improve themselves. I had never thought of that before. Again, I'm touched that he thinks I have something positive to share with others. I will give this idea some thought.
I changed up my clothes box order. Instead of going with Access, I went with Walkenhorst's because they have a heavy-duty blanket. I plan on using this
blanket as padding to help add cushioning to my flimsy mattress.
I hear the fundraiser will be delivered this upcoming week.
When I was doing my mail running job, I noticed that one of the blocks had a poster about beating the heat. It's ironic: they post a memo like that, but then they force us unnecessarily to wear hot clothes.
Saturday, July 9, 2022
It's funny that my cubie and I were just talking about running a program. Just tonight I saw a sign-up sheet in the block, asking for suggestions about new programs. I have so many ideas:
PROGRAM SUGGESTIONS:
1.) Lifers Group
2.) MaCI newsletter
3.) Writing Group
4.) Single-block, Mini Family Days (eg., MA only, no kids, no games)
5.) Walking/ Running Group
6.) Quarterly town hall meetings with Warden
7.) Old-timers develop handbook teaching proper cell/ dorm etiquette
8.) Outside trainer answers fitness questions
9.) Investment Club
10.) Goal-setting/ Self-improvement Group
In fact, I wouldn't mind sponsoring some of these groups. I'll talk to the case manager and offer to write out a proposal if she's interested in any of these ideas. I have more spare time now, and I would like to do something to help people.
Monday, July 11, 2022, 3:25 PM
Pretty good day. I had a successful trip to the store. Plus, they posted a notice that the fundraiser delivery will be Thursday. I ordered three veggie bags.
I had a cheat day -- the five duplex cookies from the 4th of July. I had some powdered milk with it (I couldn't use regular milk now that we can't bring it back from the chow hall).
Supposedly the warden was walking around our compound and even stopped in our block. One guy asked him about allowing guys to leave the block as soon as count cleared. He said that he wasn't looking to make any changes at this time. The inmate mentioned how at some medium prions they can do that. He responded that all prisons are different. The inmate asked about moving the cabinets back the way we had them before, effectively transforming the 4-man cubes into 2-man cubes. He turned to the unit manager, who was walking with him, and asked him about it. The unit manager said they had considered the idea and decided against it. The warden deferred to the unit manager. This interaction didn't seem to be too promising.
I hope the case manager comes and takes down the sign-up sheet for suggested programs. I think all the serious suggestions have been offered, and as time goes on, the new ones get worse and worse. For example, one of the new ones was "anything that offers dump days [good days]." In fact, I think my friend and I were the only ones who offered suggestions that actually met the posted criteria: appropriate, proposed programs or activities.
I ran again today, and my knee only experienced minor discomfort. Right now, my goal is just to become healthy and whole.
Tuesday, July 12, 2022, 5:12 AM
I've had the same pattern for three nights in a row: zero cramps, 7 hours, 20 minutes in bed, and pre-cramps starting around six hours into the night. I would like to get a little more sleep though.
Word of that thing the one jailhouse lawyer is trying file against the parole board with is spreading. Yesterday, at dinner, somebody from a different block asked a friend at my table about it. I want to correct the record without starting a feud with this quack.
I'm considering talking to my case manager today about my proposed programs, offering to write out more detailed proposals for any of them she might like. This could possible lead to me getting an offer to facilitate a program. I'm not sure how I feel about this though. I don't know if I would want to run a program or not.
Tuesday, July 12, 2022
The CO at rec opened up the door to the weight room 15 minutes late. I think he was doing it just to be an a-hole. Between the block and weight room, I still got my full hour of work out in though.
Somebody -- I think the case manager -- provided feedback on the list of suggested programs. For example, in response to the request to "resurface the pool table," she replied that "Rec has been notified." For my suggestions, three of them got highlighted, and one got an "*" in red pen next to it. I'm not sure how to interpret these markings, but I hope they means that staff members will actually consider these suggestions. I might ask her about it if I see her. The three suggestions that got highlighted were:
1. Writing Group
2. Outside trainer answers fitness questions
3: Investment Club
The program that got the "*" was
1. Quarterly town hall meeting with Warden (one representative from each block).
I guess it's a great thing if even one of my suggestions results in a new program.
Wednesday, July 13, 2022 5:47 AM
They did not have sunscreen at the store the other day. Even worse, I thought I had a full bottle left in my box, but it turned out to be only a partial bottle left over from last summer. I will have to be stingy with my sunscreen until next store day, assuming they have some next time. I asked my mother to get me two sunscreens rather than one for my next clothes/ hygiene box.
Wednesday, July 13, 2022 3:27 PM
I've been trying to go light on the sunscreen, conserving it. This morning, I didn't use any for my half hour run. Last night, on my nightly walk, I used about half of what I'd normally use. I may not have to be so stingy though. Two of my friends say they have sunscreen that they hardly use that I can borrow.
My knee felt more discomfort on today's run compared to Monday's -- a bit disappointing.
Thursday, July 14, 2022, 4:24 AM
Well, I woke up early this morning, but not due to cramps. Speaking of which, five days in a row without nightly cramps. I think if I can get a full week in, then I will have achieved a milestone.
Today will be a busy day for me -- by prison standards. We are supposed to receive the fundraiser today. I ordered three veggie bags. I have my cooler all ready, lined with two plastic bags (my cooler has a leak). I will use cold water to keep my veggies fresh. Still, I'll try to eat my veggies fast, except for the onions, which last longer.
I have to work today too. I just hope they don't try to call us down to the fundraiser at the same time I'm doing my job.
That sign-up sheet for suggested programs vanished. I hope that means some staff member, like the case manager, took it down and will eventually act upon some of the suggestions. I think I will ask her about it if I see her.
I'm still figuring out this sleep thing. I tried to not take a nap, but I get so tired throughout the day. I hate waking up so early in the morning.
A friend let me borrow a nearly full bottle of sunscreen. That will be so helpful.
Friday, July 14, 2022, 5:28 AM
Well, the good news is I didn't have any cramps again last night. The bad news is there were a lot of "pre-cramps" and "close calls," which required me to stretch out my leg and interfered with my sleep. I still hope the overall trend is progress.
I got some mail last night. Last month, I sent a letter to the ODRC Director, relating my experience with the parole board, telling of the need for reform. Instead of responding to my letter herself, she forwarded it to the parole board -- the very entity I was complaining about. The point of my letter was to inform her about the problems related to the board, which she ultimately oversees. The director's office has done this before. One guy wrote her, telling her about problems at the prison. Her office then forwarded the letter to the institution -- the entity he was complaining about. Instead of dealing with these concerns, her office likes to pass the buck. The problem is, this technique of forwarding letters to the very entity you're complaining about is a good way to set you up for retaliation.
The reply from the Chairperson of the parole board was interesting though. Although she misspelled my name throughout the letter and made two grammatical errors in the same sentence, and although it was a short response, at least it wasn't a form letter this time.
To my surprise, she double-downed on the claim that I shot the victim in the buttocks, saying that it was in the autopsy report. I am surprised by this. My mind was kind of foggy that day, but I'm pretty sure this is false, unless there was some sort of crazy ricochet of some fragment that I had never heard of before. I will have to look into this.
She mentioned that to address their claim that I needed a better understanding of my risk factors, I should try to take the PROVE program -- a domestic violence program that currently isn't available at my institution. I dispute the claim that I don't understand my risk factors.
They do offer the PROVE program at Grafton, a decent prison that is close to my home. Having this in writing possibly could give me a way to transfer to Grafton -- if I was so inclined to do that. Something to think about.
I'm leaning more and more towards some sort of litigation against the parole board.
I talked to my case manager the other day. She was the one who put up that sign-up sheet for suggested programs. Furthermore, she was the one who had highlighted some of my suggestions, and that was indeed a good thing. They were working on implementing programs similar to the highlighted ones. Then, I asked her about the one program that had the * by it -- quarterly town hall meetings with the warden (one representative from each block). She said they wanted to have such meetings with upper administration present, but it wasn't certain that the warden would be present at all these meetings because of how busy he is. So, overall I am happy with this news, and I thanked her for putting up this suggestion sheet.
We received our fundraiser yesterday. Everybody seemed to be happy with their food. I got three veggie bags, which contained onions, green bell peppers, tomatoes, and garlic. I've been filling my cooler with cold water to preserve these veggies. Fortunately, the temperatures are supposed to be in the 80's, not the 90's, over the next several days. Somebody gave me some lettuce from their fundraiser, and I had a full-fledged fish salad for my afternoon snack.
Friday, July 14, 2022, 1:46 PM
On the show The Doctors, they featured some author who wrote a self-help book. The main idea of this book was that the best way to know yourself was to try to summarize yourself in four words. After thinking about this for a while, I came up with the following four words: 1.) health, 2.) helping, 3.) positivity, and 4.) progress. This list is a bit aspirational, meaning I have to constantly work on some of these.
For health, I mean all areas of health, including physical, mental, and social. Once you've gotten yourself taken care of, then you can work on helping others, which I think you have the duty to do. With positivity, I include not only looking on the bright side, but also minimizing the ugly emotions, like hate, anger, and anxiety. Finally, progress gets to my main purpose in life, which is to try to improve myself and the world around me, especially our judicial system.
I went out and ran again this morning. My knee barely felt any discomfort. I'm getting closer to my goal of being healthy and whole.
Saturday, July 16, 2022, 6:11 AM
Good news: I have now gone a full week without a nightly leg cramp! I'm still experiencing pre-cramps and close calls, especially later in the night, which is almost as bad because they interfere with my sleep too. Nevertheless, this is a milestone, and I'm hoping that I'm on a pathway to recovery.
My one cubie -- the guy who I've been advising on his journey of self-improvement -- was interested in participating in that one self-awareness exercise I mentioned the other day (describing yourself in four words). His words were determined, self-conscious, versatile, and learning -- a good, honest list. My other cubie said he could only think of one word: lost. Another honest assessment. In fact, I used that word to describe myself decades ago. This exercise shows me of some of the growth I've experienced over the years. Although I don't have everything figured out, I have a good idea of who I am and where I'm going.
I think prison is sort of a big lost-and-found bin for people. The one problem with the parole board, though, is that they aren't releasing the "found" guys, treating them as though they were still lost.
Sunday, July 17, 2022
Unfortunately, my cramp-free streak was broken last night -- big time. I had three cramps. Still, I was able to recover and have a good night's sleep. Barely any "pre-cramps." I only did two things differently yesterday. One, I walked in the afternoon rather than the evening. And two, I didn't stretch before bed or during my nightly bathroom breaks. Just when I thought I had it figured out, I was hit with this regression. Still, I think the overall trend is improvement.
Today is my no-legs day. Hopefully that will help more with my bad leg. Today is a good day to stay inside: it's a rainy, dark day.
Today is the day off for both our regular first and second shift officers. On these days, we get a Russian roulette of relief. Usually, we do okay. Today we got a bullet. Due to lightning earlier, the yard was temporarily closed. When we saw guys moving around the yard again, one of my friends asked this CO if the yard was open. He yelled something about this being his unit. You weren't even safe sitting at your bunk, minding your own business. My bunkie was sitting here, eating a bowl of cereal. This CO walked by, looked intently at him, and went by. Then, a few moments later he circled around, shined his flashlight on him, and asked what he had. My bunkie told him “Cereal." He then asked him if he was using powdered milk, which they sell at the commissary. My bunkie said, "Yeah," showing him the bag of powdered milk. I don't know what this CO thought my bunkie was doing, but I think he was hoping for a big find. Then, I think that follow-up question about the powdered milk was his hope to at least catch my bunkie with a milk from the chow hall. He also apparently stopped to ask somebody else about the pedal for his guitar -- a completely legit thing. Most relief just want to get their eight hours in and go home. This guy was looking for drama. Some of these guys don't know the meaning of an easy Sunday morning.
Monday, July 18, 2022, 5:41 AM
Well, I discovered something about my nightly cramping. Apparently stretching and light movement before bed and during the nightly bathroom breaks have a protective impact against cramping. I would hate to have to do a mini-stretching routine every time I get up to take a leak for the rest of my life.
I compiled my nutritional statistics for the last 3-week cycle: about 2275 calories per day and 117 grams of protein. That calorie count is a bit high considering I'm walking less now.
I've enjoyed the veggies from the fundraiser. I've been bringing some of them down to the chow hall and transforming bland meals into great meals. For example, yesterday I brought down diced onion, green pepper, tomatoes, and garlic for the scrambled egg breakfast, transforming it into something like an omelet. Today I'll probably run out of tomatoes and bell pepper. At least I won't have to fill up my cooler with cold water every eight hours.
Monday, July 18, 2022, 3:45 PM
I had a great run this morning. I barely felt my knee at all. I'm finally starting to recover.
I ran out of tomatoes and green pepper today. That was a good run. I still have plenty of onion left though.
I'm on tomorrow's pass list for the package room. That was fast, for my mother ordered my clothes/ hygiene box only five days ago. I hope it's my box and not just some legal mail, especially if it's a form letter denial in response to my request for help against the parole board.
Tuesday, July 19, 2022, 5:51 AM
Great sleep night. No cramps. Barely any pre-cramps. In bed for eight hours. I hope for more nights like this.
There is a lot of fog around the Columbus area this morning. Fortunately, it has kept away from London so far. I hope it stays away because I have an 8:00 AM pass to pick up my sundry (clothes/hygiene) box. If we are under a fog plan, I might not get my box today.
One of my fellow coworkers, another mail cart runner, is in my block. He has been locked down for about 45 years, and he is very focused on rumors of parole reform. Although he delivered the pass sheets yesterday, he didn't give me any heads-up that I had that pass for the package room -- something I wanted to know. Instead, he came by to tell me something I didn't want to know: an update on that garbage those two quack jailhouse lawyers are filing. Without using my name, he showed those two jailhouse lawyers the case citations I had found -- the ones that basically discredited what they were trying to do. My coworker gave their defense, and it seemed as though he wanted to believe them. Sadly, he is so desperate for hope that he wants to believe anything. He's latching onto the wrong thing here though.
Tuesday, July 19, 2022 1:53 PM
Things have gone well today. I was worried about the fog cancelling my pass for the clothes box, but it seemed to be everywhere but here. My pass was for 8:00, and I had a weight room time for 8:00 also, but I was able to get both in because the line for the mail room moved fast.
I was glad to get the sunscreen. They're out of it at the commissary, and who knows how long it'll be before they get some more. One summer, they were out of it for weeks during the heart of the summer.
I also enjoyed the new running shoes. I cannot ever go 18 months between getting new shoes again. I actually had trouble walking in the shoes at first, being used to shoes with warn-away tread. With my recent focus on injury prevention, I have to keep good shoes. I once read you should get new running shoes every six months. I'm not sure about that, but I'll get a new pair at least once a year. These shoes look cool too.
The new heavy-duty blanket was also awesome. I put it under my state blanket, using it as padding for my mat. It definitely makes my bed feel much more comfortable.
Tuesday, July 19, 2022 7:45 PM
I just heard a crazy rumor. Somebody said that two parole inmates got called down to the Captain's Office to fill out judicial release paperwork. They said that there has been a lot of lawsuits and they want to let people go. They said that guys should have been eligible for this super-shock parole long ago. They said guys would go back before their judges rather than a parole board. Supposedly some "law guy" in the block said that one bill 288 was responsible for this new change (no credible person who has looked at that bill 288 has seen anything like that). This rumor sounds way too incredible to be true. I dread to hear when the one guy in my block hears this rumor, the one who wanted to believe that fake appeal by those two quacks was legit. He will probably start packing up his stuff.
Wednesday, July 20, 2022 5:17 AM
Tonight I tried out my new blanket as padding. It was a definite upgrade. With this success, I did something similiar with my state blanket, folding it into thirds instead of halves, giving me an extra layer of padding.
Wednesday, July 20, 2022 1:54 PM
I ran for half an hour again today with no knee pain. This was also my first test run of my new shoes. They worked out great. A healed knee, new running shoes -- I feel as though I'm back.
I found somebody to give my old shoes to who could use them, one of the new guys in the block who just happens to live on my street. He only had state shoes before that.
I gave my old shorts to one of my other neighbors.
They apparently did the monthly inspection in the J-Units. This will be my first test run of collecting scores from guys in each of the blocks. I have one score so far. The hard part will be running into the guys. They should do the inspection in my block any time now.
Thursday, July 21, 2022 1:57 AM
I just talked to my case manager, showing her the letter from the parole board telling me to take the PROVE program, and showing her a list of programs from Grafton that included PROVE. She offered to call Grafton to see if they still had it, and if they did, she said she could try to transfer me there to take it. She said that, after I took the program, they would then transfer me back. I think that, once I find my way there, though, I might be able to stay. There might be some unforeseen hitches though. They may make me wait until I'm closer to my next hearing. And I would hate for an unexpected bait and switch; for example, I sign up to take PROVE at Grafton, but then they might send me to some hell hole that also has that program.
I am torn about this. I have a good setup here. I don't know what extra benefits I would get if I go up there. I may get a few more visits. What is better, a crappy minimum camp or a good medium camp? I could go up there and see how it is. If I like it, I could stay. If I don't like it, I could come back here. Once I returned here, however, I would probably be put in a crappy population block, and it would take me a while to get back here. Right now, I have a good bunkie; I have a good job; and I'm in a good block. But I might not have another shot at requesting a transfer for a while, and I regret not making the move before. I had hoped that this warden might bring positive change, but I'm not seeing it. There’re rumors that he is favorably disposed to making my block merit again. I just don't know. I told her I would think about it, and that's what I'll do. I may try to write my friend who is there and ask him about it.
Other than that, things are going well. I did my job today and collected scores for the monthly inspection from the different blocks. They haven't inspected our unit yet.
Friday, July 22, 2022 5:24 AM
I forgot to mention that a guy got taken out of here the other day, supposedly for a heart attack. He is a middle-aged guy who spends a lot of time in the dayroom, doing arts and crafts. It was an especially hot day when he was taken out, so I can't help but think the heat was a factor. Plus, spending so much time in the dayroom, he had to wear those hot state blues, which probably contributed to the problem.
My big thing right now is deciding whether or not to put in for Grafton. I've been trying to gather information. For example, I talked to a guy who was at Grafton. He said he liked it there. He also seconded my opinion that if I get there and don't cause any trouble that they'd let me stay there after I took the program. He offered for me to come back down there this afternoon to ask more questions. I think I'll take him up on that offer. I want to know in what specific ways my life would be better up there? What living conditions are better up there?
I have such a good setup going right now though. I may do a pros/ cons list for this transfer later.
Friday, July 22, 2022 4:04 PM
I went and talked to that one guy who was at Grafton before. Unfortunately, I didn't get much useful information. He was only at the medium side for a short time, something like a week. The info he did relay didn't impress me much. I don't see much of anything that would be an upgrade from here. It sounds as though they have a better weight room and more exercise equipment -- that's about it. He mentioned more programming, but I'm not too concerned about that because I haven't seen programs benefit anybody at the parole board. I'm a long-termer, and I'm concerned more about living conditions. He said that they had to wear their state blues in the dayroom there too. He said they couldn't go to rec until they finished running chow, which is worse than here.
I have now invested almost a decade, including both this side and the other side, at Madison. I have maximized my setup here.
I'm almost leaning towards staying now. The minimum side of Grafton sounds as though it would be an upgrade, but the medium side -- not so much. I would like to get to the minimum camp there, but I don't know when, or if, I could get there. I will try to collect more information. I will mention two cliches now: I need to look before I leap, and the grass may not be greener on the other side.
The guy I gave my old shoes to isn't using them; he just put them under his bed. He said that he is saving them for when he starts running in the future. He is an older, broken-down guy who can barely walk, let alone run. He strikes me as one of those guys who say they'll start running one day but never does. One of his cubies says that he hopes this guy doesn't start running because he might fall out. I wanted to give my shoes to somebody who could use them, somebody who needed them, and I think they may be wasted on him. I'm disappointed, but I gave them to him, so there's nothing I can do now.
Good news: they finally fixed our ice machine! It took them a year, but they finally did it. We are still only allowed to use cups, not bowls, during the summer though.
I just learned that one of my neighbors "fell out" the other day too. He is an older, overweight, diabetic guy. Apparently he was suffering from heart and breathing problems. So, that makes two guys who have fallen out within the last week in my block (no news on the other guy). I suspect the heat brought it on.
They finally inspected out unit. We got a 97, which puts us in about the middle of the eating order again. I still have two more blocks' scores to get. The one block, JD, is a black hole though, meaning that nobody seems to know or care what their score was. That's kind of the screw-up block of the institution. In fact, today our CO said that if he caught anybody using excessive ice, he would send them to JD. It's safe to assume we scored better than them.
I sent out a letter to my friend who is at the medium side of Grafton, asking a few questions. I also emailed my family, consulting with them on the matter.
They did raids of certain cubes today throughout the institution, including in my block. They brought in the dog with them, so I suspect I know what they were looking for.
I had another pain-free run today. And I've noticed over the last few nights that my "pre-cramps" have been improving too. It's been slow-going, but I think my focus on recovery is starting to pay off.
Sunday, July 24, 2022, 2:11 PM
Well, another week-long streak of being cramp-free. Last night wasn't a true test, though, because I had an insomnia night where I woke up and couldn't fall back to sleep for a few hours.
The other day I briefly talked to a friend who got released. He is doing well. I didn't get to talk to him long, though, because the guy gave me his phone tablet right when I had to get ready for chow, and the connection wasn't that great.
I found out more about the rumor that some parole inmates got called to the Captain's Office for a new "judicial release" opportunity. What actually happened was that a project called Beyond Guilt had sent some paperwork to those inmates. Run by a small legal firm that deals with inmate litigation, Beyond Guilt is a program that advocates for the release of inmates who admit their guilt and who have improved themselves during their incarceration. To use an analogy, Beyond Guilt is to guilty inmates as innocence projects are to innocent inmates. So, that's all that was. There's no new "judicial release" opportunity for parole inmates.
I made the mistake of trying to explain all this to the one guy who wants to believe all these rumors. In fact, he was apparently going around telling guys, "Pack it up. Something's happening." He didn't want to believe me. You can't tell him anything he doesn't want to hear.
Monday, July 25, 2022, 1:51 PM
I successfully made it to the store this morning. They still didn't have sunscreen, so I'm glad I had my family send me in some extra in my last sundry box. I may have to start budgeting it.
They had a surprise Aramark food sale posted in the commissary. They are supposed to post those notices in the block, but they didn't -- at least in my block. Guys need advanced notice of these sales so that they can plan their store lists. I'm glad somebody pointed it out to me. I ordered two veggie bags.
There was a beautiful "Thinking of You" card being sold today. I instantly thought my mother would like it. Since it's so rare to get a high-quality card like that at the store, I made an impulse buy and bought it for her.
Outside rec was closed this morning, so I ran on my ball court, which was a test on my knee considering all the turns. No problem.
I'm working on a pro's/ con's list for my decision about Grafton. Basically, I can boil the dilemma down into one sentence: Do I leave a decent setup for something that MIGHT be better? It's a bird-in-the-hand/ two-birds-in-the-bush kinda question. I'm leaning towards staying here right now. There are many more pro's on my Madison list than my Grafton one.
There is a rumor floating around here that four parole board members are quitting. Nobody can verify it though. I don't know if that would actually even be a good thing right now. Our republican governor is in an election year, so I doubt he would want the ODRC Director to appoint release-friendly parole board members.
Tuesday, July 26, 2022, 5:51 AM
I had a bit of regression last night. No leg cramps, but the pre-cramps were bad. I might be able to tie it to a change I made yesterday. For the past several weeks, I've been walking the opposite way, putting the stress of turning on my good leg. Yesterday, while running on the ball court and walking the track, I tried going the regular way a little bit. Perhaps I'm not ready for that yet. I've seen progress, but I'm not out of the woods yet.
Somebody who talked to a staff member said that they are considering changing my block into an over-40 merit block, as they did on the medium side. I hope so. I feel a little hypocritical though. In the past, I was opposed to such blocks, considering I got locked up at 21. I hope they do it. We'll see.
I finished my pro/ cons list for transferring to Grafton. I had 30 items on my pro-Madison list, 18 items on my pro-Grafton list. I'm leaning towards staying, but I could be influenced by new information.
My one cubie thanked me for helping him lately. He said he has been tested lately, and he has kept his cool. I am proud of him and glad that I was able to help.
Tuesday, July 26, 2022, 4:27 PM
I went to the library today and got copies of some of the paperwork I would need for litigation against the parole board. I'm still thinking about that. I think I'll make my decision on that after I make my Grafton decision.
Speaking of which, I finished my pro/ cons list, and I'm going to have it printed up. I haven't made my final decision, but I'm leaning towards No (unless new info changes my mind). I'll be interested to hear what my friend at Grafton has to say. I don't expect to hear back from him until next week though.
I finally heard how JD did in the monthly inspection: they are in eighth place. I'm surprised. I would have expected them to be dead last.
Wednesday, July 27, 2022, 2:08 PM
Although I try to be perfect, I make mistakes every day. Today, I made two. First, I put my free letter in the regular mail box rather than the free letter mail box. We only get one free letter a month, so I get accustomed to using the regular mail box. I hope that it will still go out. I wrote my friend at Grafton to ask him questions about the minimum side. I've pretty much decided that I'll stay here, but I won't make a final decision until I hear back from him. The second mistake was at the track. They have this dumb rule here that we must wear our state blues to recreation. When most people get there, they take off their blues and set them on the field. Because we have the same clothes, it's sometimes hard to find your own clothes. Today, I couldn't recognize any of the piles of clothes, and I thought they had been taken. One guy said that a certain pile was mine, and I started to take them, but another guy said they were his, which was true. I then realized that the one pile was mine, but I hadn't recognized my own clothes at first because it was raining, which had changed the color of my state shirt. I felt so dumb for not recognizing my own clothes.
I will always make mistakes, so I have to learn from them and not beat myelf up over them. I also have to be more mindful and relaxed throughout the day so that I don't make these mistakes. I worked today on not dwelling on these mistakes.
Speaking of my time on the track, I had another good, pain-free run.
As mentioned earlier, I wrote my friend at Grafton. The funny thing is, I received a letter from him last night. He only has about two months left before release. Over the past year, he has gotten lean and fit.
Thursday, July 28, 2022, 5:39 AM
I learned more about my neighbor from one of his cubies. They took him out to medical because he 'fell out" in his bunk early in the morning. Knowing him, everybody suspects it was an ovd. The first shift CO packed up his stuff, which is a good sign. I sure hope he doesn't come back
It was a busy day across the institution. A few guys moved into the block. Unfortunately, I heard these weren't exactly merit types. The day before, we got guys straight off the bus. So, if they want to make our block merit again. they are in no hurry to do so.
One good guy moved out to the OPI block. And some guys moved within the block. In fact, I got a new neighbor in the cube across from me. He didn't want to move there though; rather, he wanted a cube along the wall with a window. Somebody else got that cube though. He may have gotten, in part, by saying that there were only a couple of black guys with window cubes. Just another example of block drama and the competition for good bunk locations.
They also did some urine testing throughout the institution. My one poor friend had just taken a leak before he was told to go down there. My cubie -- the guy who is trying to improve himself -- saw this as a benefit of living a sober lifestyle, not having to worry about such tests. Another benefit is that you don't fall out in the middle of the night.
I did my weekly job. Today, I used a homemade, mushfake mail bag. It worked out alright.
Thursday, July 28, 2022, 7:45 PM
They posted the official eating order results for August. My prediction was close: I thought our block would be 5th, but we turned out to be 4th, a slight upgrade. My prediction wasn't too bad, considering I get my info from inmate.com. The discrepancy was due to the fact that somebody gave me the wrong score from MD.
I've been hearing some disturbing news in the block. Apparently, somebody had their sandals stolen recently. Furthermore, I heard that somebody's remote control got stolen. The problem is that we have a block filled with d#pe f#nds right now. Theft is something you didn't have to worry about in this block. I hear that they will work on transforming this block back into a merit block after they remake MB into a military block again. I hope so. It desperately needs to be cleaned up in here.
Friday, July 29, 2022, 1:18 PM
I had another insomnia night. I woke up at 2:30 and couldn't go back to bed. I took two naps since then, and I've been doing fine.
It's nice not to have my creepy neighbor around. I learned more about the story. Apparently he had been up for the last few days, high on something. Then, that one night he was also high and spent most of the night in the bathroom. He then went to the CO and said that he thought somebody has spiked his drink. He then left the block in the middle of the night (a big no-no), heading to the infirmary, claiming the CO had told him to do so. It sounds more and more as though he won't be returning to our block, let alone that specific bunk. They might even try to hit him with an attempted escape charge and raise his security. There's a good chance that he won't return to this camp. I hope they fill his bunk soon. Another guy mentioned how he would stare at people. The odds are that anybody they put there, even a guy straight off the bus, will be an upgrade.
Another dilemma I'm facing is whether or not to file litigation against the parole board. I want to fight their unjust practices out of the principle of it, but I hate doing legal work. I'm leaning towards it though. My next question is whether I would file a lawsuit or a petition for writ of mandamus. I want to decide by the end of the month.
Friday, July 29, 2022, 4:14 PM
I watched The Breakfast Club for the first time today. Good movie. One of its big ideas is that everybody -- a jock, a nerd, a criminal -- deals with some sort of issue. I can appreciate that in here.
Well, there are new parole rumors floating around. Supposedly an outside advocate who comes in here and runs a reentry class said that the parole board members are supposed to return to their offices in September (they had been away since the pandemic), and this will mark the beginning of "Phase II" of parole reform. Furthermore, he said that one of the former parole board members, who turned whistle-blower and is now a state senator, is going to request files of some parole inmates to see why the board is still holding them. Furthermore, a case manager here supposedly said that they were looking into ways to release people. This is all second-hand info, so I want to talk to somebody who actually attended the class, such as my ex-bunkie.
Incidentally, my two cubies kissed and made up (figuratively).
Saturday, July 30, 2022, 6:19 AM
I talked to my ex-bunkie, who had attended that reentry class himself. He said that all the outside volunteer said was that the parole board members are returning to their offices on September 1st. Nothing about "Phase II" of parole reform. I will speak to other guys who attend that class.
That rumor about four parole board members isn't panning out either. Somebody said that the OPI boss that it came from has started false rumors in the past.
They finally posted the notice for the Aramark food sale in my block -- nearly a week too late for people to order from it. They needed to post it before the sale. I feel bad for the guys who would have ordered some food if they had known about it. That's just bad business practice on the part of Aramark. The thing is, the local Aramark staff don't make a cut of the profit, so they don't care. It could be the CO's, especially relief, who don't post it in a timely fashion.
I learned that I wasn't the only guy that this one CO has been stopping about sleeveless shirts. I hear that he's been making guys take off contraband shirts right then and there and walk back to their blocks shirtless. If they won't, he'll write them tickets. He's not just taking state shirts with the sleaves cut off either; he's taking altered personal shirts too. Again, even though my white sleeveless shirt was legit, purchased from the catalog, in the future I'll just get that navy sleeveless shirt to reduce my chances of getting hassled.
Cont.
I talked to another guy who attends that reentry class -- the one that spawned rumors of parole reform. He provided more information than my former bunkie had provided. Apparently Director Chambers-Smith had a phone conference with the various reentry coalitions throughout Ohio, including the one this outside volunteer is a part of. She supposedly said that the parole board members will return to their offices on September 1st, and she will start rolling out "Phase II" of parole reform then. The thing is, nobody knows what Phase II is even supposed to be.
Perhaps related to all that, this morning a mass email was sent out with news for all parole inmates. Apparently, they will now let guys have their attorneys remotely view their institutional parole hearings. The attorneys won't be allowed to actually participate or record the hearings though. The ODRC will offer the same ability to the prosecutor.
This is my concern about parole reform. They might do everything but the one big thing they should actually do: release guys.
A false rumor about this parole email has already surfaced. Somebody said it would allow guys to request reconsideration. The email says nothing like that.
Sunday, July 31, 2022, 5:25 AM
I talked to a third guy who attended that reentry class. He confirmed some of the good things I had originally heard, such as the one state senator requesting parole files.
Fortunately, my neighbor still hasn't returned, and it doesn't look as though he will. I learned more about his situation. Apparently he had been awake for five days before his incident.
The one guy I gave the shoes to still isn't wearing them. Sigh.
Saturday, July 30, 2022, 7:14 PM
I posted the eating order for August on the bulletin board of my block today. I also told some of the guys who gave me their scores where their blocks fell in the order. This is something the institution should do -- provide instant feedback on the monthly inspection. I was never able to get a score for JD though. Many of those guys didn't know the inspection had taken place. Some of those guys didn't even seem to know what the monthly inspection was.
Sunday, July 31, 2022, 1:19 PM
This place is not good at notifying guys about stuff. I forgot to mention how yesterday they announced that indoor rec was closed, but if they announced that it was open, I sure didn't hear it. I missed about half of my weight room time because of it. I went down to the track to do my leg workout there, and I happened to see someone come out of indoor rec, so I went up to the window of the weight room to peak in. Sure enough, it was open. I wasn't disadvantaged too much, though, because there are only two leg weight-machines there (one has been broken for nearly a year), so I do mostly bodyweight exercises anyway, but my one friend missed out because he uses the exercise bike.
Today, they are doing "water conservation," closing down the showers and laundry room. If they provided any advanced notice, nobody I know heard it. Suddenly, after the 11:00 count, we saw the CO taking down the shower curtains. Who knows how long this will last. I'm glad I already showered. If past experience is any indicator, they will let us use the showers and laundry room again after the 4:00 count.
I heard that in the month of June, of 154 parole hearings held throughout the state, only 12 guys got paroled. Assuming these numbers are accurate, that would be a parole rate of less than 8%. That means the odds of getting a parole are slightly less than rolling a snake eyes with a pair of dice.
There was apparently a fight in the block last night after I went to bed. Supposedly the one guy had been telling on people. Just another sign that this block is going downhill.
Somebody gave me a couple editions of Prison Legal News to read, a monthly periodical that reports on prison conditions and litigation throughout the United States. It shows how some of the problems are universal. Each edition is filled with about 70 pages of atrocities. This edition focused on poor health care, such as an asthmatic prisoner dying because he was deprived of his inhaler.
Monday, August 1, 2022, 5:27 AM
After compiling my cramp log for July, I found that I had a total of seven cramps for the entire month, only one night with multiple cramps. That's an average of 0.2 cramps per night; in June, that average was 1.9 . So, a definite decline. My average, estimated intensity also declined, going from 4.4 in June to 2.4 in July. So, there's been definite improvement. It has been slow going, but I'm on the right path. I'm surprised how long it's taking. My leg problem doesn't feel like an injury, but it acts like an injury, considering how slowly it's healing. I hope for further improvement this month. I hope for a cramp-free August, and I want to reduce the pre-cramps too.
I experienced an increase in my average nightly sleep too, going from 6 hours 40 minutes in June to 6 hours 51 minutes in July.
They never ended the water restriction yesterday. The laundry room is still locked up, and the curtains are still off the showers. Somebody pulled a curtain off from a toilet stall and put it over one of the shower stalls, and guys have been using that stall, but I'm not sure if that's an officially approved thing or not. We can endure a couple of hours without shower and laundry access, but it has now been nearly a full day. I was going to turn in laundry this morning, but even if they reopen the laundry room right away, there's going to be a huge backlog of all the guys who couldn't do laundry yesterday. Because I exercise daily, I especially need access to showers and laundry. I don't know what this "water restriction" stuff is about anyway.
I've decided to pursue litigation against the parole board. I did some legal research last night, jotting down favorable cases.
The chow hall CO's were playing games with people last night. They stopped one of my cubie's friends as he was entering the chow hall. Later, I asked my cubie what they wanted. He said they asked him if he could name the five Great Lakes. My guess is they were betting on who could name all five of them and who couldn't. It's a fairly harmless thing, but I still don't like it. If I'm not doing anything wrong, I want to be left alone. I'm not here for their entertainment.
I've experienced similar things before. One time some CO's asked me what my inmate number was. I later learned that they were guessing how long guys had been locked down for. Incidentally, they were wrong about me, thinking I was a newbie.
I learned that the one guy not only had his sandals stolen, but his regular shoes too.
Monday, August 1, 2022, 2:11 PM
We are still under water restriction. It has been a full day now. I will need a shower soon. I went out and ran this morning. Because it was cool out, and I ran at a slow pace, I didn't sweat. Still, I don't want to climb up on my bunk until after I shower. I missed my late morning nap for that reason.
Monday, August 1, 2022, 7:00 PM
Good news: the water restriction is over! Plus, I got lucky and was one of the first to get a shower. It felt so good.
I heard this water restriction was applied unevenly among the various blocks. I heard one block left one or two showers open. Another block wasn't on water restriction at all.
We may not have been put on water restriction in my block if it weren't for some knuckleheaded inmate. The first-shift CO, who wasn't aware of the restriction, was unlocking the laundry room at the start of his shift. At that moment, this inmate said, "Oh, we're off water restriction?" This remark alerted the CO to the restriction.
Monday, August 1, 2022, 7:00 PM, continued
More good news: we are going to have a yard day! My neighbor, who works for one of the inmate groups, said it will be on Wednesday, September 24. They will have bands playing, a special meal, and a health fair. I hope that they have that outside group come in for the health fair -- the one that brings in special equipment, such as a scale that measures body fat percentage. I use this fair as an opportunity to gage my fitness progress.
Wednesday, August 3, 2022, 4:40 AM
I just realized I didn't do a post yesterday, breaking my streak. I was busy responding to a letter, but not much happened anyway.
The one guy who fell out about a week or so ago is back on the compound in a different block. He's doing okay. He was told that he would be moved back to our block soon.
They posted the next fundraiser. They are offering about four different subs and a pie. They look good. The veggie subs are loaded with good stuff, such as spinach and black olives. I think I'll get at least one sub.
Doing legal research for my parole issue is discouraging. I see one losing case after another.
I'm thinking of going to bed slightly later. I keep waking up too early. For example, I went to bed at nine last night, woke up around 3:00 AM, and got up at 3:30. The one advantage of going to bed early is that, if I have an insomnia night, I will have a chance to stay up for a while and go back to sleep.
I just saw RobinHood is cutting 23% of its workforce. I have half my portfolio there. I'm concerned. Hopefully they won't go under one day.
Thursday, August 04, 2022, 5:21 AM
I went to bed a little later last night: 9:20. I woke up at 4:20. I think this worked out okay.
I made myself a homemade mail bag for my job. I will get to try it today.
I have been at my mail runner job for over a year now. Looking back, I made a good choice.
Another fight in the block last night.
Thursday, August 04, 2022, 1:41 PM
Did I mention that I got a new neighbor? I'm so glad. That means the previous one won't be coming back. The new one seems alright so far. He has to be an upgrade compared to my old one.
Friday, August 5, 2022
Good day today. For starters, I had a good long sleep with barely any problems with my leg. I've been going to bed slightly later; that way, I don't wake up before 4:00 AM and have nearly three hours before count clears.
I had four milks for breakfast today. I can divide our breakfasts into two categories: days when we are swimming in milk, and other days when they're hard to come by. Three days a week (Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays) they give us two milks because they serve us cereal. On all other days, they serve us only one milk. On the two-milk days, there's plenty of extras, especially now that we can't bring them back to the block. In fact, even though I had four milks, and my two other friends had three each, we still had one milk left over that we gave away.
Saturday, August 6, 2022, 6:10 AM
I talked to the guy who does his own post around here. Some good news. He said that he was going to post some of my writing on his website this month. And more good news. That one ACLU project he had been talking about before -- the one I hadn't heard back from -- is still in effect. I hope they use some of my writing too.
I was worried about one of my cubies. He started sleeping much more than usual lately. My other cubie said he thought it was a depression thing. Hopefully he snaps out of it soon.
My one cubie doesn't treat the other one too well. He called out to him from the top bunk, not realizing he was asleep. But even after he realized that, he still talked to him, using this razzing, demeaning type of humor. For example, my cubie has a prosthetic leg, and my other cubie was like, "Whatcha doing? Growing another leg?" I can see him being an abusive spouse out there.
We have to deal with little, negative interactions with staff around here. My one friend went in to speak to the case manager yesterday. He asked her if she had received his father's visit application yet. She snapped that she hadn't received any mail at 7:30 in the morning. He said that what he meant was that he was wondering if she had received anything since he had last asked her about it a week ago. I believe asking her once a week wouldn't qualify as bugging her too much. She's usually very friendly, so perhaps somebody else had pissed her off, or perhaps she was having a bad day.
Saturday, August 6, 2022, 10:48 PM
The other morning, I wanted a sugar-free syrup at the chow hall. The food coordinator was talking to another food coordinator though. I saw the guy ahead of me point at the syrup and she gave some to him. I then did the same thing. She then asked me what I wanted, and I told her. After she gave me the syrup, I heard her say that she didn't know what that meant, imitating my pointing gesture as though I had done some obnoxious thing. The reason I did that, though, was to be respectful, not wanting to interrupt her conversation.
Here's a funny moment a friend told me about. A guy with an inmate number starting with 798 was teasing a guy with a 799 number about being new. They are both new in the system, having been down a few months. A guy like me, with a 378 number, having been down over 23 years, finds this funny.
I have a neat way to estimate how long a guy has been locked up by looking at his number. You take an inmate's number and then subtract it from the most recent numbers. Then, you take that result and divide it by 20,000, which is about how many inmates come to Ohio prisons each year. Use my number, for example. The newest inmate numbers are near 800,000 now, and my number is about 380,000, rounded up. Taking 380,000 from 800,000, you get 420,000, which is about how many inmates have come to prison since I've been locked up.
Saturday, August 6, 2022, cont.
Dividing 420,000 inmates by 20,000 inmates per year, you get 21 years. I've actually been locked up 23 years, but it's a decent estimate.
There is one runner here who will go out and run in the rain, and he is often the only one out there on the track. The thing is, he seems to spend as much time telling people about how he was out there running in the rain as he actually does run in the rain.
The other guy here who has a blog, the one who I talked to last night, mentioned a phenomenon that doesn't get enough attention: post-prison PTSD. That is, the lasting psychological trauma many guys experience in prison and take with them upon release. He told me a story of a guy who took his own life after releasing due to this PTSD. The people who favor a punitive attitude towards prisoners don't consider this factor. Right off the top of my head, I know that I have more trouble trusting people, especially overly friendly strangers, and I'm more reluctant to share, having been burned by mooches.
Sunday, August 7, 2022, 5:27 AM
I forgot to mention that both of the guys who "fell out" a while back have been moved back into my block.
My new, over-the-wall neighbor has been there a few days now, and he has been good so far.
I received a reply from my friend at Grafton. He paints a positive picture of the place. He talked to his case manager, and I could get transferred there no problem. I'm rethinking it, but I don't know. I know I'd be closer to my family, but I don't get emails from them for weeks or months at a time anymore, so I doubt I would get frequent visits to make the transfer and upheaval in my life worth it.
I talked to a friend from another block. He was upset because a relief CO was asking him about what he was in here for. He didn't like that because he's in here for a stigmatized case: a sex offense against a minor. They aren't supposed to ask guys about that. Here's where I wish the body cam system worked better. This guy doesn't bother anybody. I hate when they do this because it's intrusive and disrespectful.
Sunday, August 7, 2022, 7:27 PM
I picked up my veggie bags today from the Aramark food sale. This will improve all my meals for a while. I feel bad for my one friend though. He ordered brownies but got veggie bags instead.
I made out my store list today because we go to the store tomorrow. The prices for a lot of the items increased -- again. I know the same thing is happening out there, but it's worse for guys in here, many of whom make $20.00 a month or less.
I wrote back to my friend at Grafton, asking a few questions. I would hate to go back from a dorm to a cell. For example, in a dorm you can go use the bathroom any time you want -- as long as it's not count time. In a cell, if your Bunkie has to take a dump, it is proper etiquette for you to leave the cell during that time. I hate to interrupt my Bunkie to ask him to leave. For example, he may be watching a favorite show during primetime, and I might feel pressured to hold it in until his show is over.
Monday, August 8, 2022, 3:23 AM
I'm having an insomnia night, first of the month, so I thought I would do some typing.
My one cubie had a heated argument with one of his guests the other day. I don't like that kind of commotion at my cube.
Monday, August 8, 2022, 1:38 PM
I had a busy morning by prison standards. First, I went to the store. Usually, I hurry down to the store quickly after they call it, but I had to hold back today because I needed to be next to a friend in line who has medical problems. He was getting an 8-pack of pop and needed help carrying it. My special purchase was a veggie sub from the upcoming fundraiser. The outside cashier, however, made a mistake in how he rang up these items, and he later called the block, telling everybody who bought any fundraiser items to come back down so that our orders could be corrected. About 30 of us went down there. The other big story at the store today was the higher prices. My one friend said he would start buying less for that reason.
I heard talk that a new lieutenant is taking over the mailroom. This may be good for me. In the past, I would send out my typewriter for repair. They, however, haven't sold the typewriter I have -- one that's opaque and has memory -- in about two decades. I've gotten to keep my old typewriter, though, because it was "grandfathered in". Over the years, even though buying a new typewriter would be cheaper, I've sent out my old one for repair because it is better than the new ones. Recently, they came up with a new rule that you can't send an item out for repair and receive it back in if they don't sell an equivalent on the current catalogue. I'm hoping that with new personnel we'll get a new policy. I think this current lieutenant is misinterpreting, either intentionally or unintentionally, the current policy. Although it says you can't get certain items in now, it doesn't say you can't get those items repaired.
A disturbing phenomenon: there are some guys around here who never watch sports except for the little league world series. I think we know what that's about.
This new act passed by the congress, the one that supports EV's and clean energy, is great for my EV and renewable energy stocks.
Tuesday, August 9, 2022, 1:35 PM
The guy who went to the hospital the other week returned to the hospital. Fortunately, he returned about a day later.
The lady from the ACLU project appeared on my JPay finally. I will email her.
Doing legal research last night, I found a case that further contradicts the fake appeal those jailhouse lawyers were trying to do. They were saying that the parole board can't use the "nature of the crime" over and over again. The Ohio Supreme Court, however, said they could.
Wednesday, August 10, 2022, 5:20 AM
I'm feeling slightly under the weather this morning. I felt it coming on yesterday. With my respiratory problem, a symptom I always experience is producing more, colored mucus from my lung. It's not bad though. In fact, I'm not going to take a day off; I'm just going to take it easy.
Thursday, August 11, 2022, 1:47 PM
Well, I felt worse last night, but I got a good night sleep, and I'm feeling a little better. I think I'm turning a corner.
I worked out today, but I had an easy day.
There was a crazy incident in the chow hall this morning. My friend and I were finishing up breakfast when a CO came up to our table and asked my friend, "How many times are you going to eat?"
My friend said something like, "What do you mean?"
The CO said, "I saw you eat on the other side and then come over to this side to eat."
My friend said, "That did not happen."
The CO then said, "Pick up your tray and get the f#k out."
My friend said, "I don't have a problem with that."
We then both picked up our trays and left (we were both finished at that time anyway).
My friend had not eaten twice. We both had arrived at the same time, and we both ate only one meal at the same table. Checking the cameras would show that. What we think happened is that this CO confused my friend for somebody else who looked like him. My friend has a common look: he's a bald white guy of medium build and height with state glasses. In fact, there's so many guys in the block who look like him that we can't narrow it down to who the CO confused him for, assuming it wasn't somebody from another block. The thing is, this false allegation is especially ridiculous because of the meal they were serving. Today they were serving the "hash," which is the worst breakfast. As a way to save money, Aramark recently switched the Thursday breakfast from hard-boiled eggs to this "hash," which is basically potatoes mixed with scrambled eggs. Many people no longer go to this breakfast. In fact, somebody at a neighboring table was giving his hash away.
Thursday, August 11, 2022, cont.
I'm a bit irritated right now. My one cubie has some gay tendencies. Well, the other day they moved a he-she into our block -- the same one my cubie had supposedly been going over to visit and do stuff with in the other block. Well, that he-she is at the cube now, visiting him. I don't want that type of individual at my cube. More importantly I don't want any sort of activity at the cube. I have nothing against that lifestyle, but there are some problems with it in here. I don't want to get associated with it. Unfortunately, I am the only straight one in the cube. I don't want to get "guilt by association." Eventually, I would like to change the composition of my cube, putting in more long term, stable inmates that are more similar to me. This is a problem with a 4-man cube compared to a 2-man cube: it's harder to get three good cubies rather than a single good bunkie.
I told somebody I know about how the Ohio Supreme Court declared that the parole board can use nature of the crime over and over again. He didn't want to hear it though, citing some of the quack jailhouse lawyers around here.
Friday, August 12, 2022, 6:14 AM
Last night I got over 8 hours sleep for the first time in a long time. I think it's because I'm recovering from feeling under the weather. I would like to get more sleep in general.
I had to wait until second shift to finish my mail running job. There is one CO who won't accept mail. We think it's because she's a germ-a-phope (strangely enough, she'll accept the pass sheets though). I wait until 2nd shift and deliver the mail to that block's 2nd-shift CO.
I ate up my last green bell pepper from that Aramark food sale. I still have plenty of onion though.
My one friend works as part of the grounds crew in here, and recently they did a special project of painting the benches. Well, the one CO, a bit of a knucklehead, promised to serve them a special meal of hot dogs and hamburgers for doing this job -- an unlikely claim. About a week later, my friend asked him about it, and he seemed mad about being questioned about it. He said it was still going to happen. We'll believe it when we see it. He has a habit of making big claims -- specifically with food. While visiting with the dogs one day, he told them he would bring them out a big bunch of hamburgers, and he didn't care what anyone would say. Actually, I believe he would feed the dogs hamburgers before the inmates. Around here, the staff like the dogs better than the inmates, and the dogs seem to get treated better. For example, during a heat wave at Lebanon, the staff took the dog kennels out of the cells and put them in the dayroom because they felt the cells were too hot. In other words, the cells were unfit for dogs, but not for inmates.
Friday, August 12, 2022, 11:06 AM
Fortunately, my friend didn't get accused of eating multiple breakfasts again this morning. This was pancake morning, too, the most popular breakfast, and all my friend's clones were down there.
The milk was flowing freely this morning. I had four of them.
Saturday, August 13, 2022, 6:11 AM
Another great night's sleep. I hope that getting eight hours of sleep will continue even when I'm feeling better.
I had my first dream featuring my mail running job the other day, showing that it has now penetrated into my subconsciousness.
Saturday, August 13, 2022, 1:33 PM
Last night, an episode of PBS's "In Good Shape" dealt with cramps, including leg cramps. They said it can sometimes be related to nerve problems. They said the three main cures were stretching, magnesium, and some medications. My methods seem to have been working recently.
I witnessed an unpleasant incident outside the chow hall yesterday. As a group of guys from my block were walking down to the chow hall, they passed by a guy from another block heading back from the chow hall after finishing his dinner. One guy from the group then made a loud sound, intending to startle the guy. Everybody in the group laughed as they continued on. That guy stopped, looked at them, and said, "That's a good way to get knocked out." When somebody told the group what he had said, they disparaged the guy, calling him a "chomo" (child molestor). I doubt they knew what he was actually in here for; they probably just assumed because he was a middle-aged guy with glasses. These guys around here are ignorant cowards, picking on some lone older guy for no reason. One of that group was a friend of my cubie. That's why I hope they make my block into a merit/ 40-and-over again -- it definitely needs to be cleaned up.
I heard a rumor about the commissary. Apparently the new chicken packets have a bad smell to them. Some guys demanded refunds and filed complaints. Pissed off by all this, the store manager is supposedly going to respond by not selling ANY chicken anymore. I don't buy chicken anyway because the chow hall food contains so much chicken, but I would hate to see that loss for the other guys around here. We'll see.
Sunday, August 14, 2022, 2:16 PM
Well, whatever this thing I've been dealing with over the past week seems to have moved from my chest to my nose/ sinuses. I'm not really coughing anymore, but now I have a stuffy/ runny nose.
They posted sign-up sheets for three new programs, all of which sound like Western movies: Resolute Man, I Am Responsible, and Legacy. I am burnt out on programs though. The problem is, I've seen no correlation between programs and parole.
Remember the one guy who wanted to blame me for my parole denial because I hadn't taken that one reintegration program? Well, another guy in my block had the same experience with him. The thing is, my friend actually asked the board members if he should do that reintegration program. The board members told him that they didn't put too much stock into inmate-led programs. When my friend mentioned what they said, the reintegration guy wanted to deny it. My friend got angry because he was indirectly calling him a liar. Now those two aren't on speaking terms either. So, at least I wasn't the only one who has had this issue with that reintegration cheerleader. I don't have many conflicts with people anymore; in fact, there are currently only two guys in the institution who I am not on speaking terms with. I think this reintegration guy wants to justify his decision to go to that reintegration block, which kind of sucks, so he builds up the importance of it in his mind.
Monday, August 15, 2022, 6:12 AM
I learned the parole board will hold hearings here a week from today. I will be interested to see what they do. An acquaintance of mine in the block is going up. This won't be his first hearing. He works at maintenance and has a good record. He said that if the prosecutor chooses to observe his hearing, then he will request a continuance so that he can arrange to have his lawyer observe the hearing too. I know I got screwed over not having the guidance such an attorney can provide.
Monday, August 15, 2022, 1:19 PM
I talked to the one guy who falls hook, line, and sinker for rumors about parole reform. He asked me if I was familiar with the movie Schindler's List. I told him I hadn't seen it, but that I knew it took place in Germany during World War II. Furthermore, a businessman named Schindler ran a factory, and he used Jewish labor. Whoever was on this work list would be saved from the concentration camps and almost certain death. Anyway, my rumor-loving friend then said September 1st it will be like Schindler's list. I groaned when I heard this: he was comparing Schindler's List to the stupid rumor about "Phase II" of parole reform starting up in September. He went through all that buildup for that nonsense.
He reminds me of the members of certain cults. Even after their prophecies of the end of the world don't come to pass, often over and over again, they still believe. And we have no idea what this Phase II would even be. Guys want to believe that it would lead to more releases, but it's just as likely to be a whole lot of half-measures that don't really do anything, like Phase I. My other friend said rumor guy ran this Schindler's List bit by him too. He would also say things like, "Get ready" and "Pack it up." My friend said that this guy has been talking like this since 2010. You'd think a guy who had been locked up forty-some years would know better.
Tuesday, August 16, 2022, 5:49 AM
Another great sleep night. Almost eight hours in bed. No cramps. Virtually no pre-cramps. I didn't wake up too early. Only two bathroom breaks. It seems as though I'm getting my sleep together.
They posted a video on our old GTL tablets about theses new tablets we're supposed to receive. It was a basic, 8.5-minute instructional video that didn't really tell us anything we hadn't already heard. The biggest news from all this, to me, is the video itself because it shows that they are indeed still working on the mass distribution of these tablets, and hopefully they're getting closer to actually passing them out. A nice thing about these new tablets is that they'll be wireless, an upgrade over the JPay tablets, which make us wait in line and connect to a kiosk to send and receive emails.
I was returning from my evening walk last night when a pair of CO's called me over. I inwardly groaned because I wasn't doing anything (I had my ID, etc.), so I felt I was going to be harassed about something stupid. I always hate passing by a bored group of COs because that increases the odds, they'll focus on me. Basically, the one CO wanted to know why I was so thin. I told him the truth: that was my natural build. He didn't want to believe that though. He then asked if I took any medications or ran. I told him I did run several times a week. That explanation seemed to satisfy him. It was a fairly benign interaction, I guess.
We've had a stretch of nice weather, the high temperatures tapping out at about 80. In fact, our ice machine is basically overflowing. That's a change from the recent past when our ice machine was broken for nearly a year and would often be completely empty.
Tuesday, August 16, 2022, 1:26 PM
My one friend has had bad luck with regards to false allegations. First, he was accused of eating the worst breakfast twice. More recently, he got accused by a CO (the same one who made the fake promise of a hot dog/ hamburger dinner) of slacking on the job. He had confused my friend with another worker. Fortunately, this misunderstanding got straightened out.
I've cut back on wearing my clip-on sunglasses. They aren't too common around here, and I guess they strike some guys as funny-looking. Even some CO's have commented (the one sarcastically said they looked cool and his grandpa had ones like them). I'm not trying to be cool or anything, but I try to avoid anything uncool, especially around here.
Tuesday, August 16, 2022, cont.
Because my hat usually shields my eyes well enough, I can skip wearing the clip-ons most of the time. And when I go indoors, such as in the chow hall, I'll take them all the way off instead of leaving them on my glasses. I would wear prescription sunglasses out there, but in here those aren't allowed, so I'm stuck with clip-ons or nothing. I don't want to stick out or draw attention to myself, so I'll take them off except when I'm using them and absolutely need them.
I'm feeling nearly fully recovered today. In fact, in my workout log this will be the first day in about a week that I won't mark down as a sick day.
Tuesday, August 16, 2022, 7:48 PM
They did the monthly inspection today, and my block did well. In fact, we've got the highest score that I know of so far, but there are still three blocks I haven't gotten scores for yet. But two of those blocks are the Banneker’s, and it's highly unlikely they'll beat us.
Wednesday, August 17, 2022, 6:08 AM
Well, today is the day my one friend is supposed to post some of my writing on his website. I hope so. I'm having a couple of outside friends to check on it and see if he actually does. If I see him, I'll ask.
There is a rumor that we will receive our new tablets in the first week of September. I hope so. I might start using the phone again -- hopefully their service is better. I haven't called family or friends since my parole hearing, but I'm ready to reconnect with the outside world.
Wednesday, August 17, 2022, 1:34 PM
Well, some disappointing news. I talked to the one guy who is going to post my writing, but he said it won't happen today. I think he mentioned something about technical difficulties. He said he'd keep me posted. Hopefully it's not too long of a postponement.
I've got all the scores for the monthly inspection except for the Banneker’s. I don't want to post the September eating order until I have all the scores. It looks good for our block, though, because it's unlikely either of the Banneker’s will beat us.
I had a good run this morning. In fact, this was the first time in months, the first time since my knee injury, that I picked up the pace for one lap.
Thursday, August 18, 2022, 6:12 AM
Today is my work day. I will use the opportunity to ask the Banneker CO's what scores they got on the monthly inspection. Once I have those final scores, I can then post the September eating order.
Thursday, August 18, 2022, 11:03
There was a funny miswording on a recent memo. In about a week, they are going to have a walkathon here to raise money to fight multiple sclerosis. The memo, however, states, "Come out to support MS." They should have put either "Come out to oppose MS" or "Come out and support the fight against MS." That reminds me of a notice they posted outside the Lebanon commissary years ago. On the notice, they said, "Now excepting B-Block" when they meant to say, "Now accepting B-Block." They basically said exactly the opposite of what they intended to say.
Thursday, August 18, 2022, 11:03 AM
Well, I wasn't able to find out those scores for Banneker. Neither of the CO's were there when I delivered the mail. I might just post the list without their scores.
My one poor friend is struggling at the job. At around 8:00 AM, the one jerk CO called for him to go to work. My friend had left at 7:55 and was already down there, but that CO wasn't in his usual place, and my friend just hadn't ran into him yet. My friend is one of the hardest workers down there yet he keeps getting hassled. And he tells me that while the morning crew gets hassled, the afternoon crew gets away with actually slacking off and not showing up.
Deshaun Watson, the quarterback for the Browns (my hometown team) just got suspended for eleven games and fined five million dollars. I usually wouldn't discuss news from the "outside world," but this touches upon criminal justice. I have mixed feelings. For starters, I believe everyone should get second chances. I'm a little concerned, though, that he was punished without actually being found guilty of anything. And I wonder about somebody being suspended from their work when their alleged misconduct wasn't job-related. It reminds me of guys around here who have trouble finding employment upon release due to their criminal records. On the other hand, I can't help but wonder what would have happened if one of us in here had committed the acts that Watson has been accused of. We would probably be locked up for years and have to register. It shows the dual nature of our judicial system: a rich, famous athlete gets treated differently than an ordinary person.
Friday, August 19, 2022, 6:08 AM
Another great night's sleep. No cramps. Eight hours. I'm definitely happy with this recent improvement.
That one jerk at the chow hall -- an inmate food service worker -- complained about me using my hat to touch the pepper shaker again. That idiot. The outside of my hat is cleaner than the hundreds of hands touching the shakers at each meal. Many guys don't wash their hands not only before dinner, but also after they use the bathroom. They're coughing in their hands, blowing their noses, digging through the trash, digging in their noses, scratching themselves, and who knows what else. Ignorant. Just to avoid complaints, I'll avoid using my hat -- at least when that one idiot is around.
Friday, August 19, 2022, 10:58 AM
My cubie's "buddy" got moved back to MB yesterday. I'm very happy to see this. I'm glad that my cube will no longer receive that visitor.
I had a good, strong run this morning. I didn't run fast, but I picked up the pace for a while. I'm glad to return to healthy running form.
Friday, August 19, 2022, 11:13 AM
We had a fire drill today. They have so many tests and false alarms that nobody moves when the alarm starts blaring -- we wait for a staff member to tell us to move. So, the way they implement these drills is training people to behave exactly the opposite of the way they should: when they hear the alarm, they freeze and wait.
Saturday, August 20, 2022, 6:17 AM
Today marks two milestones. First, today marks two weeks since I've had an actual cramp at night. That's the longest stretch since I've started recording, and perhaps the longest in about a year since I've had this problem.
The second milestone is that today marks day 700 of my workout streak! I'm at a healthier point than day 600 because I've now emphasized recovery. Today will be a cheat day, but I haven't decided what I'll have yet.
My bunkie told me about his friend who recently quit his job at the quartermaster. Out of retaliation, they put him in the kitchen. I hadn't heard about them doing that for a while. Because the kitchen is now privately owned by Aramark, and they pay workers a little more, it's supposed to be a privileged job. It really isn't though. When they're low on workers, they often force guys to work there. That's why I always try to keep some sort of job: insurance against working at the kitchen.
Saturday, August 20, 2022, 10:21 AM
They are apparently short-staffed today. They have a white shirt working both my block and MB. At least both inside and outside rec were open.
They didn't have anybody listed on the pass sheet for the parole board on Monday. I asked my one friend about it -- the one who said he would have his hearing on Monday. He didn't know what was going on. They may still have the hearings on Monday, and they may just call guys down there. Or the hearings could have been postponed for some reason. A third possibility is that the case manager could have told him the wrong date. She said these hearings usually happen here on Mondays, but that's not necessarily true: My friend and I both had hearings on a different day within the past year. I feel bad for my friend: he doesn't know if he should get ready for his hearing on Monday or not.
Sunday, August 21, 2022, 6:19 AM
I had a good cheat day to celebrate my 700-day workout streak. I did little things like have the sugar-free jelly with my oatmeal, a couple of purple kool--aids, and salt with my dinner.
It looks kinda foggy out this morning, so my weight room may be hit.
Sunday, August 21, 2022, 1:49 PM
It's a good day for my "no legs day": it's raining outside, so I couldn't go out and walk anyway.
I've realized before that life is more of a journey than a destination. For example, physical health is not a state that you obtain and then you're done; rather, it's a lifestyle that you must maintain daily. Your aim, then, is to make sure that you stay on the right path.
Well, I came to another realization the other day while on my evening walk. Because I walk and run so much on the inside of the track, a little pathway has formed in the grass. Well, I decided that one part of that path was too close to the track for my liking, so I decided to blaze a new trail a little further out. The thing is, because this new path is a work in progress, it's sometimes hard to make out this trail in the grass. I then realized it's the same way in life: sometimes the correct path isn't clear. Sometimes you get off the path and have to backtrack. Life's not like a big highway; it's more like a crude trail in the woods. The realm of physical fitness provides a good example of this in my own life. I was overtraining, causing cramps and injury, and once I recognized this, I had to revert to my previous regimen. In other words, I had strayed from the right path. I don't quote the bible too much, but it's reminiscent of the verse that the highway to hell is broad and well-paved, but the pathway to salvation is narrow.
Remember that crazy thing those two crazy jailhouse lawyers were trying to file -- that fake appeal claiming the parole board can't use nature of the crime over and over again? Well, I found a case last night, ruled on by the very court that they filed in, that basically said inmates had no right to judicial review of parole decisions, and the board can use nature of the crime. In other words, this court already has ruled that both the form and substance of their "appeal" is wrong.
Sunday, August 21, 2022, 5:58 PM
Well, I talked to the one guy who thought he had a parole hearing but didn't appear on the pass list. He said he learned of one possible reason for that. Apparently, many guys have been filing complaints about them putting parole hearings on the pass list, saying it puts them in danger. You see, guys going up for parole want to avoid disciplinary tickets. For example, a thief may think, "Hey, I'll steal from that guy going up for parole. He won't do anything. He doesn't want to get in any trouble right before his hearing." Now, that wasn't something I was worried about when I went up for parole, but I can understand how this would be a legitimate concern at a different time or place, such as a higher security level.
My cubie was very upset tonight. Apparently he witnessed the relief CO in MB bullying people. My cubie said he made one goofy guy just stand there with his arms spread for a couple of minutes. Furthermore, he confiscated somebody's hoodie because it was black, and we're no longer allowed to have black hoodies. In the past, he was taking the cheese sandwiches they pass out to diabetic inmates at dinner until somebody told a white shirt, who made him stop. What further irritated my cubie was that there were two other CO's there, including the woman working our block tonight, who were laughing alongside this one CO as he was making the guy stand there. I think the thing that angered him the most was that there was no recourse.
First, this was a sign of growth in my cubie, demonstrating these empathy skills. Some inmates would laugh alongside the CO's. Fortunately, there aren't many of the sadistic types around here; in fact, the bigger problem is the other CO's that enable that behavior, egg, the other ones laughing. This touches upon a larger problem with the culture where such behavior is tolerated. This is why I wished their body cameras were constantly recording. Now, the CO's apparently have to hit the button for the cameras to record, and they aren't going to document their own misconduct.
Monday, August 22, 2022, 6:16 AM
Another foggy morning. I hope it doesn't last because this is our store morning.
1:53 PM
Despite having a fog count this morning, I was still able to get everything done this morning: workout, commissary, shower, and after-workout snack.
I caught the tail-end of some story on Good Morning America about a new study on artificial sweeteners. All I heard was the GMA doctor saying that these sweeteners could be okay in moderation, but we can no longer consider them harmless. I want to find out more about this because I use a lot of that stuff.
I learned more about my bunkie's friend who got reclassed from the quartermaster to the kitchen. He had already been reclassed to idle when some assistant called him back. This assistant accused him of refusing to work. As punishment, he reclassed him to the kitchen. This guy had not refused to work. In reality, he and the commissary boss had a disagreement, so the guy decided to leave. He respectfully told the boss that he was going to get reclassed. So, it's unclear whether the boss said he refused to work or if this assistant jumped to conclusions. The inmate then went to unit staff, who said they would look into it. If he doesn't hear anything back, he will file a complaint.
Tuesday, August 23, 2022, 609 AM
At dinner they ran chow as they did during the pandemic, seating the different blocks in separate areas, making people fill in the tables in the same order as went through the line. This wasn't due to any Covid cases though. According to one white shirt, some guys complained about not getting enough time to eat, so they are making sure everybody gets the allotted time. It's hard to believe that guys would complain about not getting enough time to eat. That's one thing they're usually pretty good about around here -- not rushing people.
This new method will actually give me less time to eat. My one friend and I like to take our time -- we are turtles -- and I like to get extra veggies from guys who don't eat them, but I won't be able to linger anymore. Furthermore, I like to eat with my friends, but if we can't choose our tables, we may get separated from each other and have to eat with strangers, some of whom are pretty strange. I hope this won't last. Hopefully the staff will get this retaliatory impulse out of their system after a few days and go back to the usual way. You don't need assigned seating in a minimum camp. This method of seating is as much of a hassle for the staff as it is for the inmates, forcing the CO's to do work, so I think they'll get tired of it fast too.
They did not have any parole hearings on Monday, and there were no passes for the parole board on Tuesday. So, my one friend has no idea when his hearing will be. It's bad enough to wait for a parole hearing, but it's even worse when you don't know when they might spring that hearing upon you.
I think today is the walkathon. Afterwards, they give all participants a can of pop. I only drink a couple of cans of pop per year, and the walkathon is one of those days.
Good news: they didn't do the assigned seating thing this morning. Hopefully that will be limited to second-shift at most. Actually, I'm hoping that will be just a one-time thing, a blip on the radar. We'll see.
My friend said that he'll have his hearing on the 29th. At least he finally knows. I'll be interested to see if the pass sheet for that day will still list all the guys going up for parole.
About a year ago, my typewriter broke. Although buying a new one would be cheaper, I wanted to get my old one fixed. You see, the new models are more expensive and have less features. In the past, I would have it sent out to be fixed, but a new lieutenant running the mail room wouldn't allow guys to send out stuff that they no longer sell in the catalogs. Although the policy says we can no longer buy typewriters that are non-clear and have memory, it says nothing about having them repaired. They stopped selling the memory typewriters about twenty years ago, yet I've sent mine out for repair numerous times. I think this was just her personal interpretation of the policy. Well, recently she switched jobs and a new lieutenant took over the mail room, so I'm hoping to get my typewriter repaired now. I've been struggling with the best way to approach this opportunity. One guy who works for staff suggested that I ask the deputy warden, but I think this might be a bad idea for two reasons. One, I'll have to deal with the mailroom anyway, and, two, she might misinterpret that as going over her head. I considered kiting and asking this lieutenant, but I'm not sure about this either. Being new, she may just go with the way things are currently being done, and this may be an issue that I want to put in writing. The best way may be to speak to my sergeant. I would have to deal with him anyway to send it out, and he's a reasonable person who can talk to some of these staff members. It would be better for a staff member to address this issue in person rather than an inmate to do it through an e-kite.
Tuesday, August 23, 2022, 3:48 PM
I talked to my sergeant today about the typewriter. He did say he would look into it for me. He mentioned one possibility that may be a deal-breaker for me getting it fixed: the repair policy could be implemented by the major rather than the mail room lieutenant. If so, then the change in personnel at the mailroom won't help me. We'll see.
I experienced a major disappointment at the walkathon today. When I arrived down there, I went to the desk where an inmate worker had an attendance sheet. My name was not on the list. I told him that I had submitted a cash slip, and he told me to talk to a certain inmate -- the one who I had turned the cash slip into originally. I talked to him, and he told me to talk to my sergeant -- the same one who I had just bugged about the typewriter. My sergeant was walking and talking with some staff member, who I suspected might be a deputy warden. A general rule is that you don't interrupt staff members if they are talking unless it's urgent. I decided to do my four required laps. After I finished, I saw that my sergeant was now talking to two staff members. I went back to the block to check to see if I had saved my cash slip. Unfortunately, I hadn't. I checked on the kiosk, but it only has my account records for the last thirty days, and that cash slip was processed a couple of months ago. I then kited the cashier, asking to verify that I had submitted a cash slip. I, however, am inclined to just let this matter go. It's only a pop. I try to minimize bothering staff members about stuff, choosing my battles, only contacting them about important stuff. And, as mentioned earlier, I had just asked him to look into getting my typewriter fixed -- a big favor. So, I don't want to bug him about something petty like that. I have bigger fish to fry. I can get my own pop if I want. It's more the principle of the thing. I only drink pop a couple of times a year, and I was looking forward to it. Plus, I dislike incompetence, and I just ask for what I'm supposed to get. I also don't like unexpected surprises and having to go through a hassle This is a good test, though, for me not to get upset over minor things. You shouldn't cry over spilled milk, so I guess you shouldn't get upset over being gipped out of a pop either.
Good news: they didn't do that assigned seating stuff for lunch or dinner. I guess it was just the way that one white shirt wanted to do it yesterday. Hopefully that's the end of that.
Tuesday, August 23, 2022, cont.
They are setting things up down at rec for Family Day tomorrow. I can see the big tent with tables and chairs underneath it. I also see three booths, which are probably for cotton candy, lemonade, and popcorn. These sights make me feel sad because I won't get to participate this year. I've really enjoyed this event in the past.
I heard some possible good news. Apparently our sergeant said we would get our new tablets on Monday. I hope this is true.
Wednesday, August 24, 2022, 5:40 AM
I'm going through a little bit of a rough patch right now. The main thing is there are back-to-back events that are downers. Yesterday was the walkathon that was a disappointment because I got cheated out of the pop I was due. Today is even worse: Family Day. I will be stuck inside while these other guys are down at rec, playing and having fun with their families. I feel not only sad that I can't participate but also angry because my exclusion is stupid and unjust.
Today is a run day for me, but I'll have to settle for a ballcourt run. It might be a little more crowded, though, because both inside and outside rec will be closed due to Family Day.
To add to all this, last night I broke my 2-week cramp-free streak. In general, I got less sleep than usual.
So, all this has put me in a bad mood. I will work through it though. I like this morning's breakfast, so that's at least something to look forward to.
Wednesday, August 24, 2022, 2:13 PM
I got a reply back from my ekite to the cashier's office. She said that, as my kiosk shows, no walkathon donation was listed. She was referring to how the kiosk shows the last 30 days worth of transactions on my account, implying that I was either too dumb or lazy to check my own account. The thing is, they processed the walkathon cash slips a couple of months ago. I sent a quick reply ekite, forcing myself to be polite, forcing myself not to call her an idiot, telling her the cash slips were processed over 30 days ago. Incompetence.
Well, Family Day is already over, ending at 1:00. I avoided looking out my window today because the sight of the festivities filled me with a sad longing. I guess I miss my family. When we get our new tablets, I'll start using the phone again. I've been continually emailing them though. Actually, I'm the type who finds it easier communicating through writing than verbally. I think this is one reason why I don't do well at things like depositions or parole hearings. I had kinda pulled back from the outside world around the time of my parole hearing, but I think I'm ready to reconnect.
Some good news: the new tablets have arrived in the institution! They are currently in a storage room in our block. I can't wait for them to pass them out. I had previously heard they would distribute them on Monday, but I kinda hope they may do it this week.
Thursday, August 25, 2022, 6:18 AM
At dinner, my neighbor -- an older diabetic inmate -- collapsed to the ground and medical staff had to come in and take him away. Fortunately, he was alright, returning to the block soon after. It was hard, however, to have to eat while somebody was receiving medical treatment.
Thursday, August 25, 2022, 1:55 PM
The cashier replied to my email, saying there was no record of a walkathon donation, going back to June. I'm sure that I submitted one. Perhaps it got lost or didn't get processed. I think I may not have turned it in at the same time as everyone else, but I gave it to the guy who processes them. Either way, I'm going to forget about it and move on.
Friday, August 26, 2022, 5:42 AM
I woke up to an unpleasant surprise. We are allowed to submit one free envelope a month -- a letter the institution will mail out without charge. There are two mail boxes outside the chow hall, one for free letters, one for regular letters. Since I usually use the regular mail box, I accidentally turned in my free letter to the regular mail box. Because they didn't send it back to me, I assumed they corrected the mistake and mailed it out. So, this month I submitted another free letter. Well, last night I received both my July and August free letters back with a notice saying that you can only mail out one free letter a month. So, they apparently didn't mail out my July free letter in July; instead, they held onto it, putting it in the pile of August free letters without notifying me, and when I turned in my August free letter, they then had two free letters for me, and mailed out neither of them. Idiots. My July free letter. which was addressed to my friend at Grafton, was kind of important because I'm trying to find out info about Grafton to help make my transfer decision. So frustrating.
I hear that the staff members are going to train two inmates per block on the use of the new tablets. These inmates will then help other guys around the block. I'm eager to get my new tablet, to see what it's about.
I heard Family Day was a bit of a downgrade this year. Instead of using a grill, they made the burgers at the chow hall. Also, they ran out of some of the food, such as the lemonade.
This has been a little bit of a rough patch with a bunch of crappy little incidents. It's time like this that remind me of my overall incarceration. I think it should now be a little more smooth sailing.
Friday, August 26, 2022, 1:45PM
I've been hearing that we should get the new tablets on Tuesday. I hope so.
They are apparently going to teach two guys from our block how to use them, and then they'll help others. I hope so. I will have a few questions for them.
I had a good run this morning. I picked up the pace a little, even getting my first sub-two-minute lap in months.
I setup a cardboard base for my keyboard. The problem is, some of the keys are now having trouble getting pressed, such as the space bar. I hope this problem doesn't last.
Saturday, August 27, 2022, 11:03 AM
There are three guys going up for parole on Monday, one of them being in my block. This will be his fifth hearing. A guy in another block, an older guy who I've known for about fifteen years since we were both close-security at Toledo Correctional, will also have a hearing. They also passed out parole packets to the guys who will be going up for parole two months from now. Although I counted 9 passes, somebody said that 15 guys from Madison will go up in October, 15 from my side, 2 from the medium side. One of the guys going up in October is somebody I'll call my "running rival," one of only two guys in here who I'm not on speaking terms with (I'll explain in a later post). All these guys are going up at the worst possible time -- right before the November election. I'll be interested to see what the board does to them.
I hear they are supposed to completely transfer from the old email system to the new one by November. I hope I'll be able to do my posts as easily as I do now. I'm going to submit a few questions to one of the inmates who is going to get trained by the technician, such as, "Will we be able to get a keyboard attachment for the new tablet?"
Saturday, August 27, 2022, 4:00 PM
I can't wait until the little league world series is over. It's sad to say but this environment has caused me to associate it with creepiness -- the guys who watch no sports except for that. For a similar reason, I have a bad association with the Harry Potter series. At Lebanon Correctional, they had to do a special waiting list whenever a new book came out in the series. Now, I'm sure many of those guys were fans of the fantasy genre, but many of them shared a certain type of case. At Toledo Correctional, the Unit Manager Administrator, who was taking movie requests, said the most requested movie at that close-security prison was the Hannah Montana movie, which featured Miley Cyrus, who was a young teenager at the time.
Sunday, August 28, 2022, 1:19 PM
I missed out on weight room for a second day in a row because inside rec was closed again. Fortunately, our block has a weight machine in it, so I've been able to get a plan B workout in. Most of the blocks don't have weight machines, so I feel bad for those guys who lost out on weight room.
They posted the official September eating order. Fortunately, my homemade list was right: my block is first. Last month, due to some faulty info, I was off by one spot in my prediction for MA.
Monday, August 29, 2022, 6:13 AM
My cubies had another argument last night. This problem is another reason why I prefer 2-man cubes to 4-man cubes.
11:38 AM
Three guys went up to the board this morning. I wished the one guy in my block good luck. I haven't heard any results yet.
Monday, August 29, 2022, 2:12 PM
The guy from my block had a split decision at his hearing, so he got referred to COBR (central office board review). He should receive a final decision within 60 days. Another guy got a 2-year flop, which means he will "max out" to the end of his sentence (40 years). The other guy, who I've known for 15 years, got a 3-year flop. So, the results weren't that great.
Tuesday, August 30, 2022, 6:08 AM
Today should be the pass out of the new tablets! I hope so.
I talked to the one block representative who got some information about the new tablets. He said that our current attachable keyboards won't work with the new tablets. We will use the old chargers, but not all of them will fit into the tablet properly, and we shouldn't try to force them in or else we might break them. We will also keep the old headphones, which is disappointing because their quality is poor. They will supposedly do something to improve the audio quality down the road. The messaging and video visit features should be available within a month. We won't get to keep our old players, and we'll have to send them home. We won't be able to do video visits from our bunks. The Jpay kiosks will remain functional for about a while too. I'm concerned this may be a downgrade from the old email system. We'll see.
It definitely looks as though they're going to pass them out today. They closed down the whole compound at 9:30. Fortunately, I was able to get my weight room time in, which ran from 8:00 to 9:00.
No more drama between my two cubies. I talked to my bunkie about it. I don't want to get involved in other guys' affairs, but I want to lend my support to my cubie. I would hate to see the good one leave.
Tuesday, August 30, 2022, 2:28 PM
Disappointing news: the outside technicians finished up for the day and went home. They apparently only got to the J-Unit and Banneker. So, we were locked down most of first shift for nothing. Hopefully they will get to us tomorrow morning.
Wednesday, August 31, 2022, 6:21 AM
Good news: we received our tablets yesterday after all. The technicians came back (apparently it was just a meal break or something), and they passed out the tablets to my block right before dinner. It's a little early for me to tell how I like them. The phones still aren't working. One surprise is that I'm loving Candy Crush, one of the free games.
Wednesday, August 31, 2022, 2:19 PM
I just used the new tablet to call home for the first time since my parole hearing. The tablet worked fine, and it was nice talking to my mother. I'm ready to start connecting with the outside world again.
That guy nicknamed "Doughnut" got moved out of the block. He was the one who shaved his eyebrows after somebody gave him a pastry to do so. Apparently, he owed a lot of people, and guys were throwing water or urine on his bed. It's not a loss for our block.
Wednesday, August 31, 2022, cont.
In some sad news, I heard that a guy from my block died from cancer. He had started to refuse to go to parole hearings after he saw that they weren't giving him serious consideration. Their last flop turned out to be a death sentence.
There are a lot of things I like about the new tablets. They offer you about 100 games for $3.00 a year. Of more interest to me, they offer a vast newsfeed for just $1.00 a month. This newsfeed has several categories, including health, business, and politics, and within each category are a number of different sources. For example, the health section offers content from Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, and other periodicals. I'm tempted to order that.
I'm addicted to that Candy Crush already.
Thursday, September 1, 2022, 11:33 PM
With the start of the new month, we are supposed to begin the new eating order. At least for breakfast, though, they still followed last month's eating order. Sometimes it takes them a few meals, or days, to start using the current month's eating order. Another example of the incompetence of this place. As a mere inmate, I knew the eating order over a week ago.
Thursday, September 1, 2022, 1:54 PM
I'm definitely addicted to this Candy Crush. It has been years since I've played any games, so this is a good, brief respite.
I think I've had success battling the nightly leg cramps. I tallied my August cramp log, and I've seen improvement. In May, I had 47 cramps; in June, 57; in July, 7; and in August, 3. I think the main thing has been decreasing my workload on my legs.
This increase in recovery time may have also improved my sleep. I went from a low of 6 hours 40 minutes per night a couple of months ago up to 7 hours 07 minutes in August. Again, overtraining may have been the problem.
Friday, September 2, 2022, 6:20 AM
I called my sister on the new tablet. This was the first time I talked to her in about half a year. It was nice to reconnect with her. I will go back to making this a weekly thing.
The chow hall staff seems to have figured out there's a new eating order for September.
I got a letter from my friend at Grafton. He goes home this month. He was originally going to go live with his family, but they felt obligated to report to his PO officer that his nephew, who lives there, has an opioid habit so that he wouldn't get in trouble for that later. Because of that, he will now have to live in a halfway house for three months. It doesn't make any sense. For the past seventeen years, he's been surrounded by addicts and the stuff they use, and he's never had a dirty urine or drug charge, but now he can't live in a house where one person has that issue. Plus, the halfway house will probably be full of multiple people with that type of problem.
At lunch, I ate with my bunkie and a few other guys who came and went at the table. Afterwards, my bunkie said that I was the "new guy" at the table, and I asked him what he meant. He pointed out that everybody at the table had been down longer than me. He was right. It's sad that, with 23.5 years in, I was the rookie.
Saturday, September 3, 2022, 5:22 AM
The commissary prices have raised again. My bunkie gave me an example. He was going to get four bags of cereal, but he reduced that to three. The thing is, three bags of cereal now cost more than what four bags used to cost.
Both inside and outside rec were closed this morning. Apparently, they were short 20 officers today. I missed out on weight room, but I went out to the ballcourt and did my work out there because it was such a nice morning. In fact, I had just seen an episode on a health show the previous day about the benefits of outdoor air. So, this was an example of turning an obstacle into an opportunity.
My one friend finally received his 1400 stimulus check after waiting and wondering for a couple of years. It's weird how that worked out. Some guys got all their money in a timely fashion. Some guys still haven't received a cent. Other guys, like my friend, got partial payment. He only has about seven months left, so this will allow him to live comfortably until his release.
The tablets have been down for almost a day now. I am going through Candy Crush withdrawal. One guy had his family call GTL, and an operator said it wasn't their fault. A second operator later said it was. Remember: this is a service that guys are actually paying for. I'm using this time to catch up on my posts and emails -- another example of turning an obstacle into an opportunity.
I mailed out the final letter I'm going to send to my friend at Grafton, who goes home at the end of the month. He has probably been my best friend since I've been locked down. I hope he stays in touch. He said in his letter, though, that he won't be able to write for at least three months while he's at the halfway house.
Sunday, September 4, 2022, 11:13 AM
We are going into the third day now of the tablets being down. When my cubie's family called and complained to GTL, an operator told them that they should report the matter to unit staff. Because we are in the midst of the 3-day, Labor Day weekend, unit staff won't be here until Tuesday. Again, we aren't being deprived of a free, tax-payer funded, state-issued service; we are being deprived of services we paid for. The one operator told them that they should report the matter on our GTL kiosks, which currently don't exist (we still have the JPay kiosks).
Sunday, September 4, 2022, 1:22 PM
It's so easy to accidentally break the rules around here. Last night, I saw a whole bunch of guys at outside rec, so I thought it was open and went out there myself. A CO later came and chased us all off -- apparently it had never been open. Then, I decided to walk the compound instead, which we are allowed to do once they call the last block to chow. I thought they had called the last block to chow, but I forgot that with the new month there was a new eating order. So, I was out walking the compound early. Fortunately, there was no issue; in fact, there were other guys already out there, which is another reason I thought it was already open. So, I inadvertently was out of place twice in a ten-minute period.
I'm just discovering the joys of the original Candy Crush, yet I just saw an ad on TV for Candy Crash Ten.
We are supposed to get a special meal for Labor Day. I've heard talk of hot dogs, macaroni salad, cake with a powdered sugar topping, and ice cream. That would be nice. We'll see.
Monday, September 5, 2022, 6:10 AM
Today is Labor Day. We should at least eat better today. We will supposedly get a special meal at lunch. They fed us tonight's usual dinner last night, which means that we will probably be given a dinner bag at breakfast today. That also means they will probably switch today's breakfast with Wednesday's because they don't like to serve both a peanut butter breakfast and a peanut butter dinner bag in one day. The thing is, the staff provided no notice of this, as they used to do. We veterans know what's going on. Some of the new guys, though, may not know that they'll miss out on dinner if they don't go to breakfast to pick up their dinner bag. Many people don't get up to go to breakfast, especially the less popular peanut butter breakfast on Monday. Also, more people might go to breakfast this morning if they knew it will be the more popular French toast meal.
We're going into the third day of our tablets not working. Plus, due to the rain, the cable went out for a while too. With the tablets, I'm not just losing out on Candy Crush. I also am deprived of access to Lexis Nexis, and I need to do some legal research.
Monday, September 5, 2022, 11:03 AM
I'm standing around, waiting for them to call us down to the holiday meal, so I thought I'd work on the blog. Although I shouldn't have the extra time to do this right now, I do. You see, the chow hall CO's are cheating my block right now. We are supposed to be first in the eating order this month, but we got called seventh this morning. Sometimes on holidays the kitchen CO's will suspend the eating order and just start at one end of the institution and work their way around. I was hoping they would resume the eating order for lunch, which would make us first, or at least start at the other end of the institution, which would have made us forth, but no, they started at JA again, which will make us seventh. One of the main benefits of doing well on the monthly inspection, and consequently, being higher up in the eating order, is going earlier for the holiday meals. You see, everybody goes to the holiday meals, and there is more food, so they take longer to run. Plus, there's a chance they could run out of the good food. Therefore, it's desirable to go to the holiday meals early on. The administration undermines their own rehabilitative efforts when they do stuff like this. Many guys are asking, "What's the point of doing well on the inspection?"
We had a decent Labor Day meal: good hot dogs, real buns, lemonade, salad with ranch dressing, a brownie, apple, cheese sauce, and ice cream, The dinner bag had something interesting. As usual, peanut butter packets were included, but this was a new variant of peanut butter. According to the nutritional info on the packet, there was two tablespoons inside. If true, this would actually be the amount we're supposed to get. Until now, we've been cheated on the amount of PB they give us. When I open this packet, I'm going to measure it and see if it actually has the amount advertised.
I've been debating on whether to file a state or federal lawsuit against the parole board, but I've finally decided on the state route. I will begin working on it soon. If I want to use JPay to help with the printing and mailing of it, then I will have to hurry because JPay is going away soon. I will raise two main grounds: 1.) the board runs on unwritten, illegal policies, and 2) they used misinformation when denying me parole.
Tuesday, September 6, 2022, 6:06 AM
We're going into the fifth day of the tablets not working. Hopefully with the long holiday weekend being over there can be progress in getting them back online. I need to do legal research, and I would like to use the phone soon.
I will have a busy morning by penitentiary standards, having to juggle breakfast, commissary, and weight room. I may have to sacrifice my weight room time.
Tuesday, September 6, 2022, 11:28 AM
Well, I had a successful store trip, but many guys didn't, including my own bunkie. Apparently, the funding system has been malfunctioning since last Thursday, and the guys who got money sent in weren't able to get it credited to their accounts. A couple of guys at the store this morning couldn't shop because their money hadn't "hit" yet. In fact, there were ten openings on the bag two commissary call. There are twenty-five guys per bag, so that means forty percent of that batch skipped. My cubie pointed out that they knew about this problem since Thursday, yet sent out no notice about it, such as an email.
Good news: they fixed the problem with the accounts, and guys' money started getting posted. They even allowed guys, like my bunkie, to shop. They even posted a memo about this, which started, "There is problems..." I made fun of the memo, but then I realized it may have been the CO who posted it, and he was within earshot. Oops!
Good news: the tablets are working again! I guess they decided to fix all the technical problems today, both the accounts and the tablets.
I started working on the rough draft of my lawsuit. Unfortunately, the Lexis application still isn't working on the new tablets, so I can't do legal research right now.
Wednesday, September 7, 2022, 2:01 PM
Another example of the disorganization and incompetence of this place. When we were returning from chow, we saw guys going to and coming out of Receiving. We had no idea what it was about. When we returned to the block, we asked about it, and guys told us that they were passing out new chargers and earbuds down there. We had received no official notification about this, and we were unsure what to do. We didn't know whether or not we had to turn in our old ones, but most guys returning from there said No. We didn't know if we could just go down there or if we had to wait for them to call the block. A guy from our block returned with his new charger and earbuds, and he said they weren't checking what block guys were from. He said we better hurry down there because they were short on chargers, and some guys were going through the line twice to get a second charger (apparently they can be used for tattooing). We started to head down there, but we then saw guys from our block returning from Receiving, and they said that the staff were turning guys back because they hadn't called our block yet. After a while, we heard they ran out of chargers. We waited a while and then saw a bunch of guys from our neighboring block and our block heading down there. The staff turned them back (a few guys slipped through the cracks, though, and got their new earbuds). You can't wait for them to call your block because you risk missing out. In the past, there have been fundraiser deliveries where staff said they would call guys down by blocks, but they didn't do this, and guys had to just show up. If you don't go down there, you risk missing out. Today, they eventually ran out of earbuds too before calling my block. How do they not know how many chargers and earbuds to bring in? They should have waited until count times, when almost everybody is at their bunks, and have unit staff go around and pass them out to everybody. That way, everybody will get a charger and earbuds, and nobody would get extra. That's the way they've distributed other things of lesser value, such as masks and Kairos cookies. Supposedly they will return later this week with more chargers and earbuds. We'll see.
On some brighter news, they notified us that we'll receive our sub sandwiches on the 14th. I'm looking forward to that.
Over the past 30 days, I've had only one nightly leg cramp. Compare that to June, where I had 59 of them over that 30-day period. I think I'm getting the problem under control.
It was funny how quiet the block got after the tablets started working again. I got my Candy Crush fix in too.
Thursday, September 8, 2022, 2:17 PM
The kitchen workers can sometimes include some shady guys. It's not the most desirable job, so you often get some jerks. For example, my friend held up his tray to receive some salsa. The worker put the salsa over his orange. My friend said, "That's messed up. Could you make it right and give me another scoop. The worker then said, "You only get one scoop. Get out of here or I'll come over there and whoop your @ss."
Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, 10:54 AM
I got a letter from an incarcerated friend last night. He has been fighting cancer, and it apparently took a turn for the worse. He was writing me from a medical prison. The way he makes it sound; he may be near the end of his life. He's been locked up a little longer than me, about twenty-five years, and I've known him for at least two decades. He mentioned something about the cancer reaching stage four. I got the letter at 6:00 AM this morning after I woke up (they pass out mail third shift here), and I did a quick reply letter so that I could mail it out before the weekend mail (they collect the outgoing mail around breakfast time). I hope he can pull through.
The tablets are down again. I hope they can fix them today before the weekend so that they're not down for several days.
Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, 3:45 PM
A friend who was released a few years ago wants to get in contact, asking somebody else for my info. I hope he actually does.
My mother's former boyfriend also called and asked about how my parole hearing went. He wrote a letter to the board on my behalf, offering me a job. He may contact me too. That would be great.
The tablets are working again.
Sunday, September 11, 2022, 5:56 PM
I knew that they were short on staff members when I woke up this morning and found a white shirt working the block instead of a CO. I was pleasantly surprised to see that indoor rec was still open (although outdoor rec was closed), so I was able to get my weight room time in. The CO working indoor rec was so new that we had to explain to him that he was supposed to take attendance when we turned in our ID's to go into the weight room.
I heard that many of the staff at Marysville (Ohio's women’s' prison) picketed the other day over working conditions. I'm sure one of their complaints was understaffing and the resulting forced overtime, which is a statewide problem.
I wrote another, longer letter to my friend who is dying of stage 4 cancer. He makes it sound grim. I hope my letter reaches him in time.
I learned some good news -- if true. That one sadistic young guard -- the one nicknamed Sippy Cup -- apparently got walked out of here. Supposedly the warden himself saw this guy try to start a fight with an inmate. This was the one I mentioned before that started to shake me down for no reason, swore and engaged in name-calling, and then changed his mind. I'm glad to see the unstable ones get fired.
Tomorrow I have an appointment with an eye doctor. I need to get new glasses. Unfortunately, in here you can't just stop by some local glasses store and get them the next day; rather, you must go through a months-long, bureaucratic process. Plus, my understanding is that you can only get glasses every two years.
Today was the first game of my hometown team, the Cleveland Browns. The game wasn't on TV here, so I had to listen to it on the radio. It was an exciting game. After the Browns blew a 13 point lead going into the fourth quarter, our rookie kicker made a nearly 60-yard, game-winning kick with about 13 seconds left!
I am almost finished with the rough draft of my complaint against the parole board. Speaking of parole, I talked to a friend from another block today at lunch, and he said that he made a startling revelation. Over the past 20 years, he has personally known more people who have died in prison than who have received a parole. Sad.
Monday, September 11, 2022, 4:14 PM
My appointment with the eye doctor went well. Even better, I was still able to squeeze in my workout, shower, and laundry before that appointment. Afterwards, I kited the health care administrator for the next phase of the process of getting glasses sent in.
I heard another story about why that Sippy Cup got walked out. Somebody said that he groped a female staff member at the quartermaster. Whatever the true story is, I'm glad that he is gone, and I hope he doesn't come back (or just get transferred to another prison).
Tuesday, September 13, 2022, 10:59 AM
They finally fixed the leg press in the weight room! It took them about a year to do it though.
They took somebody out from MB in an ambulance last night. Haven't found out why yet.
The leaves are starting to turn color, and the temperature is starting to drop. It's feeling downright Autumnal. This is perhaps my favorite time of year, late summer/ early fall, the sweet spot between the hot and cold weather. Plus, I love the multi-colored leaves. I remember as a kid my favorite sight was the mountains of New England during fall with all the reds, oranges, yellows, and greens.
Wednesday, September 14, 2022 2:18 PM
Big food day in here today. First, we got a bag dinner at breakfast because they're going to do some maintenance in the kitchen today. I got a couple of extra peanut butter packets and oranges that guys didn't want. I gave away some of the food I didn't want, like the bread.
They also delivered the sub fundraiser today. I ordered a veggie sub. It was special for what it came with: half an onion, a tomato, sliced pickle, black olives, lettuce, some leafy things, and several slices of cheese. I gave away the bun and am going to mix all that in with some black beans and microwave it. Today is a definite cheat day.
The infirmary called me down to sign some paperwork to get my new glasses. So, I'm one more step through the bureaucratic process of getting glasses sent in.
While using the bathroom, I heard somebody talking on their tablet, yelling at his woman. He called her a fat, dumb b#tch. She apparently hung up on him because he had to call her back right after that, but she must have accepted the call because I heard them talking again. I'm surprised how often I hear guys verbally abusing their women like that. I'm more surprised that these women keep accepting the calls.
Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, 10:54 AM
My fundraiser food was great. Definitely a great value.
When returning back from the fundraiser, my group of friends was subjected by another joke that's been run into the ground. It's some variation of, "Go ahead and leave that on my bunk." We heard that three times on the way back from picking up the fundraiser to the block, even our block sergeant joining in. This is something you also hear on commissary day while returning from the store.
They passed out some more earbuds, but they did it in a messed up way again. They should have waited until count time when everyone was here, went from bunk to bunk and handed out a pair to each person. Instead, they yelled, "If you didn't get earbuds, come up to the desk." Since nobody in our block had gotten any (except for the guys who had sneaked up there and got some), everybody formed a huge, chaotic line. They quickly ran out of earbuds, so the CO started marking down bed locations of people who wanted one so that they would know how many extra to send down. One guy, who is hard of hearing, apparently slept through this announcement and missed out. I ended up getting a new pair, but they worked less well than my current pair. The new ones wouldn't recognize my voice after four attempts, but my old pair recognized my voice the first time.
Friday, September 16, 2022, 4:13 AM
Well, I'm dealing with another bout of insomnia, so I might as well work on this post.
There was apparently a funny incident. CO's were shaking down a couple of guys at the benches on the compound when one of those guys suddenly ran away. They chased him all the way to the ball field, where he surrendered. They shook him down and found nothing. They spent the rest of the morning searching the area and found nothing.
Because the Lexis app on the tablet still isn't working, I was forced to go to the law library to do some legal research.
They did the monthly inspection, but I have no idea how we did. I asked our regular CO, but he said the inspector didn't give him a score. The inspector didn't mark anything down on his clipboard when walking down our aisle, but he did apparently mark something off in the bathroom. While doing my job, travelling from block to block, nobody knew any scores. I even asked the MC CO, who also said the inspector didn't give him a score. So, it looks as though this month I won't be able to do my informal results list. Again, this is part of the problem with this inspection process, not providing us with feedback.
They took off the notice about getting only one cup of ice. The ice machine is always filled now, so that's probably what prompted it.
Saturday, September 17, 2022, 10:25 AM
My cubie, the one who is struggling with self-improvement, has been cut off from his one daughter since he's been locked down. Apparently, another guy in here is related to that family, and he got a picture of my cubie's daughter sent in. This has triggered a flood of emotions in my cubie, from joy to seeing his daughter, to anger at his ex-girlfriend’s family for not maintaining contact. At one point I asked how he was doing, trying to check in on him, but I think that was a mistake, triggering the issue in his mind.
My over-the-wall neighbor has been annoying me lately, making noise after lights out. He has been using his phone tablet after 1:00 AM. One night he was singing. Still, at least he's not creepy like his predecessor.
I forgot to mention that apparently something has been wrong with the dishwasher in the kitchen, and we haven't always been getting the regular plastic trays. Instead, we've often been getting smaller, flimsy styrofoam trays. These are hard to carry back from the line to the table, and the food mixes together. For this reason, many guys don't get all the food, so I haven't been getting as many extra veggies lately.
Breaking news. Drama in the block. Apparently one guy in here got super high and was whacked out of his gord. He had been awake for the past few days and had grown paranoid, falsely thinking guys were out to get him. Well, he told the CO, during count, that guys were trying to poison him by leaving fentanyl on his bed (not true, of course). Now a bunch of CO's and a white shirt have been called in here, and they're shaking down his bunk. They also took this guy away. Man, I wish they would clean up this place and make it into a merit block again.
Saturday, September 17, 2022, 4:21 PM
Update: that one guy they took out of here is back already. Apparently, they only gave him a few-hours "time out." I, and many other guys, was hoping that he wouldn't return.
Sunday, February 18, 2022 6:09 PM
That one guy who was tripping out is gone again. I hope this time he stays gone.
There's another way we get screwed out of first place in the eating order. The chow hall CO's will often call multiple blocks to chow at once. My block is first in the eating order and JA is second. When both of our blocks are called at the same time, JA will actually beat us down there because they are closer to the chow hall, effectively making us second. The same thing would happen at London Correctional. Even when my block was first, they would call three blocks at once, and because my block was the farthest away, we would effectively become third.
Remember that one guy who wanted to blame me for my parole flop because I didn't take that one reentry program? Well, I'm speaking with him again. I'll be a little wary of him from now on, but I don't like to hold grudges. Now there's only one guy I'm not on speaking terms with around here.
Monday, September 19, 2022, 1:24 PM
The tablets were out again last night, meaning I wasn't able to get my daily Candy Crush fix. They're working now. Still no Lexis.
This morning the CO told me that I had legal mail. They may have called for me while I was at the store. When I went down there, the mail room staff were already gone. You see, the mail room staff are stationed on the medium side, and they only come over to the minimum side briefly to pass out legal mail and packages. This means that I'll have to wait until tomorrow to pick up my legal mail, leaving me waiting and wondering. This legal mail was unexpected. There is only one thing I figure it could be. A few months ago I wrote to a couple of legal advocacy groups, telling them about my parole experience, asking them for help. I specifically asked them not to respond to me if they were just going to send me some form letter denial because it's such a hassle to pick up the mail. This morning is a case in point. With this being store day, I was hard-pressed to get everything done this morning, and I had to waste ten minutes walking back and forth from the mail room for nothing. Tomorrow, they'll probably call me down around the time of my weight room at 8:00 AM. This will be a downside of my litigation against the parole board: dealing with legal mail. And I bet this legal mail will be a form letter denial from one of those legal advocacy groups even though I asked them not to send me one.
I found out from my family that my friend who is dying from cancer is still at the prison hospital (and still alive). Therefore, I sent him another letter, wishing him well.
My store trip was overall a success. They gave me Fresh Mint toothpaste instead of Aquafresh, but that was the only issue. The one interesting thing I purchased was 4 pieces of chicken for next month's fundraiser.
Outdoor rec was closed again this morning, which forced me to run on the ballcourt. Because yesterday was my no-legs day, I was feeling strong and ran at a faster pace. I have to be careful not to do too much on the ballcourt, though, so that I don't get injured again. In fact, near the end of my run, I was starting to feel it in my knee and hip slightly (no pain though).
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Shortly after 8:00 this morning, I went down to the mail room to try to get yesterday's legal mail. The building, however, was completely locked. I then went to tell my regular first-shift CO that I would be at the weight room if they called for me.
They never called for me. I don't think the mail room staff ever showed up on our side today. That means I'll have to wait and wonder for another day.
After my weight room time, which I missed fifteen minutes of due to my fruitless trip to the mail room, I went to the law library. That was a wasted trip too. A small group of jailhouse lawyers, who monopolize the law library, were hogging the computers. They're only supposed to stay on for an hour, but they were overextending their time. I still had to shower and have my after-work out snack.
Today is a landmark day: it is the two-year mark of my workout streak. It began September 20, 2020. To celebrate, I had a cheat day. I saved the duplex cookies from my dinner bag last week, and I had milk and cookies for my after-workout snack!
My bunkie let me borrow his tablet this afternoon so that I could take a look at the entertainment package. It's pretty awesome, I have to admit. There were hundreds, maybe even thousands, of movies and old TV shows. On top of that, there were dozens of live TV shows being streamed. Now I see why people are so absorbed with their tablets. There is just so much there.
Wednesday, September 21, 2022, 6:09 AM
The Lexis legal app still isn't working. I hate this because it forces me to go to the crappy library. One thing I don't like about the library is the new librarian. When I went down there that one time to make copies of the blank menu, she was the one who thought I might use them for betting slips. Well, my one friend had a similarly weird encounter. He went to check out a book, but for some weird reason he wasn't in the system. He mentioned how he had checked out books before and that he had even worked at the library in the past. The librarian said "No you didn't," basically accusing him of lying. There would be no point in him lying about that, and she has only been a librarian here for a couple of years, only about one on the minimum side. She then went to the trouble to look up on the computer to see if he had worked at the library. She then said, "I guess you did work here." This incident kind of justifies my bunkie's decision to leave the library when she took over.
This distrust is common among staff members. In fact, they are often trained not to believe inmates, so their default mindset is that inmates are lying -- even when it makes no sense for them to lie.
Wednesday, September 21, 2022, 1:24 PM
I finally got my legal mail today. I was happy to see that it was more than just a form letter denial. It was a detailed, personal letter from the Ohio Public Defender's office. He mentioned some of the parole board's unwritten, secret policies, such as how nobody gets parole at their first hearing.
Furthermore, he mentioned how the average time served for an aggravated murder case is about 30 years, not including the guys they don't let out. He said that, due to the circumstances of my case, I'm likely to do more than the average. He said that I should send him a letter, describing the misinformation, and he would consider whether or not he would help me correct it. I am going to write him as quickly as possible. I will at least hold off on litigation until I hear back from him.
The power just went out here. It's bad timing: this is probably going to be the last 90 degree day of the year. Tomorrow, the first day of fall, the temperature is going to plummet. And now they just closed the yard. Hopefully the power won't be out for too long. At least the tablets are still working, for now.
I took a break to use my tablet while they were still working. I played Candy Crush for about half an hour before the tablets stopped working.
I had a weird, upsetting experience at the mail room when I was picking up legal mail. When I got up to the window, the CO there said, "That's him. The tattle tail." Confused, I was wondering if he was referring to me because it didn't make any sense. As he handed me the mail, he then said, "That'll be a kite," suggesting I would complain about him. I just stood there for a moment, perplexed, stunned, wondering if I should ask him what he was talking about and try to contradict this false allegation. He then told me to, "Get out of here!" I left.
I've been trying not to obsess about this incident, but it was upsetting, and I've been wracking my brain, trying to figure out what he was talking about. He reacted to me as though I was somebody who constantly sent in complaints about the mail room, and that's not me. I'm not that type in general, and I haven't had any problems with the mail room since I've been here, let alone him in particular. My best guess is this is an instance of mistaken identity, that he's confusing me with somebody else.
I really didn't like this. Of course, in this environment you don't want to get a reputation for being a "tattle tail." The CO he was talking to, and the inmates near the window, will think it's true. I'm wondering if I should try to clear up this misconception and, if so, how. I don't want a mail room CO mad at me for no reason. It will probably be a few months before I go up to the mail room again. Maybe he'll figure out his mistake on his own.
This is the stupid kind of stuff you have to endure in prison. Why does it seem like this weird stuff keeps happening to me? I'm surprised how often you get falsely accused of stuff in here.
Wednesday, September 21, 2022, 5:00 PM
The power is still off, and the yard is still closed. Even worse, for the eating order, they started with JA and are making their way around the compound, meaning we'll be going seventh rather than first. Another example of us getting screwed out of our first-place status.
While trying to figure out what that mail room CO was talking about, I had one idea. They are supposed to provide you legal mail rapidly, not wait two extra days. Perhaps somebody else complained about the delivery of mail and he assumed it was me because I recently received some. I have no idea though. That's just a stab in the dark.
I will use this time with no electronic distractions to reply to the public defender's letter.
Thursday, September 22, 2022, 2:59 AM
I'm having a bout of insomnia right now. There could be two factors contributing to it. One, that upsetting experience earlier in the day. What's more likely, though, the power is still off, which means there are no fans on a hot, humid night.
They opened the track and ball courts so I could at least get my daily walk in. There were a million people on the track, though, all desperate to get outside.
I didn't know what to do for my relaxation hour with no electronic entertainment available. I was going to watch the season premiere of The Connors, but that wasn't possible. Instead, I pulled out my old handheld video game that I hadn't played in years. This recent taste of Candy Crush got me in the video game mood.
I will work on my letter to the public defender while there's still power left in the battery of my JPlayer.
Thursday, September 22, 2022, 1:53 PM
Good news: the power came back on here during breakfast. It's nice to be back up and running.
I noticed lately that the chow hall CO's are bringing out a garbage can when they're shaking down. That means no more food graveyard scattered around the lawn outside chow hall. I wonder if one of the higher-up staff members found the discarded food unsightly (it will often stay there for hours -- or even days).
During the power outage, we heard guys say some version of "Somebody didn't pay the electric bill" way too many times.
Friday, September 23, 2022, 1:27 PM
It got cold out suddenly. Last night I pulled out my sweats to sleep, and I wore my winter hat outside this morning. I'm enjoying the cooler weather though.
They posted the schedule for Yard Day, which will take place on Tuesday. Yard Day is a special, prison-only holiday, sort of like a local fair. They mentioned "activities," but they didn't mention what those activities will be. Hopefully they will have the Health Fair with that one outside group that brings in special equipment. In the past, they've brought in one of those special scales that measures body fat percentage. I'm curious what mine is.
Yard Day is a cheat day for me. They serve a special meal, and they will have cotton candy and popcorn booths.
I finished my letter to that Public Defender. I hope they will help me correct that misinformation relied upon by the parole board.
In here, you have to enjoy the small pleasures. For me, one of those pleasures is the changing colors of the trees on the compound.
Saturday, September 24, 2022, 1:12 PM
Good news: it has now been a month since I had a nightly leg cramp! I won't say that I've conquered the problem, for my right leg still can get "pre-cramps," but I've brought it down to a manageable level. In here, sometimes you have to solve your own medical problems.
A guy on my street "refused to lock" yesterday; that is, he wouldn't go to his bunk. His departure won't be a loss for the block.
They posted a memo in the block that the chow hall won't be serving dinner down there tonight; instead, we will be called down there to pick up a bag dinner around 2:00 to 2:30 PM. I like bag dinners because guys will sometimes give me their unwanted items. I've heard two versions of why they're doing this. One, they're going to be doing some maintenance at the chow hall tonight. Two, they are understaffed. I don't know.
Supporting the understaffing theory, outside rec was closed today. Inside rec was open, though, which was fortunate, considering I had weight room.
Incidentally, the leg press machine was broken again. You can still use it, but you can't adjust the seat, meaning you can only use the furthest setting. That makes it good for doing calf raises, but not so good for squats. Hopefully they won't take a year to fix it again.
I'm still baffled about what that mail room CO was talking about. I've never sent a complaint kite, or a grievance, against the mail room in the decade I've been at Madison, counting both the minimum and medium side. It must be mistaken identity. I'm a bit mad at myself for not saying something at the time. I'm just a deer in the headlights with that kind of weird, off-the-wall stuff.
Sunday, September 25, 2022, 1:49 PM
They did give us a dinner bag. Again, I heard it was because they didn't have enough staff to both run the chow hall and the compound at the same time. As usual, whenever they do anything special at the chow hall, they don't follow the eating order, starting at JA instead, making us seventh rather than first.
Monday, September 26, 2022, 6:14 AM
I found a treasure on the bookshelf the other day (that's the place that guys put stuff they don't want any more but that other guys might want). Two plastic knives. They still sell plastic spoons and forks, but they haven't sold the plastic knives in years. This is why I always check the shelf. The other day I found a milk there. I just donated two old Men’s Health magazines there myself the other day.
Tomorrow is Yard Day, and I still haven't heard whether or not they'll be having the health fair. This will be the first Yard Day since the pandemic. In the past, they had the health fair on Yard Day. We'll see.
Monday, September 26, 2022, 11:09 AM
One of the blue shirts from the chow hall gave me a preview of the Yard Day meal: two BBQ patties, real buns, cheese, a brownie, and a small ice cream cup. That sounded good to me, but then he told me the guys at London are getting more food. This institution isn't giving us as much for some reason. This is just another example of the inconsistency from one institution to another.
Outside rec was closed again, so I had to do my plan B run on the ball court. I then realized that I've had to do my last four runs on the ballcourt (I do three a week). I thought they had fixed the problem of rec being closed so often, but they have regressed. The understaffing problem is bad. Last night, I saw one of my former case managers working as a white shirt.
Monday, September 26, 2022, 7:33 PM
They are starting up an over-40 block over on the medium side. I hope they do that over here on the minimum side. In fact, my block used to be an over-35 block in the distant past. More recently, it was a merit block. The administration might not do that over here, however, because many of them say that "all minimum is merit," which isn't true. I wish they'd do something to clean up this block.
Tuesday, September 26, 2022, 6:09 PM
Well, today is Yard Day! Even with a scaled-back version, I'm looking forward to it.
Somebody I know who works in the infirmary said there will be no health fair today. That's a bummer. My guess is that they'll probably still do one -- just at a later date. Actually, separating Yard Day from the Health Fair might be a good thing. It's nice to have two good things on two separate dates rather than trying to cram them in together all on one day.
Even though my leg is doing well, I still need to do nightly stretches. When I stopped doing them, I got two cramps in one night -- and that was after a month-long streak of being cramp-free.
They served creamy coleslaw at the chow hall last night. Often, this "creamy" coleslaw isn't too creamy. Last night it was just the opposite. The cabbage was drowning in the mayo or whatever they use. In fact, I have to view this veggie as a cheat treat for that reason.
Speaking of cheating, Yard Day is a definite cheat day.
Wednesday, September 26, 2022, 6:13 AM
I had a good Yard Day. It was pretty much about the food for me. For lunch, they served us two BBQ patties, two pieces of cheese, real hamburger buns, potato salad, creamy coleslaw, a brownie, fruit-flavored Kool-Aid, and a small ice cream cup. In addition, they passed out a small bag of popcorn and a small amount of cotton candy at booths on the yard. They gave us bag dinners, and I got a lot of extra apples that guys didn't want, plus some extra coleslaw. I gave away some bread, the potato salad, the brownie, and some cookies. In the past, we would usually get a small bag of potato chips and a pop with this meal, but not this year.
There were a couple of other benefits of Yard Day. We didn't have to wear our blues, even to the chow hall. Plus, we could take our entire lunch out of the chow hall and eat it wherever we wanted, even outside. Because it had rained recently and the ground was wet, my group of friends decided to eat inside in the dayroom.
They called our block fourth to lunch, starting with MD and working their way around the compound. Again, many of us in our block were frustrated because they don't follow the eating order on the important days, which are the times the eating order matters.
They also had some inmate bands playing music and some recreation activities. Another unique feature of Yard Day is that they will have staff members help serve us food at the chow hall, the idea being to give some of the chow hall workers the day off to enjoy Yard Day.
Overall, I had a good Yard Day even though it was scaled down.
Wednesday, September 26, 2022, 6:13 AM
We were on an unexpected lockdown today, lasting from around 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Nobody knows why for sure. I've heard three rumors. One, they were working on the electricity. Two, it was some sort of staff training exercise. Three, it was an understaffing thing. Supposedly they were having Yard Day for the medium side and needed to draw staff from here. Who knows. All I know is that it messed up my routine. I had to fall back on my Plan D for cardio, working out at my bunk. My Plan A is the track; my plan B, the ball court; Plan C, the dayroom; and Plan D is my cube. Then, I had to wait about three hours after my work out before I could shower. At least we're back to normal operations now.
Thursday, September 29, 2022, 6:10 AM
They put us on a second lockdown last night for a couple of hours, locking us down early at around 7:30 PM. Fortunately, I had already gotten my nighty walk in. Nobody's exactly sure why we were locked down for a total of about 4 hours yesterday. Hopefully it was just a one-time thing.
Today is my work day. As I'm going from block to block, I'll check to see if any of the other blocks have posted the October eating order. It's only two days until October, and they haven't posted it in my block yet. Some blocks seem to post the eating order faster than others. If the eating order is posted in another block, I'll jot it down and post it in my block.
Thursday, September 29, 2022, 3:46 PM
Well, they shut the power off, so it's a good time for me to work on this post.
Actually, I took a quick break to play Candy Crush on my tablet. Knowing that the Wi-Fi would have a limited lifespan without power, and not knowing how long the power will be off, I thought I had better get my Candy Crush time in while I can. I was having a strong game on a sticking-point level when the Wi-Fi finally went out, disconnecting me from the game. Bummer.
I think this was a scheduled power outage, perhaps a maintenance thing, because guys had been talking about it yesterday. I hope the power's not out too long.
We were already locked down for a couple of hours this morning due to a fog count. Fortunately for me it was an upper body day, so I was able to do my workout at the weight machine in our dayroom.
Today was a fairly busy workday for me. Fortunately, though, they had October's eating order posted in the J-Unit, so I was able to copy it down and post it in my block. Unfortunately, we've fallen from first to sixth place. At least the middle of the order is better than the end.
Friday, September 30, 2022, 6:12 AM
Last night my neighbor, the diabetic, had another medical emergency. His sugar dropped and he fell, injuring himself, bleeding a good deal. The medical staff were here for a while. They got him straightened up and then took him out to the hospital. Hopefully he'll be all right.
Fortunately, the power was only out for about an hour last night, so I was able to get my evening walk and Candy Crush time in.
Friday, September 30, 2022, 2:15 PM
Good news: my neighbor returned from the hospital already. He's doing fine.
More good news: the track was actually open this morning, and I was able to get a real run in. This was the first time in about two weeks.
Saturday, October 1, 2022, 1:07 PM
Well, with the start of the new month, my good friend at Grafton must have gone home. I remember he said his out date was at the end of September, but I can't remember exactly when. He should be at a halfway house now. Fortunately, he shouldn't have to be there for too long. I know he will be very successful. Hopefully he'll stay in touch.
With the start of October, the ODRC should be coming out with the fall/ winter menu this month. I think I will do another public record's request for the nutritional info from it.
I'm also going to start working on my food box order for November.
Inside rec was closed this morning, so I had to settle for my plan B workout in the block.
There is a good "indicator block" for me this month. That is, MB is fourth in the eating order, and my block is sixth. While sitting in my bunk, I can see when MB goes to chow from nearby windows. When they go to chow, I know it's time for me to get ready.
Sunday, October 2, 2022, 11:49 AM
We had another mysterious lockdown last night, along with an unscheduled standing count. This was unusual because we already had a standing count earlier that day, and this place usually does only one standing count per day. My guess is it was just another training exercise.
Although outside rec was closed, the inside was open, so I was able to get my weight room time in.
I started working on my next food box list. This is a fun activity, like a kid making out his Christmas list. The hardest part is choosing my cheat treats. There is so much junk food that it's hard to narrow it down. I buy quite a bit of candy, but most of it is not for me. I enjoy sharing with my friends, and I do a holiday pass out to strangers. I think I'm going to get some of the bags of individually wrapped mini-candies because they are easy to pass out to many people.
Monday, October 3, 2022, 6:11 AM
Well, apparently there was a fight in the block the other day. The CO -- a relief -- apparently went over, looked in the room, and walked away (it may have been over by the time he got there though). Yeah, this definitely isn't a merit block.
Today is store day. They have a sign outside the commissary window, listing the "out of stock" items, and on that list is "salmon fish." Now, why do they need the "fish" part. Is there some sort of salmon ice cream or salmon cereal that I don't know about?
Monday, October 3, 2022, 1:41 PM
At breakfast today, a guy from MD ate at our table. He told us how bad it was getting over there, referring to the quality of guys. I guess it's bad everywhere. My block might not be the greatest, but it still beats most of the alternatives out there.
I saw a political attack ad about the fact that inmates received stimulus checks. The thing is these checks helped defray the costs of incarceration that fall upon the family and friends of inmates. Plus, the point was to stimulate the economy, and those checks did that. I set aside 1000 to invest for my post-release life and retirement. Some guys, like my one friend, mailed their entire checks home.
Tuesday, October 4, 2022, 2:15 PM
The guy who spazzed out in the block a while back, the one who imagined people planting stuff on his bed, got out of the hole. Fortunately, they put him in another block.
There are more rumors about parole reform. I'll believe it when I see it.
I heard there was some news about that thing those quack jailhouse lawyers filed -- the fake appeal of a parole decision. It almost certainly got dismissed.
I checked back with my sergeant, asking him about my typewriter. As mentioned before, they stopped us from sending out "grandfathered" items to be fixed. I bought my typewriter from a catalog company over two decades ago, but they stopped selling them. People who bought such items can keep them, but nobody else can get them anymore. We used to be able to send out such items for repair, but they don't let us do that anymore. I was hoping that with a new supervisor to the mailroom, that policy might be changed, and I could get the typewriter fixed, but apparently that policy came from the major, who is still here. I guess I will continue to hold onto the typewriter in hopes of a change in personnel or policy one day (I've had a broken typewriter for about a year now).
Wednesday, October 5, 2022, Noon
I sent out my food box list. Because I can only get these boxes twice a year, I consider them my nutritional booster shot, getting mostly healthful food, like nuts, veggies, and fruits. I do get a lot of candy also, but I give most of this away to my friends and others in the block. I informally try to "tithe," giving about one-tenth of it away. I bought some bags of individually wrapped mini candies that are easy to pass out. For example, I ordered a bag that comes with about a dozen, small, individually wrapped, Butterfinger bars. Some of the candy I got for myself comes with nutritional benefits, such as a "protein cookie" and dark chocolate. I do, however, always get one pure cheat treat that comes with no nutritional benefit. Last time it was a pink snowball. This time it was chocolate-covered balls of cookie dough. I used to love cookie dough as a kid, and I may have actually enjoyed it better than the cookies themselves. I hope they have most of the stuff I requested. My one friend said that they were out of about two-thirds of the stuff he ordered for his recent food box. I'm not sure it was the same catalog company I ordered from (hopefully not). His mother, meaning well, replaced the out-of-stock items with a lot of stuff that they sell here at the commissary. The thing is, the point of these boxes is to get stuff that's unavailable here. Outside people don't know that, and they're not familiar with what they offer here and what they don't.
This time of the year is a sweet spot in that my days run from sunrise to sunset; that is, I leave out of the block for breakfast when the sun is rising, and the sun sets when I'm out for my evening walks. In here, you have to enjoy the little things.
I've had some bad luck with my over-the-wall neighbors lately. The most recent one will rap and talk on the phone after lights out. Last night, I woke up at around 1:00 AM, and I heard him talking. The rest of the sleeping bay was quiet except for him. He tries to speak in a lower voice, but he's still making unnecessary noise. My cubie actually spoke up last night and asked if he could quiet down, which he did -- for the most part. At least he's not creepy like my previous over-the-wall neighbor.
Wednesday, October 5, 2022, 1:40 PM
Speaking of my cubie, I inadvertently got dragged into some drama between my cubie and an acquaintance from another block. This acquaintance, who I've served time with for years, is gay. He knows I'm not into that scene, and he has never approached me on that level, so I've gotten along with him. One day recently, however, he asked me about my cubie, who is rumored to have dabbled in that stuff. I answered his questions, being careful to not reveal any non-public info about my cubie. I didn't tell my cubie that this guy asked about him because I didn't want to get in the middle of, or create, drama between others. Later on, my cubie asked me about him. Apparently, this acquaintance had approached my cubie, saying that they had a mutual friend, meaning me. Then, it sounds as though this acquaintance expressed romantic interest in him, but my cubie wasn't interested.
I don't like him name-dropping me for several reasons. One, I'm not into that lifestyle, and I don't want to be associated with that stuff. Two, I don't want to be involved in other people's drama. Three, I had to admit that I didn't let my cubie know that this guy had asked about him. And four, he used my name as though I were giving him a character reference, which I definitely wouldn't do. Besides the alternative lifestyle, he's into other scenes that I'm not into. I made this clear to my cubie. This incident was no big deal, but it is just another example of how you can get drawn into drama around here
They closed the entire compound. At first, I heard it was understaffing; then I heard it was related to a graduation; but the real reason is that the staff are shaking down Banneker. Apparently, they've been finding a lot of "controlled substances" over there lately. It's a horrible day to have the yard closed down because it's a perfect day out, sunny, about 70 degrees, light wind.
My one friend, who has had bad luck with being falsely accused of stuff lately, had another such experience. My friend is part of the ground crew, which means he goes around and collects trash off the ground. While working, a CO implied he wasn't working, comparing him to another worker, saying that, "At least that guy's pretending to work. You're just hanging out with your buddy." He was referring to the fact that one of his friends was accompanying him while he was going around picking up trash. My friend then showed him his bucket, which was filled with trash he had collected. Ironically, my friend, who is one of the few good workers around here, has been wrongly accused of being a slacker multiple times here lately.
A blue shirt verified that they are about to come out with the fall/ winter menu soon, but he didn't know when. He mentioned one new item they'll have: meatloaf. They used to serve this years ago, but I bet it will be different this time. Now, all the "meat" is usually some poultry/ soy mix. He said it will be six ounces rather than the usual four ounces. I will try to get a copy of the menu when it officially comes out.
Thursday, October 6, 2022, 2:01 PM
If you recall, a few months ago I got some new shoes in, and I gave away my old ones to a guy who didn't have any personal sneakers; he just had state shoes. Well, this guy never used them for some reason, storing them under his bed all this time instead. Now, he's going home this week, and he just gave them back to me. Goof ball. At least he gave them back to me so that I can find somebody who can use them.
I had a busy workday this afternoon. Because my boss is going to take off a couple of days, he printed out the pass sheets for Friday, Monday, and Tuesday. There was another snag in my job today. Due to this suddenly cold weather, and due to my regular handwashing, my hands get dry and cracked, and I bled on a couple of pass sheets. Fortunately, there were some extra that I could trade out with. I will have to start using lotion more often.
Friday, October 7, 2022, 4:49 PM
The showers and laundry room are closed again for "water conservation" again. They've been closed for several hours now.
An outside friend mailed me in a couple of articles. One of them, which appeared in Time magazine, was written by a member of the sentencing project. It talked about some of the increase in people doing long sentences, focusing on guys who caught their cases in their youth. It then explored some Second Look Laws, which allow the eventual revisiting of long sentences handed down to youth. For example, Washington D.C. allows the revisiting of long sentences imposed on guys who were under 25 at the time of their crimes after having served 15 years. I think common sense laws like this will eventually spread. I don't know if such a law will get to Ohio in time to benefit me though.
Saturday, October 8, 2022, 4:21 AM
The showers and laundry room are still closed. It's been about fifteen hours now. I hope they reopen this morning, for after my workout I was planning on shaving, showering, and turning in some laundry.
The other story my friend sent me was about a prisoner's first day on death row. A porter came by his cell and asked his name. After telling him, the porter yelled his name to the entire block. Alarmed by this, the new guy was expecting some sort of Shawshank Redemption type of moment. Later that day, the same porter returned to his cell and slid a brown paper bag into his cell. Wary, not knowing what to expect, the new guy looked in the bag. To his surprise and relief, the bag contained envelopes, hygiene items, and other essentials. Apparently, whenever there was a new guy in the block, everybody would chip in and donate some necessities, knowing that a new guy wouldn't have those items yet. This new guy was surprised and touched by the generosity that these guys, who society considers the "worst of the worst," showed to a complete stranger. I liked this story because it showed the humanity of these inmates, contradicting society's stereotypes of these people.
Sunday, October 9, 2022, 10:20 AM
I found somebody who could use my old shoes, a friend in MB. It's sad I couldn't have gotten them to him earlier; instead, they sat under somebody's bed for a couple of months, going unused.
I sometimes struggle dealing with the "Seinfeldian" traits of some of the guys around here; that is, the minor, annoying things people do. My one friend, who is a good guy, has many such habits. For example, he seems to be one of those guys who view it as tough or something to wear minimal clothing in cold weather. It's bad enough that he thinks this, but he'll criticize people who wear heavier clothing than he does. Just this morning in the weight room, for instance, he asked me, "You wore your big coat down here." It was 32 degrees out when I woke up this morning, and many guys wore their big coats to the chow hall. I think my record for enduring the cold weather is solid; during the heart of winter, I'm one of the few guys who will go outside and walk, run, or work out. When he said that this morning, I replied, "You aren't doing that coat police thing again, are you?" I don't want to get bent out of shape over petty things, but I don't want to encourage annoying behavior either. I think the best reply, like this morning, is to provide lightweight discouraging responses.
He has a lot of these annoying little sayings and, even worse, he does them over and over again. He likes to do a fake, accidental bump into people as a greeting. He sometimes jokes about wanting to wrestle with people (he's not gay or anything; he just participated in that sport in high school). When he says that with me, incidentally, I'll respond with something like, "I'm only interested in wrestling with women." Again, gentle discouragement.
Every time I wash my hands, I lotion them now, trying to prevent them from getting so dry and cracked again.
Monday, October 10, 2022, 2:19 PM
Today is Columbus Day, which seems like a "half holiday." We don't have to wear blues to rec, but we don't get a special meal or anything like that. It has been a pretty uneventful day.
Apparently, they took out my neighbor in an ambulance again. Hopefully he'll be alright.
My watch's screen faded out the other day. I suspect my watch battery might be starting to die. Unlike the outside world where you can just go buy a battery, here you have to order one, which might take a long time. They sell some batteries on the commissary, but I don't see mine listed. I think they will order them for you, and then you just have to wait for them to arrive. They also sell batteries in the catalog, but I wasn't planning on doing another order for months. I think I'll try the commissary first. Since I haven't ordered batteries in years, I'll ask one of the commissary workers in my block how the process works now.
Tuesday, October 11, 2022, 11:31 AM
Today was the delivery for the chicken fundraiser. I got a 4-piece. I already had one piece, and it was great. I shared one piece with a friend who wanted to get some but missed out on ordering some at the store. He is fonder of the chicken than me. If he doesn't get any more, I'll give him another piece. I want to wait and see, though, if some of these guys who ordered multiple 8-packs will share some with him.
Good news: I asked one of the commissary workers, and he said they have my type of watch battery even though it's not listed. Therefore, I should be able to get it the same day I order it. I will have to wait almost a week, though, until our next store day. Fortunately, my watch hasn't blinked out anymore since that one time. It's good, though, to have a backup.
My one friend got a food box in today. He gave me a fruit cup of peaches! This is special because we only get peaches once every three weeks. When I get my food box in, I'm going to share too.
Wednesday, October 12, 2022, 5:34 AM
Having a cooler is a mixed blessing. Of course, I can use it to keep food cool, but there are unanticipated downsides. One, they are big and take up a lot of space in the cube. Two, they all leak eventually, and you have to put plastic garbage bags in them as liners. Plus, I don't really use it that often. I usually have just one or two small things to ice, and a bowl of ice will suffice. I will just put the bowl into the cooler, but the cooler itself is really unnecessary.
The chicken fundraiser highlighted another drawback. One of the reasons I only got a 4-piece was because I didn't want to deal with the hassle of having to ice the chicken. I could eat all my food that same day and be done with it. Well, a neighbor asked me if he could store his chicken in my cooler, and I agreed. Now, I have to go to the hassle of repeated trips to get ice and drain melted water when I hadn't been planning on doing that. I also become responsible for his chicken. I mean, what if his bag leaks and the chicken gets soggy? Will he blame me?
This guy has bugged me about using my cooler before. For example, after they posted that memo telling us not to use ice in our coolers, and after they said we could no longer bring milks back from the chow hall, he kept asking me to ice milks, including times when our non-regulars weren't working (you never know when a relief will over-react to something). I had to tell him No. I didn't have a good excuse to say No to the chicken though.
I could use a plastic container as a mushfake cooler. I wonder if this neighbor might ask me to use that too. I would have to tell him No. I don't know. I'll have to think about it.
Well, apparently I'm a sleep-walking kleptomaniac with a fetish for winter hats. You see, the other day I went to organize my clothes, and I was expecting to have two or three winter hats. I always have two, one as a backup while I'm doing laundry -- or in case I lose one. I thought I may have three -- an extra one because I bought a new one and hadn't switched that one out for an older one. When I collected all my hats together, however, I somehow had five. I have no idea why. I'm truly baffled. I asked my laundry guy if anybody was missing a hat, wondering if my laundry got mixed up with somebody else's. Could I have kept ordering new ones and not given away the old ones? Whatever the reason, I will give away the extra ones and get down to my best two. I already put one on the block's bookcase and it disappeared. With the cold weather coming, guys will need hats, especially some of the new guys who don't have much.
I enjoyed the chicken. It was a great cheat treat. I ate two pieces and gave away two to my friend who really liked chicken and missed out.
My annoying, over-the-wall neighbor was talking on his tablet's phone again at 2:00 AM again.
Wednesday, October 12, 2022, 12:05 PM
I'm concerned about my one friend. Although he's only 69 years old, he's an "old 69." When returning from the chow hall, he prefers to walk the short way rather than the longer scenic route due to his knees. He is a bit heavy, and I can for see him needing a walker or wheelchair within the next few years.
In addition to his physical decline, he's having memory lapses. He told me that there is a history of dementia in his family.
Speaking of medical problems, my one neighbor still hasn't returned yet.
Wednesday, October 12, 2022, 4:14 PM
I got an email from my mother, and there were a couple of pieces of good news. First, my glasses should be mailed out in a couple of days. I hope it doesn't take me too long to get them. My cubie actually just received a new pair of glasses today, but it took three weeks for him to get them after they arrived at the institution.
The other piece of good news is that she sent out my reply to the public defender. This was the most important thing.
There was some bad news though. My mother never received my food box order that I emailed to her a week ago. It appears in the "sent mail" section of both my player and the kiosk though. Unfortunately, I didn't save a copy of that order in my drafts file before sending it, so I can't just simply resend it. I sent a message to JPay, asking them to resend it, but they have up to two weeks to respond. I also requested that email be printed up and sent to me, which should only take a couple of days. I would still either have to retype that email or mail home the printout. It's disappointing that they don't simply allow you to copy and paste text from the sent mail section.
I mentioned how special that container of peaches was because we only get them once every three weeks here (if that). Well, today we were supposed to get pears at lunch, which is another fruit we only get once every three weeks. Well, they ran out of them by the time they called my block to chow, and we had to settle for oranges instead -- something they serve all the time.
Thursday, October 13, 2022, 6:15 AM
I received a letter from my friend who has cancer. Quite frankly, I was glad to hear he's still alive. In fact, he's doing fairly well, considering his condition. I will try to compose a quick letter to him before the weekend mail goes out.
Here is another example of how you have to appreciate the little things around here. Looking out in the distance, I can see some trees whose leaves have turned a vibrant red. At another location, I can see trees with yellow leaves. It's nice to experience that aspect of Autumn.
Thursday, October 13, 2022, 11:04 AM
They had the compound shut down for a while again today. They were shaking down Banneker again, the second time in two weeks. They even brought in the substance-sniffing dogs. I heard they found stuff again. I don't know if they'll ever be able to clean out that rats' nest. The problem is, they have a substance abuse program over there, so that means a lot of those type of guys are all concentrated in one place. Fortunately, today was my weight machine day, so I didn't need to go out to rec. The machine got crowded near the end though.
The Lexis app. still isn't working on the tablets.
Something gave me hope that my mother still might receive my food box order. I just received an email from a friend that she sent ten days ago! So, maybe some emails are just taking more time than usual.
I think one of the reasons they don't want to remake my block into a merit or over-40 block is that they don't want an attractive alternative to some of their program blocks around here. Take the reintegration block, for instance. They just recently posted a memo for it in my block. It's a bad sign when they have to advertise for something like that. They have trouble keeping it filled because it's not a desirable spot. One problem is the unit staff. For example, they say that the case manager is bipolar. I heard a recent story about him. He apparently likes to do rigorous shake-downs of the inmates in the block -- a job usually done by the CO's. Well, apparently after one such shakedown, a guy was missing his false teeth. He had his people complain to Columbus, and they said he could no longer perform shake downs because he doesn't have a body cam.
Thursday, October 13, 2022, 1:45 PM
I've been hearing more rumors about parole reform, supposedly coming from staff members. This reform would allegedly start in January. I'll believe it when I see it.
I finished my job. My hand lotion has been working, for I didn't bleed on any pass sheets this time. My hands are much less dry and cracked now.
Friday, October 14, 2022, 11:58 PM
Here's a sign of my aging (or maturity, as I would prefer to call it). I looked in a dimly lit mirror while brushing my teeth and saw something white on my mustache. I tried to rinse it off, thinking it was toothpaste. Turns out, it was a streak of gray hairs. I remember when a single gray hair was noticeable.
Good news: my mother received my food box order email after a week, so I won't have to redo it.
More good news: my neighbor returned from the hospital.
Today, somebody who lives near me was relaying a story about some violent drama that happened at close security. What disturbed me was how amused this guy was about the incident. I found the story disgusting. This incident displays the mentality of some of these guys around here.
A friend of mine, who recently got a stimulus check, gave me two bags of "student mix" as a gift (a combination of peanuts, raisins, almonds, and chocolate). He's a very generous guy.
Saturday, October 15, 2022, 6:13 AM
They had an event yesterday where guys could go down and buy gifts for family and friends, such as jewelry. It's nice they have such events.
They recently advertised two family events they will have here, one being a health fair. Both events, however, excluded inmates with minor victims. The problem is, this excludes a lot of inmates beyond what they intended, such as youth who committed nonsexual violence against other youth long ago. They need to have more family events that everyone can participate in.
Saturday, October 15, 2022, 11:05 AM
We got a relief CO on this morning who usually works the medium side. We don't have to wear IDs when we're working out in the dayroom, but he told everybody who was working out to put on an ID, including me. I just put on the ID rather than argue. He didn't know how something else worked over here, arguing with some inmate about it, telling him that he just came from the other side. He doesn't seem to be the sharpest tool in the shed. Obviously the minimum and medium parts are run differently.
Inside rec was closed today, so no weight room for me. For my plan B, I went outside and worked out on the ballcourt. Not only was it nice out this morning, despite being in the 40's, but I had the ball court almost entirely to myself, and I wanted to avoid that ID-loving relief CO.
A reliable inmate who works for staff told me that they had been contemplating the idea of merging the minimum and medium sides here, but they pretty much shelved the idea. One problem is that they are leaning towards converting the other side back to close security one day, meaning that they wouldn't be able to mix the two sides anyway. He said that there is a backlog off 20,000 inmates waiting in the jails to come to prison. My thought about that, of course, is that they could make some room for them by releasing the thousands of inmates that the parole board has needlessly held beyond their minimum sentences for years or decades.
Saturday, October 15, 2022, 1:54 PM
I'm down to two winter hats now, leaving the extra ones on the block's book shelf one at a time. There must be a strong need for these hats because each time I left one there, it disappeared within minutes.
I think I've used sunscreen for the last time this year. At least I did a better job of budgeting it this year than I did last year. At the end of last year, I was stuck with four extra bottles, two big, two small. Because we have that 2.4-square-foot property limit, we have to be mindful of minimizing space. This year I had only two small bottles left (and I wouldn't have had that many, but somebody recently left me one when he went home).
Sunday, October 16, 2022, 11:40 AM
Outside rec was closed this morning, but inside rec was open, so I got my weight room time in.
We have a different relief CO on this morning than we had yesterday. He seems a little tense, but at least he didn't make anybody wear ID's while working out.
I learned that parole hearings will be on the 24th of this month. My running rival should be going up that day.
A friend reminded me that they will be passing out the fresh favorites today (the name for the Aramark food sales). I bought two veggie bags. I'm tempted to try using my plastic container rather than my cooler to see how that would work out.
I have to make out my store list, for we go tomorrow. I may do a light order. Because my mother received my food box order, I may want to start making space in my box for when that arrives.
I woke up to a pleasant surprise this morning. When I went to bed, the Yankees were beating my Guardians. When I woke up, I discovered that the Guardians had rallied and won the game.
I hope my Browns win today too. I may have to miss some of the game, though, to pick up my veggie bags.
Monday, October 17, 2022, 11:32 AM
I had a successful store trip. You have to watch and make sure the inmate workers get your order right though. There is a plastic panel separating the shoppers from the workers and merchandise. There are then four counters, and you hold up your list at each counter for the worker to see. I write two copies of my list, one on each side of the sheet of paper, so that I can double-check to make sure the workers gets the order right. That came in handy today, for one worker gave me one Mrs. Dash instead of two. Similarly, my bunkie ordered some fundraiser, and when he checked his receipt before leaving the store, he saw the staff worker failed to include it. My bunkie told them, and they made the correction. It was a good thing he checked his list before leaving.
I did not get any of next month's fundraiser. They were selling various breakfast sandwich meals, such as sausage and eggs. I got the fish meal last year, but I decided to skip it this time because it was expensive ($15.00 for the fish meal).
It was a bad day for Cleveland sports: both the Browns and Guardians lost.
I got my run in this morning, but I had to settle for a ballcourt run because outside rec was closed again.
My experiment of using my plastic tub as a cooler has been going well so far. The ice has melted pretty fast though. It's nice having those fresh veggies.
Remember my neighbor -- the one who will rap at 2:00 AM in the morning? Well, I heard him complain to his other cubies about the amount of traffic that was coming to the cube, talking about showing respect. Talk about irony.
In one of the bathroom stalls there was feces on the floor, so I obviously decided to use another stall. As I was waiting in line for a stall to open, discussing the mess with another guy in line, some other guy jumped into our conversation, asking about the feces. After telling him about it, he went to the stall to take a look. The thing is, that guy wasn't even waiting to use the bathroom. Why would you go out of your way to look at feces when you didn't have to? I don't know what's worse, the guy who made that horrible mess somehow and didn't clean it up, or the feces tourist.
Tuesday, October 18, 2022, 6:22 AM
Yesterday, it was so cold and windy that there was actually a few snowflakes! This was pretty early in the year for the first snow. The tree branches are starting to get pretty bare. At one point during my evening walk, there was only one other guy on the track.
They did the monthly inspection yesterday, and our block didn't do too well. Most of the time, an inspector breezes through, mainly checking for stuff like unmade beds. This inspector, however, had a dust fetish, going around touching various surfaces. Being unprepared for such an inspection, our block didn't fare too well. He also found some cobwebs too. He even found dust on the top of the wall surrounding my cube. Although that's a common area, shared by eight people, I don't like having anything in my area associated with a deduction. I cleaned the wall after the inspection, and I'll be more mindful of that in the future, but it might be years before that guy does inspection again and checks for dust. Our block got a 93, and so far that seems to be the lowest score (I've found out the score for three other blocks). We even got beat by the Bannekers, which are usually bottom feeders.
One of my cubies is sick. I hope I don't catch it. Unfortunately, with the close quarters around here, there's not much you can do to avoid it.
I hate third-shift mail. The CO woke me up, throwing my Men's Health on my foot.
They did TB "testing" today. In the past, they would give you a physical test, pricking you and then checking on the area a few days later. Nowadays, it is more of a TB questionnaire. They question each inmate for about five seconds, asking them whether they've tested positive before or have any current symptoms. It's a joke, and I assume the change was made to save money, but at least it goes by fast. They closed down the compound to do this "testing," causing me to miss my weight room. Still, I was able to get in a good body weight workout in the block.
Wednesday, October 19, 2022, 7:07 PM
I got my new glasses today! I was pleased to have received them so fast, just a week after they were shipped out, especially considering how long it took my cubie to receive them. It's nice to see so clearly now. There are some downsides though. Being in prison, there is a lot of ugly around here. Not sparing myself from this scrutiny, I must admit that I can see the wrinkles and gray hairs in the mirror more clearly now.
Wednesday, October 19, 2022, cont.
Somebody here said that the plan to merge the minimum and medium side here is official. A staff member supposedly said that the construction needed to accomplish this is scheduled to start in January. They would then consolidate certain departments, such as the Infirmary and Education, into one. I could see how this would save money and the number of staff needed. We would supposedly then be allowed to travel to whichever side we wanted. I will believe it when I see it. This plan would probably prevent them from converting the other side back to close. I haven't yet decided whether or not such a change would be beneficial to me. It would make my mail runner job twice as hard if they required me to work on both sides. I'll ask some knowledgeable guys to try to verify this. I'll believe it when I see it.
My one neighbor got on my nerves twice today. First, somebody asked him for milk, and he then asked me. This is not the first time he has directed people to me for this purpose. I drink my milk. I'm not some sort of milk bank or milk salesman. The second irritating incident happened in the evening. I finished the last of my veggies today, so I wasn't planning on icing anything overnight. He then asked me to ice a single fruit cup overnight. That's something he could have done himself in a single bowl. I'm tempted to get rid of my cooler, but I don't want to sacrifice something good due to somebody else's bad behavior. The thing is, I could see him asking me to use my plastic tub too. I don't know. I'll have to think about it.
It was nice having a cup of tea in the morning.
In that vista between the buildings, I saw some orange on the trees for the first time. That was a pleasant sight, especially now that I can see better with my new glasses.
I am starting to reduce the amount of fluid I drink each day. I currently have a one-gallon rule, but I think that might be too much. Sometimes I get up three to four times a night to take a leak. It's not some prostate thing; I just have a full bladder. The more times I get up at night, the greater the chance I'll not be able to fall back to sleep.
My Guardians got knocked out of the playoffs. Instead of going with their ace on short rest, they went with their number four starter on regular rest, and that decision didn't seem to work out too well. Bummer.
Finding a good table at the chow hall can be a struggle, especially when you go down there with a group of friends. This morning, I went to breakfast with three friends, but there were no good four seaters open. When one did open up, a single guy beat us too it. We had to settle for a crappy table -- one by both the door and the line of people. The door is bad because you get hit with cold blasts of air whenever it opens, and the line is bad because you have people hovering right over you. To my irritation, that one single guy who took the good table from us switched tables a minute later, leaving the good one empty. At lunch, I went down with two friends, and the chow hall was crowded again. The one three-seater I chose was close to the door, and my one friend complained about it.
Thursday, October 20, 2022, 6:16 AM
I talked to a blue shirt about the new, upcoming chow hall menu. He said the meatloaf talk was false -- perhaps that will be only a one-time, special meal. He said they are supposed to bring back the hardboiled eggs for Thursday's breakfast, replacing the current "hash" (a potato/ scrambled egg mix).
Thursday, October 20, 2022, 2:12 PM
I've been hearing more talk about them combining compounds. Supposedly this info is coming from multiple staff members. They are supposed to build some sort of connection between the two sides. I'm not sure, but I don't think this would be a good thing for us. I chose this camp, in part, because it was all-minimum, hoping for minimum amenities. That would be out the window with this change. We would be like any other camp that mixed medium and minimum inmates. Even worse, they are talking about merging some of the departments. For example, there would be one chow hall. I don't like this. The chow hall is fairly small already, and it would take twice as long to run meals as it already does. If they merged rec, it wouldn't be closed as often, but it would be twice as crowded. I don't know. Often their lofty plans fall through. This idea would make it much tougher to convert the other side back to close. We'll see.
Friday, October 21, 2022, 12:28
I am hearing different things about how extensive the merger would be between the two compounds. If they just shared one infirmary, that would be no big deal. If it basically became one compound, however, that would be a big deal. I would dread if they would use just one chow hall between the two compounds because it would make the meals take twice as long to run. This merger talk is making me reconsider my Grafton decision. I can't see combining the two compounds as being a good thing. I'll wait and see before I make any decisions though. The devil will be in the details. Plus, this is still just rumor now, and often the ODRC's plans fall through or change.
My cubie seems better now.
Last night, I heard a loud, discordant sound in the sleeping bay. Apparently we have a "snorer" in the block.
Saturday, October 22, 2022, 10:48 AM
The CO with the ID fetish is working again this morning. At least he didn't try to tell guys that they had to wear ID's while working out. So, maybe he learned his lesson on that.
Remember the guy who wanted to criticize me for not going to the reintegration block before my hearing? Well, he is no longer in that block. If the place is so great, why did he leave? Incidentally, that block got the lowest score on the monthly inspection last month, so they've been going to chow last in October.
I talked to a guy who works for staff. He said that the merger of the two compounds would only include the Dental office and maybe commissary. I tend to believe this merger would be more limited because that would still leave them the option to convert the other side back to close.
I couldn't get my weight room time in because inside rec was closed again, so I got a ballcourt workout in. Despite being in the 40's, it was fairly nice out, and I had the ball court to myself.
Saturday, October 22, 2022, 7:45 PM
I worked on two projects that will help the block. One, I posted my unofficial eating order for November. I had to leave off two scores because I wasn't able to find them out.
The second project involved the upcoming Fall/ Winter menu, which starts on Halloween. Somebody let me see the menu and I copied it down. I will try to make a bunch of copies for guys in the block.
Sunday, October 23, 2022, 1:45 AM
My experiment of reducing my fluid intake from 16 cups a day to 13 cups seems to be working. I've been waking up no more than twice a night to take a leak. Each one of those wake-ups is a potential "insomnia bullet," so I want to minimize those.
Inside rec was closed again, so no weight room for me. I had to settle for the block's weight machine again.
I wanted to go to the library this morning to make copies of the new menu. To my relief, the library was open. When I arrived there, though, they told me that they wouldn't be running the copy machine until Tuesday. Some other staff member was filling in for the librarian, and apparently they only run the copy machine when the regular librarian is there. So, I wasted a trip to the library for nothing.
I overall like the look of the new menu. There are a couple of "returning items" -- ones that aren't on the current menu, but have been on past menus -- such as turkey ham and Au Gratin potatoes, turkey noodles and gravy, turkey ham and navy beans, chicken stew, and turkey a la king. The only true new items are baked meatloaf, a maple spice muffin, a fresh baked cookie, and a frosted maple cake. These new items sound great, of course, but I want to see what they're really like. I was disappointed to see that "hash" (mixture of scrambled eggs and potatoes) was still there. I was hoping for a return to the hard-boiled eggs.
Monday, October 24, 2022, 6:18 AM
Well, today the parole board is here, and many guys in my block will have hearings, including my running rival, the barber for the staff, and the head porter. I wish them well, but I'm not too optimistic. We'll see.
I hear that our unit secretary is leaving the job. This is a shame because she is helpful. Hopefully she's replaced with somebody decent.
Tuesday, October 25, 2022, 5:32 AM
I've gathered some of the results from the parole hearings. One guy apparently got recommended for parole. If there are any objections, though, he will still have to go through a full hearing. Two guys got referred to COBR (central office board review). The guy who told me this said that these COBR hearings will be a "sham" -- that is, a delayed denial. Everybody else got outright denials. My running rival apparently got more time. One guy got two years. Another guy got four years. I don't know how the other two guys in my block did today, but I'll try to find out. In sum, it doesn't sound as though there has been any great change in the board's practices.
I've had two insomnia nights in a row. That's rare for me.
I saw something I hadn't seen in a couple of years: a cat. I had heard there was a feral cat on the compound, but early this morning I caught a glimpse of it outside the window. It's a small beige one.
They posted a memo that they're going to do unannounced 2.4's over the next couple of months. They said that guys will need to show "proof of purchase" for their coolers. They didn't enforce that last time though, so we'll see if they do it this time. Many staff members don't like the coolers, and this could be a way to get rid of some of them. The coolers are big, taking up a lot of space in a small area, and guys fill them with ice, draining the ice machine. I saved my receipt, but other guys may not have. Plus, the commissary receipts are low quality, and they fade over time. My receipt for the cooler is barely readable. I'm also not sure if I have to put my personal blanket in the locker box for the 2.4ng.
Wednesday, October 26, 2022, 6:12 AM
I made about 20 copies of the new menu and distributed them to friends around the block. I'm debating on whether or not to make more copies.
I got a reply back from the warren’s assistant. I have to submit a $1.05 cash slip to unit staff to get a copy of the nutritional info for the new menu.
We are allowed to request new clothes from the quartermaster once a year, and it has now been a year since I got new clothes. I was about to submit a clothes request slip, but I talked to one of the inmates who work there first. It was a good thing I did because he told me that they were low on certain things, such as having no socks. He said he would check the shelves to see how well stocked they are in state blues. I may hold off on requesting clothes until they are better stocked.
Wednesday, October 26, 2022, 2:04 PM
I had to settle for my plan D workout this morning. Outside rec was closed, so I ran on the ball court. Then, they shut down both the yard and dayroom for some sort of staff training exercise. I jogged in place at my cube. I couldn't shower for a few hours after my work out because of this lockdown.
Thursday, October 27, 2022, 6:17 AM
I saw that cat again early this morning. This time I got to watch it for a couple of minutes. I'm tempted to try to feed it, as I would do with the feral cats at other institutions.
Thursday, 2:08 PM
I learned two pieces of good news. First, one guy confided in me that he got a parole recommendation the other day. It was his third hearing. As long as there are no objections, he should be good.
The second piece of good news is that another guy in the block received the result from his COBR hearing, and they recommended him for parole too! He should be good, too, as long as there are no objections. This was his fifth hearing. He's a good guy. In fact, when my watch died again this morning, he helped me change out the battery.
I made some more copies of the new menu. The thing is, I then learned they might make official, printed out copies of the menu for our block; thus, my menus may become obsolete. I could still give them out to guys in other blocks. Next time I'll have to do the menu in pen rather than pencil because the copies turned out a little light and hard to read.
While doing my job today, I found out the remaining scores from the monthly inspection. My block will be eighth. Many people, including the CO's, were interested in knowing the eating order.
With the release of the Fall/ Winter menu, I've been figuring out my new eating regimen. I have to balance several objectives, such as health, appearance, cost, and taste.
Friday, October 27, 2022, 4:05 AM
Another insomnia night. This is three times in the last five days. I've had more insomnia this month, and I'm not sure why.
They took my neighbor's hoodie at the chow hall the other day because it was black.--- right before the cold weather too.
I heard some disappointing news. The commissary is supposedly low on candy bars, having only snickers and
skittles. This is disappointing because I was going to get candy for Halloween, one of my main cheat days of the year. Ironically, they supposedly already got the holiday candy in, which they aren't going to sell yet. So, a few days before Halloween, they have Christmas candy but no Halloween candy. Hopefully a supply truck will arrive today with some candy.
I haven't seen the kitty yet this morning.
I noticed with the new menu that they eliminated the H.B. egg with the big salad meal -- another cutback.
A friend gave me another batch of tea bags! Tea is such a nice way to wake up in the morning.
Some of the parole denials have caused depression among some of the other guys around here.
Friday, October 28, 2022, 12:00 Noon
There was a little bit of a medical scare this morning with my bunkie. I was sitting in my bunk, eating my after-work out snack, when somebody told me that my bunkie had almost fell out in the bathroom and the nurses were treating him in the dayroom. I went over and, after getting past some of the gawkers, verified what they said. The nurses were giving him what looked like a blook sugar test, and he looked extremely pale. They took him away in the medical cart, with that circus siren blaring. He returned shortly after that. He appears fine now, so hopefully it was just a fluke, momentary thing. He apparently gets dizzy sometimes, but no episode like this has ever occurred before. I am going to keep a close eye on him over the next day or so.
On a lighter note, there was a funny sign on the CO's refrigerator at the chow hall. It said, "If you didn't bring it, don't take it." In other words, the staff are apparently stealing from themselves.
Friday, October 28, 2022, 2:22 PM
After taking a long nap, my bunkie is awake and doing well. I gave him a brownie, another cubie gave him a debbie, and a mutual friend gave him a different kind of debbie. So, that was a good way to wake up after not feeling well, being showered with pastries.
They posted an updated list outside the store, and they are out of all pastries and most of the candy (at least the good candy). I'm disappointed. I will find a way to improvise.
Saturday, October 29, 2022, 11:56 AM
My bunkie is doing better today. Oh, one thing he mentioned to me: when he was trying to get ready to go to the infirmary yesterday, many of the gawkers got in the way, impeding his progress. It reminds me of that poop sightseer the other day.
I wasted about ten minutes this morning, walking down to weight room, finding out that all of rec was closed, both inside and out. This understaffing has become a regular, major problem. I heard that the other day almost all the CO's were froze (forced to work overtime).
Sunday, October 30, 2022, 9:58 AM
Another insomnia night. I'm not sure why I've had so many of those lately.
The understaffing has gotten so bad that I was surprised when I was able to get my weight room time in. Outside rec was closed though.
We go to the store tomorrow, and I'm planning what I'll get for Halloween. At first I was bummed out that they didn't have the good candy, but I'm now looking at it as an opportunity. Having Halloween fall on a store day, which only happens once every two weeks, is the universe's way of telling me that ice cream should be my cheat treat. I'm not sure what kind I'll get because I'm not sure what they'll have. For my Halloween give away, I think I'll get granola bars and oatmeal pies.
Also, Halloween falls on the first day of the new menu. Usually I skip the desserts at the chow hall, but I think I'll get them. I especially want to try the maple muffin, which is a new item to this menu. They also have the iced white cake, which is my favorite dessert.
Sunday, October 30, 2022, 3:41 PM
I did something I hadn't done for a while: take a nap. I usually try to stay awake all day so that I have no problems sleeping at night, but I was extra tired, and I needed to catch up on my sleep.
Monday, October 31, 2022, Halloween, 6:19 AM
I'm feeling under the weather. Something came on pretty fast. This sucks for Halloween.
11:45 AM
I made it to the store today and bought some debbies as Halloween candy (they were out of granola bars). I bought two boxes of peanut butter crunch bars and passed one out to each of my twelve best friends in the block. I also bought a box of twelve oatmeal pies. For that, I would leave a couple at a time on the communal shelf with a note "Free pie, Happy Halloween!" This way, I can share with strangers who might not have the resources to buy a lot of treats. Also, by remaining anonymous, I can give these pies away without the social tensions of gift-giving to strangers in prison.
For myself, I bought a pint of cookie dough and chocolate chip ice cream. I shared half of the ice cream with my laundry guy. I also ate the new "maple muffin" at breakfast today. It was alright, but I won't get it again, and I won't miss it. They didn't have the iced white cake for lunch, and the substitute dessert was nothing special, so I got the fruit instead.
I exercised today, but I had an easy day.
I tabulated the nutritional info for the seven months of the Spring/ Summer menu. My average daily calories was 2217, and my average daily protein was 119 grams.
Tuesday, November 1, 2022, 6:08 AM
I had a good sleep last night, and I think it helped because I'm feeling slightly better this morning.
I had a good Halloween. In addition to the treats I already mentioned, I had an oatmeal pie and a P.B. crunch bar. I also ended up giving away 24 goodies to others.
There are a lot of rumors that the 2.4 will be today. Even though that would kill my weight room time, yet again, I guess it would be best to get it out of the way. We'll see.
My doing an informal, homemade eating order is coming in handy because no staff member posted an official November eating order, and it's now November.
Tuesday, November 1, 2022, 10:36 AM
Well, the rumor of a 2.4 today didn't pan out, so I got my weight room time in today. I had an easy day because I'm still sick. The CO didn't take attendance today at the weight room again. Apparently he's still protesting how they won't let him get free haircuts anymore. I don't care as long as I get to keep my times.
They posted the next fundraiser. It's chicken and some other stuff, such as pies and potato wedges. They're not offering an 8-piece, so I'm going to skip it.
Wednesday, November 2, 2022, 6:15 AM
I'm feeling a little better this morning. I'm definitely on the downswing of this illness. My cubie is sick. He was sick about a week ago, so I don't know if it was the same thing or not. Perhaps I caught something from him, or perhaps he caught something from me. With the close quarters around here, it's impossible for this stuff not to spread.
I got a letter from my friend who has cancer. His treatment is going well, and he's even been able to eat some solid foods again. I'm glad to hear it.
A foggy start to the morning. We'll probably be on a fog plan, which will mess with my workout.
Wednesday, November 2, 2022, 2:12 PM
On my evening walk last night, I heard Christmas music for the first time. It was a weird juxtaposition: earlier in the day, Halloween movies were still playing on the TV, and then Christmas music in the evening. It's as though we skipped Thanksgiving completely. It's weird: I'm not too into Christmas, but I love Christmas music. I think there's two reasons for this. One, Christmas songs are often just plain good. Two, it has a nostalgic impact, taking me back to a happier time in my childhood.
I heard a reason why we ran out of candy before Halloween. Apparently, the store manager believes, for some reason, that running out of stock by the end of the month is a good business practice. I heard by the time the Banneker blocks went to the store that they were completely out of anything sweet.
There was a fight on the yard yesterday. I was at the chow hall, and it was one of the trainee CO's who noticed it. Fortunately, stuff like this doesn't happen too often at this institution -- at least ones out in the open like that.
Thursday, November 3, 2022, 10:51 AM
Last night, around 4:30 AM, I believe the CO called my name. I woke up and looked, but he walked by. I think I had gotten completely covered up, and he wanted to check that I was still there and alive. The night before, the CO woke me to give me mail. I can't wait till I leave this environment where you get woken up for BS reasons.
We had another foggy morning. Fortunately, this was my weight machine morning, in the block so it didn't interfere with my workout. It's still a bit foggy now, so I wonder if it will interfere with my job, which I usually do after count.
I continue to feel better.
Friday, November 4, 2022: 12:08 AM
I woke up this morning feeling a little worse than the previous night. So, a little regression in this illness.
The track was actually open this morning, so I got to run there rather than the ballcourt.
While I was having my after-workout snack, the CO told me that the JA case manager, the one who runs the Victims' Awareness program, called down for me. When I got there, she asked me if I wanted to attend an event with a guest speaker (a victim of crime). I said, "Yes." When I took my Victims' Awareness class, we didn't have a victim speaker because we were still under pandemic restrictions. I think she said this event would be 6:30 PM on November 16th. This won't be a fun event, but I think it will be meaningful and helpful to my personal growth.
Saturday, November 5, 2022, 11:43 AM
I woke up this morning feeling a little better. After that slight regression, I'm back on the path to recovering from this illness.
Again, indoor rec was closed. It has been at least a month since I've been able to get my weight room time in for Saturday morning. Fortunately, it was a nice morning out, so I got my plan B workout in the ball court.
They posted a memo that the chicken fundraiser was cancelled due to overstaffing. Although I was probably going to get some, splitting an 8-piece with a friend, I'm not too disappointed because they do several chicken fundraisers a year. Some chicken-a-holics are a bit sad though. Another friend was looking forward to the pumpkin pie.
I made a disappointing discovery today. Apparently when I was at the store last time, they failed to give me the cinnamon on my list. I hate this because I'm a cinnama-holic. I will see if I can borrow one until next store day.
I saw on the kiosk that they deducted the money for my copy of the nutritional info for the new menu, but they didn't provide me that info yet. Last time, I didn't receive the info until I let the warden's assistant know that they deducted the money. I'm wondering if I should let the warden's assistant know right away, or if I should give it a little time to see if they send me the information. On the one hand, I don't want to offend anybody, making them feel rushed; on the other hand, I don't want to unnecessarily delay receiving my paperwork. I just don't know if the cashier will let the warden's assistant know that the cash slip has been processed.
Sunday, November 6, 2022, 5:55 AM
I'm feeling better enough now that I'm debating whether or not to count today as a "sick day" in my workout log. I still have some congestion in my nose and feel a little weak.
This was the "fall back" morning of Daylight Savings Time. I hope they eventually end all this mess.
Last night was the grand introduction of the "meatloaf." I will call it a new item rather than a returning item because the meatloaf has been absent from our menu for over a decade, and this is a completely different version of it. A lot of people went down to see what it was about, and most of them were underwhelmed. It was basically a charbroil patty without the stripes.
Monday, November 7, 2022
I'm feeling even better this morning. In fact, I've reached the point where I will no longer list a "sick day" on my workout log.
The rumors about them merging the two compounds into one has flared up again. Supposedly we would have one big minimum compound. The reason for this would be because they are pressed for minimum-security bed space right now. This transformation process would take two to four years. I did hear two CO's talking about how they couldn't use just one chow hall. I'll believe it when I see it.
Monday, November 7, 2022, 11:24 AM
Somebody agreed to pick up some cinnamon for me until next store day!
Outside rec was closed, so I settled for another ball court run.
I put in an ekite to let the warden's assistant know that they processed my cash slip for the nutritional info of the new menu. Once I get that, I'm going to devise my eating regimen for this menu.
Cont. 3:49 PM
It was a good morning. Somebody brought me two cinnamons! That should last me until next store day.
Even better, I was able to upgrade mats! I saw a mat on an empty bunk that was better than my own; I asked
the guy who lived below the empty bunk if I could switch out, and I took the good mat. I now may have my permanent mat.
Tuesday, November 8, 2022, 6:11 AM
Last night was my first test of my new mat, and it went well: I got a good, solid, eight hours of sleep. I am happy with the new mat.
I also got a new shirt. Probably in preparation for the 2.4, somebody left a green shirt on the communal bookshelf. I usually don't care for green, but it was a dark green rather than a bright green.
Speaking of rumors, one guy was saying some PBS program was talking about releasing lifers. It turns out it was just some panel discussion where somebody was giving their opinion of what they should do.
I don't like how my one cubie treats my other cubie. Before the one cubie had lifted his head off his pillow this morning, the other guy was hovering over him, screeching at him, making disparaging jokes. He will also screech at him when he's on the phone.
At least the tablets are working again this morning. Last night they weren't operational, depriving me of Candy Crush time. Plus, the law library ap still isn't working, and hasn't functioned since we got the tablets a few months ago.
Wednesday, November 9, 2022, 4:21 PM
Great news: the water restriction is over! Better yet, I was able to be one of the first ones to get a shower. I needed one because a bird bath just doesn't cut it. I had to settle for a quick shower, though, because many guys were waiting. This experience definitely made me appreciate a good shower. As one of my cubies said, it was exquisite. I feel bad for my laundry guy though because everybody rushed in there at once. I will wait and turn in my laundry tomorrow.
Thursday, November 10, 2022
I still feel a little congestion in my nose. Perhaps it's a sinus infection that's taking forever to completely clear up.
As far as I know, they didn't do any 2.4 walk through. Perhaps the unit staff didn't want to do that during the water restriction and get asked a million times when they would reopen the showers and laundry room. Speaking of the water restriction, I heard one guy got walked across the compound to the Captain's Office for trying to shower during the restriction. It's sad that you have to choose between trying to stay clean and getting in trouble.
We got a busload of new guys in, and one of them came into my block, on my street. He has only about a year. I hate when we get guys straight off the bus. It shows this isn't a merit block.
Friday, November 11, 2022, Veterans' Day, 10:45 AM
Last night was the debut of the frosted marble cake on the menu. I got the fruit instead, as usual, but I kind of regretted it. The cake looked good. Not only did it have icing on it, but it had a respectable amount of icing. It looked better than some of the holiday cakes. Everybody raved about it. Next time it appears on the menu, I'm going to get it at least once as a cheat treat.
Today is Veterans' Day. It is also going to be a washout, raining from morning to night. This was my run morning, and I had a tough choice, run in the rain on the ballcourt or do cardio in the crowded dayroom. I chose wet overcrowded. I did laundry afterwards anyway. I'm not going to be like my running rival and brag to everybody that I went out and ran in the rain, saying how much I loved it. I endured my half hour and not a minute more.
I still haven't received my nutritional info yet. I bet the warden's assistant sent it to my case manager, who seems to be on vacation. I bet that info is just sitting in her mailbox. And who knows how long she'll be gone. One week? Two weeks?
Saturday, November 12, 2022, 6:16 AM
I was out on the track last night, enjoying my evening walk, when they closed not only rec but the entire compound. They then locked us down and did an unscheduled count. I was wondering what it was all about, but I soon found out through the grapevine. Apparently, somebody from the outside tried to throw something over the fence and got caught. My one friend saw the whole thing from his window. Later, they took somebody out of my block. I don't like the idea of somebody from my block being involved with that, but the timing is unlikely to be a coincidence. We were on lockdown for a couple of hours after that.
Saturday, November 12, 2022, 12:00 Noon
There was a bright side to yesterday though. They made a mistake and called us first to dinner. Although I had to scramble to get ready, it was nice to get it out of the way early.
It is snowing out right now. Last month there were a few flurries one day, but this is the first time it came down heavily.
Sunday, November 13, 2022, 11:58 AM
At approximately 1:45 AM, I was coming back from the bathroom after taking a leak and I heard a moaning sound. I soon discovered that one of my neighbors was on the ground, having fallen out. His bunkie went and got the CO, who contacted Medical. The nurses came to our sleeping bay for a while and helped him. I think he is a diabetic whose blood sugar got low. They got him back together fast, and I don't think he was even taken out of the block. This incident broke my November, insomnia-free streak. They turned on the light for a while, and I was obviously concerned. Incidentally, this is a different diabetic neighbor than the one who has recently had health problems. Come to think of it, there are numerous older, diabetic inmates on my street. I can think of four. In general, there are a lot of older, long-termers on my street.
Unfortunately, two of my cubies are short termers. I would like to eventually set up a cube of long-termers, preferably parole inmates like me and my bunkie. I have two candidates in mind. They are two of our best friends in the block. They also happen to be bunkies, and they don't want to get separated. They're not completely thrilled with their location, being next to the bathroom, and they would like to get two good, long-term cubies also. It would be sweet if we could get them moved over together at the same time. My one current cubie could go home as soon as eight months from now. After he leaves, perhaps my one remaining cubie would be willing to switch with my two friends. One selling point for my cubie would be that his new cube would be by the window. Also, we might be able to get him switched from a top bunk to a bottom bunk, and he could choose his new bunkie. If we could arrange this, we could get a good, long-term setup with four decent, parole inmates.
Monday, November 14, 2022, 6:22 AM
I saw that cat again this morning. It has been about a week. I think I'll call this cat "White Sox" because it is mostly gray with white legs. I don't think I'll be able to feed it, as I've done with feral cats at other institutions, because I see it so infrequently. I would have to just leave food out there blindly overnight and hope White Sox would find it.
Our tablets haven't been working for 24 hours now.
I have to be careful when doing leg extensions on the weight machine. I tweaked my problem knee the other day trying to do the whole stack. I can't do over-heavy weights.
I have an eclectic taste in cinema. Last night I watched both Pride and Prejudice and the new Dr. Strange/ multiverse movie. Incidentally, I enjoy my new easy, upper-body-only Sundays.
Monday, November 14, 2022, 1:50 PM
Well, I was waiting for more dominoes to fall after that fence incident a few days ago, and it happened this morning. The CO's came in and shook down a couple of guys, including the bunkie of the guy they took out already. They packed up this bunkie and sent him to the hole too. So, hopefully they removed the tumor out of the block.
Incidentally, regarding the first guy they took out of the block, I heard it was his wife that got caught in a car across the street that night. Supposedly she was in the car with her two kids and her son's girlfriend -- a real family affair.
Tuesday, November 15, 2022, 6:13 AM
Well, the tablets are back on, so I got my Candy Crush time in last night.
My theory about my nutritional info just sitting in the mail box of my case manager seems to be accurate. She returned yesterday and suddenly I got three pieces of institutional mail. One, the cash slip for the copy of my nutritional info. Two, a note from Dental, saying that I'm not eligible for a cleaning yet. And the third was my nutritional info for the new menu. This time, I requested the fiber info for the items, which proved interesting. Not surprisingly, some of the good sources of fiber were the beans, soy substitutes, bran flakes, and veggies. Two surprises were the apple jelly and pizza. I will now devise my nutritional plan for this menu cycle.
Tuesday, November 15, 2022, 10:55 AM
I heard some more about the fence incident from the other day. First, they caught the suspects across the street in the parking lot for the BCI building (Bureau of Criminal Investigation). Talk about irony. Also, from the shakedown yesterday, they found a cell phone. It was apparently a Shawshank moment because they found it behind a calendar.
Last night, I went out for an evening walk, and a friend from another block asked me if I would go back in and get another friend from my block (a guy who recently got a parole). I went in, searched for the guy, and found him in the phone room. I had a dilemma. I didn't know whether or not to interrupt his call and let him know that somebody was looking for him. I didn't know if this was something important that the guy didn't want to miss, so I let the guy know. Apparently, I made the wrong decision. For starters, the guy from the other block sent in four people, looking for this guy. Even worse, he wanted to ask him questions about his parole decision. This discussion wasn't time critical because he had three more years until his next hearing. From now on, I won't interrupt a phone call.
Because it doesn't look like my food box will arrive before Thanksgiving, I bought treats at the store yesterday. I bought most of this candy to give away. I focused on the special holiday items, including peanut clusters, chocolate peanuts, mini-caramels, and chocolate pretzels. I also got some granola bars.
Wednesday, November 16, 2022, 6:08 AM
There have apparently been a couple of positive cases of Covid, a couple in JB and one in JD. At dinner, the staff started to keep the blocks separate, but then they quit doing that and mixed everyone together. I'll be interested to see if they will put these blocks on quarantine as they would during the pandemic. I need to know what's going on by Thursday when I'll have to do my mail running job: I don't want to walk into a quarantined block.
Thursday, November 17, 2022, 12:39 AM
Well, I'm suffering a bout of insomnia right now. Perhaps this was due to the eventful day I had.
After breakfast, they told us to lock down. That's when they made everybody in Banneker and one of the J-Blocks go to the gym. Then, the SRT (special response team) went into those blocks and shook them down. Even though the temperature was in the 30's, they made the J-Block guys go down to the gym without coats (they allowed the Banneker guys to get their coats). Although they didn't raid and tear up my block, we were on lockdown all morning. I had to settle for my plan D workout, jogging in place at my bunk.
This was also the day of the fundraiser delivery. They usually deliver the food in the afternoon, but the big shakedown caused it to be postponed until the evening.
I had that pass for the guest speaker in the evening. She was the victim of horrible domestic violence when she was a kid. Her step-father was a sadistic alcoholic who terrorized her, her siblings, and her mother. He neglected her and abused her physically, verbally, and sexually. He wouldn't feed them, so the children would have to steal their dog's food. On top of the abuse at home, these children got bullied at school because they were dirty and smelly due to the neglect. The system further failed these kids because nobody at the school questioned when they would arrive at school dirty or bruised.
Here's one example of the horrible abuse they suffered. When the kids, out of pure starvation, started eating the food of their pet rabbits, the father punished them by decapitating the rabbits in front of them. He then cooked the rabbits and made the kids eat them for dinner. This lady spent an hour relating similar horror stories.
Finally, when she was about thirteen, the mother finally took the kids and left, going to their grandmother's house. The father then went over there, shooting and killing her mother and grandmother. Not surprisingly, she had trouble overcoming these horrible childhood experiences. For example, she landed in several abusive relationships.
Incredibly, she eventually forgave her father. She even went down to visit him in prison. Sadly, this guy hadn't changed. He asked her for money and a TV, which she provided. He eventually cut off ties with her, apparently mad that she wasn't visiting enough and providing sufficient money. He sent her a nasty letter, belittling her. At his parole hearing, he said that the victims deserved what they got. This is one of the rare times where I support a parole denial, for this guy was truly a monster. I support her decision to forgive, but in this instance I don't believe she should have tried to re-establish a relationship with him.
She has recovered remarkably from this trauma. She is about to be promoted to CEO of a small organization that helps disabled people, and she has a decent boyfriend, who was present as she spoke. I was captivated by her story, and it had a strong impact on me. As my sister would say, I was "shooketh." I am still processing it.
When I came back from hearing this story of cruelty, I got to see the good side of humanity. My one friend had left my bunkie and me some food from that fundraiser, including a fried egg sandwich with ham and cheese, hash browns, tartar sauce, and two pieces of fish! I put it on ice and will eat it tomorrow. The events of today have reinforced my urge to be a good person.
Thursday, November 17, 2022, 4:19 PM
JB is on quarantine for Covid now. I leaned that this morning while I was doing my mail runner job. I started to go in JB when I was told that it was on lockdown. It would have been nice if they had notified people or posted a sign on the door. I mean, they have three signs in my block telling us we have to wear ID's in the dayroom, yet they can't put up a sign that a block's on quarantine? I hear that the vaccinated guys can still leave the block. They are running them to chow separately though. On the bright side, because they're running JB last now, they've bumped up my block from eighth to seventh in the eating order.
It is bitterly cold out. In fact, I'm tempted to wear my mask out -- not as a Covid measure, but as a mushfake scarf.
I got some good news: my mother ordered my food box, and it apparently arrived here yesterday. I hope I get called down for it soon, perhaps even before Thanksgiving. Depending on when I get it, I may have made a mistake buying all that candy at the store.
After reviewing that nutritional info, I've devised my eating regimen for the Fall/ Winter menu.
Friday, November 18, 2022, 6:19 AM
It's gotten cold not only outside, but inside the block too. I have been using my blankets as padding to supplement my mat, but I've been getting cold overnight. At first, I would throw on my hoodie. Last night, I went and used one of my blankets. I'll have to figure this out.
Friday, November 18, 2022, 4:32 PM
The big story here is the cold. It's not just cold; it's bitter cold. With the wind chill, it is 16 degrees in London. For the first time this year, I've pulled out the thermal underwear, the blanket, and mask as scarf. Before Covid, we weren't allowed to cover our face, no matter what the weather was doing. Sometimes in the most frigid weather, guys would use items like towels as scarves, but the CO's would often confiscate them. Now we can at least use the masks. Thank goodness for the pandemic!
When we had to wear masks, my one friend thought that the one CO who used to confiscate mushfake scarves would be so mad that guys could cover their faces now. I disagreed. I believe it wasn't the specific issue; he just liked to hassle people about something. Indeed, he took as much joy yelling at people about wearing their masks as he had yelling at them for covering their faces -- even though it was the exact opposite rule.
My one cubie keeps making belittling, disparaging remarks to my other cubie. For example, my cubie just recently completed a correspondence course in paralegal studies. He was celebrating that achievement by having a special snack or something, when my other cubie said, "You're celebrating that? You might as well start celebrating waking up and breathing."
I enjoyed the fundraiser food my friend shared with me, which included two fish filets, tartar sauce, egg white, two pieces of cheese, ham, and a hash brown.
Saturday, November 19, 2022, 6:23 AM
I heard one of my former acquaintances from this block, a guy nicknamed Chicken Little, is locked back up for a prc (post-release control) violation. I always hate to hear about guys messing up and returning to prison. At least it will only be for nine months.
It is another bitter cold day here, 19 degrees with the wind chill. I've decided to use my blankets for warmth rather than for padding.
Saturday, November 20, 2022
It was three degrees out this morning in London, factoring in the wind chill.
I had weight room this morning, making it the first weekend in months that I was able to get both My Saturday and Sunday times in. The weather actually helps with this. When there is only one rec CO instead of two when it's cold, they are more likely to run inside rec rather than outside.
For this menu cycle, I'm aiming for about 2000 calories a day. That seems to be the right amount to maintain my definition considering my size and activity level.
There is a talented artist in my block who makes holiday cards. I saw some of them today His cards feature winter landscapes. This guy won a state-wide art contest for one of the catalog companies. I will have to get some of these cards for my family and friends.
Monday, November 21, 2022, 2022, 7:13 PM
I got my food box today! In fact, they called me and my bunkie at the same time. Unfortunately, I was in the shower when they called me, which delayed me getting it. My bunkie came into the bathroom and called for me, but he's somewhat of a low-talker, so I couldn't hear him. When I got out of the shower, my cubie told me that they had called for me. As I was getting ready, my bunkie came back without anything. He said they had changed procedure without letting anybody know about it, and we now had to bring our laundry bags down with us to collect our food. Recently, the food had ben pre-bagged, and we just had to go down there and pick it up. This new method made the process go slower, but at least guys could check their stuff before leaving to make sure nothing was missing.
This was the first time I had been back to the mail room since the weird incident with that one CO who made those false allegations. I was ready this time in case that situation repeated. I was kind of hoping he would say something, yet at the same time I was kind of hoping he wouldn't. I want to make sure whatever misunderstanding there was before got cleared up. I went before the same CO, yet he said nothing. There just happened to be a lot of other staff members around at the time, including the major, so he wasn't likely to say anything at that time anyway. I wasn't going to bring it up, but I was ready to contradict any falsehoods this time. Whatever that was hopefully it blew over.
There was only one problem with my food box. As I was carrying it back, my pineapple cup burst and leaked all over my laundry bag, the other food, and the receipt. Even worse, when I got back to the cube, I set my bag on my bed, which stained my sheets and blankets, I had to strip off my bedding, take it to the sink, rinse it off, and then aim my fan at it. Still, my area smelled pineapple.
I had one of my cheat treats from the box already: a bowl of Lucky Charms. It was so good. Half the joy was the nostalgia from childhood. I gave the rest of the cereal away to friends. I also shared some tea with my tea-drinking friends, and I gave some lemonade to my friend who likes lemonade. I also made myself some homemade limeade from dehydrated lime juice and artificial sweeteners. I then made myself a healthful seasoning mixture from six spices: turmeric cumin, coriander, curry, ground chili peppers, ginger, and garlic. In short, a good day.
Tuesday, November 22, 2022, 5:22 AM
Another insomnia night.
My area still smells pineappley from the burst fruit cup despite my initial efforts, so I'm going to have to turn in some bedding. It's not a scheduled laundry day, so I hope my laundry guy doesn't get mad. I don't know if I can turn in tow blankets at once anyway.
They posted the Thanksgiving menu. There are ten items on it: turkey gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, rolls, margarine, green bean casserole, punch, and iced cake. It sounds pretty good. I hope they have everything. For example, I hope they don't substitute bread for rolls, or cake with powdered topping rather than icing.
Tuesday November 22, 2022, 5:22 AM
There is a discrepancy between the memo posted in the block and the email they sent us regarding the Thanksgiving menu. In the memo, it says pumpkin cake; in the email, it says pumpkin pie. I tend to believe the cake version because they haven't served us pie in a long time. Perhaps the pie thing is just what Aramark is telling Columbus. We'll find out soon enough.
Tuesday, November 22, 2022, 7:39 PM
They are passing out free Christmas cards at the chape now -- a thing they d every year. I got mine today. They are also hosting a special Christmas service where inmates can invite their families to attend with them. Unfortunately, they will only choose inmates who regularly attend chapel services, which I don't.
I got all my bedding washed today, so it no longer smells pineappley. Coincidentally, we had pineapples for lunch, and I got two extra servings from friends. Right now, I'm drowning in pineapple.
I had some "sun chips" today. Made from whole grains they tasted pretty good seasoned with the right amount of spices. I shared most of them with my friends -- the ones who I hadn't shared anything from my food box with yet.
Wednesday, November 23, 2022, 5:57 AM
They did the monthly inspection. My block got a 97, and so did MD apparently. I'll go around asking for other scores today. Usually, I would ask guys from different blocks on my mail route, but I'm going to get my usual work day (Thursday) off this week due to Thanksgiving. Surprisingly, the nurses did the inspection this month -- the first time I ever saw that. Hopefully we did well so that we improve from eighth place.
Wednesday, November 23, 2022, 4:23 PM
Bad news: my Jplayer broke. This is a huge loss for me because I am a writer and my Jplayer is my writing tool I won't be able to type up my posts on my player and upload them to the kiosk. I could type them up directly on the kiosk, but that's time-consuming, and other guys would be waiting for me to finish. I hope I can fix it. To go the official route, I would have to send my player out to JPay, which could take months before I would get it returned to me fixed. Plus they are supposed to take away our Jplayers in the near future replacing them with some sort of messaging service from GTL, so I might not get to use the JPlayer again anyway. I'm not sure what to do. For now, Im handwriting my journal as though it were the 1890's.
I've gotten the inspection scores for six other blocks. So far, three have done better than us, three worse, so we're about the middle of the pack, which is an upgrade from the bottom.
Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2022, 10:13 AM
Today is Thanksgiving! For me, it's a day of giving. I bought some of the holiday candy at the store last week, including the chocolate-covered peanuts, the frosted pretzels, and peanut clusters, and I'm giving them away to my friends and acquaintances. I keep one piece of each as a cheat treat. In addition to my friends, I try to look out for strangers too. I've been anonymously leaving individually wrapped, fudge-covered granola bars on the communal bookshelf with a note, "Free bar. Happy Thanksgiving."
I've heard that they aren't going to switch over from the JPlayers to GTL for messaging any time soon. Therefore, I hope my player will start working again.
They posted an announcement that the chow hall will be closed Saturday evening, and we will have to pick up a bag dinner at lunch. They're doing this because they expect to be short-staffed that day. Supposedly they will be down 34 officers on Friday and even more on Saturday.
Thursday, November 24, 2022, 7:01 PM
The Thanksgiving meal was pretty good. We had cake instead of pie, but at least the cake had icing. I was able to get an extra serving of cranberry sauce and three extra servings of green bean casserole. Because the kitchen staff don't care about guys taking out food on the holidays, I brought some of it back for dinner.
I gave away all of my holiday candy. I bought a bit much this time, so it was a chore to give it all away.
I posted my homemade eating order for December. My projection is that my block will be fourth, which is an upgrade from eighth.
Friday, November 25, 2022, 11:30 AM
Incidentally, they followed the eating order yesterday for Thanksgiving. It seems as though they don't follow the eating order on holidays when my block is first, but they do follow the eating order when my block is last.
Saturday, November 26, 2022, 3:05 PM
Today provided a good example of the poor communication that occurs around here. A few days ago, we received an email that we would receive a bag dinner at LUNCH today. This morning, however, we saw guys returning from breakfast with bag dinners. Apparently, they had changed things up, providing us the bag dinners at BREAKFAST rather than lunch. The problem is, they didn't provide us notice of this change. Being in eighth place actually came in handy today because we got a chance to wake up any of our friends who might want to go down. I feel bad for some of these guys -- especially guys from blocks early in the eating order -- who missed out on dinner bags because they were unaware they had to go to breakfast to pick them up.
In fact, as I was leaving the chow hall, after they had called all the blocks to breakfast, I saw one of my former bunkies go to the chow hall late. He is from MC, which is second in the eating order. He probably learned that they were passing out the bag dinners, so he probably went up there late to try to get one. I hope they allowed him to get it.
In addition to the bag meal, they didn't provide any notice that they switched out Saturday's breakfast (peanut butter) with Sunday's breakfast (scrambled eggs). So, some guys who like the scrambled eggs may have missed out this week.
The staff didn't just do a poor job of communicating to the inmates; they did a poor job communicating among themselves. The Aramark staff members didn't learn about the special arrangements for today from other staff; rather they learned about it from the inmates, who mentioned the email to them.
On the bright side, JB is off quarantine today.
Also, despite the understaffing, inside rec was open this morning, which is rare for a Saturday.
Today is the Michigan versus Ohio State game, which is a major event around here. In fact, I suspect that this game is the reason for the excessive understaffing today.
Sunday, November 27, 2022
I got called down to the infirmary today for my flu shot, which I accepted. The nurse said Covid booster shots would be available soon. I also took the opportunity to weigh myself: 134.3
Because my player is broken, I couldn't do my usual Sunday morning routine of uploading my posts to the kiosk. Instead, this afternoon I had to type them in directly to the kiosk. I hate doing this because I take up time on the kiosk while other guys might be waiting to use it. This afternoon was a good time, though, because everybody was watching football. I hope I can get my player fixed soon.
Monday, November 28, 2022, 4:23 PM
I heard that some staff members recently started confiscating boots from newer inmates. You see, they used to sell boots, but they suddenly banned them state-wide a few years ago. The reason for this ban, I've heard, is that guys at higher security institutions used them to stomp out other guys. Although guys at minimum security could keep them, nobody could buy new ones. In this recent batch of confiscations, staff members focused on newer inmates who wouldn’t have been locked down long enough to buy boots legitimately. Therefore, my boots should be okay.
I spent about 1 hour 20 minutes typing in my posts on the kiosk. I sure hope my player starts working again.
Tuesday, November 29, 2022, 7:50 PM
They posted a memo for next month's fundraiser: doughnuts. They're selling a dozen for twelve dollars -- a buck per doughnut. Many guys are saying they aren't going to order any due to the price. Indeed, for many guys who only make twenty dollars a month (or less), it's cost prohibitive. I'm skipping this fundraiser because it goes against my nutritional regimen.
Wednesday, November 30, 2022, 5:06 PM
I learned some bad news today: my player is through. So, I don't know what I'll do until they switch over from JPay to GTL.
They've posted the December eating order in at least one other block, but not mine. I'm eager to see how close my unofficial list was.
Here's an example of a bizarre situation: the supplier to the commissary raised the price of the small honey buns, but not the large honey buns. So, right now the small honey buns actually cost more than the large ones.
Today I broke into my main cheat treat from my food box: cookie dough bites. Coated in chocolate, these small pieces of cookie dough also contain chocolate chips. They're pretty good. In addition to these cookie dough bites, other items from my food box I ate today were some clams, seaweed, and peaches.
Tuesday, December 1, 2022, 9:37 AM
They finally posted the eating order for December. My block is sixth rather than fifth, which I had predicted. The mistake I made was JB. I had initially heard that, because they were on quarantine during the inspection, that they would retain their previous place in the order, which was seventh. They placed third. I guess that either the supposed quarantine rule was wrong, or because the nurses did the inspection, they were able to go into JB. I'm not so much disappointed in our lower place in the eating order as I am in making a mistake on my posted list.
Now that were in December, I'm going to start thinking about New Year's resolutions. To work on self-improvement, I make these resolutions each year, and I take them seriously. I'm a bit disappointed that I will have to put some unfinished resolutions from my 2022 list onto my 2023 list, such as fully investing my money. I was successful in some goals, such as overcoming my leg cramps. This is a good time to reflect, look at the big picture, and see if I'm on the right life path.
I haven't heard from that one public defender yet. If he's not going to reply to me, I'll have to decide if I'll pursue litigation against the parole board on my own, for the deadline is approaching.
My new nutritional regimen is going well. I set a calorie limit of 2100, but I don't define how exactly I'll reach that cap. This gives me both more flexibility and more control at the same time.
Both inside and outside rec were closed this morning, but fortunately I just work out at my block's weight machine on Thursdays anyway.
Friday, December 2, 2022, 10:33 AM
I lost track of time and didn't realize that day 800 of my workout streak came and went without me recognizing or celebrating it. I did happen to have a cheat treat that day, peanut butter clusters, because I had leftover candy from Thanksgiving. At some point, perhaps at day 1000, I'll stop celebrating every 100 days of the streak. Depending on how long the streak lasts, I might just celebrate every year.
Speaking of cheat treats, I got the new "marble cake" at dinner last night, the first time in years that I got the dessert instead of the fruit. It was pretty good, topped with a respectable amount of icing. This was a onetime thing though, trying out a new item. I had a fruit cup of mandarin oranges to make up for the fruit I skipped.
Today provided a good example of how rumors start. Because there were no passes for my block today, they didn't post a pass sheet (Friday is usually a slow day for passes). Some guys misinterpreted this as meaning that they were doing a mass 2.4 today. Staff don't like to work much on Fridays, let alone anything big. Of course, no 2.4 happened today. Even though the original memo said the 2.4 could come at any time within the next few months, one goofy guy has had all of his property packed up in his box for the last few weeks, inconveniencing himself for no good reason.
It's weird: three of the four movies on the movie channel are horror themed, including a Halloween, a Children of the Corn, and the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It's the Thanksgiving/ Christmas season, yet we're getting Halloween-type movies.
Saturday, December 3, 2022, 4:35 PM
The weight room was actually open this morning, making it a streak of three Saturdays in a row! I hope this is the beginning of a trend. Still, yesterday both inside and outside rec were closed on first shift, so the problem persists.
I talked to my friend who is a maintenance worker this morning. He said that a boiler completely broke down in WC on the medium side, so they did an emergency ride out of 90 guys to London Correctional next door. Some of those guys were happy about that ride because they came from London and preferred it there.
We received a notice that our institutional kite system will be transferred over from the JPay kiosk to the GTL tablets. This change at least shows that they are making progress in the transition from JPay to GTL.
I've noticed many people have been struggling with mental health issues lately, especially depression. When one friend got a food box recently, he said, "This should help with my depression." Today, a different friend said he was feeling depressed. Also today, my cubie -- the one who I've helped before -- said he was struggling with negativity, especially towards himself. I assured him that struggling with these feelings are normal, mentioning how I had just experienced insomnia last night because I was dwelling on something. I then mentioned how I was going to do a New Year resolution about mental health. Instead of vague resolutions that I've made in the past, such as "be more mindful and relaxed," I am going to devise specific actions to take throughout the day to promote this positivity. I will then share this plan with him, hoping he might find it helpful.
Incidentally, this same guy receives a sketchy visitor in the cube regularly.
Sunday, December 4, 2022, 4:14 AM
This is one of the rare instances where I experienced two insomnia nights in a row.
Yesterday, I saw a friend down at rec, and he told me that he received a letter from a mutual friend at North Central. He further said that our distant friend had a message for me: he wanted me to write him, for he hadn't received a letter from me since my parole denial, which was about ten months ago. This message surprised and disturbed me because I have sent him two letters since then. I don't know what happened. This has stoked my concerns that the mail room staff may be messing with my mail after that false allegation that one CO from the mail room made against me. I will write my friend again. But North Central's mail room is apparently in disarray too, so who knows what happened.
Sunday, December 4, 2022, 1157 AM
My friend had a weird experience at Medical. At the pill call line the nurse asked for his number three times. Each time, he told her. As she handed him his pill, she said, "The next time a nurse asks for your number, tell her." My friend said that he and the nearby CO just exchanged baffled glances. The day before, he got called back to the infirmary shortly after he had already been there to pick up pills. When he got there, the nurse realized that he had already had his appointment, and they didn't need to see him. So, he made an extra trip down there for nothing. Having to deal with all these little hassles is the reason I went off chronic care before, and I’m considering going off it again.
Monday December 5, 2022, 4:29 PM
For a New Year's resolution, I came up with a positivity plan, which is basically a list of steps I can take to maintain good mental health. For example, while I'm trying to sleep, I won't think about anything upsetting, which could result in insomnia. I shared this list with my cubie who has recently struggled with negativity. I'm glad I did because he really enjoyed the list.
As of now they still haven't moved the kite system from the kiosks to the tablet, which was supposed to happen today.
They did, however, add the inmate manual to the tablet. One guy who looked at it said he found inaccuracies about the procedures. I’ve noticed in the past that staff members often don't go through the manual and actually update it; instead, they just take the old one and change the date. For example, one inmate manual advertised for how to get into a non-smoking block even though the ODRC had banned smoking statewide years before that.
Tuesday, November 6, 2022, 12:16 PM
Guess what? The Lexis-Nexis finally started working for the first time since we got the new tablets! I heard the staff members didn't want us to get this application because guys were looking up each other’s cases and getting into fights. As evidence of that, my one cubie admitted to me that he had just spent the last two hours looking up guys cases because he felt nosey. Its guys like him, misusing the service, that makes it hard for us who want to do legitimate research.
They still don’t have the kite system up and running on the tablets -- one day after the posted startup date. It's funny: they gave us Lexis and the inmate manual, but not the thing they actually promised.
Wednesday, December 7, 2022, 12:21 PM
For the first time in a while, outside rec was open, and I got to run on the track instead of the ball court.
The kite system still isn't on the tablets -- two days past the promised implementation date.
Thursday, December 8, 2022, 3:56 PM
While waiting for breakfast we noticed they weren't following the eating order. This deviation from the norm prompted some guys to suspect a 2.4ing, but we soon found out what it was really about. Although they didn't provide us with any advanced notice, today they were running the annual health fair in the gym, causing rec to be closed all morning and afternoon. Many of us got ready and waited around for them to call it, but we eventually learned that they wouldn't call the M blocks until the afternoon.
After the 11:00 AM count cleared, I went out to do my mail cart job. Being seventh in the eating order, I thought I would have time before my block was called to lunch. While doing my job, I noticed they were calling the blocks out of order again due to the health fair, causing my block to be third, putting me at risk of missing lunch. Fortunately, it was a light mail day, so I was able to finish my job just before lunch.
Coming out of the chow hall after lunch, we discovered that they had called our block to the health fair so we went directly to the gym.
Despite the poor notification and communication, the event itself was pretty decent. Various departments, such as Recovery Services and Dental, had tables set up throughout the gym. These tables had pamphlets, activities, and gifts. In the end, I left the fair with small samples of the following: bottled water, M&Ms, a cup of yoghurt, a cup of cucumbers, a couple of candy canes, a toothbrush holder, a 2023 daily planner, and various pamphlets.
I also got some health measurements taken, such as weight (132.8), blood pressure, and blood sugar. Some of these measurements were artificially elevated though. I had my blood sugar taken right after eating lunch, and I had my blood pressure taken right after exercising at the Recreation table.
Speaking of the Recreation table, it had a good example of a game. You would pick a card, with each card representing a certain exercise, and then you had to do ten of that exercise. I pulled sit ups. I wasn't too thrilled that I had to do them on the dirty gym floor though, and I had no place to brace my feet, but I got a small candy cane afterwards, so I was content.
My main disappointment was that, even though they had the fancy scales there, they weren't set up to measure body fat percentage. This was the main measurement I was interested in. My goal is to be in the single digits. Despite this disappointment, I was overall impressed with the event, and I have to hand it to the institution.
Friday, December 9, 2022, 11:28 AM
There were a couple of ironic moments at the health fair. First, one of the staff members there was drinking a big gulp. Plus, just the general idea that you receive candy at a health fair.
My sleeping routine has collapsed. Over the past week I've experienced insomnia five times. I've been dwelling over certain issues, and that has caused a breakdown in my sleep routine.
Apparently one of our regular COs asked the warden if our block was still merit. The warden said Yes. Our CO said it certainly wasn't being run as though it were a merit block. For example, just the other day we got five new guys right off the bus. Plus, they don’t move out guys who get tickets.
Frida, December 9, 2022, 5:09 PM
I have to address an ugly aspect of prison dorm living: the bathroom. Today there was feces smeared on one of the toilets -- an event that occasionally happens around here. You don't know whether this mess was caused by a medical problem, an accident, or somebody with a sick sense of humor. Speaking of bathrooms, a recent study documented the amount of feces emitted in the air with each flush. I don't believe that courtesy flushes actually work, but I do them around here to appease others who do believe in them. This excessive, unnecessary flushing, however, just exacerbates the problem of airborne contamination.
Saturday, December 10, 2022
I got a good night's sleep finally. Hopefully this marks the end of my insomnia streak.
I learned that the people who got an emergency ride out to London due t the broken boiler were from the merit block of the medium side. It couldn't have been much of a merit block, though, if guys wanted to leave there. For example, they apparently couldn't get cable because the block didn't have the wiring for it.
Sun, Dec 11, 2022
Inside rec was closed again this morning, but for a good reason. They're having a Family Worship Service today, an event in which inmates can attend a chapel service with their family. I don't mind missing out on weight room for something positive like that. Plus, I got the block's weight machine all to myself for my entire workout, which is rare.
I got a second good night's sleep in a row! Hopefully I've broken that streak of insomnia.
At lunch, I experienced some "double dipping" at the table. I was eating with a friend from another block along with two other guys, one a stranger, the other the "poop sightseer" from my block (the guy who went out of his way to see feces smeared in a stall). I was talking with my friend about potential parole reform when the stranger, who had just arrived at the table, chimed in with, "Reform? The only reform comes from yourself."
He didn't even know what we were talking about. Then, the poop tourist dipped into the conversation too (the "double dip").
He asked, "What's a parole inmate?"
I said, "A guy who has to see the parole board."
He asked, "Do you have to see the parole board?"
Getting irritated, I replied, "Yes."
He then said, "Uh-oh."
I don't necessarily mind when somebody dips into my conversation, but only when their interjection is worthwhile.
I just completed the first full 3-week cycle of my new nutrition regimen. I averaged about 2050 calories and 100 grams of protein per day. That is about 200 calories and 20 grams of protein per day less than the last 3-week cycle. I'm a tad disappointed in the drop in protein, but I'm overall happy with this system. I can already see an improvement in my definition.
Mon, Dec 12, 2022
The tablets are still down this morning.
For breakfast, they served scrambled eggs rather than hash (that egg/ potato mix). This was a welcome substitution, but it's probably a one-time thing, perhaps due to them being out of potatoes.
At the store this morning, I bought a pop for each of the store workers as a Christmas present. They all seemed to appreciate it.
The tablets are finally back on.
I learned why we got real eggs this morning: apparently there was a potato recall, and the kitchen staff can't use the potatoes they have. That's fine with me because they potato us to death here.
Tue, Dec 13, 2022
The infirmary staff notified my friend that they got the results back from the A1C test he took at the health fair. They said his results were abnormal and that they would see him today about it. My friend has been living an unhealthful lifestyle, eating a lot and not exercising, especially since he got his stimulus money. He told me that he has gained about 25 pounds since he got this money. I never said anything before because I abide by the motto "Live and let live," but now that he seems ready to make a change, I'll offer him whatever advice or encouragement he needs.
At his appointment, my friend learned that his A1C was 6.1, meaning he is pre-diabetic. He says he wants to do something about it, but I'm not sensing a great commitment. Hopefully I'm wrong. We'll see.
Wed, Dec 14, 2022
I woke up at 6:15 AM this morning, the latest I've slept in for years. My sleep got interrupted twice last night, but this time it had nothing to do with insomnia. Shortly after the start of third shift, the fire alarm started blaring, and I had to get up out of bed and go outside. I think it was just a false alarm because they quickly let us back inside without counting us, which is the usual procedure.
Around 1:30 AM, one of my neighbors was talking on his phone-tablet, yelling at his woman, which woke up my other neighbor. They then go into a loud argument, which woke me up. I wish the ODRC would shut off the phones at a certain time -- something they used to do.
My one cubie, who has a prosthetic leg, told me about some medical malpractice he experienced here. In another block, the third-shift CO accidentally tore down the bar that held up the curtain to the handicapped shower (he would remove the curtains each night so that nobody would do anything they weren't supposed to in the stalls). My cubie asked the regular CO if she would call maintenance to fix it, but she said she would only do that for somebody in a wheelchair, and he wasn't in a wheelchair (remember he has only one leg). Therefore, he had to use one of the non-handicapped stalls, wearing his prosthetic leg while he showered. For this reason, his leg eventually got infected. For weeks he told medical staff his leg was infected, but they didn’t' believe him. Finally, they tested his leg, trying to prove him wrong, but the test came back positive for staph. By that time, it was too late. The infection had spread to the bone, so they had to chop off two more inches from his leg stump.
I'm worried my one friend may not be serious about his weight loss. Less than a day after learning he's pre-diabetic, he was eating Oreos.
There's a rumor the 2.4 will be next Tuesday. We'll see.
Thu, Dec 15, 2022
My one friend -- the one who told me about the rumor of a 2.4ing on Tuesday -- said his source recanted. This friend said he wished he had followed his "24-hour rule"; that is, he usually waits 24 hours before repeating a rumor because the sources often recant.
The legislature passed Senate Bill 288, which contained some mild criminal justice reform. Unless there were some last-minute amendments, all credible sources said it had nothing in it for us parole inmates. Nevertheless, many false rumors have surrounded S.B. 288, and this recent passage will probably stir up some more.
The ODRC keeps sending us email that Covid boosters ae available. The problem is, our institution hasn't received them yet. So, due to these faulty notices, medical staff must fend off questions about boosters they don't even have.
During the pandemic, the ODRC gave inmates black bowls for the chow hall. Now, I heard that at one female prison, the staff confiscated these bowls, saying that we are only allowed to have clear bowls. So, the ODRC gave us something we weren't allowed to have? Thankfully, they only seem to be doing this at one prison (at least for now).
My prediction came true: I already have been asked about that bill, specifically some over-blown rumors related to it.
The delivered weight machines to MC, which is the OPI block, today. Now, four out of ten blocks have weight machines. This is definitely a good thing.
Fri, Dec 16, 2022
I got to talk to one of my friends who was released a couple of years ago. It was so nice to speak to him. He's working, staying out of trouble, and doing well. It's great to see these success stories.
I've had an insomnia-free streak for a week straight now!
More good news: a friend in the block learned he received a release date from the parole board.
Unfortunately, another friend who has been waiting for news from the parole board learned that he wasn't receiving a release date; instead, he will have to go to a full board hearing in February.
They did the monthly inspection today. This time, my block got a score of 100. That means we will move up in the eating order next month. I've heard the scores for four other blocks, and they all got 99's. So, we're in the lead for now.
Sat, Dec 17, 2022
Last night, we had a relief CO in the block. My one friend was making out his store list when this CO walked by, stopped, and looked at what he was doing. This CO then said that he had thought my friend may have been a bookie, which is hilarious, considering my friend is the last guy who would be involved in anything like that. This incident reminds me of the time the librarian suspected me of making betting slips when I wanted copies of a menu. Or the time another relief CO was suspicious of my bunkie when he was just eating cereal. The weird things you get suspected of in here.
My one friend -- the one who just learned that he would have to go to a full board hearing -- didn't show up to the weight room this morning. This absence is unusual because he is consistent with his attendance. I hope he' not feeling bummed out about not getting a release date.
A downside of being one of the few people to walk in the cold is that I keep getting asked to go in and get people from my block. Today, I was asked to go get a bipolar acquaintance of mine as I was heading in. This guy was in bed, and I couldn't tell if he was asleep or not. I wasn't going to find out, especially considering he can be unstable, so I went back out and told the guy he was in bed. When I came back in, I stopped by again to see if he was awake, which he was, so I gave him the message. He gestured to a couple of soups on his cabinet, saying that's what the guy out there wanted, obviously asking me to go out once again to deliver them. It's a hassle enough to go retrieve people, but I really don't like passing stuff. Even though they were only soups, we're not supposed to pass any commissary items to guys in other blocks. So, I was faced with a bad choice, either say No and piss off this unstable guy, or pass stuff out in the open. Fortunately, his cubie offered to do it, saving me from the dilemma, but it's an example of the hassles we must endure in here.
I saw my friend who missed weight room this morning. He verified that he missed it because he just wasn't feeling it, in part due to the parole news. I told him that we were pulling for him and to keep his chin up.
Sun, Dec 18, 2022
I talked to somebody from JA in the weight room this morning, and he said that staff have posted a memo that they are going to do the 2.4ing on Wednesday. He further said that it's supposed to be a "'walk through," meaning that staff members will walk through the blocks and only target cluttered cubes for 2.4ing. I hope that's the case because that's how they should do it: just inconvenience the hoarders, not everybody. It takes up almost an entire day to pack and unpack all of your stuff. I'm not sure if they're going to do the M-Unit on Wednesday also. One rumor is that they will do the M blocks on Tuesday, and the J blocks on Wednesday. We'll see soon enough.
More people asking about that Senate Bill 288. And more crazy rumors about parole reform.
I finished my 2023 New Year's resolutions, and I'm pretty happy with my list. My top three resolutions focus on psychological, physical, and social health.
Mon, Dec 19, 2022
I now have a ten day insomnia-free streak! That's good for me in general, but it's especially welcome after that bad week I had.
With the wind chill, it was eleven degrees in London this morning. While running on the ballcourt, they sent us all back inside because a truck was on the compound. I didn't mind, though, finishing up my cardio indoors (my fingers were getting numb despite wearing two pairs of gloves).
I heard from a reliable source that the 2.4ing in the M-unit won't happen until closer to the audit in March from the ACA (American Correctional Association). If true, that's fine with me.
There's a rumor that we will get a new UMA (Unit Management Administrator). I hope so because the current one isn't that good. For example, he started making us wear state blues and shoes in the dayroom, which is the equivalent of our living room. Maybe a new UMA will reverse that policy. The problem is, I hear the potential new UMA likes doing four 2.4s a year in the J blocks.
Rec was closed this afternoon, but it was for a good reason. They had a program in the rec building where select inmates had their families come in. Then, the inmates unwrapped gifts with their kids. I will give staff members credit when credit is due, and this is definitely a positive program.
The administration did another good thing today. Now all four of our soap dispensers in the bathroom are working properly instead of just one.
Tue, Dec 20, 2022
They just posted a new memo, saying that we are not allowed to stand in the dayroom. I've heard about this rule being applied to the higher security side before, but this would be a new thing over here. It's just an example of yet another dumb, unnecessary restriction being heaped upon us. There was probably some incident on the other side, and they're overreacting. I wish we weren't connected to a higher security side because the staff like to apply these restrictive practices to the minimum side too. The main time this will be an issue is when guys are waiting for chow. The problem is, there's not enough seating in the dayroom to accommodate everybody. If they let us wait outdoors for chow, as they used to, this wouldn't be as big of a problem.
I don't think JPay does a great job updating their holiday cards. I recognize a lot of the cards from past years, including some New Year's cards that still say "2022." Because I only like a few of the cards, I'm concerned that I might send my family and friends a card I've already sent them before.
Wed, Dec 21, 2022
A Day after the administration sent out a bad memo, adding a new restriction, they put out a good memo, giving us something. We are now allowed to bring containers down to the chow hall on holidays to take food back with us. Actually, this isn't really a new privilege; they've always looked the other way on holidays because they want to get us in and out as fast as possible. I will definitely take advantage of this new "open carry" rule on Christmas. They already do this at other institutions, such as Grafton.
Speaking of Grafton, I had an unpleasant interaction with a guy here who got booted out from Grafton. Remember the guy who wanted to blame me for my parole denial because I didn't take that one sorry reentry program that hasn't helped anybody else obtain parole? Well, he made some off-color comments that I wouldn't fare too well up there. Now, if I managed two close-security facilities well enough, and the wild medium camp that is North Central, then I could definitely handle a cupcake medium camp like Grafton. No wonder my one friend calls him Mr. Negative. It was my mistake though: even though I let go of my anger at him, I should still avoid interaction with him.
After breakfast, they locked down the entire compound. At first, many of us wondered if they were going to 2.4 the entire compound (they were scheduled to do the J blocks). But that didn't happen. I had to finish my workout at the bunk, jogging in place.
There was a positive event today. A local church donated gift bags to the inmates for Christmas. After lunch, we went and received these bags in the recreation building. My bag contained a package of Ramen noodles, a bar of soap, a toothbrush, a mini-Hershey’s bar, a mini- "cookies and creme" Hershey's bar, two mini-candy canes, and three life savers. It was definitely a great thing, especially for the indigent inmates.
Thu, Dec 22, 2022
I found a nice surprise when I returned to my bunk this morning. Apparently, some outside group, probably a church, sunt us all Christmas cards with brief, personal messages inside, and the staff members distributed them to our bunks. It was a nice thought.
I got a letter from a friend at North Central last night. He finally received a letter I sent him. Even though I had sent him two letters since my parole hearing ten months ago, he hadn't received them. Apparently, his prison's mail room is in disarray, severely understaffed.
My one friend posted some of my writing on his website today - a holiday-themed story!
Fri, Dec 23, 2022
My insomnia-free streak has now been broken just short of two weeks.
The big story of today is the extreme weather with both frigid cold and strong winds. For London, the temperature was -6 degrees with wind chills of -36. The visibility was 3/4 a mile. This may be the most frigid weather I've ever experienced. Just the five-minute walk from my block to the chow hall was an ordeal. For example, my fingers started to feel numb during that short time despite wearing two pairs of gloves and having my hands in my pockets.
Needless to say I cancelled my run and walk; instead, I exercised in the dayroom, which was crowded because everyone was inside. I did light cardio to replace my walk.
I got a letter this morning that was postmarked November 19 -- over a month ago.
I heard a rumor that somebody got sent to the hospital today for frostbite acquired just from walking to the chow hall.
A reliable friend told me that the ODRC Director, in a webinar, said the chairperson of the Ohio Parole Board was leaving in January. Depending on who they replace her with, I don't know if this will be a good thing.
Christmas Eve
Sat., Dec. 24, 2022
I learned more about the guy who got sent to the hospital for frostbite. He wasn't walking to chow; rather, he was pushing the trash cart, holding the meta handles without gloves. A lieutenant said they might have to amputate his hand.
Probably prompted by this incident, the Health Care Administrator (HCA) sent us all an email, advising us how to avoid frost bite, such as bundling up. The funny thing is, she recommended wearing scarves, but they don't give us scarves. In fact, when guys would use mushfake scarves, such as towels, the COs would confiscate them. I haven't seen that happen in a while, so maybe they're not enforcing that rule, but I haven't seen any notice that they've revoked this rule. That's why I use my mask as a scarf.
The weather is still pretty bad, but it's not as "frightful" as yesterday. The wind chill is in the -20s rather than the -30s. Because they don't want us to go outside, everything is closed down, including rec. Truth be told, I wasn't too sad to get my workout in the block rather than having to go outside to get to the weight room.
I'm preparing for my annual tradition tomorrow: my Christmas giveaway. I plan on giving 3 pops and 22 mini-Kit Kats to my friends, and 14 mini-Reeces to strangers. I will anonymously leave the mini-Reeces on the communal bookshelf. On each Reeces will be a post-it note that says, "Free R. cup. Merry X-mas!" I'm making out those notes tonight. I'm also making out my "nice list" -- a list of my friends and acquaintances who I'll give a Kit Kat to.
Christmas
Sun., Dec. 25, 2022
I had insomnia last night, but I don't think it was my fault this time. Although it has been frigid outside for the last few days, at least it has been warm inside. That changed last night. I don't know if the heat went off or what, but the whole block suddenly got cold. I put on m hoodie and a blanket but still had trouble sleeping. Fortunately, the heat seems to be back on again.
The walkways outside have cleared up a little. Many spots have been covered in ice and snow. A neighbor said that he saw a couple of guys in the infirmary who had fallen and injured themselves.
To my surprise, inside rec was open this morning, and I went down there for my regularly scheduled time. The thing is, on holidays they have "open weight room," which means that anybody can go in there, not just the guys who are scheduled for that time. It was so crowded that I returned to my block, where I had the weight machine all to myself. I hated making an unnecessary trip in this weather, but at least I was able to get a good workout in.
We had a decent Christmas meal: roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli and cheese, lettuce with French dressing, flavored water, rolls with margarine, cake with icing, and a small cup of vanilla ice cream. Even better than the food was the ability to bring it back to the block. I took back my whole meal, eating half of it for lunch, half for dinner.
My Christmas goodie give-away has been going pretty smoothly. The mini Reeces I've been leaving out have been disappearing quickly off the block's bookcase. I've also received gifts myself: a milk, two apples, a x-mas pastry, and a tuna.
Mon, Dec 26, 2022
The heat stayed on last night, so I was able to get a good night's sleep, rebounding from the previous night.
Things are starting to warm up: the wind chill is up to 2 degrees!
I heard a rumor that one prison has started up the GTL messaging service. I'll have to ask the guy who said that a few questions.
I learned more about the poor guy who may lose fingers due to frostbite. The staff shouldn't have called the trash runners down there in that extreme weather. Some of the trash runners just plain refused to go. Then, they made them wait outside for half an hour. That one trash runner is still apparently at the hospital.
Due to the cold, the compound was closed today. We could only travel "to and fro." I did my workout in the gym for the first time in years, and then I did my walking replacement -- light cardio -- in the dayroom.
At the gym, I noticed a guy who I hadn't seen in years -- a creep who had shown interest in me. The last time I saw him was at North Central about six years ago. He either got his security lowed and managed a transfer here, or he got released, reoffended, and came back. Fortunately he's in another block.
I heard talk that our new warden has taken steps to correct some of the problems that had occurred on the former close-security side, getting rid of some abusive staff members, including a captain. I hope this is true and that he's trying to change the culture here.
Tue, Dec 27, 2022
The weather is starting to improve: the temperature is almost going to reach the freezing point today.
The walkways are still treacherous though, especially after the snowfall of yesterday. In fact, one of my friends slipped and fell on the way to the commissary, aggravating his already bad leg.
At breakfast, I saw a CO confiscate somebody's mushfake scarf -- an old hat with eye and mouth holes cut into it.
Today is store day, which is always a stressful experience. First, they accidentally called two groups of us to the store at once, causing the place to be jam-packed. Then, I ended up at the end of the line because I accompanied a friend with an injured leg, intending to help him carry his bags back. Usually I like to be near the front of the line so that I can get my shopping over with and still have time to get my workout in. After my friend shopped, somebody else insisted on helping him with his bag, so my sacrifice was for nothing. I was still able to get everything done this morning though, including my shopping, workout, shower, and after-workout snack.
I heard the CO currently working -- a third-shift guy who is pulling a double -- likes to mess with people. For example, he supposedly called somebody the "B-word," and he once put a whole row of mail on one guy's bunk. I will try to avoid him.
Two of my neighbors got into a dispute this morning. The one guy has sinus problems apparently, and blows his nose often and loudly. Around 5:30 AM he was doing this, which woke the other guy, who thought he should do that in the bathroom. I try to go to "no-man's land" when I have to do that early in the morning -- the big open space next to my cube. These are the problems that result from them cramming so many people together in such a small space.
They finally cleared off the walkways. I heard another story about a guy who fell and injured himself that first day. He apparently had to use a wheelchair after that.
I went out to walk for the first time in about a week.
I'm going to start implementing my New Year's resolutions now rather than the start of the year. I like to already be in the swing of things come January 1st.
Wed, Dec 28, 2022
I've heard that they are still confiscating boots from guys who haven't been locked up long enough to have bought them legitimately.
I was going to run this morning, but the compound was closed. It wasn't due to the cold though; rather, a truck was on the compound. I had to settle for another indoor cardio workout.
One of my fellow mail cart runners told me that the cart wasn't in its usual location. Tomorrow, when I'm scheduled to work, I'll try to find it. This is bad news because the cart was in a convenient location, just inside a door that was always unlocked. I hope it hasn't been moved to a place where it's a hassle to get to. For example, I don't want to have to find some CO to unlock a door each time I need to get the mail cart.
Thu, Dec 29, 2022
There were so many guys using the weight machine this morning that I went out to the ball court to do my workout; in other words, I chose cold over crowded.
The mail cart mysteriously reappeared in its usual spot today. I heard that some knucklehead CO thought it was getting in the way (it wasn't). Hopefully the cart will stay where it's at now.
I've been hearing more crazy rumors about that one third-shift CO. I heard he had inmates sorting mail, and he was asking inmates for pastries. Fortunately, I sleep through third shift, but sometimes these guys pull doubles, working first shift.
My one friend put in a cash slip to order new shoes, but he noticed on the kiosk it never got processed. He kited the cashier's office, and they provided a non-reply reply, saying "We process cash slips once a week." Then, a full month after submitting his shoe order, he got the cash slip back with VOID stamped all over it and the unit manager's signature highlighted, as though there was something wrong with his signature. My friend then asked that same unit manager what was wrong with the cash slip or signature, and he replied, "Your guess is as good as mine." In short, my friend followed the proper procedure but still got denied with no explanation why.
The yard was closed this afternoon because a truck came into the compound to deliver new vending machines to the Recreation building. We had vending machines before, but they left them unfilled for a few years during the pandemic.
My one friend has a red, swollen area on his leg, and he's having trouble walking. He claims it's a muscle aprain, but we are worried that it's infected. Some guys have lost limbs in here due to untreated infections, including my cubie.
Speaking of that cubie with the prosthetic leg, the medical staff made him hobble down to the infirmary for a ten-second appointment (literally) where all the nurse practitioner did was to tell him that they had scheduled him for a trip to an outside hospital -- something they had already told him at his previous appointment.
According to this same cubie, we currently don't have a doctor here. Apparently, a doctor and two nurse practitioners recently quit due to problems at the infirmary.
Fri., Dec. 30, 2022
Because the temperature got up to the 50's today, and because there were no trucks on the compound, I actually got out to run today. I had to settle for the ballcourt though (outside rec was closed).
My bunkie ordered doughnuts from the last fundraiser, and he's in a state of uncertainty right now. Some guys are saying they're going to deliver the doughnuts today; some guys say they are not.
I'm up to level 200 on Candy Crush!
Good news: our block will be first in the eating order for January! That means we should be first for the special meal on New Year's Day. The thing is, a couple of years ago MA was first in the eating order for January, but we didn't go first on New Year's Day. Instead, the chow hall COs still followed the December eating order, in which MA was near last, claiming they didn't have the January eating order yet.
To the great disappointment of many, no doughnuts were delivered today.
My afternoon walk got cancelled today because a truck was on the compound, and they shut down the whole yard. I don't mind, though, because they were delivering more vending machines to rec. I don't use the vending machines myself because the food is mostly overpriced and unhealthy, but I know other guys enjoy them.
I asked somebody who works at the infirmary, and he told me a little different story than what my cubie had told me. He said two nurses got "pushed out" from their jobs, one for having a relationship with an inmate, another for giving guys the wrong medication. I didn’t get a chance to ask about the doctor. It's so hard to get valid information around here.
My one friend's calf is now swollen larger than the other. I heard one reason he may not be going to medical is because he's concerned that they may pack him up and send him somewhere to receive antibiotics through IV. Even if that unlikely, worst-case scenario would happen, it still beats the inconvenience he'll experience for the rest of his life if he loses a limb.
Sat., Dec. 31, 2022
I'm afraid that my assessment that my one friend wasn't serious about losing weight has panned out. A few weeks after the nurses informed him his A1C numbers were pre-diabetic, he returned to the infirmary and weighed himself again. Instead of losing weight, he has actually gained a few pounds. He says his one cubie has now nicknamed him "Butterball." Sad. I hope he turned it around, especially considering he gets out in 100 days.
I got grape Kool-Aid from the commissary as my mushfake New Year's drink.
Well, today is the last day of 2022. This is the time of year when I like to reflect on where I've been and look forward to where I'm going. I've had to endure a lot of difficulties this year, the main one being the ten-year flop. As you have seen from this online journal, prison can be a challenging environment. And, on top of the problems in here I've mentioned, there are many I can't mention (You see, I send out my posts through my institution's email system).
Truly, doing this online journal has helped me cope with and work through the hardships of prison life. Furthermore, I've enjoyed sharing my world with you. One of my main goals in doing this journal is to educate the public about prisoners and prison.
Just like 2022, I know there will be problems to deal with in the upcoming year. I feel up to the challenge though, and I will jump over these hurdles as I encounter them. Also, I will make sure to notice and appreciate the few small moments of joy that we do experience in here. In closing, I want to thank you for reading my posts; I hope you've found them enjoyable and educational; and I look forward to sharing more with you in 2023!
New Year's Day
Sun., Jan. 1, 2023
The staff didn't provide any advanced notice that guys would have to pick up their dinner bags at breakfast today (except for the CO yelling it a couple of minutes before they called chow). We veteran inmates know the deal, but some of the new guys may have slept in and missed out on their dinner bags.
It was foggy this morning, causing us to be under a fog plan, causing inside rec to be closed again. Fog, trucks, cold, understaffing -- all these factors and more seem to conspire against us, preventing us from getting our weight room time in.
The holiday lunch went well. For starters, the chow hall CO's had the updated eating order, and my block got called first. Furthermore, the meal was pretty good: two turkey sausages, hot dog buns, mustard, sauerkraut, lemonade, mac. & cheese, a piece of "cake," and a small cup of vanilla ice cream. And my favorite part was that we were able to bring food back from the meal. Speaking of which, the one CO reprimanded a guy for not bringing a bowl down. The funny thing is, this is the same CO who has jumped all over people for taking food out of the chow hall in the past.
As a New Year's treat, I made a fruit salad, using a banana, apple, orange, and a fruit cup from the store, which contained pineapple and mango.
My bunkie and I are long termers, but our cubies are both short-termers. In fact, my one cubie should get released this year. My other cubie showed great consideration for me and my bunkie, saying that we should get to choose the replacement cubie because we'll have to deal with him longer. My bunkie and I have already been brainstorming some possible good long-termers to replace our short-term cubies. My goal is to build a cube of four good, long-term guys.
Mon., Jan. 2, 2023
My friend with the possibly infected leg didn't go down to the special New Year's meal. So, that makes two special meals that he's missed, X-mas and New Year’s. Before this, I can't remember him ever missing a special meal -- a bad sign.
We were locked down again this morning due to fog, cancelling my run.
Then, they closed down the yard again this evening for some unknown reason.
Tue., Jan. 3, 2023
Well, I learned why we were locked down last night. Supposedly somebody threw something over the fence again. Sigh.
I got screwed out of weight room again, but for a reason I had never heard of before. Apparently, the knucklehead rec CO didn't have the proper paperwork -- that is, an updated list of who was scheduled for weight room at that time. Why not just do an open weight room, as they do on holidays? As my plan B, I did a leg workout in the dayroom.
It's nice to go to chow first, getting it out of the way.
As previously mentioned, my goal is to eventually construct a cube of good, long-term inmates, but it is hard to find good candidates.
Wed. Jan. 4, 2023
This morning, both the regular first shift CO and sergeant went around telling guys to straighten up on certain things, such as property limits. There's an audit coming up in March supposedly, so maybe they're getting prepared for that.
M one friend, who has been locked down for forty-some years, has fallen for the parole reform rumors hook, line, and sinker. The doctor prescribed him some treatment today, and my friend asked if it would be okay to start but not complete that treatment -- in case he got released in January. Sigh.
My friend with the messed-up leg returned to the chow hall for the first time in about two weeks. I'll take that as a sign that he's improving.
One bad thing about going first to chow is that sometimes they don't have everything up and running properly. For example, tonight they didn't have a fruit alternative to the dessert. In fact, the guy handing out the dessert didn't seem to be aware that they were supposed to have a fruit alternative. They corrected the oversight, and a worker brought a banana over to my table.
Thursday, January 5, 2023
An older inmate, who the parole board had denied release to several times, died today of cancer. The board had effectively transformed his sentence into a death sentence. Sad.
There is a new policy that incoming legal mail must have a control number ascribed to it. My one friend received legal mail from the clerk of court from his county recently, but instead of being treated like legal mail, and being opened in his presence, they sent it to him through regular mail. My friend filed a grievance, and the inspector replied that the ODRC provided all courts notification of the need for a control number. The clerk of court, however, told my friend's family that the ODRC provided them with no such notification. Using the Lexis, I did some research and provided my friend with some case law on the issue.
Friday, January 6, 2023
The administration is heaping new rules upon us. First, they informed us that the new "croc style" sandal will be considered a slipper and not a shoe, so we won't be allowed to wear them in the dayroom. This issue was apparently so important that they both sent an email and posted a memo about it. Yet, they fail to provide notice that guys need to pick up their dinner bags at breakfast on holidays.
The next new restriction involves visiting. To combat the inflow of controlled substances, they want guys to change into a special set of state blues and croc shoes when they get to the visit room. The thing is, it's staff members that are supposedly bringing most of that stuff in.
Good news: they posted next month's fundraiser. Pizza kits. I'm going to skip it though.
My one cubie got an unpleasant surprise. He was expecting to receive 90 "dump days" (a form of sentence reduction) from taking some anger class. Now, he's being told that class is no longer eligible for those dump days. He's now trying to find a replacement class for the dump days, but he's being told two different things by two different case managers.
A staff member said that an inmate could be released on a Friday and then get hired to work in the prison system on a Monday. This seems too incredible to be true. I'll ask around.
I've heard rumors of staff members getting arrested for various misconduct and keeping their jobs.
This morning, our block CO was apparently on the phone when the chow hall CO tried calling our block to breakfast. So, they skipped my block and started calling other blocks. When our block CO tried calling back, he couldn't get an answer, so he just told us to go to chow. We were lucky the chow hall COs didn't yell at us and send us back because they hadn't officially called us.
On the bright side, at lunch they had some sauerkraut and hot dog buns left over from New Year's Day, and only the first few blocks got them.
A guy who works for staff told me how the Major makes disparaging remarks about inmates -- right in front of them too. For example, he doesn't think we deserve anything, such as corn. His hateful attitude is a big reason why there's a toxic atmosphere around here. Truly, it's a top-down thing.
Saturday, January 7, 2023
I felt a cold coming on last night. Sure enough, this morning I was feeling under the weather. Fortunately, I'm not doing too bad, and I still did a light workout this morning.
Today was the delivery of the doughnut fundraiser. It was supposed to have been yesterday, but there was some sort of screw up, apparently by the doughnut store, so it got postponed until today. Hearing various rumors as to the delivery, guys had been waiting around for the last two days. Finally, they got them. I think this fundraiser is overall a good thing, but it seems as though some guys centered their lives around these doughnuts. Plus, the guys who least needed doughnuts were the ones who ordered the most. I didn't order any, but I had a small piece of one that somebody offered me. This was the best of both worlds: I got a taste of doughnut without breaking my nutritional regimen.
Sun., Jan. 8, 2023
I was still feeling under the weather this morning, but I was well enough to get a light workout in.
My one friend was overloaded with outside food, especially doughnuts, so he skipped breakfast. Still, he went to the chow hall just to give away his food. I got extra eggs and milk due to his generosity.
I got a letter from a friend at North Central. After two discoveries of serious stuff within a three-day period, the administration shook down the whole place, even x-raying mats and taking toilets off their foundations. That place is still "off the hook."
They passed out the food from the Aramark sale today. I ordered two veggie bags. Even though the prices have gone up, the green bell peppers are smaller than they used to be -- a clear example of "shrink-flation."
The food distribution wasn't exactly smooth. First, they called multiple blocks at once, and there were so many people that the line snaked outdoors, where the temperature was in the 30's. Because the doors to the outside were open, the chow hall started getting cold, especially near the door. One CO told guys to take off their hats even though he was wearing one himself.
There were two lines for the pickup, and we heard through word of mouth that one line was for guys with last names from A to L, the other M to Z. It turned out the one line was really for guys with last names of A to Ha, the other Ho to Z. Many guys waited in the wrong line for nothing, and then had to go to the other line. Despite the hassle, I was glad to get real, fresh vegetables.
Mon., Jan. 9, 2023
Still feeling sick today. I notice it's worse at night than day.
At breakfast, I talked to a guy I know from another block, and he told me that somebody recently got three more years from the parole board after a COBR hearing. He said the board asked him about his attendance in grade school. With experiences like this, it sure doesn't look as though parole reform is around the corner.
My one cubie, who has asked me for advice before, consulted me about a situation he had to deal with today. While working out, somebody offered him unwanted, unhelpful advice on weight training. After telling the guy he was working out that way for a certain reason, he walked away, but he felt very annoyed. I said it was okay that he felt that way; what mattered was that he handled it appropriately. In fact, I've gotten annoyed by unsolicited workout advice myself, especially from guys who don't exercise. Even worse, guys with diabetes and heart disease have accused me of being too thin.
There was drama in the block today: a fight. A big guy, who has a reputation of being a bully and a thief, got beat up so bad that he defecated on himself. Before that, like a WWE wrestler, he tried to hit somebody with a chair. The fight was apparently seen of the cameras, which shows that the staff actually use them. They moved the big guy to another block. Incidentally, and probably not coincidentally, today was "state day," which is when guys go shopping after receiving their monthly state pays. A lot of drama happens on store days, usually because guys can't pay their debts. In fact, one rumor was that the fight was over a measly two dollars. Fortunately, stuff like this doesn't happen too often in my block, but it happens more than it should in a "merit block" in an all-minimum camp.
Tue., Jan 10, 2023
I felt a little better this morning. I think I've turned a corner with this illness.
Unfortunately, I had a little resurgence of leg cramps last night. In fact, for the first time in months, I had to get out of bed to walk off the cramps. Hopefully this was just a fluke.
I heard a ridiculous rumor about parole reform. "They" are going to review everybody who has done at least seven years and then release them. This doesn't even pass the commonsense test.
Tuesday, January 10, 2023, continued
After telling my bunkie about how the parole board asked a guy about his grade school attendance, he told me a story about a guy who had a similar experience. The parole board brought up a fight he had with his brother when he was just ten years old. The parole board got it from his mental health records. He mentioned it to his counselor, who logged it in his records.
The staff have posted a couple of poorly worded memos recently. The one said:
Stepping Up
12 Session Class
Class starts
1-23-23
at
1:30 PM
Only accepting
24 PARTICIPANTS
This memo is missing several of the big W's that any good memo should convey, such as the "what." Is Stepping Up a recreational program, involving stair stepping, or is it a rehabilitative program, like Seven Steps? This memo is also missing the "who," as in who is running the program, and who should you contact if you want to sign up? Finally, it's missing the "where." Is it in Recreation? The chapel? The chow hall?
The other memo was even worse, saying the exact opposite of what it intended to say. This memo read, "Starting Wednesday January 11th, Zone B Recreation Activity Room will be CLOSED for Ping Pong ONLY." It should have said the Activity Room will be OPEN for ping pong ONLY."
Wed., Jan. 11, 2023
I discovered that one of the onions I bought at the Aramark sale had a rotten center. I was only able to salvage a few pieces from it. Disappointing.
There's been a lot of drama around the institution lately. A few days ago, they found a lot of controlled substances in MD. Earlier today, they found a different type of controlled substances in Banneker. Then, this evening they shook down a few cubes in my block. They must have found something because they packed somebody up and sent him to the hole. I hear the administration is considering building a third fence around the institution. That won't help, though, if staff is bringing most of the stuff in.
With the start of the year, I'm eligible to order some more food and clothes boxes. I can't, though, because the ODRC hasn't provided us with the 2023 vendor catalogs yet.
Thu., Jan. 12, 2023
I learned they packed up and sent two guys to the hole, not just one.
Over twenty new guys arrived at Madison yesterday, and many of them were put in my block -- something that shouldn't happen in a true merit block. A guy returned to the block today who used to be in here. A few years ago, he got a parole after five denials. He received this parole during a couple-month window when the board was actually releasing people. Sadly, he blew this golden opportunity, reoffending and returning here. Clowns like this make it harder on all of us guys who are trying to make a parole.
Speaking of reoffending, I learned something about the big bully who got beat up and moved out of the block. Apparently, he's on his twelfth prison number!
Today was a rainy, foggy day. We were under fog plan in the morning, and I couldn't get my daily walk in the afternoon due to rain. Fortunately, there was a brief lull in the rain when I was doing my mail running job.
Friday the 13th, Jan. 2023
Upon checking the kiosk this morning, I found six new institutional emails. Except for one, these emails were the usual junk, such as the false message they keep sending us that Covid boosters are available when they really aren't. The one email, though, informed us of a new event called Family Engagement Day. Although short on the details, the email made it sound similar to Family Day. The attendance to the event will be much more restricted though. Unfortunately, only fifty inmates on both the minimum and medium side may participate, and each inmate may only invite one guest. I requested an application immediately. I'll consult my family on their availability for that date in April, and hopefully I'll get to participate.
I saw that they brought a batch of "new" mats over to Banneker. In the past, the mats at least start out thick but shrink over time with use. These mats were thin to begin with. I suspect, and have heard, that they are just putting new coverings on old fillings.
Saturday, January 14, 2023
The big news around here is that the administration has taken away another privilege. They put out a memo, signed by the major, saying that effective tomorrow the yard will be closed in the evenings after sunset. We will only be allowed outside to walk "to and from" destinations. I've heard they're using some of the recent incidents to justify this change based upon "security." In the winter, I usually walk in the afternoons anyway, but it's nice to have the option to walk in the evening, such as when I can't get out in the afternoon due to rain. Plus, in the summer, I like walking after sunset because it's less hot and I don't need to use sunscreen. This new restriction is just part of the larger pattern of "de-minimization" of this minimum camp.
One parole inmate I know -- a guy who is kind of goofy -- told me that Senate Bill 288 would help release parole inmates. This forced me to burst his bubble, telling him the bill didn’t benefit us. Frustrating.
I verified with a worker that they are placing new coverings on old mats. He said they pulled the same thing at London years ago. According to him, the health department found out and made the administration give everybody a new mat.
Sun, Jan 15, 2023
I missed half of my 8:00 -- 9:00 AM weight room time because they didn't open rec until 8:30. Fortunately, the rec CO was nice and let us stay extra time.
It was more crowded in the block this evening because this was the first night the yard was closed after sunset.
Tomorrow is MLK Jr Day, and the administration hasn't notified us whether or not they'll serve a special meal. This information makes a big difference because, if it's a special meal, I'll bring down my bowl and take food back.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Mon, Jan 16, 2023
No special MLK meal.
I heard more about that rumor of parole release for guys who've served seven years. They're now saying guys who've served seven years in flops will be reviewed. This rumor is less ridiculous, but I'll believe it when I see it.
My friend says there is a blood pressure machine down at Medical that gives inaccurate readings. The nurse told him that, if any other nurses tried to use that machine, to ask them to take his blood pressure manually. My friend says that there are many guys on blood pressure medication, and he wonders if the inaccurate machine is behind that.
Tue, Jan 17, 2023
Sadly, my insomnia-free streak was snapped last night -- my first of 2023. Still, over two weeks is a recent record for me.
The one guy who they searched, packed up, and put in the hole last week returned to the block today. Even though they suspected him of stuff, they apparently didn't find anything in the search. They told this guy, who happens to be black, that he hung around with too many white guys.
Wed, Jan 18, 2023
I had a rough night, bothered several times with leg cramps. I woke up later than I have in years: 6:04 AM. I'm not sure what's behind this sudden resurgence of cramps. Perhaps it's because I haven't been walking and running both clockwise and counterclockwise as often as I used to, which helps equalize the burden on each leg. It's hard to walk against the traffic, though, especially when many guys don't follow the "stay to the right" rule.
They did the monthly inspection, and my block got the highest score I've heard so far: 99. The problem is, I hear next month's eating order may be based on not only the monthly inspection, but also the winter decorating contest. Supposedly, four of the ten blocks participated in the decorating contest, and they'll get the top four spots in the eating order based on their placement in that contest. Then, the bottom six spots will go to the blocks that didn't participate in the contest, with their order based upon the monthly inspection. Unfortunately, my block didn't decorate, so the highest we can place is fifth despite having the highest score on the monthly inspection. I'm not sure this information is accurate though. In the past, only the winner of the contest got moved up the eating order. We'll have to wait and see.
I talked to a guy who works down at Medical, and he's verified the story that a blood pressure machine doesn't work properly, saying that a newer nurse always complains about it.
One good thing about my block is that we have decent unit staff. I heard another story today about a bipolar case manager who runs the reintegration block. Apparently, this case manager has told one of the inmates, who is a program aide, not to provide guys with any more outside help. For example, this aide supposedly had his lawyer help another inmate receive his inheritance. Why this case manager has a problem with him helping other inmates, I have no idea. This inmate is now trying to leave that block, while the case manager is trying to raise his security and ride him out. Sad.
Thu, Jan 19, 2023
Today is the one-year anniversary of my parole hearing. I think I rebounded as well as possible from that ten-year flop.
I heard a crazy rumor today. Apparently, the last "red shirt" (staff member who runs rec) just quit, and one possibility the administration is considering is shutting down rec for a month. I doubt they would do something that dumb and extreme -- even here.
There was a minor incident at lunch today. I was the first of my group of friends to leave the lunch line, so I got to choose the table. Because there were four of us, I chose an empty four-seater. Then, somebody else tried to sit at the table before my friends arrived. I politely told him that I had three more coming. Usually, guys are cool with this, but this guy -- an older diabetic with a cane -- snapped, "You can't save a whole table" and then stormed off. True, I don't have the right to save spaces, but most guys afford others the courtesy of helping them sit with their friends. I mean, there were four of us, and he was alone, so he could sit anywhere.
After the 4:00 count cleared, they took an unusually long time before they called chow. I'm not generally into conspiracy theories, but it seemed as though they waited until it started raining before they started calling blocks to dinner. With the haters around here, I can't rule it out.
Fri, Jan 20, 2023
Somebody in the kitchen said the CO did purposefully wait until it started raining before calling blocks down to chow last night.
I asked my sister, and she agreed, to attend this Family Engagement Day -- if I get accepted. I already turned in my application to a J-Unit staff member. I hope I get accepted.
Sat., Jan. 21, 2023
Our CO busted several guys smoking in the bathroom and wrote them up. A lot of us were quietly cheering him on. Now, it would be nice if they actually did something about it and move those guys out of our "merit block."
Sunday, January 22, 2023
We actually had a CO this morning who was enforcing that dumb "no standing in the dayroom" rule. Sigh.
My concern about them expanding that new "no outside after sunset" rule has come to pass. At weight room this morning, a guy from the J-Unit said that the CO's were chasing inmates off the ball courts in the morning until it got bright enough outside. My one friend, who works the grounds crew, which involves walking around the compound in the morning and picking up trash, had to check to make sure he could still go to work. Apparently it's okay for the grounds crew to be outside because they wear vests!? I wonder about what the staff will do when it's dark and gloomy out all day?
Monday, January 23, 2023
They continue to chase guys off the compound and ball courts in the morning before it gets light out. This is causing mass confusion because they are imposing a new rule without providing any sort of advanced notice. It didn't help the confusion when the relief CO working MB left up a "Yard Closed" sign well after they opened the yard. Incidentally, this CO was yelling at guys about that "no standing in the day room" rule too. But they need to post a memo about when the yard opens in the morning.
My cubie told me a story about a block he used to be in. He said if the CO there would smell smoke in the laundry room, she would go in there, check for names on any of the laundry bags, and write tickets on those guys. The thing is, the guys doing laundry in there aren't the ones smoking. I guess it was just mass punishment, her way of getting guys to police themselves. In other words, you could be innocently doing laundry and get a bogus disciplinary ticket. This is another example of how you can get in trouble in here even if you are doing nothing wrong.
They installed alarms on the back doors today, which blare when left open. These alarms are supposed to prevent guys from using these doors to go outside and pick up stuff thrown over the fence. Again, measures like this won't address the problem if staff are supposedly the ones bringing most of the stuff in.
Birthday
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
Today is my birthday. I keep this fact secret because I don't want to receive attention or gifts. This method is the opposite of some other guys around here, who broadcast their birthdays, wanting to be showered with attention and gifts.
To celebrate, I'm having a cheat day. I will have one chocolate cupcake, one mini-Reese’s Cup, and one mini-Kit Kat.
We received a weird email this morning. The ODRC was advertising for some new job. They are going to train inmates to go into lock-down units and talk to the inmates housed there. Then, these workers are supposed to report back to the staff any problematic behavior they observed, such as depression. This job does not sound desirable at all. For starters, in prison there's an "S-word" for inmates who tell on other inmates to staff, and it's not a good word. Plus, the ad mentions the word "faith," and the chaplain is running the program, so I wonder it it's some sort of faith-based thing.
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
The sole of my boot is coming off, hanging by a thread. I can't replace them because they stopped selling boots a few years ago (The ODRC suddenly declared them to be a great security risk). I don't know if I should bother to try to get them fixed or just get rid of them. I rarely use them. I do need two pairs of footwear though: when I'm washing one pair of shoes, I need a backup. I’ll get a pair of state shoes, which, unlike personal shoes, don't count towards your 2.4 limit (I believe).
A friend of mine was feeling a little blue, his incarceration getting to him. I tried to be as supportive as possible, but it's hard to know what to do or say. At least he's a short timer, so his incarceration problem will soon go away.
Friday, January 27, 2023
The big news in my block today is that one of the blue shirts -- an inmate kitchen worker who supervises other inmates -- got punched. He was still in bed around 7:30 AM when somebody walked up to him, punched him, and then fled out of the block. The blue shirt claims he didn't know who did it or why. The staff became aware of the incident and checked the cameras, but the perpetrator was wearing a winter coat with a hood over his head, so they couldn't identify him. This blue shirt seems like a nice guy, so I bet it's job related. His job, although it pays well, puts him in an awkward position. People may think, rightly or wrongly, that he tells on other inmates. Or, he has to prevent other kitchen workers from breaking the rules, such as stealing food. There are a number of possibilities of how his position could make other kitchen workers pissed off at him. For this reason, among others, I wouldn't want that job. This incident also shows a problem of dorm living with everything wide open, you are more vulnerable to theft or even assault. At least with a cell, you can lock your door, which provides a modicum of protection.
On the bright side, I heard a rumor that we'll be third place in the eating order next month. I hope this turns out to be true.
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Our regular 3rd-shift CO hasn't been around for a while, and I heard a rumor that he got a few days off for his misconduct, such as asking guys for food and letting inmates sort the mail. I hear that this CO has mental problems.
Saturday, January 28, 2023, continued
They posted the official eating order for February, and we are indeed third. That's a good spot.
A friend of mine, who is also a parole inmate, recently asked me if we would ever get out. I told him the truth: "I don't know." I then said that I hadn't given up hope, but I had come to terms with the fact that I might be stuck in here. I will keep walking the path that I've been on, and if the opportunity arises, then I'll be ready for release. No matter where I find myself, I'm going to make the most of my environment, maximizing my happiness, and working towards my purpose in life, which is improving myself and the world around me.
Sun, Jan. 29, 2023
I hear that Aramark has implemented a sneaky new cost-cutting measure. The spoons they use to serve the ranch dressing are now half the size. Now, you can get two spoons, but you have to ask for a second. Even worse, the Aramark staff are apparently preventing the workers from letting guys know they can get a second spoon. So, the proper serving size of ranch is an insider secret.
For the past several years, we can go out to the ball courts as soon as they call our blocks to chow. Tonight, a CO told my cubie that we can't go out to the ball courts until they call all of the blocks to chow. Hopefully that CO was mistaken, and they haven't added yet another new, unannounced restriction. I guess we'll find out in the next few days.
Mon, Jan 30, 2023
I wish we had access to wireless ear buds in here. All the cheap ear buds they sell in here eventually lose sound in one side. I hate replacing earbuds every time this happens, wasting money, so I'll just settle for ear buds that half work. I'll only replace them when the sound goes out in both ears.
Here is another type of humor I hate: guys making race car noises when they pass you on the walkway.
By the way, they've been letting guys out to the ball courts after their block has been called to chow, so I think that one CO yesterday was just mistaken.
The CO woke me up at 11:30 last night to hand me some mail. I was hoping for something good, but it was just a photocopy of a Christmas card from some church I was unfamiliar with (to combat the inflow of controlled substances, they don't give us the original copy of our mail; rather, they give us a photocopy). Incidentally, the card was postmarked December 16th, which was a month and a half ago. In addition to that, last night my one neighbor was yelling at his wife on the phone tablet. My cubie then yelled at my neighbor for making all that noise. Because of all these interruptions, it took me a couple of hours to fall back to sleep.
If you recall, the nurses told my one friend a few months ago that his numbers were pre-diabetic, yet he did not seem to make any changes. Well, he saw the doctor today, and the assessment was not pretty: my friend's numbers were terrible, and he's now on blood pressure medication. My friend now sounds more serious about making a change. Since I'm a student of nutrition, I will try to give him some advice. He gets released in just over two months, so it's a good idea to get a head start on a healthy lifestyle.
I received a copy of the comments that people left over the writing I posted on my friend's website. They were so encouraging. Sometimes I feel as though I'm sending my posts out into a black hole, but I see that's not the case. One comment I found especially touching was about my story Secret Santa. In her comment, this one lady said that my story inspired her to be a secret Santa herself, leaving gifts for her neighbors, and giving more in general. I'm glad to hear that generosity can be contagious.
Wed, Feb 1, 2023
I had a chronic care appointment this morning. To be ready for this appointment, I rushed my morning routine. Then, when I got to the infirmary, they told me my appointment would be rescheduled. It's little hassles like this that make me want to get off the chronic care list.
Then, after lunch, I got a surprise call from the infirmary, telling me to come back down. I was glad to see my numbers were good: blood pressure, 121/ 69 heart rate, 52. I told the nurse practitioner that I had been off the inhalers for several months with no difficulties, so I asked him if I could be taken off the chronic care list. He said he would do one more follow-up appointment in a year, and if there were no problems, he would do it.
One poor guy in the infirmary missed out on lunch because he not only had that medical pass, but he also had to pick up a new tablet that afternoon.
I'm devising some weight loss advice for my one friend. The doctor gave him some bad advice, saying he needed to cut out fish, coffee, and milk. I don't know how serious my friend is, though, about getting healthy, for he's still talking about eating cookies and homemade burritos.
There was some drama in the block tonight. Apparently, somebody in my block received something thrown over the fence. The staff then took him to the hole and searched his area. I hate this kind of attention being drawn to the block because it can have a negative impact on us all. Plus, it helps justify these new restrictive measures, such as not being allowed out in the evenings.
Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023
Groundhog's Day
I prepared a suggested plan for my one friend to lose weight, get back to good health, and get off meds for high blood pressure. That's all I can do. Whether or not he follows through -- well, that's his choice. I have some concerns though. He keeps saying that he won't be able to get the proper nutrition and activity until he gets released. To me, that sounds like a possible delay tactic, an excuse. I hope I'm wrong and that he's serious this time. We'll see.
More drama in the block. Some COs took a guy to the hole and shook down his bunk. I haven't heard yet, but I bet its related to last night's incident. I wonder if there will be any more shoes to drop.
Fri, Feb 3, 2023
They moved somebody else out of the block today, supposedly for some disciplinary reason. They seem to be cleaning up the block, which is definitely a good thing.
A couple of guys received Christmas cards postmarked December 16 last night -- about a month and a half late. As you may recall, I received a Christmas card postmarked from that date a few days ago.
They aren't supposed to make the grounds crew go out and work when it's under 25 degrees, yet they had them outside working despite the temperature being below 25. Its sad: they'll definitely close outside rec when it's below 25, yet they'll still make guys go out and work.
One of the vendor companies sent out an email that their 2023 catalog will be ready on February 1st. I hope we get them soon.
Here's another hint my one friend isn't serious about getting healthy: he plans on buying a card for the new vending machines, yet there's nothing in those machines that will help him lose weight.
There's a lot of coughing and sneezing around the block right now.
Sat., Feb. 4, 2023
The water smelled heavily chlorinated today.
They posted the next fundraiser in our block today: pizza. They didn't give us much advanced notice, though, considering that we go to the store on Monday. The prices are pretty hefty -- for example, $14.25 for a large, meat lover's pizza. Since the average state pay is about $20.00 a month, only guys who receive outside financial support can realistically afford this.
They also posted info about the vending cards. The card itself will cost $3.00, and then you can add anywhere between $5.00 to $50.00 on it -- in $5.00 increments.
Incidentally, I'm not going to buy either a vending card or the pizza fundraiser for reasons of nutrition and cost (but mostly nutrition).
Today is a special date for two of my cubies: one year from now is their release date. This is a huge coincidence, having a pair of bunkies with the same release date. The bottom-bunk guy will probably get released first, however, because he's eligible for early release options, such as good days, whereas the top-bunk guy is not. My bunkie and I are already planning good potential replacements for them -- preferably long-term, parole inmates like us rather than more short-termers.
Sunday, February 5, 2023
Today was the pick-up date for the "fresh favorites" -- the name of Aramark's food sale. I bought two veggie bags, each of which contain one onion and two green bell peppers. Because I got a bad onion last time, I checked my veggies before I left the chow hall today. Fortunately, they looked all right.
My one friend, who is supposed to be on a diet, picked up a cheeseburger and fries.
My other friend showed some incredible generosity. He gave me an entire chicken salad, and he gave my bunkie a burger and fries (those items are incredibly expensive).
Monday, February 6, 2023
The big news around here is that today is the first day that guys could buy cards for the vending machines. Right now, they only have the pop machines filled. Guys who never go down to rec went down there today to get their sugar fix.
The big news in my specific block is that the staff raided and searched a cube. Apparently, they caught this "artist" applying "skin art" to another guy from a different block. Considering all the attention on the block, it was a stupid time to do something like that.
Problems are institution-wide though. I heard they caught some "bug out" inmate in MC with a lock in a sock.
A guy showed me the state's reply to his petition for federal habeas relief. I will give him a few pointers, but his issues are weak, and I can already tell he is going to lose.
There are guys around here who I call "parole rumor mops"; that is, they go around searching for and spreading rumors of parole reform. Now some of these guys have assigned a specific date to this reform: March 6. Another rumor mop told me that other nearby states released their long-term inmates, so Ohio has to do the same. First, I question his "facts" about these other states. Second, Ohio does not have to do anything -- regardless of what other states do.
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
It was a rough night last night. For starters, I had a major incident of hemoptysis -- coughing up blood. You see, I have a chronic respiratory problem, and once in a while I'll experience this hemoptysis. It's fortunately clearing up now.
Then, at around 1:30 AM, some staff came in and raided a nearby cube. I don't think they found anything in the search, though, because they left the guys there.
On top of all that, I had a bad leg cramp. For all these reasons, I had insomnia. Sometimes around here there's more drama before 8:00 AM than many people experience all day.
Then, this morning they did some urine testing of guys throughout the institution. It seems as though they've been trying to clean things up lately.
On top of all that, the quartermaster raided MC and MD, confiscating extra laundry items, such as sheets and blankets.
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
With regards to last night, the good news is that there were no major incidents of hemoptysis. The problem remains, but it's subsiding.
The other good news from last night is that there were no further post-midnight raids. This morning however, they re-raided the one cube they had just searched the other day. I don't know why. The rumor is that it had something to do with an illegal phone.
The bad news from last night is that I had the worst leg cramp night in about half a year, and I'm not sure why. I recently started doing intervals again, which involves fast running, so perhaps that increased intensity has had an impact.
Wednesday, February 8, 2023, cont.
The big news from today is that they delivered the pizza kit fundraiser. I did not get any, but some of my friends did, and they combined resources to make "wraps" (homemade burritos using flour tortillas as wrappings). They made wraps instead of using the crusts because they don't want to have to use the microwaves, which can get crowded, especially after a fundraiser delivery when everyone's trying to use them at once.
Incidentally, my one pre-diabetic friend participated in these pizza wraps, and he got some Mountain Dews with his new vending card. I'm concerned that he's not serious about losing weight.
Some of these guys around here are so inconsiderate and thoughtless. Some idiot burst into the toilet stall I was using, despite the closed curtain, without checking if it was occupied first. He was very apologetic though.
Thursday, February 9, 2023
My hemoptysis is starting to clear up, slowly but surely.
Big news: the new Union and Walkenhorst catalogs came in! For me, I'm excited to see what new items they have. As far as food goes, there were a lot of items now filled with protein, such as protein chips, protein cookies, and protein cereal. There were some new fruits, such as dried apricots. As far as sundry items, there were plastic hygiene bags, tape, and plastic wall hooks. I think I'll hold off on ordering, though, because everyone in the state will be trying to order, and the vendor companies will likely be out of a lot of stuff.
I got two new over-the-wall neighbors today -- both the top and bottom bunks were empty. I hear they stay up late, but as long as they're quiet, I don't care. We'll see soon enough.
A Day after getting the pizza kits, my pre-diabetic friend got a pass for fasting lab. I doubt there will be any improvement in his numbers. He did say, however, that he lost two pounds. I hope he actually lost this weight, but I know that your weight can naturally vary by a couple of pounds, so I'm skeptical. He says he's cut down on his food intake, but I've had trouble seeing it. Hopefully this supposed loss of two pounds will encourage him to eat more healthfully.
Friday, February 10, 2023
Yesterday they finally gave us the Union Catalog; today they came and confiscated them from all of us. Apparently, there was an offensive picture in there that slipped by them. You see, the Union Catalog has an art contest, featuring pictures from inmates. Well, one of these pictures was of an upside-down American flag over a rooster, which was a hidden message that "America sucks c#ck." This all reminds me of last year when they confiscated the Access catalogs right after distributing them due to a mistake (they inaccurately claimed there were no longer gender restrictions when ordering, meaning a male could order female items). Don't they proofread these things? I mean, they were so tardy in getting us these catalogs that you would think they' at least have them right.
Today was a cheat day for me. Once a year I have a pancake, and today was the day. I used the last of my maple syrup on it, which was also the last item from my November food box.
A unit manager was messing with guys about the pop from the vending machines. He told some guys they had to drink them down at recreation, which was never a rule with the vending machines in the past. In fact, you're only supposed to drink clear liquids at recreation. Then, he later told some guys outside the block that they could only have clear liquids out there. The one guy held up the Mountain Dew, showing him, it was clear. Angered by this, the unit manager confiscated two Mountain Dews, one from each guy -- over $5.00 worth of pop.
Yesterday, the parole board was here, and one guy in my block had a hearing. This guy, who was a juvenile offender at the time, received a COBR hearing.
Another guy showed me some of his paperwork for his federal habeas petition. Unlike the other guy, he has a strong case. This guy always maintained that the sheriff framed him because he owed him money. Well, after his conviction, this sheriff was arrested, convicted, and imprisoned for public corruption. The FBI then presented newly discovered evidence that the sheriff had victimized this guy. I think this may be one of the rare situations where somebody wins habeas relief.
Saturday, February 11, 2023
A guy with COPD went down to the infirmary this morning, complaining about symptoms from a recent shot. For some reason, the medical staff sent him back to the block. He didn't make it, though, before falling out, hitting his head hard on the ground. There was a lot of blood, and they even had to call in one of the "blood spill" workers from my block.
I helped the one guy with his habeas reply today -- the guy with the weaker issues. I read the state's answer to his petition, summarizing their argument in one page, cutting through the wordiness and legal mumbo-jumbo. From this summary, I'll come up with an outline of what this guy's reply should be. Quite frankly, I don't want to spend too much time helping him because I think he'll ultimately lose.
Superbowl Sunday
Sunday, February 12, 2023
For that one guy who's pursuing habeas relief, I made an outline for how he should reply to the state's recent filing.
I got to talk to my one friend who got a parole under that special juvenile offender law. He is doing well, working, living a law-abiding life. It is so nice to see a success story like that, but more parole-eligible inmates need to be given such an opportunity.
Superbowl Sunday, continued
Sunday, February 12, 2023
Today is the Superbowl, one of the biggest holidays around here. Many guys are cooking their own special meals today, especially considering lunch was a chicken, rice, cheese, and broccoli casserole, and dinner was stroganoff -- two unpopular meals. In fact, today was one of the rare days where I had to go to both lunch and dinner alone because none of my friends attended.
Monday, February 13, 2023
The hemoptysis is all gone now.
I'm afraid that my new neighbors were noisy last night, talking loudly, laughing. I would like to chalk it up to the Super Bowl, but I think this noise pollution was unrelated to the game. The noise got so bad that my cubie had to ask the to quiet down at 11:00 PM. Hopefully this doesn't become a regular thing. I've just had bad luck with my over-the-wall neighbors lately: the last three have been loud past lights out (and the one was also a creep).
I heard they spotted one of those modern, small aircraft -- the type that drops of controlled substances -- over the medium side yesterday. Perhaps that's why there were an unusual number of COs out patrolling the yard -- especially for a Superbowl Sunday.
I showed the one guy who's working on his habeas how to do legal research. I'm willing to guide him, but I'm not trying to get sucked into doing his reply for him. He already asked me to type it (I said No). I'm willing to show him how to fish, but I'm not going to be his fisherman.
Remember that one inmate kitchen supervisor who recently got punched while he slept? Well, today somebody targeted him again. While he was at work, somebody apparently went into his cube and smashed his TV. He seems to be a nice guy, so I bet it's work-related: it's bad for inmates to have quasi-authority over other inmates. The rumor is he "told" on somebody. Who knows?
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Valentine's Day
Well, my one pre-diabetic friend go his results back from his blood work, and his numbers were terrible. Even worse, his supposed weight loss of two pounds turned out to be a mirage: he was back to his original weight. I provided him with some more nutritional advice and information, but I still question his commitment to change. Tonight, the same day he got these bad results back, he skipped the healthful food at the chow hall for some crappy potato break he's making with his bunkie.
I showed the one guy working on his legal reply what sections to read in the habeas corpus book, which is available on our tablets in the law library app. Here's an analogy of the help I'm willing to give he's like a lost tourist, and I'm a native who's willing to give him directions, but I'm not going to drive him there.
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
I had a weird experience in the bathroom last night. I was in the last toilet stall when I felt something touch my knee. The guy in the stall next to me was trying to hand me something, apparently thinking somebody else was in there. That's the second weird experience I've had in that stall within the past month.
My one friend isn't serious about getting healthy: he went to buy pop today; he said he was weak and would still make wraps; and he said he wouldn't be able to lose weight until he got released. That's just a delay tactic, an excuse. It doesn't help that his bunkie -- my running rival, the "after-school special dad" -- is feeding him unhealthful food, sabotaging his diet. I just have to let go and not waste my time giving him advice on nutrition.
Thursday, February 18, 2023
I heard a rumor that my one acquaintance got recommended for parole at his full board hearing. I don't want to ask him, though in case he actually received bad news. I'll wait for him to bring it up.
They added a new app on the GTL tablet. It's an educational app with free courses in different areas, such as health, academics, and vocational.
The chow hall staff put out an email that next Wednesday they'll be serving a special "Winter celebration" lunch. At least this time they provided notice that we'll have to show up at breakfast for our dinner bags.
Due to theft of the small packets of artificial sweeteners at breakfast, now only the inmate supervisors may pass them out -- no other workers may handle them.
My friend did a homework assignment as a favor for his cubie, who was taking a paralegal class through correspondence. Then his cubie volunteered my friend's name, without his permission, to do the same homework assignment for another guy. I could tell my friend wasn't too happy about that. And why can't these guys don't do their own homework assignments? They're supposed to be learning how to do legal work for themselves.
For some mysterious reason, they locked us down for about an hour tonight.
Friday, February 12, 2023
They did the monthly inspection today. This inspector, however, didn't go past the front desk, so the inspection wasn't exactly thorough. Plus, he didn't give out a score, so we have no idea how we did.
My one pre-diabetic friend had another doctor's appointment this afternoon. While there, he had a nurse print out a list of foods that raise your triglycerides. But then, after dinner tonight he stopped by the pop machine to see if they had restocked it.
Saturday, February 18, 2023
I verified that the one guy got a parole at his full board hearing. He should be released in April. It took him six hearings, but he finally "got paid."
Inside rec was closed again this morning. I haven't been able to have my Saturday morning weight room time for at least a month now. Rec is closed so often lately that I just expect it to be closed.
On the bright side, the regular rec CO -- a real knucklehead -- is leaving that post, heading to the medium side. To give you an idea of what this guy's like, he recently put a sign on his desk that said, "I'm tired and irritable this morning. Be a dumb ass at your own risk." The professionalism around here overwhelms me.
I heard a report from a "blue shirt" about what the Winter celebration meal will be: two chicken patties, collard greens, ad black-eyed peas. That sounds good to me.
Sunday, February 19, 2023
Some guys around here have poor workout etiquette. One guy, for example, will hog the block's weight machine. Of the five different stations at the machine, I've seen him use four of them at once, rotating from one to the next. That's not so bad in itself, but he'll leave items on some of the stations, such as a towel, which prevent others from using those stations. Perhaps this poor etiquette stems from his arrogance: he once told somebody that only he knows how to work out for real.
President's Day
Monday, February 20, 2023
Today is President's Day, what I call a half holiday around here. Although we don't have to wear our blues to the dayroom or rec, we don't get any special meal.
A President's Day miracle took place today: outside rec was actually open this morning! For the first time in weeks, I got to run on the actual track.
For about a week now, the one vending machine has been empty, and the other one hasn't been working.
My one cubie found a bug in his sealed bag of creamer. After he opened that bag, my one neighbor ate the bug. This was obviously attention seeking behavior because my neighbor then went around telling everybody about it. I just ignored him. From my time as a dog trainer, I know that some animals can't distinguish between good and bad attention.
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
During the 4:00 count, a CO yelled for everybody to have their ID's out -- something they never do. Then, this CO went around and took a number of people's IDs, including mine. We at first had no idea what it was all about. Then, they returned our IDs, minus the ID covers. We later learned that the point of all this was to confiscate ID covers. We're not sure why, but the rumor is that some guys were putting controlled substances in them. Because I go outside so much, I really need a cover to protect my ID from the elements. The thing is, the new Union Catalog, which they also recently confiscated, just started selling ID covers. It's funny how they can sell an item one day, and then the next day declare it a great security risk.
My friend on the fake diet ordered more junk food at the store today, claiming this was the "last time" -- another delay tactic/ excuse. There was a funny moment though: after my friend told a store worker that he was cutting back on his food intake, the worker said, "I know better: I see what you order."
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Today we received our special meal at lunch. It was originally supposed to be a Black History Month meal, but they're calling it a Winter Celebration meal now for some unknown reason. The meal was pretty good: two chicken patties, black-eyed peas in rice, collard greens, cinnamon apples, cornbread, flavored water, and "cake."
On the down side, they sprung a new rule on us at the special meal without any advanced notice. Before, they allowed people to bring multiple bowls and bags to take their food back. Today, they were suddenly limiting people to just one bowl. As people entered the chow hall, the COs checked their bowls to see if they had anything extra. A couple of guys lost bread due to this (because there wasn't any bread with this meal, a few guys brought down a couple of slices to make a sandwich out of their chicken patties). Guys who had extra containers or bags out of sight, however, made it through this checkpoint. It's sad that the lesson some guys learn in prison is that it pays to be sneaky.
On the bright side, the one guy went home today after three parole hearings and twenty-four years. I said goodbye to him before he left, and he told me to never give up fighting for release.
Thursday, February 23, 2023
They finally delivered the new Access and revised Union catalogs today. For the revised Union catalog, none of the items were removed (including the ID covers they just confiscated), but the offensive artwork was taken out. For the Access catalog, there weren't any new special items that I just had to have. The price increases were pretty shocking though.
My friend's bunkie, the "after-school special dad," did something dirty today. He moved to another bunk without giving his cubies advanced notice or a chance to find somebody suitable to replace him with. He apparently mentioned something briefly once, months ago, to his bunkie, but he didn't say anything since then. My bunkie goes home in a few weeks, so it doesn't matter to him, but after-school special dad said nothing to his cubie either, who is a long termer. This cubie should have some input into who he will be stuck living with for years.
I heard from a fairly reliable source that our current warden is leaving. I hope so, but I don't know if it'll make any difference. I keep hoping that each new warden will enact some reform, running the minimum camp as though it were actually minimum, but I keep getting disappointed.