Was able to get my first piece of mail out last night. A neighbor a few cubes down lent me some stamps and had a friend in the library get me some envelopes. My neighbor works in the kitchen 20 hours a week for breakfast and lunch. I saw him leaving for work at 5:25 am this morning. Somehow he gets enough sleep without earplugs. Last night was quieter between 9
and 12 than the first night, but everyone says tonight(Friday night) should be crazy. Many folks with jobs perhaps have off tomorrow?
Yesterday my neighbor brought back a container of chicken to give to someone to wash his laundry separately. Apparently most folks I am talking to spend $5.00 week for their laundry to be run on its own(Patti edit-the money is in the form of packets of tuna or mackerel-the currency in prison).
I woke up around 5 am and couldn’t get back to sleep. Super loud snoring all around me and then heard folks flushing the toilets-so loud. I skimmed through Car and Driver magazine last night. Got a little depressed seeing how much new cars cost. Not much content either. Apparently many inmates get magazines since the government has a deal where you can get six subscriptions a year for $35.
Met my workout friend for a quick breakfast, mostly to get fat free milk and an apple. Worked out with about 8 guys. One black guy and some other guys younger and older than me. I was surprised to see some neighbors there. Was an intense 30 minute workout with abs and squats mostly with a weighted basketball. The leader was well organized and had a list and went through all the moves beforehand. I seemed to do OK. Not sure my small ab workout and
run yesterday helped. I can’t remember the last time I worked out before yesterday. My workout outfit was unique. “Jackie Chan” shoes, long socks, no sweats. One guy is going to try and find me some shoes. I was also shown a big bin,near the Chow hall, of clothes left from when inmates leave or get thrown in the SHU(special housing unit). Will have to take a look through
later.
The sunrise was beautiful as I walked the 1⁄4 mile back from the gym to my unit. Got some looks wearing only my shorts and t-shirt, but I didn’t want to get my jacket and Khaki pants sweaty. Probably 30 degrees out so it was cold at the end. Today my goal is to ask more folks about their jobs. No matter what job you get you make between $9 and $20 a month and work around 20 hours a week. The highest paying job is to get in a van and commute to
Allenwood prison about 15 minutes north. They manufacture cabinets or furniture for the prisons(Patti edit-it is a UNICOR job) It sound like that would keep me the busiest, but folks are saying if you don’t like it, it is hard to transfer out. Apparently this job pays $40 and you work 7:30-2 or so.
Tried telephone again this morning and it worked! I was so excited and emotional. I had a hard time getting the few words out when speaking to Patti. It was so nice to connect with her again. We hung up after 15 minutes since I did not want the awkward disconnect. Not sure she liked that. Then did my routine of walking to the main building to login to the computers(seem to
be dated back to the 90’s) and read some emails from Patti and two older daughters(Patti edit-the two youngest kids don’t have the email account because they ask you to check a box that you are 18 and we’re not doing anything to break any rules LOL)Then I heard my name over the loudspeaker to report to my caseworker. Swabbed the inside of my cheek for a DNA sample…Then back to the unit and called Patti again and talked until the call dropped. I get 510 minutes every month for 15 minute max calls with a 30 minute break in between calls. Currently this service is free(Patti edit-pre COVID the limit was 300 and you had to pay per minute)FYI I spend 5c a minute when reading and writing emails(Patti edit-with no limit on how much you spend per month, but can only be on 30 minutes at a time with 30 minutes in between logins)Patti researched all of this and already went to Western Union on Wednesday, after dropping me off, to transfer money into my commissary account.
I stopped at the used clothing bin and found 3 ankle type socks that sort of match for my next workout tomorrow. The socks and clothes they provide are so basic. I don’t think you can find them in stores. No pockets in my pants..Other inmates have them so perhaps the new clothes got even more basic? It turns out the way folks get pockets in their pants is they make
them by cutting and sewing them. They sell sewing kits at the Commissary. Also grabbed another t-shirt since that is my go to top. Met an inmate transferred from Ft. Dix in the lunch line. He became a certified plumber while in prison at Ft. Dix and now works as a plumber here. He says he needs 6 years as a non master plumber before he is certified to do things on his own.
Seems like he really got his life in order. They also have HVAC at Ft. Dix. Here the only thing they just started is CDL certification. Don’t think I am doing that program. My workout friend teaches GED classes, which is the other education here.
I noticed to get excused from work on the religious holidays, the pastor needs to sign off. I am not sure if visitation occurs on the Catholic holidays, but I plan to attend noon Mass this Sunday. During lunch I was also invited to trivia night at 6pm tonight. I told them I would be really bad and they said if I get one answer right it would be helpful. Perhaps I will give it a shot. Also heard at lunch to expect random drug tests. Guys were talking about poppy seeds and not eating them. I don’t think they exist here..but some guy’s protein drink looked like it had some.
Reading Men’s Health magazine and have some new workouts to get me a 6 pack. Next workout is scheduled for 7:15 am tomorrow. Had the most filling meal for dinner at 5pm. Spaghetti with meat sauce, iceberg lettuce for salad and toasted hot dog buns with garlic and butter on them. Read more email and then realized it was trivia time. I was not much help, but our team came back from almost nothing to win. Everyone seemed to have lots of fun. Was
basically Jeopardy via whiteboard. About 8 guys on each side and I have met or are friends with most of them. Most are 40-50 year old white collar guys
.
11/4/ 23 Got some decent sleep last night. Approximately 10-11, 11:30-3:30, 3:30-6:10. Got to breakfast at 6:15am and it was shut. Thought I had missed it. Turns out it starts at 6:30am on weekends. Got a large scoop of grits, a biscuit with apple cinnamon inside, a small apple and two small fat free milks. I had the biscuit and one bite of grits and decided the bland grits were not worth eating.The guy next to me put a bunch of sweet and low on his grits. I
walked out with milk and apples in my pocket. I hit the gym and did a yoga stretch workout with a leader and another guy who has been here a few months. He is a little chunky, but you could tell he is working hard to get out of here nice and fit. Turns out the leader’s name was John and
the other guy was Johnny. Met about 6-7 John’s or Johnny’s.I keep writing names and notes down on some paper from the library and the pen I took from the counselor…After yoga I tried doing squats for a leg workout with a bar, but was instructed my form sucked. Tried improving my form with some free weights, then no weights and shortly stopped and walked home.
Sunrise was awesome again(same with the sunset last night)The leader during yoga said, “Looks like the sky is on fire.” Checked my email on my way back and called Patti around 8:40am . Most folks are still asleep since many don’t work today, but when I asked a neighbor if I could use the phone he said sure. After my call a guy told me about a Christian service today
around 12-1. Says they do a service and watch movies. He also said pastors help get new guys things which they already offered to me(soap, toothpaste etc). Was planning on going to Mass tomorrow but perhaps I will try out the service today as well.
Well after lunch the unit was hopping. It felt like a college dorm again. Folks playing chess, dominos,Uno and hanging out in various cubes etc. I made a bunch of calls so far. In two days I’ve burnt thorough 170 of 510 minutes. My account resets Tuesday so it’s nice to just make all these calls. After Tuesday I get 15 minutes a day. Went to the Christian chapel and there was an Animated Christian movie in Spanish so that didn’t work. Decided to just make more call and talk to folks. Did another two mile run, showered and hung out for 4pm count. Dinner was quite bad. Veggie soup, chicken salad, bland potato chips and more slices of semi stale semi whole wheat bread. Lunch was tacos again which I like. Apparently they say that is served so much I will get sick of it. Not sure that will happen,, but we will see. Haven’t seen pizza on the menu which is typically my staple during pool season. After dinner there was a guy
shooting some hoops. Was thinking of joining him, but my legs are really sore. Turned around and went to the gym to play pool. Two guys were just leaving a table. Played 2-3 games against myself. A big white dude was watching me out of curiosity while he was lifting some big weights. He asked if I was any good. Then two Hispanic guys walked in. They barely spoke English, but I
played two games with one of them. Obviously I lost, but we had fun and I think he liked the competition in the second game. While walking back to the unit the big guy started talking to me. Explaining I should be less timid and he’s got my back if anything happened to me. He said I’ve got nothing to worry about and that this prison camp is the safest in the BOP(Bureau of
Prisons). Said it ‘s safer than his grade school, which I agree. He said he was in a much higher security prison before this one.
Lot’s of Spanish speaking guys talking loud from one end of my section to another. Going to be a hopping and loud night….
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