It’s about 11:30 am Wednesday November 5th, 2 weeks in so far. My routine will be changing a little as I start working in the garage tomorrow. I’m not sure how much work they will have, but it seems like the best fit for my skills. If that doesn’t work out I can apply for a transfer in approximately 90 days. The hours are 7:30-10 and 12-2 M-F. I was a little bummed with Veteran’s Day falling on Friday. Most inmates had off from work which was fine and made the unit extra loud during the day, but there was no mail and they locked the education room where trivia night is so that was canceled. We got a small strip steak for lunch on Friday. It was tasty, but small. Apparently nicer meals like that occur on holidays.
The Catholic service scheduled for noon on Sunday was delayed because the volunteers had to wait on the guards. Towards the end of the service I heard my name called over the loudspeaker. I went to the counselor and Patti was approved to visit me. She’s planning to come both Saturday and Sunday and stay over at my best friend Chuck’s house Saturday night. Chuck lives 30 minutes north of here. This will be my first visit which is extremely exciting. Unfortunately, two weeks ago an inmate and his girl did something inappropriate in the back visitation room where the guards didn’t bother looking. After the visit some visitors complained to the staff (likely the ones with small children) and of course visitation is more rigid as of this past Sunday. They closed the second room and have been kicking visitors out who have been there the longest as more visitors arrive if it is too crowded. Patti was planning on spending the whole day with me, but that isn’t happening any time soon which really sucks. Basically, when guys do bad things it is common for good people to get in trouble too and get affected by their decisions. Yesterday I had another five visitors approved which means the system is in place and is working as it should.
Monday was an exciting day for me. I signed up for a class (parenting 1) which helps with FSA credits to earn up to a year off my sentence and more time in HH/HC. I signed up for the CDL (commercial driver’s license) course. I figured maybe I could use it especially if I have issues working down the road. It normally costs $5K-$7K, but it is obviously free I think unless there is a small fee with the DMV. I met with the head of RDAP and am officially on a waiting list. I won’t get screened for another 6 months due to the length of my sentence. It sounds like there is a chance I can get in next summer. If I get in the summer or the fall, I should be on track to get out of here in less than 24 months. Praying for a break. Then Monday afternoon I was called to the counselor who told me to take the bottom bunk and that I had a bunkie coming down that afternoon. I was first assigned the top bunk and everyone told me to move down. It is so much nicer and safer (there are no ladders so you have to get creative climbing on things to reach the top bunk). That was really good news.
Next my bunkie (roommate/cubemate) arrived. A thin black guy that is 48 years old and seems pretty nice and is outgoing. He was in RDAP and he and his bunkie got caught with a vape and the little tool used to get a cell phone sim card out. I heard he didn’t use the vape and his bunkie didn’t own up so they both got kicked out of RDAP and got sent to the SHU for over 45 days. He said it is a dusty cell with 2 bunks and shower and a toilet and you can’t get commissary items. They give you meals through a slot in the door and have the temperature set at 80 degrees. The time in the SHU doesn’t count towards your sentence and in addition you lose 6 months visitation and 6 months of commissary. Basically what you see in movies for solitary type confinement. Over lunch today. Some folks said my roommate really got screwed. He seems to have a healthy diet and spends most of his time in other guys’ cubes so I’m good with that. They say a bad roommate could really make the experience tougher.
We had orientation training today and went over most of what we had to learn from other inmates so far (orientation can be anywhere from 1-4 weeks after you arrive so most of the info they give you, you have already had to figure out). A guard/counselor spoke about each of their areas. They covered some important basic areas. Those who didn’t graduate high school need to get their GED. When you re-enter society you need at least one ID, easiest is your SS card. I learned how the restitution I need to pay in prison is calculated. They take the sum of the first 6 months commissary deposits minus $450 (the initial supplies guys need I guess) then multiply by ⅓ and then by ½ . So far I got $750 deposited. If I spend say $2K the rest of my 6 months I need to pay $255 a quarter toward my restitution. Then when I get out, I hear I need to pay 10% of my earnings. Last week they decided to seize all the money in my name again. As if the few million they took out of the business and our entire life savings they took from Patti and I was not enough. The damage was just under $10K. It caused checks for our property taxes, church, and homeowners insurance to bounce along with all of the bank fees. Have to love their power. I have no idea how I’m going to get another bank account open in my name if I need to. Ironically most of the money they seized was from our 2022 tax refund with the pool business. We have a large IRS tax refund from 2019 that was never paid. I wrote a certified letter many months ago requesting that money with no response. Perhaps that is already taken, but we did not get any notice. I have more stories like this. After my indictment in 2019 I got approval by the judge to finish billing out over $100K in Medicare claims. I finally billed it out and of course Medicare said I was ineligible for reimbursement due to my situation. Note, these claims were related to another line of business not related to the indictment. I am so glad I will never be in that line of work again. So many games they play as an excuse not to pay.
Started my second book, Steve Jobs, last week. I got ¼ done and took a break to start a book named Hopeless that I am reading with Patti. It’s about a sweet little high school romance similar to me and Patti. Also, on Monday I got a 9” tablet that I can rent movies with and I listen to FM radio and can listen to TV’s in the TV room through it. Monday night I watched Shazam- Fury of the Gods at the same time Patti and our daughter Charlotte watched it. We have a tradition of watching a movie after dinner every night at home. It was the closest I have felt to home my entire time here so far. Last night we watched Maverick together at the same time. Tonight we have The Other Woman picked out. I plan to continue this to feel closer to everyone and get my mind in another place…
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