On August 21st I finally started back in the commercial drivers license (CDL) class again. Me and another inmate are now regularly driving around the compound and learning how to shift through all the gears and double clutch the manual transmission. So far 4 inmates have gotten their class A CDL and now many more inmates are interested and are signing up for the program, which has a long waiting list. (Here’s a video of the CDL program at Pensacola federal prison camp-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEt2tP_syxU ) We expect to drive off compound next week and then take our road test in a few weeks.
I’ve been staying in good shape working my abs every morning between 6:30-6:50 and then rotating between an upper body workout and running every afternoon between 3:00 and 3:30-45. Unfortunately, my lower back went out about a week ago, but it is doing much better now after taking it easy and slowing down on the ab workouts.
In mid July Patti started a per-diem nursing job with the Arc of Hunterdon county where she helps developmentally disabled adults. She finds the work rewarding where she drives around to various group homes throughout Hunterdon County to perform clinical activities and socializes with the patients. She also just got another per-diem nursing job at the Edna Mahon NJ State Women’s prison in Clinton, which she will start in mid-September. Our daughter Fiona recently moved back home and started her first nursing job at Lehigh Valley Hospital where she helps patients who are transitioning out of the ER. Charlotte and Gabriel started back at North Hunterdon High School last week. Gabriel is a senior and now is able to drive himself and Charlotte, who is a sophomore, to school. Connor recently surprised me and visited me with his girlfriend Megan and it was so nice to catch up with them in person about their hobbies and careers. Patti has been visiting me more full weekends, staying over at a motel in town on Saturday nights and attending the local Catholic masses. These visits are so welcome as we are taking advantage of the extra time now, before her work gets busier (having to work one weekend a month and one weekend day) and the kids sports pickup.
Kelsy recently got engaged to her longtime boyfriend Mo. They both invited our three younger children down for a week-long visit, where they hit every popular activity they could before Fiona started her job and Gabriel and Charlotte started back in school. I just received a bunch of pictures of their trip, which helps me feel closer to their experiences. They took the kids back to Siesta Key Beach for an afternoon which is where they got engaged just days before. Then they celebrated the engagement that night at their favorite churrascaria, Terra Gaucha in downtown Tampa. Then they hit Top Golf where Gabriel tripled everyone else’s score – maybe he has more potential than the rest of us with golf! At Dave and Busters the girls played the Grand Piano Keys while the boys played Kung Fu Panda Dojo Mojo. They all played Wicked Tuna, a fishing game that I fell in love with at Dave and Busters in Allentown for Patti’s birthday this past summer. The house they rent has a nice and big community pool that I didn’t hear too much about, but the pictures looked great. Mo and Kelsy previously lived at an upscale apartment building downtown with an infinity edge pool, two spas, a pool table and a big rec room, so it’s tough to compete with that resort type complex. They also went to Splitsville bowling, a regular stop of ours downtown next to the cruise ships and aquarium. There was a college tour for Gabriel at the University of South Florida (USF), which is where both Kelsy and Mo went. Finally, what summer trip to Florida would be complete without going to the movies, shopping malls and ice cream shops. I used to look forward to those trips when I was visiting my grandparents in Cape Coral during the summer, when they kept their AC at 80.
Upon arrival back to camp during the first weekend we watched Daddy’s Home and then Shazam! the following weekend. These are two of the ten movies that are available each month to me and luckily they are classics for us. Basically any movie that is really funny, works for me, Patti and most of the kids.
On Sundays inmates play soccer on a smaller than regulation field and goals, similar to what you would play in beginner intramural leagues. In August there were two Sundays Patti wasn’t visiting, so on those days I went to noon Catholic service and played soccer afterwards. Teams consisted of around 7 players along with one or two refs. It was a lot of fun and a good workout. Since it was not rigidly organized, players kept arguing with the ref, but everyone managed to get along. During the first game, I pulled my hamstring slightly, but it recovered after a few days. After the second game my legs just ached all over and I felt my age more. ( Jim says most of the guys he pays with are 30-35 years old. I think the older guys are afraid of getting hurt since the medical care is not the quickest there) I’m using cleats I purchased for softball. Apparently, they had three days of softball while I was away, but the season has been a wash so far. The gym has been closed since early May and when that is closed softball is not allowed. The closure seems normal each summer and typically they open the gym back up in October.
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