Only With Your Father, God and The Bible...

Written on February 19, 2011,

   I was aiming to go to Rec again today, but when I got up for 6:00AM standing count, I almost couldn't stand up in time. I pinched a nerve in my lower back that was causing severe muscle spasms and debilitating pain in certain positions. So after breakfast I went back to bed and tried to get some sleep while doing my best to keep my back straight. I woke up just before lunch and was as stiff as a board. I went to lunch and came back long enough to do standing count and get ready for Rec before 12:30PM. I still went to Rec with every intention of working out so I could shake this stiffness and hopefully un-pinch the nerve causing me these problems. After Rec I felt a little better and the hot shower helped some too. It's not perfect but I can't expect much more without a chiropractor.

   My cellmate got called out for a visit he was expecting to get on Sunday, but I guess they came earlier due to the pending storm. He was called out around 3:15PM and unfortunately neither he nor his father knew visits only go until 4:00 on weekends. They canceled his visit around 3:45PM giving him only a half hour or so. That really sucks for him. He doesn't have anyone else out there that he's in touch with anymore besides his father. So between visits that he looks forward to so much, he has the Bible and God.

   The remainder of my Saturday was spent reading and talking to my cellmate about things I'm sure hardly any others in here are educated enough on to hold a conversation about. Like computer hardware, software, languages of code, differences of operating systems, and other technology related subjects. I have been trying to limit my food intake because I find myself eating out of boredom, and I'm gaining weight too fast. So I had to keep myself distracted enough to not eat anything either. I think it was pretty late when I had the light turned off.

Until tomorrow...

~J. Doe

Santa, the swamper, Bible study and 'Big Bubba' in the shower!

Writings of Tuesday, January 25, 2011

  Today during 6 AM head count , "Santa Clause", our usual first shift C.O., was doing his usual B.S.  Someone didn't wake up when he yelled 'standing count' so when he came to their cell door he decided to kick on it and yell at them to get their asses up for head count.  It's all fun and games until someone with a life sentence jumps or stabs him for scaring them half to death.

  After breakfast the swamper came around to make the Rec. list and both my cellmate and I signed up.  Rec is from 8:30 AM until 9:20 AM today.  The swamper also let me know I had Bible study in the West Chapel at 9:30 AM.  I'm going to have to rush down there since the building surrounds a half mile long hallway and the West Chapel is at the other end of it from here...

  Bible study was honestly quite enjoyable.  The Chaplain definitely knew how to apply the Bible study to the current real life situations letting everyone relate to it that much more.

  Afterwords I came back to my cell and got ready for showers since they had already started them.  For the record, 99% of the showers in the prison are NOT like they show in the movies.  We each have our own stall with a shower curtain and there isn't some guy named 'Big Bubba' hovering over you trying to take your manhood.  I'm not saying it hasn't ever happened to someone but, if it has, it was likely consensual.  Anyhow, we get 5 mins to shower.  So, get in, lather up, rinse off... no time to enjoy the hot water.

~J. Doe

Sunday is a Day of Rest... and Loneliness

Writings from the day of Sunday, January 23, 2011,

  Today nothing really special happened.  Three meals as usual and that's the only time we got out of our cell.  The swamper came around this morning and asked my cellmate if I wanted to go to church.  He told me I 'wasn't on the list.'  I finally got my 'Institutional copy' of the Bible on Friday after asking for three weeks.  I'm glad I now had my own.  Now that they finally got that distributed to me maybe they'll finally call me out for a different church service sometime this week.  Only time will tell....

  There was no mail distribution today since no one gets mail anywhere on Sundays.  Hopefully something comes tomorrow.  It's always nice when you get mail when you're in prison.  Even if it's someone cussing you out, a lawyer responding to a legal claim or someone who actually cares.  At least when you get some mail in prison it reminds you that you haven't just been locked up and forgotten.  So, for those of you who are reading this and know someone in jail or prison, take a few minutes today and write them a letter.  Let them know you are thinking about them.  I promise you, you will brighten their day significantly.

~J. Doe