Oct. 19, 2013: 6:00pm: Watching CNN news channel

I sit here watching CNN, such a disturbing news story. But definitely not the first time this is happened. This is such a sad case. This 12 year old adorable little girl named Rebecca Sedwick was being teased and bullied by 2 classmates (who were both arrested for stalking charges), and she jumped to her death and committed suicide. I'm Catholic so I believe that if you kill yourself, you will not go to heaven but I have to believe that there is a clause for children. She was just a baby and this story brought tears to my eyes. My own daughter was attempting suicide when she was being teased and bullied. I thank God every night. And God might not have done a thing but he might have. I don't understand how God doesn't protect the children. They are being hurt everywhere and it's so sad. One of the kids charged with the stalking of Rebecca, she said on her Facebook page that she did bully her into killing herself and she doesn't give a f*ck. What are these kids' mothers and fathers teaching them. Do they turn a blind eye to this? Do they now know? All I know is this is a very story and it's one that can be prevented. No child should ever feel so sad and so badly that the only way to escape it is by killing themselves. They showed Becca's photo on the news. She was such a sweet little girl who always smiled. I say rest in peace, Becca, with the utmost sincerity but it does not make my heart feel any better. Children haven't fully developed a conscience. I didn't develop mine until I was in my 20s and kids can be the cruelest people on earth. Keep a close eye on your kids. End the bullying. This was just another heart breaking and senseless death.

On another note, I have good news but I'll save it for the end. This is for Blondie out in LA who has talked to me before, I was rootin' for the Dodgers but they ran outta gas, I guess. I wanted to see Michael Young get a ring. Maybe next year (God knows my Phillies won't be ready)!

I have 3 more things to discuss. Next is organs. I'm healthy. I was never a drug user, I have only been with about 20 women in my life, when I knew Justine was the one for me, I was tested for everything possible and got a clean bill of health. So I'm telling you I'm good. I eat somewhat healthy, I work out a lot (before I hurt my leg and back) but I'm a convicted killer. I'm in here for 1st degree murder. Would you want my kidney? Would you want my lungs? My heart? My corneas? Would you want any organs from my body if I were to die? Or if I wanted to donate a kidney, would you take it? It is disturbing how many states will not let prisoners donate organs. We aren't doing it for money. I would stop working out forever and give my mom a lung if I could. But in prison they don't allow transplants in my state. And prisoners who need organs, well, I've never seen it happen. I am including an article written by Shannon Ross. I would give a kidney away to a stranger and I would give a lung to my mother who really needs it. But in my state, it's unheard of. The only way to change these outdated policies is with the public's help. What if my daughter needs a kidney? They wouldn't even let me give it to her. Makes no sense to me. Prison has stopped being about rehabilitation a long time ago. Now it's all about the almighty dollars. Money, pure and simple.

Couple more things. I watched a news special about how our U.S. government has long since declared "war" on wildlife. I have no internet access so I cannot do any research on what I see on TV but the news special on CNN with Jane Velez-Mitchell said that MILLIONS OF WILDLIFE ANIMALS ARE CAUGHT AND KILLED EACH YEAR. From birds to bears to wildcats, millions are killed each year intentionally. You can read more about this outrageous policy of our United States government at: predatordefense.org.

I want to share what I know about my daughter. Yesterday Krista's therapist Hannah wrote me and sent me a couple photos. She made my year. And I am not embarrassed or ashamed to tell you that as a father in prison, away from my child, I cried, I cried happy tears looking at my little girl. Hannah took the few birthday presents that my family and friends bought for Krista over to her new foster home very early in the morning and she took a few pictures of Krista as she opened her presents. This made me happier than I have been in years. Hannah said that Krista has a nickname and likes to be called "Krissie", she is growing her hair so that she can cut it for charity. It's already down to her butt but she said 5 more inches and she can get 35 inches cut off and donate them to the charity for kids with cancer who need wigs. My little girl is like her dad, afraid of spiders (yeah, I'm like a girl when it comes to spiders). She is afraid of bugs, bears and get this, piranhas. That one made me laugh. She likes playing war games, loves dogs and panda bears. She likes doing arts and crafts and reading books. Her favorite book is called Beautiful Creatures. She likes algebra (what kid likes that?) and she listens to rap music. Her favorite color is black. She said she wants to be an auto technician when she grows up. I learned more about my daughter from Hannah than I have her mother for her first 15 years of life. This turned out to be a pretty great weekend for me. What I loved the most, was that Hannah took all of the presents to Krista on the morning of her 16th birthday. It wasn't much but she hasn't gotten presents for her birthday in 2-3 years so this one was very special for her.

Lastly, I wanted to tell you's that I was just offered the chance to write an article for an online magazine called "In These Times". You can read this at: inthesetimes.com/.

There is a new blog site called The Prison Complex and I've been asked by the editor, Matt Stroud, to write about the following question, "What do TV & movies get right and what do they get wrong about prisons? What would surprise the general population about the system from the inside?" so I am going to take this opportunity and write the best article that I can (I'm not a very good writer or story teller and I don't have much schooling in English) but I'll do my best and hope I do a good job. Well, it's almost time for church, I can't miss Mass. Take care, keep reading, and God bless. Hope to hear from you's soon. Ciao.