Hello to everyone that follows my blogs!

I haven't written in awhile because I've been really busy. I don't recall writing of my past experience but i'd once been a trustee. This is where we can go out beyond the fences without and escort. I actually achieved one of the highest positions available, Wardens Boy. It's a job where I actually worked at the Wardens house . I'd take out the trash, feed the dog, and do a lot of yard work. It's where I grew my first garden. I'd work at his house all day, alone.

In prison, when we do not have family to help us financially, we have to find other ways to support ourselves. It's one of the reasons I learned to draw. Other ways are like washing clothes, making cakes, cleaning other peoples shoes and sewing.

Some bring in tobacco from the outside in which they've had someone drop off and it's illegal and pays really well. On one can of dip, a person can make $100.00 versus my selling of a card for $1.00. Three is the most I can do in one day and i'm not always guaranteed a sale.

Well I was approached and already frustrated because I couldn't sell cards and I was just so tired of being without and it absolutely sucks. Anyway, I worked so hard to obtain my position and too pride in my work. Eventually I broke down and started selling tobacco for several months. Life was easier inside here until eventually I'd gotten caught. I was busted down to medium custody, lost 60 days and received a year set-off in parole. Was shipped, I had to work my way back up from medium custody for 6 months, which was the hardest part, then I had to wait an additional 6 month to receive my line class S3. Surprisingly, 2 weeks afterward, the computer recommended my trustee class back once again :) and I'm now proud to say that I now hold the second best job on the unit, Front Office. Only three of us out of the 1,500 are trusted enough and considered adequate.

I'm just proud of my accomplishment and wanted to share it with all of you. I always look forward to your responses and enjoy hearing from you all. And NO :), I definitely won't screw this one up like I did before.

Although my position is still the same, I've learned to just live without and be content with anything I can make. I want you to understand that simply requiring my status isn't simple, we have to go before a board of people. They first determine if we are eligible, secondly we have to maintain a certain expectation while being incarcerated (staying out of disciplinary trouble, which isn't easy), we can't have any heinous crimes in our past (like agg. assault, murder, sex crimes etc.), escape risk or be on a psych case load.

Then after the unite board approval, it's sent to Huntsville for the state approval. The only thing we are given credit for is like a few months earlier release on our discharge dates. The State of Texas gives prisoners extra time for Trustee Status, kinda like county jail or sitting out a ticket, that's why they do not pay us for working. The extra time is helpful if you have a short sentence but if not, it really doesn't really help because you'll have to go before another board each year or your file does. Shall I say, it's not like the movies. :)

Anyways, I just wanted to share a little with you all. Some are curious how things are done here in prison. I wish you all well! Till next time, take care!