"I know a thing about resentment: it is a poison you drink yourself, expecting others to die." -Karen Marie Moring, 'Iced'

Dear Readers, Mon. 02-22-21

Let's call this the 'Dakota Segment.'
I'll describe Dakota for you. He's 27, but looks older with his beard, slim, maybe 5'10" or so. In a mug shot I'm sure he could pass for a Muslim terrorist. He has the dark hair and full, scraggly beard. He says he's Italian, from his Mom. He's from Louisiana.
Anyway! He decorates his cell. He has various pictures posted all over the wall by the door (so it's harder to see from the door). He's got all kinds of cards - mainly Disney Princesses or ladies in pastel gowns & even larger poster-size stuff. I think over the toilet he has a larger outline of one of the Disney Princesses with stars or something around that. (I checked: it's flowers, shells, etc.)
He has two plants, an airplane (or spoiler) plant & another pot with six or so small apple seedlings/trees that he grew from seeds.
He even has like 4 or so small lights that are stuck by magnets to the bottom of the bunk above him which are all different colors.
All this crap is against the rules, of course.
In recent years he's taken his Catholic faith very strongly & has worked hard for the group at the Chapel.
He also has Blossom, one of the "Power Puff Girls" This is a doll he made (or had made) in which he put a 'heart; (some jewelry of some sort) in it that he had carried in his pocket for a year, & took it out & kissed it (the heart), etc. <- (kissed it)
He's had clothes made for Blossom & has had a little dollhouse made with furniture & all the works.
He thinks of himself as a "Pretty Princess", but he's totally straight. He's only attracted to women (and Blossom, of course). I seriously doubt that he's had, or will have, sex with a guy in prison.
He's a SO (sex offender). I think he got 20 years, or so. There's a guy here who murdered someone & only got 14 years. Dakota only had pictures (he didn't molest anyone) on his computer, but got more time than a murderer.
He's a nut. He goes around like a bee looking for the next bloom. He's also very thoughtful, as he's gotten be a b-day present for years, and one for Christmas this year (always jewelry, which I normally wear (except on lockdown) & which is also against the rules, of course).
Anyway, he's a really good guy & a great friend.
I'm currently listening to " Disturbia" by Rihana and "Window Shopping" by Jamelia. [crossed out] come on.
I wanted to mention a few books I've read recently, "I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell" by Tucker Max and its sequel, "Assholes Finish First." They're both full of raunchy humor which I warn you, some of you may not like. He's an egomaniac who gets drunk & screws around a lot. You can check out his website at TUCKERMAX.com
I'd also like to highly recommend the "Red Rising" series by Pierce Brown. It's sci-fi, but it's not too "out there". The characters are human & haven't gone beyond our solar system. Society is based on your color (Gold's rule & the Reds are slaves with many other colors serving various functions).
Their society is also very like the old Roman Empire, so there are lots of plots, backstabbing, and surprises. It's a really good series.

Fri. 02/26/21 9:31p

Howdy y'all! I'm currently listening to "Let's Hear It For The Boy" by Denise Williams on C3PO. Nick is on his bunk, thankfully, and Charlie the Giraffe is screwing Ferdinand the Frog on top of all the books the bookshelf. They are animals I crocheted, if I've never clarified that. They are both really cute.
I'm supposed to crochet Dakota a small alligator (using borrowed hooks & yarn) which looks like one in a Powerpuff Girls comic. Ugh, I keep putting it off. He said I was supposed to give it to him for his b-day (2/12), so he could give it to Blossom for Valentine's Day. Oops. I'm making up the pattern for it.
before I go further, I'd like to thank Luna Press for the wonderful lunar calendar, which they send out for free to indigent inmates.
It's a really cool calendar with drawings and poems for each month, which begins with the New Moon to Full, and back to Waning.
It also includes the precise time the Moon enters and leaves each sign of the Zodiac, and more.
Please consider buying a lunar calendar from Luna Press, and please let them know that an indigent prisoner who received a free calendar referred you.
This is the 3rd year I've gotten a free calendar from Luna Press and I wouldn't have a calendar if it weren't for them. Please check out their site at thelunapress.com.

OK... so I believe I mentioned last time that we had a couple weeks out in the afternoon, then a couple more mostly in the morning (which is evil).
We were looking forward to finally being out in the afternoon, when instead we were asked to be let out in the morning - AGAIN - this past Sun.
As reported on Inmate.com, the C.O. (who admittedly is a dumb bitch), claimed that the Lt. told her to do it that way. I was told that complaints were made & we were let out in the afternoon (& later evening) from Mon. on.
Of course, that will end this Sunday & we'll be back to mornings. With these people you can never tell - they are such idiots! How hard is this crap?
I believe I also mentioned that the bottom tier had Rec. last week on Fri., from 12-1p. But... they canceled, supposedly due to weather. It was a rainy, cold day here in Virginia, and I probably would have skipped it anyway.
This week the bottom tier went out on Tues. again with no problem - even interrupting our "free time" out in the afternoon when they came back.
I was actually looking forward to going out today when our turn came. I haven't been outside for more than 5 mins. or so since last March!
But... instead of calling our unit first in the lunch rotation that the memo calls for they called the bottom tier at their usual time, then let us out for lunch in our usual spot in the rotation.
So... the time kept getting later & later and our time to go to Rec getting farther and farther behind until they called out that it was canceled! WTF!?
At just before 3p, they made an announcement that we could go out for a half hour, but I had already gotten out of the shower & didn't feel like being rushed. I missed out again.
Hopefully things will be better next week.

After a pause, it's later now.

Oh shit! I just realized that it's 11:10p & the freakin' lights are still on! WTF!!?
Nick keeps going back & forth from insisting that the lights be out so he could sleep at 8p to him staying up and reading! His family sends him books whenever he asks. He recently got a bunch of James Patterson, et al. They are good, and many have chapters longer than two pages.
I wanted to add that they also put out this new memo that I am enclosing which states that inmates aren't allowed to wear boots out at Rec (in Virginia in the Winter it does sometimes snow as I may have previously mentioned), plus it can get fairly cold.
Even more importantly, we can no longer bring bags to Rec. Every item must be carried separately by hand.
Are you fucking kidding me?
I believe I mentioned this before now here's proof. You can't bring gym bags, which they sell at Commissary (Mesh Gym Bags) for $9.10, (I plan on including a Commissary Sheet with this posting. You can find it in the middle column on the back (where you sign it)], to the freakin' gym!
Do you remember all those times I wrote this from out on the Rec yard? Now I have to carry all this crap, a towel, water bottle, maybe sunscreen on occasion or perhaps a separate pair of shorts to do yoga in or anything? All separately?
Who thinks this shit up?
I'm not going so far as to make this issue a "Call to Action", but it is pretty damn stupid and if you feel inclined to point that out to anyone in power, be my guest.
I also forgot to mention that they put out a memo on the computer that we'd be getting the vaccine this week! That never happened.
On this past Tues., Dakota stopped & asked the Medical dude at Chow when we got lunch about what was going on. The memo said something about "priority" inmates, but it also said that all interested inmates should put their chairs outside their cells. (The BOP's usual clarity).
Dakota was told that they had 700 shots available for inmates. There would be a list of 500 inmates who would be "Priority One" and 200 of the "Priority Twos" would get the rest.
So far, nada. (FYI, there are about 1500 inmates here)
One guy, (my barber - I got my hair cut for two dollar stamps tonight), said that they gave the diabetics their first vaccine today, but I asked one of the diabetic guys who saw Medical today if that's what it was, and he said that "no," it was just a regular check-up done in the unit instead of at Medial.
In further news, there's a rumor going around on Inmate.com that this asshole Warden will be leaving fairly soon. I've heard various reports, one guy said it was for sure on May 1.
The "word" is that he got in trouble regarding an inmate who died in the SHU (Hole) and that he was going to "officially" retire but "really" take a job at the Regional Office. Which would be a promotion.
It wouldn't surprise me a bit. I just hope it's really true & we get rid of that rick. Unfortunately, as I've learned over the years, when one asshole (Warden/Captain, etc.), fucks up a place, it never gets better when the new guy comes in. So far things have always stayed worse.
I wanted to add that you should check out the prices on the Commissary Sheet. Remember, we get paid often 12 cents an hour! I've "heard" that the BOP puts a 30% markup on everything (including all hobby craft items) and this amount is supposed to go into some "trust fund: which goes to buying amenities for us inmates.
At one time we had microwaves and those were supposedly paid for out of this alleged trust fund. But, they took away all the microwaves & the clothes washers and dryers and I'm not seeing a lot to replace it.
I would love for someone to ask for an audit of this trust fund & find out where our 30% markup is really going.
Since I have plenty of room, I'd like to recommend one more product, Ultra Oil, for pets. This guy puts out a natural oil which is really good for your pet's coat. He's also a really nice guy who has put out a free newsletter - at his own expense - whenever he can. Please look for Ultra Oil on Facebook and other social media. Thanks!
Until next time, I wish you...

Love & Blessings
Kelly