4/10/2012
Tuesday

Hello, friends.

It took longer than I thought to get back on my feet after the disappointing news from the US Supreme Court. Thank you for the encouraging posts and letters. Especially Dave S.'s very timely advice: "Get up that next bill, Marine!"

Holidays are easily missed, as they are just like any other monotonous day. Fortunately, music is really helpful. At least once a day, or when I grow weary of hearing the constant cursing and criminal/thug attitudes, I can lay in my bunk and listen to some calming music. Christian, jazz, Latin, classical, gospel, or country. While I also like rock, hip-hop, and pop, it's not very relaxing. Once you get yourself all hyped up, there's very little opportunity to vent all that energy.

I was blessed to have four visits since January. My brother Marine from Pakistan Embassy duty came all the way from Tennessee! It was so refreshing. He's older but just the same. And now his son is also a Marine. My brother-in-law, a former coworker, and his wife and daughter who just returned from Ukraine. Also, some other family.

These were a few great days to remember and great conversations.

We have our monthly veteran's group meeting (GrahamVets) and Easter weekend had a guest speaker. Eddie Price is a Navy NamVet and reminded us that our service is still important to each other, our families, and in the future to other vets. Even in prison, we try to help other men to change their attitudes of rebelliousness and violence to be better men and fathers.

There are more nicknames to keep up with then, even in the military. Names like Fresh, Chino, Snoop, Cartoon and Juice as a small sample. It gets confusing if you're trying to find someone...

"Hey, you seen Jimmie?"
"Who?"
"Jimmie! You know, white hair, curly. Droopy eyes."
"Oh, you mean Silver Fox?"
"Maybe. I don't know. He's in cell #12."
"No," someone else jumps in, "That's Silver Back!"
"You're all crazy," a third chimes in. "That's West."
"West goes by Old Gray," adds a fourth.

By then I just smile and walk away, more confused than ever. That conversation will go on for about 15 more minutes as they debate what the guy's name is.

I heard what sounds like a good website to look at about a veteran and his family. Sgt. Dan Hamilton (KIA) at battlesaint.com.

Maybe someone can let me know what it's about. There was a great news interview with his parents a couple weeks ago.

Last week, I decided to get a summer haircut when the temperature broke 90 degrees a bit early. Then last week, we're back in the 60s and 40 at night. We do not have access to the barber shop since the barber retired. So, I have to use a battery operated trimmer. There are a lot of bold-shaved heads around. I prefer a little longer though. Fortunately, we have a couple of guys that can do a pretty good haircut on the deck.

Can someone find me the mailing address for IAVA.org (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America)? I've been thinking of writing for a year now but never got around to finding the address. Thanks.

We have been going to work at the chapel for three days a week, this week and last. It helps to keep busy and have a purpose in helping others. They (the state) have not hired a new chaplain yet. Having three days to do admin frees me up to participate in Sunday worship. I never think of Sunday's chapel as a work day, but it was for a few months.

===

Sunday
4/15/2012

Wonderful church worship, praise, and preaching this morning. We had 88 men in attendance. The numbers are going up again.

Last summer each service reached 100-110 men. Each service is similar to an assembly of God or Baptist style. I've seen very few churches in the civilian world where 90% of the congregation is enthusiastically singing, clapping, and praising God. There is so much insult and stigma in prison about going to church that it requires a greater courage for a person to openly show their faith.

Visit a prison chapel Christian service if you want to see how suffering and praise looks.

===

Monday
4/16/2012

Today I get to go to the commissary. It's amazing how having just a little something in your box can give you a sense of control in your day to day life. When nothing is within your personal control, and dinner is dry bread and green bologna, it is comforting to know you can break out something a little more solid like a pack of tuna, crackers, and coffee. It has an amazing way of restoring your sense of independence.

My cellie Bobby and I get along well and have agreed to chip in for a weekly Friday evening meal. We usually have enough extra to share some with one or two other guys.

My favorite for the past few months is pinto beans cooked all day into a thick stew. Add some flavoring fro leftover noodle spice packs, some dried vegetable flakes, jalepeno pepper, cubed summer sausage, and placed on a bed of instant rice. It's nutritious and enjoyable at less than $3 for two people or about $5.15 for four.

I joke with Bobby that he's a pig because he'll eat every day. He's as skinny as a rail, although strong, and I don't know how he burns it all off. I'm very content with one special meal a week. Not only to avoid bad habits of using food for comfort or addiction, but I prefer not to become a huge couch potato. There's so little movement and activity, I see a lot of guys pack on 100 lbs in six months. A few are solid muscle if they eat right and work out, but it's mostly carbs and fat calories not protein.

There have been a few fights in the camp since I last wrote an update. Only three were nearby my area. The workers housing area generally has less problems anyway. Many fights are between cellies who just get tired of each other's bad habits. They punch it out in the cell. If there's not a lot of visible damage (blood, black eyes, broken bones), they get away with it.

Of course, the two kids (everyone I see under 30, I call a kid) who decided to duke it out in the chow hall will be shipped off to a prison where they can fight every day until they learn a card game or a basketball game is not that important.

After six officers jumped on them, the brilliant one who decided to bite the arm of an officer will face assault charges and probably receive two more years in prison.

About once every couple months, I have a run in with some "kid."

Three weeks ago, a young guy grabbed my property. One of the cardinal rules in prison is you don't touch anyone's property for any reason unless you know them personally. If he just put it down when I told him, we wouldn't have had a problem. He was most likely looking for something to steal. He saw what looked like a mail package full of magazines. Most likely, he hoped they were porn mags.

Nope, it was my legal work. I was waiting to go to the law library. Important to me but meaningless to him.

He started to mouth off and get loud, threatening that he could touch whatever he wanted. These young kids work out a few weeks and think they're Superman. They see an old guy with graying hair and assume they can bully him.

His look of shock and disbelief was enough for me to see he was just a young punk kid with no sense. I ran up on him into his cell, and he backed into the corner. He wouldn't swing, so I told him to keep his hands off my property in the future and left.

I didn't have anymore problems from him and noticed he calmed down a lot. Less mouthy with people and not strutting around like a rooster. After a few days, I could relax seeing he wasn't going to try and jump me with his buddies.

I really hate the idea of losing my job and getting shipped to a more crappy place. I'm too old for this drama. Bunch of teenagers stuck in men's bodies.

Here's how great God is. I did pray often for that kid, and a week later I bumped into him visiting the chapel. Just as I had prayed for and hoped, he spoke, found forgiveness, understanding, and reconciliation. We were able to shake hands and go on our way with a mutual respect. Instead of enemies, we became friends.

It was a good reminder that prayer is powerful. God can bring peace to any situation, and there is hope even for these confused, wayward men in prison. Just like me. :)

Every six months or so, there is a big shake up and drama. But in only three months, it happened twice. First, six maintenance workers lost their jobs when their tobacco smuggling scheme was discovered. Then last week, four commissary workers got popped off for the loss of $180 worth of summer sausages. Some guys just can't help but do criminal things. Even when they have the best jobs, best housing, and plenty of money.

I just don't get it sometimes. It's sad though when there is always one or two guys that do nothing wrong, but end up catching flack anyway.

That's enough for now. Hope you enjoy this update.

David