Hello everyone,

How is it out there in wonderland? After five and a half years in jail, I still feel like I'm falling down the rabbit hole. It does get stranger and stranger in here.

It makes you look at things differently for sure. I used to think everyone was unique, different, like a snowflake. But in here the majority seems identical, so much alike that besides looks, you would have a hard time telling them apart. It is kind of amazing; it seems about eighty percent should be in fifth grade. I guess that says a lot about our society, huh? We dropped the ball somewhere along the way.

Another thing I view differently is religion. Man, really go tin the way of that one. You should believe in your chose denomination, but I believe denominations are not it's about either. We shouldn't judge or alienate ourselves from others because they don't believe like we do. I think we got our priorities mixed up along the way and ran off some good people from our churches because they didn't look or act like us.

I saw on the news that Ray Bradbury passed away. I never read his books before I came to jail. What a writer! I just finished a book of his short stories. He has a unique way of taking you back to your childhood. In one of the stories, two young boys went in the local theater. It reminded me of picking coke bottle caps for Saturday. You could get in the theater for six bottle caps. I know, I sound like an old geezer.

I had a visit with Joseph last Saturday. Oh yeah, Mom and Faith were there too. Sorry, guys. But when he's there, everyone else seems to fade into the background. Three-year-old boys suck all the energy from their universe and it bursts out of their bodies. He's so cool; he has a laugh that would make the angels in heaven jealous. But he inherited it from his mother and Aunt Jo.

We are on lockdown right now. The Burgundy Team is in and they go room-to-room and shake you down. It's not so bad except some of them will tear your room apart. But it's a necessary evil, I guess. They're looking for drugs, wine, weapons, tobacco, and cellphones. A guy got caught with one a few weeks ago so they're on the prowl. I suppose most everyone out there has a cellphone now. Seems like everyone is talking or texting all the time. I did my share, I guess. I wonder what percentage of all those conversations are relevant. Where was all that needed talk before cellphones? And all those hours you spend texting while you're holding a phone: wouldn't it just be easier to just call? I know, I know, the old geezer is coming back out so I'll wrap this up.

P.S. It was really cool to hear from you, Jason Rawey. Thank you and your family for all your prayers. That goes for everyone else as well. Hang on, keep praying. Things are going to get interesting soon.

Love,
Joe