Saturday 10/27/2012

Hello World!

It's been a long time since I've sent in an update. Too much uncertainty, fear and distractions.

In the last 6 months an officer (c/o) was assigned as a TAD Chaplain, one Warden retired and a new Warden was assigned. This by itself causes great turmoil as many "rules" change, shakedowns increase, Union plays games (inmates get caught in the middle) and many officers have to "prove themselves" or are forced to jump through hoops because of new rules dumped on them.

Examples? Well, how about the new rule that you have to "sign out" cleaning supplies from the officer on duty. That's a big headache for them. But some will take out their frustration on inmates.

Early in the summer the Warden (not current Warden) had maintenance pull the A/C unit out of the guard shack because the officers were staying out of the heat. So the officers started to "shake down" all the maintenance workers 3-5 times a day. Inmate workers that is, and they still are? So maintenance supervisors added 2 extra breaks into the day which forces the inmate workers to pass the shack 4 more times each day and requires 4 additional shake downs. In turn, the officers will simply make the inmate workers stand outside for 20 minutes until the break for the Maintenance Supervisors is over.

Many of the hardcore violent inmates having already done 15-25 years call this facility a "kiddy-camp" or "Day Care" because the facilities for maximum security "life" term sentences would have turned violent long ago. But here, everyone just wants peace and to end this time and go home so they get away with this silly harassment and games.

So many times, it's the staff creating anxiety and stress, but once an inmate is caught up in violence then its the inmate who suffers. First, by getting transferred to a place where violence is a daily fact.

I also had to submit my court papers to the Federal Court and a Governor's Clemency Petition. The last thing I needed was to open myself to harassment, a transfer, or having my mail tampered with (i.e. "lost").

I found myself in two-altercations with other inmates which blew over after a few weeks. It's common every few months. They love moving people around from house to house. It keeps everything unstable and stressed. I am older (47), not gang affiliated, stay to myself and a Christian (outwardly obvious) who even works in the chapel as a clerk.

I live in a closely confined place with a majority of young gang thugs who naturally seek out weak people to prey on and bully.

Every so often my kindness is perceived as weakness and I have to set things straight.

Then, out of the blue, an officer decides to make threats toward me, completely without cause or reason. I guess he was having a bad day or something. Of course the two guys next to me were both about 280 lbs compared to my 160 and he didn't say a word to them.

On the other hand, I've often wondered if some of these officers are trying to provoke me. It's odd that when I'm submitting court petitions or writing to senators or the VA for some legal help the harassment increases. But it's only a handful of officers...not everyone. After lodging my first complaint in 3 years on an officer I half expected my mail to be thrown out before reaching the courts.

Finally, I ended up getting sick three times. One was certainly food poisoning. Had me bed ridden for 4 days and an extra 6 to get my full strength back. The other 2 illnesses I don't even know the cause but it knocked me down for 6 weeks before I could get back in the gym or not have to force myself just to get through the day.

Prison life is wearing me down. Gray hair and illness as never before in my life, even though I've lived in some horrible, disease infested places. I suspect stress is a big cause of my weakened health.

I've noticed true convicts and criminals (career type) thrive in here. They love it and appear comfortable and strong. It's the normal guy, with family and kids who worked real jobs, paid taxes, but screwed up somewhere that truly suffer in prison.

So there is the crap dump...

As it turns out our new Chaplain is a true blessing for everyone. He truly cares for the condition and welfare of our church. It helps me as well in that someone in his family is a former Marine so he is pro-veteran.

My hearing on the Governor's Clemency Petition happened on Oct. 12th and seemed to go well. I won't know for a while if it will make it to the Governor's office, but I'm hoping.

My Federal Court petition made it in prior to the deadline so my court effort is still alive and well.

Perhaps now you can see why I was being cautious as my mail is screened and read I did not want anything to hinder my court and Governor petitions.

For the most part I grateful that things are stable and I have hope. Enjoying the college and NFL football games every weekend. Back in the gym at least twice a week and my coffee supply has not run out. How can I complain, right?

With the winter chill starting again, our electric heaters were turned on. One of the best uses for these heaters is to make Pizza pockets. You cook up a combination of rice and noodles. Add some spices, make a cause from ketchup (like 20 of those restaurant style packets), slice up some pepperoni and summer sausage, add cheese (squeeze bottles) and Jalapeño (pre-sliced packets) peppers. Wrap in a Tortilla shell, insert into an aluminum empty potato chip bag and presto, Pizza Pockets - hot in 20 minutes!

See you,

David.