HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wednesday, January 1, 2014
 
I would have done this yesterday but I was pretty much asleep by the time the ball dropped in Times Square. The last New Year’s Eve that I actually celebrated was in 2000, the millennium and the memory of that is still very much alive with me. I will hold onto that until I am allowed the opportunity to make new memories. 

So 2014 means that I now officially have 4 more years to go before completing my sentence. There really is light at the end of this journey for me. Now I am eligible to be moved to a minimum custody level prison if the administration believes I would be productive there.

It also means that I have now spent 12 years behind wire fences and barbed wire.

Enough Said.

Like so many others, I did make some New Year resolutions. I usually keep them to myself so that if I break one, nobody knows about it and therefore, can’t say anything. Still, I decided to share them this year and what better way to do that than here, with my readers?

DAVID’S NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

 

1. BE MORE TOLERANT: I would really like to be more tolerant to others. I go up and down with this at times and, as often is the case, it is completely mood driven. I need to be more even keeled and consistent.
2. BE KINDER TO MYSELF: For those who know me well, I can be a mixed bag. I am however, very self-critical in ways that make me seem crazy. The majority of it is physical changes i.e.; loss of hair, lines in the face, body changes. The problem is that time didn’t stop simply because I came to prison. I subconsciously blame my physical changes on my incarceration and therefore, view them as negatives. That way of thinking does me no good. It is not healthy and certainly not kind.
3. BE FUTURE DRIVEN:It’s so easy for people in prison to give up on the future because we to worry about simply surviving every minute of every day. Sometimes planning next week seems premature – so we don’t. For me, the future has been a “yeah, whatever…” topic because it has always seemed so far away.  I mean, why plan – if I could be killed tomorrow or beaten up so badly that I can’t carry out basic daily functions? These are the ‘what if?’ things that I never share with the people closest to me because I don’t want to worry them. But they are always in the back of my mind though. Every years that passes, is a year I do not have to do again though so I need to make some serious decisions for my future. It’s time.

With that said, I wish everyone a very Happy 2014! Take care of yourselves and do your best to find honor in all that you do!

End of the year maintenance; "I definitely need to do some man-scaping."

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Since there is no work today, I will try to get caught up on some mail and then workout as normal. I definitely need to do some man-scaping as well.

I spoke with mom on the phone this morning and she sounded great. I will see her on Sunday and Monday for a special New Year’s Eve visit. She is just happy that she is off for a few days. I can completely understand because she is averaging 90-100 hours a pay period!

Thanksgiving night; "I am thankful that I have made it through another year in here."

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thanksgiving Night

Our meal was completely forgettable. It consisted of: A large slice of mechanically separated and processed turkey that was a faint, iridescent shade of green, wheat bread stuffing formed into a hockey puck shape placed in a watery mound of fake mashed potatoes, severely overcooked carrots with absolutely no nutritional value remaining, a dinner roll that could serve as a weapon and a piece of pumpkin pie that was actually edible and pretty good. All that in mind, John and I made some tamales and cake back at the dorm. We are not big soda drinkers but we had rootbeer and watched football all day.

The day has been kick back; no assaults, no problems and for that, I am incredibly thankful. I did call mom and Kevin to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving, but that was all.

If someone were to ask me what I am thankful for, I would say first, and foremost; my friends and family, my health and my sanity, and lastly, I am thankful that I have made it through another year in here.

Privileges; "It is all based upon behavior, education, work etc."

Saturday, November 3, 2012

It has been a few days since I have written and I hope whomever is reading and following me, is doing well and in good spirits. I especially hope that all of who have been impacted by Super Storm Sandy are hanging in there. My heart goes out to all of you and your families. If I could be there to help, I would.

The week for me has been hectic. Unfortunately it is not over because I actually have to work today. Administration has tasked John and I to take all of the family/inmate photographs during the special “Food Visit” this weekend. Today is scheduled to be for all of the inmates who live on the red side of the yard. Tomorrow is for all of those who live on my side, the blue. Food Visits are a designated special occasion, where inmate friends and family are allowed to bring prepared meals into the facility for the inmates. It will be incredibly busy and I hope it goes by quickly.

“Food Visits” are a privilege allowed to all inmates who are classified as a Phase III. To help you understand what this means, inmates are essentially divided up into three phases. It is all based upon behavior, education, work etc.. I will try to give a detailed explanation of what each phase is, and the privileges allowed for the respective phases.

PHASE I – All inmates entering into the prison system are classified as a Phase I for a year. They have to earn an increase in phase.

Privileges:

·       $40.00 spending limit per week at the inmate store

·       4 hours visitation per week

·       1 phone call per day

·       Only eligible for unskilled work positions at $.10 an hour

·       Must live on the top bunk of a bed space

PHASE II – Inmates who have been disciplinary free for one year and who have completed all mandatory education needs will advance into this phase

·       $60.00 spending limit per week at the inmate store

·       8 hours visitation per week

·       2 phone call per day

·       Eligible for all work positions, but capped at $.30 an hour

·       Can live on the lower bunk of a bed space

PHASE III – Inmates who have been disciplinary free for two years, have a high school diploma or GED certificate on file, have maintained the same job for at least one year and have completed all programs; Anger Management, AA, Cultural Diversity, Cognitive Thinking etc..

·       $80.00 spending limit per week at the inmate store

·       16 hours visitation per week

·       Unlimited phone calls per week

·       Eligible for all work positions, but capped at $.45 an hour , but can work up to 80 hours

·       4 Food Visits per year

·       Allowed personal cubicle to live in alone

·       Can participate in fundraising restorative justice programs

If an inmate receives a minor disciplinary infraction, they can still maintain their phase however any major infraction will force an inmate’s phase to be dropped down at least one level. Any inmate who tests positive for drugs during a random urine analysis,  will automatically be dropped down to a Phase I. In case you are curious, I am a Phase III.

I have no real way of gauging how many Phase IIIs there are statewide, but for reference, there are 1200 inmates at this facility, and as of yesterday, there were only 127 Phase IIIs on the yard. So there are not that many of us.

Halloween; "Tonight, guys will likely act a fool."

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Another day is here. It’s Halloween and the only good thing about today is that we already have our costumes; we are all giant carrots. J Today should go like any other day, but come tonight, guys will likely act a fool. Usually they will portray themselves as women by tying up their shirts and pulling their boxers up into a thong-like contraption. Those with long hair will let it flow and some will even use markers to apply makeup. Once they are in full prison drag, they will begin trick or treating up and down the runs. Seeing it, is believing it, and you would be surprised at who actually participates in the event. It is so hilarious at times that it takes all the energy I have to maintain full composure.

 

Jan is coming to town!; "I can't wait!"

Friday, October 12, 2012

So my pseudo-aunt Jan is confirmed to come out the first weekend in November for our special food visit. I am very happy about that because I just need to put my arms around her. Throughout my life, she has played mom, friend, therapist and confidant. We have no secrets and she loves me for me, as I do her. I respect and love her more than I can explain and she always has the ability to somehow make things better. That said, I will be so glad to see her!

Joe will also be flying in for the food visit and this will be the first time that they will actually meet. I am curious to see how they get on with each other. They are such similar characters and that – can typically go either way. Their common link is of course, my mom and I, so the meet/greet will be very interesting. Regardless, for me, it will be wonderful to see all my favorite people sitting together at the table with me.

I can’t wait!

Good Days; "My birthday was just as I wanted it; “Quiet”.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

My birthday was just as I wanted it; “Quiet”. Only a few people here were aware of it and so, I received a few cards from fellow inmates and that was great. Besides that, I went along with business as usual. I went to work, and then to property to pick up some CDs that my mom had sent me. I called back east and talked with mom and Joe. They were going out with a mutual friend Aiden, who coincidentally also shares my same birthday. I did not receive a single piece of mail on the 9^th, which was odd, but fine, so I watched the New Normal, Private Practice and then went to bed.

Come Wednesday morning, I was happy simply because it would be my last day of work until October 22^nd, the end of my boss’s vacation time. In any case, I went into the office for four hours and got all the loose ends taken care of. I came back to the dorm, worked out, and wrote a couple of letters. As the day wound down, I laid on my bed, TV remote in hand and remained that way for the rest of the evening.

Birthdays, are just "another day"

Sunday, September 30, 2012
 
My 32^nd birthday is coming up on October 9^th, Already, the birthday cards have begun to filter in and I am always appreciative when I receive mail at mail call. It really does make my day that much more tolerable.Before coming to prison, I used to have elaborate, outrageous birthdays. We would all go out. The best, most memorable birthday was my 6^th. My mom was very good friends with a couple of players on the San Francisco NFL 49ers football team and she invited about half of the team to join us at Chucky Cheese to celebrate my birthday. That day will forever be engraved in my memory.  Throughout the years though, my birthday would always be marked by some crazy party or snowboarding trip.

When I arrived in prison, I pretty much stopped counting birthdays. This year however, I will try to be at peace. I will not have a visit because I would actually prefer the people I love, to be together for me and not spend it at a state prison in Arizona. Everyone who knows me intimately, knows of my love of music. That is my usual request and so now people have taken to just sending CDs at random through Amazon.com. Thankfully, they know my taste! J

This past Tuesday, I received Flo Rida Flo Rida and Britney Spears Britney Spears along with some great blogging books from Joe. Mom sent me Tamia, Elle Varner http://www.ellevarner.com/and apparently I have some more coming, but they will be a surprise. So come this Tuesday, October 9^th, I will be listening to music and most likely, blogging to you.

I do suspect that my friend John is planning something as well. I do have to do some more investigating. Cooking is not one of John’s strong suits, so I hope it is not a meal.  He knows that I will eat it if he makes it though.