Today is the 23rd consecutive Halloween that I’ve dressed as a prisoner. I’m tired of it, but I’ll be wearing prisoner clothing in 2010, 2011 and possibly 2012. I could be released before October of 2012, but for certain I will be home by 2013. It’s still a long walk to freedom, though when I [...]
Today’s mail brought me a complete copy of the latest version of Earning Freedom, my new manuscript. Carole has made all of edits for this round and she sent me the newest version which is the same version that my agent read and accepted. The manuscript is now in New York where it’s under review [...]
This morning I wasn’t able to run my usual 10-mile distance because of a scheduled outing. Our TOAD group planned to leave the prison in Taft at 7:15 this morning, so I was only able to run six miles before I had to come in and change. That run boosted my tally to 2,844 miles over [...]
This is fantastic! Check out: http://www.openmediaboston.org/node/990 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F34p0YiSp8g&feature=player_embedded What it’s about: 1. Alienation of people: We are creating refugees amongst our own people. Inmates come back not feeling like they are part of their own community; not knowing “we the people” means them too. 2. Break up of families: unreasonable prison policies and a culture of [...]
I’m calm as I move into this final week of October. Jim Schiavone, the literary agent who represented my previous book, Inside, is now reviewing Earning Freedom. He will determine whether the manuscript is ready for submission to publishers, and I know a decisions awaits that may influence my life. I’m hopeful, but I’m calm. [...]
Seven years ago today I was enjoying my first week of visiting with Carole. She was living in Oregon, then, and I was in Fort Dix, New Jersey. We had been corresponding for months, but on 17 October 2002, she came to visit me for the first time. During the years that we’ve passed together [...]
I woke at 1:25 this morning, and by 1:45 I was sitting at the table where I work. Since I sent the final edits of Earning Freedom out yesterday, for now I’m without a project to focus on. Still, my time wasn’t wasted. I find value in simply sitting alone, staring into space, contemplating the time [...]
I have a friendly relationship with my case manager here at Taft Camp. She’s in her early thirties and she treats all prisoners with courtesy that I appreciate. She sometimes asks questions about whether I’ll be able to adjust to society after all the years I’ve served. For example, she was puzzled when I told her [...]
It’s 3:57 on Friday morning as I write this journal entry, perhaps too early to record my activities for the day. I’ve been working at this desk since 1:23 this morning. First I edited chapter eight of the manuscript and I really enjoyed that work. Chapter eight takes a turn in the book. It’s about [...]
Today I wrote a thank you letter to Mike Ban, the proprietor of Yosemite Valley Beef. I don’t know Mike, but I know his friend, Steve, a Korean gentleman who lives in Los Angeles. Steve serves a relatively brief sentence with me here at Taft Camp and a few months ago, he asked me whether [...]
