Week at a Glance / Current Week

Week at a Glance / Current Week

Week 5	January 29, 2012 – February 4, 2012
Sunday, 29 January 2012 Prison Day 8,938 Up at 3:22 a.m. Exercise time: 1.5 hours Running: 1,143 consecutive days Distance today: 6 miles 2012 YTD miles run: 383 miles Consecutive miles: 11,156 miles Pushups today: 500 2012 YTD pushups: 13,500	I slept until 3:22 this morning. I enjoy the extra sleep on visiting days, especially since I’ve finished writing the previous manuscript. I used the early morning hours for more planning. In an effort to further prepare for the challenges that I will face upon release, I have set a strict set of objectives to achieve during the months of February, March, April, May, June, and July. By the time August begins, I expect to have total clarity with regard to when I am walking out of prison and how I will begin my life. I intend to be fully ready before then, and today I outlined the plan that I am sending to Carole. I need her to embrace the vision with me as I move forward. We will discuss during our visit today.
Monday, 30 January 2012 Prison Day 8,939 Up at 2:44 a.m. Exercise time: 3.7 hours Running: 1,144 consecutive days Distance today: 17 miles 2012 YTD miles run: 400 miles Consecutive miles: 11,173 miles Pushups today: 500 2012 YTD pushups: 14,000	This morning I began my work at 2:44. It was good work. I began outlining the second chapter for the new manuscript that I’m writing. Sometimes it’s tough to get into the groove of a new manuscript, and other times the process flows well. Today the process flowed well. I expect to finish writing a draft of this chapter by tomorrow afternoon. I had an excellent exercise session, too, adding bar dips to my work out. A new prisoner arrived today and told me how helpful he found the content that I post on the web about our federal prison system. He found my work while searching for information on the prison camps at Lompoc, Taft, and Atwater. I feel a boost to my sense of purpose when others tell me that m y work eases their anxieties.
Tuesday, 31 January 2012 Prison Day 8,940 Up at 1:47 a.m. Exercise time: 3. 7 hours Running: 1,145 consecutive days Distance today: 18 miles 2012 YTD miles run: 418 miles Consecutive miles: 11,191 miles Pushups today: 500 2012 YTD pushups: 14,500	This morning I began my work at 1:47. I wrote a significant portion of chapter three. It’s a chapter that describes the importance of confidence for anyone who wants to venture into the world of business. Unlike most of the other books that I’ve written, this book doesn’t have any relationship to prison. Instead, it’s totally about following a principled path to creating wealth. I will not be the author of this book. Instead, I’m writing it with a friend of mine, Andris who has built numerous successful business ventures. We will be released within a few months of each other and will partner on the book project once we’re free. It’s a good use of my time now to focus on writing, as the effort helps me push through the final months of my term.
Wednesday, 1 February 2012 Prison Day 8,941 Up at 1:58 a.m. Exercise time: 3. 7 hours Running: 1,146 consecutive days Distance today: 18 miles 2012 YTD miles run: 436 miles Consecutive miles: 11,209 miles Pushups today: 500 2012 YTD pushups: 15,000	This morning I began my work at 1:58. I wrote about halfway through chapter three of the new manuscript. Chapter one provided the author’s background and credentials to write a book on wealth creation; chapter two described the importance of confidence, and the content I’ve written for chapter three discussed came under the title “mindset.” It’s a fun book to write. Sometimes it’s helpful for me to write about subjects that do not relate in any way to prison. I exercised in the morning, then resumed my writing through the remainder of the day. The sun is out over the Atwater camp today, so it’s likely that I’ll return to the track and run a bit more before the yard closes.
Thursday, 2 February 2012 Prison Day 8,942 Up at 2:14 a.m. Exercise time: 2.5 hours Running: 1,147 consecutive days Distance today: 12 miles 2012 YTD miles run: 448 miles Consecutive miles: 11,221 miles Pushups today: 500 2012 YTD pushups: 15,500	I began my work at 2:14 this morning. As I wrote earlier this week, I’m able to draft some chapters faster than others. The chapter that I began writing this morning did not come as easily to me as the others have so far. I’ve only written about 1,000 words. Ordinarily, I like to write between 2,500 and 3,000 words every day. Perhaps I’ll have a more productive writing session this afternoon.
Friday, 3 February 2012 Prison Day 8,943 Up at 2:09 a.m. Exercise time: 3.6 hours Running: 1,148 consecutive days Distance today: 18 miles 2012 YTD miles run: 466 miles Consecutive miles: 11,239 miles Pushups today: 500 2012 YTD pushups: 16,000	I began my work this morning at 2:09. Before writing, I read the Wall Street Journal coverage of the Facebook IPO. It’s very exciting for me to read about all of this technology. I’ve also read extensively about YouTube, Google, and all of the electronic readers. The digital media will make it much easier for me to build a national audience, and I intend to work toward that end with a lot of energy upon my release. I want to help more people understand America’s prison system, the people it holds, and strategies for growing through confinement. Experience I’ve gained through the 25 years that I’ve served in prisons of every security level will prove enormously valuable to people who face challenges with the criminal justice system. By the end of this year, I will begin bringing my products to market, and I’m optimistic about my prospects for success.
Saturday, 4 February 2012 Prison Day 8,944 Up at 2:29 a.m. Exercise time: 1.0 hours Running: 1,149 consecutive days Distance today: 3 miles 2012 YTD miles run: 469 miles Consecutive miles: 11,242 miles Pushups today: 500 2012 YTD pushups: 16,500	This morning I began my work at 2:29. It was a light day of work, as I spent the morning obsessing over the many responsibilities I will have upon my release. The more that I can envision the challenges that I must overcome upon release, the more prepared I will be. Today I had a wonderful visit with members of my family that I haven’t met before. Marty is the brother of my sister’s husband, Tim. He brought his wife, Vicki, and their two children, Grace and Ryland. Ryland is only six months old and I had the privilege of holding him for several hours. Then, Carole surprised me by walking into the visiting room. It was a real treat for me to kiss my wife today, and I’m grateful.