Greetings everyone. It's been a while since the last blog. No excuses, though I didn't have my tablet machine and with 240 guys using the four public machines for 15 minutes a pop, I just didn't feel like getting in that race! Not having my tablet has also held up my book writing, but that was just me being lazy too.
With this corona virus going around, and yes it has been at this prison as well, we just fared better than those other prisons who lost people. I stopped counting after 50 and just pray that God keeps me safe, and so far so good.
But everything else has gotten worse. They talk about how cleanliness helps curd the spread, not possible with guys who are nasty already, so that hasn't changed. It's also not possible to have 6ft distancing. The beds are 2ft apart with a neighbor on top. The food cooking area is a mess too. 240 guys using two microwaves, and I never really figured out why guys think Ramen noodles should be cooked for an hour! But that's how most seem to like it.
They did give us masks to wear. I ended up buying four. Better to be safe than sorry, as one out of five will wear their mask daily. I actually believe I had the virus already, and no I don't want it again. I have been here 37 years and was blessed to never catch the common cold. In January, something hit me and held on for almost 8 weeks. I had just about every symptom they say the corona virus carries. Sadly, whatever that was, it touched almost every bed. It was bad! They still haven't acknowledged that that's what it was, but no one here died that we know of, and only two guards and one inmate ever tested positive. So they say.
We are still on Code Red Lockdown, which they have no plans to change anytime soon. This means no programs. The only school is college on tablets. 40 minutes of recreation twice a day, and brunch and dinner. Otherwise we are in our pod. Oh, and we lost a Warden that was actually trying to make some changes. And this is what you missed between this blog and the last. The good in all this is I am down to less than a year before I see the parole board. Prayers are needed, and a lot of support. Next summer I will face them and hope that they will see to letting me go home. I know they will want to know what supports I have, so if you can be a part of my transition back to the community, I would greatly appreciate it.
Til next time, stay safe, stay well.
Blessings,
Arthur
