Notes From The Inside
by Scott
4.9.01
Hey there. Sorry this paper is so crinkly. It got bunched up. Let me first apologize to you. In my last letter I was angry at what happened in the chow hall and at my actions. I don't want you to think less of me for what I did. I just needed to vent. So thanks for listening.
I'm going to answer some of your questions in your last letter. I keep my possessions in a locker. We have combination locks to keep them secure. I have 3 cellies. Yes one is going home on 4/13/01. Friday the 13th!!! He was in for bank robbery. And no I don't think he will be back. He served alot of time. We're not allowed many possessions. I have my mail, pictures, legal papers, books, all my stationary, and of course my commissary (hygeine products and food). I love hearing about your bike adventures, please tell me more. You will be in shape in no time. It's a really great work out. I read alot of non-fiction also. But I love the escape that fiction books give me. For example, I read Lonesome Dove about 2 years ago when I was still in the D.C. jail. It is a Western and I don't read many Westerns. But I loved it. When I was reading that book I wasn't in jail, I was out on the prairie on the cattle run. I had a real good imagination and I let books take me there. I have alot of recommendations for you. Maybe you should try historical fiction. Books based on actual historic events with fictional characters to carry the story (events) along. One of my favorite is Trinity by Leon Uris. Its the story of Ireland and her fight for independence from England. This book made me cry, laugh, feel scared, angry, and proud. I can relate to the struggle alot. Yes Kurt Vonnegut did write Slaughterhouse Five. Its his adaptation of the allied bombing of Dresden, Germany. He was an eyewitness and it mocks the atrocities of war. Over 100,00 million people (civilians) died.
I took some pictures today (Monday) and I get them next week so I'll mail you one. You said you remember me as short and skinny. Well I'm 5'10" tall, short by NBA standards, but not regular people. My weight si definitely back and then some. Right now I weigh a whopping 185 pounds. On the street I'm usually between 150-165. But I'm not fat at all. I'm a lean 185.
We are paying the normal price for stamps here and no we can't get them in the mail. And no they don't rip the stamps off the envelope we get the whole thing! We buy things from the commissary. I go on Mondays. We fill out a list, hand it in at 11:00 am then go get it after 5:00 pm. No we don't have cash but a debit card which we can put money on. We use it for the laundry, vending machines, and photocopier. We have alot of activities here. You know about the movies. We have sports with leagues, a music department, ceramics, painting, a huge rec yard with horsehoes, handball, basketball, bocce ball. Us being the intelligent inamtes have even made some hacky sacks. We have all kind of educational programs. It is mandatory in the Federal System to get a G.E.D. I already have my high scool diploma so I don't have to take the G.E.D. classes. We have a fish farm here and I signed up for the aquaculture school. They will teach us the fish farm trade. Its a year long then we get certified. My mum was like why would you take that? why don't you learn somthing you can use? I said "How many opportunites will I have to learn aquaculture?" I find it interesting.
I'm in a much better mood. It was beautiful out today like 80 degrees. I chilled in the rec yard for awhile. Sometimes I just have to get away from people and find some peace. Then I went and played hacky sack. I'm locked down in my cell now writing this on my bed. It's about midnight now. The cell doesn't bother me anymore especially after that supermax. Some people can't take it. I actually like the down time.- more tomorrow.
4.10.01 Tuesday 9:30 pm. Man sorry my letters are always so sloppy, like chicken scratch. I write on my bed mostly. I had an idea and a favor to ask you. Since you have access to the internet. I was thinking. Some of my friends are always looking for penpals. I heard they have something like prison pen pal pages. Or just regular ones will do. If you could print it up (if you can find it) I will pass them out among my friends. Tell me what you think. Not everybody is as lucky as me to have a friend like you.
Feel free to send me any books you want. Send me one of your favorites. I will come up with some ideas to give you later. I hope you can get some sleep and find some down time. Alright I want to put this in the mail. Take care of yourself.
PEACE
Scott