I’ve been home for about a week now, and it still feels strange to even type that sentence. I didn’t have to go to a halfway house, which was a huge relief. I do have to check in once a week and wear an ankle monitor, but honestly, life is very good right now. After everything I’ve been through, those are small prices to pay.
Little Luxuries I Didn’t Know I Missed
There are so many small comforts I didn’t realize I missed until I had them back. I don’t have to wear shower shoes anymore. I can actually control the water temperature instead of playing the “too cold / too hot” game. I can stretch my legs out across the bed without worrying about falling off the edge. That alone feels like luxury. I’ve also been working out every day since I’ve been home, sticking to the same routines I had inside. That consistency matters to me—physical fitness became a core part of my mental health, and I don’t plan to let it go now that I’m out.
Reconnecting with My Dog
One of the best moments this week was seeing my dog again. At first, he wasn’t thrilled to see me—I think he was actually mad. But over the past few days, he’s started cuddling again, sleeping with me, and things feel back to normal. Having him by my side again has been comforting in ways I didn’t expect.
The Check-In Routine
Part of my weekly check-in includes drug testing, and if you’ve never experienced it, let me tell you—they literally watch you pee. My body does not perform well under that kind of pressure. It’s turned into a weird little ritual of standing there awkwardly, waiting for something that just doesn’t want to happen, while everyone silently wishes it were over already.
Revisiting the Past
Most of this past week has been spent going through evidence that was returned to me—seven or eight computers the government had taken over the years. I’ve been sorting through them, seeing which ones still work, which ones have my most up-to-date code, and which might become my main machine again. It’s strange revisiting all those old projects, but also exciting. It feels like I’m reconnecting with a version of myself that’s been on pause for a long time.
Rebuilding Coin Ninja
I’ve already started reaching out to people in the crypto space about rebuilding Coin Ninja and picking up where I left off. That’s why I’m digging through all this old code—pulling files, organizing repositories, and figuring out what’s salvageable and what needs to be rewritten. Before prison, everything felt frozen in place. Now, for the first time in years, I feel free to build again.
A New Chapter
On top of everything else, I’ve been finishing up a basement apartment I’ve been building. It’s going to be really nice when it’s done, even if the waiting on contractors every day is testing my patience. Still, it feels symbolic—starting something new in a fresh space. This past year changed me. Getting into the best shape of my life, slowing down, reading, learning, and being forced to sit with myself wasn’t easy—but it was necessary.
Being home now feels like a true reset. Not a return to who I was, but a chance to move forward as someone better. It’s a new year, a new start, and a new version of me. And for the first time in a long time, I’m genuinely excited about what comes next.
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