This week brought a mix of frustration and relief. I finally got the official word about my new release date — December 17th — eight days later than planned. It might not sound like much, but eight extra days in prison feels like forever. I was angry and pretty down about it at first.
But there’s a silver lining. Because my case manager had to resubmit my paperwork, my post-release plan changed for the better. Instead of spending time in a halfway house, I’ll go straight to home confinement. That means I’ll serve the rest of my time on house arrest instead of being stuck at a poorly managed halfway house in Cleveland. It’s not freedom yet, but it’s closer — and I’m already used to it after five years on house arrest before coming here. I just hope I’ll be allowed to work out at a real gym again.
Even though I still think the reason for the delay was unfair, I decided to get proactive. The staff said the main issue was our “pull-ups” — the daily accountability sessions where we call out unhealthy behavior in others and offer feedback. We’re supposed to have at least three people do three pull-ups each day, but apparently, our quality wasn’t up to standard.
So, I went into problem-solving mode. I created a “Pull-Up Help Sheet” that explains how to give better pull-ups and even included examples for different categories. I distributed it to every wing, so no one has an excuse anymore. Then I started tracking who still needed to do their pull-ups, how many days we have left, and how many we should complete each week. Each wing now has its own accountability plan and sign-up sheet.
I even make nightly announcements after count to remind everyone who’s up next and help anyone struggling to come up with ideas. The system has worked better than I imagined — staff actually praised our group this week for improving our meetings. Hopefully that keeps our graduation (and release) dates locked in for good.
On a different note — the physical kind of pull-up — I set a new fitness goal. Since finishing my half marathon, I’ve needed something new to work toward. Pull-ups have always been my weakness. When I got here, I could only do one. I’ve been training every other day for the last two weeks, mixing assisted and unassisted reps, and I’m already up to four in a row. My goal is ten before I leave here.
It’s funny — they used to feel impossible, but now my body is learning what to do. The first one no longer feels like I’m fighting gravity with everything I’ve got. It’s starting to feel natural, almost automatic.
So that is my quick (or not so) update. To anyone reading this. I miss you and can’t wait to see you all in a couple months.Stay safe and legal out there.
— Larry
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