It’s been a couple of weeks since my last post, but I’ve got a few updates to share. Nothing earth-shattering, but some big personal milestones and a few moments worth remembering.
First off, I got a visit from my mom, which was great. Unfortunately, the vending machines in the visiting room were shut down for the first time since I’ve been here. They’re a big part of visitation because it’s the only time you get real food and drinks — better than anything from the chow hall. It was disappointing, but we still had a good visit. The machines were shut down due to contraband that had been found hidden in the ceiling, so I get why it happened, but I hope they open them back up soon — I’ve got people coming to visit again.
On the fitness front, I’m still training for my half marathon, and this week I ran another 10K to keep up the pace. I wasn’t trying to break any records, just making sure I stay on track. But the big news was on the strength side — I finally hit 1,000 push-ups in one hour during my Saturday push-up routine. I’ve been slowly building up week by week — from 800, then 900, then 950 — and this week I broke through to four digits. Definitely one of my proudest accomplishments so far. It’s been tough training both strength and cardio at the same time, but I’m figuring out how to balance it.
Another major milestone: I’ve officially moved from Phase 2 to Phase 3 of the RDAP program. Graduation happened this week, and I’m now in the home stretch. There was an unexpected moment during the ceremony when the guy who was supposed to give the opening remarks stood up and announced he wouldn’t be graduating because he failed a drug test. He admitted he’d have to redo Phase 3. It shocked the room and really served as a reminder of how serious this program is — and how easily you can lose everything if you don’t stay focused.
Now, the thing is, what he tested positive for was Suboxone — and here’s where it gets complicated. Some people here are allowed to take Suboxone through the official channels, every single day, as part of their opioid treatment program. But if you’re not in the program and you take it, it counts as a dirty test. It’s treated as a serious offense. I think that’s a major double standard. It’s the same substance — just depending on how you get it, one path gets you medical support and the other gets you punished. That’s exactly what happened to him, and I really hope they show him some compassion and help instead of just hitting him with more setbacks. The whole thing just shows how tricky the system can be, even for someone who’s clearly trying.
So, yeah, not the busiest two weeks, but big steps forward mentally and physically. I’ve got 86 days left until my release date, and I’m not taking a single one for granted. I’m staying committed to becoming the strongest version of myself before I walk out of here.
Stay safe and stay legal out there.
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