Heat Flags and Half-Baked Push-Ups

The theme of this week? Heat — lots of it. We’ve been hit with a nasty heat wave rolling through the state. I think it’s been scorching the whole country, but we don’t exactly get the Weather Channel in here. It all kicked off Monday when I made the genius decision to...

War—What Is It Good For?

I usually try to keep these journal entries lighthearted or at least optimistic, but I’ve been thinking lately that maybe I’m painting too rosy a picture of prison life. Some readers might get the impression that I’m doing just fine here, like this place is some sort...

Deep in Planning Mode – with a Side of Chicken Tenders

Reading all these business books has me fired up and ambitious again. Honestly, being in here without internet access and unable to work is tough—mentally, emotionally, and even physically. But I’m doing what I can: planning, brainstorming, and laying the groundwork...

Trading Silence for Sanity: Why I Left Wing-4

Last Thursday, I woke up from a well-earned afternoon nap to find a note on my locker: “Come see me.” It was from my friend “M” over in Wing-3. We’ve been hanging out a lot lately—he’s around my age, and we get along well. He’s also a night owl like me, which helps....

Tying It All Together: A Week of Growth at Cumberland

A new month means another one down in prison. Normally, not much happens at a camp, and I find myself stretching for content. But not this week. There’s so much to cover that I’m saving the biggest story—why I moved out of the “retirement wing” (P-4) and...