What I Do During the Day 4/21/2010

 Understand the court released me on my own recognizance to a facility in Indianapolis where I am on lockdown, which means I cannot leave except to see my lawyer (who I have now seen twice) and/or church (I have no church close by - nor a car any longer.) I explained this to someone who crinkled their face in bewilderment. My response was, "And tomorrow I turn into a giant cockroach." Why is not just called house arrest? That makes more sense.

(And none of my 41 days of incarceration applies to my ultimate sentence. While the taxpayers pick up the tab for room and board. Think about that for a minute: taxpayers pay my pre-trial detention and what they pay for my detention, and they get what benefit? Indiana's law allows for pre-trial credit. Yes, that gets the convict out quicker and at a lower cost than the federal government gets for its inmates. I am beginning to think the federal government is wasteful not because of fraud, but because it is so big that it does not really have to think about how it does things...)

Mostly I sit on my bunk, reading and writing. This week I have lunch duty, so in about 45 minutes I will go up and help fix lunch. Lunch will consist of lunch meat, bread, cheese, and potato chips with a Kool-Aid sort of punch for a drink. 

My bunk is in a large room with other inmates. There is a shower/restroom which is open - no door - like a gym restroom facility. There is television and couches for watching television. Generally, the television remains on one channel during the day and night. Sometimes I will walk the 15 feet to the television, so I can stretch my legs.

This morning I did breakfast: baked potatoes, skim milk, and an orange. I just cannot eat grits. I came back and started reading the Gospel of St. John while doing my laundry. Laundry finished, I started writing this.

I need to call my lawyer when I finish writing this. I got a forfeiture notice and I think we need to chat.

I need to start a letter to my father. That will be my afternoon. That and more reading. For reading, I have The Varieties of History from Voltaire to the Present, Mark Twain, and Exodus. Dinner will be at 5 pm. Go upstairs and choke down whatever is on the plate. (Please do not think we are eating well. Taste? None. Texture? Unspeakable texture to the meat products. Appearance? Disgusting. Price? Free, remember.) Keep at what reading and writing remains until the lights go out at 10 pm. Tonight, the NBA playoffs will dominate the television, so may watch or go to sleep. 

In between times, I keep thinking about my sentencing.

sch