April 24, 2011
Today was productive. Finished my editing and wrote a blog, made a few batches of cakes, picked up my meds. Tomorrow will be chaos; it’s commissary day, plus I need to get a haircut, plus I’m hoping have a layin to see the doctor.
There’s a big fat black cricket in front of my cell right now. I’m waiting for him to come close enough so I can smash him with my boot. I don’t know if it is bad luck to kill them, I do know it’s bad luck to let them live and they get into your cell. I had one get in my stuff on Ferguson. I tore that cell up six times that night! He’d get quiet, then as soon as I lay back down he’s start playing the banjo. I was a nervous wreck the next morning!
The mail room lady will be okay. Oh, I’m not scared of them. Like I said, the only reason I don’t want to press too hard on the Crips, I don’t want anybody stabbing me in my back. Seriously, it is the truth though. Unfortunately not everybody accepts the truth gracefully.
Well, better let you go and get to my Bible. Hope the Easter card didn’t bring back any bad memories. I know how you feel about rabbits.
Love,
P.S. I’ll inquire about the paper.
April 26, 2011 1:38 p.m.
Kind Lady,
Hey! What’s the haps? Been meaning to write you the last couple of days, but as always, the “wild and exciting world of Jason” is always out of control. Plus, I needed to get a bunch of letters out to people I’d neglected writing. You and I are on a different level, those four people are of the “every blue moon” cult and they all wrote at once.
How’s life your way? I’m so sorry about the soap opera that the paper became. You’ll be glad to know that the paper was sent off today. I’ve inquired again about the loose leaf and await a response. Of course, they can stonewall me. You however, (I know you are tired of messing with these people) they fear outside involvement and you’ll get results. Hopefully. Another guy just told me that his mom sent some composition notebooks (20) and he never got them. She sent them on the 3rd. So if it’s any comfort, it’s not just us.
Ready for some good news? I told you about the offered library job, right? Okay, well, Friday morning, I got pulled off of the cellblock during count time (while there is no movement), escorted to the classification office, and told to wait.
So I waited. There were about seven dudes in there, all in some sort of trouble. I knew I wasn’t in trouble, so assumed it was about a job.
The people (classification committee) packed up and left, as did the inmates. I asked why I was there, they told me to sit tight. It was freezing in there, so I stepped out into the hallway and stood on the wall.
Warden Scott walks up, “How’s it going, Slim?”
“I don’t know,” I snapped. “Don’t know why I’m here.”
He disappeared into the office then came back out. “You Jason Hall?”
“Yes, sir.”
He smiled. “Step into my office,” he sang, motioning me in. What he didn’t say but I saw in his eyes was, “said the spider to the fly.”
Once we were seated across from each other with a table between us, he began, “Do you know why you’re here? Make yourself comfortable.”
I slouched slightly in the chair. “I’m not in trouble,” I said with confidence.
“How do you know?”
“Because I’ve done nothing to be in trouble. I’m righteous and aware.”
He curled his bottom lip in appreciation, “You are cocky. I read your book. And I just wanted to meet the man who called me a ‘Black Russian.’ Why I gotta be a ‘Black Russian?’”
All I could do was laugh. He’d caught me completely unaware. Long story short, we talked for about 20 -25 minutes, got an understanding about each other, cleared the air on some issues, made respectful apologies, and he even set the ball rolling on investigating my property issue from a year ago. It was productive but surreal.
A few other staff members asked about the book Friday. Saturday was lost in the whirlwind. Sunday, they fed grilled leg quarters. I cooked chicken tamales with rice, but my uncle visited and that was the highlight of my day. Hell, that was the highlight of my weekend! I mean, the warden thing was pretty big, but his visit was like the first one, I was at ease and I felt loved. It’s hard to explain, really, he’s just…so much like I’d wish for a father to be, and we talk about everything.
9:23 p.m.
Speaking of talking about everything, I know I’m behind (way behind) on writing my “how I got here” and if we were talking…it’s easy to speak but nearly impossible to put on paper. I’m not trying to put you off, I just, I’ll know when it’s time to sit down and write it all.
This is going to sound flaky too, but I feel it tonight. The problem is, I’m so uncomfortable. What I failed to mention earlier is, I have a celly.
Yeah, he’s up on the top bunk snoring right now. He’s not my cup of tea. He’s fat, he’s filthy, lazy, scary. Ugh! The last four days have tried me to every extreme. The guy doesn’t like to bathe, he never leaves the cell but to eat, he lays in the bed all day, shedding and stressing. It’s like living with a lame German Sheppard.
Tomorrow I see the doctor, finally. His ass has got to go before I break his neck. At first, I felt sorry to him and considered letting him stay. But when he refused to go shower and I started to smell him, oh no. No sir. There are crumbs and stains all over his sheets, he’s terrified of me for no reason and I’ve been nothing but nice, fed him, cleaned up after him, haven’t made him leave the cell to give me some time. I haven’t even kicked him in his ass like he needs.
No, I gotta have my single cell back. He sleeps for 15-16 hours a day. I’m up at 6:00 a.m. every morning, productive. I can’t be tiptoeing around this dude all day and night. No, he’s on his own. I wish him luck.
I was going to send those notebooks my uncle sent back, but it’s going to cost $9.00. No way. My uncle told me not to pay that much, so they can have them. I can’t understand how 7 lbs. weight, how six notebooks are 7 lbs, when 60 was 29 lbs. And how 7 lbs costs $8.95 to send but 29 lbs cost $21.20? Seems off, huh?
We’ve been racked up the last two nights because of tornadoes. I’d be in the cell anyhow, so it doesn’t matter.
Monday, as per the warden, I went to the S.T.G. office and showed them all my proof and paperwork on my missing property. Those guys were dumbfounded. They couldn’t believe that the grievance office lied like that and they no one investigated in all this time. It’s sad really. Just goes to prove the corruption in this place is real! If they somehow still deny my stuff, I don’t know how they can justify it, but I won’t take it lying down. If, if you have time, you could call or email our new friend, Kelvin Scott and inquire of the outcome of the investigation. They told me to give them a few days but it’s obvious what happened and that I should be reimbursed. Again though, the outside support is what gets results. If it were not for the book you published, I wouldn’t be a blip on their radar.
Received your letter today, too! Thank you! I was in a sour moor due to my sour houseguest, you pulled me from that place of darkness.
Yes, I stay busy. Inactivity eats at me. Can’t stand it. But there’s always time for people I love. Especially people I love who make time for me.
As you probably know by now, I’ve given you my okay to go on with the book. But if you really want the story of how I got here, okay. I just thought that you’d already reached your maximum page limit or something. But if that’s holding the book up, I’ll have to write it. No more excuses.
It’s nothing bad as what you’re probably imagining. It’s the stupidity of it that hurts me. You’ll see.
Of course, I got the book, but no, visitors can only bring coins and themselves. No, this has no effect on my parole. You may be right on the name issue in the recent blog, but the reason I put the whole names was so they’d be sure that I’m talking to them. I’ve had several hundred girlfriends, no joke. And most of them know I’ve had so many girlfriends, I don’t want any confusion about who my comments are intended for, you know? Believe me, if any of them read it, they will not be upset. I was quite the heartbreaker, but I rarely left a girl on bad terms. I can run into nearly any girl I’ve dated and she’ll run up and hug me. But it’s your call. (the blog was published with the girls full names)
Guys who support me ask about certain blogs to let someone else read. “On the Ropes” is a big request. Guys are being inspired and I feel good about that. As a matter of fact, included is a letter from a guy who read some of my stuff and wants to know how much it would cost to publish a book of poems. I told him that I’d send you the letter and see, but he never asks in the letter, so perhaps you can send him some standard fees or whatever so he has an idea. He’s a good guy, not some weirdo, you know I would never send a weirdo to you. But his girlfriend is free and I guess she’ll be paying. Hopefully it’s another job for you guys.
You’d be surprised at how many guys want to get something published. A lot of it is trash, but some of it is pretty good. Anyhow, I’m just the messenger.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU FOR THANKING ME FOR THANKING YOU!! I CAN’T HELP BUT THANK YOU! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!
Glad you could enjoy a little R&R. Rest is great. Every night, when I finally lay down, I giggle a sleep delirious giggle of comfort and achievement for having endured the day.
Well, better bring this to a close. As always, I’ll be looking forward to hearing from you!
Love,
