It started yesterday, but caught up with me today. A slightly sore throat developed into a ruby red one coupled with a stuffy nose. Blech! I hate being sick, especially during the holidays. Last year I was really sick on Christmas. I couldn't even eat the big meal or the orange they gave us. That was the only fresh fruit I got all year and I had to give it up. Later that day I puked out the little bit of food that I did eat.
I don't think it will be as bad this time around. My throat feels like a mouse is trying to chew its way out, but my stomach isn't acting up at all. It hurts on the way down but I can still eat food and I make sure to drink a lot of fluids. I want this bug to be gone as fast as I can. At least it waited 'til after the Christmas meal to hit. And I have bowl games to keep me entertained as I lie in agony. Ugh... I hate being sick.
I got a kind of wake up call today. My parents came to visit and asked me a "what if" question that wasn't crazy, but their answers compared to mine made me realize how much I think the outside is different than here. The question (prompted by a comment someone made to them recently) was "How badly would it affect the nation if it came out that Obama was actually a Muslim?" (Disclaimer: No one in my family actually thinks that Obama is a Muslim.)
I said that it probably wouldn't affect things much because I think most people would agree with me that leadership is not an ability that one faith can claim as their own. I think America has become a nation of postmodern secularism and is far more tolerant than even thirty years ago. Though there was some controversy about JFK's Catholic beliefs, he turned out to be a very good leader.If a Muslim or someone of any other faith were elected, I expect that they would be just as good a leader for America as their predecessors.
My parents said they would not see a problem with it personally but would expect the nation to turn against Obama. They think the Christian mindset is still the strong majority and even those who don't ascribe to the faith of Christianity still think that moral code is better. They think it would tear the nation which is already terribly fractured.
I guess I hoped that the American public would not be as prejudiced toward others as are the guys I live with. I try to be positive about the world I'm going back to so that I stay motivated while I'm still here. My parents' response made me kind of jaded toward the attitudes of the public I'm headed home to when I get out.I'm around guys all day who say the most ignorantly stereotypical things and it is discouraging to think that people outside are not much different.
Merry Christmas! My Christmas certainly isn't what I would like it to be - locked up away from family - but this year is far easier than last year. I think I'm more settled in than I was last year and also have more distractions around me. Last year the TV had lots of Christmas commercials and specials, but this year I haven't seen quite so much. The only Christmas movies we watched in my dorm were "Elf" and "A Christmas Story". For me, less movies = less stress.
Today we enjoyed small portions of a good meal. We had brisket, chicken, spaghetti casserole, biscuits, terrible cole slaw, marble cake, sweet potato pie, and celery. It was about half the amount I got last year at my former unit but it sure was yummy. The only stuff I din;t finish was the cole slaw and celery.
The real thing that kept my spirits high was the support of all the people who have sent letters, books, magazines, cards, and prayers of encouragement. Thanks to all of you for being the community of Christ at work. May God bless and keep all of you these holidays and in this new year.
College bowl season is upon us! The first few bowls were played last weekend, but, in my opinion, tonight is when it really kicked off. Going into tonight's game between TCU and Boise State are two of the top three teams not involved in the championship bowls, one of which is undefeated. This Poinsettia Bowl was my most anticipated game other than the national championship. I really wanted my hometown team, TCU, to win and show that their football program should be taken seriously.
To make the bowl season a little more entertaining, I set up a bowl game pick-em with fifteen games that guys entered for a postage stamp per pick-em ticket. Despite a few guys' predictions that nobody would get in, I was able to get twenty-three tickets sold for a nice little jackpot for the winner. These next couple of weeks should be filled with excitement as people cheer for their picks instead of just arbitrarily choosing a team. It also ensures that more college football gets watched in my dorm - a real plus.
I got back from Bible study tonight to see TCU down 13-0 five minutes before the half. Apparently, my Horned Frogs looked pretty ugly before I came in. Luckily, the Frogs led a charge down field just before halftime to cut Boise State's lead to six. The second half saw the Frogs do what they do best - defense - and take the lead 17-13. The rest of the game was almost all TCU as Boise State managed to get only a field goal. Two interceptions by the Frogs, one as the final seconds ticked away, insured a TCU win and the longest winning streak in bowl games (4) in TCU history. A perfect way to start the end of the season.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
As part of the Bible Study process to restoring joy, we are supposed to share last week's tally with someone that we trust.That is something that's hard to come by in here. I sent a request to the chaplain to visit with him about my past, but I haven't heard back from him except for an afternoon that he called me down to his office just before count time, then left for a meeting.
I have a friend here, Will, that I 've been helping out. We were bunk mates over the summer and we've been in many of the same classes. We have talked about helping each other after we get out, maybe sharing an apartment or house. We're both in the Bible study so I figured we could trade histories with each other, seeing as we could be living with each other down the road.
Talking about our histories is one thing that most everyone here stays away from. There are any number of seedy guys who will use anything they learn about you to bring you down, so the level of trust that most guys have for anyone is pretty low. I've only shared my past with one other person and he was a fellow Christian that was about to leave to go home.
Needless to say, it took a bit if time to work up the courage to share such personal stuff as my history. Of anyone here at this unit, I trust Will more than anyone. After I told him about everything, he expressed solidarity, just as I did with him. I think knowing each othere's past will allow us to be a better encouragement to each other in the future. Of course, we can always us more of that.
Today I had my last test in Historical Geology before the final tomorrow. The way the instructor runs the grades is that we take five tests and the lowest grade gets dropped, then we take the final. I've scored 100's on everything so far, so I don't need this lab practical at all. I studied for it anyway.
Once I got to class I just filled out the answer sheet with A's and B's to correspond to the number of the question (i.e., 12a and 12b). I made sure to fill out the bonus and inspect every fossil and make a guess in my head. I only got three or four wrong and missed half the bonus. My answer sheet was scored and I received a 34; with the six bonus points, a 40.The instructor let out a chuckle. I assured him I would study harder for the final.
I also had my Cultural Anthropology final today. It was over only the last two chapters we covered, so it was pretty easy. I didn't get to see my score before I left, but I'm confident that I did well. I'm looking forward to taking the World Religions class with the same instructor in January.
I've been going to a Bible study on Tuesday nights called Restoring Joy. It's a twelve-step program for facing past hurts and gaining peace. I feel like I've already worked through my hurts, even those I've caused others, and don't have much to contribute to the discussions. I 've been praying for guidance on whether to continue or not. The teacher suggested that I wait until after tonight's session on tallying the good and bad events of our pasts and handing them over to God.
Like I said, I think I've put the past behind me, so this tally step isn't much for me. Just a way of jotting down the process I've been through. I was able to give some input from my own experiences. I don't know if I was actually helpful or not. I hope God uses this class to mend some of the guys and that I will learn or be used for some cool stuff. I think I will stick it out to watch Him work.
The shower crew has only gone to work once this week and we've been told that we won't work for the rest of the week. The supply officer that makes sure all of the cleaning supplies are stocked was planning to transfer to another unit later this month and a replacement was scheduled to start when the first one left. Unfortunately, the original supply officer left a few weeks early, which means no cleaning chemicals for the shower crew. Now the dorm janitors will have to work a little harder and clean the showers with everything else in the dorm. And the shower crew gets a chance vacation.
In other news, I still haven't heard back about the "failure to obey a direct order" case. I think what happened is that the ranking officer saw how ridiculous the case was and just threw it out. At least I hope that's the case.
Here in prison we are issued two sets of clothes and are able to trade in one set each day for a clean set. Because many of us want to dress decently for visits and for school, one of the sets is comprised of a shirt and pair of pants that is fairly new, having gone through only one or two washes. These whites are far better than the dingy brown stuff we usually use.
This morning when I went to exchange my dirty clothes, I was wearing my whites like I have since I got them in May. As I was walking away from the window, the laundry captain called me back and asked me to turn around. Then he asked me to take off my shirt and leave it behind. Apparently, he thought it was too white. So now I don't have a nice shirt for when my family comes to see me. I really didn't see any reason for the captain to take my shirt- no tears or holes, no alterations of any kind. I thinb sometimes that just mess with us for their own pleasure.
We had our second of three exams in Anthropology today. As I walked out to the education building I realized I had forgotten about it all weekend. I barely got a chance to look over my notes before going into the classroom. I didn't expect to ace this one like my other exams this session.
I sat down at my desk waiting for the exam to be passed out while information was flying through my head in a final attempt to get organized. When I received my exam, I whipped through it with no problems at all. Every answer seemed obvious to me. About twenty minutes later I turned it in.
By the end of class we had our tests graded and handed back. I had aced this one. Even without studying beforehand, I scored a 100. These classes just don't seem to be taught on a college level. It seems more like extended high school. Is this really preparing me for a challenging university or career in the future?
The chaplain started a new Bible study this evening called Restoring Joy. It's a twelve-step program to recovering peace and putting hurts behind you by looking at the Beatitudes and a few more of Jesus' teachings.
Tonight we got way off subject a few times, but I think some guys still learned even from the rabbit trails. A few of the guys asked some very elementary questions and others that were more plainly misguided. I hope this class gives them a more solid foundation on which to place their faith and reveals to them a God with whom they really would want a relationship.
The subject matter tonight was a lot of milk for me. I'm sure I will get a new perspective on who I am (or at least receive a good reminder) but I think the class is tailored to young Christians. I pray that everyone taking part fall deeper in love with the only God who loves us.
It started yesterday, but caught up with me today. A slightly sore throat developed into a ruby red one coupled with a stuffy nose. Blech! I hate being sick, especially during the holidays. Last year I was really sick on Christmas. I couldn't even eat the big meal or the orange they gave us. That was the only fresh fruit I got all year and I had to give it up. Later that day I puked out the little bit of food that I did eat.
