This is my first weekend in Venus and since my folks are down in Galveston for my brother's birthday, they invited some friends to come here to see me. I think my parents were initially met with shock when the friends heard I was so close, then exuberance when they found out they were able to see me so soon.

At all my other units, except Goodman in Jasper, only family was allowed contact visits. All friends could only visit from behind tempered glass windows talking through a phone. So imagine our surprise when we met today when we were able to hug before sitting down at a table across from each other. The wife even sat beside me for a few minutes until a guard came by and told the wife to move to the other side of the table. Throughout our conversation I received slaps on the arm just because it was possible. What a great surprise to learn that all visits are contact. It's so much nicer to talk face-to-face instead of having a glare in the way.

Many of the staff here have said that they are committed to rehabilitation, since this is one last leg before going home. I heard something similar upon my arrival in San Saba, so I was a bit skeptical here. From what I have seen so far, they are actually serious here. I'm going to try to take advantage of any good opportunities allowed so I can cast off the institutional dross I have collected.