I apologize for my lack of new entries. I have not had the desire to write down anything for a long time. To make up some of the missing entries, I'll do my best to bring you up to the present with a summary of events.
Just after Ereman quit working in the library, a "mysterious tip" accuse me of establishing a relationship with my boss. A few weeks after a scare form one of the sergeants, that situation, as ridiculous as it was, was diffused. I spent a week working alone until I got a new coworker who turned out to be more security than worker. I don't mind, but it leaves me busy during the day and mentally exhausted in the evening. The new coworker received an FI-1 parole answer not long ago, which means he could go home any day.
I started and completed a "contract job" for the kitchen captain. He had me help streamline the kitchen by reformatting the Excel stuff they had been using. It was awesome to be problem -solving on a computer again. I'm hoping he needs more work done so I can use my strengths again.
The unit had a volleyball tournament in which my team was in and out in the first round. Woohoo! Luckily, we are having a soccer tournament soon. Soccer has been my sport since age 8, so I'm far more comfortable with a ball at my feet. I was just drafted in the first round and our team looks decent, a few guys that can really pass the ball around.
In mid-May, I had a strange physical occurrence. My right field of vision went out in both eyes for about an hour, followed by a terrible headache that stayed with me for eight hours. I went to the infirmary and they referred me to Galveston, a trip I was unwilling to make for such an infrequent aberrance. I think it was a buildup of stress and a bit of dehydration taking its toll on me, but I've been feeling great recently.
Because of the stress, I backed off from the choir for a few weeks. That freed me up a couple of more nights for me to chill and spend time with God reading and praying. Last week was my first back with the choir and with the egoism and dictatorial attitudes I've seen, I'm tempted to step away again. However, I think right now God wants me to be right there.
And that's the whirlwind recap. Hope you enjoyed (though probably not as much as the full entries.) Thanks for your prayers and support.
Thump-thump. Thump. Thump-thump-thump.
I woke up and thought something was caught in the fan that was brought into the dorm. The noise stopped and I didn't see anything so I rolled over.
"Somebody help me hold him up! Cut him down! Cut him down!"
Thinking there was a fight, I looked up and saw a haunting picture: my co-worker and bunkmate was dangling unconsciously from the ceiling by a noose with his head lolled to one side. Tex was trying to hold him up while Knox grabbed a razor blade to cut the sheet that was holding the guy up. I didn't fully realize what was going on until he was down and dragged into the day room and guys were beating on the door to get an officer. I was in shock, frozen.
The guy revived on his own and went into seizures right before the guards showed up. As the guy was making horrible wheezing sounds and thrashing on the floor, the guards thought the seizure was the whole story until we showed them the sheet. I was on my bunk, trembling and praying fervently.
The guy was taken to the hospital and will probably end up at the state mental hospital with at least a little brain damage from lack of blood and air for so long. I don't have a clue why he did it. We were playing dominoes and laughing earlier, and had eaten a prison pizza together just hours earlier. Nothing seemed wrong.
He left a note wrapped around a picture of his four daughters saying "I let them down."
That had to have been one of the scariest nights I've had. I haven't been to sleep yet and can't get the images out of my head. All I can do is pray for him, his family, the guards, the medical personnel, and us in the dorm.
~ God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world ~ C. S. Lewis
Today I went to the infirmary to see if I could get my retainer fixed. The false tooth that was attached to the retainer broke off two days ago. All that happened was a referral to the dentist on Friday and an hour-long wait. I hope things will be fixed soon because my teeth look silly and will start crowding soon.
One thing is for sure: the food here is better than anywhere else so far. It actually looks and tastes like (or at least close to) what the menu says it is. Everywhere else the food has been bland or nauseating.Because I didn't do anything during the day except read and sleep, I went to volleyball at rec tonight. It will be a while before I get used to playing again, that's for sure. At least I'm not absolutely terrible.
I'm really looking forward to mail catching up with me, though. I really need some paper to reply to people. Hopefully, I'll be able to go to commissary this week so I can restock. I didn't realize how much I needed the constant encouragement of friends, family, and C.. I'm so blessed to have so much support.
