I was disappointed last night, 1/25/14, when the phone system broke, which prevented me from calling home. I promised my mother I'd call her at 7:30 p.m.

This morning when I asked the officer in the control booth to let me get a standby call, he said "no."  I didn't grump about it because he normally says yes. I just thanked him anyway and waved goodbye, then went to the cell and waited for them to open the Catholic Chapel for service. 

At 9:00am, the chapel opened. I walked in and grabbed a missal, knelt to pray for all my loved ones, and three minutes later, what happens? They recalled the entire prison to their cells, because of a major incident in another yard.

Oh well, at least I got to pray.

Walking back to the cell,  I started making a mental list of the letters I could get a head-start on writing...

This year is looking up!
 
My life is kind of exciting even though I'm in prison.  I have a lot to be grateful for. I started changing the direction of my life over ten years ago,  and since then I've been reading lots of self-help books, participating in rehab programs, setting goals for myself and striving to accomplish those goals.

I am still celebrating having accomplished a high goal late last year, one I set five years ago: to write a novel.  That novel, Redemption Story,  was published about a month ago.  My head is still spinning.  I hope that its commercial success will change my life. I am filled with anxiety about my novel- well, let me clarify that!  I am anxiously awaiting good news.  I long to hear updates about what's going on with my book, 

I am also anxiously awaiting some news about what's going on with my case, and to have a face-to-face talk with my attorney.  So much I'd like to talk about, and to hear more about:

• Freedom
  
• Lifers found suitable for parole
  
• family and girlfriends
  
• health concerns 
  
• changes in sentencing and rehabilitation laws