A reminder that life is not fair. Well another day and breakfast has been served. Today I received an extra cup of pineapple juice. Life is good.

The tier rep, who happens to be in the cell next to mine, asked me if I was staying awake. I said yes, and he asked me to wake him at 9:00 AM. I said okay, and he handed me an extra package of Cheerios!

It is around 7:00 AM now I think, although I have no direct view of a clock. But I know the shift change is at 7:00 AM and a new CO just walked by.

About the tier reps: being the tier rep puts you in the enviable position of giving out the food. Any extras (and there are always extras) are yours to keep!

The way it works around here is the juice comes in two or three half-gallon containers each day. The tier rep and the assistant tier rep each take one container, and the third one is doled out to those few people that are actually awake.

That is one reason I get up each morning at 5:30 or 6:00 AM, for a half cup of juice. Sometimes like today I even get some extra. Ah, the little things in life.

As I have written before, life is not fair and the way food is passed out here is a prime example. Unlike Club Fed where staff constantly supervises the distribution of food, here it is all done by your fellow inmates.

If one manages to piss off the tier rep or is viewed as a "weakling", well getting your proper portion could be problematic. It is not nice to screw with the tier rep!

Sunday night dinner was baked chicken. The thigh and leg I got was about two times the size served at club Fed. Rounding out the meal was a scoop of mashed potatoes, some sliced baked carrots, and a fig fruit bar for desert. I could get used to this room service.

I have to slow down or I will gain all the weight I have been fighting to keep off. But I have to acknowledge that two out of two meals were great. I am sure this will not last. Hot dogs and a few mystery meat meals are to follow, but that is okay. I can easily skip those for the good ones.

Well, it is now Monday, Okay, so today's lunch was not a winner. It was a breaded mystery meat patty, mixed vegetables, and peas.

We had just come back from Rec, which occurs in a small yard, but it is satisyfing enough just to be able to walk outside walk and breath some fresh air. So having revved up my metabolism, the lunch "tasted" great.

Which brings up the old joke: What is the prize for guessing the contents of a mystery meat patty?
Answer: The antidote!

On a more serious note: I realize this is the time of year your Dad died, and I guess that thought always tempers the joy of the holidays. I know your Dad would be proud of your parenting and probably smiles each time one of your sons drives you crazy.

I do not remember a specific time, but I do have this general picture of the times your Dad would be slightly pissed at you for some minor chore or something you failed to do, and then he would tell me how much he loved you but sometimes you drove him crazy!

I have said this before and I guess it bears repeating here: I will always remember the times your Dad treated me as a son. You were blessed to have him around a lot more than I had my Dad, and I know his love is alive inside you and the time and effort you spend on your sons. They are truly blessed to have you as their Dad!

Take care of your family, I know you do, and live each day to the fullest. Celebrate life!
  ¶ 11:39 PM