Moving Experience. Well, it was a good day, and then just after I posted my last letter to you in the mailbox, the CO called three names, one of which was mine, and said "Roll Up."

I asked what was up and he said he did not know anything more than I was leaving his tier and that it was not an upstate run.

So I stuff all my meager possessions into two mesh laundry bags and go out to the lobby. It turned out I was being moved up one floor to a different cell.

Why, you might ask? No reason that I know of. But this is not a good thing, since if you get moved around, it looks like a setup to the ones you leave, and the place you arrive views you as trouble.

Hmmm, nine days for medical, and now a late night move. Did I get dropped into a cellblock with an impending gang war? That would suck.

Well, I am glad my bars are closed twenty-one hours a day. And I could lock it up for most of the remaining three hours too. I am keeping my radar up and hoping for the best. So I walk all the way down to the 18th of the twenty cells, the gate slides open, and in I go.

Now my trusty, jail issued, Velcro closure, black sneakers start sticking to the floor and the aroma is one of Eau du Piss 2004. The CO would not allow me any cleaning supplies and my asthma was starting to kick in. Calm down, do not stress. So what to do?

As luck would have it, I had just received a nice new 100% cotton washcloth from home. I had also just purchased a cheap one from the Commissary for $0.50. So I sacrificed the $0.50 washcloth, poured some shampoo on the floor, and proceeded to wash the floor using the washcloth. I also cleaned the sink/toilet combo unit.

Now, mind you, it took a while to rinse off all the shampoo, but the cell certainly smelled a little cleaner and I got a sort of good night's sleep. When in prison, one must be able to improvise!

That is why having your own "stuff" is important. Had I not had my shampoo and washcloth, it would not have been until this afternoon when my cell was finally opened for my three hour Rec time that I would have been able to clean my cell.

It turned out that when they called Rec, I was the only one who went out. So I paced the yard. Approximately 45 seconds per lap. Around in circles.
  ¶ 11:49 AM