My two-pronged approach to the blog. I thought I would separate out my daily whining and bitching and use this page to directly answer your letter.

I just came in from outside. I spent the full one and a half hours walking. The snow had just started falling when we got out, and by time we went in there was a pretty good layer; I would say at least one inch.

Yes, I did get your letter on Friday. The books actually arrived Thursday! Now that is fast! While I have not found any limit on books, I am sure that ten would be good and will save you some time and money. They will forward all packages so you will not ever have any returns, unless I happen to win release, which is not likely anytime in the next four months (more on that later).

Somewhere down the line, I think your "refused" books will be auctioned off in some sort of US Postal Service unclaimed property auction. The same goes for parcel post. We had a bunch of inmate's mail out large ceramic stuff at $30 to $40 postage each, only to have them returned to the post office with return postage due. The inmates each had to pay another $30 or so to get their package back, and then repackage and pay the additional $30 postage back out!

I do not know when I am going to be moved. On one hand I would love to get more settled soon and get on with music, typewriter, etc., but in truth, I have no control over it. Some guys have been here for three months. Then again, I am rapidly approaching one month already. So who knows?

I would only travel Monday to Friday, but the bad news is if they decide to ship me out on a Monday, I would be "on the draft" as they call it starting Friday afternoon. That essentially makes me incommunicado, so be sure you call to confirm I am OK to visit on Sunday.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to call you if I am moving. I think I might be able to get one last letter out, but even that is not for sure. They will forward all mail, so if I move, only the visitation would be an issue. Again, just call the day before and they will confirm if that is OK.

My very dry mouth waters at the thought of strapping on some skis. but $50 lift tickets! Damn, that’s 25% to 33% of my currently monthly income!

What about my two-pronged approach to the blog:
a) Letters to you for your eyes only? No typing just hold for latter and I will type.
b) Specific blog postings. I will draft one, make a second corrected copy neatly, and those you can farm out for typing.

The purpose is to enable us to maintain a pathway of communication totally separate from the blog and put the onus on me to put more effort into writing, both in terms of neatness and correctness, and to enable you to have less work.

Even if you think the day-to-day stuff is good for the blog, I can always rewrite stuff if you think a particular personal letter merits posting. Just send it back to me with your comments.

I do want to be more responsible for my writing. It is too easy for me to be lazy and just scribble away. While this might work to get my unedited feelings out and clearly gives you a more total picture of how and why I might be thinking and feeling a certain way, I am not sure this is always the best stuff for the blog.

Let me know if any of this makes sense.  ¶ 7:09 AM