The Mystery of the Hot Pot. This just in: I got not one but two envelopes from Mom, both postmarked the same date. One letter was dated five days earlier and the other was "a corrected copy" dated the same day as the postmark. Both handwritten by Mom, and contain basically the same info.

The mystery of the hot pot has been solved. They had brought me a ceramic one (anything made of a glass-like substance is a definite no-no in any prison) that was actually brought to the post office the day they received my letter to not send one. Dad went back to the post office and got the package back.

Another miscommunication since I was very specific that the Russell Hobbs pot was the only to get. Good thing, I would not have been allowed to get it anyhow. If you would go ahead and order the Russell Hobbs pot you sent me the fact sheet on that would be GREAT!

Yes, there is still a question of if they will let it in, but at this point it is worth a shot. The clear plastic pot would not do any cooking at all and can not handle things like sauce, etc.

I would say there is a fifty-fifty chance the pot will be allowed in. Even if it is initially refused, at that point I can appeal to a higher authority, as it were, to see if that person reads the memo the same way I do.

By the way, according to a few of the other inmates here they will accept packages sent via United Parcel or Fed Ex. Apparently the companies all have the ability to translate a PO address to a street number. This means you do not have to specify they send the pot via US Post Office. In addition, this will give the ability to prove when it is received.

Clear? I hope so.  ¶ 12:46 PM