November 2019: A good month. First, even though my celly was really difficult and I could have requested a move, I was cautious. Better the devil you know than the one you don’t I suppose. So, it was an amazing day when I got early approval for, and moved into, a single cell - there are very few of them (5’5” x 7'5”, toilet, sink, skinny bed, and shelf desk included). Hallelujah! I can’t tell you what a great day that was. I even received a new foam mattress not long after. So, now I at least have my own little space.
The second big thing that happened in November is that I got a new job. I was working as an english tutor but didn’t like the environment because no one really paid attention - they're required to be there if they didn’t graduate from high school. I’ve seen movies where a teacher inspires hard-assed students into motivation but it seems my strengths must lie elsewhere.
I was exploring other options and was just about to move somewhere else when through a series of twists and turns I was unexpectedly offered the job I had wanted from the start: the Education Program Clerk. So now I help administrate students and have my own little office. It doesn’t have a window but it has a little plant and a radio which picks up a few static-free stations I like. Pretty cool.
December 2019: One of the perks of working in the education department is that between terms you get time off. December is the longest (3 weeks) and so I ordered a TV to celebrate (13”, no speakers, head-phone jack, see-through plastic so you can’t hide anything in it). I ended up getting achy-body, shivering-cold sick for a few weeks and got to know my remote control pretty well.
During that time I also got approved for medical showers, for my STILL healing lower-back injury. I can go on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 14:45. They aren’t nearly as busy as the standard shower times which makes it so much nicer: no lines, there’s space to sit when changing, and you can take your time showering. They’re issued for four months at a time but when I asked an officer to check when mine expires he said, “It seems like someone forgot to fill that in.” So I might get them for a while longer. Fingers crossed!
January 2020: In October I applied for college and on January 3rd was one of 20 people to be accepted. It’s a two year associates degree and classes started the following week. Terms are about eleven weeks long and I was enrolled in two classes for the first one.
I took WR121: The College Essay and M60: Introductory Algebra. They force everyone to start the math course there, so I’d seen it all in high school, but it was good to review. I quite enjoyed it. The writing class was also pretty fun. We don’t have internet and only have access to computers for a few hours a week - which made writing a challenge - but it forced me to work with an outline which is good. I'm studying to keep my mind awake while I’m in here, hopefully even sharpen it.
February 2020: Busy. Work from Mon - Thurs (7:00 - 15:00). Class four times a week: Wed and Thurs (18:00 - 20:00); Sat and Sun (12:30 - 15:15). Club meetings three times a month (18:00 - 20:00). Spiritual / Religious services 1 - 2 times a week (18:00 - 20:00). Exercise 3 - 4 times a week approx 1 hr. Homework/studying approx 1 1/2 hrs per day. Two or three 2-3 hr visits per week (nice!)…. But jeepers creepers, when is a guy supposed to watch TV? (ha ha).
March 2020: For the first two weeks, a repeat of Jan and Feb. Then the term ended and I got two A’s. Just saying… might be a genius. And then the Corona lock down hit. Although most of the jobs in here (kitchen, laundry, metal shop, wood shop, cleaning, etc.) did not get effected, a local community college runs the education department and since they are categorized as contractors were no longer allowed to come in. This affected both my job and college obligations leaving me free to do as I please (in my room). My plan was to take the first week as a total holiday after the busy term and then get productive again.
April 2020: I’ve never had TV and now I have about 85 channels. So, instead of one, I’ve taken six weeks of total holiday. Yikes. Also, I know it’s not a long term winner but I’ve got to say, sleeping in all the way until you wake up naturally (if shouting people don’t wake you up first) is quite nice. Ha!
Corona has shut down all our visits, clubs, and services. I literally have zero obligations at present, other than those to myself, which currently consist of going to yards to make phone calls, showering, doing my exercises, writing letters, and aspiring to read and journal. So I’ve basically been a couch potato.
But it’s been fun watching all sorts of shows I’ve heard about over the years - like the Bachelor (he should have chosen HannaAnn from the start). I probably won’t watch a lot of them again but I do have some favorites: Survivor Season 40, American Idol (go Just Sam!), Game of Thrones, Below Deck Sailing Yacht, Naked and Afraid, and my favorite for re-runs, Shark Tank (Mr. Wonderful, Barbara, and Laurie are my favorites).
Covid 19: When I think about it getting someone close to me, things really come into perspective. I’m forcing myself to look straight at that because gratitude for things I do have takes focus. Things like family and the chance to be alive today.
I hope you are well and would love to hear from you!
Take care and thanks for spending time with me.
Lots of love,
Barrett Preston Busschau.
Check out my next blog: I’m Going Back To School! Read my college application letter.
Wow Barrett it’s so interesting reading about your life. Sure is busy. So glad u have your own ‘room’. The prison guards seem to like you and that is good for you as they give u concessions such as having decent times in which to shower etc. This is actually the first time that we are ‘blogging’ have never used it before so hopefully u receive our ‘blog’ haha. We don’t use fb either as it’s pretty time consuming and so we just stick with Iphone, Ipad or FaceTime. Uncle Jack and I are doing well, keeping busy with legal work and our other projects and passions. We love Australia, have been here 15 years now, best thing we ever…