November 3rd -New Job

Well, today was my first day as the right hand for the woods and I must say it went pretty well in my opinion. Quiet time was actually very quiet, the chores got done without a whole bunch of complaining and arguing. Everyone got on line when they were supposed to and stayed reasonably quiet too. No fights, no trucks, plenty of day room time. Not bad at all. As the day wore on and more people started trickling in from work it started getting a little looser, but you work with what you've got right? The only real problem we had was the door on our tent, which is broken. It will slam if you don't catch it, and there are bunks with people sleeping in them right next to the broken door. So we have a rule about not slamming the door, which is hard for the new people to remember.

One crummy thing about today is that it is Ryan R.'s last day here. Over the time I have been here Ryan and I have connected like best friends. He's like my partner here at the farm. We work out together, hang out together, and I really don't know how tomorrow is going to be without him here. I feel stoked that my good buddy gets to go home and be with his family and all but I also selfishly wish he wasn't going home. I am just doing everything I can to stay positive. Within the next week the rest of the people I spend time with here will be going home too. It isn't easy being the guy that has to be here till next year.

On a more positive note, everyone in the tent is saying that the devotional and "mini-sermon" that I do each night has been getting progressively better over the week or so since I have been doing it. Which makes me feel good of course. As long as it glorifies God and reaches somebody, anybody in our tent, then I am doing something right, and hopefully pleasing to God as well.

I just finished reading "Silence of the Lambs" and am starting "The Santaroga Barrier" by Frank Herbert. Some other inmates have said it is a pretty good Sci-fi book.

I still encourage anyone who reads my blog to write to me if you get the chance. Thanks to everyone who has already written. To those who haven't, I guess don't sweat it. It won't change the way I care about you, or the way I will be there for you if you are ever in a situation similar to mine where you need the support of your friends. Please write back and send pictures if you can. And to my buddy Ryan, if you end up reading this, know I love you and am praying for you, and hope more than anything that you are doing great out there. I will see ya'll as soon as I can! That's all for now.