From Dragonfly: Entertainment Options

So, what do us inmates do when we are not working, standing in pill line, or in our rooms sleeping or awaiting count? Every facility is different, but here there are some options. First, there is indoor rec. At indoor rec, they have pool tables, games, work out equipment, aerobic and yoga type classes, craft classes, opportunities to order your own craft supplies, cd's to listen to, and some inmate programs (like weight loss). Most nights, the facility is packed with people playing cards, pool, and attending classes. I ordered some craft supplies from indoor rec and should receive the package in about 45-60 days from now. Nothing happens fast. I want to design my own cards to send out.

Another option is the outdoor rec center. There, inmates can borrow basketballs, softballs and mitts, outdoor yoga/stretching mats, walk the track, play on a softball league (I hear that there will be volleyball and soccer leagues as well), horse shoes, and more outdoor style items. The softball league is SUPER popular here, with games not only against different housing units and teams by inmates, but also an outside team comes once in a while and plays the all-star players. At big games, about half the inmates are either playing or watching. The heat and sun have kept me away (because my medication makes me very sensitive to the sun).

Third, there is this email room - TruLinks. TruLinks is a timed time on the messaging service. It is not really email, as nothing can be attached and every message is monitored ("hello" to whomever is monitoring this message). This is true for emails coming in or going out. However, each inmate can spend approximately 1 hour on TruLinks if they have funds (5 cents/min) and time.

Fourth, the compound yard is quite popular. There is an area with covered picnic style tables, tables that are not covered, and numerous benches. As long is it is not "inmate recall" or bad weather, the outdoor space is usually filled with women talking, laughing, brushing/braiding hair, avoiding bird droppings, checking out women walking by, fighting, and more. I only sit outside when I have to wait for the unit doors to be unlocked.

The libraries are another option. There is a room that has the law library (all computerized) and the regular library. We can check out up to 4 books at a time. Most of the titles are older, but they do receive newer titles now and then. We cannot donate the books we receive from the outside and finish reading, which is a bummer. The law library computers offer DOP policies and the U.S. code and decisions of the federal courts. They do not have state court/law information. That's difficult for some, as they have state charges pending and cannot conduct any research on their issues at times. Since we have access to cases, anyone here who ever appealed their case is free reign to read about, so people will know exactly their crimes and punishment. There is also a Chapel library. There are more books for check-out there - they all have some religious undertones and there is fiction and non-fiction available. None of the libraries are large, but an inmate would have a lot of reading options before running out of books to consider. Reading is my favorite activity that I do A LOT!!!

Religious Services also offers other options, in addition to the library. They have a lot of videos, dvd's, and cd's (all religiously based) for inmates to check-out and watch on one of several screen options. There are cubbies, where an inmate must wear headphones to hear their movie - meant for one watcher at a time. There are also two rooms that sometimes are available, where several people can sit together and watch a movie on a larger television with sound. I've watched one movie here so far. However, since it is the Jewish Holidays, I may check-out Yent'l (a favorite of mine) for a 2 hour break in my day. On some Sundays, Religious Services airs one of their movies in the chapel for inmates to watch. This institution does not offer regular "movie nights" like many other facilities do.

In the Unit, there are 6 televisions. Four require radios and headphones to hear and two are in smallish rooms with sound available. One room is only for sports/news. People "sign up" to be in charge of a television on some day at some time. I have not done so yet. However, a group of us wants to watch "Big Bang Theory," so we are hoping that one of us can get close enough in line to get a Thursday night television for a couple hours. Yesterday was the first time, ever, that I watched television in my unit. I watched a little bit of a cheesy Lifetime movie and then watched the Wisconsin/Arizona State football game with Freckles. I realized that I need to get my school football schedule to see when I may be able to watch the games on ESPN or ESPN2. It would be nice to have a little bit of home for a short while here. Maybe I'll see someone in the stands I know!

Other than the above options, a lot of people spend time napping, writing, doing their crafts (needle point, knitting, crocheting, card designing, and more). Others do things they should not (against the rules). I've seen people getting their haircut in the unit (it is only allowed in the cosmo school), doing tattoos in very unsafe ways (needle and ink), engaging in relationship activities, and more. Some people go in and out of the SHU quite a lot due to their need to go against the rules. In the SHU, you lose access to nearly all activities.

I'm sure I've missed some things on this listing, but it's what I could come up with this morning. Days that start before 6am are tough on my thinking! I miss sleeping in!!! However, when I am not sleeping, at least there are "some" options for me to be busy (even if I don't take advantage of every option). For me, I do a lot of low-key things and try to stay away from crowds or trouble. I figure it is my best option for getting out of here the quickest way possible.