Mark's Solitary World - Part 1, 29 July 2004

I awoke at 6:40 AM when I heard the breakfast cart being wheeled into C-Block, tier one. French toast again, which I get twice a week and it's neither French nor really toast. I had a 15-minute shower at 8:30am and shaved my head, for that low maintenance look.

I tried to take a nap, but too many noises; banging on doors, construction crew, etc.. Getting used to Solitary again is not as easy as I thought since I haven't had my personal property (TV, radio, commissary, books, etc) since I was assaulted on 14th July!

My head hurts, but my bruises are about all gone. Still come difficulty breathing through my broken nose and I still have black out episodes. I will probably see the doctor tomorrow, which will be interesting.

At 12:40pm, an officer came to my door and said I had a visit! It was Giulio Bellucci from Rome, Italy! He and his family were in the USA visiting his wife's family in California. As they were travelling around the west seeing the natural beauty of this county, he made the trip up to see me, driving 11 hours from Zion National Park in Utah.

We had a great visit as we are like brothers. He was wearing a T-shirt about me and an art exhibition of my paintings in Italy! It was good to see him and the visit lasted 2 ½ hours (thanks to Warden Fisher for granting this special visit). Alas! He had to leave and I had to go back to my solitary cell.

I had a supper of beans and turkey ham (I am on a Healthy Choice Diet). It was okay, for I'm used to the food after 21 years. Wish I could have had orzo and cottage cheese and peaches! Hunger is something that never really gets fulfilled in such a place as this. The hunger is the kind that transcends food. It's deeper.

I talked to my neighbour, Smiley, about John Kerry giving his acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention in Boston. Smiley held his TV near the air vent so I could hear some of it; it sounded very good!

I completed reading The Fellowship of the Ring, which I ordered from the library. I read it long ago, but it's more interesting now, since I'm an adult. It's probably better than the movie, as some books seem to be.

I then wrote a couple of letters to fight off boredom and negative thoughts about what IMSI is doing to me. I pledge to do better tomorrow, to be the best man I can be. Haven't got tonight's mail yet, but I hope I get something good! Be sure to notice the change in my address.

Signing off for now
Love, Peace and Namasté
Mark H. Lankford
Address

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