December 20 (Day 54)

It wasn’t a bad day today. I slept all morning and most of the afternoon. We didn’t play any Risk today but Noel and I played a couple games of scrabble. I find scrabble enjoyable. It was a long boring AA meeting tonight. I really am sick of that shit now. How many times do I have to hear the same lines over and over again?

Rob was telling me stories about life in B.C. I’m interested in moving out there now. The weather and the lifestyle appeals to me. And the drug scene too. Somehow, someway, I’m getting off this island. If not Ontario, then B.C. is the place for me. An escape from winter. And from life in a small town. The geographical cure.

I didn’t get my sleeping pill tonight. I hope I don’t have to plead with the nurse to get them again. I’ve been sleeping well ever since they gave them to me.

Only five more days till Christmas, although that means very little to me.

December 21 (Day 55)

Christmas is closing in on us. Just four more days. No problem with medication today. The guard on duty brought it to me late last night. Just a mistake. Jennifer was our nurse today. A fine job she does looking after us.

Brian Smith from the parole office was here today and I spoke to him for a minute. He hasn’t gone over my application yet and so it might be another four or five months before we get a decision. But first I have to secure a place at Talbot House. I’ll have to call Irene tomorrow. I think she likes me. She should be in a good mood anyway at this time of year.

The Legal Aid lawyer called today and told me that my sentence could be appealed but it would cause my parole application to be suspended. I’ll have to call John Davis and ask for advice on this tomorrow. I should also call home since it’s been a while since I’ve called. Anyway, everything is going ok and I’m one day closer to getting out of here.

December 22 (Day 56)

Time went real slow today, but I got some things done. I was talking to Irene at the Talbot House today. I haven’t talked to her since I left for Guelph in September. I enjoy talking with her. It seems like we communicate well. If I was under her care this fall maybe I wouldn’t be in here now. Unfortunately, she told me that I can’t get back into Talbot House for six months. She said she would be calling some staff she knows here. I’m not sure what about but, I know she will help me out any way she can. There is somebody who understands me. She also suggested I take some correspondence courses while I’m in here.

I was talking to John B. about that after she called. There’s nothing available from UPEI or Holland College, but I got addresses for all the schools in Canada from him. So maybe I can find something of interest. But I don’t want to ask my family for help to pay for it.

I made a phone call to my mother today that really pissed me off. She heard that I was smoking on the flight to Guelph and this news has now spread through her family all across the country. She whined about this and that my letter to [my son] was immature and about everything else I do as is usually how it is. I’m very used to my family complaining about everything I do. I wouldn’t even call [my wife] cause I couldn’t trust her that what I say is confidential. I just want to get away from the island. I will never live in Souris again. And I hope that I will never have to spend another night there.

My future is in Vancouver or maybe Toronto. I hope that things come together soon so I can get on with my life.

December 23 (Day 57)

Today was a good day for me. I just finished doing two weeks of assignments in math and English that one of the [guys] has to do to get his grade 12 GED. It only took me about 2 hours. I find the math very stimulating intellectually. My price for doing the work is that he will clean the unit for me tomorrow. We now have to clean the unit once every eight days.

I was at the AA meeting tonight and my father was there. I was surprised to see him. The group from North Lake came in to put on the meeting. I expected him to speak but he didn’t. I guess he just came to see me and check out the jail.

Also, today I wrote eleven letters to colleges, mostly in Vancouver, to get info on writing courses. I want to take some correspondence courses while I am in here. I might as well make the best of my time. And I wrote two letters to the gov’t; one complaining about the air quality and the other asking for a copy of the regulations of the jail and the rights of the prisoner. Letters to the govt. are sealed and are not read by the staff.

[Supervisor] Trainor came to see me and seemed concerned that that I was going over his head. I had a good talk with him about some concerns I have. I question whether they have the right to demand a urine sample from me when I haven’t signed a consent to give one. If a prisoner refuses to give one, he will lose privileges. I want to see the laws regarding this. If no one questions jail policy, the jail will do whatever it pleases. I always question authority. I want to know why I have to do something if I’m told to do it.

I am bothered by the air quality in here. It is very dry and a lot of us are getting headaches. I suppose if nobody complains, nothing would change. So, while I am in here, I will do what I can to make things better for all of us.