Here’s something interesting I didn’t know until I got here. It’s called the ‘2 for 1’ rule. This is how it works: If you run out of something and you really want it right now, don’t want to wait the 7-14 days for it to be delivered from the commissary, you could go to another inmate and ask her to ‘two for one it’. This means she gives you one now (maybe a container of shampoo, say) and you pay her back with two containers of shampoo when your order arrives. Do the math! Yes, that is 100% interest! Crazy, but Bank of America doesn’t have a branch here so…it’s what’s done. There are girls who run their own little store. They keep at least one of most items available from commissary and they just 2 for 1 whatever you need! They do a brisk business because girls are always running out of life’s necessities- like coffee and cigarettes. Instant gratification comes at a steep price.
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Secret Santa – Wrapped Up
The Secret Santa project went pretty great- the bags we put together were amazing- stuffed full! Someone even made little individualized cards to go with each one. My friends and I delivered them on Christmas Eve and all the recipients were so excited. Some even cried. I know first hand what it meant to them. When I first got to Cruz I had nothing to even wash my hair with and I would have given anything for a package of just the basics. But they got lots of yummy goodies too for those times you really need a snack. It was fun to see how happy they all were. I did get a little bit of blow-back when a couple of girls nosed around until they found out who’d put the whole thing together and then came to my door demanding to know why they didn’t get one! Sigh. I had to diffuse that situation, but on the whole the Secret Santa project was a good thing, so worth the money and effort. Thanks to everyone on the outside and inside who helped out!
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Santa Cruz Gots Talent!
So Santa Cruz yard put on a talent show. I’d seen the fliers up for a couple of weeks (yes, with the word ‘gots’ in big letters!) and I wasn’t sure quite what to expect. But a couple of my tutoring students were performing so, of course, I was in the front row the night of the show. There were the usual karaoke numbers, but then one of my students sang a song she wrote herself- acapella! Not only does that take some serious guts, but she totally nailed it.
Continue ReadingCottage Industries – Prison Style
FYI, there are jobs available in prison. However, not everyone is fortunate enough to have one and even if you do, the little you earn doesn’t go very far toward buying decent shampoo, lotion if your skin is dry and flaky or a can of tuna to supplement the less than tasty cafeteria food. So, the women come up with creative ways to earn a little extra cash. Doing laundry is a popular one but it’s also very time consuming since it has to be done the old-fashioned way (see the previous blog post from September 1st It’s The Little Things). Laundry services run around $3 a pop. Then there are women who scrub our white tennis shoes (the only color available by the way) using a toothbrush and a denture tab so they look brand new, a constant necessity since we live in the desert, and have to walk through brown dirt and dust every day. The charge for that is usually about $2.00. Or you can pay a ‘housekeeper’ to come and clean your cell every day, every other day or just on weekends. This service includes wiping down all the shelves, scrubbing the sink and floors and emptying the trash. But don’t let the cops catch you- it’s a ticket if you are found in someone else’s cell, even with their permission! There are some who cut and style hair, mend torn clothes, and on an even more creative level, I know a woman who sketches gorgeous
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Perryville pests- the birds and the bees…and the bugs
We have lots of birds that hang around here but not the kind you’d see in a Mary Poppins movie- think Alfred Hitchcock instead! These aren’t afraid of people at all- in fact, they’re so bold they come to grab food right out of our hand! If that doesn’t sound a little scary it gets worse. Many of these unfortunate critters are…deformed! The women come outside to comb their hair and the birds hopping around, scavenging for food end up with long strands of hair wrapped around their feet or neck or wings. With no way to get it off. Or they land on the razor wire on the top of the walls and fences and slice off toes or entire feet. Incredibly grotesque and frankly disturbing!
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It’s the little things…
Life on Cruz yard is a bit like life must have been in the 1800’s. A blast from the past you could say. Many of the modern conveniences I took for granted are non-existent here. Take the simple task of doing laundry for example. I remember complaining when my entire efforts consisted of stuffing my clothes in the machine, pouring in the laundry soap and pushing a button!
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