went to see Public Enemies...

which was interesting, loud, violent and very close to history of the time that I have read. I was told to stop whispering to my date, so I did. we went out to dinner after, trying to save the restaurant business one place at a time. I did have trouble identifying the Public Enemy some times, if there had been some water boarding I would have known which were the bad guys, but then maybe almost everyone one was, look at the number of people protecting us now and how safe life is... or do something more interesting like art or literature with the time you save.

She said I needed a haircut, twice... I can take the

hint, get out of the house and do something while she attacks her procrastination piles (the whole works - laundry, windows, plants, rugs, garage cleaning, etc.). So I leave to drop off my prescriptions for later pickup, go shopping for Bonnie and Clyde and The Getaway (McQueen and McGraw) DVDs (no joy, only current stuff on Base Exchange shelves). I am reading The Dillnger Days by John Toland (required reading before watching Johnnie Depp?).

from page 30 and a Lamm bank robbery:
"As the robbers were getting into the car, the driver, an ex-rumrunner with a hawklike nose, saw a man carrying a shotgun walk toward the bank. It was the local barber, one of the thousands of Indiana vigilantes organized to help local police combat the increasing bank holdups, who had been sitting in one of his chairs watching a friend follow the robbers into the bank. When this friend, a very methodical man, didn't reappear and continue as usual to the post office for his morning mail, the barber became puzzled, then suspicious."

Lovely, now I know why Indiana gunnies rock - precedent! shotgun armed barbers! Okay, it was in 1930 before the government started snipping manly body parts away.

I did buy three DVDs, one a Sexy Road trip (on motorcycles, a B minus movie?), one Jodie Foster proves guns are bad "The Brave One"?, and one for my war collection "Taking Chance" I don't get HBO for lots of reasons, but this one is a keeper.

I ran into a couple from my church at the Exchange, I ran into one of the McNeil Island post office workers in the Commissary and the bagger at the Commissary was from Orofino, Idaho, where I stayed while watching the Boomershoot (says he hasn't been back in years - another retired service person - enlist and see the world and have no home to go back to, the towns all shrink too tightly).

Now to get the medication, find some rat traps (although I said I would shoot it if she wanted me to - I have a pellet gun, a good pellet pistol). Then prepare for the rest of my life... or some such foolishness.

Well, we can start over, can't we?

Now, most of the people I know aren't completely overwhelmed by Bush's and Obama's Economic Crisis. Tulips just aren't that critical to most of our fortunes, so contracts for tulip bulb potential values aren't going to sink us when the Federal Government decides not to honor them nor subsidize them. Honest, and when my wife and I decided to buy a home (in every one of the five we have owned over thirty-seven years of marriage) we never bought one that I couldn't manage to pay the mortgage insurance and taxes and still buy food and utilities and clothing from my income. I also never thought of my home as my retirement income (reverse mortgage) nor as potential for borrowing against the ever increasing value of the home (have lived in too many homes that didn't increase in value - one is always enough for me). I don't know what my credit score is, I don't care, if you don't want to lend to me - then we are in agreement, cause I have only enough time left on this side of Paradise to pay off what I owe now, not some new debt (no, I am not supporting the debt of foolish Congresses and Presidents). Because I have been observing that Americans are supposed to live well above their means, to borrow and pay back forever (according to the commercials on television, and the infomercials, the current situation comedy - daily dramas and Oprah). My truth is that I have to be responsible and pay my way, I expect y'all will, too.

Now, that fine looking country over there, los Estados Unidos de América,(that has been blamed for selling all those guns to the Mexican Drug gangs, and buying all their drugs), that country is going to have a real problem living as high as they have been. Borrowing money on income they don't have and squandering what they have so they can do less and live largely lazy watching idiot boxes telling them how to be younger and beautiful and sexy. I see a bunch of debts coming due, needing to raise their credit limit and having to pay higher interest to borrow to pay off current debts and operating costs, and people and businesses going elsewhere for opportunity - instead of the land of higher taxes and more regulations and imprisonment and fines. Oh, you think you can sell this "I know what is best for you and you will do it my way or the highway!" I won't buy it, I have lived elsewhere, and I can again. Anyway, it will be interesting to see America fold to the pressure of their bankers (foreign nations of different values and opinions) to be perceived as a strong independent superpower (trying to stay ahead of the Chins, Li's and Saudis?).

And is it only I that see the terrorizing bubble-headed budgets that the Presidents have been playing with and proposing being an indication that even the government is going to live far beyond its means? I mean, if the President were serious he could rent those other rooms in the White House, charge more for his signature and photo opportunities and have special days at the mansion like they do at the ball fields and football stadiums. He could get his own bullet proof vest and concealed weapon and allow the Secret Service to go back to finding the counterfeiting criminals. But then where I would find a second job or start a business to add income in a personal family economic crisis, or all the adults and almost adults would get work or do more in the home and 'chip in' to make all the ends meet for our lives and our dreams - well, I guess some people just go out and party larger and harder, and hold up signs saying they will work for food while hoping to get a twenty in pity. What were they thinking, or weren't they?

I am too hard on the GOOD INTENTIONS of the people representing me in government, because I don't have faith that they will pay the price for their mistakes, they really expect me to pay the price - cause I am just that good a guy.

Well, because I am who I am, a quick story update about the prison library. The fellow I banished from the library for his behavior, the one that tried to kill me with my own bad blood pressure, tried to start some fights with my workers and was such a pain the Corrections Officers made sure he got his medications and was put in solitary for his security and everyone else's peace of mind. Yeah, the one I picked three special books for him to read while he was there and the information he had been looking for the night before. That guy walked up to my counter in the library and said that he wanted to say he was "Sorry". He had just been released from his two weeks in the Hole and was making things right. So we talked a little about why he was acting that way (drugs and fright flight) and how he was doing now. My big question was did he get the books I had picked especially for him, he had and he proudly told me that he read them all. Works for me!

I don't seem to be right for the job...

I missed a meeting with the Associate Superintendent for Programs, I had thought she was off the island and wouldn't be back the remainder of the month, the last was correct, but after Tuesday not today. The work day went well until a young looking felon started acting up in the evening, accusing one of my workers of yelling at him, then wanting me to do stuff for him, some of which I did, some of which I told him he could have if he wanted an ILL, that I could find the album that way. He came back wanting the information so he could buy the album, and I told him I wasn't going shopping for him. He got loud with me and I became tired of working with his handicap, and wasn't doing anything for him so he got louder and told me that I had lied and tried to manipulate me to giving him what he wanted (I am not allowed to give him what he needed). But when he called me a liar I got angry and my blood pressure was cooking so I kicked the desk. Which gave him ammunition, now I was threatening him. I told him to go away and sit down, which he did, after I cooled off I tried to talk to him again - and it didn't work, he wasn't old enough to have a real conversation with. Children are easier to talk to than adults that never grow up. So I ordered him to report to the Corridor Officer and tell her that he was ordered out of the library. He tried to tell me that he couldn't do that, but I told him that I knew better and that he had to follow my instructions. He left and I got back to work, and an officer came in to follow up and asked. We cleared the library on movement and I continued to work and the next group came in and the young failure returned quietly and I didn't see him until I sent everyone out and tried to lock up. When I went by him in the hallway I told him not to come back to the library until his counselor says he can, I will tell his counselor tomorrow about his behavior. I am not a cop nor a snitch, but I am trying to keep a working library open for more than the young fool.

But as I left the prison under the beautiful Full Moon and Cold Dark Sky I kept thinking maybe I am not the person for the job - missing appointments failing to placate the irate ignorant... I might be better as a has been, failed again... too cold for motorcycling far enough away from fools trying to kill me with my own blood pressure. I am not worthy.

Different week at the Library...

Should have known it would be different this week, the signs were there in The News Tribune's frontpage. The prison has been on a two day lockdown over the weekend, when I get on the island, Monday, I am told that there won't be normal movement and the Library will be searched when they get done with the Hobby Shop, no stone unturned. So about twelve Corrections Officers come into the library and start searching through the fifteen thousand items on the shelves and in the cabinets and drawers, looking for contraband (tobacco, weapons, drugs, tattoo guns and inks, alcohol of strange variations). Hours later, they haven't found anything and are off to shake down the chapel. I had worked around them, answered their questions, shown them about the hiding places for barcodes and sensitive strips, demonstrated the security gate and exchanged "my thieves are better than your thieves" stories with the officers. The poor officer that had to search through some of the piles of cardboard packing material wondered how I was going to pass the inspection before the pre-ACA audit. I wasn't. It didn't help that nothing was where it should be, books in strange directions as they marked their searches, the floors trashed and chairs everywhere. I put much back but was moving mail and requested ILLs and answering email and reporting to my supervisors far away that it was happening - no reply. Outside the rain has been very heavy and constant, fears of flooding are building with the increase in rainfall. I go home to spend Veterans and Remembrance Day with my wife.

Wednesday, I return, it is still raining hard and I don't walk to the dock - my exercise thoughts have run away - at least something is moving, I don't seem to be. I have a crew and we start to clean up, catch up (socialization is mandatory), I mention the coming inspections and between everything else normal, getting the books for F-unit (Segregation and IMU) and sending ILLs out and answering the email we get ready to open after lunch. The inmate patrons surge in, having been kept out of the library for days, the two hours are hectic but rowdy and normal and then three inspectors show up, the Interior Captain, the Fire Captain and one other man from Headquarters, and they hit me hard. Daisy-chained surge protectors, unauthorized extension cords, not clean, not in compliance and not prepared for the audit next week. It is especially painful because this isn't the first time I have been told about the daisy-chained power cords - and I haven't fixed it. My bosses have told me to get DOC supply to provide, DOC says that they will, and no one has - but I haven't been vocal enough about the problem, so it is mine. The inspectors tell me to get everything fixed they would be back in three hours - it is the end of my day, I close down and say good-bye to the crew and slink home a failure again, except we did get the books to F-unit and served the patrons for three hours.

I sleep on my problem, I can sleep pretty well when I need to. When I wake I go through the morning events and pray harder, and leave my sleepy wife. I stop at a hardware provider and pick up two surge protectors of longer length and a face plate for a double socket. I get to the island and find the crew and lay out a plan, we work together and rewire the computers, rerouting cables and pitching ideas back and forth until it is done, recycling old cardboard, reorganizing storage, discarding hot trash, and destroying old worn, torn books, cleaning shelves and floors. Restoring organization to the library. We are aided by the sure knowledge that we aren't going to be open today. The Law Library is moving from upstairs to downstairs across the hallway from us. That means shelving and big giant books with lots of laws and tiny print. Too much for the normal Law Library clerks they have borrowed more inmate workers for the shift and no movement to the Law Library or regular Library by inmates is allowed. Sure enough the return promised by yesterday's inspectors does happen, and they are pleased to see we have improved everything they found, except the shelves aren't dusted yet - we would work on those cleaning things, washing the legs on the chairs and such - more to come tomorrow.

I am still working the computer, answering email, book and music requests and then comes an offer from our Program Manager to put in our ideas for our quarterly conference, and the other Library Keeper chime in, they have good ones. Then as the inspection team has departed and I have to send an email off about the better results to the Fire Chief, and I have talked to my Liaison, the Associate Superintendent for Programs about the ACA readiness and what I need to do and could us -- I stop and think about what I would like to discuss at the quarterly conference - and I write "I would like to talk about how little support I get in my work." or something like that. I am such a whiner, I do reply it to all, and I go to eat lunch. We continue to move hot trash and dirty rags out to the lower compound and back gate, do more cleansing of the library and shelf reading and organization - then it is the end of the day and I can look around and smile. If we can just steal a buffer and some wax and polish tomorrow we can really fix it up right. Well, I don't really mean steal, I mean borrow one just for the day. When I check the email I find two other Library Keepers that would like to say Amen to my comment or discuss the lack of support, and the Program Manager that would like me to tell her, in private, what I mean. I am such a whiner, but then all my buddies that help me get through the day, every day at work are all inmates, felons and you know what kind of guys they are. One of my crew is getting out just after Christmas this year. Telling the Program Manager means the Supervisor isn't in the discussion and that can't be good. Well, will sleep on that one tonight - they won't be ready to open my library tomorrow either.

Friday Update: Still not able to open, we went for the shining of the tile floors, cleaned it first moved all the furniture, secured wax and applicator and laid it on, four or five coats in some spots, it will dry firm by Monday, and we will put the library together again and open that afternoon and evening. Not too much traffic from other branch libraries, nor ILL requests, I made sure the overdue notices were printed and distributed, and moved mail and looked at books to buy. A nice quiet day, the crew and I were helped by a porter that secured the wax for us - favors, I get favors - just because... did stop over at the Law Library to see how they were coming along, they will be open by Monday if they don't get locked down again. Since it costs a lot of overtime for the special searches and lock downs, I don't think it will happen unless there is a real security threat.

Depression about my lack of discipline...

I am such a slug, and I turned on the computer again this morning (didn't last night and you didn't miss me, did you?) and I am behind again. But I have this monster to get off my back and onto the page.

In the mail I get an offer of ten days of trial of the World of WarCraft (now that is tempting - but I have played other games against those on-line warriors and would rather fight Germanic Barbarians with the Roman Legions - and you know how that worked out - only good in The Gladiator). I also got my chance to add to the millions of dollars supporting the Candidate Osama, sorry - Barack Obama and Dino Rossi. Both of them are saying it is time for a CHANGE! For those that aren't from the Great Northwest, Rossi is the Republican candidate for Governor. I also get an envelope from the AARP for Life Insurance Enrollment - but I hadn't asked for them, do plumbers knock on my door? Nope.

Anyway, back to my depression with my disappointing me - the sad lack of discipline and loss of control of my life. Clara Hart has some real things to feel bad about and needs encouragement and I have my little angst, mine is nothing but it is mine. But I was reading Bear on a Bicycle and his note struck me as part of my problem. I seem to be concentrating on my failures, instead of the positive things I do - like I did get out of bed this morning opened the blinds and have taken my medicines (which I start cutting in half again, every other day) and made the coffee. I left a positive message at a blog that I have enjoyed for years for the blogger. Sometimes we need a reminder that we mean something to the world - they seem to ignore my wishes so well. I was telling my program manager (yes, I am part of the programmed) that the stories we need to tell the Legislature are the ones about inmates that leave our libraries and become good citizens. But then good citizens don't get in the news too much, do they? And I guess if I were jailed with Martin Luther King, Jr. during his protests and struggle I might share that, but being just a thug and a bad one that was caught and punished for it - that doesn't get aired until you are sitting in the rocker at the old folks home. Well, this morning in the email was a letter with a name I didn't recognize and was about to be deleted - like I would ever answer the people needing my help with their new found wealth and banking troubles.

"Hey Earl.

I worked for you for a few years at MICC. (I was the black gentlemen in need of a serious haircut!!!! HAH!!) You may be hard pressed to remember me as I got out in 2001, and never went back. (I attached a couple pictures to help you remember). I changed my name. As crazy as this sounds, I was just having a big old belly laugh about some of the times I had in that library. The petty things some of the prisoners were overly concerned with. I wanted to thank you for a few things.

First.. thank you for treating everyone fairly. You treated all of us the same. Like human beings, despite whatever acts we may have been involved with. I was in prison for seven years and you were the ONLY staff who behaved in a consistently civilized manner. You also didn't take any crap and I respected you for it.

Thank you for George R.R. Martin... who proved to me that fantasy fiction did not have to be silly. Until meeting you I wouldn't read any fantasy (being convinced that they were all bad Dungeons and Dragons sessions run amuck). I have been married for four years. My wife loves George Martin now and I have shouted his praise whenever it was appropriate. You were someone I looked forward to talking to everyday. In a place that was... less than hospitable. I took our discussions on adult relationships to heart, and I searched very hard for my wonderful wife, and have tried to be the best husband in the world for her.

Keep up the good work. Some of us do become rehabilitated. I am a 1/3rd shareholder in a company that produces web sites. I am also the sole proprietor of my own music publishing company, which has actually got some big projects on board to make me some money. The books you helped me to get on inter-library loan gave me the knowledge to make a living. Thanks for al your effort. I usually was way over the limit in my number of borrowed books. I want you to know I read every single one. It wasn't a waste. Thanks.

(I read your home page after googling your name). I am proud to have learned a few things from you. You may be having a bigger impact on peoples lives than you know. Maybe next time I'm in Tacoma we can get a cup of tea (I don't drink alcohol at all) and you ca meet my wife and kids. I've told her all about you.. the one nice guy in a land of jackals.

The best to you and yours,"

Well, that fits what I was saying about my focus, and what the Institutional Libraries needed in support. Of all the things I got from the Soviet Union, you with the AK's and SKS's have your treasures I have mine - I got one piece of Tactical Doctrine, remember I was a serious warrior for years and I studied. But the piece I thought was worth keeping was "Exploit Success, forget about the rest" I'd give it to you in Russian - but I never learned that, just German & Korean - one really must be able to talk with one's allies. Focus on the positive and enlarge what is working well, and remember that although one can be replaced - there would still be the void of who you really are and that makes all the difference.

Diversity or division and gang warfare?

Back to work, running a prison library and the work flows. Today the Mexicans came up with more requests. My token Hispanic, who calls himself 'Brown' and says he doesn't speak any English was looking out for his brethren. If they speak Mexican they always approach him first, so he comes up with another young man to ask for something about Aztec Dance. They are having their heritage day in September (don't think Cinco de Mayo) for El Grito is 16 September, and want to have the Aztec costumes, music and dance as part of the festivities. I asked if it was going to end with open heart surgery, prison humor, and wanted to know if there was more. They wanted pictures and stories about Ninos Heroes, Villa, Zapata and Benito Juarez. I get waves of this kind of request.

As Juneteenth was being planned I get requests for The Emancipation Proclamation, some Black History and Heroes. I shake my head, the books are there on the shelves, have been all year and have been read - but the men asking for assistance aren't real readers and would like something to hold in their hand and work with. American lack of education system at its worst, grown men that can't read well enough to be confident that they could find the right answers.

When the white men started looking for Viking, Norse and Nordik Religion, myths and History I began to think I was watching the rising of the Aryan Nation again. Sure enough, they started looking for Aryan language and roots. The search is on, and History and Fantasy flows from the books and information found. Now I see a Scavenger Hunt Game on typed sheets of paper - over a hundred tough questions about Norse Kings and their wars in England and the World. New and old Historical Fiction of the period and the Vikings are getting well circulated. I am even asked to give some classes on the Germanic migrations, and the follow-on Nordic. I haven't time nor talent, but I do make sure the best of the books are present for reference and circulation.

I give all the assistance I can in each group's search for truth and its roots. The prison has taken most of their identity away and stuffed them in white t-shirts and khaki pants. All alone they have little power, together with a tradition and a history they become greater than just felons. They know that they can't be Americans any more, they have no Rights when they leave the Corrections system, as former felons they can't have weapons, serve in office nor vote. Unless their civil rights are restored - look it up, the law makes a felon a permanent lower class in America.

I constantly compare my military experience with the prison, and always like the military better - it is an honored (except by hippie peace-niks) profession. And prison is where the felons go, the ones growing pot near a school bus stop (school ground?) and the ones carrying a firearm in public libraries, lots of ways to become a felon - ask Martha Stewart. The military always loses much of its 'honor' when some civilian thinking person comes along to make it less military - luckily they send the armed forces off to fight and the military comes back with a roar, and the ones wanting it to be kinder and gentler are sent to improve the education system or fix voting fraud at home. Anyway, my point is that the military will take the need to be part of the group of gory glory gunners and use it to get the best out of what could have been the worst. The only way I can make a big difference in the prison is with a respectful, challenging but helpful educating of the inmate into what is in the library, what we can bring into the library and what he can do with his new knowledge. He has to do all the work, and he has to survive and he has to spread the word about what he has found. I always like one old hand inmate leading a new guy from the chain around to get registered and shown where the good books are, another one for our side.

Win some and don't dwell on the others...

I am fascinated by experts, especially since I won't become one, the ones on television news I discount completely - they are there to sell snake oil medicine and make rich folks richer. But on the blogs and the internet I have watched some wonderful minds make my knowledge and truth so much besser. Anyway, I will continue to dwell a bit too much in cyberspace.

I left for work early, to go to Galloping Gerties, Exit 122 off I-5, 15417 Union Ave SW,
Lakewood, WA. I wanted to meet and see the Patriot Guard Riders, and did so. Nice bunch of folks, on very nice Harley-Davidsons. They were going to spend the day with soldiers practicing safe motorcycling. It is Motorcycle Safety Month, you did know that didn't you? Community spirit, and motorcycling is fun when done at speed safely. I left them, as more arrived, crowds make me skittish, wary, and paranoid - leftover mental social problems. I don't fit in well, but am often present just there in the background watching, close but untouchable.

Work went mostly well, one of my new workers slept in an hour after lunch but did return, I thought he had quit on his day two - I backed the training pressure off a bit since it was Friday and I do want the two new guys to come to work on Monday.

In the prison it seems like the rules are from Junior High School, one of them is 'snitching', one just doesn't 'snitch' on another inmate for crimes and conduct. So I never expect names of thieves and thugs to be brought to my attention, the crew has to live within the rules of the Department of Corrections and the Rule of The Stupid Thugs and their Criminal Controllers. Two sets of guidelines and you may guess which one you would pay attention to most - the Department of Corrections can only do so much to you, the Thugs have a world of pain at their fingertips.

Anyway, I must be trusted (which I like to think everyone should trust me, as far as they can throw me anyway). Today I found out who from the departing crew seems to have enriched himself with the new CDs, and he left a trail on the computer but was also turned into me for the cops (Corrections Officers) to do a cell search and get the CDs back. Ah, I did notify the Unit floor officer, and told him what I was looking for to be returned. I don't expect they will find the CDs, I hope they do, but I like being able to tug on this inmate's chain - especially as he is getting out in two weeks to rejoin civil society - and I won't tell you his name, he could become a better person in those two weeks and live like a saint for the remainder of his life. I pray for miracles constantly, and am often amazed when I see them. An inmate turning in this petty thief is almost a miracle - but then they look at me as not really part of the cops, they look at the CD collection as improvement in their living and returning to normal life, and figure that they can't live by Junior High rules their whole life. If the CDs are found and returned it will be a three pointer, but I have no trouble taking the two points for the inmate that will work with me to make the library the best place on the island.

Good Help hard to find, or I am a harsh taskmaster

Of the last four inmate workers I have hired, only one remains. The very educated and well read and very eloquent man decided that I had shorted him for two months on his hours and that he couldn't physically do the work since he had some joint problems he needed medical help for. One decided that he could steal, felt guilty and confessed, returned what he had stolen and is now in "the HOLE" for something else. The last one of the missing three is on room restriction (stays in room except for meals and work) and decided that he didn't need to come to work yesterday. So just two inmate clerks and I manned the library and circulated an extra hundred items during the afternoon above what four of them and I had done the day before.

Until I have truly two terminations I cannot hire two new workers, so we will struggle along but will be open and circulating and answering questions. I wonder if employment is so fragile on the outside, is it a constant hiring process - when I think of work I think that the manager at the local grocery, the clerk at checkout have been there forever, but then a whole group of supporting workers seem to be in constant flux. We did go to drop off hot trash and dirty rags, picking up a bundle of clean rags and dust mop heads. The inmates that frequent the library love to call to us and say hello from where they are working as we pass by; everyone strives to be noticed, feel friendly and be seen at 'their' work. The leather hobby guy brought my belt back and the Dragon design he had made for me - very nice work. Since it was a custom job he learned many things while he created it twice to get it right. Some of the inmates take real pride in what they do well. One of the older workers long ago told me that he could get a crew to clean out my home in less than two hours - just get them off the island - they would take care of the truck and such as they did the job. Not really well rehabilitated, but proud of their work skills in criminal enterprise... he is still a great worker, just not in the library now.

Why a Library Keeper?

I like to think that a Library Keeper is like the old Lighthouse Keeper, providing light for safe navigation to wandering sailors looking for a successful voyage. They, always those that want to feel in charge, won't allow me to use that title on my business cards nor signature block for emails but then I am not exactly what they wanted in my position anyway. I ride the ferry across the sound to McNeil Island, to the prison (a Corrections Center by current thought) and I unlock the doors to the library, turn on the computers, enter the passwords, unlock the book return box, and greet the inmate library clerks as they wander in to work. During my forty hour work week I provide eighteen point seven five hours of library services and access to over a thousand inmate patrons, that may only pack forty in the library at a period, about one hour. Except for the inmates in Segregation and IMU we don't deliver, the patrons have to find time to visit the library for the materials they want to borrow. I do some reference for them if they send me a "kite", which is a form for communications between inmates and staff about their requests and thoughts. Most will visit the library, if they are readers and looking for self improvement or answers they will find the time and come in. The library is one of the places without any Department of Corrections staff stationed watching -- it becomes quickly recognized as a place of personal freedom, where they can meet buddies, find books and music and discuss things. This has to be one of the noisiest libraries I have ever worked at. So why am I here, well, I was fleeing women... no, that isn't totally true, they offered me full time employment in a library and I thought the job was important because I could make a difference. I have made a little difference, for those willing to work at it, but overall prisons only contain inmates well, making model citizens of them isn't going to happen for the rules inside a prison are set by the criminal elements, junior high morality and attitudes and lack of growth. I was very depressed by finding the prison not a corrections institution, no one is corrected just contained. Well, I have been corrected a few times, but then I respond to the corrections because I want to do a better job and am mature (I am really OLD) but you understand. I am seriously looking for other employment, but content enough with my position and the pay to stay unless something really great shows up (winning the Lotto would do it). The biggest reason to leave is the loneliness, for I am the only staff in the library all day (unless my superiors decide to find out what I am doing wrong and show up to tell me about it) and that really means all my buddies are convicted felons. Really the people I speak the most with daily, that I know about their lives and families, feelings and faults and foolishness (real buddies) are convicted felons. I indentify too easily with them, but then I do know that I am not really like them. Still, I keep the library open, do find materials for the patrons, answers to questions, encourage better behavior and opportunities and hope that once the patron leaves they will go out and do much better, visiting your public libraries for more growth and entertainment. Since I have run into some of them at my local library, I know it does happen. I guess I like being the Library Keeper and providing regular library services to those in need, lots of need. Oh, yeah, I can see it now, when I die I will take the job at the edge of Hell and provide library services for those in need in deed. Well, I have heard that I would be known by my close associates, and they are all felons.