November 26, 2023

Slate grey stone and dark brown walnut colored pews descended about a 15 degree pitch for hundreds of feet under gothic pointed arches that initially appeared to be a cathedral but instead of an alter and tabernacle was instead mastered by a judges bench and the facia of a courtroom. A man named Artymis made oral complaint to the judge about conditions of confinement as a prisoner but had failed to remember a precedent case and was volleyed the information from someone in the immense gallery of observers. I am seated at the back, as far away from the judge as possible but the slope is acoustically effective, like an amphitheater and I hear the judge attempt to dismiss the complaint because of the assistance from the gallery. A woman from the group is seated int the row in front of me and smiles that she is glad to see me here. Some of the gallery begins a commotion about the judges eagerness to dismiss Artymis. Instead of raising my voice, I decide the simplest way to demonstrate my opposition to the judge and support of the complaint is to stand up. When I do, so does every other person in the gallery. Thousands of people in one large shuffle take their feet right after me. But my back and elbow are bothering me so I am awakened to readjust.

Then I lay there thinking about the dream for an hour and a half until morning count. It is the first dream I have recollected with a group member, so I suppose I needed to share it. Some people think they send me pictures and encouraging words but it is actually much more than that. What a great dream. 

Two things deviated from my expectations today. A "white shirt" assisted in delivering dinner. And, dinner included a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos. So the kitchen does share the good chips with inmates and supervisors do pitch in. They did cancel phone calls again yesterday for lack of staff but I was scheduled and got to call before the cancellation. Maybe monitoring phone calls requires more supervisors. Even though the current restrictions are supposedly more strict than the standards applied to this place when it was called a "Super-max," the guards respond to pleases and thank yous in kind, for the most part. The experience is still largely peculiar but I don't feel mistreated for some sort of contempt. It isn't easy, but I do not think it was a mistake to come here considering my options. Plus, the tap water seems drinkable.