The journal of Chris Hernandez

Table of Contents:

3 January 2005

So now more about my journal. Today is January, 03, 2005, and I hope ya'll enjoy reading about me. I am currently incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. I'm Christie R. Hernandez #1179199, John B. Connally Unit, 899 FM. 632, Kenedy, TX 18119-4492

From here on out I will be sharing my daily activity with ya'll, and I will slowly share my past with ya'll. Right now it's 01-03-05 at 8:30AM central time. I'm in AD/SEG which means I'm in my cell 23 hours a day. Just to let you know, my day here start's at about 3.AM when they bring us breakfast. Today I had three pancakes, oatmeal, and a milk. I do have a radio in my cell, and I do like to listen to a song here and there. I enjoy to listen to the political talk host. Being that I'm in a republican state here, I only get republican talk host. So I get to enjoy the Fear Factor with Bill O'Riley. I don't consider myself as a republican, nor a democrat. I just hope we get the best out of both parties.

Anyway, the weather here today is pretty misty outside, so it's pretty stuffy in this cell right now. But let me share some of my personal life with you. I was born in Chicago, IL. I come from a large family of eight brothers and six sisters who all reside in Chicago with my mom. My father is now with the Lord since 93'. I'm divorced with three teenage kids. 20, 19, and 17. A girl, boy, girl, Michelle, Eric, Julia. I still hear from my kids from time to time.

Also I'm sure ya'll want to know why I'm in AD/SEG, and why I'm in prison. So let me first start by telling you this. I can't prove my innocence nor can I make you believe me. So to make a long story short, I got a twelve year sentence for not being able to prove my innocence, and if I'm lucky I'm eligible for parole in 2008. If not I can be stuck here till' 2014, but with a chance to always get out anytime before then. And the reason I'm in AD/SEG is because I am accused of being a member of a prison gang called the Mexican-Mafia, and I will not deny that. Only now I need a change in my life, and disaffiliated myself with that group. In hope for a better life.

 
Name: Christie Ray Hernandez 
Age: 30. D.O.B. 03-12-65 
Eye Color: Brown 
Hair: Black 
Hair style: Short, about 1"1/2 long, kind of thick combed back 
Weight: 190 lbs. 
Body type: Normal, Height: 5'11" 
Physical condition: Healthy, no medical problems 
Race: Hispanic 
Religion: Christian 
Distinguishing features: Scar on my stomach, left arm, and tattoos 
Allergies: None 
Education level: GED 
Occupation: Preventive maintenance mechanic 
Past income: 30,000

4 January 2005

8:30 PM

It was a nice day outside today, and I was allowed 1 hour of outside recreation. Commissary was also delivered to our section here today, and for some reason it seems though as if the food that is served to us on a commissary day is always something that isn't too cool. Know what I mean?

I also received a letter this evening from a pen-pal who I thought quit writing me so I can say I had a somewhat nice day.

5 January 2005

7:45PM

Today was a very boring day because all the cells in front of me didn't go to recreation so I had to recreate earlier than I wanted so all the movement back here stopped pretty early. I spent some of my day reading the San Antonio, TX Newspaper, and doing a crossword puzzle.

6 January 2005

Weather; nice and sunny, about 75 degrees

8:05AM

I'm writing right now because I'm not in such a good mood. One of them days. I want to put this day behind me.

7 January 2005

Weather; nice and sunny about 75 degrees

10:00AM

Just finished my hour in recreation, then I took my shower so that's about all our day consists of here other than waiting till sometime after 6:00PM when they pass out mail, and that's probably the most depressing part of the day watching the guard pass up your cell, especially on a Friday like today because they don't pass out mail to us over the weekend. Well I'm going to stop here for now because I can keep writing only I'm not sure how long we are wanted to make our journal. Not only that, I need to get on a schedule!

8 January 2005

8:40PM

Another long boring day. But I do get my laughs in one way or another to make my day a little more happier than other days. The sun is also out today as it was yesterday.

9 January 2005

8:00PM

You know I sit here and think about my past, and the way things could have been, and the way I hope things go when I do get out. Today we were served this nasty tuna casserole. I'm allergic to seafood so I got a try of beans.

10 January 2005

8:10PM

Wow, I'm glad today is now over. It's been a long day, and the temperature dropped so it feels like 50 degrees

17 April 2005

"Hi&hello" I first want to start this journal off by saying that I really missed my writing, only I had some obstacles to deal with so now I really hope to catch up where I left off, and according to my records I last wrote about the 01-10-05. Well a lot has happened since then.

So let me tell you how it is today, well it's about 9:55AM, and it's pretty cool in the cell right now, it's about 70 degrees in here, so yes it's pretty cool. And outside it looks kind of gray like it wants to rain, but I don't think that it will. I also got my radio on the sports talk show. I'm a big sports fan of almost all sports, and basketball season is winding down, and the playoffs are about to start, and I'm pulling foe Miami heat to win it all!

Well I'm not going to bore you with my sports so let me move on to other things that have been happening with me. Well, I celebrated my 40th B-day on March the 12th. I really can't say I celebrated because I'm locked in this cell, but I can say I made the best of it when I last went to commissary here I bought myself some stuff to make myself something to eat. If my memory serves me right, I mixed chili with beans with some corn chips, cheese, and refried beans, a sliced pickle, and some pork skins all together, and that's what some of us call a spread.

Also during the last time I wrote, Valentines Day also passed by and wow that's one of my most favorite traditional holidays that I really like because that one of them days that to me I share with whom ever my girlfriend is at the time. And I'm also a big chocolate lover. The flower thing is cool, but the part of getting all dressed up, and going out to eat at a nice place is what I really enjoy.

I also want to share with you all that I got this pen-pal friend, her name is Janice, and her letters to me really make me happy, and help me forget all of the negative that surrounds me, and well she too had gone through some changes out there in the free world, and that slows me down because I look forward to her letters, well anyway she had got her personal matters taken care of and now it seems as though our letters to each other are back on track.

I would also like to share with you that I want to let whoever it is that might be reading my journal that I also give lots of praise to our Lord Jesus Christ for he has given me my spiritual soul something good to feel everyday, and I'm very happy to have a religious meaning to keep me in some good ways of life. But I will admit that I still catch myself slipping from time to time, and I will admit that it's not easy to not to be doing wrong. So I pray and ask for strength.

I also hope that you can read my journal because I don't have a dictionary, and I'm sure I spell a lot of words wrong, but that don't stop me. I don't like bothering the guys in the other cells because I'm sure that can become bothersome too because I get pretty teed off when someone asks me something that I think is dumb. But then again there is a lot of things that bother me. I guess I'm just getting older and crankier. But I say personally feel good for being forty.

Well as you can see that I was blessed to be able to buy myself a type writer so this is really going to help me with my journal because when I write I take up so much room on the paper that I had to limit myself to how much I could share with you, and now with this typewriter I can out so much more on one sheet of paper. Because I'm so limited to how many sheets of paper I can put into an envelope so this is going to really help

Also you know I'm in SEG which means that I'm locked in this cell 23 hours a day, and the unit is under lock-down status right now. Every six months here, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDJC) does what they call a STSTE wide lock-down to shake down all the units in Texas, and this takes a minimum of thirty days and the worst part of it is that we are fed a Johnnie sack which contains two sandwiches, a peanut butter sandwich in every sack plus some kind of meat, and believe me it's not something you will enjoy.

Also during this lock-down we will all be what we call shook down, and they will search our cell for any contraband which is anything that we are not supposed to have and all of our appliances such as this typewriter, our radio, and our hot pot we must show property slips that show we purchased them if the name and numbers don't match, they will confiscate the item. [Wow, I know I just spelled some words wrong but I hope you can understand what I'm saying.] I guess you can say that this lock-down had its good and it's bad because I kind of think that being stuck in this cell gives me time to really get a hold of myself, and really think about what I'm going to do and to know that I better cherish live more than what I did in the past. So there are about another twenty something days left so this is just the beginning.

Well, I just received my lunch time Johnnie and it has a peanut butter sandwich, and a sandwich that is nothing but a little ground meat. This is about what every Johnnie sack has. So I pray that this comes to an end soon.

Well, basketball is about to start so I'm going to close here for now, and get back on track on writing my journal you know even when I don't write, I mark down the important things to me on my calendar so I can always look back. But I really hope to pick up where I left off.

18 April 2005

I'm back it's Monday and nothing changed for me here over the weekend. I was really hoping to get a visit from my kids but that didn't happen, but say it was a nice day, and real quiet with this lock-down. I also spent some time writing my mom today, she lives in Chicago,

19 April 2005

Well, another day with the same thing, a lot of nothing, I really hope this comes to an end, it's good in some ways, but then it gets old after a while. But my favorite basketball team won today, I'm talking about the Miami Heat.

20 April 2005

Is today to celebrate National Pot Day, Hitler's Birthday, well I'm not much of a Hitler fan either but I do like the pot day. Also another day with no mail. Man the no mail thing really kills me there's nothing more than a letter to make me feel good.

21 April 2005

Well today is my pen-pals birthday her name is Janice she has been real nice to keep in touch with me. I get a letter from her at least once every other week. Well today was another quiet day, and the weather outside looked pretty but I was stuck in this cell still.

22 April 2005

Now it's Friday and the weekends seem to be the hardest part of doing time, to me that is. But say I'm not going to get into the sad mood I got to keep my head high. I know I'm about to run out of room to type so I'm going to get to close this part of my journal so I can get it ready to mail out on Monday. So I hope whoever reads my journal enjoyed it I really hope that I'm doing a good job, and not boring you, until then take care.

23 April 2005

Saturday was nice day, and I enjoyed listening to the playoff games. I also spent the day hoping to get a visit only that never happened, and I dealt with it. Other than that nothing changed.

24 April 2005

Sunday morning, it's almost 11am, and I'm doing the same thing today sitting here hoping that I get a visit, and waiting for the playoffs to start again. I'm also to my neighbors in the other cells talk to each other, and by listening to their conversation I say to myself no wonder these dudes are locked-up. But I'm going to finish up here and get back to waiting for the game to start. I'm also going to make myself a cup of coffee. You know I wish this typewriter was as fancy as a computer to where I could put a smiling face after a sentence. So just smile and take care...

25 April 2005

Monday was just another day still waiting for the officers to come shake us down, so that we can get on with our personal lives back here. Well as you can see I had to start typing with bold letters because my ribbon is running out. Well I'm going to write to my little sister Carolina, and to a friend. I also mailed my other part of this journal this morning. Well until then take care. I also hope you are enjoying my journal.

26 April 2005

Tuesday it's pretty cool outside all day, and trying to rain. But I'm lucky I'm inside. Well I got some books today from a book store in Austin, TX, that sends books to inmates, and I needed something new to read especially through this lock-down. I'm also going to write to this cat Randell. I just met him through this pen-pal request, and really don't know anything about him but say sometimes I wonder if I know myself. I also survived the shake down today thanks I didn't lose much, and it's over but we stayed locked down.

27 April 2005

Wednesday, it started off as a good day because today we were allowed to shower, and then we were notified that we were being allowed to make a $20.00 purchase from commissary. So that lifted the tension since it's been a little over two weeks since we last made a commissary purchase. Anyway mail hasn't been passed out yet but I'm excited about the Spurs game tonight. Only I'm rooting for the Denver Nuggets to win. But other than that it is a nice day outside the sun is shining, and it seems warm outside. Well I'm going to close here for now and see you tomorrow, have a nice day...

28 April 2005

Thursday, nothing happened all day until about 2:30PM. When they brought us our commissary orders, and then all was fine. I only had about five bucks but that bought me eight soups, two LG bags of corn chips, and two MED bags of pork skins. I was hungry for something warm. You know I have a hot pot to warm water up to make soups, and coffee. And I didn't buy myself any coffee I hope I can survive. Well other than that I'm glad the Miami Heat won their game last night. Well I'm running out of paper so I will write more tomorrow until then take care. And smile..

29 April 2005

Friday was as really cool day the temp. fell a little and anything here in TX. Anything under 75 degrees is considered cool. Anyway I spent some time writing my mom, and my oldest daughter today. I also got to take a shower too you know being on lock-down we are only allowed to shower once every other day and that sucks. I'm also pretty upset that I went all week without receiving any mail. That hurts me more than almost anything. Well until my next update take care.

30 April 2005

The end of the month here is always a good feeling because it makes us feel as if time is going by. I also got to hear the Spurs game and the Spurs won and I'm not pulling for them but that's alright. Well it's still kind of cool outside here it's only about when it gets cool here it wakes me up in the morning, and I don't have a blanket only a sheet so I wind up waking up to move around in order to stay warm. Well I'll write more tomorrow because it's almost game time, and I can't miss my dose of sports. Until then take care.

1 May 2005

Sunday night 10:40PM. Well I listened to the Miami Heat win their game today, and I'm very happy about that, well the weekend is also over with I was really hoping for a visit only I never got one so you can imagine how I feel. I have also been without getting a letter for some time now. But I say I'm ok. It's just a little strainful sometimes. But other than all this I was thinking to myself earlier today if I'm writing this journal right because I don't write down the things that I do such as when I brush my teeth or the time when I eat or what I eat but I know that I will complain when I'm fed something don't like. Well I got to cut this short because I got to come up with another typing ribbon. Besides that it's starting to get late so until then take care. (smile)

2 May 2005

Well the temp. here is still pretty cool every day I been waking up because it was cool in this cell. Well I also came up with another typing ribbon that works better than the last one. I also found out yesterday that this lock-down might be longer than thirty days and that's a big bummer. I also went another day without any mail, and that's pissing me off. I guess I got to write myself. Well enough about me I wish I had more to say but nothing much has changed here so I will be writing more later. Until then take care, and please smile...

There is something I found in an article a long time ago and I want to share it with ya'll titled: Prisons aren't the answer, [anyone who is thinking clearly about the present crime problem knows that dramatic penalties are more prisons have so far proved abortive.] When are the "Might is right" people going to realize that preventing crime is brought about through improved environmental conditions and more effective education systems for the youth of America?

To paraphrase President Eisenhower nearly 40 something years ago: Every dollar spent on prisons today is a dollar taken from the education of a child who, for the lack of it, will one day end up in jail. A nation that spends more to punish than to provide opportunities undermines the foundation of its freedoms and imperils its own well being. Expenditures for prisons these days are running equal to or more than higher education. We are putting the cart before the horse and will run out of money long before we run out of convicts.

3 May 2005

Tuesday the weather hasn't changed yet it's still been kind of cool and even cooler in this cell. And still another day with no mail! That's killing me. Also the word around here is that we will be coming off lock-down maybe in about another week, and I hope that's true I cant wait for a hot meal here but the meals are really not hot but they are better than these Johnnie sacks. Well once again I'm running out of paper so I will pick up on the next day so until then once again take care, and smile...

4 May 2005

Wedsnesday was also a cool day this weather is on the coolside here, and seems like it don't want to go away. But it's still some of the best weather around. Well still no mail, and it's really bumming me out, and we are still on lock-down. Well the Spurs won their game also although I'm not happy about it. I was really hoping for the Nuggets to win. I also spent some time reading some old news papers too. You know this lock-down stuff is really hard to do sometimes because you get so used to doing nothing. I try to do some stretching and light exercise. I don't try to work-out too much due to the fact that it makes me want to eat more. Well nothing much more to say right now so until next time please smile, and always think and wish for the best...

5 May 2005

Thursday El Cinco De Mayo well my history isn't too good at all I know is that Cinco De Mayo is something to do with the war in Puebla MX. I think it had something to do with the Spaniards or something. Anyway here nothing changes no respect for the Mexicans I thought at least they could give us a taco in remembrance que no? Anyway the weather here is still pretty cool, and we are still on lock-down. I also went another day without mail damn I'm getting psst...and I'm down to my last shots of coffee, and once that runs out I know I will then be even more psst. But then again it's not the end of the world. As it is I'm having a hard enough time rewinding this ribbon in order to use it over, and over. You know I once again asked myself I wonder if I'm writing what a person would want to read so I really hope I am. But I'm running out of what to say because my day didn't consist of much today so until next time smile...

6 May 2005

Friday, was probably one of my best days of this week but first let me say that it's still pretty cool here in Kenedy, TX. But it warms up around noon time then cools off once the sun goes down. But I'm a lot happier today because I finally got a letter from my youngest daughter, and she tells me that her high school graduation is this 29th of May and then she is leaving to join the Navy at the end of June wow I never thought I would hear this from my little girl but I'm proud of her. I'm also happy that today I got a package from Gary and company at the Durland Alternatives Library to continue to work on this journal, and I'm very thankful for the paper it was much needed. Although I'm still in deep need of a dictionary but I will survive. You know I wonder if I complain too much myself I know I'm getting older but man I don't mean to be so grumpy. By the way I also got two pictures of my daughter in her graduation gown, and I will not lie that brought tears to my eyes. Well I'm going to close here for now, and as always smile, and take care until next time...

7 May 2005

Saturday, the weather here is still cool in the mornings, and warming up in the afternoons. Anyway here we don't receive mail on the weekends it's the states way of budgeting their money by not having personnel in the mailroom on the weekends. But I'm still overjoyed from the letter I got from my daughter yesterday, and am very happy to have received it. Well I was also told by one of the guard's here today that we will be off lock-down on Monday so I really hope so I can say that if that's true then that was probably the second best thing I heard today so over al I can say I had a pretty good day today. I forgot we were also fed a tuna fish sandwich for our last meal today, and was thankful that the officer gave me a substitute because I can't stand to eat any fish product I was born that way that stuff makes me throw-up or vomit which ever word is proper it's all ugly to me.. I also got to listen to the Dallas Mavericks game they beat Houston so now Dallas moves on to win it all... Well I guess I said enough for now so as always keep that smile up, and have a good day...

8 May 2005

Sunday, Happy Mothers Day to all ya'll ladies. It wasn't one of the best mothers day that I ever celebrated but I'm happy for all the mom's out there. Well it was a rainy day here all day and I didn't get any visits yet I say this because it seems like the more I complain the higher of a chance I got of my complaining to come true. Well I also spent the evening listening to the playoffs. Other than that the rest of my day was pretty much of the same. A whole bunch of nothing to talk about. So until ten y'all take care and please smile.

11 May 2005

Wednesday was a nice day. I got to go to outside recreation only the outside recreation. Here that I'm taken to is not much. It's a space about 15' by 15' so don't think that it's al that because it's not, but I got to go out there to at least get a taste of fresh air. I also spent the day getting my journal ready to mail out and I also spent some time writing a letter to this other organization that I really don't know anything about, so I wrote them to get more info. We also had peach cobbler today with our lunch here. We are fed dessert only for lunch and only on Wednesday and Saturday. It's the State's way of trying to save money. I also stayed up last night till about midnight trying to pickup the score on the basketball game. Well, that was about all my day consisted of so until next time take care and smile...

12 May 2005

Thursday was a nice day. The temp was about in the 80's. By the way, we're on lock-down again for this one day because they ran state classification. They decide if they are going to let you out of back here in Seg. and decide if they are going to let you out of back here in Seg, and for that they lock us down so there is no movement. But we still get fed a hot meal. Well, I also go to listen to the Spurs lose the fame today that made my day. I can also see that I think I done rewinded this ribbon enough already because the typing is looking worse, and worse. Other than that my day was average so I'm col with that so until nest time take care and smile...

13 May 2005

Friday the thirteenth. Now are you superstitious? I don't believe in any of that, but I guess those who do believe in that stuff something to look forward to huh! Well, we were also brought our commissary today so I ate me two drumsticks (Ice cream), but the sad part of my day is that I didn't receive any mail to close out the beginning of my weekend. But I did go to recreation this morning. That always helps relieve the stress I have. I also got to listen to the Astros baseball game, and they are losing every game they play at least that's what it seems like. Well, I'm running out of space so until next time take care, and smile...

14 May 2005

Saturday was a nice day even though it was drizzling because I got to listen to my favorite basketball team, the Miami Heat, win their next series. Now they rest and wait to play the winner of the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers game, so hopefully, they can move onto the championship game. Well, still no visit but that's ok. Well, I also went outside recreation today for an hour. It was also ok. To get some fresh air. I also worked on this crossword puzzle that I have here. Well, until next time take care, and smile...

15 May 2005

Sunday was even a better day to me because I got to listen to a triple header of basketball, and the best part was that the San Antonio Spurs lost. You know I'm in Spur country here, and these guys here get pretty loud when the Spurs lose, and I get a big kick out of listening to them make excuses as to why they lost. But say it's all fun and games, I got to entertain myself somehow. It also rained here all day. The next best thing I this day was that we were fed a chicken patty, and that's about the most edible thing we are served here. But other than that I can say I had a pretty good day, so until next time take care, and smile...

16 May 2005

Monday turned out to be just a good day as yesterday was, and I feel good about it, and you wouldn't believe this that's how much a letter changes the outcome of my day here. I can be having a bad day but at the end of my day if I get a letter then that changes the outcome of my day, and today I got what I would call a support letter from one of the ladies who help out Gary with is journal project, and she gave me some advice about how to make my entries a little more interesting, and that made feel good because I know that someone is reading what I'm writing, especially if someone responds to what I'm writing. You know someone asked me to add my ideas to my journal and I'm like ideas I always have some but most of them are like things that I have no control over such as what I want to do once I get out. How I'm going to change the way I lived, and the way I will start to see things from the other side.

Well, this is the first time I have to continue my journal on another sheet of paper. Normally, I would of just ended my entry only today I felt good so I just had to continue, and not only that I was told that sometimes my entries are pretty short well the reason I was trying to keep them short was because I didn't want to bore anybody with my entries. I was also like I didn't want to make it to much work for the next person on putting this into the computer. But say back to my ideas I'm a person that likes to work with my hands and feet limited to what I can do. Anyway, today it was still raining here. I hope it clears up because when it rains I get a lot of static in on my radio. Well, I will pick up tomorrow because I feel like I'm just running my head. Plus, I don't want to bore you so until next time take care, and smile...

17 May 2005

Tuesday, I don't know what the truth his but they are telling us here that in town the water main is broken, and that the city asked we only shower every other day until the problem is fixed I and I don't know it just don't sound to be true. But say there's really nothing that one can do from in here. Other than that I also got to listen to another playoff game last so that helps. Me and two other inmates that are housed back here with me pitched in some stuff to make something to eat we call a spread. I put one pack of chili with beans and a bag of corn s=chips plus four soups, the other two guys put three more soups, two bags of pork skins, a pickle, and a bag of refried beans we mix it all together, and split it between us it tastes pretty good and that's what we call a spread. Other than that the weather is clearing up pretty good we are now having the good weather now. You know I also got a sweet tooth right now and I'm thinking about tomorrow's lunch tray because we only get dessert in our lunch trays on Wednesday and Saturdays only so I'm thinking about tomorrow already. So I guess I will close here and still hope that you are enjoying what I'm writing. So until then take care, and smile...

18 May 2005

Wednesday, another nice day. The weather here just seems to be getting warmer, and warmer. It's ok. right now but once it starts to get into the hundreds we will then start to complain. So while it's nice I can only enjoy it. We also got to take a shower they are still telling us that there is some water shortage which I'm not to happy with regardless if there really is a water shortage. If the State can't provide water for me to shower they can let me go. I got somewhere I can go take a shower. Well, I also took some time out today to write a letter to my mom. I need some money so I had to write her, but don't think I wrote her just for that. It was time for me to write her. I try to take time for her, or should I say that I always make time for her every week. Man I miss my mom. Well, I also got to listen to another basketball game today, so I can't complain about my day. Well, until next time rake care, smile...