The journal of James Meier
January 2007
To begin, this journal will express pursuits within the writing field and set out specific feelings in regard to my personal situation.
To be more specific will follow, but for now I want to express my main focus as far as how I spend my time behind these bars in Texas. In short, I live to write and I write to live! Writing has become my one singular mode of escape from the drudgery of prison life. It is my only diversion. I have found that writing can bring healing to a spirit that has been downtrodden by circumstance. It can bring order to the chaos of imprisonment, peace when desperately needed.
There simply are no words to express the satisfaction of the perfect phrase in a lyric, the genuine surprise at the end of a tale, or that which causes a tear to escape the reader's eye. These are my pursuits as I put pen to paper.
Satisfaction also sprouts from the helping of others in the writing arena. I am certainly proud of the accomplishments of those I have tried to help. Bearing fruit is t all times to be sought and valued. At the same time I am grateful to those who have helped me on my way.
I am currently involved in trying to establish a writing workshop on the Mark W. Stiles Unit where I am being held. I had formulated a syllabus with an attached class-outline describing the entire course to be presented in a rotating type schedule enabling all involved to expand skills. The name of the program is "PENS WITHIN' and is put forth by a group of writers here known as the "PENS IN MOTION' collective. There is currently a 220 page anthology available for publication by these writers to help raise funds for Children's Hospitals such as St. Jude and so forth. A second volume is now in the formulation process.
I have penned a collection of lyrics and have enjoyed being published in "BEGINNINGS' magazine with one verse entitled "TEXAS HOME'. Others include "THAT OLD DOG WON'T HUNT', "THE MAIDEN'S TEAR', "GUYS LIKE YOU', "I GOTTA RIDE', and more.
I am writing a full length novel of western adventure, "THE CRIPPLED EAGLE', which was born in a writing class here through the Pens In Motion collective. Add to that a Fantasy fiction novel entitled the "NINE AND THE BELOVED'.
Add all of this up and you will see that I have no type of problem filling the hours behind bars. Point being, that what I do is constructive in nature, which is another of my endeavors. I see way too many men staring off into space with a vacant look of despair. There is a terrible waste of manpower within these walls! I do what I can to try and provide a bit of direction and purpose for those that I can.
Stay tuned for the next entry into this journal for any who may know of prisoners whishing to contribute to the annual "PENS IN MOTION' anthology mentioned above.
February 2007
The month of February began with the pod I live on in a mysterious quarantine. It was alleged by authorities of the medical staff that an occupant of the pod was diagnosed with Chicken Pox which, according to a nurse that visited the pod, can cause an outbreak of Shingles in the vicinity of one's midsection. Said nurse was inspecting pod members midsections and said she would return after she checked everyone's medical records for exposure to Chicken Pox. She never returned and quarantine was lifted after a period of seventeen days. We were informed tat the onset that we would be isolated in quarantine for at least twenty one days which was supposed to be the QUOTE "Incubation Period' UNQUOTE.
Such nonsensical B.S. is common within Texas prisons. We suspect, as lowly prisoners, that the severe shortage of the security staff here has necessitated the reduction in general population staff in order for authorities to remain within security guidelines. JUST A SUSPICION MIND YOU...
Time was well spent typing a screenplay for writer and author Jackey Sollars, plus formatting and delivering a project prospectus for myself and Illustrator/Artist John M. Swearingen. Screenplay is hovering around the 50 page mark and the Memorial/Lyric project proposal has been tendered to a Lady who may consent to being our "Agent'.
Distressing news from the home front is that Ex-Wife Sharon reports the inescapable loss of the house whose huge mortgage payment she has struggled so valiantly to retain. Financial ruin looms brought on by relations who have taken advantage of this lady with the big heart, Sad, but true...
So, nobody broke out with SHINGLES... No one seems to be suffering Chicken Pox symptoms. The only thing here in the land of "Piss & Moan' seems to be the usual maladies. Too hot... Too cold... Not getting enough mail... Ain't got no money on the books... Commisary is out of everything I want... Outta toiler paper... Shower too cold... Shower too cold in the mornings, not hot enough in the evenings... The list, believe me, is virtually endless... Whites tired of blacks... Blacks tired of whites... Mexicans tired of everybody, even other Mexicans... If you care to listen to this junk it can pickle your brain. Almost as lethal as afternoon soaps!
Picked up Stephen King's sixth book of the DARK TOWER series... Read it in three days... Am firmly hooked on his plotline and now must hustle up "THE GUNSLINGER', "THE DRAWING OF THREE'. "THE WASTE LANDS', "WIZARD AND GLASS', and finally, "WOLVES OF THE CALLA'. (I already have "THE DARK TOWER', last in the series). Am particularly fascinated by King's use of strange words and phrases---Say True. one. Sai seems to be his own invented word... APPLAUSE for any writer with enough moxie to exert his will over his readers! Can't mention his, (Shhhh! Publishers and editors) lest catch on... Well, enough for this trip...