Days since my release from 26 years in prison: 22
Time I woke: 4:15
Journal of activities:

Early this morning I spent an hour writing a course plan for my second class at San Francisco State University. I want the students to have advance notice of the topics that we’ll cover during our second class. That way they’ll be able to follow along and contribute as well. Later today I will publish on the appropriate link of this website my notes for class-two and a powerpoint presentation I’ll use to provide the students with a visual perspective. I did not finish the article in the morning because I had to accompany my wife to a meeting that kept me busy until noon. When we returned, I continued my work on the article, but then I had to attend another meeting at Wells Fargo bank that kept me away from my work for two hours. These interruptions really interfere with the progress that I like to make. During the decades that I served in prison, I was able to keep a more disciplined schedule with regard to my exercise. Responsibilities now continuously require me to sacrifice something, and I’m cutting out exercise more frequently than I would like. I use the scale and the calendar to help me choose what activity I’m going to cut. As long as my weight stays within the 162 -168 pound range, I cut the exercise when the calendar dictates that I have too much to accomplish. Carole and I went to the bank because we need to arrange a mortgage. We negotiated with a real estate developer to build us a new home last September. Books I wrote while I was in prison, along with work that I did with my friend Justin Paperny on building a reentry program while I was inside provided me with an income. I deployed some of those resources toward the purchase of a new home. I explained my situation to the developer and persuaded him that I was a good credit risk. He agreed to finance the home until I could qualify for a mortgage. My problem is that 25 years of imprisonment resulted in my having a credit score of zero. Carole and I will not qualify for a mortgage until I have a credit score that is north of 660. Bank of America issued me a credit card a few months ago but that card has not yet begun to register on my credit report. Further, I need three separate lines of credit to begin feeding into the system, the mortgage banker explained. He authorized a second credit card for me that will begin a credit history. Then he opened another financial vehicle called a “portfolio line” that is going to give me a third credit line. We expect that I’ll have a valid credit score by the holiday season. It’s all part of a disciplined, sustained program to build my life and establish myself in society after 26 years of imprisonment. Fortunately, the real estate market has really perked up since Carole and I purchased our new home. Our equity level in the property has grown by more than $50,000 since we purchased our home, and property values in the San Francisco Bay area continue to rise.

Exercise Routine-

• Time: No exercise
• Lenght of time: No exercise
• Miles run today: 0
• Weather: Sunny day in the San Francisco Bay area
• Consecutive days: 0
• Cumulative miles since day off: 0
• Pushups today: 0
• Cumulative pushups for month: 0
• Annual marathon tally: 6

Gratitude prayer:

I’m grateful for every opportunity I have to apply lessons I’ve learned as a long-term prisoner to build a career around my journey.

Appointments:

Today I met with bankers at Wells Fargo to set a plan in motion to establish myself in society.

Links to publications: