Lockdown Survival Guide

[wifey]

Many of us have had experiences with our inmates being on lockdown.  Lockdowns can be anywhere from 2 days to several weeks and can be frustrating at best.  The vision for this thread is to brainstorm ideas that will help make the lockdown more tolerable for the inmate and their families.  What ideas can we share to make this unpleasant situation more tolerable?

 Here are a few thoughts:

1. As part of your letters, print several digital pictures on regular computer paper (you might be able to print 6-8 on a page) for your inmate to brighten their day .>>
2. Subscribe to Stateville Speaks or any other publication that is permissible so that they can receive mail during that time.
3. Do a Bible study or book talk through the mail...it will pass the time for both of you (*%#
4. Make sure commissary funds are available and have them stock up for the long haul when needed.
5. Don't panic if you don't hear from them...IPT is a great source of communication to help ease your mind.
6. Turn your worry or frustration into a positive thing by exercising, praying, fasting, or getting organized so that you are not consumed by the lack of communication during a lockdown.  situp1   ..)

I'm sure there are tons of other ideas out there!

[Dazzler]

What a great thread Wifey...also...for those new to the forum we've got lots of different fun things posted and websites listed to print puzzles,  jokes, pillowtalk stories, etc.  There are websites that offer free or greatly reduced magazine subscriptions also.  I used to sign my guy up with every conceivable catalog available....there are sites for catalog registering also.  He enjoyed all the catalogs...everything from electronics to Victoria Secrets....

I like your idea of fasting....for those wanting to drop a few pounds maybe outmates should fast during lockdowns in sympathy for the inmates and to help with those diets...   Well, maybe not fast...but cut down to the minimum....do half-portions....great idea Wifey.

As long letters were really important to him I started one in Word on my computer each day...I'd stop and start the letter all day long...telling him everything that was happening each day...at the end of the night I'd sometimes have twelve typewritten pages.....I'd insert pictures from my picture file also...or from the net to illustrate my letter...I'd change the font and color each day to keep them interesting looking...

[dancer]

That IS a great idea for a thread wifey. 

I've never fasted in sympathy with him.  It'd help me find my waistline again. 
I do the same daz on letters.  I  stop and start and add to them.   Sometimes I look and can't remember if I printed that one off and mailed it!  When we visited last month he said,   are you aware you sent me the exact same letter a few times?  NO of course not or I wouldn't have done it!!     He says when he hears all those little details of what I'm doing and how I'm feeling that it helps take him out of there,  and be with me.   Since I can only afford occassionaly phone calls,  letters are always important to us. 

I think you have to learn to roll with it.   The worst is when you travel to visit and the prison is on lockdown.  I've never had it happen that I couldn't visit even after a few days,  thank God.  I write  4 or 5 times a week.  He was caught without write outs as he had been using vouchers for postage and bought envelopes separately.  Then there were no vouchers to be seen.  So we discussed having an emergency supply of write outs. 

I like the idea of a book or bible study discussion going back and forth!
I sent him  a weird collection of books but he didn't get it before the lockdown was over.   I did photocopy card game rules for two people since he and his cellie were able to play games together. 

I sent him printouts on the houses I was looking at! 

[wifey]

Card game rules....what an awesome idea.  In county they made cards out of milk cartons!  I feel guilty sometimes when I can't write everyday.  My kids hate to write actual letters but with their dad it is different...it also keeps them occupied doing something constructive.  I also have asked my husband to give me a list of chores etc, that must be done each month around the house...general maintenance stuff.  In our unique situation, I have also sent him some things that I am doing at work and have asked for his input on it.  His additions to what I am doing are amazing and it keeps his mind active.

[Dazzler]

...sounds like a man's job to remind us of maintenance...I remember one month J asked me in every letter if I got the oil changed in the car....he kept it up until I got it changed...then he'd move on to another project...like the furnace filter...it was all good though...they were things I tended to overlook...especially since they were his jobs....

[dancer]

I was at target once,  and they had those tear off calendars on sale.   It was maybe  $5 for  365 sheets that had direction for an origami fold on one side,  and were a solid color on the other.   I often tear off  10 or so to send to guys in seg or at Tamms. 

[Jims]

I always send bunches of crossword puzzles for Jim. But the secret is to send them in BEFORE a lockdown starts because depending on what the lockdown is about, the mail could be delayed for many days or weeks.

We also do intimate stories together. I'll start one, send it to him to add to, he sends it back to me, etc. Those can get fun, sexy, silly, affectionate, etc.

There are those coloring books called Roger Burrows IMAGES. They are full of geometric designs and very cool. They only need colored pencils, which are available in the commissary, or crayons. It helps to pass the time and some of the designs are pretty awesome. I like to do these, too - especially when I'm nervous or awaiting something.

They also can play chess, even Scrabble with homemade pieces, either with their cellie or with an inmate within shouting distance.

[Lovinggirlfriend2]

wow those are some great ideas ..... I probably would have never even thought about some of those things.... I'm guilty of not writing as often as I should  only because I hate to write but my says that I've gotten better with it so I'll keep doing what I'm doing.

[dancer]

Jims I don't know if they still have them,  but ARchivers had 12 by 12 scrapbook sheets of a Scrabble board and then a separate sheet for all the letters.  I sent them to a guy at Menard and he got them. 

[Scout]

I have a scrabble board made in Excel..that can be printed, but the letters need to be made up.  I do have a list in the same excel document with the alphabet, how many of each and their point values.  If anyone is interested in this, send me a PM and I'll send it to you.

[Solana]

Thanks for all the good ideas. The only problem is that mail is so horrendously slow - the lockdown is usually over by the time they get anything.   

[Jims]

Solana - exactly. That's why I always send things in before a lockdown happens. He saves it for a lockdown. Then, after the lockdown's over, I replenish it with more lockdown survival activities.

[wifey]

Great ideas on the games.  The other one that is pretty good is Boggle.  I wonder if there are any online versions that can be printed out.  Since we are Catholic, my h. has been saying the rosary and of course memorized all the mysteries as well as what is said on each bead.  He says it not only passes the time but also allows him to be with God...he does 3 rosaries a day for he and I and each of the kids.  I also sent him the Divine Mercy Chaplet which is to be said at 3:00pm every day with a special novena that is done during Easter.  Since he cannot go to church, I try to give him the list of the readings that are done every week.  I called our church office to get a list of them and I just sent it in a letter.  Now he can say his own "mass" !!! Knowing that he can be close to God and still give thanks regardless of the situation that he is in, brings him peace.

[jewels]

All great Ideas, but I have yet to hear from J this month!

[momm316]

Thanks for the wonderful support of IPT.  What wonderful suggestions, comments, and sentiments.
We are all blessed to be able to have this support from those who understand the hardships endured
by inmates and families not only during lockdowns, but in the everday existence within the penal
system.  God is truly moving here and blessing those being touched through this website.

You are an awesome bunch of people.  Keep up the good work!  Karma to you all!

Love, Momm

[dancer]

Jims I like the idea of the inmates having a survival kit ready to go!  And they need to do their part,  and keep extra food on hand and writeouts!  I think they all do this when they can  as it's miserable to be locked down,  hot AND hungry. 

A person could easily make up a boggle version for a cell with just paper and pen.   You could rip up little squares of paper to put letters in,  put them in a cup,  shake them up and then take out 6 or whatever usually shows on the boggle board and make up as many words as you can with it.  It wouldn't  be the same with the words going every which way,  without the actual game.

I have some cool optic illusions, wildflowers and others,  coloring books and sent a few to a TAMMS inmate using water color pencils so he could take water off the pictures to color his own drawings.  He was using skittles and M & M's to color them.  The one he did with the water colors from the pictures I sent has better colors. ( they are posted in our art gallery)

Scout if I get Excel I'm going to take you up on that offer!  A person could play a solitaire version of it to keep themselves occupied.
 
Wifey  I think it was you who posted ideas in another thread that would be good to include here. 

I think it's important to try to put something in the mail as much as you can  during lockdown and just hope it gets to them.  It might be just a postcard .   Even if you don't hear back,  it doesn't mean they aren't getting the mail and feeling encouraged from it.  If you send something like a priority mail envelope stuffed with magazines,  letters, print offs,  I think it's likely to get to them sooner than regular mail.

[wifey]

My h. took spanish in high school and he is bright enough to teach himself some more so I purchased a "teach yourself " book on it.  His cellie is hispanic and they could help each other.  I think being bilingual would be an asset for him.  I don't know if he would want to learn more conversationally or not but I bought the book anyway.  It can't hurt! 

[Jims]

Great idea! I know an inmate there at Stateville who was able to learn Russian AND was able to order the cassette tapes. Stateville allowed it because a guard vouched for the inmate having a genuine interest in learning the language. And the guard also volunteered to listen to the tapes to make certain there was nothing amiss in them (he grew up in a Russian-speaking home).

[momm316]

My son has spent many years and with the assistance of many Spanish speaking friends speaks fluent Spanish.
Currently he's learning Greek and Hebrew.  There is so much that is possible if one puts their "mind" to it.
I have always been in awe of the creative things they do in there to occupy their time.  The development of
items to use for tatooing... the cooking they do.. the brewing my son used to do... I was thinking of the guy
who painted using M&M's.  If some of these guys (mine included) had used thier good sense when they were
young and foolish, maybe they'd still be with us.  But that aside, they are daily using creative thinking skills to
com eup with ways to entertain tehmselves.

God bless yo all.
Momm

[dancer]

I wanted to add Ielene's ideas she posted in another lockdown area.  I had trouble trying to "split" and it went to the wrong place! 


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Cadence


     Re: Stateville Correctional Chat
« on: July 22, 2007, 12:41:52 AM »   

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 We can send lots of mail, as with or without a lockdown it is one of the only thing they look forward to. I make it kind of a journal with what is going on at home so he keeps in touch with home events, even if it sound boring to me it is a lot to him. I also like to play games over the mail like chess, checkers Othello. Also I search the internet for things he can do to keep him busy such as origami and jokes. I have some that I do not know how to post but if you pm me I will send them to you. I also like to make sure he has money and ask him to stock up for a lockdown with paper envelopes and such, I ask him to not use them until a lockdown. Every visit I give him books and mags even if he don't need them in case of a lockdown, SEG or such events. I think at this point all we can do is try and make them as comfortable as we can, use you imagination and then share with the rest of us. When I became a member I remember being so glad he was not sent to Manard because they where always on lockdown, now it is Stateville. Just hang in there and send him prayers, this lockdown wont last forever. I know it is hard but have faith and be there for him. Also remember if you don't get a letter don't freak out it probably means he has no write outs, keep writing him as it will mean so much to him. Good luck and remember we all feel the same frustration as you and someone is always here.