Easy Trouble is a collection of letters and short stories written by my brother, Brendan, 35, who is currently incarcerated at Central Michigan Correctional Facility. With an instinctive talent for writing, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Literature from the University of Michigan. Through his writing, he express himself with an unfiltered look into his life inside the United States prison system, sharing his story, personal reflections, and daily challenges. An attestment to the…
The days are short and the years are getting shorter. It s my seventh birthday in prison, but, otherwise, boring, routine, and uneventful like any other day, if a bit more depressing. I make a few calls in the morning. No one answers, but I don t take it personal. They have jobs to go to. It s Continue reading “Birthday Trips”
As the years slide by, I forget the petty slights, the adolescent dramas, the tawdry duplicity behind so many personal rifts. At the time, I clung to protecting my ego, called it sticking to my principles , and ended up lonelier for the trouble. But as my sentence winds down, and I am indeed lonelier me writing Continue reading Midline Lifeline Goals
I start each month poring thru the Channel Guide. It s the ghetto version of the TV Guide. On the subscription card insert, there s a spot to put your inmate number and facility name. Finding something good to watch among the constant stream of inane bullshit requires diligence. Cable TV is 30% reruns, 30% movies, 25% Continue reading “Small Mundane Joys “
Jung s Seminar on Nietzsche s Zarathustra ed. James L. JarretHow We Trade Options Jon Pete NajarianTales of Dune Brian Herbert Kevin J. Anderson I ve been watching a lot of CNBC lately. Although I harbor some moral reservations about aspects of Wall Street, like high-frequency trading, rampant speculation, and day trading, it s Continue reading Books I Read This Month May2025
The prison movie channel is supposed to air new content every couple days. It rarely adheres to that standard. All the movies, TV shows, and necessary licenses are paid for by the Prisoner Benefit Fund, which is funded by taxing every prisoner purchase 15%, from commissary to TVs to sweatpants. Last fiscal year, the PBF Continue reading “Prison Channel Static”
When I was first came down, I flailed around and stuck out. I was white, thin, and ink free. I wanted to belong so I didn t exercise too much judgment in whom I hung around. The first dude to approach me asked if I wanted to play spades. I jumped at the chance. I wanted Continue reading How Not To Pick Friends In Prison
Sometimes, I get million dollar business ideas just from watching TV. (I can t turn this brain off.) The movie No Hard Feelings served as inspiration. The story revolves around a ne er-do-well, 30 something Jennifer Lawrence, who is hired by an ultra wealthy couple to seduce their geeky, awkward son and take his virginity before he Continue reading Shark Tank Pitch
I m teaching a creative writing class. Well, I ve been helping out for 8 months, but this is the first time I m the primary facilitator. The class includes very diverse demographic groups, of varying abilities. It s been a learning experience for myself as much as for them. I m not always the most extroverted person, but I Continue reading “Freedom Prison Writers”
Drew was going home in the morning, so my cubie and I compared notes. Drew told me the parole board had recommended drug rehab at Kpep as part of his parole conditions, because he had let slip that the parents of his girlfriend drank alcohol, and he was paroling to their house. Drew had often Continue reading “Undercover Chomo“
Consciousness Is All There Is Dr. Tony NaderThe Illuminati Handbook Magus IncognitoSpiritual Telepathy Colleen MauroLetter to a Young Poet Rainer Maria Rilke There s a reason for the spiritual slant to the stuff I ve been reading. In my peer recovery class, we started talking about how what we do affects everyone, because Continue reading Books I Read This Month March 2025