I have returned: Merry Christmas everybody

[Golden1245]

Wow, it's been a while. I just got out about 1 1/2 weeks ago and I'm so happy to be back home just in time for the holidays. It's surreal, it's wierd, this freedom, I've definately learned to appreciate life and take it much more seriously.

The experience in there was pretty laid back, I was never subjected to any politics, gangs or danger so thank goodness for that. I'd have to say that the experience was more akin to Adam Sandler's "The Longest Yard" than "American History X" (lot of inmates just hanging out together, shooting the breeze, playing handballl, working out, talking crap about the people who work there).

I held a job teaching windows xp in there and also assisted a pre-release teacher with her classes. I kept a busy schedule, that's necessary for survival in there! Whenever I didn't have to go to work, I would read and write, read tirelessly everything that I should have read along time ago. I had a subscription to "The Economist, Newsweek and the New Yorker" so even though I was stuck in there, I actually became a more cultured/informed person and a better writer too, as a perk. Everything from Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Dickens, Hugo, Joyce, Bronte, Vidal, Hemingway etc, I read, the unabridged editions and discovered the joys of reading. I realized that I also didn't know how to learn back at UCR, I could never get through a page without being distracted by something, I didn't really care to study nor pay attention to what I was reading. Those were bad habits that I broke in prison and I'm steadily keeping up my new ones.

I'm putting down the fashion photography for about 3 years so that I can focus on getting my degree in business advertising, something which I can use with my photography when I pick it up again. I figure I can always do photography when I'm older, but I may lack the tenacity to go to school when I'm 30. Better to get a degree and be safe than sorry. Don't go me wrong, I'll still do shoots for my portfolio every few months, but not to the point where I was doing about 2 every month while I was on bail.

Anyways, that's about it, just wanted to let yall know that I'm back and the c230k, which was misfiring the other day, is now purring like a kitty after having the spark plugs, wires and ignition coil replaced.

Thank you for everyone's support when I was out on bail, it was a very trying time for me, but I appreciated everyone's advice, kind words/encouragement and farewell comments. Merry Christmas =)

[krk230]

^ welcome back !

looks like we are taking similar career paths. i graduated last yr with a business degree but i've always been bent towards the arts...so i've been taking some design and photography courses...just finished up taking a commercial photography class which i realllly loved. got a lot of studio time...worked with 4x5 cameras, analog hasselblads, dslrs (picked up a 50D for myself), tungsten, electronic flash, etc.

i'm gonna apply to art schools for photography and i'm also looking into an advertising art direction Masters program at Virginia Commonwealth University. i'm leaning more towards photography because i genuinely enjoy being behind the camera...so we'll see...i'll be starting in the fall ! 2010 is gonna be a big year

which school are you going to? keep in touch...i'm still on your fb so hit me up whenever !

[Dr. ///AMG]

Yo Golden, glad you've made that stay with CDCR worthwhile for yourself. I wish all of the people I dealt with came out like you. That was a tough lesson, but I think it's safe to say that it'll be the last.

Welcome back!

[Renn 208]

Nothing speaks better of you than how you've spent your time...never let go of that drive to learn and perhaps this may end up being the best thing that ever happened to you?

While you make it sound like not too much of a big deal to endure, it certainly was no vacation, and it's good to know that you spent the time safe and active.

Welcome back, and I wish you the best.

[redline]

Welcome back!

But seriously though, keep shooting. Even if its just going out in the backyard, shoot the little things (I know you will appreciate them even more after your experience). I haven't shot a thing in probably 6 months Work is killing me, but I'm convincing myself to make a large purchase here in the next month or so, which should get me much more excited to pickup the 5D again

Glad to here you are out and safe!

[Luwin1026]

Welcome back! How long total were you in there for? Glad to hear of the seemingly positive spin you were able to put on an otherwise unwelcome situation - the world is out there and yours for the taking!

[Hank]

yea man.. that was pretty quick!

[sanf]

old timers..... welcome back ~

hey everyone.. long time no post... hope u all doing great.

[HdS500]

Welcome back man! I'm happy to learn that you are out as I was quite saddened by what had happened to you.

Life has a strange way to teach us lessons while we are living it, often making us feel that by the time we've learned how to live it is already too late. Although your life lesson was quite brutal you are now a young man with your life in front of you. Enjoy this opportunity that you have by making the best out of your hard-earned maturity.
Best of luck!

[Golden1245]

Thanks for being supportive everyone above!