Received a letter from out PTO FrogLady.
If anyone else gets one and would like to add parts, please keep it in this thread. This way we can have somewhat of an online journal going...as time progresses!

Here is some of what she has to say...

Wow! Yours was the first letter I've received & boy was PTO right when they talked about how important it is to receive mail. Four days of going to mail call before I heard my name and I was ready to get anything-even a bill! When I think about all the junk mail I received at home and threw straight in the trash....even that would look good now!

Things are going pretty much as I expected. It's still frustrating not knowing all "the ropes", but I know that will come in time. There are lots of ladies wiling to be helpful-I just don't know to ask the right questions! Also, I'm alittle disappointed that I couldn't go right into my plan for getting back in shape, because the steel-toed boots hurt me feet so bad, I just want to get off my feet by the end of the day. Okay-there is my complaining out of the way! :p

So far I've met a couple PTO'ers-Patsy and Busymans wife. I'll be able to find more once my daughter mails me my list. I'm sure I will find more by next week. DO you know what unit Dawn is on? (anyone know???). I know I will meet more people once I get out and start participating in more activities, too.

I'm staying positive, althought I'll have to admit this whole change of routine has probably left me a little unfocused. I'm a person who likes to be organized and have a set routine for certain things and I'm still trying to work all that out here. Like when I do my laundry, whats the best time to take a shower etc. I like to put mundane things of life on autopilot, so I can concentrate on the good stuff!

hey this is good to hear...and I think when she talks about Dawn..she means me...we had pm'd each other and in her last pm she thought I was reporting the same week she did...but i will see her Wed.....

I am glad she is doing well!!!!
Dawn
Received a letter from out PTO FrogLady.
If anyone else gets one and would like to add parts, please keep it in this thread. This way we can have somewhat of an online journal going...as time progresses!

Here is some of what she has to say...

Wow! Yours was the first letter I've received & boy was PTO right when they talked about how important it is to receive mail. Four days of going to mail call before I heard my name and I was ready to get anything-even a bill! When I think about all the junk mail I received at home and threw straight in the trash....even that would look good now!

Things are going pretty much as I expected. It's still frustrating not knowing all "the ropes", but I know that will come in time. There are lots of ladies wiling to be helpful-I just don't know to ask the right questions! Also, I'm alittle disappointed that I couldn't go right into my plan for getting back in shape, because the steel-toed boots hurt me feet so bad, I just want to get off my feet by the end of the day. Okay-there is my complaining out of the way! :p

So far I've met a couple PTO'ers-Patsy and Busymans wife. I'll be able to find more once my daughter mails me my list. I'm sure I will find more by next week. DO you know what unit Dawn is on? (anyone know???). I know I will meet more people once I get out and start participating in more activities, too.

I'm staying positive, althought I'll have to admit this whole change of routine has probably left me a little unfocused. I'm a person who likes to be organized and have a set routine for certain things and I'm still trying to work all that out here. Like when I do my laundry, whats the best time to take a shower etc. I like to put mundane things of life on autopilot, so I can concentrate on the good stuff!

Great to get another report from inside... I hate it that you all are having to go in but it's great to see everyone staying in contact and expanding our support network inside prison.

"As far as classes are concerned, here they offer GED, Cosemotology(fee 175), some college credit classes like history, Government, Sociology, etc., and some shorter classes (6-8 weeks) in things like keyboarding, Spanish, sign language & creative writing. There are also certain classes that you have to take like employability & personal finance. These are half-day or one day classes. There are many others of this type(the list is two pages long) plus classes related to health and fitness. I was amazed when I saw the recreation department here. They have all types of equipment and activities to participate in, from exercise classes to hobby/craft classes. I'm taking beginning yoga which is a totally new activity for me. Also we are in the middle of softball season right now. I don't play, but I enjoy going to the games. Some of the classes are taught by professionals from the outside, and some are taught by inmates. GED and horticulture classes are always daytime classes. The other classes vary-my yoga class is at 7:30pm on Wednesdays.

Living quarters- Here at Bryan there are four dormitories they refer to as units. My unit is Madison. Each unit houses about 250 inmates, 4 to a room-two sets of bunk beds in each room. We have a double locker for each person, a samll desk & chair. The walls are all concrete block, floors are linoleum. Personally, I was amazed at how clean the living quarters are. There are two levels, or floors to each unit that open out to a common area. There are no doors on the rooms. There are 4 bathrroms per unit, with private toilet stalls and private shower/dressing stalls with doors, so you do have some privacy, although not much."


She goes on to say that she received her first pap-smear/xray that she had in years and was scheduled for a mamogram also. It was a long letter and I am not the greatest typist so I cut it short.

Brand new to the forum, still trying to work out some private issues from my incarceration, thought that I may be able to help someone else. I was also in Madison Unit for one month while waiting for my move to the ICC (boot camp) unit. Don't know Froglady, but glad that she has so much support. It is SOO important to know that there are people out there that are thinking about you. LOL....yes, getting mail is like Christmas!! So hard to think about, just checking out some pictures here on the forum that were posted last year of FPC Bryan....woo...freaked me out a little. If anyone does have any questions about the ICC at FPC, Bryan....feel free to get ahold of me. LH522

P.S. I wish I had know about this forum BEFORE I WENT IN! Bless you all!

Welcome to PTO! Glad you have found us even after the fact!

Please feel free to share anything you think may help...I don't believe we have any information on the womens ICC...would be great to have a post about it with any info that could help others considering or facing it!

Glad you joined us!

Diane

I am Dawn Zimmermann's mom. She is in the Madison Unit at Bryan. Last I heard from her two of the ladies from PTO are room-mates and they have become friends. They were a great help to her when she first got there. She is taking several different classes including the horniculture class. exercise class, sign language as she has a niece who is deaf and a couple of the ladies are trying to teach her to crochet. LOL I wish them luck.
Her hubby is flying down tomorrow for his first visit and on Oct. 15th we will be taking her 5 children and hubby down for a visit. The trip in Oct. should be some trip driving 858 miles one way with 5 kids in the van. LOL
For those of you who have talked to her in PTO just wanted to let you know she is doing ok. She is trying to keep busy to make the time pass quicker. She also said she now has some very dear friends from PTO there. They changed the meds she was taking but the new ones they put her on are working well.
Will update later. Sometimes it is hard for me to get on the computer now as I go over to Dawn's house almost every morning and get the kids off to school and bring the 2 year old home with me. Then I work in the afternoon and grandpa watches her until dad gets home from work.
Have a great day everyone.
Shirley

Hi Shirley! :wave:

Glad to see you stop in! Sure sounds like you have a handfull with all those beautiful grandchildren!

It's really been helpful to those surrendering to know others upon arrival! Hopefully Dawn will make some good firends too!

Please keep us posted! And let her know we hold her in our thoughts!

Diane

PS...Have fun on that trip, lol

:clap: Just thought I would jump in and let you know Gene's visit with Dawn was great. He is a lot more at ease now that he has had a chance to see her. He said her attitude is great and even though she misses her children she is happy. She makes many phone calls home to talk to Gene and the kids.
We are looking forward to the trip the 15th. Bought a mobile DVD player today to help keep the kids occupied on the long drive down and back.
This is the latest update on Dawn.
Shirley

Thanks again for the update.

Hi everyone,
Loaded up the van last weekend with Gene and the 5 grandkids for our trip to Bryan. The trip went great and the kids were as good as gold.
Dawn is going fine and is looking good. We had a good visit and thankfully the weather was great so we spent a lot of time outside where the kids could run and play. Got a chance to meet FrogLady and BusyMan while we were there.
I believe Dawn said FrogLady is in the horniculture class with her and they also sit around in the evening and crochet. I do not think they are in the same unit.
We also met a few other people but cannot remember if they were PTO members or not.

Hi..my daughter reported to Bryan on Monday the 18th. Leaving her there was the hardest thing we ever had to do. I was a total mess all week and don't know how her father and I even managed to work this week, though I know that work and routine is what kept us going. She was finally able to call us on Friday. What a relief to hear her voice! We were able to visit yesterday. Luckily for us, the drive is only 100 miles so we will be able to go often. She seems to be adjusting well, having lived the 'dorm' life recently, although she does get a little frustrated not knowing all the 'ropes' as was posted above. Says that everyone has been helpful and friendly in her unit though. It was such a relief to see her and spend the afternoon with her..I know we will all get through this now and we will get her back in school before too long! She has only met one other PTOer so far and is looking forward to meeting Murphsmom when she reports this week. Thank you Murphsmom for communicating with my daughter and her mother! It has been so helpful even though we know you are going through your own difficulties right now.

You are most welcome, Angels Mom. It has given me pleasure to communicate with you and your daughter. I am short-timing now, tho, and want to thank you for staying in touch. We'll see each other soon.

Hello, I am soon to be sentenced to federal prison and I am hoping from what I have read to go to Bryan. I am 24 years old and a mother of a 2 year old little girl. I think it will be the hardest thing I will have to do is leave her. I am not sure of how long I will be in for, but any tips would be great. My mother is driving me crazy with questions and I know she is just nervous for me. My husband doesn't say much but I know it is killing him also. So please send me any advice or tips I welcome them very much.

Hi Kaci,
Good luck! My daughter is at Bryan as well as many others from PTO. She has met many ladies she talked to on PTO and made many friends there.
You can Prison Talks seach engine and type in FPC Bryan Tx. and get a lot of information there. One of the members here has also posted some pictures Bryan.
We have only been able to visit our daughter once since she was sent there as it is 858 miles from our home.

Hi Kaci-


I am going in too- in April. I don't know where I will be designated yet, but I know how you feel. I am leaving behind an eight year old son. I have received so much information form this site. You may want to check out the Womens Prison Camp section- and read the entire thread, it will help you alot. Best of luck and if you need to talk to someone "in your shoes" just pm me and I will give you my number. Last night I spoke to Mach 1 on the phone and it really helped.

-Kim

Can someone tell me about the prison attire at Bryan. I was just wondering. I am wanting any informtion actually about anything I need to know there.

Please check out the Womens Camp thread in the federal forum. It has lots of info about Bryan.