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by Michael Arnstein
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Thu, 12/19/2019
Day 60, I Witness Something Great: M'Shulum
2 months into my Otisville experience I had the incredible experience of witnessing a remarkable man and his unbreakable faith in the most dramatic way. A blessing to have seen this with my own eyes.
Read MoreSat, 02/23/2019
So I'm in the dinner hall, they had fresh made vegetable soup for dinner; it's potato base with lots of carrots, cabbage, celery, of course salt and some oil, but really not too much at all, it's quite good, they add frozen peas too it, it's not fruitarian approved of course, but man it's friggin freezing outside and I'm starvin and weak food wise in the moment. Anyway, I'm eating a bowl with some of my fellow prison buddies, they're all always asking me 'hey Mike how many miles you at so far today?" 'Ten, gonna get at least another 6-7 after dinner, taking it easy today'. Then it happened!
Read MoreSun, 02/10/2019
I like to run, it makes me feel great no matter what is going on in my life. There was about a 2 year period where I had a running streak going - I would run at least 3 miles a day no matter where I was or what else was happening. I had quite a few runs where I found myself running in unusual places, like an airport departure gate at 2 am before getting on a 15 hour flight to Hong Kong; I think people thought I was nuts running in a very small circle over and over again for 30 minutes, I'm lucky they didn't call security on me! So here I am in Otisville Federal Prison and still running in loops, but here I run a lot lot more than 3 miles a day.
Read MoreMon, 02/04/2019
Otisville Prison Camp Day 1 - Part 5
Yosi looks at me eating the fruit like I'm a youtuber who competes in eating contests, like I was some POW, he has an accent, can't figure out where he's from originally, he's voice is a little scratchy, but soothing tone, he definitely speaks Hebrew in there somewhere, says 'what's wrong with you, you didn't eat today, so hungry?' He's visibly concerned, he says "don't worry, we will take good care of you, you will be fine; you sure you don't want any chicken?"
Read MoreSun, 02/03/2019
Otisville Prison Camp Day 1 - Part 4
I'm outside, all alone, no fence, no bars, I might as well be taking a walk in the woods on a Sunday afternoon. But that's not really the case as one of many reality-check moments hit me, I say to myself 'holy shit, I'm in a prison? This is incredible, crazy! omg!'
Read MoreFri, 02/01/2019
Otisville Prison Camp Day 1 - Part 3
I've been in the submarine for about 8 minutes so far; but now I'm outside again. My brain is still backlogged, trying to catch up with the tsunami of information I just experienced, analysis, revalidating, compartmentalizing and storing for later use. It might have only been about 8 minutes, but felt feels like 3 days of content to burnish and now clear my disk drive quickly for what's to come next.
Read MoreSat, 01/26/2019
Otisville Prison Camp Day 1 - Part 2
I imagine when most people arrive at prison they're understandably very stressed out, scared, depressed, dejected about life in every way. I on the other hand felt quite upbeat, almost in a good mood. Why? I don't think you can plan your moods, they kind of happen based on a lot of variables. I had a good night sleep, had a wonderful run in the woods with great friends, walked into and then Out of a real-looking prison in less than 30 minutes, walking by some really nice nature/deer, seeing recreational fields looking much like a summer camp facility; then warmly greeted by total stranger-convicts, it was all kind of a bizarre yet intriguing experience.
Read MoreThu, 01/24/2019
Otisville Prison Camp Day 1 - Part 1
Otisville New York is located about 90 miles north-north west of Manhattan. The elevation of the prison is 1300 ft, surrounded by classic Northeastern trees, forest all around. It's a rural area, quite smaller towns, seems as if not much has changed in this area of America for a long time outside of paved roads and houses that become more sporadic as you move further away from New York City. The 4 season climate provides a unique experience of all weather from hot summer days to chilling sub zero (F) and blowing snowstorms in the winter months.
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