First Prison Writing From Lauren

11/19/06

Lauren's support committee received a letter from Lauren that she wanted sent out to all her supporters. Please forward it far and wide. This was written shortly after Lauren surrendered herself to the facility. We have since heard from her and her spirits remain high. She has started getting letters and is doing well. Please, take a minute to send her a letter to make she that she stays that way:

Lauren Gazzola
#93497-011
FCI Danbury
Federal Correctional Institution
Route #37
Danbury, CT 06811

From Lauren:

"11/19/06
So here I am, comin' correct at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, CT. I figured I'd write a brief note to let everyone know how I'm doing.

www.SupportLauren.com

I got here on Thursday, (11/16). The officer who processed me in commented on how calm I was. What can I say - I've become a zen-like creature. The prison is overcrowded, so I have been in the SHU (Special Housing Unit) since my arrival. There are 3 of us in a 2 person cell, 2 on a bunk bed and one on a mattress on the floor. I am happy to be on the top bunk. The SHU is locked down 24 hours a day, with one hour of rec 3 days a week in a tiny pen outside. But I have not yet gone out since we're in T-Shirts and this is CT in November. Perhaps I'll brave it on Monday.

When I first walked into the office in the housing unit, the officers were looking at a google search on my name. Quite a grand welcome if you ask me.

Despite the intellectual absurdity of having me report to a facility where there is no room, rather then have me spend a bit longer on house arrest (where I'd been for 8 1/2 months already), being here isn't all that bad. I assure you, 24 hour lockdown has not been as bad as it sounds. My cellmates are both nice, and the prison has actually made an effort to get me vegan food (so far it's been mostly raw veggies and beans, but certainly better that the usual nothing I've received elsewhere).

And I've actually enjoyed not having anything to do. It's kind of a treat, as I usually have 47 things to do by yesterday. I haven't gotten mail yet (no mail on weekends, but hopefully Monday), so I'm reading this terrible book by Patricia Cornwell that was in my cell, and I'm loving every minute of it (except it really is terrible, and so I don't think I'll be able to stand much more of her after the novelty of laziness wears off, so please, no Patricia Cornwell when you mail book! :)

Anyway, I really am doing quite well. Anyone familiar with my sunny disposition can rest assured that, thus far, it has held up in here. Just make sure all of you are out there fighting HLS, otherwise I will surely end up crying myself to sleep every night. Please send my support to Jake, Josh, Andy, Kevin and Darius.

Fight Hard,
Lauren" (NOTE: Lauren has now begun to receive letters, this message was written right when she went into the factility. WRITE HER OFTEN!)