Greetings from Ohio

I left University Heights, OH at 6:00 am this morning and drove - in darkness and rain - to the Marion Correctional Institution. By a few minutes after 9:00 I was in, had set up the camera, releases were signed, Michael was miked, and we were ready to go. I was pretty nervous getting started - not about the prison, but that technology would fail me. I wanted to put my 32GB card in and couldn't find it. I was freaking out! But, I found it. Whew!

We went through a series of questions and wrapped things up minutes before noon. The video images look decent. I'm a little worried about the sound. We were supposed to be in the warden's conference room, but got moved to a staff resource room. Doesn't sound so bad, but it's across from the visiting room and immediately next to some of the very heavy, loud, clanging doors. If the mike picked that up it actually might add something. But, it could also prove to be disruptive. We'll see. I was supposed to record a minute of ambient sound (i.e., the air, no talking), but I forgot! Palm to forehead.

Michael did very well. He was a little nervous at first, but seemed to relax a bit. I isn't easy, but especially not when a member of the warden's staff is sitting five feet away making sure he approves of everything you say. There were only a couple of spots where he said we had to cut it. Basically, no comments about ODRC staff, no names, etc. He seems like a nice guy and he was just doing his job, but it is a bit intimidating, I think.

But, it's done - for now. Tomorrow morning, if all goes according to plan, I'll be interviewing one of Michael's sisters and her adult daughter in Cleveland. Then, later tomorrow afternoon I meet with one of his brothers and his other sister in Toledo. Fingers crossed that it all goes well. Stay tuned. Once we get things cleaned up and the warden's office approves, I'll post something here.