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Easy Trouble

Easy Trouble is a collection of letters and short stories written by my brother, Brendan, 35, who is currently incarcerated at Central Michigan Correctional Facility. With an instinctive talent for writing, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Literature from the University of Michigan. Through his writing, he express himself with an unfiltered look into his life inside the United States prison system, sharing his story, personal reflections, and daily challenges. An attestment to the persistence of the human spirit. As his brother, I created this blog with him after exchanging many heartfelt messages, reading about his experiences navigating prison culture and adjusting to life behind bars. Here, I share his stories and messages to give insight into his current situation and journey. Readers can connect with him through JPAY. Michigan Department of Corrections Location: Central Michigan Correctional Facility. Inmate ID #511007

  • Donations now accepted on the main page
  • Donations now accepted on the main page

Month: March 2023

jPay Message #500

The hardest days are the cold days, the bleak days when there's no sun, the days of despair when I wake up and try to hold onto dreams I can't quite remember, but can't fall back asleep. Outside, the wind makes the temperature feel like zero, but it's the promise I made myself--I force myself … Continue reading jPay Message #500 →

Brendan inmate, jail, prison 3 Comments March 31, 2023 1 Minute

jPay Message #496

The new cubies and I are chopping it up before our unit is called to chow, bitching about the retarded line workers. We're still getting to know each other, so we go around talking about what we're in for. Junior, at this point, tries to quietly fade into the background of the conversation. The two … Continue reading jPay Message #496 →

Brendan prison 1 Comment March 31, 2023 1 Minute

jPay Message #495

It's either the best of days or the worst. Depending on how you jail, you eagerly anticipate the arrival of store day or dread it. The day marks the deadline to settle all accounts. Store day is a week long affair that comes every other week. Only two units get their store each day, so … Continue reading jPay Message #495 →

Brendan authors, blog, prison Leave a comment March 31, 2023 1 Minute

Donations go directly toward Brendans commissary, and he is deeply grateful to everyone who takes the time to read his writings. As a token of appreciation, Brendan will send a handwritten thank-you letter for each donation received.

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Latest Posts

  • “Birthday Trips”
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Jpay Catalog

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If you read the blog and would like to reach out to Brendan, you can create a jPay account. To send and receive messages you will need to purchase "stamps". When you send a message, be sure to select "include pre-paid stamp"—this will allow Brendan to write back. Thank you for your interest and support.

jPay info to create an account: Michigan Department of Corrections, Inmate ID: 511007

Address to send hand-written letters: 320 Hubbard St., St. Louis, MI 48880 (be sure to add your name and Brendan’s inmate ID)

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Brendan’s Jailhouse Cook book and before prison life stories

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Story Catalog

  • “Rambling Reflections on Addiction”
  • “The Dog Pound”
  • Moving Day
  • “Penitentiary Mating Calls”
  • “Stuck In The 90s”
  • “Writer’s Rules”
  • “A Shitty Mental Health Tip”
  • “The Ride In”
  • “Breath Counting”
  • “Surreality Part 2”
  • “How I Meditate”
  • “Predators Have Feelings Too”
  • “Thirst Turns To Hunger”
  • “Bad Dreams”
  • “Degenerate Woes”
  • “Prison Vices”
  • “No New Friends”
  • “Bunkie Love”
  • “Superheroes”
  • “Zen and the Art of Table Fan Maintenance”
  • “What I’ve learned About Working Out”
  • “The Importance of Changing Pants”
  • “Politics As Usual”
  • “Catheads”
  • “Overdosing on Reality TV”
  • “Birthday”
  • “Crank Tanker”
  • “Whatever Works”
  • “The Plot Thickens”
  • “Dreaming Brand New”
  • “Empathy For Aliens”
  • “So you’re going to prison…”
  • “Penitentiary Paychecks for COVID Relief”
  • “Prison Playlist Problems”
  • “Randy Meth Man Savage”
  • “Pole-Barns”
  • “A Convicts Guidelines to Meditation ”
  • “The Absolution From My Dirty Laundry”
  • “The skinny on skinheads”
  • “Neurotransmitter Nirvana”
  • “Constant Reminder”
  • “Jailing with the old heads”
  • A thing about italics….
  • “Angels with filthy souls”
  • “Convict Archetypes”
  • How to Play Pinochle: Rules, Procedures, Cheat Sheets
  • “A Prison Pastime: Pinochle”
  • Prison Glossary
  • “A Brief History of the Fentanyl Epidemic”
  • “Release Date Reveries”
  • “Playboys, Perversions, and a Prayer”
  • “Bench Player”
  • “Crazy, Sexy, Cool”
  • “Duality”
  • “Dirty Laundry”
  • “Jail Bird”
  • “A Cautionary Tale”
  • “Rocky III”
  • “Great Expectations”
  • Dave
  • Omar tribute
  • “Slow Jamz”
  • “TV & Nirvana”
  • “All The Small Things “
  • “Comic Con”
  • “Bewitched”
  • “Sweats is the new suit”
  • To the Reader
  • “Higher Learning”
  • “Post-It Notes From the Underground”
  • “Kid Icarus”
  • “Hope Beyond Dope”
  • “Crude Reminder”
  • “Country Road with Rick Ross”
  • “A Quick and Brief Enlightenment”
  • “Finding Myself in a Prison Weight Pit (Antidote)”
  • “Surreality”

Subscribe to get access to all of Brendan’s stories and writing before prison .

Subscribe today for more content and gain exclusive access to personal and vulnerable stories from before incarceration, as well as unique prison narratives available only to subscribers. He sincerely appreciates everyone who takes the time to read his writing.

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