May 2024 Hello, my name is Daniel. Although within the confines of this prison, they call me DaeDae. I should start by saying that my real nick name is DP. Those are my initials, and the name given to me in High School by my baseball teammates. However, DaeDae originated by my choosing to keep away from any negative comments or jokes, which would lead to fights and ultimately punishment. So DaeDae it is. A nod to the Friday movie series where the only “making fun of” my name now is – “HeyDaeDae, That Crazy Bitch Outside!” Which can be quite amusing, especially in reference to asshole CO’s, cranky nurses, or just plain reminiscing on old movie scenes.
I came to be incarcerated during the Covid lockdowns. My (adopted) city, Chicago, was in the thick of things during this time. I got a little carried away and continued my ‘looting’, after the official lootings took place. I was ultimately charged with Robberies for the stores I had stolen out of. I was sentenced in Cook County, processed through Stateville, sent to Pickneyville, and recently transferred to Western.
That brings me to now. Sitting in segregation (well, standing actually, as I stand to write on the empty Top Bunk in my cell due to no desk for me to use) writing my first Blog entry. I am about two months in on a six month segregation bid. Scheduled for release back to General Population in late September.
I have no plans on what I will discuss in my blogs each month. But I will try to make them interesting enough to keep you coming back each month to read my next installment.
Sports — I love sports! My main favorites are football (Patriots, yes even w/o Tom Brady), Basketball (Bucks), Baseball (Brewers and White Sox) and Hockey. As far as college sports, I root mainly for Wisconsin, although I have a lot of betting favorites that I follow (Appalacian State, Liberty, Oregon, SDSU, Marquette, UNLV). Yes I am an avid gambler and am quite good at what I bet on, whether it be sports or cards. I love hitting the casinos and placing a wager. I used to be a blackjack and poker dealer pre-covid, so I am pretty good at both.
Music — My top 5 artists are: Future, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Durk, and Young Thug.
Travel — I have been to 32 states, and have ambitions to travel abroad to the Caribbean to visit Barbados, St. Martin, Trinidad, and Virgin Islands to name a few. Most of Europe does not excite me, although I am interested in Amsterdam’s night life.
Thank you for reading my first installment of which I plan to continue up unto my release back to the free world. I invite you to check back in on me monthly. I hope to share with you more about myself, as well as stories from this side of the fence.
Stay safe out there, -DP
About the blogger: Daniel Patrykus is a Mullato-Millenial, born in 1996. He's incarcerated in the Illinois DOC. A native of Wisconsin, Daniel recently began residing in Chicago. He loves sports, music, and travel.
If you don’t mind, do you feel like sharing why you’re in seg? Our seg here means basically like a “prison jail” so I’m just curious. Excited to read your future writings.