An Impressive Commercial

Have you all seen the United Way commercial? I just saw it today and thought: "wow!, that's powerful and that's exactly the way I think"

It showed a woman in the self check out aisle in the grocery store. Each time she scans an item, an automated voice comes on that says for example: "Four dollars and ninety nine cents, that's 1 hour at the minimum wage."

It continues like this and the woman looks distressed. The male voiceover says:

THIS IS WHAT LIFE IS LIKE FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS MAKING LESS THAN 21 THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR

Bravo, I say. Now although the United Way is not one of my favorite charities, I'm always pleased at any device that communicates the message of what poverty is like.

Have you seen the commercial?

"Extreme danger"

I can no longer cope with the extreme danger that I am in at my apt. bldg. Someone (you and I both know who) was in my apt. again on Friday. The officer would not take a report, would not test the blood streak, and would not test for fingerprints. I told her who it is and she said that I would need their last names. I told her that the management company hasn't given us any last names. She asked me why not? I thought that was a silly question,,,,,,,,,,,,because they're totally unprofessional, that's why. The officer (she) said that there is nothing she can do to help me if I can't give her a last name.

I was incredulous. I tried to explain to her "well if you won't help me then who will?" She said that I can call an officer again on Monday morning and have him get the last names for me. Then she said, if I want the robberies to stop, I'm going to have to go to 500 Calvert and put out a warrant for their arrest.

Already, I fear the stress of living like this is going to prematurely kill me, and don't think it's worth hanging around. Obviously however a disability paycheck is not enough to afford fair market rent, and I don't have the voucher that I was supposed to be given in 2004, that allows me to move into subsidized housing anywhere in the u.s.

So, I've come up with another creative idea to solve my housing needs. I am interviewing the men on the chatline to see who wants a housemate, compiling a list, conducting phone, then in person interviews. I'll compile an emergency list of safe houses in MD, PA, DE, NY and NJ.

This is what every day is like for me since 1993. It's 24/7 work. Wish me luck.

On "Getting There" and trying for a better life

There are two Baltimore programs where if you jump through lots and lots of hoops and are on Social Security Disability and meet lots of other qualifications you can ride taxis anywhere in Baltimore for a 3 dollar one way fare. I tried for two years to get into this program with no luck, but I tried again today, and I think I've got a real good shot this time.

This could really better my life.  With the buses being so exhausting, and the streets being so dangerous, I rarely get to travel outside of a 6 mile radius. Additionally, there have been thousands of jobs I couldn't get because I didn't have "reliable transportation."

These taxis are very reliable and could really better my chances of being able to get and maintain meaningful work.

Wish me luck!

"You are more then your job title"

If there is one thing I've learned in the last 15 years, it's never, ever judge a person by their job title.

 Some of my most rewarding social interactions I've had have been with taxi drivers.  Most are very educated! Take Hank for example. Hank is about 65 ,  owns a Baltimore theatre, writes screenplays and sends them off to his son who is an actor in Hollywood!

And Mike, I just met him a few days ago. He's my age, African American and grew up in the south. He is writing 2 books.  the subject matter is "sexual molestation in the African American community.  In that 4 mile cab drive, I attempted to get him connected into the Baltimore arts community.

When he dropped me off, he asked me if he could read me one of his poems.  The subject is suicide.   In the poem he wrote, he purports that so many smile their way through the day, but are deeply hurting on the inside. He also told me of a wealthy woman who sponsored him for a summer camp when he was 17. She sent him to a special survival camp where he learned how to survive in the wild!

5 years ago, I had a Starbucks clerk named Sarah, who was a voice major at Peabody.  I attended her concert and she had one of the most beautiful voices I had heard in my life!

   She was due to move to New York City to work as a singer and sadly I never heard from her again.  My friend Arlene asked:

 "Why bother investing in a relationship if they're just going to move away?"

 (Because I like the excitement of meeting new people, even if there is a chance the relationship will be short lived)

WE ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN OUR JOB TITLE! WOULDN'T YOU AGREE? I'd love to hear your story of someone you met who was so much more then their title!

"Blood test results"

 I was worried that my Lyme Disease was progressing rapidly, so I  had a bunch of blood tests done.

albumin level was low

  No surprise really. in that I've incurred years and years of severe malnourishment and severe food shortages.   My lyme disease test came back as negative.

  Are you confused? There are different camps of thinking on Lyme. Some believe that even when a blood test shows up negative you may still have Lyme. My current doctor adamantly disagrees with that and says that I absolutely do not have lyme disease.

I am borderline anemic, so I should increase my iron levels. 

  My B12 is normal, that was a surprise.

  My thyroid was normal and that was a surprise.

  There is an auto immune test that they do that is called ANA and I can not remember what those letters stand for. It was positive and that isn't good, but my Dr. is not worried.

Regarding the terror  over my nerve damage and the fact that my limbs have 24/7 pins and needles, numbness and frequent falling asleep, my doctor wants me to see a neurologist.

 He said he can't make predictions such as whether or not I'd end up in a wheelchair, and doesn't want me to worry, but to have the neurologist look into the ANA thing further, so I can find out the source of the nerve damage, which I assumed was the Lyme, since it is a Lyme symptom.

This is the best health care I've had in 20 years, and it's been a long time coming. I'll keep you informed on the outcome of my upcoming appointment with the neurologist.

How to cope with being "stood up"

On taking risks on meeting new people.....it's worth it. Even though 90% will stand you up. At least that's been true in my life experience. It's been just as true with making new women friends as it has been for making new men friends. Let me provide my own definition of being "stood up"

I'm going to broaden the definition for the purpose of this piece. Stood up means, at the last minute they don't show. They may call you at the last minute or they might not call you at all. It's no fun, but here is how I cope.

I was supposed to meet a "new friend" today for lunch. When I called him to tell him that I'd be there in 15 minutes he said: "oh, didn't you get my message?" "I can't be there"

So as to not be crushed by these frequent last minute cancellations and no shows, I have people meet me at a place that I'd be at anyhow. I had planned to have lunch at one world even before the meeting was scheduled. So, no great shakes. Yeah, it'd be nice to have the company, but the no show has not inconvenienced me.

I don't really "date" I just kind of do something like this: "Hey Mike, I'll be at Starbucks from 8 to 10 p.m. on Tues. night. I'll be wearing a green t shirt and burgundy pants, come by if ya like!"

"Hey, you're kinda cute, are you single?!"/The month of September

About 10 years ago a psychic told me that MY month is September. Not much of a surprise to me in that it is my favorite North American month, since I love fall and the crisp clear blue sky. More specifically she said that if good things are going to happen to me in love and in money it will be in September.

I met my last boyfriend Gene, at a party on the last day of August 2004. Although we only "dated" for about 6 weeks, it did prove true that the relationship essentially started in September.

One of the healthiest work environments I've ever been in was the Young School which was in Columbia. They hired me as a Spanish teacher for preschoolers in 2000. The job started in September 2000.

So, carrying on here with my September theme, on the morning of September 1st (2007) I went to Brick Wall Pharmacy to pick up a few things. As I started to do some shopping it hit me that I forgot my debit card. I had 5 dollars in cash on me. As I put my stuff on the counter, I asked Andrea (my favorite cashier) to itemize for me.


  A very attractive man in front of me said to Amanda "just go ahead and ring up the entire order!" She said: "pardon me?" I was also baffled! He said "ring up the entire order!" I turned to the man and said: "don't worry sir, I live next door I can always go get my money." He smiled looked at the total and gave Amanda exact change! Amanda and I were stunned. It's the rare man whose looks make me look twice but his did. And even though it was only for five dollars and twelve cents, it made Amanda and I's day! Before we could snap our fingers the man was exiting the drug store. I yelled:

"HAPPY SEPTEMBER AND THANK YOU!