Last week I was hanging out at a new coffee shop called "The French Press" A girl biked by and I thought she looked like someone I knew. I wondred if it was. Anyhow she came into the shop and I was struck and how much she looked like me. She's 19 and could pass as my daughter with the thick curly dirty blonde long hair and blue eyes. She sat her backpack down and I saw an engraving "Becky!"
I told her that's my name too. (My middle name) She's a voice and piano major and dances in a swing club. She came into the cafe in part to practice on their piano. She let me join in and we did some wonderful harmonizing. There was only one piece of sheet music that i didn't know well, all the rest of her music i knew and just loved. So we sang:
"Allelujah"
"One of US"
"Country Road" (James Taylor)
"Angel"
I can't recall who does what but we did McLaughlin and Jewel, 2 of my fave artists..........................
(Did you know that my parents forced me to study piano for 5 years?)
Many years later I took it up of my on "a chord!" at Catonsville Community College and studied it as an elective but never got very good at it......................................
Thursday, June 11, 2009
"Some of my greatest fears"
My greatest fears about living in the country were that I'd have no phone or no car. That is almost exactly what has happened. The mechanic fixed my car last Thursday with the 800 donation from the philanthropist. Monday the "low coolant" sign came on and I drove with baited breath from cockeysville to carroll county with no real serious problems.
My neighbor who says he knows a bit about coolant stuff eyeballed the car and thought something was wrong with the water pump. He told me to take it to "Mike's auto" I did that and Mike said that he can't tell by eyeballing it and that I'll have to take it back to the city where it's under warranty.
This morning when I headed for the city I sensed their was something very wrong and the overflow bottle won't hold much coolant at all. I drive the 40 miles to the mechanic and he says that the car is dangerous to drive, the engine could blow up, and that the problem he sees has nothing with the work he did, but that now I need a new radiator. I said, oh boy, i don't have any more money. Could you please give me an estimate I asked? He said, what's the point if you don't have any money? Could you give me an estimate anyway? Yes, 439.00. So, with much hesitation I called the same person who helped last time and it looks like she will probably help again.
I asked the mechanic if I should have someone follow me back to carroll county? He said "that's up to you" "you got it here without anyone following you
just pull over and wait if the engine overheats"
So, here i am in pikeville, i'll wait 90 minutes and then I'll head north. The mechanic gave me a gallon of water to keep pouring in there on the way back to carroll county. The other reason I had to drive to balto. is because i asked everyone in town yesterday "where are the pay phones?" "there aren't any that I know of" people replied. "Wal Mart?" maybe w.m. has a phone. "Where is the closest bank (my bank branch has free phones) "9 miles away, the librarian said"
My cell phone has 14 minutes left and it costs 33 cents a minute. So, it's cheaper for me to drive to baltimore than to keep filling my cell with minutes. Supposedly att will give me a landline sometimes next week but only after i pay the security deposit by money order. They don't take checks...............................................
My neighbor who says he knows a bit about coolant stuff eyeballed the car and thought something was wrong with the water pump. He told me to take it to "Mike's auto" I did that and Mike said that he can't tell by eyeballing it and that I'll have to take it back to the city where it's under warranty.
This morning when I headed for the city I sensed their was something very wrong and the overflow bottle won't hold much coolant at all. I drive the 40 miles to the mechanic and he says that the car is dangerous to drive, the engine could blow up, and that the problem he sees has nothing with the work he did, but that now I need a new radiator. I said, oh boy, i don't have any more money. Could you please give me an estimate I asked? He said, what's the point if you don't have any money? Could you give me an estimate anyway? Yes, 439.00. So, with much hesitation I called the same person who helped last time and it looks like she will probably help again.
I asked the mechanic if I should have someone follow me back to carroll county? He said "that's up to you" "you got it here without anyone following you
just pull over and wait if the engine overheats"
So, here i am in pikeville, i'll wait 90 minutes and then I'll head north. The mechanic gave me a gallon of water to keep pouring in there on the way back to carroll county. The other reason I had to drive to balto. is because i asked everyone in town yesterday "where are the pay phones?" "there aren't any that I know of" people replied. "Wal Mart?" maybe w.m. has a phone. "Where is the closest bank (my bank branch has free phones) "9 miles away, the librarian said"
My cell phone has 14 minutes left and it costs 33 cents a minute. So, it's cheaper for me to drive to baltimore than to keep filling my cell with minutes. Supposedly att will give me a landline sometimes next week but only after i pay the security deposit by money order. They don't take checks...............................................
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
"Welcome to the neighborhood!"
You know I love synchronicity and have an awful lot of it in my life. Just now, I was sitting near the children's computers here at the library, and I heard a voice coming from the computer that sounded like Barney the purple dinosaur!
He said: "Welcome to the neighborhood. It's fun to explore a new neighborhood especially with friends like you. Here's the map, where would you like to go first?"
at this point the little girl clicked her mouse on bakery
We're at the bakery! This is chef ridenour and he makes a fabulous chocolate croissant! Click on the toaster and you can help me put the toast on the plates!
------------------------------------------------------------
Ok back to my life folks. The man who agreed to provide his truck to me for 100 dollars was a no show. So, me and 3 other women had to do all the lifting of the bedroom dresser set and dining room set ourselves. We took everything apart, one of my la pew neighbors put in in D's SUV so snugly that when we got to the new address we couldn't get it out right away! That was physically very hard and hilarious at the same time. We looked like the 4 stooges trying to get this furniture out of the suv and onto a dolly.
"O.K. everybody, calling the person who has the least amount of injuries to help here!"
Anyhow, that parts done.
Monday I'm returning from Baltimore and my worse fear happens. The car is "breaking down" again. The check coolant light comes on. I check it and despite the fact that Sarah just spent 800 on my car getting that problem fixed it is still not fixed. I most certainly don't have any repair money left. Even though the car repairs are under warranty, the mechanic will never agree to pay for the towing, I just know that. What should I do? I call progressive at a pay phone, cuz i have no minutes on my cell, and order tow service coverage. It will be 24 hours before it kicks in. Will the car make it back to carroll county? I don't have time to stop by radio shack to buy minutes for the cell phone because that will mean I'll have to drive to c.c. in the dark on rural roads with a car that is breaking down. So, my only choice is, to head home on rural road with no cell phone with my hazard lights on and pray the car doesn't totally break down.
It's 8:30 at night and I'm lost. I try to flag a driver down to get directions but they drive so fast and won't stop to help me. Thank goodness I eventually find a man in a front yard who tells me where my home is!
I get home in the knick of time. 9 p.m. just at dark. Next morning I walk over to the manager's office to make some critical phone calls. She's not there. Come back at 10:30 a.m. office is closed. So , I know no one, have no phone service, no working car and no food and don't know anybody.
A man from "my village" Brian, 61, is walking over to the laundry room. I introduce myself to him and explain my plight. I've found the right person! He lends me his cell, WALKS BACK TO HIS APT, LEAVING ME ALONE WITH HIS CELL AND HIS CLOTHES IN THE DRYERS! (wOW, NOBODY IN BALTIMORE TRUSTS STRANGERS LIKE THAT) and he says just make as many calls as you want. I finish with my calls, he looks at my car, drives me all over town to show me around takes me to wal mart, takes me to the grocery store, offers to follow me all the back to my city mechanic and wait for me, which we decide not to do that day. I tell him I'll give him the gas money to make the trip to the city and he refuses!
He says he is the "resident driver" driving all of the little old ladies around whose vision is not good enough to drive. He used to work as a stage hand for major motion pictures all over the East Coast but got injured in 97.
I told him I can't remember anyone in my life ever taking me to a grocery store, or helping out in a neighborly way like he is.
Right now I'm at the library and I feel so relaxed around the residents here. I feel safe, and already 2 women patrons have spoken with me as opposed to Baltimore where if anyone looks at you it's because they are suspicious of you or don't like what you are wearing..............................
I hate the MD climate, but for today, life does feel more normal, and it's wonderful to feel safe.
Brian said no one in my complex locks their apt. or their car doors!..............................
I'm not so trusting to keep my apt. door unlocked but just the fact that people feel safe must be so refreshing.
The 4 "new friends" who I've met this far are originally from
Rodgers Forge
Woodlawn
Owings Mills
Balto. city/balto county line!
He said: "Welcome to the neighborhood. It's fun to explore a new neighborhood especially with friends like you. Here's the map, where would you like to go first?"
at this point the little girl clicked her mouse on bakery
We're at the bakery! This is chef ridenour and he makes a fabulous chocolate croissant! Click on the toaster and you can help me put the toast on the plates!
------------------------------------------------------------
Ok back to my life folks. The man who agreed to provide his truck to me for 100 dollars was a no show. So, me and 3 other women had to do all the lifting of the bedroom dresser set and dining room set ourselves. We took everything apart, one of my la pew neighbors put in in D's SUV so snugly that when we got to the new address we couldn't get it out right away! That was physically very hard and hilarious at the same time. We looked like the 4 stooges trying to get this furniture out of the suv and onto a dolly.
"O.K. everybody, calling the person who has the least amount of injuries to help here!"
Anyhow, that parts done.
Monday I'm returning from Baltimore and my worse fear happens. The car is "breaking down" again. The check coolant light comes on. I check it and despite the fact that Sarah just spent 800 on my car getting that problem fixed it is still not fixed. I most certainly don't have any repair money left. Even though the car repairs are under warranty, the mechanic will never agree to pay for the towing, I just know that. What should I do? I call progressive at a pay phone, cuz i have no minutes on my cell, and order tow service coverage. It will be 24 hours before it kicks in. Will the car make it back to carroll county? I don't have time to stop by radio shack to buy minutes for the cell phone because that will mean I'll have to drive to c.c. in the dark on rural roads with a car that is breaking down. So, my only choice is, to head home on rural road with no cell phone with my hazard lights on and pray the car doesn't totally break down.
It's 8:30 at night and I'm lost. I try to flag a driver down to get directions but they drive so fast and won't stop to help me. Thank goodness I eventually find a man in a front yard who tells me where my home is!
I get home in the knick of time. 9 p.m. just at dark. Next morning I walk over to the manager's office to make some critical phone calls. She's not there. Come back at 10:30 a.m. office is closed. So , I know no one, have no phone service, no working car and no food and don't know anybody.
A man from "my village" Brian, 61, is walking over to the laundry room. I introduce myself to him and explain my plight. I've found the right person! He lends me his cell, WALKS BACK TO HIS APT, LEAVING ME ALONE WITH HIS CELL AND HIS CLOTHES IN THE DRYERS! (wOW, NOBODY IN BALTIMORE TRUSTS STRANGERS LIKE THAT) and he says just make as many calls as you want. I finish with my calls, he looks at my car, drives me all over town to show me around takes me to wal mart, takes me to the grocery store, offers to follow me all the back to my city mechanic and wait for me, which we decide not to do that day. I tell him I'll give him the gas money to make the trip to the city and he refuses!
He says he is the "resident driver" driving all of the little old ladies around whose vision is not good enough to drive. He used to work as a stage hand for major motion pictures all over the East Coast but got injured in 97.
I told him I can't remember anyone in my life ever taking me to a grocery store, or helping out in a neighborly way like he is.
Right now I'm at the library and I feel so relaxed around the residents here. I feel safe, and already 2 women patrons have spoken with me as opposed to Baltimore where if anyone looks at you it's because they are suspicious of you or don't like what you are wearing..............................
I hate the MD climate, but for today, life does feel more normal, and it's wonderful to feel safe.
Brian said no one in my complex locks their apt. or their car doors!..............................
I'm not so trusting to keep my apt. door unlocked but just the fact that people feel safe must be so refreshing.
The 4 "new friends" who I've met this far are originally from
Rodgers Forge
Woodlawn
Owings Mills
Balto. city/balto county line!
"The good, the bad, and the ugly"
Well folks, here I am in Carroll County. I've always found the natural beauty of Carroll County to be stunning. C.C. has taught me a surprising lesson. Not all humans are completely selfish, ugly, bastards that can't be trusted! In fact, every store I've been in, the clerks and the customers smile, ask me if i need help, and sometimes even stop to talk. Today when I was in Dunkin Donuts a customer smiled and said "good morning how are you"
"terrific! wanna know why i'm terrific? because today is my second day in c.c. and the people here are wonderful. and you just smiled and greeted me, and that would never happen where i just moved from!"
Now, when I arrived on Sunday I found a pretty ugly surprise waiting for me. A couple from my church wanted to donate a futon and bed to me. I told them that I'd take it only if they are very clean. The husband brought a filthy dirty futon covered with cat fur, and a stained mattress which i suspect is infected with bed bugs into my apt. They damaged my new carpeting and even brought fleas into my apt. So, I'm less than pleased, in fact I'm pretty angry about that. HOw do you donate dirty shit to people? That's senseless!
So, I've slept on the floor the last 3 nights which is particularly painful when you already have fibromyalgia. But the property is stunning. I have no one above me or below me. I have a little front yard where I'm allowed to have a garden, hang and plant and even a flag. My minutes are about ready to run out, but I'll go sign up for another 60 minutes so I can give you all the dirt on the last 48 hours or so................................................
"terrific! wanna know why i'm terrific? because today is my second day in c.c. and the people here are wonderful. and you just smiled and greeted me, and that would never happen where i just moved from!"
Now, when I arrived on Sunday I found a pretty ugly surprise waiting for me. A couple from my church wanted to donate a futon and bed to me. I told them that I'd take it only if they are very clean. The husband brought a filthy dirty futon covered with cat fur, and a stained mattress which i suspect is infected with bed bugs into my apt. They damaged my new carpeting and even brought fleas into my apt. So, I'm less than pleased, in fact I'm pretty angry about that. HOw do you donate dirty shit to people? That's senseless!
So, I've slept on the floor the last 3 nights which is particularly painful when you already have fibromyalgia. But the property is stunning. I have no one above me or below me. I have a little front yard where I'm allowed to have a garden, hang and plant and even a flag. My minutes are about ready to run out, but I'll go sign up for another 60 minutes so I can give you all the dirt on the last 48 hours or so................................................
Monday, June 8, 2009
"The good news and the bad news"
Well I'm out of La pew hell. they want to take me to court for breaking the lease. So I sent the president of the company a letter and c.c.e'd it to the
district manager
vice president
mayor
governor
hud
asking if they would want their wife, sister, or mother to give 30 days notice if their life was in danger?
anyhow, the land is beautiful where I live now. Looking across the street I see a skate park, a silo, a barn and rolling hills. the bad news is that the noise level is unbelieveably high. Since I'm virtuallly on a highway, i hear motorcyles, souped up cars, tow trucks, bb guns and trains, so I can't sleep at night and don't expect that I'll be able to. I haven't found a landline provider yet for my area, and don't have a bed yet. But I'm hoping that these things I will be able to resolve soon................................
It feels like a huge accomplishment to be out of La Pew. I left about 100 dollars worth of stuff behind but it's all replaceable.
Right now I'm in baltimore and all of my coolant has run out of my car despite the fact that I just spent hundreds of dollars to the mechanic to repair it. Although it's under warranty, I don't think the mechanic will be willing to pay for the towing. If I break down near home the tow will be hundreds of dollars. So, when I leave the library I'll try putting water in the radiator but if it doesn't hold I'm not sure how I'll get home tonight. In general I'm afraid to drive rural roads after dark so I'll always be home by dark! Fun, huh?
district manager
vice president
mayor
governor
hud
asking if they would want their wife, sister, or mother to give 30 days notice if their life was in danger?
anyhow, the land is beautiful where I live now. Looking across the street I see a skate park, a silo, a barn and rolling hills. the bad news is that the noise level is unbelieveably high. Since I'm virtuallly on a highway, i hear motorcyles, souped up cars, tow trucks, bb guns and trains, so I can't sleep at night and don't expect that I'll be able to. I haven't found a landline provider yet for my area, and don't have a bed yet. But I'm hoping that these things I will be able to resolve soon................................
It feels like a huge accomplishment to be out of La Pew. I left about 100 dollars worth of stuff behind but it's all replaceable.
Right now I'm in baltimore and all of my coolant has run out of my car despite the fact that I just spent hundreds of dollars to the mechanic to repair it. Although it's under warranty, I don't think the mechanic will be willing to pay for the towing. If I break down near home the tow will be hundreds of dollars. So, when I leave the library I'll try putting water in the radiator but if it doesn't hold I'm not sure how I'll get home tonight. In general I'm afraid to drive rural roads after dark so I'll always be home by dark! Fun, huh?
Friday, June 5, 2009
"Out of La Pew by Sunday"
Shwew! I've spent the last 22 nights in Mt. Washington. I handed my published urbanite article to this "elderly man" Jack (he told me he'd kill me if I called him elderly on my blog!) who I met at the JCC computer room. He asked me if life is still like that for me. I said, similar but not identical. That's when he offered me to crash on his sofa. Ironically after he took me in I ended up having to do the very things I talked about in the Urbanite article. Hitchike, use the free phone at whole foods, use the free phone @ Wachovia and basically live between 2 places where there is no public transit connecting the 2 addresses.
I'm really going out with a bang at La Pew. I was without my car for 12 days. After I got it back yesterday someone tried to tear my front license plate off my car. Someone broke into my apt. and stole my cd/tape player, and lined up 2 pills on my bedroom floor, perfectly evenly. The pills were half blue/half green.
I'm at the point where I'm terrified to be at La Pew even during daylight hours, especially alone. So I'll probably leave stuff behind just to get out of there.
I'll have no landline at my new place, at least not immediately. That will make me crazy. Having some very frightening contraindications from one of my meds. I've had it before too. Last year I had 2 weeks straight of tardive dyskinesia. That is where you have uncontrolled movements of your mouth and tongue. Very scary. I don't know which med is causing it.
My new place is on a busy noisy road, but I might be able to transfer at some point to another part of the complex that doesn't face the main road.........................................I'm beginning to feel a little bit more restored with the fact that I haven't had to sleep at La Pew in 3 weeks.
Jack and I don't have real compatible personalities but he has really been very nurturing given that I am a stranger. He even asks me each night if I've eaten (I always say yes) with the idea that if I haven't hell go get me something from a restaurant.
He'll doubly kill me for this but you guys know I have a wicked sense of humor............................. Does that make him a
SUGAR GRANDADDY?!
I'm really going out with a bang at La Pew. I was without my car for 12 days. After I got it back yesterday someone tried to tear my front license plate off my car. Someone broke into my apt. and stole my cd/tape player, and lined up 2 pills on my bedroom floor, perfectly evenly. The pills were half blue/half green.
I'm at the point where I'm terrified to be at La Pew even during daylight hours, especially alone. So I'll probably leave stuff behind just to get out of there.
I'll have no landline at my new place, at least not immediately. That will make me crazy. Having some very frightening contraindications from one of my meds. I've had it before too. Last year I had 2 weeks straight of tardive dyskinesia. That is where you have uncontrolled movements of your mouth and tongue. Very scary. I don't know which med is causing it.
My new place is on a busy noisy road, but I might be able to transfer at some point to another part of the complex that doesn't face the main road.........................................I'm beginning to feel a little bit more restored with the fact that I haven't had to sleep at La Pew in 3 weeks.
Jack and I don't have real compatible personalities but he has really been very nurturing given that I am a stranger. He even asks me each night if I've eaten (I always say yes) with the idea that if I haven't hell go get me something from a restaurant.
He'll doubly kill me for this but you guys know I have a wicked sense of humor............................. Does that make him a
SUGAR GRANDADDY?!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
La pew staff are angry at me
For not giving 30 days notice. They have reprimanded me in writing within 2 minutes of my email notification. But when I needed a heater/air conditioner they never got back to me at all. No concern at all that my life is in danger there. Fuck them. I'm in my last days at La pew.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
