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| | The Journey begins on foot | | | Saturday, August 2, 2008 (9:01 AM)
(I'm feeling crappy) | | | The new journey begins on foot, as my car died yesterday. The tranny went out! | | | 31 Views | 0  Thumbs Up | 0 Comments |  |
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| | a journey ends, another begins | | | Wednesday, July 30, 2008 (1:16 PM)
(I'm feeling accomplished) | | I'm now in North Carolina, 10 states away via hwy 80 from California. I don't care to ever return westward. The car behaved amazingly well. My arm held up well too, the swelling is way down.
Reno NV has no services for stranded travelers other than a shelter and tent city right in the downtown area. It was not too well run, they use outdoor porta-potties.
Elko NV has no services either and I had to hold up a sign at Wal-Mart saying I am a stranded traveler needing gas or gas money. I collected $62 in 40 minutes before being politely told that I couldn't do that there. They say the Lord will provide what you need and nothing else. Well $62 is just what it took to fill my tank.
So it was off to Salt Lake City and then Park City Utah. Park City was one of the major sites of the 02 winter games, and they built it up to be as ritzy as Aspen Colorado. I contacted a Mormon Bishop who gave me a $30 gas voucher. That took me to Rock springs Wyoming. At the Rock Springs police station they had a Travelers aid rep who had to come down after church. Pastor Terry turned out to be a real help. He put me up for a night in a motel, $14 in food and $35 in gas.
On to Cheyenne, which was probably the most boring yet scenic part of the trip. Once there, I was able to see the Thunderbirds rehearse for their air show they'd be doing for pioneer days later that week.
Lincoln Nebraska didn't have a travelers aid, but they gave me a $20 gas voucher and I added some of my donations money to fill the tank.
In Des Moines Iowa, the police department had no clue what I was talking about when I asked about Travelers Aid or vouchers. The cop at the front desk reminded me of Jeff Dunham's puppet named Walter, both in looks and attitude. I was very low on fuel, so I stayed the night at Des Moines' shelter. I had seen Redding California's shelter, I had seen Reno Nevada's shelter, but in Des Moines I spent my first night ever IN a shelter. They almost treat you like a prisoner. Once you're in, there is no leaving till 6 a.m. They have a fenced in smoking area, but I do have to say that the place was fairly clean and the beds were comfortable and the linens clean. The showers were group showers, and the thing I didn't like (but didn't have to do) is to sit on the toilet, of which there were 4 with no dividers or stalls. I don't mind showering where others can see, but to have to do #2 as my parents called it, with zero privacy is something I am glad I was not faced with doing. Breakfast, if you want to call it that, consisted of scrambled eggs that were like gritty sand. Needless to say I passed. I got to the state crisis agency at 8 and they gave me $50 towards gas.
I had come to a turning point in my trip, do I go into Springfield, a town I had a fair amount of familiarity with, or do I go on with my route, hoping the next town had help? I chose Springfield, because if nothing else, it's a place I almost moved to in 2004. Springfield had no travelers aid, and unlike Iowa, the state didn't do gas vouchers. While at the county crisis agency, several staffers heard my story and started handing me cash from their pockets. $20 total, but that wasn't going to get me far. I had arrived on Wednesday, and slept in the Wal-Mart parking lot that night. The next day, after calling dozens of churches and agencies, I checked into Helping Hands Homeless shelter. Now, I do have to say, after seeing 4 shelters and having spent the night at 2 of them, I'm sure I have not seen the best shelter, NOR the worst shelter. The best of the 4 though was Helping Hands in Springfield Illinois.
Helping Hands offers co-ed dorms (bunks), a day room, laundry, private showers, private toilets, food, counseling help with job searches, and a good supervisory staff. If you see a counselor for intake, you might get a reserved bed for a day or two. Otherwise, you need to meet outside at 5 p.m. for the bed lottery draw. I never had to do the lottery, Steve, the manager, reserved me till Monday.
I met some amazing people there. Some were amazing in that they were honestly trying to get their life in order, and others were amazing in that they would even seek a shelter, because quite honestly, they're designed more for living on the streets, literally. As Steve said, the description of who a homeless person is, today defies description. It can be almost anyone, and they don't all have to have addictions or mental illnesses. I stayed there Thurs, thru Sunday night, and during that time I met at least one of every conceivable classification of homeless person. I could see some good things about how Des Moines operates their shelter, and good things about Springfield's version, and I wish Reno and Redding would kind of pattern their operation after mostly Springfield's. It's how I feel all shelters should be, and allows people some personal privacy as well as offers good help. Different church groups came nightly to serve meals to us, and it was all good stuff. More towns need such facilities. Had Mt. Shasta had such a facility, I would have been able to stay there easier till the funds came in to head east.
Now, for those who may think I don't want to work, what happened next may open your eyes. Some guy came to the shelter and asked if anyone wanted to make money. The job was to hold an advertising sign for 8 hrs on Friday, 11 hrs Saturday and 8 hrs Sunday The sign was 8 ft tall and 2 ft wide and difficult to hold especially in the wind. The temperature was 90 degrees, and despite my two bad disks in my back and torn ACL in my right knee, I endured and held the sign for 19 hrs over two days. The pay was $88 for Saturday and $64 for Sunday. That earned me enough to drive to North Carolina with $11 to spare. I got badly sunburned, and extremely sore standing there, but I had a goal, and that was to collect on a long overdue hug and kiss from Jenn.
I said my good-byes at Helping Hands after checking all my fluids, and headed for McDonalds for a McSkillet burrito meal, then off to a gas station to fill up, and off I went, hell bent for North Carolina. I had been counting the states as I went, Illinois was #6 away from California, N.C. was #10. As I counted off each state, I was doing the woot woot arm roll. The trip was totally uneventful, but quite scenic, especially Kentucky. I was amazed at cigarette prices though in Kentucky. I had not seen Marlboros that low in 10 years. I wish I had been able to pick up a carton.
I arrived in Mooresville after 1 a.m., and Jenn was waiting up for me, and met me at my car. We talked awhile after we got inside, then she went to bed, and I hit the couch for some sleep after a marathon 816 mile drive which took me 17 hrs and 2 gas stops and 2 rest area stops.
I know that ShastaHiker will read this, please print a copy for Lois, and if you don't mind, call Cathy Metro at Alpine Healthcare and Gary at G&M automotive and Chris at Chris & Dena's Deli, and tell them about this post.
Thanks go out to God for the experience, the safe trip, and to Chris at the deli for how they treated me before I left, the security guy (sorry I don't remember your name) at the Des Moines shelter, Gary for the car fix, and the staff at Helping Hands for making my trip not only full of neat experiences, but also complete-able. And thanks to Pastor Terry for the help and prayers. If I left anyone out, my bad, but I also want to thank Jenn and Eddie for taking me in and making me a part of their home.
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| | Journey day 4 | | | Sunday, July 20, 2008 (10:58 PM)
(I'm feeling tired) | | Well, battling fatigue, heat and high winds, I have made it to Rock Springs WY. Next stop is Cheyenne.
I have met several people in Nevada and Utah, and Wyoming who are in those 3 states for the sole purpose of waiting out the Northern California wildfires. One was told he can go home, to his land, but that his house is gone.
One lady I met in Park City UT escaped the fires with her 3 daughters to Wyoming, and was in Utah on her way back to see her home.
I had forgotten how beautiful some of the scenery is between California and Wyoming. I did get kind of nervous about some of the hills, not wanting to overheat the car. But so far the car is performing like a champ. Gas prices ARE dropping the further east I go. I have seen it as low as 4.11. In Utah, I saw gas higher than California, and 4.17, all in the same town.
The focus of my posts are going to shift somewhat, from being homeless to "what's out there in the world" for travelers as well as anyone who has to move due to fires or home foreclosures. It is also going to cover what happens when a 56 yr old discovers renewed spirituality. This journey since the broken arm, though losing the home, and now leaving California has opened my eyes to a belief in God that for literally decades I had no faith in. I flatly denied he even existed. Now I know better.
I also want to thank the people who are following my story for their comments, good, and especially the bad ones, because it points out flaws in how I explain things.
It's bedtime!!
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| | Journey day 1-3 | | | Saturday, July 19, 2008 (11:38 AM)
(I'm feeling excited) | | Well it's day 1 of my journey eastward. I'm beating the heat by driving at night, and pulled into Reno Nevada just after midnight. I had no problems with the car despite 110 heat in redding, even after dark. I pretty much figure that if I can survive making it to Reno, the car repairs will hold for the whole trip. It's the gas I'm supposed to be sweating, but hey, I think the Lord will provide!!
I left Mt. Shasta at 4:40 and was in Redding by 5:40. I got my teeth, and the uppers fit nice, and so did the lowers till I ate something at around 2 a.m., then they hurt bad enough to require removal. I tried putting them back in about 4 hrs later, but it ain't happening. They will need further adjustments before that. So for now, I can wear the uppers and be semi happy. And as you can see I now have teeth!
Well it seems that the economy is even effecting the churches here in Reno. St. Vincent's is no longer giving out gas vouchers, neither is Salvation Army.
So, we'll see just how far I get before I have to make me a "spare change" sign. I found the mission here rather easily, but I only got perhaps 3 hours sleep. Then it was off to find the library where I am now, to escape the heat. I'll get some shade and about 4 hrs sleep before I head out again.
While at the Reno rescue mission, which by the way has it's own tent city on mission property, I interviewed a woman who was foreclosed on. She said she got the bank to rescind it and give her back the house and then her son committed a few illegal acts in the home and so she is not allowed back in. I could kind of tell from her tale of woe, that she's about one tuna on rye short of a picnic. I did verify the first part though, she was foreclosed on, the rest is her imagination running wild to cope with being homeless. If I had to guess, I'd say she is probably in her early 50's.
Reno really amazed me, because when I would ask for directions to anywhere, they'd be wrong. And those people LIVE there. Amazing to say the least. I finally found a place to catch some sleep with a warm breeze in the shade. I slept maybe 2 hrs until an ice cream truck's music woke me with that ever so annoying and repetitious jingle, grrrrrr.
Reno has baking hot, and the shade was most welcomed. After my nap I went to the store and got some denture supplies at a very reasonable cost, $5.
I found that my upper denture was no where ready to come out, and the glue was still holding, but I took it out anyway and cleaned the roof of my mouth, and the denture and put it back in without glue, and guess what, it stayed, and it is still holding in there. I drove to Winnamucca NV and stopped at a truck stop to put $20 in to hold me till Elko. The girl at the counter added a shower free of charge, yay "clean" me!!
Well, it's day 3, Saturday, and I made it as far as Elko Nevada, and guess what, the police stations and churches here are out of funds too. I have just enough money left to perhaps get to Salt Lake City and that's it.
I tried to make it all the way to Elko but I had to pull off at the rest area at 10 and sleep. I slept till just after 4 and before leaving I scored a free egg mcmuffin and taters and coke. I'm now at the library in Elko, waiting out the heat. So far so good on the car running without the slightest coolant leak or temp guage going above normal even in 110 degree heat and going up hills.
The Elko police were closed today, I wonder if that means it's free crime day, lol. I have never heard of a police station being closed.
Walmart is close by, I was told that would be a good place to set up a donations sign. I may go do that while I wait for the heat to die down. It has been nice and cool out, while driving at night. I even had to wrap a blanket around my waist while driving. Sitting up in the front seat to sleep is what is going to kill me during this trip.
My hand is still a bit swollen, but it's going down. The arm splint is a much more comfortable way to travel. It's a good thing too that I waited to leave, or I would have broken down out of Mt. Shasta and not have faired so well on the repair price.
I have met so many people in similar situations as mine just since I left Mt. Shasta. It is amazing that we're almost like a new urban breed of citizens. And I have met so many people, like the girl who comp'd me shower last night, who have been very helpful, even if they didn't know my circumstances.
It's weird being back in Elko, since the last time I was here, I was saying "I do" to a girl who I later found had no intentions of staying longer than 6 months. That is one reason I can't wait for dark so I can leave here and head for Salt Lake.
More to come, it's going to get interesting from here, trying to get gas money! I really hate being in a position to have to ask anyone for help, but sometimes you just have to.
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| | homeless day 42 | | | Tuesday, July 15, 2008 (3:07 PM)
(I'm feeling hopeful) | | it's day 42, and I'm almost ready to leave for NC. Tomorrow I get all my Rx refills, and Thursday I get my cast taken off.
I was not able to get online for a few days due to the car breaking down on me. It needed a new radiator. The parts and labor unfortunately wiped out all my get out of town money, but I do have a western union coming that should get me as far as between Reno and Salt Lake City.
Due to the car problems I was also not able to pick up my teeth yet either. that may have to wait till I actually leave town.
During my time at the deli next to the car repair, I got to meet numerous people who, just to look at them, you'd never figure they were homeless, and met several who's homelessness you could either see or smell. It amazed me to find that a good number of them sleep in the bushes a couple of blocks up behind the deli and no one says jack about it unless they get rowdy.
But the fact that some of these people, are homeless but don't look it is the amazing part. One guy is 44 yrs old, has kids, he just had a bad run of luck with jobs up here, just like I did.
The homeless are all among us, we just don't always see who they are. It could be a co-worker, and you'd never know it. The son of the deli owner, who works at the deli is homeless with his girlfriend. she works too. Not a full time job, but she's looking for one. Girls here don't have a whole lot of trouble finding work here, it's guys my age that there are no jobs for.
The homeless are a shadow to our government. Oh the know they're out there, but they claim it's hard to get them to come forward to be counted or receive hlep. Well, perhaps if there were any help to be offered, they'd come out of the shadows.
This may be my last report for a couple of days, depending on how getting out of town goes. I hope to be on the road by Thursday night. | | | | 59 Views | 0 Thumbs Up | 0 Comments | |
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| | homeless day 37 | | | Thursday, July 10, 2008 (6:18 PM)
(I'm feeling determined) | | | Well when it rains it pours. someone bought me a night's stay at motel 6, and I got maybe 3 hrs sleep due to the air conditioning not working, and the window falling out of the frame. it had to be held in with cardboard shims. I did take the chance to shave the head and beard. (see new pic) Then when I left to go to Mt. Shasta to get my water pump replaced, I checked the water before I left, but didn't get 2 miles up on the freeway and the temp gauge shot up to maximum. I pulled over immediately and shut it off. I raised the hood and turned on my flashers and waited. I had expected that the CHP would be the first to come stop behind me, but instead a p/u truck with a guy, 2 girls and 5 dogs stopped. they let me use their cell to call AAA towing. no more than 3 minutes after they leave, the CHP shows up. I told him help was on the way. He said, "yeah, that's your tow truck down there across the highway picking up another car. he'll drop that one off and be back to get you." well, I got towed to the mechanic's who was shocked to see me being towed in. he said, "well this explains why you weren't here 90 min ago like you were supposed to be." I should back up a bit and say that because of how last night went, the manager gave me a coupon for a free night at any motel 6. little did I know I'd be back here again tonight using the coupon. a friend of the mechanic gave me a ride back to weed to check in. This room I am in now is VERY well air conditioned and the window works!! The mechanic says we're looking at maybe $89 in labor so far. he's going to flush the radiator, recheck the thermostat, recheck the radiator after flushing, and check the heater core as well as replace the water pump. Someone from ireport messaged me and asked what my route will be. she said she would check the resources in her area for showers, meals, overnight sleeping, and gas vouchers. I told her that would be great! THAT is the kind of help I would like to have readers give me. if you Google map driving directions from mount Shasta Calif, 96067 to Mooresville, NC, 22815 and see if I am passing near you, if you could check those kind of resources in your area and let me know before the 18th, I'd appreciate it. travelers aid, 211, St. Vincent de Paul, shelters, cooling centers, AARP chapters, food, gas, any kind of resources in your area, it would sure help. I'm going to sit back, enjoy a lil telly in a cool room and just relax. peace out. | | | | 59 Views | 0 Thumbs Up | 0 Comments | |
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| | homeless day 34 | | | Monday, July 7, 2008 (1:00 PM)
(I'm feeling hungry) | | | well thing have gotten interesting. i'm back to the stage i was before finding angela's driveway. she was going to be renting the downstairs room with bathroom i was using, and her tenants showed up early, thus i had to leave. so now i'm scrambling again for daily showers and shade to park under, and i'm using snowcrest's internet cafe again. i'm also scrambling for food since i have no food stamps till the 9th, and no money till maybe that long also. i'm quite frankly starving at the moment. i'm drinking lots of water to make up for it. i stayed in the store's lot again last night, and no one bothered me at all. what did bother me was the heat. it took the inside of the car a long time to cool off enough to sleep. i have money being transferred from paypal to visa due to the kindness of someone, but till it hits the card, i'm kinda SOL as they say. it's interesting that this turn of events should come when it did. i still was hoping to hit my target date of the 10th to leave, but this money thing may extend it a bit. perhaps the 19th, a day after i get my cast off. either way, i know the lord will provide!! this post will be short due to my having to spend the rest of my internet time doing some pre-trip research. i have a fresh load of laundry, enough gas to hold me awhile, the rest will appear from the strangest sources, as is usually the case when the Lord is doing the providing!! | | | | 75 Views | 0 Thumbs Up | 0 Comments | |
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| | homeless day 25-29 | | | Saturday, July 5, 2008 (12:56 PM)
(I'm feeling accomplished) | | | day 25 was the most miserable yet i think. normally temperatures in this area are in the 80's during summer. yesterday it was 93 and 93 here feels like 103 to a flatlander. i sat 99% of the day with a cold wet washrag on my head. it was too hot to think, let alone write. to top it off, it was overcast, 40% chance of rain, which never produced a single drop, and the whole valley here was heavy with smoke from the fires in redding and sacramento. we were prepared for spot fires up here, started by lightening strikes, but those never happened. by 9 a.m. it was 85 degrees, today at 9 it's still only 66 so i'm taking advantage of the cool to write. day 26 you'd think that with my present situation of having a place to park every day, and being able to shower etc, that i wouldn't be quite so lonely. but for a single guy, homeless, living in his car, it is quite lonely. i almost envy homeless families, since they have each other if not a home too. the hardest part is not having a lot of people to talk to, and oh my god, if i didn't have my laptop and internet access, i'd be a basket case by now. the internet has allowed me to not only share my story, but connect with good friends i have made over the years, but also make some amazing new ones since this particular part of my life has begun. once you lose the ability to connect with others, even if it is online, you lose the most important function you can have in life. the ability to relate to others, the ability to impress and effect the lives of others is one of our most valued and necessary functions in life. i often wonder if, when you see a homeless person sitting on a bench or the sidewalk, talking to himself, if he/she isn't just going through the motions of what used to be their ability to connect with others. i think i'd rather die than to ever get that bad. i think i have narrowed down my car problem to being a bad heater core going out on me. if that is all it is, that's a quick and easy fix for someone with 2 hands. with me though, it will take hiring someone to bypass the core with a connector and 2 hose clamps. it should only take about 10 minutes to do. if that's all it is, i'm good to go. one thing to watch out for in a homeless person is mental fatigue. when they start to fall apart mentally and give up hope. that is a definite killer for those without a home. this is why the government needs to fully address the homeless problem and do it now. those who are homeless due to the mortgage crisis are the most vulnerable to have mental fatigue from trying to cope. these same people are also the ones who still try to maintain a job or at least look for one, and still have value to contribute to the workforce. it's 81 degrees now, time to go sit in some shade. peace out. day 27/28 i have been busy tying up loose california ends. mainly doctors appointments. today i got my bone density scan done and the results were not good. osteoporosis, especially in my hips. i have an appointment with my doc tomorrow to discuss treatment options. it's hot out again, but between the bone scan place and the doc's office, i stayed cool most of the day. with any kind of luck the heater core gets bypassed tomorrow so i can narrow that down as the problem. i will be very relieved if that is all it is. the doc gave me some more pain meds too today, which i was not expecting. i heard from someone who is going to help line up resources i will need during my trip. i'll still need money, but those resources will help a lot. i went to the doc today, got put on actenol and calcium. just what i need, "mo' pills". the pharmacy is in a grocery store, and were they ever packed, and the wait for prescriptions was 2-3 hours. normaly, it's 30 minutes. the pharmacy is over by the deli and produce section, and one of the produce guys said sales since sunday have gone up by $3-4k just in produce alone. that's a lot of veggies. good thing is, with this heat, having to wait 2-3 hrs for your meds gets you sitting inside where it is cool. due to a bank snafu, that is the only way i'll describe it, some money i was expecting will be delayed for a few days, probably 14 or so. this may delay my moving. it was no one's fault except for stupid banking regulations. now i have to figure out a free way to get my heater core bypassed, and figure out how to score some free food and gas without having to dumpster dive. in response to one comment i got on another site (what about the families with small children or who have children with medical issues, what about the elderly who can no longer afford to stay in their homes much less afford a nursing facility? Are you going to tell them to suck it up and get off their ass's? I would hope not because I personally couldn't look myself in the mirror if I did) this is why i write these daily logs. if i can point out to those in power, of what one man living by himself in his car has to go through to survive, perhaps the will take the thought one step further and imagine what it must be like for those who do have kids etc, and maybe they will get off their duffs and do something about the problem. am i just dreaming that something good will come of it? sure i am, but without those dreams, there is no hope, and without hope, there is death and destruction and despair. dreams have achieved many thing in this world. dare to dream and dare to believe, and all things are possible. dreams have led to many great inventions. politicians dare to dream too, more so this year, as we realize the dream of not just the first african-american president, but one who has the smarts and savvy to change the course of american history to a new and better path. MLK wasn't saying anything new when he said, "i have a dream..." we all had dreams, he's just the first to get credit for reminding all of us that to give up the dream is to give up hope. i have a renewed faith in things now. for decades i disbelieved, not just in God, but in how having faith in something more powerful than yourself can be of any benefit. now i have that faith, and it's a good feeling. i'll touch someone's heart with these posts and they'll touch mine with comments, praise or encouragement. they also give me insight. twice now, i have had people come to me out of the blue and say God told me to tell you this, or to give you that. it no longer takes a sledge hammer over the noggin to get my attention. | | | | 78 Views | 0 Thumbs Up | 0 Comments | |
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| | homeless day 23-24 | | | Saturday, July 5, 2008 (12:54 PM)
(I'm feeling accomplished) | | | day 23/24 it's a sad day in america to know there are so many homeless and so many more who will be by years end and beyond. for all our political blustering about being such a great nation, we have some serious issues. then again, i'm sure most countries have issues like this that they would rather keep under wraps from the rest of the world so that they don't look bad. imagine the voting block we could create by getting all the homeless, newly and old to turn out and vote. imagine too if the politicians knew that this demographic was now in their face, voting for change. i'm sure that more than a few of the ivory tower types would quiver knowing they'd better finally do something about the problem instead of keeping it swept under the rug and out of media scrutiny. i read somewhere recently that capitalism only works well when there is a 5% unemployment rate. well what about the homeless rate and how does that figure in? maybe it's time to scrap or at least revamp the capitalist system if even one person has to be out of a job, homeless, or starving or any combination of those. and how many of the rich or more fortunate will either bypass my articles or read them and laugh or snicker. how many of them will read my words, but do nothing, because they think this must be due to drugs, booze, or some other problem? do i write like i'm on drugs? do i sound like an alcoholic? do i not possess some kind of intelligence that would make you want to show an interest in helping someone rebuild their life? and how many others are there who are just like me, and just need a decent break? here is my challenge to you. pick one. whether it be me or someone else in my shoes, and get to know that person. get to know what you can do to help. a job offer, meals, shelter, anything to help someone get back on their feet. if 500 well off people sent $1 or 50 sent $5. do you have any idea how that would help someone? this is not the save the childrens fund, where you get some fake profile of a kid you can sponsor, and 80 cents of every dollar goes to helping "your child". this is real life, baby, and it's as real as it gets. we're all going to have to pull together to help each other, because times are only going to get tougher in the next 4 yrs. millionaires will be jumping off buildings again like in 1929. you just watch. this world is going to pot. even "the donald" aka trump could lose it all. it's a very sad day indeed. so help someone. if not me, help someone else you know who is in worse shape than you are. we can't count on th government to do it. just like the obama campaign is a grassroots effort, helping your fellow man has also got to start with grassroots effort and support. you may need the same help sooner than later. where will you be when it happens and no one helps you? ok, i'm stepping off the soapbox for now. my finger is retiring for the night!! | | | | 73 Views | 0 Thumbs Up | 0 Comments | |
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| | homeless day 20-23 | | | Saturday, July 5, 2008 (12:52 PM)
(I'm feeling accomplished) | | | day 20 i hopefully got my car fixed, we shall see. i put in some radiator sealer and more anti freeze, because the guy who gave me the $65 said the lord told him that that is all it probably needs. so, i did it. after that, the day went pretty calmly, as i reflected back on some things in my childhood, especially dealing with george carlin. my parents were strict mormons, and i used to catch hell for listening to carlin and richard pryor. finally my dad gave up and said he didn't care what i listened to, i was responsible for my own mess if i got caught up in george's drug culture. well guess what dad, i didn't get into drugs. that is one thing i am thankful for in my life. someone on cnn asked me where day 19 was. so i published it and drew some terse comments on it. i have decided to keep posting there daily regardless of the comments, because the story of what a homeless person has to go through needs to be told, despite the words of critics. i was badly in need of redoing my bedding, i just went and did that, wheww what a job, i need a rest. i tried a new tactic that should keep my feet warmer. i was going to buy a sleeping bag today but ended up using the bulk of my money in stop leak and anti freeze. i also got my visa card hooked up to my paypal today. i can't wait to get these pins out, they're starting to itch and i can't scratch them. i feel fortunate that i didn't have to have the 4" plate put in. i'm going to get pics of the pins next time it's unwrapped. i'm also keeping the pins. i did keep the ones from my elbow, but lost them somehow. i think they're in illinois at a friend's, but she can't find them. if i coul find them, they're worth (in 95 prices) $82 per inch. i had 12 pins in me, and the shortest was like 3 inches. if i could find, and unload those, hey, that's moving money!! i have also been reflecting on a question some of you mat have the answer to. how do you know when a message is from God and not just your wishful thinking? with that, i'll retire to my bed to await replies. day 21 i want to share a comment i received. i won't mention any names or what site they saw my posts on, but this is a private message i got. "Just wanted you to know that your online diary has caused me to reflect on what I have and what I may lose. In October '07 I had a back operation that went wrong leaving me with the chronic pain condition arachnoiditis. I faced never working again and but for the grace of God I am working full time again for now. I thank God everyday that I have my job as most people with this condition live with intractable pain and are unable to work. Your story gives me a lot strength as I am really encouraged by the help that some of your friends or strangers have given you. Please keep blogging if you can and know that my prayers and our Lord are with you! God bless!" i told this person that i write, despite some critics, for people like you, and for others who may be on the edge of losing it all. generally these are the kinds of personal messages i get about my writings. for those of you who are critical of my posts, no one is forcing you to read them, so why bother being critical? if even one person receives comfort, joy or inspiration or some other good from my posts, i'm going to continue them. the car is still holding up, the overflow tank was still at the filled mark. i went to the post office and ran into a pastor i know, and we had a nice long chat about how to hear the voice of God, or at least know that the path we're on is one he wants us to take rather than it just being our own wishful thinking. you have to understand, that for me to even ask such a question is a major step for me. being raised in a religion that some have branded a cult, and for so many decades, straddling the fence in whether or not there even IS God, and for so long being on the total disbelieving side of that fence, it took the events of the last few days for me to even fathom asking such a question of a pastor. i went to get something to eat, and refill my prescriptions. i priced sleeping bags, yet i'm now not sure i want one, as the new tactic i tried last night with the blankets seemed to work quite nicely. i stayed quite warm even in the funny position i have to sleep in. i filled my Rx 7 day a.nm./p.m. box. i can't believe i have to take 6 pills in the morning and 3 at night. i came back to my resting place. when you're like me, and sun is not your friend, it's all about shade, and by the time i got back here, my spot was nicely shaded and comfortable. i want some ice cream!!! but i still can't hold the container and dip it out. i know that was random, but.....it's the little things you miss when homeless. thing you took for granted that you could do anytime, like go the freezer and dish up some ice cream. one thing i will miss is umpqua brand ice cream. it isn't available on the east coast. i'll also miss in-n-out burgers, also a west coast thing. and round table pizza. but my friend back there assures me she'll show me some good alternatives. one thing i do miss is watching CNN all the time, because this political race is probably the most crucial in american history. not since the flack about whether or not to elect a catholic (kennedy) has there been this much interest in a presidential race, and never before have we had so much to lose if obama isn't elected. so this race i am following at all costs. my fingers for some reason today are hurting a lot. it makes me wonder if i should go back to the ER and see if something moved as far as the pins are concerned assuming i don't go to the ER, the rest of the night should be pretty uneventful. i should say something about faith and fear. i have faith that i'll get to NC with most or all my stuff, but it's the fear of leaving without a safety net that is the hardest part. i don't care to see california ever again, but the sense of adventure, just taking off and not looking back, is the hard part. not knowing just how i'll be surviving from day to day is the worry that i just have to turn over to God. under optimal circumstances (having enough gas) it's only a 5-6 day trip, but it's a trip of uncertainty at this stage. we'll just have to see what is in store for me, won't we? homeless tips: if you have to sleep in your car, put pillows, blankets or something like that in the back window. not only does it help create privacy, but keeps the cold from the glass from making the car so cold inside. i cover all windows with pillows or blankets, even here at my secure resting place. it gets down into the 30s here at the coldest part of the night. and always sleep with socks on if not pants too. if you have the privacy to undress, skin against skin will keep you the warmest, but socks will help keep heat in, as well as maybe a stocking (watch) cap. also, believe it or not pantyhose will keep you warn, even for guys. i have not tried it, but i know soldiers on patrol in iraq sometimes wear them to stay warm, and i know you ladies can vouch for their ability to keep you warmer. day22 ate something that tore me up, so i didn't feel like blogging last night. i am feeling better today. thankfully i was able to be here where i had a restroom to use whenever. had i not found this place to park, i would have been using a series of public restrooms, so as to not draw suspicion. that is one of the problems that a mobile yet homeless person has. they have to borrow restrooms for spit baths and when the get sick and need to go often. i'm fortunate so far, that i don't have to do that unless it hits me when i'm downtown. us newly homeless also have to learn the "street tricks" on our own. it's not easy, and we don't always want to ask other homeless persons how they cope with this or that, nor do we always run into other homeless people to ask. at least in this town, we only have a few, unless there are more who never come out of the shadows. well, i ended up in the ER last night. they unwrapped my arm totally, and i waited for x-ray to come get me. gotta love those cute female x-ray techs. i told her i wanted to see the pics. she brought me back into the light box room and she showed me the pics. i told her i wish i had a copy. she said she'd see what she can do. i ended up with the break x-ray, the floroscopic one they did during surgery, and the one from last night. while the arm was unwrapped, i whipped out my cell phone (the one with no service that i use just as a camera) and snapped off some pics that may be a bit sqeemsh for some, so be forewarned before looking. the doc said she didn't see any movement, and felt that the cast had just gotten too loose and allowed my arm too much movement, causing it to hurt. so she re-wrapped it tighter and it seems ok today. i found out today too that my water pump and radiator are both going. i priced the 2 and it's $137.00 plus tax for both. that is way cheaper than i figured. now it's a matter of buying them and finding someone to install them who knows what they're doing and doesn't charge a fortune. i'd also need a flush kit and two gallons of anti freeze. the anti freeze here is expensive, $15 a gallon. if i can get those two things on, i'm good to go, to north carolina with confidence i'll keep from overheating. today is another hot one, glad i have shade to type this in. while out and about today, i took more notice of one of our more homeless people in town. i say "more" because he doesn't have a car, but he sleeps on a bedroll in the bushes. he's dirty, ragged clothes, smells, but his hair is always combed. i guess that's the one last thing he can keep looking good in his state. he talks to himself, rolls his own smokes, and goes into the internet cafe daily to eat a muffin or something. now, even though my current home is the back seat of my car, i have to thank God i'm not in this guy's situation. i have my car, i have my laptop with me, i can shower daily, do laundry, and keep myself reasonably presentable. most people i meet can't tell from my outward appearence that i lost my 2 bedroom/2 bath home. they can tell i broke my arm obviously, and they ask me about it, and i tell them what happened, and that a few days later i'm dealing with a broken arm while living in my car, and they're stunned. one asked me today, how i keep clean and such, and i told him that i came across someone willing to let me use their shower and toilet and driveway. before i met this person, i was spending my day by getting out of the back seat at the store's parking lot, eating ritz crackers, going into the store to use the restroom, take a spit bath, and then go find some shade to park in till 8. then i'd go to the internet cafe, and stay online till about 2 and then drive to the city park which has a lot of shade, till dark, then go park in the store's lot again, use their restroom again, get a snack and go to bed. quite the cycle it was there for a few days. one major problem with the park is the pollen blowing into the car. it got everywhere. so now i have a peaceful place to be while i get affairs in order for my trip east. i go in for my bone density scan on monday at noon. i can only imagine what that will show. i'm suspecting it will mean "mo' meds". i've got people phoning for me to get price quotes on things i'll need or would like to have to make my trip with, in an easier fashion. i may not get the trip made in the manner i would prefer, but whatever method the Lord provides, that's what i'm taking. i'd prefer a small truck i can tow my car with, and if that's what he provides, that's fine. if i have to just pile as much stuff as i can in my car and drive, that's fine too. i'll make it either way, and be happy to start a new life in NC. 12 days till the pins come out, 13 till i can chew food again. YAY!! | | | | 76 Views | 0 Thumbs Up | 0 Comments | |
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