Saturday, December 28, 2013

I just got finished creating a budget for myself and it doesn't look too pretty. I would have to make at least $100 more and even then that's just for the minimum.
The rent that I pay is the biggest expense that I have so far.
Little things add up!

Of course I'm going to have to do some adjusting if I want to come out even by the end of the month.

I really don't want to cut anything out of the budget that I made because it is at its bare minimum now!

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Snowed In

Well this is Tuesday and I'm kind of snowed in. But today I went out and started my car because its just been sitting for the last few days.

I'm kind of glad to be snowed in because I went shopping and got some groceries the day before it was expected to snow. We have had 2 snow storms in the past 7 days.

The community college that I go to was closed today because of the "anticipated" weather. But we really didn't have to go to school today because it was "reading" day.

I don't have to go back to class until Thursday and I hope the snow is gone by then.

I had made an appointment to get my car checked at the dealer for tommorrow but I re-scheduled it to a later date. Hopefully the snow will be gone by then.

I'm doing laundry now and getting ready to eat some left-over turkey for dinner.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Nearing The End

Well, I'm nearing the end of the semester of the college courses I am taking - which I'm not doing very well in.

My panic attacks have quieted down a bit after I had a meeting with one of my CTI people. Basically what he said was that I shouldn't worry too much about it and that there may be a lot of options for me. I don't want to leave my apartment. It's cozy and I have a cat now.

Before the talk with the counselor I was worrying very badly. I just tried to calm down and I will have to cross that bridge when I get to it - hopefully being able to stay in my apartment.

I'm at the college now waiting for the teacher and after this class I can go back to my apartment.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Today I Had A Panic Attack!

Today I had a panic attack! I was worrying about passing my courses at the community college.

That led me to worrying about my student financial aid which made me worry about the subsidy program that I am in. The program only lasts for two years (if that) and I don't know what I'm going to do when my 2 years are up.

I can't afford to pay my rent without the subsidy program and I just gotta find a solution for this.

I've really had a vey bad anxiety attack. What if I don't pass my courses? What happens if my student financial aid was cancelled? Then I wouldn't be able to afford the classes let alone my apartment.

I think I almost worried myself sick agonizing over this.

I have calmed down a little but I'm still thinking about it.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Creative Writing Class Assignment

We were priviledged to have someone come in and start a creative writing class that was being provided by the homeless shelter. We met once a week and we were given assignments each week.

for this week we had an assignment.

Our assignment was to describe a movie that we liked. I chose the movie "Reds".

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Tuesday, May 21,2013

I woke up at 6:30. Today is laundry day so I stripped the bed. My walking companion wasn't there so I came through the front. Had my cigarette but no coffee. I took a shower, had breakfast and was upset because my bag had been thrown in the 'lost and found' bin but I was able to retrieve it. (It wasn't only my stuff that was thrown in the bin though. There's this rule at the shelter where nothing is supposed to be left on the table and chairs. When we go to the sleeproom to go to sleep everything has to be cleared from the tables and chairs).

Breakfast was eggs and bagels.

My van trip to my doctor took a while and I had to walk about half a block get there.

My doctor's visit included a lot of things but at least I got the 'go a head' to take motorcycle lessons.



I also got a prescription for an eye exam, a dental referral, and for some more tests to be scheduled. There's a lot I have to do.

I had to wait a while for the van and it was so hot outside that I went back inside and sat down and waited for the van.

Back at the shelter I smoked a cigarette outside and sat with some of the other residents.

I found out that Big Daddy has to leave the shelter by June 1st.

Lunch was meat wraps.

I'm also trying to get my information together so I can take a college course or two. I have to get a copy of my high school transcripts and my own high school closed down 2 years ago. So I'll have to figure a way to solve that.

I also completed the crochet bag but have to wait until he can pay me.

Dinner was spare ribs and sweet potatoes.

I'm still finishing up on making copies of my appeal papers so that I can file them on Thursday.

I went to bed at eleven.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Woke up at 6:30

Had cigarette on the way to the front and then had coffee inside.

Breakfast was two pancakes per person.

I worked on making copies of my court papers so that I can file my appeal on Thursday.

Big Daddy, as restless as ever, went to take a walk.

I have been practicing walking with my cane.

The weather is gray and dreary and drizzling off and on.

I'm still working on copying my court papers.

I used the computer here to register for a Pell grant so I could take some courses at the local community college.

Lunch was pasta, spaghetti sauce and meatballs.

I continued to finish my legal work, stopping occassionlhy to go outside and have a cigarette.

Dinner was ham, sweet potatoes and green beans with crackers and cheese for dessert.

I finished my 3rd set of legal copies and decided to take a break from it. I wanted to work on finishing my crochet bag so that I can get paid.

I went to bed at 10.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Friday, May 17, 2013

I got up a little after 6. I was rushed last night because I was trying to put things away and ended up having to take my coat with me into the sleeproom. I went out the back way, came to the front and took a shower.

My stuff was a mess because something had spilled on them!

Breakfast was eggs and sausage.

After breakfast, I worked on straightening my stuff from storage.

I also got a ride from the shelter so that I could go get my cane. I had to go all the way to Upper Darby because that was the closest place that my medical insurance would pay for. It took 40 minutes to get there and forty minutes to get back but I made it in time for lunch.

Lunch was chicken patties and bread and hash browns.

The crochet club met at 1:30 and I was trying to learn the granny stitch. It still seems that I have to work on my tension. So I'll be making some dish towels to work on my tension.

Dinner was steak slices, noodles and green beans.

Big Daddy came back to the table angry.

I continued to work on the bag and then I went outside for awhile.

Dig Daddy was outside as well and he had gave me this "mysterious" speech about 'if he didn't see me anymore....'.

It turns out that he was still angry at the guy who smashed his window. He went looking for a big tree branch and then he went to hit the same guy! The police were called and so was the head director of the shelter. Big Daddy was allowed to stay but the other guy had to leave.

During this whole thing another of the residents was high and he kept talking crazy. He ended up getting arrested.

I went to bed at 11.

The sun

Another glorious morning!!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Thursday, May 16, 2013



I got up at 6:10. Left out the back way with another resident and had a cigarette while walking to the front of the shelter.

Breakfast was pancakes and sausages.

I finally finished the yellow bag and gave it to one of the staff members. She said she liked it and actually paid me for it!



Big Daddy returned to the shelter. He said that he was alright.

Lunch was beef turnovers and hash browns plus a donut for dessert.

I worked on preparing my appeal papers for filing. They are due by May 25th which is on a Saturday.

Dinner was sausage, noodles, corn and a donut for dessert.

I spent some time outside in the breeze (although it was warm outside).

I played bingo, did some research on the computer and then designed and printed a flyer for the shelter.

I went to bed at 10.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

I woke up at around 6. Had my cigarette outside and then came in for coffee.

Breakfast was oatmeal and scrapple.

I got ready to leave for my 8:30 van ride but we left early - like 8:10.

My appointment wasn't until 10 am so I used that time to work on my crochet project which was to make a small carrying bag for my own cellphone.

During my physical therapy session a heating pad was applied to my knee for about 15 minutes. Then I did some exercises and pedaled an exercise bike for 9 minutes and my distance was 1.1 miles.

After my session I wanted to pick up my Prozac and sleeping pill prescriptions and get some cigarettes. I was able to do that that and then was taken back to the shelter.

It was about 2 when I got back so I missed lunch but the cook made me a plate. Lunch was hamburgers and French fries.

I finished the rest of my crochet project.

I also found out that my cane was ready to be picked up. I managed to be able to schedule the outreach van to take me to the medical supply place in Upper Darby. I'm told it's a 40 minute ride.

I also managed to complete my writing project today and I also have laundry to do as well! Whew!

I don't think I ate dinner because I had that late lunch.

Later during the evening around 8, Big Daddy and his girlfriend came to the shelter.

The girlfriend couldn't stay but Big Daddy signed the sleep sheet. He took his sleeping pill and went to the back to watch TV. When it was time to go into the sleep room, he got up, went into the hall, fell and banged his head pretty hard. An ambulance was called and he was taken away.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Oh the joy of my "normal" day at the shelter! I got up at 6. I had my cigarette and I had my shower just being grateful that no one was banging on the shower door.

Breakfast was grits and scrapple.

I thought I had an appointment today but it turns out that its for tomorrow.

I talked with one of the caseworkers about the problem I was having with the processing of my Social Security process and she said that since she was going there in a few minutes that I could "hitch" a ride with here.

It turns out that I will have to call a number that is to their office in another part of the state.

Lunch was ham sandwiches, soup and crackers.

I talked to Big Daddy and found out that he was fired from his job! He's not in a very good way though because of it.



I talked to the head of the shelter and she told me that it was possible for me to get into the residence of my choice.

I missed taking my blood pressure medication on Sunday and I really felt weird so I'm back to taking them again and I feel much better.

Dinner was fish, rice and stewed tomatoes.

We're all kind of worried about Big Daddy. If he doesn't come back to the shelter soon he may be kicked out!

Since today was laundry day, we had to sign for our sheets and then we went to the sleep room to make our beds.

I went to bed at 10.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Monday, May 13, 2013

Morning came and we were anxious to get back to the shelter. Guess what? Big Daddy's truck wouldn't start. We called to have it jumped but it still wouldn't start so it had to be towed to a repair place.

We waited and waited but by 2 o'clock in the afternoon the truck still wasn't ready. So I and Big Daddy's girlfriend decided to take the bus back (to the shelter).

I made it back to the shelter by 4 pm. By this time I was so hungry that I ate my saved hoadie and decided to skip dinner.


everybody at the shelter wanted to know where we were and what the heck we had been doing.

I was tired and cold so I went to bed at nine.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Sunday, May 12, 2013

I got up just before 6 and went to the front. We're kind of worried about Big Daddy because he's not answering his phone.

I had some coffee.

Had breakfast,

Finally got in touch with Big Daddy. It seems his truck stalled and he was stranded. We got another resident to drive us to where he was stranded and we gave him a jump.

Meanwhile back at the shelter we decided to give another one of the residents a going-a-way party. The problem was that we couldn't find him. We drove around looking for him but we couldn't find him.

Unfortunately a fight broke out and the back of the window of the truck got broken. Then we found the guy that we were looking for and we "kidnapped" him. We had some beer and some whiskey and decided to stay overnight at a motel.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Friday, May 10th

I got up at around 6 am. Went out the back way with another resident and we walked and smoked our way to the front.  Breakfast was cream of wheat and I had my coffee with that.

After breakfast I alternated between going outside and having a cigarette and being inside working on crocheting the bag.

It was starting to get quite warm outside.

Lunch was a meat wrap type taco thing plus we had some leftovers from the barbecue.

We had our first meeting of the crochet club and most of us decided on starting off with a simple project - a crocheted bag for our cellphones.

I also found out about my next creative writing. We are supposed to write something - a contribution - to add to a blog. So I have yet to do that too.

Dinner was ham, rice and mixed vegetables.

After dinner we went for a ride in Big Daddy's van and we had some whiskey.


It started to rain real heavy so we stayed in the van and didn't get back inside the shelter until 10:30. I went to bed at 11.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Thursday, May 9th

I woke up just after 6, made my bed and went to the front day room.  Had a cigarette outside and came back in to some tepid coffee. Breakfast was eggs and scrapple. Big Daddy left for work. I continued to work on the yellow bag. It was nice outside so I worked on the bag outside. Lunch was pork/sausage patties and mashed potatoes. After lunch I got copies of my legal papers. Unfortunately it wasn't enough copies so I have to get more copies made. I also continued to work (inside) on the bag. Big Daddy came back early from work and he took me to the apartment complex where I wanted to live. We were shown models of the one and two bedroom apartments. I liked them just fine and it is close to where I used to live. Next we drove over to my home and I saw that my mother's car was gone but I had already known that because a neighbor called me and told me so. I stopped by to see my neighbor and my bunch at my library. On the way back we stopped for hoagies and cigarettes. By the time we were finished it was around 9:30. The shelter has a 10 pm curfew so we just made it back in time! I went to bed at eleven.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

At about 1 am I felt my feet cramping up and I had to get up from the bed because no matter which way I turned in bed I couldn't get rid of the cramps.  I went to the staff member and told him about the cramping and he wanted to know if I wanted to go to the hospital.  I told him that if I just walked around maybe the cramping would go away.

So I did some walking around and the cramps went away slowly so I went back to bed.
<p>A lot of us were coughing and sneezing during the night.  It seems a lot of us (including my self) were sick.
<p>I woke up again around 5 am because I felt the cramping coming back.  I got back up and walked around again and then laid  back down again.  I didn't wake up again until the 6:30 wake-up call.
<p>I made my bed and went out the back door with another resident and we smoked a cigarette on the way to the front of the shelter.
<p>After the cigarette, went inside and had a cup of coffee.
<p>Breakfast was french toast and a sausage patty.
<p>After breakfast I went out to smoke a cigarette but it started to rain really hard so I came back inside.
<p>Lunch was interesting because it was supposed to be a barbecue.  It kept raining off and on so it took awhile.  The head of the shelter wanted pictures so I used her camera to get pictures and "capture" moments of the barbecue.  I took about 25-30 pictures with her digital camera.  Students were also suppose to come in from a nearby college.  I captured pictures of the arriving.  We didn't actually get to eat lunch until 2 in the afternoon but it was worth the wait.  Hot dogs, hamburgers, corn, beans and salad!  We (and the students) feasted!
<p>Big Daddy came back from work early and we were off to do his laundry (and drink whiskey).  We did some shopping and bought hoagies for dinner.
<p>We got back to the shelter but Big Daddy realized that he was out of cigarettes so we, along with another resident  went to get some.  He was paying one of the younger residents to help clean his van.
<p>We got back to the shelter around 10 pm and I went to bed at 11.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Tuesday, May 7 2013

I got up just before 6:30. It's laundry day so I stripped my bed and put the sheets with the others.
<p>Went out the back way with another resident and smoked my last cigarette on the way to the front.
<p>Went inside and had some coffee.
<p>Breakfast was turkey bacon and eggs.
<p>I'm working on a tapestry bag now that I have run out of yarn for the blue and white bag.  While I'm waiting to get more yarn on that I can work on something else.
<p>Lunch was cheeseburgers and french fries.
<p>After lunch I worked on the strap for the tapestry bag, stopping once to have a cigarette (that someone gave me
<p>It started to rain real hard so me and another resident got in her car to keep from getting wet.  After about 20 minutes the rain let up and we went inside.
<p>I went back to the tapestry bag and also got one of the caseworkers to look at the doctor bill I got.  Since my current medical insurance didn't pay the bill the bill was sent to me.  It's for $122 and the caseworker is going to see if my earlier/temporary medical insurance will pay for it.
<p>Dinner was pork chops, mixed vegetables and rice.
<p>I finished my crocheting projects and did some practice stitching.  I'm almost out of yarn and need some white and blue yarn to finish the bag that I'm doing for someone else.  I was also able to renew my library books online.
<p>Big Daddy finally came back from work and he showed me his new van.  It's not a new model.  It's about 7 years old but he says as long as it can get him where he's going, he's fine with it.
<p>We decided to take a trip to the store but before we left a staff member came over to talk to us.  Afterwards we drove to the store, came back and decided to "hook" up with one of the other residents that we saw walking to the bus stop.  But when we got there we saw the police with someone and we decided to go back to the shelter.
<p>Once we got back to the shelter we saw the police cars driving by and we decided to see what was going on.  When we got to the front of the shelter one of the residents was being led out in hand cuffs by the police.  We were shocked and we couldn't find out clearly what had happened.  But it did have something to do with drugs.  This all happened around 10pm.
<p>We went inside the shelter, got our sheets and blankets and went to bed at 11.  I was so tired that I didn't even  make my bed!

Monday, May 6, 2013

Monday, May 6, 2013

I got up just before the 6:30, went to the bathroom and then made up my bed.

I came out the back way with another resident and smoked a cigarette on the way to the front.

I went inside and had my coffee.

Breakfast was pancakes and scrapple.

I'm very low on cigarettes and I still feel a bit sleepy.

I continued to work on the bag.lasangna

There are some things I have to do but I'm procrastinating. I have to make copies and there are two bills that I have to take care of. I have to do those things as soon as possible.

Lunch was lasangna.

I'm still working on the bag but I ran out of blue yarn so I'm un-twisting some old yarn and that's going to take a while.

Dinner was barbecued chicken, potatoes and stewed tomatoes.

I continued to un-twist the yarn.

Two people had to leave today. One was a woman who had een here awhile. It's rumored that she has funeds afailable and that there is an apartment waiting for her. The second person was a younger guy who was going to New Hampshire with his girlfriend who is pregnant. There were supposed to be getting a ride but the ride never showed up. They wanted to stay at the shelter but the assistant director said they couldn't. So they loaded up their bags into a baby stroller and started walking.

Around 6:30 a fight broke out. I was sitting near the front so I don't know how it started. The police came and made one guy leave the grounds.

This time I went to bed at 11.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Sunday, May 5, 2013

I got up around 2am to go to the bathroom but I went right back to bed. I woke up to the 6:30 wake-up call.

I came to the front and went outside to smoke a cigarette. I came back inside and had to wait a little for coffee.

Breakfast was waffles.

I'm running out of cigarettes and that is bugging me no end!!

Now that I'm jfinished the bag I'm looking at other kinds of stitches that I can do from some books that I checked out of the library.

Lunch was tuna fish or lunch meat sandwiches and I already had some potato chips that I could eat with that.

While I was looking at other stitches and practicing them someone admired the bag that I made and they want me to make them the same kind of bag in two different colors. I wanted to get started on that right away.

I went outside and smoked my last cigarette. Hopefully I'll get a lot more soon!

Dinner was ham, noodles and stewed tomatoe.

Mostly after dinner I worked on the bag.

I went to bed at 9.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Saturday, May 4, 2013

I woke up at 6, made my bed and went to the front. I had my cigarette and then came back inside to have coffee.

Breakfast was french toast, turkey bacon and eggs.

I just lulled around until lunch time continuing to work on the bag.

Lunch was tiny hamburgers.

I went shopping with one of the other residents who has a car and then we went to look at the flowers for sale. It was a very nice day outside so we stayed outside and took a nap in the car.

Back inside I continued to work on the bag then I was invited outside for a drink. It was about 4 of us drinking and we stayed outside and drank all the way up to dinner time. Dinner was stir-fried chicken but we had hoagies for dinner. After dinner we continued to drink until around 8 and then came inside. I went to bed at 9.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Friday, May 3, 2013

I got up just before 6am. I went to the bathroom and made my bed. I went outside to smoke a cigarette and then came back inside to make coffee.

I have a 9:30 am appointment to see my physiciatrist and a meeting after that to go look at my apartment complex.

Breakfast was oatmeal and fruit.

I left in the 8:30 van for my appointments.

My session with my physiciatrist went OK. I told her about what's going on in my life and how I felt about things.

My second meeting was more disappointing. I found out that I wasn't going to my apartment complex after all. I just can;t tell you how disappointed I was!

I got back to the shelter around 3:30 pm. I missed lunch so I made some popcorn but then there was the dinner call.

Dinner was sphagetti and sausages.

I continued to work on the crocheted bag stopping every now and then to go outside and smoke a cigarette.

I went to bed at ten.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Thursday, May 2, 2013

I woke at the 6:30 wake-up call. I left out the back way with another resident and smoked a cigarette as we walked to the front. Heard a rumor that one of the female residents is being kicked out today because she was caught smoking in the bathroom.

I waited a bit for my coffee but finally had some.

Breakfast was waffles and sausages.

I took my medications.

Yesterday about 7 people came from a shelter in Pottstown. It seems that shelter closes during the summer and some of the people there were being transferred to here. As a result, the shelter is quite full today.

Now that I (finally) finished the blanket I'm continuing an older project that I had to stop because I ran out of yarn. Now that I have the yarn I can finish it. I'm making a black "hoodie".

Lunch was sandwiches and tortilla chips.

Since it was nice outside I chatted with a few of the residents outside. The sun was beating down on me so I came back inside. I still have 2 writing assignments that I still haven't done yet. They are due on Wednesday.

Dinner was ham potatoes and beets.

I continued to work on my "hoodie" though I'm thinking about turning it into a bag because the sides aren't even.

We had crackers for a snack.

I also "hitched" a ride on the van to get my prescription renewals.

I went to bed at ten.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

I got up a little before 6 and the shower was actually free! I took a shower and then had a cigarette outside.

I'm really going to have to do something with my hair! I need a flat iron or a hot comb. (The hot comb would be better). But I was told that hot combs are "old-school" but with my hair a hot comb is essential!

Breakfast was pancakes and sausage.

I had a physical therapy appointment early so I left with the 8:30 van.

My physical therapy session consisted of starting me off with a heating pad to relax my knee. Then I did several exercises and then I worked on a cycle machine for a few minutes.

I was back at the shelter by 10:30.

I still continued to work on the blanket.

I met my case worker from Central again and she talked more about looking at apartments - specifically the one I have in mind!

Lunch was a salad and Italian meat wraps.

So far I have had three cups of coffee trying to stay awake.

I still continued to work on the blanket.

Dinner was a choice of ham or roast beef (I chose the ham), rice and mixed vegetables.

After dinner I continued to work on the blanket and I finally finished it and got paid! He was very satisfied with it.

I went to bed at 10

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

I got up at a little before 6. Since this is laundry day I stripped my sheets and blanket and put them with the others.

I went out and smoked my cigarette and came inside to make coffee. Someone else had made the coffee and they gave me a cup.

I took my medications and then took my coffee outside and had another cigarette. I lent someone my lighter but they went somewhere so I had to use matches.

Breakfast was eggs and grits.

I continued to work on my blanket. I also met with my new caseworker at Central. She discussed my situation and she said that she may even be able to help me get an apartment with some funding programs.

Lunch was chicken salad sandwiches and potato chips.

After lunch I continued to work on my blanket.

Dinner was ham, noodles and spinach.

I found out that Big Daddy was offered his job back but he doesn't know whether or not he wants to go back.

I continued to work on the blanket.

I cleared my stuff from our table because I was told that the table areas were going to be straightened.

That was a lot of stuff I had to put away so now my two lockers are completely full!

I went to bed at 11 because I wanted to continue working on the blanket.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Monday, April 29, 2013

I got up a little before 6. Thanks to Big Daddy, I had cigarettes so I went to the front, made coffee and went outside to have a cigarette while the coffee brewed.

Breakfast was oatmeal.

I still continued to work on the blanket. I also got a chance to talk with a staff worker from Central. She may be able to get me an apartment sooner than I expected!

Lunch was hamburgers, French fries, potato salad and lemonade.

It's cold in the building and raining outside and my hair is frizzing up because I keep going outside to smoke a cigarette.

I still continued to work on the blanket.

There's a problem with me getting my cane. It seems the store that has the cane does 't take my insurance anymore. So now I have to call one of their other medical supply stores to see if they still take my insurance company. If they do, I have to get their fax number and give that to my doctor. If they don't, I'll have to find a medical supply store that does take my insurance and give their fax number to my doctor. What a mess!

One of the residents was caught shoplifting and if he doesn't pay $50 in ten days he will go to jail because it will be his fifth shoplifting charge.

The other resident that got drunk was told that he would have to leave by the end of the week!

Dinner was a smorgasbord of meat! There was spare ribs, chicken , meatballs and sausage. There was also sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables and rice.

After dinner I continued to work on the blanket.

I went to bed at nine.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Sunday, April 28,2013

I got up a little before 6:30.

I went to the front, had a cigarette and then came inside to make and have coffee.

Breakfast was turkey bacon and eggs with lemonade as the juice drink.

Since it was nice outside another female resident suggested we crochet outside and we did.

Then it was suggested that we do a little shopping and we did. Me and another resident used her car to go to the store.

I had to be back by 12:30 because there was an arts discussion group (about hope) that I said that I would attend.

I was back by 3:30 but I missed lunch so I ate the hoagie that I had bought from the store.

Then came dinner but I had just ate the hoagie so I wasn't hungry by then.

One of the residents had gotten so drunk that an ambulance was called for him. He was in a pretty bad way.

I went to bed at ten

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Got up a little before 6:30. Went to the bathroom and then came back to make my bed.

I came to the front and made coffee. Had a cigarette and then worked on my blanket.

There was a mishap with the breakfast (French toast) because it got overcooked so we had to wait a while for breakfast.

They substituted with waffles and some fruit but the waffles were hard so I didn't eat them. I did eat the orange slices though.

I saw a couple of the residents were going to play Scrabble outside so I joined in. I came in third.

Around 10:15 I came back inside to eat the rest of my leftover hoagie and I worked on my blanket some more.

Lunch was served by a group of people. It was chicken noodle soup, turkey bologna sandwiches and Dorito chips.

I continued to work on the blanket.

A woman came by in her big SUV and brought some food from a leftover junior prom - cake, pastries, orange slices, coffee and tea.

I continued to work on the blanket.

The shelter served cake as a snack.

Dinner was ham, potatoes and vegetables.

For the rest of the day I continued to work on the blanket.

I went to bed at nine.

Friday, April 26, 2013

Friday, April 26, 2013

I woke up at 6:30. No cigarettes so I just had coffee. There was a guy at our table who used to make the coffee but now he's in jail. We don't know exactly why though. We speculated but we really don't know for sure.

Breakfast was french toast and turkey bacon. There were no seconds though.

I had a medical appointment for the morning so I left in the 8:30 van.

At my doctor's office they checked the results of my tuberculosis shot and I was fine. It took me all of five minutes but since I just got there in the van I waited and crocheted my blanket. I called the van to pick me up an hour later and it didn't take long for them to pick me up.

I got back to the shelter, sat down for a few minutes and one of the female residents reminded me about our trip to the yarn store. She has a car and off we went! We didn't have 50 cents between us so we were just looking around at the various yarns, speculation about which ones we would buy if we had the money. We went to a second store to look at their yarn but they had a smaller selection. By this time we had missed lunch so I treated her to lunch on my card. We got the food and came back to the shelter and ate outside on the picnic benches.

Afterwards we came inside and there was a discussion started about when we would start our knitting club at the sheter. There would be three of us participating with one of the female staff members supervising.

Then the staff member also suggested starting a sewing club so that we could make some quilts. Whew!

A group of student nurses came in to take our blood pressure for free and give us healthy snacks like strawberries, oranges and carrots.

It was suggested that we start a little garden here at the shelter and if we can find the right spacing then it may just happen!

Then we had to take a female resident to the emergency room because she wasn't feeling well.

On the ride there the subject of motorcycles came up and I was told that there were free classes on how to ride on and I'm seriously considering it however I wonder if my bad knee will be a factor? I have to call and find out.

Then I went on another van ride to help pick up another female resident who was released from the emergency room! Whew! What a day!

I went to bed at eleven.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Thursday, April 25, 2013

It wasn't until 6:30 that I got up. In fact I was one of the last people to get up. I was up at 4:30 but I went back to bed.

Anyway, once I was up I went to the front and had a cup of coffee. I'm still out of cigarettes.

Breakfast was eggs and scrabble.

Today is my trial date so I got myself ready for the 8:30 van.

I was at the courthouse a little early but I spent that time in the law library using their computer. I got some good work done.

At 1:30 I was ready to appear before the judge but he had an emergency issue and we had to wait. When the judge finally appeared he heard both our sides and made a decision to deny my petition. I am going to appeal his decision.

I was very glad to get back to the shelter. I got there around 2:30 in the afternoon, just before the shift change.

I missed lunch but I had a soda and Oreo cookies to fill me up.

I worked on my blanket and talked to some of the staff about the judge denying me.

Dinner was baked chicken, rice and mixed vegetables.

I was expecting something in the mail today but instead I go a notice from the storage place. Unless I pay the bill in full the storage place is going to auction my stuff. That really bummed me out and I worried about for the rest of the day.

I went to bed at 10

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

I woke up at around 3:30 but I went back to sleep. Woke up at 6:30.

One of the new people gave me a cigarette.

Next was coffee and breakfast. Breakfast was cream of wheat.

After breakfast I took my medications and I continued to work on my blanket.

Lunch was chicken turnovers.

After lunch there was a mile walk. Because of my knee I didn't walk but I did take pictures.

I'm still out of cigarettes so I continued to work on my blanket.

Some students came in today and the topic was hope. We took some pictures to help represent hope.

I got my medical card in the mail today.

I also have got to work on my creative writing topic because it is due today.

Dinner was sausage, mac and cheese and spinach.

One of the case workers had some bags of clothing and she let a few of us women go through them to see if there was anything there we wanted to keep. I found a good seven or eight tops. I pray that they will fit in my locker.

I'm still bummed that I don't have any cigarettes yet.

One of the women on staff brought in her flat iron and I was able to straighten my hair. Actually I did half my head when another female staff member wanted to do the rest of my hair because she was bored.

The writing class also met today and the next assignment is to write a description of yourself from the viewpoint of another person.

It's almost 9pm but I'm going to work on my blanket some more.

I went to bed at 10.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Woke up at 5am but went back to bed until 6:30.

No cigarettes yet so I had my coffee.

Breakfast was cereal and milk but I didn't have any. For breakfast I had oreos.

I continued to work on the blanket until my van ride at 8:30. I had an appointment with my regular physical doctor.

The appointment went well. My blood pressure was lower - 130 over 78. We talked about my need for a cane. I got a tuberculosis shot and have to go back on Friday so they can see the results. The doctor and I also talked about my knee. My physical therapist says that I'm a good ten years away from knee surgery. I also asked about a more stronger pain medication for my knee and she prescribed something similar to Alieve so I hope my insurance company will pay for it otherwise it will cost me $20.

I came back to the shelter and made it in time for lunch which was vegetables soup and sandwiches

I played bingo with some of the other residents. I did win one game. Still bummed about not having cigarettes. Still continued to work on my blanket.

Dinner was meatballs and vegetables.

I still continued to work on the blanket.

I went to bed at nine.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Monday, April 22, 2013

Woke up at just before 6am. It was cold inside the sleeproom but I had a blanket and a spread to cover me.

I went outside to smoke my last cigarette and then cam back inside to have coffee and take my medication.

I still worked on my blanket until breakfast.

Breakfast was pancakes and sausage.

There's a new guy that came here over the weekend and he's afraid that he will be put out because there is no room here for him. we (the residents) told him to wait until the head boss came in and talk to here.

I got a doctor's bill in the mail that my medical insurance did not cover. The bill is for $122. I called my insurance company and they said that they would investigate it and that could take up to 30 days. (A resident here told me that they had to pay up to 60 days before the actual coverage started.

The fact that I don't have cigarettes really pisses me off!

Lunch was chicken noodle soup, a meat wrap and some crackers.

I got a notice of sale from the storage company saying that if I didn't pay my bill my stuff would be sold off. I have around 30 days to pay or make a payment arrangement with them. I'll wait until May when I have more phone minutes then I will call them back and ask for an extension.

The new resident found out that the shelter was going to work something out so that he could stay.

I called the Social Security office to see how fast my process is going. They told me they had all my information and that my application is currently under review. I hope I get that money soon because I really need it!

Dinner was roast beef, potatoes and stewed tomatoes.

I was hoping to get a letter from my brother today but I didn't get it yet.

I continued to work on my blanket for the rest of the day and then I went to bed at 9.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Sunday, April 21, 2013

I got up at 6. Went outside to smoke a "rolled" cigarette. Then I had to make the coffee because the guy that usually makes it in the morning is on strike. He's mad at one of the guys at our table.

A Breakfast was waffles and scrapple.

I worked on on the blanket some more.

Lunch was sloppy Joes and French fries.

After lunch I worked on the blanket some more but I managed to bum a cigarette from one of the staff members. But I also continued working on the blanket. A lot of us here are out of cigarettes so we are a bit morose.

Dinner was glazed ham, macaroni and cheese and sweet potatoes.

One of the female residents went shopping at Walmart and bought back a bunch of yarn and some crochet needles amd she's ready to start her blanket project as well. She bought me a little bag to carry my crochet project in.

I went to bed at 10.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Saturday, April 20, 2013

I got up at 6 and went to the front day room. I was worried about our stuff at the table since the staff trashed it the night before, but all of our stuff was still there. I'm running out of room in my lockers so I don't have any more space to store my other stuff. With the library books and the yarn I have yet still more stuff!

I am out of cigarettes so no smoking done this morning. I'm still feeling a bit sleepy.

Breakfast was grits, sausage patties and an English muffin.

I tried to work on my blanket more but I was yawning and sleepy so I tried to take a nap.

Lunch was hot dogs with bread.

I went back to writing here in my diary and finishing my blanket. I also started reading "Crocheting For Dummies".

Dinner was chicken, noodles and sweet potatoes.

Big Daddy is restless. Personally I think its because he quit his job. It's easy to get bored here and I think that is the case with him. After dinner he got someone to go to the store for him to buy hoagies for us. Then he got the same guy to go to the store for him again to get a half gallon of ice cream and hot chocolate. He ate half of his hoagie and gave the other half away. Then he ate about a quarter of the ice cream and put the rest of it in the freezer.

I was also looking at an apartment book to see the different prices of apartments. It's funny but I must have looked at 100 different ones and still didn't see one that had everything that I wanted.

I went to bed at 10.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Friday, April 19,2013

Up at a little bit before 6:30.

Went to the dayroom and found out that the stuff we left on the table got thrown in the trash bin. I was able to retrieve most of our stuff.

I smoked my last cigarette and went inside to take my medication and have a cup of coffee.

Breakfast was cream of wheat.

I wanted to take a shower before I went to the library but it was too close to the nine o'clock deadline.

I continued to work on the blanket for a while. The van was supposed to take me to the library at 10:30.

I was amazed at the size of the library. It was kind of huge. It was a large room that had many bookshelves full of books. I looked for books on knitting and crocheting and found a lot of them. I checked out two basic books about them. I used the computer for about 3 hours and I looked up the place where I wanted to live.

I am beginning to realize how hard it is to get around with my knee.

I got back to the shelter around 3:30 so I missed lunch.

After dinner I went and took a shower - finally! I then went outside, did a little drinking of whiskey but then I came back inside.

Dinner was peppered chicken with rice.

A few of the residents wanted to get drunk again and that is what we did.

I worked on my blanket more and then I went to bed at 10.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Thursday, April 18,2013

Woke up around 5:30 in the morning. By the time I went to the bathroom and got myself together it was almost 6am. I went to the front, got some coffee and had a cigarette outside. Worked on blanket until breakfast which was cream of wheat.

Today was laundry day so I had to get ready for that. There was a shortage of staff for awhile but they managed quite well.

I got mail from the Social Security Office. There were form papers they wanted me to fill out and send back in 10 days.

Lunch was chicken turnovers, hamburgers and noodles. Big Daddy got some butter pecan ice cream and we had some before lunch.

I'm running out of cigarettes and since Big Daddy quit his job, I'll have to find cigarettes elsewhere.

I filled out the forms from the Social Security Office and a staff member was kind enough to fax it in.

Big Daddy bought some whiskey and three of us partook of it wutside in the rain. I came inside because I was just getting too wet!

I have to keep working on blanket because it's due tomorrow!

Dinner was shepherd pie.

I went to bed at 10.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Woke up just before the 6:30 wakeup call.  I made my bed and a resident and I went out the back way and walked to the front while we had our cigarettes.

I'm feeling the pain more in my knee.  I realized this while I was walking this morning.  I'm going to see how a cane works for me.

Breakfast was grits and scrapple.

I continued to work on the blanket.  Around 10:30 a bunch of students came by.  They were here to participate in some sports activities and the head of the shelter gave us some digital cameras to take pictures with.  I took about 170 pictures.  The head of the shelter is going to use some of the pictures in an art show.

For lunch we and the students had pizza and chicken wings, hamburger and salad.  What a treat it was!

I crocheted some baby booties for someone and I can't wait to show them to them in the morning.

I decided to start the blanket from scratch I didn't like the way it looked.  I only have until Friday to complete it.

Dinner was chilli and rice.

At around 6pm there was a creative writing class and I took part in it.  We were to write about some one or something we loved without using the words "I", "me" or "my".  Our next assignment was to find a portrait and describe it.  It appears that this creative writing class will take place on Wednesdays at 6pm.  I'm going to have to get another notebook specifically for this.

I worked more on the blanket until I went to bed at 10.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Tuesday, April 16, 2014

Up at 6:30.

It's laundry day so the beds had to be stripped.

Had my coffee, then had my cigarette outside.  Came back inside and took my medications.

Breakfast was pancakes and scrabble which was good.  Had a giant piece of scrabble and three pancakes.

Worked on the blanket some more and someone mentioned the library.  Now I remembered back to the staff member that wanted to start the crocheting club.  While I do know how to do both knit and crochet, I still consider myself a beginner.  I wanted to check some books out about knitting and crocheting from the library.

As I was crocheting the blanket another staff member asked me to help with the cleaning and I did.  We stripped the beds and put the blankets and bedspreads in the dryers.  Then the floors were dusted and mopped.  I found out that there were 45 beds/cots in the sleep room.  It took us about 3 hours to finish.

Lunch was bologna sandwiches, vegetable soup and fruit for dessert.

Bingo took place at 1pm.

I still continued working on the blanket, taking occasional breaks to go outside and have a cigarette.

Dinner was barbecued chicken, rice and greens.

I spent the rest of the day trying to finish my blanket.

I went to be at nine.

Sunrise

Beautiful sunrise!
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Monday, April 15, 2013

Monday, April 15, 2013

Woke up at 6:30 - kinda late for me but I didn't go to bed until late last night.

Went outside to have my cigarette and then back inside to have my coffee.  Breakfast was blue berry waffles.

My physical therapy session wasn't until eleven so I worked on the blanket some more.  I have to finish it by Friday so I still have a lot to do.  Someone saw me trying to finish the blanket and asked me to make them some pink baby booties.

The van took me to the hospital for my physical therapy appointment but I found out that my appointment wasn't until 2 that afternoon.  So I decided to wait there.  In the waiting room I crocheted some more until it was my time to go in.

When it was my time to go in I went in and met my physical therapist.  She was a very pleasant woman with a happy attitude.  She asked me questions about my knee and about how much pain I was having.  On a scale of one to ten I would rate my pain a number-eight!  We talked a little more about my condition.  (What I have is osteo-arthritis in my knee).  She told me that my condition wouldn't get better but there were things that I could do to help strengthen the knee and reduce the pain.  I asked her if I should get a cane and she said yes.  (I would have to get my doctor to provide a prescription for me.)  The physical therapist then put a heating pad on my knee to help relieve some of the pain in my knee.  She gave me a sheet of paper with some exercises on it and we went through the exercises one by one.  If I had any questions then she said I could call her but she told me that she would be leaving in a few weeks.  I also found out that I had to pay a $2 co-payment every time I went to physical therapy.  I guess its better than having to pay the whole fee.

I called the van and it brought me back to the shelter where I stayed outside and smoked a cigarette.

I missed lunch but I had ate hoagie before I left so I was good until dinner.

I continued to finish crocheting the blanket when one of the staff members saw it.  I think she was impressed enough because she mentioned starting a crocheting club here at the shelter.  I think that is a good idea too!

Dinner was fish, noodles and collard greens.

After dinner, still working on the blanket I was also asked to create another spreadsheet for someone who is working as a contractor.  Someone also asked me to make a customized blanket for them.

It was a busy day for me an I went to bed at nine.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Sunday, April 14, 2013

I was up at a little past 6.

Breakfast was oatmeal.

After breakfast I was able to take a shower.  I'm still working on the blanket because I want to be finished by Friday.

The church pastor brought some breakfast platters for the shelter residents.  The platter had scrambled eggs, hash browns and sausages and mixed fruit.  There were no utensils though and if you didn't have any saved then you would have to eat with your fingers.

Another church came to do some cleaning at the shelter.  They cleaned the women's bathroom and they also cleaned, sanded and painted the tables.

Lunch was bolgna sandwiches and chicken noodle soup.

I went back to crocheting, taking a cigarette break every now and then.  While I was crocheting someone asked me if I could make them a blanket too.  This could be the start of something big.  I was thinking of making one-of-a-kind blankets.

Dinner was baked chicken, noodles and black-eyed peas and green beans as well.

I'm still working on the blanket because I said it would be done by Friday and I'm not satisfied with the length yet.

I went to bed at 11.  Yes, late I know but I made some microwaved popcorn around 9:30 pm and I didn't want to rush it. 

The Blanket

Here is the blanket that I am currently on.
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Saturday, April 13, 2013

Sunday service

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Another foggy morning here at the shelter

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Saturday, April 13, 2013

Up at 6:30.  The sleeproom was so cold but I had a big spread on my bed so I didn't actually notice it until I got out of bed.

Still some tension at our table and everyone was mostly quiet.  Last night another resident gave me some yarn that he had gotten from his grandmother.  There was also a half-finished blanket.  The resident told me he would pay me if I finished the blanket for him.

Breakfast was eggs and scrapple.

I was untangling yarn until lunch time.

Lunch was chicken turnovers and I had some potatoe chips that I had saved.

It's still kind of cold in the shelter but its warmer outside.  It's about 1 in the afternoon and there are only a few residents inside.  Most of them are sleeping in front of the tv set.  On the weekends the tv stays on all day.

Today the church was going to serve us dinner and they arrived around 6pm.  The dinner consisted of meatballs and something that looked like pizza on the top and meat on the bottom.  They also provided bananas and can sodas as well.  With the dinner came a church sermon.

I'm currently finishing a blanket that a resident's grandmother started and I'm anxious to get it done because he said he would pay me for it.

Another one of the residents had some sleep medication and I took two of them to help me sleep.

The one resident paid the $10 that he owed to the other resident.

I went to bed at 10.



Friday, April 12, 2013

Friday, April 12, 2013

Got up at 3:30 am, went to the bathroom and laid back down.  The next thing I knew it was time to get up.  Went from the sleep room to the dayroom very groggily.

No cigarettes to speak for so I waited for the coffee to finish brewing.  A verbal argument started because a resident decided to use the computer (at 7:30 in the morning) without asking permission first.  He got up from the computer in a huff and complained loudly for a while.

Breakfast was creme of wheat but I didn't want it and so far I haven't eaten anything yet.

Today was my laundry day and I wanted to wash my big leather sweater but was told that I couldn't.  A few seconds later the staff member told me that she should have let me wash it.  But by then my laundry load was already in the washer.

Since I'm doing laundry today I'll stay here until it all done.

While I'm waiting for my laundry cycles it's kind of quiet in the day room and the TV is off.  (The TV is off after 9am and can't be turned back on until 5pm.  One the weekends the TV can be on all day long).

It's raining heavy on and off so a lot of the residents are staying in except for those who have to go to work.

The lunch was hotdogs on buns an bread plus I had some potatoe chips to eat with it.

The rain let up some and I went outside to smoke a cigarette and talk with sone of the other residents.  We were talking about disability and how to be able to get it.  I just appliee about 2 days ago and I have to wait until at least 30 dayw before I call them to check on my application status.  

I was hoping to get my other prescription today and I talked to one of the staff members about it but she hasn't got back to me yet.  Long story short I was able to get a blue slip so that I could go get my prescription.  This is the one for my pain pills and it's the only prescription that my medical insurance won't pay for.  I had to pay the full price but I'm going to ask my doctor for something stronger.  A lady was handing out discount cards for prescriptions and I tried using that at the pharmacy but I still had to pay for the whole prescription.

Back at the shelter I think I mostly crocheted.

A verbal fight happened at my table.  It was about monehy. One person owed another person ten dollars and it's been three weeis since he lent it and he wanted it back.  The other resident said he didn't have it.  The man that lent the money wanted the man to find another table but he refused so the other man left in a huff.  He came back a few minutes later but he stayed very quiet.  I'm wondering how long before they confront each other again.

By ten o'clock I was definetely ready for bed!

Don't try this at home

Here's a resident trying to get himself together
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Thursday, April 11, 2013

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Up at a little bit before the 6:30 wakeup call. I went to the bathroom and straightened my bed. I am seriously low on cigarettes and I need at least $5 to pay for my pain pills. Breakfast was turkey bacon and grits. No appointments today, thank goodness. I took a nap because I was still so sleepy. Woke up at around 10:45 and mulled around until lunchtime. Lunch was bologna or roast beef sandwich, chicken noodle soup and a bowl of sphagetti for dessert. I'm still mulling over my plans about getting out of here. Although I still want my house back I'll still need something temporary for now and I was thinking about the apartment complex that was near me. It would be perfect (almost) as a temporary place until I get my home back. Dinner was ham, macaroni and cheese and sweet potatoes. After dinner I had a chance to go and get my prescriptions. I'm out of cigarettes though. Didn't want to play bingo tonight either. Went to bed at 9.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Wednesday, April 10,2013

Up at a little before 6 am.  I don't have anymore of my sleeping medication because I ran out of then and I can't pick up a refill until Friday.

Today will be a busy day for me because I have to go to the courthouse to file my response to the defendant's response.

Breakfast was waffles and I made sure that I had a second helping because I wanted to be full and not have an empty stomach.  No van service for me today.  I had to take the bus.

First of all I was carrying too much stuff in my bag and it made my bag heacy beyond belief.  Second of all the temperative was 77 degrees and I was overdressed.

I got through filing the papers alright although the clerk had trouble getting into my file and he needed a manager's override in order to get into my file.  I didn't want to know what that was about!

After I finished filing my court papers I then went downstairs to the law library to file my taxes - all three of them!  I had to file my local, state and federal taxes all in one day!  What a nightmare that was!  I won't go into detail but suffice it to say that I got them all done!

I was finished!  Now I could go back to the shelter!

It was so very hot today and I thank God that I had cigarettes.  Met two other residents riding on the same bus back to the shelter.  We had a good time talking on the bus and we got off at our stop and decided to sit down and rest for a while.  On our walk back to the shelter the van came by and took pity on us and gave us a lift back to the shelter.  Would it be odd to call the shelter home wouldn't it?  A lot of the residents have made jokes about it but can we really call it home?

I was just glad to get back to it!

Once inside I ate my hoadie and chips that I had bought on the way.

Still hot outside but I had my cigarette anyway.

I didn't eat dinner because I had my hoagie.  I didn't get back until a little after 4pm so I had missed lunch.

The rest of the day was pretty normal (and boring).

I went to bed at 9 because I was really, really tired.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Up at 5. Actually I was up at 4 but decided to go back to bed and then I couldn't sleep so I got up.

Today is laundry day so off with the sheets and blankets so that they can be washed.

Had a cup of coffee. Went outside to smoke and then I came back inside and had another cup of coffee and I took my prescriptions.

Breakfast was pancakes.

I thought that my van ride was changed to 8:30 like I requested but I still had the same time. My appointment was scheduled for 11:30 and I would like to get there a little bit beforehand. However the van got me there in time. I waited a few mi jtes and was then shown to the office where I sat down. I'm trying to apply for benefits so that I have some moneh coming in every month. I do have both a physical and mental disavility and the fact that I'm living in a homeless should (hopefully) make the process faster. I realy need that money - especially for my appeal.

The results of the appointment I hope, went good. I have to wait for notification in the mail and since I just applied to do it it will be at least 30 days before I know something. So now I just have to wait!

I got back to the shelter at around 12:15 so I did miss lunch. I'm eating oreo cookies for lunch.

It's very warm outside so I'll think I'll stay inside or a while.

I tried taking a nap but it was too warm inside. I went outside to smoke on of my last cigarettes. I went back inside and read the materials from the social security office and then I tried to take a nap.

Dinner was chicken, rice and greens with Oreos for dessert. There was a house meeting called to discuss the status of everything and how things were going. After dinner I went outside to have another cigarette and to enjoy the breeze in the shade. Its hotter inside than it is outside and that has to do with the state and not the shelter itself.

Before I had taken some pictures with my camera phone and some of the pictures I took impressed the staff. They sad I should enter one of them in a contest. I would like to but the submission requires getting prints and disks in order to submit them and I won't make the deadline date. But it has interested me in photography and now I want to get a digital camera with a zoom lens to take better pictures.

I went to bed at 11:00pm because I was outside shooting the breeze with a couple of other residents because it just felt so good outside.

No more room-almost!

We are running out of room here at the shelter

Monday, April 8, 2013

Monday, April 8, 2013

Up at a little before 6:30. Breakfast was waffles. I volunteered to help with moving one of the residents out but her new place has three flights of stairs and that's not good for my knee. So my plan for today had changed. Originally I had planned to file myh papers in court and do my taxes. I changed that to Wendsday. Lunch was baked beans and hot dogs. Very warm out today. Inside the shelter was hot. I played scrabble outside with three residents. Once inside I took another nap until dinner. Dinner was sphagetti and sauce but there were no forks and we had to use spoons to eat the sphagetti. After dinner, one of the staff members asked me to create a spreadsheet for the computer usuage time. I didn't finish until 9 and I went to bed at 10.

Sunrise at the homeless shelter

A new day dawns at the homeless shelter
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Friday, April 5, 2013

Friday, April 5, 2013

I woke up a few minutes before the 6:30 wake-up call I lost my cellphone charger and it's really pissing me off! I have to find it. I'm out of cigarettes too!

I can't believe that I missed breakfast! I missed them calling and I missed seeing the line. I had a cereal bar instead.

I smoked the last one this morning.

One of the guys gave me a couple of cigarettes - that was very nice of him!

I played around with the computer a little but I had to leave for my appointment.

My session with the doctor went OK. She asked me how I was doing and I told her of my frustrations and my anxieties and how I was worried about my court case. She prescribed my prescriptions and my session was finished. So now I'm still on the Prozac and the sleeping pills but she said that I was doing better.

I got back to the shelter by noon but I missed lunch but they had some saved for me. I was very hungry and I wolfed it down. It was bologna sandwiches and a brownie for dessert.

Back to writing here in my journal. I went to use the computer to type up a resume draft and I showed it to the staff member and he made some remarks about it so now I have to make some corrections.

Dinner was ham, butter beans, rice and sweet potatoes.

I went with one of the residents in his truck because there was an errand he had to do plus he had whiskey. Actually he was out of whiskey but he bought some more. The errand was in another area and we didn't get back to around 10 that night. It was something different to do so I did it.

I went to bed at 11.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Sunrise

Sunrise here at the homess shelter
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Thursday, April 4, 2013

Up at a little past 6. Had my morning cigarette and then coffee with my three medications. Breakfast was cereal and milk. No appointments today but I do have to do laundry today. The laundry time went right into lunch time and beyond. Lunch was chicken tortillas and cake or pie for dessert. After lunch I got the rest of my laundry, folded it up and put it in my locker. I can't find my phone charger. I looked all in my bag and in my locker and I still couldn't find it. I think that it may be on my bed in the sleep room but I need permission to go back there. I asked but I haven't been back there yet. I mostly crocheted until dinner which was chilli and rice. I'm down to my last two cigarettes - hopelly something will turn up. I smoked a cigarette and now I'm down to my last one - hopefully something will come up. The shelter is setting up a computer in the front lobby so everyone here will be able to use it. Unfortunately its not hooked up completely right yet so nobody can use it yet. One of the residents went fishing at a nearby creek and he caught some beautiful trout. But he wasn't allowed to bring it inside so he gave it to a staff member who's going to take it home and cook it. Another staff member gave me a planner that's still usable and I am using it now. I went to bed late - midnight.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Finished Lunch!

Lunch

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Sleeping in a truck is not all that it's cracked up to be!  Sure I couled smoke whenever I wanted to but lying in it is uncomfortable (but I did manage to sleep for 2 hours).  It is not all its cracked up to be.  But I wanted a change and I got it!

Breakfast at around 7:30 this morning.  Am so sleepy I can hardly keep my eyes ope .  It's time to take a nap!  I don't have any appointments today.

Lunch was salsbury steak and noodles.

The time was kind of slow until around 4 o'clock when I asked the head of the shelter if I could use the computer to work on the spreadsheet.  She really shocked me by letting me use her laptop.  Now I was nervous.  I was in her office using her computer!  And she was very friendly about it too.  THAT made me even more nervous!  So I tried to finish up as fast as I could and she even critiqued it when I was done.

I showed her a picture of the sunrise that I took this morning and she wanted me to email it to her.

By the time I finished the spreadsheet it was time for dinner which was fish or chicken plus noodles.

After dinner things started to really move.  First of all the shelter was going to start a program where people could get help with their resumes and help with findig a job if they wanted to.  The person would provide as much resume information as they could and I would make a draft resume.  The person would look it over and ecide whether or not they wanted to add something.  When they were satisfied I would submit the final rough draft to the staff so they could approve it.  Once it was approved then the final draft would be typed up (and saved) and copies would be printed and then the resumes could be sent out in the mail or by email.  If the person needed an email address then they would get help to get one.

The next thing that happened was that the church that had their service here Easter Sunday was here tonight for Bible Study.  Apparently one of the staff members talked about me and my working on the computer and they were interested enough to want my contact information.  I already had an email address but it wasn't professional-looking enough so I quickly created a new one.  So I'll be waiting (hopefully) to hear from them.

I was working on this and I also sent the 'sunrise' pictures to the head of the shelter by email.

I went to bed at 11.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Got up at 4:30 to go to the bathroom and decided to go back to bed.

Woke back up just before the wake-up call and got my sheets and blanket together because Tuesdays are laundry day! We gather up our sheets and put them in the big bin and they are picked up by a laundry service and the already washed sheets are delivered.

Cigarette outside and then a cup of coffee and I took my prescriptions.

Breakfast was oatmeal. I had to eat something before my doctor's appointment.

Doctor's appointment was at 9:30 and I got there by 9 o'clock. Crocheted while I waited. My doctor confirmed the x-ray of my knee saying that it was osteoarthritis that was in my knee. She wants me to go to physical therapy for that so I have to make an appointment for that. My blood pressure is still high - 140 over 90. It's lower than my last blood pressure reading but the doctor still considers it high. She's giving me an additional prescription for that. I see her again in two weeks.

One of the other residents came by. He wanted to change from his doctor to one of my doctors. He was told that he would have to change insurance companies and I don't know if he's going to o that.

We walked to the store and bought some lunch. Went to Central and ate the lunch.

We then went to a group therapy session together. This one was about tension and relaxation. Basically when we're feeling tense we're supposed to thy things like relaxing our tense muscles, listen to relaxing music and just think of more pleasant things.

After that group therapy session we walked over to the bar. We had a pitcher of beer and we could smoke inside - Thank God! About 1 and 1/2 hour later we went back to Central and called the van to take us back to the homeless shelter.

I was worried about being able to get my prescription today because I would have to ask for another blue slip.

I got back to the shelter a little after 3pm and they had a task for me to. It was time to organize the clean sheets and get them ready for everybody's bedtime. It took about an hour for me and another resident to do this and by that time it was time for dinner. Dinner was meatballs and scalloped potatoes. Had a cigarette after dinner, came inside and my blue slip was ready.

Went and got my two prescriptions, came back and made some popcorn and sat and was writing this.

The spreadsheet was edited and now I have to do it over but I just didn't feel like it tonight.

Didn't want to be bothered with the sleep-room tonight so I slept in one of the residents truck.

Woke up around 2:30 in the morning and went to WaWa for water and donuts (and to use the restroom!). Slept until 6am and went back to the shelter.>

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Got up at 4:30 to go to the bathroom and decided to go back to bed.

Woke back up just before the wake-up call and got my sheets and blanket together because Tuesdays are laundry day! We gather up our sheets and put them in the big bin and they are picked up by a laundry service and the already washed sheets are delivered.

Cigarette outside and then a cup of coffee and I took my prescriptions. Breakfast was oatmeal. I had to eat something before my doctor's appointment.

Doctor's appointment was at 9:30 and I got there by 9 o'clock. Crocheted while I waited. My doctor confirmed the x-ray of my knee saying that it was osteoarthritis that was in my knee. She wants me to go to physical therapy for that so I have to make an appointment for that. My blood pressure is still high - 140 over 90. It's lower than my last blood pressure reading but the doctor still considers it high. She's giving me an additional prescription for that. I see her again in two weeks.

One of the other residents came by. He wanted to change from his doctor to one of my doctors. He was told that he would have to change insurance companies and I don't know if he's going to o that.

We walked to the store and bought some lunch. Went to Central and ate the lunch.

We then went to a group therapy session together. This one was about tension and relaxation. Basically when we're feeling tense we're supposed to thy things like relaxing our tense muscles, listen to relaxing music and just think of more pleasant things.

After that group therapy session we walked over to the bar. We had a pitcher of beer and we could smoke inside - Thank God! About 1 and 1/2 hour later we went back to Central and called the van to take us back to the homeless shelter.

I was worried about being able to get my prescription today because I would have to ask for another blue slip.

I got back to the shelter a little after 3pm and they had a task for me to. It was time to organize the clean sheets and get them ready for everybody's bedtime. It took about an hour for me and another resident to do this and by that time it was time for dinner. Dinner was meatballs and scalloped potatoes. Had a cigarette after dinner, came inside and my blue slip was ready.

Went and got my two prescriptions, came back and made some popcorn and sat and was writing this.

The spreadsheet was edited and now I have to do it over but I just didn't feel like it tonight.

Didn't want to be bothered with the sleep-room tonight so I slept in one of the residents truck. Woke up around 2:30 in the morning and went to WaWa for water and donuts (and to use the restroom!). Slept until 6am and went back to the shelter.













Monday, April 1, 2013

Monday, April 1st - April Fool's Day

I'm definitely not in the mood for any April Fool joke today!
 I woke up at 4:30 in the morning to go to the bathroom ane e3cided to go back to bed. The next thing  I know I was the last to wake up and get up.  Cigarette, then coffee which I had wih mhy medications.
Breakfast was cream of wheat.

I got a new cellphone and it took me most of the morning to activate it.  I do have one of those free cellphones but I wanted one with a camera on it so I had to buy one.  It cost me $15!

Lunch was chicken fingers and French fries.  I had seconds.

Went outside to smoked a cigarette and shooting the breeze with a staff member who smokes too.  Mostly we talked about eating more healthy.  We talked about smoking too but we both talked about not fiving it up!

I'm having a lot of fun playing with my new phone.  I can take pictures and go on the Internet.  It came with a $10 prepaid bonus and that's what I'm using now.

I took a picture of the fog this morning and the head of the shelter liked it so much that she asked me to email it to her.  She may use it in her artwork.  She's doing an art project relating to the homeless.

One of the guys couldn't find his phone.  He was charging it and left it to charge overnight and in the morning it was gone!  It turns out that one of the women took it, made some ;none calls but she gave it back.  The man was very angry but at least he got his one back.

I also decided to start a blog about being homeless.  It's called "The Diary Of A Homeless Person".  Maybe I'll be able to get a book deal out of it.

I went to bed at 10pm.

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Sunday, March 31, 2013 / Easter Sunday

Since I got up at 5:30 in the morning I thought that I would be able to take a shower but I must have taken too long because one of the staff members said a line was forming.  I can't believe I took that long.  Well anyway, it bothered me because now I'm thinking about being more faster when I take a shower here.

I took the shower and had my coffee and cigarette.  One of the newer residents was arguing with one of the older residents and the newer resident was thrown out.

Breakfast was eggs and turkey bacon.

The church had brought by another breakfast consisting .of scrambled eggs, hash brown and a slice of watermelon.

Yet another church was going to have an Easter service here and a few residents attended.  It is now 1:20 in the afternoon.  There are cloudy skies and it looks as though it might rain.  Some chocolate cake was for a snack

Lunch was minestrone soup and sandwiches but I was full so I didn't have any lunch.  With every meal you're supposed to sign in.

I worked on my legal papers.  I had to write out a copy of my response so that I could file it and send a copy to the other side.  I want to fie it as soon as possible.

Dinner was chicken and some vegetables with stuffing.  It was absolutely delicious.

After dinner I finished my legal paperwork because I want to get it done as soon as possible.

I finally finished it and tucked the paperwork away because it has to be neatly presented when I file it.  I had to buy some envelopes because this place doesn't readily provide them and if you're wondering a set of envelopes cost me about $2

I also did my local quarterly taxes.  Its funny because no matter how bad things may be going in your life you still have to file taxes!  Now I need a $2 money order for that!

Went to bed at 9.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Up at 6:30.  Groggy but awake.  Went outside to smoke a cigarette.  Went back insi.de and had a cup of coffee.  Breakfast was oatmeal.  An argument started between the staff and a resident because the resident had spilled coffee and was using a towel to clean it up.

Right now I'm rolling cigarettes.

Lunch should be in about 2 hours.

Lunch was salami and cheese sandwiches and I had potato chips and grape juice.  Afterwards, I rolled more cigarettes. 

Dinner was ham and vegetables.

One of the residents had a truck and four of us decided to celebrate one of the resident's birthday today.  We pooled our money together and came up with $14 which we used to buy a bottle of whiskey,  Then we drove around for a while before coming back to the shelter.  We kept drinking for a while then we drifted back to the shelter.  I actually didn't got to bed until midnight!

Friday, March 29, 2013

Friday, March 29, 2013 (Good Friday)

Up at around 5am.  There's a woman resident who gets up at 6am every day to go look for work.  She even does this on the weekends.  She's a quiet person and keeps mostly to herself.  She sleeps in the same cubicle that I do and I noticed that she gets up before the 6:30 wake-up call in the morning.

Since I was up so early I made a half a pot of coffee for mu table.  One of the residents at my table is a guy that does outside contracting work.  (He's he one that I'm doing the spreadsheet for).  He got the job from a contractor who drove to the shelter looing for guus who were looking for work.  He works six days a week and he's hoping to save enough monehy to get a place of his own.  He was the first one (besides me) to sit down to coffee.

It was still early and most of the lights were still off and some of the residents were still in  ed sleeping.

Daytime came and the lights came on and the rest of the residents had to gey up.

I had already had my coffee and cigarette for the morning so I was feeling OK.

Breakfast was sausage and eggs and bread - yes you could make a sandwich with it but I didn't think of that at the time.

I had to go out in the van by 8:30 but they were ready to go 15 minutes earlier.  My appointment wasn't until nine. 

My "appointment" was at Central.  I was scheduled for my first official group therapy session.

There were a bout five of us there and we talked.  Since I was new, I introduced myself and talked about myself a little.

The topic of discussion was about doing things for others even though you might not be thinking about yourself first.  We talked about being taken advantage of and why we let it happen.  Is it low self-esteem, wanting to please others, wanting people to like us........  I talked about my court case and the therapist asked me more questions about it and the others commented as well.

During the second therapy session we had a good discussion and it lasted well over the time it was supposed to.

Lunch was next.  I went with another resident to the store to get lunch but their card machine was down so we went to a bar that was halfway down the block.  I hadn't been to a bar in at least five years so this was an experienced for me.  We ordered a pitcher  of beer ($7 and some change) and the bartender trook pity on us and we split her uneaten sandwich between the two of use.  I saw the ashtrays and it dawnd on me that we could actually smoke inside!  Oh Joy!  I lit a cigarette right away!  I told the bbartender that I hadn't been in a bar for at least 5 years and she was shocked and amused by that.  The food and the beer felt good.  The bartender, a woman, told us about herself.  She was going through chemotherapy and she was also a grandmother and she also works a second job somewhere else.

It was near noon but the bar already had a ew people in it already.  I found out that the bar opens at 8am and closes at around 2am in the morning.  The music was turned up and the bass was booming and the TV news was on (with the sound turned down of course).  We had to finish the whole pitcher of beer so it took a little over an hour because we were finishing it slowing.  At first it felt nice and warm a d then I started to feel dizzy and a little nauseated but we finished the pitcher.  At $7 and change we definitely were going to finish that pitchdr! 

We finished the pitcher and we got enough money together to be able to pay for lunch so we went back to the store but first we donned sunglasses because the bar was dark and the outside was brightl (very) sunny.

We got our cheese steak (we were going to split it) and headed back to Central.

We ate our lunch in the kitchen there and coincidently that was where the next group therapy session was going to start.  It was 1 o'clock in the afternoon by now and this would be our third group session today.

This group therapy session was therapy through activity.  The activity was art and what we were supposed to do was create an album cover of our life right now.  We were supposed to create a collage-type of album cover of how we felt our lives were going right now.  We had lots of materials to work with.  We had old magazines that we could cut pictures from.  We had colored construction paper, colored pens, scissors, glue, paint brushes and water colors.  I decided my album cover would be called "Through The Fire" because I felt that was my life right now. 

I could only find one picture with fire in it so I used some of the colored construction paper to get mu n\message across.  I didn't finish in time but we could continue the session next week.  I was so glad that I had a doctor's appointment there next week so That I could make the next therapy session.

Even though I enjoyed the art therapy session the most, I enjoyed all of them as well.  It really did seem to help me by talking to others and expressing myself through art.

The art therapy session lasted until 2pm and there was a goal setting therapy group session that I wanted to attend but when I got to the scheduled room there was no one there.  I waited until 2:30 but still nobody showed up so we decided to go back to the homeless shelter.  The other resident called at 2:45 for the van to come pick us up and I called again around twenty minutes later.  The van came at around 4pm.  Even though it took a while we finally made it back to the shelter.
I did some organizing of all of my paperwork.  I hade so many pieces of paper with things scribbled on them like phone numbers and addresses and names that my poor bag was getting too full and too heavy to carry.

Dinner was at 4:45.  Dinner was chicken or fish (I chose the fish), squash stew, carrots, a mix of vegetables and pound cake for dessert.  I was quite full!

Back to writing here and a staff member wanted to know if I wanted ply chess again.  I reluctantly agreed hoping that he would find more challenging people to play.  Hopefully this will happen soon.  But first the medication has to be passed out and  jeopardy is on.

The minister brought some children by so that they could practice their singing for an Easter Church event here on Sunday (that's what the flyer was for).

I was asked by the agreed.  Then I was asked to play chess but a new resident came in.  She was Korean and she spoke very little English so the staff member used the computer and a translation program to try and communicate with her.  Then it was back to the chess game.  I lost again - of course but I really do want to beat him so I have to learn  it more.  Then he wanted me to play  chess with another resident and - of course, I lost again.

I asked to use the computer so I could finish the spreadsheet and the staff member reluctantly agreed so I was able to finish that.

I made the mistake of drinking a cup and then another cu[ of coffee at around 8:30 so I didn't go to bed until midnight!

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Thursday, March 28,2013

I thought if I got up early enough I would be able to take a shower without waiting too long.  I was wrong!  I finally managed to take my shower and go back to my overflowing locker.

Had a cigarette and coffee and then came breakfast which was cream of wheat.  Not long after that the van took me to my X-ray appointment.  It wasn't actually an appointment.  It seems that you can just walk in and make the arrangements to have your x-ray taken that day.  It's been a log time since I made a hospital appointment!

I signed in, they added me to their hospital files system (since I never been there before and I went to the waiting room, sat down and then was told I was in the wrong waiting room.  I was shown where the right waiting room was and I waited.  First it's off with your clothes and put on the hospital gown.  Then you're taken to the x-ray room where they take the x-rays.  Since it was my knee that they were going to x-ray I had to lie down on my back and then on my side so that they could get more than one angle and more than one x-ray.  Moving like that made my knee hurt more and  (And I'm down to m I wish I could have gotten some crutches but they said no.

Still in a little bit of pain they finally finished.  I decided to splurge and buy myself a cup of coffee and a soft pretzel.  It cost me all of $2 but I still wanted to splurge a little so  did it.

It took a while for the van to pick me up.  I had to call twice!  (and I'm down to mu last 2 phone minutes!)

I finally got back to the homeless shelter but I missed lunch.  I microwaved some popcorn (from my bingo winnings) and that's what I'm having for lunch now.  I also managed to get an approval sheet for Central tomorrow.

Dinner was chicken and noodles along with carrots and broccoli and pound cake for dessert.
I used the computer here to finish my local taxes and to help create a spreadsheet for someone else.

The movie playing tonight is The Passion Of Christ.

One of the staff members brought out his chess set and I played a game with him.  I lost.  And then he played with another resident and he won again.  Others were watching us and I think that this chess-playing will become a regular kind of thing.

Had a final cigarette before bed at ten.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Central?

What is Central?  At the homeless shelter its a place that they send people to have a mental evaluation.  I didn't know it at first but the doctor I spoke with was a psychiatrist.  Central also has group therapy sessions as well as one-on-one therapy sessions.  I signed up for both!  What's more interesting is what happens outside! There's is a sitting area just outside and when I was there was always someone asking for cigarettes. Some even hunt for butts in the ashtray. Sometimes they will even ask for money!

Wednesday, March 27,2013

Slept about 4 hours last night but I got up a little bit early anyway.  Had my morning coffee and cigarette.  breakfast was cereal a d milk.

My appointment wasn't until 1:30 so I had some time before I had to leave.  I decided to do something with my hair but I didn't like it so I changed it back.  Time to kill because I didn't want to miss the van at 1:30.

Lunch was chicken tortillas and the hamburger(s) left over from yesterday.

For the rest of the time I worked with stringing some yarn and I met the minister's daughter again.  She told me she couldn't find the paper that I wrote my case number on and for me to write it down for her again.  Today is the last day to file my appeal.  Oh well, at least I still have the trial yet.

My appointment today was just the basic paperwork process to get me into group therapy sessions.  My first session starts Friday at 9 am.  Though I loath to ask the shelter for another approval  sheet.  I am going to have to do it.  A very nice woman asked me questions about myself and how I was feeling to help determine which groups would  be the best fit for me.  I wanted the art therapy group for sure! It was basically a painless little process and after it was over I was set to start attending the group therapy sessions on Friday.

I wanted to wait around so I could attend one of the sessions today but I start on Friday.

The van took me  ack to the shelter and I found out that while I was gone one of the residents was take  out by ambulance because he was acting weird.  This is the same man who had to be taken out twice before by ambulance because he had taken too much of his sleeping pills.

Dinner was ham again with some vegetables and cake for dessert.  I still have to work on clearing and straightening out my lockers because there is  o more room left.

I got my clothes ready for the shower I was going to take in the morning and I went to bed at ten.