News From The Homefront

I received two parking violations...taped to the driver's side window of my truck; found them posted today - in the rain.

Toronto Police might as well have TP'd my vehicle because the papers - with the bright neon orange label that screams to all passers by that I have been a naughty girl - were so saturated from the rain that they couldn't be peeled from the glass without falling apart (see picture).

The truck needs a transmission. That has been purchased from a salvage yard but I am short $150 to install it plus, because along with that I couldn't afford the registration renewal in January. I didn't think this would be a problem since the truck is parked on my property; not on the street.

Unfortunately, the guys who removed the old trany left the truck jacked up on ramps. Hell, I might as well post a sign beside it that says " A Redneck Lives Here!" And while I'm at it, I'm trying to get my gardening done so if anyone has any spare tires they want to get rid of, I could paint them white and plant geraniums in them. If they are tractor tires, that's even better. I like that scalloped look.

So why isn't this a problem?
This building on the corner behind my house has an exterior wall that is buckling away from the upstairs window frames.

When I was a kid, it had a small market run by the family that lived here. It was a nice building with two spacious apartments that each had two bedrooms and the property was beautifully maintained.

The last owner of it died and rumor has it that he owed back taxes of the five-figure variety, yet he was still charging rent.

I reported the condition of this building to the city months ago. Orange cones were set up along the parameters to no avail.

The residents of the upstairs apartments vacated the building but there are still occupants downstairs who are still paying rent and don't seem concerned that they may be ordered to move.

Several weeks ago I told one of the residents about Ohio House Bill 9, introduced by my friend Mike Foley of Cleveland's 14th District. This bill offers protection for renters living in buildings that are subject to foreclosure.

Well, ignorance certainly must be bliss because this tenant was not at all concerned or worried about losing her home. She even said that her landlord was very good to her (imagine that!).

She and her husband have made absolutely no attempt to apply for other housing and the property has been turned over t0 the heirs of the deceased owner.

It's going to be grab and go! I am keeping my battery charged and my memory card open on my camera so that when I hear the creaking sound of the wall starting to collapse I will be ready to run out in time to video the roof coming down. Keep checking in to my YouTube Channel - thiznat. You can link to it on the right side of this page.

I'll get to it soon...
That's all I can tell my friend Sarah who posted on Facebook, "I'm impatiently waiting for your blog post on life at CWS. Were you there when it was called "Guantanamo Cleveland"? "

Yes, I was and when telling my story of being a resident at Cleveland's most notorious women's shelter, I promise I will open up more than I did when I wrote about what I witnessed while there. I now have no fear of retaliation from the staff as I did when I wrote my A Fly on the Wall series for "The Homeless Grapevine" newspaper.

Sarah blogged about her return to the shelter. We have plenty of notes to compare. Mine from the stand point of being a homeless shelter resident and hers as an activist; trying to help empower the residents.

Status on Jet and Bandit
Both of the girls are doing great although they are not growing as well as their brother Topper and sisters Tipper and Miss 'V'. Our wonderful neighbor Kristy bought two large baby medicine droppers which has been easier to use when feeding the kittens.

Jet and Bandit have had problems eating; neither one knows to suck on a bottle or tip of a syringe but they are finally coming around.

Jet was very near death and Bandit began to have problems with lethargy possibly due to malnourishment. You can read more about what happened at "Paws for a Moment" by clicking here.

If Beavis and Butthead Were Human They Would Be...

BILL O'REILLY & DENNIS MILLER

Am I the only one who has noticed any similarity?

• They while away their time in sarcastic conversation.
• They both are extremely obnoxious and rude.
• They survive their misadventures without serious consequences, and with a generally contented, though critical world view.

And they were discussing the Presidential News Conference. Bill O'Reilly doesn't think there are any veterans that are homeless and Dennis Miller did SNL News. Would someone please explain what qualifications they have to be experts on the current administration's policies?

Is What's Needed A High Colonic?

In T-Town it's not just the hydrants that need flushed out!
After a thirty-year absence I purchased a house and moved back to my home town of Toronto, Ohio. Although basically I've moved back into the old neighborhood (my childhood home is exactly two blocks north on the same street), a lot remains the same and a lot has changed and some of that (possibly most) is not necessarily a good thing.

Examples of things I've noticed that remain the same:

• People vote on name recognition or because "he" or "she" is so and so's son/daughter/grand whatever.
  
• They come from a good family so they get my vote.
• They have been in office for years so I guess they are okay.
• Things are fine the way they are so we don't need change.

Yada, yada, yada!

While I was gone I lived in many small "progressive" towns that:

• Had a city planning commission
• Took advantage of state and federal grant money to revitalive their downtowns
• Saw population double despite rough economic times by promoting tourism.
• Built or converted existing structures into recreation centers (indoor pool, sauna, hot tub, racquet ball courts, etc).
• And the list goes on...

Toronto needs revitalization to remain a city. The community is impoverished; 150 families are being served at the food bank and this town needs to capitalize on its greatest resource - the Ohio River.

Tuesday May 5th is election day- time to cast that ballot for Toronto's future and vote many out of office.

Meet my candidate!

Another Missed Opportunity

Want this badge?

Goldie Tells His Story

He is now a blogger

Goldie has gotten the techno bug.
It never fails; every night when I am on the computer he sits waiting for me to get up out of the chair so he can have his time.

He's pretty smart; observant and I am not surprised that he can use the keyboard although his reach on it is rather limited; he is proficient with the mouse. I handle the photography for him.

Anyway, Goldie was once homeless to and has his own story to tell.

Goldie's blog is entitled "Paws For A Moment" and you can read his story by clicking on the link in the column to the right or log on at http://goldiepants.blogspot.com.

Video: Today Show Report: Sacramento Tent Cities

Video From The National Coalition for the Homeless

They are wisely utilizing YouTube

I must applaud the National Coalition for the Homeless on posting the following video on YouTube. No explanation is necessary; just watch the video and learn from it.

I would like to know what you learned from this video. Comments are greatly appreciated.

More information about The National Coalition for the Homeless can be found in the HELP LINKS section on the right.

More On The Homefront

Five new additions to our family

Saturday, as I was passing my neighbor's house across the street, they found five kittens in their hedges. Luckily I was there because the neighbors were going to put these kittens in a cardboard box and leave them in the front yard; potentially exposing them to the threat of other animals including the hawks that often circle overhead.

Well, the kittens are mine now. The neighbors' teenage daughter wants one of the two females; well no such luck Babe cuz I'd never turn these babies over to someone who was about to assist in their potential demise.

Well, I went home and got a large storage container, lined it with one of my cat's blankets and returned to rescue these kittens

Here, my cat Goldie meets the kittens for the first time. He has been wonderful; constantly checking on them and even located the kitten's mother, going as far as bringing Mama home for her kittens.

I guess he understands; maybe. He was homeless himself last year until we took him in and brought him with us when we moved.

Anyway, kittens are fine and in the house right now due to the cold spell we are having.

Goldie frets over them; always checking on them and making certain that their mother knows where they are so she is remaining close.

Not only is he my guardian angel, he is a hero as well!

More updates later!

On The Homefront

Another bitchin' rant...
Winding along the misinformation highway...On and off the phone with various people at the IRS call center over the past two months. Remember that $300.00 stimulus payment for low income singles last year? I got mine but in order to get that payment you had to have earned a minimum of $3,000 for the year of 2007. Gary’s Social Security Disability hearing was in 2008 and he received back payments from 2006 and 2007 so I called the IRS to find out if he could still take advantage of that stimulus money. No one is quite sure; got numerous answers; got various instructions on how to fill out the 1040. I tried E-File but the form was rejected so I mailed in Gary’s 1040 form with a note explaining that each and every agent wasn’t sure but that I (and I signed my name) EXPECTED that SOMEONE WHO KNOWS would REVIEW the form and send the check that “Gary is entitled to!”.

America! Land of the free; home of the lemmings...seems that many attending the various “tea parties” across the nation listen religiously to far leaning (close to being horizontal) ‘commentators’ like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh rather than investigating the facts. “Ladies and gentlemen,” these people are NOT investigative journalists that check the facts. They are giving their opinion on things they know absolutely nothing about, things they have not thoroughly checked out for accuracy and pass that misinformation on to YOU!

Having been a precinct judge at the polls and also registering people to vote I find this video from a February 27, 2009 ‘Tea Party’ in Cleveland disturbing. And people complain about who is in office? Maybe we need to complain about the ignorance of the registered voters.



And there is also this video from the April 15, 2009 Cleveland, Ohio 'Tea Party'!

True that these videos only show interviews with the misinformed but it's scary knowing that these people ARE misinformed and probably do vote. You would not believe what I witnessed at the polls if I told you. I probably will blog about it - later.

I wish someone would stage a media event to express outrage over homelessness. Maybe not such a great idea due to who possibly could be publicizing it. Rush Limbaugh has already publicly demonstrated that he knows absolutely nothing about homelessness as well. Nor does he know about the programs that provide free cell phones to the elderly, low income and homeless in this nation. Pennsylvania has such a program as well as the Medina (Ohio) County Sheriff's Department. Click on the (>) directional arrow to listen. Click on the (V) down arrow to read the full article.

By the way, I voted for Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush only because I felt all were the lesser of two evils. I AM SO SORRY, AMERICA! CAN YOU FORGIVE ME?

If I could afford having my truck repaired I would have gone to a 'tea party' to protest...the one-time payment of $250 that Social Security, Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI) recipients, disabled veterans and those receiving railroad pensions will be receiving in May. I have known about this payment coming for months; had to tell the uninformed about it. I received the 'official' letter from the Social Security Administration on Friday. With all the federal bailouts of mismanaged banks and automobile manufacturers, how is a one time payment going to help in stimulating the economy?
I say we should have $250 added to the monthly benefits; not as a one time payment!

And there's...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome compliments of Columbia Gas...I purchased my house in March 2008 and the gas company set me up with a budget plan of $54 per month. This year the budget plan rose to $164 per month. Two weeks before my March payment was due I received a billing of $285 and Friday received another billing for April of $318. The bill is due of the last day of the month. My Social Security check isn’t deposited until the 3rd so it is always late (I am always paying a late charge). I was late on last month’s bill. The gas company cashed the check two days before the bill arrived. My mortgage payment is $368.01 which I can afford; which I refuse NOT to miss paying on.
I'm wondering how anyone on a fixed income can pay such outrageous bills!

Thanks for the well in advance notice you jags!

Enuf...for now!

Susan Boyle: The Packaging May Be Plain and Simple...

but, oh, what a beautiful gift inside!

I was thinking about how society perceives others by their station in life; career, education, personal appearance, wealth or lack of, and so on.

Just two examples of stereotypical images...

If a person is homeless they are perceived as lazy, drug addicted, worthless.

In one of his blog posts, Brian Davis wrote: “I have thought about how many talented people are wasting away in our shelters and drop in centers. How many great photographers, artists, community leaders, inventors and diplomats are sleeping in America’s shelters. With 1% of America becoming homeless every year, there have to be hundreds of potentially great Americans who will never get to show their true talent because they cannot find housing”.

If a person is not beautiful they must be stupid, uneducated or perhaps evil. Remember, Cinderella’s stepsisters were ugly as are witches that cook children in their boiling cauldrons.

Especially if they are female, anyone who is unattractive or physically unappealing often will not be placed in a job dealing directly with the public; possibly receiving lower wages.

Go ahead and feed into the stereotype of two groups of people who are unworthy of any great opportunity.

My friend Joe posted on Facebook a video clip from the popular British TV show “Britain’s Got Talent” that he found on YouTube. Naturally I had to watch it.

Contestant Susan Boyle of Scotland introduced herself to the three judges and, as she told her story, many of the audience rolled their eyes and jeered all due to her physical appearance.

I ask that you watch this clip of Susan’s performance and think back to your first impression of another human being based on their personal appearance; their station. And as you watch and listen to her sing “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Miserables” you might want to reflect on the lyrics and how they pertain to any person you may meet today.

They just deserve a chance.

I Dreamed a Dream Lyrics

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving.

Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used
And wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung
No wine untasted.

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
As they turn your dream to shame.

And still
I dream he'll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms
We cannot weather...

I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed.

MAKE YOUR RESERVATION NOW: Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless 8th Annual Fundraiser Slated For Friday May 1st

Fund-raising dinner & silent auction benefits advocacy; essential links to services for the homeless of Greater Cleveland

NEOCH is the only non-profit organization in the Greater Cleveland area that assists the homeless by providing civil rights advocacy, a voice for the homeless population and links to essential services through its numerous programs.

"Hope Blossoms", the theme of this year's annual fundraiser will be held at Massimo Da Milano Italian restaurant located at the corner of Detroit Avenue and W. 25th Street in the Ohio City neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. David Bernatowicz of Cuyahoga Community College will be the Keynote Speaker at this year's event on May 1, 2009 from 6:30 p.m. till 10 p.m.

Ticket information follows:
GOLD CORPORATE SPONSOR - $750: Includes reserved seating for 8, buffet dinner with open bar, full page ad in the program book and a link on NEOCH'S website. $638 is tax deductible!

SILVER CORPORATE SPONSOR - $500: Includes reserved seating for 8, buffet dinner with open bar and half page ad in the program book. $388 is tax deductible!

TABLE OF FRIENDS - $400: Includes reserved seating for 8, buffet dinner with open bar. $288 is tax deductible!

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS - $50: Includes open seating and buffet dinner with open bar. $36 is tax deductible!

RSVP by APRIL 17, 2009. You can also RSVP by credit card on NEOCH's website (www.neoch.org) through NETWORK FOR GOOD!

Donations to the NORTHEAST OHIO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS are ALWAYS WELCOME and can be made through NEOCH'S WEBSITE and the NETWORK FOR GOOD! Many volunteer opportunities are also available at the coalition.

For more information, please contact Teri Horne by phone at 216-432-0540 or e-mail at neoch@neoch.org.