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.