Three Cheers For Steve Reiter

Remember the story of Steve? Oh, it seems like so long ago now. Steve, a homeless man, was accused of assaulting a lawyer who lived downtown. It was an ugly scene, sometimes venturing into the absurd. I wrote about it way back when - who fights for homeless people's rights?

Well, FINALLY the case made it to court and Steve was found NOT GUILTY!

There is a good article in the Nashville Scene that encapsulates the story fairly well, please read it.
Fight The Powerless

Hopefully, other homeless people will take courage in this outcome and start to fight the many frivolous charges brought up against them. It's seems the only way to stop the endless and meaningless harassment.

A related article from way back Tommy Longaberger

Hate Me If You Want, But....

I think this is hilarious.

And this too, Homeless James Bond

I Want To Learn

I am always surprised, and honored, when I find that my blog has been included in a university classroom syllabus. This one is particularly interesting. Though you won't get credit for it, you can follow along and learn a good deal.

Tokyo Dreaming

Tokyo Dreaming is a very interesting article about a segment of the Japanese population we in the States would call homeless. These people, who cannot afford homes but are constantly working, are able to find a way to not live, or sleep, on the streets. At least they are afforded some level of respectability. Something here in the USA we do not do. As "advanced" as the USA is compared to other countries, as far as creature comforts, the one thing we lack here is a general respect for other people. For being so "free," we Americans are the most judgmental and social status conscientious people. We are certainly the quickest people at deeming others as unequal to ourselves, and thus undeserving of our respect.

In the above article you'll read about homelessness from a different perspective, in a different culture. It could change the way you see homelessness. Please, read the article, I highly recommend it.

These First Few Days

I've been trying to figure out a new daily routine. Food will now come from different sources than I'm used to. I have farther to walk to the places I need to get to. Though, the distance isn't so great that it's too far to walk. Actually I'm eating less and walking more, so that's a good thing.

I've been talking to people about the household things I need, and some things have come, other stuff has been promised. Still, I'll need to find someone with a truck, as I am wanting to get a better mattress and box spring. The box spring I have right now is really old - so old it has mold growing on it.

I recently watched "Memoirs of A Geisha" and again I'm taken with the Japanese culture - at least the historical culture. I have always wanted to have the decor of a traditional Japanese house - with lots of bamboo, tatami mats, paper decorations, and a rock garden. I doubt there's much of that to be had here in Nashville.

I've been forcing myself to cook, which I haven't done in a long time. A can of beans, a can of potatoes, and some cooked ground beef, all mixed together. Easy and filling.

And I will definitely have to find a cheaper way to access the internet. The library does not allow Second Life over their WiFi. So, I have to go to some cafe or restaurant and buy a coke, or something to justify sitting there for hours. At a buck and a half, minimum, every day, it gets expensive.

There are some big things about to happen with Second Life, of which I hope to be a part. Can't tell you about it just yet as things are not finalized. But if it works out, I'll be expanding my reach in a big way. Sorry, can't give any details, but it's what I've been working on here the past few days, internet wise. And one of the reasons I haven't been blogging.

Thank you for all your kind words and support you've sent concerning my new apartment. It's nice to be able to take a nap in the middle of the day if I feel the need, to go without shoes on for most the day, to take a shower when I need to, to eat when I feel the urge. I haven't felt this rested in a long time.

I've got some good posts coming. Just gotta wait till I get some other issues set up and running first. Then I'll be all over this blogging thing again.

Homed

The details of the excruciating events leading up to this moment, I'll save for another post. But to let you know, I did move into an apartment yesterday afternoon. It is a tiny place - could fit the entire thing in the living room I had in my last apartment. But my last apartment was 3 years ago. Though while in it, those three years dragged on. But now one step removed, it moved by fairly rapidly. That may be just from the perspective of my advanced age. I'm now 47 years old. How three years can seem like nothing, sometimes!

The location is very good. It is close enough to downtown that I can walk to the library and church. And it is on a bus line, so if it's raining, or I can't walk, for whatever reason, I have that convenience. This little strip of apartments is on the edge of a notoriously dangerous drug infested neighborhood. Yet a lot has been done to clean up the area in the past couple years. Last night people did come knocking at my door at 1:30am. No, I didn't answer it. From what I heard, the last person to live in that unit was dealing drugs. It will take some time before people learn to go elsewhere. I'm not sure what I can do about it in the mean time. Stay away from the apartment myself during those hours, I guess.

Within just a couple of blocks of my place there is a Walgreens drug store, a Krystals, a Sonics, A Burgerking and a Subway. The nearest grocery store is miles away. Cafe Coco is only a 15 minute walk away. Baptist Hospital is closer. The State Capitol building is one mile away.

Looks like I need just about everything for this place. But it's a small place, so I don't need much of everything! The first things that come to mind:

cleaning supplies
mini vacuum
mop
twin size blanket
sheets
towels for shower
shower curtain
pots and pans
toaster oven (no microwave oven for me please)
cooking and eating utensils
ice trays
drink cups (large)
water filter
coffee maker
food
(I can't have any pets)

The living room and bed room are the same room. What I would eventually like to do is get rid of the mattress and get a futon mattress, without the frame. I'd just put the mattress on the floor at night, and fold it up and keep it stuffed in a closet during the day.

And I'd like to hang decorative rugs to hide the ugly walls and for soundproofing.

There is a window with mini blinds on it, but I think people could still see in, so I'd like to put some kind of curtain up, in addition to the blinds. It's a small window.

There is very little storage space, and that may be good, cause I don't want to collect a lot of stuff. I don't plan on being at this place more than a year. But I still need a way to store things - like those milk crates people steal from grocery stores. I could hide a stack of those behind a rug.

Again, this place is small - perhaps only 200 square feet.

Ok, well it's time to go meet with my case manager. She's bringing me some things, though I don't know what.

Kurt Vonnegut Visited Second Life

All these videos have been made by actually Second Life participants. This video is an interview with Kurt Vonnegut while visiting Second Life. Remember to click here to join SecondLife.com. When prompted for a referral, use the Second Life name "Rez Messing."

No Comment

I have turned off comments on this blog until further notice. That is all.

Naturally

This Study seems like just common sense. Still, it's good to have scientific confirmation of what we already believe. And, when reflecting upon people's activities in Second Life, we can see why almost every woman, and even some men, want to be the most attractive woman in the world.

Second Life Is Educational

All these videos have been made by actually Second Life participants. This video gives you a glimpse of the educational value of Second Life. Remember to click here to join SecondLife.com. When prompted for a referral, use the Second Life name "Rez Messing."

DAMN IT ALL

Everything that needs to be done - everything I'm supposed to do, my case manager is supposed to do, everything HUD is supposed to do, everything that UHS.org is supposed to do - scratch that.

Everything is in order as far as I know. The very last thing to happen is that HUD is supposed to inspect the unit to make sure it's up to codes. Once the unit is given the OK, I am allowed to move in. The same day even. I was told that the unit was inspected yesterday morning. All day yesterday I waited for a call from my case manager, or from UHS.org (the people in charge of the reality), telling to go get the key to the place.

I received my laptop two days ago and stayed up all night working on it. Then I was told about the inspection being done, and expected to move in yesterday. Again, I never got the call. So, I had my laptop with me and didn't want to take it with me to the mission, so I stayed all night again last night (yep, that's two nights in a row without sleep).

If I don't get the call today, to get the key to my apartment unit, I will have to wait until Monday. That's three more nights of staying at the mission. I REALLY DON'T WANT to stay at the mission, especially if there is another place waiting for me to move in. And what about my laptop? I'll have to entrust it with someone (more than likely my case manager (she is trustworthy). And won't have the laptop again until Monday as well.

What in the world could be holding things up? Worst of all, I'm getting absolutely no communication from anyone about what I actually happening.

Aurgh!

Somethin' For The Ladies

Remember to click here to join SecondLife.com. When prompted for a referral, use the Second Life name "Rez Messing."