5.24.2006

(440) Ashtabula in the News: How Weird Can It Get?

Yes, the rather rural + impoverished county of Ashtabula, OH is back in the news--this time, it's even national (though the PeeDee reported the story in most detail).

I wonder: Why are bears (and cougars!) kept in Ash. Co.?? Possibly for the convenience of being able to see big game off Route 6, rather than have to travel out West (either to wild country, or even the Cleveland Zoo [which I don't condone, btw]).

This place in tiny lil' Hartsgrove remains mysterious: It has been described as an animal park, but I also read an allusion to a fur farm. What's going on here + why are some guy's bears attacking his neighbors? I say SHUT IT DOWN!

(607) The Joys of Dumpster-Diving.

Why dumpster-dive?

Here's why-- I found this note (or assignment, whatever) in a recycling box at Ithaca College during moving week. Here it is, printed as found:

Me: Where have you been? All day. Where

Adam: Hospital. I'm a doctor. I have to work all day to make the money.

Me: You're always working. Was Lisa the nurse at the hospital today.

Adam: She's only a friend. I'm sick of your jealousy repeatedly.

Me: I'm home all day, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of our children. You're selfish.

Adam: I'm pissed off. Lisa + I are going on vacation to Bulgaria.

Me: What? I want a divorce. I fell in love with our dentist.

Adam: Jim? He's fat, boring, and ugly. I'm rich and handsome.

Me: But he's softheaded. You're mean and bigheaded.

Adam: Up till now you were happy. What happened?

Me: I'm pooped out from all your lies. You don't care about me. I'll send you the divorce papers in 2 wks.

Adam: I confess. I let this marriage go bad. We're finished.

Me: I'll keep our 3 children. I want 1/2 your money.

Adam: You go to hell. I'm calling my lawyer. I'm postponing my travels to Bulgaria.

Me: I hate you.

5.18.2006

(607) Without an Address.

On 05/15 I was booted from my college "apartment." After having graduated on 05/14, the college's message was basically: "you've graduated, now GET OUT!" Apparently I was no longer of use to them. (Even though I haven't officially graduated until September '06 + am thus *still* paying tuition).

As of Monday I became "homeless." Homeless is a relative term: to me, a home is a place that a) you can return to, b) you can store yr stuff and c) you can have a sense of belonging. Right now I have two of the three, but for a moment on Monday I didn't have anything. All I had was a heavy backpack, a garbage bag full of clothes and my trusty (though front brake-less) bike. There were a few options of places to sleep--one being up in the office of my current internship. I'd at least have a roof over my head. But the sense of not having a place of my own to return to was extremely hard to deal with.

I had it easy--a friend suggested a place to stay that, while being kinda far from downtown, was pleasantly cozy.

But it made me think. I just barely had a taste of homelessness and it had already taken a toll on me. I wonder how do people who are homeless for months, or even years, deal with it? I've gotten to know many homeless people in Ithaca (like my "adopted" dad) who seem somewhat adjusted to their lifestyle. But can anyone really adapt to sleeping on an empty stretch of sidewalk?

I guess I'll find out more in July when I begin working with the homeless of Cleveland.