Transient 216--An Exploration of Homelessness in Cleveland

I'm Back... Sorta.

2008-04-22T14:35:00.002-04:00

This is my blog on homelessness.

To view my blog on personal stuff, i.e. life with a baby, daily mumblings about this and that and such, go here.

I'm not deleting this blog. I'll try to update more often than every few months, but that's no guarantee. I'm officially back at work so I'll have more interesting tales of homelessness to tell.

More to come...

Work Week Graffiti.

2007-09-11T13:48:00.000-04:00

It's been a long week at work... I can't finish anything and I forget everything that I'm supposed to do... so.. yeah, not much gets done on my end. I've written my tasks all over the place in hopes I'll remember, but no. If I worked corporate I wouldn't give a shit if I did my tasks, but since I work for a homeless advocacy group I feel I gotta do my part. One of the things I'm supposed to do is recruit people (women, since we had none at the last mtg) to join the Homeless Congress. I've been helping with the Congress for a year + it's a way for homeless/formerly homeless people from all backgrounds + shelters to join together + make changes in the community. We invite people from the County, City, Mayor's office and even the State to talk with the Congress. It really is a great idea. I just haven't got around to recruiting more people so our numbers are sliding. I can't justify being lazy for a good cause... I can explain why I'm lazy, but I can't justify it.

---x---x---x---x---x---

I guess it's now obvious that I'm pregnant. A man at the bus stop said to me yesterday, "Hey lady, how long you've been pregnant?" He then asked if I know the sex and I said I should by next week [update: I now know it's a boy!]. To which he expressed his hopes that the baby will be a "guy." It was funny b/c the guy was homeless and was assured that I was a student at Cleveland State. Maybe I'll see him at 2100 Lakeside Men's Shelter + he'll be set straight. It's always strange talking to a homeless person outside my work, especially when they ask for money to "help the homeless." I make pennies b/c my job is to "help the homeless."

Speaking of panhandlers...(and not all who panhandle are homeless and not all homeless people panhandle) the Downtown Cleveland Alliance (the street cleaners/safety patrol) have started a campaign to discourage people from giving to panhandlers. Will this really work? It's somewhat of a personal choice if a person wants to give up a buck or two. Instead, the Alliance plans to install boxes where people can make donations to homeless service agencies. I don't know who these agencies are or what they'll do with their dollar donations. In an article in the PD, it said panhandlers often beg for money for a bus pass but they can get free passes at local churches. ???? How come I didn't know of this? One of the biggest complaints is the lack of available transportation. I asked my supervisor about this + apparently the churches only give out like 4 passes a month to a person. So that really doesn't help.

And I'm sick of all this talk about tourists come to this city. Their virgin eyes!! We should ditch "Cleveland+" and advertise ourselves as the #1 City for Poverty. Come to Cleveland and meet interesting homeless people! Try to count all the abandoned buildings on Euclid Ave.! Which store will be the next to close? Just a thought.

It's Been Awhile:: An Update.

2007-09-11T13:43:00.000-04:00

I haven't posted here in forever + I plan to change that (though I always say this). But first, here's what's up.

+ Still working for the homeless advocacy coalition in Cleveland so expect a lot more on homelessness.
+ I'm gonna be a mother in January. Yes, I'm gonna be an unschooling, cloth diaper using, welfare relying, breastfeeding in public, stereotype breakin' mother of one. A boy, and he's due in January.

That being said, I will probably cross post some old stuff and then keep this blog regularly updated.

New Blog.

2007-08-07T11:41:00.001-04:00

I created a new blog about personal stuff:

New Blog

And no, I don't update it more often than this blog. Yes I know that's sad.

Half a Week.

2007-04-18T13:32:00.000-04:00

It's only the middle of the week and so far too much has happened. We all know about the tragedy that happened at Virginia Tech so I won't say much more on that. I really don't have anything "new" to add other than that I keep hearing that Nickelback song play on and on and it depresses me.

I'm one of only a handful of people that know about a recent hate crime committed against a homeless person that happened in Cleveland. I personally spoke to the victim and he asked me to respect his privacy so there's not much I'm going to say other than that this is a full-out national epidemic. This man was beaten on the head with a 2x4 by some kids. Apparently the new trend in teenage entertainment is to beat/throw things at/set fire to people that happen to be homeless. Across the state, across the nation, it is happening all the time with many incidents not even reported to the police.

A few weeks ago, a man in Florida was beaten with a cinder block by three kids--one of them was seventeen and the other two were ten years old. The man nearly died.

The National Coalition for the Homeless released their 2006 Hate Crimes Committed Against Homeless People report. Check it out to get a full portrait of this epidemic.

Also this week: I got notice that ODOT is doing a sweep of a homeless camp. Why--It's located near a freeway in a marginal area. Who cares. If these people are safe, let them be so they aren't forced into a more dangerous area, making them become the next victims.

War on the Streets, War in the Garden.

2007-04-16T17:17:00.000-04:00

A woman living on E. 71st gets cited for a fence she constructed around a homemade healing garden. In the St. Clair-Superior neighbor, officials are worried about a fence that surrounds a garden dedicated to the people who've been murdered on the street??? Our city officials at work, I guess...

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/117671261030590.xml&coll=2

Gray City.

2007-04-09T16:28:00.000-04:00

[I started writing this last week....then stopped. I figured I should as least post what I have.]
Finally the sun is making an appearance over the snow engulfed city, reminding us that all gray skies must come to an end. For the past few days, it's been February all over again. The Indians have yet to finish a game and now they're moving their "home" games to Milwaukee. Easter was colder and more snow-packed than Christmas. We had one day of almost 80 degree weather only to wake up to below 30 degrees the next day. Some say "well that's Cleveland for you--don't be surprised."

We are a city of browns and grays.

[And I swear this was going somewhere... probably to my "Let's Be Positive, Cleveland!" rant, but I'm sure that will spill over into another post.]

Homeless Congress + the Press.

2007-03-22T16:59:00.000-04:00

The Homeless Congress has gotten some press lately. On March 9th, the Congress was featured in the Plain Dealer's Metro section, complete with a photo of everyone at the Congress, even the people who said they didn't want to be photographed. Brian of NEOCH looked like Jesus. I, and my co-worker Josh, were the bewildered followers of this sweat shirted "Christ" staring at him in awe, or whatever. Funny photo.
The Congress was also written about in the Free Times in the "Rust Belt Report" which slightly bashed us. The Free Times has become annoying. It just seems like they want to bitch and bash rather than cover real events. The fact that the homeless shelters in Cleveland have NO minimum operating standards is--correct me if I'm wrong--scary. The Congress is actively trying to change this. Congress reps have written a list of proposed minimum standards to be adopted by all homeless emergency standards. This is big and exciting in the homeless community and I just hope some of the "alternative" presses will pick up on it. Hey, the PD caught on.

Welfare...

2007-03-05T23:20:00.000-05:00

In order to (partially) understand poverty, I have to receive welfare. This is part of my job (I make little money) and part of my commitment to poor people (I have to understand some of the trials homeless people must face).

Welfare isn't completely new to me. I've never made much money and, in fact, I was even on food stamps while in college in NY. Being on welfare in another state only highlights how crappy the situation is in Ohio.

Let's talk food stamps. In order to get food stamps in NY you need to stop in the Social Services office and fill out an application. After waiting a few weeks, you'll receive a letter asking you to come back into the office to see if you qualify for expedited food stamps. All you'll need is a driver's license. If you qualify for expedited food stamps, you'll receive your allowance for 1 month while you get your paperwork in order. This means that in NY, you WILL HAVE FOOD while getting everything together for your permanent food stamps card (they call it a Benefits Card).

Now, let's say you want food stamps in Ohio. First fill out an application online. Months later you'll receive a mysterious letter in the mail saying you must report to your assigned welfare office. If your case is handled by Westshore, you'll have to figure out their temporary location (on Payne) or else you'll end up the address they've listed online (on Lorain) which is closed for renovations. In Ohio, you automatically won't qualify for expedited food stamps because THERE AREN'T ANY. You will only get you Direction Card after you get your cartload of paperwork in (bills, etc.) and make sure you don't miss any forms or you'll have to drop them off. You'll get yr card + you'll be lucky if your balance is right. Next you'll have to return to yr case worker for a face-to-face "interview" every 3 months. If you miss yr appt (or if the office is closed for snow, as on 2/14/07) you'll have to wait until you get a hold of yr case worker to reschedule yr appt before you can get food. SO YOU WILL HAVE NO FOOD.

Argh I hate Westshore. I hate welfare in Ohio. Why is Ohio so far behind?

Buh-Bye Edgewater/Cudell.

2007-01-21T18:48:00.000-05:00

I'm moving in a week. Soon i'll be out of the Edgewater/Cudell neighborhood(s) that i have come to know. I could never figure out which neighborhood i lived in.... is it E or C? There was too many misleading info surrounding me... Oh well, Cleveland has few strong, distinct neighborhoods, so it figures that i was confused. I just took the matters in my own hands, claiming the whole area as the Gay Ghetto, as it was the ghetto, but only to the gayborhood. It's not like i lived in Central or Kinsman, here. The Gay Ghetto was interesting with its slew of seedy gay bars and cross-dressing prostitutes on the corners. More on this later.

Ummm... Uhhh... About That Last Post.

2007-01-09T14:37:00.000-05:00

So I was at Trinity Cathedral and this man who I know is homeless came up and said that to me, and it got me thinking, "Hey, if you replace your with a generic the, then it creates a deeper social message about gratitude and being a part of the big change and being involved in all good things and... Whew. Ok. Actually I just like keeping track of the random, somewhat obscure things people say to me. Of which there are many. Yes--MANYmanyMANY.

High Res

2007-01-08T15:37:00.000-05:00

"I want to be a part of your New Year's resolution."

This was said to me last week by a man I initially met while doing outreach.

Why I Hate Luxury Condos, Part 1

2007-01-05T11:03:00.000-05:00

While searching for articles on homelessness via Google News, I stumbled upon this beauty from the Washington Post:

"Million Dollar Condos to Be Built Above Church Serving Homeless."

I congratulate the fact that luxury condos attempt to create a mixed neighborhood. Instead of being secluded in the suburbs, they are built amidst poverty with no intent to keep their residents' eyes hidden from the realities of an urban area. It sounds like a good attempt at creating a melting pot neighborhood.

But this isn't Sesame Street. I highly doubt that owners of $400k 1 bedroom condos have chosen their location so they can mingle with the homeless folks sleeping at their curb. In fact, I doubt any homeless people would be allowed within 100 ft of their million-dollar developments. The problem is this: There is a place for luxury condos and we need to realize that. But that place isn't everywhere. What developers have failed to realize is that WE DON'T NEED MANY LUXURY CONDOS, whether it be in DC or here in Cleveland. We're poor. We have loads of people without homes. What we need is safe, affordable housing. We need more CMHA. We need more mixed-income housing units. We need more housing priced below $100k that is decent (no-frills). We need safe homes for families--who make up the fastest growing population of people that are homeless.

The Homeless Congress has it all figured out-- we could create jobs and housing by having people renovate old, abandoned buildings into affordable homes.

Condos will not make a neighborhood. Look at both Tremont and Ohio City. Sure they've been yuppi-fied, which some people see as a good thing. But it's a strange mix of the wealthy "urban hipsters" and the original poor residents who are continuously being pushed out. Enough pushing. We need to solve the problem.

In the article, a managing broker for a real estate firm had this to say, "You don't need the soup kitchen to make it a tough sell. It's a tough sell because it's a condo, and if there's anything we need less of now, it's condos. It's like overkill."

Transience is a Bitch.

2006-12-13T16:36:00.000-05:00

One of the things that NEOCH tries to do is get homeless people to actively reform their community and environment. We meet with residents at both 2100 Men's Shelter and Community Women's Shelter to listen to their complaints, grievances or annoyances with how the shelter (their current home) is operating. Residents tell us everything from how the food is bad, to how the staff is disrespectful--all things that need to be improved. NEOCH then mediates between shelter staff and residents to get these changes implemented. Change takes time, though. It usually takes many meetings of going back and forth to get something implemented. A problem with this is that many residents we never see again after their first meeting. This is especially true at CWS where we rarely see the same woman twice. It's hard to inspire an individual to follow through with an issue when they live in a temporary home + have no clue where they'll end up next. That's really no big deal at the resident meetings because we can usually pass the torch to the new people we see--they pretty much all share the same problems with their shelter anyways.

But, what is a problem is the Homeless Congress. We really need regular people to show up at these meetings. The Homeless Congress is a way for homeless people from all the different shelters to come together + address problems with the homeless community as a whole. The Congress has met with a rep from the FoodBank to address the issue of nasty shelter food that plagues the whole city. Next we will meet with a state rep to discuss ways to eradicate homelessness. At an early meeting, the Congress decided that lack of affordable housing and jobs were the two biggest problems in the city. So they proposed an idea: why not give homeless people the job of renovating abandoned, dilapidated buildings into nice, affordable homes. Great. The Congress was supposed to meet with the media + with county commissioners to relate these ideas. We've even been training people to do this. The only problem is that it's incredibly difficult to get the same people to return. And It's not their fault. Mail is often not delivered properly at shelters; many people have no phone; and many have spotty forms of transportation.

There's another Congress next week. We'll see how it goes. Hopefully the fliers where delivered to all who needs it.

No More.

2006-12-09T11:36:00.000-05:00

I've decided to delete my myspace account. Yes! I've felt so free ever since I confirmed and clicked the YES I'M SURE I WANT TO LEAVE MYSPACE button. But it's hard- myspace is such a drug of mindlessness. But ya know, I'm sick of wasting time looking at people's profiles. If I really cared about them, I'd have other ways to contact them + find out what's new in their lives. So we'll see how long I can remain myspace-free. Fuck myspace, I don't need it! As long as I have a steady supply of caffeine, everything will be just fine... No, I surely don't need that crap. It's owned by Fox, too. YUCK. No, I don't need it. Surely, I don't need it.

Bad Food All Around.

2006-10-22T17:09:00.000-04:00

"They think that just because we're homeless that we'll eat anything that's put in front of us?"

So says members of the Homeless Congress-- ooo-RAH.

Check it out:: Each meal site is allotted different budgets for meals. A meal at Cosgrove (a free meal site) costs approx. $1.30.

A meal at 2100 Men's Shelter (which houses about 400 men) costs approx. 19 cents.

What the hell kind of meal can you put together with 19 cents??

No...!

2006-10-13T00:08:00.000-04:00

It snowed today just enough for people to scowl and curse the sky.

WHy must I live this way??? Cold weather is inhumane.

Get Rrrrrready...

2006-09-11T23:23:00.000-04:00

This blog has been awaken from its slumber. Expect new posts (see "More Frequent Posts" below) + some pics, even. There is much to say concerning the 216--everything from its RTA buses to its homeless individuals and #1 rating as the Poorest City in America. Soon there will be neighborhood links + a mad heaping dose of LOVE. As for the other cities:: 440 (Ashtabula County, specifically)::I haven't seen in awhile but I received word that it's the 4th poorest county in the state of Ohio.:: 607 (Ithaca, NY) I hope to visit in the fall. :: 504 (New Orleans, LA) Don't even ask about it b/c I'll start to cry. My vow is to return to my "love affair" city before the seasons in the north really start to change.

But, as I'm now in one place, this blog will become 99% pure 216.

Along the Golf Coast: All That's Left is the Front Steps.

2006-07-11T03:00:00.000-04:00

The Gulf coast of Mississippi is said to be the "Ground Zero" of Katrina. As I was riding through the towns of Gulfport + Biloxi, MS, I could see why. Imagine a beautiful coastline with white sandy beaches (roped off from debris) surrounded by... trashpiles + the remains of houses (which consist of the foundation + maybe the front steps). Yikes. In front of these empty spaces a FEMA trailor may be parked or there may be tents that I guess people are living out of. Yikes, again. I was traveling down the coast because I've never seen it before + my fam + I wanted to go to the beach (Louisiana isn't known for the best beaches). We initially wanted to go to one in MS, but most of them were roped off. I saw Gulfport, which I heard had some beautiful, palatial old southern homes, but all I saw was a town in ruins. No homes, except for a few places caved in/hollowed out. Even the Waffle Houses had disappeared-- all I could see was the sign with many of the letters missing and an empty cement block. Biloxi was also badly hit. It's incredible seeing these fancy homes with all the windows smashed out-- all that's left is a hollow shell full of mold. I saw a hotel that had a whole wall missing, allowing us to see the rooms from the highway. My fam + I drifted through Mobile, AL (also hit) + ended up in Pensacola, FL, which seemed okay.

Man... so much destruction, almost a year after the storm.

New Orleans is cleaning up from the last time I visited in January. Speaking from Uptown, many of the people seem to be back with most of the businesses open on Magazine St. The city is crowded again. The area where you get off I-10 onto Elysian Fields (I think) has tidied up. The water line on the Winn-Dixie isn't as visible + the Red Cross food trucks don't seem to be populating the empty lots as they were before. Most of the houses have been repainted so the Katrina Crosses aren't apparent. I still can't believe that all happened here.

Business seen on Elysian Fields: "Hit-N-Run Liquor."

I have some pics + I'll post 'em as soon as I figure out how to do so.

(504) Upping the Rent in NOLA.

2006-07-07T19:19:00.000-04:00

http://neworleans.indymedia.org/news/2006/06/7861.php

Rent has gone up post-Katrina in the Crescent City. Why? That's what I'm trying to figure out, now that I'm in New Orleans.

Even though this is probably the coolest city in the US, I wouls guess that the city's status would have at least gone down a little after the hurricane. After all, mold abounds (you can smell it before you ever see it) + cockroaches zoom past you in the French Quarter. Katrina only escalated the trash + grit. Besides, this city is pretty much hazardous to yr health in the long run...

Hmm. What really pisses me off about the rent hikes is that I would eventually like to buy a shotgun house in the Uptown district. With the high crime/lower standards of living/the fact of being in hurricane central, I figured there would be somewhat good deals. Erg. All I want is a one bedroom shotgun with tall windows, ceiling fans on the porch, an iron fence, and a few oil lamps, all in the traditional New Orleans style. Heck I'd even take a house spray-painted with ASPCA markings. But even houses that need to be gutted are going for >$190,000. Erg, again.

(607) Gauging the Cost of Tofu.

2006-06-30T14:46:00.000-04:00

I have an adopted dad who lives in Ithaca. When talking to him a few days ago, he explained his fight against GreenStar Cooperative Market, or what I refer to as the case of Noolie + the Ever-Observant Health Foodies of Ithaca, NY vs. GreenStar.

Apparently GreenStar is gauging prices. Being that GreenStar is a member of the International Cooperative Alliance, its prices are supposed to be the same as other co-ops, such as the one in Syracuse (an hour away). Well, the brochures from Syracuse + Ithaca look the same except for one thing: all Ithaca's (GreenStar's) prices are higher across the board.

Correct me if I'm wrong; but GreenStar, what's happening? Have you been bought out by Exxon's code of ethics? Have you adopted Shell's sense of consumer justice?

The 2006 Allied Media Conference.

2006-06-26T18:07:00.000-04:00

The theme of this year's Allied Media Conference was "From Truth to Power: Because Being Right is Not Enough." Let's break it down:

Truth.
Just Seeds- art the way it should be. Enraged. Positive. Sparked by politics.

Power.
Elevating spoken word. The performance by Climbing PoeTree was probably the most beautiful moment of the conference. I almost cried when hearing the poem below. Listen to it on their site- you've gotta hear their voices for full effect.

BEING HUMAN by Naima of Climbing PoeTree
"I wonder if the sun debates dawn
some mornings
not wanting to rise
out of bed
from under the down-feather horizon

If the sky grows tired
of being everywhere at once
adapting to the mood swings of the weather

If the clouds drift off
trying to hold themselves together
make deals with gravity
to loiter a little longer

I wonder if rain is scared
of falling
if it has trouble letting go

If snow flakes get sick
of being perfect all the time
each one trying to be one-of-a-kind

I wonder if stars wish
upon themselves before they die
if they need to teach their young to shine

I wonder if shadows long
to once feel the sun
if they get lost in the shuffle
not knowing where they’re from

I wonder if sunrise and sunset
respect each other
even though they’ve never met

If volcanoes get stressed
If storms have regrets
If compost believes in life after death

I wonder if breath ever thinks
about suicide
I wonder if the wind just wants to sit
still sometimes
and watch the world pass by

If smoke was born knowing how to rise
If rainbows get shy back stage
not sure if their colors match right

I wonder if lightning sets an alarm clock
to know when to crack
If rivers ever stop
and think of turning back

If streams meet the wrong sea
and their whole lives run off-track
I wonder if the snow wants to be black

If the soil thinks she’s too dark
If butterflies want to cover up their marks
If rocks are self-conscious of their weight
If mountains are insecure of their strength

I wonder if waves get discouraged
crawling up the sand
only to be pulled back again
to where they began

I wonder if land feels stepped upon
If sand feels insignificant
If trees need to question their lovers
to know where they stand

If branches waver in the crossroads
unsure of which way to grow
If the leaves understand they’re replaceable
and still dance when the wind blows

I wonder where the moon goes
when she is hiding
I want to find her there
and watch the ocean
spin from a distance
Listen to her
stir in her sleep

effort give way to existence"

Pantera, Guilt + a New Apartment.

2006-06-20T22:57:00.000-04:00

Lately, I've been listening to a lot of Pantera. Particularly the album "The Great Southern Trendkill." Good stuff, yes.

---

Somewhat Universal Rule: If yr doing something + you feel you have to lie about it to avoid guilt, you probably shouldn't do it.
If yr doing something + someone else is trying to guilt-trip you, you probably should tell him/her to eff the eff off.

---

Yes, I'm moving next month.
I have a place 95% set up (just gotta sign the lease to make it totally official).
Let the birds sing, let the angels rejoice, let the kids drink pop.
I'm going home!!

Alcohol.

2006-06-19T20:03:00.000-04:00

Now that I have a family member in AA, + b/c I've been doing some pretty stupid stuff lately, I'm starting to reevaluate my thoughts on alcohol.

I'll never again become one of those cold-turkey people who refuse anything w/ a trace of alcohol in it. I know that. But I've been noticing a scary trend within myself-- the inability to stop. I like beer + I can have fun by just drinking one. But I never leave it at that. Instead I'll need more + more.

I've been told AA is good b/c it shows you how terrible alcohol really is. I've been told it's worse than any other drug. You don't have to make any moonlight deals in the back alley with alcohol. If you need a fix just go up to Circle K.

+ When you drink, it's not considered a problem. Just imagine what ppl would say if you declared, "Hey all, I'm running down the street to buy an eight ball of crack." I doubt there's a country song about going on a C-R-A-C-K-R-U-N.

But you know, they're more alike than they seem.

(607/216/440) Mochas.

2006-06-18T12:09:00.000-04:00

Now that I've declared this "Post More Posts" policy, I need to, yes, post a post.

---

Q: How does one escape a mocha addiction?

It started in Ithaca, NY. I began going to Juna's Cafe in the Commons on a regular basis in search of a boost. Chai didn't quite cut it-- I needed something more. Coffee worked, if I could stand the heartburn it gave me as side effect. Lattes were good but often bitter. And then, yes, I tried it. Mocha. The beginning of an enjoyable addiction.
+ Then I began my search for the Perfect Mocha. Juna's was good + so was Autumn Leaves.... but Gimme Coffee won out the town w/ it's Mocha Choka (mocha + extra espresso).

Now that I'm back in Ohio the search for the Perfect Mocha has been rekindled. In Ashtabula County, yr lucky if you can find a mocha w/ soy. But in Cleveland I've weaned put my favorites. Starbucks isn't even an option, my dears. Starbucks=hell no for a variety of reasons of which I'll mention later. That leaves the Caribou, Phoenix + Arabica as the chains. (I'll soon whittle my faves down to the local, unique, 1 location shops later on). Arabica doesn't have a mocha w/ soy--rather, they have Voltaires which are more coffee than espresso. Caribou has really, really rich mochas, so if you wanna feel fat or overindulgent, opt for Caribou. This leaves Phoenix, which I will say, wins out the town for the Perfect Mocha. In Lakewood, I prefer the Cafe Phoenix (a bit pricey but well worth it) which is a mocha + extra shots. Hell yes, I'm all about the buzz. The downtown location I prefer, only b/c a Cafe Phoenix is aptly called a Speedball.

+ I like telling people I just had a speedball :)

Q: Even though mochas average to about $3.50 a pop, is this an addiction I really wanna escape??

(440/216) "Sit Down Honey, Let's Kill Some Time...."

2006-06-13T00:32:00.000-04:00

As of this moment I'm working hard to become self-sufficient in the future. Yes, I say in the future rather than NOW because my job is starting at the *end* of July rather than NOW. I really want/need to pick up a bs job for some moolah, but I'm also in between residencies. NOW I'm trying to find myself an apt. in the Cleveland/Lakewood area. I'm yet again in limbo. Here's some random notes about random stuff I've just randomly decided to post. Now ain't that totally random?

(440) Ashtabula' n all that.
This county is depressing. If I were to stay here I would quickly become addicted to things that I shouldn't name. Actually there are quite a few things I'd be addicted to. I could see myself turning into one if those crazy girls who plan their day around how they're gonna mess themselves up. "What am I gonna do today? Well what's around?" Maybe if there was more to do, there would be somewhat less of a meth problem. Actually, if people were able to find meaningful things to do (+ actual *gasp* employment opportunities), there would be less of a general drug problem overall.

(216) Cleveland starts at w. 112th.
So I've been looking at apartments on the westside. Personally, I like the area in between Edgewater and Cudell--like W. 112, W. 110, and all those other roads stretching between Madison and Clifton in that area. It can be a little rough around the edges, but hey, I find it charming. Call me crazy. At least it ain't the 'burbs. I looked at a place on W. 112 that I kinda liked but the others with me didn't find the street at all appealing. So then I looked at W. 110 and they liked that better. Makes me wonder- what makes a street nice? The landloards on W. 110 were commenting how their street used to be like W. 112 until they "cleaned it up." What constitutes a clean street? How do you differentiate between people hanging around as a good thing (instilling a community feeling) with something to be avoided +/ broken up (as in "they're all crackheads!"). I dunno... I find it interesting.

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

2006-05-24T16:22:00.000-04:00

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.

2006-05-24T15:38:00.000-04:00

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.

(607) Without an Address.

2006-05-18T16:00:00.000-04:00

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.