Monthly Archives: August 2014

* My cup runneth over

Career goals, Get on your feet, Motivations, Squalor, , , ,

Friday, May 16, 2014. There were a number of events at McD this morning that normally would have distracted me, and did not.  This suggests that presence is becoming habitual — as is focus on my goals.  But there may be more involved.

Roy and Jimmy sat in a booth near me, and Roy was complaining that the clothes they give him at the clothes window at the shelter aren’t always the right size.  He also, to my amazement, complained about the food.  I answered him silently, “If you were focused on advancing your own situation, you wouldn’t be concerned about those things.”

In the past, it has been a powerful distraction to me (scandal, offense) that so many men around me have no interest in improving their lives.
Continue reading * My cup runneth over →

* Chaos overwhelms the poor

Bible, Dependency, Justice, OUR BEST POSTS, Poverty, Squalor, , , , , , , ,

Some weeks ago, I stood in line awaiting check-in at the shelter. This place charges $3 a night. I was holding my money in my hand, and someone playfully tugged at it. I snapped. I said, “You don’t value your life much, do you?”

Minutes later, I explained this to someone else. I said, “Don’t take a man’s last dollar.” “Why not?” he asked. I said, ” ‘Cause that’s the one he’ll die for. That’s the one he’ll kill for.”

Don’t take my last dollar. That’s the one I’ll kill for.

I’ve been on hard times since 2004. If I lose, or am robbed or cheated, of $20 or $50, that’s a pretty significant amount. But it doesn’t hurt all that much if I have more, and know more is coming. However, if I lose, or someone robs or cheats me of my last $1 — that’s the one that really hurts. That’s the one I’ll kill for.

These memories came to me as I reflected on Maggie Fox’s 08/29/2013 article, “Poor people aren’t stupid; bad decisions are from being overwhelmed, study finds.”
Continue reading * Chaos overwhelms the poor →

o Job search update, 08/04/14

Job search/Job prospects

I didn’t do too well this month.

Applications submitted in July ’14:

Administrative Assistant (Baltimore, MD) – Quest Group

Back Office Administrative Clerk – Gross Mendelsohn & Associates

Store Clerk Part Time – Save-a-Lot

Administrative Specialist – The Aspen Group

==============================================

On my brothers’ unanimous advice, I am cashing in all my life insurance policies.  Once those proceeds are on hand, I will be able to apply for jobs with any-hours-whatsoever.  I will be free from the shelter’s rigid hours, because once I get such a job I can stay in a hotel until I can get my own place.

This assumes the job pays at least $30K.

In the meantime I’ll need to be looking primarily for part-time jobs that will let me save up money while I continue to stay at the shelter.  These are subject to the shelter’s rigid hours, however.

 

* “Francis” and the phonograph

Get on your feet, Motivations, OUR BEST POSTS, Science, , , ,

Today is my youngest brother’s 65th birthday, and a good occasion for me to pay tribute to him as an inspiration and role model.

He’s six years my senior.  We have two other brothers, one 7½ and one 9 years my senior.

Let’s see if I can compose this before my Net access runs out for today, 45 minutes from now.

Continue reading * “Francis” and the phonograph →