"Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown "

OK, I have a bed for four months in a shelter...and I live in "Chinatown". Got inside last night, just in time, last night was windy and 28F. Now, it's clear and sunny, but cold...at lest for here. but hey, there is 6" of snow in Colorado Springs, and supposed to snow through Tuesday! Uh Huh.

Lots of rules like no drugs, drinking (even off site), but a slighter better class of people instead of being around belligerent drug addicts, tweakers, crack whores, and meth addicts. Free clothes, showers, nightly meal, and TV, even movies! I have a top bunk back in a dark corner! Perfect for me, I put in my ear plugs, and silence! Only the third time since September 28th, that I have slept inside.

Monday I have an appointment with my "case worker" to expand the apartment search out of downtown, so I can get into someplace "permanent" by New Years! Ho ho ho, to me!

Rain, Rudness, Mutts, and Mothers

OK, first it's raining....again.

This city is the rudest city I have ever lived in (mostly rude homeless people). These guys spit anywhere...in front of people, where others are walking, etc...too lazy to walk over to the curb and spit in the gutter.

No one stays in line, but rather rush, push and shove to get "their" place. Very aggressive behavior here.

Most citizens are not very friendly, refusing to even acknowledge a hello or good morning, let alone strike up a conversation with a stranger. Uh huh.

It's more a NYC east coast mentality, rather than the mid-west where people appear to be friendlier.

Then there are the mutts. All the "tweakers", homeless punks, all have pit bulls, the dog favored by the homeless, which is perhaps why there are three pit bull rescue agencies here. How can a homeless person , living on the street, take care of a friggen dog? I will say that the dogs at least, are well behaved, but always cold.

What I find annoying, is these freaks bring the dogs into the trolley car, restaurants, etc. Screw that!

Then there are the "mothers". Kids with babies, trading "daddies" every other week, getting pregnant, then being surprised that social services takes the baby! At least two, very cute babies, live on the streets with their "tweaker" parents. Does a unemployed homeless, unmarried, father have to pay child support?

These, and other stories of terror will continue in the days to come!

Shelter, Part 1

Woooooo, wooooo! I have moved up to #2 on the shelter list. It will give me a bed for 4 months. I should be indoors this week?

Just in time to with the increased rain, aggressive threats, and now last night, "No Trespassing, Police Will Arrest" sign at my latest "crib". Oh well.

Everyday at the day shelter, new faces, like they are importing homeless by the busload.......boy do I hate crowds!

Between the day shelter and the nearby public library, I get 2 1/2 hours of computer time per day, it's all good. Almost time to head to get my "sack lunch" and check in on the shelter list.

Geeeeeze, still foggy here! I am getting hungry!

Blacks, part 2

Wow, attempting to get into an emergency Red Cross Shelter due to the storm. waited in line , I was #8, for two hours. By the time they opened at 8:00 (they provide shelter, but make you wait in the rain two hours?? No wonder people were getting killed in New Orleans), five black guys push their way to the front of 65 people and think they are getting in first. I tell them to get at the end of the line. (No other people said anything) They immediately are in my face, "I'll kill you man, kick your ass" I said, Wow your gonna beat up a 60 yr old, your tough" They tried to push me down the stairs!

In church, GOD told me to just leave it alone. OK.

It's kind of strange how agressive black men are on the west coast. After living in Michigan, the Detroit Metro area, for almost 10 years, I never had anyone get in my face...or in Colorado.. I have been here two months and it's happened over 6 times....more than the entire rest of my life! What's with that?

Oh well, I'll just listen to GOD, and stay out of trouble.

Blacks are the Boogy Man ?

Rousted once again in the middle of the night. Once again its loud mouth, male blacks, who circled my spot where I was "camped" at least 5 times. Other groups are baying and singing at the tops of their lungs in a residential area...at 2:30 AM!This makes two times this week I have been rousted by a black male.

Blacks here are very aggressive, in your face, willing to fight over everything from a empty chair in the day shelter, to a sleeping spot in someones doorway. Even in Detroit they weren't that in-your-face. I find their attitude of demanding "respect", and getting their share, to be more than annoying.

I am not afraid of them, on a one to one basis, but as in high school, I am wary of groups or packs of punks. Of course they feel that since I am white, I owe them and that they, by being black, are entitled. Uh huh.

I found one solution, a curfew! Homeless people, gangs, or punks or blacks, yes, even college coeds, have no reason to be wandering the streets at 3:00 AM.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curfew

Street Life Families? Yeah, OK!

Here is a new one to me. The street people, aka, "Tweakers" (meth addict young scumbags), live in "Families". Uh huh.

The leader,(think Charlie Manson types) is called "Papa" or "Father", and his mate is called "Mama" or "Mother". It is not an age thing. Think main drug supplier thing.

It's like a regression to the "Hippie" culture of the 1960's - 70's.

These people are amoung the scariest, most violent, and obnoxious types on the street. They roam in packs, try to dominate the scene of anyplace they go. Uh huh.

These are amoung the first wave of people who should "get the needle" when the end-times arrive.

Thieves, Crooks, and Other Scumbags

Have I ever mentioned that at least 50% of homeless people are thieves and ex-cons? Little blue teardrop tattoos drop from one eye (killed someone in prison). They brag about their incarceration, like they are owed "respect", meanwhile they steal you sleeping bag when your not looking!

Last night, this scumbag, who sleeps near me, stole some cut little girls backpack from the nearby campus library. She had left it unattended. Of course, he thought her wallet, laptop, etc, was in there. I looked at him like he was insane, and moved to the other side of the room.

Of course, he leaves me there to talk to the girl and the police after she returns. She was mostly upset because all her class notes from the semester were in there, and finals are coming up. What a scumbag!

I am not a snitch, so I remained silent and unknowing to the girl and the cop, but plan to have a "few words" with the scumbag for putting me in an awkward position. I even spent some time looking for the backpack on the way back to where I camp, but did not find it.

The sleazeballs steal from each other, as well as the "sheeple". It is about as low as you can go. After the Apocalypse, a bullet to the head will be justice they deserve.

Stop the Madness and Pass the Turkey!

OMG, at least 50% of the homeless are insane...they talk to themselves, they talk to pigiones, and they talk to "them"!

Many appear not to be on meds, and seem to be very violent, willing to go to jail and fight over an empty chair or someone touching their "stuff". Everyday is filled with Drama! Today there were two altercations within the first hour of the day shelter being open. Not being racist, but blacks do more than their share, particulary vs whites...they all hate whites, well duh!

I just finished my 6th Turkey Dinner of the holiday season...with pumpkin pie...OK, I have had enough, time for pizza or a nice pork roast!

NW Rain...Holiday Madness...& Blessings?

Yeah it's raining...again...duh! The holiday madness has began. It is way too early for Xmas decorations, trees in home windows, lights, etc. But since the economy is tanking...again, the retailers have to get all the sales they can!

The day shelter I go to is overcrowded...again. Lots of Thanksgiving dinners available this week! Yum, Yum.

The best part of the holidays? No family to mess it up...no compromising, whining, putting up with family crap...aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh! The first holidays alone in 40+ years! I LIKE IT!

Got my TB card which gets me into the shelters and 3X the food stamps than when I worked and had a kid to feed! I also saw a doctor who declared me disabled, and got me free meds for pain!

I went to "My Fathers House" church service again. It is really uplifting! An attractive young women testified of her faith during a long financial crisis. I felt bad for her, and wanted to help, then realized I am so broke myself...LOL! I haven't had money since 10-01-07. I never would believe that you could get along without money for almost two months.

But, I guess I am blessed. I got a new high tech "Columbia" coat Saturday, have a dry place to "camp" , a warm sleeping bag, etc. I would be middle class in a third world country!

The Useless Eaters?

Are all our problems due to overpopulation? Can we eliminate the "useless eaters", the poor and insane, the hyper-consumers? Is this the only solution to a sustainable economy? Some are waco and weird sites, info for the thinking, but the overpopulation problem is real!

This topic has been around for at least 10 years and I have posted some related web sites with articles.

http://100777.com/node/1046

http://www.geocities.com/lord_visionary/populationcontrolagenda2.htm

http://www.mt.net/~watcher/uselesseaters.html

http://www.amerikanexpose.com/UNSystem/Global_Depopulation.htm

http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/esp_sociopol_depopu01.htm

http://ricojr.wordpress.com/2007/06/18/global-warming-scientist-blames-overpopulation/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overpopulation

http://dieoff.org/page27.htm

http://www.overpopulation.org/

http://populationalert.org/

Homeless Related Web Sites

Here are some "Homeless Web" sites. I believe lack of shelter is more critical than hunger or lack of food. There are "tons" of food programs and no one should be going hungry in America. I eat as well, if not better than when I made $40,000/year at a financial services company!

http://4homeless.hypermart.net/4homeless.html

http://www.hud.gov/homeless/index.cfm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homelessness

http://www.createpeaceathome.org/stories/news-media/homelessness-poverty.htm

http://www.onthetopof.com/?f=ot&q=articles+on+homelessness

http://www.bumsparadise.com/

http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/305/homeless-facts.html

http://www.cgdev.org/section/initiatives/_active/globalizationandinequality?gclid=CNT995Kk2o8CFQt0YAodrT6r5Q

http://www.bread.org/learn/hunger-basics/hunger-facts-domestic.html

Monday Morning Rain

Wow, the gentleman who bought me coffee, gave me a nice gortex rain suit, got a brand new "Columbia" fleece, and today maybe a Columbia Jacket ! Still waiting for a sleeping bag.

Sunday was "pig out in the park".......omg tons of bread and rolls, fried chicken, hot dogs, salad, etc.

Today is raining again.......and today is "Thanksgiving Day Dinner" at the Rose Garden from 2-7 PM. Got stuff to do.....volunteerism, hey I got time.

Progress by "Baby Steps"

In 30 minutes yesterday, I walked three blocks to the Social Security Office , got paperwork and an appointment for filing for SSDI, and walked back to the day shelter. The wait in Colorado Springs alone would have been three-five hours!

Today my goal is clothes and food, sign up for housing, and go to the post office.

Started out cold and foggy, but is sorta still cloudy. It's been pretty nice though.

This morning as I was getting up, a stranger brought me a cup of coffee and a bagel! Gee if we just could all get along!

The routine of daily life is getting.........boring!
I am getting a lot of reading in though, 3-4 books per week!

Sunny, No Drama, Still Broke and Homeless

Wow, it turned into a beautiful sunny day after a morning "drizzle". I just walked along the river-walk, after eating lunch. Very nice. The Mountain, a volcano, looks fake, like Paramount's Logo!

Church was rockin', and provided breakfast again for helping set up and take down. I managed to hide my bedroll and heavy coat, instead of carrying all over...nothing says "homeless" like a bedroll and backpack!

Daylight savings time ended, and since it was Sunday and quiet, I slept in, until 7:30 adjusted time! Time for a nap at the campus library, cause I am tired from walking!

Tomorrow I am going to try some social service agencies for help, cause the book store I am sure won't rehire me cause I "quit"........screw them cheap bastards anyway!

Drama, Just not on TV!

OMG, everyday there is Drama among the homeless. Today it was a 300# black dude in a wheel chair against another black guy over a free sandwich that the 300# wanted, but didn't get. They were going to go at it outside, with knives, but a Security Guy was there and he calmed them down.

Usually it is the crack-whore skanky women who are moaning and bitching about stuff...at 6:30 AM ! they would all make good ex-wives!

Today I tried collecting cans for deposit money......I walked about 20 blocks, in two different directions, and got three cans, @ 5 Cents/can ! Uh Huh. About as good as the $1.85 I got panhandling over three hours. but I did find a nice area of town to look for a studio, lots of older "Vintage" buildings. Very cool.

The homeless have now been banned from the student union at the college, but are allowed in the Library. Oh well. I am at the public library downtown as I type.

It is a beautiful, sunny, 65F day and very nice here, vs the last time I was in that "Vintage Apartment area. It was about the third day I was in town, no umbrella and leaking shoes, and it poured rain "cats and dogs". But at that time I still had some cash. I have been cashless since October 1 st. Oh well.

The Insane, The bad, and the Ugly!

OK, 2 out of 10 homeless are bonkers! They talk to themselves and argue with pigeons. And I mean long convoluted discussions about things like time travel, lawyers, politics, history (according to them), etc. Wow!

Then about 4/10 smell....like crap or garbage or all things that stink! Come on, whats being poor and homeless got to do with being dirty? All the places offer free showers (soap, shampoo, etc.)...there are tons of free clothes. ( Don't do laundry, since I have no money, I get free clean clothes! Today I had a shower and put on all new clean clothes. I put the old ones on the dumpster to "recycle"!

I previously mentioned many homeless look like TV or movie stars like Martin Lawrence or Jack Black......well then there are the "ugly", and I mean scary ugly people you don't want to look at while eating or see in a dark alley. Whoa Nelly!

Then there is the pack rats....people with so much crap they fill a stolen shopping cart, bike trailer, or the biggest backpack ever made! Many have those little luggage carts or shopping carts that are filled to the gills with crap! I arrived with a medium tote and a backpack. Within a few days, I ditched the tote and a lot of crap...now I am down to my backpack and blankets, and I am tired of dragging the blankets around. Nothing says "homeless" like carrying a sleeping bag or blankets roll!

Still no word on my "bookstore" rehire, a mere formality...NOT! I have been here one month to the day, and if I don't get the job, I may go elsewhere.

OD........Oh My!

Yesterday there was an OD in the bathroom at PSU. Cops, emergency workers out the gazoo! Funny how students and the homeless have no place to live, but all carry cell phones and can buy drugs!

Did I mention they are also stupid? They ask if you want some "shake & bake", what ever the hell that is, right on the the street. What happend to the rule of thumb, "Only buy from people you know?" No wonder at least 25% have done time!

Unfortunately, many of the social programs are geared toward helping alchoholics and drug addicts! So if you don't use, your abused by the system.

After sleeping outside, in cold clear air, three nights without blankets in 40F weather, I hope the buttwipe that stole my bedroll was warm, I finally got two blankets and a ground pad yesterday.....it was a small improvement, I guess I need more blankets! I need a friggen -10F sleeping bag! At least it's not raining or snowing!

Flush Again!

Wow, I almsot froze last night...35F and windy! At least there was no snow! Need a damn bag, -10F at least...LOL

This AM, a benevolent soul left me $2! Very nice of him!

Almost time for lunch, trip to the PO, and numerous "errands".

I'll never be warm again...my hands are freezing, brrrrrrrrrr!

Not as much "DRAMA" last night and today. Got a new coat, a nice Pendleton Herringbone! Very warm indeed.

Drama on the Street

Wow, police dragging "suspects" off streetcars! Yesterday, two wack jobs with a bike, huge trailer full of crap get on the train. The other guy was a 300# fatso in a wheelchair. Another old man (homeless) gets on in a wheelchair and can't fit because of the bike/trailer.......so this wack job wearing a women's hat, starts swearing at the old man, and some of the passengers start booing and cussing the guy out for saying, "F**K You" to someone in a wheelchair.

Then on the way home another woman starts up swearing at cop cars and flipping people off outside the trolley. I said, "Am I the only person who took their meds today?" LOL

COPS!

OK, too much excitement on the streetcar Saturday night. Some crazed and disheveled street guy was yelling about lawyers etc. The streetcar didn't move, doors stayed open, then three cops with pistols drawn are screaming at this guy to drop his bags and get on the ground......they tazered him! He was flopping around like a fish!

I guess before I got on, he was talking about a gun and shooting everyone. Uh huh.

Found a few other places to eat, good food too! I am thinking of actually going into a shelter for a few days to get out of the weather and actually sleep in a bed!

Although this entire week is supposed to be sunny and warm in the high 60's.....the warmest it's been in three weeks!