A Day In The Life
This was a good day. As usual, I got up reasonably late (noon). I checked my email, and answered an important one for Asheville Homeless Network (AHN). A little after 1, Alan (Ditmore, AHN VP) came by to pick me up. We got the last of our socks, about 16-18 dozen pairs, and took them to A-HOPE for distributing to the area homeless.
We then went to our weekly AHN meeting. Topics included the fact that the local Congregational Church has approved our application for a grant. They’ve unexpectedly run into financial trouble, and until they can figure out what to do about it, we will only get $100 of the usual $250. And the grant will presumably be ongoing. I sent them a letter thanking them (and notifying them of our new address). We reviewed the Asheville Homelessness Tour which I had participated in, and talked about an offer of blankets by a member and the upcoming Asheville-Buncombe Coalition for the Homeless meeting next Tuesday, and the Housing Workgroup meeting (through the city’s Homeless Initiative).
I then went to the post office to mail the letter, and found another $100 donation waiting in our PO Box. Alan picked me up at the post office, and we went to the bank to deposit it. We then drove to Amazing Savings, an area warehouse-type store specializing in health food.
Have to take a break here to explain. Last Spring and Summer, we had placed collection jars at various stores. The ones at Amazing Savings were really doing well. Amy and Chrystal were collecting the take and delivering it to me. When Amy resigned from AHN (working too hard on too many things), nobody went back to check on the jars. Today Alan and I did. We were told that the person who would know where our jar(s) was(were) would be in on Monday, and we should come back then.
Alan and I both did a little shopping while we were there. Alan then drove me home, and spent a while hanging out with me. While he was here, we finally diagnosed and cleared the clog in my vacuum cleaner. It wasn’t easy, and I couldn’t have done it without him. He’s saved my bacon a few times, including repairing my scooter twice. But we got it done.
I also got a phone call from my new case manager at WNCCHS. They will pick me up and transport me to an intake meeting next Wednesday. I’ve been without a case manager since New Vistas went the way of all things last Summer.
After Alan left and a few phone calls later, I decided to go outside on my own, with the aforementioned scooter. I found a nice back way to get to River Ridge, and went to Burger King for a Big Fish and a Grilled Chicken sandwiches. I then went to Wal*Mart (Always Corporate Greed. Always.) and bought a chain so I could lock my scooter. I went home and found a nice, almost hidden place right outside my kitchen window to park my scooter — sure beats carrying it into the apartment and keeping it in my second bedroom. (You really don’t know what I mean by a “scooter” unless you look it up. Do a Google Search for “XG-550”.)
About 10 I took a brief nap, and about 11:25 I called Frankie and read several chapters to her (we’re reading the Garrett series by Glen Cook, are almost done with the 9th book of 11). Then I came in here to write this and check on my email.
Like I said, a nice day.
Hugs,
Me