Do Not Pass Go - Do Not Collect $

Been trying to collect some pay owed me for work done. It's not a lot, but people often don't realize just how sorely needed every little bit is in this predicament -- even folks that can be rather close to the issue often just don't "get it."

Even relatively "trivial" amounts of cash, or other resources, can make all the difference. For example, I'm still paying over $200 month for storage of my remaining possessions. If I'm late getting that paid, there's a $40+ late fee too. So ANY amount short of that on time, then costs me another $40 immediately.

Yet, they're a coupla' months behind in paying me now, as it is.

So I spent more hours on end having to hang out at a cafe Fri. nite and Saturday, attempting to arrange things via email, too. Why they wouldn't just call me, even after I reminded of my cell number and asking them to, is beyond me. So I had to just sit around indoors during the good weather and had to keep buying the coffee that's the "rent" to be there, too.

And it appears that I wasn't able to actually get paid yet. In fact, I couldn't get them to clarify with me all the necessary details for that, either. I've not before imposed these kinds of situational, personal factors in our interactions, but they've been dropping the ball so much for so long now, that they've burdened me with real additional problems as a result.

So I thought it was time and fair for them to both know the effects and make good with me, finally.

Not yet. My passage into Spring....

The Vermin Strike Again!

Last spring, my entire daypack was stolen while I was sleeping. I lost  my MacBook Pro laptop, my Nikon digital camera, important legal papers, some cash, and a lot of other vitals. Really wiped me out. Worse, those are important tools for me to use to just Get By, too.

I was able to piece things back together since then, though, despite some other thefts and adverse events.

Well, last night, the thieves managed to get BOTH of my digital cameras and my iPod. I usually NEVER have the both of them at the same place at the same time, as I figured one could be a "backup" if something were to happen to the other. Except this time, when I was doing a special session at a wifi cafe' for a project. And went to the bathroom... tucking them into a white plastic bag clipped to something, under the table...

Day after day, night after night, always having to trundle anything and everything you use, need or happen to have with you all the time -- it gets real old and tedious. Even gather everything up to take into the bathroom each time? Or else.

I just got the storage rent paid. Now to work on ANOTHER digital camera.

Harsh Realities & Ugly Truths

Today, Change.org published one of my blog entries that takes a look at one of the more unfortunate dimensions of "homelessness" -- being one of the truly "main" ways to get out of the jam... if surprising to many that have never been exposed or aware of this.

Even THIS blog isn't able to really "show and tell" a number of other such realities properly. So I've begun to put together a website that I hope to be able to present a variety of materials that can. If you're reading here, check back for the URL address of the site.

Or let me hear from you! And I'll be happy to send you a line and link. '-)

slumjack@gmail.com