In the "who needs food when you've got coffee" file:
I've scored a long coveted This American Life mug! Something one can only obtain through public radio pledge/membership drives... Some soul left it behind in our lonely basement staff kitchen. One man's trash is another man's treasure!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
I rode in for the first time since starting my new job. It's a quick jaunt down 31st Street - I made it a lot faster than I had expected. I still haven't located a bike rack here around the building, seems odd but I suppose they aren't required. We're directly across the street from the cop shop though so I feel pretty okay about parking on the corner pole.
I literally haven't rode since maybe late August, MAYBE early September. I just wasn't in the mood. I hated my old route to St. Stephen's and my bars were annoying me. I am pretty sure that I am going back to drop bars soon. The cruiser bars are okay, but I feel kind of vulnerable riding busy streets with them. I am sitting up and can't go as fast. Maybe I am just perceiving it that way but it does feel less efficient.
I literally haven't rode since maybe late August, MAYBE early September. I just wasn't in the mood. I hated my old route to St. Stephen's and my bars were annoying me. I am pretty sure that I am going back to drop bars soon. The cruiser bars are okay, but I feel kind of vulnerable riding busy streets with them. I am sitting up and can't go as fast. Maybe I am just perceiving it that way but it does feel less efficient.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
- I'm on a kick to cut down on my cussing. Don't really have anyone to impress but I suppose it isn't very becoming. Besides, I've caught myself doing it a few times while joking around with the guys at the shelter. Probably not ideal.
- I've been really disappointed with the lack of All Ages shows here in the last year or so. One of the reasons I chose to raise my daughter here was because there was the opportunity to enjoy great bands live, for all ages. That being said, I have missed lots of shows that were AA so I guess I can't be too outraged. Notably, your band H. We really do want to see you but can't seem to get motivated on the nights you have done AA shows.
- Edited to remove personal stuff - I forgot that I wasn't going to go on too deeply here...
- The good thing about feeling isolated when you live in a small town or the country is that you kind of actually are. The bad thing about feeling it when you live in the city is that is just reminds you that you have no friends/no one likes hanging out with you/whatever else this means. At least in the country/small town you can blame it on the culture of the area.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
This Friday, I was filling in at the reception desk for the administrative office of my new gig. I happend to be looking outside as one of the people I directly report to pulled in for the day. She was driving a shiny brand new looking Mercedes SUV thing. All I could think about is damn. How much money does she and her partner make to afford that, insurance, 2 kids, probably a mortgage and most likely a 2nd car of similar caliber. I also noted how bleached her teeth were the last time we met. Not only did it make me not want to open my mouth and talk or smile, it kind of weirded me out because they were so overbleached. People are strange.
I will never know life like that. And I don't actually want to, to that excess at least. It would feel wrong.
I will never know life like that. And I don't actually want to, to that excess at least. It would feel wrong.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Things I'm into right now:
- The "Couples" set by AnomalousNYC on Flickr. Another favorite is "Saints of the Lower East Side". Or Faces of New York.
- "With No Direction Home: Homeless Youth on the road and in the streets" - Although published back in 2005, I just discovered this one. I've held a long time fascination with traveling kids (a.k.a. gutterpunks, oogles, trainhoppers) and it's been a love/hate feeling. For example, when I saw one of these guys standing, obligatory mutt next to him, flying a sign right across the street from a guy in a wheelchair who was also flying a sign and was there before him (at Lake x Hiawatha about a month ago) I was pretty annoyed. On the other hand, I do understand that some of the population is on the streets for valid reasons. I also know for a fact that some of them are there for the adventure - it's the adventurers that I get annoyed with - they are sucking up resources that should be going to others and when they panhandle, it feels as though they want us (the general public) to finance their fun. No one financed me during the many years I spent as a single parent - not even the government (I only qualified and used medical assistance until recently).
So anyway, my point is this: I am trying to look at the population without my judgements and dig further in and learn. But I'm not going to lie, they are there. When I was out this summer with friends who are or have been quite involved in the traveling kid/punk community and asked, because I was trying to understand, why there are so many and why they run around the country spanging, hopping from punk house to punk house and just kind of living a free but selfish (my opinion) lifestyle the main answer was this: It has been glamourized and therefore, like everything else, become the thing to do. It's trendy among kids high school through college. I agree. Someone I know pretty well told me stories of living on the street a few times because his dad and he didn't get along. There was no abuse, unless he omitted that, but he chose to live on the street with a bunch of kids rather than stick it out at home a few more years. It's hard for me to understand, actually wait, it's not. I understand the idea of sitting around all day with friends, drinking, exploring new places, traveling, meeting new people, doing projects, etc... but with that, I would know not to expect other people to toss me coins so I could do this.
I'm thinking that I may have felt differently had I been able to travel like these kids, unfortunately by the time I discovered that it was possible, I was already a mother. I had only known road trips by car prior to moving to Minneapolis. I was in this mind that right after high school, I couldn't afford college (most likely I could have gotten financial aid) and that my only option was to go to work full-time, I landed in the factories of my town and we took road trips any chance we got. The last one (we were gone a month) required that we give up our rental house and upon our return, we moved in with family. So, in that way, I suppose we did end up doing a similar thing - someone else was helping us finance our adventures... Hmm, I guess I'm not so different than the oogles after all.
- My bike playlist (for my ipod speaker gadget):
Some highlights:
- The "Couples" set by AnomalousNYC on Flickr. Another favorite is "Saints of the Lower East Side". Or Faces of New York.
- "With No Direction Home: Homeless Youth on the road and in the streets" - Although published back in 2005, I just discovered this one. I've held a long time fascination with traveling kids (a.k.a. gutterpunks, oogles, trainhoppers) and it's been a love/hate feeling. For example, when I saw one of these guys standing, obligatory mutt next to him, flying a sign right across the street from a guy in a wheelchair who was also flying a sign and was there before him (at Lake x Hiawatha about a month ago) I was pretty annoyed. On the other hand, I do understand that some of the population is on the streets for valid reasons. I also know for a fact that some of them are there for the adventure - it's the adventurers that I get annoyed with - they are sucking up resources that should be going to others and when they panhandle, it feels as though they want us (the general public) to finance their fun. No one financed me during the many years I spent as a single parent - not even the government (I only qualified and used medical assistance until recently).
So anyway, my point is this: I am trying to look at the population without my judgements and dig further in and learn. But I'm not going to lie, they are there. When I was out this summer with friends who are or have been quite involved in the traveling kid/punk community and asked, because I was trying to understand, why there are so many and why they run around the country spanging, hopping from punk house to punk house and just kind of living a free but selfish (my opinion) lifestyle the main answer was this: It has been glamourized and therefore, like everything else, become the thing to do. It's trendy among kids high school through college. I agree. Someone I know pretty well told me stories of living on the street a few times because his dad and he didn't get along. There was no abuse, unless he omitted that, but he chose to live on the street with a bunch of kids rather than stick it out at home a few more years. It's hard for me to understand, actually wait, it's not. I understand the idea of sitting around all day with friends, drinking, exploring new places, traveling, meeting new people, doing projects, etc... but with that, I would know not to expect other people to toss me coins so I could do this.
I'm thinking that I may have felt differently had I been able to travel like these kids, unfortunately by the time I discovered that it was possible, I was already a mother. I had only known road trips by car prior to moving to Minneapolis. I was in this mind that right after high school, I couldn't afford college (most likely I could have gotten financial aid) and that my only option was to go to work full-time, I landed in the factories of my town and we took road trips any chance we got. The last one (we were gone a month) required that we give up our rental house and upon our return, we moved in with family. So, in that way, I suppose we did end up doing a similar thing - someone else was helping us finance our adventures... Hmm, I guess I'm not so different than the oogles after all.
- My bike playlist (for my ipod speaker gadget):
Some highlights:
- Juicy - Notorious BIG
- Save Me - M. Ward
- Kids and Electric Feel - MGMT
- Dead Moon Night and Killing Me - Dead Moon
- What's up Fat Lip - Fat Lip
- Broken record, unfinished song - Blotto
- Freesong - Delightful Little Nothings from the 12 Bands from Benecia comp
- Some Black Cobra song I can't remember the name of
- Poison Ivy and Songs of Separation - Rymodee
- Ghetto Superstar - ODB
- The Beer - Kimya Dawson
- Vampire - Antsy Pants
- Fading All Away - Jay Reatard
All this being said, it desperately needs to be updated. I've been without itunes since July (?) and haven't been able to change out any songs... :(
C is for...
Catalogs!
Every once in a while I think back to a time when everything wasn't so easily accessble to everyone. With the internet, nothing is sacred.
I grew up in a rural town but still had access to some "culture" with our state capital, Lansing only 25 miles away and a just little further, East Lansing, a college town. E.L., as we called it, didn't offer a lot either. I would say that it doesn't live up to what the term "college town" normally evokes in people minds (i.e. lots of culture, activism, counterculture, art, etc...). My parents very rarely took us to either of these places anyway. When I got my first car at 18 though, I would drive there multiple times a week to comb the used CD/record shop, Tower Records and the clothing stores that offered types of clothes I could never find in my hometown.
But in the meantime, I was exposed to underground/counterculture through 2 main sources - Thrasher Magazine, where I first heard about zines in the early 90's & was led to punk bands I would have never found on my own at that time. The other was Sassy Magazine, again exposing me to zines, alternative and punk bands, left leaning views and the kind of fashion I would actually wear. Sadly, I sold my entire collection of Sassy to finance my move back to Minneapolis. I still have my collection of Thrasher but don't know what to do with it. I can't bear to just throw all of them away!
The joy of going to the mailbox and finding a new catalog is missed. Sitting there circling everything for a wish list you would give your parents but rarely receive... Knowing that if you got that one amazing thing, you would be the only one in your school if not county with that amazing thing.
Of course, catalog ordering sometimes backfired. In the late-90's we were in the throes of a Black Label habit - we could get cases of 40s at our local grocery for under 20 bucks. And cases of bottles that came in really sturdy cool flip top boxes. This was before we had ever dreamed of coming to Minneapolis and had no inking of the Black Label Bike Club (don't know if they were even an official bike club yet anyway). I ran across an ad for Black Label t-shirts, I immediately ordered 3 - 1 for me, 1 for C and 1 for our friend. They never came. Imagine the disappointment! Especially since we may even have been ahead of the curve with our BL t-shirts! They would be bonified "vintage" by now! Worn to threads throughout the years...
Or the time that I went through a brief hippie-like phase. I got this kind of deadhead catalog and did my circling and only this time - my mom did get me the desired items, some of them at least. When they arrived, they reeked of patchouli smell and weren't quite what I had expected. I used them but the desire and the reality didn't quite match up...
In those days, there were no options for ordering zines over the internet. I hold onto letters, schwag and personalized envelopes from old zine heros - Aaron Cometbus, Jane Hex, one of the guys who ran Wow Cool distro, Al Hoff, who knows who else. Again, I haven't been able to toss them, I think the nostagia from this time period is high. It was a period of discovery, of travel, of dreams that hadn't quite been squashed yet or still seemed possible to attempt anyway.
The punk community is still keeping the mail order life alive, just barely, but it's still happening. I kick myself when I page through my old Factsheet Five collection and note all of the great zines that I missed ordering and have most likely disappeared altogether save any that may have been donated to one of a selection of zine libraries throughout the world.
I long for those times of discovery and freshness. When life doesn't feel fresh and exciting anymore, it's just a drag.
Catalogs!
Every once in a while I think back to a time when everything wasn't so easily accessble to everyone. With the internet, nothing is sacred.
I grew up in a rural town but still had access to some "culture" with our state capital, Lansing only 25 miles away and a just little further, East Lansing, a college town. E.L., as we called it, didn't offer a lot either. I would say that it doesn't live up to what the term "college town" normally evokes in people minds (i.e. lots of culture, activism, counterculture, art, etc...). My parents very rarely took us to either of these places anyway. When I got my first car at 18 though, I would drive there multiple times a week to comb the used CD/record shop, Tower Records and the clothing stores that offered types of clothes I could never find in my hometown.
But in the meantime, I was exposed to underground/counterculture through 2 main sources - Thrasher Magazine, where I first heard about zines in the early 90's & was led to punk bands I would have never found on my own at that time. The other was Sassy Magazine, again exposing me to zines, alternative and punk bands, left leaning views and the kind of fashion I would actually wear. Sadly, I sold my entire collection of Sassy to finance my move back to Minneapolis. I still have my collection of Thrasher but don't know what to do with it. I can't bear to just throw all of them away!
The joy of going to the mailbox and finding a new catalog is missed. Sitting there circling everything for a wish list you would give your parents but rarely receive... Knowing that if you got that one amazing thing, you would be the only one in your school if not county with that amazing thing.
Of course, catalog ordering sometimes backfired. In the late-90's we were in the throes of a Black Label habit - we could get cases of 40s at our local grocery for under 20 bucks. And cases of bottles that came in really sturdy cool flip top boxes. This was before we had ever dreamed of coming to Minneapolis and had no inking of the Black Label Bike Club (don't know if they were even an official bike club yet anyway). I ran across an ad for Black Label t-shirts, I immediately ordered 3 - 1 for me, 1 for C and 1 for our friend. They never came. Imagine the disappointment! Especially since we may even have been ahead of the curve with our BL t-shirts! They would be bonified "vintage" by now! Worn to threads throughout the years...
Or the time that I went through a brief hippie-like phase. I got this kind of deadhead catalog and did my circling and only this time - my mom did get me the desired items, some of them at least. When they arrived, they reeked of patchouli smell and weren't quite what I had expected. I used them but the desire and the reality didn't quite match up...
In those days, there were no options for ordering zines over the internet. I hold onto letters, schwag and personalized envelopes from old zine heros - Aaron Cometbus, Jane Hex, one of the guys who ran Wow Cool distro, Al Hoff, who knows who else. Again, I haven't been able to toss them, I think the nostagia from this time period is high. It was a period of discovery, of travel, of dreams that hadn't quite been squashed yet or still seemed possible to attempt anyway.
The punk community is still keeping the mail order life alive, just barely, but it's still happening. I kick myself when I page through my old Factsheet Five collection and note all of the great zines that I missed ordering and have most likely disappeared altogether save any that may have been donated to one of a selection of zine libraries throughout the world.
I long for those times of discovery and freshness. When life doesn't feel fresh and exciting anymore, it's just a drag.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Although my official full time gig at the shelter is done (I will now just be doing 2 overnights a month currently), I wanted to share a few more things.
The next time one of us or someone around you stereotypes homeless men, in particular, think about this:
- We have a man in shelter who was born without eyes, he makes his way around with his cane and intution. In addition, multiple guys at the shelter have stepped up to the plate and helped him get around downstairs as well as getting from one place to another once they need to leave for the day - guys with cars are using their gas to take J places. Another guy told me of a day that he walked him to the train station and walked him onto to the train to sit and ended up going for a ride after the doors closed and he was stuck. I see their discomfort on the mornings it is still dark out and very frosty, they are reluctant to send him on his way alone.
Clearly J can navigate alone and has gotten along up until now (I think he is in his late 20's) but these particular men feel empathy for him and want to be sure he is safe and taken care of.
- Another point - one of the guys recently landed a job in HVAC, the field he had received a degree in not so long ago. He was waiting for his first check but didn't have money to get gas to get out to the suburb to pick up his check. He was also worried about the rapidly leaking oil it was suddenly showing. He was trying to find help with a gas card and/or car repair. I gave him 5 dollars. For gas. What he actually did with it, I can't be sure. I do know that we, as helpers, aren't supposed to loan money, give gifts, etc.. but as a human, I wanted to help him have a chance to get his check and hopefully have the gas to keep getting to that job at the least. I know that I crossed a boundary and probably wouldn't do it again but what's done is done. This is someone that has been helping others in the shelter as well (see above) as he is one of few to actually own a car still.
As promised, he showed up with my money once he was able to retreive his paycheck. I didn't know whether he would but I had faith that he would come through. I also knew that I couldn't blame or feel angry if he didn't as I had set myself up for that.
My new job, at a rather large Domestic Violence service provider doesn't allow me direct service and is only a 6 month funded position. But I can't complain. I will be able to keep getting ahead, can actually give my daughter a decent Christmas for the 1st time in too long (she is getting a used drum set for one thing) and plan to get straight back to school in January. I wasn't able to carry out Americorps but I'm trying not to beat myself up about it, I'm trying to consider that my time will come to get and stay at the job that fits me and that I fit (in all ways). After spending most of my adult life slumming it, I realized that I just couldn't continue to do it. My rent is too much, I can't afford to carry everyone on my paycheck when that paycheck is minimum wage (or less). I'm sad to leave the men's shelter, I really started liking being there. One man, new to be homeless, was my particular worry. He is the type of person that would be considered a bad fit at the downtown shelters - new to the street, not a fighter, kind of quiet. He would sit in the park (probably still does) after the shelter he stays at let them out at 7am and until our Job Room opened at 8:30am. From there, he would work hard all day, staying sometimes until close at 4:30 creating cover letters, sending out his resume, following up, etc.. He has attended all of our Job Club support groups and attends a homeless mental health support group. He is trying sooo hard to get back on his feet and I fear that the longer he is out and in shelter, the less motivation he will be able to muster. He let me know before I left that his shelter extended his stay there, thank goodness. I was worried that he was about to lose his bed as I had noticed that he was approaching 28 days, which then means that he would need to do the "lottery" and hope for a bed at the shelter of his choice. When I saw the form noting that he had begun coming into the Job Room on 9/15 and it was actually 10/8 or something, I realized just how hard he has been working towards finding a job. Most, okay, all of the other guys do a few applications then meander onto some other website then send out a resume then leave or end up chatting. Not this guy, I never once saw him surfing. I just hope he makes it out of the system soon...
The next time one of us or someone around you stereotypes homeless men, in particular, think about this:
- We have a man in shelter who was born without eyes, he makes his way around with his cane and intution. In addition, multiple guys at the shelter have stepped up to the plate and helped him get around downstairs as well as getting from one place to another once they need to leave for the day - guys with cars are using their gas to take J places. Another guy told me of a day that he walked him to the train station and walked him onto to the train to sit and ended up going for a ride after the doors closed and he was stuck. I see their discomfort on the mornings it is still dark out and very frosty, they are reluctant to send him on his way alone.
Clearly J can navigate alone and has gotten along up until now (I think he is in his late 20's) but these particular men feel empathy for him and want to be sure he is safe and taken care of.
- Another point - one of the guys recently landed a job in HVAC, the field he had received a degree in not so long ago. He was waiting for his first check but didn't have money to get gas to get out to the suburb to pick up his check. He was also worried about the rapidly leaking oil it was suddenly showing. He was trying to find help with a gas card and/or car repair. I gave him 5 dollars. For gas. What he actually did with it, I can't be sure. I do know that we, as helpers, aren't supposed to loan money, give gifts, etc.. but as a human, I wanted to help him have a chance to get his check and hopefully have the gas to keep getting to that job at the least. I know that I crossed a boundary and probably wouldn't do it again but what's done is done. This is someone that has been helping others in the shelter as well (see above) as he is one of few to actually own a car still.
As promised, he showed up with my money once he was able to retreive his paycheck. I didn't know whether he would but I had faith that he would come through. I also knew that I couldn't blame or feel angry if he didn't as I had set myself up for that.
My new job, at a rather large Domestic Violence service provider doesn't allow me direct service and is only a 6 month funded position. But I can't complain. I will be able to keep getting ahead, can actually give my daughter a decent Christmas for the 1st time in too long (she is getting a used drum set for one thing) and plan to get straight back to school in January. I wasn't able to carry out Americorps but I'm trying not to beat myself up about it, I'm trying to consider that my time will come to get and stay at the job that fits me and that I fit (in all ways). After spending most of my adult life slumming it, I realized that I just couldn't continue to do it. My rent is too much, I can't afford to carry everyone on my paycheck when that paycheck is minimum wage (or less). I'm sad to leave the men's shelter, I really started liking being there. One man, new to be homeless, was my particular worry. He is the type of person that would be considered a bad fit at the downtown shelters - new to the street, not a fighter, kind of quiet. He would sit in the park (probably still does) after the shelter he stays at let them out at 7am and until our Job Room opened at 8:30am. From there, he would work hard all day, staying sometimes until close at 4:30 creating cover letters, sending out his resume, following up, etc.. He has attended all of our Job Club support groups and attends a homeless mental health support group. He is trying sooo hard to get back on his feet and I fear that the longer he is out and in shelter, the less motivation he will be able to muster. He let me know before I left that his shelter extended his stay there, thank goodness. I was worried that he was about to lose his bed as I had noticed that he was approaching 28 days, which then means that he would need to do the "lottery" and hope for a bed at the shelter of his choice. When I saw the form noting that he had begun coming into the Job Room on 9/15 and it was actually 10/8 or something, I realized just how hard he has been working towards finding a job. Most, okay, all of the other guys do a few applications then meander onto some other website then send out a resume then leave or end up chatting. Not this guy, I never once saw him surfing. I just hope he makes it out of the system soon...
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
I'm starting to feel a little bit weird about how many of our clients have moved here from elsewhere - namely the Chicago area. Apparently, the social services offerings out there are slim pickins. And the Greyhound, Megabus and Amtrak travels here from there daily and at a fairly cheap rate, definately cheap if you travel the Megabus (at $25 one way). I'm not sure what the job market is in the Chicago metro area but the guys show up and there just aren't enough jobs for all of them, especially for the fields they are seeking work in and considering the fact that a large portion of them have felonies in their backgrounds (even if it was over 7 years ago, it can still affect the job hunt).
I guess in some ways though, if you're not making it where you're at, moving might be the change you need.
Just something I've been thinking about.
I guess in some ways though, if you're not making it where you're at, moving might be the change you need.
Just something I've been thinking about.
Friday, October 2, 2009
I've been moving back to basics. Since I got the van this Spring, I've found myself feeling more detached from the greater city.
Lately, I've been riding the bus or walking places. It's important for me to be able to interact and to observe life more closely. It doesn't always bring me happiness (see previous post regarding women being exploited) but it brings me back to reality.
I like the event of walking to the gas station near work and looking over to see a former shelter guest building a fence for a couple in the neighborhood. I can stop and talk to him, share my M&Ms with him then continue back to work. Or walking to pick Ariana up from the busstop and coming across an amazing alley find - a picture window sized canvas (to paint). Originally we had walked by and saw a cute chair. And when I stop back around to pick it up with the van, I not only found the canvas, I discovered that the gentleman liberating himself of these items also plays basketball with the shelter. Small world.
Lately, I've been riding the bus or walking places. It's important for me to be able to interact and to observe life more closely. It doesn't always bring me happiness (see previous post regarding women being exploited) but it brings me back to reality.
I like the event of walking to the gas station near work and looking over to see a former shelter guest building a fence for a couple in the neighborhood. I can stop and talk to him, share my M&Ms with him then continue back to work. Or walking to pick Ariana up from the busstop and coming across an amazing alley find - a picture window sized canvas (to paint). Originally we had walked by and saw a cute chair. And when I stop back around to pick it up with the van, I not only found the canvas, I discovered that the gentleman liberating himself of these items also plays basketball with the shelter. Small world.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Today and tomorrow I have the honor of attending the MN Coalition for the Homeless conference being held here in Minneapolis.
I chose to ride the bus downtown today.
On my walk home, down Bloomington Ave, South of Lake Street, I passed a group of 5 guys. They looked to be in their early 20's with a slight chance of them being late teens.
At the back of the group, one guy had a young girl (she was shorter than I and I am about 5'3"), leading her by the shoulders. I could have swore I heard her wimpering as I passed the group. I turned around after they had passed and watched. I continued to walk and watch. I walked forward for a second then turned again - I saw the girl run ahead then the guy that had been leading her by her shoulders run after her. It ALMOST looked playful but I had a bad feeling in my gut. I turned and walked another step or two then looked back a final time - by this time they were near the end of the block as was I on the opposite side. When I looked, the group had stopped and were looking at me.
I continued to walk home, angry, worried and scared for the girl. I called 911 and reported the situation.
This is the 2nd time I've witnessed something like this in a 5 block radius. Something is going on and I think we can figure out what. Both girls/women were either Latina or Native. Both men or groups of men were very much not or mixed. Both situations displayed a man with both hands on the girl's back, kind of gripping her shoulders in a threatening way but not too obvious for people choosing not to see or people who don't observe what is going on around them.
I will not continue to stand by and let this happen. I contacted a local outreach organization for girls and women involved in trafficking and prostitution earlier this summer to get some ideas of what I should do when I see this stuff. I will contact them again about these 2 incidents as they differed from the first (a woman on the corner, men in a van watching her every move).
I don't care if it's not "cool" to call the cops. If it can save a girl from being raped and trafficked, I will do it. And I plan to work with this agency and get some numbers to add to my phone and call when they might be able to do outreach.
Fuck!
I chose to ride the bus downtown today.
On my walk home, down Bloomington Ave, South of Lake Street, I passed a group of 5 guys. They looked to be in their early 20's with a slight chance of them being late teens.
At the back of the group, one guy had a young girl (she was shorter than I and I am about 5'3"), leading her by the shoulders. I could have swore I heard her wimpering as I passed the group. I turned around after they had passed and watched. I continued to walk and watch. I walked forward for a second then turned again - I saw the girl run ahead then the guy that had been leading her by her shoulders run after her. It ALMOST looked playful but I had a bad feeling in my gut. I turned and walked another step or two then looked back a final time - by this time they were near the end of the block as was I on the opposite side. When I looked, the group had stopped and were looking at me.
I continued to walk home, angry, worried and scared for the girl. I called 911 and reported the situation.
This is the 2nd time I've witnessed something like this in a 5 block radius. Something is going on and I think we can figure out what. Both girls/women were either Latina or Native. Both men or groups of men were very much not or mixed. Both situations displayed a man with both hands on the girl's back, kind of gripping her shoulders in a threatening way but not too obvious for people choosing not to see or people who don't observe what is going on around them.
I will not continue to stand by and let this happen. I contacted a local outreach organization for girls and women involved in trafficking and prostitution earlier this summer to get some ideas of what I should do when I see this stuff. I will contact them again about these 2 incidents as they differed from the first (a woman on the corner, men in a van watching her every move).
I don't care if it's not "cool" to call the cops. If it can save a girl from being raped and trafficked, I will do it. And I plan to work with this agency and get some numbers to add to my phone and call when they might be able to do outreach.
Fuck!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
I've had a couple of really inspirational conversations with a couple of our guys recently. It's awesome to talk to someone that acknowledges their past, has come to terms with it and is moving upward and wants to talk to others, to motivate, to relate and to share.
I've never had really good relations with men, it's good to just sit and have someone with so different of life experiences open up to me and just share.
The gentleman I talked for a while with today (we've also talked previously) shared his goals, his desire to reach for more, to talk to the younger kids and give them the straight up about how felonies fuck your life up for longer than your sentance - that it IS a big deal. And it's not worth it.
We also shared our observations, he as a shelter guest and me as a staff member, regarding how differently the guys act upstairs in the Job Room as compared to how they posture when they get downstairs around the whole group of guys staying in shelter (45 men). It kind of bums me out when I connect with someone upstairs then they kind of give me the cold shoulder down in the shelter but I'm learning and assuming that it's a small survival mechanism of some sort. To keep that tough front when there are others around...
I've never had really good relations with men, it's good to just sit and have someone with so different of life experiences open up to me and just share.
The gentleman I talked for a while with today (we've also talked previously) shared his goals, his desire to reach for more, to talk to the younger kids and give them the straight up about how felonies fuck your life up for longer than your sentance - that it IS a big deal. And it's not worth it.
We also shared our observations, he as a shelter guest and me as a staff member, regarding how differently the guys act upstairs in the Job Room as compared to how they posture when they get downstairs around the whole group of guys staying in shelter (45 men). It kind of bums me out when I connect with someone upstairs then they kind of give me the cold shoulder down in the shelter but I'm learning and assuming that it's a small survival mechanism of some sort. To keep that tough front when there are others around...
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
PSA:
As someone that drives and rides, I would like to publicly denounce the usage of the basic single tiny LED bulb lights or anything similar to them as a "blinkie" - it's something like the Knog light although maybe these folks are using an off brand or something. They only provide enough blink for a mosquito to see the user, not a vehicle.
I was behind a girl who was riding on Franklin Ave at 8pm tonight. She had one on the front of her bag's strap facing forward and one on the top, supposed to be facing backward (which it was actually facing upright due to her posture on the bike). Point is, they don't project enough light. Her rear reflector is the only light I could see clearly. I only saw the lights because I was on a side street when she originally passed by, I then ended up behind her and saw nothing.
They are giving people a false sense of security and for that, they are dangerous. Just sayin'
As someone that drives and rides, I would like to publicly denounce the usage of the basic single tiny LED bulb lights or anything similar to them as a "blinkie" - it's something like the Knog light although maybe these folks are using an off brand or something. They only provide enough blink for a mosquito to see the user, not a vehicle.
I was behind a girl who was riding on Franklin Ave at 8pm tonight. She had one on the front of her bag's strap facing forward and one on the top, supposed to be facing backward (which it was actually facing upright due to her posture on the bike). Point is, they don't project enough light. Her rear reflector is the only light I could see clearly. I only saw the lights because I was on a side street when she originally passed by, I then ended up behind her and saw nothing.
They are giving people a false sense of security and for that, they are dangerous. Just sayin'
Thursday, September 17, 2009
A is for:
Assinine things I've said, Notable:
Assinine things I've said, Notable:
- When the state Quarters came out years ago, I stood there examining one, eventually asking my husband "Who's Ordie?" Turns out, the Quarter said "Live Free Or Die". Who knew?
- Shortly after beginning my VISTA job here at the shelter, a co-worker and I took a stroll through the park on the next block over. There are various sorts of activities and a diverse group that hang out there (read: sleep, congregate, deal or buy, use, play frisbee, read, walk their dogs, etc...). As we passed a visibly drunk man perched over his bike, he asked if we had some denomination of money, we said no. "Why not!, not even a Quarter?", he says. And I blurt out, while patting our pockets - "Nope, just our bodies..." What I meant is that we weren't carrying anything but ourselves - no money, no bags, no nothing. Jeesh.
- Yesterday, a man in the Job Room asked where Wyoming was. Although it seemed odd, I began noting that it was in the Northwest, near Montana. Oops, he was trying to find out where Wyoming, MN was. I forgot there even was one, I don't leave the city enough to keep track of random outlying cities and towns....
I'm sure there are more but that's all my tired brain can dig up right now.
Monday, September 14, 2009
A is for:
Annoying, Some things I find:
Annoying, Some things I find:
- When you are approaching a red light, assess the scene in front of you and note that the fellow at the head of the pack in the left lane appears to be going straight. Upon seeing that, you decide to stay put rather than zoom into the right, a.k.a. passing lane. But wait! The light turns green and what do I see? The blinker suddenly becomes engaged and now we wait. I call this phenomena "last minute blinker". If you are ever riding with me and I suddenly yell this out, that's what I'm referring to.
- When you hold the door open for someone, say coming into a store, and that person doesn't say thank you or any semblance of it. Some would say that I shouldn't care, that I should be doing it out of the kindness of my heart. I disagree, it's only polite to say thank you.
- Low and low-low rise pants - Hello?! Not everyone that wears pants is 14. Or a size 6 anymore. Our options have become limited - low rise jeans that show your butt crack every time you move or Mom Jeans. It's a no win situation.
- People who spell spayed (as in "My cat is spayed" like this: spad or spaded. And that goes for you too people who spell brakes (as in "My bike needs breaks!") like this: breaks. I'm sorry, I know that I've offended some with my need to see these very simple words used correctly, I don't mean to get all self-righteous. I'm just being honest...
Friday, September 11, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Things is wack today:
The date is 9/9/09
On my ride in I passed a group of cops and other emergency personnel (including the fire truck/EMS) hovered around a dumpster with their hands on their hips - I'm assuming there was someone found in it or around it either passed out or passed away. I could be assuming too much though - maybe some kids set it on fire this morning and they were just wrapping up.
A few minutes later I pass a school bus/truck accident - the kids appeared to be okay as they were just sitting around in the bus but the front end had damage.
My van brakes are still giving me grief - the disentigrated pads were replaced but in their place, we now have calipers that begin to grind on the rotors once they get hot then it produces a lovely sound and smell. Stupid vehicles = money pits.
The date is 9/9/09
On my ride in I passed a group of cops and other emergency personnel (including the fire truck/EMS) hovered around a dumpster with their hands on their hips - I'm assuming there was someone found in it or around it either passed out or passed away. I could be assuming too much though - maybe some kids set it on fire this morning and they were just wrapping up.
A few minutes later I pass a school bus/truck accident - the kids appeared to be okay as they were just sitting around in the bus but the front end had damage.
My van brakes are still giving me grief - the disentigrated pads were replaced but in their place, we now have calipers that begin to grind on the rotors once they get hot then it produces a lovely sound and smell. Stupid vehicles = money pits.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The girlchild and I went to the mall Sunday. By the time we took off to go, I was tired (we were out late* at a birthday party the evening before), but she still wanted to go so off we went. It was busy, the annoying kind of busy where people stand mindlessly in the middle of isles rather than, say, move to the side and space out. We went to the bookstore, grabbed a bite to eat and cut out of there.
On the way to the parking ramp, we motioned to the 2 cars that had been waiting patiently for many minutes while streams of shoppers went across in the pedestrian area only to have a young generic blonde college/high school type try to race in after we motioned the cars on - she stopped only after noting that not only would she be running me down but also my cute 9 year old.
While in the mall, I noticed the trend of little girls trying to look like women and women trying to look like little girls. Sometimes I enjoy the people watching there and sometimes it makes me feel sad. This time, I just felt weird and wanted to get out of there. We saw many goths and mall punks. There was also a notable number of minority kids dressed in the ever popular urban looks: much like M.I.A. and the Japanese FRUITS styles. We approved.
This last night (I just got out at 7am and now am working my office job here also - I can't figure out if it's yesterday, today or tomorrow!?), I did my first overnight shift at the shelter. It was pretty uneventful although my staff partner and I were informed of a late night verbal scuffle revolving around a man's very loud snoring. Looking through the past log notes, it seems to be a pretty common but hard to remedy issue. After this month, I will be on my own for these shifts - I'm a little nervous but it will be good experience in being more assertive and independent in situations that intimidate me.... Working overnights will allow me my valuable "alone time" that I so need to maintain my sanity.
Off to do some number crunching, or at least some data entry of numbers, the computer will do the crunching part.
_____________________________
* late = 9:30pm on a Saturday night
On the way to the parking ramp, we motioned to the 2 cars that had been waiting patiently for many minutes while streams of shoppers went across in the pedestrian area only to have a young generic blonde college/high school type try to race in after we motioned the cars on - she stopped only after noting that not only would she be running me down but also my cute 9 year old.
While in the mall, I noticed the trend of little girls trying to look like women and women trying to look like little girls. Sometimes I enjoy the people watching there and sometimes it makes me feel sad. This time, I just felt weird and wanted to get out of there. We saw many goths and mall punks. There was also a notable number of minority kids dressed in the ever popular urban looks: much like M.I.A. and the Japanese FRUITS styles. We approved.
This last night (I just got out at 7am and now am working my office job here also - I can't figure out if it's yesterday, today or tomorrow!?), I did my first overnight shift at the shelter. It was pretty uneventful although my staff partner and I were informed of a late night verbal scuffle revolving around a man's very loud snoring. Looking through the past log notes, it seems to be a pretty common but hard to remedy issue. After this month, I will be on my own for these shifts - I'm a little nervous but it will be good experience in being more assertive and independent in situations that intimidate me.... Working overnights will allow me my valuable "alone time" that I so need to maintain my sanity.
Off to do some number crunching, or at least some data entry of numbers, the computer will do the crunching part.
_____________________________
* late = 9:30pm on a Saturday night
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
I recently watched a documentary about the youth sex trade in NYC called Very Young Girls. It follows the stories of girls that were lucky enough to be engaged with an organization called GEMS whose mission is to "empower young women 12 to 21, who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking to exit the commercial sex industry and develop their full potential.".
It's digusting to watch the pimps drive up to these girls and smooth talk them, act like they are going to be the girl's boyfriend then turn around and ask for a "favor" - thus is born an underage prostitute.
Sadly, some of the girls become hooked to the chaos of the lifestyle and aren't ready to leave for good, their stories are shared as well. Just like anything, it's not going to work until they are ready, until they hit their bottom and want to find something different for their lives.
As a parent of a pre-teen, being reminded (which I do to myself purposely) of these types of men that prowl for vulnerable girls makes me hyper-vigilant to raise my daughter to be street smart and to question and to be aware that this is a reality for some people - in doing these things, I hope that she can avoid becoming prey herself.
I highly recommend that every one, especially parents of young girls watch this movie. It can happen anywhere, whether rural, suburban or urban.
It's digusting to watch the pimps drive up to these girls and smooth talk them, act like they are going to be the girl's boyfriend then turn around and ask for a "favor" - thus is born an underage prostitute.
Sadly, some of the girls become hooked to the chaos of the lifestyle and aren't ready to leave for good, their stories are shared as well. Just like anything, it's not going to work until they are ready, until they hit their bottom and want to find something different for their lives.
As a parent of a pre-teen, being reminded (which I do to myself purposely) of these types of men that prowl for vulnerable girls makes me hyper-vigilant to raise my daughter to be street smart and to question and to be aware that this is a reality for some people - in doing these things, I hope that she can avoid becoming prey herself.
I highly recommend that every one, especially parents of young girls watch this movie. It can happen anywhere, whether rural, suburban or urban.
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