Food Stamps Hell

Up at 5, as usual. Drinking coffee & filling out my food stamps application. Reread the letter: I should have had the application in by yesterday! Ut oh!

The print on the letter is so small, all I read was that my Stamps run out on the 30th of the month. Forgot to get glasses when I came in with the letter from the mail box 2 weeks ago.

Called the office, right at 8am, when they open. Should have done that earlier.

Said I had moved from NE part of city to SE part. Was told to go to SE office. Told to bring: applcation, lease, bank statement, SS award letter, phone bill. Later, I would learn I didn't need them today.

Wasted WAY too much time hunting those, headed for Central bus. Stood in sun 10 mins. and waited.

Missed 1st Broadway bus; had to wait 35 minutes. Broadway bus only runs every 40 mins. Sat in sun and waited.

Walked 4 blocks to office.

Arrived at office at 9.

Metal detector search of stroller, bags, body.

Lady took application, photocopied my other papers, typed me into computer. Said I needed to be at Menaul/Broadbent office, other side of town. They can't process me in SE until NE knows I've moved.

Climbed back up hill 4 blocks to Broadway.

Went to grocery. Waited for bus in hot sun 25 minutes.

Off at Cental; waited in sun for 10 minutes, transferred.

Off at 6th; RAN to catch Menaul bus.

Off at Broadbent; walked 4 blocks to....nonexistant food stamps office! Nothing but empty bldg. and construction workers.

Asked one who pointed to new office, 2 blocks away.

Got to new office. Metal detector check of bags, stroller, body.

Handed lady my papers. She processed all of them and said, "you're at the wrong office." This was now the NW office; NE office is several miles East on Menaul. "Menaul and Washington," she said.

Walked 4 blocks; waited in sun for bus for 20 mins.

Took bus to Washington. Office is NOT at Washington and Menaul. It's on Cutler, near Carlisle.

Walked 10 blocks to office. It was now almost 11:15. Too late for a morning appointment, maybe too late for a 1pm appointment, too, depending on # of clients ahead of me.

Metal detector search of bags, stroller, body.

Handed papers to lady. Finally! I'm at the right office!

Started to cry. Explained my morning, how tired I am, that I'd had nothing to eat or drink for almost 4 hours, and that I really needed a bathroom.

Lady pointed me to bathroom and said she'd have my paperwork done when I got out.

Homeless lady in line said, "have them give you a bus token, too!" I only had 45 min. left on my transfer; I wouldn't make it home without spending another dollar for the bus.

Came out of bathroom. Another lady in reception had a cup of ice, waiting for me. First lady gives me my receipt and papers, and FOUR bus tokens.

I explain I'm scared I've messed up my stamps for next month, because I'm late. She reassured me, saying, "only by one day! It should be ok."

I thanked everyone profusely and went out to smoke and drink the soda I'd brought. With: 2 loaves of bread, a pound of cheese and a big box of cheap laundry soap, plus my stroller to carry things and my purse, I didn't have enough hands to open it before then.

Drank soda. Walked 10 blocks to Carlisle.

Saw Rudy's Barbeque. I don't eat out, but I was SO hot and tired.....

Told cashier, "I don't think I should eat here! I can buy cheap brisket for 69 cents/lb. at Stadium Grocery; You want $4.29 for half a pound! I'll have pork ribs, please...might as well make it 1/2 lb, so I can eat it at home, too." I knew that would cost about $9, but I was SO TIRED!

Kid gets my ribs. Kid says, white or wheat bread? Wheat. He packs a WHOLE LOAF!! He says, go get you a salad, too, no charge. I got 1/2 pint of potato salad.

I should get a drink, too; I'm awful thirsty. He hands me a large drink cup (you fill your own there) "no charge," he says.

I said, when I get rich and famous, I'm gonna buy your ass out of here!

He charged me $2.12 for ALL THAT FOOD!!!!

I got a cola and sat down. I ate the salad, 2 small ribs (their SAUCE is fantastic. the tv commercials say, "Rudy's Barbeque: where the sauce is boss!" they ain't kiddin!), ate 4 slices of bread and drank 1/2 the big soda.

Sat and rested awhile, refilled my drink, left.

Walked down Carlisle 6 blocks to bus stop. Sign says, "no midday service on Carlisle."

oh, god. It's 10 more blocks to the next main street! And I'll have to transfer twice to get home!

There's a convenience store by the bus stop. I just started asking everybody who came for a ride to Central, so I could catch that bus.

Man in company pick up says, "I'm heading down town." I say, "I live on your way!"

He gave me a ride RIGHT to my gate!

Now, here's the kicker: After all that crap, standing at the 3rd office, the lady tells me (this was NOT in the letter!) I could have MAILED IT ALL IN!!!!!

Damn!

Now, I may or may not get stamps in time. My paperwork has to be sent back to the SE office, the first one I went to today.

Can't speak to FS worker, who can still screw this all up; just have to wait and see if she schedules me an appointment with HER, or if she sends it down there.

Came home to find SOMEONE disconnected the 2 utility extension cords I plugged into the outlet in Raoul's yard and TRIED to lock me out of his gate! So, I went out and plugged it all back in.

Called slum lord re: fire in air conditioner, melted heater wires, and that SOMEBODY needs to flip MY breaker inside RAOUL's apartment, AGAIN!

+++++++++++++++++++
I'm in agony, nekkid, exhausted and still getting bbq sauce off my chest, belly and face.

After all the above happened, Veto, the maintanance guy showed up. He finally found the circuit breaker for my apt. inside Raoul's.

I tried really hard not to, but I finally had to enter Raoul's apt. to help him find it.

You know the storage locker in the movie, "Silence of the Lambs?" That's Raoul's apartment. Truly TRULY terrifying! I couldn't get out of there FAST enough. No WONDER he cooks in his yard! There's NO ROOM IN THE KITCHEN! He even washes his dishes with the garden hose, out in the common yard..... shudder....I'm not even going to try to describe it in any more detail....puke. And the SMELL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sort of Museum, crossed with Marijuana Tar, a hint of Dumpster and a splash of Men's Public Urinal.....even though his air conditioner has been running continuously for the 2 weeks he hasn't been here!

I stood out in the common yard, in front of Raoul's and my gate.

Here comes the Sow From The Basement, to spy on me (I suspect SHE's the genius who unplugged my electric cords, screwed up the door on my VCR, messed up my digital clocks and left my refridgerator warm while I was gone today! Gonna have to defrost again...

Anyway, she barks, "Is that Tim in there?" (Tim's the property manager) I didn't answer; kept my back to her, took old nails out of my gate that scratch me when I use it...which is seldom. I use the gate I BUILT, on the back side of the property, so I don't have to associate with y lunatic neighbors!

She stood there, like a stringy headed alcoholic moron (which she is) and waited for Veto to come out so she could see who it was. Veto's very distinctive truck was in her line-of-vision, if she'd just turned and LOOKED!

Well, I showed Veto the melted wires on my furnace and the smoke smudges inside my air conditioner, so he's gonna tell Tim to buy me a new AC. He's coming back around Thursday to repair everything. Thank gawd it's Veto; he and his wife and daughters are so sweet! They're immigrants. Their daughter just this semester registered at UNM: first in her family to graduate high school, let alone go to university! They're SO PROUD! Good people!

The last maintanance guy was a drunken grouch. Thank gawd HE's gone!

So, tired as I am, I spent an hour, after Veto left, unplugging everything from the extension cords & plugging it all back into wall jacks. Most of these wall jacks are behind large, heavy pieces of furniture, in the dark. So, I twisted and turned and got it all plugged in again, rolled up the extension cords and reset all 3 clocks, including my automatic coffee maker.

I'm not doing SQUAT tomorrow!

The reporter emailed; she and a photographer will be coming by next Tuesday. So I have plenty more time to finish cleaning the house before they come.

It's just cluttered, dusty and the floors need cleaning: six cats, 1 dog, me & my art projects and Albuquerque wind....

I'll sleep TONIGHT!