is it morning again, already?

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Well, the coffee's hot and fresh, anyway. blink.

I'm so happy about the refrigerator! We're putting together a very nice system, very quickly.

I found good resources at the FNB website, linked to this blog.

The alley outside is a perfect loading zone, too. It's infrequently traveled. We can generally load or unload a vehicle before someone else comes by.

I've got my ducks in a row.

If I can avoid the temptation to over extend myself, I should have a pretty nice routine of broacasting and doing Food Not Bombs.

'course, last night, I signed up for the local media literacy campaign newsletter.


And I went to the concerned journalists' web site, too. I think it's Journalism.org.

I've got to be careful to balance my commitments. I don't want to confuse myself. And I don't want to commit to something and then forget the commitment. That's a form of minisuicide.

I could sleep all day. mumble.

But, my plans for world domination won't wait. So, I'd better get my rump in gear.

I cooked the leftover pizzas we got from Wild Oats. I'll take some of that for lunch today.

I just checked my bank balance. The rent check hasn't cleared yet, but when it does, I'll STILL have money in the bank!

And that's with purchases of cat food, charcoal, coffee, scooter tubes & tires, pads, asprin.....everything I need.

Usually, there's at least ONE necessary purchase per month I have to live without or borrow money for.

But, right now, I have EVERYTHING I need, AND some extra money, besides.

Oh, except laundry soap. I keep forgetting to get some. And a vacuum cleaner belt. Dang memory!

I'm checking my bank acc't. every day, twice a day. Whenever there is lots of activity, there's usually a screw up on their end. So I'm watching it like a hawk, so they can't pretend I'm overdrawn and try to slap on a fee.

If I did underestimate my budget this month, which is highly unlikely, I still have the option of direct deposit advancing myself more money. But, at ten per cent interest, I'd rather not.

Looks like I'll make my goal of getting the hell out of that bank by the time their website is no longer compatible with WebTV in August.

I'm pretty good at keeping my goals. A lot of people say, "I'm going to..." but nothing really happens or changes.

Generally, when I say I'm going to... it happens relatively quickly.

That A.I.R. site has great tutorials on broadcasting! I can educate myself there. I don't need a damn Bachelors' Degree!

I have a "new" email from that nasty, cold blooded Vocational Rehabilitation councellor, but didn't open it yesterday. It came last Friday, but I didn't want to open it at home, alone, tired. I literally dread hearing from her.

Her last email implied that my lack of transportation was a personal character flaw, not a systemic problem for low income & disabled people!

I've also been thinking about that "psych" evaluation. They use the DMS IIII as their standard.

I was watching "In The Life" the other night on PBS. It was a history of queerness being described and "treated" as a mental disorder in the USA. And elsewhere: did you know? Queerness wasn't stigmatized in Muslim and Hindu countries, like it is now, until the influence of European medical models? Queers, while perhaps not enjoying complete social equality, weren't ostricized, killed or tortured in most such places before European psychiatry invaded!

I REMEMBER when the American Psychiatric Association changed its policies on Queerness. I rememember the Queer underground press had such headlines as, "Homosexuals declare A.P.A. no longer sick."

I MET Dr. Evelyn Hooker, the researcher whose work proved Gay men weren't mentally ill! Her research changed everything! Not bad for a straight gal, named Hooker, huh?

And the Kinsey Report not only changed attitudes; it opened the door to allow for bisexuals. It's still a struggle; bis are still stigmatized, in both Queer and breeder communities. But it's a WORLD of difference, to me! I no longer have to apologize, justify, educate, back story. If people can't handle my orientation, it now speaks to THEIR limitations, and not to MINE!

Anyway, why would I want to be "diagnosed" by an institution that has used its prejudice and influence to literally torture thousands of Queer people? Electroshock "therapy," castration, hystorectomies, lobotomies, insulin shock "therapy," etc.

I'm a survivor of genital mutilation, psychological and physical abuse. Why would I want those freaks to "diagnose" my mind and appropriate my body?

Nope, I'm not a bit comfortable about dealing with Voc. Rehab. under current circumstances. They're more gatekeepers of what oppresses me, than a venue for me to overcome oppression. Their "help" could literally kill me!

And the less I attract the attention of such institutions, the less likely they can hurt me.

I don't expect any support for this decision. People at the station tend to revere the University institution and think its carrots and sticks vital to their existance.

But it seems to me I can work around it. Won't be easy, of course, in these days of processed people in data bases. Even Native America Calling requires Bachelors' Degrees to work there.

I know these aren't the days of Edward R. Murrow, whose academic resume was a fake and never questioned by news agencies for which he worked.

He could get away with it; I'm not sure I can.

But I have, so far.

So, I'll take my chances as an Independent Producer, at least, for now.

It's hard enough, learning broadcasting in a digital age. The stress of classes and running around with books would kill me. Just APPLYING to a school will be daunting!

If I DO get a degree, it would be better to do it when I'm a bit more affluent. A car would be nice, for instance. Or, at least, a more reliable scooter....

I love my little scooter, but it is delicate. And I do work it to death. It's a toy, for cryin' out loud!

Well, I guess I'm awake.

Da should be hear in just about 2 hours.

I need to eat. I have trash to throw out.

And I certainly don't need to rush around and make myself tired.

So, it's time for me to drift into my day.

btw: one of the guys from Kentucky, who drank from that last Strega bottle, emailed me last night. It was a nice surprise.

I'll try to remember to post about Taylor here. He's been a very loving and supportive friend, when others thought I was out of my mind.

lamb sammich!

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Got paid by National Native News today! Found the check on my way out. Probably got here Saturday.

So, it's a lamb sammich day! Thank goodness for Yasmine's, down the street!

I owe Da some Beck's beer. Local package liquor didn't have it. Will try again, tomorrow.

I haven't had a beer in a looong time!

FNB Beaten in Mexico!

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Legal Issues: Food Not Bombs members beaten and arrested at Guadalajara, Mexico
Posted on Monday, May 31 @ 16:04:45 PDT by fnbnews_superuser
By Emmanuel Rodriguez Alvizo
During the manifestation against the Summit of the European Union - Latin American and Caribean countries several persons were arrested and beaten by the represive forces of Mexican government just because were dressed in a suspicious way. Among the arrested there are held in jail 7 members of Food Not Bombs Monterrey, Mexico. In fact one of them (Lilana Galaviz Lopez) was seriously beaten. Size of her head injury is about 10 centimeters. Until today the released persons that were with her said that she hasn't been properly attended by a doctor. These 7 persons are now in a federal prison as consignated...
The situation is really desperate for all of us. We have been searching for help with local organizations and now we request for any help you can give. We want to settle that our partners were only taking pictures and shouting against this summit and they haven't been involved in any violent acts and that they have been physically and mentally abused by the police. One of the released persons told us that they were in basements were they were beaten, photographed and in some cases naked and humilliated.
All your legal and economic help is highly appreciated. If you can help send your economic support to this account:
Account no: 1282-212528
Name of Beneficiary: Francisco Javier Cruz Cruz
Bank Name: BBVA Bancomer
Contact us by email please. Thank you for your solidarity and comprehension.

Food Not Bombs REFRIGERATOR!

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email to the group:

Nola, Frank and....um.....a nice lady with a name picked up the free 'fridge and set it up in my yard! It's really nice, too! square, clean, efficient. Should hold 2 cases of produce or more, plus about 5 gallons of stuff in the freezer.

I'm getting a metal desk KUNM was going to throw out, too. Nice, metal top: easy to clean food prep. Plenty of drawers for utensils and gadgets. And we can stash a case of sumpin under it, too. My ride in the morning has a pick up truck and will probably bring it then.

Everything's assigned for pick up this week, so we're good to go there.

If you wanna come chop or wash dishes, I'll see you on Sunday.

We're doin' just fine!

Rogi

"the work speaks for itself"

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That's what Tr told me today. And he's absolutely right.

What's happened is that I've reached a plateau. My learning curve was much faster than any of us expected. I mean, I'm a freelance reporter for 3 news agencies now!

I don't have a car and I don't have my own equipment, so I'm pretty well grounded at KUNM, in the newsroom, for now. That's why I was feeling stuck. I was never out of my little corner enough to hook up with other, local talent and independent producers.

So, I was feeling painted into a corner.

And I sincerely believe Re would keep me there. I think that's why she was angry about my conversation with An and Be, about independent producing for FSRN.

And that's why I feel like Re's bitch.

And there IS a double standard; she doesn't treat others like she treats me. That's just a fact.

Re's the gate keeper, granting me access to the station. If I alienate her, really piss her off, or do something neglectful because of the stress on my memory, she could throw me out on my butt.

I've avoided confrontation in order to keep my access to the station.

But it's been hell on my self esteem, for one thing. And it's kept me confined in a role I didn't agree to, initially.

This is NOT My Fair Lady and I am NOT her Liza Doolittle! And I resent the implication that I need Re for an "extreme makeover." This is not my metaphor; it's from a conversation Ra told me she'd had with Re.

I was insulted, but didn't say so.

I don't have a clue how one does this sort of thing, professionally. But Tr, Ma and ... are all supportive of my efforts, and that means a LOT!

I must remain very calm. I can't feel hurt or frightened. I have to approach this like I do broken equipment, computer glitches, or scheduling conflicts.

So, I'm preparing an agenda for my meeting with Re and Ma, which I'll email to him. I told him I understand he has another job besides me, so I understand if he'd rather not involve himself. But he has agreed to both the meeting and to offering me feedback on my agenda, when I submit it.

I'm learning a lot about effective communication from Laura, a woman from the New Mexico Science Fair, who works on the first floor. She's very effective and efficient, but knows everybody's names and stories. SHe's friendly, loud, funny, supportive and very clever. And everybody likes her. And she's completely genuine.

I'm also learning a lot from some of the other volunteers, with whom I've had WAY too little association. I plan to change that.

In fact, that meeting on Saturday was so productive, I sincerely feel I learned more from it than from the original conference.

So, I'm preparing to ask Ra if we could schedule more such meetings. Sort of show-and-tell, how-to sessions. Topics could range from: content to equipment, freelancing to editing, and everthing in between.

Da's bringing me an old, metal desk they were going to throw out; it's a perfect cooking surface, and has drawers for utensils, etc.

I hope the refrigerator comes today, too.

.... gave me a ride home. I gave him a quart of tomato sauce! LOL.

I'll get rid of all that tomato sauce, one way or another... jees!

All in all, it has been a very productive day.

And I got home early, so I could cool off, rest and eat my pizza!

I can't WAIT to get those scooter tires!

Reevaluating

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Well, I've been paying attention. I got too caught up in the paid staff at KUNM, and haven't been paying attention to the volunteers.

They're the gold.

I paid attention at the meeting on Saturday. I honed in on a couple, and another woman, whose work is very respectable and who have similar goals to mine. They are all more affluent than I. They have access to more resources.

I have raw talent. I have some skill. I'm a good writer, and much better organized than I appear (the benefits of short term memory disorder, and of surviving poverty).

So, it would be mutually beneficial for me to work with them.

I checked out the A.I.R. website today, particularly the "pitch" page. I can earn a living. It won't be easy, but I can do this.

I've been assessing my situation in the newsroom. Rather than feeling hurt and picked on, I've been approaching this as a problem in my professional life which needs a solution.

So, I went to Ma. I asked him to mediate a conversation between Re and I. I told him I need about one more week. I need to purge my psychological hurt. I don't want to approach her from a finger pointing perspective. She won't listen, she'll get defensive and she'll just point fingers, back.

I need to own up to my responsibility for putting MYSELF in the position of feeling like her bitch. I did that, as much as anybody.

I was approaching the station with a persona of being friendly, humorous, flamboyant, etc. It has gotten me pegged as potentially dangerous, a loose cannon, a bag lady, etc.

I thought, I guess, that I'd appear less threatening, if I adopted this approach. It is a survival technique, one of which I'm not even consciously aware, by which I telegraph that I'm no danger. It works well in the 'hood, but it threatens middle class people.

I will not tone down my dress. I will not compromise my values. But I'm reigning in the effusiveness. I'm becoming very quiet, neat and effective.

Some people have already noticed.

I also approached Tr about producing programming, seperate from news. I discussed it with Ma, too. Tr is helping me.

The contract is this: Whatever I produce for sale independently must first be aired on KUNM. So, I'll have to be careful to keep both my paid venue's and KUNM's needs in mind, as I produce.

I have about 5 stories in various stages of production. Most of their completion depends on locating my interview subjects. Almost all of them will be sold.

I quietly organized all my files, notes, completed stories, sound, etc. today. I've already begun finding all the word.docs on various computers, to place transcripts of stories on my domain.

I know where everything is, what it is, how far along I am in production, what I need to finish, etc.

I've kept all my contacts from past stories, too.

I have a pizza in the oven; it smells like it's about done. I need to check on it and post more later.

Free beets, carrots, tomato sauce

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Email to
Albuquerque Freecycle

Food Not Bombs got a bumper crop this week.

I've made 10 gallons of stewed tomato sauce, with bell peppers, celery, fresh
herbs, onion and garlic. Decanted into quart yogurt tubs.

Both the carrots and beets (some golden, some red) are slightly wilted. But they
still make great juice. They're also good for pickling and cooking. I have more
than a case, and no time to process all of them!

But I'd grab them ASAP; they won't last much longer and I'll have to compost
them.

By the way, we've had an offer of a free refrigerator, and someone's arranging
to pick it up from Mary.

We still need: kitchen gadgets, small appliances, cutlery, dishes.

If anybody has old camping stoves or hot plates, we could use them, too.

And we ALWAYS need shelves! LOL

We had a GREAT week! We fed the homeless wonderful stuff, including a
strawberry/rhubarb compote, with blackberries and raspberries!

You can always find us at Civic Plaza or the 4th Street Mall on Sundays, at
Noon!

Thanks,

Rogi Riverstone

http://rriverstone.com

I pulled something

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Above my hip, in my back. I think it was when I picked up a very heavy case of tomatoes, and set them up on the table to sort. Ouch.

I'm going to refrigerate as much tomatoe sauce as I possibly can this morning.

It SHOULD be ok for the day, until the refrigerator comes tonight, at room temp. But it's been very hot out, and I don't want to take any chances. I have some large yogert containers I can put it in.

Aside from that, and a shower, I'm not working this morning. The compost will have to wait 'til this evening. So will the remaining dishes.

I have a news story to work on today. And I'm already so tired, it's tempting to stay home and rest.

I slept 14 hours.

It's hard work. Believe me. But people get to eat. We save hundreds of pounds of food from the dumpsters. And I get free food.

I was thinking, last night, as I sorter through the four, remaining cases of food: this isn't all that got thrown out yesterday. And it's only from one day; people throw out food every day.

It made me a little sick, to think of it.

I know we're just a drop in the bucket, but we are doing useful work.

And the fact that our government neglects the needs of the most vulnerable of our citizens, while pissing away billions on the military corporate complex is not lost on me.

Yesterday, I saw a commercial with patriotic music, an american flag, and photos of military kids. Most were very young; most were obviously working class; many were people of color. It finished with the words, "thank you" and the corporate logo: Boeng.

Made me sick.

Thank you for suffering and dying, to keep us rich.

Made me sick.

If we keep this up, soon, the ONLY jobs left here will be prison guards, walmart greeters and soldiers!

Made me sick.

So, my little pots of tomato sauce are my contribution to the war effort. The less I contribute to corporate corruption, the better.

The farther off the grid, the better.

The less I invest in Round Up and GMOs by not buying agribusiness food, the better.

For me, Food Not Bombs is a rational solution. It's also fundamentally necessary. I'm always surprised others don't understand that. I'm always shocked when I see a receipt for a fast food meal. What waste!

So, I'm heading out to clean yogurt containers and preserve the two cases of produce I processed into gourmet tomato sauce.

Makes me healthy!

email to one of my readers

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Dear Leslie,

Thanks so much for your support!

It does mean a lot to hear from people who read my blogs and stuff.

Sometimes, I wonder if I'm just writing to myself! LOL....

I'm glad my haphazard bumblings are helping you with yours.

Life's a pain in the ... ain't it? LOL

Beats the alternative, though....

Thanks for writing!

--
Thank you,

Rogi Riverstone

http://rriverstone.com

to FNB email list

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Hi!

Forgive me, but my memory's so bad. So, I have trouble, remembering names. I don't remember the name of the woman who picked up produce from Roadrunner, but thanks! She volunteered to go back next week. And she helped with chopping, washing and cooking, too.

Nola and Frank, I hope?, went to Annapurna and to Wild Oats and brought over TONS of stuff!

They're planning to go back next week, too.

We didn't have a Co-Op pick up this week, but we certainly lived quite nicely without it!

I have ten gallons of tomato sauce, simmering on my stove for next week, as I write!

Nola has agreed to pick up our FREE REFRIGERATOR! WHOO HOOO!!!!! She has the woman's contact numbers, and will make arrangements to bring it here and even set it up. That is, if Porkchop...my dog...will let her inside the gate!

I'll ask my friend at KUNM about picking up at the Co-Op next week, unless someone else wants to do it.

We discussed acquiring a camping stove. It's not so necessary now, but would sure be handy in winter. Someone MIGHT donate one soon.

About the $300: the subject came up of possibly buying a SMALL trailer to haul food, and an adjustable trailer hitch that could be temporarily attached to various people's bumpers.

We can discuss these issues as we go.

For now, we can just hang on to the money, 'til we make a group decision.

I don't know who has a key to Project Share, but we need to arrange to pick up the rest of our stuff there. We need our dry goods, for one thing. I made plenty of space to stash things in my yard. I even have a drop cloth to protect things from rain and dust.

Who's planning to help: cook, deliver/serve, and clean next week?

We had delicious stuff, and too much of it, as usual this week!

Have a great week; see you Sunday!

--
Thank you,

Rogi Riverstone

http://rriverstone.com

Food Not Bombs

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Well, I made a strawberry rhubarb sauce, with blackberries and raspberries.

We had baked sweet and regular potatoes. Pot of beans, pot of soup. Salads, incl. fruit. Breads.

I have a jar of almond butter, yum.

I have 2 big soup pots on the stove right now, cooking down tomatoes, celery, bell peppers, onions, garlic and fresh herbs for tomatoe sauce. Should have about five gallons, when it's done. It was about 1 1/2 cases of stuff.

I'm sure pooped. ANd it sure was hot out there!

I stayed here and washed dishes and started processing foods, while the kids took the food to Civic Plaza.

I forgot to cook the 2 pizzas we got, so those are in my freezer.

Nola, one of the gals, is going to bring home the refrigerator! YAY~

All in all, a good day and not too much damage done to my house.

Everything's washed and put away.

Almost all the trash and compost are out. Very little is left, besides tomatoe sauce and some containers in the fridge.

When it cools off, I'll finish outside.

Right now, I'm just getting ready to eat, myself.
I'm watching a movie about Charlie Chaplin. Interesting... especially about the Hitler stuff.

Wonder what Charlie would do these days, huh?

Happy Sunday!

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I still have to clean the stove and table. Moan.

I'm on my 1st cup of coffee & I'm taking my sweet time. They won't be here for 3 hours yet.

I'm pretty creaky, but not too bad.

I already have a towel set aside for the rest of the cleaning this morning. I'm good to go.

The cats really love the back yard. Mugwart doesn't even bother to come in any more, except to eat. He'd rather just snooze on a padded lawn chair, in the shade.

The woman from Intertribal Deaf has been surfing my site. She really likes it. She asked if I transcribe all my stories.

I'd like to answer her, but yahoomail isn't compatible with WebTV any more. I can READ email. I can WRITE email. But I can't REPLY to mail! grrrrrr....

I won my eBay bid on 2 tires & 2 tubes for $10! Plus $10 shipping.

A tube is worth fifteen, so that's thirty. A tire is worth twenty five, so that's fifty: eighty dollars, total, plus shipping.

So, I'm happy.

I should be back on the scooter next week.

I think my problem is that I don't have the physical strength to inflate the tubes to thirty psi. Under inflated, the tubes can shift around in the tire and the valve stem tears loose. Or, they can get crimped and wear a hole where the folded part gets rubbed.

I just can't inflate the tires enough!

Soon's I'm rich, I'll buy a little air compressor. WITH a pressure guage, thank you! They're about twenty bucks.

I pump 'til my arms fall off and the tire's hard, but I really don't think it's enough....

I found out, yesterday, that decent audio equipment can be purchased for reasonable expense. The major cost will be a decent computer. Even a lap top that can handle a sound editing program is only about six hundred dollars. A decent mic is only a hundred. A MiniDisc recorder is about two hundred.

And you CAN buy used audio on eBay! At least, some people do. One guy got a pair of stereo lavalier mics for only sixty bucks!

And I now know the local place for audio equipment: Grandma's. They give a discount to KUNM volunteers, too.

So, I'm feeling a little better about all this sound studio project.

I'll start with a MiniDisc; that's the scarcest thing at the station. I can borrow a mic for awhile.

Then, I'll buy the mic.

Once I have those, I can produce enough content to sell that I can save up for a good computer.

Since I have no car, and want to work in the field, I'll need a lap- vs. desk-top computer I can carry around with me.

Dang! Reagan's dead, and they're using it to promote the republican party! The old fart was friggin' Howdy Doody! I lived under that bastard in California, and as president. He was a crazy, hateful PIG! He was a bad actor and a wannabe cowboy.

And it's free air time for Heather Wilson! I HATE local news! And now, Pete Dominici! grrrrr.....

Just looking at stock footage of the bastard gets my back up!

gush, gush....

How can they get away with quoting Heather, and not Romero, during an election year????

Pig boyz.

He was NOT a HERO! He was a PUPPET!

Speaking of puppets, Tom Brokaw is gushing over Bush, comparing WWII to invading Iraq. However, Brokaw IS criticizing the comparison. "Fair," I guess.

We ain't fighting for democracy; we're the Holy Corporate Empire.

blah. blah.

WHEN are we going to ever have a country that isn't controlled by impotent, rich, white dudes??

Well, that got me riled up. And adrenaline is great for cleaning stoves.

So, I'll go clean stuff now.

mumble, mumble....

Strega ...email

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I first tasted Strega when I was a child. My parents were seriously into weekend drives. Sometimes, we'd go to Santa Barbara and up to Solvang. We often stopped at Andersen's Split Pea Soup Restaurant. They had a fabulous bar, full of the most interesting stuff. One day, my parents got curious about that strange-looking bottle, with that beautiful color inside.

Well, Dad bought a bottle to take home.

We only drank it on the most special of occasions.

It was at home I first tasted it: just a sip, mixed in water, with ice.

Strega is said to be enchanted. They say that, if one drinks it with another, those people are bound for life.

I've only shared Strega with the most special people.

There was one exception, and I learned my lesson: the people weren't special and they didn't appreciate it. They didn't finish it.

I finished theirs.

I've always drunk Strega chilled, on the rocks, or on the rocks with milk.

It is extremely pungent. It's made with rare herbs and spices. The color comes from saphron.

When I fist read Ray Bradbury's "Dandilion Wine," I thought of Strega. That was in Ms. Dengler's English class, in Junior High.

Marianna Dengler became my life-long friend and surrogate mother figure. She died last year of leukemia. I learned of it the day before Halloween. Performance Today played, of all things, "Appalachian Spring," a piece I associate strongly with Marianna. Why they played THAT, the day before Halloween, is still a mystery to me. I stood in my garden, harvesting sunflower and morning glory seeds, remembering her and weeping.

Marianna was a witch. She was also a recovering alcoholic. And she understood my sentiments about Strega. We never drank it together, but she's as much a part of my associations with Strega as anyone.

I've only drunk it with one lover. I've drunk it mostly with lifelong friends. They are, after all, more fundamental to my personality than lovers, anyway.

The last times I drank Strega, I was in Louisville, Kentucky. I was preparing to drive here. I drank it with each of my three, best, male friends, on seperate and memorable occasions, all from the same bottle.

The bottle broke a few months ago. I threw the rest away, but I kept the neck. It sits on my altar, with my most special things.

You don't know this, but your present of that bottle to me has deep significance to me. I have a great deal of respect for you. Your opinion of my work matters more to me than almost anybody at KUNM.

Remember: I've been listening to KUNM much longer than any of you have known me. So, I know who's who over there.

Your support has been very healing to me.

I saw the resistance and skepticism in your face. Yet, I knew you'd see me, eventually, and learn to respect me.

I was not offended by your position toward me. I know you're not a petty, small man. And I know you're doing your level best to produce healing, productive and useful radio.

Well, so am I.

Our experiences, methods and approaches may seem radically different, but the bottom line is the same.

I wanted that bottle of Strega to honor and commemorate the brave, if awkward, struggle I'm experiencing, trying to come home to myself.

I've been very lost, for a very long time.

Strega is a symbol of coming Home.

I have no other home besides myself. I needed to honor that.

I sat in my pretty yard, wearing a designer dress I found in the trash and just laundered. I put on my four hundred dollar pearls, for which I felt guilty for years, until a Buddhist friend reminded me they're a tangible symbol that I am capable of getting anything I want, through hard work and persistance. That's why I wear them at the radio station: to remind myself. All the times I've been homeless, sick, alone, scared and hated, I never seriously considered pawning those pearls.

I slowly poured that Strega, still warm from your car, into a beautiful glass. It's crystal. It's a wine goblet, with a bowl the size of a small brandy snifter. It chimes when touched.

I took that little, two-ounce drink of warm Strega into my yard. The first whiff was as strong as horseradish, and watered my eyes.

I toasted my past: Net4tv Voice, KAZUfm, The Lesbian Tide magazine, Pacifica, KUNM and others. I toasted those who let me write, edit and produce.

Then, I admired the oiliness on the glass. I held the Strega to the sky and looked at leaves and clouds through that vibrant color.

I still have over an ounce left, an hour later. I doubt I'll pour another tonight. Strega must be rolled on the tongue, savored, breathed. Strega must be loved.

I can't describe the flavor; it's too many flavors, combined. It doesn't taste "like" anything. It tastes like Strega.

The best I can tell you is: Strega is profoundly joyful, deeply complicated, with somber overtones. It will hurt, if not respected.

Strega is a lot like me.

It's an acquired taste. But, once past the superficial strangeness of it, it is not to be forgotten.

Thank you, with my entire experience of happiness, for getting this for me. And thank you from the depth of my need to be seen as something besides a crazy bag lady, for making it a present for me.

I had a grand time today! We should do this sort of thing more often! Thanks for organizing it.

Fondly and sincerely,

Rogi

--
Thank you,

Rogi Riverstone

http://rriverstone.com

GREAT day!

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First, I did get all the leftover lunches. LOL AND 3 big things of iced tea AND a 20 oz COKE! LOL!

Second, I got to network with people whose work I really appreciate, locally. I feel very good about getting beyond the Rogi Ghetto in the newsroom, and into global broadcasting, starting with independent productions, locally.

Third, people found out today that I'm not as stupid, ditsy or crazy as they'd assumed.

... walked me out; he had my Strega in his car. I told him I'd write a check, as I've had no way to get to a bank machine for cash.

He said that, if it wouldn't offend me, he'd like to make a present of it to me.

Then, he said the nicest thing. Other people were standing around, so he was rather circumspect, possibly fearing my reaction. He said he wanted to thank me for teaching him an important lesson.

I asked what it was.

He hemmed and hawed and said he didn't want to go into it.

I said, "Are you thanking me for teaching you not to hate crazy, loud, toothless bag ladies?"

He said hate wasn't the right word. He said I'd taught him about not prejudging people.

I gave him the strongest hug I could.

I haven't opened the Strega yet.

I'm hot and sweaty, for one thing. I sent Ra an email this morning, around eight, asking if she were driving and if I could mooch a ride.

I was outside, working in the yard, when she replied.

All of a sudden, here she was, honking her horn!

I was in my dirty house dress, with bed head and eye boogers. It was still 2 hrs 'til the thing was supposed to even start!

I said she should just go on; I wasn't ready.

She asked if I could be ready in 20 minutes. I said I could be ready in five.

I tore off my clothes, put on what I'd laid out last night, beat my hair into a reasonable configuration, grabbed my bags (which I'd prepacked and had waiting on the patio table), threw on walking shoes, stuffed a pack of smokes in my pocket and was in her car in about a minute and a half.

Ten minutes before the thing started, I went to the ladies' room. I smelled my pits. OH MY GOD!

Good thing I was wearing one of those loose caftain type shirts and a skirt!

I bellied up to a sink, squirted liquid soap on a wet paper towel, and scrubbed and scrubbed the three stinkiest areas on my body.

No antipersperant! I need to PACK one in my purse! But I had my waterless handcleaner, so I smeared that on the stinky parts...ouch!...and ran in just in time.

So, I'm stinky again.

Je, a new newsroom volunteer/intern, gave me a ride home.

I gave her a brief summary of my adventures in broadcasting, journalism, poverty, homelessness, etc.

I even gave her some tips on surviving Re. LOL. She feels stupid around Re, too.

So, I know how to find radio shows who buy content from independent producers now.

I've hooked up with some of the most serious people in local radio. I got free food and a Coke. And I got a free bottle of Strega from a guy I really respect, even if he did think I was a wack job! LOL

I'm going to make it.

I'm going to be ok.

It takes a lot of guts for me to even think that, let alone publish it in my blog. I'm so scared of getting my hopes up.

BUt it's true: I can do this. I can be successful at it, and respected for it.

I'm going to be ok.

I'm achey

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I feel it most in my arms. Don't really know why. Maybe from hanging laundry? Lifting heavy stuff? Scrubbing?

Well, anyway.

All I really have left is: stove top, table top and taking out another trash thing.

There's no more clutter, anywhere.

I had to cut some corners, to get things tidy enough to have maybe a half dozen people, traipsing through my house with big pots of hot food.

But it's clean.

Of course, I have a six foot tall pile of clean laundry to put away, stashed here in the bed room. If a cat jumps up on it, I'm screwed. But that can wait 'til next week.

The minute I got up, I went out to admire my yard. All cats were out there, inside cat beds, sleeping in laundry baskets, snoozing on padded lawn chairs.

Nobody even wants to go out into the empty lot much; it's cool and comfy in the small yard. And safe.

They come out when I'm out there. And I'm sure they go out other times, but they love the back yard and hang there most of the time since I started rearranging it.

I can walk through the living room without leaping over boxes, bags and papers the cats knocked on the floor.

I took down my living room curtains to wash. But the extra light, with the curtains down, is wonderful; I may not put the curtains back up 'til winter, for extra insulation.

The wind messed up my fish "pond" fountain. But, since I got everything else done, I can take my time today and redo it well. It involves lots of decorations, such as sea shells, glass ornaments, marbles, "jewels," toys, pebbles.....so it'll take time to really do it right.

It's a fun project, anyway. And the fishies love the running water.

So, I can feel pretty good about all I've done. Nobody at FNB has replied to the fact that I've scored a free refrigerator. This worries me; I don't know how much longer the woman donating can keep that thing in her garage.

I may have to beg Da from KUNM to help me get it one day next week. I hate to ask; he had truck trouble this week, and he works SO HARD on the remodelling at the station, he needs his evenings to rest up for more.

Well, I feel good about what I've accomplished.

My little house is comfortable and cheerful.

If the cats approve, you KNOW I did a good job! LOL

WHEW!

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Four loads of laundry! Got everything out there clean, organized and ready. I even cleaned the astroturf and mats on the ground.

It looks fabulous out there!

The living room's a mess, from moving stuff around, but I'll work on it this afternoon and evening.

I'd kill for a working vacuum!

I got started out there and just kept going 'til I was done. Five hours! Finished at 1:30, with the temps hovering just below a hundred degrees.

Totally filthied my dress; I may never get it clean again! YUCK! Stripped it off the minute I got in here.

Raoul, the coke addict/alcoholic, heard me working out there and started chanting, "I'm not on welfare; I'm not a drunk bitch," to the tune of "nanny, nanny, ha ha."

I thought, I just may do an investigative news report on chemical dependency among emergency surgery staff at UNMH!

I can borrow a minidisc recorder, so I can get sound of his tirades. Then, I can question the hospital on their drug testing procedures, since I've heard Raoul bragging about falsifying urine tests.

It'd make a GREAT report, probably award winning! hee hee!

So, harrass me, you ignorant redneck wannabe. Keep it up, smart boy.

So, I'm laying here, under the air conditioner, just finished eating a smoked chicken breast...first thing I've eaten all day. I'm resting and watching dumb ol' General Hospital.

Soon as I can walk again, I'll plow into the rest of the house work.

I'm glad I got the laundry and watering done today; wouldn't want it to have to wait 'til Monday. It's really hot out there; even the sunflowers are struggling.

Now, I can devote myself to cleaning inside the house.

I forgot: I got a handful of Hershey's kisses at the Chocolate Cafe! I have them in my bag...looks like it's time for a decadent snack, while watching a soap.

Just like a middle class house wife! LMFAO!

over slept!

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Man, I didn't wake 'til after seven thirty! I slept like a rock.

I'd have liked to have gotten up at my regular 5, so I could work out in the yard in the cool of the morning. But I really needed sleep.

I cleaned the refrigerator last night. All that's left in the kitchen is the floor, table top, tiny counter, and stove top. I left my refrigerator rag, wet, on the floor, to soak all night. Should be easy to clean the floor; I swept it last night, too.

The cats knocked my underwear drawer out of the dresser last night. It's broken; I'll have to glue it. That's proof how deeply I slept: I didn't hear it fall!

And Porkchop got some trash out on the living room floor. He hardly ever does that. But I'd left a trash basket out to remember to empty it this morning, and I hardly ever do that, either.

So, the animals have been "helping" me clean the house. Thanks, guys.

I guess I'll indulge myself, turn on the air conditioner, cool the house down well, and work inside most of the day. By evening, I can finish the yard, do some laundry, clean the patio table, etc.

There's not really much left to do. It's mostly clutter, at this point: little stuff.

I emailed the Food Not Bombs people about the free refrigerator, but have gotten no reply yet. hmmmm....

I may have to ask Danny to help me, but he wasn't at KUNM yesterday because HE'S having truck trouble! Poor Danny!

I wish I'd thought to ask Nicole if I could borrow her vacuum, before she left for Santa Fe, and New York, for three weeks! My poor floors! LOL

I keep forgetting to buy an agitator belt for mine. I can suck stuff up through the tube, but I need to beat the hell out of my carpets!

My house has needed a good cleaning for a long time. This is a good start, but it's not all that needs to be done. I've still got some winter clutter that needs storing.

"Quartile?" Some guy on University Show Case just said that word. I wonder if that's academia for "quarter?" I think he's the President. I don't know. He's boring. Monotone. Clickity clack. And he's got a snotty nose and is too close to the mic.

"Best students:" that means "rich people." Yawn.

Jane introduced him as having an "unusual background." I immediately thought she'd say he worked his way up from a fish factory, or migrant work, or something.

Bachelors' from West Point, Masters' and Law Degrees from Harvard.

Oh, brother...

But he's "Hispanic," so I guess that makes him politically correct, huh? Franco was "Hispanic;" so was Onate. Not exactly my idea of a roll model, but what do I know?

So, we've got a wealthy military guy, running our university? Wonderful....

Now, he's whining that our poorer students, "you have to educate them, anyway.." are taking too much money to educate. It's affecting the number of tenured professors; they spend their budget on cheaper teachers, and that affects accreditation of departments. Like JOURNALISM!

uh, huh. Get all them POOR PEOPLE out of our college, so we can hire fat cats and sit on leather chairs.

DUDE! This ain't HARVARD! This is one of the poorest and least literate states in this COUNTRY!!

Well, if I can't have tea sandwiches and finger bowls with lemon slices, I just won't GO there! Humph!

He wants the university more involved in public policy. That means, the corporations who fund crap at the school can influence the policies of New Mexico! We don't have enough of that already, you know...

See? This is why I'll never be "sucessful" within the system. Now he's talking about patents, entrepreneurs, and royalties.

Yes, let's turn the university into a complete and total corporate whore!

Let's do the corporate PR with tax payers' money! Absolutely! Love for sale!

Man, I get grumpy when I hear how "they" think!

I should shut up now, and get to work....

Have a fabulous day.

y'know? I'm pretty proud of myself!

You are reading http://livinginthehood.blogspot.com

I just figured out today I've only been volunteering at KUNM for two months! In that time, I've produced seven or eight news stories and about the same number of commentaries.

I've sold three stories, freelance.

I pretty much know how to operate windowsXP now. I know how to edit and mix digital audio.

I'm feeding a family of hummingbirds and growing flowers on the patio there.

I've met scientists, politicians and celebrities.

I've pissed off some of the finest minds in Albuquerque.

I've fed people.

I've helped them solve problems, from near evictions to cats with absesses.

And the Native Americans have accepted me as family, even though I'm whiter than Michael Jackson....well, NOBODY's that white!

I've given some hugs, plenty of compliments.

I've done useful, productive and helpful work.

I've even repaired some office equipment and cleaned a refrigerator!

I've only been there TWO MONTHS!

I've done it without: money, a car, a home computer, much physical strength, university education, enough to eat, all my teeth, any familiarity with office procedures.

I'm a former teen runaway, an incest, rape and abuse survivor. I have no friends or family here. Two thirds of my income go to rent. I eat and wear garbage.

Yet, I've managed to teach myself career skills that have turned in to almost three hundred dollars' pay!

And I'm just starting!

This KUNM thing was the BEST idea I've had in a VERY long time!

It's harder than HELL! It HURTS! Physically and emotionally.

But I got a notice today about a News Producer job, and KNEW I could do it! A year from now, if the same position were to open up, I'd apply. It pays thirty-one hundred a MONTH! That's nineteen dollars an hour! And I could do it from here!

So, even though I sometimes want to SHOOT someone at the station...OR myself...it's really worth it.

It shouldn't be this stressful, of course. There's a lot of unnecessary suffering involved.

But I'm getting the hang of it.

Maybe, two months from now, it won't be this hard.

I dreamed about what I could do with nearly forty thousand dollars per year.

I'd buy me those teeth that screw into your jaws with titanium screws. I'd buy me a powerful lap top, with all the "fixin's." I'd pay off my student loans and go back to school. I'd buy me a REAL scooter--not a car.

And I'd buy me a double wide and a lot to put it on, out in the country, where I could raise my poultry and goats in peace!

And the best part? I was absolutely SURE I could do that job!!! I KNEW I could!

But I'll take this year to get REALLY good, produce lots of stuff, get my name out there, prove my reliability and sincerity.

By the time I apply for a job like that, they won't be able to turn me down!

I'm GOOD at radio! I mean, I'm GOOD!

I always said: it's my MIND that is my ticket out of poverty. All I'm good at is writing.

I'm useless in a factory anymore.

But I was so beaten down, and so trapped in that War Zone without a car, I couldn't have done this, living there. I could have been killed, just trying to walk home from the bus stop at night! I never went out at night, when I lived there.

I can do this.

With people like ..., Tr, Le, Ma, Ra and Da encouraging me, I'm going to be fine.

Hell, even To is warming up to me now; he actually smiles, sometimes, when he sees me coming. LOL

I'm going to be OK.

I can do this.

Now, if you don't mind, I think I'll have me a good cry

... got my Strega!

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He didn't bring it today, but I'll get it by Monday! Oh boy! What a treat!

I've almost wrapped up my story on Native American hearing impaired. I got a GREAT interview today with the head of Intertribal Deaf Association! It's a really exciting story.

I'm bidding on 2 tubes and tires for my scooter over at eBay. Might get em for twenty bucks, the way it's going! Yippeeeeeee!

Not airless, but so cheap, it doesn't matter.

I'm exhausted. I had to stay much later than I wanted, to get a ride home. But I'm saving my strength for getting ready for Food Not BOmbs.

I Scored a free refrigerator from abqfree over at yahoo groups! If we can just get someone to pick it up! Ain't far from here, either.

And someone has kitchen gadgets, flatwear and dishes!

So, it's been a productive day, all in all.

I need desperately to eat! Soon's I rest up.

I'm so stiff and sore!

I'm glad I don't have to go in to KUNM tomorrow, so I can clean my kitchen floor, pick up living room clutter, clean my stove, and finish the yard for cooking.

It'll be a busy day.

And Saturday's that volunteer meeting about the broadcasters' convention. I doubt I'll work much Sat, since I'll have to walk there.

STREGA!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know: it's a terrible extravegance, but I haven't tasted it for about fifteen years! It's my most favorite thing, alcohol wise.

I really feel like I'm coming back into who I really am.

SOMEthing funny: my ride forgot me tonight. I begged Ma for a ride. Turns out, he used to live near my house.

He pulled into the alley, drove up to my ramshackled, home made gate, saw all the art and plants and scooter and funny signs, and just giggled.

I said, well, you know us trailer trash: we move into a good neighborhood and f... it all up, just as quick as we can.

I think he liked it.

He said, nice scarecrow.

Hee hee...

Treats

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A reader emailed me about the "shut UP!" post. Had some very supportive and intelligent things to say.

Reminded me: most middle class people don't understand the concept of special foods anymore. There was a time when animal fats, sugars, etc. were rare. They were saved for special occasions, particularly Yule season. Working people didn't have money for nor access to such luxuries as fruit in winter, fresh meats, etc.

My little shopping spree for special foods was a modest remembering of those times. It was a special occasion, a celebration.

While I was in the Chocolate Cafe, I saw a group of overweight fire fighters eating lunch. I've seen them there all 3 times I've been to that restaurant. They always eat large plates of high calorie foods. Apparantly, they eat there regularly.

They might as well: the Taco Bell next door would cost just about as much, and isn't as good, and contains probably at least as many calories as what they were eating. And Taco Bell doesn't serve home-baked chocolate desserts!

But they eat there regularly! It's not a treat. It's "normal."

My diet rarely contains that much meat, fat, sugar, salt.

My ordinary fare, since I started working with Food Not Bombs, is primarily produce, complex carbohydrates, and a bit of meat on the side, or as garnish.

Sugar is rare for a few reasons: I'd have to take the time to cook it into something, for one thing. But, mostly, I don't think it's healthy.

Anyway, here's my reply to my reader's email this morning:

I cook with cast iron; that helps. And I'm always digging for high iron vegies, like brocolli and spinach.

The homeless guy still passes, but I don't know why he rarely stops. I give him his space; he's got his own stuff, you know?

He's always welcomed for a meal, cup of coffee, or whatever.

As to the rest, that was a very controlled splurge, since I made single-serving foods last four days! LOL

You know us trailer trash: we spend it the minute we get it; that's why we never get ahead. So, any money I might spend is proof that people are only poor, due to poor judgment and lack of impulse control. Yawn.

By the way, I STILL have some leftover, extra pickles from Jasmine's Middle Eastern restaurant. I'm saving them to eat with the last of my steak, and the piece of lamb I just bought, and froze for later. I also still have one rib eye steak frozen.

Right now, I'm working on that chicken I barbequed: smoked and seasoned to the bone. Man, that's good eatin'.

So, thanks for your supportive words. I am thinking about Vitamin B complex; I think that'll help the leg & arm cramps. The menstrual cramps were caused by that damn tampon! Never again! I'll bleed all OVER myself before I do THAT again! LOL

Renee's a miserable, unhappy, frightened person, and she tries to spread that to everyone around her. I don't need it and I certainly don't deserve it. So, I've chosen to ignore it.

I just keep remembering that line from the Roche Sisters song: "All of you will buy a ticket, just to see my face again."

Thanks for writing!

Rogi

Bushville

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Bushville Day 2: June 2nd
***************************
BUSHVILLE VEHICLES TOWED
LEADER RUSHED TO HOSPITAL
After setting up the encampment in the rain, Bushville residents awoke=20
to continued harassment by "Homeland Security" and the Jersey City=20
Police Department. Despite being legally parked, all of our Bushville=20
vehicles (including one rented vehicle) were towed. The vehicles were=20
towed shortly after we were told we had to leave the lot by 12 noon. One=
=20
vehicle contained vital heart medicine for Bushville Organizer Liz Ortiz=
=20
who had to be rushed to the hospital.=20
Our lawyers are requesting an emergency meeting before a Jersey City=20
judge with the following demands:
- Our Vehicles be returned TODAY=20
- An immediate stop to the continued police harassment=20
Please call/fax the Jersey City Police Department to express your=20
support for our Bushville and the right to protest for basic human=20
rights. �Phone and fax info below.
**************************
Bushville Day 1: June 1st
**************************
The Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign moved to set up a=20
Bushville at 420 Grand Street in Jersey City, NJ. �The encampment was=20
erected in the heart of a poor, racially mixed community. Through the=20
Jersey City Police Department "Homeland Security" have continued to make=
=20
the poor invisible and to deny them their first amendment rights to=20
protest for basic human rights in the United States. Our children are=20
safe regardless of the threats by the Jersey City Police Department.=20
We are appealing to anyone that has a listserve, media contacts,=20
independent media contacts, and/or international media contacts to send=20
this information to as many people in this country and around the world.=
=20
Please help us break the Media Blackout!!!
The voices of the poor who are not surviving need to be heard.=20
Call the Jersey City Police Chief and Demand that the Harassment stop.=20
Sam Jefferson, Director
Ronald Buonocore, Police Chief
8 Erie Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
Tel: (201) 547-5300
Fax: (201) 547-5283=20
For more info, please call our toll free March Hotline 888.233.1948.=20
Other things you can do:
- Serve as a Human Rights Monitor at our Bushville:
PDF
- Support the Bushville's Needs List:
here

Rogi's Kitchen

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Here's my recipe collection:

Bananas Riverstone Cr�pes



Carrot Salad



Cheese Cake



Chutney



Cocktail Sauce



County Fair Foods



Cookies, Crackers and Snacks



Cucumber Vinegrette Salad



Discounted Meat Handling



Fantasy Dagwood Sandwich



Enchiladas



Fried Chicken



Green Eggs & Ham Pasta Salad



Ham Kills!



Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce



Lima Bean Refries



Mac & Cheese



Meat Loaf



Pilaf



Popover Pancake



Pot o' Pintos



Stew for Breakfast!



Stretching Foods With A Japanese Mandolin



Turkey DInner



Turkey Soup

"Clutter?"

Someone said my kitchen is cluttered. I took it to heart, and felt bad about it for a couple of weeks.

I am not Martha Stewart; I don't own a dozen houses, a warehouse, a tv studio.

I just COOK like Martha! ...or better.

I was watching a sitcom tonight, "3rd Rock From The Sun." The premise is that 2 couples invest in a time share.
When they get there, it's a studio apartment.

They made a big joke about the kitchen area and how small it was. One, overhead cupboard; a small, double sink; two undersink cabinets; utensil drawers; stove; refrigerator.
The counter space, on either side of the sink, measured less than two feet in length. An actor referred to the counter space as, "postage stamp."

My kitchen cabinets are almost indentical, except that I have only ONE, undersink cabinet.

I've added three shelves, a cabinet on wheels, a table and wooden crates ON the table, to act as shelves for plants, cat food dishes, condiments and fruit basket.

My entire kitchen measures six feet by maybe eight feet, and that's only because I've pushed the refrigerator part way into the living room.

I don't have clutter. I have kitchen appliances, herbs, seasinings and condiments, utensils, etc. They're neatly stacked on the shelves. On the top shelf, I have my tea pot collection.

In the sitcom episode, the two couples were whining about how substandard the conditions were, how intolerable the conditions, how pathetic and inhuman it was to expect them to live like that.

I have the largest kitchen in this complex. I almost didn't rent here, because the first units I saw had "kitchens" built into closets!

There's nothing wrong with me wanting to own an Easter bunny cake mold, a food processor, a tortilla press, etc.

I realize we "poor" folk are expected to only eat fast foods or microwave tv dinners. But I'm REALLY low income, and I'm also really intelligent! I can't live on macaroni and cheese powder in a box. I like to cook quality foods, so I won't feel deprived and get depressed.

I LIKE it that I can run to the kitchen in the middle of the night, whip up a batch of pop overs, smear them with real butter and home made blackberry jam, and eat them with a Parmasean cheese and jalepe�o omlette and a cup of home made espresso! It takes less time than driving (if I HAD a car) through a fast food joint. And, even "paying" myself ten dollars an hour, and including prep time through clean up, costs about one tenth of what they'd charge for some salty, sugary, greasy crap. And junk food restaurants just don't serve what I can prepare!

Why would I WANT to eat at McDonalds or thaw out frozen crap, when I can eat like this?

Is it really so "crazy" to want a high quality life, that doesn't come in shrink wrap?

Clutter? Bite me! "Clutter" is collecting crap for the sake of collecting crap! Except for my teapot collection, everything in my kitchen is about preparing and preserving foods!

posted by Rogi��# 11/7/2003 11:22:18 PM

I can barely walk!

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Porkchop was barking at something at three am. I tried to get up to either shut him up, or kill an invader. I fell.

I got up, called him in. He came. He won't come, if there's really someone in the alley. Who ever it was had passed, and he was just barking because other dogs were still barking.

So, I went in to pee...and couldn't get up off the toilet. Almost fell into the shower.

Leslie's giving me a ride today. I couldn't possibly walk.

Tina sent me another story idea. Gotta get crackin'.

I got all the blankets washed yesterday. They're hanging to dry.

I only have maybe 3 more loads of clothes and stuff. It'll have to wait 'til I'm stronger on my feet.

I still have that little kitchen to clean. ugh.

I may not get it all done this week, but I'll get close enough they can cook here on Sunday.

I barbequed my chicken in that rub stuff. I put the lid on the bbq, with the vents open, and let it smoke.

That sure is a good smoker! It got the flavors all the way into all of the meat! That old chicken came out juicy, crispy and full of flavor, all the way to the bone. It was a real pleasure.

I've got to remember to cover the bbq today, so it won't get stolen. I hide it amongst the sunflowers; you can't even see it, once it's covered with its navy blue shower curtain!

So, I have chicken and cucumber salad for lunch. I'll take some bread and butter, too. ANd my tub of peach yogurt.

Cucumber salad came out great!

Sliced cucumbers

Diced bell peppers: red, yellow and green

Raw corn, cut from the cob

Spinach

Leftover black bean salad.

1 onion, thinly sliced

Vinegrette:

1 part Balsamic vinegar

1 part Japanese rice wine vinegar

1 part honey

1 part olive oil

1 splash Thai chili oil

Fresh basil, torn

Black pepper

Salt to taste

1 spalsh soy sauce

4 lemons, juiced

Toss everything and LEAVE IT ALONE for an hour, so the lemon juice can conduct the Balsamic vinegar deep into the vegetables.

Tastes even better on the second day!

shut UP!

You are reading http://livinginthehood.blogspot.com

I walked to the voting place, WITH my card from the county registrar's.

I voted. I voted as Green as I could.

I even tried to vote for a Green presidential canditate, to send a message, but it wouldn't let me. damn.

Then, I walked to Smith's. Got a cheap chicken, some leg of lamb, some sausages with cheese in them, some peach yogert and...um...maybe that was all. I was STARVING and so dehydrated!

Oh, got pork rinds at Family Dollar.

Everything was discounted, of course.

I stopped at Frontier Restaurant and FINALLY got my green chili cheese burger. Ate half and a generic soda from Smith's on their sidewalk table.

I remember: I got a tray of raspberry and strawberry tarts!

I ate 2 with lunch.

Slogged across campus in the hot sun to the station. Pulling the groceries, after all my hard work, hurt my shoulders.

I looked at scooter tires on the 'net at work. I'm thinking about airless. The front tire bulged when I inflated the tube. The tires wear out too fast, too.

Airless cost only about five bucks more than pneumantic...I'm thinking about it. They do have my size.

Well, I've tried to call the County Registrar's office 4 times, to get sound on precinct results. But they ALL went to lunch, at the same time, on election day....who CARES about the 12 o'clock tv news, RIGHT??? And then they wonder why this town is stoned, pregnant and ignorat???? WHO'S MINDING THE STORE????

The hummingbird babies hatched! 2 of them! Eensie little beaks!

I printed two things off the internet. One's a letter to JFK from MLK, re: 2nd class status of NEgros. The other is a picture of a little girl, in white socks and SUnday school dress, that says, "Second Class." I pinned them to my "wall."

Well, as Le and I packed to leave, I bragged a little about the good food I ate this weekend.

That cow Re said, "sure wish I could afford to eat like that!"

I ignored her. But I wanted to jump her and...well....

I bought a steak, big enough for MAYBE 2 servings, more like one big serving. I've been eating that ONE steak for FOUR DAYS!

And the cakes, sandwich and burrito I bought came to less than twenty dollars!

I live on two dollars' a day, food stamps! I eat GARBAGE!!! I go to bed hungry, some nights. I'm malnourished!

That cow spends more on a SNACK than I spend in a whole day's worth of food! Her crap has to be politically correct, organic, blah blah....

I worked HARD for that damn money, and I DESERVED to go out to eat and bring some home! I ate my cakes all WEEKEND! And they were SINGLE SERVINGS!

I swear to gawd, she'd better get the HELL off my back! I can barely restrain myself!

What? I'm supposed to feel GUILTY, for taking care of myself???????

shoot....

How DARE she make nasty comments about the fact that I could actually FEED myself this weekend!

Le told me this morning Re was complaining about my box of office supplies, notebooks, etc. I guess because I wrote "Rogi's box of magic tricks (news fax)" on the lid.

Y'know what, lady? I ain't got a car and I'll break or ruin something, dragging it back and forth all the time! I don't even have a damn DESK! I SWIPED myself a desk drawer, cuz it has a hasp on it, and I can pad lock it!

Da ASKED us to box up all the desk drawers, so they could move the furniture without making a mess or dragging extra weight!

I want you to leave me the HELL alone! GET OFF MY BACK!

Well, I was down stairs, giving the humming birds fresh sugar water, when I ran into Mt. He said, and I quote, "That commentary you did on Friday was absolutely brilliant! It was so moving!"

I grinned my way back up to the third floor and reminded myself, "THAT's why you COME here! NOT to kiss Re's insecure butt!"

So, I'm just taking care of my business.

Apparantly, I can't talk about ANYTHING about my life, without cheap shots and nasty comments, not when Re's there, anyway.

So screw her! I just won't talk.

I've got people there who do respect me.

Can't work a computer? Can't do digital audio? Jees, lady, I learned THAT the first WEEK I volunteered there! And that was only a two day week!

Lead, follow or just GET OUT OF MY WAY!

I hope Ra hears her go off!

Crap, if I wanted to be treated like THAT, I could work in a damn FACTORY!

Is there ANYTHING about me that DOESN'T offend you?????

I swear, I'm so close to losing it....

Thank heavens I have some sympathisers who get what's happening. If I had to do all of this, all alone, I couldn't make it.

If it weren't for the opportunity to sell stories freelance, I'd be SO out of there!

COW!

There. I feel better now....

Rat me out; I don't give a damn. I haven't said anything in this blog that I'm not totally prepared to tell her to her face!

I damn near brought this up at the last general meeting!~

EVERYbody worth talking to knows how I feel. ANd most of them feel the SAME WAY! People AVOID Re! They roll their eyes and sigh, at the THOUGHT of having to talk to her! They literally go the other way, when they see her coming!

ANd she has chosen ME, as her personal tar baby! EVERYthing's my fault! Someone put a friggin can of soda in the freezer this weekend; it exploded; they didn't clean it up.

THREE GUESSES who will get BLAMED!

I'm so 2nd class at that station, already. And Re's just making everything WORSE!

So, I'll stay all alone, in my Rogi Ghetto, and not speak to ANYBODY when she's there, if I can help it.

I can't WAIT to get new tires, so I can come in early with To, and be nearly DONE by the time she gets in!

Besides, I MISS MY DUCK EGGS! LOL

I think I need a nap

can I vote today?

You are reading http://livinginthehood.blogspot.com

I've gotten no propoganda. I haven't received a sample ballot. Candidates haven't sent me stuff.

I just surfed around and found out where I vote over here.

I have the voter registration receipt they sent me. I'll have to remember to take that. I really doubt I'm eligible to vote today. Not through any fault of my own, mind you, but there seems to be a problem, if I've received NO voting information!

It's pretty strange.

It's getting on day light out there. I didn't shower yesterday; I was too weak. So I must do that soon.

My little yard looks quite nice, thank you. I managed to pick up the clutter out in the "empty" lot before dark last night.

I have at least 4 loads of laundry to finish, before I can use the space in which I'm storing the laundry baskets.

My work out there actually made the yard wider, somehow. There are mats on the ground, in front of my 8 foot-long table. When food's prepared, that table top will be empty, to process foods for cooking, for making salads, etc.

Now, I need to find another refrigerator.

The cats love having the lawn furniture inside the small yard. It's shady there, and very close to their window and the front door. The lawn chairs all have pads on them, which makes them quite comfy. I went out there, yesterday afternoon, and found cats on all 3 chairs and Mugwart on the table.

I can't believe I got so much done, all in one day.

I know my washing machine will be a lot happier, standing on a level surface. And I'll be a lot happier, too. I won't have to constantly check the washer, to make sure everything's loaded perfectly evenly, or to hang onto the washer so it won't shut itself off while spinning. That was bad! I finally gave up on spinning some of my heavier towels, for instance. They'd get so saturated, they were very heavy. There was no way to spin a load if a big towel was in it. So, towels got hung up, dripping wet, to dry. That made them stiff and scratchy, since I couldn't get all the soap out of them.

I have about 3 blankets, some sheets, and a good collection of clothing to wash still. If I do a load or two every day, I should have them done and put up before Sunday.

Now, I'll need to clean up the kitchen. We will need my stove. And we'll need the sink to wash dishes, until I build an outdoor sink. I have an ice chest, with a drain spigot on the bottom, which could be an outdoor sink. It wouldn't hurt. We'd have to pour hot water into five gallon buckets and haul it out there for now, until I can buy an adaptor for my shower, to which we could attach a garden hose.

I'd prefer that, anyway. I hate sneaking out front to attach my hose to the faucet where my "neighbors" can see me. That freakish cow in the basement used to turn off the spigot, while I was laundering, and disconnect the hose. She's nasty and I want no contact with her. They're all nasty. They throw trash, scream, etc., all the time. And Raoul's criminal buddies were urinating outside my kitchen window. I planted stuff in the flower bed out there. I'm constantly picking litter out of it. Filthy people.

So, some of the middle class FNB kids will turn their noses up at my little yard, no matter what I do. They won't like working outside, even in the shade. I'm sure they'll be critical.

But it's a good space. We can do a lot out there. And the compost can go directly into my garden.

I'm feeling pretty good about what I got done.

Now, if I can just VOTE today!