I'm in way too much pain.
I think my muscles are oxygen deprived: lots of chalie horse symptoms.
And horrible pain in all joints, connective tissues.
Fever, dizziness, bad weakness.
Woke from 3 hr nap and literally could not move. It wasn't like I was paralyzed; I just had no strength. Porkchop was against my back; Mugwart was curled at my belly. I couldn't move them. I couldn't move enough to let them know I wanted to move! Usually, if I can just rock my body slightly, my animals will wake up and move away, so I can get up. I couldn't do it.
There is intense pain, radiating from my hands, up the muscles of my lower arms. It hurts like hell to type.
Now, I did move the webtv, etc., into the bedroom. That friggin junky/drunk, Raoul, makes SO much noise, screaming and startling me, I couldn't get my work done; I'd lose my train of thought.
And I think sitting up in this bed is hurting my lower back and shoulders. And no matter how many pillows I pile up, my arms aren't in a comfortable typing position.
The cramps/oxygen I attribute to smoking. We all know the answer to that. I could use medical help, patches, etc, to stop; but I can't get any medical care.
I'm really scared! I don't KNOW what's wrong with my body and I can't get any help. Nobody believes me. When I go to doctors, they say it's "depression."
Excuse me: do you KNOW any depressed people who: grow gardens, build greenhouses, walk all over town, make art, volunteer, publish their own newsletters, recycle trash?????? EVERY DAY?!?
I have been in SERIOUS physical pain since 1986! I've had 3 diagnoses: fibromyalgia, lupus, multiple sclerosis. Only ONE of these "diagnoses" was actually TESTED; the results were inconclusive! The other conditions would require tests that MediCaid and Medicare don't want to PAY FOR!
NO: medicine, physical therapy, no prosthetics, no job training, no support services, no respect, no dignity!
When my daughter died, I took antidepressants for a year. The ONLY differences I noticed were: my dreams were more vivid and I lost my sex drive. An incest survivor whose mother mutilated my genitals with her FINGERNAILS when she tried to tear them out, with no SEX DRIVE??? And THAT's supposed to help DEPRESSION?
I didn't have depression; I was GRIEVING! It wasn't a pathology; it was a NATURAL response to the death of my only child!
I weaned myself off the antidepressants. They were Paxil, who, at the time claimed they were "not habit forming." Well, I ran out of them once, when I had no money to refill the prescription. The withdrawl was AGONY! And the symptoms appeared when I was out in public, on a BUS!
I AM NOT DEPRESSED! SOMETHING is SERIOUSLY wrong with my body! A "happy pill" is NOT going to make it go away.
Do you know why I get disability? Because I took a gun to my head out in Kentucky. I got caught; the gun was wrestled out of my hands; I voluntarily went to a hospital.
Know why I tried to kill myself? I was homeless, 2,800 miles from my home and everything I knew and loved and was in SO MUCH PAIN, I couldn't climb the stairs to my bunk in the damn homeless shelter! I couldn't work; I could barely stand at a bus stop in the -20°f wind chill!
I DON'T WANT TO DIE! I just didn't know how to live in so much debilitating pain! I STILL don't know how! But I don't want to die; but I want the pain to stop.
I'm having trouble getting to the bathroom tonight to pee. I only ate 2 cans of vienna sausages today, because it hurt too much to make a damn SANDWICH!
Now, this could last for MONTHS; I've been through this before. It's why I work SO HARD when I CAN work! I have plenty of clean laundry; my plants are protected for winter; I have canned good stored and possibly enough meat and frozen vegetables to last for about a month.
If this bout of pain and sickness is as bad as some in the past, I'll be trapped here, alone, for a month or more. I won't be able to stand in the shower. I won't be able to read my mail. I won't be able to write much. There will be days when I will literally crawl; THAT's why I rescued a set of knee and wrist protectors from the garbage: so I can CRAWL!!!
And NOBODY will care. I'll screw SOMETHING up: phone bill, getting the rent to the mail box...SOMETHING. And I'll end up in serious TROUBLE. The LAST time this happened, I lost my HOME, my MONEY, ALL my animals, and most of my possessions!
I AM SO SCARED!
"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist." ~~~~~ Dom Helder Camara poverty politics homelessness justice disability accessability prejudice tolerance addiction liberation ignorance resourcefulness illiteracy education abuse struggle hate love depression celebration disease health greed generosity
Poverty Is Not an Accident
Nelson Mandela
Friday, October 17, 2003
Feeding Animals for Free
you can buy bales of alphalpha at the feed store; that's what those silly pellets r made of. Even Purina horse pellets work with rabbits.
When I raised rabbits, I asked the produce managers at local groceries for bruised, wilted and damaged produce they were going to discard.
I've raised: rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, quail, pheasant, guinea pigs, turtles and tortoises on free produce for decades!
When I raised rabbits, I asked the produce managers at local groceries for bruised, wilted and damaged produce they were going to discard.
I've raised: rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, quail, pheasant, guinea pigs, turtles and tortoises on free produce for decades!
Sustainable Living
I wrote to the Sustainable Living YahooGroup, announcing the publication of the Trib article.
You could hear crickets.
Not ONE response!
These are people who build tire houses, organic gardens and vegetable oil-powered vehicles.
Not ONE response!
So, I wrote this today:
They archived the story here, for those who missed it: http://www.abqtrib.com/archives/news03/101603_news_rogi.shtml
You know, for a list about Sustainable Living, I'm surprised by the lack of response to the article.
I'm also dismayed by the lack of congratulations, well wishes and enthusiasm for my struggle to live a responsible life within the limitations of my disabilities and poverty.
Perhaps I'm TOO sustainably living for this list?
You'd think newspaper articles such as this appeared every day and were no big deal, by the absence of response.
Archived Article
Rogi Riverstone
You could hear crickets.
Not ONE response!
These are people who build tire houses, organic gardens and vegetable oil-powered vehicles.
Not ONE response!
So, I wrote this today:
They archived the story here, for those who missed it: http://www.abqtrib.com/archives/news03/101603_news_rogi.shtml
You know, for a list about Sustainable Living, I'm surprised by the lack of response to the article.
I'm also dismayed by the lack of congratulations, well wishes and enthusiasm for my struggle to live a responsible life within the limitations of my disabilities and poverty.
Perhaps I'm TOO sustainably living for this list?
You'd think newspaper articles such as this appeared every day and were no big deal, by the absence of response.
Archived Article
Rogi Riverstone
Great Haul Yesterday!
I almost didn't go trash picking yesterday. I'm in so much pain from building the greenhouse and doing half a dozen loads of laundry.
See, laundry outdoors isn't like laundry with hookups. I have a garden hose, attached to a "y" pipe. One arm of the y is attached to the COLD washer hose (the hot washer hose is suspended from a coat hanger, straight up in the air, so water can't spill from it).
The other arm of the y is attached to my garden hose.
I shut off the garden hose while the machine fills. Then, I immediately open the garden hose into my plant beds. Otherwise, the water pressure would damage my hoses.
Then, I must run to shut off the garden hose when the machine fills again to rinse, turn it back on when the machine is full, etc.
And, the garden hose must be moved from place to place in the empty lot and in my little yard.
It's a lot of running around.
When a load is done, I hang it to dry. I don't have a drier, and think driers a silly thing in Albuquerque, where humidity rarely reaches 30°.
The machine must be refilled as quickly as possible, so as not to waste water.
It requires paying attention, planning ahead, and moving quickly.
So, I did laundry while I was already out there, working on the greenhouse.
It was exhausting.
I went trash picking anyway, hoping I'd find a newspaper by the time I got to Smith's.
I went on Silver Street first this time; I too often miss Silver, as the trash truck gets there before I do. This is stupid; yuppies live on Silver.
Well, almost the 1st trash barrel I reached was the Mother Load.
Squished under the lid was a double-sized feather bed, with a removable duvet cover. It must weigh fifty pounds or more. A little dirt on the cover, yes, but otherwise, it's in perfect condition. I'll stretch it out on my clothesline for a week or so to air it out. I may spray it with bleachy water. I won't wash it; the feathers will compress. I'll throw the cover in my washer.
A feather bed retails for about $400.oo or so.
I won't use it as a feather bed; I'll use it as a comforter, between light blankets. The bottom blanket will protect me from quills; the top blanket will protect IT from animals. I will sleep VERY warm this winter!
In the same barrel, I found the hard drive for a Compaq computer, with "Intel Inside." I haven't checked it out yet. If it doesn't work, it can still be cannibalized for parts or sold to a computer reconditioner.
I also found some Lemoge china plates, saucers and cups. And I found antique, papier mache Christmas ornaments.
I took all that loot home; it weighed a TON!
Then, I headed out again.
I didn't find much else. But what I found was very useful. In one trash barrel, I found a heavy canvas triangle, sewn in strips to look like a rainbow. It had heavy grommets. I immediately thought of the gap between tarps in my yard, and how cool it would look to have a rainbow visible from the alley.
I also found a lap tray: masonite top for my keyboard, bottom a "bean bag," to conform to the contours of the lap. It, too, is rainbow striped. Neato.
And I found 3 bamboo "tiki" torches, complete with the metal bottles for kerosene. No wicks, but I have a bunch of wicks I found a long time ago, stored in my candle basket.
I unfurelled the triangle when I got home. It's a Hoby sail, apparantly for one of those sail surfboards. It has a clear vinyl "windshield" so the driver can see through the sail to the other side. That's gotta be worth a couple of hundred dollars.
In all, I dragged home close to two thousand dollars worth of discarded goods yesterday.
And almost COMPLETELY emptied one, whole trash barrel.
Post Script: I'm going back to the house where I found the feather bed, computer, china & antique ornaments. I saw a moving van outside it as I returned. They'll leave a lot of other stuff, too, I'll bet, as the house is large and the truck relatively small.
They have a greenhouse, full of pots.
I think this might be a big deal.
See, laundry outdoors isn't like laundry with hookups. I have a garden hose, attached to a "y" pipe. One arm of the y is attached to the COLD washer hose (the hot washer hose is suspended from a coat hanger, straight up in the air, so water can't spill from it).
The other arm of the y is attached to my garden hose.
I shut off the garden hose while the machine fills. Then, I immediately open the garden hose into my plant beds. Otherwise, the water pressure would damage my hoses.
Then, I must run to shut off the garden hose when the machine fills again to rinse, turn it back on when the machine is full, etc.
And, the garden hose must be moved from place to place in the empty lot and in my little yard.
It's a lot of running around.
When a load is done, I hang it to dry. I don't have a drier, and think driers a silly thing in Albuquerque, where humidity rarely reaches 30°.
The machine must be refilled as quickly as possible, so as not to waste water.
It requires paying attention, planning ahead, and moving quickly.
So, I did laundry while I was already out there, working on the greenhouse.
It was exhausting.
I went trash picking anyway, hoping I'd find a newspaper by the time I got to Smith's.
I went on Silver Street first this time; I too often miss Silver, as the trash truck gets there before I do. This is stupid; yuppies live on Silver.
Well, almost the 1st trash barrel I reached was the Mother Load.
Squished under the lid was a double-sized feather bed, with a removable duvet cover. It must weigh fifty pounds or more. A little dirt on the cover, yes, but otherwise, it's in perfect condition. I'll stretch it out on my clothesline for a week or so to air it out. I may spray it with bleachy water. I won't wash it; the feathers will compress. I'll throw the cover in my washer.
A feather bed retails for about $400.oo or so.
I won't use it as a feather bed; I'll use it as a comforter, between light blankets. The bottom blanket will protect me from quills; the top blanket will protect IT from animals. I will sleep VERY warm this winter!
In the same barrel, I found the hard drive for a Compaq computer, with "Intel Inside." I haven't checked it out yet. If it doesn't work, it can still be cannibalized for parts or sold to a computer reconditioner.
I also found some Lemoge china plates, saucers and cups. And I found antique, papier mache Christmas ornaments.
I took all that loot home; it weighed a TON!
Then, I headed out again.
I didn't find much else. But what I found was very useful. In one trash barrel, I found a heavy canvas triangle, sewn in strips to look like a rainbow. It had heavy grommets. I immediately thought of the gap between tarps in my yard, and how cool it would look to have a rainbow visible from the alley.
I also found a lap tray: masonite top for my keyboard, bottom a "bean bag," to conform to the contours of the lap. It, too, is rainbow striped. Neato.
And I found 3 bamboo "tiki" torches, complete with the metal bottles for kerosene. No wicks, but I have a bunch of wicks I found a long time ago, stored in my candle basket.
I unfurelled the triangle when I got home. It's a Hoby sail, apparantly for one of those sail surfboards. It has a clear vinyl "windshield" so the driver can see through the sail to the other side. That's gotta be worth a couple of hundred dollars.
In all, I dragged home close to two thousand dollars worth of discarded goods yesterday.
And almost COMPLETELY emptied one, whole trash barrel.
Post Script: I'm going back to the house where I found the feather bed, computer, china & antique ornaments. I saw a moving van outside it as I returned. They'll leave a lot of other stuff, too, I'll bet, as the house is large and the truck relatively small.
They have a greenhouse, full of pots.
I think this might be a big deal.
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
The Plants Are In
I hung a 1/2 gal. zinc bucket with fennel, parsley and cabbage. On the back shelf (which I made from the freezer door and a plank of lumber), I put a 2' planter of iris, a basket of parsley, a pot with marigold & chive.
I didn't use the molded shelves from the freezer door.
I made a shelf each for the south and north walls. On the south, I have a chili plant and a pot of parsley. On the north, I have a pot of rosemary and a pot of catnip.
In the freezer compartment, I have 6 wastepaper baskets. 4 aren't planted yet. 1 has oregano; one has marigold and anise.
In the refrigerator compartment, I have 5 five-gal. paint buckets: 3 aren't planted yet, one has a gourd seedling I'm just trying to save as an experiment. One has a 3' tall tomato plant in a cage with 3 tomato babies on it. That one almost KILLED me, dragging it through my tiny yard and lifting it into the greenhouse without damaging anything!
I didn't paint the inside black. The back shelf and wall are lined in black plastic, and so are the north wall and roof. By the time the sun came up this morning, it was already over 80°f inside!
I still need to remove the flaking paint outside, rehang one of the windows which is a tiny bit crooked, and paint the outside.
I'll have to hand-pollinate the chili, tomato and gourd, but that's ok with me.
I can reach every plant in there without hurting myself. It's easy to water with either hose or, once it gets too cold for that, pitcher of water.
I'll take some photos when it's done.
I'm still ruminating about what to plant in the empty containers... I know I'll transplant some stuff from the empty lot beds, and gawd knows I've got some seeds! LOL
I couldn't finish everything today, cuz I'm just too damn tired.
But the plants are in. After I rest awhile, I'll put the lights back in before dark.
On cold freeze days, I'll also put my 8" box fan inside, to circulate air and prevent freezing plants.
It's really cute, too: not a bit tacky!
I didn't use the molded shelves from the freezer door.
I made a shelf each for the south and north walls. On the south, I have a chili plant and a pot of parsley. On the north, I have a pot of rosemary and a pot of catnip.
In the freezer compartment, I have 6 wastepaper baskets. 4 aren't planted yet. 1 has oregano; one has marigold and anise.
In the refrigerator compartment, I have 5 five-gal. paint buckets: 3 aren't planted yet, one has a gourd seedling I'm just trying to save as an experiment. One has a 3' tall tomato plant in a cage with 3 tomato babies on it. That one almost KILLED me, dragging it through my tiny yard and lifting it into the greenhouse without damaging anything!
I didn't paint the inside black. The back shelf and wall are lined in black plastic, and so are the north wall and roof. By the time the sun came up this morning, it was already over 80°f inside!
I still need to remove the flaking paint outside, rehang one of the windows which is a tiny bit crooked, and paint the outside.
I'll have to hand-pollinate the chili, tomato and gourd, but that's ok with me.
I can reach every plant in there without hurting myself. It's easy to water with either hose or, once it gets too cold for that, pitcher of water.
I'll take some photos when it's done.
I'm still ruminating about what to plant in the empty containers... I know I'll transplant some stuff from the empty lot beds, and gawd knows I've got some seeds! LOL
I couldn't finish everything today, cuz I'm just too damn tired.
But the plants are in. After I rest awhile, I'll put the lights back in before dark.
On cold freeze days, I'll also put my 8" box fan inside, to circulate air and prevent freezing plants.
It's really cute, too: not a bit tacky!
Finished Building Greenhouse
Took doors, shelves off old side-by-side refrigerator.
Leveled ground outside my fence, east side of property, facing empty lot.
Removed 8' fence pickets, next to my home made gate.
Dragged refrigerator through alley, laid on its back, dragged onto leveled area.
Screwed windows onto fence pickets, utilizing hinges, wherever possible. Built 2 glass walls: south and east sides.
Screwed fence pickets to north side.
Made roof of 2 windows at south, plywood at north.
Insulated north wall, plywood section of roof with old egg cartons, sealed in black sheet plastic to absorb, retain heat.
Lined east & south walls with clear vinyl shower curtain. Lined roof with large plastic bag, cut into giant strip.
West wall, attached to my yard was tricky. Hung full-length wardrobe mirror at top to reflect sunlight back into greenhouse. Made sliding "doors" from black "no war in Iraq" yard sign, glass refrigerator shelf and clear vinyl from shower curtain.
I want some sunlight to pass through the green house to warm my washing machine, right beside it, to prevent freezing water in washer lines, pump. At night, I'll slide refrigerator doors over this, and I'll hang an old kids' blanket over this, to retain heat. Night heat provided by incandescent bulbs in outdoor fixtures.
Now, I need to go out there with my electric drill and wire brush attachment to remove peeling paint on window frames.
Will paint inside black, outside white (I'd prefer black, but don't have much of that paint & worry about "aesthetics," by neighbors' standards; don't want this to look "tacky").
Refrigerator side is wide enough to contain 5 gallon buckets of tomatoes and gourds.
I'll bolt freezer door liner shelves across divider between refrigerator & freezer. It has molded compartment shelves, just deep and wide enough to contain 6 or so small pots of herbs.
Freezer compartment is narrow; I can put plastic wastepaper baskets of plants in that.
I'll hang 3 pots, from macrame hangers, by the north/insulated wall.
I should be able to lean in, through sliding glass and yard sign, from in front of washer to reach most of it.
The rest, I can access from the west side, as 2 of the window frames are hinged.
I also have the refrigerator compartment door liner, which is also shelved, but I'm not sure how to utilize that...
Leveled ground outside my fence, east side of property, facing empty lot.
Removed 8' fence pickets, next to my home made gate.
Dragged refrigerator through alley, laid on its back, dragged onto leveled area.
Screwed windows onto fence pickets, utilizing hinges, wherever possible. Built 2 glass walls: south and east sides.
Screwed fence pickets to north side.
Made roof of 2 windows at south, plywood at north.
Insulated north wall, plywood section of roof with old egg cartons, sealed in black sheet plastic to absorb, retain heat.
Lined east & south walls with clear vinyl shower curtain. Lined roof with large plastic bag, cut into giant strip.
West wall, attached to my yard was tricky. Hung full-length wardrobe mirror at top to reflect sunlight back into greenhouse. Made sliding "doors" from black "no war in Iraq" yard sign, glass refrigerator shelf and clear vinyl from shower curtain.
I want some sunlight to pass through the green house to warm my washing machine, right beside it, to prevent freezing water in washer lines, pump. At night, I'll slide refrigerator doors over this, and I'll hang an old kids' blanket over this, to retain heat. Night heat provided by incandescent bulbs in outdoor fixtures.
Now, I need to go out there with my electric drill and wire brush attachment to remove peeling paint on window frames.
Will paint inside black, outside white (I'd prefer black, but don't have much of that paint & worry about "aesthetics," by neighbors' standards; don't want this to look "tacky").
Refrigerator side is wide enough to contain 5 gallon buckets of tomatoes and gourds.
I'll bolt freezer door liner shelves across divider between refrigerator & freezer. It has molded compartment shelves, just deep and wide enough to contain 6 or so small pots of herbs.
Freezer compartment is narrow; I can put plastic wastepaper baskets of plants in that.
I'll hang 3 pots, from macrame hangers, by the north/insulated wall.
I should be able to lean in, through sliding glass and yard sign, from in front of washer to reach most of it.
The rest, I can access from the west side, as 2 of the window frames are hinged.
I also have the refrigerator compartment door liner, which is also shelved, but I'm not sure how to utilize that...
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Worry, Worry...
I'm afraid the reporter's editor is changing the piece on me into one of those "pitiful pearl" type deals, where I'll come off as a spunky-but-humble, crazy, antisocial crackpot, poking in trash and talking to my cats....crap!
Monday, October 13, 2003
To The Reporter
Today, I built a greenhouse out of a discarded refrigerator, laid on its back and some discarded windows! It's 5' long by 6' tall, and 3' wide! So I can grow food this winter.
Last week, I found and repaired a washing machine! So, I'm taking the old one apart for spare parts, and using the drum as a planter! I flattened the metal housing for a roof for my greenhouse! LOL
you were listening to 2 radios: a HUGE boom box w/tape to tape play/record, am/fm, and CD player.
The one in the living room was the same, but smaller. Both came from the trash. I also have an am/fm I take with me trash picking & on errands and a small am/fm battery-operated stereo in the bathroom. All came from the trash.
So did 2 of my 3 TVs.
The "stumble" quote sounds like something I'd say. Leave it.
Just let me know the DAY it comes out, ok? I want to buy some print copies and email it to friends online, too.
Thanks,
Rogi
Last week, I found and repaired a washing machine! So, I'm taking the old one apart for spare parts, and using the drum as a planter! I flattened the metal housing for a roof for my greenhouse! LOL
you were listening to 2 radios: a HUGE boom box w/tape to tape play/record, am/fm, and CD player.
The one in the living room was the same, but smaller. Both came from the trash. I also have an am/fm I take with me trash picking & on errands and a small am/fm battery-operated stereo in the bathroom. All came from the trash.
So did 2 of my 3 TVs.
The "stumble" quote sounds like something I'd say. Leave it.
Just let me know the DAY it comes out, ok? I want to buy some print copies and email it to friends online, too.
Thanks,
Rogi
Sunday, October 12, 2003
I LOVE My "Fry Daddy!!!"
I'm so glad I found that stupid thing!
It gets the oil just right, and heats very quickly!
I sliced a huge, baking style tater with my Japanese mandolin. I added slices to the oil slowly, so it wouldn't cool down.
I managed to put that WHOLE DAMN POTATO in the Fry Daddy, and it was STILL submerged in oil!
By the time I finished washing the dishes and frying my hamburger, I had a pound of home made tater chips!
I got them taters for less than $0.10 per pound!
I put them in a steel mesh collander to drain.
I checked the oil level in the Fry Daddy. The taters had absorbed SO LITTLE oil, I could BARELY tell the difference!
I'm SO GLAD those ppl threw that thing out, even if it DID have slightly-rancid lard in it! I got it thoroughly clean in fifteen minutes, cord, cover and all.
I think that silly thing sells for about $20.00!
I can't WAIT to make onion rings with the giant sweet onions I bought last week!
DONUTS! FUNNEL CAKES! MINI FRY BREAD! I'm SO HAPPY!!!
Can you TELL???!!!???!!!
Here's what I found. I like this site, cuz of the customer comments: Fry Daddy Junior at Kitchen.MainSeek.com
It gets the oil just right, and heats very quickly!
I sliced a huge, baking style tater with my Japanese mandolin. I added slices to the oil slowly, so it wouldn't cool down.
I managed to put that WHOLE DAMN POTATO in the Fry Daddy, and it was STILL submerged in oil!
By the time I finished washing the dishes and frying my hamburger, I had a pound of home made tater chips!
I got them taters for less than $0.10 per pound!
I put them in a steel mesh collander to drain.
I checked the oil level in the Fry Daddy. The taters had absorbed SO LITTLE oil, I could BARELY tell the difference!
I'm SO GLAD those ppl threw that thing out, even if it DID have slightly-rancid lard in it! I got it thoroughly clean in fifteen minutes, cord, cover and all.
I think that silly thing sells for about $20.00!
I can't WAIT to make onion rings with the giant sweet onions I bought last week!
DONUTS! FUNNEL CAKES! MINI FRY BREAD! I'm SO HAPPY!!!
Can you TELL???!!!???!!!
Here's what I found. I like this site, cuz of the customer comments: Fry Daddy Junior at Kitchen.MainSeek.com
bought one
Re: should I buy this scooter?
Group: alt.discuss.clubs.public.arts-lit.writing.rriverstone
Date: Sat, Oct 11, 2003, 1:46pm (MDT-1)
From: (Rogi�Riverstone)
it was $149 + a lot of shipping.
Came to about $220 or so.
I just bought one, like it, for $180, total, incl. shipping.
I'm shaking like a leaf.
I'm also packed to go sell stuff tonight.
Sure hope I get some good luck over there.
Leaving in 15 minutes.
I was researching scooters all week.
I know the price, size, features of every scooter under $300 on the 'net by now.
So, today I did it.
Should b here within a week; being sent FedEx.
**************
Re: should I buy this scooter?
Group: alt.discuss.clubs.public.arts-lit.writing.rriverstone
Date: Sat, Oct 11, 2003, 9:15pm (MDT-1)
From: (Rogi�Riverstone)
I've owned 2 2-cycle mopeds in the past, both used. Learned internal combustion mechanics, so I could fix em up myself.
I'll padlock a backpack to the handlebars, with one of those rachet tools with sockets, allen wrenches and screw driver bits in it. I'll also put in 2 adjustable wrenches, a bottle of oil, a can of penetrating oil spray, a tire repair kit, an air pump, a spare tube, a rag, a small pry bar, starter fluid and waterless hand cleaner.
If I can find a metal can with a screw top, I'll even pack some gasoline. No smoking on MY putt putt!
It comes with some bottles of oil, a couple of tools and an air pump.
He's a college kid, drove it 2xs before he got a car. PayPal guarantees it or they'll help me get a refund.
I'll be putting saddle baskets on the rear fender.
The stroller I'm talking about has 3 bike tires, 2 in back, one in front. It's molded plastic on a hollow aluminum frame. It's a "jogging" stroller, for twins.Looks like a big blue wedge of pie.
I'll take the front wheel off the fork and rig the fork to the seat post, so it can swivel at turns.
I can drag a fifty lb. sack of dog food home on it, easy.
Porkchop is going to LOVE this!
Now, he can RUN faster. And, if he gets really tired, and I'm not too fully loaded, I can give him a ride. He loves cars; I'm sure he'll be into this!
My "eCheck" should clear in 3 days.
I already heard from the seller; he'll FedEx it the day the check clears.
I SHOULD be mobile a week from today!
The seller has a good reputation at eBay: 100% positive recommendations from former customers and people he's bought from, too. He's prompt, honest and efficent. Unless he's been "selling" to himself, and writing himself good reviews! LOL...
This particular scooter retails for about $250, new. Plus shipping, which varies from $50 to $75, depending on how bad the seller wants to screw you.
THIS scooter is $180, shipping included!
I'll be a crazy woman until it finally arrives, of course...LOL
Group: alt.discuss.clubs.public.arts-lit.writing.rriverstone
Date: Sat, Oct 11, 2003, 1:46pm (MDT-1)
From: (Rogi�Riverstone)
it was $149 + a lot of shipping.
Came to about $220 or so.
I just bought one, like it, for $180, total, incl. shipping.
I'm shaking like a leaf.
I'm also packed to go sell stuff tonight.
Sure hope I get some good luck over there.
Leaving in 15 minutes.
I was researching scooters all week.
I know the price, size, features of every scooter under $300 on the 'net by now.
So, today I did it.
Should b here within a week; being sent FedEx.
**************
Re: should I buy this scooter?
Group: alt.discuss.clubs.public.arts-lit.writing.rriverstone
Date: Sat, Oct 11, 2003, 9:15pm (MDT-1)
From: (Rogi�Riverstone)
I've owned 2 2-cycle mopeds in the past, both used. Learned internal combustion mechanics, so I could fix em up myself.
I'll padlock a backpack to the handlebars, with one of those rachet tools with sockets, allen wrenches and screw driver bits in it. I'll also put in 2 adjustable wrenches, a bottle of oil, a can of penetrating oil spray, a tire repair kit, an air pump, a spare tube, a rag, a small pry bar, starter fluid and waterless hand cleaner.
If I can find a metal can with a screw top, I'll even pack some gasoline. No smoking on MY putt putt!
It comes with some bottles of oil, a couple of tools and an air pump.
He's a college kid, drove it 2xs before he got a car. PayPal guarantees it or they'll help me get a refund.
I'll be putting saddle baskets on the rear fender.
The stroller I'm talking about has 3 bike tires, 2 in back, one in front. It's molded plastic on a hollow aluminum frame. It's a "jogging" stroller, for twins.Looks like a big blue wedge of pie.
I'll take the front wheel off the fork and rig the fork to the seat post, so it can swivel at turns.
I can drag a fifty lb. sack of dog food home on it, easy.
Porkchop is going to LOVE this!
Now, he can RUN faster. And, if he gets really tired, and I'm not too fully loaded, I can give him a ride. He loves cars; I'm sure he'll be into this!
My "eCheck" should clear in 3 days.
I already heard from the seller; he'll FedEx it the day the check clears.
I SHOULD be mobile a week from today!
The seller has a good reputation at eBay: 100% positive recommendations from former customers and people he's bought from, too. He's prompt, honest and efficent. Unless he's been "selling" to himself, and writing himself good reviews! LOL...
This particular scooter retails for about $250, new. Plus shipping, which varies from $50 to $75, depending on how bad the seller wants to screw you.
THIS scooter is $180, shipping included!
I'll be a crazy woman until it finally arrives, of course...LOL
Saturday, October 11, 2003
Should I Buy This Scooter?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3631162853&category=47352
it can carry up to 350 lbs. Gasoline powered.
About $220, incl. shipping and insurance.
Only weighs 40 lbs, folds up.
I think I could pull my "twin" stroller behind it, to bring home groceries.
Means I have to go into debt with the damn bank again.
It's the strongest, inexpensive scooter on eBay or Google.
Street legal as a bicycle; no license required.
Goes about 15 miles on a 1 liter tank of gas.
I just emailed the seller; he sells other scooters and stuff, too.
I WAS looking at electric scooters, cuz they are generally about $100 cheaper than gas powered. But they only go about 15 miles, or one hour, before needing a charge for 4-7 hrs. Means I'd need to carry an extra battery with me.
Gas powered, I can always find a gas station. And I could figure out how to repair it.
I HATE to get so deep in debt again.
But I could get to the flea mkt on the damn thing, to sell my crap.
And grocery shopping would take an hour, instead of half a day.
Shoot, I don't know...what do YOU THINK?!?!?!?
I WANT SOME DAMN WHEELS! I've been on the bus ALL WEEK and I'm exhausted and in SO much pain! And the errands took so long, waiting for busses that come 1x/hr, I didn't get much else done all week.
I come home exhausted from standing at bus stops, lugging heavy stuff, perching on crowded bus seats with bags of groceries and my stroller in my lap.
It would be SO NICE to be able to run to the store on a whim, just cuz I ran out of eggs, instead of PLANNING a WEEK or more in advance and waiting 'til I had a whole LIST of LOTS of junk to schlepp home...
WHAT DO YOU THINK?!?!?!?
it can carry up to 350 lbs. Gasoline powered.
About $220, incl. shipping and insurance.
Only weighs 40 lbs, folds up.
I think I could pull my "twin" stroller behind it, to bring home groceries.
Means I have to go into debt with the damn bank again.
It's the strongest, inexpensive scooter on eBay or Google.
Street legal as a bicycle; no license required.
Goes about 15 miles on a 1 liter tank of gas.
I just emailed the seller; he sells other scooters and stuff, too.
I WAS looking at electric scooters, cuz they are generally about $100 cheaper than gas powered. But they only go about 15 miles, or one hour, before needing a charge for 4-7 hrs. Means I'd need to carry an extra battery with me.
Gas powered, I can always find a gas station. And I could figure out how to repair it.
I HATE to get so deep in debt again.
But I could get to the flea mkt on the damn thing, to sell my crap.
And grocery shopping would take an hour, instead of half a day.
Shoot, I don't know...what do YOU THINK?!?!?!?
I WANT SOME DAMN WHEELS! I've been on the bus ALL WEEK and I'm exhausted and in SO much pain! And the errands took so long, waiting for busses that come 1x/hr, I didn't get much else done all week.
I come home exhausted from standing at bus stops, lugging heavy stuff, perching on crowded bus seats with bags of groceries and my stroller in my lap.
It would be SO NICE to be able to run to the store on a whim, just cuz I ran out of eggs, instead of PLANNING a WEEK or more in advance and waiting 'til I had a whole LIST of LOTS of junk to schlepp home...
WHAT DO YOU THINK?!?!?!?
Friday, October 10, 2003
Bush Ain't Wanted In Kentucky, Either!
Bush supporters were not impressed. Jeff Houghton, 42, watched the protesters as he held an American flag and a sign that proclaimed, "We support our president and our troops." "I see a bunch of kids talking about things they don't understand," said Houghton, who designs circuit boards at Lexmark. "They're complaining about lost jobs. I doubt any of them ever held a job."
Centre Daily News story
Well, outside of Luxury Lexington and Lubricated Louisville, there are very few damn jobs IN Kentucky!
Most manufacturing has been shipped overseas. Even the coal is being stripped, rather than mined. Mom & Pop stores are closing in droves, as Wal*Mart, which buys manufactured goods overseas, runs them out, forcing Mom & Pop to work at Wal*Mart as greeters.
Perhaps this guy is a member of: the "horsey" set, the bourbon industry, the tobacco industry. Let's see: that would be addictive chemicals and gambling, right? Or maybe he's a marijuana farmer? Or perhaps he's part of the Kentucky Mafia, shipping CRACK into the hollows of Eastern Kentucky?
Whatever "business" he's in, he is either directly or indirectly benefitting from these exploitive industries, even if he just sells them hamburger or ~gasp~ gasoline.
If these kids have no jobs, it's fat cat boot lickers like that redneck chump who are keeping ALL of us killing each other for a few damn crumbs!
The Good Ol' Boy network is alive and well, and has the NERVE to grouse about a few kids who actually CARE about the future?
That's low class, no account TACKY!
**********
Post Script:
I looked up ol' Jeff Houghton and Lexmark of Lexington.
Back in 1996 (the middle of the dot.com boom), Lexmark published a press release, announcing, in part, the OPENING OF A NEW FACTORY IN JUAREZ, MEXICO, which would employ 350. There are SO MANY high-paying jobs in Kentucky, it's acceptable to EXPORT FACTORY JOBS? Hell, people in Eastern KY will work for DIRT!
In 1997, Lexmark investigated for monopolizing printer cartridge industry, threatening 350 other companies!
In 1999 (although this ThinkKentucky press release isn't properly dated, so I'm guessing the date, based on what I could find), the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky paid ransom so Lexmark could belly up to the public trough with "tax incentives." This means, of course, that Lexmark agreed to stay in Lexington if they didn't have to pay their fair share of the social services, infrastructure and community needs. Extortion: cut our taxes, or we'll cut jobs in your town! As if THAT stopped them...
Back in 2000, the Ky Colonol newspaper headline read, "Lexmark Stock Plummets; Job Cut of 900 to Follow" Good lord, Jeffy! You DESIGN the damn things; all the people in the FACTORY got LAID OFF! ARROGANT fool!
In 2002, Lexmark files suit against a competing cartridge manufacturer, who mimiced Lexmark's newly-invented, competiton-stifling "kill chip." Without this chip in the cartridge, Lexmark printers won't work!
2003: The court rules against Lexmark and require it to pay workman's comp. to an injured worker they'd refused to pay. Nickel and diming.
View Jobs at Lexmark
Centre Daily News story
Well, outside of Luxury Lexington and Lubricated Louisville, there are very few damn jobs IN Kentucky!
Most manufacturing has been shipped overseas. Even the coal is being stripped, rather than mined. Mom & Pop stores are closing in droves, as Wal*Mart, which buys manufactured goods overseas, runs them out, forcing Mom & Pop to work at Wal*Mart as greeters.
Perhaps this guy is a member of: the "horsey" set, the bourbon industry, the tobacco industry. Let's see: that would be addictive chemicals and gambling, right? Or maybe he's a marijuana farmer? Or perhaps he's part of the Kentucky Mafia, shipping CRACK into the hollows of Eastern Kentucky?
Whatever "business" he's in, he is either directly or indirectly benefitting from these exploitive industries, even if he just sells them hamburger or ~gasp~ gasoline.
If these kids have no jobs, it's fat cat boot lickers like that redneck chump who are keeping ALL of us killing each other for a few damn crumbs!
The Good Ol' Boy network is alive and well, and has the NERVE to grouse about a few kids who actually CARE about the future?
That's low class, no account TACKY!
**********
Post Script:
I looked up ol' Jeff Houghton and Lexmark of Lexington.
Back in 1996 (the middle of the dot.com boom), Lexmark published a press release, announcing, in part, the OPENING OF A NEW FACTORY IN JUAREZ, MEXICO, which would employ 350. There are SO MANY high-paying jobs in Kentucky, it's acceptable to EXPORT FACTORY JOBS? Hell, people in Eastern KY will work for DIRT!
In 1997, Lexmark investigated for monopolizing printer cartridge industry, threatening 350 other companies!
In 1999 (although this ThinkKentucky press release isn't properly dated, so I'm guessing the date, based on what I could find), the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky paid ransom so Lexmark could belly up to the public trough with "tax incentives." This means, of course, that Lexmark agreed to stay in Lexington if they didn't have to pay their fair share of the social services, infrastructure and community needs. Extortion: cut our taxes, or we'll cut jobs in your town! As if THAT stopped them...
Back in 2000, the Ky Colonol newspaper headline read, "Lexmark Stock Plummets; Job Cut of 900 to Follow" Good lord, Jeffy! You DESIGN the damn things; all the people in the FACTORY got LAID OFF! ARROGANT fool!
In 2002, Lexmark files suit against a competing cartridge manufacturer, who mimiced Lexmark's newly-invented, competiton-stifling "kill chip." Without this chip in the cartridge, Lexmark printers won't work!
2003: The court rules against Lexmark and require it to pay workman's comp. to an injured worker they'd refused to pay. Nickel and diming.
View Jobs at Lexmark
"Solidarity?"
Tomorrow, they're holding an event as an alternative to celebrating "Columbus Day."
I can sell my arts & crafts there. I just called to make sure. All they ask is that I donate something they can raffle off.
Here's the catch. It said, "indigenous" arts and crafts. I'm Black, white and red. I look white. So, I asked, "this is never a comfortable subject for me, but, is there a problem that I appear white?"
No, it's not a problem. But that's only because their event is being held on the last Saturday night of Balloon Fiesta, and they have plenty of craft booths left.
In other words, if space were limited, light skinned vendors would be less of a priority than dark skinned vendors.
I'm going, anyway, as I have bills to pay and cats to feed. But I'm not happy about this.
PS: Sally Alice is one of the speakers. She's the "Peace" lady who pushed me when I tried to defend my reputation against that woman who accused me of stealing food from the homeless.
On the other hand, Simon Ortiz is speaking (I hope he reads some of his poetry). I really like his stuff.
Here's their blurb:
2nd Annual International Day of Solidarity w/Indigenous Peoples
Saturday, 11 October 2003
05:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Organizer: First Nations North & South
2nd Annual International Day of Solidarity With Indigenous Peoples - an alternative to Columbus Day
"RETURNING IT BACK, YOU WILL GO ON" (poem from Woven Stone, by Simon Ortiz)-Celebrate our Survival
Featured Readings and Speaker: SIMON ORTIZ, Acoma, Author, Poet, University of Toronto
Music by:
Strike! - reggae band from the Dine' rez
Dancing Horse Drum
Okello Kello Sam from Uganda; African Song & Dance
SPEAKERS:
Dr. Glenebah Martinez-Taos/Dine' Nations; University of New Mexico
Dr. Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz-Ally; U.Cal/Hayward
Ofelia Rivas-O'odham Nation; U.S./Mexico border issues
Maurus Chino-Acoma; Conquistador
Celebrations
Ron Hinson-African American; Patriot Act, "Homeland Security"
Okello Kelo Sam-Ugandan; Uganda's rich culture and traditions
Wahleah Johns & Roberto Nutlouis-Dine' Nation; NAU Youth Dine' Activists
& Black Mesa Water Coalition; World Conference On Sustainability
Wynoma Foster-Dine' Youth; EDAUM: Eastern Dine' Against Uranium Mining
Donna House-Dine';Dine' CARE: Citizens Against Ruining the Environment
Sally Alice Thompson-Ally; SOA (School of the Americas) WATCH
Apolinar Simbron-Totenec Nation; Totonecs from Vera Cruz, Mexico
Come and network, organize, learn, unite our struggles....
Indigenous Arts & Crafts Vendors Welcome! First come, first served
Fundraiser to send 7 Northern Indigenous (Americas) reps to the 10th anniversary of EZLN/Chiapas; fact-finding mission & media production
I can sell my arts & crafts there. I just called to make sure. All they ask is that I donate something they can raffle off.
Here's the catch. It said, "indigenous" arts and crafts. I'm Black, white and red. I look white. So, I asked, "this is never a comfortable subject for me, but, is there a problem that I appear white?"
No, it's not a problem. But that's only because their event is being held on the last Saturday night of Balloon Fiesta, and they have plenty of craft booths left.
In other words, if space were limited, light skinned vendors would be less of a priority than dark skinned vendors.
I'm going, anyway, as I have bills to pay and cats to feed. But I'm not happy about this.
PS: Sally Alice is one of the speakers. She's the "Peace" lady who pushed me when I tried to defend my reputation against that woman who accused me of stealing food from the homeless.
On the other hand, Simon Ortiz is speaking (I hope he reads some of his poetry). I really like his stuff.
Here's their blurb:
2nd Annual International Day of Solidarity w/Indigenous Peoples
Saturday, 11 October 2003
05:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Organizer: First Nations North & South
2nd Annual International Day of Solidarity With Indigenous Peoples - an alternative to Columbus Day
"RETURNING IT BACK, YOU WILL GO ON" (poem from Woven Stone, by Simon Ortiz)-Celebrate our Survival
Featured Readings and Speaker: SIMON ORTIZ, Acoma, Author, Poet, University of Toronto
Music by:
Strike! - reggae band from the Dine' rez
Dancing Horse Drum
Okello Kello Sam from Uganda; African Song & Dance
SPEAKERS:
Dr. Glenebah Martinez-Taos/Dine' Nations; University of New Mexico
Dr. Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz-Ally; U.Cal/Hayward
Ofelia Rivas-O'odham Nation; U.S./Mexico border issues
Maurus Chino-Acoma; Conquistador
Celebrations
Ron Hinson-African American; Patriot Act, "Homeland Security"
Okello Kelo Sam-Ugandan; Uganda's rich culture and traditions
Wahleah Johns & Roberto Nutlouis-Dine' Nation; NAU Youth Dine' Activists
& Black Mesa Water Coalition; World Conference On Sustainability
Wynoma Foster-Dine' Youth; EDAUM: Eastern Dine' Against Uranium Mining
Donna House-Dine';Dine' CARE: Citizens Against Ruining the Environment
Sally Alice Thompson-Ally; SOA (School of the Americas) WATCH
Apolinar Simbron-Totenec Nation; Totonecs from Vera Cruz, Mexico
Come and network, organize, learn, unite our struggles....
Indigenous Arts & Crafts Vendors Welcome! First come, first served
Fundraiser to send 7 Northern Indigenous (Americas) reps to the 10th anniversary of EZLN/Chiapas; fact-finding mission & media production
Monday, October 06, 2003
Bad Attitude
I'm hurting...bad! Between the washer on Sat. and the long walk on Sun, I'm in serious pain.
But I have that laundry, which has been soaking in the big tub in the shower, to do.
And I need to clear a patch in my garden, in case that whining, lying maintainance guy, Mike, shows up.
He lied to the property mgr, saying I "wouldn't let" him in my apartment. I, of course, didn't know he'd COME here! I've told the mgmt. co. on several occasions they must schedule appointments with me, and that they must ring the bell on my gate for me to hear them. But, no, he just showed up one day and didn't get a reply. Therefore, I didn't let him in. huh!
In addition, he has lied and said I "wouldn't let him" walk in my garden, to get to my air conditioner. All I said, way back in March, was that I didn't want him to grind his foot (as one would do to snuff a cigarette) on the seedlings. I told him, I walk on them, all the time, but I'm careful not to tear them out of the ground. Therefore, I wouldn't let him walk in my garden!
He also, the only time he was here, complained to the mgmt. on his cell phone, as I was listening, that I have "too much stuff." I had lived here a week or two. I hadn't even finished unpacking.
So, he's a whiner and a liar.
In addition, not Mike, but Veto, was sent here to make repairs. I prefer Veto: he works; he doesn't spy. Veto had promised me he'd return the following Thursday. I waited all day, and the following Thursday, but Veto never returned.
Now, the mgmt. co. is claiming Mike must replace my air conditioner, as it may only be done by a licensed plumber. Which, of course, doesn't explain why my heater hasn't been repaired; no water goes to THAT!
Yet, I HELPED Veto, and his wife, install an air conditioner on another apartment unit in this property!
So, everybody's lying to me.
I had to call the mgmt. co, to report that Raoul was screaming, so they could hear it. I discussed my letter, sent with my rent check, about the incomplete repairs to my unit. That's when I got all this double talk.
When I heard the crap about Mike, I said, "I'm not psychic; I didn't know Mike was coming."
I got told I have a "bad attitude."
Let's see: seven month of screaming drug addicts, peeing outside my kitchen window and nearly burning the building down with homemade "tiki" torches and barbeques in too-confined spaces. Seven months of 2 -3- and 4-day stretches without electricity. Harrassment by "neighbors." Water shut off because the prop. mgr. was too lazy or stupid to turn off the sprinklers. Beer cans, litter and cockroaches, scattered just outside my gate. August and September without air conditioning. Lies. Threats of eviction. Sloppy book keeping. Untrustworthy staff.
I have a bad attitude.
Slumlords! They abuse you and blame you if you don't kiss their butts!
But I have that laundry, which has been soaking in the big tub in the shower, to do.
And I need to clear a patch in my garden, in case that whining, lying maintainance guy, Mike, shows up.
He lied to the property mgr, saying I "wouldn't let" him in my apartment. I, of course, didn't know he'd COME here! I've told the mgmt. co. on several occasions they must schedule appointments with me, and that they must ring the bell on my gate for me to hear them. But, no, he just showed up one day and didn't get a reply. Therefore, I didn't let him in. huh!
In addition, he has lied and said I "wouldn't let him" walk in my garden, to get to my air conditioner. All I said, way back in March, was that I didn't want him to grind his foot (as one would do to snuff a cigarette) on the seedlings. I told him, I walk on them, all the time, but I'm careful not to tear them out of the ground. Therefore, I wouldn't let him walk in my garden!
He also, the only time he was here, complained to the mgmt. on his cell phone, as I was listening, that I have "too much stuff." I had lived here a week or two. I hadn't even finished unpacking.
So, he's a whiner and a liar.
In addition, not Mike, but Veto, was sent here to make repairs. I prefer Veto: he works; he doesn't spy. Veto had promised me he'd return the following Thursday. I waited all day, and the following Thursday, but Veto never returned.
Now, the mgmt. co. is claiming Mike must replace my air conditioner, as it may only be done by a licensed plumber. Which, of course, doesn't explain why my heater hasn't been repaired; no water goes to THAT!
Yet, I HELPED Veto, and his wife, install an air conditioner on another apartment unit in this property!
So, everybody's lying to me.
I had to call the mgmt. co, to report that Raoul was screaming, so they could hear it. I discussed my letter, sent with my rent check, about the incomplete repairs to my unit. That's when I got all this double talk.
When I heard the crap about Mike, I said, "I'm not psychic; I didn't know Mike was coming."
I got told I have a "bad attitude."
Let's see: seven month of screaming drug addicts, peeing outside my kitchen window and nearly burning the building down with homemade "tiki" torches and barbeques in too-confined spaces. Seven months of 2 -3- and 4-day stretches without electricity. Harrassment by "neighbors." Water shut off because the prop. mgr. was too lazy or stupid to turn off the sprinklers. Beer cans, litter and cockroaches, scattered just outside my gate. August and September without air conditioning. Lies. Threats of eviction. Sloppy book keeping. Untrustworthy staff.
I have a bad attitude.
Slumlords! They abuse you and blame you if you don't kiss their butts!
Sunday, October 05, 2003
You're Damn Right, I'm A Bitch!
I defied their little, secret code of behavior. I protected what's important to me. So, one of their women followed me outside and called me a "bitch." Her behavior, of course, comes from the sloppy, abusive, irresponsible trend of communications, popularized by such social role models as The Jerry Springer Show.
But I AM a bitch! And I'm not only not ashamed of it, I'm PROUD of it! It keeps me alive. It protects those I love. And I will BE a bitch!
THANK YOU AGAIN, Mary Daly!
Dark Goddesses : Monsters : The Bitch
The Bitch
Bitchy adj : having the threatening characteristics of a female canine (a wolf, dingo, coyote, wild dog, fox) applied esp. to a woman who is active, direct, blunt, obnoxious, competent, loud-mouthed, independent, stubborn, demanding, achieving, overwhelming, Lusty, strong-minded, scary, ambitious, tough, brassy, boisterous, turbulent, sprawling, strident, striding, and large (physically and/or psychically). Canny Comment:
Bitches are good examples of how women can be strong enough to survive even the rigid, punitive socialization of our society. As young girls it never quite penetrated their consciousness that women were supposed to be inferior to men in any but the mother/helpmate role. They asserted themselves as children and never really internalized the slave style of wheedling and cajolery which is called feminine....All Bitches refused, in mind and spirit, to conform to the idea that there were limits on what they could be and do.
-- Joreen, "The Bitch Manifesto"
-- Mary Daly and Jane Caputi, Websters' First New Intergalactic
Wickedary of the English Language
Isn't it odd how men think they're insulting a woman by calling her a "bitch"?
The story of Rome's founders, Romulus and Remus, being suckled by a wolf-bitch may come from a very ancient Sabine cult of Lupa, the Goddess as a She-Wolf.
But why men fear "bitches" may have more to do with a dim memory of the association of many death-dealing goddesses with hounds, such as Artemis, Hecate and Hel. To this day, much folklore associates dogs with death.
"According to the Vedic tradition, the Bitch-goddess Sarama was the mistress of the death dogs, and a divine huntress like Artemis, Diana, Anath and other western versions of the lunar maiden."
-- Barbara Walker, The Woman's
Encyclopedia of Myths and Legends
Dark Goddesses | Monsters | The Bitch
Home page for this site is:
here
All contents copyright Robin M. Weare. All rights reserved.
But I AM a bitch! And I'm not only not ashamed of it, I'm PROUD of it! It keeps me alive. It protects those I love. And I will BE a bitch!
THANK YOU AGAIN, Mary Daly!
Dark Goddesses : Monsters : The Bitch
The Bitch
Bitchy adj : having the threatening characteristics of a female canine (a wolf, dingo, coyote, wild dog, fox) applied esp. to a woman who is active, direct, blunt, obnoxious, competent, loud-mouthed, independent, stubborn, demanding, achieving, overwhelming, Lusty, strong-minded, scary, ambitious, tough, brassy, boisterous, turbulent, sprawling, strident, striding, and large (physically and/or psychically). Canny Comment:
Bitches are good examples of how women can be strong enough to survive even the rigid, punitive socialization of our society. As young girls it never quite penetrated their consciousness that women were supposed to be inferior to men in any but the mother/helpmate role. They asserted themselves as children and never really internalized the slave style of wheedling and cajolery which is called feminine....All Bitches refused, in mind and spirit, to conform to the idea that there were limits on what they could be and do.
-- Joreen, "The Bitch Manifesto"
-- Mary Daly and Jane Caputi, Websters' First New Intergalactic
Wickedary of the English Language
Isn't it odd how men think they're insulting a woman by calling her a "bitch"?
The story of Rome's founders, Romulus and Remus, being suckled by a wolf-bitch may come from a very ancient Sabine cult of Lupa, the Goddess as a She-Wolf.
But why men fear "bitches" may have more to do with a dim memory of the association of many death-dealing goddesses with hounds, such as Artemis, Hecate and Hel. To this day, much folklore associates dogs with death.
"According to the Vedic tradition, the Bitch-goddess Sarama was the mistress of the death dogs, and a divine huntress like Artemis, Diana, Anath and other western versions of the lunar maiden."
-- Barbara Walker, The Woman's
Encyclopedia of Myths and Legends
Dark Goddesses | Monsters | The Bitch
Home page for this site is:
here
All contents copyright Robin M. Weare. All rights reserved.
Freedom From Speech
I left twice because official representatives of the list sanctioned my speech.
The second time, with an official "demerit" of some sort on some kind of "permanent record," which can silence me permanently.
I was given this demerit for something of which I wasn't aware: Calling names.
I'm not Miss Cleo, the psychic; I had no way of knowing this wasn't permitted or that I could be permanently banned from the list for it.
The FIRST time I left, it was for just this reason: if I don't know what kinds of speech will cause me to be silenced, I can't speak freely. I'll always be afraid and intimidated.
Now, I just got called a "bitch" today, by the member of the Albuquerque UU Fellowship.
I've been called, "crazy, queer, nigger, lazy, liar, thief, ugly and stupid" by UUA members in the past.
see: http://livinginthehood.blogspot.com
I think I've had enough of whatever the double standard is.
My blogs are being sniffed by the military. They have decided I'm subversive. John Ashcroft would have NO problem calling me an ass. Or a traitor. Or a pervert. Or whatever else his self-righteous pin head could come up with.
After my "meeting" with the AUUF today, which was really just a witch trial, I'm done.
My property rights, my right to walk safely, my right to personal dignity and my right to respect haven't been supported by the UUA. Oh, in manifestos, committees, policies, etc, I'm validated, sure. One must keep up appearances.
But when it comes down to the daily basics, no.
Nobody else at that AUUF walked two miles, round trip, to attend services.
It's very important to me.
But I believe in supporting what supports me. And I haven't felt truly supported in the UUA for over thirty years of participation.
This isn't about anger. This is about survival. And I'm not being dramatic here. This really is about survival to me.
Thanks for your correspondence. But I'm tired. UUAs have called me, "prophetic voice, village idiot, class clown, thorn-in-the-side...etc" for decades.
Can you imagine how humiliating that is to me? I just wanted to be part of the group, not some THING people point at as an exception.
And I'm not even that radical, creative, shrill, etc. I'm pretty mundane, compared to REAL trouble makers! I'm not trying to make trouble; I'm just trying to participate.
I feel like a freak and a loser, when stuff like this happens. It's so demoralizing.
So, I give up. I give up on the UUA, on social activism, on joining groups, on all of it. I'm more useful, writing my blogs, tending my garden, picking trash to sell.
The second time, with an official "demerit" of some sort on some kind of "permanent record," which can silence me permanently.
I was given this demerit for something of which I wasn't aware: Calling names.
I'm not Miss Cleo, the psychic; I had no way of knowing this wasn't permitted or that I could be permanently banned from the list for it.
The FIRST time I left, it was for just this reason: if I don't know what kinds of speech will cause me to be silenced, I can't speak freely. I'll always be afraid and intimidated.
Now, I just got called a "bitch" today, by the member of the Albuquerque UU Fellowship.
I've been called, "crazy, queer, nigger, lazy, liar, thief, ugly and stupid" by UUA members in the past.
see: http://livinginthehood.blogspot.com
I think I've had enough of whatever the double standard is.
My blogs are being sniffed by the military. They have decided I'm subversive. John Ashcroft would have NO problem calling me an ass. Or a traitor. Or a pervert. Or whatever else his self-righteous pin head could come up with.
After my "meeting" with the AUUF today, which was really just a witch trial, I'm done.
My property rights, my right to walk safely, my right to personal dignity and my right to respect haven't been supported by the UUA. Oh, in manifestos, committees, policies, etc, I'm validated, sure. One must keep up appearances.
But when it comes down to the daily basics, no.
Nobody else at that AUUF walked two miles, round trip, to attend services.
It's very important to me.
But I believe in supporting what supports me. And I haven't felt truly supported in the UUA for over thirty years of participation.
This isn't about anger. This is about survival. And I'm not being dramatic here. This really is about survival to me.
Thanks for your correspondence. But I'm tired. UUAs have called me, "prophetic voice, village idiot, class clown, thorn-in-the-side...etc" for decades.
Can you imagine how humiliating that is to me? I just wanted to be part of the group, not some THING people point at as an exception.
And I'm not even that radical, creative, shrill, etc. I'm pretty mundane, compared to REAL trouble makers! I'm not trying to make trouble; I'm just trying to participate.
I feel like a freak and a loser, when stuff like this happens. It's so demoralizing.
So, I give up. I give up on the UUA, on social activism, on joining groups, on all of it. I'm more useful, writing my blogs, tending my garden, picking trash to sell.
Trash the Trash
dang, that meeting was agony.
It was that damn church. They held a special board mtg, so I could speak my concerns.
Some bitch unleashed Porkchop outside, last time I was there. I went out to find him ONE FOOT from her toddler daughter's HEAD!!
They wouldn't leave Porky alone, chained to the sofa in the back of the room; whenever my back was turned, some friggin idiot was in Porky's face. Porky nipped at 2 people. If I went through people's purses, they'd have me arrested. But it's ok to molest MY property, cuz he's a DOG???
They've complained about the food I've brought. Every Sunday, I'd stop at Smith's and buy 1/2 price baked goods. They whined about how sweet the stuff was.
They whined cuz I made coffee.
NOBODY introduced themselves to me; I only know 3 people's names.
Every Sunday, they go out to lunch together. I'd hear them say, "are you going with us today?" But nobody invited me.
I told them, during "joys and concerns" (kind of like prayer requests), that I'm going to need some moral support, because I'm starting to write the story of my daughter's death. Only one person addressed me on the issue.
And, when that bitch, Mary dressed me out in the kitchen for asking for potluck leftovers, they not only didn't support me, one lady, Sally Alice--a BOARD MEMBER OF THE "PEACE" AND JUSTICE CENTER--actually PUSHED ME, to get me out of the room, because, apparantly, I'm not ALLOWED to address accusations hurled at me.
I was going to talk about these things. It was my "opportunity to speak." But the white men continuously interupted me and criticized me.
I finally yelled, "STOP INTERRUPTING ME!" and stated SOME of the above.
I tried to leave, and some old FART DELIVERATELY blocked my way! So, I called them all "yuppy trash," squeezed around him and left.
An old grandma in high top sneakers, NOT part of the meeting, followed me out and called me a BITCH! Mind you, they'd just been dressing me down for spelling Ashcroft "ASScroft" in a UU email group!
But it's FINE to call ME a BITCH.
So, that's it: I've permanently left the UUA.
For THIRTY YEARS, snooty suburbanites have treated me like a servant, at best, and an embarrasment, at worse.
No friggin more. I've been patient. I've tried to educate them. I've taken accusations and name calling for THIRTY YEARS!
And my so-called "best friend," a UU minister, is too good to return my EMAILS! KNOWING I miss him terribly and worry for his health!
"Peace" Center???? Hell no; it's just a damn Communist cell: everybody must think, act, speak and look alike and follow the party line du jur.
They were singing, at the end of their service, "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me." I was in the bathroom, peeing. When I attended services there, I wouldn't sing that stupid song.
All I see, when I hear that song, is a cemetary full of head stones. Their idea of peace is to kill the individual for the collective "good."
Arguing, conflicting ideologies, cultural differences, debate, etc. are HEALTHY..but they're not welcomed in the UUA OR the P &J center.
They can kiss my trailer trash butt.
It was that damn church. They held a special board mtg, so I could speak my concerns.
Some bitch unleashed Porkchop outside, last time I was there. I went out to find him ONE FOOT from her toddler daughter's HEAD!!
They wouldn't leave Porky alone, chained to the sofa in the back of the room; whenever my back was turned, some friggin idiot was in Porky's face. Porky nipped at 2 people. If I went through people's purses, they'd have me arrested. But it's ok to molest MY property, cuz he's a DOG???
They've complained about the food I've brought. Every Sunday, I'd stop at Smith's and buy 1/2 price baked goods. They whined about how sweet the stuff was.
They whined cuz I made coffee.
NOBODY introduced themselves to me; I only know 3 people's names.
Every Sunday, they go out to lunch together. I'd hear them say, "are you going with us today?" But nobody invited me.
I told them, during "joys and concerns" (kind of like prayer requests), that I'm going to need some moral support, because I'm starting to write the story of my daughter's death. Only one person addressed me on the issue.
And, when that bitch, Mary dressed me out in the kitchen for asking for potluck leftovers, they not only didn't support me, one lady, Sally Alice--a BOARD MEMBER OF THE "PEACE" AND JUSTICE CENTER--actually PUSHED ME, to get me out of the room, because, apparantly, I'm not ALLOWED to address accusations hurled at me.
I was going to talk about these things. It was my "opportunity to speak." But the white men continuously interupted me and criticized me.
I finally yelled, "STOP INTERRUPTING ME!" and stated SOME of the above.
I tried to leave, and some old FART DELIVERATELY blocked my way! So, I called them all "yuppy trash," squeezed around him and left.
An old grandma in high top sneakers, NOT part of the meeting, followed me out and called me a BITCH! Mind you, they'd just been dressing me down for spelling Ashcroft "ASScroft" in a UU email group!
But it's FINE to call ME a BITCH.
So, that's it: I've permanently left the UUA.
For THIRTY YEARS, snooty suburbanites have treated me like a servant, at best, and an embarrasment, at worse.
No friggin more. I've been patient. I've tried to educate them. I've taken accusations and name calling for THIRTY YEARS!
And my so-called "best friend," a UU minister, is too good to return my EMAILS! KNOWING I miss him terribly and worry for his health!
"Peace" Center???? Hell no; it's just a damn Communist cell: everybody must think, act, speak and look alike and follow the party line du jur.
They were singing, at the end of their service, "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me." I was in the bathroom, peeing. When I attended services there, I wouldn't sing that stupid song.
All I see, when I hear that song, is a cemetary full of head stones. Their idea of peace is to kill the individual for the collective "good."
Arguing, conflicting ideologies, cultural differences, debate, etc. are HEALTHY..but they're not welcomed in the UUA OR the P &J center.
They can kiss my trailer trash butt.
Saturday, October 04, 2003
Rogi Kills Self; Film At 11!
gawd damn, when am I gonna learn I'm a nearly 50 year old gimp woman?
Porky & I were coming back from the convenience store with some Pepsi.
I saw the landlord of some buddies of mine, with his wife, wrestling a washing machine down the street to put out front of their house. Guess they dragged it out the back, thru the alley, down the side street, to get it out front!
They were taking the feet off when I got to them. They said the tenant complained it left lint on their clothes, so they were replacing it.
Well, I know that means 1 of 2 things: the discharge tube is too high to pump all the water out, or the pump and/or tube have lint in them and need cleaning.
I took Porky home. I changed out of my caftain and into a t-shirt, shorts and high top running shoes. I grabbed my dolly and headed back.
I dragged that bastard uphill for two blocks. When I got to the alley, some passing people helped me drag it through the alley to just outside my gate.
I unhooked the old washer and dragged it out.
The ground is sandy, wet from last night's rain. I had HELL to pay, getting that "new" washer in position and getting the hoses all hooked up. I also shoved a garden hose up the discharge hose to flush it out.
But, of course, I couldn't rest after that; I washed a blanket.
It's hanging up to dry. There's no lint on it, and the washer took almost all of Porkchop's wiry, stiff short hairs out of it.
THEN, I grabbed Porky's leash, got my wallet and went to the package liquor store. It's my 2nd stop there since I moved in 7 months ago.
He insisted I make a minimum purchase of $10, although I only wanted 4 tall boys of beer. So, I got a flask of bourbon, too: should be enough to last all year, the way I drink. I think he said it was a pint?
So, Porky's at my feet in the bed. I'm buck naked, smoking a cigarette, with a barely-sipped beer beside me, watching a movie. It's about a transvestite white boy, his black girl buddy (who lets him wear her clothes). Shirley McClain is in it; so's Gary Sinese (sp.?) and that gal who always plays bimbos...Tilly somebody...
I scarfed down a chicken leg, because breakfast was at 6am this morning.
I am planning to spend the rest of the day moving as seldom as possible.
The old washer had a cracked pump housing that leaked, probably from being outside and freezing. The water level cut off switch didn't work anymore. And I had to keep jamming little pebbles into the agitator gears, because the teeth were too worn to connect. But I got that washer to work for two damn years!
I'm going to cannibalize the old one for parts. I'll fill the old drum and the "collander" with dirt and fill with plants. The agitator will be a bird bath stand. The housing will be a dog house....I'm tearing it all down to nothing.
But not today. Today, it's sitting at the edge of my gate, in the alley. I'm too sore and tired to mess with it today.
I'm SO PROUD of myself! That's my FIFTH free washing machine, in ten years!
I'm high fiving myself!
Oh, my gosh! Kathy Bates is in this movie! She's playing a nun at a spelling bee in the kids' Catholic school!
***********
I have a new hero: BRUNO. You absolutely, positively MUST VIEW this movie to understand ME!
******************
I just went in the bathroom to pee. I smelled laundry water. I had just put a bunch of dirty laundry in a big, plastic tub (like a giant laundry basket, but solid) to soak. I was going to wash it all out by hand. I haven't been able to do laundry, except to boil clothing in my turkey roaster, on my hot plate, for two months.
I smelled that soapy water and thought, "now, I can just pour the water into the machine, toss in the clothes, and let the MACHINE do the work!" I laughed 'til I cried!
Of course, I'll haul the buckets-full of soapy water out to the machine; I don't waste water. I don't waste soap. I don't waste, period. So, it'll have to wait a day or two, 'til I recover from today's hard work. That's ok.
CLEAN CLOTHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Porky & I were coming back from the convenience store with some Pepsi.
I saw the landlord of some buddies of mine, with his wife, wrestling a washing machine down the street to put out front of their house. Guess they dragged it out the back, thru the alley, down the side street, to get it out front!
They were taking the feet off when I got to them. They said the tenant complained it left lint on their clothes, so they were replacing it.
Well, I know that means 1 of 2 things: the discharge tube is too high to pump all the water out, or the pump and/or tube have lint in them and need cleaning.
I took Porky home. I changed out of my caftain and into a t-shirt, shorts and high top running shoes. I grabbed my dolly and headed back.
I dragged that bastard uphill for two blocks. When I got to the alley, some passing people helped me drag it through the alley to just outside my gate.
I unhooked the old washer and dragged it out.
The ground is sandy, wet from last night's rain. I had HELL to pay, getting that "new" washer in position and getting the hoses all hooked up. I also shoved a garden hose up the discharge hose to flush it out.
But, of course, I couldn't rest after that; I washed a blanket.
It's hanging up to dry. There's no lint on it, and the washer took almost all of Porkchop's wiry, stiff short hairs out of it.
THEN, I grabbed Porky's leash, got my wallet and went to the package liquor store. It's my 2nd stop there since I moved in 7 months ago.
He insisted I make a minimum purchase of $10, although I only wanted 4 tall boys of beer. So, I got a flask of bourbon, too: should be enough to last all year, the way I drink. I think he said it was a pint?
So, Porky's at my feet in the bed. I'm buck naked, smoking a cigarette, with a barely-sipped beer beside me, watching a movie. It's about a transvestite white boy, his black girl buddy (who lets him wear her clothes). Shirley McClain is in it; so's Gary Sinese (sp.?) and that gal who always plays bimbos...Tilly somebody...
I scarfed down a chicken leg, because breakfast was at 6am this morning.
I am planning to spend the rest of the day moving as seldom as possible.
The old washer had a cracked pump housing that leaked, probably from being outside and freezing. The water level cut off switch didn't work anymore. And I had to keep jamming little pebbles into the agitator gears, because the teeth were too worn to connect. But I got that washer to work for two damn years!
I'm going to cannibalize the old one for parts. I'll fill the old drum and the "collander" with dirt and fill with plants. The agitator will be a bird bath stand. The housing will be a dog house....I'm tearing it all down to nothing.
But not today. Today, it's sitting at the edge of my gate, in the alley. I'm too sore and tired to mess with it today.
I'm SO PROUD of myself! That's my FIFTH free washing machine, in ten years!
I'm high fiving myself!
Oh, my gosh! Kathy Bates is in this movie! She's playing a nun at a spelling bee in the kids' Catholic school!
***********
I have a new hero: BRUNO. You absolutely, positively MUST VIEW this movie to understand ME!
******************
I just went in the bathroom to pee. I smelled laundry water. I had just put a bunch of dirty laundry in a big, plastic tub (like a giant laundry basket, but solid) to soak. I was going to wash it all out by hand. I haven't been able to do laundry, except to boil clothing in my turkey roaster, on my hot plate, for two months.
I smelled that soapy water and thought, "now, I can just pour the water into the machine, toss in the clothes, and let the MACHINE do the work!" I laughed 'til I cried!
Of course, I'll haul the buckets-full of soapy water out to the machine; I don't waste water. I don't waste soap. I don't waste, period. So, it'll have to wait a day or two, 'til I recover from today's hard work. That's ok.
CLEAN CLOTHES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I Just Witnessed a Kidnapping
I just witnessed a kidnapping.
A small, blue, Japanese, 4 door sedan pulled up across the street from my bldg.
I just happened to be in my kitchen, looking out. I thought they might be some of the thugs that come here, to Raoul's apartment.
There was a LOT of activity coming from the back seat: arms flailing, etc.
Suddenly, an Hispanic woman, with long, curly, blonde and red dyed hair jumped out of the back seat and dialed a cell phone.
A big Hispanic guy with a "mullet" style hair cut got out. He was wearing a black tank top with a white tank underneath. He grabbed the girl, who struggled. She managed to get a few more feet down the street, north, toward Central.
Another Hispanic guy got out of the driver's seat and went after them. He was wearing a black t-shirt that looked like it had a heavy metal logo on it. He had a "buzz" cut. He disappeared past my line of sight, too.
The two of them dragged the woman toward the car. She was resisting the whole way: pushing, trying to turn back, screaming.
The guy with the mullet got in the car, pulling her in while the "buzz" cut guy pushed her.
Then the driver got back into the car and drove south on my street. They turned around and headed back north, toward Central.
I was on the phone with 9/11 as soon as I'd seen the 2nd guy go toward the woman.
I hope they catch them.
A small, blue, Japanese, 4 door sedan pulled up across the street from my bldg.
I just happened to be in my kitchen, looking out. I thought they might be some of the thugs that come here, to Raoul's apartment.
There was a LOT of activity coming from the back seat: arms flailing, etc.
Suddenly, an Hispanic woman, with long, curly, blonde and red dyed hair jumped out of the back seat and dialed a cell phone.
A big Hispanic guy with a "mullet" style hair cut got out. He was wearing a black tank top with a white tank underneath. He grabbed the girl, who struggled. She managed to get a few more feet down the street, north, toward Central.
Another Hispanic guy got out of the driver's seat and went after them. He was wearing a black t-shirt that looked like it had a heavy metal logo on it. He had a "buzz" cut. He disappeared past my line of sight, too.
The two of them dragged the woman toward the car. She was resisting the whole way: pushing, trying to turn back, screaming.
The guy with the mullet got in the car, pulling her in while the "buzz" cut guy pushed her.
Then the driver got back into the car and drove south on my street. They turned around and headed back north, toward Central.
I was on the phone with 9/11 as soon as I'd seen the 2nd guy go toward the woman.
I hope they catch them.
Drizzle Days
I'm in bed with Porkchop, Miss Thing and Osa. It's been cool and drizzly the last, two days, and the cats are snuggly.
I'm about to fry some hash browns, bacon and eggs.
Baked 2 loaves of bread yesterday, so I'll have some of that with butter and honey.
Planted 5 more 2-liter bottles of seed to grow in my window sills: my "winter garden." I have: lettuce, broccoli, chives, kohlrabi, lettuce, parsley, cabbage, fennel and dill planted so far in a total of 16 bottles!
I'm about to fry some hash browns, bacon and eggs.
Baked 2 loaves of bread yesterday, so I'll have some of that with butter and honey.
Planted 5 more 2-liter bottles of seed to grow in my window sills: my "winter garden." I have: lettuce, broccoli, chives, kohlrabi, lettuce, parsley, cabbage, fennel and dill planted so far in a total of 16 bottles!
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