Friday

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"It's no big deal cleaning house, cooking meals, or doing laundry. More men oughta try it." - "Never Ask A Man the Size of His Spread: A Cowgirl's Guide to Life"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Michael has done all of these in the 18.5 years that I have known him. Now, his main job is the cooking and I do the cleaning. That said he has been known to help me in my chores too.

The highlights:

We went to the Salvation Army's free Friday food stuffs from a local store. Wow, those folks who attend are aggressive. I went to pick up an item and before I got my hand to it, someone else had reached in and grabbed it. One needs to be quick.

We also received our monthly allotment of canned and dried goods plus some frozen meats.

In the evening we went to the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County's event in honoring those of us who had gone through the case management program and were now off the street.

I fortified myself with my panic pills and I had a good time.

The food was great. We had pizza - my favorite, pepperoni -, sushi, veggies and a Ranch dressing dip, rolled soft tortillas filled with cheese and some kind of sliced meat, fruit, dessert stuff and finally a piece of cake. I mostly ate the pizza and sushi. Yum.

Our case worker, The Dynamo, asked me to speak about our experience with the shelter and the day center. So I did. The best line of the night was Michael's when he said The Dynamo had a cell phone on steroids.

There were raffle drawings and I won a $15 card to Starbucks. I also received a table decoration of a potted rose plant. Now if I can only keep it growing. I have it sitting on top of the pantry so that Bailey won’t eat the leaves.

To complete the evening, we each received a Certificate of Appreciation for completing their case management program. Shook hands the Chief of Police, the lady who heads up the homeless department with CAPSLO, and the County Supervisor of District 3. And, had our picture taken with them. I asked for The Dynamo to be in the photo with us.

We reconnected with several of the folks we met at the shelter. I was good to see them again. When it came time for us to leave and to move into the apartment, it was like a covert operation. We were to tell no one and after everyone left the shelter for the day, staff helped us pack up our stuff into the truck and then we were gone.

We got to shake hands with the chief of police of San Luis Obispo. She is much prettier in person than the times I have seen her on the television. Of course, I assume she wants to appear hard core to the public and she will get the villain with the assistance of her staff. Actually, she was very nice and approachable. I enjoyed talking with her.

We also reconnected with former co-workers at the newspaper. It was good to see those two.

mz. em

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Currently Reading: "Blood Promise: A Vampire Academy novel" - Richelle Mead
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++