just joey

My landlord
failed to show for the possessory hearing.  I was so ready to pounce for the failure to accept payment from a charity.  I showed up early to see how the evictions were going.  Interesting to say the least.

One defendant
was being sued by a dental place.  The plaintiff was represented by an attorney.  The plaintiff's attorney questions the pro-se defendant and said his dentist office was supposed to apply a discount and didn't.  No proof was provided by either side.  The judge started to say I order for the defendant but the plaintiff's attorney interrupted and asked to be sworn in for testimony on some conversation ... she told him unless it has something to do with fact besides you collecting fees then, 'no you may not be sworn in.'  The plaintiff's claim was for $38 - denied.  Obviously this attorney did not represent his client well - and sacrificed one case for not upsetting the judge on the other 17 cases she heard from him in 10 minutes.  Plaintiffs won every case today except this one - and the ones where the plaintiff didn't show. So awesome to see common sense prevail.

You know,

On the job front,
the whole over qualified thing is getting very old and very frustraing.  I cant get a minimum wage job because of my resume and former salary.  I'm serious - 6, count 'em 6 different employers have told me no - not because they don't have openings but because they are afraid that I'd leave once the market opens up again.

For the first time
in my life I've had to accept charity assistance.  Well actually its the first time I've needed it.  Community Action Program-CAP (aka the Energy Assistance Office) paid my electric bill on Friday and gave me a $25 gift card for a local grocery store.  When they called Duke Energy to tell them that they would be paying my bill, Duke informed them that they had me on the disconnect schedule for today (last Friday).  After they were on hold for a bit trying to stop the disconnect they came back on and they said the truck was at my apartment but they stopped it in time.  Whew...

Then they offerred
to pay my rent. Would you believe that my landlord refused, Stafford Pointe Apartments in Plainfield, IN (Greed Central) is refusing full payment. They refused it last Friday because it was for $139 less than what I owed.  The manager told me that they needed a money order for the $139 and then they would accept the charity's payment so I got a family loan for that on Sunday. I dropped off the charity form and my $139 money order late last night. Today when I called them to confirm everything was ok so they could drop the eviction suit... 

Yep they are refusing
because signing the form means they are accepting a 'voucher' for about 4 days until the check arrives.  This charity says these vouchers are processed the same day - the 4 days is for US mail.  The thing is that court hearing isn't until April 6th...

I knew that they
were a little on the greedy side when they sued me in January. Rent is due on the 5th and if they don't have it on the 16th the sue. I settled that one by selling my car for rent money. My dad loaned me money to buy another vehicle since then.

Sooo, I'm at a decision
point. No other landlords will take me - even if I had steady income because I have an eviction on my credit and these guys seems hell bent on throwing me out - even after being presented with full payment including court costs and late fees. My adopted mom and biological mom have both offerred to put me up. Besides the inherent turmoil in having to make that choice I also have to contend with leaving Circle Face for an extended period of time as both mom's live 4 - 6 hours away drive time. I'm leaning strongly against taking my moms up on their respective offers and will most likely move into a homeless shelter or live in my car for as long as I can.

With a shelter or living
in my car I would not be able to have Circle Face stay over night but at least I could still see her weekly. That is something that I just can't get around. I think it is better to be homeless than to miss time with my daughter.  The time less about me missing her but more about her needing her dad on a regular basis.

This whole situation
is paralyzing. Do I sit here and cry, do I spend the $139 (if I can get a refund on the money order) for gasoline in order to go job hunting throughout the city ... do I move to Tennesee or Kentucky and leave my daughter behind for a few weeks/months (who really knows)?

I volunteered to
take all the weekend hours that no one wanted - and guess what?  Everything I got has been canceled so far.  Two busted trips across town already.  Whadda ya wanna bet that my 6pm on the north side cancels too?

Anyway, I broke down
in tears on my way to my first appointment at 9am.  I suppose it was guilt over the missed opportunities of my life, risks not taken, or money wasted.  Maybe it was because I keep getting lucky at the last minute?

But my emotions
this morning seemed to evolve into a thankfulness that I still have more chances to do better.   All I could think about about was how lucky I am to be alive.  I'm thankful that I never killed anyone all those nights driving home drunk.  I'm thankful that I'm sober now.  I'm thankful that I've been able to avoid being homeless to the is point.  I'm thankful that I have some stuff in my fridge to eat tonight/tomorrow.  I'm thankful that my daughter has her mom's financial security at a time when mine is mia.