Tuesday morning

Since I was on that side of town, I called up A & J and went to their house where they fed me dinner and gave me about as much sympathy as I deserve  lol.  Nice to have friends-  (smile)

I am so used to being up in the vampire hours that it was near 4 am when I laid down to sleep, but I got up at 9, fixed some coffee, and rolled up some smokes from the (sorta depleted) pound of tobbacco I have reserved for this kind of thing.

A few years back, Oregon raised its cigarette taxes to I-don’t-wanna-pay-them levels and I began ordering cigs online- oh my god, sooo much cheaper!  About a year later the state noticed a steep decline in tax revenues and announced the multi-million dollar formation of a unit to go after online sales (my taxes at work, helping the poor… state employees).  I figured, well, those bastards will go after those who can’t fight back- me – and I started buying smokes here instead.  But before that, I had ordered a 1 pound bag of cigarette tobbacco for those occaisions when I didn’t have the money to buy tailor-made smokes.  One of the useful things I learned in high school was how to roll a good joint cigarette and the talent has never left me.  (well, I do use a rolling machine to produce a half dozen smokes at one sitting – call me lazy)

yes yes, I know that this is a good opportunity to quit- perhaps it can even be taken as "a sign".  I have a good sized box of nicorette gum sent to me by one of my favs – thanks- and since I will be spending lots more time at home, I may well do that- quit.

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This may be the opportunity to write seriously and to make use of some of the links and suggestions some have made regarding selling my pictures online.  Another "sign".

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K* called me early this morning before I went to sleep and we had a good talk.  She can’t send me any cash – she’s a little short – and she thinks that the boss had better own this or else, because I have a very good negligence case re: the stepvan and it’s pollution and how it affected me.  Indeed, in all my explaining to all about how I fell and broke my foot, the FIRST thing I say is that I was overcome by fumes from the stepvan that failed DEQ four times.  In this litigation happy world we live in today, the boss had better do the right thing by me or regret it- really regret it.

That may not be necessary – he’s a nice guy and feels responsible  but K* is pushing me not to let this lie, to get the boss to "help" me out, since I live poycheck to paycheck and have been a very good worker for him.

First thing I did after making coffee this morning was to call the manager at my apartment building and tell her I’d be out of work for awhile, and thus will have no income.  Rent in this public housing building is 30% of my gross income and 30% of nothing is nothing – either get ready to appear in court as to why you ain’t doing what you’re supposed to, HAP, or cut my rent to realistic levels.  I have rights as a renter, and I will not just lie there while you fuck me over.  I didn’t say any of that, but it’s in the air and known to both parties.  May not be and probably won’t be a problem, but god help ’em if it does.

Oh, bravado!  Kinda nervous, eh Cat?  (well….yeah)  Things WILL work out.  I say so and they will, one way or another.

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Next, finish this,go down to the van and get the podiatrist’s office number (and why did I leave the X-rays and paper work in the van???) and set up that appointment, go get my check at the store and cash it, go to my bank and let them have some of it, buy some gas and food, and go on with the day, my life, and onwards and upwards.

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By the way, I really appreciate the kind notes I have received.  good thing y’all are at a distance- I might get all tearful and huggy, ya know, since I’m feeling nicely supported.