Today I Saw

Katia wrote:

Please don't yell at me.......

Katia, I generally hate bigotry and racism and people who spew such hate, but I don't think that is you. I am assuming that maybe you are not originally from here or that somehow you have become jaded about hispanics. I am hispanic, and very proud of who I am. I think that you are having a hard time right now. I hope that things will brighten up for you.

skinwalker wrote:

<quoted text> After thinking of my last post, you are so right, and the CD reminded me also of how melancholy can be quite beautiful. A man fumbling for change from small coin container to purchase his "Best Friend" something of a treat. I saw today, Sunday as being Sunny, mild, with birds flying without care throughout the trees. This often times fill my mind with images of landscape of a Sunday afternoon of vacant buildings and minimal human activity. Then comes Sunday evening, which are difficult for some people and quite healing for others, it gives you that quiet time you never had during the week...Your post prompted me to think it through. Human nature is such that we tend to live a little bit in the past and a lot in the future. There is an eloquence in a Sunday afternoon....

Yes! I know! My house in North Valley has a lot in back with trees and bushes and shrubs that are all turning purple and maroon and gold now. It's very quiet here, and I sit on my back porch and look and just listen. The little birds (my favorites) jump and swoop and sing, and the leaves tingle, and an occasional kitty stalks around pretending to be a mighty hunter, and I think, how beautiful, how sacred, how lucky I am to be here. Thank you so much for understanding.

that you have been mean. See if you can be nice.

I love Dollar Stores! And, you don't have to dress up to go to them like you do for Wal-Mart!

nmweatherman wrote:

I love Dollar Stores! And, you don't have to dress up to go to them like you do for Wal-Mart!

Hah, with my pathetic life style, Wal Mart is about the only place I go where I can dress up, and at that I dress up in my K Mart clothes. Thanks for your comment. I love it.

Off I go now to take care of a few minor issues, and I'm really looking forward to it. I'll be driving here and there, and gracious! the trees all over town are so utterly brilliant that they take my breath away. Today I know that I'll see the most beautiful colors against the sky everywhere I go, and I'm so happy to be part of the glorious autumn experience. Maybe I'll see some goats. That would be nice, because I love goats. Who doesn't? Uh-oh, now there will be a bunch of posts from goat-o-phobes.

Today I saw a guant man in a plaid coat on a wheelchair strapped into a RapidRide bus. Every morning he is coming from...?...somewhere. He gets off at Central and 1st Street, and gets himself down to the Albuquerque Rescue Mission for breakfast.

That's a hard way to have to go get your breakfast each morning.

I count my blessings every day.

As I was walking on 2nd Street I saw three bodies sleeping on the sidewalk, warpped in various blankets.

I counted my blessings again.

Today I saw a guant man in a plaid coat on a wheelchair strapped into a RapidRide bus. Every morning he is coming from...?...somewhere. He gets off at Central and 1st Street, and gets himself down to the Albuquerque Rescue Mission for breakfast.

That's a hard way to have to go get your breakfast each morning.

I count my blessings every day.

As I was walking on 2nd Street I saw three bodies sleeping on the sidewalk, wrapped in various blankets. There was no room at the inn.

I counted my blessings again.

nmweatherman wrote:

Today I saw a guant man in a plaid coat on a wheelchair strapped into a RapidRide bus. Every morning he is coming from...?...somewhere. He gets off at Central and 1st Street, and gets himself down to the Albuquerque Rescue Mission for breakfast.
That's a hard way to have to go get your breakfast each morning.
I count my blessings every day.
As I was walking on 2nd Street I saw three bodies sleeping on the sidewalk, wrapped in various blankets. There was no room at the inn.
I counted my blessings again.

I counted that you posted this twice!

nmweatherman wrote:

Today I saw a guant man in a plaid coat on a wheelchair strapped into a RapidRide bus. Every morning he is coming from...?...somewhere. He gets off at Central and 1st Street, and gets himself down to the Albuquerque Rescue Mission for breakfast.
That's a hard way to have to go get your breakfast each morning.
I count my blessings every day.
As I was walking on 2nd Street I saw three bodies sleeping on the sidewalk, wrapped in various blankets. There was no room at the inn.
I counted my blessings again.

Yes. I have seen that myself. I have a house, a car, different kinds of work, and my health. I count my blessings every day. But I'm still scared, and I still feel that disaster may be just a heartbeat away. There are probably other people who feel as I do. These are things that people don't usually talk about, as if it might be bad luck to say it aloud. That's what's nice about some of these threads--people can show their hearts a little bit, with confidence that someone reading will understand. I'm very thankful for the posts that appear here. And thank you so much for your very thoughtful post.

Every year My mom and I make an extra thanksgiving dinner to give to the homeless. This year I want to make boxes, with the dinner, and other things. My mom said to sort out my thoughts and present her with them once I have it all figured out. So I thought granola bars, chips, blankets, bottled water, and a prayer card. Do you have any other ideas of what I can do? I would really appreciate it! Thank you.....

Do not give them money! There is a huge percentage of people on the streets who are not homeless and are in fact packing money who just use that as a way to get extra cash. Who doesn't have some old raggedy clothes in the back of their closet? Give them food or food stamps. Give them an extra jacket or shoes. Give them physical things other than money. That money could carelessly go to drugs or alcohol just for them to still be homeless. You can also tell them about the nearest shelter if it's winter or you don't have the money to buy them food. Or, if you really feel that uncomfortable, don't give them anything. It's 'heartless' but better than giving a druggie money for drugs.....

skinwalker wrote:

Every year My mom and I make an extra thanksgiving dinner to give to the homeless. This year I want to make boxes, with the dinner, and other things. My mom said to sort out my thoughts and present her with them once I have it all figured out. So I thought granola bars, chips, blankets, bottled water, and a prayer card. Do you have any other ideas of what I can do? I would really appreciate it! Thank you.....

Yes, honey; I think gloves (hah! you can get them at thr dollar store), tooyhpaste, a toothbrush, comb, maybe disposable razors, and by the way, the most cost-effective way to do that really is the dollar store. They also sell socks, probably knit hats...when you're thinking of someone else's needs, it's fun to shop at the $$$ store. Can you take your mom with you? What dear hearts you both are.

"tooyh paste". Real good. I can never remember to read this stuff before I post it. Nuts.

Sean wrote:

<quoted text> Thank YOU, We Still!

Thats the problem. You don't agree with them 100 percent then your called a racist. As for me I call it a personal issue.

Hey, TBK: It looks like you're based in Buffalo. How cool. Are there buffalo in Buffalo? More importantly, ARE THERE ANY GOATS? If so, do they mingle with the buffalo, if there are any of either? These are important questions. Many await your reply. Please respond. Thanks.

Buffalos have become extinct in many parts of the country. If you want to see a buffalo your best bet would be to go to the zoo.
Do buffalos and goats intermingle you would have to stay off the grass to figure that one out.

(con't)

Peanut butter and jelly, which now comes in squeeze bottles...small containers of mustard and mayo and relish. Sounds disgusting to eat them cold, but weiners are fully cooked before packaging, so you can take a pack and a pack of buns and a squeeze bottle of mustard, ketchup...several people can have a meal on that. Smith's did have, I think still do have Oscar Meyer weiners 2packs/$3.

He's getting a place in a shelter after being on a waiting list, where he will have 30 days out of the cold, and showers, but no meals, and they cannot cook there, and no laundry either. If he can find a job, they will let him stay another 30 days and help with part of the money for an apartment deposit.

The homeless have no way to wash clothes. And I don't want to give him cash---he smokes. But if I'm convinced he will take it to the coin laundry, I may give him a roll of quarters and a bottle of detergent and fabric softener sheets. Or meet him there and give him the quarters,etc. I've bought him more jeans and shirts and a duffle bag and backpack and new shoes and a new sleeping bag---I think he could do 4 loads of laundry. Imagine trying to look clean and look for a job when you are on the street, Skin.

I wish the coin laundries would sell prepaid cards good for tokens---that would help donors help them. I did give him a prepaid McDonald's card---he's almost used it up, but that way, they can get hot coffee, maybe a $1 sandwich or burrito, use the restroom, and WARM up for a little while after dark and when McDonald's opens early. If you could get these people a $10 card apiece, each card could give them an hour or two of warmth and a cup of coffee per day for a week. McDonald's usually lets them have coffee refills too. But McDonald's closes their interiors at tenPM.

Still, a McDonld's card could brighten their days for a little while around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I think I'm getting very far afield from one Thanksgiving Dinner. But they love extra socks and gloves and I bought my fellow several pair of long underwear at Walmart. Collect the grocery store circulars---WalMart will match everybody's prices and they usually do not run out of the loss leader items. I recently bought many cans of those Chili and Beans with pull tabs for 79cents at Smith's and WalMart too, with the Smith's ad. And Zesta saltines at $1/box. Even a box of crackers and a couple of cans of Chile to each person would help.

soft landing wrote:

(con't)
Peanut butter and jelly, which now comes in squeeze bottles...small containers of mustard and mayo and relish. Sounds disgusting to eat them cold, but weiners are fully cooked before packaging, so you can take a pack and a pack of buns and a squeeze bottle of mustard, ketchup...several people can have a meal on that. Smith's did have, I think still do have Oscar Meyer weiners 2packs/$3.
He's getting a place in a shelter after being on a waiting list, where he will have 30 days out of the cold, and showers, but no meals, and they cannot cook there, and no laundry either. If he can find a job, they will let him stay another 30 days and help with part of the money for an apartment deposit.
The homeless have no way to wash clothes. And I don't want to give him cash---he smokes. But if I'm convinced he will take it to the coin laundry, I may give him a roll of quarters and a bottle of detergent and fabric softener sheets. Or meet him there and give him the quarters,etc. I've bought him more jeans and shirts and a duffle bag and backpack and new shoes and a new sleeping bag---I think he could do 4 loads of laundry. Imagine trying to look clean and look for a job when you are on the street, Skin.
I wish the coin laundries would sell prepaid cards good for tokens---that would help donors help them. I did give him a prepaid McDonald's card---he's almost used it up, but that way, they can get hot coffee, maybe a $1 sandwich or burrito, use the restroom, and WARM up for a little while after dark and when McDonald's opens early. If you could get these people a $10 card apiece, each card could give them an hour or two of warmth and a cup of coffee per day for a week. McDonald's usually lets them have coffee refills too. But McDonald's closes their interiors at tenPM.
Still, a McDonld's card could brighten their days for a little while around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I think I'm getting very far afield from one Thanksgiving Dinner. But they love extra socks and gloves and I bought my fellow several pair of long underwear at Walmart. Collect the grocery store circulars---WalMart will match everybody's prices and they usually do not run out of the loss leader items. I recently bought many cans of those Chili and Beans with pull tabs for 79cents at Smith's and WalMart too, with the Smith's ad. And Zesta saltines at $1/box. Even a box of crackers and a couple of cans of Chile to each person would help.

Couldn't find the first part of your post, Softness, but I am really impressed with your knowledge and your resourcefulness. You could run an organization with your skills. Your ideas are genius. The city is fortunate to have you. What a bunch of great people are contributing to this thread. Honored, honored.

?

Truth be known wrote:

Buffalos have become extinct in many parts of the country. If you want to see a buffalo your best bet would be to go to the zoo.
Do buffalos and goats intermingle you would have to stay off the grass to figure that one out.

Stay off the grass?! Never. Stay ON the grass, is my philosophy.(Uh-oh, now a bunch of anti-grass-ites will start objecting.) And, actually, last year there WAS a buffalo living next door to the horse at the corner. I'm not kidding, it was lovely. He would come up to the fence when I stopped, and I would put salt on my arm and let him lick it off. He was very dainty about it, for a buffalo. Did you know that buffalo have pointed tongues? I don't make this stuff up, friends. Got any good buffalo, horse or goat anecdotes to share? Send them, send them! Thanks!