Poverty in Kentucky

madee in tn wrote:

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Boogs, you are exactly right. This week I had the opportunity to see VOA really in action and it did my heart so much good to see that! I am so glad to work with them and I hope that if you are ever given the chance to work with them again, that things will be right for you to accept the position...I am sure you would be such an asset.

Thanks Madee, I so loved working with my seniors/disabled back in the day. So many of them had part time jobs, one lady in particular I will never forget was still working at 85 years of age. The excitement on the face and in the voice of a physically or mentaly disabled person getting their first job, or simply riding the bus across town alone for the first time!! These people love with every fiber of their being, they live greatfully, giving & kind, never expecting anything in return. These people & our children are where my heart is.

Rockytopzz wrote:

<quoted text>How much compassion does a person shell out before they are broke themselves?
I have compassion. I find out what the able-bodied people's problem is which is no money and I tell them to get and hold a job. They do not want to hear that. I'm suppose to give them money.
I was not able to call my sister about her book last weekend, it's was Mother's day and felt awkward on calling her(forgot all about Mother's day). Be patient, I'll find out soon, I'm very interested myself since I love books.

Yah, I understand but I did not like the person smacking you. All folks need help at some point in their lives.

Rockytopzz wrote:

<quoted text>L.A., California in the late 60s for me, very happy childhood. Can remember all nine kids together(I'm number eight).
Here's a story for you. I read that Michelle Pfeiffer (Batwoman) attended the Westminster School District and she was born I think in 1957. It this is true she may have been in the same class with one of my older brothers, possibly lived in our neighborhood.
Another story. I inherited autograph pictures of Cesar Powers (the Joker), Bob Crane, and James Drury from my step-father's mother when she passed away. Also a COPY of an autograph picture of Frank Sinatra, just a copy but been told it's still worth some money. She hung out in Las Vegas and actually partied with these people from what people are saying.
Inherited an autograph picture of Babe Ruth. I dunno, I can come up with a lot of storys like one of my teachers in Oregon playing in "Our Gang". And also when we moved to Oildale, California Buck Owens studio was right across the street from my elementary school.
I can remember Lamont, California. Hated that town. Bakersfield was nice.

I love it, only in California do you go to school with folks that are stars!!!

boogs wrote:

<quoted text> My judgement of homeless and/or those collecting welfare, is soley based on my personal experience. Working in the housing industry, working for non-profit organizations etc., I spent 20 years "seeing for myself" the never ending cycle. Some who spendnd their lives collecting, yet never putting forth any effort to help themselves out of a life of poverty. Anyone who really wants to get an education and/or work can do so. Others who spend their lives in and out of jail, rehabs, etc. with no intention of changing their lives. I do not believe in giving to any able bodied person who is unwilling to earn.
Our elderly, truly disabled, and children suffer because of Fed/State aide being given to people who could make their own way and choose not too. All welfare recepients should have to work for it, if they do not fall under the title of senior citizen and/or disabled. Welfare programs will pay for child care to enable recepients to go to school, look for work, train for job, or actually get a job. There is no excuse and no pity for those who choose not to take advantage of a hand up.....

I understand, but the majority of homeless are due to mental illness. And when the DO GOODERS wanted the institutions to be closed so these folks can be a part of main stream society well you know this is what we are left with. We need those institutions back. 20 years ago when they let them out, they ended up on the streets, in care homes or dead! How did we let this happen?

madee in tn wrote:

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Ha! I really got off on at tangent there. The thing is, when I first got online and found Topix, Rocky was one of the first friends I made. He and I don't agree or hold the same opinion on everything, but nobody is going to come on and cop an attitude about him and just run with it!
Ha! That poster got my goat!

Watching his back, that is all we can do!!!

madee in tn wrote:

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Yes, we are. That is fantastic that your husband is going to be in Ky. I hope he thoroughly enjoys the barbeque that I can smell already. Wolf Den, I don't know what to think about the primaries, except I would be surprised if Obama had the edge in the extreme southwestern part of the state. Still I think he probably will take ky........

Ya think? We are still praying that BILLARY gets it as OBAMA has so little experience. What worries me, is that this association about Black Liberation Theology. Do you think that Rev Wright is trying to sabotage his campaign? Funny I went to school with OBAMA in Hawaii. That is a hoot! He was three years younger then me.
My hubby is looking forward to "coming home" to Kentucky. He considers that one of his homes. His Mama was born there in her Grandfathers home on Third Street in Louisville. He will be staying at the house his Mama was born in. I am a bit afraid of OBAMA as he is not the guy that I went to school with.

madee in tn wrote:

It's great that your family is with you right now! Your mother sounds like a hoot. I know you all had a wonderful weekend together, but you sure had to screw your courage to the sticking place! I have a fear of heights, so I was mighty impressed with your hot air balloon ride. What a great treat for your mother!

Me too, I hate heights. But the Mama is still talking about it and called her friends in Hawaii. Of course the hub took you know like a 100 photos of them!!! LOL

I am so happy I got to be with her on Mothers Day and not working in some hell hole movie set like the last few years. One year I had her come and join me as we were supposed to have time off, and we ended up working overtime and I had a couple of dinners with her and she sat on the set all day. But she has fun where ever she goes.

The Wolf Den wrote:

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Ya think? We are still praying that BILLARY gets it as OBAMA has so little experience. What worries me, is that this association about Black Liberation Theology. Do you think that Rev Wright is trying to sabotage his campaign? Funny I went to school with OBAMA in Hawaii. That is a hoot! He was three years younger then me.
My hubby is looking forward to "coming home" to Kentucky. He considers that one of his homes. His Mama was born there in her Grandfathers home on Third Street in Louisville. He will be staying at the house his Mama was born in. I am a bit afraid of OBAMA as he is not the guy that I went to school with.

Wolf Den, Third St. was where my in-laws lived when I was married to my childrens father! My daughter was born at Methodist Evangelical and we lived in Louisville...Strawberry Lane.... until she was three months old. I loved Louisville, but we didn't live there 6 mos until we moved to Hazel, Ky., just right up the highway from Rocky's stomping ground!

The Wolf Den wrote:

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I love it, only in California do you go to school with folks that are stars!!!

I guess you can say that the first seven years of my life in L.A., California helped shape my personality--Herman Munster mask. I can remember going somewheres, possibly Hollywood to see a glass enclosed outside building that the Munster's hotrods and the Batmobile were in. The Beverly Hillbillys is still my favorite show, learned how to dance like them.

The Wolf Den wrote:

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I understand, but the majority of homeless are due to mental illness. And when the DO GOODERS wanted the institutions to be closed so these folks can be a part of main stream society well you know this is what we are left with. We need those institutions back. 20 years ago when they let them out, they ended up on the streets, in care homes or dead! How did we let this happen?

From experience from living heavily in the drug world long ago a some (a lot) of these homeless started using drugs or alcohol during their at least high school days. So I guess if society is going to nip it in the bud they need to start with the students with manadatory drug screening. The ACLU have and will fight this.

The Wolf Den wrote:

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Watching his back, that is all we can do!!!

I'm used to it, nothing really fazes me much anymore nowadays, I can really tear a person up word for word verbally or on Topix if I wanted to, but decided to be nice for now.

The Wolf Den wrote:

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Me too, I hate heights. But the Mama is still talking about it and called her friends in Hawaii. Of course the hub took you know like a 100 photos of them!!! LOL
I am so happy I got to be with her on Mothers Day and not working in some hell hole movie set like the last few years. One year I had her come and join me as we were supposed to have time off, and we ended up working overtime and I had a couple of dinners with her and she sat on the set all day. But she has fun where ever she goes.

Here's a story.
When they filmed "Born in the 4th of July" it was filmed in Oak Cliff (Dallas), Texas. They were wanting people for extras at the parade waving flags, I could not go but my friend went, he's waving a flag for a few seconds.
Another one.
Chuck Norris had the (I think) the movie "Walker, Texas Rangers", or something like that and my big brother was an extra in it drinking beer at the bar somewheres near Dallas.

The only time I got famous was here in my small town about 14 years ago and they had me on the front page of our local paper, picture and all, doing a sobriety test from drinking and driving.
My ma kept that newspaper all these years and gave it to me a few days ago.

madee in tn wrote:

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Wolf Den, Third St. was where my in-laws lived when I was married to my childrens father! My daughter was born at Methodist Evangelical and we lived in Louisville...Strawberry Lane.... until she was three months old. I loved Louisville, but we didn't live there 6 mos until we moved to Hazel, Ky., just right up the highway from Rocky's stomping ground!

Yeah, I go to Hazel all the time. On a corner up on a big trailer somebody has an old log cabin for sale. I would love to have it, move it out to my place. Somebody needs to buy it and restore it because it's falling apart on the trailer.

The Wolf Den wrote:

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Me too, I hate heights.

I done all ready had to jump off of the ladder twice because I was starting to somewhat fall from working on the roofs. Good thing I'm a little limber from all the dancing I do.

madee in tn wrote:

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Wolf Den, Third St. was where my in-laws lived when I was married to my childrens father! My daughter was born at Methodist Evangelical and we lived in Louisville...Strawberry Lane.... until she was three months old. I loved Louisville, but we didn't live there 6 mos until we moved to Hazel, Ky., just right up the highway from Rocky's stomping ground!

There's a strip of road about over a mile long on the other side of Dresden heading for highway 22 that is 30/hour and takes a long time to drive through. Do you know if this is a speed trap?
I know here in my town the Police are not too particular on speeders unless they are doing at least 50 in the 30 or driving fast in the school zone.

The Wolf Den wrote:

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Yah, I understand but I did not like the person smacking you. All folks need help at some point in their lives.

At times I need help and I get on Topix and start asking around on how to solve it and then I do it.
My dryer went out and I got on the internet and learned how to fix it.

The Wolf Den wrote:

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I understand, but the majority of homeless are due to mental illness. And when the DO GOODERS wanted the institutions to be closed so these folks can be a part of main stream society well you know this is what we are left with. We need those institutions back. 20 years ago when they let them out, they ended up on the streets, in care homes or dead! How did we let this happen?

The 1st. property I managed (100% sec 8) was occupied by persons who had been deemed capable of living independantly by our all knowing mental health system.....I had NO idea what I was in for when I accepted the position...A learning experience like no other. Although some (very few) were capable the majority were NOT capable of living on their own without continual supervision....the stories I could tell. Such as the lady who would catch field mice, kill them, and shove through the office mail slot....another who believed the staff was Russian spy's....another who believed her apt. was occupied by spirits sent to kill her...another who never left her apt. for any reason cuz everyone was out to get her, yet another who never unpacked when she moved in, she was always going to move out, because the men folk were watching her....Needless to say the local police were on site daily. I saw more than one taken away strapped to a gerny. Only to return anywhere 3 to 30 days later, back on meds and left to their own devices.

Until then I was very nieve, sheltered somewhat from the reality of the pain a person with mental illness lives with 24/7. I can't imagine physical pain that could have been worse. Frightened and alone, in a full community.

Washtenaw Co. MI has the best community mental health care in our state. The workers/advocates fight for those in their care with love and respect for the person.

The greatest lesson I learned was the fact most "normal" people see the mentally ill, physically disabled, and seniors, out of sheer ignorance, as a byproduct of society with absolutely no good reason to be alive.

Ex-Harvey wrote:

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I'd say...Pretty much so. These days, if you can talk, you can get a job if you try.

thats the only thing i can agree with u about.

Rockytopzz wrote:

<quoted text>I took the test and filled the application out for Goodyear, I have an interview next week. We'll see.

Good ROcky I am praying for you.

Young Savage wrote:

<quoted text>thats the only thing i can agree with u about.

Ah- ite... I heard dat:)