ANOTHER RE-UNION

I saw Pat last night at the U of A. He was homeless again because he was fired from Primavera for refusing a drug test. He told me he was dirty at the time and it wasn't just from pot.

PARKER CONSULTING ROCKS!!!

Thanx to Ray Tafoya of Tucson Initiative Placement Services, I was just hired to do surveys over the phone. John Dollinger is the manager and he seems relaxed and courteous, like Vester was at A.C.O.R.N. I begin next Monday.

BACK TO JACKSON

On Monday, I went to my first class and learned that Frank was the trainer. I've heard a lot of bad news about him but for the 3 days I was in class, he was fine. We started out with 13 students and Frank told us that 24-25 had signed up for the class. He also said Jackson had a 97% success rate!!! On Tuesday, we started with 8 but were down to 7 before the end of the day. I believe that Frank expelled one of the students (Wesley) because he wasn't trying hard enough. Wesley may have psychogical problems in addition to whatever brought him to Jackson.

On Wednesday, we started with 7 but were down to 6 before 9 AM. A guy named Bob just got up and left.

On Thursday, I had forgotten to set my alarm so I didn't get up until 8:15, 15 minutes late for Jackson. I called and Frank told me I would have to start over, beginning on this coming Monday.

In the meantime, I've gotten an e-mail from the UA and it looks like I will get to be at least a temporary replacement worker for the Human Subjects Protection Program. Dr. Dahl will contact me to schedule another interview. I also got back with the Tucson Initiative Placement Services, a job finder company that Arizona's Voc Rehab program is paying to find me a job, and I have an appointment with Ray at 1 PM today.

BACK AT JACKSON

I had three options: (1) get a job by Friday (2) re-enter the Jackson program (3) leave the Catalina House.

I chose (2) because (1) didn't occur. When I went back to re-enrol, I said "Hi" to Frank and I waved to Mrs. Lupe. I didn't get a reaction from either of them.

Suzie, the receptionist, was friendly and courteous.

BACK TO SQUARE ONE

I'm back to looking for work. I lasted at Sears for about 3 weeks and I was fired because I neglected to call in sick. I had no valid excuse for not calling in. I don't think I could've lasted much longer because I was running out of empathy for customers' problems. The job was great when I could do some trouble-shooting over the phone and not so great when I has to listen to angry customers.

ANOTHER ONE DOESN'T MAKE IT

Aubrey, one of the better people I met at Primavera Men's Shelter, didn't last very long at St. Mary's. Today I heard that he was fired and like so many others, is hanginf around the Ronstadt bus center.

LOTS OF NEWS

Carlos assigned me to another job coach - Ray Tafoyer - and in about a week, I got hired at the Sears call center. I have orientation on the 12th and training begins on the 15th and lasts for 4 weeks.

Catalina House/Traveler's Aid Society got everyone at the House Xmas presents and threw a nice dinner at the House. I finally got a bathrobe!

A SALLY REUNION

I ran into Ed at the Ronstadt Center and he's now living a Primavera instead of the 4 bedroom apartment he had through JEC. As he put it, that's what happens when you "piss dirty."

Addiction is one problem that the homeless have that doesn't seem to be addressed very well in Tucson.

WOOHOO!

I finally got my CAT CARD and I've already taken out two books that weren't available at the public library.

GRATITUDE

Since I moved to the Catalina House, my sense of thankfulness has gradually declined and I think this is a good time to note some of the many things I should be greatful for.

First, the state of Arizona for providing food stamps and healthcare coverage. The food stamps have been very helpful.

Second, the Traveler's Aid Society for providing free and greatly discounted monthly bus passes. I don't have a car so I depend on the bus to get around.

Third, Laverne, Marg and Mike at the Catalina House. From what I've heard, the folks who used to run the House were both martinets and drug addicts. These three are friendly and helpful to me.

Fourth, Internet availability. I can use the PCs at the Armory Park Senior Center, the Shot in the Dark Cafe, Access Tucson, the public libraries and the U of A libraries.

I GET A LITTLE NERVOUS

At least two of the jobs I applied for yesterday were advertised by employment agencies and I don't have much hope of getting a job through them.

I do have an appt. with Steve from the League of Conservation voters at 1 P.M. but I have the feeling that the job will involve a lot of walking.

At 3:30, I meet again with Carlos and maybe he'll have found something by then.

(And maybe not)

I'M STARTING TO HAVE DOUBTS

Doubts about the job service Voc Rehab sent me to. Today I went in for what I hoped to be a series of job interviews set up by the service but instead all I got to do was fill out applications at 2 call centers. One of them, APAC, turned me down because I didn't have enough experience.

What I found disturbing was how Carlos approached this. He seemed to just take a glance at the Daily Star and decided that call centers would be a good choice. He also seems about as computer literate as Lee Berendt, the president of LTI who didn't know how to copy & paste.

A NICE TOUCH

A recently got a letter from DES that contained my NYS birth certificate AND a little "thank you" note. I had previously made a point of telling DES that their original form for NYS birth certificates was ONLY applicable to New York City and I think this was DES's way of thanking me for the information.

A PRIMAVERA REUNION

Last night, Phil and Pat ran into me at the Dark Side coffee shop on Broadway. Phil worked at Primavera until a recent dirty urinalysis. Pat was a client and is now on staff. The good news from them is that Aubrey got a full-time job at St. Mary's Hospital and now has a place of his own. I've got both their cell numbers so I'll be able to stay in touch when I finally breakdown and get a cell phone.

SATURDAY NOTES

I was approved by Voc Rehab for assistance. I have an appointment with a job assistant next Friday and I will be getting a free November bus pass by then. Pedro, my counselor, said that I should get 2-3 estimates of the cost of driving lessons if I want VR to pay for getting a driver's license.


I woke up pretty beat today and even after plenty of caffeine, I haven't woken up. I think I have a minor cold so I called Kris the canvass manager and told him I wouldn't be coming in today. I don't like to miss a chance to help defeat Kyl but I'm just too pooped to do much walking. This will give me a chance to do a much-needed laundry.

DISABILITY

When I went in for my first or second interview with DES, I was a little surprised when the case worker hinted that I might be eligible for disability. I now see why: many people in ShelterWorld are on some form of disability and some are getting it on what seem to me to be dubious grounds.

RAVELLED SLEEVES

Although I am no longer bone-tired from lack of sleep, I still haven't had a good night's sleep at the Catalina House. I still get up a few times a night to urinate and I don't ever seem to gently fall asleep.

A LOT OF WALKING

Despite having my bike, canvassing involves a lot of walking. The worst part for my knees are the stairs in apartment complexes. I am encouraged by the people I do manage to talk to - they either have voted or are determined to vote Democratic.

WOOHOO!!!

I was getting worried about not having a job prospect but that's changed. I saw an ad in the U of A's student paper for convassing, sent them and e-mail and - voila -I've been hired by the local Democratic Party to help get out the vote. It's a temporary position but it should pay for another 3 months rent at the Catalina House with a little left over for personal spending.

EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES

In the last few months, I spoken with two execs at local agencies and each time I came away with the strong impression that they didn't understand my resume. Today, the woman I spoke didn't even bother to look at my resume but she did ask questions about my job application. The application had only a couple of lines to give not only one's job title but also the job's duties. I basically had just enough room to put down the titles.

She told me that I should also put my resume with other agencies, so I doubt that I will get anything from hers.