Caity's Gone...

Dateline: Starbuck’s, March 28, 2009

The rain is slow but relentless as I sit in Starbuck’s window at 8:50 PM of a Saturday night. The kind of rain I used to enjoy in better days – not strong enough to be annoying, yet rhythmic enough to satisfy one that the seasons are rolling around in their proper order and all is right with the world…

There’s a surprising variety of folks sharing Starbuck’s with me. The usual WiFi users are of course here, pounding away at their laptops. A goodly selection of students are running group study sessions. Couples out on dates, heads close together. And one or two lone wolves, such as myself, round out the population.

I can’t help but wonder what brought the other loners out on a night like this. As for myself, it’s simple – I have no electric at home. Not a single one of my computers will run on candle power. Nor will my radio or TV. And though it may have worked for our 12th president, I’ve learned that trying to read by candle light hurts my eyes…

So, since it’s Saturday & the libraries all close at 5:00 on Saturday evenings, I come to Starbuck’s to nurse a single Latte and use their electric to edit photos, type letters, watch the occasional DVD. And work up the odd entry for my blog…

Tonight I’m editing photos. Specifically, one of the shots I took of Caity B & myself (with my camera’s timer) a week ago Wednesday. And I’m trying very hard not to dwell on the fact that Caity has moved on – or rather, moved back east.

An odder couple than Caity & myself you’re not likely to come across. I’m twice her age, and more times than not, haven’t got a clue who or what she’s talking about when she starts going on about the latest band she & the Sound Faction crew have interviewed. Caity has a Mohawk, currently died dark blue, and a veritable plethora of tattoos as well as a selection of piercings.

I on the other hand, wear my hair in a very conservative style, consonant with my age, if not my demeanor. My musical tastes run more towards classic Rock & R&B than today’s Indie bands that Caity finds so intriguing. And I most definitely have neither tattoo nor piercing to my name, and have no plans to acquire any…

Caity and I are both photographers. We met at a Meet N Greet more than a year ago at Portillo’s in Schaumburg. Since then we’ve shared our lives with one another via emails, phone calls, over drinks & dinner. I’m not quite sure how or when it happened – I must have been distracted by something at the time – Caity moved into my heart & set up housekeeping there…

She managed this so subtly that I only came to realize it myself when her life came tumbling down around her, forcing her to pack up & move back east…

That particular Monday afternoon, when Caity called me, there were tears in her voice. She’d had “the absolute worst day of my life, and I need you to come have drinks with me, Hal.” As it happens, my part-time job is less than two miles from her apartment, so I told her I’d be along as soon as I punched out. An hour later I learned:

1) At 9:30 her employer informed her that her services would not be needed after Friday – they were bankrupt & closing the doors;
2) Shortly thereafter she received a call from a friend back east suggesting she call her brother. She did - her mother had been diagnosed with lung cancer;
3) She’d made plans to share a South Loop apartment with two friends from Canada, but at 4:30 they called to tell her their work visas had been denied. Of course the deadline for renewing her current lease had already passed…;
4) And to round her entire day off, when she got home her SO of five years had decided it was time to move on – too bad, so sad, bye-bye...

Caity made the decision to move on. She no longer had a job, an apartment or a lover here in Chicago. Nothing, in other words, to keep her from being with her mother during her treatment. All in all, a well reasoned and intelligent, not to mention logical, decision on Caity’s part. I was devastated…

I hadn’t realized just how much this young lady had come to mean to me. We got together Wednesday afternoon and spent a couple hours in the park by her home. Caity brought Lilly (the 1st guitar she & her father refinished together), chocolate chip cookies and a six pack of 7-Up. I brought my camera, flash & tripod.

While Caity serenaded me I took pictures of her playing & singing. Then I set the timer and took a couple shots of us together. We sat and talked and discussed her plans to leave town. Finally it got too cold for either of us to continue sitting there, so we packed up our belongings & I walked her back to her door.

Anyway, those are the pictures I’ve been working on this evening. Caity picked up her rental car yesterday at noon, came home & loaded up her belongings, and then called me to say goodbye. I wished her a safe trip back home and made her promise to let me know when she gets there and where “there” is…

I was at work when Caity called me yesterday. I couldn’t speak for long. Probably just as well, all things considered. There’s very little more off-putting than a 50 year old fat man blubbering into a cell phone while on the clock at an Elementary School…

Looking out the windows I’m grateful for the rain. It’ll give me an excuse to keep my head down when I leave, and if by chance anyone does get a glimpse of my face, the raindrops will hide my tears…

A Bitter Harvest

I find myself in a reflective mood as I write this post. Thanksgiving is over and Christmas & New Year’s are just ahead… Both holidays are supposed to be harbingers of joy and good will and hope for a “New Start,” a chance to work towards a better & improved existence…

Sadly, it’s been a good double decade or so since I’ve honestly enjoyed Christmas or New Year’s. This year, for a change, I can actually point to the reasons I’m depressed as the holidays approach.

First and foremost, above all other reasons, I remain unemployed. Despite being put on The Office Team roles in October, I’m still waiting for my first assignment. One of my benefactors from last month provided me a “can’t fail, sure thing” job lead with a janitorial service in Wooddale – no soap, they have no openings but will keep my application on file. And most of all, despite all the on-line applications I submit each & every day on Career Builder, Hot Jobs, Monster, and other similar job boards.

There is no employment to be had – at least not for the likes of myself. I’m not giving up entirely, mind you – I am still looking for and applying for all manner of jobs – but if 9 months’ experience is any indication, there’s little hope on my horizon…

This morning I visited the Center of Concern in Park Ridge. They were recommended to me as a resource for rent assistance. Unfortunately, while they do have a program to assist people in paying their rent, I do not qualify because I have no job… Of course, if I had a job I wouldn’t need help paying the rent. Those fun loving rule makers at the DHS are the ones to thank – they’re the folks funding the program & since it’s their money, they get to set up the requirements for its dispersal…

I’m writing this on December 1st – Rent Day – in the hopes that putting my thoughts in some semblance of order may (just may) allow me to see some possibility of supporting myself that I have overlooked… So far, it’s not working, but one never knows… In the meantime, I have until the 5th to come up with $525 for rent. After the 5th a $20 late fee gets tacked on and the landlord starts thinking about eviction proceedings again…

Other reasons for depression include being ostracized. Over the past nine months my friends & family have been amazing in providing me moral & financial assistance. In the past several weeks though, they’ve begun distancing themselves from me. Can’t blame them really; I’m far from the happy & cheerful rogue everybody knows & loves these days. And then too, my inability to find any kind of meaningful employment in nine full months has got to be weighing on their minds…

One friend has decided I’ve become bitter, argumentative & stubborn of late. Another seems to think that my casually acknowledging the possibility I may not survive till spring is in poor taste. Others won’t accept or return my phone calls. There are very few things quite as disheartening as exile…

It’s a lonely, cold & bitter time here at The Aluminum Harvest…

All Good or All Bad

A little more than two weeks have passed since I last posted to The Aluminum Harvest. I wish I could say the past couple weeks has been spent profitably at my new employment. I cannot – that would be a blatant lie.

I’m still waiting for my first assignment from Office Team – my so-called employers, the Temp Agency that recruited & hired me last month. So far I’ve used more than 60 minutes in cell phone time checking in with the various OT offices in the hopes that somebody had work for me. They don’t.

Now that I have less than 60 minutes left on my pre-paid cell phone, and under $15 in my pocket, it’s time to try a new approach. It occurs to me that bank robbery is something of a win-win possibility. If I get away clean I’m golden. And if I’m caught, well at least I don’t have to worry about room & board anymore..

I do have a bit of bright new to share with everyone. A very good friend of mine, Milt, has sponsored me to his Church’s Brotherhood Program for assistance, and the Church has accepted me. So what does that mean exactly?

A kind and good hearted friend* had loaned me $500 after hearing that I was being taken to Court for non-payment of my back rent. I was absolutely stunned at her offer, coming out of the clear blue sky as it did. In fact, I was reduced to tears and I’m not in the least ashamed to admit it. Still, that $500 loan was far short of the two month’s back rent I owed, not to mention that November’s rent was already past due…

Enter my friend Milt and the South Park Church of Park Ridge. Through their Brotherhood Program, the Church funded me with monies enough to not only pay my back rent, but enough to pay my current rent as well, with a bit left over for food.

I didn’t learn of this until the night before Court, however. When I appeared in Court I was able to tell the Judge I would have the funds to cover my indebtedness within the week. She granted me a week’s continuance which gave me time enough to cash the Church's check, purchase the necessary Money Orders & bring my account with the landlord current. Once I was current, the landlord agreed to have the case against me dismissed from the docket. Good news - I still have a home!

Milt tells me that the Church is not through with me, though. He’s making inquiries this week to get all the details, but as I understand it, the Church is also part of a network that offers job retraining and job placement. Assistance in obtaining food is possible, as well as some assistance in getting my utilities back on. That last will be especially welcome, you’ll recall I’ve been living without electric since June…

As of this writing, I do not know what my next step is in the program, but it is somewhat reassuring to know that there IS a next step, with hope on the horizon. And even more reassuring to know that there are groups and individuals willing to step up and offer a helping hand to those in dire need. I've had my doubts of late...

On a somewhat sadder note, and completely unrelated to my own situation, I’ve received two very frightening pieces of news this week that I wish to address.

The first is actually good news, but completely unexpected. My good friend Ashley, who I met through Model Mayhem, was released from the hospital following a week’s treatment for blood clots in both lungs and one leg. She is recovering at home with family around her to assist (and I’m sure driver he completely nuts) in her recuperation and her prognosis is excellent!

The frightening part is that I had no idea she’d been hospitalized to begin with. Let alone, that at 23 years of age, she was fighting for her life this past week. Blood clots are serious business, and her case could so easily have gone the other way... That realization would have added several more gray hairs to my beard, if I still had my beard, that is.

I've no idea whether Ashley is a reader of my blog or not, but I want to wish her well in her recovery, and to let her know how much her friendship has meant to me.

The second frightening piece of news I received just this afternoon involves another young lady I met through Model Mayhem. Jenny has only recently learned that she may have breast cancer. I say “may” because her initial screenings have proven inconclusive. Further testing by a specialist is now necessary to complete her diagnosis.

I do not know Jenny well. She and I are casual acquaintances with a “nodding hello" type friendship. I believe Jenny to be a strong and capable individual, well able to face whatever adversity may come along. The uncertainty of not knowing, however, is a trial all it's own, complete with it's own tortures.

As with Ashley, I have no idea whether Jenny is a reader of this blog or not. If so, Jenny, all my hopes & prayers are with you during this uncertain time. Be strong and be well...

So, I bring this post to a close, my friends. There is some small hope on the horizon for myself, but that hope has been – tainted, if you will – by recent events surrounding my friends’ health issues.

I guess that just goes to show that nothing in this life is ever all good or all bad. The Harvest continues...

Be well, my friends.


* I do not know whether my friend wishes her largess to be known, so for the moment I will keep her identity private.

Congratulations President Elect Obama - Please Hurry!

The election is over and America’s newest President elect is Chicago’s own hometown boy, Barak Obama. Our first ever President of color and the second youngest man to ever be elected to the highest office in the land. Change is definitely in the air, and it is high time…

I have no idea what form the changes President Elect Obama will take. I do know that whatever he plans & puts in effect will not materially effect my life in a timely enough fashion to be of any practical use to me.

I do have a few hopes, however. For example:

I hope that our President will strive to make some changes in the tax code that will encourage America’s business community to keep jobs here at home, where we need them so badly;

I would like to see some changes in how the various Assistance programs are operated. Yes, I know, they are administered at the State and not Federal level, but a surprising amount of the State run Assistance programs are funded with Federal funds having mandated usage guidelines attached to them;

There are other issues I’d like to see addressed/rectified, but the above are the two biggies that materially affect me the most.

In seven full months, I’ve managed to land 2-1/2 days’ work stuffing envelopes for a Northbrook based Temp Agency who never had any more assignments for me; I landed a very short-lived P/T position in Dominick’s Deli Department that I lost for reasons that still haven’t been explained to me; and I’ve landed on the rolls of a second temp agency two weeks ago, but have still not been given an assignment.

Come Monday I will be appearing in Court, where my landlord’s attorney will press his case for two months back rent. Try as I might, I was unable to raise the monies owed, so I have no defense. The Court will find for the Plaintiffs and an Eviction Notice will be issued. The only variable in question is how soon that Notice will be served…

Once the Sheriff’s Department officially serves that Notice, my hopes for recovery will be virtually shattered. I will no longer have access to bathing facilities, so will be unable to present a professional appearance to prospective employers. I will have a vastly limited wardrobe available that I will be unable to launder frequently enough. Food will become my number one priority followed swiftly by some kind of temporary shelter from Winter’s chilling elements…

I’m happy we have a new President Elect that is so universally popular across the land. I wish him nothing but good fortune in his efforts to cure the ills of our great nation. I hope he succeeds in his efforts, and in record time.

Unfortunately, change cannot begin until January when President Elect Obama is officially installed as the leader of our country. I wonder if I’ll still be breathing then…

PLEASE HAVE THIS FORM TRANSLATED IMMEDIATELY

So it says across the front of the trial summons delivered to me yesterday evening. I, and any “other unknown residents” have been named as Defendants in an action brought forward by my landlord who is seeking payment for the past two months’ rent.

I’ve not before seen a trial summons with my name attached as Defendant. It is a rather formidable looking document written, I am sure, with an eye to instilling a touch of awe and perhaps a bit of fear in those named as Defendants. While the document does not inspire any awe, fear is another matter…

Mother’s Day of 1984 it was when I moved into my home. That was 24-1/2 years ago. In that time I’ve been late with my rent a few times, have had to pay late fees on perhaps 12 occasions, but I’ve never ever NOT paid my rent. Until now…

While I am tempted to unleash a diatribe towards my landlord & their unthinking, uncaring actions in bringing forth this legal actions, I cannot find it in my heart to do so. Mostly because if I were in their place, I’d be doing the same thing. My rent IS past due and I have no means of raising the necessary monies to rectify the situation. The cause is just, if harsh, and not at all unexpected.

My situation is dire, but not completely hopeless. I’m almost certain that if I can raise the past due amount prior to the scheduled trial date, I may be able to negotiate and extension for November’s rent. I just don’t quite know how to manage that feat…

When Dominick’s let me go for reasons that remain unknown to myself, my sole source of “significant” income dried up. On the other hand, just this past Friday I landed a position with Office Team, a local temp agency. Six days later I am still awaiting my first assignment...

By my calculations I have 8 days remaining in which to raise my past due rent, negotiate an extension for November and basically put my life back together. If I fail, then in 11 days from now the Court will enter judgment against me, and sometime thereafter the Sheriff’s department will be along to put me out on the street…

So as not to end this missive on a completely sad & discouraging note, may I direct your attention to my title? That is a direct quote from the Trial Summons served on me yesterday evening. Ironically, that directive, like the remainder of the Summons, is written entirely in English…

Though it has turned bitter, the Harvest continues, my friends…

The Slide Continues

This has been something of a mystifying morning to me. Those of you who have followed my posts sinced I began this blog are aware I recently managed to land a part-time postion with Dominick's Deli department. Well, as recently as a month ago, anyway...

Things were going about as well as one could expect, from my point of view. The work was tiring, but not overly difficult. Most of my evening shifts were evenly split between servicing customers and cleaning. Occasionally, when things got exceptionally busy, my cleaning duties were left to last, but the customers always got my full & prompt attention.

Then, when I turned on my cell phone this morning I found a voice mail waiting for me from my Manager at Dominick's. I returned her call immediately and learned that "...it's just not working out..." and I shouldn't bother coming in for my Thursday evening shift.

In short, I was fired. A new experience for me - I'd never been fired from a position in my life before. I was somewhat taken aback, not having been given any indication my work efforts to date were less than expected. In fact, I had been under the impression I was doing very well.

Understandably confused, I asked her to clarify "Do you mean I no longer have a job?"

To which she replied "Exactly. Thanks for calling back and sorry it didn't work out." I then asked, still politely mind you, "Would you mind telling me why I'm fired?"

There was an awkward pause before she replied "...all I can say is it isn't working out..." Then she hung up.

Just that quickly my hopes that I might finally be on the right track to stopping the downward spiral my life's been taking were put to an end. For no better reason than "...it's not working out..."

I don't for one minute delude myself that I'm without fault here or that I didn't do something, if not wrong, at least not as right as I should have. Obviously something's wrong here, but I haven't a clue what.

I've made it a point to be on time, well groomed, and industrious in my duties. Customers always received my full & prompt, friendly attention. When I was unable to assist them, I asked for assistance - either from my co-workers or management.

"...it's just not working out..."

Now that's one hell of an epitaph, huh?

Little Ironies

It's long been an axiom that supply & demand are the two major factors in the pricing of a commodity.

Aluminum, say...

The price of aluminum is dropping, and dropping rather steadily I'm sorry to say. When I made my trip to turn in last week's harvest the price per pound had dropped by 5 cents to $0.55/pound. I turned in 24 pounds of aluminum cans last week and was compensated with a whopping $13.55 for my efforts.

This morning I took in another 24 pounds of aluminum cans and received $10.80 for my efforts. That's right, boys & girls, the price per pound for aluminum cans has dropped to $0.45 per pound since last week. That's a 25% drop from two weeks ago when the price was still $0.60/pound.

This recent drop in the price of aluminum at the scrap dealer frankly puzzles me. When dealing in most commodities, when an item becomes scarce, the price goes up. With autumn's arrival the number of picnics & other group events in the area parks & forest preserves has dropped rather substantially. Considering the cooling temperatures at this time of year, this is certainly no surprise.

It does however mean that there is far less aluminum available for harvesting, hence a smaller supply to be turned into the area recyclers & scrap dealers. I might also note that the number of harvesters has fallen off as well... (A small bright spot.)

So now we have a reduced supply of a commodity, being gathered by a smaller number of harvesters like myself, for which the price is less. According to my understanding of supply & demand in the marketplace that seems just plain backwards. The price per pound should be going up as the supply drops, not down...

Methinks it's going to be a long, hard winter...