Blogstew A little bit of everythingBlogstew A little bit of everythingDiary of a middle aged american carpenter fighting for his disability benefits and trying to avoid homelessness with his family.
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Articles
Make Your Vote Count - (and revolt too)
2007-09-26 08:16:00 Everyday I sit and wait for my court date to get my disability while being told told by DHS(Department of Human Services) that I can't get any help unless I 'get a job'. I just don't fuckin get it. Im filing for disability because I can't work after 15 years of banging nails and some pompass asshole is telling me to get a job.For christ sake - stop feeding the machine(Corporations). Stop shopping at any corporate monster that imports their product from another country using slave labor. I want a better life, without having to beg and without being told that welfare(Well Money or Money to be Well, the original purpose) makes me scum of the earth.Whatever you do - VOTE FOR DENNIS KUCINICH in 2008.If you want a chance for universal health care, or to kill these corporate machines that are killing our civilization (by putting an end to NAFTA) - MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT.If your one of those that 'dont vote' and your going to throw away your vote - FUCK IT - throw it away for me, be... More About: Vote , Make , Count , Revolt
Burned Again
2007-09-08 04:02:00 Well, here we go again with another typical day in my life. As a disabled carpenter, there isn't a lot of jobs I can actually do considering I am in pain most of the day because of my blown disc.So, while I wait for my court date and fight my own govt. for the "Insurance" they took from me for 15 years I have been learning how to build web-sites and trying to work from home.Let me tell you, it's not easy to retrain yourself and find work, but I managed to pull off a few jobs here and there.I wound up working on more than one project for this particular person, and it was always hell getting paid because they are so damn picky. After finishing several projects for a person you would think there would be some sort of rapport, even on a small level.As luck would have it; while working on not one- but two projects for this particular person, I asked for a small payment on the small project that was originally "just a favor" and the Facist Nazi Bitch had the gall to tell me she wasnt ... More About: Burn
Futile ComplaintsI read several articles today...
2007-05-30 07:28:00 Futile ComplaintsI read several articles today, mostly about the state of affairs in different countries and it made me think of how trivial my problems are compared to the rest of the world.In several parts of Africa populations are experiencing genocide, the lowest level of the caste people in India are under extreme sanctions and not allowed to change their religion to escape being part of the caste system. The Mexican "guest workers" are continually ripped off by so called "job recruiters". It's not bad enough that they are so much worse off than I am, that they want to come to this country just to try to survive because they can't in their country.And I wonder - Should I really be complaining about how bad I have it, that I have to fight my own corrupt government for my disability. Should I be complaining about how crappy my subsidized apartment is and how I have to fight the utility companies.Some of these people in other countries are lucky if they can make it through th... More About: Articles , Today , Read , Artic
Finance the Broke Carpenter (slash Geek)OK, well...
2007-05-27 02:38:00 Finance the Broke Carpenter (slash Geek )OK, well I am already in debt over my head for a degree that I can't get a job with because NAFTA sent all the countries work over seas.But that doesn't mean I still don't want to do something with my life LOL (What's left for a disabled carpenter anyway?)So until I actually have my day in court and get my disability I need some help.I need help with my phone/internet and power bills - and I really really need help getting new computer parts, my hard drive is on its last legs I think.If anybody happens to have a couple extra bucks - send it via pay-pal to rxhector2k5@yahoo.comThanks,Joe the Broke Carpenter More About: Finance , Slash , Enter , Finan
God Save the Queen(or - the old bat doesnt need ...
2007-05-08 07:14:00 God Save the Queen (or - the old bat doesnt need to be)Aww how sweet, the Queen of England gets to eat off the fancy china at the White House with our corrupt government officials while soldiers die and our own citizens have to sue their own country to get their disability.Will somebody please tell those fat elitist fucking pricks (and bitches) that shoveling their face full of food isnt going to solve any of this countries (let alone the worlds) problems.Why do we even give a crap about that old bag anyway - isnt she just another powerless figurehead (I guess her and bush have something in common after all)I hope they fucking choke to death on their fancy fucking dinner while the rest of the poverty stricken US and world has to suffer.That just about covers me for today.Peace Out... More About: The O , The Queen
This Corrupt Government can Kiss My "American" A...
2007-05-07 04:19:00 This Corrupt Government can Kiss My "American " ASSI guess I can't blame them for being corrupt really though, I mean think about this for a minute.If you had a bunch of people putting an almost endless supply of money in your pocket who's side would you be on?When it comes right down to it, we're all to blame - Hell, we're the ones that voted for the corrupt sons-a-bitches.But when it comes down to it, do they ever really give a crap about the people that are responsible for them being where they are?Hell NO !!!! I personally can't put millions of dollars in their greedy hands because I am only a stupid carpenter. I busted my ass for 17 years of my miserable life in slavery to the "ILLEGAL" federal reserve and only made $117k ($8k/yr). I never made enough money to compete with the gigantic corporations lining the pockets of our corrupt elected officials.Now we have the most disgusting display of disregard for the constitution ever as a president. After "two" rigged election...
More Political Rhetoric
2007-05-06 21:47:00 More Poli tical RhetoricAs the politicians vie for votes they continue on the same path as previous Regimes.It's all bullshit. While they continue to throw their money at the largest Corporations in America.IF ANY OF YOU CORRUPT BASTARDS WANT MY VOTE - YOUR GOING TO HAVE TO THROW ME SOME MONEY DAMMIT.The only candidate that even comes close to saying anything I want to hear is Ron Paul.Yes we all the war to end, and while national health care for all sounds good; until we actually end the war against our pocket books we will continue be slaves to the Federal Reserve.While all the politicians except one have repeated the same shit we have heard for years, there is only one who really stands out. Think about it, it's nice to know that you will be healthy - of course you will. If you stay healthy you can continue your slavery for the Federal Reserve. More About: More , Tori , Politic
SO PISSED OFF!!!!OK, well it's another day that ...
2007-04-22 00:53:00 SO PISSED OFF!!!!OK, well it's another day that I set here in my apathy and think about how pissed off I am at the current regime in office, and how every day of my adult life has been spent in slavery for the rich fuckers that perpetuate their wealth by screwing the already poor even more.The more I think about the state of affairs in this fucked up country and the filthy bastards in office cheated to get there - there is documented PROOF that these lying thieving fuckers cheated to get where they are and nobody has the power or resources to put an end to this shit.If I thought for a second that I could march my crippled, disabled ass to Washington and kick those fuckers in the ass - I would do it myself. It's not bad enough that we're already slaves to the corporations and these corrupt bastards, but now we have to be slaves to the military industrial complex too?I say screw that - If I wasn't married with a family, I would take advantage of my 2ND amendment right to bear arm... More About: Pissed , Piss , Well
SO PISSED OFF!!!!OK, well it's another day that ...
2007-04-22 00:53:00 SO PISSED OFF!!!!OK, well it's another day that I set here in my apathy and think about how pissed off I am at the current regime in office, and how every day of my adult life has been spent in slavery for the rich fuckers that perpetuate their wealth by screwing the already poor even more.The more I think about the state of affairs in this fucked up country and the filthy bastards in office cheated to get there - there is documented PROOF that these lying thieving fuckers cheated to get where they are and nobody has the power or resources to put an end to this shit.If I thought for a second that I could march my crippled, disabled ass to Washington and kick those fuckers in the ass - I would do it myself. It's not bad enough that we're already slaves to the corporations and these corrupt bastards, but now we have to be slaves to the military industrial complex too?I say screw that - If I wasn't married with a family, I would take advantage of my 2ND amendment right to bear arm... More About: Another , That , Pissed , Piss , Well
I have heard this proverb/saying more than once...
2007-04-19 10:51:00 I have heard this proverb/saying more than once and it made me think about how most of my life has been. We are all created equal (from the Declaration of Independence) ? just some more equal than others (Orwell/ Vonnegut, maybe even others earlier.) During the course of trying to find the origin of that quote, I find more than one article or discussion regarding the impossibility of ?all? people being created equal, and that it would be a ?horror? story if we were. I was absolutely amazed at the sheer ?idiocy? of those morons. They totally missed the point of the ?philosophical? meaning of this statement put forth by our forefathers when they wrote the Declaration of Independence. Yes, even our forefathers I am sure; thought of the sheer stupidity of everyone being ?identical? in appearance. This brings me to why I tell my story. I have lived my adult life in poverty. My childhood wasn?t too bad I suppose ? as far as I know we ... More About: Once , Rove , Rover , Prove
State of the Union - for the poor anyway
2007-04-17 23:26:00 State of the Union (for the Poor ) My early years before I entered the world of adulthood were filled with stories of the American dream. But alas, that?s exactly what they were; Stories, Tall Tales, Fictions to soon be discovered. I always knew we weren?t ?Rich?. But my parents managed to keep me fed and a roof over my head. They did O.K. We lived in a middle class neighborhood for 8 to 10 years, so everything wasn?t too bad. Little did I know just exactly how far in debt my parents really were? At any given moment the smallest catastrophe could have sent them reeling into bankruptcy. I did OK in school ? I was a ?C? student, not because I had any learning problems, I was actually in some advanced art and math classes. I was a ?C? student because my parents were hammered with the day-to-day stress of trying to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads. I was a ?C? student because nobody had any idea that the world or at least the US was going to be driven ... More About: State , Stat , The U
Brutal Honesty
2007-04-04 08:46:00 Well people, it's that time of year again when the bills are catching up with us. I've had an OK year so far, hell I even managed to score some odd jobs here and there - I guess thats not bad for a crippled carpenter.But my good fortune (and I use that term lightly) is not enough. If any body has a spare couple bucks(LOL - like there's a possibility of that in this day and age). Make a donation to the broke carpenter.With any luck I can find another odd job to hold on to the phone - but the electric co., those guys are real a-holes to deal with. More About: Ruta , Honest , Nest , Honesty , Brut
One Small Step
2006-12-23 11:15:00 Hey Everybody(LOL),I don't know if I've actually had more than 2 readers but sometimes I just like to type - so here goes.The last two years of my life have been absolute crap. I went from being a really good carpenter in the middle of a career change at 30 something, to having a really screwed up back and fighting for my disability.To be politicaly correct; the last "holiday season" was OK, we managed to get just enough help to keep the kids belief in the "spirit".This year however, we had some of the best luck we have had since my health started to decline. We recieved a phone call from one of our boys' teacher asking us if we would like to be "adopted" by a local outlet mall.We were able to get our kids exactly what they wanted (ok, well almost - they didnt get the laptop or the 50" plasma TV but they did get the other things on the list)It has been a long two years fighting for my disability, and might be longer till I actually get my day in court - I may have to fight the ... More About: Small , Mall , Step
Reflections Two
2006-12-11 03:57:02 O.K., where was I? Oh yeah, I had just left high-school because some insensitive asshole of a dean didn?t get his willy wet that morning or some shit.Well, my parents weren?t exactly thrilled about it, but they were both really understanding about how pissed off I was and they were actually on my side. My mother made some phone calls and later the next day we received a call from the school superintendent with an apology and he said if I went back to school they would excuse the absence and there would be no further punishment for my offense, even the superintendent was not happy about the Deans actions and told me that the Dean should have been more understanding and just waited the extra week and a half or two weeks to suspend me.Like all teen-agers, I knew everything and figured I would just get my GED later down the road anyway so I decided to not go back to school (I hear the Dean got a real ass-chewing from the superintendent too). I had anothe... More About: Reflections , Reflection
Another giant company (Pacific Power) Fucks the poor man
2006-12-02 15:50:08 The last couple years of my life have been an absolute nightmare. I have been "asked" to move once - those landlords kept my deposit, I sued them and won but we all know how small claims go - it has been almost a year now and still no return of my deposit. I have been evicted once - hey not that it matters, my credit is already ruined, that landlord is known locally for doing shady things anyway.It has been two years since I began my battle for Disability benefits. 15 years of carpentry took a massive toll on my body and I have had one back surgery already. But we all know that back problems are the most abused part of the disability department.Well, at least I have a lawyer now to represent me since I have been officialy denied twice. My lawyer tells me it will be up to 2 years before my case can be reviewed.So until the day finally comes that I have my disability in hand I spend much of my time begging from the local charities to help me and my family get by. Believe me, for... More About: Power , Pacific , Company , Other , Comp
When Will it End
2006-12-02 15:50:08 Well, we had another successful begging session. Had to call energy assistance to get help with the electric bill.Believe me, I hate being a bum. I would give anything to get up tommorow and not be in pain and be able to work. I feel Like crap. I am always in pain, even with the morphine (I do have a doctors appointment to go check on legal marijuana). I never wanted to be a welfare case and a drain on society. But her I am. A carpenter with a fucked up back living (ha, barely surviving - believe me this is not living) on the handouts of others.Maybe my appointment with my disability lawyer on the 17th will be productive, but I am still really screwed until I actually get the disability anyway. The bullshit that a person has to go through just to be a part of humanity. Ha, what a fucking joke - humanity.With all these thieving backstabbing fucking republicans in office there will never be any humanity. Thats ok, they did such a good job fucking everything up for the last 8 ... More About: Will , When
The downward spiral.
2006-12-02 15:50:08 Well everybody, here we go one more time. I stumbled into some part-time work at home internet stuff - freelance writing if you can believe it. But everything else has been hell.I get to decide between power and phone - unfortunatley the loss of either one will pretty much kill any chance I have of making any money at all, let alone surviving.Story of my life since this back surgery.This power company has got to be the worst company I have ever had to deal with in my life, they are lucky as hell I can't afford a generator. I would be willing to buy my own diesel fuel just to have the satisfaction of knowing those bastards wouldnt get another dime from me.So if anybody with the heart and a few extra could really help me out.">Thanks - Joe the broke carpenter. More About: War , Down , Ward , The D
Oh Crappy Day
2006-12-02 15:50:08 It's that time again folks !! My wife's deadbeat ex. still hasnt sent us the 2k he owes for back support, the landlords we sued still havent sent us the 900 bucks they screwed us out of and its time pick and choose between which utility we get to fight with this month.It looks the electric company will get all my aluminum can money this month, they shut us off over 60 bucks last time, and for some reason our bill is getting bigger every month. You would think the electric bill would go down in the summer. I think they are screwing us.But you know how easy it is for some broke carpenter fighting just to get his disability to fight a huge corporation like the local power company.So, if anybody wants to help me keep the utilities runnin for another month - send a paypal donation to rxhector2k5@yahoo.com.Cool - thanks everybody. More About: Crap
When will it ever end?
2006-12-02 15:50:08 Well, everything has pretty much gone full circle again. After we got moved there was a rough patch but we recovered from that barely. Then we had a good run without too many problems until recently.My wife and I both are having a hell of a time with our health. We are a great match. Between her fibromyalgia and my bad back neither one of us can hold a job without getting fired.We have both resorted to selling the few things that we had worth any value. I finally sold all my carpenter tools. What the hell, it's not like I was ever going to build a house again.The really screwed up part about all of this is, having to wait up to two years before even getting a hearing for my disability. I mean, what do these people expect happens to those of us who can't provide for ourselves anymore. If we wouldnt have stumbled into this subsidized apartment we would be homeless.And the rest of society just doesn't give a rats ass whether we live or die. We tried going to DHS (division of... More About: Will , When , Ever
There is a light at the end of the tunnel !!!
2006-12-02 15:50:08 Well it finally happened. It only took six years too long but it happened. The people of this country finally sent the message that they are sick-and-tired of the disgusting Bush administration. THANK GOD !!!!Now that the Democrats have control of our country again I might have a snowballs chance in hell of actually getting my disability, or at least living a little better life than I have recently.It's no secret that I can't stand republicans. Every republican agenda since my birth has focused on abolishing any and all forms of public assistance or any form of help for those in poverty. They constantly bash the poor by giving themselves huge tax cuts. It's no wonder they need to get rid of welfare. The greedy bastards are stuck on the size of their wallets and how much money they can take with them to the grave.I don't want to sound like I think I deserve a free ride, thats not my point at all.There was a point in time when I was a go getter. I used to get up everyday a... More About: Light , Here , Tunnel
My Basic Philosophy on Humanity (in the USA)
2006-12-02 15:50:08 My Basic Philosophy on Human ity (in the USA)I read a Blog the other day, and I am vaguely aware of the person past. While reading through the Blog, said ?person? mentioned the fact that they were going to change their voting party from Republican to Independent. Is it because of their disgust with the current Bush/New World Order administration?That we can only assume, however; During the beginning of the Blog this person mentioned the fact that there needs to be change. They recognized the need for Healthcare Reform and better Education. There may have been a few references to some other issues that are pertinent to Independents and Democrats.You might think that someone gets what is really going on until you reach the end of the Blog. The last few lines went on to mention the fact that said ?person? doesn?t feel they should be ?penalized? by paying higher taxes simply because he/she happens to make more money than most. &... More About: Mani , Humanity
Its been forever
2006-12-02 15:50:08 So, I get to wait for up to "TWO YEARS" before I can see the judge about my Social Security reconciliation. What in the hell is that for a process. I will be long homeless and dead in the next two years.I dont know how in the hell anybody else in this country ever made it that far. I put my share in the pot for 15 years while I worked.Now I have to fight tooth and nail to get something that is rightfully mine.Well, hopefully I can keep my elictric and phone and internet for just a little longer. More About: Forever , Ever , Fore , Been
A little piece of sanity
2006-12-02 15:50:08 Well, we finally got back on track a little bit at least. We managed to find a subsidized apartment. It took forever to get the paper work done and we spent alot or our tax return on hotels. But we managed to keep the kids in school at least.We are moved in at least and don't have to worry to much about the rent. The electric company were cut-throat bastards though and they managed to take our last $400 bucks just to get the power on.We found a free 89 ford taurus, but it needs a battery and alternator and we still need to get my wifes drivers license and insurance - how we are going to accomplish that with no money will be interesting.At least the kids are warm and dry, and we have a phone again. Hopefuly my wife can find some job that is not too hard on her fibromyalgia. In the meantime, all I can do is wait for my disability to come through. I managed to get my request for reconsideration in on time, hopefuly the process won't take to much longer.Well, Just thought i w... More About: Little , Piece , Litt
Screwed Again !!!
2006-12-02 15:50:08 So, here we are in our subsidized housing. It's really not as bad as you might think. We live in a rural area - hell, I can't believe they even know what subsudized housing is out here. We stayed in a hotel for about 6 weeks after we got evicted, it was hell. We had to beg from every church we could think of - I must say, for a carpenter that was used to making O.K. money it was quite the humbling experience.While we were in the hotel we managed to get our tax return, boy was it terrible. We usually get way more, but between my bad back and my wifes fibro we didnt make a whole lot to really put any in.We got lucky and a friend of our oldest son told us that her mother manages these apartments, we didnt even know they were subsidized until we came to fill out the applications. It took us about 3 weeks from start to finish to get in, so we had spent some of our tax return on the hotel - that and just trying to stay alive.We don't have a car, so getting around involves bummin... More About: Again , Screw , Screwed , Crew
Reflections of Poverty
2006-12-02 15:50:08 Reflections of Poverty I was thinking about some things the other day, mostly about how a lot of uncontrollable events in my life have forced me and my family to remain in a state of poverty.My last rant about some people with the notion that it is just as easy for me to ?Get off my Ass? and do something about it really stirred me up.Yes, it is true I made the choice to be a carpenter. When I was growing up, like most of us; I never thought about what I really wanted to do when I became older. As a result, when I left high-school in my senior year I more or less just kind of fell into the trade.Maybe I should start there, with one of the first major events in my life that I really had no control over. I had started smoking at around 13 or 14 I think, and all through my junior and high-school years I had never been caught smoking on school grounds. Well, my luck ran out, and I finally got caught.It was the first semester of my senior year and as luck would have it, the school syst... More About: Reflections , Over , Reflection , Vert
More BS
2006-12-02 15:50:08 There's nothing more exciting than getting another denial letter from the SSA saying that I'm not disabled according to thier standards. Let me see, in the two years I have lost my house - been kicked out of more than apartment because I can't work. Had my car towed because I am too broke to keep up with insurance and registration and a drivers license.I wouldn't think that anyone with a family would porposely go through this nightmare.And now to make things worse the SSA is saying if they do approve anyone for disability benefits, they are going to make them wait for two years before paying them a dime.It's just one more perfect example of this republican NEO-CON administration stealing from the less fortunate people so they can keep the never ending war machine turning.Gas companies are reporting record profits - Is there a fuel shortage? Hell No !!!Only 3% of our fuel comes from iraq and we are getting raped at the fuel pumps why? Because the fuel companies major stock h... More About: More
Disability Sucks
2006-12-02 15:50:08 This friggin sucks. At least we made it through the really rough part - being temporarily homeless and living in a hotel.Now we have the next battle to wage. I have been denied disability benefits after filing for a reconciliation. So, I mean it's not like a surprise. I have read alot about how this porcess works and this is the next step.The whole system is really screwed up though. A person should not have to go homeless because of anything, especially those with families. So now I have to go get a disability lawyer and fight some more.TOTAL BULL SH**!!There has to be soem way to level the playing field for the American worker. Think about it. There is only a small percentage of this countries population that can actually afford to live a normal life. And an even smaller percentage that actually enjoys any luxury.Why does a person need to be born with a silver spoon in thier mouth to have a decent life. My parents couldn't afford to send me to college to be a doctor or... More About: Disability , Bili , Suck , Sucks , Sabi
Too Much
2006-12-02 15:50:08 What in the hell is going on with this world !!!Think about this for a minute, if it wasnt for all the shitty minimum wage and blue collar workers what would all the rich people do? I don't think I have ever met a doctor or lawyer who could build thier own house, let alone build thier hospital or court house.But here I am. I worked long and hard building custom homes and what do I have to show for it? Nothing but a fucked up back waiting for disability at 36. Oh Yes, this was my goal in life.It's really funny how it seams that some of the most physically demanding jobs don't pay for shit. This country needs a change. If every low income worker decided to take a day off, NO. Make that if every low income worker decided to take a week off, this country would come to a screeching halt. There has to be some way to tip the scales so that everything is fair.I broke my back just trying to make it from paycheck to paycheck. I used to think that being a carpenter and doing a good d... More About: Much
No Thank You, Mr. Bush !!!
2006-12-02 15:50:08 No Thank You , Mr. Bush !!!I don't want your d*** in my a** anymore you fuc*** worthless piece of republican shit.YOUR FIRED !!!You heard me. As a natural born citizen of the united states, I can honestly say I want your resignation. You SUCK !!! You and your money hungry "war Machine" chronies have fucked up my country so much that I demand you resign IMMEDIATELY.Thats all for now. More About: Hank
Living in a hotel. Thank God for churches or we w...
More articles from this author:2006-01-25 22:15:00 Living in a hotel. Thank God for churches or we would be totaly homeless. Managed to beg for one more weeks worth of money from another church. We found an opening in a subsidy apartment but we need to get all the paperwork done to get in.My wife found a job and got hired, but her actually being able to keep the job with her fibromyalgia will be interesting. But we had to have proof of income to get the apartment for now.The ex-husb never sent the 2K he was behind for the year so he probably went to jail for 6mos. That means that our monthly $400 income just disappeared as well. I got my second denial for disability benefits so now I have to find a lawyer. I hear that once a person gets a disability lawyer they have it made - it is just a matter of making it until the hearing.If anybody can send us an extra buck or two - send it to rxhector2k5@yahoo.com via paypal.Thats all for now - thanksjoe the broke carpenter. More About: Living , Hotel , Churches , Ving , Hank 1, 2 |
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