« I Gots Nothing, People | Main | Friday Shuffle - The Meercat Edition »
September 15, 2005
The Shit List & The Love List
I'm in a good mood today. Really. I know, I know - it's been awhile since that happened. I'll share with you some of the things that are aiding my mood. But because I'm all about balance, I'm also going to bitch.
I will not, however, be making another pie chart. Do you know how much work that takes?
Giving the love to: St. Patrick's Center. I'm not Catholic. I'm barely even Christian. I'm all heathen, baby, but that didn't stop me from spending my day at St. Pat's in their Hurricane Katrina Assistance Center. Wow. Just ... wow. It's quite an operation they've got. Basically, they're helping people from the gulf coast who've decided to relocate to St. Louis. And they still need lots of volunteers and donations, so if you live here, get off your ass and help them!!!
I've done volunteer work here and there, and I can say that this is the best-run operation I've seen. Considering this is a unit that has been whipped up fast during a crisis, even more impresive.
What did I do? I worked at the phone bank, answering and making calls. Most of the calls I got were from people wanting to help, including a beauty school that's offering free services to hurricane survivors, and an elementary school that wants to "adopt" some kids and get them set up with clothes.
The calls I made were to people who have contacted Catholic Charities with housing opportunities, which brings me to ...
I shit on: stupid greedy dumbasses who contact Catholic Charities to "offer" apartments and houses at full rent to people who have lost everything. We're looking to help hurricane survivors, not give you free advertising, so don't fucking act aghast when I ask you if you'll be offering free rent, Bitch. And don't give me this, "I don't want no one who's gonna not pay the rent" shit, either. This especially goes to the owner of the shithole motel who so graciously "offered" to rent Trashy rooms to survivors for $60 + tax per night. Unless you're going to actually give people something, DON'T FUCKING WASTE THE TIME OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO DO SOME GOOD!
More love to: St. Patrick. I'm not sure what he's the patron saint of, other than Ireland. But I guess that makes him lucky because let me tell you, I coasted in there on fumes (because I'm a poor planner). And I kid you not, while I was in the building someone deposited a gas station next to where I parked, which I swear wasn't there when I arrived. And my parking? Illegal. But didn't get ticketed. Thanks Pat. You rock. Tell Bono I said hi.
And a big pantload to: Sally Mae student loans. B. contacted them awhile back to rework how much he pays them every month. They offered him a forebearance. He explained that he was pretty sure he didn't have any forebearances left. They insisted he did. He even yelled at them that he didn't have any forbearances. They threatened to break his jaw with brass knuckles if he didn't apply for one. So he did. Several other conversations have transpired with Sally Mae. And he has repeatedly told them, "I'm sure I don't have any forebearances." And they have said, "Shove you payment up your ass, Bitch, and take the fucking forbearance."
This evening, he got a phone call from Sally Mae and she's all, "Where my money, Bitch?" And B.'s like, "It's up my ass, where you told me to put it for the past month." And they're like, "No, Ho. You ain't got forbearance. We didn't tell you shit. Pay us."
But a great big snuggle to: Clara "Fragile" Jane's day care teachers. They know she's a bit delicate, so they had a "Teletubbies" video all cued up for her arrival because they know the love and comfort she finds in Laa-Laa.
And a stinky diaper to toss at: KETC, our local PBS affiliate. They don't answer their hate mail. Why am I sending them hate mail? Because every three months during pledge time, they pre-empt Sesame Street with shit like Michael Flatley: Celtic Tiger. I mean, holy fuck, PBS! Not only is my child furious because she's not getting her post-nap Elmo fix, but now she requires post-traumatic stress disorder therapy because she's far to young to be exposed to horrors like this.
My daughter's innocence is gone, my friends, and KETC owes her big-time. And they better pray to God that I don't develop my mother's spastic colon because oh boy, if I do, they're gonna pay.
Posted by Robin at September 15, 2005 07:05 PM
Comments
Hey, I have like 2 bags of clothes and I want to help but not on phones, phones scare me. Contact me and let me know. I'm sure I can find a whole bunch of other stuff in the house to donate for their move in kits etc. I know i have things that i don't need from when we moved in the house like regular phone for when they do get a place, lamps,I could also probably find stray toys from when i was in school and used toys to make art, plus a few other household goods.
Posted by: mindy at September 16, 2005 09:14 AM
Rolllphh
All i had to do was open that Michael Flatley picture and I lost it. Freaking hilarious. I am SO with you on the PBS shit donation commercials before Sesame Street. Horrible. My 3 year olds throws his dinosaurs at the tv screaming "HURRY UPPPPPPPPPPP"!
I think I will call the St Patrick's Center today...would love to help.
Posted by: Crits at September 16, 2005 10:21 AM
Yuck! Michael Flatley?? I was eating when I clicked on that link!
I'm with you on the PBS pledge drive crap. I used to work for KCET, the L.A. station, and every employee had to sign up to man the phones during at least one shift per day. I took the morning shift and answered a lot of calls from kids who thought if they called the number on the screen, they might actually get to talk to Cookie Monster. I kind of think that if your kid is big enough to pick up the phone and dial the correct sequence, he/she should be in some sort of supervised educational program (like, maybe school?) where he/she won't have access to a TV or phone. But maybe that's just me.
Good for you for doing your part to help out. I just dropped off books and toys and clothes at our local yoga center (don't laugh); they've been making regular runs to Houston. The stories I hear from them are just unbelievable. It's worse than we think it is.
Posted by: Lisa (Blah Blah) at September 16, 2005 01:51 PM
P.S. Long live pie charts! I love the pie chart!
Posted by: Lisa (Blah Blah) at September 16, 2005 01:52 PM
I find it frightening that Michael Flatley and William Shatner during his Star Trek TV days are dead ringers for each other.
Posted by: DixiePeach at September 16, 2005 04:19 PM
I freelance from home and have for 2 1/2 years. I count on watching "Ellen," "Oprah," reruns of "Spin City," "Becker," "King of Queens," and "M*A*S*H" on weekdays Let's not forget my favorite: "Matlock." The new season has started, and on Friday there was no "Matlock." NO MATLOCK???? What have I done to deserve this? Not only was it replaced with the 700 Club (Yee Gads, deliver me from EVIL.) but I was forced to turn to Channel 9 and watch Michael Flatly and Celtic Tiger. I thought I was the only one who was pissed off. Nice to know we could form a club. (No nasty comments about my taste in television. I am lonely.)
Posted by: redheadeditor at September 17, 2005 07:00 PM
i like reading your paige its very very goooood.....!
Posted by: hope at September 21, 2005 03:31 PM
St. Patrick is the patron Saint of Engineering. Hence the big deal it is in Rolla. So now you know.
Also? I hate people.
Posted by: Jack's Raging Mommy at September 22, 2005 06:32 PM




