Taxi John?

Homelessness for Stupid People

The foibles of the most pampered homeless population in the Bay Area...

A friend of mine, I'll call her Miss C, came up to me this morning and told me of something she saw last night which had her flaming angry. She told me the story and I stood there wide eyed not knowing what to say...

“You want me to write about this?” I asked.

“Of course!” Miss C told me. “Why not?”

I had to admit, I was completely enthralled with her little tale, and I would have written of it. But there really is nothing like a first hand account. And so, I had her write about it and this is what she sent me:

I was finally warm, my tummy was full and my eyelids were getting very, very droopy. It was time to go retrieve my "woobie". For those who know me, my "woobie" has become quite the talking point! And, yes, I do get a lot of kidding about it - it's a huge, furry 15LB leopard blanket - just one of those comfort things that reminds me of home.

So, out I went to get the darn thing and in pulled a van.

Hmmm who is this? Well, what do you know, a Persian or Arab gentleman was driving and tried to explain to me that he was a taxi driver and dropping of a woman. It just didn't seem right. No markings on the otherwise normal looking van, no phone numbers, and the kicker was she wasn't being asked to pay a fare. Too boot, she got out barefoot! In this weather - please! You've got to be kidding me!! What a trick - no really!

The joke was on me - this was no normal taxi ride - it was a "John" letting out his "Trick" What the hell?? No way! No smelly ho's, no johns - just no! As many have read previously, there have been a few "issues" at the warming center and we are all on our very, very best behavior. In fact, a couple ladies have taken it upon themselves to provide "security" at center -one of them being me.

One lady takes the early evening hours and I take over at night due to my chronic insomnia! So far it's working well. We've busted a few for smoking out front and another for going in and out in the back to smoke during the quiet hours between 10PM and 6AM! Slamming doors and the arctic breeze that follows is unacceptable.

The best part of this is that the volunteers back us up - no questions asked.

So, when Tricky entered the building I was right behind her and notified staff what was going on. Tricky was promptly told she wasn't staying, but would be shod (she was barefoot) and fed and would need to make other arrangements for somewhere to sleep. Good enough!

I never thought I would need to say this but JUST A SHOUT OUT TO THE JOHNS IN THE TRI-VALLEY - DO NOT DROP YOUR STINKIN' HOS AND TRICKS OFF AT THE LIVERMORE HOMELESS REFUGE! LEAVE THEM WHERE YOU FOUND THEM!! AND IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO DO THEM, THEN PAY THEM A LIL BIT MORE TO GET A ROOM AND A SHOWER!

Between the Cold and an Ugly Place...

Homelessness for Stupid People

The foibles of the most pampered homeless population in the Bay Area...

“It's this close to closing!” Said Mickey this morning. She was standing up in front at Vineyard Christian Fellowship holding her hand up with thumb and forefinger less than a half inch apart.

She was talking about the Warming Centre. It would seem there's been even more drama than I expected with fights, people drinking in and throwing beer cans around and neighbours getting very, very upset. By all accounts, the inmates are running the asylum and the volunteers have little control, and they've just about had enough...

I do hold the volunteers themselves responsible. A homeless community (I use that term loosely, it's really not anything resembling a community) with so many drug and alcohol addicted folk aren't going to respect any boundries unless they're firmly enforced. It's simply not going to happen. Those at the Warming Centre refuse to do that, so they're losing control, and this year, apparently, it's worse than ever.

And who will lose? Those who respected the rules. But that's nothing new... the problem isn't that people don't know what's going on. The problem is the lack of authority keeping these things from happening in the first place.

Those of us who follow the rules have no authority, no power, and not any recourse to solve the situation other than to leave, and a few of us have done just that. Permanently.

But suppose your there. It's forecast to be 28 or so degrees tonight, and it's been bloody cold all day long. You're going to have to endure it, or freeze?

No, you don't have to freeze. Not if you're prepared.

Keeping a kit that will help you survive the bitter cold isn't all that difficult. You do, of course, need a decent sleeping bag. You probably have one, but if you don't, ask for it if you can't buy one.

Mylar space blankets. You wrap yourself in those inside your sleeping bag and will keep your body heat in rather than escaping.

Layering clothing. Yeah, you'll sleep in your clothing, so might as well make good use of it. Layers will be a huge help.

Chemical Hand Warmers! If you can get your hands on them, that is. They're not expensive, and they generate heat. They're also easy to carry and to deal with. Simply unwrap them, shake them vigorously, and put them in your socks (or, better, between the two socks you have on each foot).

Another hint is this: HYDRATION!

If you allow yourself to become dehydrated, that means blood is thicker and can't move through your body fast enough to warm up your extremities. That means cold hands and feet. Drink water! Lay off the coffee. Yeah, I admit, I only remembered this last Thursday when my feet were like thick blocks of ice at the end of my legs in the morning... lesson learned!

My own sleeping kit is this: a tarp (reflective on one side), two blankets and a sleeping bag. I do have a couple of Mylar blankets stashed but have yet to need them. The tarp and the blankets are there to keep the ground from stealing all my body heat. The blankets are protected by the tarp, and I'm protected by the blankets. Know this, the cold ground will leach your body heat faster than anything and do it right through your clothing. It's imperative that if you're outside, you either get off the ground, or find a way to protect yourself from it.

I anticipate that my friend from my last blog won't be the last one this season to turn his back on the Warming Centre. If things are as out of control there as everyone is saying, it's got far worse since. Just so you know, if the Warming Centre goes away, and people seem to think it might, it's not the end of the world!

Be safe out there!