Wood and Silverware? Uh, Pass.

 

     Remember this heartbreaking picture of Zen-like loneliness, this empty chair without even the company of Clint Eastwood yelling at it? I sure do. That was taken way back in April 2009 when I moved into my present apartment. That was during that mercifully brief period of time when I lived alone, before Popeye and Mrs. JP moved in, back when I could still leave the toilet seat up 24/7, which at the time was the highlight of my life and the best part of being a single 50 year-old guy (Well, that and endlessly standing in front of the fridge in my skivvies in the early part of that first summer). Now, the chair has long since been buried with all sorts of ephemera (How we artistes call "junk" and "clutter") and my living room now looks like a tornado-tossed shrine to CDs and cat toys.

     Well, I was driving to the post office today and when I looked at my cell phone, I noted the date and realized something. I don't often forget dates and anniversaries and maybe this one was a tender mercy. But I suddenly became aware that I moved into this apartment five years ago yesterday. The only thing in my life that was better than now is that I had a job and was about to secure a second one. Then, one month later to the day, I showed up for work and was told to come into the boss's office before I had a chance to punch in.

     By June that year, I'd lost even the parttime gig on Sundays and it's been a struggle since.

     Despite the generosity of some people that began showing itself a month ago today, we were put way behind the eight ball thanks to the state Department of Revenue levying my bank accounts and essentially extorting a month's rent from us in back taxes, fees, penalties and whatever else they could think of for shits and giggles. Add to that car woes, additional biennial expenses such as registration renewal, the quinquennial license renewal, the annual excise taxes and unforseen expenses has not made this winter a very happy one.

     Well, spring is here (In Massachusetts, that's when the icicles turn green and the penguins go north until late fall) and MLB Opening Day on March 31st is looking a helluva lot more exciting than it usually is in Pottersville and not necessarily in a good way. It's going to be a struggle meeting our bills, starting with the rent and the still-high gas bills aren't making life any easier. Add to that the fact I'm going to have to buy another brand new battery on account of AAA dicking me over and refusing to replace for free the shitty one they installed December 2012.

     So to whoever has any spare cash, please consider making a Paypal donation because things are looking really dicey. I'm sorry I haven't been posting much of late and justifying any kindness but Tatterdemalion's been kicking my ass what with my struggles with my publishers at Create Space, sending out literally hundreds of proposals to agents and real publishers plus the ongoing revision process. I'm really making a concerted effort to remain relevant and up-to-date here but my plate only holds so much.