#01 - It Begins

this is my 3rd attempt at blogging. i haven't been in a 'writing mood' for a long time, and actually, i'm really not at this moment. but i wanted to get this thing started. now that i have started, it's likely i'll keep at it. this will be my 'vent' on anything and everything, from politics to movies to personal things that may disturb any 'delicate' passer-by, so fair warning.

so, here's my story in a nutshell: i'm 39, an artist, with a disability, and i've been unemployed since may, 2008. my UI (unemployment) benefits will expire in 3 weeks. i was discriminated against at my last employer due to health problems and attendance, but mainly the friction was due largely to cronyism, ignorance and corporatism. i spent from 2005 to 2008 on opiate painkillers (due to chronic pain associated with my disability) and i'm still dealing with the aftermath to this day. in the span of 2 years i broke my right arm which required reconstructive surgery, was in 2 car accidents in the span of 2 weeks (the 2nd crash totaled my car and aggrivated my broken arm), was fired from my job, went through opiate withdrawals 7-10 times, was evicted from my apartment, and haven't had my own place to live since november, 2008. most of my belongings are still in a storage unit. i spent 8 months at my sister's place until my broken arm lawsuit was concluded, then moved in with a friend where i have 1 room to myself. i lost another friend last summer in a freak accident. 2 weeks ago i lost my health insurance due largely to bureaucracy. and, as fate would have it, one of my wisdom teeth shattered into pieces just days after that. luckily it's not at all painful yet. what is painful is buying my prescriptions at retail prices. that, and loneliness.

but not all was or is bad. not by a long shot. my friends and family picked me up and saved me when i was down. one friend held a fundraiser for me when my medical bills mounted. another friend donated $5500 of his own money when health issues cut my work hours back. my brother single-handedly moved all of my furniture and belongings into storage over 2 days with minimal help, while my then 69 year-old mother helped pack and clean. my sister let me stay with her, her husband, and son, for 8 months, even while they had financial problems of their own. a work associate-turned-friend took up a collection for me, and even offered to loan me over $1500 so i wouldn't have to be evicted. i didn't accept the loan, but humbly accepted her collective cash gift. this is only a sampling of the generosity extended to me. in many ways i'm lucky. very lucky. but i still have a ways to go to get back on my feet, which starts with finding a job or some kind of regular income. and therein lies my next challenge.