Hello, world :-)

This is supposed to be a simpler form of Blogger, so I thought I'd try it out. It'll probably take me a few posts to decide whether I really like it or not. So here goes... :-)

"Duck Dynasty", Christianity, and freedom of speech

Let me just say right now that I don't watch Duck Dynasty. I can almost guarantee you that I wouldn't watch it even if I got the channel it comes on, not being a fan of reality tv.

I do, however, support people's right to say anything they want, even if I personally don't like or approve of what they say. I also have to say that I haven't read the full GQ profile of Mr. Robertson, although I did read the quotes where he seemed to  compare homosexuality with bestiality and where he spoke about living in pre-civil rights Louisiana. (About that: Maybe that was his experience. But he shouldn't act as if it were the experience of every person at that time and place.)

Re: Homosexuality = bestiality/pedophilia -- I took that to mean that homosexuality is a sin, just as bestiality and pedophilia are. Which, if you read the Bible, it is. The Bible calls it an abomination and (if you don't like Leviticus) in Romans it does say that homosexuals are not going to heaven.

A lot of criticism I've read today has regarded Jesus being loving, which he is. But he also judged. He told the woman at the well and the woman caught in adultry, "Go and sin no more." He called them out on their sin! That's what people seem to hate these days -- they don't want to be called out on their sin. They say, "Look at the plank in your own eye before looking at the dust in mine." And I think Christians should be willing to do that. We should be transparent about our sins. And you know what else? We should make damn sure we've truly repented of those sins. I've done stuff that I've repented of, and I truly believe that God helps me every day to go and commit those particular sins no more. But I still stumble. I'm still human and that's what we do. But with God's mercy, love, and help, we can do better. We won't be perfect; only God (and the human Jesus) are/were perfect, but we can definitely be more Christlike.

I also uphold the right of anyone who feels that Mr. Robertson was wrong to call him out on it. Boycott A&E; boycott the show itself. That's also free speech. I don't believe anyone is infringing on Mr. Robertson's right to free speech by doing so.

Let me also say this. Do I think homosexuality is a sin? Yes, I do. Do I think homosexuals are going to hell? If I believe Romans, yes they are. Would I make those beliefs public? If asked bluntly, yes. Would I treat gays differently based on those beliefs? NO. I have two gay men that I love and think of as my family. Do I think marriage equality should be law? YES!!! Because whatever fundamentalists think, this is NOT a solely Christian nation. Nor is this a theocracy. We CANNOT force people who don't believe in the Bible (or hold different beliefs about what the Bible says) to conform to laws that are Bible-based.

There is at least one sin (adultery) that does harm to more people than homosexuality does, and yet it's legal. Why is that? Why should we make an act that does no harm (except perhaps spiritually) illegal while an act that causes pain to many is still legal? Huh? I don't understand.

Well, time for me to get off my soapbox. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

On my way to getting a job

I had my orientation with DARS this morning, and tomorrow I get to call and tell them if I want to work with them. (I do. I knew that going in today.)

Hopefully by Christmas I'll be employed. That would be the awesomest present ever! If not Christmas, then early in the new year. My case manager at LifeNet also told me that I may be able to get a house through Habitat for Humanity, which I thought was just for victims of natural disasters and things like that, but he said no, they also help low-income folks who are working to pull themselves up. It would be cool if I could get a house through them. It's not like they'd just give me a house though... they'd loan me the money for it and then I'd pay it back. I don't care how they do it. Just... a house! Of my very own!

All this is in the future, of course. First I have to get a job, work and save for a year or so to prove I can, and then I'll see about getting a house, whether it's through Habitat or another source.

Things are looking up! :-) The only way they could be better is if I heard from Dallas Housing Authority soon on whether they'll approve my move to my new apartment.

Getting ready to move

As soon as Dallas Housing Authority inspects my new apartment I can move into it. It's just downstairs from where I'm living now, but it's a lot bigger. More room to put my stuff and more room for Alaska to run around. And it'll be good for when I finally move for good. I'm still debating about whether I want a house, a townhome, or maybe a condo. (I hope condos allow pets.)

I still need to find someone who will be willing to co-sign on a loan with me when I'm finally ready to move. I asked my two best friends, and one's credit is as bad as mine and the other flat-out refused. ("I don't co-sign for my partner or my kids, so NO!" lol Well I don't blame him.) Maybe I can get one of my family members to help me out if I need them to.

Well, I better get back to work. Right now I'm trying to clean out my closet and decide what to keep, what to give away, and what to throw away.

Update

I haven't forgotten about my blog, I just haven't had much to write about lately.

I have an appointment at DARS (Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services, formerly Texas Rehabilitation Commission) on the 25th to see about going back to work. I also need to talk to my case manager at LifeNet (my mental health provider) about getting a part time job through them so I can start saving money for a house. I think I may have to rent for a few years until I get enough experience to move to Ft. Worth. I know I should probably stay where I am, but I do have Alaska to think about. I wish I could find a nice place to live for very low rent, just so I could save some money.

I heard from one of my brothers that we're in the process of dividing up my grandmother's farm and getting each share put into our own names. I'm not sure how long that will take. I will then have to turn around and sell my share to one of my family (anyone know how much land sells for around Warner? A friend of mine says that it's less valuable since it's near an Indian reservation (Talequah). True?) I may either have to sell it on paper (no actual exchange of money) or have them put it in trust for me. The only thing about a trust is that I won't know how long to set it up for. I do know I want to use it to help pay for my house, but I don't want to set the account up for ten years and then need it in seven or whatever.

One thing I would like to do is have someone co-sign for a loan. (My credit sucks, so I could never get one myself.) I'm sure if I get a good enough job I could pay off the loan with no problem. It's something I'll have to talk to my friends about.

Update

I've about decided not to continue with my appeal. I think the fact that I can't get a hold of my medical records is God's way of telling me I need to get my money some other way. And just in case I didn't get it, a lawyer friend of my landlord's also said that it would be better for my physical and mental health if I went back to work.

I'm going to try to get set up with DARS (Department of Aging and Rehabililatative Services) and see if they can help me. I have to admit that I'm still a little worried about having to compete for a job with some kid half my age (college grads are having trouble finding jobs now), but DARS is there to advocate for me. I just hope it doesn't take too long. (I need to call them today and try to get an appointment.)

I'm also going to start withdrawing $100/month in cash from my SSI to save and not tell Social Security. (I hope no one on my friends list works for them... oops! lol) I really want to start saving immediately for a house, and even though it'll take me years, I'm willing to do it. I just don't know if I really want to stay in Dallas. I know I don't have to decide immediately, but I like to plan ahead (it's a control thing, I'll admit). Hopefully by the time comes that I can make the decision I'll have enough experience in whatever career I'm in that it won't be hard to find a job elsewhere. (I really want to do secretarial work -- that's what I trained for and what I'm good at.)

Despite being housebound for so long (I rarely go out except to go shopping or to the doctor... or to meet my friend), I'm still very much a people person. My main concern is that, with my speech impediment, I'll be stuck in a back office somewhere and won't be able to interact with many people. Another thing, I hope I'll be able to get a job among able-bodied people. That's one thing I will insist on (and I imagine the people at DARS won't have a problem with it). Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers that I'll be able to find something.

Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters: NOM had better recognize that its supporters are going too far

Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters: NOM had better recognize that its supporters are going too far

Wow. Just... why would she even say something like that? Not just the part about childrenof gay couples being intheir "grip" or "possession", which gays and their allies are pretty used to hearing, but about googling information about the kids and their families? Why would anyone want to cause harm to innocent kids and their parents? This is so disturbing.

Gonna be a long, hard road ahead...

I have to get in touch with the V.A. pretty soon to see if I can get my medical records from Carswell and possibly Ft. Gordon. That's going to take awhile. I also need to get my records from Richardson Medical where I had my back surgery back in '87 (hopefully they still have them, at least on microfilm). My doctor is going to.schedule me for an MRI on my knees, hopefully soon.

My friend is going to handle the case on his own with some help from a contact in Social Security (which is why he needs my file). He's going to read it front to back, then the two of us will get together and go through it hoping to find something that will prove they made the initial denial back in 2006 based on inaccurate information. If we can get them to reopen and reexamine the case, that will be great. (It's completely at their discretion though... unfortunately, not even a judge can order them to do it.)

My friend is even willing to call Washington in hopes of finding a sympathetic ear to hear my case. I am going to owe him big time. I've already decided that if he actually pulls this off, I'm giving him 30% of my backpay, however much it is. (I think that's about how much I'd be paying a lawyer.) Not sure what I'll do if they refuse to take another look at the case. Probably take some of my savings and treat him to dinner, which is far too little thanks for all he's doing.

Thank you so much, Doug, and however it goes, you'll have my undying gratitude forever!

Talked to Social Security again...

... and again they said I can't get DAC under my original diagnoses. (They can't have me reevaluated based on those diagnoses... it's kinda like double jeopardy in a criminal case). BUT, my friend who's been helping me out thinks the rep we talked to may have given him a loophole.

See, I also suffer from severe depression, a complication of my disabilities. Wouldn't anyone be depressed if they couldn't work or get around well or do all the things you able-bodied folks can do?

Plus, from all the conversations I've had with them, it seems that they may have made their initial decision based on incorrect information, also. So that's another ace up my sleeve. It'll take a judge to determine that, though.

I just spoke to a representative from Coats and Todd (disability lawyers), and she promised that someone would get back to me in no more than a week to discuss whether they can help me. I hope they can.

Sorry I haven't updated...

But there hasn't been much to report that I haven't posted on facebook. I have an appointment at 5:00 today to go see the apartment in Plano (Sequoia at Courtney Manor). Wish I could post a link here... from the description and pix on forrent.com, it looks/sounds about perfect! It's 1bed/1 bath, but the bedroom is big, the living/dining area is huge, and it has a full kitchen! (It's 1,017 sq.ft.) There are two walk in closets, a fireplace, and a balcony or a deck (depending on whether you're upstairs or down... with my knees and back in the shape they're in, I prefer downstairs).

I was going to wait until I was sure I'd be getting my benefits to actually look at apartments, but I feel really good about getting them. (Those of you who know me may know or remember how resilient I am.) I have a couple of friends who are going to help me apply, and they'll help me appeal if necessary. I'm going to try to get a hold of as many of my medical records as I can. My current doctor has the x-rays I had taken a couple of weeks ago, and she can confirm my disability. (Not sure if she can tell from the x-rays how long ago my surgery was, though.)

I'm hoping it won't take long to get approved. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen. I'll keep everyone updated...