I'm not the only sober Another year Life Extensions making the same error of 2000
person in The City,right?
backwash.
compounded by legal election isn't
logical.
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by Joe B. New Year, Day, Now What? Friday,January,2,2003. Have you made your new year’s resolutions? Began exercises or been kissed by some strikingly pretty girls? (oh,pardon me that’s what I’ve been up to It’ll be explained in minutes.) Last year to do more than recite ‘Po Poet slam bio’s,manning tables where most of the time if one had urinary urges one could not leave the merchandise,writing a book full of stories not at all relating to Poor Magazine’s main theme: solving working poor’s problems with bottom up solutions and not from the top down. Remember former President B.Clinton’s Off-Welfare-On-To-Work in 1996? Better know as: Certain problems remained in the rush of getting people of welfare and onto work like Child Care,Education or reeducation/vocational opportunities,and time for study for both jobs, career opportunities. Those problems still remain,the war in Iraq, Selected President Bush’s 2 stunts one in an air force jet the other on Thanks Giving in Baghdad, and former President Saddham,Hussein’s recent capture. The best gift ever would've been for S-Prez to bring all the troops home while utilizing internatioal gray/black opts operative to speed up the already undermined leadership in Baghdad. But surprizing the troops makes greater news copy "buzz" doing little for suffering,starving American’s but this only one poor slob's opinon. Distant and recent past. Pre New Years learned Salsa,Meringue, volunteered to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS Virus,and publicly in a church begged for a date stating my single,heterosexual, and availability status also wanting to have my dates in the City and not travel all over Berkeley, Oakland,or San Leandro for dates. Folks it does pay to advertise. One woman I have exchanged phone numbers, email addresses,and so far so good while at the same function a well dressed elderly gentleman wants to introduce me to his daughter. My mother moved to another part of town into a gate community and I’m thinking of moving to Berkeley going on Section 8 because San Francisco’s too expensive,has less S-8 stock,and if I could find a kitchen/bathroom inside and apartment I’d be able to stay in the City and invite more friends there. Funny,my pay is so low I cannot afford credit, write up business cards for a one person business, or take time to go to school because if it interferes with the media job guess what goes? I’ve tried doing standup comedy,singing, learning to play the piano all this in the space of a few months because I had to do something other than transcribe letters,reply, letters sent by very creative prisoners also I wanted if I must reply and transcribe letters is to get them equally from women prisoners as well I’m sure they have a need for self expression also so far it has not happened. Yet a silver lining shows itself it my regular offbeat,strange,unusual columns. If I can find employment where I’d have this much freedom writing columns on a daily basis (2-3) times a week or in radio (Yes,my voice is on radio announcing KPFA's morning show in Berkeley every or near the last day of the month) I have tidbits of stories mostly humorous however if one listens to P.N.N. Poor News Network well,lets say its politically left oriented, that is as it should be but for me it have very little humor. As for Myself I’m not left, right, or centrist leaning but ‘ya gotta have some down time from all that stuff and have a breather,some air, before diving deep into political undercurrents. Being Apolitical in a deeply political non profit organization isn’t hell but limbo in that I’m so near where I want to be though not quite close enough. I use to have there female editors constantly taking columns out hence a column, or maybe a book on "Forbidden Columns" formed in my head but I don’t who’s publish them? On New Year’s Eve my thoughts on partying was to stay at home,have Trader Joe’s Honey laced, buds heavier eggnog,or Silknog or soynog, a lighter,softer tasting at least to my palate. That third female editor is with family, friends and I miss her face, our outing as she took me out to multi ethic Quisiene not her political arguments I don’t argue with because she always has facts, figures to back her up sometimes she’d get so angry with me when I say "What was here before politics-people – what will be here long after politics is gone, people." She helped me see alternatives to basic American foods. In a funny way I accused her of forcing me to increase my life span I’d say "Look at what you’ve done to me,your making me lose weight,eat less, and eat healthier." "So, Its my fault you may be living longer Joe?" My mouth is moving and nothing was coming out because my brain is saying "shut up Joe your an idiot." She won’t have to 3rd editor anymore because after I delved in comedy, singing,poetry,at the Hotel Utah my column writing is less angry about certain seemingly fundamentally unfair social constructs. The Utah closed hopefully temporarily as of New Years its to be across the street from the Guitar Center. Mr. Simms of the Procrastinators New Years party. It was slow going at first not far from my home and I left thinking it might rain any second. It did but before New Years is christened. There's music,various kinds of food,people coming,going,and returning. It’s a slow night with singing and very pleasant without the desperate have-to-be-at-a party-get- high by drinking or having a toke thing. When New Years did come a set is playing and someone had to announce it along with outside noise. Before I said my good byes a four more women had entered the building and one bold one kissed me. "There,I kissed a total stranger on New Years." I myself kissed more unknown females before leaving without getting phone numbers or emails that’s why I’d make a lousy reporter. The four young women are all pretty and fearless I may not ever see any of them again but it was nice to know I’m a kissable,likable,non threatening kind of man. A short walk in the rain using the Bart train station as temporary shelter from the rain. Then called mama, thought of calling a new girlfriend or former 3rd editor friend but knowing she might be busy with family obligations, catching up with long missed friends. Gunfire,fireworks from formally known Candle Stick Park. I forget what the place is called now. I go to bed sober, healthy,no stress,ready to do nothing except Yoga and piano practice on January 1,2004. Email: askjoe@poormagazine.org |