Monday's Events

I wake up at the shelter, I am hungry. I need to find something to eat. I go to the train and ride to New Utrecht Ave. on the D line. I walk over to a dear friend of mine that is holding my computer but is only available for 6 days a week. I get my computer and then I walk to a Starbucks without any food in my system except for a water and some Wrigley's Winterfresh Gum. The fruit stand doesn't have the fruit I need there yet. So, I go into the Starbucks across the Street at 65th Street and 18th Avenue in Brooklyn. I charge my phone and wait for it to charge more. Finally, it is charged enough to order coffee and it is actually charged for the first time in over a day.

I order my tall blonde coffee with my Starbucks app and enjoy the taste of my coffee. Then I get up to get a banana there because I am so hungry. So, I then go online. I decide to contact an old friend who I had an relationship with a while back. Not to start another relationship with. But maybe just maybe he knows of a place I might be able to rent. Plus, I know he has a drivers license. So, he can teach me how to drive. I only have a Learners Permit. So, I unblock him from Facebook and text him "Hey man. How is everything?" Then I continue to look at my Facebook account.

I look at my computer screen a bit later to see that he messaged me back. I am shocked. So, we have a nice little conversation via Facebook Messenger. Then I switch to writing to him on my phone in hopes that I can work on my blog. I tell him that I am in a shelter and why. I also tell him that I am hungry. He tells me that he has a girlfriend and asks me if that would bother me. It doesn't bother me since I am not interested in him like that. A few minutes later he picks me up. Buys me another banana, a peach, and a apple. I love every bite of these fruits. I sit outside his place while he cooks Egyptian Beans with Whole Wheat Pita Bead and some iceberg lettuce. I enjoy every bite. He has me go with him to ask his landlord if there is a room available. Unfortunately, there isn't.

I then walk around waiting to be able to see my cat which is staying in a basement. I had hung out with another friend on their front steps until his wife got home. Then he drove me to where my cat was. This friend smokes so I smelled like cigarette smoke from him and my ex-boyfriend. When I went to see my cat, I didn't have time to hang out. I had to go back to the shelter. But when I got back upstairs from the basement of where my cat stays. I then went upstairs. I got into a fight with the guy who is caring for my cat with giving him water. He started yelling at me. Saying that I was cheating on him, as if I was in a relationship with him. I told him that I smoked (to cover up the fact that two male friends of mine happen to be smokers). He accused me of drinking, which I don't really do anyways. Which was very insulting, since I didn't even touch any alcohol. The gum Wrigleys Winterfresh doesn't kinda smell like alcohol. I told him the truth that I didn't but he wouldn't let it go all night.

My phone ended up dying while I was waiting to sign for my bed after I had to run out of the door of the store just to try to make it to the shelter on time. Which, I didn't except for the fact that the woman who had the paper to sign wasn't downstairs yet. I was lucky. It was a very stressful day...

Sunday Night Events

Now, I am walking around looking for some cardboard at this point trying to make a sign to ask for food, not money. So, I finally find some cardboard and I go get a permanent marker. Right after I buy the marker, two straight couples are getting into a fight. The southern Asian (Indian decent) looking woman tried to take the cap off the other woman who happened to be white. Then the white woman's husband pushes the other woman trying to get to the Indian decent man. They shout at each other. They look like they are going to fight some more. This other man who happens to be black, works hard to break up the fight. One guy records the fighting, while the white woman is staying how her husband is protecting her with his big "American" balls. Somewhere during the fight the other woman spits at the white woman. But another woman gets involved to break up the fight. Which ends up with both couples going their own way. They were apparently in a bar drinking and watching the game.

Then I make my sign and sit in Union Square. Many people walk by just glancing at my sign. Because it says "help me" on it they assume I want money and walk away before reading the rest of the sign. I am not asking for money. I am asking for food, whole grain plant based food. I get some raisins with peanuts from this Krishna guy (who may or may not really being of that religion). Many people in New York City has been complaining that all they want is money for brand named shoes. Of course I am grateful. I keep waiting for some help. I talk to this one guy for a little bit, he even admits that he didn't see my whole sign when he was looking at it. He said that he was sorry and wish he could help, but couldn't. This is fine, I'd rather have someone listen to my problem at least if they can't help.

Then it starts to get dark. I have no clue what time it is. So, I get ready to leave. I walk by this Muslim booth at the Square. I show them Surah 4:34 which explains how to discipline the wife if she gets out of hand. Both English versions either say beat or beat lightly. Neither one explains that beat means like a slap with a toothbrush. I speak with a man who gets his wife to help me get a salad which I had for days craving. I didn't admit that I am Muslim to them. After they help me, I thank them and go to the shelter to sleep.

Sunday September 20, 2015 Afternoon

So, when I left the church that I went to for the week I started to look for my next meal of the day. I was hungry and could only think of food. So, I decided to go to Union Square. When I got there I just needed to eat something. I got a Kiwi and enjoyed every last bit of it. I talked to this man who was holding up a sign for a local sports store. We talked a bit. Then he was re leaved to use the bathroom, which he couldn't find. But, I was still hungry.

So, I decided to go to wholefoods and get something to eat. I got a small box and thought that I got a small amount of food according to the price. I was wrong. My box with my coconut mixed water would cost me over $14.00. I paid most of it with cash and a little bit with my credit card. Now, I am getting really worried about what I will survive on for even the rest of the day. So, I go upstairs. I am eating and trying to figure out how I am going to get anything to eat for the rest of the day.

Well, I was lucky. There was this couple who sat at the tablet that I sat at Whole Foods. I liked the man's button. It was an anti-racism. I commented on it. Then I started talking about Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn.   I mentioned that I was homeless. I was fortunate that this couple was able to and willing to give me $5.00 for food. I was so grateful. During this time I was also looking for an outlet to charge my phone, like I was doing up until that point as well. I would see a plug available, but then someone would take it within minutes.

Then, I went walking around to get a piece of cardboard to make a sign. All of a sudden I knew I needed to find a bathroom. I asked one place, but they wouldn't let me in without being a customer. I was fearing that I would not be able to control my bowels until I went to a bathroom. I remember that there was a Dunkin Donut's nearby, that had a public bathroom. So, I was rushing over there just to find out that they had moved to a smaller location that didn't have a public bathroom. So, I frantically was looking around for a bathroom. Then I saw IHOP. So, I rushed over there. I asked to use the bathroom, I was lucky because, I was allowed to use the bathroom. When I was done, I asked the lady in the front about if they provide a vegan pancake. I learned that they don't. So, that is one thing that if I do have it, it will only be on my birthday. (Free pancakes at IHOP if you enroll online) http://www.ihop.com/pancake-revolution

Sunday Morning Events

I woke up and got ready to meet a friend at this church she goes to. When I turned the corner from the shelter this guy started to talk to me. Asking me in I liked chocolate (meaning men who are black) in a sexual way. I am not really interested at any men at this point given my situation. So, I ignored him. Then he called out "50?" meaning do I want to have sex for $50.00. Now, I am not a prostitute so of course I am not interested. How do I know this is what this man means? I was raised in foster care and I had friends and foster siblings who were in that business. So, I finally made the comment, "I am not into men,...or women at this point." Why did I mention or women in this comment, when I am not a lesbian? Just so this man doesn't think I am of that sexual orientation.

Now, this man keeps trying to get me to go with him for a few minutes, which is really funny because I was insulting him the whole time. Saying that he is thinking with the wrong brain, etc. Then he finally leaves saying that he will see me later (I sure hope not!!!). So, I continue my journey to the church. I stopped by the local deli before going onto the train to go to this church. I got at the deli a 16.9oz Mountain Dew, a generic Excedrin, and an banana. Why did I get the Mountain Dew? Because for some strange reason what ever the chemical compound that is in this soda helps my headaches more than coffee, or other sodas. I have to do more research, to find out why this one drink does it, and only the original flavor helps my headaches with only Excedrin. Then I went onto the train and went on my way to go to the church.

When I got to the church it was in the middle of the service. My friend, I had forgotten had something to do instead. So, I just listened to the Unitarian sermon and socialized a bit with others there. Then, I left to do my next hunt for food...

Saturday Night Food Hunt

So, I was hunting for a salad to eat in Brooklyn.  I left early trying to find a salad with not meat, dairy, or oil. Because of the area that I was walking most places were barely opening since it was the end of the Jewish sabbath.

I kept looking walking several blocks, without having the luxury of checking my phone. Everything that I found needed to be cut. I don't have a knife. So, since I was worried about the time, I had to get on the train without any salad.

On the train at one of my connections, I was able to fine this oily nut mixes and some wheat chips also high in oil. I got two waters as well. But after I at one bag of the two chips and one of the bags of the nut mixes, I couldn't stomach another one or either.They are just so oily!!! So, since I can't take these things to the shelter,  I gave then away just before going to the shelter, that night.
A short time later my phone died. So, I haven't been able to write in my blog or make phone calls until today, which is Monday. So, all of Sunday I had no phone at all.

Breakfast hunt as a Vegan in the City

When I first get up, I am reminded that I am in the shelter. I need to look for my food for the day. I can't keep any food in the shelter that can keep me healthy. The first thing that I do when I leave the shelter in the morning is go out looking for food. I normally go to the local deli and get an Aloevine Drink even though it has high fructose corn syrup. I need something sweet to drink. Then I go on the train to where ever I feel I need to be for the day. That is when I look for fresh fruits to eat. I got today a banana, peach, and a container of  Strawberries for $2.50. I did get a frappuccino at Starbucks just to celebrate the fact that I am now a gold member plus the fact that I get 3 stars for buying one. So, I did get some things into my system. But now it is 6:09pm and I need to eat again. So, the hunt is always on my mind for the foods that I can have.

So, I ate the breakfast. No breads because that costs more money. Now, to go search for dinner...

New York City Intake Shelters

I am a homeless vegan in New York City. Do I want to be homeless? No, I don’t. But it is hard to find a place to live in New York City that is for $500.00 a month even in the outer boroughs. If you are lucky enough to get a place that cheap, it is normally for very few reasons.

1.                    1. You were lucky enough to get some type of housing voucher

2.                     2. You lived in your apartment long enough that because of your age the government has reduced              your rent.

3.                      3.  You are having sex with your roommate to stay there

If it isn’t for one of these reasons you are out of luck. So, here I am living in a shelter. Most people think that the shelters are good to go to. But there are many things you can’t bring into the shelter. You can’t bring in knives, scissors, anything that has glass and that includes mirrors. So, sorry ladies no makeup mirrors either. You have to “pop” those mirrors out. No hairspray in the aerosol cans those are a flammable item, not allowed as well as those dry shampoos. If you have contacts, you need to bring the soap and a towel to dry your hands to be able to put those in. No nail clippers, no twizzers, no laundry detergent even if you are allergic. No, glucose monitors, or needles of any kind. You have to throw all of these out at the door. No drinks except for water is allowed in. No, food is allowed either. You have to sign for your beds between 8pm to 10pm. You have to be in your rooms/the bathroom areas between 10pm-6am unless you have proof that you work or if you have to go to the hospital.

You have to get out of the bedroom area by 7:30am and can’t go back in until at least after dinner if not at 8pm. Unless you have a pass to sleep because of work or a medical condition. All the food is high in sodium and sugar. So, sorry diabetics and those with high blood pressure. You have to suffer. If you want your blood sugar tested you have to go to the nurse between Monday-Friday when they are at the shelter. That is when you can take your insulin too.

If you are eating the meals at the shelter you can’t really go far and if you are Vegan like me there is little healthy food to eat. No whole wheat breads, pasta, or rice. Everything has oil or fat in it. Very little fresh fruit. Most vegetables have some kind of sauce on it that has oil or fat on it. So, a vegetarian can’t eat the veggies. If you have to do laundry, you have to sign up to use the laundry room. If you want to charge your phone, you have to sign up to charge it for only 15 minutes a day. So if you are looking for a job, you have to go find another place to charge your phone.

They have showers, but be careful. If you can’t stand too hot or too cold water, be prepared to stand away from the water while doing most of your showering. Sometimes the water is scalding hot. Also use shower shoes, athletes foot is everywhere. You have to keep all your stuff locked in a locker. They give you a pillow, a pillowcase, 2 flat sheets, a blanket, and a towel. They will wash the sheets (not the pillow) once a week.

Watch out for people who act out, because they might attack you. Also, be careful of your phone, they just might steal it. You can’t have a tablet or a computer in the shelter. You have to keep mostly to yourself and watch all your stuff. You do get a locker with a lock, to keep your stuff safe.

You have to meet with a case manager once a week. You need to get a TB test done, and a psychological evaluation. You need to do these things. So, make sure your schedule allows these things to get done.