The First Hundred Days...and Then Some

Welcome to March, everyone.

I don't know where February went but it's no longer here in Austin. We've got March, and as I write this a cold front is slipping through with winds that are sounding like a 747 idling just outside on Guadalupe Street.

I'm just getting over my first experience with Lone Star Flu. As they say, everything is bigger in Texas, including the germs. Given that the flu vaccine (which I didn't get this year) is only batting 40%, I guess it's not surprising I was hit. But I'm on the mend. And yes, now that I'm over 40, I get to talk about my aches and pains at will, though I'll hold off on bowel chats until I hit 50....I promise.

So...February. Lots happened during that short month. Someone stole my internet connection for starters. One minute it was working, the next minute, nothing. I called the cable company and they could see I wasn't receiving a thing. They sent a sweetheart of a tech out first thing the next morning and after checking the modem here inside, we discovered that someone had disconnected me at the junction box! They made sure to disconnect themselves when they were done so they couldn't be traced but they didn't plug me back in. Given a few coincidences that occurred in that same 12 hour period, I'm pretty sure it was the dodgy neighbor downstairs. When Jeff heard my story, he took it upon himself to pay a visit to my neighbor in the early hours of the morning and let him know that Jeff keeps an eye on his North End girls (my two other neighbors at this end of the building) and he better not hear that anyone was fucking with any of us. Ok, so sometimes it's cool to work for The Enforcer. My internet has been happily flashing along ever since. Welcome to the big city.

I was downtown twice for shows in February. Valentine's night I was the guest of Esther's Follies, http://www.esthersfollies.com/ , an Austin institution that is part Carol Burnett Show, part Comedy Central, part Capitol Steps and totally hilarious. I was there because I answered a posting on Craigslist for comedy writers to contribute to the show. I sent in some of my lyrics from the Book Chicks and the troupe's founder invited me to come see a show. I now have the option of sending in things I write and if they decide to use them, they will pay me. I'm trying to figure out how to squeeze an electric keyboard out of my shrinking savings so I can actually write again. I'll figure it out. So it's fun to have this outlet now. Esther's runs year 'round, four or five shows a week. It's pricey--$20 a seat--but if you come to visit me, put aside an extra 20 and let's go. You will laugh your butt off.

The second show was on the 21st at Stubb's, another Austin institution. This was the night of the Democratic Debate with Hillary and Barack sitting a few blocks away on the UT campus. We watched the debate at Third Base. The place was packed but for a reason that will make you laugh. A local talk radio host, whose name is, coincidentally, Jeff Ward (not my Jeff), had proposed a drinking game to go along with the debate. Every time the candidates used the word "healthcare" or "change" you were supposed to take a drink. Needless to say, the beer was flowing. Oh democracy...you've got to love it. I had seltzer water with lemon.

When the debate was over, we drove down to Stubb's and found parking then walked up to Paradise Cafe for a quick visit to kill some time. To get back, we rode in a pedicab--a bicycle cab. It's was freezing but quicker than walking. Plus Jeff's leg was bothering him. Back at Stubb's, we had a quick meeting with the trumpet player of the band we came to see--Channel One. They were one of the opening acts for The Slackers and I had kept in touch with them. We were meeting with Laith, the horn player, because Jeff had just acquired a trumpet on Craigslist the night before and I thought it would be cool for him to chat with a professional. Laith was funny and gracious and Jeff got a few pointers before the band started their set. They are so much fun and do original ska and rock. Have a listen to some of their tracks. They had just been signed by Megalith Records a few hours before showtime. It was a real happy show. http://www.myspace.com/channe1

Jeff's dad Tom was in town and we got to see him a couple of times. He has a lovely house on the coast near Rockport, TX, which I got to see on Christmas eve. It was Tom's first time meeting Wendy. She went to him straight away. All she needed was one sniff of that Ward DNA and she let him hold her and walk her. I'm with her almost every day and I rarely get that kind of acquiesence. It was so funny to watch. Tom took me to a fantastic book store downtown called Book People. It's like Barnes & Noble only very Austin which means hippie/trendy/emo/relaxed. It's cool.

The big news for February, however, has to do with the upcoming birth of our non-profit organization, Veterans' Animals Advocacy. Our good friend Max Cleland, former US Senator from Georgia and head of the Veterans Administration under Jimmy Carter, put us in touch with a former lieutenant governor of Texas, Mr. Ben Barnes, who now runs a consulting business. Mr. Barnes has kindly donated the services of a lawyer to file all the paperwork we need to become a 501 (c)(3) non-profit with IRS recognition. This is a huge gift. We have a lot to learn but we have someone who knows the ropes walking through the process with us. Once we have the non-profit status, we can begin applying for grants and start raising money to fund what we want to accomplish which is to become a clearing house for veterans with service animals. Along with helping to match vets with animals, we hope to also offer help with the animals' healthcare and food. We also want to provide education to businesses and landlords and the public in general about ADA laws regarding service animals. Basically, the goal is to provide the information and expertise so that no one has to go through what Jeff and Wendy have to feel their way through every day. Mr. Barnes' generosity gives us an giant step forward in this process. We are very, very fortunate.

However...oh, isn't there always a big BUT whenever there is good news?

Jeff was contacted by the patient of a doctor at the VA here in Austin. After hearing about Jeff and Wendy and their life-changing relationship, the doc felt that her patient would benefit from having a therapy dog. With Jeff's permission, she put her patient in touch with Jeff who sprang into action. He contacted the shelter who had given him Wendy and found the perfect little dog to fit the veteran's requirements. Her name is Yolanda and she is a Yorkie mix. Again, the shelter generously donated food and the adoption fee and we delivered Yo Yo to her new home. The veteran was so delighted and instantly smitten. We spoke with the landlord who agreed to waive the pet deposit because of the role Yo Yo would be playing in the veteran's life. She is not a full-fledged service animal but she is part of the veteran's therapy. It was a very happy day.

But Yo Yo, it turns out, was a very sick little dog and after a weekend of her vomiting and being ill, things got worrisome. Jeff took her to his vet and she was diagnosed with parvovirus, a virus that could kill her. We couldn't not try to get her better, given that she and her new owner had bonded so Jeff took the plunge. $1013.00 worth of plunge. Yes....over a thousand dollars that we don't have but that we are going to pay. The tricky part is, according to our vet, this is the fourth dog they are treating for parvo from this specific shelter in three weeks. Oh dear. Having since read up on parvo, I discovered it is very hard to get rid of once it shows up at a shelter. It spreads very easily and has a very long shelf life. The shelter said they would activate an insurance policy and help with some of the bill. The worrisome thing is, however, that it seems like they were well aware they had (or had had) a problem with parvo and did not disclose that fact to us. They said they felt the diagnosis was a false positive given how quickly Yo Yo responded to treatment. So many variables, yet it's hard not to feel taken advantage of here. Had we known the financial ramifications of adopting that particular little dog, we probably would not have done so. At the least, we should have been given the option of paying $100 or however much the test was, to see if she had it. One hundred is a lot less than one thousand for a veteran on disability and an unemployed librarian. Our client lives only on his social security check. For the great benefit of having Yo Yo, he is still going to have to re-budget his money to afford to keep her. So you can see how an organization like ours is needed.

Which leads me to the final portion of this blog.

Today, under the direction of Drew the Architect, we hung Jeff's art show at Paradise. " The Faces of Crazy Jeff " exhibit will be on display until mid April. The show looks fantastic. We are hoping to sell a number of pieces because proceeds will go toward paying off Yo Yo's medical bill. (So much for Sharon getting a new box of blue Pilot Fine Point pens for her desk....) Here is a link to a page of Flickr I put up today. You can see all the pieces in the show: http://www.flickr.com/photos/librarywren

If anyone is interested in purchasing a piece, the face paintings are $70 each. They are 16x20 and do not have frames but are painted around the sides. The big yellow one with 3 faces on it is $200--it's on wood and roughly 30 x 47. The eyes are sold sets of 8 for $600 per set. Those individual canvases are also 16x20 but hung as a group. I can ship to you and enclose the shipping fee with the invoice. So if you are fond of collecting the work of emerging artists, here's your chance. A copy of Jeff's story "Obsession with Eyes" will be included with each painting telling you the story behind his fledgling art career.

Well I don't know about you all but I'm right tuckered out after all that. Thanks for wading through to the end. Yes, I'm still looking for work. I applied for unemployment through the state and they have granted it so I can at least tread water for a little while. Being eligible hinged on hearing from my former prospective employer, Mr. Brinkley, that yes, there had been a job offered to me here and that it had dried up after I had made the move. Sadly, Mr. Brinkley did not return my phone call when I left a message asking him for the two line email I needed to send to the Maine Department of Labor. Fortunately for me, the gentleman who originally put me in touch with Mr. Brinkely was kind enough to contact Augusta on my behalf and verify what had happened. On the days when it feels like nice guys and gals finish last, I remind myself that I am very blessed to have people who care about me and will extend themselves to help me because I had once done the same for them.

That my parents raised me up right continues to benefit me every day. Pay it forward.

Hope this finds all of you happy and well and starting to put up seeds and getting your grow lights out. Spring is here in the south and starting to inch its way up to you northerners.....honestly!

Much love from Austin.

xo sharon