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shawn time 23.36.18..06.30.06
housing
updates updates
1. we were supposed to be out of our place today, but got an extension to stay an extra few days
2. after some delay on my criminal background check (???), the apartment I am moving to finally approved me today
3. after leaving many messages, I finally got ahold of the housing community that Tom will live, and she gave me the great news that Tom has been accepted (!!!!)....however his apartment will not be ready for 2 weeks....new carpet, new tiles, etc.
so....
4. I inked the deal for my place, and can move in as early as tomorrow ( I will be living in the Marquam area.....behind OHSU)....small place...cheap place.
5. we need to figure out what/where Tom is going to stay for the next 2 weeks. it may be a possibility that he can just continue to stay here at our old place, but not sure on that yet. they did want us out today.
I appreciate all of you that offered me a place to stay, but I am handled....anyone got an extra space for Tom for a week or 2? May be up until the 17th of July.
I am going to check with my landlord first, but need to consider a backup plan if we need to get out of here.
at the end of the day.....Tom will have a place of his own to live.
shawn time 14.51.34..06.29.06
still waiting...
still waiting to hear about the housing situation for Tom.
getting a little too close for my comfort.
can't get them to return my calls.
(gulp)
pray.
shawn time 16.58.44..06.27.06
[sch]microprizing
more rounds coming soon....
just spending time looking for a place to live....
then will spend some time moving in....
then...some more [sch]microprizing.
stay tuned.
shawn time 11.26.27..06.26.06
Tom's housing update
Tom had an appointment last Friday morning with an apartment complex that is subsidized through HUD. It went well. All the paperwork has been filled out. He even looked at the 2 that are available and picked his preference.
Now....we wiat to see how his background and credit history check out, as well as a call to his landlord (me) to verify eveything.
She is supposed to call today.
It is still not a done deal....but if all goes well, Tom can move in this week.
It's a great deal.... $177 a month rent!!
More soon.
Special thankd to Roy for giving Tom a lift to the appointment and helping out with whatever was needed!!!
Now, I should probably look for a place to live. I have to be outta here in a less than a week. Yikes.
shawn time 21.50.03..06.22.06
more important things....
important things that I found out today from Tom's annual appointment with the Multnomah Aging and Disability Department...
because Tom qualifies for SSI....
1. he will receive medical, dental, vision, mental health, and perscriptions for free forever. (maybe a co-pay on the drugs)
2. the state will pay (and reimburse past payments of) medicare forever
3. if he ever saves up more than $2000, he will lose his SSI benefit, which means losing both #1 and #2 above
4. the dental plan will provide dentures for free
5. he will continue to get food stamps for another year
The even more amazing bit of news....
Tomorrow we have an appointment for Tom to fill out an application for his own apartment.....and if everything goes smoothly (credit/eviction history and criminal background check) Tom will be able to move in Monday.
what?
that's what the nice lady on the phone at the apartment complex said.
Monday.
shawn time 14.36.05..06.22.06
[s]mp- Round 4
Music.
Since the Cpt. Bogg & Salty show is this Saturday (see last post), and the Bela Fleck show is Tuesday, here is a round of music [sch]microprizing.
I am also trying to entice the Keortge and Leonardo types to keep or start playing the game. Oh yeah....and the fishicist, riche, jnard, terry, alpert, zollner, rameytime, pastor bob, mom, sheener, kathleen, dr. ward, and all others that should be and need to be playing my game.
Who doesn't like a little music trivia? (Although I am trying to keep my game from being trivia at all.)
I call this game "Drop the Needle". In college we had listening tests in Music History class that were like this round of questions. The professor would "drop the needle" anywhere he wanted in a song, and we had to know what it was. There were no records though, all cds. No needles, lasers. Maybe I should call it drop the laser. Wait, no lasers, just bits and bytes of data. "Drop the Bits". Word.
The excerpts in college were longer than what I am giving you. More fun this way.
The songs aren't too hard (I think). Fairly distiinctive. At least the artist should be a gimme. Pad your score.
Next time around, they will be trickier.
Spin it one time.
Each clip is a different artist.
For each correct artist, 1 cent.
For each correct song title, 2 cents.
A. Clip 1
B. Clip 2
C. Clip 3
D. Clip 4
There is probably some horrible copyright infringement going on here. Sorry to all artists. Tell me before you sue me and I will take them down.
email answers to: schmetzger
view rules here: Official Game Rules
shawn time 13.13.32..06.22.06
Festival de Piratas
A cool show is happening this weekend here in Portland.
Come enjoy FESTIVAL de PIRATAS VII.
The headlining band is Captain Bogg & Salty. A pirate band. My pirate friend Lucas plays bass.
It is a fun time.
I will be at the show.
You should be too.
2 days notice.
Make it happen.
Plus, Lucas needs health insurace. So, the mo' people, the mo' money, the mo' insurance.
It's charity for a pirate.
And you get a great show.
Seriously, fun times.
It's at Sabala's up on Hawthorne. Click the Festival link above for details.
Next week: Bela Fleck.
shawn time 20.23.37..06.21.06
[s]mp- Round 3
In light of that last post....
Round 3 to honor Tom.
Enjoy stabbing at these.
Please tell me...
A. Tom's age (in years). 1 cent
B. The state that Tom was born. 2 cents
C. The branch of the military Tom served. 3 cents
D. The high school from which he graduated. 4 cents
E. The city where he was born. 8 cents
Round 1 and 2 still open.
Remember to look for answers. For the most part I ask questions that can be answered with careful reading of my blog, coupled with some research skills, tripled with a bit of luck. (ok, the number guessing in round 2 wasn't too easy)
this round will self-destruct when round 10 is posted.
email answers to: schmetzger
view rules here: Official Game Rules
shawn time 19.28.08..06.21.06
the day approacheth
important things shawn did today:
1. took Tom to the NW Pilot Project office for a meeting about housing,
2. see #1 above.
NW Pilot Project helps single people over 55 years of age find affordable housing. The meeting was fairly typical, I guess. A bunch of "intake" questions. Name. Dates. Living situation.
These meetings always take time, especially since Tom has a bit of difficulty speaking. So writing becomes the main source of communication. The advocate we worked with had tremendous patience and compassion for the situation....I guess that's why she does the work she does.
What I learned is that the Housing Authority of Portland (HAP) gives out section 8 housing vouchers, but the waiting list is closed, and when it opens to get on it you still need to wait at least 5 years before you can get in a place. The main reason, evidentally, is underfunding. Stinky. This is what I thought we would be up against.
BUT....there is another option which I knew nothing about. HUD has a program for people 62 years and older, that, if you qualify, you can get subsidized housing. You pay 30% of your income. HUD pays the rest. There are a number of places in Portland (I have the list!!!) that ONLY rent to 62+ for subsidized HUD housing. Who knew? Maybe all of you knew. I didn't. The cool thing is that because there are age specific housing properties, the waiting lists are significantly shorter than waiting for section 8 vouchers.
NW Pilot Project helps people get into this process with HUD and moving into a place of their own. They will help with a rental deposit, or help people move, or help aquire furniture or kitchen items, etc. Very cool.
So, our advocate lady asked Tom if there was an area of town which he preferred to live. He immediately wrote "SE". Tom grew up in SE Portland. So she pointed out a couple of the properties that she highly recommended. We will need to call through the list and arrange times to go fill out paperwork with individual properties and wait for availability. This is a good thing. A place to start.
but what hapened after that is the coolest...
Our advocate called directly the property manager for an apartment building that is well respected and of highest quality while we were sitting there. And, evidentally, she called at the right time. There is an apartment that is available immediately!!! That shouldn't be possibe. That shouldn't be true. There should be a waiting list of some sort, even if it is only a few months.
We have an appointment Friday to go fill out the paper work to see if they will accept Tom into this apartment building. It is not a done deal. He needs to be approved by the landlord that runs the facility. But our advocate was very surprised that something like this, in the building of choice, in SE Portland, is available right now.
So, if Tom gets approved, he gets his own apartment for 30% of his income.
So, for all you praying types.....pray for Tom. Pray for Friday. For those that don't... just give your money to NW Pilot Project. They have to stop some services because of low funding. But it is such a needed service to the elderly of Portland.
The day approacheth when all homeless will find (or be given) a place to call home.
shawn time 15.56.25..06.21.06
prizes/cashing out
just to encourage...
there WILL be prizes and a way for you to cash out your cents.
I just need some time to get it up and running.
patience please.
in the meantime, keep racking up cents.
oh...and keep telling all your friends to play.
I am revolutionizing the world wide web as we speak.
shawn time 12.18.32..06.21.06
come on
it will hurt none of you.....and at the same time give me immense enjoyment.....if you all would play my game.
round 1 and 2 still both open.
shawn time 18.49.03..06.20.06
[s]mp- Round 2
On to Round 2....
In light of the recent end of the school year, and a successful tutoring year....here are the round 2 [sch]microprize questions.
Simple...I just need a number, or 2, or 3. Remember the "m&m's in the jar" deal...
A. How many appointments did my company, Three Rivers Tutoring Company, bill in the 2005-2006 school year.
exact answer = 15 cents
+/- 10 appointments = 8 cents
+/- 50 appointments = 5 cents
+/- 100 appointments = 3 cents
+/- 500 appointments = 2 cents
+/- 1000 appointments = 1 cent
B. What percent of those appointments did I tutor?
exact answer = 8 cents
+/- 2% = 5 cents
+/- 4% = 3 cents
+/- 6% = 2 cents
+/- 8% = 1 cent
C. What month (September -June) had the most total company appointments? 2 cents
D. What month (September-June) had the least total company appointments? 2 cents
this round will self-destruct in 4 days.
email answers to: schmetzger
view rules here: Official Game Rules
shawn time 18.25.44..06.20.06
school's out for the summer
feels great to be done with school. pnca has been done for a month or so, but the high schools just got out last week. tutoring is over for the summer. the business had the best year it has ever had. lots of appointments. lots of tutors working with me. lots of happy families. lots of math. i am enjoying the break.
one of the things that i like most about having time is to be able to hang with people. today i got to spend a good lunch with lucas. then some hangtime catching up with rich. these are 2 people that I enjoy very much, and time with them is important for me to be me.
also, laura flies back into town tonight after a whirlwind on RAAM supporting her brother's winning efforts. I will be going to dinner with her and her cousin. i think swagat is in order. some more good peeps with good food.
having time is good.
having time with people is gooder.
shawn time 18.10.51..06.20.06
[s]mp- Round 1
To follow easier, here is a recap of the [sch]microprize Round 1 questions:
A. name the city that this photo was taken: 1 cent
B. give me the name of this dog: 2 cents
C. identify the park that the grass is from: 3 cents
email answers to: schmetzger
view rules here: Official Game Rules
shawn time 18.07.35..06.20.06
Official Game Rules
there is now an official [sch]microprize rule link in the leaderboard section.
next round soon.
shawn time 14.06.09..06.20.06
[sch]microprizing rules update
2. YOU ONLY GET ONE SHOT. You can not keep guessing until you are right. I will not give you any more hints than what is stated in the questions and on my blog. I will not give cents unless you submit a final answer in email form. This rule applies to everyone, and Traci.
shawn time 16.18.50..06.19.06
next endeavours... House Sitting and MicroPrizes
a little game:
you have heard of microloans....these are microprizes. (maybe i should "tm" that word, huh?)
prizes will be given to the first person that can...
A. name the city that this photo was taken: 1 cent
B. give me the name of this dog: 2 cents
C. identify the park that the grass is from: 3 cents
you may answer any or all questions.
the game starts.......now!
rules/regulations/disclaimers:
1. all answers must be EMAILED to me here: schmetzger. In addition to your answers, please make sure you leave the name and link you want posted to the leaderboard. Do not leave your answer in the comments, it will removed, and you will not be eligible for this microprize game. Plus, you might ruin it for everyone else.
2. YOU ONLY GET ONE SHOT. You can not keep guessing until you are right. I will not give you any more hints than what is stated in the questions and on my blog. I will not give cents unless you submit a final answer in email form. This rule applies to everyone, and Traci.
3. all correct answers will be awarded the above microprize amount, but will be paid out when I decide to pay out, and in a manner (and with a prize) that is at least equivalent to the cash amount.
4. each correct response will get their name (or pseudonym) linked to their blog/website entered into the microprize leaderboard.
5. anyone with the middle name "jenard" is excluded from this round of questions.
6. anyone married to anyone with the middle name "jenard" is excluded from this round of questions.
7. anyone with an underbite is excluded from this round of questions.
8. the mailer isn't a joke, i really am starting a housesitting service.
9. any laughing or making fun of my flyer design will be disqualified from this and future microprize games.
10. if you find a typo, do not tell me.
11. the correct answer will be posted in 4 days (?).
12. i know these questions are a bit obscure, but hang in there...this game will get cooler. The answers to these questions could be sleuthed from information on my blog. I am not saying that the answers are on my blog. The harder the question, the more cents.
note: i just checked...looks like the term "microprize" gets uses for more important things than my game....
guess i will have to call it [sch]microprizes.
shawn time 02.05.08..06.16.06
Tom's Birthday
June 15, 1941
Celebrate it for my man Tom.
He knows when his birthday is, but his watch was set wrong(ly?) so he thought today was the 14th....
so when I showed up with gifts, he was pretty surprised.
It's cool to tell a guy that it's his birthday.
I was hoping to give him keys to a new apartment of his own, but I still gotta do some work on that.
shawn time 22.47.58..06.06.06
also cool....
check this...
Painting With Number
has the same artist, but a slightly lesser cool quotient than onethousandpaintings.com.
still worth keeping an eye on.
shawn time 04.28.12..06.04.06
8-bit music
Caught a good show at Ground Kontrol last night.
Saw BIT SHIFTER and Nullsleep on their INTERNATIONAL CHIPTUNE RESISTANCE WORLD TOUR 2006.
Some pretty rockin' 8-bit music.
They use Nintendo Gameboys as their instruments. They program the Gameboys to play original compositions. Instrumentally, and sonically, the music does not sound unlike Nintendo game music. But its not the Tetris theme song all night long. Its original stuff. Pretty creative stuff. Pretty rockin stuff.
Got to chat with Josh (Bitshifter) during Nullsleep's set. He was standing next to me taking pictures. Cool guy. Kinda inspiring. I might jump into a bit of 8-bit.
Plus, some super-sweet 25 cent "Track n Field", "Joust", and "Burgertime".
shawn time 20.00.24..06.03.06
who will be next...
9999
shawn time 19.19.16..06.03.06
i will think of an idea....but in the meantime...
i think this is a cool idea. some of you will think it isn't.
you are wrong.
it is.
did you buy one?