@bloghomework @missy @rambo @lyxzen
Apologies for the wall of text in advance!
Hello all, and the happiest of new years wishes!
This is the first homework blog I've created, since joining this community. I am writing it, because the people here are really awesome and supportive. And that is what I require. A lot of support. Which I will try to get to as soon as I can. But first a little bit of background on my current situation.
... I have been having a very rough go of it, for the past 8 years or so. I got sick back in June of 2007, and was diagnosed with a blood clotting disorder. (Lupus Anticoagulans -- Lupus Anti-phospholipid Syndrome -- or just very sticky blood). This disease causes me to throw blood clots spontaneously. I was hospitalized 13 times in the first 3 years with blood clots. I nearly died twice! But fortunately with medication, it is manageable, and seems to be under control.
Well, due to my illness, I lost my photography business, my photography studio, my full time job, my apartment, and my girlfriend at the time. I had to live in a tent for about 6 months, then moved into a halfway house, for a year, then a shelter for 2 years, and now I have been living in long-term temporary (subsidized) housing for the past 3 years... :(
I cannot work at any of the jobs I have training or experience in (other than photography). I used to be an armed body guard, an armed security guard, Special Police Officer, and I worked also as building security at various locations around town. But I have also worked as an Harborist (tree trimming companies), forklift operator, truck river, printing press operator, and many, many, others.
Well with my existing condition, I am at a greater danger than most everyone else, since I am on a very high dosage of blood thinners. I tend to bleed very easily, and for about 4 times longer. And if I was to be injured, any major bruising, or internal damage, could be fatal for me. So any jobs using heavy machinery, guns, power tools, industrial equipment... well... is pretty much out of the question for me, from an employers point of view... to much liability... to much health insurance costs, etc...
So getting back to the point of this homework blog... new years resolutions... and my request for support from the community.
1.) Losing ~50 Lbs, by June. (so I don't have to run around in sweats all the time, and feel less self conscious about my weight.)
Since I got sick, I have been leading a much more sedentary lifestyle. I've gotten into gaming on my PC, shutting myself in, and still eating like I did back in high school (30 years ago). So I've bulked up quite a bit, but not in a good way. I've also recently been diagnosed with Diabetes. But I have already changed my diet considerably. No more Mtn. Dew, no more Gatorade, and have significantly cut down on sweets in general... Which, by-the-way, has been very productive. I've already lost about 20 Lbs, in the last 3-4 months. :D But I still have a long way to go.
2.) Getting back into photography again!
After seeing all of the beautiful people on this site, and having corresponded with a few, I really started missing what I love to do. But unfortunately, I don't really have any of my equipment anymore, nor a studio to work out of. And financially, I just don't have the resources to just jump back into it again. But I am keeping hope that little by little I can build my business back up again.
3.) Getting into a place I can really call my own...
...where I can have guests and visitors, where I don't have to have an inspection every 3 months, where I don't have to deal with all the drunks and drug addicts in the building, where I don't have to deal with someone starting their kitchen on fire on nearly a monthly basis... But again, I'm limited on where I can go, being on a set (very low) income, under the age of 55, not being chemically dependent on illegal drugs or alcohol...
So first things first... my weight (and general health), then getting my photography back on, then moving out of this hell hole....
4.) Get back into oil painting -
5.) Get back into drawing and sketching - Though it may be a little bit more difficult now that I have both carpel tunnel and ulnar nerve damage in both arms, might not be able to hold the pencils as steady as I used to... but I'm going to give it a try again anyway.
Getting to my request for support from the community:
1.) General moral support, encouragement and words of inspiration or a pep talk when needed.
2.) Suggestions for a new place to stay that has subsidized units. Any state or city is fine. I'm perfectly willing to move for the right price/reason/person.