Congress on Your Corner – Saturday, August 12 with Congressman Hakeem Jeffries

On August 12, 2017 By dancingpalmtreesIn Army, Broadway Junction, Hakeem Jeffries, rats, U.S. Army, U.S. Army Veteran, Uncategorized, United States Army6 Comments

Congressman Hakeem Jeffries had a Meet & Greet Congress on Your Corner – today in front of the Shirley Chisholm Post Office this morning. I made sure that I got up early and I was the 3rd person on the line. I voiced my concerns about the swarms of rats that greet me every night at the Broadway Junction subway station. I work nights so I get off work at 12:30 and usually get to my Brooklyn Broadway Junction stop around 1:30 am. There are literally hordes of rats. Big ones. Larger than my cat Sylvester.

I also asked him about low cost housing for Veterans. I came prepared with my DD 214 Discharge papers. Rent is eating up my budget and I can barely pay my other bills. I explained to Congressman Jeffries that I apply for City Housing on NYC website but since it is a lottery I almost never get called or I get rejected. He informed me that there is another way I can get Veterans housing. His staff took down all my information and his staff will get back to me.

I also explained to him that any housing would need to be cat friendly and that in my case my Cat Sylvester is my therapy cat. Those of you Ladies who have served in the military know the issues that confront women and you don’t always come out the way you went in. That can be said of any male dominated job field. I have Life Long emotional and psychological issues. Therefore I need a therapy pet. Either cat or dog. Sylvester gives stability to my life and helps me cope with my various struggles.

For every American who tells me Thank you for My Service I wonder if they ever try to help any of the Veterans in their city. Keep in mind that many Homeless People are Veterans. I know what it is to get evicted. And just as you pass by, cringe and judge the homeless people on your city streets and subways well one of those could have been me. Instead of verbal Thanks it would be more profitable to volunteer to help Homeless/Disabled Veterans, speak to your Congressperson about increasing Veterans services and programs or at least attempt to inform yourself on the issues and problems confronting Veterans especially Female Veterans. Other than that Keep your Thanks. That does not help us. I cannot eat, live in or pay bills with empty Thanks.

Congressman Jeffries is a man of his word and he has helped me in the past concerning my brother Stephen. Those of you who have been following my blog know what I went through with my job not allowing me time off to see my brother Stephen.

He actually cares about the community. He listened to me. He alerted me to various programs that I did not know existed. Hakeem Jeffries is a good man.

I’m a firm believer in Citizen participation. I could sit here and bemoan my problems or I can do something about them. Nobody is going to do it for me. It’s up to me to change my life. I’m approaching retirement and I do have several health challenges so I’ve got to find solutions now and not wait until a crisis. Being Proactive is the way to go.

https://jeffries.house.gov/

The Daily Post ~~ You’re locked in a room with your greatest fear.

On November 1, 2015 By dancingpalmtreesIn Fears, rats, roaches, The Daily Post, waterbugs, You’re locked in a room with your greatest fear. Describe what’s in the room.3 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “1984.”

1984

You’re locked in a room with your greatest fear. Describe what’s in the room.

Rats, Roaches, Waterbugs and the only way out involves a Cliff precipice or a creaky old wooden foot bridge across a bottomless chasm!! Heights are not my friend. Sounds like that Horror movie Saw!!

Rats with Attitude

On June 22, 2015June 22, 2015 By dancingpalmtreesIn arthritis, Cats, Ft. Polk, Ft. Puke, rats, roaches, Sylvester, vermin, waterbugs10 Comments

Saturday Night on my way home from work approximately 9:45 pm.

Finally caught my breath and my heart rate has returned to normal. While I was exiting the subway station nearly had a panic attack because two giant rats bigger than my cat Sylvester were sauntering along the platform as though they owned it. Now I’m not an easily frightened person but rats scare the shit out of me and these rats took their time walking along with the other riders exiting the station. Finally the gentleman in front of me stomped his feet to get them to move faster. Once he did that the rats moved along and I ran to the exit door. I commented to the gentleman that I need my cat and he said Miss even a cat would mess with rats that size. Shit! I need one of those damn raptors or other dinosaurs from Jurassic World! New York rats must be freaking hybrids and they have no fear of humans! Bad enough you never know what human kook or nut-job will be riding the train with you now gotta deal with damn rats on the platform.

The rats made me forget all about my arthritis. That fear in the pit of my stomach gave me a burst of energy and the limbs of my 18 year old self! LOL!! However I can do without creepy creature shocks. I prefer that the insects (gigantic cockroaches and water-bugs) and mammals not ride the trains or walk along beside me on the platforms. All I could think is if those rejects from Chucky Cheese bite me I’ll be getting rabies shots for a month.

Years ago while I was in the Army I went TDY (Temporary Duty) to Ft. Polk or as we like to call it Ft. Puke, LA. Being a city girl I had little experience with wildlife. I remember being in the barracks and asking another woman why birds were flying around at night and so near our windows. She said those aren’t birds those are bats. Needless to say I was terrified thinking they were vampire bats out to get me! Made sure the windows were shut tight despite the heat. Louisiana also has a variety of scorpions, snakes, vipers, mosquitoes the size of helicopters and whatever else the Field Artillery guys had the nerve to bring back from the field. So I won’t be retiring to LA either! Too many scary critters.

The rats are farebeaters. They have not paid their $2.75 fare and even if they did since they are nothing but disease carrying vermin they should be exterminated. It’s one thing observing them running to and fro along the tracks, (those grey bastards are too smart for their own good because they always manage to avoid the electrified third rail), but it’s a whole ‘nother story to have them marching along beside you as though they too were returning home from work, school or church.

Given last Saturday’s rodent encounter I’m seriously considering getting off at a different subway stop a little further from my home but has more human activity, police and is somewhat cleaner than my station. Ugh!!

Some of you old enough will remember this song from the movie Ben (1972) and the follow up film Williard. https://youtu.be/h0eKPBvyk_4

Vipernian Visitors from the Planet Reptillius

On May 26, 2014February 1, 2015 By dancingpalmtreesIn Cat People, Cat Woman, Funeral Pyre, Gotham, Helter Skelter, Hip-Hop, Jabberwocky, Medusa, Muggle, Rap, Reptilian, Rodents, Salazar Slytherin, Salma Hayek, Serpent, Serpentyne, Slithery Toves, Slytherin House, Snake, Viper2 Comments

Vipernians vs Felinious Max

Normal pets like cats and dogs are no longer in vogue. At least not this neighborhood! These folks got snakes! And they got the nerve and audacity to take Mr. Boa Constrictor for a walk. Writhing, wriggling Snake jewelry. Snakes in the Hood! Will theses hip-hop snake charmers begin to spit Jabberwocky verses Odes to their Slithery Toves! Wending Awinding across tattooed pierced bodies making their way across Fulton, down Rockaway oblivious towards wide berthed glances clearing pathways via booming beats. Ghetto Medusa come dance with me. Enchant me further with your convoluted, intertwining, sinuous living locs!

Release your coiled, corkscrewed, spiral looping familiars into Gotham’s subterranean lurching travel chambers where they can make short work of Mutant rodents who run helter skelter along the tracks and in garbage strewn streets. Nay! Never part with Vipernian allies? Then shall my Feline Avenger wreck havoc upon your Reptilian shores.