Project Kengikat

Gotta Love PRINCE….1999

// March 21st, 2010 // Uncategorized

Today was a day for me to just do some cleaning as well as think about what I want to say when I speak on Monday and Tuesday of next week. There was lots to do around the apartment and this included spending some buddy time with Dodger, as well as giving him a much needed bath.

My place is a decent size place and I am so happy to have it, because as the clock strikes 12:13AM on a Saturday night I know where I could be right now…..waiting for a bus to ride it back and fourth on Wilshire or trying to find a dark place along some beach or dark alley to try to get some sleep.

I did my laundry the other day, because I now know the best time to do it is mid morning when the families are busy with getting ready for their youngest kids to come home from school so the chances that the laundry room will be wide open are great. This allows me to do both loads and be done with it. I really hate to wash clothes.

This morning I slept kind of late and I so needed it because I worked out Friday night and I think I may have pushed myself a bit too much, because I am in a bit of pain and not the pain where you feel like you’ve done a great workout, but the kind of pain you get when you have done too much. Plus I have been running all week taking care of all that I needed to get done, so sleeping in was a treat for me.

The first order of business as always is to make some coffee and then throw on something to take Dodger of for his morning business. Today I think I surprised him because he too was sleeping late and slow to jump around when I grabbed his leash like he usually does. Once he yawned a few time and stretched he was all set to go. The first walk of the day is always a short one. Just to the grass, then to the corner and back inside. As soon as we got back inside he went right for my bed and jumped up and put his head down as if to say “I need more rest” I let him do his thing.

I wasn’t sure where to start, but I knew I was going to need some music, so I loaded Pandora Music Player and was all set. Something was wrong though. I had already walked away and no music was on. I walked back over thinking I had to turn the mute off, but I was wrong. The I checked to see if the speakers were turned on and the blue light on the control signaled they were on, however they were not working. The other day the right speaker stopped working and so I figured the the entire thing just decided to stop working as well. I got this set of speakers for my birthday and I am not a fan of HP because I think they make lousy products and when you call for tech support you get someone who says their name is Brad when they know damn well their real name is Ahckmed or something like this. I spent 45 minutes trying to trouble shoot the problem with someone who barely understood English. Asking to speak to her supervisor took over 10 minutes and even when he came to the line he too was no help. They told me the serial number I was giving them was wrong. I just dont know how this could be because I was reading it from the bottom on my speaker. I gave up and email the corporate office and I know they dont give a damn, but it made me feel a bit better.

I thought I should let the person who gave the speakers as a gift know that they have stopped working, but just as I sent her the text I knew she would never return it. She has this bad habit of not returning phone calls and text messages until a few days later or even a whole week or longer, but if she texts you or calls you then you had better answer. I sent two text messages that were never returned and this is now part of two messages that I have left for her as well. Now when she does decide to call and ask and I tell her I threw them away she will be very upset.

Where was I? Ahhh, music. I used my laptop speakers and they were just fine. I decided to start in the bathroom and then work my way to the kitchen. I picked the bathroom because it was much easier then the rest of my apartment and Dodger was still sleeping in my bed so changing the sheets was really out of the question. So while he slept like sleeping he was Prince Dodger I began my long day of cleaning like I was Cinderfella. LOL

The kitchen was next and this was by far the last place I wanted to clean, because there was just so much to do in there likedishes, trash, cleaning the inside of the refrigerator, organizing what little storage containers I have, then off to do the same for the pots and pans. My microwave was pretty clean because I only use it to warm coffee once the pot has turned off. However there is all this recycling that I have not had the chance to do for two reasons…..no car anymore and the place I sue to do the recycling is no longer there. I’ve tried to use the stores but they have all refused. I have to do something soon because I now have like 5 bags. I have asked if someone can take me and each time I get the answer of “yes” which is really “no” because they never show up. So the plan is to simply take it one by one in my croozer trailer that I tow with my bike.

After about two hours everything in the kitchen was done, including under the sink, putting the drawer back in the refrigerator and even sweeping under the metal hutch as well as the refrigerator. I took everything out the refrigerator and cleaned it from top to bottom. I even threw away old ice cubes and started new ice. Sounds silly I know, put I hate ice that has stuff in it after it melts.

By this time Dodger was sitting in the window  and playing with his toys, so if made my way over to my bed and pulled all the linen off and replaced it with clean. This is when I got a text from Donald, down on Skid Row asking me how I was doing. We exchanged texts while I cleaned and I learned he had a death in his family and also a friend of his also died. I laughed so hard when he told me the funeral was over 5 hours. After making the bed and texting with Donald it was time to move the furniture and get ready to run the vacuum and this is when I got a call from George. Talk about perfect timing right?

George is someone I know from my old HIV clinic or should I say my old nightmare over at USC called 5p21 or Rand ShraderClinic. I really would like for him to share his story of survival with people who listen to my YOUTUBE channel in one of my Conversation with Kengi. This man is very inspiring and has this awesome story. Maybe one day I will be able to make this happen. We spoke for a while before Dodger started pacing and I knew it was time to get him out.

This time after Dodger did his business we went on a long walk for about an hour before we headed back for me to complete the cleaning I had started. I could tell he was tired and I was happy for this because it meant I would be able to finish my cleaning. As soon as we walked him and ran to his bowl drank some water and then ran to his toys and threw them around for a bit and then found his place near the foot of my bed where he like to take naps. He almost gets under the bed, but then turns to stick his little head out. It wasn’t long before I could hear him snoring.

I finally finished cleaning around 5:30PM and this is when Dodger started getting active again and once again we went out. Since I thought I’d be chilling with my niece for her birthday like she had told me I knew I needed to walk him and get him tired again so he would rest while I was gone, but she never called so Dodger and I had a nice evening alone on the sofa taking a nap together. This lasted for about an hour and then order some garlic chicken and fried rice. I also chatted with my friend Darlyna on FACEBOOK.

I then started blogging and uploading new pictures to my FLICKR page. I smile and said WOW BOY when I saw that I now have almost 17 thousand pictures. I would have way more, but with the loss of two laptop when I was homeless and the other that died on me those are just pictures I will never get back. It’s a shame because there were so many pictures from my time on the streets and even pictures of conditions and meals severed by missions, shelters and access centers. In addition there were pics from my outreaches and events.

After eating dinner and finishing my blog I gave Dodger a bath and then he and played for a good long while and now he issleeping on the bed behind me while I belt out my second blog of the day while listening the “Go Crazy” by prince with the lame as HP speakers next to me. LOL.

I had a great day just chilling and doing things for me and Dodger. The funny thing is the entire time I was doing things for me and Dodger I was thinking of what I want to say when I speak next week. I am really looking froward to speaking to again, but this time I will have to take my own pictures and cheer for myself because I dont think anyone of my friends will be attending the events with me since one if the early evening and the other in the middle of the day. I am sure I will do just fine.

I hope you’re having a great Saturday night or whatever the case my be when you read this blog entry.

“I was dreaming when I wrote this, forgive me if it goes a stray”