Sick, Tired & Broke (November 14, 2011)

Blech!  That about sums up how I feel at the moment. Today I'm feeling quite run down . . . constant low grade headache, back spasms, and exhausted.  So, please, take my attitude with a grain of salt (. . . which is about all the salt I can afford).

I recognize that I have it pretty good, relatively speaking.  I have a roof over my head, food in my tummy, and friends and family.  In fact, when you look it that way I am wealthy compared to most in the world.  Plus I'm not fearing for my life, and am free to speak, worship, and congregate as I please.  HOWEVER, today I am feeling like  . . . pardon my language . . . crap.   Living each day counting your pennies, eating less than you want and differently than you want, and taking a hit financially when ANYTHING comes up is a real pain in the derriere.  At some point, it starts to affect your mood. 

My hit today was not only feeling under the weather, but then having to borrow money in order to get some relief.  The headache started yesterday and persisted today, and why should I not be able to get the relief most of my neighbours can afford . . . some ibuprofen?  Plus, I have some genetic back problems that I have had under control in recent years with exercise and stretches, however it has acted up in the last two days.  Unfortunately, after testing various remedies over the years, the only truly effective relief I have found for my back is Robaxcet.  So I had to purchase some generic issue of the muscle relaxant today in order to avoid what often happens next when it gets this bad . . . i.e. waking up tomorrow morning and not being able to stand.  I feel no other choice but to incur the expense and the debt.  I'd love some herbal tea, too, but I'll forgo that luxury.

Here's the worst part . . . as small as my debt is I have great difficulty seeing how I will pay it off and stay out of debt.  And that means only one thing in my books . . . this level of income is only tenuously sufficient for a single person (and completely unsustainable if more than one person has to live on it).  Yes, it's still early on in this phase of the project, but that's the writing on the wall that I am seeing at this moment.

Wah, wah, wah . . . I know I'm feeling sorry for myself . . . and thanks for putting up with me while I complain.  Tomorrow will be better . . . and if you disagree then please keep it to yourself as that is what I need to believe in order to get through today.

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Phase II - Struggles of the Working Poor Daily Report
Day 13 and 14 (November 13^th - 14^th)

Weight at Beginning of Project:  233 lbs
Weight at End of Phase One:  216 lbs
Weight at Start of Phase Two: 221 lbs
Weight at Start of Today:  216 lbs

Available Funds:   $0.00 (leftover) + $0.00 (Nov 13) + $3.00 (Nov 14) = $3.00
Funds Spent Today:  $10.25 (generic Robaxcet/Ibuprofen)
Remaining Funds:   $0.00 (see New Loan)

New Loan:  $7.25 (Nov 14)
Loan Due Today: $22.57
Loan Payment:   $0.00
Outstanding Loan: $29.82 @ 1.5% per day . . .  $30.27 due on Day 15

Items Purchased:   Generic Robaxcet/Ibuprofen

Free Stuff:  2 Loaves of Bread, 1 Can of Mushrooms, 1 Can of Beans, 1 Dozen Eggs, Half Block of Butter, 2 Leftover Cooked Steaks  (All of these were leftovers at a Men`s Breakfast that were directed to me.)

Gas Purchased* & Remaining:  $0.00 (i.e. 0.00 litres @ $1.129 per litre . . . 0.0 km @ 10 km/litre) + 0.49 litres (gas remaining) = 0.49 litres (4.9 km)
Driving Today:  0 km (i.e. 0.0 litres)
Gas Remaining:  0.49 litres (i.e. 4.9 km)

*Will not include any fuel or driving related to work that is paid for by work.

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Hey!!  I'm That Poverty Guy . . . let's make a world of difference together.

Click Here to Sign . . . A Declaration to World Leaders

Click Here to See WACHOOKANDU

The Morning After The Night Before (November 11, 2011)

I awaken this morning with a heavy heart.  There are a number of reasons for this . . .

#1 Remembrance Day - Both Mrs. Poverty Guy and I have grandfathers who were in the military at the time of WWII.  Unfortunately, these "great wars" were not to end all wars . . . and men and women today continue to lay down their lives for their countries and freedom.  While one can argue the necessity of these wars or whether there were other alternatives, one can never doubt the bravery and selflessness of those in the military who risk their lives for the good of others.  It is that same selflessness that can end poverty . . . but the fact we have people dying in war and in poverty can weigh heavy, especially on days like today.

#2 Farewell to Bob - A friend with whom my family has shared various feasts (Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving) and who we have held near and dear to our hearts for a number of years is moving across the country to be close to his family.  He will be missed, but our loss is their gain.  Bob has such a huge heart for others that people in his new community will be blessed immensely by him.  In fact, Mrs. Poverty Guy asked me to give two hugs to Bob for her when I saw him last night at his farewell dinner.  "Why two?" I asked.  "Because one hug is never enough for Bob," she responded.  She's right.

#3 Financial Hangover - While I did enjoy a lovely pint last night, it wasn't an alcoholic hangover I was suffering from this morning.  More of an financial one.  While it was a no-brainer to attend the farewell dinner for our friend, Bob, last night; things like that are really tough on the wallet when one has limited means.  I had a delightful Cajun chicken burger and fries along with my beer, and an absolutely superb time.  However, waking up to $21.27 debt this morning was sobering indeed ( . . . that's about 10% of my available funds this month!).   But, as mentioned, I would do it again in a heartbeat . . . albeit from a heavy heart.

Not to worry though, I'm not going to become some glum chum.  (. . . see what I did there?)  Even in times of having a heavy heart, we are able to be grateful for what we have.  I'm grateful for my family and having friends.  I'm grateful for those who give of themselves for the welfare of others.  I'm grateful for a good time last night and the opportunity to do a lot of walking in the days to come.

For what are you grateful?

Please note . . . I will be leaving tonight to help lead a youth retreat as part of my work and returning Sunday.  For that reason, the report below covers yesterday through tomorrow (inclusive).  You will note that there is no income for tomorrow since I am away and all of my needs will be provided for.  My next blog will be on Monday November 14th.

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Phase II - Struggles of the Working Poor Daily Report
Day 10 - 12 (November 10^th - 12^th)

Weight at Beginning of Project:  233 lbs
Weight at End of Phase One:  216 lbs
Weight at Start of Phase Two: 221 lbs
Weight at Start of Today:  216 lbs

Available Funds:   $0.00 (leftover) + $9.00 (Nov 10) + $7.00 (Nov 11) + $0.00 (Nov 12) = $16.00
Funds Spent Today:  $37.27 ($7.77 loan repayment + $22.50 evening out + $7.00 Grocery)
Remaining Funds:   $0.00 (see New Loan)

New Loan:  $21.27 (Nov 10)
Previous Loan Due Today (Nov 10): $7.77 (original loan amount - $13.95)
Loan Payment:   $7.77
Outstanding Loan: $21.27 @ 1.5% per day . . .  $22.24 due on Day 13

Items Purchased:   2 Apples, 1 Loaf Bread, ½ Dozen Eggs, Ripple Chips (for football game), 2 Noodle Soups

Free Stuff:  Nil

Gas Purchased* & Remaining:  $0.00 (i.e. 0.00 litres @ $1.129 per litre . . . 0.0 km @ 10 km/litre) + 0.49 litres (gas remaining) = 0.49 litres (4.9 km)
Driving Today:  0 km (i.e. 0.0 litres)
Gas Remaining:  0.49 litres (i.e. 4.9 km)

*Will not include any fuel or driving related to work that is paid for by work.

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Hey!!  I'm That Poverty Guy . . . let's make a world of difference together.

Click Here to Sign . . . A Declaration to World Leaders

Click Here to See WACHOOKANDU

My Lucky Foot (November 10, 2011)



Okay . . . I have a twisted sense of humour
sometimes.

I have a lucky foot.  No . . . not a rabbit's foot . . . MY foot!  My foot is lucky.

Why?  Because it has developed some problems over time and it's attached to a middle-income person in Canada.  Had it been attached to someone living in low income elsewhere without health insurance or someone living in the poorer parts of the developing world, my foot could have had an entirely different life.

The Problem.  As you'll recall, in the tent phase of this project I sprained my left ankle, and I mentioned at the time it was not the first time.  I actually wrecked my ankle pretty badly twice in my early 20's, and since then it has been prone to sprains due to permanent ligament damage.  Now, with all of the walking I've done in That Poverty Project, it has hastened the onset of additional problems.  My gait is changing with my ankle turning to the inside with every step . . . which affects my left knee . . . and ultimately my right hip.  Further, the pressure point on my left foot has changed so that the entirety of my weight is placed on a spot in near the ball of my foot about the size of a dime with every step . . . which has caused stress pain in my foot and some loss of feeling in the toes from time to time.  Not to worry though, I'm definitely having it treated.  However it got me thinking as to how things might be different were my foot in a different situation.

What if my foot were born to a poor family in the developing world?  In all likelihood, even if I were able to go to school (which is not a given), I would likely be involved in manual labour focused on trying to eke out an existence.  If I were to have wrecked my ankle in that environment, it likely would not have healed properly in the first place due to not having access to sufficient medical facilities ( . . . and certainly not the top notch physiotherapist who treated me . . . nor electronic stimulation therapy . . . nor ultrasound).  Forget about a cast or even a tensor bandage, I may not even have shoes.  As a result, I would have been at least partially crippled in my early 20's and quite likely unable to partake in the manual labour required of me.  Not being able to pull my own weight would diminish my ability to participate in community and care for myself and my loved ones.  With about 30 poor countries having a life expectancy of mid-50s or younger, I would likely die earlier than most.

What if my foot were born to a poor family in the United States?  While I would fare better than above, it may not be that much better.  I expect that the initial treatment would be good, although not great without medical insurance.  While there is a chance I would escape the poverty cycle, the odds are that I would still be involved in manual labour and still in the lower income bracket without health insurance.  Eventually, as the ankle joint wears down over time (and quickly if needing to walk a lot), and not being able to afford medical intervention, a point will be reached where the problem progresses to where walking is extremely painful and the related problems of knee and lower back work together to render me disabled.  Living on disability support without sufficient means to access proper health services will likely result in a premature death in my sixties.  And, I don't mean to pick on the USA . . . even with Canada's universal health care the problem may not be alleviated but simply delayed if I were to remain caught in the poverty cycle.  A recent study out of Hamilton, Ontario showed that those living in the richer neighbourhoods of the city lived on average 20 years longer than those in the poorest neighbourhood.

What is actually going to happen to my foot?  First of all, due to the wonderful treatment I received from a physiotherapist when the injuries first occurred, the problems with my ankle have not affected my lifestyle much until now (except for when it was sprained again from time to time).  Now that it has degenerated slightly with additional use, the first line of treatment is some orthotics to help straighten my gait.  Then, a cycle of treatment to strengthen other muscles in my foot and ankle will also help mitigate future problems.  Finally, I will be seeing a specialist to determine if there may be some surgical intervention that may help with the structural integrity of the joint.  In any event, I am fortunate to have the ability to perform work that does not require me to be on my feet AND I have no concerns whatsoever that it will affect my life expectancy.

Yup . . . I have a lucky foot!  Hopefully, one day in the not too distant future it will not matter nearly as much as to where a foot is in order to prosper.  In order to make this happen, we each need to do a little bit more than we are currently doing to improve the lives of those in need, especially speaking out to let our leaders know it is a priority.  Feet everywhere should have equal opportunity to reach their potential regardless of where they are born.

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Phase II - Struggles of the Working Poor Daily Report
Day 9 (November 9th)

Weight at Beginning of Project:  233 lbs
Weight at End of Phase One:  216 lbs
Weight at Start of Phase Two: 221 lbs
Weight at Start of Today:  217 lbs

Available Funds:   $0.00 (leftover) + $6.50 (new) = $6.50
Funds Spent Today:  $6.50
Remaining Funds:   $0.00

New Loan:  $0.00
Loan Due Today: $14.16 (original loan amount - $13.95)
Loan Payment:   $6.50
Outstanding Loan: $7.66 @ 1.5% per day . . .  $7.77 due on Day 10

Items Purchased:   Nil

Free Stuff:  Nil

Gas Purchased* & Remaining:  $0.00 (i.e. 0.00 litres @ $1.129 per litre . . . 0.0 km @ 10 km/litre) + 0.49 litres (gas remaining) = 0.49 litres (4.9 km)
Driving Today:  0 km (i.e. 0.0 litres)
Gas Remaining:  0.49 litres (i.e. 4.9 km)

*Will not include any fuel or driving related to work that is paid for by work.

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Hey!! I'm That Poverty Guy . . . let's make a world of difference together.

Click Here to Sign . . . A Declaration to World Leaders

Click Here to See WACHOOKANDU

Human Rights

"People do not exist for the state, but the state for the people."  That's the closing sentiment in this very interesting and informative video about Universal Human Rights.

There's a troubling school of thought that believes one's access to food, water, shelter, health, and education should depend on the actions of the individual or left to a collective groups own, but too often limited, means.  While the intent behind such an approach is to not benefit those who waste resources or make bad choices, the result is that the vast majority who are innocent of this behaviour are hurt by not having basic human rights realized for them.  Human rights are all of our concern, and we must all be vigilant in protecting them.

To find out more you can check out:

Human Rights Campaign
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch

Hey!!  I'm That Poverty Guy . . . let's make a world of difference together.

Click Here to Sign . . . A Declaration to World Leaders

Click Here to See WACHOOKANDU

The Need-Want Tension (November 9, 2011)

I'm feeling stretched.  Not financially . . . okay, a little financially.  But mostly emotionally.  There's a tension that exists between needs and wants, and those who are struggling to make ends meet are in the thick of this battle.

I see the world broken down into three camps of people.

#1  Those in Need . . . Depending on how you define "need", this could be 1.5 billion people or something much larger if you include everyone who does not have at least one of their basic human rights satisfied (food security, clean water, adequate sanitation, access to basic health services, access to basic education, and freedom from fear).  Wherever the border is defined, this group struggles with simply surviving . . . and fulfilling wants is pretty much out of the question.

#2 Those whose Basic Needs are Satisfied but with Little or No Buffer . . . These people are fed, clothed, sheltered, have adequate sanitation, access to health care, access to education, and are relatively safe.  Despite being only an unexpected happening away from crisis, these people are comfortable enough that they can start to look towards fulfilling other desires and being even more comfortable.  They can sometimes satisfy their wants.  This, too, is a fairly large group of people being everyone not the other groups.  I am in this group, not only during this phase of the project, but especially in this phase of the project.

#3 Those who are Well Beyond Satisfying Basic Needs and can Easily Satisfy Wants . . . While this group consists of a large number of people, mostly in the developed world, it is relatively small in size compared to the other two groups.  This group of people can weather many and varied crises while still having their basic needs met, and is able to satisfy a good number of their wants.

Both groups #2 and #3 feel the tension between need and want, but in different ways.  Group #2 feels the internal struggle . . . able to provide for their needs but being constantly tempted to succumb to their wants.  This struggle sometimes produces satisfaction, but often results in threatening the security of their needs.  Further, I would postulate that this inner tension actually fuels giving into wants from time to time . . . people trying to find some pleasure in order to forget about the struggle even for a little while.  On the other hand, Group #3 feels the external struggle . . . they have the means to meet the needs of others and feel the tension between helping others and fulfilling their own wants.  Neither of these struggles are easy.  Of course, neither group would want to trade with Group #1 who is struggling to survive.

I am going to make some decisions that are not the best financial choices.  I already have.  I've increased my debt by succumbing to the purchase of cheese slices, extra meat, potato chips and spices . . . definitely wants not needs.  And, I will be doing so again tomorrow evening.  A farewell celebration is being held at a local restaurant for a friend who is moving away.  The smart money decision is to take a pass.  The smart emotional decision is to go and join my friends . . . be part of community, say good bye to my friend, and be "normal" for a few hours.  Yes, there is a cost . . . less money for needs in the days that follow.  However, that is part of the struggle and one I am willing to pay in the circumstances.  It's all about balancing the entirety of the situation.

Similarly, affluent people will indulge themselves even though others are starving in the world.  I have no doubt that those who are starving would do the same thing were roles reversed.  However, just as I shouldn't be judged for making the occasional bad financial decision in order to satisfy a want as long as such is done only occasionally and in moderation; so too the affluent person should not be judged for indulging one's self . . . as long as such is also balanced, i.e. helping others in need as much as they can while still being comfortable one's self.

Here's the rub . . . and the thing I suggest we all ponder.  First, studies show that those who are in Group #2 (i.e. low income) have been found to be more generous than Group #3 (i.e. high income) in helping those in Group #1.  Is that because Group #2 has greater awareness of the struggles of Group #1?  Or perhaps Group #2 is less attached to comforts compared to Group #3?  Second, it would take only a fraction of Group #3's resources to elevate everyone in Group #1 to Group #2 (i.e. ensure everyone's basic needs are met in a sustainable fashion), while Group #3 could still be very comfortable.  Yet, despite the wonderful efforts of some in Group #3, it is not happening nearly to the extent that it could.  I suggest it is for both of these reasons we currently see overt tensions between Groups #1 and #2 on one side and Group #3 on the other (i.e. riots, protests, Occupy Movement).  Of course, the solution lies in finding ways to work together, and not demonizing or destroying one another.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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Phase II - Struggles of the Working Poor Daily Report
Day 8 (November 8th)

Weight at Beginning of Project:  233 lbs
Weight at End of Phase One:  216 lbs
Weight at Start of Phase Two: 221 lbs
Weight at Start of Today:  218 lbs

Available Funds:   $2.00 (leftover) + $7.50 (new) = $9.50
Funds Spent Today:  $23.45
Remaining Funds:   $0.00 (see New Loan)

New Loan:  $13.95
Outstanding Loan: $13.95 @ 1.5% per day . . .  $14.16 due on Day 9
Loan Payment:   $0.00
Loan Remaining: $0.00

Items Purchased:   Dish Soap, Laundry Detergent, Black Pepper Seasoning, Head of Lettuce, Cheese Slices, Ranch Dressing, Discounted Steak (about to expire), 2 Bananas

Free Stuff:  Rotisserie Chicken, ½ Purple Onion, Gouda Cheese, 2 Apples, 1 Lemon

Gas Purchased* & Remaining:  $0.00 (i.e. 0.00 litres @ $1.129 per litre . . . 0.0 km @ 10 km/litre) + 2.29 litres (gas remaining) = 2.29 litres (22.9 km)
Driving Today:  18 km (i.e. 1.8 litres)
Gas Remaining:  0.49 litres (i.e. 4.9 km)

*Will not include any fuel or driving related to work that is paid for by work.

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Hey!! I'm That Poverty Guy . . . let's make a world of difference together.

Click Here to Sign . . . A Declaration to World Leaders

Click Here to See WACHOOKANDU