SouthSide's Back on the Town...

The old me is gradually making a comeback…

Last night, I reviewed my very first band at the same place where I reviewed my final show of 2014. With my daughter, I was at Old Town School of Folk Music to learn a few new dance moves before seeing Kreyol Roots perform for my other blog. It was strange at first to be outside the walls of A Safe Haven beyond the 7p curfew before yet it was refreshing to feel the cooling winter breeze and the excitement of another fun night “on the town” at the same time again. And being a music blogger for nearly 9 years, you “expertly” know the CTA bus schedule and system to memory. So I knew I would have no problems getting back to the shelter before the 11:30p curfew that I’ve set up with my caseworker.

We got back with 40 minutes to spare …and you could tell people were watching and wondering if I would get back in time. How do I know this? Oh the little things people do or not do …it’s all about body language …the tone of their voice …the way they look at you  - the surprise and shock that I’m back at the shelter before the late curfew expired. Did I ever mention I’m quite observant? It’s a gift as well as a curse …being a music blogger/press person for so long you pick up on certain things about people and the way they communicate to you. They don’t have to say much to tell you what they’re thinking. And I certainly got a lot of that upon my return.

Who cares!

I was SouthSide of SouthSide On The Town blog again …roaming the city streets covering a fun reggae-world fusion band at this legendary music venue in the heart of Lincoln Square last night. It was great to smell the grease paint and alcohol (no SouthSide doesn’t drink while working …in fact she has never touched a drop…) in the air …to be amongst the hustle and bustle of a Friday crowd scene in this diverse neighborhood …to hurry along the busy sidewalks as others travel to and from the bars or restaurants up and down Lincoln Avenue. Ah …what a feeling to have again! I loved it but probably won’t do it again for a while. The show I went to last night I was able to bring my teen daughter …my usual Friday night takes me to places where it’s 21+ only …there a few AA (all-ages) shows happening however they may be in the burbs or places where I would need an overnight pass to cover. So, this was a rare Friday night I could share with my teen.

Oh, by the way, my teen thought the band was awesome …my review and pictures coming soon on my other blog – http://southsideonthetown.blogspot.com.

Anyway, on Sunday, you shall find SouthSide and her teen at the House of Blues rockin’ out to another band …do expect pictures and review of that show….

Oh in other news – I shall be cooking dinner for the shelter.

Yeah, I know. It’s still shocking for me too.

Long story but here’s the short version. Yesterday during lunch (in which I’m never there for but since my daughter was ill and had to pick her up from school early), I made a comment about the chef’s spaghetti. I said I don’t eat anyone’s spaghetti unless I made it myself. So he dared me to try some of his. Had to admit it was good …could use a little less sauce but some mushrooms and garlic. That’s when my daughter said “you should cook with them” and the chef agreed. He said pick a day when I could come in the kitchen and make something. On Thursday – I shall be making my famous lasagna with spinach in the cheese mixture (I learned if you put veggies within the cheese mixture aka ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan …kids will eat it! I do the same with my meatloaf but I’m not giving them that secret). I’m nervous yet cannot wait to chop, dice, mix and eat my own cooking again!

Already gave him a short list of things I will need to make dinner minus one. You can’t buy it at any grocery store. That other “secret” ingredient for making lasagna – I add a dash of “love”…

Don’t worry, I shall report how dinner turns out…

Two months and so later....

Two months and counting…

That’s how long I’ve been at ASHF …hopefully not for long. Spring has sprung (sort of) and it’s time to enjoy the fresh air …warm sun …longer daylight hours and the hot rockin’ music scene that will soon explode in Chicago. The last statement – I need to be a part of that again. I miss it so much. Hanging out with my bands …friends …fans …celebrities …and my “stalkers” (I actually do have a stalker or two). MORE importantly my time here at this shelter is numbered and I’m SO ready to flee …as soon as I gain employment and housing.

That’s the goal, folks.

The “air” in this place is stifling …there’s no room to breathe or feel “free”. This is why I tend to “disappear” most days when taking my daughter to school. I honestly cannot for the life of me understand how anyone stay within these walls all day long. Unless you’re in a “class” aka Computer Learning …Life Skills …etc – there’s basically nothing to do here except lounge around …hang out on the computers (if available and or not used for a class) …or whatever most people do when their hands are idle.

“Idle hands…” – something someone very dear to me once told me.

I don’t have idle hands. My hands are busy applying for positions and typing pages for this book I’m writing …to which I’m ALMOST finished – YES! It’s a major accomplishment and (hopefully) it will be completed on time since an official completion date has been set. Let’s just say – it’s getting really, really, REALLY good. More about that later as I approach the due date.

Back to being at ASHF – I’ve learned to navigate the system …the pecking order as it were. Whom to avoid or not associate myself with to whom I should align myself with but from a safe distance. It’s almost like “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” type of scenario. Yet, in my case, I’m keeping all fronts closer than ever. My skills as an observant music blogger comes quite in handy when analyzing residents at this place. I’m not here to make friends or join a clique …I’m here for one thing only.

That being said - you would be amazed by the things I know and see as well as heard. Not going to give anything away but if I was to write my life story today …gawd, what sordid tales I could tell and secrets I would definitely expose especially about living inside a homeless shelter. It may not be the glamorous part of my life at the moment but I do keep it real and somewhat exciting …always an adventure these days…

…but for now – the goal is to be “free” …to breathe in the fresh air …and rock with the music scene again.

Summer comes extremely fast and I definitely do not was to be still here missing out on the fun that comes with it…

In other news – the food here is sort of improving. It’s a gradual improvement actually. One Sunday for dinner – they served meatballs with spicy marinara sauce (so delicious – we had two plates) …however they need to serve something other than chicken. When I leave here, chicken will NOT be on the menu at my place for a while! It’s not that they don’t know how to cook chicken but they have run out of ways to serve it. And pouring sweet and sour sauce over cut chicken pieces does not constitute that it’s sweet-n-sour chicken. That’s just sauce poured over chicken pieces. They recently did try to serve meatloaf – HA! I trust no one’s meatloaf except my own and my mom’s. All others are crap and you can definitely quote me on that! I did enjoy they “honey” flavored chicken they had one day. Now, they need to add some BBQ sauce …or at least have chicken nuggets or strips for the kids. Today it was “chop suey” …heard it was good. Unless it has fresh veggies and noodles – it’s not good to me. I don’t “do” canned veggies with my cooking. Something I miss doing SO terribly. Anyway – chicken is about the only thing here that’s safe …besides the eggs (sometimes they’re too runny …swimming because they’re not cooked fully) and the salad bar – but leave the black olives out of the greens! They did try to serve a burrito type taco – mine’s better …of course. Sunday – the turkey/ham sandwiches were totally not appealing. I like my daughter’s suggestion – pizza. There should be a pizza night here …and I don’t mean the nasty-looking pizza casserole they served in January that looked as if they had a pizza …dropped it on the floor and mashed it into a casserole dish.

One day …the kitchen staff will get it right…

…or not…

"...the keys to your new home..."

Keys

Having a pair of keys may seem trivial as well as unimportant you. However to a homeless person, it's means normalcy ...the freedom to come and go as they please ...without having being told when to eat or what to eat ...normalcy ...a life beyond the walls of A Safe Haven Foundation. 

Keys ...I had such a pair when my daughter and I were moved into the apartment room in a building known as "Richmond" (named after it's location). And during that brief time outside and beyond the confines of the main building site of ASHF, we enjoyed a bit of normalcy though there were chores to do ...rules to follow and classes to attend. However there was normalcy and a bit of freedom while living there.

I was able to shop and cook my own food. Ah ...to have FRESH vegetables rather than whatever the kitchen staff considers "fresh" to be ...it was nice to have cumin, peppers, jalapenos, cilantro, sugar snap peas and many other veggies in my diet again. Though it made me sick for a couple of days but it was wonderful to eat "healthy" without the cafeteria grease. My daughter enjoyed it the most because she was eating again (she had lost a lot of weight by not eating the food since arriving - it will definitely try to kill ya). Stir fry cooking ...tex-mex meals ...pizza! 

Yes, it nice being able to cook again. Plus my roommate never met a person like myself who would bring home the vegetable aisle nearly every week. I don't do canned (unless it's water chestnuts) or processed food products. It has to be fresh and spiced with seasonings and spices.

Also while at "Richmond", there was peace and quiet. Finally, I was able to get a decent night's rest without hearing the yelling, screaming, gossip and "...I'm going to *bleep* *bleep* your ass if you don't..." from the mothers on the second floor. Since we mainly kept to ourselves while at the main site (and still do), we practiced the same while at "Richmond". We got up at the same time leaving around 8a and didn't return home until 5p or so ...just in time to cook a small meal and then head to class. I like disappearing from the site all day ...it's all about normalcy. Don't get me wrong I could stay at ASHF and use their free wi-fi connection (since my laptop is set up for that) however I like hanging out at the library near my daughter's school during the week ...away from the noise and gossip ...away from those who like getting into other people's business except their own.

Normalcy and keys...

The goal now that I'm back at the main site - "Richmond" is designed for mothers with one small child from 0 to 5yrs old ...not moms with teenaged children - is getting my own set of keys. It's a process since I'm looking for a job ...something to do in between finishing this book and reviewing the local music scene (which I have taken a hiatus from - nightly curfews of 7p hinders that part of my life).

Can't wait have keys so my daughter and I can return to normalcy again...