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No Bread Today started out as my "sanity journal," so I could keep a level head and a sense of humour throughout a personal financial crisis. Facing illness, unemployment, poverty (I ran out of money), and the terror of homelessness, I reached out for emotional support by blogging, and support came. No Bread Today has now evolved into something far beyond me. It is a haven and a resource for others in the same or similar circumstances. I will keep writing my own experiences with a chuckle, so enjoy the posts, but I have also added links to emergency resources and a list of places where you can get free meals and inexpensive groceries for low income residents on the Lower Mainland. As I uncover more resources, I'll keep listing them here (scroll down to page bottom to view) and on twitter. With the ecomony being what it is, sadly, there are many of us struggling. Hopefully, No Bread Today will a give you a hand-up. If anyone can add to these lists, please do. If you appreciate what you read here, please share this blog with others, because someone always knows someone, who knows SOMETHING that can make all the difference.

With profound gratitude to those who have been so amazingly supportive so far, and who have given so much of themselves - not out of guilt or any self-serving interest, but purely out of love, compassion and generosity. You are my inspiration. My intentions remain: I am not seeking financial assistance of any kind from this blog. I simply hope this becomes a story of triumph, for all who share it. I hope you laugh as hard as I do. I hope No Bread Today is as inspirational and empowering for you, as it is for me. I hope people will relate, inform, and chime in. I hope I can help you, in return. If this welcome message is the only thing you read, I ask only that if you are able, please donate to your local food bank. People are hurting right now and they need you. Thanks! ~ Jo Bless.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Toast-a-palooza at long last! The hoarding is over.

Four wonderful words: I bought bread tonight!

Yes indeedy, I shelled out the $1.49 plus tax at Safeway. You'd think I'd be scarfing down the entire loaf right now instead of blogging, but no, I'm savouring the knowledge that I can have toast for breakfast tomorrow. I have been dreaming about bread for a week now. Probably the blog title's fault. Funny what you crave when you can't afford food. I wonder what I'll dream about tonight?

I've never been a "hoarder." It's a particular behaviour that is completely new to me and, until now, was beyond my scope of understanding. I couldn't fathom why there was a TV show called "Hoarders," it seemed so ridiculous, so extreme. But now, I add extra water to make a can of soup last for two days. I still have two-thirds of the tin of pears that I received from the food bank on Friday. I've been portioning it out day by day. In short, I've been sitting on my last $30, and now that I know an EI cheque is imminent, I can let go a little. A toast to all of you! Cheers.
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5 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 17, 2010 at 9:48 PM

    Awesome! Sweet dreams girl!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jo BlessJanuary 18, 2010 at 8:57 AM

    Thanks! LOL> I didn't quite make it: Got out of bed at midnight and had 4 slices. Then I slept like a lamb. Hope all is well with you and good things happen. Karma, baby.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 18, 2010 at 1:04 PM

    "Let them eat toast," Ms. Jo Antoinette. So happy for you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. kateJanuary 31, 2010 at 12:18 AM

    I wonder if you have any friends or readers who might have an old bread machine sitting around that they do not use?

    I don't but lots of people seem to. They can work really well (though they often have quirks you have to learn to get the best quality). And with a bread machine, you can make a really good, really cheap loaf of bread. Easy too!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jo BlessJanuary 31, 2010 at 7:59 AM

    Kate, you're such a sweetie! Good thinking. We'll see if anyone responds, or maybe I'll look on craigslist in case someone is giving one away for free or selling one on the cheap.

    ReplyDelete

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