Pages


Welcome.

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.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Crossing things off my bucket list and having a blast!

Well folks, things are looking up. I'm in the running for two, yes 2, job opportunities with very impressive non-profit organizations. Wish me luck!

Plus, I'm still reeling from all the Team Canada gold medal Olympic action. It's been cathartic and a GREAT time to live in Vancouver! I can't WAIT for the paralympics to start on March 12 so I can resume cheering.

Also this week, I will receive Dragon voice-activated software (for my job search) from the nice people who supply assisted technology to the disabled. Dragon will be loaded onto a loaner computer, complete with a new monitor, printer and special ball-tracking mouse that won't tax my hands. I'm excited and very grateful. I suspend all criticicm of "the government" today, since its agencies are the ones helping me out. Besides, Harper came to town for the hockey game and the closing ceremonies of the Olympics, so he can't be that bad.

I have to say that last April, when my hands seized with RA, my entire future evaporated before my eyes. It looked as though my career as a writer had come to an abrupt end, that I would have to abandon my hobbies (playing guitar and painting canvasses) and the dream of writing a novel in my golden years was over. But now that the medications are working and I have about 80% use of my hands back, plus with new tools like Dragon, all things are once again possible. Life is grand.

Being the stubborn little creature I am, and rebelling agains my hands when they were at their worst, I painfully and painstakingly pecked out 30,000 words of a novel. I thought it might be my one last chance, so I went for it. Over the course of the next six months, (usually I work on the novel on Sundays with a large pot of coffee as an accoutrement), I will finish the book. Why not live the dream right now? Besides, who knows if my hands will work at all when I'm an old lady. I wonder now why I didn't start it sooner!! There's no time like the present, right? It's been a blast so far, kept me motivated, my mind in creative mode and my blood stirring. Soon I'll be able to cross it off on my bucket list. Won't that feel good!

So, readers, if you're waiting for "someday," why not make it today? That's my take on all this. And if everything happens for a reason, then this was the brick landing on my head (or in this case, my hands) telling me to get a move on. Ouch ... but ... yay brick!

What's on your bucket list? I'd love to know.