it lives!

Yes, I'm alive. Things have just been crazy, but, today has been good.

As I mentioned before, Andy has been in a right state over the past eight months without any ID, the past year without a steady job, and the past six months without a home of his own. Last weekend I went to visit him, we stayed in a hotel. This past week he's really been on the street, more or less (well, in a friend's basement, really, and that was kinda sketch). We decided to take a big step, and my mom and I got together enough money to send him to Worcester, MA, where he grew up, to see about getting him some ID. He left at 3 AM and arrived just before noon. By 1:20 PM he had a record of his birth from the town clerk, and a temporary MassID from the RMV. By 4 PM he'd also taken care of his social security card and sent off an application for a passport. Wooo! He'll be spending the weekend with a friend of mine in Connecticut before heading back to Buffalo. The passport will take 1-4 weeks, and when he gets back to New York he'll be applying for ID from that state.

I am pretty fucking ecstatic about that. I could very well have him here in Canada by the end of May, which would be absolutely amazing.

I also had my last exam today. I think I kicked its ass. Awesome.

For the next week or so I'll be pretty much AWOL. I'm packing this weekend, moving on Monday, then I have peer educator training and a retreat next week as well. I won't be back until Sunday, then I have a week left with the SCSU. So I'll be busy, to say the least.

Hope you're all doing well out in internet-land. :-)

S.O.S.

This is another long story, but I'll make it as short as possible, and that is mostly because I'm sick of typing it out over and over again.

Some of you who know me personally may have already heard about my boyfriend, Andy Parker. Andy lives in Niagara Falls, New York, and in August 2006, his identification was stolen: his driver's license, his birth certificate, and his social security card. As well, at the end of September of that year, he was evicted from his apartment. He also recently got fired from his job.

Right now, Andy is flat broke, has no ID, and after tomorrow, nowhere to live. The government offices, community groups and agencies that are supposed to be there to help have been no help at all. He has been relying on the kindness of friends but is no longer able to do so. For the past eight months he has been run around in circles, promised things that never appeared, and barely scraping by because of this.

We are at our wit's ends. There is very little I can do for him from Canada, and this situation has been stressing us both out and straining our relationship. He needs help, and I figure the best I can do is get the word out.

First, I've created a Facebook group, which you can see here. It has more details on the situation and what Andy has already tried. If you don't have Facebook, contact me and I'll e-mail you the details.

Andy is looking for a place to stay, a job, and perhaps some legal wrangling. The housing and the job are the most important things right now because as of tomorrow, he'll be out on the street. What Andy is NOT looking for is a handout or money. What I'm trying to do is network, and find people, preferably in the U.S., who might be able to help. If you or someone you know lives in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls area and knows of any job leads, or places he can stay (that don't want him to present ID), please contact me at realtruehonestlove@gmail.com and I will get you in touch with Andy. If you are involved in law or other related fields and think you can help with his ID situation, also get in touch.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Andy is a good guy who has had some really bad luck recently, and he really needs the help.

Thanks so much.