Phone Post: 7618 - Walkabout though the valley of the homeless

[scottobear]

PhonePost 371K 2:03

“On this morning's walk, I was hit up no less than 6 times by vagrants for change or anything I could give them. I don't know what's happening with this population down here, they're not going back up north for the summer, or if they are, the population that's remaining is very high. I think that if the population triples again come September/early October that the situation here will become intolerable. I can't see walking, y'know, 4 miles and having a bunch of hands stuck out, reaching at me... y'know, this isn't Calcutta. I... I don't need, don't want, um, people in varying levels of um, mental health and physical health and cleanliness just sticking their hands out, just begging for money... can't tell who really needs it, who wants a fix, who wants beer, uh, and who really needs help. All I can do is tell people where St. Vincent's is, tell people where the homeless shelters are, and take it from there. I absolutely cannot give money to anyone anymore. It's a dice roll I'm not going to make. Well, that's, um, officially random, I guess. Right now I'm at the Coral Square Mall, hanging out in the mostly-dead food court, there's still a Chinese food place, a uh... random grill and a pizza joint, but all the good stuff's gone. There used to be a French bread place... that's gone, uh, a couple other little snacky-places that are just no longer here. And uh, I think I'll just walk around here for a little bit then go to the club in a bit, come noon or one o'clock, and then report back home while uh my tech has to go to the gym. I'll take call. Then my night's free. I'll have Saturday night and all day Sunday to do walkabout and hang out and have fun. Don't know what I'm gonna do yet, but I'll take things as they come. I hope your day is good, I'll talk to you later, dear journal. You have a great one. Bye.” Transcribed by: scottobear

Comments

[sedefendendo.livejournal.com]

uh could i have like say 10 bucks so i can buy some mushrooms?

ok, that wasnt that funny.

i am totally with you on the observation, i wll buy you a sandwich..........but i cannot give you money for drugs.

or i can tell you where you can get help.

you are a great guy and i hope your days of freedom, and walkabouts lead you to lots of wonder and happy moments!

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

sure! would you like portobello or shittake?

heee... I said shittake.

[sedefendendo.livejournal.com]

hahahahha i just read SHITTAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww lol
now your funny!

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

SHEE-TAH-KAY!

[ilenebook.livejournal.com]

Nice voice Scotto..I hear you about the homeless..there are places to go for help..wonder why they don't. Peace of mind and good wishes for you today.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

I think some homeless are more interested in turning a quick buck, while others are uninformed, and worse.. misinformed about how shelters and soup kitchens work.

[huerter0.livejournal.com]

You reminded me of an NPR correspondent for a while there. I think that's a good thing.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

thank you! I didn't even open with "dah-doo, dah-doo, dun-dee-dah-doo-dun" like them!

[mary919.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness. Is that how you sound? I don't know what I was expecting, but you need to be on the radio or do voiceovers or something-- you have a great voice-- pace, diction, intonation. You sound like a newscaster. A sexy newscaster.

Okay, I'll shut up :) We have very few vagrants here if you're looking for somewhere to move. But then it may be because we have very little street life whatsoever-- which is sort of a shame. At least that's my perception.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much, that's quite flattering!

I have to remembe rto drop the "uhs" and "y'knows", but that's what I get when I do tstream of thought.

When we had the tent city, all of them would congregate there.. now, they're sort of a nebulous cloud of folks spread out over the city.

[applelard.livejournal.com]

That's the first phone post of yours I've ever had the opportunity to hear, and I just gotta say - I love your voice! It's nothing like I thought it might be. Not that I thought it would be horrible or anything...just different than it actually is. :)

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I thought you'd heard me before that, but usually when I talk to people before I get to know 'em, my voice goes up a register, and sounds more liek a little kid's.

I bet you thought I sounded like Brian Blessed, or soem crazy santa-deep voiced guy!

[applelard.livejournal.com]

Heehee, a little kid?? I'll bet that sounds misplaced coming from a nice, big teddy bear of a guy like yourself. :)

I didn't think it would be like Barry White's or anything! I honestly can't explain how I thought it might be. I'm accustomed to my Scott's voice, which is slightly deeper than yours, but with a bit of Southwest Virginian accent.

It's nearly impossible to determine how a person sounds based on a picture, and vice versa. I find the latter is especially so with radio DJs.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

oh, radio dj's are very disconcerting... dan castenella looks really freaky, too.