Public Assistance - seriously, I need some ideas

Update: I found two places in Dayton that will offer some help. My tax dollars at work, right?

I know there are some Ohio readers here... I need to know where to go, who to call, what to do to get some public assistance for a resident of Montgomery county. Is there some special wand to wave to get Section 8 housing?
I'm not going to make the calls on their behalf, I just want to know if anyone knows the process and what is the best way to get into public housing. I will then forward the information along and cross my fingers that it works. My second idea is to have them move to a third world country so that some christian missionaries will come help them..... bad, bad, shelley
private email: sperfect@tampabay.rr.com

When and Where can I get my check?

Soon the tide will turn and we will have change in DC, right?
Well, all I want to know is where and when can I get my check?
I have to admit I'm tired of working - aren't we all sometimes? I've worked since I was young - yes, back to baby sitting days when people were not afraid to have kids watching kids... I always had cash. I can remember this cash mysteriously disappearing from my bedroom too but I digress.
A lot of people stress when they reach their 30th birthday... me, I was upset at 35 because I had been working at some sort of 'real' tax-paying full time job (and sometimes an additional part-time at the same time) for over 1/2 my life. I was and still am tired. Don't get me wrong, I love my job and wouldn't trade it for anything - but - wouldn't it be nice to have someone else pay all of your bills, get you out of debt, give you a card to get groceries every month? I guess I could get a roommate or a husband. Nope, those aren't in my cards either.
Oh yeah, in addition to working all that time mentioned above I also went to school part-time and eventually - nine-years-eventually - earned my BA from USF. If I can do it, anyone can. I didn't have the opportunity to go to college just out of high school. I didn't know anything about college. I knew about marriage and getting out of the house - and staying employed. I know many of you won't like this statement but - thank goodness I had no children.
I'm a little depressed (can ya tell?~?) over an email rcvd tonight about a relative - that email is what is the catalyst for this post.....with the price of cigarettes they could pay the electric bill but who am I to say how they spend the money provided by others?
....and with what happened yesterday... well.... I'll keep it to myself - it being a political opinion.... my check is in the mail. It could go either way, right? The economy is bad - or is it? The housing market is down - or is it? There are no jobs? Really?
I learned my work ethic from my grandparents and my mother. She somehow raised four kids and for over 20 years worked two jobs - an 8-5 secretarial (oops, administrative assistant) and after she left that job she reported to the wonderful world of Sears until 9pm and most every Saturday and Sunday. My grandparents (both sides) pretty much worked until they died. After retirement they still figured out a way to keep the cash coming in. Also, they taught me how to make my money work for me. My mom hasn't quit working yet. She is one of the busiest retired people I know. When she does sit down she falls asleep. I guess she is tired.
There I go, rambling again.
Sorry to post this but I guess I had to get it off my mind before I head to bed with Elsie and Ambien. Gotta love modern medicine. If only I had some tequila....
I'll delete this after I read it again tomorrow. At least I didn't compose it AFTER the ambien - that could be REAL trouble. Kinda like drinking and dialing - don't do it.

Diorama Pics Posted!

Scroll down to see pics.
Also, check www.wearefullofscrap.blogspot.com for the very cool album just posted.

Gotta Love Riley

Tonight was dinner night with the Egal family at their home. Riley had a project in mind but it was ever changing. One thing for sure it included a bride and groom that she cut on The Frog. She had an idea to make a box and I showed her how to take a long piece of cardstock, fold it in half, and then fold those 'in' to make a box with equal sides - can ya picture it? now, this was more like a tube -open on both ends but it had corners so it is more like a open-ended rectangle.
I explained to her how to make little thingys to attach to the feet of the B&G and then glue them to the bottom of the box....and to make it like this thing that we all made in grade school art class. What are those thing called? I think we made them with shoe boxes. I couldn't think of what they are called so I asked Ryan and Maria if they could remember.
Here is the conversation that made me laff and giggle like I had downed about 7 margarita's.
Shelley: Hey Maria and Ryan, what is that thing called that we made in art class? You know that thing that you look into and it looks like a 3-d picture
Ryan: (I don't think he said anything, he was watching the sports news)
Maria: Oh I know - as she puts her hands to her eyes simulating a kaleidoscope.
Me: No, not a kaleidoscope - a diorama? I can't think of what it is called. Remember, we made them in like first grade art class or something.
Riley: WAIT! You guys were in first grade together?
Shelley: laffing hysterically (I don't know, it just struck me as funny and oh-so-cute)

Oh, the things kids say. Maybe it wasn't so funny to you but for some reason it made me really laff and I didn't want Riley to think I was laffing AT her so I tried to contain myself which made it worse.

I don't think Maria and Ryan were even born when I was in first grade. I am old but I thank Riley for thinking that we all went to first grade together.

Back to the project.....I might have a pic of our creation to post soon. It truly is a work of art. After she glued the B&G to one end she drew a 'carpet' down the center. She then glued flowers along the edges of the carpet. She is going to be a flower girl in a spring wedding and that is the inspiration for this gift.
Anyhoo, she asked me to draw some people (yeah, right) since I had the bright idea of making a crowd down both sides of the 'walls' of the box. She was not impressed with my stick figures. The light bulb went off in my head and I started cutting small celebrity heads out of a 'US' magazine. The guest list is incredible for this wedding. However, I had to draw the line at more than one Zac Efron (sp).

We then made windows for the outside of the box with more celebrities looking 'out'. My personal fav is a paned window with Madonna on the left and Guy on the right. hee hee

It wasn't complete in Riley's eyes without a pointy thing on top. She meant a steeple. Well, I'm no engineer but I fashioned a funky steeple and tomorrow she will make one of those plus signs to put on it. She meant a cross. She wanted me to explain why they used crosses but I couldn't go there.

One more thing she said to her momma: "shelley is off her chain" she explained that was a good thing...

I've rambled too much but this was a great moment that I wanted to keep in my mind - and one way I do that is by blogging it...

Dog in a TuTu

GREAT picnic at Al Lopez Park

http://www.great-greyhound.org/
Nope, no pics of the greyhound event. Bonehead me didn't have the camera.
Today was the GREAT Greyhound picnic at Al Lopez Park, Tampa, FL.
I took Emily and Elsie and we had a fun time. We sold a few cards, took a few orders, and won some raffle prizes.
Just imagine a large picnic shelter with lots of people milling around with very large dogs on leashes. Dogs of all colors and shapes. I think my fav (well, 2nd fav 'cause Dice was there!) was a dog that was all black from tip of nose to tail but the white started on the chest, through the belly, and finished at the toes - black on top - white underneath.
I bought a few raffle tickets and consequently Elsie hit the jackpot:
Snooping in the baskets.
Busted. Not the most attractive pic but it is pretty darn funny. I divided the stuff and sent some stuff home with Emily for her Chi Rowdie. Also, Rookie....get ready for a care package.

Dog with bone.

Yes, I am the cutest dog in the world even if I do have the eyes of a devil. Devil Dog. Devil Dog with pearls and diamonds....and tu-tu.

Here is another prize Elsie won. It is a little large for her. Anyone know of a big dog who might want to sport an ACE collar and leash?

another one of those wth were you thinking moments...

..but this time I actually left the house. I can't believe I went out in public dressed like this:

But the highlight was Amy....