That long-awaited progress report
Tim Ryan Christmas Letter 2012 - December 25, 2012
First of all let me tell you I am alive and doing better than I was just 6 months ago. That includes physical and mental heath-with help form many sources. Good enough to go back to college-more on that below.
Now I take you to early 2011 when I stopped making mortgage payments. Still no job, ran out of savings from work contract I was on in 2005 and 2006; running out of money from 501k savings. I'd get a nibble at a job or three that seem to end up going nowhere, but holding me in suspense all the while. It caught up with me. By October I was facing foreclosure and had 6 months to do something or get out. I stuck my head in the sand.
In April 2012 I was given the 30 day notice to get out of the house in front of a county judge. May was quite frantic as I did finally go into panic with the email I sent out at the start of May 2012. Part of that month was spent trying to get housing. I ended up at the shelter in downtown Ann Arbor.
I came in severely depressed, in need of new glasses, hurting from leg and foot pain, not sleeping regular hours and otherwise messed up. Slowly by the shelter and other help organizations I began to improve. I got pills for sleeping, generic Prozac for mood, eye exam, prescription and new glasses (that took several months to finish up). Therapy, job counseling, help from a non-profit and a state agency there to help because of my disabilities. In that time, the Heath Clinic finally confirmed I am diabetic. Taking pills for that now.
At about the time I was ready to update you all about how well I was doing, I get a letter saying it was time to leave the shelter. Upon recommendation of some staff I appealed and got an extension from the head of the shelter. As a result of that, a new plan for me was developed: go back to college.
I applied and was admitted to Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti, MI. Then line up financial aid, Pell Grant and possible Federal loans. Get class counseling, schedule and register for classes that will start on January 14th. Between now and then I need to start looking for a place to stay, part of the search will be done by my Case Manager. I’m excited about getting classes in Linux/UNIX programming and also JAVA programming. The schedule also includes Algebra & Trig Math class and a class on Keyboarding-just a final 1 credit class to put me at the full time level of 12 credit hours. Anything less than 12 would cut financial aid to 75%. I know most of the fellow students will be younger than me and I think I can be comfortable with instructors younger than me. The campus will give me plenty of walking to do.
For the expenses I have, I have been living off money from sale of possessions and help I have been getting from siblings and those from my science fiction family, some of it very generous. I even got $20 from one fan in England that found about my plight on Live Journal-someone I may or may not have seen at one of the SF conventions.
Of the big expenses, I just had $666 worth of work done on the car-rear brakes and the gaskets that were leaking. Also a $387 payment for car insurance is due on January 1st and again on March 1st to make up the half-year policy. Other expenses while going to college will include rent, utilities, gas for the car, and other things that may include a near-new computer and internet access.
I can be reached by email at gmail where my handle is TimRyanAA. Email me if you wish my phone number, the phone is a SafeLink Tracfone and I pay by the minute for purchased air-time after using up the 120 minutes of free minutes per month. Internet time has been at the Ann Arbor Public libraries as the shelter does not provide plug-in or WiFi for clients.
If you want to help me, the quickest way would be by making a gift to me on PayPal at the above email address. I also use:
PO Box 3463
Ann Arbor, MI 48106 - my personal PO Box, or
PO Box 7370
Ann Arbor, MI 48107 - the collective box for the shelter, or
312 W Huron Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48103 - the physical address of the shelter. All you need is my name above the address.
May you have a wonderful Holiday season, Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year.
-Tim Ryan