He Was Dumped

Saturday, February 28, 2009: Leo was dumped when his first owners took him for a walk in the park. He was a little guy then (about 4 months old) and he never got over it. Even now, both his new owners have to go with him on his walks, else he won’t leave the house. once he gets to the park, he plays with his friends, but the fear is always there. Will these people get tired of me and dump me the way they did? When? How can I take care of myself? Is pleasing my new owners enough? What else do I need to do to keep having the same home forever?

If there’s anybody out there who thinks that dogs don’t have feelings, think about Leo. Imagine being him in the cold, dark world of the streets with no one to care for him.

Anemia

Wednesday, February 25, 2009: Last night, while listening to an old radio show on CD (The Shadow), I heard the protagonist say something about anemia and how it drains the blood. I know it’s way too late for regrets, but that reminded me of my poor Chiquito and his anemia. The last few days of his life must have been very hard on him. I can’t help but think about Chiquito.

Edge

Wednesday, February 25, 2009: I have been living on the edge far too long. My health needs some tender loving care, which it cannot have without real doctors. My home situation needs attention and real stability. I don’t know how much longer this can go on, but I have a feeling that it won’t be long. It’d better not be long like this. Nothing good can come out of it.

Stanhope Hotel Dream

Tuesday, February 24, 2009: In the dream I had today, I was at a garage or yard sale when I spotted a few pieces on a white table.  I recognized them as being part of the Stanhope Hotel’s restaurant chinaware. I was particuarly drawn to an oval serving tray and I asked the lady in charge of the sale how much it was. $30, she said. The colors were a bit faded, so I didn’t buy it.

One thing that can never fade are memories of  my first magical summer in Manhattan. I came across the Stanhope Hotel by accident. Very soon I was a regular. The people I got to know–members of the restaurant and managerial staff–were like family. I would walk fast as I got near the hotel and when I had to leave, I was very sad.

Some of the china pieces I used to eat off of are hard to find. The maker, Villeroy & Boch, may no longer have them. I would love to own the dinner, the salad and the butter plates. And I will never forget sipping from my Stanhope Hotel cup as I looked at the steps leading up to the Metropolitan Museum of Art across the street. Now that my life has taken a turn for the worse, these memories are treasured with poignancy and sadness.

Work Exchange

Monday, February 23, 2009: I will put an ad on craigslist asking for a doctor for my back. I really need to see someone because the pain is very sharp most of the time. Also, I need a dentist and a foot doctor. If the first ad gets favorable responses, I’ll do the other two. Without health insurance, what else can I do?

Response to Marcela Leonelli

Monday, February 23, 2009: What I told Marcela Leonelli, the so-called animal activist) is this in response to her email telling me that I do not care about the welfare of animals: I do care and that is why I was helping her with the upkeep of the dog. She should care about people because they are the only ones who can help her. Argentina has a very high rate of dogs roaming the streets.

Another Dog Loss

Saturday, February 21, 2009: Because I feel the loss of my little Pekingnese so deeply, I have been trying to sponsor another dog in Argentina. Hard as it is, I had been sending a little money a month for this new dog’s boarding. The money was not a large amount ( just over $20), but in doing so, I felt that I was helping save a life and that I had a new dog to take my Chiquito’s place. Yesterday I was informed that the animal activist in Argentina to whom I had been sending the money, had given the dog to a family. This was done without my knowledge. The woman’s name is Marcela Leonelli. I have

Letter in Spanish to an Animal Activist

Marcela, Me quede muy mal despues de que me diste la noticia de que habias dado a Rita en adopcion. Lo he consultado con la veterinaria de mi gatita en Argentina y ella esta de acuerdo en que no actuaste bien con respecto a mi. Si es cierto que estabas en comunicacion con esa familia que estaba veraneando en Villa Gessell y que perdio una perra parecida a Rita, lo correcto hubiera sido decirmelo, ya que yo estaba contribuyendo en lo que podia para tenerla en ese pensionado de esa sra. y ademas tenia todas las intenciones de adoptarla a mi regreso, que va a ser dentro de muy poco tiempo. Ahora si quiero ayudar a otro perrito/perrita en memoria de mi perrito muerto, voy a desconfiar de las proteccionistas. Que se yo, a la distancia, si actuan de buena fe o no? No solamente lo he perdido a el sino que tambien la he perdido a ella. Esto ocurrio en un espacio de 2 meses. La proxima vez, si alguien que no esta en este momento en el pais se comunica con vos para ayudar pensa en esto: A los perritos si hay que rescatarlos de la calle o de las perreras. Yo misma lo he hecho varias veces. Y por eso, hay que tener respecto y consideracion porque los perritos no tienen plata para pensionados o mata pulgas o vacunas. La gente es la unica que te puede ayudar a vos y a las demas proteccionistas. Conozco de sobra el tema y se que conseguir a alguien que te de algo es muy dificil. De saber vos que habia alguien interesado en Rita, me lo hubieras dicho antes de yo mandarte el giro por medio de la inmobilaria. Le deseo lo mejor a ella, pero te repito. No actuaste correctamente conmigo. Eugenia

Foot Bath

Thursday, February 19, 2009: First I take the plastic garbage bag out of the plastic garbage can. I rinse it with warm water, fill it a little bit and put one foot inside. I take the foot out, dry it with toilet paper, then put the other foot in, soak it, take it out and dry it with some more toilet paper. I try to do this once every two or three days, else my feet feel like they’ve been stuck in a place full of sandpaper.

No Health Insurance

Wednesday, February 18, 2009: I am in urgent need of medical help and I have no insurance. In my good days (before the GA condo mortgage fraud/foreclosure), I had Kaiser Permanente. Now I have nothing and I have been suffering from a terrible back past 4 weeks. Taking Tylenol does no good. Nothing really helps, only a doctor would but I cannot pay for one.