Think back to the first time you and your friends tried mixing all the sodas in the pop fountain. You watched each different fizz cascade into the 64 oz. Big Gulp, mesmerized as the cola-colored puddle metamorphosed into a rust-colored, guaranteed gut-buster of a beverage. You thought to yourself, "Is this a good idea?"

And if you're anything like me, you said, "What the hell," and took a sip and even as you felt your Cheetoes and chocolate milk crawling back up your throat (with just a hint of Dr. Pepper), you swore to all your friends--you swore to God--that it was the "best thing ever made, try it, you gotta try it, just try it." And in the end, after fighting back your lunch, you decided it wasn't really that bad. And you took another sip.

That's what life is like in mredison's neighborhood. Welcome.

Monday, November 5, 2007

Laugh it Off

I don't really understand what's funny about poverty. I really don't. But so many of the people I talk to think their income--or lack of one, in most cases--is funny. Hilarious, to some.

One lady today, I asked her if she made less than approx $1200 gross per month. She laughs for like 30 seconds, then says, "$1200 a month? Try a year--and I still make less than that!" More laughs.

How does that work? Less than $1200 per year? The answer: foodstamps, energy assistance and income adjusted housing. You get up, turn on free lights and eat free food. Sit around, go to the library, do whatever. That's how you stretch $1200 over a year.

But what's funny about that?
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