So, I promised to keep you informed of my progress and have already failed at that. Here goes: I had limited funds and so I moved to Dallas very quickly (a few bags on Greyhound), and got settled into Zina's place for a few days. We hurried through Christmas, I started the new job and got moved into the apartment. Right away, I realized this would not be the safest neighborhood and so I started paying close attention to what was going on around me. I have lived in rough neighborhoods in Atlanta, so I know how to survive and am quickly getting back to that mode of traveling about in the city. The constant police presence helps to make me feel a bit safer, & I do not make the mistake of thinking I am safe because they are there. I know that they need to be there & that is why I am safer, so I stay alert any time I am outside doing anything.
At work, we got a few surprises: we got paid for Christmas, New Years', & MLK Jr days (with a day off for each holiday); our training would be 8 weeks instead of 6; it took 2 weeks to get the new computer system to allow us to sign up for benefits & we found out that those benefits will not start for 3 months; and lastly, we found out that our probationary period will be 6 months. All of which made me start to search for some assistance with my meds. I was expecting the benefits to start about the time the training ended - not at 3 months. My insurance from Austin ended at the end of December, and I was expecting to be without it for a few weeks, not 3 months. So, I made an appointment with AIDS Arms and started the process. I found out that they only do case management, and I would need to set up separate appts for meds, & COBRA coverage. I made appts for those while in the office and things were rolling along nicely. My schedule changed abruptly, and so I had to change the appts for meds & COBRA paperwork.
Classwork & road training were moving along nicely. Obstacle course practice and test went well ( Aced it!) and our schedules changed again. We started our Behind The Wheel training- which is only during weekdays, so we get weekends off for a few weeks. I had to reschedule my meds appt. with the Trinity Health Center, but was able to keep the COBRA appt. Unfortunately, the paperwork for COBRA Coverage was more extensive and we had to put that off for another week (needed to gather more info & papers), and I got started with the process to get signed up with ADAP med program to get my monthly meds until the insurance takes over. THC will get me emergency meds while the state gets everything in place through ADAP.
About that time,I find out that Sparky has gone AWOL when the fence got knocked loose, and we started our Revenue Training, (driving a specific route with a specific instructor) all our schedules changed dramatically ) we were not going into the classroom at 6am anymore, but showing up in our divisions at weird hours of the morning. I had to reschedule both appts because of conflicting times with work, so that slowed down the process, yet again. It is now the end of January and things are running smoothly. I have gotten accustomed to the changing hours & the body is slowly getting used to moving about before daylight. I was extremely tired most of the time & didn't have time to get online to do anything on the book, facebook or check my emails. I was able to send out messages to get folks looking for Sparky, so we shall see what happens there.
On January 31, 2012, at approximately 5:50pm, I got mugged in north Dallas and everything changed!! I was going to Zina's apt after work (having run a few errands in the meantime) and was very tired. It had been a long day & I didn't want to wait 20 mins for the bus, when I could walk it in 10. I started walking and stopped at the little park area by the train station to play with some kids & their dog. It was nice to relax for a couple of mins, and I then started to Zina's place. About a min. after that, I got hit from behind (running body block) & punched in the face at the same time. A couple of punches to the face and because I didnt get my wallet out fast enough, he threw me in the air & down on my face in the dirt. He pulled a gun and finally got my wallet and ran with it. I called Zina to come help and she called 911 with the info. The cops & EMS arrived shortly thereafter, and the street was busy. I got to take a visit to Medical City and experience the inside of the ER for myself, (not on my list of Must Do's while in Dallas). The mugger got the wallet with no cash, but all the important cards were there, including my Social Security card that I had needed earlier in the day. Which meant that all these cards would need to be replaced & cancelled, etc.
Zina called the boss for me and told her what had happened, and she assured us that my job would not be affected, and demanded that I take the rest of the week off to rest and recuperate. I am glad, because the swelling that happened made it almost impossible for me to be able to drive anywhere. On thursday, I went to the DPS office to get my driver's license replaced and found out that I would need to get the replacement SS card first & then return. So, I started that on friday morning & the resulting madness took almost all day - including all the running around we had to do to get all the paperwork gathered. It was a successful day, filled with lots of drama & aggravation, and I got a lovely mug shot for me driver's license - because they can't use the existing picture on file!
The next week starts off with our mid-term test and then more route training. We got our uniforms and finished some things in the classroom. I finally got all the info gathered for the COBRA coverage & got signed up for ADAP, but have not yet gotten into the Trinity Health Center and am quickly running out of the very meds they are supposed to help me with. I am very frustrated at this point and need to check with the credit union about the craziness of the account. There were a total of 5 different transactions against my debit card & lots of NSF fees because the paycheck popped in just before the credit transactions hit, so that got very convoluted. The cops have not called, so I assume they are busy on the case. Meanwhile, I am trying to survive on a very minimal budget and figure out how to eat on next to nothing. Luckily, I got hooked up with the Resource Center of Dallas, and their food pantry has helped keep my shelves stocked with essentials, which saves the money for more important things.
We are now getting very near the end of our training and we start our preparations for Graduation. There are last minute classroom sessions to get all our training finished, and we get to ride with ParaTransit for one day to get the feel of what disabled passengers and their driver's got through in a day - which means getting to work at 3:45am. The next day is our Graduation Day, friday Feb. 17,2012. In the middle of all this activity, we had planned on a potluck for our celebration lunch, so I had to find some money to gather items for that. Friday arrived and the ceremony was a huge success, with all the pomp & circumstance you can imagine. DART makes a special occasion out of this because they say, "we are a special group of people and deserve to be treated as such". That is nice to know and I realy do appreciate all their efforts in our training. There is still no word on Sparky.
Graduation was a great event and I reported to my division around 1:30pm to fill out paperwork and get the tour of the facility. I also started to work that afternoon, since a driver did not show up for work & I was already dressed & ready to go. Not to mention the fact that I need the $$ to make up for the 3 days I missed a few weeks before. I am jazzed that my pay has now gone up by a couple of dollars, so my budget will settle down very soon. I will be getting 3 paychecks in March, so that should also help get the budget under control. It has been difficult paying the mortgage & rent, utilites & phone for both cities. I never thought it would completely happen, but it is almost over.
I need to fill in here, that I indeed went to church on Christmas morning and have been involved with White Rock Community Church the entire time. They have helped me tremendously, and have helped to keep the faith alive and keep me grounded during all this madness. If it weren't for them, I would have given up already and gone back to Austin. GOD has gotten me through this and will continue to get me where he wants me to be, I just have to remember to get out of HIS way & let HIM do it. That means, not stressing out over all the little details - which is what I do best. I also need to trust that GOD will bring Sparky back to me safely, and I can get my boys up here very soon. Life is very aggravating without them.
So, I think I have gotten you caught up with the biggest majority of the wild ride in Dallas. I look forward to starting my routes & getting on with life. In the month of March, I should be able to get some time to move my stuff up here and get the house cleaned out. There will then be room for another roommate, to help with the household expenses, so I should be alright. Until then, happy trails & keep your eyes on the road! I might be in your rear view mirror.
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