Homeless Herbert

Wow, this past week really flew by. I can't believe I haven't written a post since last Monday. Well I've been keeping pretty busy, and the time just keeps moving. A few points of conversation today.

Flying Lessons:o
First off, I haven't had a flying lesson since my first last Monday. I had one scheduled for yesterday (Saturday) however, with the terrible Spring weather of Cincinnati, it was canceled. My ratio of completed to canceled lessons isn't so great, I'm right now 1 to 3. It's alright now though. I've had my first experience, and I know that I love it, so it will just be an enjoyable hobby from here n out.

Homeless Herbert:
So I've been going back and forth about Homeless Herbert. If you read a number of posts ago, Herbert is the guy that I take out to lunch after church on Sundays. However, the thoughts that are with me are, am I giving this man an easy way out? He seems of sound mind, and I have to wonder, why is he homeless? Is he being helped out enough that he doesn't have to do anything productive with his life? I don't want to be a prop in his master plan to do nothing, but I also want to be able to help someone out who hasn't been as fortunate as I have been. Any thoughts? Another part that plagues my thoughts are of what he gets when we go to lunch. He doesn't pick the cheap fast food places, he decides on nice sub places like Penn Station, where the prices are rather high for the amount of food you get.
This has been our Sunday Lunches:
Week 1: Jersey Mike's with one Giant sub with chips and drink totaling 10 dollars
Week 2: Penn Station with one large sub and one small sub with chips and drink totaling just under 20 dollars, and a burrito from Chipotle with a grand total of 25 dollars
Week 3: Penn Station with one large sub and one small sub with chips and drink, he asked for Chipotle but I requested we only eat the one place... he obliged. Total of just under 20 dollars
Week 4: Easter Sunday, I was home for the weekend and wasn't around to take him out
Week 5: Today, we went to Jersey Mike's and he asked for two sandwiches, I requested he only order one, and so he got the Giant sub with chips and drink totaling 10 dollars.

Is he taking advantage of me? When he greets me while walking into church, he now says, see you after church? He expects it.


Google Mail/Applications:
I was going to talk a bit about my new found favorite web applications with Google, however, this post got rather lengthy rather quickly. So I'll save this for a soon to be post


Better weather is on the way. I'm flying on Tuesday and Friday after work this week. I can't wait, I've been doing my reading and homework, I'm all good to go. Later!

The Homeless Union

This morning, on the way into church, a man with nasty teeth, a need for a shave, and an even greater need for a shower was standing outside the entrance asking those coming in if they could spare a dollar so he could get lunch. Usually, I'll give a dollar to those who ask, if I do indeed (and it is rare) have cash on me. This time I thought I'd try something different.

(Reaches hand out for a hand shake)
"You spare a few dollars for food?"
(I acknowledge and return the hand shake)
"Well how about I meet you after the service and we can go get lunch together?"
"That would be very fine... I'll see you here after the service."

I was actually kind of surprised he accepted my offer. Most of the time you just think they say its for food, but then go buy some Colt45 to wash their minds away. The entire service I was thinking about him, trying to decide if he was really going to be there for our 'lunch date'. The service ended and I was quick to get outside, and sure enough he was there. We made way to Jersey Mike's and ordered some food (to go on his request) We talked a lot, he asked lots of questions about my life, my family, and actually seemed throughly interested. I in return asked him about his family and life, he was raised with 16 foster kids and loved to cook/bake and paint/draw. Quite an interesting character.

I am, however, convinced that the homeless are all part of a union. I am sure they have meetings to argue over who gets what corner at what times of day... also of course to hand out the latest cardboard sign. 'Homeless... Hungry... God Bless' 'Vietnam War Veteran - Homeless - Please Help - God Bless'
And its true, all their signs do say God Bless... but I've never seen a homeless looking person in a church service.
I think next week, if I see my homeless friend again (I wish I could remember his name) I'll take him to lunch again, but first invited him in for the service. Have a good rest of weekend, GO OSU!