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Health Boundaries Bite - Blog
Health Boundaries Bite Blog
http://www.health-boundaries-bite.com
Learn some warning signs -- |
Entry for January 8, 2008 -
A Scary noise, but taking care of myself
There was a worrying noise a short while ago. I went to the
door, opened it, which I seldom do without demanding to
know who it is, and shouted into the darkness, "What are you
doing?" And, the lights went on in my master bathroom, so
did bathroom fans, the refrigerator and who knows what else.
"Turning your power back on," came the reply from the
darkness outside.
"Don't you dare. I don't want it. Turn it back off," I shouted
emphatically.
"You don't want it?" some amazement in the reply.
"NO! I'm not paying for it, and I don't want it!"
I looked into the master bedroom which is at the front and
thought how garish the glare of the long-life fluorescent lights
in the master bath was in comparison to my candles and LED
lights.
No, I do not want to be collared by the utility company again.
I am free this way. I know that I have to plan for the cold,
and I can, and do.
Before with PNM holding the leash to the spiked collar
around my neck, they could come on the spur of the moment
to shut off my heat and lights and leave me without phone or
any preparation and no way to contact anyone for help, or in
case there were an emergency.
I certainly hope no one paid PNM on my behalf (to use the
word of which the emailing South Africans seem so fond.)
The point I want to make is that to turn off someone's water
or heat or lights when they have a disability or are old or are
sick, is inhuman and a denial of basic human rights. I do not
appreciate someone having the ability to threaten my life and
beyond that to actually put it at risk and endanger me.
I would much rather have little, than to have what appears a
lot but is actually nothing but a cage keeping me under the
thumb of the key holder, and keeping me indebted for all of
my available money.
I do not accept being the slave of those with the keys to light,
heat, water. I would rather live in my tent over my bed, with
candles for heat, and know that I will take care of myself,
than to trust those who are not trustworthy, who took my
heat and light when I was not prepared and when I asked
them for two days to transfer the money.
They refused me two days. They wanted to punish me for
being poor and not having the money in my bank account for
them on a moment's demand. If they had wanted the money,
they would have given me two days to get it. But they didn't,
they wanted to subject me to what they thought would make
me cringe with fear.
I was afraid when it was dark and I lost my balance and hurt
my wrist. But then, after nearly a week of that, by the time
the Easter holiday was over, I had survived, and it felt good
to survive. To take care of myself.
I am not going back.
If more people did this, the utility companies would behave
differently.
The reason I hope no one paid them, is that would only
encourage them in their bad behavior. It is really important to
begin to recognize that certain behavior is life threatening and
it's not okay, not for a better bottom line, not for profit.
Simply NOT okay.
A Scary noise, but taking care of myself
There was a worrying noise a short while ago. I went to the
door, opened it, which I seldom do without demanding to
know who it is, and shouted into the darkness, "What are you
doing?" And, the lights went on in my master bathroom, so
did bathroom fans, the refrigerator and who knows what else.
"Turning your power back on," came the reply from the
darkness outside.
"Don't you dare. I don't want it. Turn it back off," I shouted
emphatically.
"You don't want it?" some amazement in the reply.
"NO! I'm not paying for it, and I don't want it!"
I looked into the master bedroom which is at the front and
thought how garish the glare of the long-life fluorescent lights
in the master bath was in comparison to my candles and LED
lights.
No, I do not want to be collared by the utility company again.
I am free this way. I know that I have to plan for the cold,
and I can, and do.
Before with PNM holding the leash to the spiked collar
around my neck, they could come on the spur of the moment
to shut off my heat and lights and leave me without phone or
any preparation and no way to contact anyone for help, or in
case there were an emergency.
I certainly hope no one paid PNM on my behalf (to use the
word of which the emailing South Africans seem so fond.)
The point I want to make is that to turn off someone's water
or heat or lights when they have a disability or are old or are
sick, is inhuman and a denial of basic human rights. I do not
appreciate someone having the ability to threaten my life and
beyond that to actually put it at risk and endanger me.
I would much rather have little, than to have what appears a
lot but is actually nothing but a cage keeping me under the
thumb of the key holder, and keeping me indebted for all of
my available money.
I do not accept being the slave of those with the keys to light,
heat, water. I would rather live in my tent over my bed, with
candles for heat, and know that I will take care of myself,
than to trust those who are not trustworthy, who took my
heat and light when I was not prepared and when I asked
them for two days to transfer the money.
They refused me two days. They wanted to punish me for
being poor and not having the money in my bank account for
them on a moment's demand. If they had wanted the money,
they would have given me two days to get it. But they didn't,
they wanted to subject me to what they thought would make
me cringe with fear.
I was afraid when it was dark and I lost my balance and hurt
my wrist. But then, after nearly a week of that, by the time
the Easter holiday was over, I had survived, and it felt good
to survive. To take care of myself.
I am not going back.
If more people did this, the utility companies would behave
differently.
The reason I hope no one paid them, is that would only
encourage them in their bad behavior. It is really important to
begin to recognize that certain behavior is life threatening and
it's not okay, not for a better bottom line, not for profit.
Simply NOT okay.