Free Time: Getting closer to solving the puzzle.

I met Chantrice today. She's going to take the majority of what I found for free on craigslist during this wacky Free Time experiment.

I also met Myasia, Chatrice's daughter. Cute cute cute.

It was important to me to talk with Chantrice. How does someone become homeless? How do resources dry up? At what point do circumstances become so dire? What crappy combination of dominoes have to fall to find that you've landed in the middle of a desperate, lonely sea of nothing?

Not everyone starts this race at the same point of privilege.

Chantrice started her life, 22 years ago, swimming in turbulent waters. Born in Kansas, Chantrice has five siblings, ranging in age from 11 to 23. Three fathers. One neglectful mom.

When Chantrice was three, she entered the foster care system. She and one of her sisters were placed in a foster home together, but eventually, they were separated. Her brothers went to different foster homes. It's not easy, keeping that many kids together.

Chantrice hasn't seen a few of her siblings for years. Her youngest brother was adopted, and the family who adopted him wanted to make a clean break. Chantrice knows her youngest brother's name, but she doesn't know much more than that, because his adoptive parents required that his family of origin retain zero contact.

There are dominoes in Chantrice's personal history that were set from the start with very dysfunctional assymetry.

In saying that, I'm not judging at all. It's just the truth. Sometimes the hand that's dealt is full of really crappy cards.

But back to Chantrice.

She did get adopted through the foster care system when she was 15. She graduated from high school, applied for some student loans, received a Pell Grant, and started college.

But there was a man.

She'd met him through the foster care program. He was a foster child, too. They hooked up. She got pregnant. He enlisted in the military, and they moved to Colorado Springs, where he's stationed.

She couldn't find a job. He lost the housing on the Ft. Carson base that could accommodate the family. The relationship soured.

So Chantrice headed north, to Denver. She couldn't find work. She had no resources. She had no money. She'd left Myasia with the dad, while Chantrice tried to find a foothold in the big city.

No such luck.

No job. No place to live. No prospects. Her relationship had literally gone south.

Chantrice looked for a job. She tried to get connected with organizations that could provide support.

This is a terrible time of year to be homeless. Need vastly exceeds availability.

Her ex ran through his child care options. So, without a home or job, Chantrice faced the reality that she needed to take care of her daughter, too. No support from the dad.

Chantrice wound up, despondent, at the parking lot of the St. Francis shelter. She was thinking she'd have to put her daughter into the same type of system she'd come from. Foster care.

This is when she met Michelle.

It's a beautiful team, Michelle and Chantrice.

Michelle hears a lot of down-and-out stories in the profession she's chosen. And she's intuitive enough to recognize Chantrice isn't asking for help because she feels entitled. Michelle sees boundless promise. She understands that Chantrice simply wants to work, to finish an education cut short by circumstance, to provide for her daughter.

Chantrice applied twice to a marketing firm, and just a few weeks ago, she was hired. But because she was employed, she was even less of a candidate for some space at a shelter.

Michelle has done everything within her power to help Chantrice. Michelle was able to line up some vouchers for a room at a motel on east Colfax for Chantrice and her daughter. The vouchers are about to expire.

But Chantrice has been working. And she recently put down a deposit on a 1-bedroom apartment with her first paycheck.

Chantrice gets paid again this upcoming Friday. That's when she'll seal the deal on her apartment.

And that's when we'll be moving the items I found in my Free Time into her new place.

I asked Chantrice today how much money she has between now and Friday. She has $6. But she says she has everything she needs for now. A job, shelter, the kindness and generosity of Michelle.

There's so much more to write about. More about Chantrice's history, her optimism, her clarity.

But this is enough for today.

It's good to know that Chantrice - as well as my Free Time items - have found a home.

All the pieces are beginning to fit.

Free Time starts again tomorrow. Today I kept it real.

There was no prospect of free time today.

I worked at my real job from 7 am to 4 pm. After work, I washed away the crust that had found its way onto the hardwood floors; footprint-shaped remnants from our last storm's runoff. I picked Logan up at Macy's. I applied a fresh coat of beauty to my face. In moments, we're heading to Phil and Christine's for dinner.

I did do a bit of diversionary work today, during my random moments of free time. It's a story I'm hesitant to tell, just in case I jinx it.

And tomorrow we pick up a queen sized bed with all the trimmings, all for free. Then we'll drop our latest treasure at the storage area.

Also, tomorrow I meet the woman I've heard so many good things about from Michelle.

Today I blended into the landscape of my real life. Tomorrow I'll connect a few dots during my free time.

This is the calm before the storm, I'm thinking. Or maybe I'm just hoping.

Free Time: Noticing the nice.

Today was a day off from my real job, so I had a bit of free time.

I spent most of today out in the world, navigating through the slush and melty wet remains of our last snowstorm.

I love Colorado. Arctic one day, sweater weather the next. But note to self: waterproof boots are a better choice than Converse tennis shoes on days like today.

In any case, I don't know if it's because of this Free Time project or if it's because I've just taken the time to perk up my ears to the sound of nice. But everyone was so nice today, even when they didn't need to be.

Is this the way everyone normally conducts themselves? Have I not been picking up nice when it's tossed in my direction? Have I really been this disconnected to noticing nice while I wander through my busy life?

Maybe so.

But not today. It's like everyone I met today put a teeny but potent long-acting Nice pill in their morning coffee.

Definitely not complaining.

You know what else is nice?

The fractal that began just a few days ago is getting bigger every day.

Because I read a few emails and I sent a few emails before I left the house today.

I received an email from Marilyn, who emailed me on Monday about the house full of items she wants to give away before she relocates to another state in March.

She let me know that she and Jan from Jubilee had made a connection.

That's worth a whole lot of nice.

I'd intended to pick up a fully functional washer and dryer from Martha on Saturday.

Then I got to thinking.... Ronda emailed me on Monday, and she needs a whole bunch of stuff. So I called her, asked her if she needed the washer/dryer set, and she does! She even has the vehicle - and person-power - to pick up this set of functional goodness at Martha's house.

Nice! Another connection was made. Problem solved.

As I was negotiating the details of this connection, Sue and James called.

I work with Sue at my real job, and I simply love her husband James. They're such a wonderful couple.

They'd read my blog about Michelle and the connection we'd made with the young woman who truly needs what I've found in my Free Time. Sue and James want to provide some items that might make this woman's load just a bit lighter.

So Sue and James are putting their thinking caps on about what a young mom with a young child might need, in addition to what I've found.

I did have a span of actual free time today, during which I had a lovely lunch with my friend Shawn.

What a necessary, nice respite. Our waiter at Pasquini's on Broadway was extra-special nice.

Coincidence?

As Shawn and I were wrapping up our time together, I got a call from my Free Time recipient. We'll meet on Saturday. I keep forgetting to ask her if it's okay to mention her name on my blog. So for now, she's my recipient.

We nailed down the time we're meeting on Saturday. She, Michelle and I will finally have some face time.

Nice!

Once I finally got home, I had to quickly leave again. I headed to my bank. Typically, the drive-through is pokey, and the drive-through tellers deliver a formulaic "My name is '______,', I'll get this right out to you..." patter.

My teller today seemed extra-nice. Ebullient, even. Totally off the script.

Nice!

Is it me? Have I not noticed the nice all around me before now?

What with my typical crazy To-Do list, my overwhelming need to try to not forget something important, my attempt at multi-tasking, my desire to be organized and task-driven during my free time, my spinning about just to keep ahead of the next thing, have I not noticed the nice before today?

Is it this project?

Regardless of why, I've been noticing so much more nice. After this Free Time experiment is over, I fully intend to notice the nice that's right in front of me, despite my distractions.

Nice is good. It's very catchy.

Nice has been nice to notice today.

And today, I've noticed that nice is everywhere.

Free Time: Connecting the dots into a fractal.

Distance and time provide clarity. Sleep mitigates grumpiness.

I got some sleep last night, which was great. A full eight hours. That hasn't happened for a while.

And today was a day off from my real job.

About 11 am, I started really thinking about my next step.

I re-read all the emails with Mr. Fab. We did a bit of processing, and I scraped a few brain cells together during some alone time, trying to connect the dots.

And the dots seemed to eventually take the shape of a fractal.

Not to condescend to my Smarty McSmarterson readers, but a fractal is something that can be split into parts, each of which is a copy of the original.

Today was Fractal Day.

Because I realized I can't do this project all by myself. And I also realized that everyone can do just what I've done.

While culling through the emails I'd received, I thought that perhaps the charitable organizations that were offering to take my Free Time items could be partnered with the people who have offered to donate items to my experiment. I sent a few emails, and I think those connections have a good start.

I talked with Jan from the 32nd Avenue Jubilee Center, and she was very receptive to the idea of distributing items to her clients. The Jubilee Center is a non-profit community center in northwest Denver that works with low income and homeless individuals and families. The center hosts a food bank as well as varying levels of assistance, but it has a tough time finding furniture.

Jan seemed to appreciate the contacts I gave her when it came to finding some furniture, thanks to the people who emailed me with a wish to donate to this project.

I'd encourage other folks to contact the Jubilee Center at 303-477-3944. I'm sure the people at Jubilee would be jubilant to hear from you. As Jan wrote to me as a follow-up to our conversation today, "this is a fine example of the power of one combined with the power of many, particularly when the one and the many are seeking to do justice in the world."

Well put. Sounds like a societal, community kind of fractal.

I also emailed back and forth a bit with the folks from the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (303-293-2217). A'tif works for the coalition. He mentioned that the coalition is constantly looking for items to provide to needy families and individuals. He, like Jan, indicated that they can pick up whatever you don't need. Both groups are especially in need of furniture, which goes to those who are transitioning from homelessness to having a place to live.

Which brings me to my most fun fractal. I chatted today with the woman who will most likely receive the majority of my Free Time yield. I'm meeting with her and Michelle, her case worker from the St. Francis shelter, on Saturday.

There are so many other people I wish I could accommodate, but I realized today that there are resources that extend past my 10'x20' storage area, and every single resource is filled with people ready to give.

In addition to the organizations I've mentioned, people in need can contact the Denver Rescue Mission, Catholic Charities, Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army. I'm sure these organizations will be receptive to those in need.

Because if I've learned nothing else from this experiment, we're all in this together.

Like a beautiful, interconnected, colorful, generous fractal.

Free Time: There's got to be a morning after.

Note: I just strapped on my ipod and put my music library on shuffle so I could listen while I write. The first song on my personal juke box was Simple Life by the Weepies. So appropriate for right this minute.

It was a day of busy. It was a different kind of productive than finding stuff for free on craigslist.

In addition to working at my real job from 8 to 5, I read and printed out every email I received from yesterday's 9 News story and last night's blog.

My sister and nephew came over for dinner at 5:30. Kathy helped me organize the emails.

My sister also gave me a tremendous, calming focus. Because I want to meet the needs of every person who emailed me.

Kathy and I talked about why I started this Free Time experiment in the first place. What was my purpose? Honestly, I just wanted to see if I could fill a house with quality furniture for free. Then I wanted to give it all away, because I don't need anything.

This whole idea might sound absolutely ridiculous to some people.

In fact I did get a couple of comments from people on my blog and on the 9 News site who obviously thought this project was a complete disservice. I'm selfish. I'm not serving the right population.

Please. A simple experiment doesn't have to get so complicated. And I definitely don't take those comments personally.

It took me a long time, but I'm finally comfortable owning the fact that I'm a middle aged, eccentric hippie single mom of two teenagers who likes the spice this type of project adds to my life. Instead of fitting myself into a tight, uncomfortable box, attempting to live up to what I assume everyone expects me to be, I'm finally comfortable not having to explain myself.

So I'm not going to. Chapter closed.

So back to my Free Time.

In less than 24 hours, I've had quite an overwhelming response.

I received emails from representatives of the 32nd Avenue Jubilee Center as well as the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. I also got an email from a gentleman whose son is involved with a youth division of the Habitat for Humanity. These people are completely amazing givers, and it's obvious from what they had to say that they understand the profound level of need that takes shape in the person who just sold you your lunch, walked past you on the street. It's that person relaxing on a park bench, the woman sitting next to you on the light rail. People who are living in a state of profound need are everywhere, and they're often overlooked. But not by the folks who emailed me today.

I got six emails from people who have items they'd like to add to my storage area. One woman has a whole house full of stuff she's parting with when she's moving to another city in March. There's a working washer and dryer combo. A recliner, sofa sleeper, coffee table. A tee vee or two.

As of right now, I've received 19 requests (more in my in box I have yet to read) from people who need what I found during my Free Time. But get this: 12 of the 19 requests were made by someone for someone else.

I think that's significant.

And this email had me at Hello. Well, it didn't exactly start that way.

Here's what Michelle had to say:

"Mary, my name is Michelle and I'm an outreach worker for a homeless shelter. I work with the less fortunate. I have a client I am working with now and she has a young child. I have searched all over Denver trying to get her in shelters, but they're all full. I have been able to put her in a motel for the time being. This young woman is very impressive. She very recently became employed, and used her very first paycheck on a deposit for an apartment. She takes the bus every day to work and to drop her child off at day care. She moves into her apartment on the 21st. I know this would help her tremendously, as she is starting with absolutely nothing but the clothes she has for herself and her child."

At 5:01, when I was untethered from my job, I gave Michelle a call.

Michelle is an amazing woman, and it's obvious to me that she picked the right profession. She graduated from Metro in 2009 with a BA in Human Services, with a concentration in high risk youth. She's an outreach worker/case manager for the St. Francis Shelter.

Outreach, in Michelle's case, means that she walks through Denver's less gentrified areas, looking for people who obviously need shelter.

She met my potential recipient at the shelter this past July.

That's where I'm closing the book on this chapter for today. Believe me - the rest of the story is worth revisiting. I have a few more facts to gather, and I want to talk with this woman. Michelle told me she works until 10 tonight. Then she has to take the bus to pick up her child and head to the motel.

And I thought I had a long day.

I don't think she'll be up for talking until tomorrow.

I have so much more to write about, but frankly I'm exhausted. I'm going to close this book until tomorrow, and listen to a little night music.

Note: Poker Face, Gaga, on the ipod, right this minute as I'm finishing. Say what you will. You can't not put a little groove on to this song.

Free Time Bonus Day! A shot in the dark achieves a bull's eye. What are the odds?

If you want to cut to the chase, here's my email information!


mnb504@aol.com. 


Please let me know who needs the items I've found in my Free Time. And please give me a bit of back story regarding circumstance. The big why. I'd love to give this collection to someone whose life would be somehow better, easier, with a few creature comforts.


Also, please include the best way to contact you. 


I completely value your participation in this project. Simply by reading, you're participating. And I hope this Free Time exercise might show that stepping out of the race of self-involvement for just a lap or two can really make a difference. Trust me, it's a whole lot of fun, on so many levels!


And now, on to the blog...

Let's start at the beginning - at least the beginning of this last part.

I'd been perplexed about how to partner with an organization that can help me distribute the outcome of my Free Time experiment to someone who really needs what I've found for free on craigslist.

So yesterday, I thought I'd try television.

I emailed two local news stations, and poof! This morning, a gentleman from 9 News called me! He wanted to meet at the storage area quick like a bunny. But I had to work until 4 pm today. No free time for me until Wednesday.

I thought they'd taken a pass, due to my unavailability.

But no! I got another call at 2:41 this afternoon, according to my iphone.

They wanted to do a story, as soon as I was done with work!

Completely surreal.

So Mr. Fabulous and I got to the Public Storage spot right on time, as did the folks from the station.

I feel so shame-faced that I didn't take any pictures, I didn't get the correct spelling of the reporter, I didn't remember the name of the camera man.

I have a journalism degree, for god's sake.

But I was blinded by the light of a world spinning quickly.

I had no idea that my shot-in-the-dark email to 9 News yesterday would result in a response, especially so quickly.

My hypothesis has been proven, hopefully after today. It's possible to collect a whole bunch of great stuff for free. It's possible to set a goal and achieve it. It's possible to realize there's someone else who would benefit from what's completely extra to you. And it's possible to find a resource that's the conduit to finding that someone.

Today was a total bull's eye.

Free Time, Day Eight: No rest for the wicked.

What does someone do with a house-full of great stuff that has nowhere to go?

I don't know.

I took a day off yesterday from writing the blog. Hell - I'd been blogging three or four times a month prior to this point, and I felt like something was missing yesterday when I didn't crank out an entry.

I've noticed that the site's received a whole lot of hits in the past week or so.

And lately, I've been so absorbed with the balancing of work life versus real life, experiment versus reality.

But it's cool, all the hits, regardless of who's hitting.

In any case, the experiment continues, regardless of the day off.

And was it a day off? Not so much.

I went to my real job today, despite the inclement weather. While I was at my real job, my friend Cara called to let me know that she and Patrick have a dining room set to contribute. And a bed.

I have no imagery of the bed, but we all can imagine what a queen sized bed looks like. Obviously, it's Fit for a Queen.

But here's what the dining room set looks like. It's a totally fabulous drop-leaf table, with four matching chairs. The whole set has a retro-cool vibe.

This set is just like the leather chairs that are sitting in my storage area, waiting for a recipient. I'm kind of jealous. I'd totally put this in my house.

It was crazy-ass snowy today, and despite the good intentions of Cara, Patrick and Mr. Fabulous, today was not the day to haul stuff to the storage area.

So despite their good intentions, this set is in my garage, as is the sofa I've mentioned, waiting for a new home.

I have to work at my real job; tomorrow at home, on-site on Tuesday. I'm slated to be way across town on Tuesday morning at 7 am. Sounds unpleasant, considering the crappy-ass crapload of snow that's been falling, and will apparently continue to fall between now and then.

And I'd like my garage to be free of furniture by tomorrow at some point. Whether these items are nicely stowed in the storage unit or covered on my back porch, I'd like to know that I can slide my car into the garage before I have to go to work on Tuesday morning at dawn's crack. I'll have to leave by 6 am at the latest on Tuesday, based on the most recent weather report. And I'll have to make sure both my kids are up before I leave.

I hate that part; the making sure everyone is where they need to be when I have to be somewhere else.

But I'm sure, not unlike this entire project, that everything will work as it should.

Everyone loves a conclusion. I want one, when it comes to who receives the cool stuff I've been finding.

And I want a concise conclusion when it comes to the ease with which I'll get to my job at the ungodly hour of 7 am on Tuesday; a day that portends frigid weather and crappy road conditions.

I hope my car gets into the garage tomorrow. That's my goal.

Seems simple enough.