Shanon Marie Norman
I am a graduate of USF with a degree in English Education. I worked in the food industry, office, and as a teacher. I'm now disabled and on a fixed income.
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Bipolar Moods are not Logical
By all accounts this week has been a good week for me and I should be ecstatic. Yet today I've been grumpy and moody and out of sorts. Yesterday I was on the joyful high of obtaining a car with my husband and we absolutely love it. I haven't had a car in my name in about four years so this is a big deal. The car, a gorgeous 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe, is probably the best car I've ever had out of the many cars I've owned since 1987. It's very luxurious and sporty at the same time. We have payments for about 18 months, but it is well worth it. The car insurance was a little bit higher than I thought it would be, but we have full coverage so that makes me feel safe. I knew money was going to be a struggle, so I sought and found a job. I was hired today as a part-time crew member for Burger King. I am thrilled about the opportunity and the blessing of earning some more desperately needed funds. See? This week has been great. So why have I been complaining and feeling annoyed for most of the afternoon? What's wrong with me? Why can't I even enjoy my "good" days?
Shanon Marie NormanPublished 27 days ago in Psyche
The Housing Authority is a Joke
There are no words sufficient to express the agony I am feeling at this time. Yesterday, March 13, 2021, I received a letter from the Housing Authority of Keansburg explaining to me that I will not be obtaining the apartment that I have waited for since I applied in August 2019. Yes, that is correct - I waited 19 months (almost two years) to get a rejection letter. I became homeless in 2018 after being arrested for my first felony: Aggravated Assault. I have been homeless ever since. It doesn't matter how I survived, nor does it matter that I wrote to my "politician", nor does it matter that I applied to FOUR housing authorities (two in Florida, and two in New Jersey). None of that matters. What does matter? I have no idea.
Shanon Marie NormanPublished about a month ago in Humans
Interior Decorating as a Calling?
I started playing a Play Store game on my cellphone less than a week ago. I got addicted to it on the first day. I love decorating rooms and this game satisfies my passion for that enjoyment. It allows me to use my tastes and preferences of art and furniture to design a beautiful room and house. I have had very few opportunities to do this in my real life, so this virtual experience is truly wonderful.
Shanon Marie NormanPublished about a month ago in Gamers
For the Buffet Lovers in St. Pete
There are not many buffet restaurants in Saint Petersburg, Florida anymore. Several years ago you could enjoy the best variety of buffet at The Golden Coral restaurant, but that didn't survive. Now the only buffet restaurants are few and far between. Cici's Pizza Buffet is still around along with Country Pizza Italian Grill, so if you like an Italian buffet they will satisfy. If you're looking for Americana buffet, I don't know what to tell you. I haven't seen one around. However, I did find The Big Apple Buffet which serves a large Chinese food buffet. If you love crab and sushi, then you will fall madly in love with The Big Apple Buffet as they have a wide variety of crab dishes and sushi on their buffet tables.
Shanon Marie NormanPublished about a month ago in Feast
A Closer Look at the Homeless
The issue of homelessness in America has disturbed me for a very long time. I was not raised to become homeless, yet it happened to me anyway. I was shocked and scared each time. When you get evicted from your home, it feels like you're a chicken with your head cut off and you're running around with your last breathe of life trying to figure out if there is a way for you to survive. It's truly horrible. Not all, but most homeless people suffer from drug addiction or mental illness or both. There are a few who simply got in trouble with the law and can not achieve employment because of that. Whatever the reason, the problem of homelessness in America is still occurring and it still disturbs me.
Shanon Marie NormanPublished about a month ago in The Swamp
A Bipolar Checks in during March
Not everybody knows or will admit that mental health is connected to bodily health and spiritual health. Last year, I was looking and feeling good about myself. This year it's all gone downhill. Last year I weighed about 165 pounds and I liked what I saw in the mirror and in photographs. This year in March 2021, I'm up to 200 pounds and I hate myself.
Shanon Marie NormanPublished about a month ago in Psyche
If you don't like Traffic, then you might like the Good Witch
I've seen a lot of movies and I've watched a lot of television in the past 49 years. There were times in my life when I didn't have a t.v. and I didn't care because whatever was going on in my life at that time was more interesting or important than the boob tube. However, I love a good movie or a good show especially if it's educational or entertaining. I don't care for shows that make me angry or shows that make me feel jealous. That's when I turn the channel.
Shanon Marie NormanPublished about a month ago in Geeks
A Viewpoint of Personal Current Events
I had written an article for Vocal titled "Why Can't People Be Kind" (The Case of the Broken Bicycles) in regards to people (like me) who have helped others only to be taken advantage of and forgotten. When you're a person with compassion (like me) it's very difficult to see other people who are less fortunate and not want to help. I've often reached into my purse or pocket to give pan handlers a donation. I've often shared food or a ride if I could to someone who didn't have that and needed it. After you hear people mocking you and calling you a fool for doing so, and after you've hit rock bottom and seen so very few people willing to do what you had done in the past, you discover within yourself the will to say "No more. I've shared enough." It happened today. We stopped at a convenient store. I was outside smoking a cigarette. A pan handler asked me for some change. I dug into my purse and gave him some change. I felt bad that I couldn't help this homeless pan handler more than that. Later we stopped at the pharmacy to pick up our prescriptions. My doctors want me to take Abilify to tame down my Bipolar symptoms. I showed them my insurance card and they said that the $700 medicine would cost me $20 with my insurance. I already pay $200 per month for the insurance. I declined to buy the medication. Then I sat in the car a little upset thinking about homeless people and how annoying it is that I feel guilty that I can't help them, when I still can barely afford to help myself. Yet the irony is that it usually is the poor who are willing to help the poor. The rich are rich because they have no problem saying "Buzz off creep," when they are approached for help.
Shanon Marie NormanPublished about a month ago in Humans
