Sierra Echo Alpha Av8r ---=.O.=--- ...Graham posted a photo:
I don't have the time energy or health to write a story here so let me point out some facts (which may include typos as many of you know I have limited use of my left hand now):
-I attempted to raise funds for people here in need
-I now know that you can't do that on flickr
-There were questions about a recipient so I decided to not be involved any further
-People got mad and wanted immediate refunds
-I transferred money into an account to issue refunds by check, avoiding fees
-Many members were encouraged to demand refunds now and through the company that processed payment
-Many member opened multiple complaints with the payment company (some more than one complaint)
-One person kept pushing the issue causing a temporary account freeze
-A quick peak that all was in order and the processing account was unfrozen
-I attempted to refund money to one person who wanted it asap and he refused any other means of payment including check and cash via overnight services
-That person got my bank involved - locking up all accounts tied to me - business and personal
-While my accounts were frozen to make sure all was on the level, all refund requests came through
-Each refund request was paid against a frozen account (EX BAL 1014.00 AVAIL 0.00)
-Checks came through on all accounts including refunds, my car note, insurance, etc).
-Items paid in overdraft - 38 with a 37.50 charge per item for overdraft and 37.50 to pay in overdraft (75.00 per item)
-Total Bank Charges: $2,870.00 in fees (with more items coming through that were either not paid or set up as auto debit bill pay)
-items not paid in overdraft because fees came out of my personal account are listed below:
-rent deposit check for new apt (now new landlord wants three months security deposit)
---New landlord is mad and said he will press charges for returned check regardless of circumstances
---new landlord gave me a three day notice to pay or move $1,970.00 plus this months rent - total $2820.00
---New Landlord has given me until 5PM Jan 9th to Pay or vacate and face charges
-car Payment returned (good faith payment as I was behind, I have five days to return car now, bank keeps payment that was returned and will resubmit but car still has to go back)
-insurance check for all policies - health auto renters
-checks to Pharmacy for existing prescriptions, 282.00 (and I can't pay any more)
-I contact bank and ask if they will refund fees, they agree to half but warn that a good faith deposit for the entire amount must be submitted first and that in the meantime, ANY and ALL transaction that come through will be returned WITHOUT payment by overdraft protection and at the rate of $37.50 per item and $24.00 per day limit fee per account, business and personal - $120.00
-Currently all bank fees total $4144.00 before the refund of $1435.00. The bank will not refund additional fees now that the account is unfrozen.
-I now have to move and pay my deposit check to my landlord and a pro-rated amount for occupancy if entire amount is not paid in full. Any amount remaining will be funded to me upon renting to a new tenant as stated in my lease under early termination clause.
-Translated I am now out of a place to live and a car and out of meds and groceries.
MEDICAL:
-if you haven't read my profile, skip the first part about my fundraising efforts and go to the part about my health.
What is not included in medical update:
The other day I went to the hospital after significant hand pain in my left hand, It was discovered that another strain of the MS is in my system and attacked my spinal cord. Slightly slurred speech indicates lesion growth on brain. Another C-spine and MRI are scheduled again for Friday, the same day I am to pay, vacate, and/or press charges. My health has declined since October, I didn't want anyone to worry about me and was told this was just an "episode" this should be passive progressive and I MIGHT not have any more problems for some length of time. Well, the reality is things worsened and quickly.
The cold reality is first, this is no cure.
Quality of life looks average (tolerable with meds) for five years - maybe more maybe less, just an estimate
Good long term expectancy ten years.
I have no one to take care of me. I am self employed and have been for years. I handled the initial diagnoses well but this most recent one not very well at all.
Stress can be a trigger for the episodes. I was asked if I was under any stress and then my BP 210/120 showed that I was. I can feel my pulse throb in my neck.
I was kept until my pressure went down to a safer level.
PERSONAL:
Flying is no longer an issue. Those days are over.
I'd like some type of quality of life with meds and 5 years looks like a good number but it is not guaranteed.
I now am losing my car after all of my attempts with the bank to take a good faith payment until clients pay me at the end of the month. They have denied that since my good faith payment didn't get processed but since I was behind, they are rightfully entitled to that payment and entitled to get their car back.
I am now losing my apartment - there is no negotiation with one partner - though on the front end after looking at receivables they allowed me to pay rent at the end of the month if I'd just pay the security deposit now.
I will now have an eviction notice on public record making my chance of finding a new place harder.
I can't afford to move what I have,
Most of my stuff that actually arrived here sits damaged in boxes thanks to the negligence of the shipping company that sent everything out here and offered to settle if I wouldn't go to the media - especially during Christmas rush. They have yet to pay and stated they would review everything one final time on January 28th and THEN would settle. My attorney wants to take them to court and pursue treble damages - more money for him, but I wanted to settle now.
VERY PERSONAL:
I could pin the blame on the four members who tried their best to drive me to this point. One has done it indirectly and the other three know who they are. One blocked me - the one causing the most trouble so he will likely never see this and wouldn't care anyway.
I could have posted screen shots of all of the mail I have gotten but that would violate terms.
I have no place to go.
I am walking away from all of this. Most of my clothing never made the move here - what I have can fit in suitcases. I will take my clothes and my PC and camera and I am leaving all other possessions behind - Cd's, books, etc. I have no place for them - no money for movers or storage and no energy left to move it all anyway.
I opted not to out the two people who spear headed this issue but wanted a chance to share just how bad things got. I could have exposed them in a private group with private photos and screen captures but that would be on my shoulders. And I would be violating the rules to some extent.
FINAL NOTE:
There you have it as best as I could condense it. I posted it to be factual only - I don't want or need sympathy. I have three good friends on this site who listen to me vent and that works for me.
I wanted to answer the question that so many asked about why I helped people - I placed it in my profile - less than 20 people ever saw it. I also disclosed more about my health there but at the time, I didn't know that this illness was now eating away at part of my spine and CNS. My left hand is useless - I posted a pic of it the other night with comments and then made it private - if it appears below I will make it public again.
I have always been a fighter but one with tact, manners, and respect. Now I can no longer fight. I don't have the health, the money or the time.
I've never walked away from anything but this time I am. My new landlords are so upset - perhaps by leaving books and CD's and other items behind they can sell them and recoup their rent loss and reconsider pressing charges against me for their returned deposit check. I'm leaving all damaged freight here as well - though I was advised to hold onto it until I get a settlement for all of it. I'd like to expose the freight company but that wouldn't be right. Should they fail to pay, yes I will make everything known but only to people I mark as friends here.
There will likely be few if any more aviation shots here - unless I dig up the old ones. That hobby is fading fast as well. It is painful to try and adjust a zoom lens as it is now - the same is true with holding a bar of soap or buttoning buttons on my shirt.
AS FOR DISCLOSURE, well I have nothing to hide - I was mad about all the hateful phone calls but any of you are welcome to write and request an email address or my phone - though I don't just give my number out to anyone. And I will scan my documents when and if I settle somewhere, and create a group - you can see my story in full - medical records, screen shots, email in full. I have nothing to hide. I only kept my last name private this whole time to avoid family conflict but those who know me well know what it is. A big part of that is because I shared so much about my family and the person that takes care of most of my family - I didn't want to ruin his reputation. He doesn't accept or understand me and stated he wished I were not his son (biological or otherwise) and that he's trying his best to forget that I am - by admission in his last and final email.
Sorry Dad, I couldn't handle the medical world - I am not the doctor you wanted and yes, I am gay, I came out here to be out and that's me. Maybe you will find a replacement for me someday. Just keep taking care of Mom and I will leave you alone - you owe that to her.
That final statement is the most important - Mom has a specific strain (type) of MS - hers is chronic. I've watched her suffer and my dad is finally taking care of her after all these years. That's all I ask because I can't do it anymore financially and now, not physically. He has done well for himself and I would rather go without than have mom's final years be a life of struggling and going without. I am her son, I will take that trade in a heartbeat. Now that I see her pain, I feel like a horrible person for never understanding all the pain she suffered while trying to raise two little boys. If I could add her pain to mine in order to take it away I would. But now, I know what she went through and she has been going though since childhood. I struggle to live with this pain and frustration every day and keep my sanity, I honestly don't know how she did it - but she did.
There is a little more about her here (tied into kids and adoption, etc- I wrote it last year on my birthday) - www.myspace.com/grahamwish39 I wrote about her somewhere in there.
THIS IS NOT FOR SYMPATHY, HELP or ANYTHING ELSE - Just a chance for me to vent constructively and tell you how my attempt to helps others came to haunt me and to state that I may be out of touch for a while. I will try to find a place to check in for email, etc. It is early and I am going to bed for the last time in this place.
If you wish to comment, either do it nicely or do it in flickr mail or write me. I believe I can go into profile settings and list my email to make it public. I'll check into that now. Pardon the typos. | KGG Photography posted a photo:
I edited this one very nicely! |
