{"id":14324,"date":"2024-10-11T07:00:01","date_gmt":"2024-10-11T11:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=14324"},"modified":"2024-10-10T17:53:01","modified_gmt":"2024-10-10T21:53:01","slug":"how-i-became-homeless","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=14324","title":{"rendered":"How I Became Homeless"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"14325\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?attachment_id=14325\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/newTH-101124.jpg?fit=200%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"200,200\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"newTH 101124\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/newTH-101124.jpg?fit=200%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-14325 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/newTH-101124.jpg?resize=200%2C200&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/newTH-101124.jpg?w=200&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/newTH-101124.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/>It all started quite simply. Late in December of 2019, as I sat by the warm glow of the fireplace, relishing the comforting crackles of the burning logs, (I embellished that part, I do not have a fireplace) my wife made an unexpected announcement: she was going to start a business. Intrigued yet slightly apprehensive, I asked, \u201cOh? What kind of business?\u201d She replied, \u201cI am going to make and sell gnomes\u2026and other stuff.\u201d I didn\u2019t know how to respond; my mind buzzed with uncertainty while I mustered a nonchalant \u201cI seer.\u201d Little did I know, this was merely the beginning of a journey that would turn my life upside down.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Before long, she had established an official entity, an LLC named \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/pinoakworkshop.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Pin Oak Workshop<\/a>.\u201d With great enthusiasm, my wife and our two daughters-in-law gathered around the dining room table, where they began crafting whimsical little creatures adorned with beards. The atmosphere was electric with creativity, filled with exclamations of \u201cOh, that is so cute!\u201d as they established what I affectionately referred to as the gnome makers\u2019 mutual admiration society. As time passed, an impressive inventory of gnomes took shape, and plans were made to showcase their creations at craft shows, fairs, and any other venue where they could proudly display and sell their delightful wares. Meanwhile, I found myself slipping into the shadows, slowly becoming the oft-forgotten, invisible husband of a burgeoning crafter. (Yes, yes, feel sorry for me\u2014how tragic, right?)<\/p>\n<p>Then disaster struck\u2014COVID happened. All the planned craft shows and fairs, the events where eager buyers could meet enthusiastic sellers, were abruptly canceled, leaving my wife and her dreams in limbo. Yet the crafting continued unabated, the inventory steadily expanded, and looming in the background was the specter of my impending homelessness. Why? Because as supplies multiplied, they had to find a home. That home became the garage, the once-cozy dining room, and various nooks and crannies throughout the house. What had once been our warm family home morphed into a chaotic warehouse and factory for the Pin Oak Workshop.<\/p>\n<p>Although attempts to pivot the business to an online presence were met with challenges, eventually, COVID restrictions eased, craft shows resumed, and my wife began to see some financial return for her efforts. One could argue that her growing success filled me with pride; after all, it must be immensely satisfying to know that people are willing to pay good money for something crafted from pure imagination and creativity. Yet, this newfound income did nothing to alleviate my sense of homelessness. As her business blossomed, new crafty items sprang into existence, significantly increasing both the inventory and the demand for storage space.<\/p>\n<p>At this rate, I shall remain a homeless husband until this phase of her entrepreneurial journey ends. Her happiness is paramount to me, and everyone knows that behind a happy wife lies a happy life. How bittersweet it is, though, that there\u2019s never been a catchy slogan about a happy husband\u2014perhaps because the word &#8220;husband&#8221; lacks a compelling rhyme.<\/p>\n<p>However, if you want to extend a helping hand to ease my homeless predicament, I invite you to visit all the craft shows your budget allows and generously spend your money at the craft booth of the Pin Oak Workshop. Your support would mean the world to me.<\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\n<p>As a result of my journey, I have moved from the cozy comforts of a charming, storybook-style ranch home to the stark realities of residing in a, warehouse that doubles as a crafting shop. This transition marks a significant shift in my life, culminating in my current state of homelessness. Despite the challenging circumstances, I am grateful that I still have a roof over my head and a warm bed to sleep in, at least for now. This small comfort amidst otherwise uncertain times brings me solace.<\/p>\n<p>This is my entire reflection on the subject, and I must say, it feels liberating to share these thoughts and emotions with you. I genuinely hope you found this glimpse into my experience engaging, and if engagement eluded you, perhaps it raised a chuckle or two instead. I&#8217;m eager to hear your thoughts in response, and I look forward to connecting with you again next Friday. Until then, take care and \u201csee ya!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>I almost forgot to mention, I would truly appreciate it if you could take a moment to share this with your friends and consider <a href=\"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?page_id=448\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">subscribing<\/a> to stay updated on all future content. Your support means the world to me! Thank you, thank you very much! (Imagine me saying this with my best Elvis Presley voice.)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It all started quite simply. Late in December of 2019, as I sat by the warm glow of the fireplace, relishing the comforting crackles of the burning logs, (I embellished that part, I do not [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14325,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_daextrevo_audio_file_creation_date":"","_daextrevo_text_to_speech":"","_daextrevo_document_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14324","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-humor"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/newTH-101124.jpg?fit=200%2C200&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13520,"url":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=13520","url_meta":{"origin":14324,"position":0},"title":"Cicada Reflections","author":"Tom Lind","date":"June 5, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"I thought it would be interesting to look back in time and reflect on where I was and what I was doing during prior emergence of the Brood X Cicadas.\u00a0 There have been other emergence of other broods during my life, but Brood X gets all the attention, so I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Commentary&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?cat=13"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/606349ff28475.image_.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12874,"url":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=12874","url_meta":{"origin":14324,"position":1},"title":"Christmas May Be Cancelled!","author":"Tom Lind","date":"December 20, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Reports have been coming in from the North Pole that there are serious issues developing between Santa Clause and certain factions of the Christmas Elves that may put the Christmas toy distribution project in jeopardy.\u00a0 Threats of an attempt coup of the Santa Organization have surfaced.\u00a0 \u00a0Although it is unclear\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Humor&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Humor","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?cat=18"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/15418389_10210104106671655_2393119535432359370_o.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11593,"url":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=11593","url_meta":{"origin":14324,"position":2},"title":"The Empty Pew","author":"Tom Lind","date":"May 14, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"As the story goes, there was this old man who went to Mass every Sunday morning.; He always selected a large pew that was empty. His hope, his wish, his dream was that someday the pew would be occupied by himself, his wife, his children, his children's spouses, and his\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"The Empty Pew","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/emptypew33-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":834,"url":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=834","url_meta":{"origin":14324,"position":3},"title":"Wives and Wooly Worms","author":"Tom Lind","date":"February 8, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I am not much for yard work. I have never been much for yard work. I find no joy in mowing the grass, trimming the hedges, or even picking up sticks. About the only thing I like with regards to yard work is burning refuse. I find this enjoyable because\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Commentary&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?cat=13"},"img":{"alt_text":"Wooly Worm","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/woolyworm-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1339,"url":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=1339","url_meta":{"origin":14324,"position":4},"title":"What Were Their Names?","author":"Tom Lind","date":"May 9, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"If you took an informal poll of your friends and neighbors, or if you randomly stopped people for a \u201cman on the street\u201d interview and asked them if they had any idea who is Michael Brown or who is Eric Garner or who is Freddie Gray you would probably receive\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Commentary&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?cat=13"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/LEMA-1.jpg?fit=641%2C426&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/LEMA-1.jpg?fit=641%2C426&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/LEMA-1.jpg?fit=641%2C426&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12922,"url":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?p=12922","url_meta":{"origin":14324,"position":5},"title":"Happy New Year Y\u2019all","author":"Tom Lind","date":"January 1, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Well, we made it!\u00a0 Another year gone by and still alive and kicking.\u00a0 Admittedly not kicking quite as hard as in preceding years but kicking, nonetheless.\u00a0 And that is a good thing.\u00a0 So, today is not only an anniversary date for the world as we begin another year but is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Miscellaneous&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Miscellaneous","link":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/?cat=19"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/townehouse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/New-Year-Baby-Blank-324x235-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p38YRh-3J2","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14324","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14324"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14324\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14330,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14324\/revisions\/14330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14324"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14324"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/townehouse.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14324"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}