I got a reprieve in my situation today, after having sent out a panicked email yesterday about my impending (Monday) homelessness. What a reaction! People just came out all over in support, couldn't believe it. Went to have a word with El Prez about this whole thing, and he told me to stand fast until Friday, and we'd see about next week. I'm searching crazily for people renting apartments out of homes in South Jersey who won't put me through the incredible delay of a credit check and written reference workup.
     Bought a plastic Hoi Toi today. Just couldn't help it. Was at a super cheapo store getting a bowl to soak my nails in, and found two different versions of him, one ceramic with little bald headed children climbing all over him, and one plastic in faux ivory on faux ebony stand, depicting the Laughing Buddha upright with his hands thrust passionately into the air.
     I was also tempted by tacky renditions of Jesus with lambs in pink and pastel blue, but not by enormous faux gold framed paintings of same Nazarene with exposed anatomically correct heart. Frankly, those things creep me out terribly. I told the little pastel Jesuses that I might come back for one later, and snagged the happy imitation ivory Buddha, even though his mouth is imperfectly rendered, and if you didn't already know that he has to do with joy, you might mistake it for agony.
     Please, please, please, can I have my own personal mix-n-match pantheon? I want some kind of image of Jesus, to represent Grace, and also to help me learn to Love, since I never have been able to quite manage loving Jesus, not in all my upbringing. I want Kwan Yin, to help me with my Compassion. I want Hanuman, for assistance with Loyalty. Not sure, but perhaps I want Kali, for Justice, although frankly she scares the shit outta me. Hoi Toi, of course, is Joy. If you can recommend any others, please do.
     And maybe Rama/Sita together, or Radhe/Krishna, for that magical thing that makes a marriage work, something beyond love and loyalty.
     T. sent the list a prayer some time ago, and I have made good use of it since then. Very direct, poetic, and simple. I like it very much.

Come Thou great and infinite Mind and inspire me to do great deeds. Acquaint me with Thy knowledge and in Thy wisdom make me wise. I would be taught of Thy inner light and inspired by Thy presence. I will listen for Thy voice and it will tell me of great things to be done. I will walk in Thy paths and they will lead me into all good. I will be inspired from on high. Oh wonderful Presence, flooding me, filling me with light, Thou dost inspire me.