This is the end of year wrap. The thing that excited me most this past year, besides AFC Wimbledon getting promoted, was finishing the first draft of my thrilling romantasy novel. There’s also been a fair amount of worry and feeling as if the precarious Jenga tower of services I depend on to live in… Continue reading What a year!
Seven weeks ago, I wrote about the fraud measures that Governor Walz is taking to audit 14 programs that support people with disabilities in Minnesota. I use 2 of the programs that are being audited – Individualized Home Supports (IHS) and Nighttime Supervision. I work with a small agency that provides these services so that… Continue reading Remember this?
How has my week been? It's been all: Yes, I’ll get my November SNAP benefits. No, I won’t. Yes, maybe a bit. No, not at all. Yes, of course, because Minnesota is nice. No, wait a minute – will it get clawed back? Can they even? What the actual f*cK is happening? What kind of… Continue reading Oh SNAP Part 2: To have or have not?
It's hard to stay positive this week and you all know that I'm a positive person - give me a road block and I'll plow right through it. I'll advocate. I'll testify. I'll blog. I'll share my story. I'll do anything to make sure that folks understand some of the issues you get to deal… Continue reading Oh, SNAP
Time to pop the champagne! Oh, wait, I don’t drink alcohol! At three minutes before eleven o’clock last night, in a big rush, I finished the first draft of the book I have been working on for the past year. I am going to take a month off before I go back to edit this… Continue reading DONE! (WITH THE FIRST DRAFT)
Normally, I probably would have gone to the big No Kings Rally in Minneapolis or they even had a huge one in my hometown of White Bear Lake! Go WBL! I was visiting my grandparents this past weekend in Pipestone, MN - a very conservative part of the state. So, of course, we went to… Continue reading No Kings!
Last Friday, I was contacted by Representative Betty McCollum's Office to be part of a panel that happened yesterday to talk about the impacts of HR1 on Medicaid and our healthcare system. I, of course, said "yes, I'd love the opportunity to share my story." Because, that's what I always do. The thing is, it's… Continue reading This happened…
I've been busy all weekend writing up my story because I was invited to speak at my MN Representative Betty McCollum's Health Care Listening Session on Wednesday, September 24th, 2025 at 11:00am CST. The listening session will be livestreamed on Representative McCollum's YouTube. Here's more about the session from Representative McCollum: Tune in to my livestreamed… Continue reading Speaking up
I went to the Good Trouble Lives On Twin Cities rally in Minneapolis on July 17, 2025. I wasn't going to go at first, but then found out my friends, Judy and Raven Moe were going to be speaking, so changed my mind super quick! Honestly, it's been a rough month finding out that Medicaid… Continue reading Make Good Trouble
Do something! Write a letter to the editor, go to a rally (yes, I was at the No King's March in St. Paul on Saturday), call your elected officials at all levels (County Commissioners will be feeling these cuts!), talk to your friends, amplify and share our stories to make sure people know what's going on. Thanks!
Justin Smith Writes 