Last night Mike Rinder and Christie Collbran posted a message of hope that we wanted to make sure you saw if you haven't already.
We were all stunned to learn last month that Mike was diagnosed with advanced esophageal cancer, and it had resulted in breathing difficulties because of fluid in his lungs.
Mike appeared last night to give us the hopeful news that he's improved steadily since treatments began, with much less fluid to deal with and other issues.
He explained that Christie has been his "bulldog" dealing with bureaucracy and red tape getting him the things he needs in our completely screwed up excuse for a medical industry and its insurance headaches.
And we're certainly feeling emotional after hearing how much it means to Mike to get the outpouring of support he's experiencing. Grab a tissue, listen to Mike and Christie, and lend your support to #TeamMike.
When a reader visits a Scientology cathedral, will he get past the crowds of eager pilgrims?
Garumpf, a longtime Underground Bunker reader, was kind enough to send along this report about visiting the Tampa Ideal Org recently…
I arrived in Tampa, and decided I wanted lunch and visit the org. I went to the Diners Drive Ins and Dives website to find if there was a good restaurant in the area. Found the Tampa Bay Brewing Company. Apparently it is just up the road from the org. Programmed the Org address into my GPS and headed off.
Apparently someone at the org knew I was coming and set postulates against me.
Half way to the org, my GPS suddenly (and without telling me) changed my destination BACK to my hotel. When the roads started looking familiar, I changed it back.
Sneaky OTers.
Got to Ybor on my 2nd attempt. Thought I was a block from the org and parked. Started walking toward the org and found I was out by several blocks. Obviously the OT people pitted against me had not given up.
While walking to the org, I passed the Tampa Bay Brewing Company. I thought, great, grab lunch first, then visit the org. Got to the door and they had a sign that they were closed due to AC replacement.
Damn OTs.
Fine, skip lunch for now and head to the org. Got there and found it is a three story Red brick building, looks very old. The entire area of Ybor (pronounced E-bore) looked and felt old.
And the area had very few people there. It did not feel creepy like downtown Clearwater, more like it was waiting for something. More on that later.
I did my walk around the org and noticed every 10 or so feet there were a pair of small cameras about 6 feet off the ground on the wall one facing each way. You walk in that area, they will know you are there. You could tell the building was not actually one building but several. Looking at Google earth again, it looks like it is four buildings.
What surprised me were the Cuban flags on each end of the building. Also across the street was a memorial to a beloved Cuban from the 1920s. (I think.) It was at this time I got the hint that this was a very Cuban section of town.
Continuing to circle the building and on the north side, I saw a large courtyard. Looked like a great place for a lunch or a get together. It was completely deserted. As I was looking at the area I noticed there was a glass elevator that allowed riders to look at the court yard. It was then I noticed I was not alone.
There was a lady holding a video camera that came up an alley between 2 buildings and entered the courtyard. Initially I thought she was SeaBorg and I was going to be recorded/confronted.
I watched her from the sidewalk and she seemed to be sneaking. She went up to several windows and put her video camera against it, recording something on the inside. No idea what, as I never passed the gates. After recording several windows she slipped in between 2 other buildings and disappeared from view. At that same time the elevator started to move, so there was someone in that area of the building.
I walked in the same direction the lady did hoping to catch sight her when she emerged, but she never did. She may have come out a different area again.
I came along the south side of the building where the small parking lot was and I assume a main entrance. That lot was full with 4 cars, a scooter and the Volunteer Ministers van. I am not sure how many were inside as there are parking lots (mostly empty) all over the place.
Again from the feel of the place, there was very few people there. There is a car entrance on the west side which is fenced in. There is a building entrance on the west to and a sign saying all entry must be made by appointment. Found the same sign on several walls.
Across the road on the north side is a large parking lot. The outer entrance to the court yard is also on the north side. On the east side I found what I will call the front door. An American flag and a Cuban flag were above the entry.
The door was open so I snapped a quick picture, but there is nothing really to see other than a banner on the other end of what appears to be a large room.
At the northeast corner there is a sign saying the building was once a historic cigar factory.
I did a small tour around the area and got a feel for the area itself. When I said the area felt like it was waiting. I think it was. For nightfall.
In the nearby blocks are a lot of Tattoo places, craft brewers, Cigars and night clubs. Either Cuban flags or the word Cuba all over the place. Oh and chickens. Not flocks of chickens, just a good number of them. I saw at least 8 different roosters on various corners and parking lots. Some were walking around, some were standing enjoying the sun, some were talking to roosters in the area. They would cock a doodle do every now and then, later a different chicken would do the same. The parking spot I got was good until 6am the next morning.
I think at night that area comes to life. I can not confirm as I left, but it felt right. The area is very old. the streets are brick streets and most of the building are brick.
There are a lot of businesses that are closed but it does not feel like a bad area. I ate lunch at a 2nd floor restaurant and looked out the window. It looked a lot like what you see as the french quarter in New Orleans on TV and movies.
Later in the week I was at my office talking to one of my co-workers and he said while I was there I had to go to Ybor City, so the place has life, just not during the day.
— Garumpf
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So happy that the treatments are going well and from past experience I know Christie had her hands full negotiating the medical/insurance bureaucracy.
Mike has been a constant beacon for my journey from debilitated cult member to joyful human.
Great news about Mike and thank you Garumpf for your post!