Bye Bye "Boob Tube"

Today is day 4 of no television in our home. The truth of the matter is that I simply can no longer afford cable, so it had to go. And since our television won't get any channels (not even the local ones) without cable, we've said goodbye to it all. Gotta tell ya...I've never experienced so much quiet in my life. For as long as I can remember there has always been a television in my home, and most of the time, it was on. Have I noticed any changes now that the television is gone (not the set itself, but the ability to view it)? Yes, I have. 1. It's super quiet now. 2. The communication has increased with me & my children, and amongst themselves. 3. I am more aware. Aware of birds chirping outside. Aware of cars driving by. Aware of my neighbors. Simply...aware. Do I find myself having more time. Oddly enough, I don't. Even without a job my days are completely filled. My daughter once said to me, "You don't act like a person without a job. You still get up early and you do stuff...all day. Most unemployed people sleep more

. You don't." She's right. I work just as hard and do just as much without a job as I do when I have one. Sometimes I joke and say, "how am I going to fit a REAL job into my schedule?" The answer is this: I look forward to the challenge. Bring it on! So anyway. That's the latest change in our home. Will I re-instate cable once I'm back to work and can afford it? Maybe. Maybe not. We'll jump that hurdle when we get to it. Let the DIALOGUE begin: How long would YOU be able to go without television? Talk to me! Til next time...

Whelmed

What a day this has been! I'm working on writing a mission statement for an organization that I work with, I also need to figure out how to upload a slideshow onto the website for the same organization. I have a huge chapter to read for school and a power point presentation due on Friday (right now it's 10:35 pm on Wednesday...urgh.) I had to enroll my son in the high school that he'll be attending in the fall. I get there and they tell me that I'm missing paperwork. So I have to go to my son's current school and get it. Then, when school got out I had to take my son to the high school so that he could meet with his 9th grade counselor. We do that and come home. I sit for a few minutes and then it's off to Bible study. I get back home and start working again on the mission statement for the organization. Not sure if I got it right this time but I gave it my all. I think it turned out pretty good, but I don't make the final decision. And now...I'm cooking dinner for tomorrow, about to read my homework assignment, will come up with ideas for the power point and be prepared to meet with my classmates tomorrow. Oh yeah, and I have an interview with an employment agency at 2:00 Needless to say...I am OVERWHELMED. And it got me to thinking...what would it like to be simply WHELMED. Right about now I would so totally settle for just WHELMED. Funny though, you never hear about anyone being WHELMED...it's always overWHELMED. Anyhoo...that was my day. Wish I could say that I'm about to turn in but "lights out" is a long way a way for me. I'll try for WHELMED tomorrow. Let the DIALOGUE begin: Which are you most often, UNDERwhelmed, WHELMED, or OVERwhelmed? Talk to me! Til next time...

God's Clock

I know that you won't believe what I'm about to say, but then again, if you are a believer in Christ then what I'm about to say will come as no surprise at all. A few days ago a wrote about how I was down to my last and that rent was due in just a matter of days. Well. Today is May 1st and THE RENT IS PAID!

I repeat...THE RENT IS PAID! Did I rob a bank? No. Did I win the Lotto? No. Did I borrow money from friends or family? No. Did I gain an inheritance? No God showed up, and showed out. I checked my account just this morning and there it was. Enough money to pay the rent and a few other bills. I won't go into the details of where it came from, I'll just tell you that it came...and right on time. Here ye, Here ye: If you have never trusted God before, I urge you to begin doing so TODAY. God is real! His power is real! He still works miracles today the way that He worked them in the days that we read of in The Bible. If you don't know Him, get to know Him through His Son Jesus. It will be the BEST decision you will EVER make. No, life won't be without problems, issues, heartache...no those will still come. But the difference is that through a relationship with Christ, you will have hope when those things occur. And with that hope will come peace. A peace that can be found no where else. Accept Christ today and give God your problems. He'll solve them...on His own time...on His clock. Let the DIALOGUE begin: What supernatural thing has God done for YOU lately? Talk to me! Til next time...

Facebook...the new Kindgergarten

I gotta tell ya...the longer I'm on Facebook the more I realize just how childish "grown folks" can be. It leaves me SMH (shakin' my head) at times. Here are the latest antics: I have a friend (a real life friend, not just an FB friend) and this friend and I recently had a falling out. Mind you, I hold nothing against this person (who we'll call "Pat") and wish them the best, I really really do. Pat, however, would say much differently about me if you were to ask. Pat seems to think that I have wronged them in some way or another and has chosen to end our friendship. Now I could understand ending the friendship if I had done something wrong, but Pat has ended our friendship based on suppositions and assumptions. Sad, just sad. Oh, I failed to mention that just 2 months ago Pat really did do something to me that was worthy of ending our friendship, yet I forgave and chose to move on. Pat meant too much for me to just throw out with the bathwater. Fast forward. I am friends with one of Pat's family members. Me and Pat's family member are friends (in real life) and on Facebook. Recently, my Pat posted a picture of Pat and the family member. I thought it was a GREAT photo, so I "liked" it. Well guess what...I can't see the photo anymore. "Someone" has blocked me from seeing the photo. Ain't that about a blip!?! I think that is sooo Kindergarten. Na-na...I'm not your friend anymore so you can't see my pictures. Really?!? Well, if that makes Pat

happy then so be it. I just don't get it. Can't we just forgive and move on? Apparently not. Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you had any "kindergarten type" experiences on Facebook? Talk to me! Til next time...

T minus 5

So. There 5 days left until rent is due. A letter has not arrived from EDD, nor have they called. And as I stated yesterday, getting through to THEM via phone is impossible. They NEVER answer. What am I going to do? I have no idea. And it's not like rent is the ONLY issue. Nope, there're are car payment(s) to be made, phone bills to be paid, and on and on and on. People have "called it quits" for less than this. I can't. I must hold on. And if all that I have to hold onto is God's hand and my trust in Him, then I'm gonna cling for dear life. I WILL NOT LET GO! Today's post is pretty short and simple. I heard a verse of scripture last night that resonated in my heart. When I woke up this morning, it was still there: Psalm 9:9-10 New International Version (NIV) "9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You." There ya have it. I trust Him and I KNOW that He will not forsake me. Let the DIALOGUE begin: What gives YOU hope?

Talk to me! Til next time...

<--- YTEICOS

Today's post can be considered as Part 2 of yesterday's. After calling EDD ALL DAY yesterday and first thing this morning, I decided to go to my local "One Stop Career Center" and actually speak to someone IN PERSON. They actually have EDD personnel in house. So I check-in and tell the woman at the desk what my issue is. I tell her that I've recently gone back to school and answered "yes" to the question on the claim form where it asks about school. She gasped as if I had just told her that I had 3 arms. She shook her head and said to me in a whisper, "You shouldn't have done that. You shouldn't tell them that you're in school. They cut you right off when you do that." Are you FRICKIN' kidding me?!? So I should've LIED is what she's telling me. Shut the front door!!! I proceed to fill out the forms that they require and wait my turn to meet with the EDD rep. I tell her my situation and although she didn't tell me that I should have lied, she did confirm that the benefits STOP when one goes back to school until EDD can schedule a phone interview and determine my continued eligibility. That should happen in 10 days. Rent is due in 6. It's just so frustrating! I do the RIGHT thing and I'm penalized for it. Had I done the WRONG thing, none would be the wiser (except for my conscience). What has happened to society. When did right become wrong and wrong become right? When did we begin living in a "backwards society?" I don't have the answers to any of those questions. What I do know is that I can't change who I am. I have to go with what I know and what I know is that I have to be honest. Unfortunately, honesty tends to come at a high cost. C'est la vie Let the DIALOGUE begin: Have you ever been penalized for being honest? Talk to me! Til next time...

Honesty. Is it REALLY the best policy?

I know, I know...that's a rhetorical question. It just happens to be the way that I'm feeling right about now. So I've been receiving unemployment benefits while I diligently search for my next career opportunity. Every two weeks I fill out the form that I receive and I state that I am looking for employment (which I am). Well...because I've been running into so many brick walls, finding that most positions require a Bachelor's degree (even if the position is just for data entry), I decided to take the next step and go back to school. One of the questions on the form asks if I've enrolled in school or any type of training. Guess who answered HONESTLY...yep, I did. Now...EDD is holding my money. I can't believe this is happening! Why am I penalized for going back to school in an effort to IMPROVE my chances of getting hired. This makes no sense! If they would CALL me and ask ME about it, I would gladly tell them that I only have class ONE night a week and it's AFTER working hours...so it does NOT interfere with my job search or being able to hold a job. Since I haven't heard from them, nor has my money been deposited, I decided to take a proactive approach and CALL THEM. Well, a lot of good that has done. I call and have to press this button and that button and I am NEVER given an option to speak to an actual PERSON. This is an important issue...I need to speak to a living, breathing PERSON! I keep pushing buttons until I FINALLY unlock the magic "How-to-get-to-an-actual-person" door. And guess what happens... I get the following message: "We're sorry, but due to the high volume of calls we are unable to assist you at this time." Click. Yep, that's it. No option to hold. No option to leave a message. The call just disconnects. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET HELP?!? So, I will keep trying because rent is due 7 days and I have NO money. Nevertheless, I will not stress or worry about it. God knows what I need and He has never failed me...EVER. So I've given this issue to Him and I'll keep trying to get through EDD. One thing's for sure...I need to get back to work and I need to get back to work PRONTO!!! Let the DIALOGUE begin: What has been YOUR experience with EDD? Do you know any secrets to reaching a LIVE body on the phone? If so, please share. Talk to me! Til next time...

(p.s.- Please forgive the formatting and the fact that the post is now one GIANT paragraph. I don't write it this way but blogger.com recently made some changes and now the formatting is all messed up. Frustrating to say the least.)