Sharing A Song

 

I have been trying to add music to this journal, not just post what I am listening to.  My husband and I are currently listening to Antonio Neal, an urban gospel artist whom I am learning to like VERY MUCH.  If you are someone who is open to listening to urban gospel music, then I think you will enjoy listening to this song.

The title of the song is "You Don't Know", and it is basically an old spiritual hymn that has been "urbanized" by the artist.  To give it a listen, all you will have to do is click here.  NOTE: Mute Kirk Franklin, because one of his songs will come on as soon as you arrive to the page; however, if you want to listen, then by all means, do so!!!  Scroll to the right of the page, and you will see Antonio's album cover, along with a play button underneath.  Click on the play button, and VOILA!!!!!  Urban Gospel Music on your computer (LOL)!!!  There are other artists featured on that page, so while you are there, give them a listen, too.  Enjoy!

Oh, my goodies came today!  YAAAAAYYYYY!!!!!! 

 

 

***Your Quirk Factor: 66%***

You're so quirky, it's hard for you to tell the difference between quirky and normal. No doubt about it, there's little about you that's "normal" or "average."

How Quirky Are You?

P.S.  Thanks, Dornbrau!!!!!!! 

UPDATE/PRAYER PAS DEUX

An interesting series of events has taken place in my quest to find a job.  First, I am still waiting on the call from the troopers to have the lie detector test taken and to go before the selection board.  Secondly, I was called in to interview for a position as dispatcher for a limo company.  Seems that a fellow New Orleanian they hired recently is doing such a great job, when they saw my resume in the Work Source system, they called me in for me to have a listen at what they had to offer.  Today, I received a call from the City Of Houston asking me if I were still interested in an Airport Communications Operator job I applied for last month.  I said that I was, and I am scheduled to interview on Tuesday.     

I called Trooper Ewton to ask if it was okay for me to go see about the airport job, since I am still in the process of being considered for employment with them.  He told me that going to see about this job will not interfere with what they are doing as far as my selection process.  He told me that even after I take the lie detector test and go before the board, it will still be a few weeks before I know whether I have the job or not.  He advised me that it would be wise to go and see about it. 

Folks, the airport job pays about the same, a little more, actually, as the dispatcher job in Conroe.  The duties are similar, and so are the perks (using company vehs, etc.).  They also have a great benefits package.  Plus, where I would have to travel 40+ miles back and forth from Houston to Conroe, and leave my house at least two hours ahead of time to beat any traffic problems to get to work on time, the Hobby Airport is IN TOWN, and only 20 MINUTES from my house!!!!  When you have three small kids, that sounds WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!

The limo dispatcher job has no benefits, and the starting pay is about the same as what I was earning at Wal-Mart.  However, those are some wonderful people working there.  Also, you get to schmooze with some of the bigwigs of the world....you should have seen their clientel poster!!!!!!  Superstars, billionaires, actors and actresses, the list goes on and on!!!!!  They told me that if I don't receive the Conroe job, they will hire me, because I have what they are looking for.  They told me to call them even if I am hired in Conroe.  They just want to know if I was successful, and they said that it really doesn't matter where I work, either for them or for Conroe, or for the Airport.  What matters is that my search was a success.  Isn't that SWEET?!?

Friends, these opportunities didn't come without much adversity.  I have been under heavy spiritual attack.  I have prayed so much, my knees are calloused over!!!!! LOL (Laughing Out Loud)!!!  Many people don't understand why I speak about Christ so much, or about prayer.  Folks, I want you to know that IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO MAKE IT without Him.  I am NOTHING without Jesus.  I have tried the "independent, pulling myself up from my bootstraps" way of living.  I have tried relying on myself.  I have tried relying on other people.  Alcohol.  Sex.  Material possessions.  The list goes on and on.  I have found that relying on these things alone will do nothing but break me and destroy me.  They led me to almost   losing my mind a few years ago.  But I found a Savior in the midst of it all, who is ALIVE, REAL, and AWARE of little old me!  I began to rely on Him, and my life has never been the same!  As you can see in reading my experiences, problems never ceased to exist for me, but I know that there is DIVINE help in dealing with them all.  I don't have any strength.  My strength comes from Him.  He has humbled me.  I am so dependent on Jesus, that to even try to or think about doing things my way doesn't even feel right anymore.  I am able to check myself in areas where He had to do it before.  He and I are becoming one, and friends, I wouldn't have it any other way!!!!!!!

I have been chosen as an Intercessory Prayer Warrior for W.O.R.D.  That is quite a responsibility, but one that I gladly accept, because  warfare is real, and prayer is a necessity today!!!!!  I am honored to have been given this opportunity to serve.  I will be working with Danette, a real "soul" sister who I also feel I will be friends with (see Netta's blog).  A friend......WOW!  I thought that word was non-existent in my vocabulary!!!!  Also, I have started becoming more visible in my local church.  I was enjoying my "anonymity" immensely, but I feel a move by the Lord to become more involved.  Satan, of course, hates all of this, because now I must lean on Jesus even more than I did before.  Folks, please don't stop thinking about me.  Pray, cross your fingers and toes.  I appreciate all your well-wishes, prayers, concerns, and e-mails.  I love you all.  I will post next week to let you know how the interview went.  If I am given this job, I will definitely take it over the Conroe job, for the sake of my family.  But what a blessing to even be considered for something like this; I wasn't looking for it.  I had  my heart set on Conroe, but it looks as if the Lord has better plans in mind for me.  Doesn't He ALWAYS???!!!???  Bye, y'all!!!!!         

 

P.S.  Gotta Share My Goodies!  

I am eagerly anticipating three things I ordered on the Internet to arrive in the mail:

1) A pair of outdoor quad skates (I tried inline skates before; HATED THEM!!!!);

2) A personal trampoline;

3) A bottle of Dolce & Gabbanna perfume

My pressure is running high, and I have gained a few pounds since Katrina.  I exercised regularly in New Orleans, and that kept my blood pressure normal.  I am planning to begin exercising again, not just to lose weight, but to keep that blood pressure in check, so that I will not have to take pills.  The perfume is a favorite of mine that was easily accessible in New Orleans, but is next to impossible to find here.  I ordered a 3.4 oz. tester bottle at a great price on scentiments.com!  The goodies should be here by early April.  I can't wait!!!!!   

Hey, Everybody!/Still Waiting...

Hi, everybody!  Please forgive me for not updating my journal or visiting anyone, but you won't believe how hectic last week and this weekend has been for me!  All I can say is that I am so grateful that Jesus is Lord and Savior of my life.  I can honestly say that I don't know how I would make it day to day without Him!

                

Thank you for all your comments, well-wishes, and prayers!  I added another picture of my "mung-beans", and I am trying to add a picture of myself to post.  My husband is fussing because there is minimal space left on our hard drive, and this computer is running slow.  He has a newer computer that runs faster, but it doesn't have all the features that this one has.  I am looking into finding a way to add more space to this drive, or removing some programs (lol).

 

Next week, I will be called in for a lie detector test (routine procedure for this type of job) and the meeting with the selection board.  After this, the next call I will receive is whether I have the job or not.  I am enduring so many personal trials in this final stage, that though disheartening at times,  I am convinced that this job is mine.  God, please give me the strength to hold fast to what you have for me!

 

I will keep you posted......keep those prayers, toes and fingers crossed for me!  While you are here, and if you are interested, check out the Dorothy Dandridge page, and some Internet freebies listed in my Favorite Sites section (I am still looking for more...don't sleep!), and visit Del Allegood, a fellow blogger and talented writer (his style leans towards folk writing), who I added to my Other Journals section.

P.S. Congratulations, Dianna, on being an editor's pick!!!!!!!

 

P.P.S.  DUH!!!! Moment............      

I just found out that LOL means "laughing out loud".  I thought it meant "lots of love" or "lots of luck"!  I haven't used LMAO, because I am afraid of what that might mean (folks, YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW how many weird connotations I thought of for that one!!!).  I learned yesterday that ROFL means "rolling on the floor laughing".  WHEW!!!!!!  I am still new to this, so if anyone out there is willing to help me with these IM shorts, I would appreciate it!!!!!!

P.P.P.S.  Becky, I love ROFLPIMP.......simply for the word "PIMP"!  LMAO......HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!  LOL    

Sharing Some Favorites

I FINALLY figured out how to add pictures to this thing!  Here  are my three beautiful daughters (Nicolette on the left, Angela, my little one, in front, and Maya on the right) with their grandmother (my mother-in-law) in New Orleans.  Now, I just have to take a picture of MYSELF to post (LOL).  I wonder if I will run all my readers away???!!!???  HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!  

"Great Minds Speak Of Ideas....Average Minds Speak Of Events....Small Minds Speak About One Another...."Author Unknown 

I heard someone say this, and I feel that this is SO TRUE, that I wanted to share it with y'all. 

 

Check out the live-action "Simpsons" intro!

Enjoy!!!!!!

Say WHAT???!!!???

Trooper Ewton came to the house today and spoke to my husband, and wound up staying late enough to meet my girls, and most of my neighbors, too!  I have received calls for TWO DAYS STRAIGHT from everyone that he called on my reference list, telling me that they put in a good word for me, and that they hope I get the job!  I am delighted!

 

The strangest news of all came from my former Lieutenant, who is now captain of the Police Communications Division in New Orleans.  First of all, I was involuntarily dismissed from there in 2003, and when I really needed this man to "have my back", and thought he would support me, he literally drove the nails in my coffin!  Secondly, I had only given Trooper Ewton the name of the personnel clerk at the police department.  I DID NOT WANT HIM TO SPEAK TO ANYONE FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION.  Apparently, the captain made it his point to speak to the trooper on my behalf! Well, he had Trooper Ewton send me a message telling me hello, and wanted me to know that he is now captain of the Communications Division.  Today, Trooper Ewton told me that my former lieutenant told him that I was an EXCELLENT worker, but I was having some problems at the time (DUH!) while I was working there (so their "solution" for my "problems" was to terminate me!).  He told Trooper Ewton that if I wanted to return and work for the NOPD, then he would DEFINITELY hire me back!!!!!!!!  

 

HUH???!!!???   

Matthew and I both laughed when we heard this.  

Back then, I was going through an EXTREMELY hard time, and NO ONE attempted to support me or to help me.  I had to fend for myself; I was on my own.  To add insult to injury, this man was the very person who denied my claim for unemployment.  Seven years of dedication, passion, and a drive to be the best at what I did.  Being sent by the department to represent them at special meetings and workshops.  I won many awards.  And none of that seemed to matter when I needed their help.  Where was all of this support when I needed it most?!?  I felt kicked when I was down.  Sent out into the world to start ALL OVER AGAIN, and it was ten months before I found a new job at Wal-Mart.  I lost my home; everything that I owned.  And now he would like me to RETURN?!?  "Back then, they didn't want me, but now, they're all on me!!!!!!"  If we EVER go back to New Orleans to live, I will return to WAL-MART to work!!!!!!!!!

(Tupac.  Isn't he CUTE???!!!???)

Anyway, I REALLY feel good about nabbing this job!  I still have to go before the board to explain what's on my credit report, but I even feel confident about this, because many of the discrepancies they want to question either have already been paid, have been paid on recently, have arrangements to pay in place, or are not my debts.  I am in the process of disputing some of those paid items that are still listed as a charge-off on my credit report.

 My husband is excited about this, too!  Matthew has always been supportive of me, and is happy when I am doing what I love.  Law enforcement is such fulfilling work; it is what I was BORNto do!  The kids......well,let's just say that they can't WAIT for  Mommy to  get out of the house!!!!  HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA !!!!!!!!!!

I have FOUR blogs now, on FOUR different blog sites.  FOUR.  Tragic shame.  I am trying to figure out what to do with them all.  And this is all because I wanted to leave comments on my friends' blogs, and the site wouldn't let me leave any unless I signed on!!!!!! GRRRRR!!!!!  Bye, y'all!     

 

     

LA DI DA...........

Hi, everyone!  I hope your week is going well so far.  Nothing much going on here, just trying to round up all that information I need for the trooper and trying to make some money on this commissions gig.  I am glad to be busy!

Today I had to attend a meeting with the special education board at the school for my oldest daughter, Nicolette.  Earlier in this journal, I recounted that she was having some serious adjustment problems at the school when we first arrived here in Houston, which literally floored me and her teacher.  Afraid that Nicolette will fail this year, we moved to have her evaluated to see if she had a learning disability or emotional disorders.  Well, the testing found that Nicolette can indeed function (and pass, with good grades!) at her grade level, but there may be some underlying emotional problems that her teacher needs to be aware of at school, and I need to address at home.  I went home with the information given to me and explained to Matthew what happened.  I asked him to help me more with Nicolette, because she is closer to him, and because she is similar to him in temperament and mood, she may be able to receive from him better than she can from me.  I am doing all that I can do, but Nicolette, for some reason, isn't responding to my efforts.  I understand that she has been through a lot with the hurricane, and there are counselors who are working with her for that reason also.  But I feel that Nicolette needs to feel responsible for obtaining her education.  I am trying to figure out what can I do to better motivate her to perform at her potential?  Folks, I mean.......telling someone what to do and get results is easy for me.  But molding and shaping an individual to be the best person they can be is a challenge.  The two are very different.  My husband has agreed to work with me on this.  My daughter is sinking, and at her age (10), this is not the time to lose her. 

My other two daughters were punished today for cutting up at school.  What happened today???!!!???  I mean, it is out of character for my daughters to get in trouble!  I sent them to bed early tonight, after dinner.  They probably need sleep.

My husband starts a new job Thursday.  It's a six-week stint at a temp agency as a computer installer for the police department.  He'll be earning $10 an hour.  Too bad it isn't a permanent position!  But, at least its work!  He has been trying to spend as much time with me this week as possible, which is SWEET.  He's supposed to be taking me out tomorrow.  I don't know where......but wherever it is, I know it will be NICE!

My husband is also looking into supplementing his education in Information Technology by obtaining several certifications that will equip him to be a licensed Computer Technician.  He went to the school that he will be attending, and the recruiter advised him to ask the Work Source if they had any grants or scholarships available that would help with his financial aid.  We did that today, and he is scheduled for an interview with a financial aid counselor tomorrow.  If they approve the aid for him, he will be able to start training immediately.  If not, he will have to take out a loan, which he doesn't want to do (and I don't blame him!), or wait until he earns enough to pay his way through.  I really hope this works out for him!  My husband always loved working with computers, and when he receives his certifications, he will be able to pursue employment doing what he enjoys most!  Isn't that what life is all about?

I'm getting ready to go to bed.  I'm literally holding my eyelids open with toothpicks (lol)!  Good nite, y'all!                        

THE FINAL STAGES

Folks, today couldn't have been more PERFECT.  The interview went GREAT.  I think I knocked the man's socks off!  I answered everything correctly, I didn't put my foot in my mouth, I didn't stumble over my words.......I couldn't have asked for a better day.  Thank you all for your well wishes and prayers.  The word of God says that "where two or three are gathered together in My (Jesus) name, I will be in the midst."  I didn't have just two or three, I had a multitude, and our prayers sent thousands of demons to flight!  I appreciate all of you SO MUCH.  Thank you!

I am in the final stages of the selection process.  I will have to go before the employment board (and explain some discrepancies on my credit report, lol), the trooper will call all of my references, and he will visit my home and speak to my kids and husband (lol lol lol......that's all a part of this kind of work; this was done in New Orleans, too).  I also have to obtain copies of my college transcripts and round up some more personal information and a few more people in my life that he wants to talk to (like my father).  My dad didn't raise me, but I do keep in touch with him.  I have his number and address. I know that my father will have nothing but positive things to say about me, which is good.

The background investigation is so intense because, unlike New Orleans, I will not be a civilian employee working for the city, I will be working for the STATE POLICE.  I won't have an operator number, I will have a UNIT NUMBER.  Technically, though I won't be the one on the street stopping the vehicles, I will be a COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER.  I will have access to all the information that the troopers have and will have access to patrol vehicles (it's called "inter agency motor pool") when I have to travel to other parts of the state for classes, seminars, and/or other state police business!  The trooper already advised me that the atmosphere will be similar to the military, something that I never been through before!  In a lot of ways, the job will be a little similar to what I have experienced in New Orleans, but a LOT DIFFERENT.  I think that this will be much better, and EXCITING!

I will know sometime in April if I have been chosen for the position.  It's a good job, with good pay, and good benefits.  To even be considered for this opportunity is itself a blessing.  Keep praying, y'all!  LOL The wall is fixed; it looks BETTER than it did before I hit it!  Good night, y'all!

               

INTERVIEW #2

Tomorrow afternoon (yes, folks, Sunday afternoon, after church; that's how these kinds of jobs operate!), I am scheduled for an interview with a state trooper in Humble, TX, for the police communications officer position in Conroe, TX.  For those who pray, PLEASE PRAY WITH ME.  For those that don't (that's okay; I love y'all anyway!), CROSS YOUR FINGERS AND WISH ME LUCK, 'cause I'm gonna need it!