Continuation ...........................of Product&Services

Fast Forward/Rewind/Press Play

"As I am learning to keep things in perspective,as well as, not to be overly histronic.Consequently, understanding that America has had several tragedies, most importantly, the process of regaining and recovering from the 9/11 attack affected millions of Americans in their personal relationships and financial affairs. Subsequently, the timeline for putting millions of Americans including myself back on the right financial path has not been an easy task,nonetheless, the opposition has been numerous (outsourcing, minimum wage, lending institutions, and mortgage crisis.) Although, the economy may not be as many Americans would like it to be I still continue to search for my American Dream ,as modified as it maybe, I do not think that American Consumers are Americans in general should totally discard or cast out the American Dream completely. As far as living in Hampton Roads, I continue to network in the community,likewise I continue to work in building a repertoire. ..." MVP:Taboo

For every visitor that visits www.cacjohnson.com web site “you” are helping  someone stay in a job and creating jobs for other individuals, each time “you” visit a hyperlink  on this web site located on the:

Product of the Month and Product and Services page suchas;www.walgreens.com,www.riteaid.com,www.walmart.com again helps to keep employees in jobs and create jobs.Let's keep the job force strong and keep the jobs that are still here in the United States in the United States. Cacjohnson welcomes emails and letters.

Disclosure Agreement: Initially, cacjohnson informed visitors that the web site would feature biweekly articles of my consumer experience before and after college. I am still committed to keeping the initial disclosure that www.cacjohnson.com will feature biweekly articles of my consumer experience. Although, I am not on schedule as planned with the biweekly articles, I recently updated MVP and C’est Combien with some helpful information for the holidays. Currently, as the main writer of cacjohnson, I am working to gather documents, supportive information, as well checking for accuracy of the information presented in the articles that will reflect a standard of quality writing. Subsequently, the purpose of  the articles located on the website: to present useful  information to readers; to engage readers to think about their consumer habits. At the same time, the articles located on the web site are not randomly selected. Throughout the web site the reference to “I”, “me”, ”Consumer Affairs Consultant” will be referred to  at different times as  "cacjohnson",similarly, "Patron","Sponsors, and"Donors"will be referred to as "you","shopper" and"consumer".

Fast Forward: With only forty five days until the Presidential Inauguration, the United States now has a newly elected Democratic Presidential Candidate who happens to  be Afro-American. The focus of this new cabinet will be getting the American economy on track, out of recession, helping homeowners avoid foreclosure, implementing extended unemployment benefits for the recently laid off workers. Undoubtly,throughout the Presidential campaign, President elect Obama advertised the campaign slogan “Si, Se Puede” that presented a highly positive and motivational campaign ad. At the same time,President elect Obama ran a highly effective campaign appealing both to Blacks and Hispanic Americans.Ultimately, the recovery of the ecomony will be based on the newly elected President and his cabinets deft implementation of regulation and legislation of Big Business and Business as usual. 

Rewind: The polls are closed, the ballots have been counted, and on November 4^th American Citizens went to the polls to cast their votes for President. I was one of the many voters that cast my vote on November 4^th. As a member of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) throughout the month leading up to the election, I received numerous emails and letters for the ACLU urging registered voters to make sure their voice is heard; in addition to receiving emails and letters, I also viewed the ACLU video on the precautions to take at the polls on the internet, thus, I was well prepared to vote.  I can proudly say I felt a part of Democratic process, the frequent emails, and letter received from the ACLU help with finalizing my decision to go to the polls along with an article I read in Cosmo Girl magazine(October 8th issue.)

 Press Play: On November 28^th, one of the biggest shopping days of the year , the day after the Thanksgiving. Holiday shoppers stood in line outside stores suchas;Walmart, Best Buy ,and Macy to purchase items  at discounted or reduce prices. A customer waiting in line at a Wal-Mart in New York was trampled in a stampede as other customers rushed inside the Wal-Mart to begin shopping. Of course, the victim of the injured shopper family stated that they plan to pursue legal recourse as reported by local new stations. Despite all of the excitement and advertising surrounding November 28^th, consumer analyst and retailers reported a record low for consumer spending on the biggest days for retailers known as Black Friday. Not surprisingly,consumer spending had already dropped off because of recent mortgage crisis , although, Bush administration implemented an economic stimulus package for taxpayers financial analysts stated the package did little to stimulate economic growth. With only three weeks before the Christmas holidays the probability that retail sales will increase solely remains up the “shopper”, and” consumer”. Meanwhile, consumer analyst and financial advisors still have Cyber Monday(December 15th) an equivalent to Black Friday with the exception of shopping online, consumers do not have to worry about queues, or being jostled  in to a store. Cyber Monday gives the consumer the luxury to shop online in the convinence  of their own homes to purchase online sale items.

AMBG II

Singled Out

Names, Titles, Labels,Miss, Ms, Mrs., Mister, Mr., Sir, Madam,Gold diggers, Bridezillas,Wanna Be’s ,Video Vixens, Pimps, Dogs, Home Boys,Dead Beat Dads, Leeches, Moochers… During a time that most women my age are stay at home moms, mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, and friends. I am a granddaughter, a daughter, a niece, a cousin and a sister friend. On the other hand to  cacjohnson.com, I am an Independent Consultant, Personal Shopper, Administrative Assistant, Personal Assistant, Appointment Setter, Clerk I&II, Receptionist, Editor, Executive Director, Advertising Director, Production Manager, Event Coordinator, Staff Photographer, Contributing Writer, Business Manager, and Design Layout Executive.

Baby Boomers: While the Baby Boomer’s of the nineties may have passed me by, the prospect of being a minority business owner and home owner has not. In contrast to Baby Boomers who are worried about finding the right (preschool) or social group of friends, building financial portfolios, as well as, finding the right neighborhood for their families; my focus as a thirty-seven old women with two degrees and no chilren has become slightly altered due to the fact I have no children but financial security, and having safe environment to interact with family and friends remain the same.

Motherhood: After graduating from college in 1997' had I been given the opportunity of motherhood or even introduced the thought of motherhood I might have gladly or willingly welcomed motherhood with open arms,however, motherhood never came to fruition.At this particular time, I am more focus on making cacjohnson.com a successful web site, clearing up bad debt, restoring my 1985 Toyota LE Corolla that was vandalized in my move from Florida to the state of Virginia , replacing my clothes, and getting accepted into an accredited graduate school. Nonetheless, I have not totally ruled out motherhood, I currently have placed it on a back burner. I said that I would give myself until the age of forty-five to have a least one child until then cacjohnson.com. has become my main focus. Subsequently as with anyone who has debt to clear up, my goal has become to clear up old accounts and not to create new ones. From the day I left my teaching job in 2000 to being aggravatedly assaulted in the driveway of my place of residency in 2005, my life has undergone a major overhaul. In writing my self efficacy the day after my birthday,it became transparent of what I want cacjohnson.com to represent"The articles I write for cacjohnson I want them to reflect confidence and respect not only for myself but also for the readers... Most importantly, I do not want my self efficacy to center around credit troubles. I would like to have self efficacy that stated I was as diligent,deft, and persistent with the power to produce and create   quality"     

Summer's Gentle Reminder

Gentle Reminder: Traditionally, summer is the time that many Americans Consumers visit their local beaches, attend outdoor concerts, plan back yard bar-be-cues, thus, with the social frenzy, including the tons of sun and fun that summer brings it’s easy to forget one of summers gentle reminders to “wait your turn” like the elderly. A phrase I spoke while standing in line at the local grocery store “wait your turn like the elderly.”

Census: Often as a consumer, I have found myself standing in lines whether its at the grocery store, gas station, bank,post office, movies or retail store American Consumers at some point in time out of the 365 days of the year have found themselves in a line. In recent years, census have reported that the majority of Americans spend 80% (eighty) percent  of their time at work with coworkers, 10%(ten) percent of their time standing in a line, and the other 10%(ten) percent of their time ,American Consumers, divide between family and leisure.

Checkout: A few months ago, I was standing in line at one of the local grocery stores’ in my neighborhood around lunch time.At a time when most people usually find themselves on their lunch break, amazingly,  there was not a long line and I was not in a rush. Often, I have gone into the grocery store with a line at the express checkout, or there’s only one line open. However, on this particular day, I was in the grocery store to pick up my lunch after working on my articles for my web site, resolute in my mannerism, I was not in a rush. At any given moment, I could have found myself standing in line behind an edlerly person. Over the years, on more than one occasion I have found myself standing in line behind an elderly woman, elderly man,  or an elderly couple, nonetheless, on the day that I was standing behind  this particular elderly couple in my local grocery store, the cashier look toward me for a response, I could tell she was younger than I , thus, at her immediate glance I calmly stated with sincerity” please, take your time” my response was in reference to her helping the elderly couple.

Allotment: Now that I am little older, I like to allow myself time to get to various places and appointments, usually, I like to allot myself 15(fifth teen) minutes minimum and a maximum of 30 (thirty) minutes to reach appointments, more so than out of respect for others sharing my environment, but for safety reason. An example that would evince my point for the allotment of time in making a comparison by applying the literary technique called simile,” Most simile are introduced by as or like or even by such words as compare, liken or resemble” In the following comparison using a simile, I compare the allotment of time to defensive driving. Defensive driving is when you drive not for yourself but for other drivers on the road.Likewise, with defensive driving, drivers should remember to be courteous, and respectful, when changing lanes, coming to a complete stop at stop signs, also remembering that yellow means "caution."

Deference: With the recent re-emergence that sex sells the acclamation of forty your over the hill, forty is the new fifty, and seventeen is the new twenty one. Surprisingly, no one is in a rush to be an elderly person, not surprisingly everyone wants what they have---a home, financial security, and closeness of family. On the contrary,when I see an elderly person (not all elderly people) I think to myself that could be me one day. I believe that all young adolescents, as well as, adults less than fifty-five should show deference to their elders. Americans should envision and empathize with the elderly as person that have a past, present, and a future. Futhermore, elderly people have a plethora of information to offer to our society. Conversely, an elderly person may have knowledge of historical facts, as well as, special incite about life in general. Our elderly are not Americas (has been and all washed up.) With the modern technology of today and medical treatments they can be just as sharp as a seventeen year old.

Customer Service: On another note, as a former cashier, I am able to empathize with other cashiers, for example, a cashier looks over the counter to see along line of impatient customers, and for a cashier (especially if the cashier was in training) the cashier might become nervous or agitated. I have found as a former cashier that instead of avoiding customers when the line or wait maybe more than anticipated making eye contact with the customers helps to ease the tension. Subsequently, I have found that additional eye contact, a polite tone of voice along with words of assurance such as, “I will be with you in a moment,” or “thank you for your patience,” signifies to the customer that their patronage was important. In addition to a cashier overcoming awkward moments, most managers will explain to a new cashier that focusing on accuracy more important than speed. From my past experience as a cashier, I would agree that accuracy was more important than speed in retail because of inventory and store mangers efforts to keep shrinkage low. To evince another point about being a cashier or seasoned vet, the more comfortable a cashier becomes with the register, the store, and products in the store which basically adds up to product knowledge then a cashiers speed will increase at the register. With the proliferate of product knowledge a cashier will call less for price checks and depend less on managerial support.

No Substitute for Experience: My first job as a cashier/salesperson, I had to learn to greet customers, familiarize myself with store advertisement. Most importantly, I had to learn to make eye contact with customers and thank them for patience. Yes, I was nervous and sometimes intimidated on my first job as a cashier; I have even been aback when customers have walked out the store while I was working at the cash register. Many times in my particular experience as an cashier, I have found that long lines  maybe the result of several transactions(reasons), for example, querulous customer, returns and exchanges, or a cashier in training long lines are not a always the result of elderly person or couple. Therefore, as American Consumers perform their daily task they should remember one of summers gentle reminders “wait your turn like the elderly” which affirms (deference for our elders) no one is in a rush to be older.

Less than perfect:the good,the bad&the ugly

As a Consumer Affairs consultant, Sales and Service Manager, I like to stay current on prices for Beauty products, Photo processing, and Electronics. I am known to frequent the local Walgreens and Rite Aid in my neighborhood. Often, I will go to Walgreens and stroll down the beauty isle to compare prices with Rite Aid prices; I enjoy shopping at both stores because they are like mini superstores. Both stores keep a variety of products in stock ,although,Walgreens is the place where I have many of my pictures developed,I shop at both stores. Recently, I visited Walgreens to have some pictures developed but I required assistance because Walgreens had replaced the self service photo processing machine with a new machine. While receiving assistance from the photo technician guy, I wasn’t looking my best. The photo technician and I began to talk; I briefly mentioned “ I am not a crazy person, and I don’t look like this all the time because of my line of work  it is not all fun and games, and it’s not always glamorous,” before completing my order I handed him a business brochure and a business card for the nexttime. Not often but every now and then,there are times when I get a fresh lead as an Consumer Affairs Consultant, Sales and Service manager, I might walk out of the house less than perfect. I have learned , while working to get cacjohnson off the ground floor, I have to acceptthe good, the bad and the ugly.Hopefully, when the photo technician  sees me in the store he'll remember my business brochure and business card.

Continuation....Part (IV) Still, Exceeding Limits:

Oil, water, transmission fluid, brake fluid, rotating tires, headlights, turning signals, radiator gasket, antifreeze, and fuses...Having learned many of life's invaluable lessons from my grandmother, now, years later after living with my grandmother, graduating from college, having taught for two years in public school system, later returning to retail/sales; I am still Exceeding limits in my professional, personal, and, spiritual relationships. Exceeding limits in my life has meant, at certain times, I have had to go beyond my physical strength and mental capabilities in both my personal and professional life. Whereas, oil, water, transmission fluid, and brake fluid are the life of a car, as well as regular maintenance, such as rotating tires, and checking  tire air pressure; likewise, I have found  that  my professional, personal, and spiritual relationships also require  regular maintenance to eschew exceeding limits. Regular maintenance in professional relationship often has meant assessing, evaluating strength and weaknesses, taking inventory of skills, and listing goals. Similarly, in my personal relationships regular maintenance has meant asking a series of question, seeking professional guidance, and reading motivational books. Most importantly, just as water, oil, and fluids are the life of a car, my thoughts, what I read, view, and put into my subconscious are significant, but, more importantly,  they are the intricate threads that weave the fabric of my life. Moreover, it’s my thought life that sustains, as well as motivates me to move forward in pursuing goals. Subsequently, I have learned in recent years that in order to not exceed my limits I must constantly monitor my thought life. As matter of fact, by allowing your thoughts to run rampant you invite negative thoughts to enter your subsconcious which could lead to inappropriate behavior, also, by not monitoring your thoughts you’re more likely to exceed mental limits. An example of exceeding limits in today’s society the frequent use of the proverbial platitude "driving fast and getting nowhere.” Often, women are constantly multitasking, hurrying and rushing to complete one task so they can move on to the next task. Usually, women that multitask quite often have created different task primarily because they are avoiding other areas of their lives, thus, multitasking becomes interchangeable with the word selective avoidance. In other words, women who are multitasking chose what grasps and hold their attention.As result of not following the speed limits, not noticing warning sign to be cautious; it becomes easy to exceed the limits in a woman’s professional and personal life without realizing or averring the statement     “I have exceeded my limits.”In many instances in my professional and personal life avoidance has been the number one cause of my exceeding physical and mental limits. Most often, avoidance stems from the strong desire to be non confrontational. At any rate being non confrontational, in most instances, only exacerbates the underline issues, that  manifest itself in such action as delaying a phone call, delaying writing a letter, not answering voice mail, or not replying to emails , consequently, when each of these task are left unattended they either become personal crisis or urgent and important message. Throughout the years, I have found that for woman especially the routine of daily life, family tragedy, job loss, death of a close friend, and illnesses  all are reoccurring event that contributes to a person exceeding limits in their professional and personal relationships. Because women in particular are doers, thinkers, and followers, women who are constantly "multitasking", choosing what grasps and holds their attention, instead of using multitasking as selective avoidance, should work to find balance in their professional and personal lives while managing task. In fact, I have observed the many juggling acts women perform all in the name of "multitasking" ,most often,only implies a woman might be unknowingly using selective avoidance. ”When we are in the darkness of discouragement we don’t see, the things that might trip or bruise. When we are hurting we don’t understand that the thing that caused the pain may have a greater purpose than we experienced…In your life---are those obstacles…”or are those avoidances that were left unattended. Finding balance in my professional and personal life has been an ongoing process and challenge, I continue to seek ways to include balance in all areas of my life with the understanding that to create balance I must first be willing to practice monitoring my thoughts, as well as, learn task management and not be  non confrontational. In other words not use "multitasking" as an excuse for being "non confrontational "or substituting multitasking for "selective avoidance."

”It only takes one person to change your life---you”---Ruth Casey

Changing Places: I am not seeking to change anybody, yet, by sharing my life’s experiences I am allowing other readers with similar backgrounds to reflect on the changes they have been through in their lives to gain a better understanding of the ebb and flow of life, as well as finding and focusing on positive life experiences, accomplishments, and contributions. Indeed, a positive life experience could vary from a childhood memory of your favorite perfume, smell of your favorite coffee, memories of your first car, whether the positive memory comes from your childhood or adulthood having a mental rolodex of positive experiences helps alleviate stress and depression during transitional changes. As a result of transitional changes, a person who experience frequent changes might want to practice remembrance of positive life experiences, thus, when that person does encounter unplanned changes, instead of giving into defeatism it will be easier to aver the statement “This too shall pass.” Also, a person in the process of transitional changes should remember that transitional changes are “Temporary solution to a temporary problem.” But, most importantly a person in the process of transitional change should understand that that not all change has a negative meaning, such as career, fashion, hairstyle, buying a new car, and dating. Often it has been stated for a person to change they must first want to change. Over the years I have under gone numerous changes some planned, some changes not planned, some changes welcomed, and other changes not welcomed. A few of the planned changes, I have undergone include hairstyle, fashion, type of music l choose to listen to, and nail color. On the other hand, some of the not so planned changes include: place of residency, and the type of car I drive. For many of the changes, I had to learn to embrace change as well as accept both the good and bad in making transitional changes. Frequently, I have been told to find the positive in all changes that I have had to make. Even more so, I had to learn to be especially thankful for the things I do have and not dwell on the things I don’t have. In many instances, during different times of transitional change, I would verbally find myself saying “accentuate the positive” and “eliminate the negative." Positively  focusing on accentuating the positive meant finding a physical attribute or skill that presents me in the best light, whereas, eliminating the negative meant to eliminate thoughts of   self doubt, second guessing, belittling, self sabotage, to literally tuning out  background noises. In addition to eliminating anything that did not support my belief system (morals and values), or align itself with my goals. Ultimately, I learned change comes from within. .“There are things to be seen and learned in apparent wastelands which cannot be seen and learned in places of comfort, convenience, and complacency. God intends to keep us in a place where there is nothing else we can count on” -------Elisabeth Elliot

As I became older, I grew to understand that changing within had a lot to do with what I was reading, viewing, and the music I was listening to during my free time. Despite my finance, one thing that remained constant was change whether my bank account reflected economic change it was apparent that change remains continuous. Not surprisingly, my finances affect all areas and aspects of my life, thus , I were randomly asked what continues to cause my transitional changes to awkward and uncomfortable in my life the number one answer would be my personal finances.

“I’ve never met anyone who became instantly mature. It’s a painstaking process that God takes us through, and it includes such things as waiting,failing, losing, and being misunderstood---each calling for an extra dose of perseverance.” ----Charles Swindoll

"We draw to us that which we think…." From the author of Transform Your Life & How to Have A Flood and Not Drown

Behind the Scenes: God Handle it Day By Day, Transform Your Life, Maximize the Moment, Acts Of Faith,  Woman Thou Art Loosed!, Success Gods Way, Black Pearls, and Finding Peace, Letting Go and Liking  it.

The above mentioned books have all contributed to the sources of my motivation, positive outlook on life experiences, and the reason for my continuing to pursue my goals as well as redefine what success means in my personal life. The motivational and inspirational books that I have read have helped me to deal with some of life's most difficult trials, test and hardships. As stated in Transform Your Life which was revised and edited to include How to Have A Flood and Not Drown "From the moment we wake up in  the morning  until we fall asleep again at night we are constantly bombarded with thoughts that can slow us down or side track…"therefore"…we need to be consciously aware of what we allow to enter into our  subconscious…"Besides learning to not exceed limits while multitasking in your professional and personal life, learning to create balance by managing task for many women prevents physical and mental exhaustion. Also another way to firmly establish balance,I have found that by  learning to monitor your thoughts during task beccomes very important in  knowing and recognizing the first signs of exceeding mental limits. Futhermore, learning, noticing, and listening tothe warning signs whether if its the environment, physical, financial, or spiritual adhering to the signs, seeking help and guidance that's available becomes very important to maintaining  your personal life and knowing personal limitations. A typical example of exceeding limits, especially, during a transitional change in my professional , personal, and spiritual relationships might best be describe by looking at an everyday  transaction, such as using an ATM(automatic teller machine.)For instance, I decide to withdraw money from an ATM (automatic teller machine) instead of visiting the bank. After several withdrawals, I reach the maximum number of times my financial institution will allow for withdrawals in a day; however , because I didn't keep record of the number of withdrawals I made at the ATM (automatic teller machine)on my final attempt to make an withdrawal all on the same day, instead of the machine dispensing money, the machine prompts me to see a bank teller Likewise during transitional changes , in your personal professional, and spiritual life relying solely on the information you have  gathered over a period of time; it becomes easy to deplete your internal resources, thus, causing you to become overdrawn, mentally and physically,and leading to Exceeding Limits. As result of not following the speed limits, not noticing thewarning signs to be cautious; it becomes easy to exceed the limits in a woman's professional and personal life without realizing or averring the statement "I have exceeded my limits. "Other wise if you "Keep going and chances are you will stumble on something perhaps when you least expect it.I have never heard of anyone stumbling on something sitting down."---Charles F. Kettering

Without a question,finding balance will help alleviate some of the symptoms of physical and mental exhaustion as well as prevent exceeding limits. In Transform Your Life, Dr.Rev Barbara King list the following ways to become balance:

(1) work at being balance

(2)expect your day to be the fullest day

(3) make decisions and stick to them

(4) Take Action

Ultimately,to find balance Dr. Rev. Barbara King states in Transform Your Life"…The first thing you'll have to do is regain control of your thoughts and reactions to threathening situations."  I bought Dr. Rev. Barbara King's book several years ago while I was on a road trip with some of my friends. The trip was of  one the positive personal experienes I have had during my life.Often,when I am out shopping, on the road, or traveling I like to buy either an inspirational or motivational book. Transfom Your Life/How to Have A Flood and Not Drown  an excellent book that I highly recommend  for single women, and single mothers. To conclude,many times  I remind myself that I can not control the actions of other  but I can control my reactions.

Read this article in its entirety and others written by cacjohnson by visitinghttp://www.cacjohnson.com

Featured Articles

MVP:Three cars, three different personalities, and one owner>Hyundai, Mazda Mx3,&Toyota Corolla. Existentialism, more than a car, an extension of self, a derivative of my personal being without the sugary additves; my 1985 Toyota Corolla LE.Caveat emptor, you can tell a lot about a person by the kind of car they drive.  

Attraction: Attraction is the emotion, the feelings that each individual experiences in first meeting a person of the opposite sex. Attraction is Chemistry, Biology, Physics, or even Anatomy. Attraction is like a magnet it draws people to other people, to clothes, cell phones, jewelry, computers, homes and automobiles. Attraction starts with appearance then slowly digs under the surface of the skin .Attraction is at times superficial, but it is attraction that ignites the thoughts of interest between two people and draws them to inanimate objects .Attraction is the way people meet other people through their appearance. It has been a long debate that by meeting people based on their appearance or physical appearance is similar to “judging a book by its cover.” However, the other side of the debate questions: How else do people meet? Besides the various meeting places, for example, the grocery store, gas stations, restaurants, church gatherings, family reunions, and laundry mats, the internet allows people to meet through different websites, chat rooms, email, and internet dating all of which most often requires a picture of the individual. With the exception of meeting someone over the phone it is through a person physical appearance that individuals meet, develop impressions and make lasting impressions to potential mates, friends, family, and perspective employers. In other words, making a lasting impression begins with appearance whether it is a persons  manner of dress, hairstyle, or makeup as the clichés state “first impressions are lasting impressions.” A well kept appearance in the work place, at restaurants, and a social gathering does make a difference to potential mates, and employers, a person. In the American society appearance does counts. A persons appearance is very important in finding employment, to finding a mate, for instance, a potential employee  going on an job interview knows that the first thing  an employer will look for is a professional appearance or neat appearance .Likewise, appearance becomes important in looking for a spouse,  the appearance of a  person who is looking for a mate makes lasting impression on a potential mate, for example, a young woman or man goes out on their first date and both want to impress each other ,thus, they both wear the latest fashion and hair styles. Ultimately, attraction begins with appearance which ignites the interest of a person to seek out more information about an individual. Eventually, it is not until after the initial meeting of a complete stranger   that comments like he or she has a nice personality   or a good sense of humor is stated but only after seeing the person; again, the exception to the rule is unless the initial meeting is over the phone. Randomly, ask any wife or husband what first attracted them to their spouse, he or she might respond with a list of physical traits, then talk about their spouses inner qualities. Attraction is what brings couples together, as I stated previously attraction first begins with the outer appearance then looks further into the person inner qualities. All too often attraction begins with the outer appearance; for example, in purchasing a car, attraction, and the degrees of attraction becomes a deciding factor for some individuals. On a scale from one to ten the person might judge how attracted they feel towards a certain car. Attraction is also what some people use to determine the make and model of the car they will purchase. For American consumers the degree of attraction, especially, in retail will determine whether a consumer will buy an item or look elsewhere. Attraction.... Undeniably, attraction is what causes a person to purchase certain makes and model s of automobiles? Make &Model: Making a statement all too often starts with appearance more specifically a fashion statement. At work, in night club, an evening with friends, making a fashion statement does not stop with apparel but also includes: accessories, cell phones, jewelry, homes, to the type of car an individual drives,suchas,Acura,Audi,BMW,Caddillac,Chevrolet,Chrysler,Dodge,Ford,Honda,Hyundai,Infiniti,Jaguar,Jeep Wrangler, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Oldsmobile, and Plymouth. American consumers have a variety of makes and models they can choose from to cater, fit, and match their lifestyle. In many instances when buying a car whether new or used American consumers base their decision on the type, size, and color. Other determining factors consumers take into consideration in negotiating the purchase of a new/or used vehicle is the interest rate in addition to the down payment. While for others purchasing a car especially if the car is a gift for someone else then size, make, and color becomes a deciding factor. What does a make and model say about an individual owner/driver? The type of car an owner decides to buy  tells a lot  about the owners personality, character, family life, or type of job they hold .A red sports car, for example, is an indicator that the driver could be having a mid life crisis, or it is an indicator of a high school graduates 18th Birthday. On the other hand, A SUV could signal either a large family that goes on frequent vacations or business person that travels regularly and prefers driving than flying. The type of car a person drives plays an important role in the type of people they attract, for example, a person that drives a jeep wrangler might be an outdoors or more of an athletic person, therefore, when driving this person might attract only athletic and sports orientated individuals. Without a question, the color, the size, and style of a car tell a lot about the owner of an automobile. By choosing a certain make and model of a car a driver is setting restrictions. Restrictions: Restriction means to set limits within the confines of established laws and rules .Who set restrictions? Usually, a restriction is set by an adult, a parent, or members of congress. Often members of congress make and set restrictions regarding public safety and health. Setting restrictions is one way that local lawmakers and state officials monitor as well as reinforce law established by congress. The word restriction for some pre-teens and adolescences is  synonymous for punishment .However, the word restriction is not always bad when mentioned to a teenager who wants apply for his or her restricted licenses, still, just by hearing the word restrictions puts some adolescents on edge. Setting or making restrictions is most often put in place to help protect society in a whole from lawlessness, riots, and gang banging. Setting restrictions is just not limited to local and state officials, High schools, Universities, and Colleges all have the power to set restrictions. A restriction is often intangible. A restriction could be an age limit, a set time, or set speed. Restrictions vary from state to state; therefore, the restriction in one state might not apply in another. One well known restriction is the legal drinking age of (21) twenty-one. Lessons before driving: Nearly all pre-teens or adolescents encounter restrictions either at home, in a public school, or a private school, at some point in time during an adolescence life they will encounter restrictions. I am no stranger to restrictions and limitations, as adolescence my grandmother, father, and teacher each set restrictions regarding some specific area of my life, for instance, type of music I listened to, the type of books I read, which friends homes I could visit, I had a set time  to be in the house,and the type of clothes I wore to school. Other restrictions I had included, size as infant, and then age became another restriction in my pre-teens. In my childhood, I had many restrictions set by the adults in my life. As I mentioned earlier a restriction is intangible, but can also be physical. In Caps Off! I state from "infancy to adolescence I could not have predicted the outcome of my youth..."nor could the adults in my life, but, with the set restrictions established by grandmother, parents, and teachers a less favorable outcome became unlikely. Nevertheless, I could have easily been an unsuspecting prey to sex, drugs, lewd and lascivious behavior just like any other teenager. Incisively, I chose not to be errant in my grandmothers instruction, as well as not to be recalcitrant towards my parents and teachers. Whether the strong sense of propriety in behavior is one of the inane qualities I inherited from my parents or a characteristic trait learned from my grandmother, I chose to stay in school,get my lessons and work within the restrictions set by grandmother, parents, and teachers. A lesson is an idea, concept, experience that has been instilled, imbedded, and taught to adolescence and adults during their lifetime. A lesson can be about variety topics from Life, Love, Spiritual, Friendships, buying a home, or driving and maintaining a car. Some of life lessons I learned in a classroom other lessons I learned at home. Many of the lessons I learned at different stages of my life. Each year as I grew older, I acquired a new lesson. A few of lifes lessonss I learnedby reading different materials as an adolescence ;for instance, I bought a book of anonymous quotes and one of the quotes in the book stated “it is better to keep the lesson and throw away the experience.” Today that quote still holds true in many of the scenarios in my life. Although, not all experience in my life have been unpleasant, I have a firm understanding if I had not encountered the different lessons and experiences I would not be the person I am today. In addition to having a better understanding of my personal life experiences, I also understood that having a child does not make a young women a mother. Yet, it is the journey of life, its ups and downs, the trials, test and tribulations one encounters in life, the rain and sunshine, all of life experiences that a young girl or young man persevere through helps them to become mature adults, for instance, a young girl turns into a women, then develops motherly instincts, the same is true for young males. I often I have listened to preachers, ministers, and pastors speak on different types of growth, spiritual, marital, or personal growth, from the different messages given on spiritual growth, I have interpreted from the messages that each individual has to go through some thing before they can give birth to a miracle. The most common biblical quote I have personally had spoken to me is "to whom much is given, much is required,"  one of the many spiritual lesson I acquired in my youth and adulthood.

Continuation Part II:

Reliable Mechanic. In facing many of life challenges, I learned many lessons some minuscule other enormous but no matter how small or great the lesson they all intertwined together to reveal a greater meaning and purpose of life. Incessantly, relentlessly, my grandmother worked very hard to instill morals and values in my aunts and I as well as self respect. To many of her co workers, and close relatives it made have appeared that she worked effortless, yet I know the obstacles she encountered to maintain shelter, food, and also reliable transportation for my aunts, uncle and I. It is with all honesty, sincerity, and respect for my grandmothers untiring work which has inspired,motivated,prompted,and caused me to continue through my hardships and adversity. My grandmother's unselfish love for her family and grandchildren  caused her to work unceasingly to provide for her family. The invaluable lessons I learned before driving didn't come from a preacher, minister or pastor but I learned from my grandmother. Some of the fondest memories of my childhood revert back to living with my grandmother who taught me many of life’s lessons. And long before I could drive, I had to learn to crawl, walk, read, and write the essential skills the every adolescence must have in order to matriculate through life. Because of my grandmothers nurturing, caring, and generous nature; many of life lesson I encountered did not easily discourage or intimidate me to give up but cause me to be industrious. My grandmother shared her work ethics, culinary skills, cleaning philosophy, and taught me about tithing. A vocational chef and in many aspects a single mother; my grandmother knew the importance of reliable transportation. For a short time I lived with my grandmother in a very rural part of Florida called the Orange Grove. Living in a rural area allowed her to raise chicken, grow, and pick peas. After the passing of my grandfather, my grandmother moved away from the Grove into the city. Without a mate, four children and one grandchild, my grandmother had to learn how to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. Amazingly, my grandmother provided my aunts and me with shelter, clothing, and food. She made sure that my aunts and I had transportation to and from, school as well as church. During the years, I lived with my grandmother she made sure I attended school. Rarely, did I worry about breakfast, lunch or dinner because my grandmother made sure that my aunts and I did not go long period without food. I also recalled that as young child many mornings my grandmother would drive my aunt and me to school in old dilapidated diesel truck. Even though the truck looked dilapidated, it drove better than any other car on the rode. Disconcerted from having to ride in a diesel truck to school, my youngest aunt insisted that my grandmother to drop us off at the corner instead of driving through the roundabout with the rest of the cars. Because the old diesel truck upset my aunt so much my aunt and I began walking to school with the neighborhood kids. Over the years, my grandmother acquired many cars, but she never went under the hood. Whenever my grandmother had problem with any of her vehicles she would come directly after work change her clothes, finished changing  her clothes she would  come of the room look at my aunts and me emphatically state” I’m going to see a man about a dog.” For along time I did not know what my grandmother meant, until I had the opportunity to meet the mystery man. Apparently, the man, my grandmother would visit when her car was not working properly, worked from his home as a part time mechanic. The visit to the part time mechanic is one of the first hand experiences I had as an adolescence with cars thus began my fascination with maintaining cars. The days that my grandmother allowed my aunt and I to accompany her to see the mechanic the,one of the first thing I noticed is he had a bunch old cars , tires,  car parts in his yard. Well versed on the different type of cars, when my grandmother would make her visits the first thing the part time mechanic did before he went under the hood of her car he would ask a series of questions, after answering the mechanics questions my grandmother would drop the car off on the weekends just in time for her to pick up the car before work on Monday morning.  

Continuation…..Part III (Exceeding Limits :)

Throughout the years of observing and assisting my grandmother, without dissembling her life lessons, I knew during uncertain times my grandmother  felt the she had exceed her physical and mental limits.Nonetheless,with faith and prayer my grandmother perserved through her trials,test,and tribulations.

An Hymn to the Morning

…Assist my labour, and my strains refine; In the smoothest numbers pour the notes along.For bright Aurora now demands my song.

Aurora hail and all the thousands dies.

Which decks thy progress through the vaulted skies:

The man awakes and wide extends her rays,

On ev’ry leaf the gentle zephyr plays;

Harmonious lays the feathered race resume,

Dart the bright eye and shake the painted plume…

Ye shady groves, your verdant gloom display…

While the fair sisters fan the pleasing fires:

The bow’rs, the gales, the variegated skies

In all their pleasures in my bosom rise.

…But oh! I feel fervid beams too strong, And scarce begun, concludes th’ abortive song.(18th century )

“The glory of friendship is not in the outstretched hand nor the kindly smile nor the joy of companionship, it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone believes in him and is willingly to trust him” Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)Us philosopher and poet

“The whole of life is symbolic because the whole has its meaning” Boris Pasternak (1804-1960)

“He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand, and walk, and run, and climb, and dance. One cannot fly into flying” Friedrick Nietzsche (1844-1900) German philosopher

 "Hear no Evil,Speak no Evil,and See no Evil" 

                                                          -----Right on Magazine (November 2005)

                                                                              http://www.rightonmag.com

“Through dangers untold and hardships un-numbered, I have fought my way here past the Goblin King….For my will is as strong as yours, my Kingdom is as great, you have no power over me.”

                                                       ----Labyrinth, 1986

Fairy tales…Once upon a time…In a land far, far away…In land called Oz…there lived a  girl named Cinderella….September 14^th,1971, the date of my birth, at the age of (37) thirty-seven, I have never owned a home, married, or had children. Currently, I am not interested in having children; however, I am interested in owning a home despite the recent mortgage crisis. Thus, one can image my response, when I read articles of young women owning their own home at the age of (21) twenty-one or (25) twenty-five. It has now been ten years since my college graduation; twenty years since my high school graduation; I have the same dilemma that I had ten, twenty years ago. It has become sort of an enigma obtaining substantial line of credit. With several jobs under my belt, two careers later,  three resumes later; I still continue to have limited access to credit. This is not a story of drug abuse, sex addiction,nostalgia ,machinations,reprisal, retribution, or story at all; in fact, this is an account of my personal first hand experience in acquiring a secured line of credit.

Daily Regimen: I begin every morning with a daily regimen. Unaware of how the day will unfold, I know when I wake up in the morning I have to be pugnacious, intransigent, and implacable in pursing my goals. Furthermore, I know that I must be willing  to move with the ebb and flow life like the tides and waves at the beach on a receding shore line. The morning hours are very important because the morning hours are when my thoughts are fresh and new. I do not like to eat breakfast, if I do make breakfast it is usually an omelet, or a bowl of oatmeal. In effort to keep the momentum going in the morning, I have a set daily regimen to help keep me effervescent, ebullient, and positive which helps my growth not to be stymied by my attitude. While attending (FAMU), Montel Williams made a visit to my University, during his visit to the University, he delivered a speech called “Mountain Get Out of My Way” at the same time there was quote from another speaker out in the universe that was delivered at one of the many required lectures that stated” your attitude determines your altitude” Both the quotes have remained with me on my jobs and throughout my professional career. Not to loose enthusiasm, often as a carp per diem, I perform a daily regimen every morning. My daily regimen includes washing my face, brushing my teeth, brushing my hair and fixing my pony tail weave tightly in place to make sure that it does not fall out, checking my monthly scheduler, listening to my voice messages, and jotting down my thoughts and ideas for the day. After completing my daily regimen I look inside my closet to find my one pair of jeans, actually two pair of jeans, I use the other pair of jeans to line my good pair of jeans because I lost weight. My reason for wearing two pair of jeans revolves around the Beyonce(booty luscious) fashion. Because of my size, in order for me to get the look, I have to wear two pair of jeans. Next, I search through my closet look at a handful of tops which is not much to choose from  in my closet.I have a range of tops from stripes, prints and solids.  Looking through my closet,one of the downsides of my morning. The dismal choices of tops in my closet make the morning saturnine.Stopping for a moment, as I look through the tops, I proceed with the day. Most of the time, I choose a solid top pink, tan, or red and white. When I have chosen the top I want to wear,I put on my jeans. Next, I take a few steps over to my shoe bin, I search through the shoe bin with all the shoes I bought from the thrift store; I give myself a once over in the mirror and I begin my day. I am now thirty six but I tell everyone that I am thirty seven. Approximately in three years, I will turn forty. Each day as I perform my daily regimen, errands, and household task the thought of turning forty in three years  remains in my subconscious.  I do not dread turning forty, rather, I am looking forward to the day just to see how many task I will have completed on my to-do-list(goals) ,as well as , review my accomplishments and achievements.  As time slowly approaches my fortieth birthday, I still have my thirty-seventh birthday to celebrate in about  two weeks. For my thirty-seventh birthday, I felt inclined to  do something, more than make cup cakes and brownies. As I approach another birthday, I wanted to take the time to reflect, assess and evaluate my personal growth, and financial progress. Meanwhile, the event leading to my passing are precarious ,yet, I still have vivid images of the events  that occurred in the past…“Hear no evil, Speak no evil, See no evil…”2000 to 2008 are the years of my passing, more specifically, my rites of passage. In reflecting, assessing, and evaluating my personal growth and financial progress, what did I find, not to sound puerile, I foundwhat you are reading more of my thoughts and feelings about the events that have passed  leading up to my thirty-seventh birthday. My feelings towards the events of the past varied at each passing moment. I exuded a myriad of feelings , sentiments of lugubrious, doleful, lackadaisical, ebullient, bipartisan, supercilious, contemptuous , and recalcitrant.  Feelings of being recalcitrant and refractory, I was stubborn to the point, at times I wanted to throw in the towel put all my belongs on the curb and wait for the Department of Sanitation. Other times, I have felt listless, lackadaisical, disinterested, vapid, waned, incapacitated, and languid. Still, the avoirdupois of my feelings are no longer important, the  commitment  I have made to myself, new career, to achieving my goals are now more important and hold more weight than my feelings.  Nevertheless, the feeling of indifference, stubbornness, sadness, and enthusiasm comes and goes in intervals. With the recent re-emergence that sex sells, political campaigns, an uncertain economy and mortgage crisis, I felt my message was exigent that disseminating information surrounding my obstacles and hardship are more important than my feelings which has become my driving force and source of my motivation. Subsequently, it has inspired my works further to addressing young adolescents from seventeen to adults from forty to forty five. I wake up every morning with a goal on my mind to make and take at least one step to reach and accomplish the  tasks on my to-do-list in an effort to propel my career forward.Rites of Passage: Orange, orange-red, orange-brown, sienna, and magenta are the colors of burnt, most burnt, burner, burning, similar to a bad condom that has been used more than once on a daytime soap opera or porn set. The thought of burnt or burning, immediately, I think of burnt toast, hot combs, irons and ironing boards, and the latest CD’s being burned on a CD burner. The smell of burnt or burning I think of grits, ham, eggs with burnt toast, the skidding of car tires, brush fires, and black smoke form large eighteen wheel trucks all remind me of the smell of burnt or burning. During my years in college at (FAMU), I listened to a radical Black Muslim sect informal discourse about the US government their belief at the time was the system was designed to keep blacks out of economic power. Often when I listened to these long informal discourse, I held rancor to such statements such as “the system was designed to keep blacks out economic power” or their rife about slavery. I felt their attitudes expressed the same hostility, hatred, angry black man, angry at the world same sentiments expressed by some rappers in their rap music. All too often, having done so, many times, many of these rapper are shouting and yelling at America as a form of Civil Rights expression. Likewise, I felt they were just as radical as Kurt Cobain was to Nirvana. The thought that millions of Americans ,more specifically,minorities are being burnt by the American government has not is not an image I want to hear or play over, and over in my mind, until the year2000 the beginning of my ritesofpassage.

Accountability:27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,&37.......................

Twenty-seven, I graduated from college. Shortly after graduation, I returned to my hometown. For several months, I was out of work. I stop being the dislocated college graduate by going back to work in my hometown mall. At twenty-eight, several months after working at the mall and having no transportation, with the help of friends, I found a second job with the Broward County Pupil transportation Department. The money from both of my jobs help to buy my first car. A five speed Mazda Mx3 that was a Jade Green color with matching seats and a FAMU license plate. The total cost of the car ($13,000) thirteen thousand dollars; however a few years later I found out the actual worth of the car was ($8000) eight thousand dollars. I received my first experience with credit reports in the dealership, within minutes the car dealer with my permission requested a credit report from one of the credit agencies. As soon as the dealer received my credit report, he sat me down and explained what was on my credit report. Because of my credit score and credit rating, the dealer inflated the cost of the car. In the time frame in which I bought the car, I had a student loan on my credit report for the amount of ($15,000) fifteen thousand dollars. Even though, I didn’t have the money for the car I purchased the car in spite of my bank account. Twenty-nine, I officially landed my first teaching position making ($30,000) thirty thousand a year. In the same year, although, I did not return for another school year, I made lots of friends, I learned various teaching techniques, and had tons of fun facility and students. Before I left my first teaching position , I made sure all  the book were turned in , I  took down decorations, I made sure all the desk were clear of markings, I reviewed my grade book, and I completed my checklist. At the end of the year, I turned in my checklist along with my grade book and began the summer on a good note. During the summer, I continued to volunteer for the church I was attending. Also, in the same summer, I had part summer position working with at a Boys and Girls club. By the end of the summer, still, at the age of twenty- nine, I relocated from my hometown; I moved to a different county where I started my second year of teaching. Thirty, I resigned from my teaching position. Thirty-one, I was living in different state, unemployed, out work, with very little income, making monthly car payments, and insurance payments to have my first car repossed for ($1000.00) one thousand dollars. Thirty -two, having a short stay in the hospital. I called my relatives in Florida , who were very understanding, they sent me a plane ticket, several hours later, I returned to my hometown to live with relatives. Thirty-three, I applied for a job as a Customer Service Representative. I saved up enough money from my Customer Service Representative position and bought my second car in cash a 1985 Toyota LE Corolla 4 door, seven to eight months; I became ill on the job. A few weeks later, I took a vacation; I did not return to work and became unemployed. Thirty-three was also the time; I met my ex-landlord who would later assault in front of my place of residency in the driveway. Thirty-four, I worked several sales jobs to keep me off the streets. At thirty –five, I had falling out with my ex-landlord who assaulted me in the driveway during an illegal lockout, the Broward Sheriffs Office sided with him I was irate with the landlord and the Sheriffs Office because I had a one year lease, not to mention I had given this man a couple of thousand of dollars. Because of the assault, I was forced to live in a make shift homeless shelter, then I spent two weeks in Drug Rehabilitation center, and I am not even a drug addict. I slept in my car for a couple of days before calling a family member in Viriginia. Thirty –six, I left my home state of Florida(The Welfare State) and relocated to Virginia (The Common Wealth state) Today, at thirty seven, I have begun a new career. In 2000, after resigning from my teaching, I encountered numerous obstacles and hardship. While teaching in the school board I was definitely on my way to becoming a first time home buyer, and more than economically sufficient. I loved my job, in a letter, I recently wrote to the Mayor of my hometown, I stated”…I was not there to acquire a vast fortune, so I could hob knob with rich or famous, or become the next guest or audience member on the Oprah Winfrey show. Raised by a line of teachers, I understood that teaching could be rewarding as well as discouraging.  Teachers are given the ability to measure a student's success in the classroom through a series of test but to measure a student's true success takes years to manifest” Yet, after my second year of teaching eight grade Language Arts, I resigned from my job with certainty I could have remained on the job but unseen forces lead me in a different directions. Approaching forty, starting a new career, turning (37),with my thirty seventh birthday around the corner; I remember something that my hair stylist  back in Florida said, not verbatim but near the lines and words, that for major accomplishments, achievements, and milestones, I needed a marker to mark the events, I said to him in startled voice “a what?, a marker”, he said it again “a marker” then he said” buy a purse, what kind of purse, or handbags do you like” and I said “Coach, I like Coach.” No, I didn’t buy the purse or handbag instead I put the money into my car with cash not credit.Coxswain: As I wrote in Caps Off! Graduating Class 97’“In 1997, at the age of twenty seen, I graduated from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University with Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in secondary education. Prior to the day of graduation, I had not made specific detail plans as how I would support my lifestyle after graduation. I was tired, my funds were low, and my total focus was completing my degree program. With my future holding uncertainty, family and friends questioning if I was ever going to graduate these were  the event that set the stage for my graduation” after  graduating I had no secured line of credit or a car but I did have a student loan that at the time was not inflated estimated at fifthteen thousand dollars. Back to the beginning, from the top, where did all this noise about secured credit, unsecured credit, who get its, and definitely I didn’t have credit in highschool or my freshmen year of college.I played the cards I was dealt with “from infancy to adolescents I could not have predicted the outcome of my youth…”From my senior year in high school to freshman year in college, I did not have credit cards in my name. I paid cash for everything. I did not understand that not having credit at the time would preclude my chances in buy in cars, homes, or electronics. Today, I still have the receipt for just about all the items I bought in college. Not surprisingly, my senior year of high school I began to inquire about credit to friends, the exact date or day that remains a nebulous. It wasn’t until my sophomore year in college I received my first two credit cards on my own merit an American Express and a Sears card. I was very responsible with my American Express card. I did not carry a balance and made sure my limit didn’t exceed ($400.00) four hundred dollars. Throughout college, I basically paid cash for everything, if it wasn’t actual cash, I used my debit card. After graduating from college, I had a student loan from the US Department of Education. My father did warn me not to take out a loan, although, I had my scholarship which paid for room, board, and books, for additional expenses I took out a loan each semester and for summer school. My student loan was initially ($15,000). Now, today that student loan is ($30,000) thirty thousand dollars which equates to (1) one year teachers salary. In Caps Off! I talk about the fact of  how, I didn’t have a job lined up when I graduated and it was mentioned by family and friends I could teach in the school board. Eventually, I did land the job in the school board, but still I did not have credit. Al Contado: I paid cash for everything,  cash for car payments , cash for car insurance, cash for large deposit have lights turned on in my apartment, cash for deposits to have a telephone on in my name, cash for rent, cash for groceries, cash for clothes, cash, cash, cash, cash, cash, cash ,cash, cash, cash, cash, cash, cash, cash, cash, cash, cash…….I paid cash for my first car, I paid cash for rent, I paid cash for light deposit, I paid cash for phone deposits, I paid cash for manicures, I paid cash for pedicures, I paid cash for car detailing, I paid cash for monthly car maintenance, I paid cash for car tires, I paid cash for my second car, I paid cash for all the tvs I have owned, I paid cash for my clothes that were vandalized, I paid cash for my shoes, I paid cash to (ACLU) American Civil Liberties Union, I paid cash to (TBN) Trinity Broadcasting Network, I paid cash to (CBN) Christian Broadcasting Network, I paid cash not credit.

Commentary: More of my personal thoughts on “Hear no Evil, Speak No Evil, See no Evil…”

Hot off the press, straight out a Mother Goose Rhyme:

Who will help me plow the wheat? Not I said the pig, Not I said the little chick, Not I said the cow, Not I said the cat, Not I said the dog , and Not I said the baby duck.

Did you work the graveyard shift on the toll?

Did you walk to work at 3:00 am in the morning to open a Goodwill Store at 6:00 am?

Did you sit through an unemployment orientation?

How many urine test have you taken?

Did you walk for Dixie Hwy to Sample road to get a bus pass? Only to find out I had to wait two weeks before I could receive the pass.

Did you eat popcorn and drink warm water for 4 months to save to have a 1985 Toyota Corolla LE Painted?

Who will help me eat the bread?

I will said the pig,I will said the little chick, I will said the cow, I will said the cat, I will said the dog, and I will said the baby duck. And my response as older person in my family stated to me” No the fxxx you won’t”

Endnote: My thoughts on the economy, it's an elaborate get rich scheme to widen the gap between the rich and the poor (the have and the have not’s.)What’s worse the NSA (National Security Agency.) A lookout neighborhood that reports to the church everything you say and do. What’s even worse than a lookout neighborhood? A camera at every stop light and every street corner. Just when you thought I couldn’t top that with is even worse than a camera at every stop light and every street corner  (more horrific )than stop light at every corner, The US Department Of Education 1-800-253-8167.

The Principal Balance$15,694.87 Interest: $7,144.08 Fees&Cost: $5,709.71

Total Balance: $28,548.56&counting.

Annotation: Binge writing is not just an ethnic catharsis it’s a succinct form of expression.As colleague once stated to me while working in the school board “call a cat a cat, a dog a dog, and a snake a snake.” I have not heard of ethnic intimidation/cleansing until I relocated to Virginia in 2006, I am not familiar with ethnic intimidation, but I am current on Hate Crimes: Guantanamo Bay , Little Rock Nine, Emmitt Till, Medger Everts, Rosewood, & Mississippi Burning.

Accountability:27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,&37.......................

Twenty-seven, I graduated from college. Shortly after graduation, I returned to my hometown. For several months, I was out of work. I stop being the dislocated college graduate by going back to work in my hometown mall. At twenty-eight, several months after working at the mall and having no transportation, with the help of friends, I found a second job with the Broward County Pupil transportation Department. The money from both of my jobs help to buy my first car. A five speed Mazda Mx3 that was a Jade Green color with matching seats and a FAMU license plate. The total cost of the car ($13,000) thirteen thousand dollars; however a few years later I found out the actual worth of the car was ($8000) eight thousand dollars. I received my first experience with credit reports in the dealership, within minutes the car dealer with my permission requested a credit report from one of the credit agencies. As soon as the dealer received my credit report, he sat me down and explained what was on my credit report. Because of my credit score and credit rating, the dealer inflated the cost of the car. In the time frame in which I bought the car, I had a student loan on my credit report for the amount of ($15,000) fifteen thousand dollars. Even though, I didn’t have the money for the car I purchased the car in spite of my bank account. Twenty-nine, I officially landed my first teaching position making ($30,000) thirty thousand a year. In the same year, although, I did not return for another school year, I made lots of friends, I learned various teaching techniques, and had tons of fun facility and students. Before I left my first teaching position , I made sure all  the book were turned in , I  took down decorations, I made sure all the desk were clear of markings, I reviewed my grade book, and I completed my checklist. At the end of the year, I turned in my checklist along with my grade book and began the summer on a good note. During the summer, I continued to volunteer for the church I was attending. Also, in the same summer, I had part summer position working with at a Boys and Girls club. By the end of the summer, still, at the age of twenty- nine, I relocated from my hometown; I moved to a different county where I started my second year of teaching. Thirty, I resigned from my teaching position. Thirty-one, I was living in different state, unemployed, out work, with very little income, making monthly car payments, and insurance payments to have my first car repossed for ($1000.00) one thousand dollars. Thirty -two, having a short stay in the hospital. I called my relatives in Florida , who were very understanding, they sent me a plane ticket, several hours later, I returned to my hometown to live with relatives. Thirty-three, I applied for a job as a Customer Service Representative. I saved up enough money from my Customer Service Representative position and bought my second car in cash a 1985 Toyota LE Corolla 4 door, seven to eight months; I became ill on the job. A few weeks later, I took a vacation; I did not return to work and became unemployed. Thirty-three was also the time; I met my ex-landlord who would later assault in front of my place of residency in the driveway. Thirty-four, I worked several sales jobs to keep me off the streets. At thirty –five, I had falling out with my ex-landlord who assaulted me in the driveway during an illegal lockout, the Broward Sheriffs Office sided with him I was irate with the landlord and the Sheriffs Office because I had a one year lease, not to mention I had given this man a couple of thousand of dollars. Because of the assault, I was forced to live in a make shift homeless shelter, then I spent two weeks in Drug Rehabilitation center, and I am not even a drug addict. I slept in my car for a couple of days before calling a family member in Viriginia. Thirty –six, I left my home state of Florida(The Welfare State) and relocated to Virginia (The Common Wealth state) Today, at thirty seven, I have begun a new career. In 2000, after resigning from my teaching, I encountered numerous obstacles and hardship. While teaching in the school board I was definitely on my way to becoming a first time home buyer, and more than economically sufficient. I loved my job, in a letter, I recently wrote to the Mayor of my hometown, I stated”…I was not there to acquire a vast fortune, so I could hob knob with rich or famous, or become the next guest or audience member on the Oprah Winfrey show. Raised by a line of teachers, I understood that teaching could be rewarding as well as discouraging.  Teachers are given the ability to measure a student's success in the classroom through a series of test but to measure a student's true success takes years to manifest” Yet, after my second year of teaching eight grade Language Arts, I resigned from my job with certainty I could have remained on the job but unseen forces lead me in a different directions. Approaching forty, starting a new career, turning (37),with my thirty seventh birthday around the corner; I remember something that my hair stylist  back in Florida said, not verbatim but near the lines and words, that for major accomplishments, achievements, and milestones, I needed a marker to mark the events, I said to him in startled voice “a what?, a marker”, he said it again “a marker” then he said” buy a purse, what kind of purse, or handbags do you like” and I said “Coach, I like Coach.” No, I didn’t buy the purse or handbag instead I put the money into my car with cash not credit.Coxswain: As I wrote in Caps Off! Graduating Class 97’“In 1997, at the age of twenty seen, I graduated from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University with Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in secondary education. Prior to the day of graduation, I had not made specific detail plans as how I would support my lifestyle after graduation. I was tired, my funds were low, and my total focus was completing my degree program. With my future holding uncertainty, family and friends questioning if I was ever going to graduate these were  the event that set the stage for my graduation” after  graduating I had no secured line of credit or a car but I did have a student loan that at the time was not inflated estimated at fifthteen thousand dollars. Back to the beginning, from the top, where did all this noise about secured credit, unsecured credit, who get its, and definitely I didn’t have credit in highschool or my freshmen year of college.I played the cards I was dealt with “from infancy to adolescents I could not have predicted the outcome of my youth…”From my senior year in high school to freshman year in college, I did not have credit cards in my name. I paid cash for everything. I did not understand that not having credit at the time would preclude my chances in buy in cars, homes, or electronics. Today, I still have the receipt for just about all the items I bought in college. Not surprisingly, my senior year of high school I began to inquire about credit to friends, the exact date or day that remains a nebulous. It wasn’t until my sophomore year in college I received my first two credit cards on my own merit an American Express and a Sears card. I was very responsible with my American Express card. I did not carry a balance and made sure my limit didn’t exceed ($400.00) four hundred dollars. Throughout college, I basically paid cash for everything, if it wasn’t actual cash, I used my debit card. After graduating from college, I had a student loan from the US Department of Education. My father did warn me not to take out a loan, although, I had my scholarship which paid for room, board, and books, for additional expenses I took out a loan each semester and for summer school. My student loan was initially ($15,000). Now, today that student loan is ($30,000) thirty thousand dollars which equates to (1) one year teachers salary. In Caps Off! I talk about the fact of  how, I didn’t have a job lined up when I graduated and it was mentioned by family and friends I could teach in the school board. Eventually, I did land the job in the school board, but still I did not have credit. Al Contado: I paid cash for everything,  cash for car payments , cash for car insurance, cash for large deposit have lights turned on in my apartment, cash for deposits to have a telephone on in my name, cash for rent, cash for groceries, cash for clothes, cash, cash, cash, cash, cash, cash ,cash, cash, cash, cash, cash, cash, cash, cash, cash, cash…….I paid cash for my first car, I paid cash for rent, I paid cash for light deposit, I paid cash for phone deposits, I paid cash for manicures, I paid cash for pedicures, I paid cash for car detailing, I paid cash for monthly car maintenance, I paid cash for car tires, I paid cash for my second car, I paid cash for all the tvs I have owned, I paid cash for my clothes that were vandalized, I paid cash for my shoes, I paid cash to (ACLU) American Civil Liberties Union, I paid cash to (TBN) Trinity Broadcasting Network, I paid cash to (CBN) Christian Broadcasting Network, I paid cash not credit.

Commentary: More of my personal thoughts on “Hear no Evil, Speak No Evil, See no Evil…”

Hot off the press, straight out a Mother Goose Rhyme:

Who will help me plow the wheat? Not I said the pig, Not I said the little chick, Not I said the cow, Not I said the cat, Not I said the dog , and Not I said the baby duck.

Did you work the graveyard shift on the toll?

Did you walk to work at 3:00 am in the morning to open a Goodwill Store at 6:00 am?

Did you sit through an unemployment orientation?

How many urine test have you taken?

Did you walk for Dixie Hwy to Sample road to get a bus pass? Only to find out I had to wait two weeks before I could receive the pass.

Did you eat popcorn and drink warm water for 4 months to save to have a 1985 Toyota Corolla LE Painted?

Who will help me eat the bread?

I will said the pig,I will said the little chick, I will said the cow, I will said the cat, I will said the dog, and I will said the baby duck. And my response as older person in my family stated to me” No the fxxx you won’t”

Endnote: My thoughts on the economy, it's an elaborate get rich scheme to widen the gap between the rich and the poor (the have and the have not’s.)What’s worse the NSA (National Security Agency.) A lookout neighborhood that reports to the church everything you say and do. What’s even worse than a lookout neighborhood? A camera at every stop light and every street corner. Just when you thought I couldn’t top that with is even worse than a camera at every stop light and every street corner  (more horrific )than stop light at every corner, The US Department Of Education 1-800-253-8167.

The Principal Balance$15,694.87 Interest: $7,144.08 Fees&Cost: $5,709.71

Total Balance: $28,548.56&counting.

Annotation: Binge writing is not just an ethnic catharsis it’s a succinct form of expression.As colleague once stated to me while working in the school board “call a cat a cat, a dog a dog, and a snake a snake.” I have not heard of ethnic intimidation/cleansing until I relocated to Virginia in 2006, I am not familiar with ethnic intimidation, but I am current on Hate Crimes: Guantanamo Bay , Little Rock Nine, Emmitt Till, Medger Everts, Rosewood, & Mississippi Burning.

Efficacy:37th Birthday  

Efficacy:For my 37^th birthday, I woke up with a slight inner ear ache. The night before I didn’t sleep well because I was up until 3:00 am in the morning reading magazines and working on articles for cacjohnson website. It is possible that I could place the blame for my sleepless in Seattle on the excitement, the anticipation of becoming another year older, yet, I know it was because I felt harried about having to write  ten articles a month from my personal experiences. Egregiously, I know that the articles will not miraculously write themselves, therefore, not to leave the articles to mere chance; I surround myself with magazines, and new articles so that my ideas do not become evanescence.   The articles I write for cacjohnson I want them to reflect confidence and respect not only for myself but also for the readers. Without cessation, I am constantly working on new articles and different ways to promote cacjohnson without crossing lines of integrity. Often I become disconcerted, because at times I feel incapacitated that I am not able to do more because of my limited resources. If I were given a predilection it would most likely entail being in my own office sitting at desk with my name on the door, however, I can not allow the  environment where I  work to  deter the progress of cacjohnson nor stymie my attitude. Although, things are not perfect and the way I would like i.e them not having credit.My current debt situation has caused my personal affairs and finances to be in maelstrom. The issue of secured line credit, has wreaked havoc in my personal and professional affairs, not to sound histronic it has really created hardship, still, the day was not about cacjohnson it was about me turning thirty- seven. Most importantly, I do not want my self efficacy to center around credit troubles, I would like to have self efficacy that stated I was as diligent,deft, and persistent with the power to produce and create quality. At thirty- seven, I want to be engendering and hopefully find longevity in my new career. Happy Birthday:  The days leading up to my 37^th birthday I regressed by making two pans of brownies, but not just any brownies, more specifically, Duncan Hines Chocolate Lover’s Brownies Walnut with California walnuts and Duncan Hines Chocolate Lover’s Brownies Milk Chocolate Chunk that I snorted down my throat for about four days. The actual day of my birthday, I wore a pink tank top with silver round neck and white cotton pants. Turning thirty- seven, I thought more introspection was what my inner being was carving,along with more attention; instead, I had a caprice that I am my own worst cynic that my day required less cynicism, less thought. On my thirty –seventh birthday, a little less seriousness, not so stern, I worked on the frivolous things that could make a big difference. I took an early morning walk to the local Walgreens to have reprints made of a picture, I use frequently to introduce myself to prospective patrons, sponsors, and donors my actions were partly centered around building up my website and being prepared to  socialize with the public when I look less than perfect. I returned back to my place of residence after my visit at  Walgreens I sat down at the kitchen table with some white labels  and a black sharpie, slowly, not hastily because I didn’t want to make mistakes and waste reprints I began  to place my web address and Po Box on the back of the reprints. After writing my web address on the reprints, next, I was off to the shopping center near my place of residence. At the shopping center I did some comparison pricing then decided it was too hot (about 90 degrees) to continue with the window shopping. Eventually, I made my way over to a nearby fast food restaurant in the shopping center and bought a double cheese burger that was my last stop for the day before returning home. As walked back to my place of residency I open a bright pink umbrella with the rocawear logo. I guess it belong to my younger sister, it was left by the front door whoever it belonged to it worked out great. The umbrella matched the outfit I was wearing plus it shields me from the harmful rays of the sun. By late afternoon, I was in air conditioner. A few hours later, I received a call from relatives wishing me Happy Birthday the conversation was curt because they were still recovering from Hurricane Ike. With all the frivolous things done around 6:30pm my mind was more open than when I first woke in the morning.Engender:To fulfill my inner being, I read three articles in Redbook Magazine October edition that only drew me closer to my own mortality, and the sobering thoughts of how important it has become to seize each day. The first article I read"What I learned from breast cancer”... "one writer reveals what it’s really like to live with the disease” immediately, I began to have flash backs from the first time I was told by a nurse practioner that I had reoccurring ovarian cyst,  My first response was I wanted to become discrete with article I felt a strong sense of wanting to be separated and unattach from the words of the author. Over the past years, my reoccurring cysts have been problematic but not have developed to the worst case scenario as the author in the article. Although,I have had close encounters with the possibilities of cancer but did not follow through to receive the outcome. The main reason I have not followed through was not out of fear of the results,basically because many of the doctor visit require that I go by myself during periods of time that I am in dark place without an Amen Corner or Girl Friend support group often I am left irateanddisheartened ,especially,during times of my health scare .

Continuation of Efficacy I: As result of reading the article “What I learned from breast cancer” I began to review what I knew about cancer from my many visits to Planned Parenthood clinics. Eventually, I did not dissemble the truth about cancer that it can be life threatening. Another antonishing truth,unquestionably,unequivocally, cancer affects millions of women.Ultimately, at some point in time millions of women every year must come face to face with the truth,the possibility of  having breast cancer or ovarian cancer. I n my particular experience with breast exams and pap smears, I know that cancer can be devastating if left undetected and should not be taken likely; most importantly, I also know that with the new treatments available cancer doesn’t have to be the final word.