Who Would Have Thunk It?

It’s great talking with a loved one because I get to destress so much. I tell her all about my crazy training center experience and that I have received my ITIL certification. It’s a lot of stress off of my shoulders. However, imagine my surprise upon learning some very detailed information that is disturbing only because I have spoken with this person. Well, at least I have a backup plan else I would feel like a fish out of water!

Gratitude List - Day 10

I am so thankful to have family who love and care for me. I have always loved my family. However, seeing my Aunt Donna magnifies it in the flesh. Here is my gratitude list for today:

Gratitude List – Day 10

1. I have the money for the medications
2. I am feeling better
3. My family is coming to see me
4. I have a roof over my head
5. I am giddy about my book release
6. I have the money to complete my book and fund my business
7. I have made a lot of progress
8. This is the first day of May and with a new month there’s new opportunities
9. Happy to participate in this gratitude challenge because today I get to start with a clean slate.
10. That I have the tools, mentality and resources to amass $20,000/month for my business.

Today is the fourth day of raining. I do feel that my gratitude challenge has rescued me from having bad thoughts permeate my mind. Throughout today I felt worried and weighed down. Even with my auntie visiting me, all I thought about was lack and what if. It would admit that it was great to mention that as a consultant I could be inbetween jobs for months. That released a load. However, I was freed once I watched a Periscope with someone asking me about making $20,000/month. That title attracted me because I already decided to sell my book and workbook. In addition, I created a super-workbook with 40 exercises. Combining these products into bundles, certainly I could amass $20,000. Immediately my mind started shifting because I felt empowered (I also had the benefit of this being the 1^st day of May so I was starting off on the right foot.). Watching that scope reinvigorated my spirit. I crafted an affirmation that I would recite every morning, noon and night. It was: affirmation: I am worthy of receiving $20,000 per month in my business. I am doing this (and action) because I know that I am worthy of this amount. I will say this affirmation every morning, noon and night.

My Worst Travel Weekend Ever!

I had the travel experience from hell this past weekend. I was supposed to board American Airlines at National airport to Norfolk to attend the TCE Summit. I was excited in the Uber en route to DC airport when I got this cancellation email. Immediately I called the customer service and that lady was a grade A witch. She told me that she cancelled my entire reservation because I did not want to fly out of Baltimore, layover in Charlotte then fly to Norfolk. That would had taken 5 hours. I hung up on her returning home to book a Sunday American Airline plane ticket then Amtrak business ticket to Newport News. I arrived at Union Station at 5:30pm but the train was late boarding everyone at 6:15pm instead of 5:50pm meaning that I didn’t get into Newport News until 10:50pm. The only thing keeping me calm was talking with my girlfriend. My train ride was the first stop because I had to board a transfer bus from Newport News to Norfolk. Finally, I had to call Uber to my hotel arriving after midnight. What angered me the most was that I was unable to eat dinner with my father. My saving grace was that he was still up when I arrived there (and offered me a piece of chicken because I refused to pay exorbitant food rates on Amtrak).

Newport News Amtrak Station

                I spent all Saturday morning recuperating and overcoming my travel headache which I attributed to downing caffeine. My father said that he would be on the road at 6am so I drug myself out of bed, put on my business slacks and took a photo with my Dad because that was what I initially wanted on Friday night. I posted it on Facebook and Instagram ASAP. My Dad stayed an extra day to see me and that photo represented redemption. American Airlines could not hold me down! After he left, I crashed missing half of the TCE Summit.

Dad and I at the Norfolk Springhill Suites

I made it to the other session.  Then we had lunch. Afterward I was stuck at the Me/Self table which I did not understand because I took time out for myself. What I hated was this woman who complained to us about her being invisible to her husband but when I called her on it she played victim. I did not need that. Furthermore, I noticed that some reason there was always 1 crazy at my conference table. I should attract better. I took my photo, did a Periscope and returned back to my room to await my Ohio State game.

Sunday morning I was ready to fly out to DC. My flight was 10:05am and I left at 8:30am to ensure that I was there on time. Nope! American delayed my first an hour. On top of that, my original return flight ticket was honored. I tweeted the airline immediately because that meant that I bought a duplicate ticket. Things got worse because I ended up waiting 3 hours and 45 minutes for my flight to leave. That was the worst flight experience I ever had. Although I applied for my refund Sunday night, I spent Monday and Tuesday recovering from the hellish travel weekend courtesy of American. I am sticking with United and Delta after this!

Norfolk Airport outside

Instant liquidity

                This morning I ate breakfast at the Four Seasons using the leftover cash from my hair appointment.  At my waitress’ recommendation, I tried that shrimp and grits. I paid in cash.  Stunned she asked me if I needed a receipt. I told her yes leaving her a cash tip.  Later this afternoon, I ate dinner at Doi Moi where I left my waiter a $5 cash tip.  His response was immediate upon seeing the $5 bill. This reminded me that cash is king especially among service workers.  They don’t get paid the standard minimum wage due to tips but need cash to support their families.  That $5 can be spent as soon as possible for food or medicine or even rent.  In this era of credit, debit and Bitcoin, the public must never forget that service workers still prefer cash.

Pacifico Cantina for Brunch

            I have eaten at Pacifico Cantina for brunch after seeing the restaurant on OpenTable. I want to try something new so I pick it and the breakfast fajita platter. Big mistake because that dish has so much food that it stretches my stomach. (Granted I know that my stomach is a muscle but sheesh, that’s a lot of food.). I haven’t been this full in a very looong time! The hostess arrives inquiring about my experience. I tell her that I like the platter but it is so much food. I tell her that my Puerto Rican grandfather worked at the Ford auto plant and could had eaten the breakfast platter because he was doing hard labor all day. ‘This food was good if you were painting houses all day but I worked in an office.’ Later, I tell the waiter to pack it and order the flan for dessert.  I leave the waiter a $6 tip, take my food and limp back to Eastern metro.  I leave the restaurant at 12:30pm and haven’t stopped leaning sideways until 1:30pm. It is so much food it requires a siesta.

            Below are my Pacifico Cantina photos:

Pacifico Cantina brunch menu

Restaurant Table

Breakfast Fajita Platter with chips and salsa

Maya Angelou's Mom and Me and Mom Book Review

            Though this is Angelou’s seventh autobiography but it’s the first time delving into the complex relationship between she and her mother, Vivian Baxter. This book chronicles their 60-year relationship from California to New York City to Europe to Winston-Salem and Baxter’s impact upon Maya as an adult. After divorcing her father sent Maya and her older brother, Bailey, to love with their paternal grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas, for 10 years. Upon returning to California Maya was filled with so much rage that for the first two weeks she didn’t even address Vivian.  The day her grandmother was leaving for Arkansas, she asked Maya how she would address Vivian. Maya replied’ Lady’. The title stuck. Maya wouldn’t call Vivian ‘mother’ until she helped Maya deliver her son, Guy.

            Mom & Me & Mom differs from all of her other autobiographies because of its referential tone.  Having read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings there’s a difference.  Even having celebrated her 85^th birthday this past April 4^th, Angelou writes as if she, too, is still learning the lessons that Lady dispensed. Mom & Me & Mom showcases Lady’s evolution from reluctant mother, thug and gambler parlor manager to warm, loving, matriarch not just of her family but the entire Stockton, California community.  In the beginning, when Maya was abused by a boyfriend, Lady used her underworld connections to find him.  Later in life when a Stockton city employee arrived on her doorstep telling her about a family forced to sleep in their car, Lady allowed them to shop her garage full of donated clothing and shower in her house.  The city honored her with a commemorative plaque for her charity.

This is what makes Mom & Me & Mom so memorable because it espouses the importance of her parents must change their style once their children reach adulthood. Angelou admits that Lade ways a horrible mother as a child but a magnificent one as a woman. Whether or not your child is a superstar or note, it serves as a map on how to navigate those murky waters. 

New Year's Day 2013: Creating a Financial Legacy

My aunt called asking if I cooked greens and black-eyed peas for good luck this New Year.  I said ‘No, but I paid all of my January bills in December.’  It just hit me that financial empowerment will be my family contribution.  It is essential to make the same effort to retain a good rating as it is to keep traditions alive.  This 2013 I will see my second promotion this April, earn my PMP certification after taking off 2012 to adjust to my new job, and work on launching my own t-shirt line and pop-up shop business. All of these objectives are financial-related.  I guess that I have broken out of the whole ‘good-job’ mentality and evolved into creating a tangible financial legacy.

It's Better to Give Than Receive

            This past week I gave two people money so that they could have decent Christmases for their families.  Whenever I did open my wallet, I was thankful that God blessed me with the means to help them.

As I age, I take particular pride in being a giver instead a receiver.  It brings joy to my heart. Besides, I never want people to spend an astronomical amount of money on me. That’s quite embarrassing.  What I do love is mailing and receiving Christmas cards because I collect them.  Seeing the different kinds is awesome. Sometimes I write down the company because I might buying from it next year.  Of course, there are the cookies and candy; but, most importantly, family.  I will make it a priority to see mine in 2013 because snow or not family never gets old. 

All in A Day's Work

            I awake early on my final day of vacation because I have to give my Mommy the final First Lady Michelle Obama Cuyahoga Community College visit.  I would’ve given it to her yesterday but my father said that he would get back to me.  Since I have to pack and request a late check-in, getting up early isn’t the worst thing in the world.    

I scheduled my downtown Cleveland Obama volunteering gig before leaving DC.  I arrived in Cleveland on Thursday and entered data promptly at Friday noon.  Though I was too sick to volunteer Saturday, the field organizer reserved two Michelle Obama tickets for me for Sunday pick-up.  I went to the office and met a man returning from Cleveland after living in DC.  We bonded immediately.  Speaking to him motivated me to return even part-time regardless of what the haters might say about my hometown! Since I missed the Public Square and knowing that it would be another 15 minutes I walked back to the hotel giddy with excitement!  My Mommy was the first person I called.  She said that she would pick up her ticket this evening.  Afterward I called my father who told me that he’d respond in 30 minutes, the same time that my mother was supposed to arrive.  She got her ticket in the middle of the monsoon returning home.  I called my father who told me that my brother had his car.  I was done because deep down inside I thought about giving both tickets to my mother and avoiding all of this.  When he asked me how I managed to obtain the tickets, I told him that I was a part of Vote Corps, received data entry training in Virginia and signed up for the Cleveland volunteering myself.  Dad said that he was impressed with me.  I beamed with pride!

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my Cleveland trip even though I was sick the first three days forcing me to miss most of my alumni events.  I did attend the Homecoming tailgate obtaining a Viking towel and two t-shirts (My headache slowed me down.  I missed the last size large t-shirt).

I met up with Stacey, one of my Western Reserve Historical Society former coworkers.  It had been 10 years. I was happy that we made it so far. She worked at the hotel since 2007.  The hospitality industry required a lot of special skills and the hotel I stayed at was a Hilton so it wasn’t bottom of the barrel.  I’ve been here in DC since 2006.  For the first six years I worked as an Economist.  Now I’m a Program Analyst.  It was very good to see that Stacey was doing okay.  Later I ate breakfast at the Ritz Carlton Cleveland.  This was the first time that I dined at Muse, I had the breakfast quesadilla containing turkey sausage.  It was so good that I didn’t need the salsa or sour cream!   

Sunday’s highlight was the Browns recorded their first win a 34-24 defeat of the much-hated Cincy Bengals.  In week 2 when they lost to them in Cincinnati, I knew Cleveland would win at home.  What I didn’t know was that I had to wait until week 5 for a win!  In tribute of the Brownies win, I wear my orange cashmere sweater on board the plane back to DC.

As soon as I exited the plane, I waited eons for my luggage.  It shouldn’t had taken that long especially since it was only an hour flight.  National airport knew we were coming.  I hailed a cab home scheduling a PJ Clarke’s lunch reservation.  I scarfed down a burger with sautéed mushrooms and Vermont cheddar cheese.  I truly needed that meal after all of the travel.  

Upon getting situated, I started emailing DC and VA offices for volunteering positions.  I contacted the VA state Vote Corps office contact.  I told her that I just returned today from volunteering in Cleveland, Ohio. After completing the survey (which she said was mandatory. The Ohio Vote Corps said no such thing!), I received another email.  Luckily, the Arlington field organizer called me.  We chatted and agreed to start tomorrow evening before the second debate.  After finalizing my VA slot, the DC field organizer replied.  I am in heavy demand! And that’s just the way I like it!