For the LOVE or MONEY????

I recently had a discussion with a friend who is debating going back to college, or the reasons for going back , and of course we weighed the pro's & con's.

While I was in undergrad, I heard from a few people (who didn't attend college) that it was a waste of time and that they will be making more money than me because they were already in the work force. Which, I could see why they would feel that way. But, the purpose of education, I think, is not to make money, necessarily; but to become somewhat of an expert and to increase your earning potential.

I have a friend who's mother practiced as an RN for years, but lost her job a few years back and could not find another position of equal caliber, because she had no formal training, even though she had the experience of over 20 years! Companies today want people with degrees.

I kind of felt bad because for years after I graduated because I didn't work a job related to my field, or a job worthy of someone who went to school for four years. Hmm... Let's see. I was a manager at Wendy's, a CSM at Walmart, a stocker at Kirkland's, a server at Pappadeaux's, A front desk clerk at Hyatt...
Anyway, I sat back and watched people who never even attempted to go to college, probably had a hard time getting out of high school, work their way up to more money than me.

So now, come to find out, I have a friend, who makes considerably more money than I do, but she has some college to boast, and I assume, is wondering what the point is now that she has experience and makes a nice living. I would love to see her finish school, if for no other reason than that's what she wants to do. Point blank. I understand her position though. And to cite my other friend's mother's case, there may come a time when she may be denied a position based on her level of documented (diploma) education. Who knows?

It was kind of depressing to know that I put forth 4 years of tedious learning, not to mention "squatting", "bumming", "hustling", and journeying across parishes via public transporation to make a great deal of money less than others...


Then I realized that I could be making that kind of money, if I had chosen the 1st job that I interviewed for. It was related more closely to my field of Business & focused on customer service, as opposed to the job that I accepted, which is in Education (we all know that educators are underpaid!). But I made the decision that best fit my personality and desire to do good & make a solid impact on a young person's life.

So all in all, I guess it was my decision and opportunity, and I chose Love for people over Love for money.

I don't have any regrets. I do want to make more money though!

*NOTE: If you want to go to college, DO IT!!! And keep working & making money too!

Campaign 2008 T-Shirt- FUNNY!!!!

The past is just that, keep moving forward!

Ride Em Cowboy!

So, after a week, I guess I should've written about this sooner. Doesn't take anything away from it though.



My girl's b'day was last week and we went out for sushi. It was all good until I ordered the wrong rolls (two of the wrong ones at that!) and had to beg the manager to take one of them off. So that was the only event that could've tipped the scales, but it didn't.



So she wanted to cross some thing off of her list of "things to do in a lifetime" so we went to Bourbon Cowboy (on Bourbon of course!) to ride the mechanical bull. Oooooooohhh!



I must say, it was quite an adventure. Of course birthday girl went up first. It looked boring to me. Nothing like what you see on t.v. Liability I guess. *shrug*

So, my turn is next and I try to keep cool, because after all, it didn't look that hard! And it really wasn't. I had fun.

I did fall off after raising one of my arms to look cool, and attempt to prove that it wasn't that hard. This is why I take the less dominant approach. *Oops, did I say that?*

It may be hard to believe that I could be that way for anyone who knows me. Those who really know me would say I'm like a bagel; hard and crisp on the outside, and warm & delightful inside!

What an unexpected surprise, like me riding a mechanical bull!!!

Jay & 'Lyssa

They grow up so fast!!!

Black Owned Business- Why can't we get it together?

Why can't we successfully own & operate our own visions???

So..., I got a part time gig every Tuesday working the door at a venue here in the city. It don't pay much, but I want to invest into my boy's dream, so that's how I help out.

I would like to get on the mic, but I'm in work mode when I get there, and then the vibes I get ...*sigh*

Call me an elephant, because they pay me peanuts. The band feels like I'm cutting into their money ($40!!!). I feel they're cutting into mine because if 15 people come in, you can bet 5 of those people "are with the band!" So they got in free. The guy I work for is drunk most of the time (or at least he seems to be) so he's constantly watching me to see how many people I let in, who's getting in free, if I'm stealing.... you know. But I can't blame him too much for that. He's a businessman (as unprofessional as he may be) a businessman nonetheless!

So, at the end of the night; which started on CP Time, you know, about 45 minutes late; when it's time to divide the pie, he's come up with some under handed way to keep more of the money for his entertainment venture, thus pissing off the band, who feels that they aren't making a profit. They're not.

I'm like, "Hell, we're all artists. It's going to be hard. You're going to lose more money before you see an ROI" but they don't understand that.

To top it all off, it's a collaborative effort b/w the band and the entertainment company, but there is NO PAPERWORK!!! How come b/c you're friends, you don't need it in writing? Black people. Haven't they heard of CYA?

I just don't understand why we lack the skills necessary to suceed in business. Maybe it's b/c I went to school for business, but Black people always have a way of giving themselves the short end of the stick. I can't take it.

So I walked away last night, a little perturbed, and thinking to myself that I want to help, but I can only do so much. And I didn't get paid. Last week they paid me short, and this week I didn't get paid at all. The position that my boy is in, he really can't afford to pay anyone. His brother should be taking the money at the door until they CAN afford to pay someone.

Until then, I guess I'll be getting on the mic!

PEACE

Money, Money, Money, Money...

I know we're all feeling the pinch right now.

I KNOW I am. Earlier today I read my girlfriend's (the ol' fashioned sense) blog and she wrote about her financial woes. Then RMS Collections called me to keep my Sprint account out of hard collections, asked me if I wanted to settle?

Hell yes! Any break is better than none. Sh'eed, I been settling all my life it seems. Settling for broke a$$ dudes. Settling for underpaying jobs. Settling for abusive friendships. Settling for empty promises.

Anyway, I really would like to settle this account, although it's not the best deal, it's better than what I actually owe, so that's good. The problem is I'm going to have to rob Peter to pay Paul, and so on and so forth. That's the way it goes in the hood.

The economic class that I fall in ain't hurting too bad. We're used to it now!!! I still want more money though.

And the dream lives on....

He said that he's not worth it....

Tell me if I should feel this way...

I asked him "What made me want your love so much? What was so special about you that made me do any & everything to win your heart?" "I would've done anything to have your affection."

He replies, "I didn't deserve it."

: o (gasp!)

Did he know all along that he didn't deserve it? Does that mean that he used me? He knew all along that he couldn't reciprocate and still allowed me to toil for his emotions?

Or, or....

He's just realizing that he could never be who I need (to compliment me), and so he's resigned himself to the realization that he ain't wazzup?

While, throughout the course of the relationship, he accused me of thinking that he ain't good enough, that he ain't shit! Be that as it may, he ultimately is the reason why I felt that way!!!
He actually admits it now. Which is good, b/c that means that he is on the course of self-actualization, but will he contend? He still needs something to hold on to. And I do too but, the past is just that. Keep moving forward. (deep breath)

Oh well. It was a learning experience and I am slowly but surely learning to love me. Which may sound redundant to those who know me, but....

You live, you learn. I had to lose myself so I could love me better!!! Yeah. That's it. So I could love me better.

I vow not to submerge myself in another emotionally abusive relationship again. So I can love me better!!!

THE END.

A Christian and an Atheist walk into a bar....

I recently ran into an old classmate and we decided to keep in contact with each other. We realized that we have a lot of spiritual connections, but the driving force behind them are different. I was raised as a Christian and currently practice an Un-Orthodox faith system, but he practices Atheism.


The crazy part is that he understands and respects organized religion, and even feels that the gods of other religions are real to those who believe.

We have a few issues to overcome, and deal with throughout the course of getting to know one another.

He is white. I'm black. (Simple)
He's Atheist. I'm "Christian". (Complex)

I can get over the skin color and the differences in our coming up, I don't think I can get over him not believing in a God. Any God at all.

You find somebody "perfect" and they still ain't perfect. But neither am I!