Way Back Wed. - Milira - The Rain

This chic has a powerful voice. What ever happened to her?

7 year old wanna-be hoodrat steals grandmother's SUV for a joyride!

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/us/2008/04/26/pkg.seven.stolen.car.wpbf
My crazy, 'bout to be broke ass would've been all over youtube...in handcuffs! I would've beat the bacon off of his lil rotund ass!

Once I got done beating the dogsled shit outta him, his ass wouldn't see another snack for as long as he lived!

*see why I don't like kids??*

Update - Crash kills girl on bike, injures brother

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/326BF2BEEF0C071B8625743A0012367C?OpenDocument
After watching the news & listening to the eyewitness reports (mostly minor children playing nearby), my heart is broken.

I thank you all for the support & prayers!! It means a lot!

Prayers Needed

http://www.kmov.com/topstories/stories/kmov_localnews_080428_ax.ac44f877.html
I need all the praying people to send up one for this family. I've known the 14 year old boy all his life (he's my BFFs {former} stepson). I didn't really know the little girl, but I do know the pain of burying a child.

Police: Man confined daughter, sired her 7 kids - Europe - MSNBC.com

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24337573/
Got your handbaskets ready? This world is going to hell!

Unemployment Compensation

This only applies to those who work in the State of Missouri. I have no knowledge of the practices of other states.

There has always been a huge misconception in the black community about this topic. Allow me a few minutes to clue you in.

People please, do not quit your job with the hopes of chilling at the crib for a few weeks collecting unemployment! 9 times out of 10, it's not going down like that.

Unemployment compensation funds are reserved for those who involuntarily lose their job due to being laid-off or fired. The system is not designed to compensate folks who just don't feel like working anymore.

I can only speak for my agency, but we will contest any claim filed by a person who voluntarily quits their job.

Of course I don't advise anyone stay at a job where laws are being broken, one that makes you unhappy, offers less than pleasant working conditions, etc., etc. Just keep in mind, if and when you quit your only source of income, you better have a Plan B.

As always, if you have any questions, let me know.

A Helping Hand

~A 360 Repost~

I did a little shopping.  Made some returns, exchanges & picked up a few gifts for nephews & nieces.

I had to stop in the grocery store for milk & bread.  Milk & bread?  Right!  Why do we even lie to ourselves like that?   I have never, ever been able to go in, get those items & check-out...seemed impossible (thanks to Muda). 

So I get to the checkout line with an estimated $60-$70 worth of stuff & there's a middle-age woman in line with a young child who appeared to be about 5 or 6.   She really did have milk & bread along with a box fish sticks & a bag of potatoes.  The little girl had a bunch of grapes in her hand.  As the cashier checks her out, she realizes she didn't have enough money for everything, so she told the cashier to remove the fish sticks & the grapes.  The little girl started to cry.  The woman told her she was sorry she couldn't get her grapes this time because they just didn't have enough money.  My heart broke.  (Due to personal tragedies, I'm likely to be an emotional mess at anytime during the holidays.) 

I told the cashier to add the fish sticks & grapes to my bill.  The lady looked at me & said, "God bless you child."  I told her that I didn't mean to offended her, I just wanted to help.  The woman told the little girl to thank the young lady for the grapes.  The little girl looked at me & said, "Thanks for the grapes young lady." .......the waterworks kicked in!   Now I'm standing in the checkout line with tears rolling down my face.

I know how we always say we are blessed & so forth & so on, but it may have been at that particular moment, I realized just how blessed I really am! 

Lord knows, I've seen some truly dark days, but I am still blessed! 

The purpose of sharing this story is not for accolades or recognition.  I just wanted you to how it felt for me to make the day of absolute strangers, especially the little girl.

PS  I know I've done plenty of wrong in my life & my ticket to heaven isn't guaranteed, but today, I think He smiled and said, "That's my girl."