Paging The Doctor

When I began this blog, I stated that it is my intention to always stay positive. Today I am going back on my word and I must admit, unemployment sucks. Not because my funds are limited but because it sucks when you’re sick and you don’t have any health insurance.


I don’t know if it was being on an airplane or the change in temperature coming from DC to Ohio but I’m sick. At first I thought it was just a normal scratchy throat but then the body aches kicked in. So since I can’t afford to go to the doctor, and I don’t want to be one of those people who go to the emergency room I need your help. What’s the best way to kick a cold and scratchy throat? I’m already on a liquid diet and sitting in bed as I type. But if your grandmother or mother passed along some of those great home remedies I want to hear them.

Ash

September employment numbers

According to this link, if you want a job you should be able to find one. I think she may be talking about a job at Taco Bell working the night shift.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/statement-of-us-secretary-of-labor-hilda-l-solis-on-september-employment-numbers-63274122.html

We ALL Hope So!

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today following a meeting at the White House with President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to discuss ways to stimulate job creation:
"Today's meeting with President Obama reaffirmed our top priority as a nation: getting Americans back to work. The President, Leader Reid, and I all agree that we must respond to the urgent need to promote the creation of good jobs, rebuild our workforce, and restore stability to our neighborhoods. Congress stands ready to partner with the White House to keep our economy moving in the right direction and lay the foundation for growth long into the future.
"Our recovery efforts have brought our economy back from the brink. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Cash for Clunkers, and a series of other steps have halted the freefall and have begun put us back on the path to long-term prosperity. The House has passed measures to invest in the clean energy jobs and to extend unemployment benefits to workers hardest hit by the recession.
"We are beginning to see signs that the economy is turning around. But we are committed to take further action on behalf of the millions of Americans out of work or at risk of losing their jobs, their savings and their homes."

Counting My Blessings

It’s not even 7am and I have been up a few hours already. This morning I had to take a short drive to BWI airport (thanks Brandon) to take my friend Amanda to the airport. My dear friend is dealing with a family emergency that I will not discuss because its private family matter, however the past few days talking with her have given me so much perspective on life and what is most important.
Amanda and I have always been comfortable talking about our spirituality (where we are and where we want to be as Christians). In college if I skipped chapel she would always give me her notes and interpretation of the sermon. Over the past few months we’ve shared with each other words of encouragement and for the most part it keeps us both going. However sometimes I get so wrapped up in my Ashley bubble and thinking, “What’s next” I forget I am abundantly blessed already. That’s why today not only will I send a prayer up for my friend Amanda and her family I am going to count my blessings.
My Blessings (Just a few)
· My family
· My friends
· Waking up this morning with a sound mind and able body
· God’s grace
· Education and the tools to be successful
· My health
· “The extras” (not everyone has the internet, a laptop, or even a car)
I keep a journal in addition to this blog and I am going to try to write down three things everyday that I am blessed with. I encourage everyone to make a list today of your blessings. Whether you’re looking for a job or not, keep track of your blessing because I know sometimes it can be easy to complain, but it’s easier to say “God, thank you.”

We Need to Talk...

Today I went online to pay my cell phone bill and to say I was SHOCKED AND APPAULED is an understatement. My typical bill is $54.06 dollars because I NEVER go over my minutes; however, this month my bill is (I hope you’re sitting down) $256 dollars. It seems that I have been talking more than normal during my time away from the daily grind. The looming question is, if all of my friends are working who am I talking to?

The answer isn’t hard to figure out, it is indeed MY FRIENDS. Yes BITCHES it’s ya’ll!

Since I am not working the calls during the day have been coming in on a regular, and because I am a talker of course I answer. Now I will give some of you credit because the calls are sometimes job tips. For instance Grace did call me about a job she saw in her AKA newsletter, the problem is after that job tip I think we talked about working out and our weekly gossip for the next 43 minutes.

Now I enjoy phone time as much as the next girl, but I have to be real with myself and I can’t afford a bill of $256. That means I only have two choices:
A. Don’t answer my phone during the day.
B. Change plans and bite the bullet and pay a little more per month.
As you can guess I am going to have to choose B. I love you guys too much not to hear about how you almost fell asleep in a four hour meeting, or about how I need to look at the Latrian Milton remix, or the “gospel” McDonalds commercial on YouTube.

Here’s the deal if I am making changes this means YOU dear friends are going to have to make a few changes for me as well. What do you need to change you ask? Don’t call me from you work phone! I’m putting everyone on notice…. I’m paying an extra $17 a month to talk to any MOBILE user. I know it’s convenient to call me from your desk phone, because you can act like you are on an important business call but that is costing me money (money I can be spending sending out resume tapes or at happy hour). So next time your coworker emails you a hilarious link and you think I will like it, step away from your cubicle and give me a ring from your cell phone.

If this seems like too much work to walk away from your desk and make a call think of it this way…You’re not supposed to make personal calls at work anyway. I just saved your job and you just saved me some money!

Everyone needs a Hype Man

We all know the purpose of a hype man. In hip hop that person gets the crowd ready to party. At church the hype man is the deacon who shouts in agreement when the pastor is giving the word to the congregation. While we all understand why having hype man in these situations is necessary our lives seem to be a different story. But are our lives so different? Don’t we all need someone who pumps us up and occasionally sings our praises?
I realized that my ultimate hype man or should I say hype woman is my mother, Gayle Traynum (I’m using full names now so there is no confusion). While at a city meeting my mother sat next to a reporter for a local station. After talking to the reporter for a few minutes my mom politely asked if the opening at the station for a reporter had been filled. The reporter told her no and my mom told her about me and all of my great qualities and asked her if she can find my tape in the piles of tapes the station received and just make sure that the news director takes a look at my tape.
I would typically be mortified that my mother would bring me up in this fashion but I am happy for the gesture. We’re taught to be modest and humble but the hype man is unapologetic about your/mine Fabulosity. Plus when someone else says you’re awesome the comment doesn’t seem vain. That’s why I say beginning today EVERYONE should get a hype man, just make sure he or she doesn’t look like Flavor flav!

Accidentally Learning You're About to Be Fired - ABC News

Accidentally Learning You're About to Be Fired - ABC News

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