Meatloaf, Uber and Doggie Beds.

Good evening, World!

I was awakened at 8:44 this morning by the car dealership, telling me the part came in and that they would foot the cost to have it fixed, since I hadn't even got my tags yet.

So, I got up, ate leftover meatloaf for breakfast, drank a cup of iced Italian sweet cream hazelnut coffee, and then drove to the dealership.

They gave me a ride back home. An hour or so later, they called me and I went and got my car, as an Uber passenger.

Uber is so much better than the local cab company used to be for me. I'd wait an hour for a ride sometimes, and there was no way to contact the driver to give directions if needed. My uber was here for me in less than 5 minutes.

Then, I went to get some supplies and buy the doggy beds that my friend gifted me the money for. Someone stole my supplies, but I got the doggy beds. I went back to inquire about the supplies that were missing from my bags, and was accused of lying and trying to steal. I will never shop at that Family Dollar again.

I lost my temper before I left.

She's lucky I didn't put my hands on her. I guess I am, too. I'd hate to have a record and not be able to drive anymore.

I did some Sparks, until around 5:30, when the store made me wait an hour for my order. I finally cancelled and focused on ASAP and Grubhub. I made $97 total for the day, and hung it up and came home. It was getting late.

I fixed and egg, cheese, bacon bits and mayo on wheat bread sandwich. The dogs were comfy on their new beds. I took them out. They are now in their beds by mommy's table as she plays on the computer.

Have a blessed night!

Restless Days

Good Tuesday Evening, World.

I went to the dealership when I finally got out of the house today, after I went to the bank to deposit my bill money.

I was told that Texas refuses to do it without a Title in hand. So, they offered to get it done in Arkansas until the title comes in. I told them I didn't want to deal with the headache of changing my account information only to have to change it back.

I told them that I was working with 6 accounts, 2 of my highest paying are on hold due to all this and I am having to work 7 days a week from the time I get up until I am ready to drop dead at night, because the other four just don't pay the same. And, the time I spend talking to her, or taking care of any other business is time I am not making money for my bills.

I told them I might be able to make the car payment, but probably not "on time". She said she would do what she could to help me with that again.

I told her I would be back before the payment was due.

Then, I went to work.

I worked until 9 PM. I might have been able to squeeze one more run in, but I was stressed out because I had a batch of 9 deliveries I was on. The first one went to an apartment complex, but, there was no apartment number on the order. So I tried to call the lady but got transferred to driver support, who told me there was no phone number associated with the order. So, I had to return the order after I finished the other 8 orders.

The last one was a doozy, too. It took me 30 minutes and calling the customer twice for directions. The second time, they stayed on the phone with me until I got there. Then, it was only a small package that didn't even weigh half a pound.

I decided to go get my sugar, and some Stouffer's Meatloaf, and go home. I spent about as much as I would have spent if I'd have gone out to eat.

I am hungry.

And now I have to stay up until my clothes are washed tonight because I am out of clean clothes to wear.

I still need new shoes. I usually buy a new pair in October, but this year I couldn't afford it. And, I think I stepped in Dog poo on one of my runs. I can smell it.

God has this. Not sure what he is trying to teach me or keep me from, but I am still gonna praise Him.

Have a blessed night.

No Matter What

Good Monday Evening, World!

Today I made goal and then some. I didn't think I would be able to, since I HAVE to make $172/day for the next 7 days in order to cover all my bills for the next week, 7th - 14th.

I thought I was going to be able to get my tags, but Texas won't let us do it without the title in hand. I told her if I didn't hear from her today, I'd be back tomorrow.

I have fought tooth and nail for the past year in order to keep my business as a courier and taxi driver. I've lost the taxi business as of December 1.

But, Praise God, I still have options. Spark is doing me good. Not my choice of vocation, but I am obviously where God needs me. At least, I am where He is blessing me, anyway. And, I still have Grub Hub and Door Dash and ASAP Deliveries.

I was on a batch delivery of 11 orders (one or two items each). It was paying me $42 for nearly 3 hours of driving and delivering. I had to carry a big Christmas tree to one of the homes on my list.

When I got there, the lady was waiting at the door. She said, "Ho Ho HO!"

I said, "Merry Christmas! I feel like I'm Santa Claus right about now."

She said, "You ought to!" LOL Later, I was at another home and I backed the car into their garage. I don't think they were there, so I was going to unload the trunk full of groceries into their carport. When I finished, I took the picture to prove I was there, then reached up to the button beside the door that I thought was the doorbell (there should be a sign on it that says "This is not a doorbell" LOL) and pushed it.

Suddenly, the garage door started coming down. My car was sitting halfway inside the garage. The door was coming down on top of my car and I was inside the carport. I was about to have a coronary. LOL But, then the door stopped just before it got to my car and started back up.

I was thanking Jesus!

I reached up and knocked on the door, since the doorbell was a garage opener. LOL Then I got in my car and left, Laughing nervously.

I wonder if they have cameras? If they do, they are probably laughing when they watch me.

Have a blessed night! (Mine is. My car is still in one piece, and I made goal! No matter what, I'm going to be all right!)

Some Customers...

Good Sabbath Evening, World!

I spent most of the day doing Walmart deliveries. But, around 2:30 PM it was raining hard, and after a customer left me standing in the rain waiting on a signature, I hung it up to dry for about an hour or so, in order to let the rain pass.

I really have a problem with entitled people who live in big houses with nice yards and treat people like crap. It got under my skin. I had to cool off.

So, I went to Colima's Mexican Restaurant on Summerhill Road and took a break.

It was good. And too much. I had to box it to take some of it home with me later.

Then, I went back to work.

I probably would have done better, but Walmart on New Boston Road REFUSES to hire more pickers and loaders. They had TWO workers today. ON A SATURDAY. And every pickup spot was filled. I waited an hour twice on two different orders, and finally cancelled. One of them, the loader came out to tell me, "I don't know why that one is still circulating, but someone has already taken that delivery." So I called Driver Support and got them to remove it and pay me for my time wasted.

I didn't come near making goal tonight. I think I am going to stay away from NB Road for awhile. Arkansas Side has improved a LOT. NB Road needs to follow suit.

I took a batch order of 12 different deliveries (about 1-2 items each). At one of the homes I had to leave the packages at, it was after dark. I had to use my phone as a flash light. The porch light wasn't on. It was REAL DARK.

I sent them a text message before I confirmed the drop off: "Thank you for using Walmart Delivery. The next time you order, though, would you please turn on your porch light. I'd hate for your home-owner's insurance to go up due to paying for my accident. Thank you."

Sigh.

Now it is time to watch "Lost" and play some Bingo.

I don't know if I am going to make enough this week, but I know God has it covered.

Have a blessed night!

Coffee, Rain, Pay, Give Me Jesus

Good Sabbath morning, World!

I am fixing to drink a cup of coffee this morning and then get out on the road ASAP. I have a lot of driving I have to do today and tomorrow in order to pay my bills.

At least my car has had an oil change.

If it starts raining, I may be forced to do something other than Spark, depending on how hard it is raining. I worked in the rain for the past two days, though...even though I would rather not.

I am having to depend on bill money to pay for gas at this point...so whatever I make today or tomorrow has to be good.

But, I've also sold enough stock to cover what I don't make and am waiting for the money to settle in my account. I will know by Monday how much more I will actually need, so I can know how much I actually have to pull out of my account.

I will have to work just as hard next week for the next's week's bills to be covered. But, I won't owe as much, so that is a plus. Whatever I make over what I need will go back into E-trade until the first of next month.

I am trying to fix my accounts so all I have to do each month is pay myself a paycheck each week again, like I was just starting to do when I had all this to deal with suddenly.

I am going to be okay, though. I actually am more at peace now than I was a couple of weeks ago about all this.

I have Jesus. Have a blessed day!

Tags, Oil Change and Sparking

Good evening, World!

I left the house this morning and went and got an oil change. I was given a discount that cost less even though I was getting more for the money. I was blessed. God is Good!

But, I think He was buttering me up for a little while later when I found out that Uber was asking me for proof of registration for my car by December 1. Apparently, we are no more closer to getting my tags than we were a month ago. I was not happy. 

I talked to a lawyer. I talked to a person who works in the Tax assessor's office, and I talked to someone who works at another reputable dealership in town. 

He ran the vin number and found that the car had been registered in California in September, which was the same month I bought the car. Which explains why there is such a big problem now. 

But, the fact remains that the car was sold legally up to this point. It has a title, the title just hasn't been transferred yet by the previous lien-holder. That is standard for the most part; so, there is no legal recourse for me until and unless the car's paper tags run out after being renewed a third time. Legally, paper tags cannot be renewed more than 3 times. 

So, I am stuck, until my paper tags are renewed and expired again, 45 days after December 20th. 

If I lose my Uber Account, I will just try to get it re-instated once my new car is finally tagged. 

It might be a blessing in disguise. Maybe I can start fresh with no marks or complaints against me and have a perfect rating starting out with a new account. 

I'm not so sure I can complain about that, because there is no statute of limitations on any marks against me. They stay until I reach 3 strikes and then I am out for good with no hope of getting my account re-instated. Even if I work it for 10 years.

  And, today, I made $170. So, I think I'll be okay if I can keep this momentum up with Spark.

At least I still have Spark and the other delivery apps for now. 

Well, I'm watching Lost until I wind down and go to bed. 

Have a blessed night!

For Every Time There is a Season

If you were to have told me, when I was working at the counter at Love's Deli in Hooks when I was 18 years old, that one day I would be a prison CO, or that I would be the President of a media alliance that would help kick off the Conservative movement, or that I would be able to travel any time I want, work whatever hours I wanted and make enough to survive just driving around all day taking stuff to people or helping them get places, I would have looked at you like you were crazy.

None of those things are related, yet all of those things I experienced.

I've had so many seasons in my life. I've done so many different things. I've experienced so many experiences.

If I were to die today, I can honestly say I lived. I never stopped, no matter what door I had to go through in order to keep going.

And, never once did I ever deny that my God was the power behind me.

If you want to really live, step outside your comfort zone. Do something you haven't done before. Don't let failure be "the end".

I keep wondering when the bottom is going to drop out and I have to move on to something else, and what is that going to be?

Then, I remember that everywhere I moved in my life was because God made it impossible for me to stay where I was.

Every season has a purpose. Do you think David would have ever been annointed to be king if he had not been a rugged shepherd boy who's only ambition was to tend the sheep and please His father?

I constantly ask myself, "Why am I here right now, where I am? What is it that You want me to do with this?"

I was a deli attendant, a fry cook, a convenient store clerk, a baker, a telephone solicitor, a wife, a mother, I made pizza's, I was an assistant manager, a managing reporter, web site designer, marketing associate, blogger, child care worker, home school teacher, server, host, bar owner, bus driver, taxi driver, Prison CO, grill cook, Avon lady, bartender, housekeeper, healthcare environmental services supervisor, single and a remote call center agent and a courier. I might think of a few more things later.

I've lived in tiny one bedroom apartments, some filled with bed bugs, campers, broken down trailer homes, double wides, homeless shelters, three bedroom houses, Austin, Houston, Redwater, Hooks, Texarkana, I've had dogs, cats, squirrels, rats, horses, pigs, rabbits, chickens.

I've been bullied, lied to, used, pushed away, given away, raped, kicked out, robbed, wrecked, tortured, strangled, grieved, abandoned, and fired.

I've also been happy, joyful, relieved, at rest, filled, rescued, loved, pulled close, rewarded, hopeful and hired.

There isn't much I haven't experienced, but God has always shown me that there is always more.

Where ever I find myself, I try to remember

1 Corinthians 10:31

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

And, I've learned that

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

And, I ask myself, "Would I be the witness for Christ I am today if all those things hadn't happened to me?"

Forgiveness

Good Friday morning, World...

It is Friday, right? LOL

I was nauseated all night last night...so didn't get much sleep. When I did get sleep, I didn't want to wake up. I slept through my 8:30 alarm. It was 9:10 when I got up.

I'm eating Ravioli for breakfast. (I didn't feel like cutting up carrots...or chopping lettuce).

I know I have to take something with me today for lunch, but not sure what that is. Yet. I was hungry mid-day yesterday...had to come home and eat. All that stair climbing made me hungry.

The chicken is still too frozen to do anything with, but, by this evening it should be ready to be bagged and put away.

The watermelon is all cut up and bagged and in the freezer. I might take some of that with me today. I even cut out the inside rinds to bag and cook later. Watermelon rinds are a REALLY GREAT DISH!

I don't like for good food to go to waste.

I'm drinking Iced hazelnut coffee with Italian sweet cream for flavor. Yum...and I need to wake up...

I am also making tea.

I drank a bottle of water throughout the night. Usually, I keep a glass of tea by my bed. Last night, I kept bottled water. I have lots.

Thank You, Jesus, for all the gifts you have given me. Thank You for the food You have blessed me with. And, thank You for the ability to go out and earn enough to pay my bills. Thank You for the business You send my way. Without You, I would have nothing at all. I would BE nothing at all.

Also, thank You for speaking to me through the Word on the radio each day. I listen and pray that You communicate Your will to me through the preaching, the teaching, the exclamations and the music. I know that You speak to us through our circumstances and surroundings, and through others, through dreams, through prayer and even face to face when necessary. More than once have you spoken to me through the radio.

Having said all that, I surrender all of myself to You, again. I let YOU have my hurts, my hang-ups, my anger, and my grief. I forgive those who I should be forgiving rather than staying angry and sulking about things. I pray that You lead me out of the path of those who would do me harm in any way, and that YOU be the judge, jury and executioner of justice for them, as You are with me. I pray that You bless them and that You shine Your face on them.

I pray that, moving forward, You lead me to be the hands and feet that You need. I pray that You temper my regrets and my longings. And, if it is not too much to ask, I pray that my tags will finally come in so I can drive Uber and Lyft again.

Thank You for Your many blessings. Help me to always be grateful.

In Jesus' Name, I pray, AMEN.

Have a blessed day!

Champion

Today, I pulled up to the Wal-Mart pick-up spot to be loaded for my delivery. Usually, I have to wait about 15 minutes before it is my turn to be loaded.

A young man with dark, glistening skin came to ask me who I was picking up for. I told him. He said, "I got you," and left to go back into the building.

A moment later, he came back out with my groceries. I said, "That was quick!"

He said, "I told you I got you." Then he said, "See, it's because WE are the CHAMPIONS!"

I smiled. He asked, "Right?"

I said, "Of the world!"

He said, "SEE! You KNOW it!"

Champions. What makes me a champion?

I thought about this for the rest of the day. What makes a champion?

Psychology Today says that a champion is a person who:

• Strives to find out how great he or she can be
• Talks soft, plays big
• Loves the battle more than the victory
• Hates to lose, but is not afraid to lose
• Goes through the fire to reach their goals
• Always competes with purpose and passion
• Learns lessons from losses
• Lives in the present moment
• Focuses on continuous daily improvement
• Does not base his or her self-worth on the scoreboard

"Am I really a champion?" I asked myself.

I have been through more than my fair share of fires. I don't stop just because there is an obstacle in front of me. If I want something, I get it...somehow. (That is, if I REALLY want it). I have been told I shouldn't be doing what I love to do. I've had people try their best to talk me out of it. I've had family try to manipulate my circumstances to try to force me not to do it. I've heard all of the excuses about why I shouldn't do it.

I'm still doing it. I'm happy doing it. I'm not going to stop doing it. It's MY life. No one else is living it. No one else is paying my bills. No one else is offering me something better and more confortable or convenient with as much pay and reward for doing it.

I may be in a tight spot right now, but I am fighting with all I have to fight with to stay afloat. There is a light at the end of tunnel. The finish line is in sight. I'm still running the race.

I guess I AM a Champion. Win or lose, I am a champion. No one can deny that.

Philippians 3:14
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”