Trip Advisory - Bluffton / Hilton Head, SC

We hosted an event the last weekend in Bluffton, SC which is just outside Hilton Head, SC.  Hilton Head beaches were absolutely beautiful however the hotel we stayed in - well stayed in for an hour was absolutely horrible.  Felt I needed to share so you don't go through what we went through.

Suburban Extended Stay Hilton Head

1376 Fording Island Road

"Roaches and Bedbugs yuck!!"

The most disgusting place I have ever seen. Roaches crawling out of the sink in droves and crawling into the bed. We had 5 rooms checked in at 10:30 pm vacated at 12:30 am. Couldn't stay there, will never stay there again, wouldn't send my worst enemy there. Totally disgusted and was willing to sleep in the car. Luckily we found rooms elsewhere. Came home to only have to visit doctor to find out the skin bumps are bed bug bites. Yuck yuck yuck! This place needs to be destroyed.

Finding My Way

I recently decided to leave my job in Georgia and take a leap of faith were I movedband my youngest two children to Columbia, SC and work with my family in starting our own businesses.  Yes businesses plural.  Those who know me know that for the last 7 years I have worked with my family in a business were we host youth basketball tournaments primarily in the Southeast.  We do it to help young ladies and young men to get exposure in a safe, fun and family oriented atmosphere to high level basketball with the possibility of being recruited to play college level ball with scholarships.  Each of us has worked in various industries and we have all given 200% to others dreams while not really reaching the levels we wanted.  We decided that our ideas and our talents should be used to benefit ourselves and our families not someone else's dreams hence the starting of our companies: Bridgeway Medical Solutions and Krazy Kards.

Moving to SC meant some changes personally.  I left my oldest son and my fiance behind in Atlanta. The original idea was to come over get things started and in about 60 days my man would follow.  Well we are on day number 106 and he is still in the A.  Starting a business is so much harder than I ever dreamed.  I have moved in with my brother and his family (my business partners) and we are all co-parenting (maybe it is tri-parenting?) our four children, sharing in the day to day issues of regular life while working diligently to make our businesses successful. I love being able to collaborate at anytime, we are quick to rally around an idea and we share the leadership. I truly love our working together.  However I miss the rest of my family.  I miss my son.  Someday's I think I fu$%ed up, that trying to build my own legacy is just have too hard; that bringing home that bi-weekly paycheck should be enough. I continuously have second thoughts about separating my family.  It hurts me to hear my oldest to say he is out of money and has little food and I can't help.  It hurts to not be able to cuddle next to my SO (significant other) and share my day, but then I remind myself this is only temporary.  This leap of faith I have taken is for my legacy.  We will all be stronger and happier.  

I am still finding my way in this world and I believe I am moving down the right path.  I truly believe that even at my age (47) that it is never to late to find your way.

From the Heart of a Felon

While this is not my post I felt I should share this.  I am so proud of the man he is trying to be.  


It seems as though I will never be given an opportunity to restart my life with a regular job due to my background as a felon. I have been rejected so many times now that discouragement and uselessness are beginning to set into my psyche. you hear while in prison about rehabilitation and becoming a productive member of society but once you actually hit the streets its as if society has discarded you for the duration of the rest of your life. No company wants to hire you despite the training you may have gone through while incarcerated, its just pretty much an automatic rejection once you either self disclose your background to employer or especially after the background check has been done, and nowadays, doing a background check is a pre- qualification of employment for almost all jobs in today's american workforce. So I ask, "how is or how am I to get a job so that I can be that productive member of society, take care of myself and family , basically just survive, when now that I have paid for my crimes to society, served my time, did the necessary things while incarcerated which was told to me then that these things would afford me the ability to reinsert myself back into society productively, have proven to be nothing but a lot of time spent in prison that now as a free man that doesn't helps me to accomplish anything when employers all uses your background as a means to disqualify from the potential job applicants.?
I have served my time, why am I still being persecuted? I hope that someone who is in "control" will realize that with the increasing number of felons in America and recidivism that the biggest problem with that is that ex-felons are not being able to get a job to continue in his or her rehabilitation and re entrance into society so consequently a high number of these individuals go back to crime and eventually back to prison. And that is SAD.
Where do we (felons) go from here? Where is the Justice? Where is the forgiveness? This is the land of the free but for us ex-felons our background seems to keep us imprisoned forever, A life sentence.

Fall is one of my favorite times of the month.  It is a great time to be out and about with the kids.  All of the Fall Festivals, the turning leaves, the great weather.  My kids and I tend to venture out a lot more now than we do any other time of the year.  Of course there are the regular school things to be done, fall league basketball starts and this year my daughter will be marching in the 100 Black Men Parade of Excellence sponsored by KIA.  I am so excited for her as it will be televised on WSB-TV as well. 

There is so much going on in Atlanta so I thought I would share a few of the things my family enjoys.

1) Fairburn Festival - October 5, 2013 - we always love small town festivals -Bridging the Past with the Future” is the 2013 Theme for the Fairburn Parade and Festival.
The Fairburn Fall Festival will take place Saturday from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. The festivities include activities for children and adults, musical performances, a food court, street entertainment and the much awaited Fairburn Festival Parade at 9:30 am.

The Fairburn Fall Festival will be held in downtown Fairburn and admission to the Festival is free and open to the general public.

The Festival brings the “Best of the Best” together. Artists, musicians and vendors provide an enriching and family oriented environment for citizens of Fairburn and surrounding communities.

Bring your family and friends out to enjoy a day of celebration, fun and fellowship.

Oh yeah don't forget to support the Campbell Elementary PTA by becoming a member for only $5 - it is open to the whole community! Or you can donate a $1.00, become a PTA Partner and have your Cougar Paw hanging on our PTA tree in the hallway of Campbell Elementary. 

2) East Atlanta is one of my favorite places to wander around and this weekend on Saturday from 2pm - 6pm The Taste of East Atlanta will happen.  It is an opportunity to taste from 15 of East Atlanta's fine eateries. The Taste happens throughout our village at the Restaurants situated near the intersection of Glenwood Avenue and Flat Shoals Avenue. Tickets are $1 each and tastes range between 1 and 3 tickets. Proceeds go to the East Atlanta Business Association for building a stronger and more diverse business community.  Who can resist food?

3) Sweet Auburn Heritage Festival - this is always one of my favorite things to do.  So many vendors with great food, clothing, natural soaps, jewelry, music....did I say food, lol?  Love love love this festival.  The Sweet Auburn Heritage Festival  attracts over 30,000 people over a two -day weekend. It is fun, food and entertainment for the whole family. In addition this year Electoral Candidates for the APS Board District 1 Brenda Muhammad and ATL Council Post 3- At Large to speak on the importance of voting.
There are so many things going on in Atlanta that I can't even begin to name them all.  Get up and get out! Enjoy this great weather while you can.  Go to a farmers Market, go pick fruit, or just talk a walk in the park. 
 

Recently a friend of mine called and said she had a really stressful day.  She explained that a friend of hers was having a hard time, like a lot of us, with making ends meet.  Unfortunately hers is compounded  by having a husband who is abusive.  Bright, smart, financially savy, educated, funny and normally a great personality has found herself in a bad situation and see's no way out other than to leave.  Leaving is not easy though, money is the major issue.  It seems when she thinks she is rounding the corner something he does not only stops her but pushes her back several steps.  Women, especially black women are suppose to be strong - resilient, but sometimes even the strong need help.  My friends friend is normally strong but she needs her sisterhood to help.  I ask that all those who read this, all those who who have been there or all those who know how to help, please let us know how you can.  My friend made the comment that with all my suggestions and ideas that I should build a list of resources for women in crisis to help financially, emotionally and physically.  So that is what you will find here.  I will start with Atlanta because it is the area I know. It is home.  I welcome all input, all suggestions.  Let's come together and help each other ladies.

The first place I usually check is the United Way site.  http://211online.unitedwayatlanta.org/
You can inquire on line or call 211 from any phone and speak with someone.  They give referrals to places that can help you in whatever your situation is.  They can help you with food, clothing, utilities, rental/mortgage assistance, employment search/ preparation, legal assistance as well as many other things. 

There are a few standard places they will refer you too like the Salvation Army or St. Vincent DePaul.  Both of those places are great if you can get through to them.  Funds are limited and need is at an all time high.  If you live in the West End area of Atlanta Hosea Feeds the Hungry on Donnelly Avenue closest to Lee Street is very helpful especially when it comes to food.

Feed the Hungry Foundation - this place will actually bring you a box of food if you put in an application. 

 

The way their program works is simple. All you need to do is call in and submit an application and be available to be at home on Saturday until your box of food is delivered. That's right! Delivered! Feed the Hungry Foundation, Inc. is the only nonprofit in the southeast that delivers unprepared food to your home. Boxes include such things as:

Canned Tuna, Canned Ham, Canned Green Beans, Rice, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Canned Fruit, etc.

Each Box also contains a Bible. It is the belief of this foundation that nourishing the soul is just as important as nourishing the body.

 

Applications are taken Monday-Thursday from 9:30am-12:30 pm. To submit an application please call (770)980-1550 and go to extension 4 when prompted.

 

If you need help with a Domestic Violence situation call

Sisters Against Domestic Violence, Inc.

Confidential Address
Atlanta, GA 30331

(404) 549-9734 Administrative

(404) 941-9102 Crisis Line

(404) 941-9328 Fax

 

or

 

Partnership Against Domestic Violence/PADV

Confidential Address
Decatur, GA 30030

(404) 870-9600 Administrative Office

(404) 870-9627 Fulton Administrative

(770) 339-9160 Gwinnett Administrative

(404) 873-1766 Fulton Crisis Line

(770) 963-9799 Gwinnett Crisis Line

(800) 334-2836 GA Statewide Hotline

(404) 870-9611 Fax

http://www.padv.org

 

These are just a few places to get help.  I hope that this will help someone out there. 

 

JUST MY THOUGHTS

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