SubscribeOctober 2011
Management skills lacking in fantasy football (0)
10/27/11 •
I’ve been so busy with school assignments and coordinating fundraisers for the Pearl Jackson Stephens Memorial Scholarship, that I’ve neglected my fantasy football roster. I’m amazed that so far my record is 4-3. I dodged a bullet last Sunday, by drafting a wide receiver only an hour before the waiver wire deadline. In early September, [...]
An awesome gospel concert (0)
10/20/11 •
Saturday’s gospel concert received great verbal reviews. I received several phone calls from friends late Saturday night telling me how much they enjoyed the event. Then on Sunday I received three calls and two on Monday. I’m so very grateful my friends supported me. The free concert with a love offering was a fundraiser for [...]
Gearing up for a gospel concert (0)
10/12/11 •
I just finished designing the program for Saturday’s gospel concert. The concert will be held 6 p.m. at Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Warner Robins, GA. It’s a fundraiser for the Pearl J. Stephens Memorial Scholarship that will be presented to a Houston County (GA) graduating senior in June 2012 when former students of [...]
August 2011
There’s no time for boredom (0)
8/30/11 •
I think I’ve over extended myself. I’m involved in so many projects until I have no time for socializing and very little time to sleep. Here’s a brief rundown of some of the things I’m doing: Souvenir Book I’m designing a book for the Smooth Ashlar 146th Grand Lodge Session that will be held in [...]
Retirement homes for vets (0)
8/12/11 •
Question: I retired from the Air Force 10 years ago. I live alone and would like to sell my home and move into a retirement facility. I heard there was such a facility for veterans. Please tell me about it. Answer: There are two Armed Forces Retirement Homes (AFRH) established for retired veterans. They are [...]
I’m still not having fun (0)
8/04/11 •
A couple of weeks ago, I said a concept development class that I’m taking was about as exciting as watching grass grow in a drought-stricken area. Well, the class has gone from bad to worse. This is not the ranting and ravings of a failing student. My overall average is 93.33 in this class. Although [...]
July 2011
Vets favored for federal jobs (0)
7/23/11 •
Question: How long do you need to serve in the military before getting preference for federal jobs? Answer: Veterans, who left the military under honorable or general discharge, have gotten some degree of preferential treatment since the Civil War. The Veterans’ Preference Act of 1944 that has been amended in Title 5/ United States Code [...]
Dreading class in concept development (0)
7/20/11 •
I’m into the second week of a concept development class at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. According to the school’s course catalog, this course “will emphasize the conceptualization processes of art and design in solving given problems. The student will use creative problem-solving and research techniques, specifically, problem identification, analysis, brainstorming and idea refinement. Portfolio-quality [...]
Vets may be eligible for unemployment benefits (0)
7/16/11 •
Question: My son, who served four years in the Air Force, has been unable to find a job since returning from Iraq almost a year ago. He lacks self-esteem because he is unable to financially provide for himself. Can he receive some type of compensation until he is able to find a job or get [...]
Program helps vets to re-enter workforce (0)
7/08/11 •
Question: I’m a veteran with a 70 percent service-connected disability. After more than 25 years in the workforce, I was forced into early retirement because I could no longer physically handle my job responsibilities. I’m now becoming stir crazy sitting around the house day after day. Is there a program to help vets like me [...]
Offering feedback to Carnival cruise line (0)
7/07/11 •
On June 28th, two days after I returned from my family reunion cruise to Nassau, Bahamas, I received an on-line survey from Carnival. The survey was being conducted in an effort to help the cruise line improve its activities, menus, etc. As leader of my family reunion, I had spoken with numerous cruise line reps [...]
A grand tour of Nassau, Bahamas (0)
7/01/11 •
Sunday, I returned from Nassau, Bahamas, where I took a three-day reunion cruise with family and friends aboard Carnival’s Sensation. The trip was packed with fun activities, and not one person complained about being bored. For me, the most fun part of the trip was a bus tour last Friday. A cousin’s best friend is a [...]
June 2011
Foster homes are alternatives for vets (0)
6/22/11 •
Question: A couple of weeks ago, I was listening to a national newscast that talked about foster care for veterans with service-connected disabilities. How does the program work? Answer: The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Medical Foster Home Program (MFH) is for veterans who are suffering from service-connected disabilities and require nursing home-level care. The program [...]
Georgia Music Hall of Fame shuts its doors (0)
6/15/11 •
The doors of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame closed for good Sunday evening. What a loss for Georgians and tourists. Word of the closing spread quickly and more than 1,300 visitors – throughout the state and surrounding states – flocked to the museum on Saturday and Sunday to enjoy a final walk through, buy [...]
Work restoration programs aid vets (0)
6/11/11 •
Question: Because of a permanent disability, I have been forced to leave the workforce. Since I’m an honorable discharged veteran, do I qualify for vocational training through the VA? Answer: The VA provides vocational assistance and therapeutic work opportunities through several programs for veterans receiving VA health care. Each program offers treatment and rehabilitation services [...]
The Heat is on! (0)
6/07/11 •
I’m looking forward to tonight’s fourth game of the National Basketball Association (NBA) championship series. If the court battle is close to that of Sunday night’s game, then NBA fans are in for a nail-biting 60 minutes. After countless score changes, the Miami Heat finally won the game by 2 points and now leads the [...]
May 2011
Learning to master Adobe Photoshop (0)
5/25/11 •
This is my second week of my online digital image manipulation class. I can honestly say that the class has been quite frustrating and very enlightening. Prior to taking this class, I could “auto” tone, crop and save pictures. After completing 10 days of the course, I’ve flirted with too much information about the application’s selection [...]
Terminally ill vets can get accelerated death benefits (0)
5/22/11 •
Question: My neighbor said his brother, who spent 25 years in the Army, recently received an accelerated death benefit? What is it and how can someone apply for it? Answer: An accelerated death benefit gives terminally-ill policyholders a one-time option to collect up to half of the face value of their life insurance – up [...]
It’s painful to read and fill out cruise documents (0)
5/19/11 •
As coordinator of my family’s reunion cruise aboard Carnival’s Sensation in June, I began filling out on-line documents for our trip to Nassau, Bahamas. I wanted to be in the know just in case some of my relatives had questions about the forms. I decided to first fill out the “FunPass Quick Check-In” form that required only [...]
Outpatient dental treatment not for all vets (0)
5/15/11 •
Question: When is a veteran eligible for outpatient dental treatment? Answer: The eligibility for outpatient dental care is not the same as for most other VA medical benefits, according to the 2010 edition of “Federal Benefits for Veterans.” Those who served in the armed forces are eligible for outpatient dental treatment if they meet one [...]
When I was an 18-month-old plump and very mischievous toddler, I was stricken with polio. Paralysis stole my mobility and I was only able to move my head from side to side. Then, when I was 2 years old, my mother was killed in a tornado. A year later, my father married and began a life that excluded me.
