Nottingham Carnival 2005

Just some BAD photos by me at the Nottingham Carnival 2005.

The Offer.....

Well I got an offer to be a teller at one of the banks, which is ok. They have to do the usual background checks, I thought they done that already. I figured that would have been the first things done, but I guess not. I know my credit is shit, and I think I still have a pending assault charge on my record from 1997. I hope the record is gone, since all charges were dropped, and I don't have to go back down to Philly to try and clear it up again.

So I had to make my way up to the bank for a very short interview with another manager. I had interviewed with some managers from a new branch due to open at the end of February, but it was two white guys and I guess they didn't like me for whatever reason, their loss. I wouldn't be happy working for them anyway or working in that all white part of town. One of the main reasons I focused my job search in Queens was to around and help my people, because I know no one else would lift a finger to help our people. I also have a long term plan in mind, so I want to serve the community for a long time and maybe when I'm 50 years old, a bank manager that the whole neighbor knows I might go into politics. So work for the people through a bank or financial institution and then serve the people directly through a political office. Well that is just a thought I have, will that happen??? I don't know, but it will be at the back of my mind always.

Enough about work shit, it was a very, very warm day in Queens. I said shit, it's 12 noon and it's nice like a mother out here. SO I got my basketball, and my bicycle and took my ass to the park. Mind you I haven't played basketball in over a year, I haven't even seen a game since 2004, so I was rusty as hell. Well I was there like an half an hour, when some youths came to the park. It was seven of them, and they asked me to play a four on four with them. Of course I said yes, never pass up a chance to ball. As usual I played the trash collector like Rodman, getting rebounds and tap backs, nothing major. They guys must have been like around sixteen years old, they weren't that good and as usual always complain about something when it was their mistake in the first place that started it. The usual young, Queens, or should I say NY players, all dribble and no finish. The can't see the court and don't really know how to play team ball, and we lost both games. This was only my very first day back playing so I could not take over and win it for us, and I had my glasses on not expecting anyone to be out there in the first place. So I was very stiff, and they had a shitty basketball, no grip and a dead bounce, but I don't complain just ball.

The next time they out there we putting money on it and we will see who wins then! Peace!!

More Grinding............

Well I've been back in New York for about three weeks and still not working. It is very upsetting to me not to work or have something to do everyday. I'm handling it by trying to talk to my friends while their on their lunch breaks and cleaning up. It's been working up until now, I need to do something.

On a good note, I seem to have two banks that seem to want to offer me a position, but I'm not sure which one to take. I said seem because I have not gotten on official offer, but I will be going on a third interview at both of them. One I think is going to offer me a customer service rep position, and the other might just be a teller of some sort either a head teller or regular. I really didn't want to get into the teller business or even on the banking floor like that, but it seems this is only the ones who calls back, and I have to make some money to live. The one possibly offering a teller position, my third interview is tomorrow, and then the one with the CSR position is Tuesday coming. So I might get a teller offer before the CSR offer. The CSR position pays much more so I will try my best to hold out until I get an official offer, but just go through the motions of the first offer so I can at least try and secure something. This is driving me crazy, with one job I can possibly pay off all but debt with six months, the other might take up to a year to do it. I try not to get too excited before I actually get an offer.

Wish me luck!

PS to all those who wished me Happy New Year, Happy New Year to you!!

Franchises...........

No I'm not talking about Dem Franchise Boys, no white tees nor do I like them. I'm talking about franchises replacing local businesses in the neighborhoods. I've been here a week and it's sad to see local businesses gone, replaced by big business or franchises. I went walking on Jamaica Ave, (little Jamaica)went to go to my local stationary store and that have been replaced with a damn Citibank. There used to be a Woolworths many moons ago, and that store was the only one left. So my walk was in vein and had to think of another place to buy a damn calendar.

The emergence of Golden Crust in Queens is crazy. I knew they were on a growth track when I left but now I see them everywhere. Not that I dislike Golden crust, I prefer it to any liquor store or Chinese take-out store, or even McDonalds. But, damn not everywhere, they even put on right across the street from a long time Caribbean restaurant and bakery on Hempstead Ave. Things like that I hate, I know business is business, but give direct competition to a local business of the same type is disrespectful. It's funny because that same restaurant had done a little expansion to include an outside eating area, but I guess they scrapped that when they Golden Crust started taking their profits. Please I love Golden Crust food, the people that work there are typical Jamaicans, they see you walk in they ignore you and chat way with their co-workers and after they see your not leaving, "may I help you?" Crazy!

Well I still think the local business man is the key to any neighborhood's success, I hope sincerely that these franchises do try to help the area they have occupied and not just try and make their meager profits and leave.

Another day in the grind.........

Shit, shit, shit. Had to go all the way to Newark, NJ for a damn job interview. It took me over two hours to get there and I'm so tired from the traveling I don't have the energy to do anything else. Well I tried to call some friends for some mental support and that did not work out. One sounded as if they had some underlying problems and stress and had no energy to give me, and the other one was on the move working at their second job. So I'm stuck at home, in bed laying down staring at my ceiling. What a day, need a job asap, any ideas??

I'm Back!!!!!!!!!

Well I've been back in good ole Queens for a week now. Things seem to be getting back to order with my life, well I hope so. Just a few personal things have changed in me since I've been back. I seem to not be interested in television as much as I use to, and walking have seemed to be my primary transportation, even if bus and cars are available to me. Just want to walk, you know.
Had a job interview today for a Customer Service Rep. for a bank in Queens, I think it did not go well. I can tell the lady interviewing me might leave me to the side for a job, but it's ok I have another interview tomorrow. I have to work my way to Newark NJ, never traveled there, but I love a challenge. This job is for a Head teller/Supervisor for a branch, well I think that's what it's for. This company is a large financial company, which I would love to work with. I have to pass the interview and they always take weeks before they let you know you have the job or not. Well hopefully everything will fall in place, don't need to start from the beginning or the bottom, anywhere in the middle would be great. Peace!

Have to get use to these trains again.

What Adventure??????

All I can say is,"Shit, shit, shit!!!!!" I totally fucked up my adventure in Europe. I knew this would happen, things were going just a little bit too smoothly, but it was all my fault. No one is to blame but me, shit, shit, shit!!!!

I had a three week tour of Paris, Barcelona and Rome, but due to my high expectations of the English transportation system, it all fell through. I had planned for my last day in the UK and first day in Europe to be the 26th of December, which is Boxing Day in England. I knew it was a holiday but I never in my wildest dreams thought everything it the whole country was locked down. What I mean by everything is the transportation system. I thought at least one train would be running, but noooooooooooooooooooo, not a one. So basically with all my planning to get low prices on everything went down in the drains.

The first reservation I lost was on the Eurorail, which would have taken me to Paris in less than three hours. I paid 50 pounds, and lost it, if I attempted to go there in person ad try to redeem it they would have said no and then I would have been charged 150 pounds. I could and couldn't afford it, I could pay the 150 and then have very little money to eat the following three weeks. So basically that one error in time and transportation I messed up on shook every single following thing apart. Could not get to Paris, lost reservation and deposit on Eurorail, losing my reservation and deposit in the Paris hotel. Leading to me not getting to Barcelona thus losing my reservation and deposit at the hotel there. That leads me to not getting to Rome, thus losing my reservations and deposit on the hotel there. So I lost so much money on nothing at all, but it's ok I have learned you can always get money, but what I have learned it invaluable to me.

I still wanted to go on my adventure, but trust me I will follow through on it slowly but surely.