Memories are Blessings | My Hometown ~ Miami, Florida

"Count your Blessings" is a familiar Christian hymn that encourages people not to focus on the negatives and count all the things they can be thankful for; all the good things in life they've been blessed to experience. Try it.  Especially when you're about to end a year and start a new year.  It's a great time to reflect on the blessings you're counting.

© Photographer: Americanspirit | Agency: Dreamstime.com
(Image:  The Torch of Friendship at Bayside Park, Miami, Florida)

Getting close now to my threescore an ten (70 years, the average life expectancy). When I count my blessing over the years, the list has grown and grown and grown. There are a lot of add-ons. But the list always includes one great memory from my childhood.
Good food!

Growing up in Miami, Florida, there was good eating all around me. My main sources for everyday meals were: my mother's cooking, church dinners prepared by faithful sisters, and a sweet little old gray-haired lady who owned and operated a restaurant around the corner from my house called "Mom's Cafe". I never knew her name because everybody called her "mom". All of these women really knew how to serve up the love! Huge plates of pigeon peas and rice, potato salad, collard greens, black eye peas, fried chicken; sweet potato pie for dessert.


As I grew into a teenager and young adult, started working part-time while pursuing my education; had a little pocket change so occasionally I could go out to eat. Downtown Miami and particularly Calle Ocho (8th Street), there were spots where you could chow down on delicious Cuban food: sweet fried plantains, black beans and rice, vaca frita, or a toasty Cuban sandwich. Kosher food delicatessens and restaurants run by the Jews on Miami Beach were the best! The soups, sandwiches, and desserts were outrageous! That was just lunch! Of course, no major city is complete if you can't find good Chinese food. Miami is a major city with places that have award-winning Chinese cuisine.


This book cover is from the 1993 publication but it reminds me of my hometown.

Miami Spice: The New Florida Cuisine

I moved away from Miami at the end of 1986 and have never returned. But even though I haven't been back, I'll bet the food has only gotten better!!

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My Rant About Employers Doing Unofficial Background Checks via Social Media Networks

Here is something that is being done but it's wrong.

• Not asking if you think it's wrong.
• Not opening the matter up for discussion.
• Not wanting your thoughts on if you think it's wrong.

I'm telling you … if it's true … if it's being done … IT'S WRONG!!

Did you know that Employers often look for information about prospective Employees in Social Media Networks?

No doubt you must have heard a lot of clamor about it.
* * *

This matter is not up for discussion or debate.

Work is work. Social is social.

Social encompasses personal and private, allowed in by invitation only.  And don't give me any mumbo jumbo about my social profile being set to "public".

Work is … whatever work is and the "stuff" at work don't belong to me. It's just a job. No need to bring it home with me cause it's not mine!

The boundary lines are drawn. OK?

* * *

If you are hiring me because you want me to crunch numbers in your Accounting department, and you have already listed the necessary Education requirements, skills, qualifications in your job description …


I applied …
- you contacted me for an interview …
- - based on my application or resume … 
- - - you are thinking of hiring me …


WHY do you need look any further into my personal and private life? You're going to do a criminal background check.

(Not talking about credit checks, arrest records, etc. - which in order for the potential employer to obtain access to - signed release forms by the potential employee are required.)


Number One:
Suppose you don't hire me? What does that mean? That means you done got all up in my grill, learning all kinds of things about me you didn't really need to know, and now how I do know what you're going to do with that “knowledge” and “information”?


Number Two:
If you do hire me, we need to AGREE on PAY, the working conditions and the job description.

The work contract will be a regular 9 to 5, right?  With some flexibility.

As long as there is no problem with my work that's being presented as a finished product, you're satisfied and I get paid! Right?

Let's get this straight, Mr. or Ms. Employer. 

• Before 9 and after 5 (or established working hours), you need to be living your own life!!
• Not having your nose all up in mine! RIGHT???

When I come into work, it should be “Good morning!' and then we get to work.

When I leave work for the day, it should be “Good evening or good night!”

It should be clearly understood: 

• I am leaving work. If you have not been invited to my house, DO NOT FOLLOW ME HOME!! I will have you arrested for stalking!

* * *

Apologize for the rant. I started reading an article (just trying to get some of my kids married off) and blew a gasket when I honed in on a sentence about employers checking stuff on social networks (these networks include dating sites, etc.).  I needed somewhere to put my thoughts.

OK. So anyway … this information below is also useless to me but maybe somebody else might find it helpful. Here's a link to a free article on:

“How to attract attention to yourself on a dating site by profile photo?”