Concrete Repair in Huntersville, NC

 Before picture:  Concrete sidewalk is cracked and elevated.

After picture:  Concrete sidewalk repaired in Huntersville, NC.

Keeping pedestrians safe is always a good focus point.

Please Pay It Forward

 I recently filed a small claims action surrounding the unexplained and unpaid gap between my Carolinas Healthcare System termination date and the date that they took action about a month later.  While I was at the courthouse there was a lot of media outside waiting for a verdict in a popular case surrounding  a murder where the victim was shoved into traffic outside of a bar.

As I entered the courthouse, I had an unopened Snapple Mango Madness drink in my purse and security would not let me in with the glass. So I went outside to give someone a FREE unopened Snapple drink and God lead me to a lady who had a sandwich but no drink.  I asked her:  "Would you like a drink?  It is unopened." She said "Yes" and started shouting praises to God.  I was so very happy to make her day.

I was successfully able to complete my small claims paperwork before I returned home to find a letter from Carolinas Healthcare System wishing me continued success in my future endeavors.  What a great day it was!  

Then on this past week, my "Sexy Hair" instructor for my braiding class had the term "Please pay It Forward" tattooed on her arm.  I told her that I love her tattoo.  She said that some of today's youth have no idea what this term means.

What it means to me is that when strangers bless you with a gift, then you need to bless other strangers with gifts as well.

My court hearing against CHS is scheduled for July 2014.  It's not about winning or losing.  It's about standing up for my rights and the right that all people should be given equal employment opportunities.  No one should be discriminated against.  No one should be retaliated against.  No one should be blackballed for standing up for their civil rights.

I sincerely hope that my articles can help others that need a basis to compare their struggle with my CHS ordeal.  I consider my articles a way to pay it forward.

Recent Tours in the Area - June 2014

 The Play Nintendo Tour 2014  was at  Northlake Mall from June 20 - 22.  It looked like a lot of fun!

They had live video game chararcters on hand to entertain the children.

Farmer's Market every Tuesday from 10am to 2pm at the Novant Health Huntersville Hospital through August 2014.

From Fresh seafood to gourmet popping corn to Nectarines to Pickles to squash to cupcakes to doggie treats to corn and other fresh fruits and vegetables!

EZ Match Play for the Carolina Cash 5

I played the EZ Match back in April 2014.  It was my first and last time because as you can see on my actual ticket pictured to the right, the highest win level was only $50.  Now, the EZ match sample plays in the North Carolina Education Lottery brochure shows  $150 and $200 winning levels.  They advertise up to $500 instant wins so I was disappointed that I did not get an instant win, and even if all five of my numbers were a match, I would not have claimed more than $77.    The EzMatch was not worth the extra dollar for me.  That was my experience with it.

Carolinas Healthcare System and its Diversity Focus

So today, Carolinas Healthcare System is hosting its 12th Annual Diversity Symposium.  The interesting thing is that I had the pleasure of watching the movie "Belle" this week, and what I realized is that most, if not, all the "plantations" had diversity in the form of slaves or servants.

So Carolinas Healthcare System's focus on diversity without commitment to being an equal employment opportunity employer is not much different than the slavers' mentality of the past.

Most slaves were either house slaves or field slaves.  There was very little room for "transfer" in positions.  I would dare say most of the work on the plantations as far as the diverse worker population was concerned was just a "dead end."

I have written several articles regarding the extreme preferential treatment, nepotism, and cronyism at Carolinas Healthcare System.  The organization neither confirms nor denies the allegations.  It is what it is.

My question is was my mistreatment, failure to promote, and layoff - the standard or the exception as far as Carolinas Healthcare System (CHS) is concerned?

If my case was an exception, then I should be able to collect on my damages.  If my case is the CHS standard, then I would say that a class action complaint should be in order.

On that note, anyone interested in joining my cause to improve workforce relations at Carolinas Healthcare System, please feel free to contact me confidentially.  Comments are welcome below.

BlackBall Lists Possibly Do Exist at Carolinas Healthcare System

In my unsigned CHS Separation agreement offer valued at around one thousand dollars,  it states " In exchange for the Severance payments and other consideration provided hereunder by CHS, Employee agrees not to re-apply for employment with CHS or any of its affiliates, successors, or managed entities."

Wow!  Carolinas Healthcare System is a network of more than 900 locations and counting.

So regarding over 900 CHS locations, my applications would be "blackballed" if I was to sign this $1000.00 agreement.  Interesting isn't it?

Why would an employer put such a requirement in writing if they could not enforce it?

Hopefully, I was the first and last CHS employee that was given such a "joke" of a separation agreement offer and turned it down.  Also, I am going to give CHS Human Resources' department the benefit of the doubt that this language is standard in ALL of their settlement and separation agreement offers because the value assigned was so poor that they could not have possibly spent any real time thinking this offer through prior to presenting it to me.

Do I believe that a "blackball list" exists at Carolinas Healthcare System?  This language speaks for itself.

Found: Wildflower Mullein Growing Along the Roadway

Huntersville, NC

I found this wild plant growing on the side of the roadway during my walk.  It reminded me of a cabbage as well as a rose.  The landscapers keep cutting it back with the grass.  The fuzzy leaves caught my attention.

After researching online, I discovered that this plant is a wildflower called "mullein."  In its second year, if allowed to grow, then it would look something like this:

The West's: People Magazine's Blurry Wedding Photos!

 The June 9, 2014 issue of People Magazine showcased "Blurry" Wedding photos of Kanye and Kim Kardashian West.  My first impression was "a new low in journalism."  I was in shocked at the lack of picture quality.

 The funny thing -is that the picture of the picture seems to be less blurry than the actual published picture. My camera seemed to correct the fuzziness of the published pictures.  Amazing.

On a more positive note, I really think that Kanye West treasures Kim and North judging from all the online photos floating out there.  I think that they are going stay married until death parts them.  Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. West!

From the Vogue Magazine, April 2014 issue.

Giant Turkey Leg Showcase

The Giant Turkey Leg is one food item that I have a problem resisting!!!!  Fairs and Festivals bring it on!!!