I learned from a post in Facebook that the UN designated July 30 International Friendship Day. The organization (Poetry Book Society) had a great idea for this year's Friendship Day: have team members identify poems that are friends to them. I decided to join in.
After some thought, I decided to report that the poem The Road Not Taken is a friend.
I stumbled upon an interesting video that encourages praying for financial blessings by explaining what to include in the prayer, and so on. I am not certain how I feel about this. I will review more thoroughly. Link to video: https://youtu.be/vh5zlpkupBU?si=7U4xFUy-r_pAgdED.
I am up early. I just made myself a cup of tea. I hope it will be a very productive day.
Yesterday, I submitted a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). I requested a requirements document I assisted with when I worked at the Department of Labor (for contractor ASRC Inuteq).
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The significant news stories from Guyana caught me by surprise. It was a lot of sad news. The latest is the death of Ian McDonald. He was a legend in Guyana. I remember that I enjoyed reading his column during one of my trips to Guyana - a piece on decision-making, I believe. I caught the piece when reading the Stabroek News online. It was good catching up on old things. RIP Ian McDonald.
My post on my brief stay at the Holiday Inn Express was good. That hotel stay happened years ago. The post included what I remember about the stay. I used a photo to refresh my memory. It would have been a very different post if I had posted right after the stay. I am certain I would have included more details and maybe highlight different things. There is a good chance I would have been more thorough, more particular about the details (more nitpicky). It is interesting that the purpose of the writing is exactly the same in both posts. However, the end result would be substantially different. My enthusiasm, my approach to writing the other post would have been different.
Three things that stand out about me (I need to toot my horn from time to time):
I like to understand and make sense of things. I also have good ideas. My Lessons Project is one of my ideas/projects that stand out. Just aggregating the various lessons was good.
The statistics papers I had out there were the most popular. I excel at statistics.
I am accomplished at research. I have really good papers out there. I am also known for some good research ideas.
It is true that all that glitters is not gold. It is a wise proverb, isn't it? It leads you to say: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. There is therefore the need to ask questions and look into things. I know why I am saying these things. I like my lessons in this area too.
I am not doing much, checking my email and such. There is a request to update my repayment plan. I am happy I selected an income-driven repayment plan in the past. When my income is back, I will be able to pay. The plan needs to remain income-driven. No action may be required.
(Email account: moorefo1@gmail.com)
I feel good today. I am making progress with my book.
I saw an interesting post on Psalm 143 in Facebook. I saw from the included Bible picture that the psalmist used the term "land of uprightness" to refer to what I believe is a straight path. "Land of uprightness" made me think of Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree which is a story of a magical tree that provides access to different lands (the lands are accessed from the top of the tree; one land settles at the top, and the lands move from one to the next sort of like a rotating banner). What a memory! I connect things easily.
This #ThrowbackThursday, I remember how grateful I was that a room became available at a Holiday Inn Express in Virginia so that I could stay for a while. I was driving through Virginia on my way home to Maryland. I decided to stop. I quite liked the hotel. I enjoyed the breakfast. From the pictures (shown here: https://fahmeenaodetta.blogspot.com/2022/08/more-travel-pics.html), you can see I had both coffee and hot chocolate!
A few of my hotel stays are documented in this blog.
I stumbled upon a very interesting book on the mistakes made by 25 inflential women at work. I would love to read it. Mistakes are everywhere, I suppose.
I got up late this morning. I was up late last night thinking through poems. I thought about my first days at PC and whether the girls knew I was the youngest. I don't think they did. I have to ask.
This morning, I quite enjoyed posts from Facebook. I quite like Psalm 27. It provides more information on the "house of the Lord." From Psalm 23, it is a "place to dwell in forever." Psalm 27 tells me it is for every day of one's life. The Lord is my "light and salvation" and "the strength of my life" is important to me.
In case you're wondering, I am not related to Governor Wes Moore. He has been governor of Maryland for a while now. I know my father would have told us about a family tie/connection.
By the way, I met two Moores (individuals with last name Moore) at two "old jobs." The Moore at the first organization trained me to prepare the capital planning report distributed by the Section, encouraged me to look into using the ERP system for capital planning, and generally prepared me for new duties. I met the other Moore at a later job. She is from Guyana (and not related to me).
This is another weird coincidence, isn't it? Take a look at other weird coincidences I chose to share at the link: https://fahmeenaodetta.blogspot.com/2026/06/weird-or-strange-coincidences.html.
My little poembook focused on a section of my life. I did not include anything about President's College. I want to continue the story in another book. I wrote a little poem for the beginning:
It was quite an experience
My marks were superior enough for Queen’s College
And I qualified for President’s College too
I was one of a group of students from Watooka Day School that made Linden significant and proud
The small town Linden had significant passes for President’s College
My parents were thrilled and beyond excited
People were supportive
I have to say it was the school and piano lessons that made it possible. I have to say it was the school and piano lessons that made it possible. I am happy that I got into PC. I remember there were even stool and urine tests.
A lot more work to do.
I saw a post on pen and paper vs. screen in X recently. I would prefer pen and paper to complete the task I started yesterday. Once I have printed my resume (using a printer), I would write down ideas to strengthen the resume (maybe cross out an old idea or add details to something already there).
I have a post on pen and paper that is very interesting. Here it is: https://fahmeenaodetta.blogspot.com/2023/05/pen-and-paper.html.
So far, I have applied for several professor positions. A few were open for an extended period suggesting there were a limited number of applicants. I wondered whether people were losing interest in professor positions. A look at jobs on LinkedIn proved otherwise. There were 71 applicants for one professor opening. Another showed 63 applicants. I am certain those applications were very good. I may need to edit my resume/CV so that my application is more competitive (stands out so I am selected for an interview). By this I mean I can "play up" my qualifications without lying (examples of lying: lying about completing a degree or lying about job level). I need to think through this. I can say that my resume currently does not show that I trained employees (sometimes coworkers) on policies and procedures. This is additional experience that should boost my application. I could highlight that I usually come up with new and different ideas. There is more. I am happy that professor applications are expected to be longer than applications (resumes) for the average job.
My father arrived at the door right about the time I expected him to. I was ready a while after. We left for the restaurant around 1pm. I was thirsty and looking forward to drinking a cool beverage at Golden Corral. When we got to the restaurant, I decided to order the new drink option to go along with my lunch buffet. In an unusual move, the cashier/front line attendant provided a cup for the drink. Usually, drinks are served in glasses at the table. There were slightly different rules for the drink. We found a table and sat down for a good time.
(My mother didn't not want to attend).
There appears to be a sale on flights to London. Some time in London would be wonderful. I will try to make this happen.
It is my birthday! Thank you all for your love, support, and encouragement (in different ways) over the years. I am coming out of a rough patch. I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have great plans for the future (God guided my steps and I pray that he continues to lead and guide my path). I ask for your support. Here's to different thinking, approaches, lifestyles, struggles, and lessons!!
A different drum for me:
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(A different drum for me - the drum in the picture works. I found this drum from a google search. See more on this type of drum at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slit_drum. I would like specific information carved into my drum.)
One of my prized possessions is an embroidery/croquet/needlepoint project I completed in grade 6. See below. It had a lot of my personal information (reminds me of an ID card). It was my first needlepoint project. I used only chain stitch and selected colors I liked.
I verified the day of my birth (using an online calendar for my birth year). It was a Friday.
I didn't do much over the July 4th weekend. My birthday is in a few days. For my birthday, I would like to go out for a special lunch or to see a movie. I have to look up the new releases.
I am still searching and applying for professor positions. I think the professor job is a really good fit for me. I was always a good performer at school. I was studious. I liked books (I remember I would take a heavy red bag full of books to my dorm at high school). I also picked up a lot about teaching from my parents and aunts.
I performed well at different external examinations. Did you know that I did really well at London music exams when I was young? My father paid for my sister and I to have private music lessons. I was selected to learn music theory and write the London exams (it was independent of "regular" school). I performed really well.
The week came and went by very quickly. I provided the author marketing materials to my publisher, I talked to a doctor at Kaiser from home, and generally took care of business. Today I had a serious talk with my mother. She is concerned about my health. I asked my mother to document what led her to conclude I needed care - what she noticed (signs) and why it is a problem. I told her it may assist my doctor. I suspect she takes a nurse's perspective.
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This #Throwback Thursday I remember the cheese Guyana produced when I was a child. The cheese was salty and I didn't like it very much. However, that cheese made really good cheese straw. I loved cheese straw. Sharp cheese makes very good cheese straw.
Now, I prefer to eat other cheeses with my bread or crackers. I like American cheese, Swiss cheese, pepperjack cheese, and so on. Pepperjack cheese is really good. I am not certain where it originated, but the idea to add pepper and other seasonings to cheese was an excellent one!
Caribbean Airlines currently has a sale (special pricing) on flights to Guyana. The timing is perfect. I can fly there very soon. I need to think through accommodation. I need to stay in Georgetown.
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