NEA funding idea

Ever since the whole "Fiver incident," I have been thinking about an idea to pose to the NEA for funding. It would be nice to have a similar site that is non-profit, so they won't take a dollar for every five dollars you make. This would be a spring board for budding artists, writers, poets, graphic designers etc... to get their work recognized; so they can make a living off of their talent.

The Keys Are Mightier Than the Sword

Thank God for blogs. They provide a great place for people to vent and express frustration with life, work, whatever. Life is had, and it's comforting to know that there are other people who are going through the same struggles that as we are. The key is not to get discouraged and to keep on tapping on those keys and let your words be seen.

I sent a complaint against Fiverr to the BBB and RipOff Reports.
We cannot let companies like Fiverr bully us hard-working, everyday folks who want to make a little extra money from working at home around!!!

Fiverr Scam

Since the beginning of May 2014, I have been exploring writing and editing opportunities through online resources such as craigslist and fiverr. When I joined Fiverr, I almost immediately started receiving writing assignments. A web development company asked me to write two articles for them. The first assignment was to write an article on Ruby on Rails technology. This was quite a challenge for me because I am, not what you call, a seasoned techie. So I started searching researching resources online that would hopefully explain to me what Ruby on Rails was in layperson's terms. The second article was on Mobile Apps, especially iPhone apps. Well, I thought to myself, "Now here is a subject I can write about." I have about fifty apps on my iPhone and iPad. A while back, I went app crazy. For example, I shop at Vons. "Cool! There is an app for that. I'm going to put it on my iPhone. Every store,restaurant, and companies that I do business with is represented by an "app" on my iPhone. That's all great and well, but now it takes so long to swipe to the app that I am looking for. Great! "Good thinking Michelle."

Every day I was eager to go on to Fiverr to find out if I had new assignments. It was like, "Michelle. Here is your mission for today. If you are up to the task, then go to this link. "
Unfortunately, I have been labeled a "bad girl" on Fiverr because they said that I violated their terms and conditions by trying to get two evaluations from the same person. Wow! that is not what I was trying to do. With these types of business, you better not make any mistakes because they don't want to know or even care what happened. You are just "Blacklisted." So I sent them an e-mail explaining that I had e-mailed a customer and asked them to rate my services. They said that they never got a message from Fiverr, so I wrote an inquiry to their tech support company. Big Mistake!! A little while later, she informs me that she did find the message in her "To Do" category, and she rated my services, and I rated my experience working with her. I thought, "Problem Solved." So I figured that when  their tech team e-mailed me back, I would tell them that the problem had been solved. Another Big Mistake!!! Big Fiverr does not like that!!! They assume you are "Guilty" and that's it. See what happens when you can't actually talk to a person on the phone and explain the situation and resolve the problem.

Sometimes, I think that technology has consumed the "humanness" out of people. In my opinion, they receive "no stars" in customer service. Oh yes, and I have my earnings. What happened to my money? So I guess they figure, "Well since you have been blacklisted, you don't get paid for the hard work that you performed for those customers. WHAT A SCAM!!! Shame on you Fiverr for taking advantage of people like me who are trying to get to know how your system works. I wonder if they purposely black list sellers, so they can keep their money for their pocket books.

I do need to make a correction to this Blog. At the bottom of Jay's e-mail, they mention that if they do not receive further consumer complaints about me, I may receive my earnings in 45 to 90 days. First of all, I had a five star rating. No one was complaining about me with the exception of Fiverr who readily assumed I was masterminding some violation of their terms and conditions. Also note, there was only ONE set of ratings sent in by me and that particular customer NOT TWO.

Here is the e-mail from Jay:

Jay (Fiverr Customer Support) Jul 01 13:07 Our system has brought to our attention some irregular activity originating from your electronic location. After further review, we've permanently disabled your account for violations of our Terms of Service, we don't allow users to compromise the integrity of our feedback system by boosting their own ratings from multiple accounts. If there are no other complaints from your buyers that come in after the safety period of 45-90 days from today, whatever revenue that is legitimately yours (if any) will be available to you to withdraw after a verification process.

Closeness

I was sharing a story with my family today about porcupines. It was the dead of winter, and a cluster of porcupines were shivering. they were trying to figure out a way to stay warm. one porcupine said, "Let's huddle together and use our body heat to keep us warm." The others thought that was a great idea; however, they noticed that as they drew their bodies closer together, they experienced great agony. Their quills pierced into each other's flesh. The porcupines shrieked and proceeded to move away from each other. Then they started to become cold again. In an attempt of desperation, they maneuvered their bodies in order to avoid being pierced by their neighbor's quills. At last, they found an adequate distance in which they could enjoy the heat from each other's bodies without experiencing the painful pokes from the quills. 

When we open our hearts and minds in order to become closer, we are taking a great risk. Their is a good chance that we will get hurt in the process as well as hurting those closest to us. Our greatest strength comes from learning to work together and to love each other in good times as well as hard times.

Sweet Remembrance

As I've been going through the boxes in my closet, I found a tape that I had recorded of my grandmother recalling her early childhood years. It has been quite a few years since I've heard her kind, soft voice. 

In 1991, I found a job in Anaheim which was about a half an hour away from where I lived. My grandma would drive me to work because I was not able to drive due to my visual impairment. When my grandma would tell me stories about her past, she would conclude by saying, "I should write a book someday." So, one day, I asked her if she would mind if I recorded her telling stories about her childhood. We were both eager to get this started. In the mornings, on the way to work, I would turn on the tape recorder and she would start relaying her stories. I am thinking seriously about starting another blog entitled "The Adventures of Pauline." This was her middle name. If she were alive, she would probably kill me for using this title. Actually, she would probably flash me one of her famous grimaces and express her dislike for the title. As of yet, I have not heard any protests from her :) , so that is going to be the title. 

As I sit here now listening to this tape, I am feeling a warm smile in my heart, and I'm missing her greatly. 

                                             The new blog is being created in loving memory of 

                                                            Vickey Pauline Wilson

                                                                  1934 - 2000

Guardian of my mind

In grade school and in church, I would hear such phrases as "Garbage In" "Garbage Out" or "As a man thinketh so is he."

I have been making a concerted effort to be careful as to what I expose myself to. There have been occasions where someone has told me a bunch of negative information about an individual, and I leave the conversation feeling soiled with negative energy.

Uplifting music, positive social interactions, exercise, and reminiscing on happy occasions usually help uplift my spirits. There were be more blogs to follow on this subject.

Family Unity

As I mature into my adulthood years, I have come to realize that interpersonal relationships are vitally important for happiness in this life. Reconnecting with my family has become a priority for 2014.

After my grandparents passed away, I discontinued interacting with my uncle and his family. In order to protect myself from being hurt any further.

                                                         Twelve years passed.

I believe that God and my grandmother are responsible for the changes that have taken place in my heart and thoughts. A strong inclination came upon me to reconnect with my family. Initially, I was nervous and apprehensive because I did not know how they would respond to my reaching out to them. Much to my pleasant surprise, they accepted me with open arms.

Last month, I spent three weeks with them. I enjoyed reminiscing with them about the past. We shared funny stories about grandma and grandpa and accounts of when my cousins and I were growing up. Even though this was an awesome experience, I felt a twinge of guilt for letting anger and resentment consume me for so long.

Today, I continue to make an effort to not let anger and resentment well up in me. There are times when an anger provoking memory rears up its ugly head. I can feel a wave of hostile emotion well up in me. When this occurs, I pray and focus on more pleasant memories.

Since I've returned home, my mom and my uncle and aunt and I have been having a daily devotional Bible study in the mornings.

At present time, there are forces that are trying to break up our family unity. One of my cousins is really struggling right now. Her husband has been playing games with her mind to the point in which she tried to kill herself. Unfortunately, she has bought into his lies, and she has become consumed with hatred for our family. My prayer and hope for her is that she will realize that she has a family who loves her dearly and that anger and resentment are stealers of precious time that she could be spending with her family making happy memories.

I don't know why I have been chosen to help bring our family together. I am not sure what I can do to restore the unity other than continue to seek help and guidance from the Lord.