Post Secret- holidays (Part 4)/ Post Secret (Part 19)/ "Meek Mill posts bail for 20 women to bring them home for the holidays"

Nov. 27, 2022:

Classic secrets:

Dec. 4, 2022 Post Secret:

On one side:

If you are needing a sign, this is it!

Use what's left of 2022 to light up your soul!

On the other side are a picture of poinsettias: "Christmas Greetings!"

Dec. 9, 2022:

On one side: "Every year I write a letter to Santa.

(I'm 37 years old)."

On the other side:

"HE ALWAYS REPLIES TOO!

Those postal elves at Canada Post rock! :)"

Classic secrets:

Dec. 18, 2022 Classic secrets:

Dec. 25, 2022 Holiday secrets:

PostSecret Holiday Story

—post on PostSecret Facebook page—
Dear PostSecret,
To the person who feels horrible for telling their child there is no Santa. My son just wrote Santa last night asking for that special present. And I didn’t have the heart to tell him that “Santa’s” back injury has kept her from waiting tables these past two weeks, and with no child support check these past 7 months, all the other bills are adding up too. And the local charity is saying the application deadline is past, and they can’t guarantee anything specific. My secret: I wish Santa Claus was real, so on Christmas, no child would have to go without, and no parent would have to feel like they failed their child.
-Amber

—post on PostSecret Facebook page—
Hey PostSecret,
I just read the response the woman wrote about not being able to get the “special present” for her son. I know I can’t do this for every child out there, but if you’d tell her that there’s someone out there willing to try and buy their son that gift, then I’d appreciate it very much. I’d have to know what the gift is I’m a college student with a limited budget, but I don’t want her to feel like a failure for having an injury. It would be a lovely Christmas present for me if I were able to put a smile on the faces of two strangers on Christmas morning.
-Thanks,
Molly

—post on PostSecret Facebook page—
Hi Amber,
If you set up a PayPal account, I’ll contribute to it, and invite others to also.
thanks,
-Frank

—post on PostSecret Facebook page—
Frank,
First off let me tell you how thankful I am to you and your wonderful offer. I was not in any way expecting any sort of help. I just wanted to let this person know that they’re not alone. I did set up a PayPal account under this email address.
Gratefully yours,
-Amber

—post on PostSecret Facebook page—
Hi Amber,
Thanks for providing us with a way to help you give your son the Christmas all children deserve. I just made a contribution for you and expect that you might get a few more from other PostSecret visitors.
Happy Holidays,
-Frank

—post on PostSecret Facebook page—
Hey Molly,
Check the website again. You can help,
-Frank

—post on PostSecret Facebook page—
Dear PostSecret,
I made a donation and I was surprised at how good it felt. You don’t have to be a millionaire to feel the joy of being generous.
-Molly

—post on PostSecret Facebook page—
Frank,
Santa Claus is real and alive and well. He lives in you and others like you all over the world. I’m overwhelmed by the love and generosity strangers have shown my family today. I never would have imagined it would get as large a response in such little time as it has. Not only will I be able to afford the present he asked for, but clothes and other necessities I’ve been putting off. I’ve got what I need, so please remove my PayPal account from PostSecret and I urge anyone who wants to help someone in need to get in touch with their local charities. Thank you for making my wish come true,
-Amber

[from a series of social media posts, later presented in ‘PostSecret The Show’.]

Here are the other 2 blog posts:

"Hybrid work could transform the labour market and the economy, but employers can't go it alone"/ "Why 'hybrid work' is a meaningless phrase"

Tracy's blog: "Hybrid work could transform the labour market and the economy, but employers can't go it alone"/ "Why 'hybrid work' is a meaningless phrase" (badcb.blogspot.com)

"Our newfound hybrid work freedoms will come with a heavy price — more hot-desking"/ "Hybrid work enters a third dimension as co-working spaces take off"

Tracy's blog: "Our newfound hybrid work freedoms will come with a heavy price — more hot-desking"/ "Hybrid work enters a third dimension as co-working spaces take off" (badcb.blogspot.com)

My week:

Fri. Dec. 23, 2022 "81% of Canadians are worried about a recession in 2023: survey": Today I found this article by John Shmuel on BNN Bloomberg: 

A recent Leger survey, conducted on behalf of BNN Bloomberg and RATESDOTCA, studied Canadians’ general attitudes toward an oncoming downturn and found that 81 per cent are worried about the possibility of a recession — and more than half are actively preparing for one. 

According to the survey results, 56 per cent of respondents are preparing for a recession in some way. In order to do that, 38 per cent are cutting down their expenditures. 

Other ways respondents say they’re preparing for a recession include 

paying down debt (18 per cent), 

keeping their savings liquid instead of in investments (14 per cent), 

and asking for a raise or taking on more work (six per cent). 

On the other hand, 39 per cent say they are not preparing for a recession, with 22 per cent believing that there is nothing they can do to prepare. Whereas others don’t feel the need to prepare (seven per cent) or haven’t thought about it (10 per cent). Notably, those with an annual income of at least $60,000 are also more likely to prepare (63 per cent) as compared to only 47 per cent of those who earn less than $60,000.

81% of Canadians are worried about a recession in 2023: survey - BNN Bloomberg

My opinion: I'm always saving money.  I'm frugal.  I am mentally and emotionally prepared for a recession of if or when it happens.  I won't be surprised. 

Sat. Dec. 24, 2022 Christmas Eve: We had a roast beef for dinner with some roasted veggies.  There was gravy.

S came over for dinner.  We don't exchange gifts.  This is about quality time and eating good food.

Sun. Dec. 25, 2022 Christmas: We didn't really do anything on this day.

Mon. Dec. 26, 2022 Boxing Day: I went to City Centre mall because they had 2 Shoppers Drug Mart.  I looked around at all the stores, and then I decided to buy all 3 President Choice's Sour Cream and Onion chips for $1.99 each.  I ate Sour Cream and Onion chips from No Name and Lays, but they're not as good as President Choice's.

I also bought President Choice's Mint Thins.  They're from the holidays.  A box of 300 grams for $2.39.  They're good.

Christmas tin cans: I was talking to S from the Personality Meetup group.  She is this 40 something yr old East Indian woman.

S: I buy these cookies and candy that come in these nice decorative tin cans during the Christmas time.  I usually give the food to my friends and co-workers to eat, and keep the tin can for myself.

Last Boxing Day 2021, I bought the President's Choice Luxury Biscuits.  They were biscuits dipped in chocolate.  After I ate it, I kept the black tin can.  I have mainly put scrap paper in it to recycle for later.

Dec. 28, 2022 Capilano: This is Boxing week, so I decided to go here.  All the stores are selling the Christmas season products like chocolate, cookies, and decor on sale.

Shoppers Drug Mart: They moved from 101 Ave to Capilano.  The clerk told me that this location is bigger than the previous one.  They sell frozen food here unlike the last one.

Dollarama: I checked this store.  They don't sell snack cakes, but Wagon Wheels.

Wal- mart: I see they had a small section of snack cakes, and I tried nearly all of them.  

Dec. 27, 2022 Holiday job search: In Dec. 2021, the last 2 weeks of my Call Centre #7/ Work from Home job was closed due to lack of work.  That's ok, because I was getting EI.

In Oct. 2022, I passed out my resumes to 2 malls for the holiday season.  I also went on the store's websites to apply.  I got 1 call back from Clothing Store #3 over in the west end and a skin care company also in the west end.

I did get interviews at 2 restaurants and a bakery.  I was focused on retail because I thought I would get hired there.

It's ok I didn't get hired, because there was work at Call Centre #7.  The place is closed for the last week of Dec.

Dec. 23, 2022 "Hiring for holiday season 'chaotic' as applicants ghost retailers in tight labour market": Today I found this article by Bianca Bharti on the Financial Post:

Hiring this holiday season has been 'chaotic' for retailers | Financial Post

Dec. 27, 2022 "Wisconsin waitress gets $1,000 tip from Christmas customer": Today I found this on Yahoo.  I like this article because it's about charity and good deeds: 

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin waitress got a Christmas morning surprise from a customer — a $1,000 tip.

Callie Blue, 29, was waiting tables at Gus's Diner in Sun Prairie, just outside Madison, at 6 a.m. Sunday when she started chatting with one of the few customers in the restaurant at that hour, the Wisconsin State Journal reported. He left her a $1,000 tip.

The customer was Michael Johnson, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County. He told the newspaper he was looking for people in need as part of the club’s Pay It Forward campaign. Two donors had given about $5,000 for tip money.

He said his Christmas Day schedule was booked with families he planned to help starting at 7:30 a.m. so he searched the internet for restaurants open at 6 a.m. and learned about Gus's Diner. He also had gotten an email about Blue and wanted to measure her customer service skills and demeanor.

He was impressed enough to pull $1,000 from the $5,000 tip money. He said about 12 servers got big tips but Blue got the biggest one because it was Christmas morning and she was the last recipient.

Blue called the tip amazing and said she'll use it to help feed her four horses.

Wisconsin waitress gets $1,000 tip from Christmas customer (yahoo.com)

Dec. 28, 2022 "Buffalo woman saves life of disabled man with severe frostbite": Today I found this article by Anna Lazarus Caplan on People.   I like this article because it's about charity and good deeds: 

A Buffalo man is in the ICU with fourth-degree frostbite after two strangers saved him during the city's "once in a lifetime" blizzard over the weekend.

Sha'Kyra Aughtry and her boyfriend Trent were at home on Christmas Eve when they heard Joe White, 64, calling for help during the epic snowstorm, reported CNN.

Aughtry's boyfriend quickly brought White inside and discovered his clothes frozen to his body and ice covering his exposed hands, the outlet added.

The mother of three then used a blow dryer to melt the ice that had caked his body and started a Facebook Livestream for medical advice after calling 911 and not being able to get a response.

"I've called the National Guard. I've called 911. I've called everybody – they just keep telling me I'm on a list. I don't want to be on a list," Aughtry said on her live stream about treating White, who is developmentally disabled and believed to have ventured out in the sub-zero conditions to work his job at a nearby movie theater.

"I don't care about nothing else," Aughtry added. "This man is not about to die over here."

Fortunately, a group of men — also strangers — saw Aughtry's videos and arrived at her home to help, reported local outlet Sweet Buffalo. They then carried White outside wrapped in a blanket to their truck and drove him to the hospital, where he is recovering from his injuries.

The movie theater has since raised more than $50,000 for White's recovery.

Joe's sister, Yvonne White, is also indebted to Aughtry and her boyfriend. "We were all trying to help each other and it was wonderful," she told CNN. "And now I feel like I have a sister and three nephews," she added, regarding Sha'Kyra and her three sons.

Buffalo Woman Saves Life of Disabled Man with Severe Frostbite (people.com)

"Meek Mill posts bail for 20 women to bring them home for the holidays: 'I'm grateful' to help": Today I found this article by Sydney Bucksbaum on Yahoo:

Meek Mill is making sure some Philadelphia families can be home for the holidays together.

The rapper's nonprofit, REFORM Alliance, announced over the weekend that he had paid the bail for 20 women currently incarcerated at the Riverside Correctional Facility in Philadelphia so they could be home for the holidays.

"The women, who were unable to afford bail, will now be able to spend the holiday season with their families and loved ones," the official Instagram account for REFORM Alliance said on Saturday. "Five women were released today and will be reunited with their families, with the goal of 15 more women being released in the coming week. The women will also each receive a gift card to purchase groceries or gifts for the holidays."

"For families impacted by the criminal justice system, the holidays can be an extremely challenging time," Mill (real name Robert Rihmeek Williams) said. "No one should have to spend the holidays in jail simply because they can't afford bail, and no child should be without their parents during this time if we can do something about it. I'm grateful for the opportunity to help these women be with their families and loved ones during this special time of year."

Meek Mill posts bail for 20 women to bring them home for the holidays: 'I'm grateful' to help (yahoo.com)

"High inflation is coming for the beaver on your money. How long can the nickel last?": Today I found this article by Dan Pittis on CBC:

In 2023, it will be 10 years since we lost the penny. With inflation hovering just below seven per cent, can the nickel be far behind?

As recently as 2009 more than half of all transactions were in cash. By 2017 that had fallen to one-third. Over the same period, all money transactions, a figure that includes larger block transfers, declined from about one-quarter cash to 15 per cent. An outbreak of germophobia early in the pandemic only increased non-cash payments.

High inflation is coming for the beaver on your money. How long can the nickel last? | CBC News

My opinion: I wanted to keep the penny in circulation.  I wanted things to be accurate to the cent.  It's okay that it's not in circulation.