If you watch enough late night television, you’ll see advertisements that suggest that the Federal Government is giving all kinds of things away. You’ll see ads for auctions that promise that you can buy a Ferrari for $500 or a home for $1000 through “government liquidations” or some such thing. You’ll also see ads that promise to tell you how you can get money for free to purchase a home. Is this for real? Will Washington provide you with money to purchase a home?

It shouldn’t surprise anyone who wasn’t born yesterday that these ads that sound too good to be real are just that. Yes, the Government makes millions of dollars available for certain uses, and yes, some of those uses include housing. But little of that money is available for individuals, and none of it is available for John Q. Public to buy a home on a golf course in Shady Pines Estates. Most of the available funds are available only to businesses and other organizations, not individuals. You can obtain grant money if you own a company that would like to build a 100-unit apartment complex for low-income residents. You might even obtain some grant money if you’d like to overhaul a 100-year old home in a blighted neighborhood as a step towards urban renewal. You won’t get the money to build or buy the mansion next door to Tiger Woods.

So yes, funds are available, but only under fairly limited circumstances. And the process of applying for and

The Question: After identifying a potential employer, I get contact information, do my research and send out my resume and cover letter, requesting an interview for a management or human resource position. I am listed with recruiters and staffing agencies and call them every week.

I attend local networking events but end up meeting people who are also unsuccessful job-seekers. And I search the Internet bulletin boards, sending my resume and following up a few days later. Help!!!

The Answer: Remember the story about the man who was searching for his keys under a bright street light? He explained to a passer-by, “I lost my keys in the parking lot - but it’s too dark over there!”

Job-seekers need to leave the brightly illuminated paths and delve into the dark corners where they will find their own keys to success.

First, you need to network before you hit the mailbox. I know — that dreaded “N” word. However, if you’re applying for a senior level job, you’re often expected to arrive via an introduction.

Second, a vague set of goals will win your resume a one-way ticket to the wastebasket. You need a separate resume and cover letter for each position, carefully targeted to showcase your skills and your unique ability to fill that position.

Third, seasoned professionals often make simple grammar and spelling mistakes because they’re operating on overload. A resume is just one more hassle in a crowded day. You probably know these mistakes can kill your chances, even if your skills are stellar.

Grandpa’s House
[The ole Real House]

The house needed painting
Sun-blistered and flaking
Grandpa started to have us
BoysMike and I start
Doing some scraping

While he, pealed off the ole
Paint, and started painting

Just a humble wooden house
With several rooms, but

Strong enough to keep the
Winds and winter snows out,
How he loved that ole house!…

An’ his well-kept yard, which
Contained lilac bushes, and

Big shade trees; where birds
And squirrels livedseason
To season, scattered on

Branchesthey looked like
Play things (back in the 50s)

#807 8/18/05

Note by the author: “We all grew up together I suppose you might say, my brother and I, mom and grandpa, a few aunts in the beginning, all living in an extended family environment; that is how it felt anyhow. Although the house belonged to my grandfather, we all lived together; now it all seems so long ago, and what pops out of my mind is: I never did take a liking to painting houses after painting his a few times.”

From Iraq with Love

American’s most often are
Certain of what they want
From the world
In a large measure,
In charge:
Gold, machinery,
Symbols
It’s what it’s all
About

Shaving
Showering
Outfitting
Medications
Cosmetics
It’s what it’s all
About

Breakfast
Banquettes
TV’s and couches
Adolescents
Engagement rings
Thanksgiving’s:
Blessings, gratitude
(no secrets here)
It’s what it’s all
About

Family
Snow and rain
North by a highway
Dirt and mud
Children
Classmates
Cookies
Just beautiful
Thingsfreedom
To say and be
That’s the way it was meant
To be:

An’ then,
Along came a bullet:
No mercy
Your dead!…
Nothing more said.

#806 8/16/05

Note by the author: “I am not for or against the war in Iraq, for the most part; although I do believe America did do a great service for the world, and the Iraqi people by bringing down Saddam, a