Exactly a year ago I came to Nashville for the first time

https://paulbbrightly.blogspot.com/2024/03/visiting-nashville-tn.html

https://paulbbrightly.blogspot.com/2024/03/nashville-experience.html

When I came to Nashville for the first time March 19th, 2024 I was waiting to hear back from a job transfer that I put in from the Hartford Plant on September 3rd, 2023. During that span I had perfect attendance in 2024. I reached out to Human Resources at the Nashville Plant and let her know I was in town on March 20th, 2024 from March 19th, 2024-March 23rd, 2024. At the time I was waiting to hear back from my transfer because I didn't hear anything other than being acknowledged that they received my request to transfer. I was thinking to myself if I didn't get my transfer then I could reapply and try to transfer again. 

Meanwhile, on my vacation last year on my birthday while visiting the Volunteer state I was amazed how close everything is from Nashville International Airport (BNA). I had a chance to blog in posts mentioned in the links above. I'm now a resident here in Nashville. Nashville has improved so much where hotels, grocery stores, restaurants, etc., are near BNA some of the locals mentioned to me. The people are very friendly and their story is what inspires me to want to reach out and help those who are working 3 jobs and struggling financially to keep up with their bills.

Similar to last year when I was in Nashville I got a bite to eat and like last year I'm on vacation. The only difference was last year I went out to eat at a restaurant after I checked in my hotel room. Today I ordered food from a restaurant to be sent to my house here in Nashville. Like last year I plan on doing different activities while being on vacation from work. I do plan on traveling in June and August. I'm planning on visiting Mississippi and Louisiana. The dates are yet to be determined. Soon as I know I will book me a ticket. That is all for free speech on all topics till next time keep an eye out for more blogs like this. God Bless You!

My decision to go to the Nashville Plant and why

 When I left Hartford, CT Post Office Plant and transferred to Music 🎵🎶 City 🏙️ Annex Warehouse in Nashville, TN I didn't know at first that that was where I would be at. I thought 🤔 that I would be at the Nashville Plant. I was at a hotel 🏨 Hampton Inn & Suites from November 29th, 2024 till December 27th, 2024. I found me an apartment December 27th, 2024 after I checked out of my hotel that I've stayed in for 4 weeks.

I started working at the Warehouse as a transfer November 30th, 2024 during heavy peak season. I remember some Postal Service Employees (PSE's) Mail Processing Clerks were asking me if I was a PSE or Regular. I told them that I was a transfer and that I am Regular. Some PSE's were coming from the Nashville Plant to do their overtime at the Warehouse. I remember how I used to come from the hotel at 5 PM (2 hours early overtime) and I would get off at 3:30 AM just so I wouldn't have to do 2 hours of overtime after my shift ended. Nothing was ever said about it.

I think that what really did it for me was the way they kept pushing relief 😮‍💨 on the MCA flats with us Mail Clerks when 9 Mail Clerks bidded out of the MCA flats. I found myself being told by supervisors almost everyday to do 2 hours of OT and even 4 hours of OT occasionally. I knew that I was going to eventually get off of the Overtime Desired List (ODL). So what I did was I bidded and got my bid at the Plant and got off of ODL after I got my bid.

My decision to go to the Plant was that it was another difficult decision that I had to make. I had to look at the transportation part of it. The Plant is 5 minutes from my house. The MCA Warehouse is 12 minutes from my house. I can literally walk to the Plant from my house, it's that close to me. I've been hearing different mixed reactions about the Plant. 

I get it but people have to understand that their not-so-good experiences that they had will not necessarily be what I will go through. I was careful when I got contact infos. I made sure that I got contact infos from those who were not career like me because those who are career will try to discourage me from going to the Plant just to try to scare me, intimidate me, and second guess my decision.

People saying negative things to me believe it or not is my biggest motivation. If I don't agree with the things they tell me I just nod. I'm not going to take what they say to heart because the things that they are saying is discouraging. By saying the things that they said to me, they made my decision much easier. Not all negative things that people say to us is discouraging. Sometimes what they say is a way to tune them out especially if we don't believe that it will happen to us like they're assuming.

The Tuesday/Wednesday Non-Scheduled days is not going to be permanent. I'm preparing a head for the next time that I will be able to bid again. I think for me it will be mid April where I can try to bid better job positions and better days off. I will keep y'all posted. That is all for free speech on all topics till next time keep an eye out for more blogs like this. God Bless You!

Top 5 Events that I've Attended

 #5 1988 Sam's Birthday Party 

My brother Courtney baby-sat for a woman in Middletown, CT. The woman was a single mom and I remember when she came by the house. Me, Courtney, and our mom rented a house in Hartford that the landlord owned. Sam's mom came by and Courtney must've told her that I was his little brother. The woman said these very words that I will never forget, "You will definitely 😁 be a male influence on my son Sam at his birthday party."

I remember Courtney telling me and mom how he baby-sat Sam for his mom. One time Sam got into an argument with Courtney and Sam used some really bad 😞😔 curse words. Sam tried to even fight Courtney. Courtney picked Sam up and hung him on the coat rack until Sam's mom came home. 

Sam's mom came inside and asked, "What are you two doing?"

Courtney replied, "We're just having a little fun. 😊 

Sam's mom responded, "Carry on."

I got ready and I remember Sam's mom took me and Courtney to Sam's birthday party. Sam had just turned 6. I was 10 and Courtney was 14. Talk about a really cool party, I started chatting with Sam and mentioned to him how Courtney did stuff to me being my big brother. The next thing that I know one of Sam's friend at the party (a girl) said these very words that I will never forget. "You two could be brothers the way that you talk and get along with each other." That shocked me but it was cool 😎 the way that the girl said that. Sam's mom had this really cool game where Sam while blindfolded hit the pinata 🪅 and candy 🍬🍭 fell out.

I can remember the fun we had and the candy we got from that game. I remember when Sam's party was over Sam's mom asked me if I enjoyed it. I remember saying "yes" and telling her that one of Sam's friend said that we could be brothers. Sam's mom face lit up with happiness 😊 and simply responded, "Yes you and Sam could be brothers. Sam needs someone like a brother in his life."

#4 1990 Courtney's Appreciation 

I will never forget the birthday appreciation that mom threw for Courtney's 16th birthday party. My mom had ordered enough food that people could take seconds and thirds home from then Valley's Steakhouse. It was April 4th 1990 and a palm Sunday at that. You want to talk about something that was so well put together and in order, that was how mom did Courtney's Appreciation. I can remember the Shirley Temple drinks, I must've had 10 glasses of Shirley Temples that evening.

Meanwhile, mom kept the whole party quiet. 🤐🤫 She made up the guest list so Courtney wouldn't find out. So many people came out to Courtney's Appreciation. The Mayor of Hartford came by in passing and whoever wasn't able to come donated money. 💰 Sam and his mom came to Courtney's Appreciation. It felt like being at the Grammy Awards the way people had a lot of wonderful things to say about Courtney.

Mr. Steele Courtney's highschool music 🎵 🎶 teacher:

"Courtney borrow our saxophone 🎷 to play out of town at events. We let Courtney use our saxophone because we trust Courtney and we can always depend on Courtney."

Brother Melvin from the church in New York we attended:

"It's amazing how on a Palm Sunday like this how everyone comes together like this to honor Courtney."

This was amazing how the acknowledgement poured out for Courtney. Mom did this because me and Courtney used to get kicked out of the libraries when Courtney was 10 and I was 6 because of me and when Courtney had to deal with Sam acting up real bad one time. Mom gave Courtney a saxophone for his birthday because he had the highschool's saxophone more than they did.

#3 1992 Courtney's Highschool Graduation

When Courtney was born he was 12 LBS 3 Ounces. Courtney was so big that the doctor 🏥 had to brake both of his arms. Courtney was a critical baby and the doctor had to send Courtney to Hartford hospital. The doctor said to mom if Courtney lived he would be a vegetable. Thank the Lord we had such a praying mom who didn't accept evil reports. 

Mom said that Courtney would live and be normal. Courtney was a miracle baby. Courtney had to use a walker. Courtney was a fighter and started walking at 9 months. Courtney got to the place where when he walked he took that walker and threw it because he didn't need it. Courtney also was very smart. 🤓 Courtney read a lot of books and studied from Kindergarten all the way till 12th grade. Courtney was left-handed because of what the doctor had to do when Courtney was born. Courtney made honors and high honors from Kindergarten-12th grade and graduated high school with high honors at 18. Courtney was the only brother whose father came to his highschool graduation. Courtney was considered most likely to succeed and all of his friends looked up to Courtney.

Courtney taught me that if I do good in school and graduate highschool that they will come to my graduation like they did his. Courtney is a realtor and a supervisor at American Airlines and been working for AA for 17 years now.

#2 1997 My Highschool Graduation 

I spent my elementary school from Kindergarten- 2nd Grade being taken out of teachers classes because they tried to say that I was slow or couldn't learn like the other kids in class and just proved teachers wrong when they doubted me. I never knew that I would be proving doubters wrong even as an adult.

My journey in school had me going through a lot of adversity and overcoming it. I missed making honor roll in highschool by one letter grade but I knew it was because I didn't apply myself more. When I did get good grades I made sure I did when it really mattered the most. At 19 I graduated highschool with 112 classmates. I work at the Post Office and been here for a little over 5 years now. I enjoy working behind the scenes scanning packages, feeding and sweeping the mail and getting the mail ready for the carriers to deliver.

#1 1997 Marisa's College Graduation

Ms. Mercedes who my mom knew from hairdressing school back in the 80's used to do my mom's hair. Ms. Mercedes has a daughter Marisa and a son Chris. When we were little me and Courtney used to go to East Hartford where Ms. Mercedes, Marisa, and Chris lived at. We used to bring food home. 

Anyway, Ms. Mercedes invited my mom and me to Marisa's College Graduation at UCONN in Storrs. Not sure what I was going to do I had a chance to see Marisa get her Bachelor's Degree. Seeing Marisa walk across that stage inspired me to go to Community college and I got my Associates Degree at Capital Community college. After Marisa's graduation Ms. Mercedes had a party for Marisa at her house in Windsor. Marisa's brother Chris went on to get his Bachelor's Degree in 1999 at a college in Philadelphia, PA. Marisa is in Long Beach, CA and is very successful. Chris is in Hartford and is married and have a daughter with his wife.

Those are my Top 5 events that I attended.

Trying to get over the heated argument I had with my now deceased brother Troy

 For those of you who had brothers whether younger or older than you, us brothers argue, fight, and it may take 2 weeks-till a month for us to start speaking to one another. Anyway it was December 15th 2023. I went to management in Newington to mail them a door key 🗝️ and mailbox key. My brother Courtney had helped me moved the last of my stuff out of the 3 bedroom 2 bathroom to the dumpster in Bloomfield.

I became an East Hartford resident on November 9th 2023. I sent Troy a text message letting him know how he & Paula hurt me when me and our mom stayed with them in Orlando, FL in 1998, 2000, and 2003. The last time that I went to that part of Florida was in 2003 and was to go to my cousin Ebony's high school graduation. 🎓 I didn't specifically go into the years that me and mom stayed with Troy and Paula but the episodes because I remember them very well.

Troy sent me a text saying something like this. "Paul I don't understand what you are saying. You need to just grow up and forgive me for the things that I said to you that offended you. This is the last time that I'm apologizing to you!" Troy then called me and had given me a scathing response but not before asking me how I was doing and if everything is good. I mainly listened to Troy tell me things like he doesn't remember everything that he said and that he doesn't make promises that he doesn't keep. My whole reason was to just address the issue about Troy belittling me saying things like, "If I ever get out on my own that I would fall flat on my face or I wouldn't leave home until I was forty." I mentioned to Troy that he said discouraging and encouraging things and that it was really tough to understand where he was coming from with his comments directed at me.

Troy took it upon himself to call me on the phone and come at me aggressively. That was the last straw for me. I read all of my one very long text to Troy to 3 co-workers and one to my mom's classmate from Capital Community College (these were all women) and they all said that I said nothing wrong nor was I aggressive at the text that I sent Troy. Troy ended the heated argument when I mentioned to Troy how Troy and our mom shut me down when I tried to tell him how I didn't like staying in Orlando in 2003 with Troy and Paula. Troy said these very words to me. "Paul you're leaving it up to me if you want me to be your big brother and look out for you. Here is what I will do for you since you said that I shut you down. I don't have to call you, I don't have to write you, and I don't have to keep in touch with you!" 

I had had enough of Troy talking to me like I was his child or one of his dogs that Troy and Paula own. I simply said, "That is fine with me." After I got off the phone with Troy I blocked his number and didn't unblock Troy's number until after I learned that Troy passed on February 1st 2025. Courtney has reached out to me and asked if I want to go to Troy's funeral and I'm explaining to Courtney that this is going to take some serious getting over this. I had to call out sick Tuesday and Wednesday from work. I'm waiting to get my plated ID card in the mail because of the temporary paper copy that I'm forced to use until then. I recently transferred over my direct deposit from M&T bank to Nashville Post Office Credit Union and I'm awaiting if I'm eligible for an early as 2 days before the pay period type of direct deposit. 

Could The Tampa Bay Buccaneers really fire Todd Bowles as Bucs head coach?

 After listening 🎧 to the 6 seeded Washington Commanders (12-5) against the 3 seeded Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) play on the radio 📻 last I checked online to see and read headlines asking Could the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fire Todd Bowles as Bucs head coach after the Commanders ended the Bucs season beating the Bucs 23-20 in Raymond James Stadium 🏟️ in Tampa, FL (the only upset 😭 in Super Wildcard weekend). I couldn't help but to wonder 🤔 why would the headline be that? It should be when will Todd Bowles be fired as head coach. I'm looking and reading reasons why Bowles should stay and none of the reasons make any sense to me. 

Bowles has had 3 years to make this Bucs team a Superbowl caliber team. Bowles has had a chance to make this Bucs team a Superbowl caliber team. In 3 years, the Bucs have managed to go (8-9) win the Division and get hammered by the Dallas Cowboys (12-5) in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL 31-14 in Tom Brady's last season with the Bucs in the Wildcard in 2022. The Bucs at (4-8) on the outside looking in won 5 straight games to go (9-8) and win the Division in 2023 rolled the Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) 32-9 in Raymond James Stadium 🏟️ in Tampa, FL in the Wildcard. Then the Bucs loss 31-23 to the Detroit Lions (12-5) in Detroit in the Divisional playoffs which we knew that the Lions were a better team than the Bucs.

Then the Bucs at (4-6) looked like they were on the bubble won 6 out of their last seven games all against weak opponents. The Dallas Cowboys a team who had nothing to play for beat the Bucs 26-24 on a recovery of a key Bucs fumble that cost the Bucs a chance at winning in the end. The Bucs played two horrible teams in the Carolina Panthers who the Bucs steamrolled 48-14 at home and the New Orleans Saints who the Bucs needed a big play to win 30-19 to go (10-7) and win the Division. 

It's time to stop making excuses for a coach who is awful 😞 at clock management. Bucs QB Baker Mayfield made a costly turnover on a botched Jett sweep pass that Washington recovered at the Bucs 12 yard line when the Bucs were up 17-13 over the Commanders. You can blame Mayfield for that costly turnover but it's ultimately the coach who designs the play or plays. Emotionless Bowles didn't say anything to Mayfield to indicate that what Mayfield did was wrong. A really good coach would have had a conservation with Mayfield and said, "this is not the time to try anything fancy with our season on the line. You go out there in that huddle and tell the players do not give up 6 points force the Commanders into 3 points and when we play on offense and get first downs, run the clock out and get out of here with a 17-16 win and play another game!"

Todd Bowles much like Tony Dungy is not emotional. When Tony Dungy was the Bucs head coach he was in a similar situation when Dungy coached the Bucs in the late 90's. Tony Dungy took this Bucs team at (11-5) to the NFC Championship game in 1999. The Bucs loss to the Saint Louis Rams (13-3) 11-6. Management extended Dungy's contract. The Bucs (10-6) would play the Philadelphia Eagles (10-6) in the Wildcard and the Bucs got embarrassed 😳 21-3 in Veteran's Stadium 🏟️ in 2000. Then the Bucs (9-7) with the addition of Brad Johnson and Keyshawn Johnson played the same Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) in 2001 in Veteran's Stadium and got humiliated 31-9. Tony Dungy's scheme was so predictable that the Eagles stuffed their runs on 1st & 2nd downs that the Bucs were forced to throw on 3rd down and long and the Eagles played the pass really good and forced incomplete passes, interceptions, fumble and recovery, and sacking the Bucs QB.

Dungy clearly was out schemed and just didn't mentally prepare his team who were a better team than those Eagles teams to play the Eagles in Veteran's Stadium. Management had seen enough and decided to fire Dungy as head coach because the Bucs was no longer Superbowl contenders. They became a vulnerable team that was only a Wildcard team and they were afraid 😟 😳 to play the Eagles. Dungy went on to win a Superbowl with the Indianapolis Colts in 2006. Bowles won a Superbowl as Bucs defensive coordinator and nothing else. 

In my humble opinion (IMHO) I think 🤔 that we need to ask Bruce Arians if he would be our coach again. BA is a proven winner and he would have us at (13-4) or (14-3) and competing for Superbowl Championships. If we don't fire Bowles as head coach it will get worse every year. Bowles is not the right coach for the Bucs. That is all for free speech on all topics sports edition. Till next time keep an eye out for more blogs like this. God Bless You!

Reflecting on my decision to move to Nashville

 I saw an opportunity to leave a job that had a toxic environment and be in a much better situation. This was my chance to move on from a situation that was reckless, out of control, and uncomfortable. 😣 Was it risky on my part? Yes but how many people that was in my situation would say they wouldn't have done the same. It's easy to tell someone that they should stay at their job and not transfer. If they had an opportunity I know that they would move especially if it was for the better.

The Hartford Plant tried to use every tactic they could by throwing so much questions at me. Even the supervisors at the Hartford Plant was questioning me. I answered every question ❓ no different than the first 30 questions that people asked me. I didn't care about losing my Seniority at the Hartford Plant because at the end of the day it was all about what the Lord felt what was best for me. I'm not easily intimated so job titles didn't phase me. I've had Mail Clerks, MDO Supervisors, and Automation Supervisors try all that they could to break me.

They tried to get me to be permanently put on light duty all because I was one of the harder workers on the job. I went through something similar when I was in the Army 🪖reserve back in 2010 where they kept sending me to a mental hospital 🏥 because I couldn't adapt to some of the simple drills in Fort Jackson, SC. They tried to break me and get me to plead insanity so that when I got out of the military I would be placed in a mental hospital instead of where I lived at. I thank the Lord for keeping me sane because they couldn't get me to confess anything but what a normal person would say. I left the military 🎖️🪖 with a General but honorable discharge. 

So far I'm 2-0 beating adversity in both the Hartford Plant and the military. Now everyone at the Hartford Plant misses me because I wouldn't let a broken down machine #41 that have heavy volume of mail and that breaks down all of the time make me crippled. I'm grateful 🥲 and thankful for having such a chill and laid-back job with days off that people are begging for on a hard and demanding job. I was happy 😊 and relieved 😌😅 to finally be able to confess the things I had to endure. That is all for free speech 💬 on all topics till next time keep an eye out for more blogs like this. God Bless You!

How I made Tennessee my home

 I can remember when I put in my transfer back in September 3rd, 2023 to the Nashville Post Office in Tennessee. I knew that if I didn't get my transfer then I would try again. I first got denied May 6th, 2024 and received the letter May 10th, 2024 in the mail about my unsatisfactory attendance. I had unscheduled absences in 2022 (11) and 2023 (6). People at my job at the Hartford Plant were saying to me that I had good attendance. Mainly supervisors said all of the good comments about me.

 

I didn't know about the Family Medical Act (FMLA) because no one really wanted to help me or tell me how to get it. They wanted me to be a worker who never thought 🤔 that I would want to transfer from the Hartford Plant. Supervisors viewed me as compliant, someone who they could push around, manipulate, and disrespect. So I changed how supervisors viewed me.

When a Mail Processing Clerk (Level 6) position became open for June 1st 2024, I immediately reapplied to transfer to Nashville. At that time I took 3 trips (twice to FL and once to Nashville). The Nashville Post Office had already looked back at my attendance record from 2020-2023. I knew my attendance was good and kept track of the Annual Leave (AL) using the paperwork when AL was needed to take time off from the Hartford Plant. I didn't do any callouts accept the time when I went to Nashville the 2nd time from June 26-July 2 (I set my alarm ⏰ clock for June 30th instead of July 1st and missed my flight ✈️). By the time I planned my 5th trip I went to ATL, had the 16 hours of Sick 🤢 Leave (SL) approved and I put in 24 hours of AL which is automatically approved, when I came back to work the 90 days of 3 unexcused absences found my 1 unexcused absence wiped out from that quarter.

Meanwhile, my transfer request was sent out October 4th 2024 from the Hartford Plant when my evaluation and a record of my attendance was sent 📤 to the Nashville Post Office. I got the email ✉️ on October 15th approving my transfer request from the Nashville Post Office and they had given me a 10 day to respond date by October 25th. I waited 2 days and it was an easy accept the offer for Mail Processing Clerk position. I accepted the offer on October 17th 2024 and my schedule was all set for November 30th 2024 from 7 PM-3:30 AM with Sunday/Monday off.

I'm currently staying at Hampton Inn & Suites in Nashville. I will probably be here for 2-4 weeks the most and I plan to look for apartments, I will try every Monday and hopefully get me an apartment like I had to do when my mom passed last year when I was in Hartford. I am so relieved 😌😅 and excited to have made the decision to leave Hartford and come to Nashville. I'm looking forward to meeting 🤝 new people, making new friends, and ultimately see what I can bring to the table at the job. That is all for free speech on all topics till next time keep an eye out for more blogs like this. God Bless You!

 

Nashville Music 🎵 🎶 City 🏙️ Annex (MCA) Warehouse Post Office