Thank you.

The old ways just were not working. You can pay or even make people worship but true belief, true worship, that's harder. With no true worshipers gods were still fading. So when I asked for a meeting with the board to discuss a new idea to preserve and empower old gods they were skeptical but, gave me an opening.

My concept was simple, steal a concept from fallen Hollywood has beens, 'rebranding'. A simple concept really. Take an old god, take their old specialty and rebrand it to work in the modern age along with a new name that modern people can easily grasp. The board was skeptical but gave me the opportunity to test my theory and gave me my choice of those endangered of disappearing. Honestly, I took the easy win. Abeona, the Roman goddess of outward Journeys with safe passage. She was just unable to keep a good hold in the modern world so, time for a 'rebranding'. She didn't mind a name change as well and so, Asphalta was reborn. Goddess of roads and safe passage. Skin as dark as asphalt, hair grey like concrete with streaks of yellow and white. Add a few catchy phrasings like "Why call out to a busy Jesus to take the wheel with millions of others when Asphalta has been safely guiding those who ask since before Jesus was born?" or "Aphalta for the traffic light you need." and we just needed to let it catch. Sire, people might laugh at the billboards but they would remember and talk among their friends. Even if just making jokes to start.

And that along with one lucky video of an out of control car suddenly straightening out and coming to a safe stop was actually all it took. Suddenly 'Our lady of the roads' was on the lips of every overworked hourly worker running late for their second job, every kid trying to make curfew, every idiot who forgot to fill up was praying to make it to the next gas station, every bad driver praying not to wreck in the rain or on the ice...Asphalta went from fading to brilliantly radiant with the power of worshipers prayers. Shrines even started being erected at rest stops and the DMV.

That was all it took and now, my life sucks. Minor cog of the organization to a department head with a schedule around the clock, dang night time deities. Assigning PR managers to gods and making sure they do their jobs; rebranding the near forgotten, bringing those on the borders to the main stream and even getting some into movies playing themselves to revitalize old brands. Ha, rather than competing with all the other goddesses of marriage and childbirth I rebranded Hera as the goddess of cheated on wives and being your own woman. She has her own talk show a counseling organization and a mansion/women's recovery center now that apparently would rival the temples of Olympus.

That's the least of my worries though. Turns out when Gods beg your favor, when Gods give even the smallest prayers of thanks...you take on a glow of your own.

Ignore the "negative nancys", we have 2 vocal groups of them here the "stay outta my space" group and the "this place sucks it's not what I expected coming from (enter big city)".

My family resettled here a decade ago and have found it to be great. Amazing country small city feel with tons a variety and choices. Restaurants: what do you feel like today? Literally. I was military and even grew up military and travelled the world. and since you asked about restaurants: Lebanese food? Old commercial street, dude was a translator overseas for the military and his family now owns and runs a restaurant. Traditional Korean cook it yourself BBQ? South National street. Sushi? I'd have to write you a travel list but my favorite is Omi on Battlefield. BBQ: dear god. Seafood: actually a little lacking without spending a nice penny but if you do there is some great options. Steak? Brazilian? Indian? Irish pub/restaurant? Variety in restaurants is not an issue.

Now that sounds like an answer from the VA.

If you are wanting to change directions in life, the ARC of the Ozarks has openings. You'd most likely be working with adults with mental and/or physical disabilities. All training is provided and paid for my the company. Depending upon the department and program, starting pay is anywhere from $16/hr to $20.50/hr. Once again depending upon the department could also be 1st, 2nd or 3rd shift. Need a valid driver's license, insured car and no drug, finance or domestic abuse convictions.

ARC of the Ozarks. Full time and part time available.

Always loved bars like this. Quiet, unassuming, nobody causing no crap but everybody giving a crap while pretending they don't. Worn and scratched up, smelling stale and old yet warm and welcoming if you're the right kind to feel it. Technically I'm not the right kind but I always feel better around these folks.

Local cops and detectives sometimes come in but they know they get nothing from here. Everyone was here, everyone saw everyone and if it was proven they were somewhere else, you give a shrug and a "must have got the nights confused" and the cops just gotta walk away.

Not tonight though. Tonight "she" walked in. Never seen her before but she starts flashing a picture. Starts by the door with the standard "Was this man here three nights ago?" crap. Thing is everyone who answers gets corrected. "Yeah think I saw him" or "Yeah he seemed cool I bought him a draft." Gets answered with the truth "No you didn't you were not here you were on a date with your best friend's wife." "No you didn't you've been broke for 2 weeks and are running up a tab but wish someone would buy you a draft."

Now no one is answering, but she keeps walking through, asking and then saying "Uh huh, I see." and keeps moving. Folks are getting nervous but that will end in a second. Bartender is barking and asking for ID but she is just ignoring him. She told the bouncer to sit when he walked up and he did. Such confidence. The bravado of the untouchable. My turn though.

"Ma'am have you seen this man?"

"Yep, been here all week. Just left about an hour ago." There is the pause. Not even going to look up at her. "Is there an issue officer? Something wrong with your telepathy?"

"Telepathy? Why would you say that?"

"Because that's what you were using. You ask your question then read the true answer off their minds. Dirty little trick to be using on a class 3 planet with a class 2 Psi rating and illegal in much of the Consortium of Civilized Worlds. But we are outside Consortium borders now are we not. Matter of fact" sniff sniff "You're outside your sphere of power completely are you not little miss" sniff sniff "Cosmo knight."

She has noticed, the bar has not just gone quiet but is actually frozen, unmoving in any way.

"I'm in pursuit of a criminal most heinous. If you have any information I would very much appreciate the help."

"Not happening. This is the Alibi and I already told you, he's been here all week. Just left about an hour ago. Now, if there is anything else, I'd like to see your Imperium hunting permit because if you don't have one then you are trespassing, on MY territory." Now I'll give her a look, and let one eye shift yellow.

"You're a Lycan. An Imperium officer?"

"Don't know what you are talking about ma'am. If I did though, I'd probably have to inform you that with your presence known you've got until the next full moon to get off planet or be the subject of a hunt. That would be 5 days from now. Good luck with your search though."

The noise and movement returns to the bar.

"As I said ma'am, he has been here all week, just left about an hour ago I think." She looks nervous for a moment.

"Well, that's good to know. Thank you."

She leaves, life gets back to being good. Bonus, the bar keep sent me a free drink, another 'Blood of my enemies'. Good crap.

I'll have to make sure she does leave...or never leaves. Then look into her "criminal most heinous" myself.

I feel you brother, took me a good 2 years to find something after I got out of the Army. Kept getting told I was "over qualified". I can get you an interview where I work, send me a PM and let me know what you are looking for and I'll tell you what we do. (Starts between $16/hr to $20.50/hr depending upon department and such.)

Honestly tried it twice and it was trash both times. Got better food from the worst of the military dining facilities I ate at during my 17 years in service.

Lol, if you're a planner for the city we've probably sat in a couple meetings together then. I've seen how well it can and does work in many cities overseas, some who have always worked that way others who are trying to be more sustainable. Planning neighborhoods to be inclusive to all needs, having housing, some jobs, groceries and even some restaurants all within walking distance with public transit linking in to allow easy access to larger services like non-emergency medical...it's like night and day. It could actually be done fairly easily but it is a completely different mind set to the general thought pattern here in the US.

To honestly do that correctly we would have to completely change and restructure the way in which we design our city lay outs. Not that that would be bad it would just take a major change in way of thinking and planning.

I just hope it helps.

MO department of elementary and secondary education, Section B.1. She may very well qualify as homeless. Hope this helps.

https://dese.mo.gov/quality-schools/student-support-services/homeless-children-youth