Merry Christmas/Holidays 2010

As holidays often do, they make you take time to recognize your blessings and are accompanied by loved ones - how often do we in the hustle and bustle of this season of giving do we actually give, I know for me I would add a big fat ZERO... Do you know that it is literally days away from the big day and we still have yet to put the tree up or the lights. So at the first of the month I explained a lot of hardships that we were facing and it seems that they are still going on, and yet slowly slowing down. Schedules have been the problem and just now getting done with school and then I busted my elbow with a fracture last week has left the house in a bit of a shambles and just yesterday it has become the old apartment we recognize. I just wanted to post a quick hello and update and to wish every one a big hello! and Merry Christmas!!!!

I am fortunate enough to get 3 weeks off from school and 2 weeks off from work about. In this time I am going to be taking it a bit easier and getting caught up on things, and clean house on all my projects and otherwise left on the table. I am working on some sketches for an old friend and you can check out her music journey at

http://saraelizabethchandler.com/

I volunteered to do her logo and album art elements...? We will see how that turns out. I do a lot of free stuff and as time goes on, I am thinking of charging a flat rate for friends and family just to cover my expenses and time. Linda is enjoying her new job at Wells Fargo and works from 3 t Midnight, we rarely see each other and it makes the heart grow fonder - basically on the weekends and when we are school its even worse. This year is going to be our proving grounds to see what we are made of and the testing and growing will be new challenges to over come. We want to thank all those that have given so much to us and only wish that some day we can return those favors back to you - we miss and love our family's so much and only wish for the return of love comes back. We are all humans and miss the mark on a daily basis, and so it is my prayer that we can all do better in showing our family, friends, and all those the love they and us deserves.HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY and may your new years be a good one!!

Bad Week - Hope it gets a bit better?

UPDATE: CHESTER FOUND!!!! He was near our house the whole time!!!!!!! He is a bit confused as to the old surroundings but is alive and well!!!!

So, I feel a bit like this cat - frazzled to say the least. Linda is feeling just about the same as we shared this horrible week together and all I have to say is TGIF! Monday was not too bad but the thing was that our cat Chester has gone missing and so far it has been officially a week. I have put fliers everywhere in our complex to get some response. He was last seen Sunday with a neighbor's cats and that was last we heard. I have looked online since to see if he was picked up by animal control. - NO LUCK. So Monday not so bad, just missing the cat. Well I was going to take our new car we purchased via loan to the mechanic to see why it was acting up - and Tuesday night after work I put gas in the car and when I started it up - a loud noise and then nothing... I waited 3 hours for a tow truck in a Crown Burger joint (at least I was warm) Then I waited for Linda to get off of work at midnight to pick me up at her Step Dad's Al's. The next morning the dealership called and said that our engine is blown and the radiator has been dry? Funny thing is I just had it serviced at Jiffy Lube a couple of months ago and they said that the coolant was just fine...? No leaks, no signs... So we were told that we could purchase a new engine for $2,000.00 - What a do we do, we both have to have cars... well we are in the middle of working out some things and its a bit hush hush for now, but it might have been a blessing that the car died on us. (More to come later)
We had an appointment with a dealership and on the way a girl kissed our bumper at a red light and cause a bit of a stir and debate - it was a tiny car and I am in a Jeep and she just bumped me enough - I had to keep our appointment so I ignored it and left...I had just about enough that day and a little tap is nothing I want to get police and insurance agents out. To back up a bit in the story Linda was getting ready for work that she can not be late in and she had a bit of a toilet problem (valve) and the bathroom flooded. She did the best she could with the time she had to get ready for work... long story short the carpet got really bad in the closet and we were not aware of it for the next day or so..because of the drama about the car's engine. So $50 bucks later the house smells a bit smoldy and a bit swampy but the guy said it should work. We will see.
Then at work they are going to give me some artwork that I absolutely hate - it is re-inventing the wheel every time we work on it and it gets to be very frustrating... After work I decided to go to the animal shelter and see if my cat was there or not. I was sadden by the amount of animals there and to see some that looked just like my cat but not the right markings. I was very sad and I am going to take better ownership of the cats we do have still; Oliver and Queen Nala. It was sad to go through the sheets of paper of the cats found dead on arrival and luckily my cat was not one of them. (I hope)
Also one last thing, my work gave me a shirt and I am a big guy and they got me a 5xl and it does not even fit. WHAT A DEPRESSING DAY... and week. Linda and I both stressed with school, money, time management and the house is a wreck because we never have time or energy to come and clean it.
In conclusion there have been moments for me that have kept me going, Christmas music, a roof over my head, my sweet wife, and moments of some laughter in all the mess. May this month better then this week and may the mangy looking cat I see in the mirror like the picture I posted look more tame and rested is my hopes for the weekend. Look for my Holiday post to come in the following weeks.