So much blegh!

I am not really sure as to why I blog. I guess it helps me organize my thoughts a little bit. I am watching a show called Property Ladder right now. Its making me want to "flip" a house so bad. Erik and I talked about it a little bit this morning before I took him to work. I think it might be something we do in the future. It could be fun. I have definitely learned alot from these shows of what not to do! LOL.

We are currently contemplating the thought of renting a room from someone to save up some cash and pay off some bills. Currently all my unemployment checks are taken up by my bills with nothing left for anything else. If at all possible, I would rather find a Studio apt instead of renting a room. We have gotten used to our privacy and living alone. I really love our apt, but shit happens I guess. When we move more inland after my Gramps house sells, we should be able to find a bigger and nicer place for a better price. I am thinking about heading towards Moreno Valley or something out there. I have checked out places online and you can find a nice place for like 600 a month. Whew. That's cheaper by almost half of what we are paying now. I am excited, we may actually be able to rent a house instead of an apt. Woot!

I still need to sit down and write out what I am going to say at my Gramps' service. I have an idea, but I need to put it all down just in case I am too emotional and I need Erik to read it for me. His service is a week from today so I need to start preparing.

I have started a new craft. I am now making cards. I have some pretty cute ones up for sale on etsy.com. Etsy is a handmade online store for all things handmade. I am hoping to get some sort of cash flow from that. If you like anything I have made, I will give you the friends deal. Just let me know. If you can think of something else you would like made, ask me and I will see what I can do. www.marawiggles.etsy.com . I really like the way everything turned out. I got to use to the Cricut Expression machine that my hubby got me for xmas, to its full potential.

I am putting a small stop on my sewing for now. There is a dress I want to make, but I do not have the money to buy the other two fabrics I need to complete it. My dad is going to send me money to start up my diaper bag business. But thats not going to happen for another couple weeks. I made a pattern for some really great diaper bags, but I cant make them without fabric. I cant make a store without inventory, so my dad is going to help me out a little bit which I am very thankful for.
That is all for now friends.

Getting Things Going

So recently, I have been getting alot done with my mom when it comes to my Grandpa's Estate. We went to the meeting with the Pastor, along with my brother Trevor. We came to a date and time of January 30th, at 1pm. Its a saturday, so family should be able to travel out here to come to the services. My church has recently undergone some major renovations and it gorgeous and huge now. The service will be really nice. I have to make a slideshow of pictures of my Grandpa which will be displayed on two huge white screens as people are walking in.
i also had the idea of making notecards and having people write well wishes and nice things about my Grandpa on them, and then we would bury him with them.
So much to do.
Onto happier notes:
I learned how to make sugar cookies from scratch today! I added more vanilla extract and used some orange that I freshly zested with my new zester. Woot for orange zest. They turned out super yummy, even though it took me three times to get it right. I really thought I wasnt meant to bake, but the third time was the charm!
I shouldnt be awake right now, but oh well. Erik and I took a nap today and didnt wake up til almost 730, so I am not tired.
I am watching a show called First Time Homebuyer on HGTV. I cant wait to start shopping for a house. Its going to be awhile.
OOOOOOOHHH. I finally got some info from my dad about how much of a budget I will have for my wedding. Let's just say, i am super ok with the amount he told me! He said to start looking around for a venue. I told him that I found a place in Hemet for a certain amount. He told me he would give me a few more thousand to have it closer to home, which is awesome!
So, once all the stuff with my Grandpa's estate is done, I get to start planning my wedding. So much to do!
I should try to sleep now. I think Kat and I are going to LA today to Mood Fabric store and Amoeba Records. Then, gonna have drinks with Tracy later on tonight. Full day planned. Need sleep for it. Good night all!

stuff

So this year, New Years was pretty chill. Nothing like the craziness of Time Square like last year. It was nice to just watch tv with Erik and eat some fudge that Kriska made and brought us. We went to sleep almost right after midnight.
The past couple of days have been pretty productive. I have gotten alot of my Grandpa's things sold. Helping my mom out quite a bit.
Tomorrow I have to take my Saturn in to get some work done. Please God let the problem be covered by my Extended Warranty! Good God help me please!
The other day Erik and I went fabric shopping for curtains for the bedroom. I made them today and put the blackout fabric on them. The bedroom is pitchblack now! Woot! Erik is a happy man now. We got such a great deal because some dumb Joanns employee mismarked some designer fabric for 10.99 when it should have been 24.99 a yard. There was also a sale of 40% designer fabrics. Joanns honored the lower price and the 40% off that. We got designer fabric for close to 6.00 a yard! best deal ever!! I made some great curtains from them. They look like they came out of a hotel. Erik said a Howard Johnson one to be exact. LOL.

Tomorrow, my mom and I have an appointment with my Pastor to plan my Grandpa's Services. Its going to be past two months by the time we have a service for him. So sad..
I should go to be now.. Good night all

Christmas

We left for Pheonix on Xmas eve at like 3pm after Erik got off work and we went to visit my mom. My mom had fallen down the stairs and was hurting pretty good. Brought her flowers and then got on the road.
We took the 22 to the 57 to the 10 all the way out there. The 22 was fine, the 57 was horrible, and the 10 was completely clear. We were shocked that the 10 was clear. We totally thought we would be stuck for hours. I was going 80+ most of the time.
We got to Surprise, AZ at about 11pm AZ time, 10pm CA time.
His Grandma, and sister were up waiting for us with whiskey and wine. LOL.
On Christmas, we saw Erik's Grandparents, mom, sisters, neice and friends. Christmas was really nice surprisingly. I was sad because I was away from home. But at least I was with some family.
Erik and I got his Grandparents nice watches for Christmas. His Gma cried when she opened hers. Apparently no one gets her nice gifts. It was so sweet, even I cried. They got us Walmart gift cards, which we have already spent. lol. The rest of the day was really relaxing. Had a big ham dinner and then chilled out.
The next day we headed out to his dad and step moms new house in Indio. We checked out their new house, exchanged gifts, hung out, had dinner and then got on the road. Got home around 930pm. Exhausted!!!!
Luckily Erik has today and tomorrow off so we can relax and just do nothing.
Cant wait to get New Years over with so the holidays will be over.

Its Christmas Eve!

Its officially one hour and sixteen minutes into Christmas Eve and I should definitely be sleeping.
I have been talking to my dad over yahoo messenger cause hes in China. Its so sad that hes not able to be here for Xmas.

This Christmas is going to to be super hard. It will be my first Xmas without my family. The first Xmas without my Gramps, and the first Xmas without my Dad being here. I will be in Phoenix for Xmas with Erik's Grandparents. We have decided to switch off every year. Its the only fair way to do it, or else we wouldnt be spending Xmas together at all.
Today, at about 2pm, I will be driving us to Phoenix. Oh Lord help with the traffic please!

The past few days I have listed a bunch of my Gpa's belongings on craigslist. Tools, furniture, antique, vehicles, art, you name it, they are listed. If you want to check them out, search the keyword dlg.

Ughhhh I should be sleeping, but I am so not tired!

I gotta try to sleep. Good night world. Merry Christmas. For my Jew friends, Happy Hanakuh. For my Muslim friends, Happy Winter Solstice.
I dont believe in saying Happy Holidays, so there!

Decisions & Excitements

So, we did end up getting that apartment in Anaheim. It was a great deal, but we have decided not to move for now. I would like to live as close to my family as possible before they probably move out of state. Also, Erik is probably going to end up being hired on from his seasonal position which is literally a ten minute walk from here. Theres also a lot thats going to be done in the next few months dealing with my Grandpa's estate. I dont want to be too far away because of that.

Last night my girlfriends and I had our xmas dinner and gift exchange. I am so excited, one of my besties got me a 1 hr massage gift certificate. Oh, cant wait to use that one!!
Then today, Erik got me an early xmas gift of a gift certificate to Mood Fabric store. This is the store that the Project Runway show contestants go to on the show to buy their fabric. I have been wanting to go there for awhile! So excited for that too!
That is all for now. Good Night.

Gramps. as written by Danielle Wilkerson

My sister Danielle wrote this after my Gramps died. Minus talking about her daughter, this is exactly how I felt about him. I want everyone to know what a wonderful man he was.

My Grandfather [Gramps] Richard Ennis Brough had been a father figure to me and my Brothers and Sister for over the last 10 years of my life. He sadly was battling prostate cancer and heart problems for the last couple years of that time and we lost him when he went into cardiac arrest at the hospital on 11/14/09. He was 72 years old. I will never understand why such a wonderful man who only lived to help others died in such a tragic way at such a young age. He was in so much pain in the end and nothing was working to take it away. I know now that he is no longer in pain and is resting in peace, but I just don't get why this happened. He was such an amazing guy. He always made sure that everyone had what they needed when they needed it. I am going to miss so many things that I feel like life will never be the same without him. I'll miss the way he called us all "kid" or "dingbat" or "orphansnorfer" and all the other funny things he used to say. I'm going to miss him coming through the door with a joke ready to make us all hysterically laugh, or something to say about his lady friends up at the card club he played at all the time. *tears* He was always there for me and the rest of the family. I have him to thank for so many major things in my life such as my career, my health, my daughters well-being, and so many others. He put me through school and took care of anything I needed. He bought me my first car and paid my insurance for a long time. Everything I am is because of him. I feel like half my heart is missing. He was one of my daughters favorite people [if not her fave] and when we go over to the house she still tries to go in his room and it kills me everytime. I know she will never remember him. I have a picture of him and her on the refridgerator and she kisses it almost everyday. I am so glad I was able to give him a Great Granddaughter. She put the biggest smile on his face everytime he saw her and I'm going to miss that so much too. I will never forget all the things he did for me and all the things he taught me. He truly has had the greatest influence on my life over anyone else. I am so blessed to have had him in my life for my 23 years. I know my Gramps is in Heaven with my Great Grandma Helen [his Mom] looking down and hoping we can all pull things together and make him proud. I am proud to be his Granddaughter and I hope I can make him proud. R.I.P Gramps. 07/17/37 - 11/14/09 Your spirit will live on in my heart forever.

If that doesnt make a person tear up, then you have no heart.

We are all still very sad and dealing with his passing.

Tis The Season

Tomorrow morning I am going to go check out an apt for a great deal in anaheim. It has dual walk in closets!!! I am so excited. Its close to where I used to live in Buena Park.
Wish us luck!

For Christmas Erik and I will be going to Phoenix to visit Erik's Grandparents.

This year everyone is broke. Everyone is unemployed. Everyone is hurting somehow in one way or another. It is the time to reach out to your friends and family and help, share, and commiserate.
I have come upon these wonderful things with some of my friends this year. From buying me a Christmas tree when I wouldn't otherwise get one, to referring me for a job, to helping me find an apartment, I am super thankful for the out pour of help. This year has been hard on everyone. I can promise one thing: When things are going better for us, I promise to reach out and spread the wealth like my wonderful friends have.

Things are going a little better. But things are going to get much worse for my family before it gets much better.

Some good news amongst it all

So, yesterday I received my first unemployment check! Turns out i was approved for it. I will be getting about eight hundred dollars every two weeks. woot! It couldnt have come at a better time. Erik and I are going to make it through now, Thank God!
We are still going to be moving, only because I am not making nearly as much as I was, and to save some money too. We are shooting for moving around February or so. Probably towards fullerton or something. We found some nice places online, but they have no vacancies right now.
I had a great day the other day with my friend Kat. We both had our sleep schedules all screwed up, so we decided to stay up all night and try to turn them around. We had one helluva crazy night and day. Thank God for all night Wal-Marts! Spent hours shopping and running around. We got her xmas tree set up and then she bought Erik and I a tree and we set that one up. Went to many different places. Went to the swapmeet and walked the whole thing. My feet still hurt. LOL. I couldnt tell you how much I appreciate Kat and how generous and just a great human being she is. We were at Wal-Mart and saw this great learning toy. I couldnt afford it and she thought it was the best thing ever and decided to buy it for my neice cause she had to have it. Why arent there more selfless people in the world? She reminds me of my Grandpa so much.
Onto other matters. My Gpas memorial is tentatively scheduled for January 10th, if anyone would like to join in putting that wonderful man to rest, please let me know.

That is all for now. Gonna go wrap my neices presents. I kind of went ape shit on her gifts this year since my family and I have all decided just to buy for my little brother and my niece because of the economy.

Interviews

So this morning I had an interview with another Foreclosure attorneys office. It went rather well. I was told I should receive a call sometime today and I will probably have the job.
I ran into my old supervisor while I was there. Turns out she works there now. We did not get along well.
I did not receive a call from that job. I have a feeling that she talked some shit and cost me a job. Stupid Bitch. If I somehow find out it was because of her, I will definitely have some words for her. I know where she lives! LOL.
I went and saw my Mom today after the interview. We finally got my Gramps death certificates so now we can get his honorable discharge papers and start planning his veterans funeral.
he died on the 14th of november and we are just now able to actually do something about putting him to rest. Its so sad, but funny at the same time, if you knew him at all.
He was cremated and currently sits in a box, in his room in a white bag. That bag is wearing his glasses and has a book open in front of it. He was an avid reader and I think he is looking down right now laughing his ass of cause thats the kind of humor he had. He was always laughing. Even in the ICU, he was cracking jokes.
I finally had my telephone interview with unemployment to determine my eligibility for benefits because I was fired. There's a chance I wont be getting it at all. Then, we will be in a huge pile of broke dung.
Lord Help Me! If ever I have needed it, now is the time. I need strength and hope to get through this. Winning the lottery would be nice, except I dont really play much. LOL.