Last Manic Monday! - for now.

So today was my last Monday at my current job. It wasn't bad at all, but man did it (kind of) fly on by!

I spent pretty much the entire day "coding". Yep ;-) at least I was while my little sister was failing me all day! Yeah you know who you are! So yeah, I forsee that I'll be "coding" at least through Thursday. I think I can make it last that long. There isn't much going on at the office anyway. Payroll reports have been completed and sent off.... maybe a payroll to do by Friday and then that's it!

During my oh so tedious day, I couldn't help but get excited [just a little bit] about the move. I think I'm more excited about using all of our stuff rather than the move itself. I'm comfortable where we are right now, but it's not ours and who knows what new and hopefully amazing things await for us. That's the exciting part I guess ... the not knowing. But now that we're moving we kinda wish we'd gotten the 2 bedroom place ... oh well. It's only for 6 months. Hopefully we can find something equally afforable, only bigger .. with a fence... and a big kitchen ... is that too much to ask for?? 

Today I started packing up the china cabinet. We're going to take it and all my grandma's china. She gave it to my dad and well it's my dad so he said I could have it :) In the cabinet I was storing all our wedding shtuff: toasting glasses, cake toppers, cake knife .. etc. And well I actually have most of  the toasting glasses still, about 14. We'll only be taking 8 though. They're only for decoration! 6 seemed to be too few so 8 seemed good enough.

Next is kitchen items that have been in use, i.e. cookie sheets, pastry blender, mixing bowls ... etc. I hope we get it all done by Friday night.

Packing has been fun. .... Not. lol. It's been bittersweet.

A good work-out idea ... not!

So my car died. The engine is shot and its needs a new one. Since last payday we've been pretty stretched thin so we knew we were going to have to wait another 2 weeks till our next one to get it replaced. It's been a week and a half and it's been difficult and managable to say the least.

But anyway, my dad thought it'd be a good idea to get the car to the mechanic so he could start taking the old engine out and get it all ready for the new engine to be put in. Makes sense, yes? Yes. In order to accomplish this the car would need to be towed over to the mechanics. A simple feat, yeah in my mind! lol.

We needed to push the car onto the dolly and secure it down. So the hubby was at work and I was the only one at home to help my dad try to get the car mounted on. The whole thing sounded so much easier in my head. lol. I am a weakling!

The car was in neutral and we had to push, get a running start and hope it would make it over the ledge of the dolly and keep. But everytime we tried, the car would get as far as "almost, but not quite", so we'd try again. I think we attempted 6-7 times, and by the last time my legs were already numb! I'd built up a sweat and everything! That's all I've gotta do? Push a car onto a dolly? Neh. No thank you! lol.

This is what we were dealing with:

^^ See that ledge??

Yeah, it only looks easy!

5 Question Friday!

Wow, its been awhile since I participated in one of these! Here we go!




[1] What were your school colors??

• Elementary #1: red and white
• Elementary #2: maroon and gold

• Middle school: maroon and gold

• High school: maroon and gold

• University #1: navy blue and orange
• University #2: orange and white
• University #3: green, orange, and white

Yes, you read that right. I went to 3 different universities. Lol. I was, and still kinda am, very indecisive.

[2] What is the best compliment you've ever received?

I think the ones that mean the most to me are about something I've created, and I'm talking about food! I love to bake and I love to cook. I'm still deciding which I prefer over the other. But as of right now I'm at a cross roads. Please don't make me choose! lol. Anyway, like I mentioned - hearing compliments about something I've spent time and effort on only reaffirms my feelings about a possible career change .. somewhere down the road. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But eventually. Hopefully. And God willing :)


3. Do you buy cheap or expensive toilet paper?

LOL! I rarely want to buy cheap anything! I put up a bit of a debate when my dad tried switching to the cheap stuff. TP I just can't negotiate with. And I especially love it when there's a coupon for Charmin!

4. Have you ever had a surprise party thrown for you? Or have you had one for someone else?

I've never been thrown a surprise party ... [hint, hint family/friends reading this]. lol. I tried throwing one for the hubby back when we were in high school. Friends just started showing up at the house, you know just because. He had no idea! Unfortunately, I had just started working at Michael's and they happened to call me to go in later that afternoon. I had to leave the party early. But from what I can tell and from what I heard, Danny liked it and that's really all that matters.


5. What is one material possession that you "can't live without"?

I cannot live without my cell phone. I would've said my iPhone, but alas I no longer have it! Currently we are with Sprint and I have the HTC Hero. But it's very similar to the iPhone, it's a lot slower [and I mean a lot!] but it works.



TGIF! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Change ... and a small update.

I'm still here. I've been reading all the blogs on my blog reader list. I've just been that though, a reader.

My blog took a turn. A morbid one at that. But that's what I've been dealing with lately.

And so in an effort to turn it back around, I started by changing my layout. I'm not tech savy so I picked a predesigned template and altered it. I really like all the colors in the background picture.

Right now I've just been sending out some applications for jobs, as many as I can, for when we move.

So I'm going to try and blog as much as I can before we leave because we don't have a computer for the apartment. Although I want to get one as soon as we can afford one, we just have some other priorities at the moment.

Tomorrow is my 2nd to last Friday at work. LOL. Yes that means I still have a whole 'nother week of work left. But it'll be my last week. After tomorrow.

Blogging to recommence ... tomorrow :-)

A Letter to My Friend, Carlos Javier, "CJ," De Anda

Dear CJ,

It seems that I'm still coming to terms with what happened. To both of you. I saw you both. I was there when we buried you both. I know it happened. I just can't get my mind to wrap itself around the whole thing. I'm really having a hard time.

I keep thinking you're gonna text me asking if I'm ready for the iPhone 4G upgrade. Even though I'm no longer with AT&T. I know, I don't know what Danny was thinking. I keep thinking, and hoping that you're gonna text me wanting to hang out or something.

CJ, you were an amazing friend. There aren't enough words to describe you. Or Mario. Not enough to do you justice anyway. Tears come to my eyes just thinking that you're no longer here - no longer with us. I think I'm just refusing to accept it, as if you're still in the hospital. I just can't accept it.

I miss you. And I miss Mario. You guys were so different, and were one of a kind. There aren't many like you out in the world. And I think that's why I'm stuck in this frame of mind.

One of the last things you posted was that you were going to the beach that day, and I said "Have fun!" Man do I wish that was it. I wish you guys had had fun and were back safe and sound. And that this last week & 1/2 didn't happen. I know it did. I know better than that. I just keep wanting to deny it.

I saw the pictures from that day, and I keep wanting to think that the last time I literally saw you was a nightmare.

I know you're off in a better place watching over us. I just can't come to terms with it. Not right now. I try and then I start getting anxiety pains. I just can't. I think it's more of a "not wanting to" than a "can't." I don't want to.

What brings me comfort is that you're not in pain. You're not going to suffer in this world.

I'm heartbroken. Losing you two in the same week was truly difficult.

I miss you guys so much.

It's going to be impossible to forget you. There's no way.

Until we meet again my friend.

Your friend,
Jessica R. Hilton

PS: Happy Birthday!!!

^^^ Me and CJ - Oct. 2008

I didn't want to write another one....

Unfortunately, my good friend CJ didn't survive. He was drowning at SPI and my other good friend Mario ran in in attempt to save him.

I am not prepared to write CJ a letter. I'm drawing a blank in my head and my feelings. I'm shocked. I'm sad. I lost 2 really good friends in one week.

CJ was different. He had such a lively spirit. I guess if you didn't know him, you'd just think he had ADD or was super hyper. Just like Mario, he was always there for his friends - even if they were wrong.

My head is spinning right now. I'm really trying to be at peace and remind myself they are in a better place.

I didn't want to go to another funeral. I was really praying he'd make it through.

I'm not sure of his condition upon reaching the hospital on Sunday evening. But what I know is that the doctors had to put him in a medically induced coma that night. On Monday they were going to try and bring him out of it, but while they started he spiked a fever and had to be put under again. A couple of friends of mine were able to visit him in the hospital, and said he was physically looking better as the days went on. The nurses also noticed that his reflexes from the neck down were active. The only thing that was lingering was his brain swelling. They couldn't get it down. They were going to run a test this evening to try to see if they could get it down, but were already talking to his parents about organ donation.

My friend passed away a few hours ago. He was going to celebrate his birthday next Friday. He was 21.

RIP CJ. May you and Mario continue to watch over us until we all meet again. I'll be seeing you!

A Letter To My Friend, Mario Zapata, Jr.

Dear Mario,

I'm still in quite a bit of shock. I went to visit you on Tuesday. I saw you lying there. I was there yesterday when we buried you. Even through all that, it's still hard to believe. What happened was so out of the ordinary and completely unexpected. I don't know all the details, I wasn't there. Only those who were there with you that day know what happened. But when I got that phone call from my sister, I was in such disbelief - I didn't know what to think. And as the afternoon turned to evening, it was confirmed. We'd lost you.

My family and I all sat at the kitchen table in silence and sadness. I cried a little, but Danny was able to hold it together way better. He began telling us about how you guys met and became friends. He started to name some of the great qualities you possessed. The rest of the evening was spent reminiscing about all the great memories we had of you. Mario, we grew up together - throughout elementary to high school, in band and mariachi. You always had a smile on your face, no matter how your day was going or how you were feeling. You were always so optimistic about everything. You were a great listener and an extremely loyal friend. You never did harm to anyone and always stood up for your family and friends. You put others needs before your own, as you clearly demonstrated that on Sunday.

You saw CJ panicking in the water, and I'm more than positive that you did not hesitate a second before running in to help him. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out ok. God took you. What you did isn't unheard of. It's something you read about in a book, or watch in a movie. Mario, you did a brave thing, and it isn't going discredited either. All the articles about the accident say the same thing: Man Drowns Trying to Save Friend! Everyone knows what you did, and we couldn't be more proud of you.

It's extremely sad that you're no longer with us today, but we all know you're in a better place, watching over us and waiting - waiting till we all meet again.

Danny said the city should name a library or a school after you, and I think they should!

Your family and friends all love and miss you very much. I know you'll keep a close eye on everybody, especially Javi & Juan and your parents.

I didn't say good-bye to you yesterday, and I'm not going to right now either. Why? Because this wasn't good-bye; We'll be seeing you Mario. Sometime. Eventually. God willing.

Rest in peace my friend.

Your friend,
Jessica Hilton