2009 sent out letter

So some of you who read my blog will be getting this letter in the mail in the next couple of days but I thought I’d post it as well

 

 

Dear Friends and Family:

 

We would like to hope you all a joyous and wonderful holiday and a happy new year.  Both Courtney and I are hoping to make this an annual thing by sending out letters each and every year now that we are farther away from most family then we are use to, though we will get them out sooner next year.

 

As most of you know we moved to Orlando, FL this past September in hopes of a fresh new beginning.  Courtney is still working for Office Max though she isn’t sitting up in the front of the store having to ring everyone out but is now in the back of the store working for Impress which is their print department.  Courtney has been with Office Max for over a year now, though she is looking for something else that better suits her ability.  Brandon was hoping for better beginnings but is working for Kodak at Wet N’ Wild here in Orlando taking photographs of the guests that come to the park.  Brandon also is looking for something that better suits his ability.  He did work for an advertising firm back in Chicago for a few months, as well as working at the Brookfield Zoo during the summer for the Motor Safari.

 

The two of us added a new member to our duet back in January.  This big ball of heat is known at Jynx, a Miniature Pincher/Chihuahua mix.  She just turned 2 this past December.

 

During the week of Christmas, we spent our time at Disney World here in Orlando.  Brandon spent all year planning for this trip, even when we were back in Chicago, where he made the original plans back in January of 2008.  We did stay on property at Port Orleans: The French Quarters.  We were able to visit each park during the week, making Disney’s Magic Kingdom the place to go all week for some odd reason.  We think we probably went there almost on a daily basis but Christmas itself. 

 

The big surprise during that week at Disney came on December 23^rd where we had dinner at Artist Point which is located at the Wilderness Lodge.  Being his normal self and being nervous about what was about to happen – we had dinner which was amazing, by the way – Brandon had the waiter bring the dessert menu and the two of us looked at that for a few, though decided not to get anything since we were meeting up with Brandon’s mom and sister at Down Town Disney shortly after dinner.  Though after we received the check, Brandon started rambling on and on about the last 2 and a half years.  Courtney knew something was up due to this, and shortly after Brandon was finished blabbing, he got down on the traditional one knee and proposed to Courtney.  After a short cry, she did say yes.  We have a lot of work for the wedding, so that is the big thing we have to plan for in the future.  We do have a date set, and a few minor details for the wedding set already, you will just have to wait for the save the date cards in the mail. With planning for the wedding and hoping for bigger and better things to come in 2009, we both hope the best for you in the year to come. 

 

                                                                                    With Love,

                                                                        Brandon Popper and Courtney Barton

Life and how its not working

So I got a job a little over a month ago working for Kodak at Wet N’ Wild although it was the second position that asked me to come in for an interview I was in need of a job and was happy that I would be working.  I enjoy what I do and enjoy working with the people there, though to sum it up as a whole, the job SUCKS.  I never work anymore, I’ve worked a total of 1 hour since the 24th which is over a week ago, and not working makes life so much harder.

I have probably applied for well over or close to 100+ different jobs and I have gotten a call from 2 of them.  I understand that a lot of people are out of jobs right now and there are probably a lot of people applying for jobs but damn it call me and let me show you why I want to work for your damn company and let me work gosh darn it. Just without working life isn’t working right now, I cant pay bills, I can barely buy food when its needed, people say that “people live pay check to pay check,” I’m not even doing that right now.  I have applied to places to deal with my degree (even if they want 5+ years experience), banks, retail stores, resturants for hosting, bussing or even serving, I have even applied for Fast Food (which to me is lowest of low) and they haven’t even called me back.  I know people are going to say, “keep your head up”, “something will come up soon”, etc, but when I’ve been doing what I can to get a damn job, and no one is calling it doesn’t help. I mean come on, I can bearly have one job and Courtney has two jobs now.  I am now regretting this move, thinking it may be better off with how cheap everything is down here but when you don’t work and what not, this isn’t working.  I dont have the money to move back, I dont have the money to move to St. Pete where I would be closer to some family, I dont have money to do anything.  Why can’t everything just be free.

“Star Wars” – an a capella tribute to John Williams

Its been due

So this has been due for a week or two now so I figured I would get it done and do it now.  Just an update for you people from all over the country who want to check up on whats going on in my life.

A few weeks back Courtney and myself become Florida residents a few weeks back and got our Florida driver’s licenses. Of course I look like I am having a mug shot taken but usually who isn’t like that when they are having those types of pictures taken, MOST.

Courtney transfered to an Office Max store down here right by the Florida Mall, although she isn’t ringing as much or on the floor, she is working Impress which she is enjoying a hellua lot better, though she still wants to find another job due to not liking the company and it pretty much being a dead end job.

I finally got a job working for Kodak at Wet ‘n Wild, so I get to walk around a water park all day and take pictures of people.  As of right now I am working 5 hour shifts 4 to 5 days a week either 10 – 3 or 11 – 4 due to the season, so I am going to have to probably find an evening shift somewhere just to get the money for bills and rent and what not.

Jynx is doing well, she did get a case of fleas which I believe we’ve taken care of, finally. If I recall correctly, she got them from the one stop we made the first night down here.

I know I’ve been asked for pictures, we really haven’t done anything to take any pictures but I will see what I can do in the very near future to get some pictures taken and what not for you people.

The weather down here has been amazing.  It gets a little chilly at night but even right now it is 70 degrees out side and feels great, I am glad I am not up in that Chicago cold.  It was kinda cold going in and out of the water at work today but hey atleast I can do that down here, muahahahahahaha.

Thank you

As I was reading through my last HUGE post, no where in there did I thank my Mom for all the help she gave me and Courtney with our move down to Orlando.  If it was for her love, support and everything else she provided us on the drive down specially with me being sick.  So I just want to say THANK YOU mom for all your help