What a week it has been. Kitty and I are both mentally and physically worn out. It's tough going through that first week after a loved one passes. There has not been much money around to take care of her uncle so we have helped as much as we can. If we could, we would do more.

Times are tight these days. With all of the craziness, we haven't gotten much accomplished. All of Kittie's projects have been on hold. I've started working on a new blanket chest. This is going to be a cool project. It is pine construction, with reclaimed 1x4's of course, with the frame being made with half lap joints. I watched a guy on YouTube by the name of Jay Bates make one of these a couple of years ago and had wanted to try one ever since. It's fun but tough only being able to work on it for short amounts of time every day. As always, life keeps getting in the way.

My new job is still about one month away and we have come to the end of our money. Art projects haven't been selling very well and we can't work Ebay right now since I could get the call at any time to go. To try and make ends meet we have started selling off small items on Facebook, of all places. A nickel here and a dime there and hopefully we will make it through this until my income starts coming in. I had my first experience with a pawn broker today. Kitty took some rings she's had stashed down for a loan. It wasn't much but will help us through a few more days. For those of you not familiar with a pawn shop, it is the place to go for short term secured loans that will not interest you to death like these payday loan places we see everywhere now. As soon as I am working again, her rings will be back in her possession.

I have learned the hard way how more and more people in this country now live. I have worked and paid my way since I was 12 years old. I was always secure in the fact that I could handle my bills, live and enjoy. The last couple of years have been a complete roller coaster ride and right now we are on that final 10 story drop straight down before the car comes to a stop to get off. I just hope we don't have to get back on it again when the summer is over. This economy is not good. We just heard that one of the oil giants up here announced today they are going to idle three drilling rigs. More people are getting laid off and competing for jobs that aren't there. I do not see how the government can say that our economy is strong with lower unemployment now than at any time since the current president came to office. Fuzzy Math. Remember that phrase. I now understand just what that means.

We are going to make it. Spring is almost here and people are in a good mood and ready to get outside. Things will turn around soon. We're still hanging in there and surviving. These are the times that see most couples split but we have no interest in that. This experience has definitely brought us closer together and we will make it. Very soon, we will be back to our projects. You know, if we ever get just a bit ahead, this is an enjoyable life...seeing a project through from vision to planning to creating to showing. I never imagined myself with this type of life. Now I don't want to leave it. Shedding all of the stuff has been a Godsend.

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