RIP Greg Valdez

Gregory J. ValDez 11/12/61 ~ 10/25/09 Gregory J. ValDez was born in Salt Lake City on November 12, 1961 to Casimiro Jr. and Ignacita (Aggie) Valdez. He died peacefully at his home on October 25, 2009 of causes incident to A.L.S.Greg was destined to bring people together. He lived the greatest chapter of his life through his work with his business and through his sponsorship of the charity event "Opera Under the Stars" at the Salt Lake City Gallivan Center. It's what he loved and what he needed to do. In 1994 Greg founded CBI Security. From very humble beginnings, he built not only a company, he began his family. He had a love for each and every person that joined the CBI family. He became a brother, a mentor, a father, an uncle and a grandfather to so many. He was a very special person with whom many found comfort. Greg always saw the big picture, from its beginnings; it started as a family of two and today has grown to a family of over 350 covering three states. Greg was heavily involved in the day to day operations and was a great leader even through many hard years of pain while battling courageously with A.L.S. He will be missed by so many, especially those who took the time and saw the man with the biggest heart and compassion for all. Greg regularly expressed his sincere appreciation for the many people who brought joy to his world and for the opportunities and support he was gifted with in this life. Greg is survived by brothers James (Denise) and Chris (Gabi) as well as nieces and nephews Josh, Jason, Jennifer and his angel Diego who knew Greg as his "brotha." Greg is also survived by his business partner, best friend and confidant Adam Kerbs who he most often introduced as his son and soul mate. A visitation will be held at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 255 South 200 East, Salt Lake City, on Thursday, October 29 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30 at Saint Thomas More Catholic Church, 3015 East Creek Road in Sandy. Interment will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. A celebration of Greg's life will be held at CBI Security, 59 East Cleveland Avenue (1440 South) in Salt Lake City on Friday, October 30 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with an opportunity to share thoughts and memories from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. So many people provided the support Greg needed to remain comfortable in his home. Special appreciation is expressed to Dr. Shorter, Nurse Deidre, the staff at IHC Memorial Pharmacy and Greg's many caregivers. Special appreciation is also expressed to Greg's CBI family. Online condolences may be made at www.russonmortuary.com

Rollercoaster Weekend

This weekend was full of ups and downs. First I awoke to mayhem with our dryer incident, ugh that sucked. Luckily Shannon's mom was able to come get the kids so that we could clean the house. Then I got dressed up and went with Tiffany to get pictures. Her dad had the way col idea to do them at the Salt Lake City Cemetary. Fantastic idea. It was so beautiful and it was raining on and off.

Even though we like these pictures we have decided that we are going to go back and redo them. I wanted to go to some different areas of the cemetary and I want a close up of Bynx and I's face. There is an area of tall head stones that would be way totally cool to get pictures taken at. It'll probably be after Halloween but eh, we'll live. Take opportunity as they come.

So after we left the cemetary we boogied to my home for my Slumber Party. only 1 person showed. And boy was I grateful! It was my Hailey! I haven't seen her since right before high school. I missed her so much! I was so happy to see her. Definately glad to have a friend so close. So we had fun and I got to see her and that made it worth it.

I finally got to bed and had to get up to go to work. As I was wrapping up for the day Dave called to tell me our good friend Greg Valdez had passed away in his sleep this past sunday morning. Its just so weird to think that he is actually gone.... Never thought it would happen.

SPIDERS!!!!!!!!!

EW EW EW EW!!!!! So we had found a wonderful deal for a dryer and was so excited to actually be able to use it. Dave tried it and there was definitly heat coming from it, but nothing drying the clothes. He took the back off of it and this huge Black Widow popped out. Dave squished it and realized what it was and chucked the dryer outside. After taking the entire thing apart discovered 10 Black Widows, the littlest one the size of a dime. So now the dryer is spider free and clean and wow does it work!

Life is hard.... Remember the good things

Finances have always been my biggest struggle. I've never been known to be frugal with my money. Its really been hard for me. I'm working harder to get caught up and the stress weighs on me every day. Some days it seems like I will never get caught up. Others I feel better because I paid off a bill - at least the amount owed. I've still got 2 bills other than medical that I need to pay and they are really stressing me out. I need to just buckle down and get it paid off..... Just never seems like we have enough. With medical bills etc. Its hard. All that keeps me going is that in a year from now - if I work hard - I won't have these stresses anymore. Just need to keep at it. Keep working. Being very careful with what I buy and restrain myself.

I have a system in place. Once I have $200 in my savings I will take $100 to work on my tattoo. That way we will have that money in there. I need to keep spending to a minimum. This way I'm putting myself in a check and balance system. As long as I keep $100 in my savings and my bills are current I can continue. That sets a bar for me.

I sometimes feel selfish in all the whining and worrying that I do. I know people right now that have no job, that are being sued and have no way to pay them. I truly am blessed in everything that I have. I have been given so much.

I have a friend where she has lost so many loved ones lately the most recent a friend so close deemed a sister. I cannot imagine how much she is suffering. I don't know what to do for her.

I look at my family, my house, the kids, Bynx, Butch, David.... my job, our cars, David's job..... I may struggle but it is all signs saying I have a life. I have amazing people in my life that I am blessed to know. Its hard sometimes to remember that.

Learning German!

Its interesting how the universe answers your pleas. I've been so stressed and I was able to work some OT and now will have enough money to fix the car and register the truck. I was also able to get a ride for the next 3 days so that will help too. I truly am blessed and I just need to remember to keep putting out good Karma and things will be OK.

I've always wanted to learn German. I wasn't given that opportunity in high school and Jr high. I want to pay my school loans off so I can go back but until then I just have my own methods. Luckily I have some family members that speak it and can help. So as I learn they will be brushing up and hopefully I will know enough that when I have my own kids I can teach them.

I'm so excited! Tiffany is going to take some sexy Halloween pictures with me. I'm just dressing up with things I already have so I'm going to be working out extra hard the next couple weeks and Hopefully loose a few more inches so that I look extra good. I'm going to buy Bynx a carrier so he can come too. I might be able to take Gabby. Guess we'll see. It's going to be way fun though!

Remember your Blessings!

It's days like today that I need to remember my blessings the most. I've been really struggling lately with wanting so many things and having it all fall apart.

I've been working so hard to get out of debt. It's taking years but there was finally a dent! Everything seemed to be going great and then Sept hit. For some reason it just seemed like a way short month. We're behind now and its stressing me out to no end! All the hard work I've been doing and the crazy hours at work all down the drain. Stupid credit cards are back to outrageous amounts (I hate them. As soon as I can get rid of them they are going bye bye) and the big debts that are killing my credit are now worse. I just don't understand it. We cut our spending by more than half, both are working insane hours, almost never go out to eat anymore, and still nothing changes. Granted we've had to fix the truck and register the car. Still have to fix the car and register the truck.... Sigh... Seems like it never ends.

So I'm way stressed. It's getting to the point where I just want to cry all the time. So I tried to remember just how many good things I have. My friends, my cat, David, Cars that work.... we have our house and the monthly bills to live are paid... a good job, David's job. Definitely in a better spot than we were last year.

My friend Ariel got me a spot on a local radio station last Thursday. I sat there talking about my religion and being in harmony and Karma.... I realized that all this stress is throwing me out of whack. I'm not at peace I'm not in harmony. I've been really grumpy and my patience has thinned and I've been less than nice at work. Not exactly spreading good Karma.

I think I just need to relax this weekend. Try to not sweat it and do something fun. Everything will work out. I have David and he's more than I could ever hope for. I just need to enjoy his company and be with him. Just hard to be positive these days.... I feel like I'm drowning....