16-10-31

I had a good weekend. 

Beth came over Friday night. She brought the fixings to make spaghetti, so we had supper and then watched "Bad Moms" together. We laughed a lot. And she spent the night, so we got up the next morning and went to Waffle House for breakfast. 

~Noah, something about girl gossip. The hike. 

Tyler and I went Saturday and got his hair cut and we did our grocery shopping for the week. Saturday night we went to the fair with John and Noah. 

~ John, as we sat on a bench talking and watching the boys as they waited  in line for a ride, re: Tyler, "and a kid that I love." 

Noah spent Saturday night with us and we got up Sunday and went to Graham Creek preserve and Beth went with us. We had a picnic and took the two mile hike. It was fun, but I wouldn't drag the whole family over there. The hiking trail is more like a farmer's roads around the edge of his fields. Beth said it was like we'd run out of gas and were walking to the gas station. ;-) But, we did see some pitcher plants. 

I did a lot of just hanging loose this weekend. Just messing around on Facebook, and not really doing much of anything. 

Annette and Brittany finished their race in Texas. 

Beverly got to have a massage at JeJung spa and she enjoyed hers as much as I enjoyed mine. 

Daddy called just as we were starting our hike Sunday, so Tyler, Noah and Beth all got to talk to him.

Beth said she thinks we ought to go cook Thanksgiving dinner for them. 

Just standing back and watching Noah and Tyler walk the hike, talk at the fair...

16-10-27

Barry and Beverly,  setting out for the AT.

16-10-25

Beverly,  ready for a practice hike.

16-10-27

We got to have a birthday dinner with Angela. 

We're having pretty sunrises. I'm not sure why they are prettier lately than usual. Maybe we're just out there at a different time. Or sun is rising more closely to the time we're out there, what with the move towards winter. Anyway, pretty. 

We ordered Angela's graduation announcements, etc. last night. 

I'm having a quiet morning. 

16-10-25

Valerie called me last night even though she was tired.

Angela sent me a Facebook message.

Brittany texted me back.

Lindsey stopped by for a visit. 

Daddy called. He liked the little book I sent him. He is able to drive short distances again, and is going to have lunch with a car friend of his. 

Beverly came over early this morning, all dressed out in her gear, to go for a practice hike. They decided to wait and do that this evening, but she sure looked cute. When I said that, she said, "Everybody needs (gets, has?) a mommy." 

When Tyler called from school today, he said, "I know it is late notice, but I was wondering if I could stay after school today to try out for honor band." I  thought it was sweet that he started with, "I know it is late notice..." 

It took me from about 8:15 to 11:00 to download AmEx, etc., and reconcile the checking account. So ... about 2 hours and 45 minutes? I also culled the Outlook emails, and I also had trouble with Quicken. Without the random problems, it would have been more like 2 hours and 15 minutes, and if I'd had the office clean and ready to go at 7:35, I would have been in pretty good shape. As it was, I got the household bookkeeping back in great shape by lunchtime, which is great. No exercise, but I may still pull that out of the bag. Rearranged the laundry and did the delicates and needs to be hung up, so that's good. It was my objective and I feel good about that. 

16-10-24

Second time this morning that my phone has crashed. "Can't find your SIMS card." I'm really just going to have to go to the AT&T store. 

The temperature in the writing shack seems to be going down instead of up, and I can't find the instructions. I need to finish setting things up. I feel reasonably certain that it is here somewhere. 

We had Goodtimes, and Beth was here, so I was happy about that. Zak and Vivian came, they played a couple of hands of Stewardess with Beth and I. Lots of laughter. 

Michael and Faith made brownies. They've really got that down pat, now. 

Morgan, Angela, Kennedy, Tori, Josh, Beth and Beverly gathered in yard, along with all of their puppies. It was like a new generation of Goodtimes, only with puppies. 

Zak turned on the football game, and Barry and Brandon talked about one of the games. 

Michael, Faith, Noah and I played a round of Stewardess at the start of Goodtimes, and with the exception of Daniel, at that time, we were the only ones here. Noah said, "Some of my cousins are late." 

Chris stayed and got the go-cart running, and they had a lot of fun riding on it. Faith and Skyler talk to each other a lot about Goodtimes. 

Autumn brought Willo, and she had a lot of fun. 

Evan calling about their anniversary.

16-10-19

Angela made a 100 on her first speech.

16-10-20

Evan made the president's list

16-10-21

I honestly think the election has me in a crank mood. I really just don't know how much more of Donald Trump I can stand. They really just can't get him off the stage soon enough for me. I wonder if other people are cranky about the election. I wonder how the Republican party will reorganize after this election.

Skyler's birthday is today. 

Beverly and Barry left at 7:15 this morning to take a 5 mile hike, in preparing for their AT hike. 

Tyler has been going out in the yard and spending time with Chris while Chris works. 

Kim said, "Glad you are enjoying the pumpkin bread and glad we did lunch too. We might have to make that happen a little more often since SSS always falls on my weekend to work. Love you, too!" 

16-10-20

Well, let's see. I woke up on time. A little bit early, 5:00, but not 4:00, and I didn't oversleep, so that's good. 

I think I have sent Daddy the book I wanted to, and I did get his other little book in the mail. 

We're having a pretty day, weather-wise.

16-10-19

Coming to the writing shack this afternoon, even though it was out of schedule.

Kim invited me to lunch today, and so we met at Panera and she brought me a loaf of her pumpkin bread, and she treated me to lunch. We had a relaxed visit. 

Angela made a 100% on her first speech! I need to get in my FB message from Ange for the teacher's exact words.

16-10-17

I sailed in to this weekend from a week that had gone much closer to plan than any week prior to that. Writing and Community both had their days. I didn't do any HH bookkeeping, and I hadn't done much exercise, so I included them in the weekend as a way to give this week its best chance. It made me feel good to get the mail open and the bills paid, and I enjoyed the few hours I spent in the yard. Also, I liked the way things looked when I finished. So I just feel pretty good about my life right now, at least with respect to my pulling together pieces that matter to me at this point. 

Morgan had a luncheon Saturday to formally ask her bridesmaids to be in her wedding. Buffy Covington and I got to visit with each other a little bit. She, Beth, Dana and I all sat at the same end of the table and just had a good, friendly visit. 

I have some pictures and Morgan's words in the Facebook Joy Journal. 

Amber was there, so I got to see her and visit with her a little bit. 

Chelsea came over last night and so we got to play with Jaden for a little bit. 

Tori came over and visited with us for a little while and she set Barry's new fitbit up for him. We played a game of nine's and she beat me. 

We got to go to Noah's archery tournament Friday night. Chris and Tyler went with us. I have some pictures. 

Noah tap tap taps us when he hugs and Barry told Tyler he needed to take lessons from Noah. So then Tyler came back to tap-tap-tap. I told him that wasn't necessary, they were all unique. 

Brittany asked Morgan if she was doing anything Saturday night, and Britt said he sounded kind of like she needed to do something. I loved that Britt asked, and that Morgan understood. 

I talked to Johnny and Kim, Saturday I think, as they were driving back to Vero. 

Noah is just getting so tall and had that whole grown-up thing going on with him. Not elementary school anymore. 

October 14, 2016

I don't have any laundry to roll today! I have laundry to put away, but none to roll! 

Yesterday was a good day, part of a week that has been good overall. Instead of trying to devote the whole week to writing, I decided to try to make this week go the way I've been trying to get each week to go. So, I spent most of Tuesday writing and most of Wednesday on Child Advocacy Center type things. Yesterday morning I went to "Stories in the Sand," at Dauphin Island. I don't think they'll be the kinds of events that I've been wanting to take Kennedy to, but the weather was nice, and there was a nice  little crowd, and the it was interesting to hear the history of the island. Mostly, at first, I was happy with myself for going. For not talking myself out of it. 

As relates to the event, the best part came after. 

There was no charge for the event, but donations were welcome and would be used to fund future events. I went into the gallery and looked for the a place to leave a donation, finding it on a back table. A woman thanked me as she saw me drop it in and then said, "You drive the Mini-Cooper, don't you?" So then I knew she drew the little brown Mini-Cooper that I'd seen in the parking lot. I don't know how to explain the friendly kinship, but it was fun. 

At about that same time, another woman walked up and said, "Didn't I see you just the other day?" Suzanne, from the Child Advocacy Serve it Up committee meeting, just Wednesday. And so we ended up looking at her art work, and somehow about Vero Beach, as her uncle lived in Wabasso. It was just a fun, friendly visit, and maybe fun to have someone reach out for me. 

As relates to the morning, the best part was in the middle. Kathi called and I talked to her for ten or fifteen minutes, and then Daddy and I talked. We talked about how he's doing, and some about the kids, and some about what he's doing, and he wished me happy birthday. He said that I am a good daughter, that I make a difference (referring to the grandchildren) in their little lives, "and you make a difference in my life.) His voice is different. I don't think I've ever doubted the sincerity of the loving things he's said to me, but there was something different --- maybe a measure of "I want her to remember this." I told him that he was going to make me cry. That he was a perfect daddy. 

Morgan came over during her lunch break to look for some pictures and it was fun to see her.

Beverly came over after lunch with a beautiful cake. (I took pictures.) She'd decorated the cake cover, and gave me an invitation to my birthday party --- just beautiful. I'll take pictures of it, too. And she wrote me a letter, and I'll have to type it up and save it, because it really touched my heart. 

Andrew and John and Beth all called. Beth had planned on coming to the dinner, but she got stuck in New Orleans. Annette called. Kim sent an email and invited me to lunch. Brittany came to dinner. Skyler wished me a happy birthday when Annette called. Noah got on the phone when John called. Zak sent me a text. Tyler wished me a happy birthday, first thing, as did Barry, and Chris got on the phone when Barry called from the marina. Angela sent me an email Tori called. Kennedy sent me a text. Chelsea and Evan sent a text. Johnny tried all day to call and Mark sent me a text. Valerie sent a text from her and Nick. 

My party was mostly girls --- Beverly, Brittany, Angela, Kennedy, and John W. Beverly treated us all, and we had a fun visit. It made me feel good that they went to all that trouble for me, and took time out on a week night, of all things. Then all of us except for Brittany came out to the house and had the cake that Beverly had brought over, and played a game of nines. Lindsey sent me a Facebook email. 

Before I got ready for bed, I showed Barry my hand, with the opal ring he gave me on my 60th birthday, and said, "I just wanted you to see which ring I chose to wear tonight." You should have seen him smile.

He and Beverly had a lot of fun talking about their hike. 

He said that I make a difference in his life.

Kinda fun to walk into the writing shack and just be able to start on the computers.

16-10-11

Barry and I took a walk last night --- 3 or 4 laps around the yard. He said we could do that every night, and I'm pretty happy about that. That's been on my wish list for a long time. 

Got to visit with John and Noah a little bit when they brought Tyler home. 

Kathi responded to my text. They have their power back on. 

My little climate control thingie seems to be working jsut fine. It wasn't cold when I came out this morning. 

Barry and I did the kitchen together last night. 

I'm getting to have a writing day. :-) By that I mean that most of the day is devoted to writing. It isn't quite like being in Iowa, as I have to work around some things, but I'm in pretty good shape work wise and HH admin wise. My writing and my civic duties may kind of overlap. Spent part of my writing time writing Jeff Sessions, who has indicated that he doesn't really know what Trump meant when he said that he kissed women without even asking them, etc. 

Annette said she got Skyler registered and setup at Theodore, and that Skyler seemed really happy. 

Angela sent me a message yesterday and so did Brittany. 

Jaden weight ten pounds, ten ounces. Chelsea posted a picture yesterday of him propped up in the corner of the sofa and not falling over. 

Andrews all about being honest and owning your shit and having the you know what to admit when you've done something wrong. If you don't do that,  then he's got a problem with you.

16-10-10

Angela and I get to order her graduation things today! She and I got to have a little visit Saturday. (She drove up as I was walking back from my little storage shed.) Her professor is going to get with her today on some volunteer opportunities that may gave her an idea of what she would like to do as a career, for focus on graduate studies, since her professor would really like her to do that. Angela said several times that she wants to do something that helps people. 

Brittany had a lot to do yesterday, but she came to Second Sunday Supper. 

Andrew playing with Daniel. 

Skyler made cupcakes and brought them for one of our desserts. 

Annette brought corn and got the silver ware out. 

Beverly brought some lima beans and she and Beth got the table ready. 

JA walked out a little bit after dinner started and Beverly was so happy to see him Beth thought that Rodney had shown up for her as a surprise. 

Angela liked her birthday present. (wind chimes I bought in Florida at the Fort Pierce farmer's market) and I found out that Brittany likes wind chimes. 

Kennedy made green bean casserole and spinach / artichoke dip. 

Morgan took care of the rolls. 

Annette said she got first dibs on Jaden because she didn't get to hold him last time. 

Evan, Chelsea and Jaden were here for just a few minutes. He said he felt nauseous; Chelsea needed to get some sleep before her shift, too. 

Noah gave me hugs. 

Barry got all of the towels washed, dried, folded and put away. That kinda gives me a shot at having all of the laundry done by writing day. :-) 

Chris got up and helped with the Saturday night dishes. 

Andrew carved the turkey. 

Daddy said he wanted to talk to me.

Three pillows

16-10-07

Tyler asking if he could go on my walk with me. He went bike riding with Papa, too. He'd done well on his homework, and his Language Arts teacher was satisfied with our substitute motivator. He made a 98 on his math EQT and he was the first one in his class to see the pattern in the bell ringer. His teacher was impressed. 

Barry is talking excitedly about his hike. His backpack came in and he started packing it last night. It is giving him something fun to talk about and think about. 

Daddy and Kathi made it through Hurricane Matthew last night. The eye came close to the coastline as it moved north, but did not come in. Mark was with them, and they do not seem to have lost power. 

Andrew sent me a text to check on them and see if it was all right to call, and John called me to check on them. 

Annette is healing up from her surgery. 

I think JA is getting more time off with his new job.

Angela sent me a message, and so did Morgan. Morgan and Beth are meeting with the photographer today, and Fairhope has their application, so the date is set! 

Went to Panama Jacks

Press journal. ..they need you back.

October 6, 2016

Tyler got up and off to school on time. He listens closely when I talk to him....maybe, now that I think about it, listening to me the same way that I told him I try to listen to him. We did the kitchen together last night. 

The temperature has dropped just a little, just enough to let you know that we are headed into fall, just enough to let me know it is time to take Tyler and get some long pants. 

Daddy's voice sounded strong yesterday. 

Some of the berries on the holly bush by the pool have changed color. It is striking even from a distance, even from the kitchen window. 

Beverly and JA played cards with Tyler and took him on a bicycle ride while we were gone. 

Chelsea came over yesterday and brought Jaden for a little visit. 

Angela sent me a Facebook message yesterday, and Monday. She got a reminder to order her graduation announcements, and that was fun. 

Tori said she and Josh are going to Arkansas to go camping, and she's excited about going to a new place. There's a river for Zoey to play in, so that should be fun. 

Kennedy came over a visit last night and we had a good time. She helped Papa set Cirrus XM up on his phone, which took her at least 30 minutes. He had to get logged in to his Facebook account, which was really quite a feat. When she was done she said, "Just don't ever, ever log out." 

In Brittany's internship she has been working on a project with Daphne Utilities. It went into it's test phase yesterday. Her name is on the sign and everything. See FB Joy Journal for details. 

Evan came over to check on Granddad. "How's the man?" he said, in case we hadn't told Tyler yet. 

Chelsea brought Jaden over.

Daddy showing me the chocolate.

Chicken pot pie lunch.

Known all along how fortunate I was. .. chicken pot pie with Daddy.