16-11-28 (Read 2/28/26)

We had Deck the Halls yesterday. Beth and Rodney left for Houston before we started, but they stopped by on their way out and visited with us for a little bit and Beverly and JA came over and got to see them for a few minutes. Beth called later in the evening to see how it went. She and Rodney got stuck in miles-long traffic jams, so got home about three hours later than they usually would have. I can't remember exactly where she was in Louisiana when she called but it wasn't nearly as far as she wanted to be. 

Beverly and Annette sat on the patio and visited. Beverly talking about Standing Rock. Morgan sitting on the swing, holding Jaden, which she did for most of the afternoon. 

Barry stayed in his rocking chair and watched a football game. Brandon sat in mine and they talked easily about the game, and bees. A little while later Zak joined them, sitting on the sofa. 

Andrew spent the afternoon in the front bedroom, rolling up the Saran wrap ball of presents The game is something he saw online and thought would be fun. He is especially looking forward to watching others play it. He's helped me find dice and the saran wrap --- it has been a fun thing for us to do together. 

JA had to work, but got home in time for supper and for birthday singing. 

John and Kim were in Huntsville, but lots of people asked where they were. 

Chris and his new girlfriend got here about 5:00. Afterwards, Tyler asked me what my first impression was. I asked him what he thought, how he felt around her. He said that she has a special freezer at Drew's that she doesn't let just anybody get into, but she lets him. 

Brittany was studying, Faith wasn't feeling well. Barry got the volleyball net up for me, and most of the younger kids played volleyball and ran around kind of like a Goodtimes. Willo and Vivian were sick, too. 

Angela asked where I wanted to put the Family Promise bags, and I told her the bed. She did that, but then came and asked if I'd like her to put them on a spot on the bedroom floor so that I wouldn't have to move them later on that night. 

Things have just shifted. There aren't as many little kids running noisily through the house, and all of the kids and older grandbabies not only can do more, but offer to do more. There's just a lot less stress and trying to get it all done for me. I showed them where the Family Promise things were, and they set up the process and got it all done. Beverly said, "Mom, it is really pretty great for you to do this." 

Tori and Josh had to leave for a little bit to go get Zoey from the vet. Annette told them she was proud of them for being prepared for the expense. 

Chelsea came with Jaden, and left him with us for a few minutes while she ran to the laundromat. She said she told Evan it felt weird to do that. I think it was the first time she left him anywhere. 

October 14, 2016 (Read 3/5/26)

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. 

16-09-12 (Read 3/20/26)

This computer logged in online, to the home network, just about as quickly as it used to. That's promising. We'll see if it does better than it did on my hotspot, because it kept on freezing up there. 

Second Sunday Supper was last night, and almost everyone was there. We were missing Amber, Kim and Willo. I enjoyed watching the kids as they arrived, greeting each other, heading for the back yard or the game table to enjoy each other's company. 

We celebrated our September birthdays, and Josh was able to be with us this time, so that was fun. We also celebrated Morgan and Brandon's engagement. "What are we going to sing to them?" someone asked. So, we didn't sing. I spoke. Just told them that we were doing this in our usual haphazard way, but wanted them to know that we are happy for them, that we are happy about this, that we loved them both --- and Brandon's face --- just looked like he was happy in the moment, happy to hear the words, in real life. Congratulations on Facebook are good, and short congratulatory words in person are good, but a banner and streamers and a little official congratulations --- that seemed to have an important place, too. I'll have to remember that. 

Kennedy and John W got here early to help me get ready and decorate and Brittany and Beverly and Angela. Tori came but when she went to check on her dad, who was working on Beverly's jeep in the shop, he was bleeding, and she said she'd decided he needed someone to watch over him. I can't remember what she told us he said about his cut, but she said she thought, "Aw, you need a buddy." 

Andrew, John and Rodney, sitting at the table, talking about Dragon Con. 

Some snippets of agreement conversation at the big kid table re: the Dakota Access Pipeline. 

I asked Barry to make the beans, and he did, and they were a hit. 

I used Crazy Jane's Mixed Up Pepper in the macaroni and cheese, and I really liked that. 

Skyler to Noah, as she left, "Be good in school!" 

Annette, coming up behind me as I was at the counter, hugging me, telling me how excited she is about the Purple Rain tickets, "But thing I'm most excited about is hanging out with you guys." 

Brittany's planning on get a double masters --- Business, and Coastal Engineering. Her engineering professor can not only get the Coastal Engineering master funded, she can arrange for Brittany to be paid while she's working on the project. 

Chris helped JA get Beverly's jeep fixed. 

Jaden came to his first official (unless you count the Alabama game at Beth's house) family function. Lots of cuddling and pictures. Beverly took him immediately, and held him until Chelsea was through eating, and then got her own supper. My camera has disappeared, so Brittany took pictures on her phone. 

Friday night, Barry and I went to a Black Jacket Symphony "Hotel California," with Beth and Rodney. They'd gotten tickets for us and his mom, and his aunt Susie and Uncle Jerry. So, we all went to supper together and then the concert, and had a a good time. 

Beverly, re: Chelsea, after they'd watched the game together at Beth's house: "She handled us all really well. I was really impressed." 

16-04-08 (Read 7/16/26)

Barry facilitated my meeting with Derek.

My meeting with Derek was productive.

Tricia answered my Daily Booked loads inquiry first thing this morning, which indicates cooperation. 

Virginia is steadily training Jashuna, and is willingly releasing things to her. 

Virginia telling Jashuna about the SIMPLE IRA. 

Shawn passed his Learner's Permit test. 

Tyler, at dinner, sugar: Yes. --- More and more affectionate. 

Lots of getting to see folks expected at Second Sunday Supper, looking forward to that. 

Barry is really sticking to his better eating plan, and is losing weight. I eat better just to keep from throwing him off track.

Andrew and John, making me laugh, in the Facebook email about kids and road trips.

Beverly said she had a good, relaxing day yesterday. 

Morgan's graduation announcements came in. 

My wisteria is beautiful.

Tyler letting Mama Cat out of her room so that she wouldn't give herself a concussion. 

My flower lined path to the writing shack.

We got things worked out so that I can just do payroll here without having to drag things off to Taylor's office. 

16-03-30 (Read 7/16/26)

Shawn made the brownies for me last night. ~ Gene and Martha got here before I got a chance to make them, so while Shawn and I were on the doorstep, too far away for Gene and Martha to hear, I put my arms around his neck and asked if he could make the brownies for me. So sweet --- he put his arms around my neck, and said, "I think I can do that." They were perfect. 

I asked Tyler to get the dishes for me early, and he didn't fuss at all but got right to it. Shawn didn't fuss either, when I asked him to help me rearrange the living room and put things back in the lazy Susan, etc. 

So all was relatively calm, or more to the point, I wasn't stressed out at all. 

The living room filled up, and a couple of the kids remarked there were more people here than we have at Second Sunday Supper. Beverly and Beth laughed together. Chris drove over from Fairhope. John and Kim and Noah came, and Noah and Tyler were glad to see each other. Beth and Rodney came and brought Gene some lima beans. Morgan and Brandon skipped supper and came straight to visit after their 5:30 appointment. JA's work left him alone for a minute. Lots of laughter and easy talk. 

I finished the garden stakes and plan, so that's done. 

Kim said that she has told them she's going to be out of town on these days, re: our trip to DC, so I'm excited now --- feels like a definite. 

16-03-28 (Read 7/16/26)

It's just that I feel drowsy. I woke up feeling like I'd had a deep sleep, though. Woke up at 4:40 and didn't really get much rest after that. Maybe that's why the drowsy. Anyway, I started a load of towels, so we've gotten a head start on that. 

The boys got off to school without any trouble, and so that was good. 

I got out of the house and headed this way on time, which is good because I really need to get my workouts back in place. We've filled the living room up, so I don't really know what I'm going to do on rainy days, but I'm going to have to think of something. 

Andrew came out Saturday and made some more things for their Spartan workouts. We got to visit some, and get some hugs. He helped us clean up the shop and put the plants away before the rain. 

Beverly and JA made an Easter basket for us, but when I sent her a text to thank her, she said, "Wasn't me. Must have been the Easter Bunny." Tori and Josh brought it over and left it on the dining room table while we were in the pottery barn. When they told Beverly where'd they'd left it, she said, "They're going to know that the Easter Bunny couldn't get inside." Tori protested that the back door was open. Josh said every big Easter Bunny he'd seen had been magical. 

Beverly seemed especially happy yesterday, and she said it was because she had all three of her girls together. 

Beth, Morgan and I had a sweet time ordering Morgan's graduation announcements. 

Evan and Chelsea stopped by. 

I got to visit with Angela, Tori, Kennedy, Josh and John while Beverly and JA were hiding their Easter presents.

16-02-03

The bookkeeping part of month end is done, do you hear me? On February THIRD. That's a full three weeks ahead of time, meaning that that particular parcel is about to make sense. Doing it on the first Tuesday will be great. Easier because there are fewer transactions to deal with. APU and Mileage issues still need to be resolved, but I'm ready for Taylor. 

I'm very proud of myself for arranging my tasks in such a way as to accomplish that. 

Also, the laundry is done, which works out well since I need to be packed today. 

Shawn gave us good night hugs last night. 

Got to see Beverly and JA this morning. 

Morgan and I had a little Facebook chat.