16-11-16 (read 2/24/26)

I just don't know how to tell you how many times I've gotten the happy heart about Vivian.

Beverly and I went to a march downtown to support Standing Rock. The march iteself --- well, I should have paid more attention to its headline --- Standing Rock was the draw, but there was at least an hour's worth of recruitment for three different organizations. We did, finally, when we walked, at least spend some time saying, "We stand with Standing Rock," Saying that almost brought tears to my eyes. Saying that --- that was my point. 

I talked to Daddy and Kathi. Daddy is doing better and so is she. Daddy said he'd had a nice conversation with Andrew the night before. 

Beverly said in a kind of quiet voice that it was very cool that I wanted to go to the march. I told her that I wanted to, that it seemed disingenuous to send money and send prayers but then shy away from what I could actively do here in my own hometown.

Beth posted that she was excited about taking public transportation to her first day of work.

Tyler said that John told Noah, "There isn't going to be any Christmas, or any presents or any tree," and Kim said, "Oh, I'm getting my tree!" 

Shawn came by yesterday to get his ID and so Tyler got to see him for a little bit. Tyler told me later that he'd tried to keep his face straight but he just couldn't stop his smile. 

Annette sent me a message about Brittany, and Brittany putting up a tree in her apartment, and the Christmas ornaments, and kids growing up. It was a sweet conversation. 

Beverly really prefers quiet prayer walks to marching rallies. Maybe she and I will do some of those, even if it is just the two of us.  

16-11-14 (Read 3/1/26)

Saturday just evolved as one of the best days a person could ask for. The Alabama game started at 11, and Barry called to see if the Reeds wanted to come over. Tori and Josh came right about that time, and so Beverly, JA, Ange, Josh, Tori and I (and Bentley, Bella, and Zoe) gathered up to watch the game (or play Nine's at the dining room table while Barry and JA watched the game.) The weather was pretty, so we left the patio door open most of the time. Barry ordered pizza, Beverly and JA brought some snacks. After awhile Evan, Chelsa and Jaden came over. He got lots of hugs and attention and Angela got some great pictures. Beverly said, "That baby changed my day." 

There were only about half us here last night, but we got to see Kim, which doesn't happen very often, and Vivian. We were a little squisshy, maybe two seats short, but visited and had a good time. Beverly and Angela cleaned the kitchen up for me. 

Beth called in and we put on speaker to sing Happy Birthday. Rodney called and he and I had a nice visit. 

And I did the right thing. I've been smiling about it ever since. I'd been thinking on it. I thought maybe I should have some conversations first. Check with people. But then I didn't. Then I just did what I wanted to do and called Vivian aside, and told her about the money I donated to the scholarship fund when Tori and Morgan each graduated and that Angela is graduating, and that I thought that what I really wanted to do was help her, and that I didn't know if this amount of money would be any help, and her eyes filled up with tears, and she said that it would be half her tuition, and she just hugged me and hugged me and hugged me and thanked me and thanked me and thanked me. It was a very, very happy spot for me. 

Barry made the beans for dinner and just generally helped me. It made getting ready for dinner so much more fun, so much less exhausting. 

Chris and Tyler seemed to enjoy their time together, so I was happy about that. Chris has a job with a different glass company. 

Noah spent Friday with us, and that was fun. 

Barry had fun working with Kennedy and Angela in the pottery barn. They were using all kinds of tools and he brought out things they didn't even need because he was having so much fun watching them. 

16-10-24 (Read 3/5/26)

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. 

September 19, 2016 (Read 3/14/26)

Well, for starters, the household bookkeeping is caught up. I have ten household administrative duties I have to handle, but the basic bookkeeping is current, and I haven't been able to say that, to feel that, since last April. 

Barry and I worked on the pottery barn and it is much more pleasant place to be. We got off the property and went to Bass Pro to look for a backpack for his Appalachian Trail hike. We went to the Dragonfly festival. It was massively overrated, but I don't have to wonder now. We were both pretty happy just to be off gallivanting together. 

We went over to Beth's last night since Rodney left this morning for his new job in Dallas. It isn't a permanent position --- most likely will last six or eight months, but should be very good for them financially. 

We got to see Zak and Vivian, but missed Morgan. We got to see Beverly, and JA and Angela. We missed Kennedy there, but she did come out to see us at the house, and she and John and Barry and I had a good visit. Laughed a lot. Kennedy brought me over to Phew! to see a spider that was busy weaving its web. It was a big-bellied spider! 

Beth and Beverly are going to go with me to Green Drinks. 

Beverly and I are going to try to take an extended walk Wednesday. 

Even Wonderland is in really good shape. At least at my desk. I think Virginia's may be overwhelmed, but I don't know for sure. 

I just haven't had a week like this in years, where Wonderland and household were at manageable levels, and I could do some of the other things that I want to do. 

16-08-29 (Read 6/19/26)

Just enjoyed yesterday, and ended it feel happy --- a sense of well-being. Katelyn, the little girl I've been following on Facebook, had a good week, and is getting stronger. Tyler and I had some good talks. Autumn brought Willo for Goodtimes and we've given her the dates for them through the rest of the year. Faith and Skyler picked Willo up in the pool and played with her, and Tyler played with her a lot. (Tyler said more of the big kids need to come to Goodtimes because his brother just stays in his room, or tries to play with the little kids, which isn't much fun for him.) And we did have big kids yesterday! Angela, Tori, Kennedy, and John W were all here, and we played "Nines" together for a little while, and then Tyler joined us. Zak and Vivian came by around 4:00 or 4:30 --- they had come earlier but somehow missed us --- must have been right before noon --- they didn't see any cars, so I told them mine is usually in the pottery barn now. Vivian and I made up a potion for her grandmother --- played with the essential oils for a little bit --- and I made one for Zak, and Kennedy and I got to refill her Itzahug. Annette hadn't been sure if Skyler would make it, whether or not they would be back from their time in NOLA with Annette's mother, but they were, and so we did get to see her. John was my playground duty, and he sent me a text to let me know they were running a little late. He and Noah got here after we were in the pool, and sat together on the glider at the deep end of the pool. It was fun to watch them sitting there together, talking. Noah was sitting at the table later and when I walked by, he put his arms around me and gave me a big hug. Angela wore her new shirt --- the one Kennedy designed for her. It is so wonderful! Barry cooked a big pot of beans while everyone was here, and had fun feeding them all. 

16-08-22 (Read 6/24/26) Evan/Kennedy

Zak and cookies

Vivian and Chelsea talking

Evan ... if Kennedy needed anything,  I would leave right now to help her.  She has my back.

Zak was at the house when I was making brownies for July's Second Sunday Supper, and we talked about Back to School Cookie Day, and whether or not he would be able to get here that day, because of work. I asked him what day he started classes, and when I marked that on the calendar, he said, "Awwww." He called me a couple of weeks later to correct the date, sent me a text one day last week to let me know what time he would be here and the followed up by letting me know that Vivian and his friend Tragen would be with him. We stopped by the grocery store Sunday night so that I could pick up the ingredients, so I was partially prepared when Chelsea let us know that she was going to be induced Tuesday --- which just also happened to be Zak's first day of classes. 

So, I sent Zak a text and asked him to call me. Told him I was looking forward to making the cookies, had the ingredients, baby being born Tuesday, trying to decide if I should make them and leave them on the counter for him, or and he interjected, "If it would be easier to make them today, we could do that." So, that's what we did. :-) Evan and Chelsea happened to be at the house when they got there, and Chelsea and Vivian ended up sitting at the table and visiting === Vivian giving Chelsea all kinds of information about getting grants and what it costs to get her CNA. 

I can't remember now just how Kennedy's name came up, but Evan said, "Kennedy's got my back. And if she called me and said she needed me to come, I'd leave right now."