2018 Joy Journal

January 8 Second Sunday Supper was joyous last night. Andrew seemed relaxed and started off sitting by Barry and talking about pickups and I heard him say, "I'm not sure I made the right decision," in son-asking-father tone. And then John came in and the three of them discussed the comparative pluses and minuses of various makes and models of pickups.  Kim went straight to pet Mama Cat.  When I said that Tori and Josh were still good friends, still good to each other, had just decided that they didn't have the kind of fire that takes you through all of life's troubles, I ended up looking at Kim, who was nodding as in how important that is, and I remember her saying about meeting John, "It isn't like I didn't know right when I met him that he was the one." Chris said, "I wish all of my relationships were that mature," and Andrew, in big brother love, "So do we." Chris said, loving back, "I know y'all do!" J...

January 1 Barry and John talking about football. Noah and Tyler warming up by the fire after being outside kicking their soccer balls. Barry and I had a good, relaxing day. Spent most of it indoors because we are having a lot of cold, but we did drive across the bay to Barnes and Nobles and had lunch at California Dreaming. I didn't hike today, but I did do something creative --- made my new address book. Said, done, uploaded, and ordered. And I even knew where my Blurb discount card was!

January 2 Beverly came over for a short visit yesterday evening, and liked the book I picked up for her while Barry and I were out New Year's Day shopping. They had fun at Mrs. Reed's house, dinner with Paul and his wife. John and Barry talking about football. Noah and Tyler warming their hands by the fire after being outside and playing soccer.  Beverly gave me sweet hugs before she left for California today, and so did J.A. Wendy sent me a message, "Thinking about you today. " Listening to Noah and Tyler laughing while they play their video game. 

February 21, 2018 Chris And Tyler talking while waiting for the school bus. Tyler was standing by the driver side window, facing Chris, who was still seated in his truck. I don't know what Tyler was talking about but it was pretty animated.  Barry seems happy and excited. We decided on an RV yesterday and this morning he said, "We have so many great adventures ahead for us." I feel the same way.  I got to see Angela for a few minutes this morning. She looks tired, but she said they have Bentley on some new medications. It will be about a week before we'll know how his system adjusts to them. He is very sedated at the moment, but the seizures have stopped.  Tori said that she has been really happy with her car so far, and that she and Josh definitely had some learning experiences figuring it out. She's coming home this weekend, and I sure am happy about that.  I finally got a bowling party set up for us, so we'll see how that goes. At l...

February 7, 2018 Barry came in, all excited, "I think I've found us a piece of property!" And, I think he has.  Jaden is here this morning while Chelsea takes the third part of her G.E.D. He's with Papa. :-) Got to hug Angela. She said she had to spend twenty minutes look for her card, which she had put in the pocket of her other jacket, even though she never does that.  Heard back from Tori. She is going to call me tonight.  Heard from Morgan. She said that she got to have some quality time with Zak this weekend, and she was happy about that. Heard from Kennedy, and got to get hugs from her last night. She was tired --- had spent the whole day on her feet, sanding the pieces for Pensacon. Barry and I went gallavanting yesterday, which was the plan, and had a good day. We went to Shoe Station, and I have some cute new shoes, and we went to the good Asian place for lunch and I had a delicious blueberry martini, and we went to the pet store and stocked up...

February 20, 2018 Dr. Vance said everything looked fine. Beverly and I got to phone visit for about an hour yesterday. Kim sent me a text about Noah's soccer game. I had to rush a lot yesterday, but I did get through the bulk of month end and did at least get the sales tax paid, etc.  Chris waited for the bus with Tyler.  Angela sent me a good morning message. Barry said the French Toast that I made was good. 

February 1, 2018 Beverly called Barry last night. He said she asked his day went so he told her how everything had gone wrong. This morning he mentioned again that he was glad she'd called.  Beth called yesterday afternoon and we visited for a little. She told me about Rashi and Colen's weddings. She had ended up sitting by a man after the first wedding and at the reception for the second saw him looking around the room as though he had no one to sit with, so she went to invite him to sit with them. She asked if they had met after the first wedding, and was he a teacher, and he said, "No. That man's about twenty years older than I am." She felt bad, but it is just exactly like her to go make sure someone doesn't feel left out.  Tyler did well on his homework yesterday.  Almost missed Angela, but did get my hug. :-) Laundry is in good shape. Barry, this morning, talking about Beverly and what she said about how long it takes her to drive anywhere. ...

January 31, 2018 Barry and I did spend yesterday together and spent it all on the Island, going up and down streets and looking at property.  Angela and Kennedy came over for supper and I was going to make brownies but didn't have any vegetable oil, so Angela went and got some for me.  Beverly called this morning and I got to talk to her. She really enjoyed her first day at work. It is a teaching facility, so she sees the opportunity for learning a lot of things.  Beth sent a text that she is having some packages sent here, so I heard from her. Morgan sent me a Facebook message. John said he'd be at SSS. Heard back from Shawn. He said he has the flu.

March 1, 2018 Barry woke up early this morning, at the same time I usually do, and we didn't have a lot of early morning responsibilities, so we went to Waffle House and had breakfast. He sat facing the people he usually talks to and that worked out better for me because otherwise I end up making eye contact with them, and not really knowing what to say. Chelsea was there and knows our new regular, which I really like. Barry orders the All-Star with a half order of dry raisin toast and I order two scrambled eggs, and we ask for it to all be served at the same time. So, I get a half a piece of toast, a half a waffle, a piece of bacon and two scrambled eggs. Lots of flavors without being served more than I can wisely eat. Yesterday, Beverly and JA celebrated the anniversary of their first date and seemed to have had a good time. Went bowling, for one thing. We had a tiny text conversation. Got to visit a bit with Angela this morning and got some hugs. Noah's team won the...

March 2, 2018 We had a nice visit at Waffle House this morning, over breakfast at 5:40 in the morning. He said, "I wonder if we'll have a house built there by this time next year, and I wonder how many miles we will have put on the RV by this time next year." Then he smiled a big smile and said, "It makes me happy just thinking about it!"  Bella ran out to see me this morning and I got to have a visit with Angela. She had a minute to tell me (without any names) about a patient yesterday that caused a ruckus --- nose bleed and didn't want to go to the hospital. She said they don't see active nosebleeds in the office because they can go so wrong so fast.  Beverly and I finally got to have a decent phone visit last night. She called while we were at Benja's and I said, "But I'm kind of desperate to hear your voice," and she said "Same." So, I called her back when we got home, and took my evening walk around the yard and ta...

March 8, 2018 Beverly called yesterday morning and we got to talk for just a minute.  Shawn called and the phone system finally worked, so we got to visit for a minute.  Heard from Tori --- she was having a pop tart for dessert, so I had to ask about supper. She reported having had a healthy supper.  Heard from Evan --- he has to go to a concert Sunday and write a review. Heard from Kennedy --- she is busy, busy, busy in these days leading up to spring break, but she's looking forward to spring break and spending some time in the shop.  Fun text from Brittany --- trying to make sure her mom is at Second Sunday Supper without spilling the secret.  Vivian's RSVP --- "We love you, Grannie, and thank you for all that you do for us." Kim sent me a copy of Noah's schedule. Barry and I went and did a walk through of our new camper yesterday. I think it is going to work perfectly for what we want most of the time.  Angela's Facebook message thi...

March 29, 2018 Bella is napping on her pillow. The writing shack door is open. I hear cars, and the wind chimes Brittany and Skyler gave me.  Kim posted on Facebook that Noah's team came back from a 1 - 3 to go on and win the game. I hate that I missed it.  Beverly and I talked last night for a little minute. She's going to call me back today.  Beth called, but I missed it, and I missed her when I called her back.  Tori said she is coming home this weekend! Kennedy was in drawing class when she got my text, but said she was able to send me a kiss back. ;-) Barry and I found out yesterday that the buyer did sign the purchase agreement, and our paperwork is at the title office. We're expecting to close April 10 on the bay property.  We went and got his computer for the RV and we got the gun safe, so those things are behind us.  And we went to the property and met with the people who will be doing the clearing. 

March 28, 2019 Barry and I went down to the property last night and met with Perry to talk about the bulkhead, so we got to spend a little time there. We went to Baileys for dinner, which was nice, but is really much higher priced than the Pelican Reef.  We've been invited to judge at some BBQ events, so things are coming together there.  Annette and I are going to have lunch sometime.  Angela and I are having some fun conversations about the house.  Kennedy was over last night to work on a project, so we got to see her.

March 27, 2018 Barry and I went down to the bay property last night. We are having fun envisioning the fun we can have down there. We both got to talk to Shawn.

March 26, 2018 It is a slightly overcast morning, and slightly chilly but still nice enough to be able to leave the front door open. I'm hearing as much traffic as birds ;-) but still getting to hear the birds.  Annette stayed and visited with me for a little bit yesterday. She said she told Andrew she hadn't talked to me in a while and so she was going to visit with me until it was time for her to go and workout. And we did just have a good time.  Ange came over Goodtimes, despite the absence of any of the other Big Girl Cousins, and we laughed and played Sequence. She laughed so much, especially when she said, "You just rolled your eyes at me!" And then when I reached for my card just as she was reaching for hers she made a big "Oh!" face. We just laughed a lot.  Noah was in Huntsville with Kim and Faith was with Lindsey, finishing up her shopping for prom, and Michael and Daniel didn't get her until a little bit late, but Skyler and Tyler had...

April 25, 2018 Barry spent all day yesterday down at the bay property. He had to fix a broken water line, and he made us a better path to the beach. He met with lady from the power company and made some calls to the county and the state about cleaning up our ditch and fixing the road, etc. He got home about 4:15 and after we caught up, he said, "I know I've been at the property all day, but I know you haven't been for a couple of days. We can ride back down there and get some supper at Pelican Reef."  I did want to ride and see the new beach access. I was pretty hungry but he'd just had a snack, so there wasn't a mutually perfect order for dinner / visit to the property until he suggested that we could stop by Chevron and get a snack. Turned out, they had some dinners, reduced because it was after five. We got our supper and two bottles of water for less than $10.00 and ate in the pickup, overlooking the bay.  I got to have a nice writing shack afternoo...

April 24, 2018 Got to talk to Beverly last night.  Got to visit with Angela this morning. She's making progress on the flea front, and she is happy about that.  Got a text from Brittany yesterday. She said this is her last week of school! I'm not sure if she's going this summer or not.  Got a text from Beth this morning. Barry's stress test results came back and all is well. 

April 18, 2018 Barry said, "Well, that was a good afternoon!" He got to help Angela with her car, and be in the shop with Kennedy working on her art class wood sculpture project.  I wish you could have seen how happy Angela was to find out that he had already worked with Jimmy and gotten the new battery cell installed so she didn't have to do that after work.  He came up with a cool little invention to make Kennedy's painting go more easily, and she was happy about that. Then the four of us went to dinner at Taste of Thai and just relaxed and had a good time. 

April 17, 2018 Having good mornings and evenings with Angela.  The tennis tournament achieved its objective, so that was good. (Way more confusion than I would like to see, but maybe that's because I was paying more attention to it.) Barry and I had good days. It tired and bored him in some spots, I think, but he got to have a good long talk with the president of the board and one of the other major sponsors --- not so much about anything in particular, just men to visit with in between picture taking times.  Annette came in first place in her Spartan Race! (Pictures are in folder on this computer). She took care of Easter Bunny for me, and it was a sweet afternoon. Brittany took 5th place in her division, on her first race out in a couple of years. Kim has gone part time! I'm happy because I think that means that maybe we'll get to see her more often. Did I tell you that we closed on the property and have cleared the underbrush? It is a beautiful and wonderful s...

May 3, 2018 Me, to Barry as we walked along our beach: What are you thinking? Barry, to me: I'm not thinking anything. I'm just enjoying. When I came over to the writing shack yesterday afternoon, I saw Kennedy's car, so I sent her a text: "I see your car!" and she came out and visited with me for half an hour or so. This is her last week of classes, so she has a lot of papers and projects due. She has one week off and then her classes start again. She's looking forward to the week off. ;-) Talking about after graduation, she said "I don't know where I'm going, but I'm going somewhere!"  We got to see Jaden for a minute when we drove by their RV last night. I'm having fun having more responsibility for the tennis committee. It gives me something to think about and have ideas about. I wondered how everyone would respond to Linda and I co-chairing, but they were all warm and enthusiastic and happy about it, so that made me feel...