2018 Joy Journal

January 19 I'm really excited about where the office is. I have things to do, but nothing pressing, certainly nothing so pressing that I can't have my CAC hours this afternoon. They'll be interrupted by the mammogram I have scheduled this afternoon, but I have decided not to let that stress me out. It causes me too much angst to try to re-prioritize things. I'm just going to hold to the course and see what a year of that does for me.  Tyler and I visited on the porch this morning while we waited for the bus. I'm sending him down to the stop a little later than usual because it is so cold. He told me about an ant that has the most poisonous bite and a wasp that can sting you and make you scream and about a man who let himself be bitten by them all, working up from the least venomous to the most.  Heard back from Annette yesterday. We didn't have a big chat, just a kiss.  Amber said it snowed there Tuesday and was 14 degrees Wednesday and Thursday. Kath...

January 12, 2018 Angela and Kennedy came over for a little visit last night, and we looked at some of the old books we've gotten at the estate sale, and had fun talking about them.  Beverly and I got to have a little phone visit. The cable guy visit went just fine, and she has internet now, so that's good. J.A. is doing some of the onboarding things, so he's a little bored but should be back working sometime this week.  Saw Beth on Facebook a little bit --- pictures of Sammy.  Amber texted me back and so did Zak. We talked to Noah to wish him happy birthday.  Tyler and I had a little bit of a rough night, but it ended on a good note, so that's the good part. 

February 2, 2018 Got to see Kennedy for a quick minute yesterday. Coal's surgery didn't cost as much as they expected it to.  Angela sent me a message this morning and let me know she wasn't having to go in to work as early and that she was going to sleep late. Annette posted that Andrew is riding in the Inca parade tonight, and which float he will be on. Brittany is going to bring Skyler to Second Sunday Supper. Brit said she can't wait to see everybody. Beverly said she got to know her co-workers even better, and that one of them works two jobs so that she can save up money for her dream --- to open a transitioning home for battered women.  Angela has let Doctor Elliot know that she'll be leaving in May. Ange and Tori have been talking a lot. Ange worried about planning until she actually had a job, but Tori told her she was covering the rent by herself now and to just come on.  Amber sent me a text --- her graduation date is set! 

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 16, 2018 I was just so happy last night! Angela did get to make it to Noah's concert, so she and John laughed and talked, and she enjoyed Noah, and Noah was surprised when he saw her, when we switched seats so she could see better.  Got to visit with Beverly a little bit yesterday. She's found a new video that leans pretty heavily on the stretching.  Beth was excited about Zak and Vivian's visit, and they went to a Keith Urban concert last night. Heard from Amber --- she's got the flu.

March 19, 2018 The weather is nice enough that I am able to leave the writing shack door open, and I'm enjoying the bird sounds. I like to think that Bentley and Bella, who are hanging out with me, are enjoying the fresh air, too.  So I got hugs from Angela this morning. We got to visit with Tori and Josh this weekend --- they came in for Kayla's shower. Tori said her project launch went well, although sales seem to be going more slowly than they'd hoped.  Andrew laughed at the pie-rate joke I shared on his timeline. Beverly called Barry while we were on our way home from dinner so we talked to her on his truck's bluetooth thing. She'd finished up her weekend and is on her schedule so will have this week off.  Heard back from Faith. She was having a busy Saturday, getting ready for her prom. Zak and Vivian went to Houston and are having a good time. Vivian's 21st birthday was Saturday, so there are some fun pictures and greetings in the Facebook J...

March 21, 2018 Got to visit with Angela for a minute this morning. They're expecting a busy day --- in clinic and on call.  Talked to Beverly for a few minutes last night. They are having lots of rain, but JA is supposed to be off today and tomorrow, so she was looking forward to that. Skyler and I are going to go to Noah's soccer game this afternoon, and I'm looking forward to that.  Barry and I went to Golden Corral last night and Faith was working and so she took a break and came and sat with us for a few minutes. Her prom is in a couple of weeks and it is the first time she and her boyfriend have gone to prom. They've been to some homecoming dances, but this is their first prom.  Did I tell you that I heard from Brittany Monday night? She is having busy days, and is leaving for Iowa, to see her friend, on Friday. I did hear from Amber --- she won't be at Goodtimes because she'll be working. Barry said Evan came out and visited with him for a w...

April 2, 2018 We had a good weekend.  I got a Chat message from Shawn last night --- he said he'd had an amazing day with his dad.  Saturday night we took Angela and Tori and Kennedy down to see the property and they were excited and then we went to dinner at the Pelican Reef and they laughed and laughed. Kennedy has applied to participate in a 3 semester program that gives her the opportunity to completely design an exhibition.  Sunday afternoon we took Beth and Rodney and Linda down to see it. Beth said she wanted to just sit her chair in the sun and read a book. Rodney said that if Beth would just go ahead and win the lottery, he wouldn't have to work in Houston anymore.  Morgan and Brandon's gender reveal was Saturday afternoon, and it was a sweet time visiting with family. Amber was there and we got to sit and talk for quite a while. Annette and Brittany and Skyler were there, and so were Angela and Tori and Kennedy.  Zak brought his pups out S...

J June 26, 2018 Brittany's project was included in an article AND I got a text from her saying that her paper was accepted and she'll be doing an oral presentation at a conference in Texas in October!  I also got an email today saying my abstract was accepted to do an oral presentation at a national conference in Galveston, TX in October! Got to talk to Beverly for just a few minutes. She said she and Rodney had a good visit the day he got there, while they were waiting for Beth to get off work. Sent Amber a Happy Birthday and got a text back from her. Heard from Tori and Shawn.  Angetorken Reed  added  8 new photos . 16 hrs  ·  That time I had a tiny beach All To Myself! Best. Lunch break. Ever. Plus- sea lions! +4 Like Like Love Haha Wow Sad Angry Comment 8 John Reed, ...