2018 Joy Journal

January 4, 2018 Woke up at 5:26. A kind of hopeful sign that my body clock has reset after DST. Angela is all right. She went into work early this morning, so I didn't get to see her.  Tori sent me a Marco Polo message this morning on her way to work. Beverly sent a text and a Marco Polo. She and JA were about to get underway on the third day of their trip. She said it is 24 degrees there and their hose froze. Tyler was almost through getting dressed at 6:18 a.m. so he seems like he is intending to have a good semester. Got to see John for a minute yesterday when he came to get Noah. He asked Tyler if they were going to see him this weekend. :-) Chris came to get some rent money, and Shawn was with him, so Tyler got to laugh and visit with them for a little bit.  Brittany had ankle surgery yesterday and when I talked to her last night, she said that Morgan had come over to have lunch with her.

January 18 Kennedy stayed inside all day yesterday because it was just too cold to come out, but she came over to eat with us and then came out again later, running over to bring us some cookies she'd made.  The house is starting to feel good. Things are getting straight and organized, and I held to my plan, in a manner of speaking, yesterday. It feels like things are going to go better if I just let the interruptions be and not twist so much in trying to hold the line.  Cursive writing really seems to be good for me, even if it is just coping quotes out of a book.  Beverly sent me a Marco Polo yesterday. She had a job interview that she thinks went well, but everyone everywhere is wearing masks, and she's wondering if it wouldn't be better to wait until after flu season.  Got to hug Angela this morning. I told her I was hoping that since she went in yesterday, they'd make someone else come in today. She said she liked my plan better than their plan. If sh...

January 3 Doug Jones is going to be sworn in today, and I get to feel like I was a part of that, and not just a tiny part. A kind of active part. Brittany's surgery was more complicated than they had anticipated, but was successful and she is with Andrew and Annette. I got to see Angela this morning. They're on call today and then she has to go the vet and then go get Bentley's medicines, so she has a long day ahead of her.  Got Marco Poloed with Tori a little bit last night. She said she'd had a good, regular day.  Shawn said he's going to start at Waffle House today.  Saw Evan for a few minutes yesterday. He's coming down with something.  The kids all sent in pictures so that Beverly could make me a picture book and it came in yesterday's mail. She said everyone sent pics and they had a whole nother chat about it in the Facebook group and I know that she put hours and hours into pulling it all together. It is beautiful. I spent time in m...

January 7 Laughter all over the house. Morgan and Brandon at the kitchen table.  Beverly called at suppertime and got to tell Noah, "Happy Birthday." Skyler took the pictures. Angela and Kennedy helped clean up. Vivian said she saved the cards I wrote for her and Zak's ornaments. Andrew re Tori: Is she coming home? She needs to come home.

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 8, 2018 It was off schedule and has me out of whack, but Barry found a piece of property yesterday that had been on the market for a long time, was heavily wooded, AND had waterfront, so we went to look at it right after lunch. If we waited for another date day, it might well be gone before then. The realtor hasn't called us back, so I'm a little anxious because I think it might be just the spot for us.  Talked to Annette a little bit yesterday, and Brittany sent me the sweetest, loving text. Heard back from Skyler --- short and sweet, but heard from her. ;-) Got to hug Angela this morning. They're in surgery today.  Had a fun little conversation with Tori --- lots of laughter. I told her I wasn't sure of Broke Up But Still Friends Protocol and she laughed and said Josh had asked the same thing, and wondered if it would be awkward. I told her that the best I could tell they hadn't been mean to each other, and I can still hear the tone in her voic...

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 13, 2018 Fed Barry, started laundry, cleaned up the bedroom, cleaned up the kitchen and headed to the writing shack at 6:44! Angela's laugh when Bella was all excited and snuggled into me.  Saw Andrew on Facebook for a minute --- pirate boat. Heard from Brittany and Tori and Kennedy. Tori is coming in this weekend, but will really on be here Saturday. Josh is coming with her. Kennedy asked to borrow one of my cameras to help take wedding photos for her friend/co-worker. 

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...

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...

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 22, 2018 I just had the best time at Noah's soccer game last night. Skyler and I got there a little bit early, but didn't see Kim, who was also there. When John came, we saw them both, and Kim got up to hug me. And we just laughed and visited and enjoyed the game. Skyler and I enjoyed each other to and from and stopped at Five Guys and had a little supper. She's starting to think about what she wants to do --- maybe photography.  Got to hug Angela this morning.  Brittany sent me a picture of her dog Bella playing with the dog toy that was in the kids saran ball on Christmas Eve.  Got to see Andrew for a quick minute. Beverly and JA went to Reno, and posted pictures. I think she got on the PCT.  Got a text from Tori. She's hoping to volunteer with the horses again this weekend. Got a text from Kennedy --- she might be over sometime today. Beth is in Chicago. Morgan will be readying her house this weekend for the Baby Gender Reveal. 

April 26, 2018 I got to talk to Beverly last night. She and JA are going to try to come home around Mother's Day.  Angela came over last night, per Beverly's directions, so that Papa could check her finger and see if it needed lancing. Lots of laughter. An eventual pin prick. Barry and I got a late invite to judge in Florence this Saturday, so we're going to drive up there. It will be our first BBQ adventure. Chris had some interesting tools in his belt and so he told me about them --- three different glass cutting tools for doing particular things. He's been working on some pretty mirrors.  Shawn said he'd be at Goodtimes: "I promise, Granny."  Got to text Tori a little bit. She said it is just too fun that we get to officially name the bay property.  I got to talk to Daddy and ask him about the pelicans.  I have known for a while that Daddy especially liked pelicans, but until a recent trip home, I had not known why. Nana brought it ...

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...

May 17, 2018 Bentley had a good night, so that's good.  When I asked for details about Chelsea's graduation tonight, she said they told her it was too late. I sent Brittany a text about her cap and gown, and then told Chelsea that I had a cap and gown in my closet and we could get some pics. She sounded so happy --- laughter and surprise. Brittany asked me when we were going to do it --- that maybe she could come over and do Chelsea's hair and makeup for her.  Heard from Tori and Kennedy. Tori and Josh and the pups are enjoying the house and the backyard. Kennedy is very excited about her advanced webart sites, and might be over to see us today.  Morgan and I are going to have a Fairhope/Baby shopping day.

May 29, 2018 I had a pretty good day at the airport yesterday, really. I finished reading Alice Munro's collection of short stories. I've never aspired to write a short story because I don't like them. She is known as one of the best, and she changed my mind. Course. you have to figure out how to be one of the best, but that's a different tale.  The traffic over wasn't bad and the weather was good so it was really an easy day.  Beverly was really tired and her hands were hurting her, but she gave me big hugs and we had a good ride home. Angela seemed happy last night, and this morning when she brought the pups out.  Tori asked for the Corny Corn Bread recipe. Beth posted a cool cloud picture and I told her she should send it to the cloud appreciation society. She put it on their Facebook page and said that now she is now obsessed with their page. 

J June 18, 2018 My computer isn't broken and my hotspot is working.  Angela and Kennedy stayed after supper last night and helped me clean up. Ange is hoping to go test drive a car today.  Sent JA, Rodney, and Brandon Father's Day texts and heard back from them.  Texted with Tori a little bit. She said she's feeling a little bit better but slept a lot this weekend. When we saw Jaden at the Waffle House Saturday morning, he recognized me and leaned towards me when I made the kissy face sound. Evan and Chelsea and Jaden were here for Second Sunday Supper and Jaden had a big time running through the house.  Chris, Shawn, Erin and Wylder were here. Shawn is giving really big hugs these days.  John and Noah were here. Noah went outside to play soccer. ;-) Faith drove Michael and Daniel here. I think that was the first time she's done that. Faith has graduated, so Michael led us in the blessing. I told him to give the "Hurray punch" and "I...