14-02-26

Angela and Morgan were both here yesterday, and we walked out to see the flowers. Morgan was so excited when she saw the pink tulips blooming. And our Japanese magnolia was in full bloom!

14 02 24

My iron count was good and so was my blood pressure.

Morgan... so much fun to watch them having so much fun.

Hugging Bertice McPherson. 

~When we left the grocery store, the blood bank van was parked outside. Barry asked if I wanted to give blood, and we weren't in a hurry, so we did. They had to test our iron count and take our blood pressure first, and both were good. 

~Morgan, about going to the ISIS parade: "It is so much fun to watch them having so much fun." That her mom had called and said they didn't have to come if they didn't want to, with the rain and everything, and when she said, "We're already down here!" Beth had been very happy. Morgan said, "They came to watch us in everything we were in," and talked about how much fun it was --- Rodney, "That's my daughter!" and the throws coming at them. 

~And so I saw Bertice McPherson at the Clay Conference. I stopped her just long enough to tell her we had enjoyed her class years ago. Saw her again at the reception. Complimented the blue moon. She said she was in her blue period. Told her I understood that. She said, "Well, I lost my husband four (?) months ago." And I hugged her. Good long hug, and she said, "Thank you for the hug. Hugs are the best." 

14 02 19

E mail from Darin strauss

Beverly. . Thank you mom. .. Thank you for saying that.

When I finished reading "Half a Life," by Darin Strauss, I thought: "Like that. I want to write like that." I've only had that happen one other time. I went to Amazon to write a review, but that wasn't an option, maybe because I bought the book from McSweeney's. McSweeney's doesn't have a place for a reviews. I started to let it go, especially after I read all the reviews and praise the book has already received, but felt compelled to send him an email anyway. 

So, I did. He sent an email back --- that it was just the thing he needed after a hard day of writing. It made me happy that I had followed my lead. 

~~Beverly called, and we had a long talk. She'd had a hard day --- so much sadness in people that she is not allowed to address. I told her that her love came through the things that she did for them, and that was what they needed most; that she made a difference. She said, "Thank you, mom. Thank you for saying that." 

14-2-18

Looking at Beverly and J.A.'s wedding book with Angela and Morgan

So... we were talking about Thursday, and the schedule, and whether or not Angela could let the dogs out, and Morgan said, "She can't stay until 5:00. We have a wedding planning meeting." Laughter. 

Angela said she and Ryan are scheduled to look at a possible wedding venue. She and Morgan talked about getting things organized. There was talk of being grateful for Pinterest. And then I asked Ange if she would like to see the book I used when planning her mama and daddy's wedding. We spent about 30 minutes looking through it. Laughing at my notes. Morgan said, "My mom doodles just like you do!" Angela said she and her mother do, too. We talked about the flower I draw all the time. We saw Angela's crayon notes added to my notes. We laughed about the chore lists --- that "Clean your room" was at the top of Beverly's. How young she looked in her picture. My Joy Journal note tucked away. My poem about the rose, and why it isn't finished yet. And then I got lots of hugs from both of them.

14-02-18

Writing on the back porch of Phew! with Mama Cat in my lap. It took me a while to get set up, and the door to my writing shack seems to be locked, but even with all that I can feel a sense of relaxation re: the writing. When I am able to get set up over here, good things are going to happen.

14-02-17

Evan called just to check in with us --- his words. He was on his way to class. Tickled me. 

Morgan and I enjoying the new flowers together.

14-2-12

So, my computer is responding exceedingly slowly --- I'm more in touch with aggravation than I am with joy and appreciation, but we'll give it a go...

Beth stopped by yesterday to get her pottery and visit a minute and bring us some king cake. Barry came in to my office and said, "I'm not sure, but I think the Beth-mobile is here!"

Morgan revamped the craft room! It looks amazing. Lots of things vamoosed.

I think we've found our new computer guy. He is easy to work with. And I think we have a solution that is going to work, although I'm still going to have to drag the laptop back and forth, which was kind of disappointing.

Beverly posted some cool things to my timeline.

14-2-9

Played rook with evan.

Morgan. .. Picture of dinner

Evan came to spend Saturday night with us, and on Sunday he and I figured out how to play ROOK. Or rather he did --- he beat me! 

Morgan sent me a text, picture of the dinner she fixed, "Thank you for allowing me to learn how to cook cause my dinner is YUMMY!"

14-2-7

Kennedy and John were here Friday, and came by to see us and visit for a little while. We tried to figure out where to go have supper ---- Kennedy started out telling John that she thought maybe they could learn something from us, as they have that discussion all of the time, but the conversation took so long that she changed her mind ---- "Y'all are worse that we are!" 

Beth stopped by with some yummy king cake that she brought home from New Orleans.

Zak put a picture on twitter of him and Morgan at the hunting camp, with a note that they looked almost just alike --- and they did. She showed it to me, and the said that every time she puts something on Twitter, he has something funny to say about it. 

14-2-5

Barry theres coffee now. 

Chris Doland was here from corporate, along with a rep from the Savannah office to have safety meetings with our drivers. I was working out in the office, and went to the break room for a cup of coffee. Barry was standing by the coffee pot, facing the door. Men were at the table, and standing by the window. The coffee pot was empty. When I realized that, rather than interrupt the meeting, I turned and went back to my office. 

A few minutes later, he came back to my office and said, "There's coffee now!" 

14-2-5

We had fun at the bonsai meeting. Always glad that I have gone. Russell gave a presentation on azaleas, and mentioned Facebook several times. After the meeting I told him that I might send him a Facebook friend request. He said to do that, and then, "I hope you like liberal politics." I said, "I do! I didn't know you could find that in Mobile," and Joe Day, who was standing close by whispered, "There are three of us!"

Annette wants to go to the next estate auction thing with us, and she saw my post about the coffee cup, so we got to chat about that.

They are supposed to be installing Prophesy and QuickBooks Enterprise today. Taylor's gotten the 2013 books, so that the tax thing is done.

I did my hair this morning, and I like the way it turned out.

14-2-3

Beth brought us chicken salad.  She had told us about new place --- Chicken Salad Chick, I think --- that she thought Barry and I would like. They have something like 24 different kinds of chicken salad. But they're only open for lunch on the weekdays, or something like that. She bought three different kinds of chicken salad, and some croissants, made us six sandwiches, and put them in ziplock bags for us. It worked out perfectly, because we were going to have Winn Dixie salads for supper, and I didn't think that would be quite enough.The sandwiches were just right. Mostly, it tickled me that she went to so much trouble for us.

Beverly is happy! I got to talk to her after she finished her first day of training for her new job. She was tired, having been too jazzed to sleep through the night the night before, but very happy about her new job. They focus on teamwork, on noticing the ways they are alike, on their personalities and working with those. They have outreaches in the schools, and support programs for mothers. She is very excited about being hands on, making a difference. 

Hugs from Morgan. Text from Angela. 

Morgan, re finding the little present I had gotten for Beth, "Looking for something in your office is a little like looking for something in those pictures --- "find the hidden object." ;-)

14-2-2

I'm kinda excited about being dressed and ready to go to the gym.

I really like the way the meeting room at Phew! is shaping up.

I'm looking forward to going over there after work today. I hope the weather is nice enough for me to take a walk.

I'm glad that Evan called us, and called us early, so that we were able to go and get him and have him back here for his classes. We had fun having dinner at Cheddar's.

Beverly and I got to have a nice phone visit.

Beth came to see us and look at the molds but we weren't here. She is supposed to come today.

I scored some nice things at the Estate Auction --- including seating of my house office that only cost me $18.00 It may not be the perfect long term seating, but it is certainly an improvement over what I have. Found some pretty little things for Willo, including a little rhinestone pin that says "OK." I guess it is for Oklahoma, but it made me think of her, and the day she said "OK" so often that Morgan was prompted to say, "She sure is agreeable!"

I did read some in my Sunday reading book, and I'm happy about that.

I went and got a massage Saturday, and I'm happy about that. I liked the masseuse, who is maybe in her 50's, experienced, knowledgeable and professional. And my arms feels better. I think I've torn my rotator cuff, but it feels better.

We got to see Willo for a few minutes on Friday, and that was fun. She knows who I am now, I think.