This should not take long since I did my share an entry on Monday and caught up with everything. Yesterday, I woke up at 3:00am, but went back to bed and slept until 8:15am. Mom went out with June and I vacuumed while she was out. I do not like to vacuum when she is home because she hates the noise the Kirby makes and she complains about how I do the job if she is here. Hope and I walked three miles even though it was very hot outside. I had a small glass of wine before I went to bed and found that even that little bit affected me. I think my wild days are all over. I have become respectable, responsible, and usually helpful to others.

 

Today, I woke up at 4:55am. After eating a warm Moon Pie I logged into Facebook and spent some time with that. I did some reading, then strapped on my iPod, put on headphones, went out and walked with Hope. On our second mile, I took Ko-Ko with us. On our third mile, it was just Hope and I. I read my book on that mile. I fixed lasagna for lunch. I finished reading Shameless by Karen Robards. It was a very good love story, where star-crossed lovers conquer problems. I enjoyed reading it. It was the third novel in a trilogy and I had not read the previous two, but it stood well alone. I caught up on my email and started a new book. I ate leftovers from lunch for supper. Hope and I walked another mile while I read my book. I took a shower so that Mom could get her bath in the morning. I am rather relaxed and decided to write this entry. Mom has had the television on incessantly today and the darn thing is about to drive me nuts. I think I am going to my room until she goes to bed.

 

I hope all of you are having a good week so far.

 

Smiles,
Jo Ann

I am thankful:

 

1.     The circuit breaker for the bathrooms quit tripping and is working fine.

2.    I got a camcorder with Mom’s help.

3.    I got a haircut that everyone seems to like.

4.    I met with one of my classmates, gave her a gift bag full of goodies, and she apologized for being mean to me when we were in school. We had a wonderful time together.

5.    I bought two books and a London Fog coat at Sam’s.

6.    I bought one of the art books I have been wanting very much at Borders.

7.    Even though we got caught up in horrible traffic, we got Carrie Leigh’s graduation cake and ice cream home without ruining them.

8.    When Mom came down with an earache and sore throat Thursday evening I was able to get her an appointment Friday and took her to see the nurse practitioner. We got meds and she is already feeling better.

9.    Mom enjoyed going to Carrie Leigh’s graduation from technical college and I stayed home.

10.  I have read sixty books so far this year.

11. Ricky requested we become friends on Facebook and we chatted for a long while.

 

Smiles,
Jo Ann

 I wrote in my thankful list: "I survived many times when I could have easily been dead." There are many moments in my life to which that could refer, but one was brought back to me forcefully this morning.

 

When I was a young teenager, please forgive me I cannot remember the exact age, I had a boyfriend that I adored. One day, we were in his house alone and something scary happened. We were in his parents bedroom and he pulled out a pistol. He loaded a couple of bullets into it. Then he held the gun to my head, spun the cylinder, and pulled the trigger. He did it three times before I ran away in terror.

 

I learned this morning that last night this particular boyfriend of mine was executed for murdering an ex-girlfriend and her niece twenty-four years ago.

 

But for the grace of God, it could have been my family that had such a tragedy with which to deal. I am so sorry for the family that lost loved ones. I am also sorry for his family that has had to live with the pain of what he did for so many years. I pray all involved find some closure now.

 

I have to live with the fact that if I had told someone, back then, what happened to me that maybe the tragedy could have been prevented. I feel guilty for staying silent.

 

Always,

Jo Ann

I am thankful:

 

1.     Alex and I are keeping in close communication.

2.    I found some great books at Barnes & Noble on Saturday.

3.    I got a new comforter to eventually replace the one the dogs have messed up with their little paws.

4.    I survived many times when I could have easily been dead.

5.    I stay busy enough to avoid loneliness most of the time.

6.    My writing helps me maintain a semblance of stability.

7.    I slept well last night.

8.    Technology keeps advancing into areas that were fiction years ago.

9.    Prayer is effective and miracles do happen.

10.  My mother and I have a better relationship now than we did when I was younger.

11.  I have my sweet Hope.

12.  I picked some books for Mom that she is enjoying reading.

13.  We have telephones, computers, and the internet, which let us stay in touch with those we love even at great distances.

14.  The television has an off button.

15.  Enough people still read books to keep publishers in business, so books are still available to me.

 

Smiles,
Jo Ann

I think I really need this list today because it has been an awful day for me. I guess it is my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome kicking in, but I have just felt lousy all day long. I never picked up any energy today.

 

I am thankful:

 

1.     Moon Pie heated for ten seconds in the microwave makes a gooey delicious breakfast.

2.    My computers and DSL keep me connected with the world.

3.    Alex found a wonderful and beautiful fiancée.

4.    Cartridge World replaced my printer cartridge free of charge because it malfunctioned.

5.    I bought ice cream today.

6.    I have a great Nikon digital camera.

7.    Mom makes very good macaroni salad.

8.    I decided to join Facebook and have reconnected with many friends.

9.    Mom likes the tee shirt I gave her that I ordered for free with my points from www.mycokerewards.com .

10.  The internet puts unlimited information at my fingertips.

 

Smiles,
Jo Ann

 

I am thankful:

 

1. Alex’s girlfriend, Laura, made the drive here safely last night. She came to renew Alex’s tags because he was unable to get leave time.
2. I have done several pages of journaling this week.
3. My phone is working after going out of service last Thursday. I will not be billed a service call because the problem was at the junction box.
4. Mom is feeling a little better after having a bad cough earlier in the week.
5. I use Microsoft One Note to write some of my journal entries and really like the program’s interface.
6. Mom bought me a package of ice cream.
7. We live outside of the city and most of the time it is peaceful and quiet here.
8. My baby, Hope, keeps me company.
9. I ordered a year subscription to O magazine, a tote bag with logo, and a white tee-shirt with logo from www.mycokerewards.com. Because I had the points these things were free.
10. My niece, Leigh, and I are very close. She and her family are helping out here and that lifts some of the burden on me.

I am thankful:

 

1.     Dr. Desai gave me a new prescription for Adipex, so maybe I won’t gain anymore of my weight back this month. I have gained 5 pounds over the two months I have been off Adipex.

2.    Laura came by and picked up the present Mom had bought for Alex’s birthday on her way to see him on Tuesday.

3.    The MSN technician moved my bookmarks from MSN to Internet Explorer so I do not have to log into the MSN browser to have my Favorites.

4.    Mom bought beautiful new dishes at Sam’s Club and I get to use them.

5.    I decided to take Hope to get a shot to prevent Lyme disease because the ticks are bad here this year and Mom let me borrow the money to pay for it until the beginning of June when I get paid.

6.    I found a wonderful Shih Tzu cup like Mom’s at PetsMart.

7.    Outlook has been working beautifully.

8.    I have friends online.

9.    I can read and write.

10.  I live in the United States of America.

I am thankful:

 

1.     Mom’s cataracts have not recurred. She just needed new glasses.

2.    Mom bought me new Uniden phones as a Mother’s Day and Birthday gift.

3.    Leigh, Jesse, and two of their kids did the yard work Friday and Saturday of last week.

4.    I paid half my car insurance and will pay the other half in June or July.

5.    I finally have Outlook working properly again.

6.    I got some new pajamas for Summer.

7.    I got some Pilot G2 gel pens from Sam’s Club.

8.    I donated $5 to Organizing For America to help with the 2010 campaigns. It was the first time I donated to a political cause.

9.    I bought some éclairs from Sam’s Club and they are delicious.

10.  Coke products were on sale for $5 for a case at Wal-Mart so I stocked up on Caffeine Free Diet Coke and Diet Coke.

 

I am thankful:

 

1. I accomplished a great deal of work yesterday.
2. Laura and I went to the park together last Friday. We had a good time and so did Hope.
3. I read the biography, The Bridge.
4. I surprised Mom by cooking lunch today.
5. I changed out my purse today for one Mom gave me quite a while ago.
6. Sam’s had éclairs Tuesday and we got some. They are delicious.
7. The terrible weather over the weekend passed us by without incident.
8. Reba gets to go back to work part-time on Monday. Her back is healing fairly well.
9. I managed to run six errands and two doctor appointments on Tuesday.
10. Mom is going off overnight this weekend.

I am thankful:

 

1.     Mom is so generous toward me. She does nice things when she really does not have to at all.

2.    My contacts give me good vision so I can do all the things I love to do.

3.    Alex is coming home in May and will spend his birthday with us for the first time since he went in the Marines in 2006.

4.    I read the book Spirited by Rebecca Rosen and feel more in touch with my higher self afterward.

5.    I am getting to share my prompts with the Journal Writing group.

6.    I read wonderful books that enlighten my life.

7.    I have my laptop which has gotten me involved with computers more since I received it in August.

8.    Laura was safe when she stayed overnight in the Atlanta airport last Thursday night.

9.    I think Alex has found a wonderful girl and that is a blessing.

10.  I am cradled in the love of the Lord, my Savior. His love never ends.