refocus - blog

I went rock-climbing on Friday and it was a fun outing. I used Navigon to get there and back and used FourSquare there to check into Boulders, the rock-climbing place. After waiting a few minutes when I arrived, one of the managers, Michelle opened the door for me and led me to a couch. Richard, the head manager, handed me a harness and some climbing shoes with velcrow and I put them on. I climbed up a wall with a miniature ledge of 43 feet high and made it to the top of the wall after a long climb. The ledge was in the center of the wall and the wall is 43 feet high. Aaron, another manager helped balay me on the wall while he was on the ground and I made it to the top of the wall my first try. I climbed halfway up a tower wall after a short break and accidentally tripped on a large round mound of rock in the center of the tower wall. All of the walls have different rocks of different shapes and sizes and some are easier to step on than others.
Megan, another manager, helped me on the tower wall and I made it halfway up the wall on my own, then the rest of the way up the tower wall she told me where some of the rocks were located. I made it all the way to the top of the tower wall with the tunnel at the bottom. The tower wall looks like a rectangle and has rocks that are shaped like shells, some knobs, squares, and other varieties of shapes of rocks on all of the walls. A young student named Matthew came up to me and told me that that was inspiring that I climbed all the way up the tower wall of over 40 feet and did not give up in the middle of the wall. I had finally figured out how to stand on the large round mound of rock in the center of the tower wall. The ledge on the slightly higher wall of 45 feet is similar to a small cliff. I climbed all the way to the top of the pyramid-shaped wall with the chain that is the training wall for the kids to climb up, but I loved climbing that wall because it is shaped like a pyramid and is 20 feet high, halfway the size of the other rock walls. I climbed the pyramid-shaped wall twice and the tower wall several times, then two of the walls in the cove area halfway each wall to the top.
A girl who I had met when coming to Boulders during the past, Alexia helped me to a jungle gym and I climbed up onto it without a harness and sat on top of it. I climbed onto it more than two times, but all of the climbing I did was a good workout of exercise and enjoyable. I had two bottles of water and sun chips for a snack and brought home a chocolate crunch bar for Brandon and I to share. I had met a couple of boys named Jacob and Nane near the pyramid wall and jungle gym; they were nice to meet and talk to. After climbing the pyramid wall a final time, I paid the $21.65 and a few other dollars for my water and snacks, a new Hops driver, Jesse Hopkins arrived to pick me up. He was a brand-new Hops driver and I paid him the Hops fare even before I exited Boulders. I thanked all of the managers at Boulders for their assistance and almost forgot to take off my harness and climbing shoes. Some of the rocks on the walls were more difficult to find, but I never gave up finding them to master climbing the whole wall to the top, then climbing back down the walls by sitting in the air in the harness. The balay machines that helped me on the walls I climbed automatically helped me stay in the air when climbing farther up the walls and standing on all of the different rocks. The rocks on the walls were jug holds, pocket holds, pinchers, clings, and slope holds. One rock had a handle on it like a hook but I managed to hold onto it while climbing the wall with the small cliff-like ledge. The slope holds are hardest to stand on, but the jug holds and pocket holds are easier for climbing aids.
After my long day of climbing and enjoyment, I rode home on the Hops and used navigon to take me home. It took a while to get me there because Boulders is in Harker Heights, but it is a place to go where the people there are kind and helpful. It is fun and a good workout, and the ground where the walls are is made up of cushioned rubber ground-up tires so when one falls, they will not get hurt, and there are always harnesses like pairs of pants anyone can wear to climb with the climbing shoes. I was tired later that night but had had a lot of fun that day.

Filed by refocus at 12:26 am under Uncategorized
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Brandon and I went to Taco Bell on Thursday and ate lunch. We hadn’t gone there in a while and did a podcast of it. Hops picked us up at around 11:20 and we arrived there close to a quarter until 12:00. I used Navigon and FourSquare while out and on the way back. I ate a chicken quesadilla and Brandon had seven-layer burritos. I brought cinnamon twists home and a refill on diet Pepsi. My chicken quesadilla was big and I enjoyed it. It was cut into pieces and I could pick the pieces up and eat them. I have not had those in a long time. Our waitress, Sally was helpful and kind to us.
Taco Bell Joke: Welcome to Taco Ding, how may I ding your order?”
She led us to our table and checked on us often. Sally was a good waitress.
Our Hops driver showed up around 1:00 and I took my cinnamon twists and refilled Diet Pepsi with me on the van. I used navigon there and back and it had to recalculate the route on the way there because the driver taking us to Taco Bell had to pick up other clients. We had a good afternoon at Taco Ding.

We took our usual Dollar General walks today and on Thursday afternoon after Taco Bell. On our walk right after Taco Bell, we heard a dog bark and a rooster crow and walked around a car near the curb we had to travel and shoreline before arriving at the store. I bought us sweet tea, Cokes and gumbo soup. Ghe grilled chicken and sausage gumbo is good until we learn how to cook gumbo in the crockpot. We heard a train walking on the way back crossing North First Street. I helped carry the gumbo and Cokes and Brandon carried the tea. I managed to veer on the narrow sidewalk coming back from the store.
On our walk today, Brandon got us two bags of chocolate hershy bars, beef jerky, sweet tea and two bottled Cokes. They had no gumbo and Michelle helped us in the store. We always manage to arrive at Dollar General when they are busy, but never mean to. The walks are always great to get out, especially on nice days.

Filed by refocus at 1:39 am under Uncategorized
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I traveled to CTC by Hops and used Navigon and FourSquare, which worked well. I registered for classes and found out that I have a much easier route than what I had thought and the route I had learned.Crickett looked at the classes I plan to take and where the buildings were. I agreed to take math on Monday and Wednesday mornings at 9 a.m. at the Planetarium building 152, government Monday and Wednesday afternoon at 12:00 in building 113, and water aerobics on Tuesday and Thursday at 10:30 in the gym up the hill from the Planetarium. I found out that buildings 152, 113, and 106 where the student center is located are all in a row and the route is a straight shot. I also plan to continue working and really hope that I will have a student to transcribe notes for, along with my classes I am taking during the spring semester. It will be an interesting semester for me and my first one at CTC. I will also be able to meet new people and gain friends! That is always exciting! I know the L-shaped hallways upstairs at the disability department and the elevator doors have braille above the printed numbers. #1 is a line and 2 is a curved shape. I know the shapes of the other numbers in print. There is a small phone shape above the alarm button in the elevator.
I am glad I got financial aid and registered for classes for the spring semester.
After using Navigon and FourSquare at CTC and registering for classes, I walked to Dollar General with Brandon when he returned on Tuesday. I almost tripped on the narrow sidewalk coming back after carrying the bag of soup chicken noodle and clam-chowdar and roast beef and Cokes. We had help from Michelle and the manager Gill in the store and the walk went well to the store. We love taking walks and it gets us out a lot. We crossed North First Street and Bonnie lane and a dog barked at us and we used the GPS TomTom on the way there and back. I checked in with FourSquare there on my IPhone. IPhones are so handy and useful. The hill is a good landmark to let us know we are nearing home, but the walks are always wonderful and I love exercise.

Filed by refocus at 7:45 am under Uncategorized
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After the cookout Saturday night, on Sunday morning Mom drove me backto Copperas Cove on Sunday morning after breakfast. Lacey left early and we went to Storms to pick up food from the drive-through. I ate a grilled-cheese sandwich for lunch, we drove by an ice-cream place and I ate a chocolate sundae for dessert. I used the GPS Navigon on my IPhone to get me home so Mom wouldn’t get lost. It worked well and I used FourSquare throughout the holiday weekend and on the way back to Copperas Cove. IPhone apps are so handy to have. It was a great weekend and I told Mom I was glad to be back but had a great time Thanksgiving. I had even taken my Facebook videos and have them stored in my iphone, which everyone was fascinated about.

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On Wednesday of last week, Dad came by and picked me up and I rode to his house on pre-Thanksgiving Day. He dropped me off at MawMaw’s house next door to his and Becky’s house so he could go hunting. I visited with MawMaw and we had a good visit. We watched a show about hippos and I ate a pamento cheese sandwich, some oranges and some kind of lemon juice pie. I stayed at her house and talked to her for a while, then Dad came by to pick me up after he finished hunting and we went to his and Becky’s house. They have a parakete named Buddy and he sleeps in a birdcage. He chirps in a friendly manner and tries to talk. They also have three dogs: Buck, Daisy, and Chigger.
I spent a couple of nights there and Thanksgiving Day was a great day for everyone. I had a lot of turkey and a corn casserole Becky had made with an assortment of other foods. I held my little cousin Evan, Ashley and Bobby’s second son and got to talk to my cousin Lilly. Lacey came back to Dad’s house after helping Mawmaw with something with Christmas decorations. We had a good evening chilling and a lot of Thanksgiving feast left over. MawMaw made a great carrot cake and I liked eating it. On Friday we took a ride down to the deer feeder and were going to go fishing but the weather turned bad. I called PawPaw McPhearson a lot on my IPhone and talked to him. It was so nice to talk to him and hear his voice. He is getting out of the nursing-home this week and is doing pretty good, walking with a walker and learning to get around well. He is on the road to recovery from a leg infection.
I always tried to keep busy but it was great to see everyone. I loved seeing my relatives and MawMaw is a great cook.
On Saturday, Lace and I drove to Mom’s house and met Rodney. Budd was happy to see me and he is a happy dog. He is a friendly dog and loves to be petted. We followed Rodney and Mom to Granny Reba’s and had Thanksgiving over there. The more turkey, the better the feast. I love turkey and tried not to eat too much but couldn’t resist chocolate pie, but the green bean casserole was good as well. Aunt Donna and Aunt Nelda were happy to see me and I saw Aunt Nina with her new husband, Cred, Tanner, Trevor and Derek and heather. I met Trevor’s girlfriend Christen and was glad to see him. After spending some time there, Lacey and I drove to Richland Springs to see PawPaw mcPhearson. I met Camdyn, Courtney’s youngest son and got to hold him, like Evan. I enjoyed visiting with everyone and loved seeing Christy and mark’s children: Cole, Collin and Claire. Collin and Claire are five years old and twins. Cole is 8. Camdyn is two years old. I loved talking to Aunt Becky and Uncle John also. They live near pawPaw McPhearson’s house. Lace and I walked to PawPaw’s bedroom and talked to him for a long time. It was so good to see hom and I must have told him I loved him about ten times. I loved talking to him. It was so good to see pawPaw! We helped him with his walker and he didn’t have trouble using it to get to the living-room. he was alert and smiling when we walked into his room. I helped decorate cookies: Christmas trees, stars, snowmen, gingerbread men, and an ornament of Sant Claus or an unknown can’t remember, but will think of it later. I spread the icing on them with a knife and drew around the shape of them. Then I put sprinkles on them. I loved helping all of the kids and showed Courtney and Christy my IPhone and how it worked, even recording videos. I had a wonderful day that day and loved talking to pawPaw and making him smile. I hugged him a lot. I was so glad to see him and everyone else. Heather helped me decorate the cookies pink. I decorated them one-handed while recording a video with my Iphone to post to my Facebook page. We had a fun time at Pawpaw’s house that day and at Granny Reba’s house as well.
Also that day, after I got back from PawPaw’s with lacey, I went to a cookout that evening with Mom and Rodney at Suzie and Clark’s house near the Forty Acorns. They are very nice and I met their dogs, Peaches and Rodei. Both are very friendly and love to be petted. I ate shrimp and dove, also an assorted amount of food there and hazelnut chocolate spread with vanilla wafers and bananas. I met a girl named Holly and her mom, Trisha. I visited with everyone and talked about what I was doing currently as far as job and education. I drank three glasses of a new kind of wine never-before had, and two shots of tequila rose, then a half bottle of terransula margarita Holly gave me and loved it, and was still fine on Sunday. It was a great evening and I enjoyed myself. Clark is very nice and I always enjoyed talking to everyone. Will finish wrap-up later. had great Thanksgiving and took Facebook videos. Especially got to see PawPaw and relatives and whole family.

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Mom drove me to the dentist today and Brandon went along. I met a friend of hers, Suzie and enjoyed talking to her.
We brought our iphones and had Navigon during the trip. I used FourSquare a lot and checked into the different places we went. My dentist trip went well and I had no cavities. I had my teeth X-rayed and and met an employee, Caren and a student named Kyle, a girl, who sat in the office to sit in on my appointment. Rita cleaned my teeth and used a took called Mr. Thirsty to rinse polish out, then a scraping tool to scrape tart off of my bottom front teeth. Dr. Level came by to look at them with a mirror and revealed to me that I had no cavities, but one of my front teeth was slanted on the end from an incident where I fell when I was six or seven, which chipped my tooth; he talked to me about a root canal and explained that it might be just to add pulp tissue to make my tooth even, but it has not caused me any pain. At least I had no fillings to worry about. I sat in the dentist chair while I was having my teeth cleaned.
After the dentist, which I had to use my card to pay for, we drove to a Spanish restaurant and I spoke to a Spanish waitress in Spanish and she complimented me on it. I ate chicken flautas, queso, refried beans, and a shrimp quesadilla for lunch and Brandon and I had sweet teas to go. I used ForeSquare to check into a lot of places, which I think were HEB, a Goodwill store and I don’t remember the other places I checked into with FourSquare. After the Spanish restaurant, we drove to Goodwill and looked at a lot of items there, especially knickknacks. I bought a snowman decoration with a bell for a Christmas decoration to display. I have always loved snowmen and lighthouses. I felt of some pottery bowls but didn’t want to buy one, so I got the snowman with the big bell. I loved looking at the animal figurines, mostly ducks, sets of bears and a chicken.
After the Goodwill store,we drove to HEB and grocery shopped. I tasted a clementine and liked it, it was a small orange. Brandon and I just bought a package of shredded cheese, Cokes, red-diamond tea, and a box ofstrawberries and a box of cheddar cheese crackers.

After HEB, we drove home and Brandon and I used Navigon at the same time and I checked in to HEB and at home with FourSquare. It was a good day, especially the success of my dentist visit and that I was able to pay for it by my debit card. I tasted a new kind of Coke at HEB that is called Original HEB Coca-Cola pure cane sugar and it was good, but they didn’t have any to buy at HEB. It was just a new kind of Coke to try.

Filed by refocus at 4:20 am under Uncategorized
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Brandon and I went to the movie theater yesterday and Hops picked us up on time. We were both using Navigon on our IPhones and it took us a while to arrive at our destination because the schedulers at HOPS accidentally had us going to Constellation Drive instead of Constitution Drive. Constellation Drive is in Killeen and I scheduled to go to Constitution Drive in Copperas Cove. Our first driver stopped halfway to our wrong destination and we boarded a second bus and managed to arrive at our correct destination on time, 11:30. The movie was at 12:30. We had help entering the theater and we arrived there after it opened. I had taken a cab and bought our tickets the day before and had the tickets in my wallet. The tickets were thin like receipts.
We were led into the theater to watch the movie of the Deathly Hallows part one of harry Potter after we ordered our lunches. I ate miniature corndogs and Brandon ate a sandwich. We waited for a while befor ethe movie began and it was a good movie, but it split in the middle after Dobby, one of my favorite characters died. I like him because he is brave and a smart elf. A lot of the other characters I like in the series are dead by the last book, which will have a movie in two parts. Hermione, Ron and Harry go hunting for horcruxes and go to Godrick’s Hollow. Ironically, a book called Tales of Beedle the Bard is mentioned and discussed by Hermione during the movie when they go visit the Lovegoods. The thing about there being seven harry Potters during the beginning of the book is confusing. People laughed at certain parts of the movie, but they were not happy when it split after Dobby’s death. I didn’t like narcissa and Belatrix in the movie.
After the movie, Brandon and I went to the arcade and played several games of basketball and ski-ball and six games of air hockey. The basketball and ski-ball were free play because the card readers wouldn’t read, but they were fun also. I kept dropping the balls when they rolled off of the platform and sometimes I missed the net during our basketball games. I learned how to put my game card in the reader of the air hockey table and the air came on when the game started and turned off when the games were over. I still had some money left on my game card and plan to use it when we go back to the theater to see the Chronicles of narnia Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I have read that series also and it has some similarities of the Harry Potter series. They both have magic and animals, but Narnia series is about a land and has also to do with Adam and Eve and God and the apples of Adam and Eve. I love reading a lot of series. Some managers at the theater helped us in the arcade, Shawn was one and a few others helped us. We left the theater at about 5:30 and Navigon brought us home as always. It is neat I finally get to use a GPS on my own cell phone! I learned that being on the phone and using GPS works for a short time but then cuts out the GPS after a short while.
We took a walk to Dollar General today and it was cool weather, buying our usual sweet tea red-diamond and bottles of Coke and gumbo soup in cans pop-top. Walking to Dollar General is always good exercise and a nice way to get out. We had to navigate around cars in the street but made it there and back successfully.

Filed by refocus at 12:51 am under Uncategorized
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I took a walk with Brandon to the dollar store and he used a GPS application called Tom-Tom, which is similar to Navigon but also used on the IPhone. The walk was nice and the air felt good to get outside. While in the store, Brandon bought us two gallons of red-diamond tea, two bottles of Coke, and two containers of canned gumbo, also one cup of chicken noodle soup. Food stamps and debit cards work well and are convenient to use while out and prevent cash from getting lost. He carried my canvas bag and I carried the gumbo and soup. We walked back and the GPS mode was in bicycle mode instead of vehicle mode.
Aga helped us in the store and we walked back, then put away the groceries.

Filed by refocus at 11:14 pm under Uncategorized
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I took Hops to CTC using Navigon on my IPhone for the first time and it was successful. My driver Tonya figured out that a GPS was on the vehicle because I had turned it on and it was giving her directions where to go to get to the Planetarium. I met up with Martia, who I often meet on the Hops bus and talked to her, and Navigon on my IPhone helped lead the driver to the Planetarium at CTC after dropping Marcia off, then I went to the Planetarium and waited inside a building for Tanya, a DARS counselor to give me O and M lessons for today.
I arrived at the Planetarium while a fare was occurring and met a woman named Kim who works for CTC. I sat at a table and waited for Tanya to arrive. A short while later she arrived and we started on our route after finally finding the library to pick up a map of the school campus. I walked a long route from the Planetarium to building 104 where I will have government; my math class will be in the Planetarium. In the long route were buildings 103–human resources, 111 disabilities department, and Student Center building 106, also landmarks including poles, pillars, rails, steps, sidewalks, and a small bridge with a rail. Tanya and I walked the route many times and her driver, Orace drove me to my destination of the Planetarium, then came back to get Tanya and I waited for her. I memorized certain parts of the route, but will study it once I have the directions written down to review. After practicing the route from 10:15 until 1:15, I walked back to the Planetarium and waited, then called Hops for an earlier ride home on my Iphone. I bought a rose-shaped seashell to show that I have been to the Planetarium and waited for my Hops ride while eating a cake doughnut. Hops arrived a short while later and I walked out to the vehicle to board it, then paid the fare, then turned on Navigon and waited for my GPS to help lead the driver home. We crossed streets including Bell Tower Drive, South First Street, West Avenue F, and many others. Navigon was successful my first day using it and I continue to use it more often on a daily basis.

Filed by refocus at 3:20 am under Uncategorized
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I went to Mom’s house this weekend and stayed the weekend with her and Rodney. He picked me up Friday and brought me there and I had supper and stayed the weekend. I had my IPhone and learned how to text from there so Brandon and I kept in contact. I ate barbecue on Friday and grilled salmon on Saturday, then Church’s Chicken on Sunday. Mom drove me by there when she had taken me back to Copperas Cove. On Saturday I went to visit PawPaw McPhearson in the hospital. Uncle David let us know he was in ICU and I was so worried and sad about him. I am still so sad and worried and so want him to be okay so that I could have more wonderful memories of him. We had all kinds of memories together: from swimming in a livestock trough using it as a swimmingpool, learning how to roll change by hand using paper rolls, going to fish fries and to meetings and meeting kind people, learning about sheepdogs, riding out to the farm nearby PawPaw’s house, all kinds of different memories I will never forget. I entered PawPaw’s hospital room and he recognized who I was. I talked to him and held his hand a lot and told him I loved him about at least 50 times. I talked to him for a long time and our cousins Derek and Heather were there too. heather is an admirable track star and Derek wants to become a welder. Our aunt Debbie was there and PawPaw kept saying he wanted to get dressed and get his jeans on and wondering where he car and pick-up was. PawPaw would take me riding on the golfcart and on the lawnmower. PawPaw is a wonderful grandfather and I really hope he will be able to get released from the hospital soon for us to enjoy more fun times together. I loved talking to him at the hospital and he remembered everything I mentioned to him about what fun times we had together. We had gone to the enchanged rock and Longhorn Caverns and to the river near Richland Springs one day. Those were all fun times. I will always remember PawPaw teaching me how to roll money into paper rolls. It was nice to see everyone at the hospital and definitely to talk to PawPaw.
We left the hospital just as his dialysis was about to start and I went to meet Lacey with Mom and Rodney where we went to a mall to look at showers and sinks, then to some kind of cafe where I ate the grilled salmon. After that, Lace had to go back to work and was going to pay PawPaw a visit.
I had seen Landon and Courtney that morning, Rodney’s son and daughter-in-law and we had eaten with them, but lace was not there. We had just walked about the mall after being at the hospital. I was so sad on the way home I could not even pick up my phone or IPod. I just wanted to sit and cry because I felt so so bad about PawPaw. I could not control my emotions once we had started on the road trip home. Mom and Rodney had told me that it was nothing I did to cause pawPaw to get sick, but I just couldn’t be happy for the rest of the afternoon. I love PawPaw a whole lot and so would love to have many more good times with him. I was just so so sad. It was so sad him being in the hospital in San Angelo. He was able to tell the doctors he was in the hospital in San Angelo, but I was still so sad. I am still kind of sad, but feel better after having seen him. But I am just still so sad about it though.
I just love being around PawPaw a whole lot. He is such fun to be around. He is also so enjoyable. I loved visiting with him at the hospital and walking around the mall with Lacey looking at sinks and showers. I was also reminded of a dentist appointment that I have in a few weeks. The grilled salmon and green beans at the restaurant were very good. Sunday was a quiet day. Mom and I went over next door to see Granny Reba and her boyfriend Jackie. It was nice to see them and visit with them. I let her know I was going to be around for Thanksgiving and Brandon was going to be with us during Christmastime so she would know in advance.
Mom drove me back to Copperas Cove after our visit and I bought her Church’s Chicken. I was able to use my IPhone and let Lacey and Donna and Derek know I am able to text people.
Earlier today, after being home and rolling seventeen rolls of money by hand, Gil, Scott and Brandon’s aunt Vicki came by and I got to meet her. I liked meeting Brandon’s aunt Vicki and told her that I had talked to her son Aleck on Skype and met him. Our lawn was mowed and it was a surprise visit. Surprise visits are always nice to get.
I had shrimp Creole in the crockpot for lunch with Brandon. We added frozen shrimp and corn, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder and celery salt, 1/4 teaspoon of thyme and 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, also diced tomatoes not drained, tomato sauce, and sliced potatoes, stirred and cooked on high in the crockpot for two hours. I learned how to use the timer on my IPhone to tell when the shrimp Creole was done. It was a great recipe and lunch.
I went to the Beauty Shop last week and loved using my IPhone while in the shop and on Hops. I constantly used my IPhone and checked on how PawPaw’s progress was in the hospital. I was so sad last week because I wanted to see him so badly and to know he was going to be okay. I felt bad for being so busy and wanted to know he was going to make it through his dialysis treatment and staph infection on his right leg. I got a haircut to keep from having to take peoples’ advice about looks and so as not to think about it. I spoke with my aunt Becky and Aunt Donna about PawPaw’s condition and look forward to seeing him again.
My Beauty shop trip went wekk and I liked the way my cut felt. I used my phone from the time I got it a week ago and until now and love using it when I go out. It is such a neat product. I paid for my haircut and then caught Hops after getting an earlier ride home.
Brandon and I took another Dollar General walk to get beef jerky and clam chowdar and also some tea. It was my first walk carrying my IPhone with me and it was wonderful carrying it to the dollar store. I always love our walks. They are good stress relievers.
I just love PawPaw and really want him to be okay so I can have more good times with him and everyone else. I love my family and wish they could live forever without any life ending.

Filed by refocus at 2:01 am under Uncategorized
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