NotesFromtheVoices

It has been awhile but a lot has happened. JJ didn't come for spring break. My mother-in-law took a turn for the worst and died a few hours after I arrived last Thursday. I am exhausted. The last few days have been a whirlwind of funeral preparations and other stuff. While it was bittersweet, I did get to spend a ton of time with JJ. He is an awesome kid. I can't imagine losing two grandmothers I love months apart. He is quite a trouper. The boy is a bundle of energy and questions. He no longer wants to be an evil scientist. He wants be a skateboarding ninja. I am glad that I have the energy to run around with him.  Someday, he will come to RR but I am  not going to stress about it. After what I have seen in the past few days, I am happy to be able to spend some time with him. When my mother died in September, I was painfully thin. I weigh about 95 pounds. I now weigh 145 pounds. It is a noticeable difference because I went from a size 0 to a size 6. A lot of people incl...

The last few days have been exhausting. On Saturday, I covered a triathlon. I am not a sportswriter but managed to fake it very well. The only downside, it was cold and windy. I admire people who have a passion for something. Even if that something is a swimming 300 yards, biking 14.8 miles and running 3 miles. Despite the cold, I got a good story and some really great photos. I found this door in my roamings. Ms. Reid would approve. Thanks to my job, I have been able to experience and meet so many different people. On Sunday, I got to meet and interview Aunt Viv of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. She not only lives near here but is a photographer. Her Doors collection featured doors from Africa, Spain and Italy. They were so beautiful. And she was amazing and so down-to-earth. We had a 15-minute interview. I am not a plant person but I had a chance to go to this organic nursery and learn some new things. Also I got take some cool pictures of the things I learned about...

 In life, you have to have perspective on things. If you don't, it will drive you mad. For the first time in my life, I will not get a tax refund check. Instead, I owe the government almost $1,500. I don't feel too bad, my mother owes the government $400. (And yes, my brother and I had to pay it.) I am in a pretty good place right now physically and mentally. I will set up a payment plan with the IRS and go on with my life. There is no point in dwelling on it or wallowing. Plus, the last folks I want bothering me is the IRS. It is that time of year again--Spring Cleaning. For me, it is even more special! My son will be coming to visit April 20-24. Hopefully, if all goes well. I am so excited but slightly stressed. I haven't unpacked or cleaned like I should have because I have either been tired, sick or working. I work too much. I need to get a life. The living room looks presentable and has been dusted. The kitchen is very clean also. Next is my bedroom and the spare...