Barbara is supposed to be coming into town tonight. I have matured from looking 10 to 15 [years old], though I still think I look 12. Wednesday, we (Barry, Mom, Jay, and me) made the trip to Nana’s. We ate dinner with Byron [Barry’s brother], John [his boyfriend], Connie [Barry’s sister], and David [her husband]. Then they all went for a swim before Jason and Barry played parts of songs on the acoustic guitar that Bob [Nana’s boyfriend] has.

Late that night (12:30), me and Jay went for a dip, both kinds. I jumped off the diving board, and he went to the other end. He gave me some [smokeless tobacco, Barry used Copenhagen], and it was sour. I had it all over my wet face and hands. I began to spit and slowly began to empty my lip. As I got dizzy, I jumped back in. With the water, I got an extra different feeling. We were out there till Mom said it was 1:30 and time to come in. At 2, we were both having ice cream and mine with pineapple cake warmed. Then we headed to bed while Jay got another dip and played some CDs.

I woke up at 10:10 on Thursday. We had to be to the mall in Arlington by 11:00 for glamour shots for me and Mom. The other 2 walked the mall for 3 hours while we got hair and make-up, found wardrobe, then waited our turn. We had casual, formal, and me dressed in the American flag. Then they [the photo company] took their signature photo: each one of us in black and white with a red rose. Very awesome. I also took one in a cowboy hat that I thought was cute. I rated my make-up a 9 and hair an 8. It was a fun but expensive time.

$40 a sheet whether you get 8 wallets or two 5x7s. And they all have to be of the same [picture], and with 20 there to choose from, it can get pricey. We talked down the package from $2,155 to $795. Holy shit!! I was shocked. It took me 10 minutes to get over the fact. I don’t see how anyone can spend that much on 17 pictures [but I’m sure glad she did]. I understand $40 for time, hair, make-up, and wardrobe. Then $1 a print and $5 each touch-up, $10 shipping and handling, and that only adds up to $152. I want to help pay and I have my $100 birthday money in my purse.

I can tell how much fun Mom had today, and she’ll get the final pictures in 2 weeks and get to look at me every day till I get back. She didn’t mind too much having to pay such a lump sum. That’s a lotta cash, even on credit card. After that long day, we ate at Mexican Inn, checked out the ghetto of Ft. Worth, then went to Connie’s. I saw Jenny [her 23-year-old daughter] and Hayden [Jenny’s two-year-old son]. I met Jenny’s 26-year-old friend [with no name apparently], who shared a French fry with me. She is currently in a wheelchair for MS [multiple sclerosis], but after chemo [therapy] should be able to walk again, which she told me is in 2 months. That’s good.

She’s as positive as Grandma Baker [also diagnosed with cancer]. I need to call and check on her before I leave. On the way to Nana’s, I finished a book called Tangerine [about a family that moves from Texas to Florida]. On the way back [to Florence], I memorized 9 general orders, listened to my radio [a Cosmo CR 2509 that could be hung or be propped up on its plastic foot with an antenna the length of my elbow to fingertip and a Lisa Frank sticker of two cats, one in a pink Converse shoe. There was a light button for the screen and FM 88 to 108 MHz and AM 540 to 1600 KHz stations. I listened to Classical and Eminem on this the most.]

I took a nap, then ate a sausage and 2 cream cheese kolaches just to get home and finish the last of the strawberry cheesecake ice cream. Now, at 12:55, I’m ready to go to sleep after I do push-ups, of course. I’m falling short at only 12, though doing them every day, a bunch, I’ll be able to build up my 15 average. [I’ll need to do 20 in 2 minutes in boot camp, less than half the men’s requirement.]