Galveston, Tx., July 8, 2009, 9:11 a.m. (never forget!)~

Dear Journal~

Teeka Daniels here.  Hope this finds you well on this blazing-hot, bright sunshine-y Texas day!  I am doing great; I had a wonderful Fourth of July, and I trust you did, too!

We went to the beach, where me and my family played with sparklers (with adult supervision, of course), and shot off firecrackers.  They also had music, food, and fireworks at night; it was great!  The beach was crowded with Fourth of July celebrants; it was hard to move around at times!

I have been enjoying my time off from school.  Have been getting a lot of swimming, beachcombing, playtime, and just lazing about the house in; it's nice not to have to worry about teachers' dirty looks or homework!

Or getting up at o-dark-thirty, as my daddy likes to say!  :)

Some days I haven't gotten out of bed before noon; it's wonderful!!  :)

We are going on vacation next week:  we're going to my uncle's beach house in South Carolina; we're going to go for two weeks.  It will be nice to get away, even if only for a little while, especially since my MeMaw Pricie died.  She died last month; she was eighty five.  She was really sick; she had Alzheimer's disease.  I am going to miss her; she was really sweet!  We've all been sad as we remember her.

Then Michael Jackson, one of my favorite singers, up and died; he was only fifty.  He was found not breathing and unresponsive by the paramedics; they couldn't save him.  Yesterday they broadcasted his funeral; I thought it was sad, but I don't think it should have been broadcast live on national television!  Everything is Michael, Michael, Michael, and I'm getting tired of it already!

Anyway, I'm looking forward to going to my uncle's beach house in South Carolina; South Carolina is a beautiful place anyway, and it will be nice to get away from the reminders of Hurricane (Y)Ike that still can be seen in parts of Galveston!

I just hope no hurricanes poke their nasty selves into the Gulf, or I'm moving to Alaska, where the only storms they have are the northern lights!!

Well, I am going to go:  family is up; I hear them talking softly, and I hear daddy putterin' around the kitchen; he must be getting ready to make breakfast.  I hope it's ham, eggs, and grits; that's my favorite!  Take care and God bless; this is Teeka signing off!

~Love, your friend in Texas, Teeka Daniels.  :)