The Journal of Phillip Grant - Dec 27

Vanessa finally went back to work. She's still pretty low on the scale at the local newspaper.  She should start really finding herself though, she's working on a second book and her writing is improving beyond belief.

Of course, I try to tell her this stuff but she doesn't want to listen to me. She thinks I might not be an impartial judge.  She is the most beautiful and talented woman to walk the planet, how can you argue with plain facts?


I guess I get to be a house hubby, I don't want a regular job. My photographs are fetching a pretty decent amount of money these days. I can get a couple of hundred for normal photos. I have taken a few photos worth a thousand or more.

That does mean I have plenty of time to be here for Vincent. Don't need any baby sitters for my boy. He just keeps growing like a little weed.

Oddly, this tourist wandered on our lot. I guess he noticed our view. We live a bit out of town, maybe he was lost trying to find the beach. Fortunately, he wandered away again before I had to shoo him off.

A little while later, Ernesto Hunter's twins Sandi and Jeana wandered over. One of the girls was less then impressed by my hygiene but

I was just a little preoccupied by other problems right then. I wanted to explore but not be sucked in by the vortex from the hole.

I was overwhelmed by a tribe of gnomes. They may be small but they are feisty little devils.

Vanessa is the most beautiful woman in the world. I'd do anything she asked me to, she blinks those big lovely eyes at me and I'm gone.

I think it's safe to say that she's pretty fond of me too.

I invited some people over for a party. Mom, Uncle Henry, Uncle Jack and some of my old friends. Mom hasn't been happy since Dad died.

We didn't do much partying though.

Mom, are you ok out there?

[sob] No, she's not ok. Looks like I have a serious gate crasher this time.

Mom, we're all going to miss you.

The party guests left in a somber mood. It's always a wakeup call to see the Reaper arrive. Still we were sort of happy that Mom was going to be joining Dad once again.

Vanessa, Vincent and I went to the library. She read to him while I read a few of the self-help books.

Jack Pendragon is a super-spy. I got his photo, it was worth megabucks to a local collector of memorabilia.  His son Darren is looking a bit peeved, I wonder if his dad has been doing the "Cop rules of staying safe" lecture again. Darren has heard it oh so many times.

Damn, I had a special delivery parcel in the mail. It was some of Uncle Jack's goods, he won't need them any more. I've had parcels from each of them; Dad, Uncle Rick, Uncle Jack, Mom.  I'd trade it all in a heartbeat for any of them.

Uncle Henry is the only one of Dad's siblings left.  It must be tearing him apart to know he's the last. I hope he stays with us for awhile, his youngest boy, Derrick must still be a child. Aunt Cindy is a bit younger than the rest of them but it wouldn't be good if Derrick lost both of his parents. Guess I'll find out.

My oldest cousin Chance is the town thug, it comes up in the newspapers all the time. Now his younger boy Kendrick is following in his dad's footsteps. Chance doesn't live with his ex-wife or kids any more, Kendrick must be sneaking out to hang with his dad.

Speaking of children

He doesn't have to worry about me calling him Shrimp any more.  Jerod is a teen? Where on earth does time go?