Just managed to force myself through the requisite 1,667 words that I need per day this month to meet my National Novel Writing Month goal. I am working on a novel idea that I've been outlining and fleshing out with ideas ever since last year's National Novel Writing Month was over, and it's an idea that I actually had about four years ago. I'm pretty excited, but today it was hard to concentrate and get the words out because I just feel so drained right now.

Shawn's grandfather died today, after a long battle with cancer. He was an amazing person, a veteran, and a man of great faith, so I know he is in a better place and reunited with his wife, who I know he missed immensely. I wish I had met her, and I am glad I got the chance to know him. He treated me like family from the first time he ever met me, in the first year of my relationship with Shawn. It was bittersweet and wonderful to have a grandfather again after so many years of missing my own. I think PawPaw and my grandpa would have gotten along famously. It is so strange to deal with the death of a loved one as an adult...I haven't lost anyone close since I was a kid.

We're both doing okay, still in a bit of shock even though it was expected. He's been sick a long time, and the recent decline happened fast and we knew he wasn't long for this world. I spent the afternoon getting together the work I have that needs to be done while I'm gone, talking with my teams to make sure that things will get done in my absence (not that I am particularly worried about that, my project teams are doing a great job right now...it is just the stuff I have to do myself that is stressing me out).

I had to drive all the way back to the office earlier tonight to retrieve my notebook full of notes and printouts on the project I plan on working on tomorrow--let's just say I was not very pleased about that. But I did stop at Old Navy to buy a few things...retail therapy never hurts, and the comfy sweatpants I have been coveting were on sale. I figure I will need something pajama-like that is fit for others to see (i.e. not full of holes and threadbare) and possibly suitable for the ride back from Beaumont. Six hours can get kind of uncomfortable even in an SUV.

I figure I should get to bed so I can get up tomorrow, get things ready to go, and do some work. Any happy thoughts you can send our way would be much appreciated...I think it's going to hit us pretty hard when we get down there. Rest in peace, PawPaw, we love you.