March 16, 1992

TIME

Andy is still determined to give his dad as much grief as possible.  To get him out the door and into the car, I have to prod him every inch of the way.  I yell, I threaten, I growl.  Not until we walk into daycare is he his sweet little self again.  I don't feel I'm starting the day on the right emotional note, but the day goes well.  Eve seems to enjoy her first day as Middleton's new children's librarian. I spend most of the afternoon and early evening working on my Nuts and Bolts notes.  With JoAnna at a meeting, I make some chicken wings, using a secret ingredient -- crushed corn flakes -- in the breading.

Friday, February 21, 1992

The family makes a visit to Little Red Preschool.  Andy is real tentative at first, but by the time we leave he seems to be very excited about "my new school".  Needing some r&r after a most stressful week, I decide to take the day off, but first the boys and I make a stop at the library.  I make some phone calls, and then we check out six videos for our fest, which actually never happens.  Andy gets into Nickelodeon, and I get into housework.  And some computer memory transcriptions.  And 2 Pizza Hut pizzas -- delivery -- for supper.  And Nick at Nite until I pass out.  JoAnna's in Two Rivers overnite.

Friday, December 13, 1991

On Barb's last day, I wonder how much more hectic mornings will be as a result of her absence.  Actually, I look forward to mornings without her oppressive presence.  I drive Andy to daycare and then spend an hour in my office catching up.  The rest of the day is spent weeding the fiction collection. I start at the end of the alphabet and work my way to the beginning of S.  I even get started on the mystery fiction.

JoAnna and I attend the Broydrick Christmas party.  They have a packed house, and in spite of not knowing the majority of people there, I manage to have a good time.  We arrive at 7 and stay until 9.

Thursday, December 12, 1991

I drive Andy to daycare, then make an appearance at the library before attending the RFP Committee meeting at Monona.  On the drive back to Middleton, I reconsider my hunger for music tapes and wonder if a diet of books on tape would be more nourishing.

I take Eddie to the doctor -- the little guy's in great shape -- and then make another brief appearance at the library, a questionable one since I don't have to do anything.

Andy's a little bit moody on the drive home.  He gets upset when I tell him I threw away the baggy of Turtle cookies.

He's fine during our half-hour wait for a table at Red Lobster, then starts to act up again shortly after we are seated.  Eddie, too, is getting fussy as it is way past his usual dinnertime.  I'm on the verge of leaving, but then we all settle into a pleasingly calm evening together.  I still can't find that much to say to Barb.  I'm certainly not going to tell her how ecstatic I will be once she is on an airplane for home.

Andy and I attempt to reprise our previous evening of fun, but without the spontaneity, it doesn't reach the level of a very special shared time.

Wednesday, December 4, 1991

Wednesday morning I drive Andy to daycare after a quick visit to the library and then return indirectly to investigate a possible problem with the cleaning service.  First of all, Ileen mentions that they arrived about the same time she did, and secondly, the man with Ting looks a little bit like David Farrington, the guy who was nabbed earlier this year for ripping the library off.  And what about that cleaning service contract, which is due to expire at the end of the year?  I drop the issue and meet with Donovan Kramer as planned, though later than originally scheduled, to review our planning notes for our spring workshop.  After cruising through the afternoon, I pick up Andy and enjoy my first evening off this week.  When JoAnna returns home, she offers Andy the opportunity to sleep in our bed, which he quickly accepts.  I sleep in the boys' room with an already sleeping Eddie.

November 27, 1991

I take the day off from work, needing an extra day away from what is becoming an increasingly less satisfying job environment.  After driving Andy to daycare and cashing my Green Bay workshop check, I treat myself to breakfast at Original Pancake House.  I buy JoAnna and book and calendar for her birthday but can't think of a special present to buy her.  Before returning home, I splurge on myself, buying some used records and books at Half Price Books.  At stop at Westgate is a bust.

During the afternoon, I tape music, letting Eddie spend the time with Barb.  I go grocery shopping then fix supper.

November 15, 1991

Andy runs into the bedroom at 6:30 to watch Ninja Turtles.  We leave the house before 8, which means that I get to the library before 9.  I reprogram our voice-mail message to stress the point that we are if they have called during our regular hours, which are stated at the beginning of the message.  I continue to work on my Nuts and Bolts notes.  During the afternoon, I think about slacking off, but the upcoming magazine project requires my initial attention.

Andy and I go grocery shopping after a visit to the brown store.  Supper is pretty casual for the two of us.  Andy insists on sleeping in my bed, his privilege whenever JoAnna is not home.

November 13, 1991

Requesting a copy of "Moving a Library", which I never read when I originally headed up such a project, has provided a much-needed spur to my Nuts and Bolts note-taking.  Why do I picture myself carrying Donovan during these two days in March?

Midafternoon JoAnna calls to ask if I can pick up Andy.  She has a bunch of work she wants to get done before her San Diego getaway.

November 8, 1991

The Nissan is due for a tune-up, brake job, new tires, so the first order of the day is to take it to Dunn's.  

I spend most of the day at the reference desk, expecting a busy day with students out of school, but the rush never materializes.

A lotta stuff didn't materialize this week.

Sharon gives me a ride to Dunn's, and with 45 minute remaining to the daycare pickup deadline, the car is not ready.  The mechanic finishes up what he can and then I begin my race against time and greet Andy with no time to spare.

After supper, Andy and I go grocery shopping.  We also make a visit to Kohl's so I can buy a replacement stash of blank tapes.  Andy disappears into the toy section and has to be coerced into the front of the store.

Andy joint his mom and dad in bed for awhile.  JoAnna suggests that he go to bed but that's not what he wants to hear.  I tell him "When I was a little boy, I could always stay up later on the weekend."  Andy immediately relays this observation to his mom.

"He said I could stay up longer."

Andy can be such a charmer.

October 30, 1991

My biggest concern today is the result of last night's Finance Committee meeting.  Right now I'm pretty resigned to the fact none of the library's decision items will be approved.  What I fear is the slash-and-burn mentality that Tim described last week.  I am relieved to discover no cuts reflected in the minutes.  Tim reports that the committee spent its time reviewing the capital budget.

"How do you think the library's request would have fared had it not been withdrawn?"

"I'm not sure what they would have approved," he responds.  "That's something you can't do without."

But who knows what will happen next year if Tom Ullsvik decides not to run for re-election.

I pick up Andy at daycare and fix a spaghetti supper.

October 25, 1991

I drive JoAnna to her meeting at the Radisson on Odana Road, Andy to daycare, and myself to Durrant, holding off my arrival at the final destination after cashing my check and buying a few items at Pic-a-Book.  Donovan has adjusted the schedule, and I have no objection to his changes.  Sometimes though I just have to wonder how effective a presenter Donovan is going to be.   I remember so clearly how mealy-mouthed he was in front of the Plan Commission.

After a visit to Second Hand Books, where I buy some records and tapes, I make an appearance at the library.

Until it's time to leave, I pack the van and do some calendar squares.  I'm a little bit late leaving the house to pick up JoAnna and Andy on our to Two Rivers.  Eddie sleeps until nearly 4.  While I'm sitting at my desk, Barb presents Eddie to me as is.  His one-piece outfit is soaked around the middle.  Just one more reason to get Barb out of the house before Christmas.

Sitting in Larry and Alice's basement, I quickly turn invisible.  JoAnna's friends arrive and she neglects to introduce me.  I get the message and join her dad upstairs.  He's watching a couple romp all over someone's apartment.  We never catch the title of the movie, but it's obviously some Fatal Attraction clone.

At midnight I decide to go to bed so I'll be able to get up with the boys.  Somehow. though, I manage to sleep in.

October 23, 1991

I meet with Pete Hamon, Julie and Phyllis at the SCLS office to review Pete's draft of the "sugar daddy" alternative to automation.  After about two hours of discussion, Julie works herself up into a lather over Pete's alleged used-up credibility.  He reacts as though he's just been punched in the stomach.  Automation planning seems to do strange things to people.

The afternoon at Middleton is uneventful.  At 5, I make an appearance at the Finance Committee meeting to withdraw the capital budget request, which better not turn out to be premature, and make a plea for the library's decision items.

I pick up Andy at daycare.  About 9 or so, I fix myself a deluxe burger and then veg out for the rest of game 4 of the World Series.

October 15, 1991

I wake up from a restful sleep at 1, get up for a drink of water, then sleep fitfully for the rest of the night.  Andy comes into our room at 4 and joins us in bed after a fitful  hour of his own on the couch.

At breakfast, I give in to Andy's pleading and agree to drive him to daycare.  Big problem, though.  JoAnna's taken the car, and I have no key to the van.  Andy and I take the bus, spending 15 minutes at the intersection of Mayflower and Elmwood on a cold, blustery morning waiting for its arrival.  I take the car back, stopping at Original Pancake House for a corned beef breakfast.

October 9, 1991

The Automation Regrouping Subcommittee, as I refer to it, travels at the speed of Pete Hamon's glibness.  I had hoped to walk away from the meeting feeling upbeat, but the overriding issue of Madison's costs wasn't even addressed.

During the afternoon, I continue to revise my reference bibliography, a project whose time frame I seriously underestimated.

I retrieve the minutes from yesterday's Personnel Committee meeting at City Hall and am chagrined to find no recommendation to fund either of the two library requests.  As a matter of fact, no "real" personnel items have been approved, only two contracts for services and two limited-term  parks employees.

On the return trip from daycare, Andy and I stop at the brown store for hamburger buns.  JoAnna returns home just as I'm forming patties.

October 7, 1991

I seem to be regaining my enthusiasm for Mondays.  I have so much to do to keep my busy, mostly commitments that involve activities outside of the library.  My little workshop industry, actually.

On the way to work, I stop at the drug store for the usual newspaper as well as a birthday card for Dad.  This will be the first time in many years where I've been on time.  

During my lunch break, I drive to West Towne and buy him a copy of a Billy Graham biography, which I promptly package and mail.

After providing taxi service for Andy, I eat a light supper since I had such a big lunch.

Rabbit screws Pru.

October 2, 1991

A bit of a headache stays with me through a portion of the morning.  What did I eat last night?  A nuked burrito with an overly of hot salsa.

I spend the afternoon at the WLA office opening envelopes and extracting ballots, and, in the process, trying to assess my own election chances as I stack each ballot on its proper pile.  At first it appears that my opponent has more x's in her box.  My insides start to churn; I try to look nonchalant, unconcerned about how this particular race will turn out.  How can the Librarian of the Year not be elected to an office?  I think of the possible humiliation involved.  While Bob Bocher is counting the WAPL ballots, I discreetly attempt to see who has the longer line of slash marks.  With less than half of the ballots counted, it appears that I have a 10 to 15 point lead.  As it turns out, I win rather handily, 224 to 165.

I pick up Andy at daycare and enjoy a celebratory martini when I get home.  I also do two loads of wash, get one load dried, folded and put away and the second one in the dryer.

October 1, 1991

I drive Andy to daycare and then stop at the South Madison McDonald's for breakfast before a short road trip to Brodhead for the Public Library Advisory Committee meeting.  Jo Zipsie's near-apoplexy over automation makes her an even stronger candidate for retirement in my mind.  And then Peter Niemi starts opening his mouth with engaging his brain.  He suggests that since Madison may have to cut staff and the book budget to fund automation, other libraries should so likewise.

"Peter, that is absurd," I respond vociferously.  "That's ridiculous.  Why should those of us who have done our homework be penalized?"

It seems that my outburst brings him back to reality.

I take the scenic route home, meandering along the lonesome roads of Fitchburg.  I browse through the record bins at Half Price Books where I locate a clean (or so it looks) copy of Elephant Mountain.

The evening is very slow, and once I get home JoAnna's still out at volleyball.  I read a couple dozen pages of Rabbit at Rest.

September 25, 1991

After a couple of hours on the telephone, mostly dealing with the problem of rescheduling the next LINK meeting, I go to the dentist for the first time in more than two years.  I am amazed to learn that it's been that long.  I felt a need to avoid Brad after his repeated offers to join the Optimists.

On the way home to get my hair cut, I stop at home to relieve myself.

At the library, I have a follow-up conversation with Julie Brunnette over the phone.  Now I feel better.

I pick up Andy at daycare, and once we get home, get into some chores.

September 16, 1991

Liz tells me that she's working the desk this morning before I have a chance to tell her she doesn't have to.  My day consists of writing a column for the paper, reviewing Bill 25, pondering what I'm going to talk about on Wednesday, and directing people to InfoTrac.

JoAnna has a last-minute change of schedule so I pick up Andy at daycare.  My supper consists of cranberry fizzwater and the last of Martha's oatmeal cookies.  I do laundry and finish Maximum Bob and try to remember the last time JoAnna I made love.  (A week ago Sunday.)

September 12, 1991

JoAnna leaves early, I take Andy to daycare since it's on my way to Sun Prairie anyway.  RFP Committee meeting.  I stop at a McDonald's a couple of blocks from the library for a quick breakfast.  I stop by the house after the meeting expecting to find the carpet installers still engaged in their work.  Surprise!  They're done.  And what an improvement.  The blue carpeting in the master bedroom looks like a welcoming pool of water.  The berber carpet in the TV room is nothing less than stunning.  I was beginning to think we had made a bad choice here.  I take most of the afternoon off, getting the bedroom back in order.

I call the bozo who verbally beat up on Sheila yesterday, and he's relatively civil, though not about to give up on the idea of a receipt for books returned.