June 10, 1991

LINK

What with summer library program registration, today is a very busy day.  I spend my time at the information desk and getting books ready for tomorrow's workshop in Elkhorn.  I walk home shortly after 5.  JoAnna is surprised to see me when she and Andy return.  We have sort of a communal supper.  I feed Eddie.  Andy east leftover macaroni and cheese.  Barb fixes herself a salad.  JoAnna chows on leftover stirfry, and once Eddie is sated, I prepared a fruit salad, which turns out to be a disappointment.  I give Andy a bath -- yesterday he fell asleep at 6 and slept almost 13 hours -- then read in the living room since JoAnna has the TV tuned to some show I can't stand.

May 28, 1991

I get the phone call I've been expecting.  Just before 9, Sharon calls to report that the air-conditioning is not working.  So much for an uninterrupted morning at home.  What little time I have to myself I spend in the garden.  I spend the afternoon the library looking through and organizing my desk.  I leave at 4 to pick up Andy at daycare.  It's a slow evening, although there are obviously still a few teachers giving homework assignments at this late date, one of them a detective synonym exercise.  That had to come from a defective mind.  JoAnna calls to inform me she's gone to volleyball.

April 24, 1991

Another all-day self-imposed desk assignment.  If I'm not station out there, I get routinely interrupted and pulled of my office.  One disadvantage to being in the fishbowl.  My first discovery of the day is that the annotated bibliography I began for next week's workshop is missing.  I check the file of each of my disks many times.  So much for an ambitious effort, I decide.  Simple citations will have to do.  I take a late lunch and spend part II of my workday attempting to complete the profile section of the long-range plan.  Not quite an accomplishment.

It's a beautiful day but all I see of it out doors occurs during my walks to and from the library.

After picking up Andy -- Eddie comes along for the ride -- I begin preparations for a spaghetti dinner.  My sauce is outstanding.  All JoAnna adds is some basil.  (I'll remember that ingredient next time.)  We eat in the TV room watching Barb's video of The Philadelphia Story.  While cleaning the dishes and tidying up the kitchen, I begin a tape of 80s faves.

April 23, 1991

Not once did I ever get an early start to my ETN Tuesday.  My original plan was to get up early and spend at least an hour or so reviewing my notes at a State Street coffeehouse.  I never gave myself more than a half hour.  And, for the most part, it seemed to make little difference in the quality of my presentations.  One aspect of the course that needs close scrutiny between now and 1993:  the discussion questions.

After class, I take Eddie to see Dr. Ellis.  No ear infection this time, despite the river of green slime running out of his nose.

Tuesday evening as as busy as I've ever seen the library.  With a gaggle of giggly teenage girls most prominent.

April 22, 1991

I can still start the week with a high level of enthusiasm.  Maybe this is the main reason why I haven't updated my resume.

I begin the day in my usual fashion, composing a column for the Times-Tribune.  I use some of the information I gathered for the library profile.  With Liz taking the afternoon off, I spend most of the day at the info desk.  I don't give any attention to my ETN notes since I am starting to worry about how well my workshop next week at Merrill is going to come together.  I pick up Andy at daycare.

April 19, 1991

Just before I reach for the entrance to the library, Sheila rolls down the window on the passenger's side of her car and announces, "There's a message from Larry Martin in your mail slot."  Oh, good, I think, I have don't have to go the Capitol.  I can concentrate on preparing for my workshop instead.  Wrong answer.  We've just been bumped back a half hour.  Then a barrage of questions keeps me focused on reference duties for most of the morning.  How much would $25,000 (before the Crash) be worth today?  I spend at least a half hour searching through every possible source, to no avail.  I meet Larry Martin and Kathy Schneider at the White Horse Inn for lunch.  We discuss the strategy for our meeting with Chuck Chvala, who is surprisingly quick in his agreement.  It's 3:30 by the time we finish so I pick up Andy at daycare and drive him home.  I spend an hour or so at the library before heading home, stopping at Walgreen's to buy stuff for Barb's birthday.  JoAnna returns at 7:30, but it's another hour before we eat.  I fix a salad and microwaved lasagna.  .

April 8, 1991

A typical morning.  The newspaper column, then a review of my ETN notes.  I stay late, later than planned, actually, since Liz goes home sick at 6.  For the next 45 minutes, we are inundated with a flood of people.  Amazing!   JoAnna decides to attend a parents meeting at Kids Play.  Andy and I watch the Brewers on TV.  While I'm feeding Eddie, though, he joins Auntie Barbara in the playroom.

April 5, 1991

With Sharon and Deb at a workshop, I have no choice but to spend most of the day at the info desk.  And it's time well spent.  I finish typing up notes for next Tuesday.  All I need now is an introductory mini-lecture on the pitfalls of medical and legal reference.  Where did those notes go?  I stay an hour past closing to photocopy newspaper articles, respond to Mike Gelhausen's request for personal information, and browse the AV carousel for tape-worthy tunes while Barb and Jo and Eddie are shopping.  I play with Eddie and take a musical trip back to the 60s. 

March 28, 1991

One day after a frustrating Automation Task Force meeting, my inspiration level has still not recovered.  I look at the long rang plan file folder sitting on my desk and think, "No, not today".  I'm not in the mood for anything taxing, anything that is going to force me to think critically about library service.  I work at the information desk during the afternoon and continue at my post into the evening.  Since Sharon is taking the day off, I plan to work until 7 or so, to cover the dinner hour and to allow myself some time to revise my ETN notes.  I expect Maundy Thursday evening to be very slow, but I'm fooled.  It's a steady, sometimes hectic, evening.  I stay at my post and finish printing my notes five minutes after closing.