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.

June 20, 1991

Andy and I don't leave the house until after eight.  Since he hasn't completely adjusted to the move to the Bumblebee Room, he again wants me to read him a story before I leave.  My daddy schedule has all the time in the world, but I'm not on that one right now.  My professional schedule won't allow it.  I have to be at a meeting in 10 minutes.  Andy's teacher comes to my rescue, suggesting he join another boy who is all by himself.

The Automation Task Force meeting lasts most of the morning.  My organization of the board comments seems to have helped facilitate the discussion.

Before my meeting with Feingold's aide, I stop by JoAnna's office --  nobody is there so I walk to the credit union, top by JoAnna's office again -- and again no one is there.  Summer is away from her desk I learn once I reach Feingold's office, but Todd, the staff person I talked with on Library Legislation Day, graciously offers me a few minutes of his time.

I grab lunch at Rozino's, then walk to the library school to drop off ETN assignments, the ones I hastily reviewed yesterday.  I decide to play hooky, calling the library to report that I won't be returning to work. During the stroll along State Street, I visit the B Side and buy 3 CDs.  A fourth visit to JoAnna's office finds Sally at her desk.  She informs me of JoAnna's whereabouts so I stop at 421 S, brave the crowds and the 100-degree heat, and greet my Honcakes.  Andy and I stop for soda on the way home.

June 12, 1991

LINK

A riot does not occur at the Lunch Bunch program.  As I leave the library at noon, I notice a few mothers eating lunch with their preschool children outside.  By the end of the day, I have fielded no complaints.  During the afternoon, I spend half my time at the station window (business is very slow) and the second half at the info desk, organizing library boards' responses to the Automation Task Force membership agreement, an agenda item at next week's meeting.

Eddie accompanies me to pick up Andy at daycare.  We stop at Sentry on the way home to pick up baby food.  JoAnna returns home just as I've scorched the inside of Eddie's mouth with his overcooked dinner.  Andy and I inspect the garden and then play baseball just before dark.  He hits three home runs.

May 1, 1991

I decide to meet with the Timeline Planning Subcommittee of the Automation Task Force after originally planning to skip it.  We have a very productive session and I'll be on top of things next Thursday.  As quasi-Chair, I need to be fully informed about all developments.   After the meeting, I stop at the Sugar Shack to look for albums or tapes with selected songs from 1969.  My taping project is on hold until I can find "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" by the Bob Seger System.  Score!  I stay at the library until 8, organizing the boxes of books I'll be using for tomorrow's workshop.

April 26, 1991

What is planned to be a half day extends into the latter half of the afternoon.  I rethink my workload organization system and decide to use a simply manila folder with papers and other documents arranged in priority order.  My reason for staying longer than planned is to give myself time to write up a cover memo to accompany the Automation Task Force membership agreement.  Before running some errands, I drop these off at the SCLS office.  Then I cash my check, buy a copy of Billboard and Variety and the Village Voice at Pic-a Book, take care of my underwear needs at Penney's, and stock up on beer at Apollo.  The evening is uneventful, except for Barb's occasional incursions into our bedroom.  When the weekend comes, I would just like her to blend in with the furniture.  What a mean brother.

April 17, 1991

I approach today with some trepidation, but the outcome of the Automation Task Force meeting demonstrates that my fears have been unfounded.  The group is ready to move ahead and begin planning in earnest.  I take a couple of hours off during the afternoon and use the time productively.  I review ETN homework assignments.  On the way home from daycare, Andy asks if we can go to the park. He's disappointed when I tell him I have to go back to the library.

March 27, 1991

I make a donut run since Middleton is hosting the Automation Task Force meeting.  It's a long morning.  As the discussion progresses, it becomes obvious divergent paths are being taken.  As chair, I try to keep things moving without limiting the discussion, but my comments at 11:20 about how long people want to meet opens the floodgates.  From then on, all I can think about is relieving my bowels.

Just before I walk home for lunch, a tornado warning is sounded.  People stream into the basement meeting room as I'm washing cups and glasses.  I stay at the library late (til 7) to revise my ETN notes, rather meager for this session.

March 19, 1991

I'm up no earlier than other Tuesdays.  With a shortened workday yesterday, I've cut into class-preparation and note-reflection time.  Does it matter?  I don't think so.  First of all, let me confess that I covered only two-thirds of the materials, but that's only because I tried to cram too much information into an abbreviated session. The growing concern that I have is the inappropriateness of the ETN format for type of class I'm teaching.  Sometimes I wonder how near to death I'm boring my students.

After class, I walk to Madison Public to confer with Julie about the Automation Task Force agenda.  I also visit JoAnna at her office.  Due to last night's row, we are still tentative around each other.