Thursday, December 19, 1991

My first day of vacation begins.  Andy goes to daycare, but Eddie stays home with Dad after his brief introduction to Kids Play.  We do some shopping at Hilldale in the morning.  I buy some stocking stuffers for JoAnna but don't find her big present.  Eddie falls asleep as we're strolling through the mall, at which point our shopping trip ends.  We make a second excursion during the afternoon so I can buy blank tapes at Best Buy, a roast at Brennan's for Eddie's birthday dinner, and an ice cream cake at Dairy Queen.  Yes, today is Daddy and the Birthday Boy, and proud I am to be seen in the little guy's presence.

June 1, 1991

JoAnna and I take the boys to Farmers' Market.  It's Cows on the Concourse weekend.  A lot of people have the same idea so we're part of a large crowd.  During the last quarter of our perambulation around the Square, we notice a storm front moving in.  It wimps out and we're able to walk back to the parking ramp in a light rain.  We stop at Brennan's so JoAnna can buy ingredients for supper.  I find some plants for the garden:  tomatoes, cukes, peppers, herbs, and watermelon.  That's my afternoon project, which includes fencing in these new additions to keep out the bunnies.  JoAnna does bills during the evening and I keep the boys company.  Andy and I play baseball, 10 hits with the real wiffle ball bat, inside.  Tonight he uses his outside swing.

March 23, 1991

Housecleaning is today's focus and fortunately the view outside is depressing one.  The trees shake violently against a gray sky.  I tackle the laundry.  At noon, Andy and I go shopping.  We first stop at Menard's, where I inspect ceiling light fixtures (a replacement for the utility room seems to be no longer available, a discontinued style from the early 1960s), wall mirrors, and louver doors.  Next stop is Cub Foods, followed by Brennan's (for a chuck roast), and True Value Hardware for a replacement wing nut.  (And I would have asked for a butterfly nut!  Maybe that's what they are called in Two Rivers.)   Barry and Mary join us for dinner.  The conversation is supposed to focus on alternatives to working for the Broydricks, but it never proceeds to that point, and I'm hesitant to ask the $64 question.