March 10, 1992

Moving up the Billboard Hot 100

I drove to Oregon to attend a Dane County librarians meeting that has absolutely no appeal; I should have skipped it.  During an afternoon at home, I spend most of my time on the computer but also marveling at how much country music's heartthrob looks like Crawler's twin.

My evening at the library is abbreviated.  I return home immediately after the board meeting as JoAnna wants to take Eddie to the hospital.  He threw up once -- all over JoAnna, as a matter of fact -- and gushed into a diaper twice as soon as they returned home.

Tuesday, January 14, 1992

I get up early, determined to pack in as much as possible into the workday.  Before the Dane County librarians meeting at Verona, I stop by the library to look through my mail and anything else that seems to need my attention.  The meeting is a quickie, and on the way home I stop at Half Price Book and find nothing that makes me instantly grab for my wallet.  I keep to my office during the afternoon, taking care of various odds and ends, and leave at 4 to pick up Eddie.

For some reason, I feel on the edge of a precipice with Sandy on the board, but maybe it's John I need to keep an eye on.  John, the stunning no-show at the holiday party.

I'm happy to report that Sandy is no Julie Brunnette council clone.  She seemed genuinely shocked that the library received no increase in books.  And she seems sympathetic to our staffing needs at a time when library use is threatening to make basket cases of us all.

I stay to work on a variety of tasks and that's my problem -- flitting from one to the next, never being able to get a focus.

November 12, 1991

I'm up early enough to be on time for a 9:30 meeting but the chance to squeeze in a little taping keeps me tethered to my home workspace until 9.  And from here to Monona through the Isthmus is not a quick cruise.  The meeting lasts a lot longer than expected, until 12:05 actually.  Most of us have depressing stories to tell.  Pat Erickson actually has to cut $10,000 from Stoughton's library budget.  All that testifyin' adds to the length of the meeting.  So instead of driving to Middleton via Half Price Books, I take a direct route.  With Liz taking the day off, I put in some overtime.  The board meeting goes extremely well.

September 10, 1991

Dane County librarians meet at Black Earth's new municipal facility.  I drive there groovin' on my latest "Collegiate Gems" tapes.  I also get a little cocky talking about Middleton's abundanza budget request and then go a little ga-ga trying to direct people's attention to the latest Demco catalog (which Carol Liddicoat had brought along.  The Librarian of the Year is struttin' his stuff.

After the meeting, I take the scenic route back to Middleton.  Make that state route 78 to Cross Plains.  I took the scenic route from Middleton to Cross Plains, my old biking route, and tried to figure out where Denny Dorn built his new house.

I hope for a productive board meeting and am rewarded for my hard work in August.

July 9, 1991

On a thinly overcast morning, I drive to Deerfield to attend the Dane County librarians meeting.  The highlight of this bimonthly gathering is Barb Hanaway's talking about new patrons "darkening our doors" at the same time she alluded to their being black.

I decide I have too much to do to stay away from the library all afternoon.  I do leave shortly after 3, though, stopping at Half-Price Books and Burlington Coats on my way to Kid's Play to pick up Andy.

The Board meets at 6.  A routine meeting; no major business is conducted.

Once I get home, I watched snatches of the All-Star game and read about political correctness as reported by the Village Voice.

May 14, 1991

I drive to Cambridge, stopping at the McDonald's at the Interstate and Highway 18 intersection to attend the Dane County librarians meeting.  Cambridge has a new community center which houses the library, a very attractive facility.  Back in Madison, I stop at the library to pick up two of the books I have used to develop my reference notes and then walk to the Continuing Education office in Helen C. White Hall.  Kathleen Weibel and I talk for nearly an hour.  For some reason, she reminds me of a female version of John Nichols, perhaps because she talks so much?

The board meeting is a big improvement over last month's debacle.  The members greatly appreciate the materials and services inventory.