Wednesday, December 18, 1991

Wisconsin State Journal, 12/18/1991

The alarm is set for 5:30, a half hour earlier than usual, due to the fact that I need to be in Appleton by 9.  I make it there with an hour to spare.  I'm disappointed to find the Casbah restaurant closed, so I settle for breakfast at Burger King.  College Avenue, to my horror, is a shell of its former self.  The Grand Chute mall has certainly sucked most of the life out of downtown.  

The reference workshop goes very well.  I really zip through my material with confidence.  I stay for lunch, hitting the road at 2, and take a detour through Oshkosh to press a few memory cells.  I remember how many times I saw the same views from the seat of my bicycle.  Once in Madison, I stop at the credit union to cash my honorarium check, then unload the six boxes of books at the library.  JoAnna wants KFC for dinner but I want to change and have a martini first.  I take a few sips and then stash the glass in the freezer while Andy and I make the trek to KFC.  The Middleton store has nothing ready, always a problem at this location.  I can't resist making a few disparaging remarks as we leave.  The store on Mineral Point Road is loaded with chicken.  

We have a dinner party in the family room, something we would have never done with  Barb, god forbid, still being here.  JoAnna crashes early, and once again Andy and I stay up to watch Green Acres.

November 20, 1991

The weather's dry.  I have no meetings to attend.  For once I can walk to work, walk home for lunch, etc.  At work I'm content to diddle, some book reviewing here, some bookcase weeding there.  I keep a desk diary from 3:15 to 5:00 and have lots to note down.

While JoAnna finishes spaghetti, I honor a request for garlic bread.  I can't figure out why the butter doesn't have a pungent aroma until I take a close look at the label:  onion powder.

After supper, I'm a vegetable.  Maybe it's the wine, though I drank only three glasses.  Maybe it's being a 42-year-old man who doesn't exercise much anymore.  I fall asleep while JoAnna watches Green Acres and wake up at 1:30 feeling completely refreshed.

August 6, 1991

No freedom to do what I want this morning.  Advisory meeting at Sun Prairie, and as I walk back to my car, I focus on Niemi's ponderings regarding Madison's '92 library budget.  No money for automation.  What does this mean?  I leave a message with Julie, and she calls me back when I'm in the middle of a meeting with Sharon and Liz.  We touch base shortly before 5, and she volunteers to investigate.  Now that Middleton's city budget process has been officially announced, I focus my energy on the final draft of the long-range plan and a first draft of a 1992 budget proposal.  Photocopying chores delay my return home until halfway through Green Acres.  Everyone's in bed, waiting for Daddy to come home.  What fun to be a family