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 27, 1991

I take the day off from work, needing an extra day away from what is becoming an increasingly less satisfying job environment.  After driving Andy to daycare and cashing my Green Bay workshop check, I treat myself to breakfast at Original Pancake House.  I buy JoAnna and book and calendar for her birthday but can't think of a special present to buy her.  Before returning home, I splurge on myself, buying some used records and books at Half Price Books.  At stop at Westgate is a bust.

During the afternoon, I tape music, letting Eddie spend the time with Barb.  I go grocery shopping then fix supper.

November 1, 1991

The slow leak in the left rear tire of the Nissan has picked up the pace this week.  I found it deflated Wednesday afternoon and again today.  Both times I pump it back up to normal pressure and drive to where I need to be.  Today I have a WAPL spring conference planning meeting at the WLA office.  I'm not sure if we ever agreed on the them, but how does "Hug a Book, Spin a Disk" grab you?  It's the goofiest shit I've heard in weeks.

After the meeting I stop at the East Towne Mall location of Half Price Books.  No copy of Jackson Browne's first release there either.  I stop at Pasqual's for lunch and savor every mouthful of a chicken burrito.  Before returning to the library, I drop the car off at Fred's Standard for what turns out to be a very minor repair.  The cost:  $6.33.

Andy and I do the grocery shopping after supper.  When we leave the store, it looks as though a blizzard is brewing, but by morning we end up with only a dusting.

October 1, 1991

I drive Andy to daycare and then stop at the South Madison McDonald's for breakfast before a short road trip to Brodhead for the Public Library Advisory Committee meeting.  Jo Zipsie's near-apoplexy over automation makes her an even stronger candidate for retirement in my mind.  And then Peter Niemi starts opening his mouth with engaging his brain.  He suggests that since Madison may have to cut staff and the book budget to fund automation, other libraries should so likewise.

"Peter, that is absurd," I respond vociferously.  "That's ridiculous.  Why should those of us who have done our homework be penalized?"

It seems that my outburst brings him back to reality.

I take the scenic route home, meandering along the lonesome roads of Fitchburg.  I browse through the record bins at Half Price Books where I locate a clean (or so it looks) copy of Elephant Mountain.

The evening is very slow, and once I get home JoAnna's still out at volleyball.  I read a couple dozen pages of Rabbit at Rest.