May 21, 1991

My only full day at the library this week.  With tomorrow's full-day workshop staring me in the face and the need to do some fine-tuning based on yesterday's helpful evaluations, I don't have time for regular chores outside of looking through my mail.  Kathleen picks me up at 5:30, one-half hour past our agreed-upon time, but in the short time that I've known her, punctuality does not appear to be one of her strong suits.  During the drive along U.S. 14 to La Crosse, I learn the reason for the John Nichols connection.  Outside of a slight, and it's a very slight, physical resemblance, they are both Irish and from New York City, Kathleen from Manhattan's Upper West Side, John from the Bronx.  Once in La Crosse, we drop off my boxes at the public library.  Then I check into my motel room, which is located just a few blocks from the library.  I walk to a nearby Country Kitchen for supper and watch baseball on TV before going to sleep around 11.

May 20, 1991

I get up at 5:30. OK, it's closer to quarter of by the time I'm actually out of bed.  I treat myself to breakfast at the Original Pancake House and then wait for Kathleen's appearance at the parking lot next to the UW Student Union.  She's late so I go ahead and transfer the boxes to the room on my own.  She seems rather harried when she first appears.   Darlene introduces to a roomful of workshop participants -- 50, count 'em, 50 -- after making a pitch for continuing education certification, the master's degree program, and whatever else she can squeeze in.  Then I do my thing.  I feel very much at ease throughout the morning portion of the program.  During the lunch break, I walk up State Street with a much more noticeable bounce in my step  I feel as though I've done the best presentation possible.  I walk to the credit union to cash my mileage check for the May 2nd Merrill workshop, then pick up a sandwich and a bottle of tomato juice at Botticelli's before a visit to JoAnna's office.  Sally's there and offers the use of my wife's desk to eat lunch, which I gladly accept.  Barry and JoAnna return shortly after my arrival.

The afternoon session is not as satisfying.  Perhaps unloading the boxes and displaying the books face out on the table would have promoted a less jerky presentation.  The evaluations, though, are very positive:  20 excellent, 17 good, 3 average, 1 fair, and 0 poor.  I even consider incorporating a specific suggestion into Wednesday's La Crosse presentation.

I pick up Andy at daycare, drive to the library to drop off the seven boxes of books, and check on the progress of the parking lot project (na-da), and leave Andy alone long enough to make him think I've abandoned him again.  I catch up with him in the lobby and quickly comfort him.  He must have sprinted all the way from the children's area to the exit.