April 24, 1992

A mediocre opening weekend

The WAPL conference is very successful and well-attended.  The final is 257.  I make it to only one program.  Otherwise, I spend most of my time talking with Dale Bartkowiak and Mike Cross. Throughout the day, I think ahead to next year's conference and how it will be mounted.  I leave the Dells at 2:40, an hour before the actual conclusion of the conference, so I can take a leisurely approach to picking up the boys.  In other words, I have time to cash my check at the credit union and pick up some reading matter at Pic-a Book.

Friday, December 20, 1991

Andy stays home, too.  It's a very treacherous day outside, sleet glazing everything it touches.  At first I'm not even sure if I want to venture outside with the boys, but, hey, it's payday.  We stop at the library to pick up my check and check out some videos, then we drive into Madison to the drive-through credit union so I can cash my paycheck without leaving the car.  During three subsequent stops -- Pic-a-Book, Hilldale, and the post office -- I have to leave the boys alone briefly.  I give Andy a very paternal lecture about not talking to strangers.

We spend the rest of the day at home.  I tape obscure 70s tunes from albums I've owned for years, sign and address Christmas cards,

November 22, 1991

The LINK meeting takes less than an hour.  I'm not sure what that means.  It's certainly no reason for optimism.  Before the start of the meeting, Alicia Ashman, Madison board president, congratulates me on my recent WLA award and then hints not too subtly that I would make a great replacement for Peter Niemi.

After the meeting, I drive into Madison to cash my paycheck, drop off an updated floppy disk at Jane Pearlmutter's office, and pick up some reading matter at Pic-a-Book.  I want to spend some time browsing for books and music, but the only temptation I yield to here is a quick browse of the architecture titles at Paul's Bookstore.  I find  nothing of interest.

As we did last week, Andy and I go grocery shopping before we return home.  JoAnna skips the fundraiser for Gary George in Milwaukee as her Madison meeting runs late and the weather forecast predicts a major snowfall.

October 25, 1991

I drive JoAnna to her meeting at the Radisson on Odana Road, Andy to daycare, and myself to Durrant, holding off my arrival at the final destination after cashing my check and buying a few items at Pic-a-Book.  Donovan has adjusted the schedule, and I have no objection to his changes.  Sometimes though I just have to wonder how effective a presenter Donovan is going to be.   I remember so clearly how mealy-mouthed he was in front of the Plan Commission.

After a visit to Second Hand Books, where I buy some records and tapes, I make an appearance at the library.

Until it's time to leave, I pack the van and do some calendar squares.  I'm a little bit late leaving the house to pick up JoAnna and Andy on our to Two Rivers.  Eddie sleeps until nearly 4.  While I'm sitting at my desk, Barb presents Eddie to me as is.  His one-piece outfit is soaked around the middle.  Just one more reason to get Barb out of the house before Christmas.

Sitting in Larry and Alice's basement, I quickly turn invisible.  JoAnna's friends arrive and she neglects to introduce me.  I get the message and join her dad upstairs.  He's watching a couple romp all over someone's apartment.  We never catch the title of the movie, but it's obviously some Fatal Attraction clone.

At midnight I decide to go to bed so I'll be able to get up with the boys.  Somehow. though, I manage to sleep in.

September 6, 1991

For a fleeting moment this morning, I wonder if taking this day off is such a good idea, if instead I should be at the library fine-tuning the budget and capital expenditures proposal.  But, as I said, it's just a fleeting thought.  I drive Andy to daycare and then bop along State Street for awhile. University Book Store doesn't stock the perfect photo album.  Rose Records has no CDs by the Youngbloods or Shawn Phillips, but I do purchase some reading matter at Pic-a-Book.  At Hilldale, I find a usable photo album at Walgreen's, of all places, for the postcard diaries.  I spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon at home.  I make an early appearance at Kids Play, but Andy and his fellow Bees are still napping.  While walking around the Square, I stop in at the Camera Co. to see what slide viewers they have in stock.  I buy the most expensive model; it's not battery-operated.  

JoAnna stops at Crandall's to pick up fish for supper.  I water the garden.  Barry and Mary drop off Megan so they can enjoy an evening out together.

April 26, 1991

What is planned to be a half day extends into the latter half of the afternoon.  I rethink my workload organization system and decide to use a simply manila folder with papers and other documents arranged in priority order.  My reason for staying longer than planned is to give myself time to write up a cover memo to accompany the Automation Task Force membership agreement.  Before running some errands, I drop these off at the SCLS office.  Then I cash my check, buy a copy of Billboard and Variety and the Village Voice at Pic-a Book, take care of my underwear needs at Penney's, and stock up on beer at Apollo.  The evening is uneventful, except for Barb's occasional incursions into our bedroom.  When the weekend comes, I would just like her to blend in with the furniture.  What a mean brother.

March 29, 1991

I plan to work a few hours in the morning as Deb is scheduled to attend an all-day workshop.  "On Good Friday?" I neglect to ask myself yesterday.  Once I realize there'll be more than adequate coverage, I decided I'm only there to pick up my paycheck.  I call JoAnna to inform her of my change in plans, and she requests that I stop by her office before going to the credit union.  After my visit there, I make my usual Friday biweekly rounds:  Pic-a-Book, a record store (where I buy a copy of Savoy Brown's Getting to the Point, and learn that my two Savoy Brown favs, Raw Sienna and Looking In, are scheduled for CD release next Tuesday) -- plus a bonus, a visit to Paul's Book Store where I make a thorough and successful search of the architecture shelves.  I pick up Andy at daycare and we walk to JoAnna's office.  We take the little guy to McDonald's for lunch.  Their filet of fish sandwich is still as unappetizing as ever.  I spend the afternoon doing laundry and taping 60s music.  Later on, we all go shopping.  We buy a TV-VCR cart and a mirror at Menard's.  I begin to lose patience with our outing at the mall.  Andy's all over the place.  I take him to the food court, mostly to avoid an argument with JoAnna.

March 15, 1991

With Liz working during the afternoon to make up for hours she missed on Wednesday, I take advantage of a perfect opportunity to get a head start on the weekend.  My first errand after leaving is to deliver Kitty to the Humane Society   I place her in an empty Leinenkugel case, the bottom lined with newspapers, and drive with the music turned up loud and the window rolled down to cover the sound of her pitiful meowing.  I don't let it get to me because my thoughts are focused on a home where hairballs will no longer make a regular appearance in the living room, and cat hair will no longer be found everywhere.  After this mission of selfishness, I drive to the credit union to cash Jo's and my checks and then bop along State Street for awhile, dropping some cash at Pic-a-Book, Exclusive, and the B Side before chowing down on a gyro with fries at Zorba's.  (The Parthenon's reconstruction is a couple of weeks from completion.)  Later in the afternoon, I take Eddie to see Dr. Ellis.  The diagnosis:  a minor ear infection.  Back home, I continue to tidy up the new bedroom suite while taping CDs.  I even paint the cold side of the door between the hallway and garage.  While JoAnna eats yogurt and watches TV, Andy, Barb, and I travel to Cub Foods for what turns out to be a minor shopping trip.

February 1, 1991

I work a half day as I'll be subbing for Liz at the reference desk tomorrow.  Absolutely engrossed with the library's new toy, I spend most of the morning searching BIP's CD-ROM database.  I print about six or seven collection development book lists.

I stop at home for lunch and to check on Andy.  We kept him home due to a fever.  He looks so deflated and lethargic.

After a bowl of soup, I drive into Madison, park near the Capitol, and then walk to Walgreen's, the credit union, and Pic-a-Book.  It's a beautiful afternoon to be outdoors:  sunny, and by early February standards, warm.  On the way home, I stop at Cub Foods for orange juice, at Andy's request, and at Apollo for Rolling Rock and gin in order to restock two of my favorite potables.  Once I return home, Barb decides to take a walk' she's been housebound the entire week.  Andy wants me to tell him "Goldilocks" and he responds with lots of laughter to my exuberant presentation.