March 27, 1992

The weekend's top-grossing new movie.

Andy wants Eddie to stay home with him (and Kelly) but I don't want our babysitter to have her hands too full.  I veto the idea, and JoAnna doesn't argue in Andy's defense.

I spend a large portion of the morning with Sheila, reviewing her position description and discussing her performance evaluation.  She heartily seconds my suggestion of a halftime administrative assistant with no public service duties who would be responsible for bookkeeping, staff records, meeting room schedule, bulletin board.  Before the end of the workday, I share the idea with Liz and Chris, and they, too react enthusiastically.  All of a sudden, I have a major focus for this summer's budget preparations.

I leave the library at 4 and walk to Dunn's.

Saturday, December 14, 1991

We get a later start than planned.  I have to stop at a TYME machine to get the last of the money that Barb is owed and at PDQ for gas.  The wind is so violently cold I settle for half a tank.  Since JoAnna plans to do doors, the boys accompany Barb and me to Milwaukee.  I keep the radio on and talk to Andy while Barb soothes a fussy Eddie.  I say nothing to Barb during the entire trip.  After she boards her plane, I don't even stick around to see her take off.  I take the boys back to the van, and then Andy tells me he needs to go potty, so we walk back into the terminal.  Eddie sleeps for the entire trip back, which is why we wait to eat lunch in Madison.  We stop at the Burger King on East Washington near Hawthorne Plaza.  The Beauty and the Beast promotion must be old news, but Andy doesn't complain about the toy he gets with his kids meal, some nerdy little kid riding a "bookmobile".  Back home, the boys and I reclaim the guest bedroom, what had been Barb's closed-door, off-limits domain for the past 11 months.  I tape music while Andy plays Santa Claus with Eddie's birthday gifts.  While Eddie naps, Andy and I watch Planet of the Apes.

JoAnna is amazed at how much Jesse has grown since the last time he has babysat for us.  I am, too, actually.  The holiday party at Sheila's is most enjoyable.  JoAnna and I should host it next year.

April 19, 1991

Just before I reach for the entrance to the library, Sheila rolls down the window on the passenger's side of her car and announces, "There's a message from Larry Martin in your mail slot."  Oh, good, I think, I have don't have to go the Capitol.  I can concentrate on preparing for my workshop instead.  Wrong answer.  We've just been bumped back a half hour.  Then a barrage of questions keeps me focused on reference duties for most of the morning.  How much would $25,000 (before the Crash) be worth today?  I spend at least a half hour searching through every possible source, to no avail.  I meet Larry Martin and Kathy Schneider at the White Horse Inn for lunch.  We discuss the strategy for our meeting with Chuck Chvala, who is surprisingly quick in his agreement.  It's 3:30 by the time we finish so I pick up Andy at daycare and drive him home.  I spend an hour or so at the library before heading home, stopping at Walgreen's to buy stuff for Barb's birthday.  JoAnna returns at 7:30, but it's another hour before we eat.  I fix a salad and microwaved lasagna.  .