November 16, 1991

Household chores and keeping an eye on the boys takes up most of my morning.  I record some music off vinyl but later discover that the left speaker is not working.  It works then the radio is on, but that's all.  I check the dart tape, some of which was recorded as recently as a week ago and hear stereo.  The last time this happened the full sound came back on its own.

During the afternoon, I take the boys out to run a few errands.  Barb's not feeling well, but I wouldn't have invited her along anyway.  We stop at Going Places Book and Map Store in Shorewood where I purchase some wall maps.  Having promised Andy ice cream, I then drive to West Towne, where parking is at a premium.  The food court is mobbed but luckily we find a table right away.  Andy wants to visit Seats to romp around on a piece of kid furniture set up there.  I pretend to shop.  Walking back and forth along the mall promenade, I don't mind the crowd.  Dad is proud to be seen with two such handsome boys.

Back home I put Eddie to put and think about raking leaves.  I sweep the leaves on the patio into a big pile and then transfer them by the snow-shovelful to the compost pile.  Otherwise I don't make much of a dent.

Barb is too sick to eat a meal so I don't worry about a sit-down supper.  I fix a meat loaf, putting into the fridge, uncooked, and then I prepare chicken wings, using the Bisquick coating.

By the time Andy and I go to bed, my desk is still a mess.  I've had to time to myself today, no time to be studious or contemplative or not plugged into my surroundings.

October 7, 1991

I seem to be regaining my enthusiasm for Mondays.  I have so much to do to keep my busy, mostly commitments that involve activities outside of the library.  My little workshop industry, actually.

On the way to work, I stop at the drug store for the usual newspaper as well as a birthday card for Dad.  This will be the first time in many years where I've been on time.  

During my lunch break, I drive to West Towne and buy him a copy of a Billy Graham biography, which I promptly package and mail.

After providing taxi service for Andy, I eat a light supper since I had such a big lunch.

Rabbit screws Pru.

May 5, 1991

Compared to yesterday, a lousy day.  It rains most of the time.  JoAnna wants to go furniture shopping in the afternoon.  We both like to go without Barb but are too courteous to simply say, "See ya, we're going out now."  Then we sit in the van for five minutes while Barb prepares herself for public inspection.  Our first stop is Sears Homelife Store on the Beltline, where we find an upholstered chair that will nicely complement the sofa and love seat we bought a Rubin's last year.  We also take a stroll through West Towne Mall, spending most of our time in the food court.  Andy has ice cream first and then a hot dog.  Barb is nowhere to be found when we return to the van.  I find her sitting on one of the benches at the entrance to Sears.  "You must have gone right by me.  I've been sitting here for a half hour."  Yeah, right, Twyla, in that pink jacket, how could I have missed you.

April 12, 1991

JoAnna has an 8 am job interview, so I volunteer to take Andy to daycare.  Shortly after we open, I give a tour of the reference area to a group of high school students, all girls.  I take an hour off in the afternoon to run some errands.  I expect to find CDs of Raw Sienna and Looking In at Rose Records but can't even find the Savoy Brown section.  Bummer!  After work I have time for a martini before we go out.  We eat supper at the West Towne Mall food court, then Andy and I go to Cub Foods and JoAnna and Eddie shop for dresses.

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.

February 17, 1991

Sunday is a day of rest, even when I have to get up early to tend to my little Eddie guy.  JoAnna sleeps in until 9.  I'm thinking about an uninterrupted day at home until JoAnna talks about going shopping, all of us.  I suggest we check out the Land's End outlet and what a bonanza.  I pick up three pairs of pants, two shirts, and a turtleneck.  JoAnna scores two skirts, two tops, and a sweater.  This amazing haul totals less than $150.  During our stroll through the mall, we run into Kathy Wiese and her boyfriend..  She now works at Eddie Bauer -- the East Towne store.

We fix tacos and burritos for supper and then settle into an evening to TV.