May 12, 1992

JoAnna walks back into the bedroom holding Eddie.

"I think we have a sick little guy on our hands."

Eddie has a fever.  She suggests we take him to Ginger Ail, but I volunteer to stay home.

"I have a meeting this morning that I don't have to attend, and I was planning to take off the afternoon anyway."

Eddie's fever stays within the 103 to 105 all day, although by the early afternoon he perks up.  During the morning he's lethargic and clinging when he's not asleep.  So when I take his temperature after lunch, I'm unpleasantly surprised to find that it's still over 103.

JoAnna returns home in time for me to get to the library before 5.  The board meets, and there are a few strange interludes:  Gail's clarification of her request to report grant expenditures, my rambling automation progress report, an unrehearsed explanation of circulation policy changes.  I stay at the library until 11, preparing the minutes, writing letters to the Education Section program panelists, eliminating the clutter from the top of my desk, photocopying articles on the L.A. riots.

Eddie's in bed with mom; he's wide awake but still looking a little feverish.  Actually, he feels disconcertingly warm.  I carry him to his bed but then can't fall asleep as I imagine him burning to a crisp.  He does fall asleep but wakes up fussing shortly after one.  Now he's hotter than a Bessemer furnace, much to his screaming displeasure.  He quickly cools down, literally and figuratively.  We keep him in bed with us, which results in a poor night's sleep for me.

May 8, 1992

We're Two Rivers bound today.  JoAnna's dad is retiring.  We have a few errands to run before hitting the road.  Andy left his jacket at Little Red Preschool yesterday.  I drop off an armload of clothes at the cleaners, where some backslapping bozo with toxic face discoloration makes a disparaging remark about my white legs.  It seems like some movement or gesture of Andy's elicited this strange comment.  I try to paste a sportin' grin across my face, but I'm sure it registered surprise and bewilderment.  Not having processed what the guy said, my brain can't prepare a comeback.

After a stop at the credit union, I suggest breakfast at Bev's Cafe on E. Washington.  Good choice, even though no tables are available.  We sit four across at the counter, and both boys handle this new eating experience very well.  I enjoy a "home-cooked" meal of two eggs over easy, American fries, and a grilled slab of ham, although the sausage patty that Andy ordered looks like the better choice.

JoAnna volunteers to drive, so I'm free to read the paper for awhile.  I note with interest the ongoing construction along 151 just east of the Interstate, a massive infrastructure project to accompany American Family's huge new development.  Between Madison and Fond du Lac, I read aloud a few chapters from Molly Ivins' latest book for JoAnna's benefit.  We also do the Times crossword puzzle together.  Andy calls Grandma and Grandpa Nelson on the car phone as we detour through Fond du Lac, where commercial establishments are mushrooming along highway 41.  As we leave the city, Andy gets a bit rambunctious, sticks his head out the window and loses his baseball cap.  At first we say, no, we're not turning around, but his pitiable crying forces a mutual change of mind.

We gather at Cindy's house in Manitowoc -- I'm surprised she bought a place on such a busy street -- where a stretch limo picks up Alice, Albert, Cindy, JoAnna, and me.  We are chuffed to Two Rivers to pick up Larry on his last day of work.  From 3 to 6, we barhop and have a great time.  I lose track of how many stops we make.  We gather for dinner at the place where JoAnna and I had our wedding reception.  I order the double haddock and what I'm served -- four deep-fried breaded fish squares -- is nowhere near what I imagined.  I have little opportunity to engage in conversation with the others at the table.  I need to keep an eye on an almost hyperactive Andy.  After an interesting stand-off, as well as some playful pushing and shoving, Andy and his new pal enjoy some over-exuberant fun together.  It's fascinating to watch two youngster become "friends" so quickly.

The four of us -- JoAnna, Andy, Eddie, and me -- walk to Grandma and Grandpa's with a stop at Dairy Queen along the way.  I order a peanut buster parfait and enjoy every sweet mouthful.  Back at the house, I weigh myself on the bathroom scale.  My eyes bug out when I see the red line bisect 210.  No wonder I'm struggling to get into some of my pants.

April 28, 1992

Lasted a season and a half on NBC

I think about going into work early -- earlier than my 12 noon starting time, that is -- but get caught up with a little yard work and transcribing journal notes from January 1990.  I spend much of the afternoon at the Madison Public Library.  It's the second meeting of the Dane County reimbursement committee and a productive one at that.  I do have one concern.  We talk about cutting the same size pie into different sized pieces, but I (silently) don't buy that.  I am certainly not ready to accept a smaller check for Middleton.

For the first time in 5 weeks, I work the reference desk without interruption.

April 19, 1992

A mediocre opening for a forgettable film

I figure I'll have most of the day to myself, not expecting JoAnna and the boys until after 5.  For most of the morning, I type up notes from 1990 and find them disappointingly trite, although I know there are some juicy tidbits to come.  While fixing chicken wings, I sip a very tasty Bloody Mary. It's a lowkey -- there's that word again -- afternoon.  Although the temperature is in the 60s, the intermittent rain keeps me inside.  It's a bit of an adjustment once my family returns home.  The solitude is shattered.  I soon find that I'm repeating myself whenever I talk to Andy.

April 14, 1992

TIME

Part 2 of my Reference Interview ETN goes well, but I don't get the class participation I was expecting.  After last week's burst of enthusiasm, most of the students I call on are not prepared to participate in the discussion of the homework assignment.  I walk away not disappointed with my presentation, but, again, really questioning the effectiveness of the ETN format.

I linger through lunch at home, not in any hurry yet to get to the library.  My only busy moments are when I continue to work on Christine's evaluation.  A long board meeting includes my performance evaluation, which is superlative.  I stay late to write up the minutes but leave at 10 before I finish the task.  Everyone's asleep when I get home.  I carry Andy to his bed, then catch the baseball scores before dousing the lights.  I'm happy to learn that the Yankees lost their first game of the season.

April 11, 1992

Bombed this weekend in 1223 theaters

For the first weekend in months, JoAnna doesn't have to campaign.  Somehow, though, the day can't measure up to my high expectations.  The weather is the biggest culprit.  We had planned to attend the Muskies home opener, but not when the sky is overcast and the temperature struggles to reach 40.  We decide to go shopping, first stopping at the credit union to deposit my Nuts and Bolts check and then at Larry and Martha's to attempt to formulate some plans for the evening.  We stay for a half hour, leave after making very tentative plans for dinner at our place.  On the drive to West Towne, we take a brief detour to look at the house Larry and Martha just bought.  Andy and JoAnna are hungry so lunch precedes shopping.  We consider burgers at the Village Green, but that's too far out of our way.  We settle for Upstairs Downstairs Deli.  I order a reuben and am served a very soggy, tasteless creation.  Andy's a bit hyper and spills so much ketchup on the front of his sweats we decide to go home after we eat.  He pleads with Mom to go shopping with her and promises to be good.  JoAnna relents.  Later in the afternoon, I take the boys grocery shopping.  Larry and Martha (with Michel in tow) and Barb and Chuck join us for dinner, Michael's frozen custard, and games.

April 7, 1992

During the morning, I can avoid thinking about the election because of the need to focus on my ETN presentation, which goes well.  Like the Nuts and Bolts program, I feel as though I have skimped on the preparation time, but my delivery is smooth and confident for the most part.  Amazingly, about halfway through the program, I have to put a lid on the discussion so I can get to the heart of my notes.

After driving home, I find that I have no appetite for lunch.  I take a container of yogurt out of the refrigerator and methodically spoon out the contents.  The afternoon at the library is fairly unfocused.  I leave at 4 to pick up both boys at daycare.  We eat out at McDonald's -- yesterday it was Burger King -- where I chow down three chicken fajitas, a fast-foot entree I actually find myself salivating over.  I'm actually feeling less stressed out, even a bit more confident about JoAnna's chance.  I endure a rather comical Common Council meeting, but considering these are the folks that will be voting on the library budget later in the year, it's a frightening display of pigheadedness and ignorance.  Before the meeting, Bruce Kaufmann addresses Don in such as way as to suggest that Don has the election in the bag.  I remain poker-faced but am chuckling on the inside.

The results are a long time comin'.  Yesterday Tim said he'd have all the totals tabulated by 9:15, 9:30 at the latest.  Guess again.  Considering the speed with which he gets the checks mailed out, I certainly should have known better.  Still hoping for speedy returns, I wait with Jim Wexler and Mike Duren in the administrative office.  Who should join us but Don and his wife, who seems a real friendly sort but studiously avoids eye contact with me.  Once they learn about the delay, they decide to wait things out at the Village Green.  I decide to join the party -- in progress at home, the tension mounting each time the phone rings -- and it rings, chirps, actually, every five minutes. Around 11, Jim calls with the news that JoAnna has won, the 1st, 3rd, and 5th districts he clarifies after JoAnna hands me the phone.  But the 5th is Don's district  so we are heartened.  Fifteen minutes later, Jim calls to ask to speak to the new supervisor from the 26th district.  I relay the news to JoAnna across the living room and a joyous communal cheer raises the roof. JoAnna takes the phone and I give her the hug of a lifetime and feel the pleasant sensation of my eyes welling up with tears of joy.  It's a feeling that rivals the birth of a child.  I'm so proud and elated that I hug everyone in sight.  It's especially nice to have JoAnna's parents with us to share this fantastic moment.  For them it will be a memory of a special time that ranks with the best.  It will certainly be for me.

April 5, 1992

Russ Feingold is on JoAnna's side

If there's one image I'll retain from this day, it's JoAnna looking helpless and crying as the impact of Damon's latest lit drop hits her in the face.  I'm not as supportive as I should be, but maybe that's just as well.  I give her the time and space she needs to formulate a comeback.  And after Jim Wexler and I revise her first draft, we have a solid response.  Don's biggest mistake is not being secretive enough.  If he wants to have the last word, he needs to be sneakier.

The boys and I spend most of the day outside.  I manage to get some yard work done even though Andy has nothing on his mind but playing baseball.  We spend at least half the day outdoors.

April 2, 1992

In its next to last season.

Once again my plans to work the evening with Eve go awry.  JoAnna needs to do a campaign mailing, which means I'm tabbed to watch the boys.

During the early afternoon, I conduct a tour of the library for a mixed group from Waterloo.  Unexpectedly, a puffy Mark Morse greets me in the lobby.  He seemed like such a cipher in library school.  How did he ever manage to get offered the job at Eau Claire?  What a strange group, too.  A large minority seem more intent on conducting a self-guided tour.  One of the architects is creaming his jeans at Infotrak.  I'm ready to pack it in until one of the board members says, "Can we see your staff work room?"

April 1, 1992

Wednesdays on NBC.  

Last week I rose to the occasion on Monday and Tuesday, the Nuts and Bolts workshop.  Next week I'm hoping I can do the same.  And why shouldn't I be able to ?  It's 90 minutes compared to a full two days.  Actually 90 minutes X 2 but a week apart.

March 31, 1992

TIME

Why is it lately that any time like this that I spend home alone, I get caught up in doing household chores.  I haven't done a thing with my journal notes in weeks.

It's less than a productive day at the library.  I get a call from Eddie's daycare.  He has a temperature of 102, so I get to spend a little bonus time at home.  Most of the evening is taken up with a Committee of the Whole meeting, which extends beyond the library's 9 p.m. closing time.  And wouldn't you know it.  Somebody wants to get into the library's meeting room after the front doors are locked.  Worse yet, she has to sit down by me and kvetch about it.

March 29, 1992

The weather turns cooler and Eddie has a fever of 102 so there is no outdoor activity today.  I'm a complete vegetable and not feeling so good myself although I have to admit that Andy doesn't show any signs of discomfort.  It's one of those days when you want to hum the Peggy Lee ditty "Is That All There Is?"  During the evening, I stretch out on on the bed, watch TV, and bounce back and forth between a couple of epics:  Spartacus and Ben-Hur.  I catch the chariot race.

March 24, 1992

The New Yorker

However, staying asleep remains a major challenge.  In some ways, I'm more concerned about the second day's performance, since these are the notes I've barely had a chance to review, but after day one I have a much increased faith in my ability to ad lib effectively.  And fortunately, it turns out to be a well-placed one.

Lunchtime today is a bit more hectic.  Kim Olson is babysitting Andy in the morning, but I need to get him to Steppingstone for afternoon supervision.  Showing an extraordinary adaptability, he is actually very excited about getting into this new experience.  We arrive at naptime, and by the time I leave, a very aggressive young girl named Missy to share Andy's cot.  Suddenly I have no concerns about how he will adjust to his new surroundings.

At the end of the two-day workshop, I am basking in the glow of extremely positive remarks from many of the participants.  I just can't believe how well the workshop turned out.  What would have happened if I'd given it a major major effort?

Before picking up the boys, I stop at University Bookstore to look for something that will help me reattached the muffler to the bottom of the car.  The last time I took the Nissan in for a tune-up, Jeff told me about this likelihood.

Tuesday, March 3, 1992

TIME

Middleton hosts the SCLS Advisory Committee meeting.  Shirley May represent Peter and her blowhardy flatulence is the only reason the meeting lasts for an hour.  We should have skipped this month.

I spend the day expecting a call from Eddie's daycare, but no messy poopers today.  A couple of hours at home breaks up a long day.  Deb takes her dinner break from 6:30 to 7:30 and normally that's the busiest time of the evening.  With Chris out sick, .Maria and I are spread very thin trying  to keep up with the rush of business.

Saturday, February 22, 1992

I wake up at 1 a.m. and sleep fitfully after that.  Damn headache.  Was it the gin or is it my sinuses?  I lounge in bed with my boys for a very pleasant, snuggable half hour, then plow into a morning full of chores, most of them centered on the kitchen.  I clean and reorganize some cupboards and mop the floor.  JoAnna returns home just as I'm moving the furniture back into the kitchen.  Complaining that she's tired and not feeling very well, she ends up in bed for most of the afternoon.  During all of the day's excitement, I manage to squeeze in two videos:  Goldfinger and Shaft. 

Monday, February 10, 1992

I had to star the event as a reminder to myself to stay focused.  More than four months ago, I'd been asked to speak to the Middleton Kiwanis on this date.  At the time, I filed it away for future reference, placed it way back in the good-chance-I-might-forget-about-it area of the file.  Not until four or five days before my presentation did I decide what to talk about:  the library's long-range plan.  And that's the extent of my preparation.  I decide to wing it, and actually I do a very good job.  It's definitely the son-of-a-preacher-man in me.

Thursday, February 6, 1992

Another long day.  I meet with Liz, Sheila, and Chris for two hours.  The discussion of the appropriate behavior policy is not as time-consuming as I thought it would be.  As for the director evaluation pilot, they give the image questionnaire an emphatic thumbs-down.  I wonder how the board will react to that.

Lisa Landsdorf is the third candidate to be interviewed for the children's librarian position, and she is definitely the weakest of the three.  Her interview style needs a lot of polish.  I work til 9.

Tuesday, February 4, 1992

LINK

I look forward to the drive alone to the South Central Library System office, groovin' on some 80s tunes, but this opportunity for solitude is overruled when Peg Hilliker and Sheila shoos away her ride.  I'm sitting in my office like I'm there for the day.  It's natural for Sheila to think the meeting is at Middleton.  Actually I don't mind the company, but Peg does have a bad scent to her.

The afternoon is taken up with Eve Larkin's interview.  She conducts a professional, very assured storytime though she tends to ramble during the interview itself.  Nonetheless, there is not much outside of personality to distinguish her suitability for the position from Diane.

During the evening, I work the reference desk and attend the council meeting.  No fireworks tonight.

Monday, February 3, 1992

It's the beginning of what promises to be a busy-busy-busy week.  I get an early start, work on the Middleton Times-Tribune news release -- substituting an article on the Americans with Disabilities Act with guidelines for interacting with the blind -- plug budget figures into the Division for Library Services annual report, attempt to organize the amoeba-like growth of papers.  2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = a mess.  I stay late and then veg out in bed when I get home.

Monday, January 27, 1992

I get to work early and complete the list of questions we will use for the interviews.  It's not as agonizing a task as I though it would be.

After a fairly productive day, I pick up the boys at daycare.  JoAnna has a series of evening commitments and isn't expected back until 10 or so.  After giving both boys a bath -- separately -- I lose myself on the computer.  When JoAnna returns home, Andy is still up.