December 31, 1990

As Andy soon takes over the family room with his videos, I move my boom box to the living room so I can do some taping.  I also do about four loads of wash.  During the afternoon, I watch Nickelodeon's countdown until it's time for us to go out.  One particular episode of Bewitched has me in stitches.  (A carved wooden figure conjured up by Endora causes everyone who comes close to it to speak his mind.)

We spend most of the evening at Barb Worcester's.  I smash one of the van's side-view mirrors trying to negotiate my way around her building.  Maybe it wsa the martini as much as the tight space.

Eddie sleeps through most of the night, and Andy is on his best behavior.  We stop at Larry and Martha's on the way home.  It's a crowded house party.  JoAnna is in her element, which leave me to keep an eye on Andy.  I gently squeeze her shoulder on my way to pick up our coats and announce, "It's time to leave."     

December 30, 1990

We all sleep in this morning.  That is, I don't get up early enough to do any taping.  I spend the morning reading the newspapers -- not much of interest -- and finish Hot Money, the first Dick Francis novel I've read.  After lunch, I remember I have some pictures to pick up.  The change in Eddie's appearance in less than two weeks amazes me. 

We take down the Christmas tree, and once again the living room is returned to its pre-holiday configuration.  I experience that vaguely melancholy feeling about the passing of the season and the imminent return of a regular schedule.  Due to the nature of my Christmas vacations as an adult, I haven't experienced this sensation as strongly as I have this year since high school.

For supper, I eat an enormous amount of barbecued chicken legs and wings.  Gin always whets my appetite.

Eddie has a rough night.  He keeps JoAnna up most of hte night.  Andy wakes up crying; he's wet the bed.  Surprisingly, I wake up at 7:30 feeling refreshed.

December 29, 1990

I wake up early and use a couple of solitary hours to record music.  I spend the day reading, helping Andy with his United States puzzle while holding a cuddly little Eddie Guy, and playing Casino with JoAnna.

I get some fresh air during the afternoon scraping the ice off the sidewalk.  I drive to the hardware store to buy three bags of salt and a new snow shovel,  having irreparably damaged one while shoveling us out of a record snowfall earlier in the month.   By late afternoon, JoAnna is complaining about cabin fever, so I suggest we play Casino.  I'm still in the mood for four more days of seclusion at home.  By next Wednesday, I'll be ready to go back to work. 

December 28, 1990

A change of pace for this leisurely week.  I go to work.  Surprisingly, Eddie get up without a struggle.  I drive him to daycare, then myself to the library.  It's a surprisingly busy day, but I find time to open and sort my mail, write an article for next week's newspaper, begin an order of classic paperbacks, and reserve a few CDs to satisfy my still-growling taping appetite. 

Driving to Kids' Play to pick up Andy, I negotiate treacherous streets, which are being glazed by a freezing rain.  JoAnna had supper ready when we return home.  I hear nothing about a trip to Two Rivers.   The weather precludes this weekend option.  She wants to see her Grandma Richard before her imminent, it seems, death.

December 26, 1990

Monday afternoon I do some last-minute Christmas shopping at Hilldale, after which I stop at the library and find a note from Mark regarding the heating system. So that's why I pay a visit to the library this morning, to follow up on this and order C-fold towels. Back home I finish reading The Joy Luck Club and start The Thief of Time. After lunch, I take a walk to the drugstore and Sentry. It's a long walk for such a cold day. I'm relieved to return home.

After supper, we have company. Eric and Cheryl stop by for a long overdue visit. Eddie is awake the entire time and is a complete angel, so contented, so lovable we don't even give our guests a chance to hold him.