A strange year for weather

15.IV.07 - MoM

My dull dinner is done and now I can enjoy my 2 gins. Yet again, I had a good sized plate of the salmon loaf and Hollandaise. I don't think I can face it again tomorrow, so plan to give it a rest for a day and think up something else for at least one night. I finished up with a large chunk of a pretty good little basketball sized watermelon. I also managed to have my tea, cookies and large V8 breakfast, Boost and Meta/Orange juice. Usual mid-day naps. Really no need to record this dull routine every day. The Sunday paper and the cross-word in the TV section keeps me occupied until about noon. I miss my usual all news TV, but the Home and Garden channel for the rest of the day after Tim Russert's "Meet The Press," does take care of my background noise,

Did you sleep through the storm in your area, Suzy? It is supposed to hang around further north for a few days. Sounds as if Chris is getting some. I talked with them last night.

Too bad you are in a different time zone. The Today Show (only 1 hour on Sunday -- 8 to 9) had a short feature on Jane Austin during the last 10 minutes. I was able to alert Sandy so she saw most of it.

Our weather could not have been nicer today. I had doors open and no heat on for most of the day.

Except for one day this week, I have been good about my lace up shoes and I actually missed them. It will be harder to wear them when warm weather comes. I hate hot feet. I have the "tennis" shoes is two sizes to accommodate winter sox.

With only a couple of quickie naps, I expect to try going to bed early tonight.

* * * * *

The rest of the Sandy letter of 26 May 85 to us in Saalfelden.

Lost four rosebushes over the winter, put in 4 more. Bob missed the tulips and jonquils, which were wonderful this year. Now Shasta daisies are coming in the bed, and promises to be very nice, too.

I still remember that I owe you $400. I'm waiting to see what happens about summer school. I'll teach if the class has enough students. If it doesn't I'll have to wait till fall, when Bob starts getting paid again by the university on October 1 is the last possible date you'll get it,

I hope I didn't scare you too much on the phone the other night. The satellite cuts out all voice inflection. I really thought you were angry about something last time you called me, then I figured it out. One time when Bob called me from Europe we talked for a few minutes -- I was ecstatic to hear from him -- then he called me back a few minutes later to see if I still liked him because my voice had sounded so cold. And, I had been exuding joy and excitement, It's weird,

Well, I have to go get into my graduation garbage. Whenever I have students graduating I go. It's important to them and their parents. Costs $15.00 to rent the costume. I should have bought one ages ago.

Bob says hello, and is looking forward to seeing you and Saalfelden,

Love, Sandy

Another bit of progress

14.IV.07 - MoM

My new pattern is late to bed (by mid-night) and early to rise -- 6 a.m., or earlier. There is one little problem -- my fracture is still interfering with the good night's sleep I have enjoyed for so many years. My system seems to insist the I get more so I am having to get used to falling asleep frequently during the day in the middle of doing something at the computer. I also had a couple of good timed 15-minute stints in Lafuma today in the sunroom. With the glass on the doors open, the temp was great today.

My main accomplishment was a further purge of the fridge. It wasn't easy to toss some sour cream with a Feb date. It looked good and smelled good. In the past, I didn't look at dates and probably would have used it. Instead, I made up some more ersatz milk and made Knorrs Hollandaise with it. That certainly improved yesterday's salmon loaf. Again, another quarter of the casserole made dinner for me tonight. With it, the salmon loaf was much better than last night. In fact, it was almost quite good.

I was almost finished eating when Chris and Kay returned my call for their happy Anniversary wishes. I actually got my card there on time. They leave for Madrid mid-week. I have happy memories of a lot of visits to Spain, including our first one with you, Sandy. How lucky can one be to have the fairy tale travel experiences we were able to enjoy. It is so great to be able to have so many happy memories -- such as living 8 years in Europe, then, add the French rental houses, Australia, New Zeeland, Hawaii, etc, in the 1990's. I never dreamed that when I married DoD we would have such a charmed and fantastic life!

* * * * *

A continuation of the letter to us in Saalfelden from Sandy on 26 May 85.

It's great to have Bob back, as you can imagine. I really missed him. While he was gone I got a friend of ours who is a carpenter to tear down that wall between the kitchen and the bedroom (where Dad slept when you were here. The new space is wonderful. We have discovered oak flooring under the linoleum, so we are going to uncover and refinish it this summer. Also will steam off the wallpaper and repaint the kitchen, which looks far too yellow now that it's opened up. I think next summer we'll put a two-story addition on the back (same corner), with a big room upstairs and a screen porch down. We still also plan to put a screen house on the river bank, but I don't know when. I wish Daddy were here to draw plans for us! We have a friend who is an architect and will do it for us, but I'd rather have my pop do it. Taking down the wall was great fun (I helped). Of course, repairing the damage was the hard part. We put a strip of oak down where the wall was, then sheet rocked the rest. Had to leave a kind of beam overhead because it was all nailed in from the top, and getting it out would have entailed pulling up flooring in the attic, and it was just too complicated. We are left with a pretty horrible design flaw, two doors coming in from the hallway, side by side. But the post that separates them is bearing, and we didn't feel like putting in the time and expense to put up a header there. Maybe one of these days we'll have it done. Our carpenter only charges $10 an hour -- and he's very good -- but it gets expensive.

The garden is all in. I had to do most of it while Bob was gone. Marty came up one weekend and was a great help. We replanting pretty much the same things. Never seem to have enough spinach and beets, so we put in a lot of them. Also planted the melon seeds I bought in Europe, but I'm afraid they'll come on while we're in Europe! Ironic. We are looking for a student to live in the house while we're gone, one who is willing to can tomatoes. I think Kirste, (you remember her, the younger of the sisters) graduating today -- in fact their graduation, and that of a bunch more of my French majors, was the reason for our party yesterday. Were able to do most of it in the yard, though the weather was unstable. It finally stormed at about 10 p.m. and we moved it all into the garage. Huge hail and thunder storm, with hailstones the size of straw berries. We were worried about the garden but it was not damaged.

Crocus trying again, jonquils taking their time

13.IV.07 - MoM

When I first got my HP printer, I loved being able to scan and e-mail things and used it a lot. Then, later after it had been moved and was connected to a different computer, I was no longer able to do it. I really look forward to being able to use it again.

I had been hearing the name of Soares a lot since the Imus fiasco. It is the name of the black minister who has been working with him. I was curious to see it in print and finally did -- Rev. Deforest Soaries. It is the first time I have seen the name with an "I" in it. Sandy says she has seen it before.

Funny, for some time the "screen" that happens when I closed my eyes was my Freecell computer screen but lately is has changed to a crossword puzzle screen. Unfortunately, when I try to fill in missing letters, they quickly change.

I have had my favorite salmon loaf recipe hanging on the fridge door and finally decided I was going to do it this afternoon. Of course, it took forever as I no longer keep all the things needed and it was a struggle to do a mis en place. I had to go through too many loaves of sliced and unsliced bread that should have been sealed and in the freezer. Was able to rescue a couple of unsliced French bread. I decided I didn't want to cut into them to make coarse crumbs, so I substituted fine bread crumbs knowing it would make a dense salmon loaf. Then, there was the milk -- I had to make up some from powdered stuff. Then, I had to check by the floatation check the 2 six packs of eggs. Seven of the 12 are still okay by that test. Finally, I gave up sticking to the recipe and went off on my own. All I can say was that it was food. There are 3 more meals, but tomorrow I will make some Knorrs Hollandaise sauce that I will be able to drown the salmon in.

* * * * *

This is a Sandy letter dated 26 May 85.

I won't even apologize for not writing, because that's so tiresome. Suffice it to say that the computer is back in the living room on my desk. Makes a big difference. [Funny but when I typed "suffice it to say" it reminded me of Pa -- it was a favorite phrase of his.]

Bob really enjoyed seeing you, as did the other Z boys. Joe and Jay were here last night for a party, and were talking about you and about how much fun it was to meet you. {They were playing in Swabisch Hall in Bavaria and we went up to see them and attend their concert. We really enjoyed meeting them and had fun hanging out that afternoon before the concert -- good food and drinks, too. The reaction of the audience at their concert was interesting as was the music. We were really glad we were able to go. I also remember that l had a successful and interesting conversation in German with the woman taxi driver.] Bob was sorry not to be able to come to Saal, but he already knew that we'd be there in August. I'm really looking forward to going there with him! We'll stay the night of the 9th, 10th and 11th of August, if that's O.K. On the 12thth we'll head for Vienna and spend two nights there, then back to Paris on the 14th. We'll come down through Zurich and spend the night there. Wouldn't mind up-to-date train times, if you have them, that is from Zurich to Saal, changing in Innsbruck, where we wouldn't mind having a couple of hours.

In Paris, we epect to have an apartment for the 2 ½ weeks we are there. I'll be working with the students for the last week. It's a big group again, so Bailey wants my help. I think you can expect a brief visit from him around the beginning of October. He'll be in touch with you.

Is it really spring at last?

12.IV.07 - MoM

Well, the income taxes for last year are in the mail along with another payment toward next year's, too. Thank goodness, Charlie and his accountant keep me legal. Hope to have them withhold enough so I don't keep having to pay that extra each year.

We had a pretty snow overnight -- the kind that sticks to the trees, too. However, it was less than an inch and I looked out mid-morning and all was already gone. We are supposed to have a week of spring weather.

I am getting around well enough and the weather has moderated enough that I was able to get all the bird feeders in action, except for the hummingbird and oriole feeders. It's a little too early for them. I will be mostly feeding squirrels on the deck outside my bedroom until I get some kind of deterrent.

I can't imagine what happened to the Bruce clipping I sent. I am sure I had enough postage.

I got good news today from my biopsy -- it is only a little mole. I was so not worried that I had forgotten about it and was surprised when they called. Now, I can wait for 6 months or so before another check.

* * * * *

I thought this was another part of a page of the January 1985 to us in Saalfelden as the margins were the same, etc., but it is the wrong season for the garden stuff. [After typing this, I am sure Sandy can date it.]

Well, here's page three. The garden is doing well. Spinach is over, all nicely frozen. Blew out a burner on the stove in the middle of freezing it, which consequently blew a fuse. Had to call an electrician. He advised putting 60-amp fuses on the stove 220. There were 35-amp ones in there before. What do you think, Daddy? Bob is quite opposed to ever upping the amp on any fuse, and I tend to agree with him (he remembers houses burning down when he was a kid in New York when people put pennies under the fuses). The zucchini is starting to bloom, and we will have tomatoes pretty soon. Peas will be coming in the next week. Cukes are not blooming yet, but the beans are. Some heavy work coming up, particularly with the tomatoes, but we both enjoy it. We are into serious weeding at the moment. I watered this morning because it had not rained for a week, so of course now it is clouding up. Oh well.

I am working on preparations for the trip. Hard to decide which clothes to take, particularly to span two seasons. Expect hot weather in Paris the last week of August, but then in England and the next week it will probably be cool and rainy. Still up in the air about camping though leaning toward doing it some of the time, particularly at first. Hard to believe it is coming so soon!

Keep the letters coming -- they are always wonderful. Don't ever edit them; I'm glad you don't have a word processor! (Although I never go back and take anything out anyway.)

Looking forward to being in phone contact again!

Love,

Bob, who just got home from a four hour Sunday morning Zeitgeist rehearsal, says hello.

This should be our last dusting of white this spring!

11.IV.07 - MoM

Local TV news tonight is full of the major Minnesota snow storm today. During the past week, it has been north of us. Today it was mostly south of us. I did have a light dusting this morning with never enough to stick to the road. It was gone by mid-day. It is spitting again a little now but when I last looked it was 35° so not it is probably not going to get anywhere. Belinda, the weather girl, just said that by the weekend it will look like spring. I hope Ted will be here again one of these days to start getting rid of the dregs of fall and winter.

I am not unhappy to have Imus fired instead of just suspended for 2 weeks from MSNBC. For years I have disliked the sound of his mumbling, conceited voice ever since we got cable. Since he came on first thing in the morning on MSNBC and lots of times it is the channel I last have on at night, I tried to make sure that I had changed the channel before going to bed so I would be tuned to NBC for the Today Show first thing in the morning and I would not have to listen for even a minute to his voice.

I just looked up and there was a fawn standing at the edge above the patio nibbling on some little green shoots. I got my nearby camera and was close enough for a good picture. "It continued to stare at me until the light started flashing as I turned it on, then decided to leave. It is still roaming around just above the hiking path in back of the house. I wouldn't be surprised to see it back in the yard again.

My only accomplishment today was a little more work on the tote box of stuff that I had collected from around my living room chair. I am following FL dictates of 15 or so spurts. I really need to have more spurts each day.

It wasn't enough to have rotiss chicken for quite a few consecutive days. tonight I am have a Schwan's chicken pie, mostly because it is so easy. Need to purge the fridge tomorrow as the major items cluttering it have possibly passed their safe date. I finished off my dinner with some of the good cake that Ruth had made from one of Sandy's recipe.

Cute pictures of Ben. Good for him to have a chance to get some serious exercise.

* * * * *

This is the rest of a letter from Sandy Jan 1985 to us in Saalfelden.

My slides of Saafelden are everyone's favorites out of this year's, particularly among the university faculty. You're living out everyone's fantasy.

Zeitgeist's newest record was just released. One of these days I'll send you a tape of it. They played a concert last week at St. Paul's fabulous new concert hall. Also, Bob is playing an opera there. The hall is beautiful. If you were home you'd know all about it from the Today show. If I can get my hands on one, I'll send you a clipping about their concert here next week. Bob's hair is now much shorter than in the picture, since a River Falls barber got his hands on him last October and instead of the trim Bob asked for, gave him what Bob refers to as an American Legion Special. The group is doing quite well and has a lot of gigs this spring.

There really isn't much news. I'm enjoying my job a lot more now that I am not doing administrative work. It is a great luxury to be able to just concentrate on my students and my classes. Of course, there are always other things that come up -- I was just chosen as one of a four-person statewide committee to make up a standardized French test. Will make a little bit of money doing it, but it's sort of an honor to be chosen to do it; there are people in Madison who know who I am.

Well, this is enough for now. Please do keep writing -- I love to get your letters. Still have not been confirmed for '86 Quarter Abroad, but I'll probably get to do it. Bob and I are seriously considering coming to see you guys next Christmas instead of going to Florida. It cost us almost #1,000 to go there, so why not? What do you think?

Keep in touch. Bob says hello and that he's looking forward to seeing you in a couple of months.

Love, Sandy

At least my house is easy to keep heated!

10.IV.07 - MoM

The snow and/or rain has continued to go just north of us but there is still a chance we will get a little snow. As I have said, it no longer matters to me this spring. Of course, we could use the moisture for the ground, but it won't be long before the sprinkler system will be in action.

At least, I am not going to have to buy a new power chord. The one that wasn't going in far enough to charge my living room computer, does work on my older laptop on my desk. Nice to have a fall back.

I really like having a remote switch for the lamp on my bedside table, especially as it has a European switch. However, the one I have had for years is getting temperamental due to heavy usage and old age. Sometimes, I have to "bang" it a few times, never knowing if it will eventually work. At last, I saw one in a catalog so I will soon have one I can depend on. Sandy probably remembers the trouble this one gave me at Bluefin last time we were there.

The rotiss chicken, lettuce and dill pickle went down so well that I doubled the amount and enjoyed the reprise. Of course, I had all the other healthy things that make up my daily intake.

I just might make it to bed early tonight. However, I am just starting my second drink and I will "nurse" it for quite awhile.

* * * * *

This is a continuation of a Sandy letter from what I think was early 1985 to us in Saalfelden, Austria.

Christmas in Florida was sunny and nice, but not a whole lot of fun. Only four days, then we came back and Bob went back to work (going to the cities every day to practice with Zeitgeist) and I cleaned out all of the drawers and closets. Whoopee. Now school is back on, and January is slowly lumbering to a close. We've had a lot of snow, and some blistering cold weather. Last Saturday we had the lowest daytime high in recorded weather -- here the warmest it got during the day was -25, with steady winds bringing the wind chill to minus 80. Needless to say, we stayed close to home. A blizzard on Thursday night, but a short one. We did finally get the tiller converted back to a blower, but we find that we both enjoy shoveling snow and both hate the noise and trouble of the machine, so we're going to sell it and buy a better tiller. That's something you really do need a machine for.

Thanks for your letters. the cooking school in Bretagne sounds wonderful. I haven't yet written for info, but I will soon.

I am not at all surprised that you bought an organ; in fact I think it's a good idea. Good way to share computer time. I'm glad that you're really making use of the Apple. Those programs are really good, I think.

I haven't talked to Chris since I got back. Missed him when I called Suzy on Christmas day -- he'd already started back. I did write him a letter last week thanking him for the Christmas present he and Suzy sent, so maybe I'll hear from him.

Bob's projected Saalfelden time is in the last week of April. Hope that doesn't screw you up. If the rest of the guys come they'll stay in a hotel. Maybe you can give them a drink or fix a meal. They are very nice (3 besides Bob). Don't know if they will even come to Saal. If they do, it'll only be for a day and a night. Bob may be able to stay a little longer, but he doesn't know yet. The itinerary is not fully set yet. I will let you know specifically soon. If you have guests when Bob comes, he can stay in town and just come by to see the place. We'll see.

16.III.07 - MoM

When I went to bed last night, late again, there was a light snow falling that just dusted the deck. It couldn't have lasted long as this morning it was still just a dusting. It was cold today, again like yesterday, but the new snow is gone.

I spent time this morning "creating" a birthday card for Dave Wood's birthday this weekend and got it in this morning's mail. However, they are having a surprise party for him tonight.

I haven't had shrimp dip since last Thanksgiving, so I made some this afternoon and I am enjoying my own little "party" tonight. I ate my dinner first and am having my drinks and dip after. I am still trying to find shrimps with some taste since Orleans no longer has the ones that used to be quite good. They have a new label and even more shrimp sizes.

I did further BEBug patrol and had a hard time finding about 25 all day. The smarter and more active ones are those that seem to have survived.

Today, I finally got around to ordering the second AeroGarden thing from Amazon using some of my "rewards." I already have the "pods" for the little tomatoes, and another set for salad greens when my herbs finally run their course. They really produced up to the advertising claims.

I also made a separate order of x-words -- easy ones, of course. I got a late start in life doing them. They take the place of bathroom reading and are stimulating enough to keep my feeble brain cells moving.

In the early afternoon, I got so very sleepy again that I kept dropping off at the computer so ended up with several timed 15 minute naps. It looks as if I am going to get this done early enough to try to go to bed early. On Saturday morning the Today Show comes on at 6 a.m. for 2 hours. On Sunday, it is only on for 1 hour at 8 a.m. Happily, that is followed by Tim Russert for his hour of Meet the Press.

Later: I was writing this and having my first drink and the shrimp dip, when Charlie and Mike Larson came bursting in and said, "Come on, you're going to the Woods for the party. Mike Larson had worked for EarthWorks and helped design our yard. I hadn't seen him for over 10 years and didn't recognize him. I had talked to him on the phone last year when our dentist told me that Mike knew of a good company to install the sprinkler system.

Within 5 minutes, I had my clothes changed and was out the door. I hadn't seen Patsy and Charles Lonie for about a year so instantly had someone to talk with. And I had no trouble meeting other people.

It was a really fun party and there are going to be a couple of hangovers tomorrow. I was able to nurse my gin and ice as I was too lazy to go to the kitchen to get another drink. I was happy as a clam and had a lot of fun.

* * * * *

I am finishing copying the Sandy letter from Dec 2, 1984 after her return from Europe and our first fall in Saalfelden.

Well, that's my news. I am enjoying the wonderful convenience of being home with all my clothes and everything at my fingertips. Cooking up a storm, of course, but trying to limit it to stiff that won't make us fat. I've been walking to school every day, and that will help too. Winter is very dangerous for fat around here.

Bob greets you warmly. Love, Sandy

P.S. Sorry I didn't get this off sooner, but I remembered some things I needed to say. First, $$$. I figure I owe you $400. Does that sound right to you" If it's O.K., though, I would like to wait until we get our tax money back (should be March, as we will file as soon as we can). Things are a bit tight at the moment. Hope this is all right. I certainly enjoyed my time with you. I got some very good pictures of the stones, and a good one in Quimperle when I though I'd get nothing because it was telling me I needed flash.

Bob is hoping that some time when you are in Vienna (assuming that you are there before he comes to Europe, mid-April) he would like you to pick him up a little box of reeds in that store where Daddy and I went on the Dorothestrasse. He will add a note to this to tell you what kind. Turns out they do have some that he is interested in trying. (paragraph sort of scratched out) Never mind.

We were bewildered by the mix up on the Christmas card for Bob's folks -- particularly since the first line of your letter is "Even though you have already seen this car in letter to Bob's folks . . . "! So we were glad to get the explanation today. The card will be in tomorrow's mail. Nice picture, thank goodness. I was worried about those since I wasn't I wasn't used to your camera.

The snow went on all day Sunday, ending up at around 7". Then bitter cold, down to -6 F. Nasty business, winter. I'm already looking forward to going to Florida. We are under time constraints, since Bob has an opera to play right arfter Christmas (still during vacation), so we are going to fly, meaning we'll miss Gainesville. Suzy is not happy about this, but I don't see what we can do. We did have Christmas with her and Chris last year (Christmas Eve). Can't be everywhere all the time. Did have a nice talk with her last weekend. Must call Chris.

Enough of this. As you know, it's easy to go on and on. Keep in touch, hope you enjoy Italy.

Mom today

15.III.07 - MoM

"Beware the Ides"

Another appointment out of the way. I though perhaps my eyes had been deteriorating and I have had problems getting all the prescribed drops in my eyes. This is the 2nd consecutive visit that my eyes have even improved a little. He is very pleased with the cataract problem he had operated on quite a few years ago still looked good. So, I'm cleared for another 6 months.

We did a small shopping at a nearby Kowalskis, then had a relaxed lunch at the Lowell Inn, in Stillwater. Thea still remembers their dinner there the year they looked for Sandy in River Falls. As I am sure I have written before about us being there that day after bringing her stuff up from Chicago. Our car was in the driveway and as it was on Main Street they had driven by. Of course, they had no idea where she was going to be or that we were going to be there.

I had the heat on in the sunroom today as it was cold outside. I am happy to report that I only sucked up about 15 of "dem guys." (I realize in the original use of that phrase they weren't BEBugs). There were 4 around the sink this morning that I disposed of. But the worst indignity was having one land on my plate at breakfast! I didn't have a magnifying glass so I could not see if it thumbed its nose?

Since it was late by the time I finally made it to bed, had some more sleep robbing leg problems during the night, and got up a little after 5 a.m., I guess I should not have been surprised when I took a 15 minute nap in Lafuma, followed by another one that turned out to be an hour as I didn't set the timer! Can't believe it's not even 8 p.m., and I am already getting sleepy. I have forgotten what it was like to have a set routine.

* * * * *

Now, for more of yesterday's Sandy letter of Dec 2, 1984.

Marty and Brian came up for Thanksgiving -- we had turkey on the spit, since the oven was broken. Had to buy a new electric stove. Considered Jenn Air, but decided against it given our present financial circumstances. Settled for a nice Frigidaire, not even self-cleaning oven. It's quite nice, though. I suspect when we remodel the kitchen we'll get a new one anyway (this will be in several years.

Now school is back on and things are pretty much back to normal. It's Sunday, and snowing like crazy. We already shoveled once this morning (the handyman who was to change the machine from rototiller to snowblower hasn't showed up yet, and we don't have the tools to do it, and it looks like we'll have to shovel it again. Already 4+ inches on the ground, and it's coming down fast and solid.

Glad you finally went to visit the Wontrobas. They seem to be nice -- I hope to see more of them when I come back.

I do think FILE would work well to put stuff on Christmas letters, but I think you are wise to wait until you are more familiar with it. You might as well use things you know when you are in a hurry. The computer is only quick when you have experience with your programs! I have been amazed a few times of how long things take the first time I do them.

I guess I would like the tapes from Lindell. Can you send them? They should go just like a letter. Hope it doesn't cost too much. I have sent a batch of Peoples, Have a couple more to send this week. Bob tried, but they kept coming back from the post office because he had not read my mailing instructions carefully enough. Sorry for the delay. I think he got a few through to you.

Most of my pictures are back, and they are in general very good. Luckily the ones I ruined from opening the camera were of Paris, and there were only a few bad ones. Got some excellent pictures in your place. Also, a lot of nice mountain pictures, both the balcony and windows and on Dad"s and my hikes. Once good one from way up the mountain that I'll get printed and send to you. Still have a lot to sorting of them to do; must do it soon, as my students are clamoring to see them.

Pop Culture

Gainesville

As I was cleaning up the terrible kitchen mess the pork roast made late last night, Bill informed me he didn't want to take Moonbeam in to the shop after all, so if I wanted to go in to work in the morning, he had to be there at 9:00. Yipes! I wasn't ready for that. He tried to tell me we could do the original two-car plan Thursday or Friday, but I was having none of it. I'd made up my mind I was going to start this comics thing Wednesday or else.

So I went in on very little sleep. Turned out to be a auspicious day for it. When I went to see Rita, she closed the doors to her office so she could tell me news that had not yet been announced. They are reorganizing Special Collections to create a Popular Culture Collection that would include the comics and the Belknap Collection for the Performing Arts, which is mostly ephemera, lots of neat stuff. It will be curated by a nice guy I know fairly well, who knows nothing, but nothing, about comics! My offer to volunteer comes at the perfect time. There will be some problems with the transition to the new structure, but it should improve the situation we have now.

Previously, comics have been part of Rare Books, and/or the Children's Lit collection. They don't fit in well in either collection. Pop culture is a much better rubric for them. Things are kind of a mess, though. They've been handled in a haphazard way by interested students without library experience and library assistants without much comics expertise. There are nearly 200 big boxes of comic books (a gigantic Excel spreadsheet, used as a descriptive list rather than data, is all that controls them, and it's not quite finished) plus 25 boxes of Don Ault's Disney books and more boxes of his newspaper comics clippings, plus a bunch of boxes of the Davidson Collection, mostly old Sunday funnies, but also Little Big Books and some other unusual comics manifestations. It's a daunting task! And clearly a full-time job for someone. Not me, at least not this year. I need to make a strategic plan of what needs to be done to get this stuff under control, and then turn it into a usable scholarly collection. This should keep me busy for awhile. And there is quite a bit of it I can do from home.

Obviously I got charged up by the day's interactions, and the possibility for an interesting long term project. The comics collection has acquired a web site since last I looked, and it gives an idea of its scope and status. Be prepared for more blathering on my part about this, as I think it through in the coming weeks. I tend to use the blog as a project record, at least in the beginning. When it becomes too oppressive for the rest of you, I'll move it elsewhere.

Since we had a big lunch today at the Copper Monkey, I didn't cook tonight-- the Brussels sprouts/ smoked sausage dish I had planned will keep for a few more days.

Let the record show that for some reason, Sunday's NYT crossword intrigued me when I looked at it Monday morning, and... I did the whole thing. Very rarely do I even start a Sunday one, let alone finish one.

How frustrating that you can't post yourself, Mom. I'm sure we'll get this solved, though. I'll try to work on it tomorrow. I'm glad you made some progress on your hot spots and the bug invasion.

Thanks for posting another Sandy letter. Fun hearing about the fabulous Paris meal. I'm wondering if Marty's boyfriend Brian was the one I met when I visited MSP in 1986? Did they meet in Chicago then move?

Hey! Chris checked in-- thanks for the test data, guy. Nice to know you're still out there. I have some minor Gator stuff all packed up and ready to send you (you too, Sandy) as soon as I can get my act together for another run to the P.O.

Oops. Bill just dumped his Manhattan on the floor of his office. At least the stem glass didn't break. I need to go build him another, and refresh my See-Through as well. I expect the 5 hours of sleep last night will catch up with me in short order, and I will hit the hay hard and long.