Way Bach Machine for 2000

Weiss Family Chronology 1st HALF 2000

"GUESS WHAT DAD, I DIDN’T SPEED TODAY" - GEORGE (2/8/00)

JAN  01       We dispose of two videotape players that had become not compliant on any day at all.  On the bright side, Starbucks honored two coupons which had expired last millennium (Dec 31).

JAN  05        WASHINGTON WIZARDS SET 38 YEAR FRANCHISE RECORD IN 77-66 LOSS TO THE BULLS (WHO WERE 2-26 GOING INTO THE GAME).

JAN  07        WASHINGTON WIZARDS ALLOW THE BULL THEIR FIRST +100 GAME OF THE YEAR IN BULLS 4TH VICTORY OF YEAR (BULLS NOW 4-26).    JAN 16        ABOUT 8 am, BETH AND GEORGE LEAVE FOR BOWIE (TO TEACH SUNDAY SCHOOL). ON THE WAY, THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL STUFF WENT OFF AND THEN THE CAR (OLDSMOBILE) DIED. A COP STOPPED, CALLED A TOW TRUCK, THEY GOT A 3 MI. TOW TO AN OPEN (ON SUNDAY) REPAIR SHOP, IT WAS REPAIRED (ALTERNATOR BELT AND RELATED STUFF) AND THEY DROVE HOME ARRIVING ABOUT 12 PM.  LATER THAT DAY, G SPENT ABOUT 4 HOURS AT LIBRARY RESEARCHING MATERIAL ON LAWRENCE STERNE'S TRISTIM SHANDY, AN 18TH CENTURY COMEDIC NOVEL. LATER THAT DAY, B SPENT ABOUT 4 HOURS WORKING ON A WEBPAGE DESIGN (A FRIEND CAME OVER, AND DESPITE MY OFFER OF FOOD, HAD ONLY A LITTLE).

JAN  17        COLDEST DAY OF YEAR SO FAR. TEMPS IN THE LOW 20s DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY WITH HIGH WINDS AND WINDCHILL BELOW 0. JAN  18        EQUALLY COLD WITH ABOUT A QUARTER INCH OF SNOW. THIS AMOUNT OF SNOW RESULTED IN 5 HOUR TRAFFIC TIE UPS AND 4 HOUR SCHOOL BUS RIDES HOME (REALLY!) AND EMBARRASSING CONTROVERSY - THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SAID IT WAS 'FOOLED' BY THE WEATHER SERVICE WHICH CALLED FOR A 'DUSTING' OF SNOW AND THE WEATHER SERVICE WHICH SAID THAT A QUARTER INCH OF SNOW CAN'T BE CALLED ANYTHING MORE THAN A DUSTING.

JAN  19        SCHOOL BEGINS 2 HOURS LATE TO DEAL WITH THIS 'MONSTER' QUARTER INCH SNOWSTORM (REALLY!). BETH DRIVES TO BOWIE FOR HER TEACHING ONLY TO FIND CLASS CANCELLED BECAUSE OF THE 'MONSTER' QUARTER INCH SNOWSTORM.

JAN  20        ACTUAL SNOWSTORM (ABOUT 4"). TRAFFIC BARELY AFFECTED (APPARENTLY DRIVERS DIDN'T PANIC LIKE TWO DAYS EARLIER). HOWEVER, BETH'S PLANE FROM BALT TO NASHVILLE WAS CANCELLED AND SHE TOOK A LATER FLIGHT. WE ALSO HAVE A FULL ECLIPSE OF THE MOON VERY VISIBLE IN THE DRY COLD AIR FOLLOWING THE SNOW.

JAN  22        BETH BACK FROM NASHVILLE NEAR MIDNIGHT (NO SNOW DESPITE FORECAST OF SNOW).

JAN  23        BETH'S FRIEND SARAH N ARRIVES (DEPARTS JAN 27).

JAN  25        UNPREDICTED SNOW (1100am JAN 24 FORECAST 'FLURRIES POSSIBLE'). GOVT OPENS BUT CLOSES ABOUT 745am. PEOPLE STRANDED. OVER 20" OF SNOW IN RALEIGH, N.C. (ALL TIME RECORD BY FAR), 8" @ OUR HOUSE, 14" IN BALT. TEMPS COLD, WIND OVER 30 MPH AT TIMES.    JAN 26        KIDS GO SKIING AT WHITETAIL (ABOUT 50 MI nw OF HERE IN PA. HAD TO BUY A DEICER ON THE WAY BECAUSE THE COLD FROZE UP THE WINDSHIELD CLEANING SYSTEM.

JAN  30        ANOTHER SNOW/SLEET/ICE EVENT.

JAN 31        SCHOOLS (ha AND u OF md) CLOSED, GOVT OPENING DELAYED. BETH BACK TO U OF MD.  ANN SUGGESTS G BUY THE CLIFF'S NOTES VERSION OF TRISTIM SHANDY AFTER G'S UNSUCCESSFUL SEARCH FOR UNDERSTANDABLE CRITICAL MATERIAL IN LIBRARY - SEE JAN 16 (AMAZINGLY ENOUGH, BARNES AND NOBLE HAS IT IN STOCK).

FEB  04        G GETS PROVISIONAL DRIVER'S LICENSE DESPITE MOTOR VEHICLE ADMINISTRATION REQUIRING HIM TO FILL OUT FORMS AND STAND IN LINE AFTER LINE AFTER LINE.

FEB  06        G'S FIRST SOLO - TO COPY PAGES OF BOOK (CRITICAL REVIEWS OF TRISTEN SHANDY). FEB 07 FIRST SOLO TO AND FROM SCHOOL.

FEB  08   G - GUESS WHAT DAD, I DIDN'T SPEED TODAY.

          M - WONDERFUL.

G - AT LEAST NOT ON THE WAY HOME.

M - WHY DID YOU SPEED ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL.

G - I REALIZED I HADN'T DONE SOME HOMEWORK SO I WANTED TO               GET THERE AND FINISH IT UP.

FEB  11        ANOTHER COMPUTER GLITCH. SEEMS OUR SYSTEM WAS CORRUPTED AGAIN. THE DAMAGE WAS TO THE ANTIVIRUS DIRECTORY - YUK. REINSTALLATION OF THE OPERATING SYSTEM WAS REQUIRED. ONE NEEDED FIX WAS TO KILL AOL 5.0 AND GO BACK TO AN OLDER VERSION.

FEB  15        NOW COMPUTER FLOPPY DRIVE ISN'T COPYING TO DISKS. THIS LOOKS LIKE HARDWARE, NOT SOFTWARE.

FEB  19-21     M IN CLEVELAND VISITING ROCK AND ROLL AND FOOTBALL HALLS OF FAME, IN COMPANY W G BERG, D KROES, K SHAW.

FEB  20        G HAS FIRST 'ISSUE' WHILE DRIVING. A FLAT TIRE (IN TOYOTA). HE NEEDED HELP BUT EVENTUALLY GOT THE SPARE ON AND TOOK IT TO A STATION.

FEB  27        G DECIDES TO TRY OUT FOR TRACK & FIELD.

FEB  28        G LOSES DRIVERS LICENSE. ON FEB 29 HE GOES TO MOTOR VEHICLE AUTHORITY TO GET A NEW ONE (WHERE HE SAYS THEY MAKE FUN OF HIM) AND A POLICE OFFICER NOTICES THAT HIS BRAKE LIGHTS (IN TOYOTA) DON'T WORK. G BRINGS IT TO SERVICE STATION WHERE BY MAR 1, THEY REALIZE IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. LATER THAT DAY, CAR IS BROUGHT TO DEALER AND BY MAR 2 IT HAS HAD $800 PUT INTO IT.

MAR  02        G FINDS THE DRIVERS LICENSE HE LOST.  HE SAYS THAT SINCE HE HAS TWO, HE'LL PLACE ONE IN EACH CAR.

M - BUT THEN YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DRIVE ANYONE ELSE'S CAR.

G - DAD, NOBODY WITH BRAINS WOULD LET ME DRIVE THEIR CAR, OOOPS, OH YEAH, HA HA.

MAR  08        TEMP HITS 85F.

MAR  09        G AT SCHOOL GIVES A GIRL A BAG OF POTATO CHIPS AND SAYS, "THIS PROVES I LIKE YOU DOESN'T IT." THE GIRL GIGGLES A BIT AND G (REMEMBERING HIS SCIENTIFIC TRAINING IN PRECISE FORMULATION OF AN OBSERVATION) SAYS, "ACTUALLY I SUPPOSE IT ONLY PROVES I LIKE YOU MORE THAN I LIKE THIS BAG OF POTATO CHIPS (RIGHT NOW)."

MAR  13        G FINISHES PAPER ON TRISTEN SHANDY.

MAR  14-15     G SPENDS OVER 8 HOURS REDOING OUTLINE AND CARDS TO CONFORM TO FINAL PAPER (APPARENTLY THIS IS REQUIRED BY TEACHER WHO JUSTIFIES IT BY SAYING THAT THE 'PROCESS' IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE 'PRODUCT').

MAR  24        G INADVERTENTLY TRICKS M INTO OKing A MOVIE AFTER MIDNIGHT THUS VIOLATING THE MARYLAND PROVISIONAL LICENSE RULES (HE ISN'T SUPPOSED TO DRIVE AFTER MIDNIGHT EXCEPT FOR OFFICIAL SCHOOL FUNCTION).

MAR  26        M GETS 19" VIDEO SCREEN AT WORK. THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE MY SCREEN WOULDN'T COME ON AND THE FIRST DIAGNOSTIC INVOLVED BRINGING IN A NEW SCREEN. IT TURNED OUT THE VIDEOCARD WAS THE PROBLEM BUT IT WAS LESS TROUBLE TO REMOVE THE OLD 15" SCREEN THEN THE 19" SCREEN SO THEY JUST LET ME HAVE THE 19" ONE.

MAR  27        G STARTS A ZIPDRIVE BACKUP OF THE HARD DRIVE. IT SWALLOWS UP FOUR megabyte DISKS AND IS ONLY 75% DONE. M BUYS 8 MORE DISKS ON MAR 28  (BACKUP TAKES 2 OF THEM PLUS YESTERDAY'S 4).

MAR  28        G DRIVES SCHOOL MATES TO LASERTAG AFTER SCHOOL (ACTUAL OFFICIAL SCHOOL FUNCTION, REALLY!) ALTHOUGH HE MISSED THE QUINCE ORCHARD EXIT, TOOK THE NEXT EXIT, TURNED AROUND AND FOUND THE RIGHT EXIT, PICKS UP PIZZA AND FINISHES 19 OF 29 AND 27 OF 29 AT LASERTAG. ON THE WAY HOME, HE MISSED THE MONTROSE EXIT, TOOK THE NEXT EXIT, TURNED AROUND, AND, BEING IN A HURRY TO GET BACK (TO GO TO THE BATHROOM), SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD AT THE TIGHT CURVED (PROBABLY LESS THAN 100' RADIUS OF CURVATURE) NORTHBOUND TO I-270 ENTRANCE FROM DEMOCRACY BLVD. THREE FIREMEN AND A FRIENDLY PASSING MOTORIST PUSHED HIM BACK TO NEAR THE ROAD. A COUNTY POLICEMAN THEN CAME AND, NOTING THAT G HAD KNOCKED OVER SOME STATE SAFETY REFLECTORS, LET HIM GO BACK HOME WITHOUT ISSUING A TICKET OR A WARNING. G GOT HOME AND IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE BATHROOM. M HAD A 3 JIGGER WHISKEY.   

MAR  29        M DECIDES WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR LAZ-Y-BOY RECLINING CHAIR REPAIRED (DOESN'T LEAN BACK WITH FULL USE OF FOOT REST).

APR  06        LAZ-Y-BOY REPAIRMAN COMES. PARTS HAVE LIFE GUARANTEE.  LABOR WAS $50 (TOOK OVER AN HOUR). THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE A LIFECYLE EVENT, EVEN MORE THAN BUYING MY FIRST LAZ-Y-BOY.

APR  09        SURPRISE  SNOWSTORM.  AFTER PREVIOUS DAY HAD TEMPS IN THE 70s, WE HAD ABOUT 2" OF SNOW IN THE EARLY A.M. TOOK PICTURES OF SNOW ON THE TULIPS, DOGWOOD BLOSSOMS AND AZALEA BLOSSOMS AT 7am. FURTHER NORTH, PHILADELPHIA SUBURB HAD 5", ALBANY HAD 13".

APR  15        G SEES LATE MOVIE AT WHITE FLINT MALL. DURING MOVIE, CAR HAS WIPER BLADES STOLEN AND WIPER BLADE HOLDER DAMAGED. ON APR 16, M BUYS NEW BLADES. PEOPLE AT SERVICE STATIONS DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO STRONGER TOOLS AND COULDN'T FIX HOLDER UNTIL I GOT HOME.

APR  16        WHILE DELIVERING PASSOVER STUFF TO RUSSIAN IMMIGRANTS, ONE SAID SHE ACTUALLY LIKES TO MAKE HORSERADISH DISHES (FROM NOVOSIBIRSK). ANOTHER WAS ORIGINALLY FROM AZERBAIJAN.

APR  20        BETH, HOME FOR PASSOVER REPORTS HER ROOMMATE AT COLLEGE ACTUALLY CLAIMED SOMEONE STOLE THEIR LONG FORM CENSUS AND SUBSTITUTED A SHORT FORM BUT THEN SAID, "I HOPE IT WENT TO SOMEONE MORE WORTHY". LATER THAT DAY, HAIL (COINCIDENTALLY, ONE OF THE 10 PLAGUES).

APR  21        G HAS TOO MUCH WINE DURING SUPPER, THROWS UP, MAKES MESS BUT CLEANS IT UP HIMSELF.

APR  23        NY YANKEE SWITCH HITTERS BERNIE WILLIAMS (cf) AND JORGE PASADA (c), BOTH HIT HRs LEFT HANDED AND RIGHT HANDED IN SAME GAME (1ST TIME IN MAJOR LEAGUE HISTORY).

APR  27       SIXTEEN PLAYERS ON CHICAGO (SOX) AND DETROIT ARE SUSPENDED, CUMULATIVE 82 GAMES AFTER TWO MASSIVE FIGHTS AT COMISKY PARK. NINE OTHER PLAYERS WERE FINED.

APR  29        DURING DISCUSSION OF COLLEGES, G SAYS HE MIGHT GO TO YORK COLLEGE FOR THEIR FORENSICS PROGRAM. A SAYS, 'YOU KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE TAX ON CLOTHES IN PENNSYLVANIA.' G SAYS, 'I DON'T BELIEVE THE FIRST THING YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WAS SHOPPING. A SAYS, 'WHY NOT. WHAT'S THE POINT OF NOT THINKING ABOUT SHOPPING.'

MAY  14        MONTREAL 16 CHICAGO CUBS 15 IN GAME IN WHICH MONTREAL HAD A TRIPLE PLAY AND ERIC YOUNG STOLE5 BASES, MOST FOR CUBS SINCE 1881.

MAY  16        AFTER 3 VISITS FROM STARPOWER AND BELL ATLANTIC WE FINALLY HAVE TWO FUNCTIONING TELECOM LINES - PHONE/FAX LINE AND DIGITAL SERVICE LINE.

MAY  9-13      A IN PHILADELPHIA.

MAY  11        G IS UP UNTIL 4am WITH HOMEWORK. MANAGES TO GET TO SCHOOL, TAKE 4 EXAMS AND COME HOME AT NORMAL TIME (BUT SLEEPS FOR 3 HOURS IN EARLY EVE.)

MAY  17-19     M IN JACKSON MS.

MAY  17-20     G IN PENNSYLVANIA AT SCHOOL RETREAT. UPON LEAVING HE VOWS NOT TO LOSE GLASSES AS HE DID LAST YEAR.

MAY  22 - JUNE 2 (400am)     M&A ON TRIP. MAY 22 ARRIVED IN ANCHORAGE VIA MINNEAPOLIS, MAY 23 AT DENALI PARK, MAY 24 IN FAIRBANKS, MAY 25 TO ANCHORAGE, SEWARD AND SHIP; MAY 26 AT GLACIER BAY, MAY 27 SITKA, MAY 28 JUNEAU, MAY 29 KETCHIKAN, MAY 30 INNER PASSAGE (CANADA) JUNE 1 VANCOUVER TO MINNEAPOLIS ARRIVED BWI AFTER MIDNIGHT (PROBLEMS WITH AIRPLANES).

MAY  24        G PICKS B UP AT SCHOOL AND MOVES REST OF HER STUFF W NO PROBLEMS

MAY  26        B HAS FRIENDS OVER FOR SABBATH. THEY HELP COOK, SEEMS TO HAVE GONE NICELY. ONE OF THE GUESTS BROUGHT WINE AND THEY BROKE THE STEEL CORKSCREW ON THE BOTTLECORK. EITHER THEY DON'T MAKE STEEL LIKE THEY USED TO OR CORK IS GETTING WAY TOO STRONG.

MAY  29        B HAS FIRST DAY OF SUMMER CLASSES AT MC Jr Col AT GERMANTOWN. NO PROBLEMS.

JUNE 05        B STARTS JOB DOWNTOWN WORKING FOR A CONGRESSMAN WHO LIVES DOWN THE STREET FROM US.

JUN  11        M, THINKING LIKE TYPICAL FATHER GOES TO ROOM WHERE G IS ON COMPUTER, CONVERSATION GOES SOMETHING LIKE:

M - DOESN'T LOOK LIKE YOU ARE STUDYING FOR YOUR TEST.

G - THAT'S BECAUSE I'M PLAYING A GAME.

M - DO YOU THINK YOU'VE STUDIED ENOUGH?

G - I'LL DO ALRIGHT.

M - aarrrggg

M THEN PROCEEDS TO B'S ROOM TO ASK HER SIMILAR QUESTION. UPON ARRIVING, M SEES G HAS SENT B AN 'INSTANT MESSAGE' SAYING SOMETHING LIKE, "DAD IS ON HIS WAY TO PESTER YOU ABOUT HOMEWORK" AND B HAD RESPONDED "OK. I'LL GET RID OF HIM."

JUNE 14        M TO NORTH CAROLINA AT USUAL WORK DEPARTURE TIME. BACK IN TIME FOR SUPPER.

JUNE 14        LAST FINAL FOR G (FOR 11TH GRADE).

JUNE 16-17     B IN GEORGETOWN, G IN KEMP MILL.

JUNE 18        MIKE LANSING (2B FOR COLO) HITS FOR CYCLE IN 4 INNINGS (ONE EACH INNING) VS. ARIZ IN 19-2 GAME. COLO HAD 23 HITS (MOST IN ITS HISTORY; MOST GIVEN UP BY ARIZ IN ITS HISTORY).

Weiss Family Chronology 2ND HALF 2000

"GUESS WHAT DAD, I DIDN’T SPEED TODAY" - GEORGE (2/8/00)

JUN  30        AT B'S SUGGESTION, RESERVATIONS MADE FOR WHITE WATER RAFTING ON JUL 4.

JUL  02        B AND G TO NJ; B TO NEAR PHILADELPHIA, G TO NEAR NY. JUL  03          B HAS ALLERGIC REACTION TO BERRY PIE SHE HAD JUL 1.

JUL  04        G & M WHITE WATER RAFTING ON SHENANDOAH AND POTOMAC. A AGREED TO GO BUT CHANGED HER MIND WHEN G TOLD HER SHE WOULD GET VERY WET.

JUL  05-09     UNUSUAL JULY STREAK OF 4 DAYS w/o USING AIR CONDITIONER. SEVERAL DAYS LIKE THAT IN NEXT WEEK ALSO

JUL  10-15     M IN MADISON, WISC. THEN DETROIT, MI, THEN ALBANY, NY. TRIPS MARRED BY INNUMERABLE AIRPORT DELAYS, CHANGED PLANES AND AN EXTRA NIGHT IN ALBANY WHEN AIR TRAVEL ABOUT BROKE DOWN COMPLETELY.

JUL  17-19     M IN PHOENIX, AZ AND SAN DIEGO, CA. ON 18TH, HAD BEER WATCHING SUNSET AT LaJOLLA BEACH.

JUL  27        B GOES TO ROSE GARDEN FOR WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY (HER PENULTIMATE DAY WORKING AS AN INTERN FOR A CONGRESSMAN). PRESIDENT CLINTON SHOOK HER HAND THEN SPOKE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. BETH ADMITTED THAT SHE STOPPED LISTENING TO THE PRESIDENT AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS BECAUSE IT WASN'T VERY INTERESTING.

AUG  01-02     M IN KANSAS CITY, MO. HOME AFTER MIDNIGHT DUE TO MORE AIRPLANE DELAYS.

AUG  05        G GETS TWO TRAFFIC CITATIONS (ONE FOR DRIVING AFTER 12am, ONE FOR GOING THRU FLASHING RED w/o STOPPING). WHILE LOOKING UP TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS ON INTERNET, G LEARNS ABOUT POSSIBLE INTERN POSITION WITH COUNTY POLICE.

AUG  06        CANOEING TRIP RAINED OUT. ABOUT THE 10TH SUMMER DAY WITH MAXIMUM BELOW 80F.

AUG  07        B LEAVES FOR ISRAEL FOR JUNIOR YEAR ABROAD. BECAUSE OF MVA RULES, SHE MAY LOSE LICENSE TEMPORARILY.

AUG  13        M, A AND G IN BALTIMORE TO SEE 'SUNSHINE' WITH C&I AND EAT AT BRASSERIE (G HAS DUCK; MOST EXPENSIVE ENTREE).

AUG  15        A GOES TO TYSON'S BY NEW CROSS SUBURB BUS. WORST PART OF TRIP WAS FROM S. TYSON'S CORNER TO N. TYSON'S CORNER.

AUG  18        TROPICAL STORM, THEN HURRICANE, THEN TS, H, TS, THEN H AGAIN ANGELO (WHICH WAS NAMED ON AUG 4) BECOMES LONGEST LIVED T STORM IN ATLANTIC IN AUG. IT ULTIMATELY LASTED UNTIL AUG 23.

AUG  19        NY YANKEES GET 3 RUNS IN 4TH, ON THREE CONSECUTIVE SACRIFICE FLYS. RON GANT MAKES DROPPING BALL ERROR ON 1ST FLY AND ON 3RD FLY FORGETS THEN NUMBER OF OUTS ALLOWING RUNNER TO SCORE FROM 2ND.

AUG  22        SIXTH AUG DAY IN A ROW W MAX TEMP BELOW 80F.

AUG  22        NON PITCHER (Brent Mayne, who normally plays catcher for Colorado) GETS WIN VS. ATLANTA (ROCKER IS LOSING PITCHER) FIRST TIME SINCE 1968 (LAST TIME IN NL WAS 58).

AUG  22-25     M, A & G IN REHOBETH BEACH. FIRST DAY MIDDAY AIR AND WATER TEMPS IN LOW 70s. AIR TEMPS WERE A BIT WARMER LATER. G & M WENT PARASAILING. G, A & M WALKED ENTIRE BOARDWALK AND BACK (ABOUT 4.5 MI). USED BOOGIEBOARD FOR FIRST TIME.

AUG 25        A GETS 2ND MASSIVE OVERCHARGE FROM STARPOWER. STARPOWER AGREES TO REFUND US $200.

AUG  27-39     M IN NEW ORLEANS  

SEPT 1-2       MIKE PERKINS AND TRINA BELLAK OVER ON SHABBATH

SEPT 01 ORIOLES GET UNUSUAL TRIPLE PLAY VS CLEVELAND. W NO OUTS, RUNNERS ON 1ST AND 2ND, SHORTSHOP MELVIN MORA LETS POP FLY DROP, GETS TAG AND FORCE OUT AT 2ND WHILE BATTER (SANDY ALOMAR) GOES TO DUGOUT AND IS CALLED OUT FOR 'ABANDONING HIS RIGHT TO FIRST BASE'. SEPT  03        AN ODER THAT WAS BLAMED ON CATS IS DISCOVERED TO BE FROM SOME SPOILED POTATOES. CATS AGREE NOT TO SUE US FOR DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER.

SEPT 03        FIRST TASTE OF LOCAL VEGETARIAN imitation SAUSAGE (ok, HAMBURGER (good), MEATBALLS (ok) IN PIZZAS, CALZONES, ETC DURING REDSKIN GAME (GERRY BERG OVER).

SEPT 04        ALAN WARSAW AND SYLVIA GRIJALVA OVER LABOR DAY

SEPT 07        SCOTT SHELDON, TEXAS 2ND YEAR UTILITY INFIELDER, PLAYS ALL 9 POSITIONS IN A SINGLE GAME BECOMING 3RD TO DO IT (Bert Campaneris 9/8/65 and Cesar Tovar 9/22/68).

SEPT 13        WOMAN KILLED BY STREET SWEEPING MACHINE IN DISTRICT - GRIZZLY CARTOON-LIKE ACCIDENT. WOMAN'S DAUGHTER WAS SPAT OUT OF THE SWEEPER UNHARMED.

SEPT 18        WE RECEIVE POST CARD FROM THE U OF MD SAYING A PARKING TICKET ISSUED 8/4 WASN'T PAID YET. HMMM. WE SENT INQUIRY TO BETH ON THAT ONE.

SEPT 19        WITHIN TWO DAYS, TWO COMPANIES HAVE BEEN PERSUADED TO REMOVE LATE CHARGES. IN ONE CASE ($25), WE FAXED THEM INFO TO SHOW WE WROTE A CHECK WHICH THEY LOST. IN THE OTHER WE SHOWED THEM THAT THEY HAD MISREAD A "9" AS A "4" IN THE ONES DIGIT OF A CHECK AND BECAUSE WE 'OWED' FIVE CENTS, THEY ASSESSED US THE FULL FINANCE CHARGE (ABOUT $14).

SEPT 25        ON WAY HOME FROM PICKING UP A AFTER HER COMPUTER CLASS, M ALMOST HITS TWO DEER ON MONTROSE RD.

SEPT 26        BOUGHT A SALMON SAUSAGE AT NEW LOCAL KOSHER GROCERY.

SEPT 28        M GETS NEW CHAIR AT WORK. SOFT, RECLINING, PADDED ARMREST. IF ONLY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO WORK.

OCT  13        M HAS MEETING IN HIDDEN VALLEY PA (EXIT 11 OFF PENN TURNPIKE). 360 MILES OF DRIVING BUT LEAVES WERE NEAR PEAK.

OCT  17-18     VISIT TO ORLANDO FL. TO SEE U OF CENTRAL FLORIDA. STARTED POORLY WITH DULLES AIRPORT SIGNAGE (DAILY SIGN SAID OPEN AT ENTRANCE TO AIRPORT BUT SIGN SAID 'LOT FULL' BY THE TIME WE GOT TO PARKING LOT 3 MINUTES LATER).  WE WERE TO MEET A YOUNG LADY WE HAD NEVER SEEN AT THE STUDENT UNION (EXACT PLACE UNKNOWN, PERSON NOT SELF DESCRIBED). HOWEVER, M NOTICED HER HOLDING A HILLEL CUP AND FIGURED SHE MIGHT BE A REPRESENTATIVE OF HILLEL. AN IMPROMTU GATHERING OF HILLEL MEMBERS TOOK PLACE EVERYBODY HUGGING AND FRIENDLY. NEXT DAY WE WERE TO MEET THE HEAD OF THE FORENSIC CHEMISTRY PROGRAM. G ACTUALLY BOUGHT A DNA TEXTBOOK THE PREVIOUS DAY, BUT SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO MENTION IT BECAUSE THE PROFESSOR MIGHT THINK HE WAS TOO DWEEBY. ACTUALLY, THE PROF. PROBABLY LIKED DWEBY (HE WAS BRITISH AND LOVED TALKING ABOUT USING CHEMISTRY TO NAIL CRIMINALS). TOOK CAMPUS TOUR, EVERYBODY SEEMED VERY NICE AND POLITE - AND OF COURSE THE WEATHER WAS BEAUTIFUL. ONE CAMPUS GUIDE GOT RUSSIA AND GERMANY CONFUSED IN A STORY ABOUT A VISITING PROFESSOR WHO WORKED ON THE ENIGMA PROJECT. AFTER THE MEETING WITH THE FORENSIC CHEMISTRY DEPT. M TOOK G AND A TO GATORLAND, WHICH THEY ALSO ENJOYED (HOW DO YOU ESCAPE FROM AN ALLIGATOR; TRIP THE PERSON YOU'RE WITH AND RUN).

OCT  19        MICHAEL AND NADINE POSTOL VISIT FOR SUPPER w DINAH. COINCIDENTALLY, THIS WAS THE DAY THAT HURRICANE MICHAEL BECAME EXTRA TROPICAL AND THE DAY THAT TROPICAL DEPRESSION 18 BECAME TROPICAL STORM NADINE.

OCT  21        WISC BECOMES FIRST DIV 1 NCAA TEAM TO LOSE IN OVERTIME w/o THEIR OPPONENTS GETTING AN OFFENSIVE PLAY. LOST ON A BLOCKED PUNT AND TD RUNBACK BY PURDUE (30-24) in MADISON.

OCT  30        DURING REDSKIN GAME, THE TITANS HAD INTERCEPTED W NO TIME REMAINING IN 2ND HALF. I SAID TO G, 'NO BIG DEAL ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS TACKLE HIM, UHHH TACKLE HIM, UHHH, I SAID TACKLE HIM -- TURNED OUT TO BE AN 80 YD TD AND REDSKINS WENT ON TO LOSE.

OCT  31        MORE T OR TREATERS THAN IN MANY YEARS -- G'S 17TH BDAY (M PICKED UP TAKE OUT W PEKING DUCK FOR G).

NOV  01        27 INCHES OF RAIN IN 24 HOURS IN HAWAII (NOT A TROPICAL STORM, SAME DAY HAD FLOODING IN ENGLAND AND TEXAS AND A 6 WEEK RAINLESS SPELL (OR NEARLY SO) FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO ABOUT THIS AREA. 

NOV  08        M LOSES CHECKBOOK (FINDS IT NOV 12 IN LEAVES NEXT TO CAR WHERE IT HAD DROPPED OFF THE SEAT)

NOV  13 CAR DOOR HANDLE (INSIDE) BREAKS. RECORD BREAKING COLD IN WEST (WYOMING AND NEBRASKA WELL BELOW ZERO, EVEN IN SOME OF THE DAYTIME).

NOV  14        M & A SIGN CONTRACT TO SELL 1675 KENWOOD AFTER OVER 20 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. PROBABLE NET AFTER TAXES WILL BE ABOUT $75K ON ORIGINAL INVESTMENT OF ABOUT $10-15K. IN BETWEEN TAX BENEFIT OF DEPRECIATION, ETC WAS PROBABLY ABOUT $40K AND NET CASH FLOW WAS PROBABLY ABOUT ANOTHER $20K. NOT BAD BUT NOT GREAT.  

NOV  19        A GOES DOWNTOWN TO TRAIN W ERIC GILBERT FOR MASGIHA CERTIFICATION. MOST IMPROBABLY, THE ESCALATOR WAS OUT AT DuPONT CIRCLE STATION AND A HAD TO CLIMB THIS 200' OR SO STAIRCASE.

NOV  21        TRAFFIC COURT FOR G. HE PLEADED GUILTY WITH EXPLANATION TO 2 COUNTS (see AUG 05 remarks). THE JUDGE GAVE HIM PROBATION BEFORE JUDGEMENT ON BOTH COUNTS WITH TOTAL FINE BEING $100. IT WAS MILDLY INTERESTING TO HEAR OTHER PEOPLE PLEAD THEIR CASE. ONE PERSON SAID AT ONE POINT, "I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT WAS THE POLICE UNTIL THE POLICE LIGHT CAME ON", TO WHICH THE JUDGE SAID, "THAT'S USUALLY HOW IT WORKS, SIR". ANOTHER PERSON TRIED TO GET OUT WITH A SOB STORY ABOUT HOW HE WAS SPEEDING TO CHURCH SO HIS WIFE COULD USE THE PHONE TO INQUIRE ABOUT HER DIABETES CONDITION. HE GOT THE SAME LENIENCY THAT G GOT. ANOTHER PERSON WAS CHARGED WITH 4 COUNTS, PLEADED INNOCENT AND GOT NO LENIENCY. 

NOV 26        SUNDAY AFTER FOOTBALL GAME, G GOES TO BOOKSTORE. "WHAT ARE YOU GETTING?" M ASKS. "'THE STRANGER', BY ALBERT CONNELL." SAYS G. (ALBERT CONNELL IS REDSKIN WIDE RECEIVER; ALBERT CAMUS WROTE THE STRANGER).

NOV 29        M GOES TO SLEEP CENTER FOR DIAGNOSIS FOR POTENTIAL APHNEA RELATED ILLNESS (BASED ON A AND G'S COMPLAINTS OF SUPER LOUD SNORING). WEARS EEG WIRES TO SLEEP (ONLY ABOUT 5 HOURS OF SLEEP IN THAT STUFF).

DEC  01        G, WHILE DRIVING OBLIVIOUSLY, CROSSES RR TRACK, GATE CLOSES, CAR BLOCKS HIS FURTHER PROGRESS AND TRAIN COMES TOWARD HIM. HE HAD VISIONS OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION, BUT CAR IN FRONT OF HIM MOVED. WHEN HE TELLS HIS FRIENDS, THEY ACCUSE HIM OF CREATING SITCOM PLOTS FOR PRODUCERS WHO FOLLOW HIM AROUND.

DEC  07        PG COUNTY BAILBONDSMAN DEAN PANTAZES FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER 1 PLUS LESSER CRIMES IN THE MURDER FOR HIRE KILLING OF HIS WIFE MARCH 30 (TRIAL WAS IN CHARLES COUNTY). THE STAR PROSECUTION WITNESS WAS THE ADMITTED GUNWOMAN, AND ALSO ADMITTED TO BEING A PROSTITUTE, HEROIN ADDICT AND PATHOLOGICAL LIAR WHOSE COURTROOM TESTIMONY CONTRADICTED HER PREVIOUS SWORN STATEMENTS. SHE ALSO STATED IN THE COURTROOM THAT SHE BELIEVED THE ACCUSED WOULD GO TO HELL BUT THAT SHE WOULDN'T. THE SUPPORTING WITNESS WAS A TRANSVESTITE WHO WENT BY THE NAMES MIMI KELLY, KIM KELLY, JOHN KELLY AND OTHERS AND WHO BERATED THE PROSECUTION FOR ADDRESSING HER AS 'SIR' AT ONE POINT. THE PANTAZES CHILDREN TESTIFIED FOR THEIR FATHER AS DID THE DECEASED PARENTS. NONETHELESS, THE JURY BELIEVED THERE WAS NO DOUBT THAT THE DEFENDANT DID IT AND THE PROSECUTION SAID THEY WOULD SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY.

DEC  12        THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS, NOW 4-17 AND IN A 7 GAME LOSING STREAK HIRE TONY ROBBINS, LARRY KING, NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF AND JOAN LUNDON TO GIVE MOTIVATIONAL SPEECHES TO TEAM.

DEC  13        G WAKES UP IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT, COMES INTO A&M'S BD-ROOM AND SAYS, "HELP ME, MY ARM FELL OFF". WE TOLD HIM IT WAS STILL ON AND HE SAID, "OH" AND WENT BACK TO SLEEP.

DEC  17        TERRELL OWENS CATCHES 20 PASSES FOR SF VS. CHI BREAKING 1950 RECORD OF 18 (AND SF RECORD OF 16 HELD BY JERRY RICE WHO WAS PLAYING HIS LAST GAME FOR SF AND HAD 7 RECEPTIONS).

DEC 18        M & A SIGN CLOSING DOCUMENTS (see Nov 14) AFTER SEVERAL LAST MINUTE POSTPONEMENTS, THEN RUSHES TO COMPLETE STUFF, THEN POSTPONEMENTS, ETC. THAT MADE EXISTING TENANTS UNHAPPY AND CAUSED PROBLEMS FOR REALTORS AND US.

DEC  19        LIFE IMITATES SEINFELD. AT DENTIST, G & M GET IN CAR TO GO HOME AND LADY IN LATE MODEL PARK AVE. PULLS UP AND TELLS US THE DENTIST WE USE IS GUILTY OF VARIOUS NEFARIOUS THINGS (THIS MAY RELATE TO A ZONING EXCEPTION REQUEST BY A SYNAGOGUE A FEW DOORS AWAY).

DEC  20        CHARLOTTE 65 MIAMI 56- LOWEST COMBINED TOTAL POINTS IN A PRO BASKETBALL GAME SINCE FEB 27, 1955 (BOSTON & MILWAUKEE).

DEC  21        IT HAS BEEN A BRUTAL DECEMBER SO FAR. MILWAUKEE, WI HAD 31" OF SNOW ON GROUND AS ASTRONOMICAL WINTER BEGAN.

DEC  24        G LEAVES FOR ISRAEL TO VISIT BETH. ARRIVES 12/25

DEC  25        PARTIAL ECLIPSE (50%). FIRST XMAS ECLIPSE VISIBLE IN THESE PARTS SINCE 1628 (ALSO HANUKKAH, KWANZA AND RAMADAN TODAY).

DEC  27        MARIO LEMIEUX, PITTSBURGH NHL BECOMES 1ST  PLAYER/OWNER IN 72 YEARS OF NHL PLAY. SCORES GOAL AT 33 SEC OF 1ST PERIOD.

DEC29         ICE REPORTED IN LOUISIANA PORTION OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER (FLOATED IN FROM UPRIVER). MONTGOMERY WARDS (130 YEAR OLD RETAILER AND LTV (3RD BIGGEST STEEL PRODUCER IN US) GO INTO BANKRUPTCY (chapters 7 and 11 respectively.

DEC  29        DJ INDUSTRIALS DOWN 7% FOR THE YEAR, WORST YEAR SINCE 1981, NASDAQ DOWN 39%, WORST EVER.

DEC  30        NEW ORLEANS SAINTS WIN FIRST PLAYOFF GAME IN FRANCHISE HISTORY (34 YEARS).

DEC  31        DOZENS OF CITIES IN IOWA, ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN, INDIANA, MICHIGAN AND NEW YORK SET RECORD DECEMBER SNOWFALLS.  D.C. MISSES SNOW (ONLY 2") BUT ENDURES RECORD DECEMBER COLD. NE SIDE OF CHESAPEAKE BAY BEGINS TO FREEZE.