Way Back Machine 1992

      WEISS FAMILY CHRONOLOGY 1992 PART 1

JAN  02   MAJOR SNOWSTORM IN ISRAEL AND JORDAN, EVEN SNOW IN CYPRUS. UP TO 30" NEAR PETRA (31°N). WASH D.C. HAD RECORD WARM YEAR OF 60.2°F AT NATIONAL AIRPORT (NO ANNUAL RECORD AT ANY OTHER LOCAL RECORDING STATIONS).

JAN  02   KIDS BACK AT SCHOOL FOR A THURS, FRI SCHOOL WEEK. THEY REPORT ATTENDANCE WAY DOWN. WONDER WHOSE IDEA THIS WAS.

JAN 06   BETH LOOKING OUT KITCHEN WINDOW WHILE DOING HOMEWORK, SEEING HER FRIEND CELIA TALKING TO A BOY. BETH SAYS, "I'M JEALOUS". I SAY, "YOU MEAN BECAUSE CELIA HAS A BOY WHO LIKES HER." BETH SAYS, "NO, BECAUSE I'M DOING HOMEWORK AND SHE ISN'T."

JAN  06   AFTER 18 MONTHS, CIVIL LAWSUIT 'SEXUAL HARASSMENT' IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY GOES TO TRIAL. PLAINTIFF ADMITS HAVING 6 PERSONALITIES, BEING FIRED MANY TIMES AND SOMETIMES DRINKING UP TO 8 OUNCES OF VODKA BEFORE WORK. DEFENDANT'S COUNCIL'S FEE IS $195/HR; TOTAL CHARGES ARE EXPECTED TO BE OVER $1,000,000 (PRE TRIAL EXPENSES EXCEED $700,000).  PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY IS DOING WORK ON CONTINGENCY BUT CLAIMS TO HAVE SPENT $70,000+ ON TRANSCRIPTS, TRAVEL, WITNESS FEES AND OTHER NON LEGAL COSTS. ON FEB 5 THE CASE WENT TO THE JURY. 93 MINUTES LATER JURY RULED FOR DEFENDANT.

JAN  09   BETH IS READING THE PART OF CORIE IN "BAREFOOT IN THE PARK". ALSO, SHE GOT TO SHOW A SOLUTION OF A WORD PROBLEM TO HER CLASS WHERE SHE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT VERY WELL EITHER. SHE SAID, PEOPLE KEPT SAYING, "OH..NOW I GET IT..." AS SHE HAD TO ERASE SOME STEPS AND START OVER 3 TIMES.

JAN  11   DURING DISCUSSION OF WHAT TYPE OF HOUSING WE SHOULD MOVE INTO WHEN KIDS GO TO COLLEGE. ANN SAYS, "OK. WE'LL DO WHAT YOU WANT DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH YOU CAN STAND TO BREAK YOUR WIFE'S HEART."

JAN 12   BETH PRACTICING FOR ROLE OF ALBERT EINSTEIN (SEE EARLIER ENTRY) DECIDES TO USE A PIPE (PROP ALONG WITH FAKE WHITE HAIR) TO PUFF ON WHILE SHE REMEMBERS HER LINES. IT WORKED IN HER SKIT JUST AS PLANNED.

JAN  13-24 M AT US NAVAL STATION NORFOLK. ITEM IN NORFOLK           NEWSPAPER. MAN ACCUSED OF MURDERING GIRLFRIEND CLAIMED HE HAD BROUGHT HER A GUN TO KILL HIM, PER HER REQUEST, AND AS SHE GRABBED IT, IT WENT OFF. JURY DIDN'T BELIEVE IT.

JAN  18   IN BASKETBALL, TROY STATE (ALABAMA) COLLEGE 258- DEVRY INSTITUTE 141 BEATING PREVIOUS RECORD (LAST YEAR OF 187-116). TROY ALSO MADE 51 OF 109 THREE POINT TRIES.

JAN  19   DESCRIBING TO GEORGE A ONION RING LOAF (ONION RINGS IN SHAPE OF A CUBE) GEORGE AND I FANTASIZED ABOUT HAVING FRIED CHICKEN, DRESSING AND GRAVY IN A SHAPE OF A PYRAMID. GEORGE THEN SAYS, "KIDS, THESE ARE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME."

JAN  19   N & CENTRAL MEXICO. ROOFS COLLAPSE IN HEAVY SNOW. FIRST        SNOW IN 7 YRS. FIRST EVER HEAVY SNOW.

JAN  20   BETH'S SCIENCE PROJECT ON MOLD GREW ONLY A LITTLE FUNGUS. JUST ENOUGH TO TANTALIZE. HOW COME IT GROWS SO WELL WHEN YOU DON'T WANT IT TO? NEXT TIME WE GO EASY ON THE EVIL SPIRITS.

JAN  25   SAW A LARGE BOULDER OUTSIDE W. POTOMAC HIGH SCHOOL. IT HAD BEEN PAINTED WHITE AND ON ONE SIDE SOMEONE HAD LETTERED "DEMOLISH THE DORKS". ANN SAYS, "WHAT ARE DORKS...SOMETHING ON STAR TREK?"

JAN  25   FIRST MEASURABLE SNOW OF YEAR (3 trace amounts in Nov).

JAN  26   WENT OUT TO SLED AT FT BELVOIR. LOST MY CAR KEYS SO ME AND KIDS HAD 3 MI. WALK HOME. STOPPED AT SOME STABLES AND PETTED HORSES. GEORGE LOST BOTH GLOVES. ALL IN ALL GOOD.

JAN  30   DESPITE TEMPERATURES IN JAN. 3°F ABOVE NORMAL AND TEMPERATURES ON JAN 28 OF 48/32 AND JAN 29 OF 49/28, THIS MORNING THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL THIN ICE NEAR THE 14TH STREET BRIDGE.

JAN  30  NEW SCHOOL TERM FOR BETH, SHE IS TAKING "TEEN LIVING" INSTEAD OF DRAMA. BETH CALLS IT 'HOME EC' TO BE CONSCIOUSLY OLD FASHIONED. SHE SWITCHED THE ORDER OF HER PHYS ED AND HER ENGLISH CLASS DUE TO CONFUSION OF MIND.

FEB  01   FAIRFAX COUNTY STATES THAT AFTER SPENDING $3.1 MILLION TO EXPAND THE LOCAL LIBRARY THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO OPERATE IT.

FEB  02  WITNESS AT TRIAL IN D.C. IS MURDERED AFTER HIS FIRST DAY OF TESTIMONY IN A MURDER CASE. THE WITNESS (ALSO A CONVICTED CRIMINAL) REFUSED WITNESS PROTECTION SERVICE.

FEB  05   OBSERVED TWO HERSEY'S WRAPPERS ON FLOOR. CONFRONTED BETH.     M-  -HOW MANY CHOCOLATE BARS DID YOU HAVE THIS AFTERNOON.

     BETH-I HAD ONE.  M-THEN WHY DID I SEE TWO WRAPPERS.

     BETH-I NEEDED THEM DESPERATELY. THEY JUMPED OUT OF THE BAG         INTO MY HAND AND I JUST HAD TO EAT THEM OR THEY WOULD         HAVE EXPLODED.

FEB  10   HEAVIEST RAIN IN 70 YEARS CAUSED FLOODING IN VENTURA CNTY, CALIFORNIA (ALTHOUGH NEWSPAPER SAYS IT DOESN'T RELIEVE DROUGHT-ACTUALLY IT DID IN VENTURA COUNTY).

FEB  11   BETH HAS NOW PROGRESSED TO POINT WHERE WHEN I TURN MY BACK FOR 3 SECONDS, HERSEY'S KISSES APPEAR IN HER HANDS.

FEB  11   GEORGE SHOOTS AND MAKES IT IN HEARTS (COMPUTER SIMULATION -4 HANDED)

FEB  18   BETH PLAYS CHAMBER MUSIC FOR FIRST TIME (QUARTET).

FEB  18   BETH, GEORGE AND I WERE PLAYING KEEP AWAY. BETH HAD TO GO UPSTAIRS TO FINISH SOME HOMEWORK. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF PLAYING 2 PERSON KEEP AWAY, PRETENDING THERE WAS AN INVISIBLE PLAYER, GEORGE SAYS, "THIS IS PRETTY STUPID EVEN FOR US."

FEB  20   GERALDO RIVERA BECOMES FIRST PERSON TO HAVE FAT REMOVED FROM HIS BUTT AND IMMEDIATELY INJECTED INTO HIS FACE (WRINKLE SMOOTHING) LIVE AND ON TV. IS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY OR WHAT.

FEB  20   ANN TAKES SOME OF GEORGE'S TOY TRUCKS TO WORK TO IMPRESS VISITORS AT HAZMAT TRANSPORTATION

FEB  23   BETH AND GEORGE DECIDE TO PLAY SOFTBALL BATTING PRACTICE. BETH WOULD EVEN BE FAIRLY GOOD EXCEPT SHE BREAKS UP IN GIGGLES EVERY FEW SECONDS.

FEB  23  NOAH KAUFMAN (LOCAL KID) PAYS ME $1.90 OF THE $2 HE HAD OWED ME SINCE JAN 1990

FEB  26  ANN AND BETH AFTER DINNER. ANN SAYS, "BETH HOW WOULD YOU LIKE SOME ALMOND HERSEY'S KISSES" THEN UPON SEEING ONLY 2 ALMONDS IN THE BAG.."NOW BETH, YOU LIKE THE REGULAR KIND JUST AS MUCH AS THE ALMOND KIND DON'T YOU".

FEB  27   BETH GETS 2ND IN SCIENCE FAIR FOR MOLD, MILDEW AND SLIME EXPERIMENT. JUDGING WAS BASED A LOT ON HOW WELL KID COULD EXPLAIN IT AND DEEMPHASIZED THE PIZAZZ ASPECT (HER SLIMES WERE NOT LARGE NOR PRETTY).

FEB  27   GEORGE TAKES ADVANTAGE OF SCIENCE FAIR TO BUY A GIRL (ALSO AGE 8) A BARBIE BOOK TAPE (THEY HAD BOOK FAIR ALONG WITH SCIENCE FAIR), BORROWING $5 FROM ME (HE PAID BACK PROMPTLY).

MAR  01   FIRST ATTEMPT OF YEAR AT KITING. KITE BREAKS 45 SECONDS INTO FLIGHT. ON PACKAGE: "MADE IN USA"

MAR 02   PICKED KIDS UP AT HEBREW SCHOOL.

       GEORGE: I HOPE YOU WON'T BE MAD AT US.

       BETH:   JULIE (NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR) GAVE US SOME STUFFED               ANIMAL, AND THERE ARE DINOSAURS THAT HUG TOGETHER,            AND MONKEYS THAT LINK ARMS AND SOME HUGGY BEARS AND               THEY'RE SOOO CUTE AND WE WILL BE VERY NEAT WITH THEM              SO YOU'LL NEVER NOTICE THEM.

      GEORGE:  EXCEPT FOR TODAY.

      BETH:    YEAH TODAY.

MAR  03   BIZARRE CRIME DAY, HIGH FASHION STORE THAT SERVES TRANSVESTITES WAS ROBBED BY MAN WEARING DRESS AND GUN STORE WAS ROBBED BY GUN TOTING THIEVES.

MAR  06   HAIL ACCUMULATES UP TO 12" DEEP IN FLORIDA, YES FLORIDA

MAR  16-19 M IN TAMPA FLORIDA AT SEMINOLE INDIAN OWNED SHERATON.

MAR  18   NFL VOTES TO NOT USE INSTANT REPLAY RULE IN 92 SEASON.

MAR  19   WHEN I RETURNED HOME I TOLD BETH SHE HAD SPILT M&Ms AND       I WAS MAD AT HER.

     BETH - BUT I PICKED THEM ALL UP.

     M    - HOW DO YOU KNOW.

     BETH - I PICKED UP EACH ONE I HEARD. AND I KNOW I HEARD THEM            ALL.

     M    - BUT I FOUND M&Ms IN WITH THE FRENCH FRYs AND THE             CHICKEN.

     BETH - OF COURSE. HOW CAN I HEAR THEM IF THEY FALL IN THE               REFRIGERATOR.

MAR  21   STORY RELATED BY KIDS. JUST BEFORE ANN & I COME IN FROM SHOPPING, GEORGE SAYS TO BETH, "INFORM THE COMMANDER THAT LORD VADER'S SHUTTLE HAS ARRIVED." BETH SAID, "YES SIR" (from Return of the Jedi).

MAR  22   KIDS BRING STUFFED ST. BERNARD INTO MASTER BEDROOM DURING A TV SHOW.

     ANN  - GET THAT DOG OUT OF THIS ROOM!

     GEORGE - MOM, HIS NAME IS MITCH. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF I

    CALLED YOU 'WOMAN'?

MAR  24   WHEN I GOT HOME, BETH ASKED ME IF SHE COULD HAVE A PET PIG. I ASKED HOW SHE GOT THAT IDEA. SHE HAD READ ABOUT A PET PIG IN THE APRIL 92 READER'S DIGEST ("AND HE WAS SOOOOO CUTE").

MAR  26   I NOTE TO GEORGE THAT THE 'SIMPSONS' APPEARS TO BE AN ALL NEW EPISODE. GEORGE SAYS, "I LOVE ALL NEW EPISODES".

MAR  27   I'M EATING A LATE SUPPER WHILE BETH IS STUDYING AT THE TABLE. SHE SAYS, "I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE ACT WEIRD", THEN SECONDS LATER SHE STARTS SINGING THE HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO HERSELF. I POINT OUT THE CONTRADICTION AND SHE FALLS DOWN IN UNCONTROLLABLE GIGGLES.

MAR  28   ANN AND I ARE READING IN BED. GEORGE COMES BOUNCING UP THE STAIRS AND ANNOUNCES THAT FOR HIS BIRTHDAY HE WANTS A `DEATH STAR'.  ANN SAYS, "WHAT'S THAT?". I ANSWER, "IT'S COLLOQUIAL FOR A HIGH CAPACITY OFFENSIVELY ARMED ORBITAL SPACE PLATFORM". ANN (WHO DOES NOT WATCH `STAR WARS' THEN SAYS, "YOU TAKE CARE OF IT MARTIN."

MAR  29   BETH SAYS THAT WHEN SHE IS MARRIED SHE WANTS A SPIRAL STAIRCASE, A CAT OR DOG (CAT PREFERRED), AT LEAST ONE EASY TO CLIMB TREE, A PORCH AND A ROSE BUSH AND NO IVY AT ALL (WE HAVE LOTS OF IVY).

MAR  30   AFTER A YEAR OF REFUSING TO LEARN TO RIDE A BICYCLE, SEVERAL TEMPER TANTRUMS, GEORGE GETS BIKE (MAR 29) AND BY TODAY, HE BEGS TO GO OUT RIDING IN THE RAIN AND DARK.

MAR  30   GEORGE CALLS ME UP AT WORK TO INFORM ME THAT IN 'RETURN OF THE JEDI' THE EWOKS USE DARTH VADAR'S HELMET ON THEIR VICTORY BONFIRE.

MAR  30   BETH TOLD STORY. SHE WAS AT SCHOOL AND MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS READING A BOOK ABOUT A GIRL WHO COULD LEAVE HER PHYSICAL BODY AND TRAVEL VIA ASTRAL PROJECTION.

     NINA (BETH'S FRIEND) - OH. I ASTRAL PROJECT ALL THE TIME.

     BETH - REALLY. HOW MANY TIMES?

     NINA - ACTUALLY ONLY ONCE.

     BETH - CAN YOU CONTROL YOUR TRIP?

     NINA - SURE, IT'S EASY.

     BETH - YEAH. RIGHT.

MAR  31   MORNING. ANN NOTICES THAT GEORGE'S BOOKBAG AND PAPERS ARE ALL OVER FLOOR. ANN TELLS ME TO REMIND GEORGE OF HIS DUTIES IN THAT REGARD. LATER THAT MORNING GEORGE COMES DOWNSTAIRS TO SEE ME OFF TO WORK. I STARTED TO TELL HIM ABOUT BEING NEAT. GEORGE SAYS, "DAD, MOM ALREADY YELLED AT ME FOR THAT SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO."

MAR  31   LAS VEGAS NEVADA ENDS MONTH WITH 4.8" OF RAIN, WETTEST MONTH IN THEIR 120 YEARS OF RECORDS. ALSO GREATER THAN AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL OF 4.5"

   WEISS FAMILY CHRONOLOGY 1992 PART 2

APR  01   PRO ICE HOCKEY PLAYERS GO ON STRIKE (NO APR FOOLS)

APR  02   ONE OF COLDEST APRIL DAYS IN HISTORY. MID DAY TEMPERATURES IN MID 30s (°F) WIND CHILL NEAR +5°F.

APR  05   GEORGE IS PAYING $3 MORE IN FEDERAL INCOME TAX THAN BETH THIS YEAR. "THAT'S NOT FAIR"-SAYS GEORGE. "IS TOO, IS TOO", SAYS BETH.

APR  06   8:40 PM. GEORGE WANTS TO DELAY GOING TO BED. I SAY, "BUT GEORGE, DIDN'T YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY AT RECESS TODAY?" GEORGE SAYS, "YES". M- "AND DIDN'T YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME RIDING YOUR BIKE", G- "YES". M- "AND DIDN'T YOU HAVE A GOOD TIME PLAYING KEEP AWAY WITH BETH AND ME THIS EVENING?" G- "YES". M- "WELL THEN IT WAS A VERY GOOD DAY WASN'T IT?" G- "YES, BUT IT WOULD BE AN EVEN BETTER DAY IF I COULD STAY UP LONGER."

APR  07   DURING CAR RIDE BETH ASKS, "DAD, IS MY HAIR BUN WEIRD?" M'S RESPONSE, "HUH!", B-"YOU KNOW SMUSHLED", M- "UH, UH, NO.", B- "THEN HOW ABOUT MY BANGS", M-"UH, OK.", B- "GOOD, BECAUSE IF YOUR BANGS LOOK GOOD, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW ELSE YOU LOOK, EXCEPT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE MY BUN LOOK WEIRD." M- "HUH". B- "YEAH, REALLY."

APR  07   SEATTLE LEADING 8-1 IN 8TH LOSES GAME TO TEXAS.

APR  10-15 BETH & GEORGE IN ATLANTA

APR  11   MARTIN & ANN AT PEAR BLOSSOM FESTIVAL IN FREDRICKSBURG,        VA.

APR  12   LOWEST SCORING NBA GAME SINCE FEB 27, 1955: DETROIT 72, NY 61. ALSO LOWEST NY KNICK SCORE IN TEAM HISTORY.

APR  18   WHILE ON ROUTINE CHECKUP AT ORTHODONTISTS, BETH, GEORGE AND I WERE ACTUALLY "TRAPPED" ON AN ELEVATOR. DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN. CAR WOULDN'T GO UP (TO 3) OR DOWN (TO 2). AFTER ABOUT 3 MINUTES, I PULLED THE RED BUTTON (THAT GEORGE POINTED OUT) THAT SAID, "PULL TO RUN" AND THE ELEVATOR WENT DOWN TO 1. BETH ACTUALLY HAD ENOUGH NERVE TO TAKE THE ELEVATOR DOWN AFTER CHECKUP. GEORGE AND I WALKED DOWN.

APR  18   ANN SAYS TO GEORGE AFTER HE HAD SPILLED A BOWL OF WATER DURING SEDER, "NO MORE GRAPE JUICE FOR YOU".

APR  18   BETH REQUESTS WE LET CAT IN BY SAYING, "IT'S SO TERRIBLE TO THINK OF HER SITTING OUTSIDE AND GETTING COLD DRIZZLE ON HER BEAUTIFUL SOFT GLOSSY FUR."

APR  18   MACKEY SASSER OF NY METS SINGLES INTO DOUBLE PLAY IN WHICH CATCHER DARRIN FLETCHER OF MONTREAL GETS TWO PUT OUTS AND AN ASSIST (ON RUNDOWN).

APR  20   TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS WHEN THE 24 HR FORECAST PREDICTED SUNNY IN 70s AND INSTEAD IT WAS CLOUDY IN 50s.

APR  21   SNOWSTORM IN MIDWEST. UP TO 26" IN S.DAKOTA, 12"NW MISSOURI TO CENTRAL NEBRASKA.

APR  23   MARION BARRY RELEASED FROM PRISON (ONLY 2 DAYS AFTER HIS 3RD APPEAL OF SENTENCING WAS DISMISSED).

APR  25   GEORGE SPENDS $5 AT SHAKEY'S ON VIDEOGAMES. M FINDS A

GIANT WOOLY CATERPILLAR IN YARD. IT CURLED UP INTO A BALL (2" DIAMETER).

APR  30-MAY 1  M IN SEATTLE.

MAY  2    GEORGE CRASHES INTO M WHILE BOTH WERE RIDING BICYCLE. WHILE I WAS TRYING TO SET THE CHAIN BACK ON THE GEARS, GEORGE CRASHED INTO ME AGAIN. HE GOT A BIG LECTURE ON BICYCLE SAFETY. 

MAY  4-5  M IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

MAY  5    GEORGE FALLS ON OUTSIDE STAIRS AND BITES LIP. BETH SETS HIM UP WITH THERAPEUTIC ICE FOR LIP CUT. WHEN DONE WITH LIP THERAPY GEORGE LEAVES UNTENDED ICE CUBES ON KITCHEN TABLE. FLOOD ENSUES. BETH SAYS, "HOW WAS I SUPPOSE TO KNOW HE WOULD LEAVE THEM ON THE TABLE?" GEORGE SAYS, "HOW WAS I SUPPOSE TO KNOW IT WOULD MELT."

MAY  6-8  UP TO 62" SNOW IN N.CAROLINA HIGHLANDS CLOSES PARTS OF BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY (AT ABOUT 35°N). SNOW FALLS AS FAR SOUTH AS GEORGIA.

MAY  9    AFTER ATTENDING A BAT MITZVAH KIDDUSH WITH DOZENS OF TYPES OF PASTRIES, FRUIT, ETC. A FEW MINUTES AFTER GETTING HOME I FOUND BETH READING AT KITCHEN TABLE WITH OPEN BAG OF HERSEY'S KISSES. HER EXCUSE, "THE DESSERTS WEREN'T PLAIN ENOUGH."

MAY 12-14 M IN PHOENIX ARIZONA. CLIMBED SQUAW PEAK (1600' HILL WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS). IT WAS ABOUT 100°F ALL THREE DAYS. BUT STATE MOTTO IS "BUT IT'S A DRY HEAT".

MAY  14   I WAS GOING OVER GEORGE'S HOMEWORK WITH HIM AND FINISHED REVIEWING HIS MATH HOMEWORK. I ASKED IF HE HAD HOMEWORK IN ANY OTHER SUBJECTS. HE SAID HE DIDN'T. I ASKED ABOUT SPELLING. GEORGE SAYS, "WELL I WAS HOPING TO TALK MY WAY OUT OF THAT."

MAY  14   A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AT BETH'S SCHOOL WAS ARRESTED TODAY. SEEMS HE WAS A CONVICTED MURDERER WHO HAD STRANGLED SOMEONE IN 1974 AND HAD ESCAPED FROM A VAN TRANSPORTING PRISONERS THE SUMMER OF 1991. THE STUDENT INTERVIEWED FOR THE FRONT PAGE ARTICLE IN THE PAPER SAID HE WAS WELL LIKED, COMPETENT AND RELATED WELL TO THE CHILDREN (BETH AGREES). MY THEORY- 7TH GRADE IS SIMILAR TO PRISON SO OF COURSE HE COULD RELATE WELL TO THE KIDS.

MAY  18   GEORGE'S SCHOOL HAS FIRE ALARM GO OFF DUE TO SMOKE FROM CAFETERIA.

MAY  20   GEORGE WIPES OUT IN HARD 180° BICYCLE TURN ON GRASS SURFACE AND POKES HIS STOMACH WITH HANDLE BAR. HE GOT ANOTHER BIG LECTURE ON BICYCLE SAFETY (SEE ALSO MAY 2 ENTRY). I TOLD HIM, "GEORGE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE QUITE AN EXPERT ON BICYCLE SAFETY IF YOU LIVE LONG ENOUGH."

MAY  21   LOW TEMP AT DULLES IS 33°F, MAX IS 84.

MAY  23   @ 1120am GEORGE IS FIRST IN WATER AT NEIGHBORHOOD POOL. GEORGE ALSO PASSED A SWIM TEST ENTITLING HIM TO GO IN THE DEEP END. AFTER PASSING THE TEST HE DIDN'T HAVE TO PASS IT SINCE HE HAD PASSED IT THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

MAY  24   ANN & M IN CULPEPPER, CHARLOTTESVILLE & SKYLINE DRIVE. ANN FIGURES OUT HOW TO TURN OFF BUBBLER ON HOT TUB AT BED AND BREAKFAST PLACE (SHE TOLD ME TO PUT THIS IN

CHRON).

HIGH TEMPS- MAY 23:91°F, MAY 24:86°F, MAY 25&26:54°F.

MAY  27   CHEYENNE WYO GETS 4" SNOW. GEORGE GETS BOOK ON PRESIDENTS          AND SAYS HE IS ASKING ME A QUESTION TO 'STOMP' ME.

MAY  30   BETH GOES TO TWO PARTIES IN ONE DAY (3PM TO 12AM). SHE SLEEPS UNTIL 12PM THE NEXT DAY.

MAY  30   GEORGE SEES ANN ORDERING THINGS BY PHONE OUT OF CATALOGUES WHILE LYING IN BED, SIPPING WINE AND WATCHING TV. GEORGE ASKS, "HOW CAN YOU PAY FOR THAT, MOMMY?"

     ANN-      I USE MY MASTERCARD.

     GEORGE-   HOW DO YOU GET A MASTERCARD.

     ANN BRIEFLY EXPLAINS ABOUT CREDIT.

     GEORGE-   DOES DADDY HAVE A CREDIT CARD.

     ANN-      AFTER ATTEMPTING TO EXPLAIN JOINT CREDIT SAYS, "I USE DADDY'S CARD."

     GEORGE-   AFTER THINKING, "WHEN I GET MARRIED WILL I HAVE TO LET MY WIFE USE MY MASTERCARD?"

     ONE OF WOMEN IN OFFICE TO WHOM I TOLD STORY SAID MY WIFE SHOULD HAVE RESPONDED - "ONLY IF YOU WANT TO STAY MARRIED."

JUN  03   ON WAY TO FINAL ORCHESTRA CONCERT (AFTER WHICH SHE RECEIVED 2 TROPHIES AND 3 MEDALS), BETH SAYS, "OH, NO. I SEE A SPOT ON MY SOCKS." I RESPONDED, "DARN, NOW EVERYBODY AT THE CONCERT WILL HAVE THEIR ENJOYMENT RUINED BECAUSE THEIR ATTENTION WILL BE RIVETED TO YOUR SOCK INSTEAD OF THE MUSIC."

JUN  04   GEORGE SAYS THAT SOME GIRLS IN HIS CLASS (3RD GRADE) GOT IN TROUBLE FOR SINGING THE MADONNA SONG 'MATERIAL GIRL' AT LUNCH. BETH ASKED IF THAT WAS A 'GOLDEN OLDIE' AND I SAID THAT MAYBE IT WAS SINCE IT WAS OVER 4 YEARS OLD. THEN BETH ASKED IF IT WAS A 'BACK SEAT MEMORY'.

JUN  07   SAW TWO KIDS CATCH 3 FISH AT NEIGHBORHOOD LAKE (2 CATFISH AND PERCHLIKE THING, BIGGEST CATFISH ABOUT 9").

JUN  07   NOTICED THAT OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS HAVE NEW SQUIRT GUNS THAT HOLD ALMOST 2 QUARTS OF WATER AND SHOOT OVER 100'. A NEW ARMS RACE HAS BEGUN.

JUNE 9-10  M IN LANSING, MICH. SUN SET AT 10PM.

JUNE 11   M GETS SUNBURNED AT GEORGE'S SCHOOL SWIMMING PARTY PICNIC. ANOTHER THING WE DIDN'T HAVE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP. LATER THAT DAY, I DISCOVERED THAT GEORGE HAD, ONCE AGAIN, DONE A VERY POOR JOB OF VACUUMING UNDER THE KITCHEN TABLE. I SAID, "GEORGE, SOMEDAY YOUR LIFE MAY DEPEND ON A GOOD VACUUMING JOB." GEORGE SAID, "THAT'S NOT REALLY TRUE IS IT.?" I SAID, "ACTUALLY I JUST THOUGHT IT SOUNDED COOL---BUT VACUUM AGAIN ANYWAY."

JUNE 14   UP TO 3" SNOW AT DONNER PASS (CALIFORNIA). ALSO LAST NIGHT I DREAMT I BOUGHT AN 18 WHEEL TRUCK BUT COULDN'T REMEMBER WHAT I PAID FOR IT. THEN I FELL BACK ASLEEP AND DREAMT IT COST $68,532 AND WOKE UP SCARED. THEN I FELL BACK ASLEEP AND DREAMT IT COST ONLY $18,532.

JUNE 15   JEFF KING (3B FOR PITTSBURGH) IS CAUGHT STEALING TWICE IN SAME INNING WITHOUT BEING UP TWICE. THE FIRST TIME HE WAS AWARD 2ND BASE WHEN PHILADELPHIA PITCHER INTERFERED

WITH HIM ON THE BASE PATH. BY JUNE 20, THE LEAGUE SCOREKEEPER DECIDED THAT INTERFERENCE CANCELS OUT A CAUGHT STEALING.

JUNE 21   WALKED TO GEORGE'S SCHOOL WITH HIM TODAY. HE SHOWED ME HIS FANTASY CLUBHOUSE (13 STORY OFFICE BUILDING WITH ELECTRONIC ELEVATOR SECURITY, WEAPONS ASSEMBLY PLANT, ETC.)

JUNE 22   KIDS WENT TO POOL TODAY TO WATCH SWIM MEET. IT WAS IN MID 60s BY END OF MEET. PARENTS WEARING SWEATERS.

JUNE 24   WENT SWIMMING TODAY. TEMPERATURE STILL NOT ABOVE 80°F.

JUNE 24   A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE MANASSAS PARK, VA. PTA WAS CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLING MORE THAN $6,400 IN PTA FUNDS. I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR YEARS THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY FUNDRAISERS.

JUNE 26   BETH TELLS ME THAT SHE SAW A GIRL ON TV THAT HAD 150 PAIR OF SHOES AND 45 POCKETBOOKS IN HER WALK IN CLOSET AND HAD THEM ALL ARRANGED BY DRESSINESS AND COLOR AND SIZE AND IT WAS SOOOOO WONDERFUL.

JUNE 27   GEORGE BREAKS GLASS PANE ON FRONT DOOR WHEN HE COULDN'T GET KEY TO WORK WHILE HOLDING HELIUM BALLOON. AFTER I YELLED AT HIM A BIT, HE SAID, "DAD, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GET OVER THIS."

JUNE 28   FOUR TIMES DECORATED D.C. POLICEWOMEN IS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH VARIETY OF CRIMES WORKING WITH A DRUG GANG SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO SPY ON.

JUNE 29   GEORGE BRAKES GOOD PAIR OF GLASSES.

JUNE 30   GEORGE LOST OTHER PAIR OF GLASSES (ALSO LOST LIBRARY BOOK) THIS MONTH.

JUNE 30   NO DAYS ABOVE 90°F THIS MONTH. FIRST TIME IN MY MEMORY.

JUNE 30   FAIRFAX COUNTY RAISES OVERDUE LIBRARY BOOK FEE TO 20 CENTS/DAY (FROM 10 CENTS/DAY).

JUNE 30   BETH WHILE WATCHING MOVIE SAYS, "I PROMISE I WON'T EAT THE WHOLE MOVIE".HE SUMMER THERMOSTAT SETTING 1°F.

     Weiss Family Chronicles 1992 Part 3

JULY 04   BETH LEAVE NATIONAL AIRPORT FOR ATLANTA (THEN ISRAEL). GEORGE AND I GO DOWNTOWN TO FIREWORKS. ON WAY WE PASS HIRSHORN MUSEUM OF MODERN 'ART'. I POINTED OUT A LARGE 12'x20' SCULPTURE OF A BIRD THAT LIES ON THE GROUNDS. GEORGE SAID, "IF I COULDN'T DO ANY BETTER THAN THAT, I WOULDN'T DO SCULPTURE AT ALL."

JULY 7    ANDY VAN SLYKE GETS UNASSISTED DOUBLE PLAY IN 6TH INNING VS. HOUSTON. HE CAUGHT LUIS GONZALEZ'S FLY IN SHORT CENTER THEN BOBBLED IT AND REACHED THE INFIELD IN TIME TO BEAT KEN CAMINITI TO 1ST BASE. THIS WAS FIRST UNASSISTED DOUBLE PLAY BY AN OUTFIELDER SINCE BILLY NORTH DID IT FOR OAKLAND JULY 28, 1974.

JULY 9/10 M IN BOSTON.

JULY 11   END OF COOL SPELL IN DC. BEGINNING OF HOT SPELL.

JULY 12   GEORGE TO CAMP. ON JULY 14, GEORGE CALLED AND FELT STRANGE AFTER EATING TOMATO SAUCE BUT THEN ON JULY 16, HE SAID HE REALLY WANTED TO STAY AT CAMP AN EXTRA WEEK.

JULY 12   ANN CHANGES SPONGE ON SPONGE MOP BY HERSELF (SHE TOLD ME      TO PUT THIS IN).

JULY 16   PURCHASED MY FIRST CIRCULAR FLORESCENT BULB FOR HALLWAY        DOWNSTAIRS.

JULY 17   LAST WEEK WE GOT A NEW FURNACE WITH MORE POWERFUL FAN. TODAY, I RAISED THE THERMOSTAT SETTING 1°F ON THE DIGITAL THERMOSTAT THAT ONLY I USE.

JULY 22  IN BALTIMORE FIFTH, GLEN DAVIS DOUBLED INTO A DOUBLE PLAY. CAL RIPKIN WHO WAS ON FIRST WAS THROWN OUT AT THE PLATE, DAVIS WAS THROWN OUT AT THIRD (ONE OF 5 WHITE SOX DOUBLE PLAYS).

JULY 24   PHOENIX ARIZONA GETS OVER 6" RAIN WHICH EXCEEDS NORMAL ANNUAL AVERAGE RAINFALL.

JULY 26   VON HAYS (OF ANGLES) SINGLES IN 3 RUNS IN BOTTOM OF 8TH WHEN PITCHER (BUDDY GROOM OF TIGERS) USES WIND UP WITH 2 OUTS AND 3-2 COUNT. IT WAS THE WINNING RUN.

JULY 27   IN HIS FIRST 300 ATTEMPTS AT STEALING, ERIC DAVIS OF THE DODGERS (FORMERLY OF THE REDS) WAS CAUGHT ONLY 37 TIMES.

JULY 28   AT 1 AM GEORGE WAKES UP AND SAYS HE HAS CHEST PAINS, DIZZINESS AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH. I TRY TO EXPLAIN WHY 8 YEAR OLD KIDS DON'T GET HEART ATTACKS. THE NEXT DAY AT DOCTOR (WE ALSO WENT TO ORTHODONTIST AND DENTIST TOTAL 7 DOCTOR FEES IN ONE DAY), WE FOUND THE DIZZINESS, AND OTHER STUFF ALL CAUSED BY SINUS INFECTION & CONGESTION.

AUG  01   ABOUT TWO DOZENS CITIES IN MIDWEST AND NORTHEAST US HAD COOLEST JULY IN RECORDED HISTORY.

AUG  02   WHILE ON WALK ALONG MT VERNON PKWY TRAIL, I TOLD BETH I LOVE IT WHEN SHE CLAPS HER HANDS AND DOES A HAPPY TWIRL.  SHE SAYS "I'LL TRY TO REMEMBER NOT TO DO THAT." THEN ON WAY HOME BETH WANTS TO STOP AT DRUG STORE TO GET SOME COLDCREAM. I ASKED WHY AND SHE SAID IT WAS TO PREVENT

WRINKLES WHEN SHE'S FIFTY. I ASKED IF SHE HAD READ IT IN TEEN MAGAZINE. SHE ADMITTED SHE HAD BUT THEN SAID, "WHAT'S THE USE OF READING IF YOU CAN'T WASTE MONEY ON SOMETHING YOU DON'T NEED."

AUG  06   I WAS TALKING TO ANN WHO WANTED TO TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT WORK AND DIDN'T WANT THE KIDS TO HEAR. SO BEFORE SHE STARTED, ANN, THINKING GEORGE WAS IN, CALLED OUT, "GEORGE, GET OUT OF HERE". GEORGE, WHO HAD BEEN EAVESDROPPING NEAR THE BED, POPPED HIS HEAD UP AND SAID, "I'M NOT IN THIS ROOM." THEN PAUSED AND SAID, "WHOOPS" AND LEFT.

AUG  06   3 HR 32 MIN GAME 2-0, TEXAS VS. OAKLAND

AUG  12   BETH AND GEORGE VISIT MY BROTHER AND HIS WIFE. GEORGE ORDERS HAMBURGER AT RESTAURANT AND WHEN WAITER ASKS HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE, HE SAYS, "AS RARE AS IT CAN LEGALLY BE SERVED." THUS MAKING EVERYBODY LAUGH.

AUG  16   GEORGE - "WHO DO YOU LIKE TO BE WITH MORE, ME OR BETH?"

          M - "IT DEPENDS"

          GEORGE -"YOU MEAN IF YOU'RE MAD AT ME YOU WOULD RATHER BE               WITH BETH."

          M - "YES"

          GEORGE -"AND IF YOU'RE MAD AT BETH YOU WOULD RATHER BE             WITH ME."

          M - "RIGHT"

          GEORGE -"AND IF YOU'RE NOT MAD AT EITHER OF US, WHICH              HAPPENS ONLY RARELY....JUST A JOKE."

AUG  16   TOOK BETH TO SEE "BUFFY, THE VAMPIRE SLAYER". BETH HAS SEEN A NUMBER OF VAMPIRE MOVIES AND WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW THE PLOT BETTER THAN MOST OF THE TEENAGERS AND OTHERS IN THE THEATER.

AUG  20-21 THE BAT MITZVAH FOR BETH TURNED OUT REAL WELL. HAD ABOUT 15 PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN. 75 PEOPLE AT THE FRI SHABBAT SUPPER, 90 AT FRI SERVICES, 230 AT SAT SERVICES, 16 AT SAT NIGHT PARTY. BETH LED PRAYERS VERY WELL. GEORGE LEAD PSALM 145 IN HEBREW. HAD ABOUT 7 GALLONS OF ICE CREAM LEFT OVER.

AUG  22   IN COMMENTS ABOUT STYLES WITH BETH, GEORGE SAYS, "I CAN'T WAIT FOR IT TO BE FASHIONABLE TO HAVE YOUR CLOTHES NOT MATCH."

AUG  22   BOTH HURRICANE WATCH (FLORIDA) AND HEAVY SNOW WARNINGS (MONTANA) IN EFFECT SIMULTANEOUSLY.

AUG  25-27BETH, GEORGE, ERIN ZUKOR AND M AT NAGS HEAD. SAW GIANT SAND DUNES, WRIGHT BROS MUSEUM AND ROANOKE IS. COLONY STUFF. BIG WAVES.

AUG  28   MILWAUKEE GETS 31 HITS (ONLY 4 FOR EXTRA BASES) IN 9 INNING 22-2 WIN OVER TORONTO. TIED NL RECORD SET IN 1901, BROKE AL RECORD (28 HITS BY YANKS VS BOST IN 1923).

AUG  29   FOUND 5" LONG PRAYING MANTIS ON ARBOVICA BUSH IN FRONT YARD./// AT GROCERY STORE, GEORGE ASKS IF HE CAN CHOOSE CEREAL. I TOLD HIM THAT HE COULD BUT THAT I MIGHT NOT AGREE TO BUY IT. GEORGE BROUGHT ME A BOX OF 'GOLDEN CRISP' EXPECTING ME TO REJECT HIS CHOICE. INSTEAD, I SAID, "I LOVE THIS STUFF" AND I WENT ON TO TELL HIM THAT

IN 1971 I JOINED THE SUGAR BEAR ECOLOGY CLUB (WHEN THE CEREAL WAS CALLED 'SUGAR CRISP') AND STILL REMEMBER THE CLUB SONG. GEORGE SAID HE ALMOST FAINTED BUT INSTEAD SAID, "I BET I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE HAVING FOR BREAKFAST TOMORROW./// BETH HAD TWO PARTIES TO GO TO TONITE BUT, ALAS, SHE GOT SICK. THE KIDS AT PARTY #1 BROUGHT HER SOME CAKE AND A BALLOON.

AUG  30   BOUGHT EGGS FOR 59 CENTS/DOZEN. SAME PRICE AS 1960s.

SEPT 01   BETH MADE MICROWAVE CUPCAKES DURING DAY. WHEN ANN GOT HOME AND OPENED BAKING DISH, THERE WERE ONLY 3 LEFT. ANN ASKED WHERE THEY ALL WENT. BETH SAYS (IN AGRIEVED VOICE), "I ONLY ATE 6". WHEN I ASKED HER HOW SHE WAS ABLE TO EAT SOME MANY IN ONE DAY, BETH SAID, "WELL, I DIDN'T GET AROUND TO EATING LUNCH."

SEPT 02   TOOK OFF WORK AND TOOK KIDS TO CAMERON RUN PARK. WE SPENT UNTIL 6:30 PM ON WATER SLIDES AND WAVE POOL. WITH TEMPS IN HIGH 70s, CLOUDY AND SCHOOL ALREADY STARTED IN MD. WE HAD ALMOST NO WAIT TO USE WATER SLIDE.

SEPT 10   I HAD A DREAM THAT THE BUSH-QUALYE TICKET HAD ASKED ME FOR ADVICE AND I TOLD THEM TO SET UP A NATIONAL PROGRAM OF 'ALL THE ICE CREAM YOU CAN EAT FOR 50 CENTS PSEUDO FUNDRAISERS, THE PURPOSE BEING TO PUT PEOPLE IN A GOOD MOOD FOR SPEECHS. I TOLD BETH AND SHE ASKED IF I TOOK HER. I SAID THAT SHE WASN'T THERE IN THE DREAM AND BETH SAID IN HER IRATE VOICE, "WELL THANKS A LOT, DAD".

SEPT 15-16 M IN DOVER DELAWARE. THEY HAVE NO SALES TAX AND A GROCERY CHAIN NAMED ACME (SAME NAME AS COMPANY THAT SOLD WILEY COYOTE ALL THOSE THINGS HE TRIED TO CAPTURE THE ROAD RUNNER WITH).

SEPT 16-18 M AT O'HARE AIRPORT. HIGHLIGHT WAS WAITING 45 MINUTES TO BE SERVED AT O'HARE HILTON RESTAURANT. SEPT 18 FELL ASLEEP DURING BALT MILW GAME, DREAMT MILW SCORED 40 RUNS IN A INNING.

SEPT 19   GEORGE'S FIRST SOCCOR GAME OF SEASON. MOST OF FIRST PERIOD WAS PLAYED IN DOWNPOUR, EVEN HARD KICKS DIDN'T TRAVEL FAR. FOUND DEAD RAT OUTSIDE IN BACK. HOME OWNER'S ASSOCIATION HAD BEEN WARNING PEOPLE NOT TO OVERFEED THE DUCKS AT THE LOCAL POND BECAUSE IT WOULD BRING RATS. GUESS THEY WERE RIGHT.

SEPT 20   DEAD RAT GONE. WE SUSPECT THAT FAMILY OF SKUNKS, YES SKUNKS, NEXT DOOR FOUND IT AND GOT IT.

SEPT 20   MICKEY MORANDINI (PHI) MAKES 1ST UNASSISTED TRIPLE PLAY IN NL SINCE MAY 30, 1927. JEFF KING (PITTS) HIT LINE DRIVE, ANDY VAN SLYKE CAUGHT OFF 2ND, BARRY BONDS TAGGED OUT COMING FROM 1ST. PITTS WAS ALSO THE VICTEM 65 YEARS AGO WHEN JIMMY COONEY (CHI) DID SAME (PAUL WARNER BATTING, LLOYD WARNER CAUGHT OFF 2ND). 1992'S PIRATE ANNOUNCER (ART McKENNAN) WAS THERE IN PERSON FOR THAT ONE ALSO (AS A FAN).

SEPT 21-23 M IN AUSTIN, TEX. THIS WAS THE FOURTH TIME IN FOUR VISITS TO AUSTIN THAT I'VE STAYED IN A MOTEL WITH A FREE FULL BREAKFAST BUFFET.

SEPT 29   GEORGE GETS VIOLA WHICH HE WILL STUDY. I KIDDED HIM THAT JUST LIKE LUKE AND LAIYA BOTH HAD THE FORCE, BOTH HIM AND BETH WILL KNOW THE VIOLA.

SEPT 30   GEORGE BRETT GETS 3000TH HIT BECOMING 2ND PERSON THIS MONTH TO DO SO (ROBIN YOUNT GOT HIS 3000TH HIT IN MID MONTH).

         WEISS CHRONOLOGY 1992 CONT.

OCT  01   AFTER BETH HAD PROCLAIMED HER TERROR OF CHLORESTOL, I TOLD HER THAT BECAUSE OF HER HEART &  CIRCULATION &  METABOLISM, SHE COULD EAT FIVE ENTIRE DEEP FRIED PORK RIND PACKAGES IN ONE DAY AND NOT GAIN WEIGHT NOR HAVE HER BLOOD CHOLESTOROL RISE MORE THAN A BLIP. SHE EXCLAIMED SOMETHING LIKE, "OH GOOD". I THEN SAID, "BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU DID THAT YOU WOULD SMELL BAD... REALLY BAD.

OCT  04   MORNING NEWSPAPER CALLED FOR SUNNY, HIGH 72°F. TOOK FAMILY TO PICNIC. BY 3 PM WE HAD MODERATE RAIN AND TEMP IN 50s.

OCT  04   DODGERS IN LAST PLACE FOR 1ST TIME SINCE 1905, RED SOX IN LAST FOR 1ST TIME SINCE 1932. ROGER CLEMENS (BOSTON) WINS ERA TITLE FOR 3RD CONSECUTIVE YEAR, 1ST 3-IN-A-ROW SINCE LEFTY GROVE IN 1929-1932. CHRIS HOILES (BALT) HAS FEWEST RBIs (40) OF ANY PLAYER TO HIT 20 HRS IN BASEBALL HISTORY. DAVE WINFIELD (TORONTO) IS FIRST PLAYER TO HAVE MORE THAN 100 RBIs (108) AT AGE OF 40. BRADY ANDERSON (BALT) IS FIRST AL PLAYER EVER WITH 20+ HRS, 50+ SB AND 75+ RBIs (ALSO HAD 10 TRIPLES).

OCT  06   GEORGE TAKES VIOLA TO SCHOOL. WE TOLD HIM OVER AND OVER TO BE SURE TO REMEMBER TO BRING HIS VIOLA BACK HOME. HE LEFT HIS BOOKBAG ON THE BUS. THE NEXT SCHOOL DAY WE TOLD HIM OVER AND OVER TO BE SURE TO BRING HIS BOOKBAG BACK. HE LEFT HIS BITEPLATE (ORTHODONTRY HARDWARE) IN HIS DESK.

OCT  09   TODAY ON ANIMAL KINGDOM GEORGE AND I CHEERED THE FROG EATING HIS PREY IN SLOWMOTION WHILE BETH SAID, "OOY YUCK, GROSS" OR WORDS TO THAT EFFECT.

OCT 14-15 M IN ASHEVILLE, N.C. ANOTHER PERFECT FLYING DAY ON A LOW FLYING TURBOPROP

OCT  16   GEORGE BREAKS PLANTER BOX 3RD TIME ("THAT WASN'T MY THIRD TIME, IT WAS MY SECOND TIME!" HE SAID).  GEORGE COMES IN AND EXCLAIMS, "DAD, COME OUTSIDE, THERE'S A SNAKE." I JOGGED TO WHERE HE SAID THE SNAKE WAS. THE SNAKE WAS GONE. "SO, YOU'VE BROUGHT ME ALL THE WAY HERE TO SEE WHERE A SNAKE USED TO BE, EH?"

OCT  17  PURCHASED PUMPKIN PER REQUEST OF REST OF FAMILY AND PROMISE BY ANN TO MAKE PUMPKIN BREAD.

OCT  20-22 M IN FT LAUDERDALE, FLO. GOT TO SWIM IN ATLANTIC 2 AFTERNOONS FOR ABOUT 1 HR. WATER TEMP=AIR TEMP=ABOUT 80°F. WAVES HUGE 10'+ WITH EAST WIND OVER 20 MPH. BETWEEN WAVE PERIOD ONLY A FEW SECONDS.

OCT  24   WENT TO PARTY IN ROANOKE. SAW NATURAL BRIDGE ON WAY BACK.

OCT  25   APPLES DOWN TO 3 LBS FOR 71 CENTS.

OCT  26   CARVED PUMPKIN,

OCT  30   PUMPKIN MOLDY, MUST BE THROWN AWAY, DAY BEFORE HOLLOWEEN. STILL NO PUMPKIN BREAD. (GOT PUMPKIN BREAD NOV 1)

NOV  02   BETH DECIDES TO MAKE GRITS FOR LUNCH. SHE MISREAD THE DIRECTIONS AND INSTEAD OF USING 3 CUPS OF WATER, SHE USED 3 CUPS OF GRITS.  WHEN I GOT HOME, I TOLD HER SHE COULDN'T GO TO COLLEGE UNTIL SHE FINISHED THAT BOWL OF GRITS.  SHE ASKED ME TO PROMISE NOT TO TELL THE GRITS STORY TO ANY BOYS SHE INVITED TO THE HOUSE.

NOV  04   BETH ASKES ME WHAT ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL IS BETTER THAN INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL. AFTER CONSIDERABLE THOUGHT I SAID,

              "YOUR FRIENDSHIPS ARE MORE INTENSE BECAUSE THEY ARE BASED ON MORE INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT."

          BETH SAID, "PRETTY DESPARATE. IF YOU CAN'T DO ANY BETTER THAN THAT WHY DON'T YOU GIVE UP."

NOV  04   BETH IN CONVERSATION WITH A GIRL NAMED MIEKO. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT GETTING MARRIED EARLY VS. MARRIED LATE. MIEKO SAID THAT ONE ADVANTAGE OF BEING MARRIED EARLY IS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE MORE IN COMMON WITH THE CHILDREN. BETH SAID, "JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE FROM THE STONE AGE AND NOT THE ICE AGE."  

NOV  06   BETH AND I WERE DRIVING AROUND 10 PM AND SAW A SKUNK AND FOUR DEER.  THE EYES OF THE DEER GLOWED. (GEORGE & I SAW TWO DEER ABOUT 6PM ON NOV 30).

NOV  13   BETH SAYS, "I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO WEAR TONIGHT"

          I SAY, "BUT YOUR CLOSET IS FULL"

          BETH SAYS, "BUT I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT MAKES A STATEMENT ABOUT HOW I FEEL ABOUT MYSELF", THEN LAUGHS AND LATER ADMITS SHE SAW SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THE COMIC STRIP "FOXTROT".

NOV  17-19, M IN SPRINGFIELD, ILL. WHEN I GOT HOME, THE WORD PERFECT EXECUTE FILE WAS MESSED UP AS WAS GEORGE'S VIOLA BOW. FORTUNATELY BOTH WERE FIXABLE.

NOV  22   GEORGE ASKS ME TO GIVE HIM THE HARDEST 50 STATE QUESTION I COULD. I ASKED HIM, "IN WHAT STATE DOES PAUL FRANCIOLI LIVE?". GEORGE HAD NEVER MET, OR HEARD OF PAUL. HIS FIRST GUESS WAS NEVADA (CORRECT ON FIRST TRY).

NOV  24   ABOUT 35 MI. S OF OUR HOUSE ON THE WAY TO ATLANTA, WE HEARD A RATTLE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THEN THE AMP LIGHT WENT ON.  GEORGE SAID, "I THINK THE ALTERNATOR BELT (ONE OF THE FEW PARTS OF A CAR HE HAS HEARD OF) BROKE." HE WAS RIGHT.

NOV  28   ONE HIGHLIGHT OF VISIT WAS TRIP TO WESTIN (72 STORY HOTEL) BETH GOT LOST BEING THE 'HIDE' IN HIDE AND GO SEEK (THEY HAD TO STAY ON 5TH-9TH FLOOR. GEORGE GOT LOST GOING FROM FLOOR 6 TO FLOOR 5.  WE RODE THE (GLASS ENCLOSED EXTERNAL TO THE BUILDING) ELEVATOR UP AND DOWN 3 TIMES TO THE 72ND FLOOR.

NOV  28   WE STOPPED AT A TRUCK STOP FOR A SNACK ABOUT 8 PM. WE ALL GOT TO A TABLE AND BETH LOOKED AROUND AT ALL THE TRUCKERS (WHO ALL WERE WEARING TYPICAL TRUCKER ATTIRE) AND SAID, "DAD, ARE WE IN SOME KIND OF MOVIE OR SOMETHING".

NOV 29   WE TOOK THE TOUR AT MONTICELLO.

DEC  05   GEORGE PULLS TWO TENDONS.  HE GETS CRUTCHES. HE FALLS OFF CRUTCHES.  HE GETS TO MISS SPELLING TEST (3 OF 4 WEEKS NOW HE HAS MISSED TEST FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER.)

DEC  09   GEORGE BACK AT SCHOOL & BY 11TH, AT SCHOOL W/O CRUTCHS.

DEC  11   PARENTS OF 2ND GRADE GIRL IN GEORGE'S SCHOOL WERE SHOT AND KILLED. ON THE 16TH, GEORGE BROUGHT HOME A NOTE ANNOUNCING IT. AS OF DEC 21 STILL NO INFO ON MOTIVE, ETC.

DEC  12   GEORGE TO GET NEW RETAINER IN 3 WEEKS.  HE HAD LOST PREVIOUS RETAINER.

DEC  13   GEORGE TYPES HIS SPELLING WORDS.  TWO KIDS COME OVER TO GET THEM.  GEORGE HAD SPELLED THREE OF THEM WRONG.

DEC  14   AFTER TELLING GEORGE HE SHOULD HAVE RETURNED SOME BORROWED BINOCULARS, GEORGE SAYS, "WELL BETH HASN'T TAKEN OUT THE HANUKKAH DECORATIONS AND IT WAS A WEEK AND A HALF AGO THAT YOU TOLD HER TO DO THAT."

     I ASKED "IS THAT HOW YOU EXCUSE YOURSELF FROM BEING YELLED AT"      GEORGE SAID, "IT USUALLY WORKS TOO."

DEC  18   TOOK KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL AND WENT TO WILLIAMSBURG, VA. ALMOST HIT DEER ON RAMP.  GOT TO SEE A HOG BUTCHERED.  KIDS ALSO LIKE THE BLACKSMITH.  AT VISITOR'S CENTER THEY HAD PICTURES OF FAMOUS GUESTS INCLUDING ONE OF SECRETARY OF STATE HEINZ KISSINGER (CIRCA 76) WHERE ALL THREE PEOPLE IN PICTURE HAD RED EYE FROM FLASHBULB. FAMOUS GUESTS ALSO INCLUDE LASSIE, QUEEN ELIZABETH, AND ABOUT 40 OTHERS BUT NONE WITH RED EYE.    

DEC  19   WENT TO HANUKKAH DINNER THING. HAD MAGICIAN DO RABBIT TRICK, ETC. WITH GEORGE ONLY ABOUT 3 FT FROM MAGICIAN.

DEC  22   GEORGE USES OCCASION OF LIGHTING THE HANUKKAH CANDLES TO 'ACCIDENTLY' LET HIS HOMEWORK CATCH ON FIRE. I SUPPOSE THAT WASN'T WHAT A 'BURNT OFFERING' IS SUPPOSED TO BE. ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE PROBABLY HAVE BEEN FEW MORE HEARTFELT SACRIFICES IN THIS CENTURY.

DEC  25   LET KIDS DRIVING IN HECHINGERS PARKING LOT. THEN ANN AND I SAW HOFFA. SHE LIKED IT. I DIDN'T.

DEC  29   I HAD BEEN READING DURANT'S STORY OF CIVILIZATION AND GOT TO THE 17TH CENTURY DUTCH AND FLEMISH ART (IN VOL VII).  AFTER READING, I TOOK OFF A COUPLE OF HOURS AND WENT TO THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART. THEY HAD A DOZENS OF RUBENS, VANDYKES, HALS, REMBRANDTS, ETC. HOW ABOUT THAT. AND NATURALLY I NEVER APPRECIATED THEM THE FIRST 10 TIMES I HAD BEEN THROUGH THAT COLLECTION.

DEC  30   AFTER A NUMBER OF HEAVY STORMS IN WEST COAST, SNOW PACK IN SIERRA MOUNTAINS REACHES 10 FOOT LEVEL (3 METRES).

DEC  30   LING-LING, ONE OF GIANT PANDAS AT NATIONAL ZOO DIES AT AGE 23. DOCTORS REMOVED SOME OVUM AND HOPE TO USE AI ON SOME OTHER GIANT PANDA TO HAVE FIRST SURROGATE PANDA (HONEST)

DEC  31   YEAR CLOSES WITH DECREASE OF ABOUT 7% IN NUMBER OF MURDERS IN D.C. AND SOMEWHAT LARGER DECREASE ELSEWHERE IN THE REGION. ALTHOUGH THE RATE IS STILL TOPS IN THE NATION (AMONG STATES OR STATE EQUIVALENT GOVT.) AND THE RATE DECREASED ALMOST EVERYWHERE IN THE REGION, THE MAYOR AND POLICE CLAIMED CREDIT.

DEC  31   I TOOK KIDS ICE SKATING TODAY. 1ST TIME SINCE WE'VE LIVED IN THE COUNTY (ALTHOUGH THEY'VE BEEN BEFORE WITH THEIR FRIENDS). BETH ACTUALLY SKATES FAIRLY PROFICIENTLY.