Way Back Machine 1994

        Weiss Family Chronology 1ST Q 1994

JAN  01   TOOK GEORGE TO MISTER DAY'S (A SPORT'S BAR IN D.C.) TO WATCH THE UCLA-WISC GAME. GEORGE WAS ANNOYED THAT EVERYONE GOT SO EXITED OVER MERE 1ST DOWNS.

JAN  02   BETH SPENDS 3 HOURS AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE WORKING ON THAT FAMILY'S JIGSAW PUZZLE THEN COMES HOME WITH HER FRIEND FOR ANOTHER 3 HOURS OF JIGSAW PUZZLE WORK. I NOTICE THAT BETH BROUGHT A PILLOW TO SIT ON WHILE DOING THE PUZZLE.

JAN  03   BETH COMPLAINS THAT THE WORDS SHE HAS TO LEARN FOR THE GEOLOGY MODULE OF SCIENCE (E.G. PALEOZOIC, CAMBRIAN) SUCK ALL THE ENERGY OUT OF HER AND MAKE HER WANT TO NAP.

JAN  04-06 M IN INDIANAPOLIS. TOOK PICTURE OF PYRAMIDS, SAW H. STEIGERWALDT FAMILY AFTER 23 YEARS. ATE AT ST ELMO.

JAN  07   VISITED GEORGE AT SCHOOL. ONE 5TH GRADE GIRL WEARS HEAVY MAKEUP (BUT WIPED IT OFF AFTER LUNCH). ANOTHER GIRL WAS TRYING TO ANTAGONIZE A CLASSMATE. ANOTHER GIRL MOUTHED OFF DURING READING. I TOLD THIS TO MY WIFE AT DINNER. BETH SAID, "THAT'S THE TROUBLE WITH THE YOUNGER GENERATION. (AND LAUGHED AT HER JOKE)"

JAN  08   DURING 20 QUESTIONS, I HAD A NAME THE KIDS WERE STUMPED AND COULDN'T THINK OF A GOOD QUESTION. FINALLY BETH SAID, "IS THIS PERSON SURROUNDED BY EMOTIONAL SUPPORT?" THEN WE LAUGHED AND GEORGE SAID, "WHEN YOU'RE STUCK- GO FOR THE PSYCHOBABBLE."

JAN  12   GEORGE TELLS ME HE HAS JUST ADVANCED TO NEW LEVEL ON AN ELECTRONIC HAND HELD GAME. I ASK IF THE LEVEL RESETS WHEN YOU TAKE THE BATTERY OUT. GEORGE SAYS, "OH YES IT DOES. I'VE DONE THAT SEVERAL TIMES....WAIT, JUST WHAT ARE YOU GETTING AT."

JAN  15   BETH'S MUSIC TEACHER TELLS HER THAT HER VIOLA PLAYING IS TOO 'FLOATY' SHE LAUGHED BECAUSE I HAD USED THE SAME WORD TO DESCRIBE HER.

JAN  15   COLDEST DAY IN D.C. SINCE AT LEAST 1985, MAYBE EARLIER. MAX TEMPERATURE TODAY WAS 18°F AT NATIONAL AIRPORT WITH WINDS AROUND 20-30 MPH.

JAN  17   SLEET ALL DAY WITH TEMPS IN 20'S STORM. FIXED FONT DRIVER IN COMPUTER AGAIN (IT MAY HAVE BEEN MESSED UP BY AN-NO MINE- ATTEMPT TO INSTALL A PIRATED WINDOWS).

JAN  18   M HAS HERNIA REMOVED. EVEN WITH MOST POWERFUL PAIN KILLER LEGALLY PRESCRIBABLE, IT HURTS A LOT. SLOW RECOVERY OVER NEXT TWO WEEKS.

JAN  19   EVEN COLDER DAY. HIGH TEMP 8°F. D.C. MAYOR ORDERS NON EMERGENCY BUSINESSES (INCLUDING GOVT) CLOSED (ELECTRICITY SHORTAGE) EMERGENCY CONTINUES JAN 20TH. FIRST TIME EVER (GOVT CLOSING FOR COLD AS OPPOSED TO CLOSING FOR SNOW).

JAN  20   SIGNED SALE DOCUMENTS FOR OUR PROPERTY IN N. CAROLINA. LIQUIDATING OUR LAST NON-VIRGINIA REAL PROPERTY HOLDING. HAD TO GET A NOTARY TO COME TO HOUSE BECAUSE OF MY SURGERY (PLANNED CLOSING NEXT WEEK BUT BUYER ANTSY).

JAN  23   AFTER DINNER AND BEFORE DESSERT, GEORGE QUESTIONS WHETHER WE CAN HAVE ICE CREAM AFTER EATING MACKEREL.  (JEWISH DIETARY LAW ITEM) ANN INDICATES THAT MACKEREL IS A FISH. GEORGE SAYS, "REALLY". ANN SAYS, "YES, AND TOMORROW WE'RE GOING TO TEACH YOU HOW TO COUNT TO THREE."

JAN  24   GEORGE GIVES 5TH GRADE HISTORY PRESENTATION ON BATTLE OF CANNAE USING TIC TACS TO REPRESENT ROMANS, CARTHAGINIANS AND GAULS. HIS CLASS ASKED QUESTIONS SUCH AS, "WHERE DID YOU GET THE BOX?, CAN I HAVE A TIC TAC, WHO DREW THE BACKGROUND." GEORGE GAVE SARCASTIC ANSWERS.

JAN  25   ENTIRE ROLL OF PICTURES WIPED OUT BY FAILURE OF CAMERA TO REWIND.  HAD PICTURES OF INDIANAPOLIS PYRAMIDS.

JAN  25   GEORGE SAYS, "DAD CAN WE SUBSCRIBE TO NICKELODEON MAGAZINE?" I ASKED WHY. HE SAID, "BECAUSE IT HAS ARTICLES ON THE MOST ANNOYING CAR SONGS, THE INSIDE OF A GYM TEACHER'S BRAIN, A SEARCH THROUGH THE WORLD'S MESSIEST BEDROOM, A COMIC BOOK, AND MORE."

JAN  29   M IN PENNSYLVANIA. MODERATE SNOW AT MONTERREY, MEXICO AT 25°40'N (ELEVATION ABOUT 1500'), ABOUT THE SAME LATITUDE (BUT NOT SAME EL.) AS MIAMI, FLORIDA OR LUXOR, EGYPT.

FEB  02   BETH'S FIRST DAY OF 'BLOCK SCHEDULING'. THIS MEANS SHE HAS 3 CLASSES OF ABOUT 85 MINUTES EACH (AND ONE OF 50) RATHER THAN 6 CLASSES OF ABOUT 50 MINUTES EACH.

FEB 05    M IN PENNSYLVANIA (WILL BE DOING NAVAL RESERVE TRAINING EACH MONTH AT NAVAL AIR STATION WILLOW GROVE). ATE AT RESTAURANT 'EDIBLES'.  ORDERED AN ENTREE AND CONVERSATION WENT AS FOLLOWS:

     M- I'D LIKE A BEER WITH THAT, WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

     WAITRESS- WE ONLY HAVE BUSCH, BUT THE BEER IS COMPLIMENTARY.

     M- WHAT IF I WANT A SECOND GLASS?

     WAITRESS- IT'S COMPLIMENTARY.

     M- WHAT IF I WANT A THIRD GLASS?

     WAITRESS- MAYBE IF WE THINK YOU'RE OK, BUT NO MORE THAN THREE.

FEB  06   WASH BULLETS LEADING GOLDEN STATE BY 73-61 AFTER 5:48 IN THIRD PERIOD, LOSE 106-84 IN WASHINGTON. THEY SCORED ONLY 7 POINTS IN 4TH PERIOD, TIED FOR LOWEST IN FRANCHISE HISTORY.

FEB  07   GEORGE AT SUPPER IS TOLD BY ANN THAT HE IS HAVING FISH LEFT OVER FROM PREVIOUS SUPPER. GEORGE SAYS, "OK, I'LL KEEP DUMPING SALT ON IT UNTIL IT TASTES GOOD."

FEB  08   DALLAS BEATS MINNESOTA IN BASKETBALL. MAVERICKS NOW 4-1 VS TIMBERWOLVES AND 1-41 VS OTHER 24 NBA TEAMS. THE NEXT DAY, DALLAS BEAT WASHINGTON.

FEB  08   TODAY I GOT A 12 OZ. 7-11 'GOURMET' COFFEE ON WAY TO WORK. IT WAS SO GOOD, I GOT A 16 OZ. THE NEXT DAY. BY THE TIME I GOT TO WORK THE I WAS BIG TIME HYPER.

FEB  10   WHILE M WATCHING TV, BETH COMES DOWNSTAIRS AND SAYS, "DADDY, I NEED SOME ADVICE." I MADE A BIG DEAL OF IT SAYING, "OH, I'M SO HAPPY, MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER STILL VALUES MY ADVICE. WHAT IS IT DEAR?" BETH SAYS, "NEVER MIND, I'VE CHANGED MY MIND."

FEB  10   OUR 7TH SLEET/FREEZING RAIN STORM OF THE WINTER BEGINS WHILE ICE IS STILL ON TREES, ETC. FROM PREVIOUS STORMS. I'VE HAD TO POUR BOILING WATER ON THE CAR LOCKS TO GET THE ICE OUT.  THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVT'S HAVE MORE OR LESS RUN OUT OF SALT.

FEB  11  SLEET STORM CONTINUES, GOVT CLOSED, 2ND TIME IN TWO MONTHS. THE SLEET PILED UP ABOUT FOUR INCHES AND WALKING ON IT WAS LIKE WALKING ON SAND.

FEB  15   FORMER FINANCIAL OFFICER AT WHITMAN INTERMEDIATE (WHERE BETH WENT TO SCHOOL) ARRESTED FOR EMBEZZLING OVER $25,000 IN SCHOOL FUNDS.  THIS IS THE SAME SCHOOL THAT HAD THE CONVICTED MURDERER AND ESCAPED FELON TEACHING MATHEMATICS.

FEB  16   ALTHOUGH WEATHER HAS WARMED, ARCTIC BIRDS (GYRFALCON, ICELAND GULL, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE) HAVE BEEN SPOTTED IN LARGE NUMBERS IN VICINITY.

FEB  18-20 BETH SKIING IN W.VIRGINIA, TEMPS IN THE 50s AND 60s.  THIS IS HER SECOND SKY TRIP OF THE YEAR, THE FIRST ENDED JAN 17 AND TEMPS WERE IN 20s.

FEB  19   DESPITE SEVERAL DAYS IN 60s, PART OF LAKE NEARBY IS STILL COVERED WITH ICE SEVERAL INCHES THICK (IT BECAME ICE FREE BY FEB 22 AFTER SEVERAL MORE WARM DAYS).

FEB 22-24 M IN ATLANTA.  MOTEL ROOM ON 59TH FLOOR OF WESTIN @ PEACHTREE PLAZA.  VIEW EAST TO STONE MOUNTAIN. PHONE AND SQUARE MARBLE FIXTURES IN BATHROOM.

FEB 25   BETH'S FRIEND TELLS HER ABOUT BOOK WHERE WOMAN MARRIES AND HAS FAMILY WITH A VAMPIRE.  BETH SAYS, "THAT'S NOT REALISTIC, HOW CAN YOU MARRY A VAMPIRE." THE OTHER GIRL SAYS, "WELL..., IF YOU LOVE SOMEBODY ENOUGH, YOU DON'T CARE IF HE IS A VAMPIRE."

FEB 27   GEORGE GETS HAIRCUT. HE ASKS ME, "IF THEY HAD CUT OFF ALL MY HAIR, WOULD I BE BALD FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE."  I ANSWERED, "NO. MECHANICAL CUTTING DOESN'T CAUSE BALDNESS, AND IF IT DID, THERE ARE SOME TREATMENTS AVAILABLE TO PROMOTE HAIR GROWTH."  GEORGE, ALWAYS AWARE OF COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS, SAYS, "YOU MEAN LIKE ROGAINE WITH MINOXODYL."

FEB  28   LAKE FREEZES AGAIN.

MAR  04-06  M IN PENNSYLVANIA.

MAR  05   10 YEAR VETERAN POLICEMAN BEATEN BY STUDENTS WHILE PATROLLING ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL (NW D.C.).  RACISM  ALLEGED (COP IS HISPANIC, STUDENTS BLACK).  ONE HOUR LATER 14 YR OLD BOY CRITICALLY WOUNDED BY KNIFE FROM A 12 YEAR OLD GIRL. BOTH ARE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (SW D.C.)

MAR  07   AT SCHOOL, BETH DOES POORLY ON TEST, HAVING STUDIED WRONG CHAPTER.  TEACHER SAYS, "YOUR SCHOOL WORK IS BECOMING CAVALIER", BETH RESPONDS, "BUT I'M ENJOYING SCHOOL MORE" (SHE GOT AN 'A' IN THAT CLASS THE PREVIOUS TWO QUARTERS).

MAR  09   AT EASTERN HIGH SCHOOL (SE DC). STUDENT SHOT BY ANOTHER STUDENT.  THE SCHOOL HAS 3 FULL TIME SECURITY GUARDS, ONE POLICEMAN, METAL DETECTORS, X-RAY EQUIPMENT AND ONE OF THE BEST AND TOUGHEST PRINCIPALS IN THE AREA.  THE ASSAILANT, IN THE COMPANY OF HIS FATHER, TURNED HIMSELF IN TO THE POLICE.  THE ASSAILANT SAID THE VICTIM OFFENDED HIM BY BRUSHING HIM IN THE HALL.

MAR  10   ON WAY TO WORK, VAN TRANSMISSION FAILED. IT WAS RAINING HARD AND WE WERE BETWEEN NATIONAL AIRPORT AND THE 14TH ST BRIDGE. EVENTUALLY HAILED A CAB.  FOR LUNCH I HAD 2 BEERS. FELT MUCH BETTER.

MAR  13   I GOT BICYCLE FOR GEORGE (HIS 3RD) AT A CATALOGUE STORE AND GOT GROCERIES WHILE THE BICYCLE WAS BEING DELIVERED FROM THE WAREHOUSE. WHEN WE GOT BACK FROM GROCERIES, THE BIKE WAS THERE. GEORGE CALLS ME A GENIUS (CHEAP BUT WELCOME PRAISE).

MAR  14   IN BETH'S WORLD CIVILIZATION CLASS, THE TEACHER READ ALOUD FROM A LETTER FROM THE RECENTLY TRANSFERRED STUDENT AID.  THE LETTER WAS SOMEWHAT SENTIMENTAL WITH MANY 'I MISS THE TIMES...' AND 'PERHAPS SOMEDAY...' AT THE END OF THE LETTER, TWO OF THE BOYS IN THE CLASS LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND SAID, "AHHH..." IN A MOCK SENTIMENTAL VOICE.

MAR  15-17 M IN DOVER DELAWARE. HAD 5 OF SIX MEALS BUFFET STYLE.

MAR  17   WASHINGTON BULLETS OUT REBOUNDED BY LA LAKERS 61 TO 28. LAKERS HAD 27 OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS (ONE LESS THAN BULLET'S TOTAL).  THE BULLETS LOST BY "ONLY" 35 POINTS.

MAR  20   GEORGE AT KARATE TOURNAMENT. GOT 4TH IN FORMS (CUP) AND 2ND IN SPARRING (MEDAL). HE ASKED ME HOW MUCH SILVER WAS A POUND AND WAS DISAPPOINTED WHEN I EXPLAINED THE MEDAL IS SILVER PLATED.

MAR  20   SEVERAL CITIES IN NE HAVE HAD SNOW ON GROUND EVERY DAY SINCE DEC 21 (BINGHAMTON, NY HAS HAD AT LEAST 6" ON GROUND DURING THAT TIME. MANY OF THESE CITIES HAVE ALREADY HAD RECORD SEASONAL SNOWFALL.

MAR  21   I ASKED GEORGE IF HE HAD CARRIED OUT ASSIGNMENT TO WRITE PARAGRAPH ON HIS KARATE TOURNAMENT.  HE SAID, "WHY DON'T I WAIT UNTIL AFTER I CAN WRITE ABOUT THE CONCERT I'M GOING TO TWO DAYS FROM NOW (HE'S HOPING I'LL FORGET ABOUT IT BY THEN).

MAR  26   ECONOMY MUST BE DOING BETTER. WE SAW AN ABANDONED LATE MODEL LIMOUSINE JUST NORTH OF D.C. LINE IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.

MAR  27   COINCIDENCE. DURING PASSOVER SEDAR, (PREMIER JEWISH RELIGIOUS CEREMONY) AND JUST BEFORE DOOR WAS TO BE OPENED FOR ELIJAH (IMPORTANT POINT IN SAID CEREMONY), A GROUP OF LATTER DAY SAINTS KNOCKED AT THE DOOR REQUESTING ENTRY TO TALK ABOUT RELIGION.

MAR  30   FLOODING ON POTOMOC RIVER (MARCH PRECIP WAS OVER 7" OR ALMOST 18 CM) SEVERAL BLOCKS OF DOWNTOWN ALEXANDRIA UNDER WATER.

Weiss Family Chronology 2nd Q 1994

APR  01   AS I WAS CALLING GEORGE TO PRACTICE HIS VIOLA, I MISSPOKE AND SAID, "ANN...NO BETH... NO GEORGE, FINISH YOUR VIOLA PRACTICING." BETH WHO HEARD ME SAID, "KNOW YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS DAD, TOMORROW YOU CAN PRACTICE WITH FLASHCARDS."

APR  02   BETH PLAYING NINTENDO STUFF. I SAID TO HER, "SHOULDN'T YOU BE READING FOR YOUR TERM PAPER." SHE RESPONDED, "YES, BUT I LIKE THIS, IT REQUIRES MORE THINKING."

APR  03   RETURNING FROM WALK WITH GEORGE AND ANN, ANN SAYS SHE WILL GO IN AND MAKE US SOME ICED TEA.  I ASKED, "COULD YOU PUT ICE IN IT?" ANN SAYS, "WHY WOULD YOU WANT ICE IN IT." GEORGE CONSIDERS THE CONVERSATION VERY FUNNY.

APR  06   CHERRY BLOSSOMS AT PEAK ACTUALLY DURING CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL. FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL YEARS (THEY BLOOMED TOO EARLY IN 91 AND 92 AND TOO LATE IN 93).

APR  08   BETH IS IN GOOD MOOD BECAUSE SOMEONE AT SCHOOL SAID, "YOU LOOK LIKE DEATH - LIKE DARLENE" (APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMPLIMENT - SHE WAS WEARING BLACK PANTS, BLACK SHIRT AND SKIN WAS WINTER PALE; DARLENE IS CHARACTER ON TV).

APR  10   BECAUSE OF LATE FLOWERING OF EARLY TREES, E.G. MAPLE (EFFECT OF COLD WINTER) AND PROLIFIC FLOWERING OF LATE TREES E.G. OAK (DUE TO WET MARCH), WE EXPECT NEAR RECORD TREE POLLEN LEVELS.  ATLANTA GEORGIA TODAY RECORDED A POLLEN LEVEL OF ALMOST 2000 GRAINS PER SQUARE INCH.

APR  12   BOSTON DEFEATS KANSAS CITY 22-11, HIGHEST AMERICAN LEAGUE SCORE IN 15 YEARS.

APR  12   TOOK BETH TO FRIEND'S HOUSE TO PICK UP CHARITY DELIVERABLES. ON THE WAY, WE PASSED NEIGHBORHOODS OF CAPE CODS WITH TELEPHONE POLES AND BETH SAID, "GEE, DRIVING THROUGH HERE I EXPECT TO SEE WALLY AND THE BEAVER ANY MINUTE NOW."

APR  12   ANN TELLS GEORGE HE SHOULD HELP PUT GROCERIES AWAY BECAUSE IT WILL BE GOOD TRAINING FOR WHEN HE GROWS UP.

          G RESPONDS- WHEN I GROW UP, MY WIFE WILL DO THAT.

          M (LAUGHING)- WHAT IF YOU'RE WIFE IS SICK?

          G- THEN THE GROCERIES WILL STAY OUT UNTIL SHE GETS WELL.

          ANN (ANGRILY)- WHAT IF BECAUSE YOU ARE SO SELFISH NO ONE           WILL MARRY YOU?

          G- ARE YOU KIDDING? THEY'LL BE LINED UP AROUND THE BLOCK           FOR ME (HE APPARENTLY HEARD THIS LINE ON TV).

APR  14   SEATTLE HAS 10 PLAYERS SCORE IN DOUBLE FIGURES VS. LA CLIPPERS, FIRST TIME EVER IN NBA (GAME HAD NO OVERTIMES).

APR  14   COLORADO GETS FIRST SHUTOUT (VS PHILADELPHIA) IN FRANCHISE HISTORY (FRANCHISE IS 1+ YRS OLD). THE TEAM ERA WAS 7.97 GOING INTO THE GAME.

APR  16   M AT WALRUS'S HOUSE FOR CARDS, HAD SOME SIERRA NEVADA ALE. STUFF ACTUALLY HAD A KICK TO IT, MUST HAVE BEEN OVER 10% ALCOHOL.  

APR  17   BETH & GEORGE AT VIOLA CONCERT AT KENNEDY CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS, JOSHUA BELL SOLOIST.

APR  19   GEORGE SAYS TO ME, "DAD, I THINK LISA (GIRL IN SCHOOL) IS GETTING TOO SOPHISTICATED FOR ME."

          M- (IMAGINING DISCUSSIONS OF 'R' RATED MOVIES, OR              SOLICITATION FOR HEAVY KISSING IN 10 YEAR OLDS)-              HUH! YOU MEAN SHE TALKS ABOUT SEX.

          G- NO. SHE GAVE HER CHOCOLATE ECLAIR MONEY AWAY TO SOMEONE FROM ANOTHER CLASS WHO SAID HE LOST HIS LUNCH MONEY.

APR  20   G CLAIMS TO HAVE FALSELY CONFESSED TO SCREAMING IN THE LUNCH LINE UPON BEING BRIBED TO CONFESS BY THE PROMISE (BY 3 GIRLS) OF ICE CREAM OF CONFESSING AND THE THREAT OF ASSIGNED SEATS IF NO ONE CONFESSED.

APR  22   BETH DISLIKES 1ST LADY, HILLERY CLINTON'S HAIRDO, I SAY I LIKE IT- BETH GET'S MAD AT ME.

APR  22   G GETS GREEN BELT.

APR  29-  MAY 01 IN BALT FOR G'S FRIEND MOSHE GLICKMAN'S BAR MITZVAH.  STAYED WITH COUPLE (SILVERMAN'S) WHOM WE HAD NEVER MET.

MAY  01   SPEAKING OF HILLERY CLINTON, SUBSEQUENT TO HER THROWING OUT THE FIRST BALL FOR THE CHICAGO CUB'S FIRST GAME, THE CUBS WENT ON TO LOSE NOT ONLY THAT GAME, BUT THE NEXT 9 HOME GAMES AS WELL. THE LONGEST OPENING YEAR HOME LOSING STREAK SINCE THE YANKEES LOST 17 IN A ROW AT HOME IN 1913. (AFTER THIS LOSS, THEY WON 3 IN A ROW)

MAY  02   GEORGE LOSES TOOTH. DURING CONVERSATION WITH ANN HE FIRST SAYS, "I'D LIKE TO WRITE TO THE TOOTH FAIRY BECAUSE I'VE HAD A LONG RUNNING RELATIONSHIP WITH HER."  LATER, UPON RECONSIDERATION, GEORGE SAID, "YOU KNOW, MOM, I THINK IT'S QUITE CURIOUS HOW THE TOOTH FAIRY USED TO WRITE US NOTES IN LONGHAND WHEN WE LOST TEETH, BUT AS SOON AS WE GOT A COMPUTER, THE TOOTH FAIRY BEGAN TO TYPE HER NOTES."

MAY  05   CUBS WIN HOME GAME AFTER LOSING 12 IN A ROW. WORST BEGINNING OF YEAR STREAK IN NL THIS CENTURY.

MAY  05   GEORGE AND BETH BOTH GET EGGS FROM WRONG REFRIGERATOR BUCKET. BOTH COME HOME COMPLAINING OF RAW EGG LUNCHES.

MAY  06   GOT CALL AT WORK FROM A CONGRESSMAN (HIGHWAY PROJECT IN HIS STATE).  AT END OF CONVERSATION, HE SAID, "IS THERE ANYTHING MY OFFICE CAN DO TO HELP YOU?" I WAS TEMPTED TO ASK FOR 2 BOTTLES OF PREMIUM BOURBON ON MY DOORSTOP WHEN I GOT HOME THAT EVENING, BUT, FORTUNATELY FOR CIVIL SERVANTS EVERYWHERE, I DIDN'T.

MAY  10   GREAT ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE OF 94. SKY GOT DEEP BLUE AND CLOUDS ACTED AS A VIEWING SCREEN FOR PART OF DAY. NOT SPECTACULAR BUT INTERESTING.

MAY  14   SAW A GREAT BLUE HERON AT OUR LITTLE 3 ACRE LAKE TODAY. FISHING IS GOOD THERE.  A GROUP OF KIDS CAUGHT 3 CATFISH IN 10 MINUTES AS ANN AND I WATCHED.  THE HERON HAS A REALLY GRACEFUL FLIGHT.

MAY  17/18 M IN AUGUSTA, MAINE. GOT A RENTAL CAR (MAZDA, PRELUDE) WITH ONLY 8 MILES ON IT. I RETURNED IT WITH ONLY 141. THE MOTEL HAD A TV WITH CABLE IN THE BATHROOM.  MAINE HAS A PERSON WITH THE NAME OF CROOK RUNNING FOR RE ELECTION AS DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

MAY  19   I TELL GEORGE TO PLEASE CALL HIS KARATE SCHOOL FOR CORRECT TIME. HE ASKES 'WHY'. I SAID, 'BECAUSE IT WOULD REDUCE THE BURDEN ON ME.' HE RESPONDED, 'WHY WOULD I WANT TO DO THAT.'

MAY 25-27 M IN DULUTH, MINNESOTA. NOTICED THAT LIENENKUGAL'S REG LAGER BEER IS NOW ON TAP AT MINNEAPOLIS AIRPORT. WEATHER IN DULUTH WAS NICE WITH 50 MILE VISIBILITY. SAW THE 138' LIFT BRIDGE IN OPERATION.

MAY  27   AT HOME, GEORGE IS PESTERING ME PHYSICALLY LATE AT NIGHT. I ASK HIM TO DO SOME PUSH UPS WITH THAT EXTRA ENERGY. HE SAYS, 'I TRIED THAT BUT IT USES UP TOO MUCH ENERGY.'

MAY  28   INDIANA (PACERS) HOLD NY (KNICKS) TO 68 POINTS (ONLY 29 IN 2ND HALF) IN LOWEST PLAYOFF SCORE EVER.  NY WENT ON TO WIN THE SERIES.

MAY  30   AT SUPPER BETH SAYS, "GUESS WHAT. WHILE I WAS SPENDING MY WEEKEND WITH MY FAMILY, TWO OF MY FRIENDS GOT BOYFRIENDS."

     I RESPONDED, "WHAT STORE DID THEY GET THEM AT?" (BETH LAUGHED SINCE OTHER CONVERSATIONS HAVE ENDED WITH THE SAME QUESTION)

MAY  30   BOUGHT STAMPS TODAY FROM A MACHINE. IT GAVE ME CHANGE IN SUSAN B. ANTHONY DOLLARS.  ALSO PLAYED SOFTBALL WITH GEORGE AT LOCAL SCHOOL (USING THE SCHOOL AS A BACKSTOP).

JUNE 01   KILLER WORK DAY. M TAKES 5:30 AM RAIL OUT OF HUNTINGTON, 6:20 AMTRAK OUT OF UNION STATION, 9:05 NJ TRANSIT OUT OF TRENTON, N.J. TO MAKE 9:30 MEETING IN PRINCETON, N.J. RETURNS (SAME LINK OF TRIPS) TO HUNTINGTON AT 11:15 PM.

JUNE 02   ANOTHER KILLER. HOME AT 6:25 PM (LATE DUE TO TRAFFIC). GEORGE HAS CONCERT (FOUND OUT ABOUT IT THAT DAY), BETH HAS LIBRARY WORK. HOME BY 9:00 PM.

JUNE 02   UP TO 4" (10 CM) OF HAIL COVERS GROUND NEAR CHEYANNE, WYOMING.

JUNE 03-5 M IN PA. ON THE 5TH, I MADE THE DRIVE FROM NAS WILLOW GROVE PA TO NAF ANDREWS IN ONLY 2:35.  THERE IS NOW A RESTAURANT IN HOSHAM, PA THAT HAS A FRENCH FRY BUFFET (WITH 10 TYPES OF FRENCH FRIES AND 6 TYPES OF TOPPING). I NEITHER ORDERED NOR ATE THAT BUFFET.

JUNE 04   MINNESOTA SCORES 21 RUNS IN A GAME (VS DETROIT) FOR THE 2ND TIME IN 15 DAYS (THEY SCORED 21 VS BOSTON ON MAY 20).

JUNE 07   AT SCHOOL FOR GEORGE'S SCIENCE FAIR.  LIGHTS WENT OUT FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES DURING THUNDERSTORM.

JUNE 08   HOUSTON AND NEW YORK SCORE A COMBINED 28 POINTS IN 4TH QUARTER, LOWEST IN PLAYOFF HISTORY. (HOUSTON WINS 85-78 AND WENT ON TO WIN THE SERIES ON JUNE 22).

JUNE 08   BETH IS DOING GROUP PROJECT ON VIETNAM CONFLICT IN WORLD STUDIES AND GETTING HELP FROM MEMBERS OF HER CLASS WHOSE PARENTS WERE CITIZENS OF THE FORMER REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM (BETH LEARNED PART OF COUNTRY JOE McDONALD AND THE FISH'S SONG 'WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING FOR'). 

JUNE 11   PLAYING SOFTBALL WITH GEORGE, PRETENDING TO BE A REAL GAME, IT STARTED RAINING.  GEORGE SAID, "WELL, THE GROUND CREW REALLY HAS ITS WORK CUT OUT FOR IT."

JUNE 12   BETH ASKS WE, "WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE BLUE EYES."

          I RESPOND, "SURE IF I COULD HAVE THE PUPIL, THE IRIS AND           THE EYEBALL ALL THE SAME BLUE."

          BETH CRINGED AND SAID, "THAT'S SUCH A GUY THING TO SAY."

JUNE 18-21 ANN'S MOM & GETRUDE DIAMOND VISITING. FRIEND LOANED US HER MINIVAN (WE LOANED HER OUR SUBCOMPACT).

JUNE 20   DETROIT TIGERS GET A HR FOR 25TH GAME IN A ROW TYING RECORD SET BY NY YANKEES IN 1941. 

JUNE 23   BROUGHT BETH TO WHEATON, MD AT 6:45 A.M. FOR HER TO GO TO CONVENTION IN CATSKILL MNTS. (JUNE 23 - JUNE 26) ON THE WAY, WHILE WE WERE DRIVING THROUGH SE D.C., BETH ASKED IF WE WERE IN PG COUNTY, MARYLAND OR BURKE, VIRGINIA. I SAID NO. SHE SAID SHE THOUGHT WE WERE BECAUSE THE OVERHEAD TELEPHONE WIRES HAD UTILITY BASKETS ON THEM AND SHE HAD NOTICED THIS FEATURE IN PG COUNTY AND BURKE.

JUNE 24   12TH DAY IN ROW WITH TEMPERATURES ABOVE 90°F. LONGEST SUCH JUNE STREAK EVER IN D.C.

JUNE 25   TOLD GEORGE ABOUT A WAY TO CHEAT IN CRAZY EIGHTS. YOU PUT CARDS UNDERNEATH THE CARD YOU'RE PLAYING TO REDUCE YOUR HAND. GEORGE TRIED IT BUT PUT THE WRONG CARD ON TOP, A CARD THAT DIDN'T MATCH THE PREVIOUSLY PLAYED CARD.

JUNE 26   BETH BACK FROM CATSKILLS (SHE DIDN'T LIKE THE UNCOMFORTABLE, UNHEATED, UNCOOLED CABINS), GEORGE OFF TO CAMP IN FREDERICK, MD.

JUNE 26   COLORADO ROCKIES DRAW 217,009 IN THREE GAME SERIES WITH SAN FRANCISCO. TODAY, TEMPERATURE IN DENVER WAS 104°F (40°C), ONE SHY OF ALL TIME JUNE STATION RECORD.

JUNE 27   HEAT CONTINUES IN WEST. NEW MEXICO (LAKEWOOD) SETS STATE ALL TIME MAX WITH 119°F (48°C) AND OKLAHOMA (TIPTON) WITH 120°F, BUT D.C. FINALLY COOLS OFF (HAD 14 DAYS ABOVE 90°F IN A ROW).

JUNE 28   HEAT CONTINUES. CHINA LAKE, CALIFORNIA SETS STATION ALL TIME MAX AT 117°F.

JUNE 29   HEAT CONTINUES. LAUGHLIN NEVADA SETS ALL TIME STATE RECORD WITH 124°F (51°C).  LAKE NAVASU CITY, ARIZONA SETS ALL TIME STATE RECORD WITH 128°F (53°C).

JUNE 30   WITH LOCAL EARLY JUNE HEAT, THE DRAGONFLYS AND SNAPPING TURTLES IN OUR LOCAL LAKE HAVE VASTLY INCREASED POPULATIONS FROM LAST YEAR. 

JUNE 30   SAN FRANCISCO GIANT'S CENTER FIELDER DARREN LEWIS MADE A ERROR (A SINGLE BY MONTREAL'S CLIFF FLOYD WENT UNDER HIS GLOVE). THAT WAS HIS FIRST ERROR IN 392 GAMES AND 938 CHANCES - BOTH MAJOR LEAGUE RECORDS.

Weiss Family Chronology 3rd Q 1994

JUL  04   WENT TO FT BELVOIR CARNIVAL. LEFT HOME AT 8:15, RODE ON COBRA (A WHIRLY TYPE RIDE), SAW 15 MINUTE FIREWORKS SHOW CLOSE UP AND GOT BACK HOME BY 10:10.  FAR, FAR BETTER THEN GOING DOWNTOWN.

JUL  07   BETH BEGINS BIOLOGY IN SUMMER SCHOOL. SHE LATER STATES THAT THE TEACHER IS BORING AND REMINDS HER OF 'DATA' (CHARACTER IN STAR TREK tng) EXCEPT WITH LESS PERSONALITY.

JUL  07-10 AT JOINT SERVICE BASE (FORMERLY NAVAL AIRSTATION) WILLOW GROVE. ON THE 9TH I DID ADMIN WORK PRIOR TO AN INSPECTION (ULTIMATELY WENT WELL ACTUALLY). THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS OUT. VERY UNPLEASANT.  HOWEVER, THE EVE OF 10TH VISITED COUSIN (MARLTON NJ) AND THE EVE OF 11TH VISITED GEORGE AT CAMP (BOTH PLEASANT).

JUL  12   BETH AND I SAW BUILDING IN FT BELVOIR BEING BURNED. FLAMES UP TO 40', TREES SCORCHED.  CONTROLLED BURN FOR FIRE SAFETY TRAINING.  BUILDING TO BE REPLACED.

JUL  12   BETH (RE: SUMMER SCHOOL) SAYS SHE HAS BEEN TRICKED BECAUSE IT IS MORE ECOLOGY THAN BIOLOGY.

JUL  15   AFTER GETTING HOME FROM WORK I PASSED BETH'S ROOM ON WAY TO MY ROOM.  I HEARD BETH SAY IN UNINTERRUPTED FASHION SOMETHING LIKE, "DON'T LET YOUR HELIXES UNWIND, IT'S A GREY ELEPHANT, BETSY BOBBY HAS GREY CURLS..."  I KNOCKED AT HER DOOR AND SAID, "BETH ARE YOU FEELING OK?"  BETH, WHO WAS ON THE PHONE REMEMBERING CONVERSATION TOPICS WITH A FRIEND, THOUGHT THIS VERY FUNNY.

JULY 15   ANN AND I WENT TO A COMBINATION WEDDING AND RETIREMENT CEREMONY ON THE U.S.S. BARRY. THE GROOM/RETIREE WAS A NAVY CAPTAIN IN ONE OF THE MEDICAL COMMANDS.  THIS IS THE ONLY THING LIKE THIS I'VE BEEN AT.

JULY 17   THIS WAS 15TH DAY IN A ROW WITH RAIN IN ATLANTA GEO. IT STARTED WHEN TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO CAME ASHORE (7/3).  PARTS OF THE SE HAVE RECEIVED OVER 20' OF RAIN DURING MONTH SO FAR AND RIVERS CRESTED AT UP TO 10' ABOVE THE PREVIOUS RECORD.

JULY 17   BETH AND I FAST 26 HOURS FOR 9TH OF AV. THE CHAIR IN COMPUTER ROOM BROKE.  IT NEEDED 3 NUTS.  SOMEHOW, I ACTUALLY HAD 3 OF THAT SIZE AVAILABLE (I ONLY HAD TWO OTHER SIZED NUTS).

JULY 19   BETH HAVING TAKEN A GENETIC DISORDER MODULE IN BIOLOGY ASKS ME, "DO YOU CARRY THE GENE FOR HEMOPHILIA?" I TOLD HER I DIDN'T. "BUT YOU DO CARRY THE ONE FOR TAY-SACKS SO YOU DID SOMETHING RIGHT." ALSO BETH ASKED (IN A SERIES OF QUESTIONS ABOUT GIRLS LEGS) WHY HER CALVES WERE SO FAR APART WHEN SHE STOOD AT ATTENTION. "I GUESS WE SHOULDN'T HAVE EXPOSED YOU TO THAT ATOMIC BOMB." I RESPONDED. BETH MADE A FACE AT ME.

JULY 19   ALBERT BELLE (CLEVELAND LEFT FIELDER) TO BE SUSPENDED FOR 10 DAYS FOR HAVING A CORK CENTERED BAT. IF UPHELD IT WILL BE THE FIRST ILLEGAL BAT SUSPENSION SINCE 1987. BELLE WAS HITTING .350 BEFORE BAT INSPECTED, SLUMPED IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER BUT THEN STARTED HITTING HRs AGAIN.

JULY 22-23 M AND ANN IN FREDERICK, MD. WENT TO MICRO BREWERY (BLUE MOUNTAIN, CATOCTIN 'MOUNTAINS', BARBARA FRICHIE HOUSE. THEY HAVE A NEAT FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT DOWNTOWN- COMBINING BRUTE FORCE HYDRAULICS WITH ADVANCED CITY REDEVELOPMENT THEORY AND DOWNTOWN LANDSCAPING (MAKING A CREEK INTO A SHOWCASE RIVERWALK WITH DESIGNER TYPE SHOPS, POPULAR TOURIST TRAPS, ETC.).

JULY 27   BETH AND I WATCHING A SHOW ON DNA. TV PANNED A BLOODY FLOOR IN KITCHEN WHERE MURDER HAD TAKEN PLACE. BETH SAID, "OH GROSS". THEN I RESPONDED, "NOT REALLY, I FIND THE LINOLEUM PATTERN QUITE ATTRACTIVE."

JULY 28   KEN ROGERS OF TEXAS GETS FIRST PERFECT GAME EVER BY AN AL LEFT HANDER (AGAINST CALIFORNIA, 4-0). IRONICALLY IN THE PREVIOUS PERFECT GAME IN AL (SEPT 30, 1984), MIKE WITT OF CALIFORNIA DID IT AGAINST TEXAS.

AUG  03   BROUGHT BETH TO LIBRARY.  SHE HAD TO LOOK UP ARTICLES ABOUT TAY-SACKS.  THEN IT WAS TIME TO PHOTOCOPY AND SHE TOLD ME SHE NEEDED AN ARTICLE FROM THE MAR 94 GLAMOUR.  I SAID, "REALLY. DOES IT HAVE SCIENTIFIC CONTENT?" BETH RESPONDED, "IT'S TOUCHY-FEELY, FULL OF PSYCHOBABBLE, YOU WOULDN'T LIKE IT AND I MUST HAVE IT. OK?"

AUG  07   PICKED UP GEORGE FROM CAMP ON WAY HOME FROM PENNSYLVANIA (USNR DUTY).

AUG  09-11 GEORGE AND I AT NAG'S HEAD, NC.  WENT JETSKIING (AT TIMES I WENT TOO FAST FOR GEORGE AND THE FIRST MACHINE WE HAD GOT A WATERLOG), WATER SLIDING, DUNE CLIMBING AND OF COURSE ATLANTIC OCEAN SWIMMING (WATER WAS VERY COLD FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR, LOW 70s).  NEITHER OF US SUNBURNED.

AUG  12   BETH COMES TO ME AND SAYS, "I FEEL LIKE I'M TOO SHORT". I SAID, "YOU DON'T LOOK SHORT TO ME [AT 14, SHE IS ALREADY TALLER THAN ANN]".  BETH RESPONDS, "WELL, I'M ONLY SHORT WHEN I'M GOING UP THE STAIR." I TOLD HER THAT SHE SOUNDED LIKE SOMEBODY WHO WAS MAKING FUN OF THE WAY TEENAGE GIRLS TALK. "BUT I REALLY AM SHORT ON STAIRS." SAID BETH.

AUG 13-19 M IN NORFOLK, VA [ACTIVE DUTY] AND AUG 21-25   

AUG  20   AFTER LUNCH I ASKED BETH IF SHE HAD ANY MORE OF THOSE TEEN AGE GIRL THOUGHTS. SHE SAID, "NO". THEN A FEW MOMENTS LATER SHE SAID, "HEY, I COULD POUR ALL THE WATER IN FOUR GLASSES INTO ONE GLASS." THEN SHE LAUGHED AT HERSELF.     

AUG  20   TOOK GEORGE TO MURPHY'S TAVERN. WE SAT RIGHT NEXT TO THE BAND (IRISH BREAKDOWN) WHICH WE HAD SEEN PREVIOUSLY.  GEO HAD GOOD TIME BUT WAS MARGINALLY SCANDALIZED BY A SONG ABOUT A DRUNK SCOTCHMAN WEARING NOTHING UNDER HIS KILT.

AUG  20   M ABOUT TO POUR GLASS OF ICED TEA NOT REALIZING THAT THE GLASS WAS UPSIDE DOWN. GEORGE SAVES THE DAY BY POINTING OUT THE PROPER GLASS ORIENTATION.  HE WENT ON TO REMIND ME OF THIS HEROIC EFFORT ABOUT 3 TIMES EACH DAY FOR THE NEXT WEEK.      

AUG  24   WENT TO BASEBALL GAME IN NORFOLK. NICE STADIUM. CAN SEE HARBOR, BOATS, TRAINS GO BY WHEN SITTING BEHIND 1ST BASE.

AUG  26   ROBBIE VISITING G. I TELL ROBBIE THAT G IS VERY GULLIBLE AND MIGHT BELIEVE IT IF YOU TOLD HIM YOU WERE DESCENDED FROM SOME KING. ROBBIE SAYS, "AS A MATTER OF FACT, I AM RELATED TO ROYALTY."

AUG  28   VISIT FROM BETH'S FRIEND SARA NACHMIAS. I TOOK THEM ICE SKATING, DIP DRIVING (WHERE WE GET THE CAR AIRBORNE) AND TO BILLIARDS. 

AUG  29  GEORGE LETS ME GIVE AWAY HIS NINTENDO AND GAME CARTRIDGES. THEY ARE NOW OUT OF THE HOUSE, I HOPE FOREVER.

AUG  30   SARA LOST HER PURSE ON THE METRORAIL.

AUG  30-31 M IN NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ. I MET SOMEONE I HADN'T SEEN IN 16 YEARS. HE ASKED ME WHAT I HAD MEANT BY A STATEMENT I HAD MADE IN 1978 (HAVING TO DO WITH AIRPLANE. RESERVATIONS).

AUG  31   IN MINOR LEAGUE GAME, RIGHT FIELDER GETS TWO ASSISTS ON ONE BATTED BALL (STARTED W BASES LOADED NO OUTS, SINGLE TO RIGHT, RUNNER OUT AT 3RD, OVERTHROW OF 2ND, ETC). 

SEP  01   I NOTICED THAT ONE OF MY 'ZIMAs' (BEER-LIKE SUBSTANCE WITHOUT HOPS) WAS OPENED. I ASKED BETH IF SHE LIKED THE ZIMA. SHE ASKED HOW I KNEW SHE HAD TASTED IT. I SAID THAT I RECOGNIZED THE WAY SHE PUT PLASTIC WRAP ON THE BOTTLE ONCE IT WAS OPENED.  BETH LET ME HELP HER IN ALGEBRA TODAY (SHE HAS A SCHOOL PRE-ASSIGNMENT). I TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT THE WAY TO LOOK AT ALGEBRA IS TO THINK THAT CLEAN EQUATIONS ARE HAPPY EQUATIONS.

SEPT 07   BETH SAYS AT SUPPER, "DAD, I HAVE TO SEE FOREST GUMP?" SHE DID AND NOW I HEAR HER SAY, "LIFE'S LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES" AT ODD INTERVALS DURING THE DAY.

SEPT 08   KIDS BACK AT SCHOOL. THEY COMPLAINED VIGOROUSLY, HEH, HEH. GEORGE HAS 3 TEACHERS (ONE REGULAR, SCIENCE, AND LANGUAGE ARTS, ONE SOCIAL STUDIES, AND 1 MATH.)

SEPT 08   HURRICANE/TROPICAL STORM/TYPHOON JOHN IS NOW 29 DAYS OLD. OLDEST LIVED TROPICAL SYSTEM EVER TRACKED. NEVER NEAR LAND. ONE OF FEW TO CROSS INTERNATIONAL DATELINE TWICE.  (IT LASTED ONLY ONE MORE DAY).

SEPT 15   MIGHT BE NEW TRADITION. AFTER END OF DAY OF ATONEMENT FAST, WE ALL WENT TO BASKIN ROBBINS TO FILL UP.  EXPENSIVE BUT KIDS LIKE IT.

SEPT 15   TRYING TO EXPLAIN THE PROSPECTIVE U.S. INVASION OF HAITI TO GEORGE. HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND UNTIL I SAID, "WELL, IT COMES DOWN TO THIS: THEY ANNOYED US AND WE CAN EASILY TAKE OVER." GEORGE THEN SAID, "OK. THAT MAKES SENSE."  HE ALSO WAS PLEASED THAT IT WOULD BE AN EASY WIN SINCE I AM ON RECORD AS PROMISING (POST DESERT STORM) THAT THE NEXT SUCCESSFUL MAJOR MILITARY ACTION WOULD RESULT IN ANOTHER TRIP TO BUSCH GARDEN.

SEPT 14   BETH IS ASKED (BY A CONCERNED RELATIVE), "ARE MANY OF YOUR CLASSMATES ON DRUGS?". BETH RESPONDS, "HOW WOULD I KNOW?" THE CONCERNED RELATIVE SAYS, "WELL, IF THEY HAVE A GLASSY EYED LOOK AND CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT." BETH RESPONDS, "IN THAT CASE, JUST ABOUT ALL OF THEM."

SEPT 21   BETH SAYS, "DAD, ARE YOU AND MOM GOING TO GO TO 'BACK-TO-SCHOOL' NIGHT. (SEPT 28)"  I SAID, "YES."  SHE SAID, "GOOD, SO YOU WON'T HAVE TO HUMILIATE ME BY COMING SOME OTHER DAY, RIGHT?"

SEPT 24   GEORGE SHOWED ME WHERE HE BICYCLES IN A CIRCLE, -HE CALLS IT THE CIRCLE OF DOOM (SOMETHING TO DO WITH A DUNGEON AND DRAGON FANTASY HE IS CARRYING ON WITH HIS FRIENDS). HE ALSO TOLD ME ABOUT ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD PLACE, -THE STAIRS OF FORBIDDEN KNOWLEDGE.  WHAT'S NEXT, -THE CARPET STAINS OF MAGIC POTIONS, -THE SANDWICH OF DANGER?

SEPT 26   GEORGE ANNOUNCED HE HAD RECEIVED 100% IN BOTH MATH AND SPELLING THAT DAY.  I SAID, "AS A REWARD FOR YOUR GOOD BEHAVIOUR, WE WILL LET YOU SLEEP INSIDE TONITE." THEN I LOOKED AT GEORGE'S 6TH GRADE 3-RING BINDER TO VERIFY THE GOOD WORK.  HE HAD STUCK PAPERS IN WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE HOLES, HAD TORN THE PAPER WITH HOLES, ETC.  LATER I SHOWED HIM ABOUT THE DEVICE THAT OPENS THE RINGS AND CHIDED HIM ON HIS LACK OF 3-RING BINDER SKILL. HE SAID, "THAT'S YOUR JOB AS A PARENT TO TEACH ME ABOUT 3-RING BINDERS." (ANOTHER VICTORY FOR ASSERTIVE PSYCHOBABBLE.

SEPT 27   IN A UNITED NATION'S SPEECH, THE PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA (THE COUNTRY) CRITICIZED THE FORMER (AND PROBABLY FUTURE) MAYOR OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FOR ENCOURAGING COCAINE PRODUCERS IN HIS COUNTRY.  ANOTHER IN THE "I'M MESSED UP AND IT'S YOUR FAULT" TYPE DEFENSES SO COMMON THIS DECADE.

SEPT 27   IN HOWARD COUNTY MARYLAND, A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER (HAD TAUGHT AT THAT SCHOOL FOR 21 YEARS) WAS ROBBED AND STABBED IN HER OFFICE ABOUT 6:30 A.M.  SHOWS GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION WORKING AND THAT CROOKS ARE MOTIVATED ENOUGH TO GET UP EARLY IN THE MORNING.

SEPT 28   'BACK TO SCHOOL' NIGHT AT HIGH SCHOOL. I TOLD BETH THAT ALL HER TEACHERS SEEMED TO BE ENTHUSIASTIC, INTERESTED IN THEIR SUBJECTS AND LIKE CHILDREN. BETH SAID, "YES, ISN'T IT DISGUSTING. (A LITTLE 10TH GRADE CYNIC)."

SEPT 30   ANOTHER MULTIPLE VIOLATION OF MURPHY'S LAW. BETH MISSED HER SCHOOL BUS. NOT ONLY WAS IT THE ONE DAY OF THE MONTH WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK (NORMALLY I GET A RIDE) BUT THE SCHOOL WAS ON THE WAY TO WORK AND IT WAS A NICE DAY.

Weiss Family Chronology 4th Q 1994

OCT 01   ANOTHER VIOLATION OF MURPHY'S LAW.  RAINING IN A.M. UNIT PHYSICAL READINESS TEST SCHEDULED FOR P.M. WE CHOSE NOT TO RESCHEDULE IT. THE RAIN STOPPED JUST AS WE BEGAN 1.5 MI. RUN. STARTED AGAIN JUST AS LAST OF THE UNIT FINISHED.

OCT  04   GEORGE ASKED HOW WE COULD DO A 3-DIMENSIONAL PROJECT ON AMERICAN INDIANS (HE NEEDED FOR 6TH GRADE CLASS). I SUGGESTED A DIAGRAM OF THE BATTLE OF LITTLE BIG HORN WITH TIC TACS TO SHOW THE MOVEMENT OF FORCES.  IN HIS 5TH GRADE, WHEN HE WAS STUDYING ROME, WE HAD DONE THE SAME TYPE OF PROJECT FOR THE BATTLE OF CANNAE.  I HOPE THEY DON'T RUN OUT OF TIC TACS BEFORE GEORGE GRADUATES.

OCT  05   GEORGE REFERS TO SOMEONE IN HIS CLASS (WHO EVIDENTLY DID WELL IN THE ONE MILE RUN, CLASS AND WAS A NICE GUY) AS AN "OUTSTANDING HUMAN BEING".

OCT  06   BUSINESS NEWS: THE 'DAILY PLANET', MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA'S PREMIER BROTHEL IS GOING TO SELL $3 MILLION IN STOCK WITH EMPLOYEES PART OWNERSHIP.  "A LOT OF CLIENTS HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN BUYING INTO THE BUSINESS, AND SO HAVE THE GIRLS." SAID THE CURRENT 'DIRECTOR' OF THE BROTHEL.

OCT  09   WENT TO SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK.  NICE VIEWS OF FALL COLORS, BLOWING FOG.  GEORGE GOT A STEREOSCOPIC SLIDE VIEWER AT SKYLINE CAVERNS.  AMAZING, BUT THIS 1950s TECHNOLOGY STILL GIVES AN IMPRESSIVE VIEW, WAY BETTER RESOLUTION THAN COMPUTER SIMULATION.

OCT  11   WENT WITH GEORGE'S CLASS TO A COUNTY OWNED, UNIVERSITY RUN CAMP IN WHICH THE KIDS TRAINED ON TEAM BUILDING AND FEAR OVERCOMING SKILLS. NICE BUT WHAT THE KIDS NEED MORE IS SELF RESTRAINT, SELF DISCIPLINE, SELF CONTROL CLASS.

OCT  13   AT DINNER WE WERE DISCUSSING A LOCALLY PROMINENT MISSING CHILD CRIME IN WHICH A SUSPECT WAS ARRESTED THEN RELEASED WHEN THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO CHARGE HIM.  GEORGE ASKED, "IF THEY THOUGHT HE WAS GUILTY, WHY DIDN'T THEY JUST BEAT HIM UP UNTIL HE CONFESSED?"

OCT 17-19 M IN COLLEGE STATION TEXAS.  ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE IT BECAUSE OF FLOODING (UP TO 30" OF RAIN FELL NEARBY).  AFTER CONFERENCE, I MET A NUMBER OF FORMER COLLEAGUES ALL OF WHOM HAD DECIDED INDEPENDENTLY TO GO THE SAME LOCAL BAR AFTER THE LAST MEETING SESSION.

OCT  18   D.C. POSTAL WORKER ARRESTED AFTER AUTHORITIES FOUND HIS APARTMENT CONTAINED SEVERAL TONS OF UNDELIVERED MAIL, 43 LIVE TURTLES, 20 DEAD TURTLES, 15 LIVE BIRDS, 10 DEAD BIRDS AND ONE DOG.  DISCOVERY WAS MADE BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL CHECKING FOR A WATER LEAK.

OCT  20  NOW WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT END OF WORLD SERIES (BASEBALL HAS BEEN ON STRIKE SINCE AUGUST).  THE FOUR TEAMS IN THE AL WEST DIVISION WERE ALSO THE WORST FOUR TEAMS IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE A COMBINED 57 GAMES BELOW .500.  ATLANTA PITCHER WON HIS 2ND CY YOUNG IN A ROW AND A CHICAGO PLAYER WON HIS 2ND MVP IN A ROW. 

OCT  22   GEORGE WANTS ENTRY IN CHRON. HERE. HOW SELF REFERENTIAL.

OCT  23   ONE HEADLAMP ON MY GEO METRO WENT OUT. THE MANUAL SAID TO BUY A SEALED BEAM #6052. I BOUGHT ONE AT TRAK AUTO. IT WAS TOO BIG TO FIT IN THE HEADLAMP HOUSING. I WENT BACK TO TRAK AND DISCOVERED THAT 1. THEIR COMPUTER SAID THAT THE CORRECT PART WAS #4666 AND 2. THEY DIDN'T STOCK THAT ITEM.  IT WAS A SUNDAY (MOST AUTO PARTS STORES CLOSED). EVENTUALLY I LOCATED STORE THAT SOLD ME A #4666. THE MANUAL'S INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WERE WRONG ALSO. I'M MAD AND WILL ASK GENERAL MOTORS TO SEND OVER THE EXEC IN CHARGE OF MANUALS SO I CAN CHOKE HIM/HER TO NEAR DEATH.

OCT 24-27 M IN DENVER. HORRIBLE MEETING, NEVER FIGURED OUT WHAT THE SUBJECT WAS. ALSO GOOFY 'TEAM' EVENTS, INCLUDING BUILDING THINGS WITH TINKERTOYS.  SAW ROCKY SMITH, FRIEND FROM THE LATE 60s. WE HAD FREE BEER (MOLSEN'S) AT A BAR WHILE WATCHING MONDAY FOOTBALL.

OCT  27   I ASK TO SEE GEORGE'S HOMEWORK. HE PROTESTS. I SAY, "ARE YOU AFRAID TO LET ME SEE IT BECAUSE IT'S SO SLOPPY?" GEORGE SAYS, "THAT'S PART OF IT." I SAY, "AND ARE YOU AFRAID TO LET ME SEE IT BECAUSE IT WILL SHOW HOW LITTLE YOU DO?" GEORGE SAYS, "THAT'S THE OTHER PART OF IT."

OCT 28-30 G IN RICHMOND. ON WAY HOME GEORGE ASKS, "DAD, HOW DO YOU SPELL 'EMBEZZLE'?" APPARENTLY, HE MET SOMEONE WHO TOLD HIM HOW TO CHEAT IN THE SOFTWARE GAME 'SIM CITY'.

OCT  31   BETH GOES TRICK OR TREATING DRESSED AS AISHA (HER FRIEND). I THINK SHE GOT THE IDEA FROM THE COMIC STRIP "BIG NATE".  HER FRIEND, AISHA BORROWED A MAGIC 'EVIL STAFF' FROM US AND WENT AS A MAGIC EVIL STAFF OWNER.

NOV  01   GEORGE HAS TO MAKE A CLAY SCULPTURE OF 'SOMETHING THAT SUPPORTS HIM'. BETH SAVES THE DAY BY REMEMBERING THAT GEORGE MADE A SCULPTURE OF SOMETHING, TWO YEARS AGO. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A POOR LOOKING FACSIMILE OF A BIRD, IT COUNTS (NATURE SUPPORTS ALL OF US- AS VP GORE WOULD SAY.)

NOV  05   M IN PENNSYLVANIA. HAD SUPPER AT SAME PLACE AS I DID ON FEB 5, 1994.  THEY STILL HAD FREE BEER.  THIS TIME THE RULE WAS THAT THEY BROUGHT A HALF PITCHER TO THE TABLE.  I THINK THE REASON THEY DO THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE LIQUOR LICENSES IN PENNSYLVANIA (CAN SERVE BUT NOT SELL).

NOV  05   GEORGE FORMAN REGAINS WORLD BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP AT AGE 45 DEFEATING PREVIOUSLY UNDEFEATED 29 YEAR OLD.

NOV  06   MISSION DOLORES IN SAN FRANCISCO HAS OVER 6" RAIN IN 24 HOURS, MOST IN 150 YEARS OF RECORD KEEPING.

NOV  07   VISITED HEBREW ACADEMY IN WHEATON, MD.  BOTH KIDS INDICATED THEY MIGHT WANT TO ATTEND IN 95-96 SCHOOL YEAR.

NOV  07   AT SALAD BAR, ANN PUT'S EXACTLY 1.000 lbs OF SALAD IN CONTAINER.  CASHIER SAID IT WAS THE FIRST TIME SHE HAD EVER SEEN THIS PHENOMENON.

NOV  07   I ASKED GEORGE IF HE WANTED TO HAVE HIS HAIR CUT (I WAS OFF FROM WORK). GEORGE SAID, "NO. I'LL KEEP IT LONG THROUGH THE WINTER." THE NEXT DAY, WHEN I CAME HOME FROM WORK, GEORGE SAYS HE NEEDS A HAIRCUT.  WHEN I REMINDED HIM OF HIS COMMENT OF THE PREVIOUS DAY, GEORGE SAID, "IT MUST HAVE GROWN A LOT OVER NIGHT."

NOV  14   GEORGE DOES REPORT ON SCOTT JOPLIN. REFERS TO AN EVENT IN "WORD WAR I" (MUST HAVE BEEN A VIOLENT SPELLING BEE). THIS IS A TYPICAL GEORGE ERROR. HE USES THE SPELL CHECKER BUT DOESN'T THINK SOMETIMES.

NOV  15   BETH COMMENTS "SCHOOL WAS AWFUL TODAY". I ASKED HER IF THERE WERE ANY WISE CRACKS TO BREAK THE MONOTONY.  SHE SAID (DARLENE TYPE RETORT), "NO DAD. THEY WERE TOO BUSY TAKING ILLEGAL DRUGS AND HAVING PREMARITAL SEX."

NOV  22   G PULLS BUTTON OFF MY SHIRT, ONE HOUR LATER SMACKS INTO A STREET POLE, 5 MINUTES LATER SPILLS GROCERIES, 5 MINUTES LATER DROPS GLASSES ON STREET. MY NEW NAME FOR HIM: DR. DISASTER.

NOV  24   THANKSGIVING - NINE PEOPLE - WORKED OUT WELL HERE, JUST HAD TO MOVE CHAIRS AROUND.

NOV  27   BETH HAD BEEN PLANNING TO DO A SCIENCE PROJECT TO TEST WHETHER COKE, LEMON JUICE, ETC. REALLY DISSOLVED TEETH. SHE COULDN'T GET ENOUGH TEETH TO TEST BECAUSE THE GOVT NOW PROHIBITS DENTIST OFFICES FROM GIVING THEM AWAY. HER SCIENCE TEACHER RECOMMENDED MAKING A MODEL OF A TOOTH AND TESTING IT WITH ACIDS, WHICH DIDN'T MAKE SENSE SO, ON ADVISE OF GROCERY CLERK, SHE WILL TEST WHICH LAUNDRY DETERGENTS CLEAN A SMALL RECTANGLE OF CLOTH.

NOV  27   G'S COMPOSITION ASSIGNMENT WAS TO DO A MODERN 'WOLF AND 3 PIGS STORY'. IN HIS STORY, THE WOLF HIRED A LAWYER TO SUE THE PIGS, THE WOLF MISBEHAVED AT THE TRIAL AND THE LAWYER BECAME FAMOUS AND GOT TO HOST SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.

NOV  28   THE OTHER HEADLIGHT WENT OUT (SEE OCT 23 DISCUSSION). I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT TWO BACK THEN.

NOV  29   IN GEORGE'S ROOM, I PICKED UP A COAT HANGER THAT WAS, APPARENTLY LYING IN A HAZARDOUS POSITION NEAR G'S BED. "DAD! YOU'VE LOST MY PLACE." HE SAID, HAVING, EVIDENTLY, BEEN USING A COAT HANGER FOR A BOOK MARK.

NOV  30   MONTH HAS BEEN WARM IN EAST, COLD IN WEST.  ALTA, UTAH HAD OVER 200" OF SNOW THIS MONTH AND PARTS OF ALASKA WERE -40°F BY MID MONTH. CHICAGO HAD NO SNOW AT ALL UNTIL NOV 29 AND RECORD WARM TEMPS OCCURRED IN N.J. AND FLORIDA.

DEC  01   AT ABOUT 8:15 P.M. I SAW GEORGE AND SAID, "YOUR MOM TOLD YOU SHE WANTED YOU TO VISIT HER (AND REVIEW SPELLING WORDS) IN 15 MINUTES AND THAT WAS ABOUT 15 MINUTES AGO."  GEORGE SAYS, "DAD, WHEN SHE SAYS 15 MINUTES ITS USUALLY AT LEAST A HOUR, I'LL JUST WAIT FOR HER TO CALL FOR ME."

DEC  02   IN G'S ROOM AT BEDTIME I SAW G WAS READING A COMIC BOOK. "COULDN'T YOU READ SOMETHING MORE EDUCATIONAL," I ASKED. "YOUR POINT BEING?" HE RESPONDED.

DEC  02   BETH HAD SOLD RAFFLE TICKETS AND SENT STUBS AND A CHECK TO AN OUT-OF-TOWN ADDRESS. THEY CALLED AND SAID THAT THE ENVELOPE WAS OPENED BEFORE IT GOT THERE (I HAVE TO FAX INFO NEXT DAY).  SHE HAD ME TAKE HER TO A SCHOOL FUNCTION. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE 10 MINUTES. IT TOOK OVER AN HOUR. SHE REALIZED SHE WAS OUT OF CONTACT LENS SOLUTION AT 10:20 PM.  BAD DAY ALL AROUND.

DEC  3-4 M AT NAS WILLOW GROVE PA. POSSIBLY FOR LAST TIME.  DISCHARGE ORDERS TO BE RECEIVED. I'M NOT PARTICULARLY UPSET.  IT HAS BECOME WAY TOO MUCH WORK, AND WORSE, WITH ALL THE $ CUT BACKS, INCOMPETENT HQ MANAGEMENT, STUPID ADMINISTRATIVE RULES, ETC., MILITARY READINESS IN THE UNIT WAS DECLINING IN SPITE OF ALL THE WORK.

DEC  08   BETH SPENDS 5 HOURS GETTING HER SCIENCE PROJECT READY. IT IS DUE DEC 09. I TELL HER THAT WHEN SHE GROWS UP SHE CAN START A COMPANY CALLED 'GET IT DONE LATE THE HARD WAY'. SHE SAYS, "AND DARN PROUD OF IT."

DEC  08   I TELL GEORGE THAT HE IS IN CHARGE OF CLEANING OFF DISHES AND OTHER KITCHEN TASKS. HE SAYS, "BUT DAD THAT GIVES ME LESS TIME FOR MINDLESS ENTERTAINMENT."  COME TO THINK OF IT, HE HAS A NEW 'CALVIN AND HOBBES' BOOK.

DEC  10   WHILE GETTING THE TRASH TOGETHER, I TELL GEORGE, "SOMEDAY SOON YOU WILL BE IN CHARGE OF TAKING OUT THE TRASH." GEORGE RESPONDS, "SOMEDAY MEANS NEVER, RIGHT?"

DEC  12   BETH BRINGS HOME DRIVER TRAINING BOOK FOR STUDYING. I ASKED A BUNCH OF 'SIGNING' QUESTIONS AND SHE KNEW ALMOST ALL OF THEM. SHE REMINDED ME (ABOUT THE 20TH TIME) THAT SHE WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A LEARNER'S PERMIT IN MAY 95.

DEC  14   SHADOW SENATOR (DEM-D.C.) AND REV. JESSE JACKSON VISITED BETH'S SCHOOL. IN HER WORDS HE TOLD THEM "... NOT TO TAKE DRUGS OR HAVE SEX, EVER".  THE KIDS MESSED UP THE REPEAT CHANTS THAT THE REV. JACKSON LIKES SO MUCH.

DEC  16  BB GUN FIRED @ G'S SCHOOL BUS ON WAY HOME. ONE KID HURT.

DEC  18   REDSKINS LOSE AGAIN. FINISH 0-8 AT HOME (1ST TIME IN FRANCHISE HISTORY) AND HAVE NOW LOST 9 IN A ROW AT HOME.

DEC  19   @ NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING, COUNTY POLICEMAN PROVIDED DETAILS OF RECENT (NON LETHAL) SHOOTING AND REPORTED THAT NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME WAS DOWN 30% FROM LAST YEAR.

DEC  20   BETH'S SCHOOL BUS BREAKS DOWN 2ND TIME IN MONTH.  KIDS FORCED TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER BUS.  DON'T MAKE THEM LIKE THEY USED TO.

DEC  24   DOUG PELFREY OF CINCINNATI KICKS 22 YD FG W 3 SEC, THEN AFTER PHILADELPHIA FUMBLE OF KICKOFF, KICKED A 54 YD FG W 0.5 SEC LEFT. CINCINNATI WINS 33-30; PHIL LOSES 7TH IN A ROW AFTER BEING 7-2 EARLIER IN SEASON.

DEC  25   TOOK BETH AND GEORGE TO EMPTY PARKING LOT AND LET THEM DRIVE. ABOUT THE 5TH YEAR FOR THIS AND THE 2ND FOR BOTH OF THEM TO HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OF BOTH STEERING AND ACCEL/BRAKING.  KIDS SPENT A LOT OF TIME DRIVING IN REVERSE GEAR. GEORGE BRIEFLY PLACED CAR ON PARKING ISLAND. AFTERWARD I PARKED IN 6 HANDICAPPED SPACES.

DEC  26   BETH STAYING WITH FAMILY (THEY HAVE A BOY HER AGE) IN PIKESVILLE (MD) THEN WILL ATTEND A CONVENTION IN NEWARK (NJ) AND ARRIVE HOME ON JAN 1.

DEC  27   ON 'MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000' I SAW A FILM ABOUT DRIVING THAT I REMEMBERED FROM DRIVER'S EDUCATION IN 1968. THE SHOW (DESERVEDLY) POKED FUN AT IT.

DEC  30  WASHINGTON BULLETS (BASKETBALL) PLAY TO A FRANCHISE RECORD 9TH HOME SELLOUT IN A ROW.  UNFORTUNATELY, THEY HAVE LOST 8 OF THESE GAMES.

DEC  31   4 OF TOP 5 $ EARNING MUSIC GROUPS OF 1994 ARE FROM BOOMER  TIMES (EAGLES, ROLLING STONES, BARBARA STREISAND AND GRATEFUL DEAD).