Way BAck Machine 1998

Weiss Family Chronology 1ST Q 1998

Address:  8211 Postoak Rd.

Potomac, Maryland 20854

PHONE:    301 294 7479 (H)

202 366 5010 (M @ OFFICE)

E MAIL AT M'S OFFICE              MARTIN.WEISS@FHWA.DOT.GOV

E MAIL AT WEISS RESIDENCE    G.WEISS11@GENIE.GEIS.COM

JAN       01   COLDEST DAY OF WINTER. LOW ABOUT 10F, HIGH BELOW FREEZING. GOOD DAY TO BUY SHOES AND A NEW MATTRESS.

JAN       03-8 WARM PERIOD. SOME HIGHS IN 60s. ON THE 8TH, M DOESN'T         WEAR EVEN A JACKET.

JAN       09   M GETS HAT FOR LOSING 3 POUNDS SINCE BEFORE THANKSGIVING BASED ON MEASUREMENTS AT DOT FITNESS CENTER.

JAN       10   G HELPS OUT WITH A SYNAGOGUE PAJAMA PARTY (NEEDS VOLUNTEER HOURS TO GRADUATE IN MD) AND ADMITS THAT THE K-3RD GRADERS ARE ADORABLE.

JAN  10-13 WORST ICE STORM EVER IN NEW ENGLAND AND CANADA. MILLIONS          LOSE POWER.

JAN       11   MICROWAVE MISFIRES

JAN       11   G AND M MOVE HUGE (~200 LB) ROCK WHICH WILL BE FOCUS OF ONE OF THE FRONT YARD FLOWER BEDS.

JAN       12   G LOSES 'PEER REVIEW SHEET' WHICH WAS TO ACCOMPANY AN ENGLISH ESSAY. LATER THAT EVENING HE LEAVES HIS PROGRAMMABLE CALCULATOR AT SOMEONE'S HOUSE. G ALSO DOESN'T NOTICE HE HAS A SCIENCE HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT. SLEET IN EVENING.

JAN       13   G LEAVES SCIENCE BOOK AT SCHOOL HAS TO GET OFF BUS TO GET IT. MISSES NEXT BUS AND IS LATE GETTING HOME.

JAN       15   MICROWAVE FIXED BY GENERAL ELECTRIC SUBCONTRACTOR IN 10 MINUTES. CHARGE $105

JAN       15   MORNING SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN CLOSES SCHOOLS IN DC SUBURBS - G USE VIDEO GAMES BUT DOES SOME CHORES ALSO.

JAN       16   REFINANCING OF LOAN. DOWN FROM 7.75% TO 6.75%. ABOUT $4000 IN FINANCING COSTS BUT LOWERS NOTE BY $150/MO

JAN  16-17 ERIC GILBERT VISITS.

JAN       17   G DROPS COOKIE ON FLOOR AND COOKIE BOUNCES UP ON TO BAT MITZVAH'S SHOE WHILE G IS CONGRATULATING HER. G SAYS, "I THOUGHT THIS ONLY HAPPENS ON CARTOONS."

JAN       18   WATCHING THE MOVIE 'THE GODFATHER' G ASKS (ABOUT AN HOUR INTO THE MOVIE),

G    IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE THE MAFIA?

M    YES.

G    THAT CERTAINLY EXPLAINS A LOT.

ALSO, ABOUT 15 GANGLAND ASSASSINATIONS INTO THE MOVIE,

G SAYS, "I REALLY LIKE THIS FAMILY'S MINHAG (CUSTOM)!"

JAN       18   M AND A VISIT WALTER ART GALLERY WITH CHERYL AND IRWIN (DUTCH MASTERS COLLECTION).

JAN  23   M IN DAY TRIP TO NYC.

JAN       24   ABOUT AN INCH OF SNOW DURING THE EVENING HOURS

JAN       25   GERRY BERG, RICH WEINSTEIN, DAVE GOLDSTEIN AND ARTHUR SACKMAN HERE FOR SUPERBOWL XXXII. PLAYED 6 PERSON SHAFSKOFT BEFORE THE GAME (G AND M WERE OTHER PLAYERS).

JAN       25   AFC WINS SUPERBOWL FIRST TIME SINCE 1985. BOTH THAT YEAR AND THIS (1998), THE GAME MVP WAS FROM LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL IN SAN DIEGO (MARCUS ALLEN/85; TERREL DAVIS/98)

JAN       27   G FINDS OUT HE WILL GET AN 'A-' FOR SECOND QUARTER IN AMERICAN HISTORY AS OPPOSED TO A 'D' IN THE FIRST QUARTER. HE ALSO FINDS OUT THE CYBERWARE EXCHANGE HAS 'MASTERS OF ORION 1'. M GOT A SET OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHILE GETTING THE SOFTWARE (PREVIOUSLY, THE MANUFACTURES EQUIPMENT IN THE NEW OLDS HAD SQUEAKED BADLY AS DID SOME REPLACEMENT BLADES.

JAN       29   M AT MCI CENTER FOR 1ST TIME (DEMATHA INVITATIONAL HS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT) W SA COHEN.

FEB  01 - FEB 15 ANN IN ISRAEL VISITING BETH

FEB       03   HEATED LASAGNA THAT ANN HAD MADE. G CLAIMED HE COULD EAT IT 21 MEALS IN A ROW WITHOUT BEING TIRED OF IT. ACTUALLY I DON'T BELIEVE HIM AND BESIDES WE ONLY HAD ENOUGH FOR ABOUT 6 MEALS. WE DID EAT IT FOR SUPPER FEB 3,4 & 5.

FEB       3-6 SLEET FOLLOWED BY LOTS OF RAIN. WEST OF HERE GOT LOTS OF SNOW (CINCINNATI BROKE ALL TIME SINGLE STORM RECORD WITH 18"). EAST OF HERE HIGH WINDS AND BIG WAVES.

FEB       05   CAME HOME AND PUT FOOD IN CAT'S DISH BUT SODA WHINED AND HE WOULDN'T EAT IT UNTIL I HAD STROKED HIS FUR AND TALKED TO HIM.

FEB       05   COLUMBIA HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN, WHERE BETH AND I WERE BOTH BORN, IS IN DEFAULT TO A JAPANESE BANK. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY IT COULD BE TAKEN OVER.

FEB       05   A LOCAL BOXER IS KILLED AND 5 PEOPLE INJURED IN A GANG STYLE SLAYING AT THE WASHINGTON HOSPITAL CENTER CANCER INSTITUTE. THE BOXER WAS TO UNDERGOE TREATMENT. THE ASSAILANT FLED UNAPPREHENDED.

FEB       05   G'S MOCK TRIAL TEAM LOSES HALF OF 1ST MATCH.

FEB  12-15 G IN WESTERN MARYLAND AT WEEKEND AWAY.

FEB  12   M AT MEETING IN APPOMATTOX, VA (420 MI ROUND TRIP).

FEB       12   G'S 2ND QUARTER REPORT CARD. MUCH IMPROVED. D TO A IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND C TO B IN ENGLISH.

FEB       15   BOUGHT NEW COMPUTER. $700 FOR USED PENTIUM 2 WITH LOTS OF STUFF. THIS ALSO MEANS THAT GENIE.GEIS.COM'S DAYS AS OUR PROVIDER MAY BE NUMBERED.

FEB       17   LATE IN EVENING AN UNUSUALLY STRONG SUMMER LIKE THUNDERSTORM WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE 40s, VERY HEAVY RAIN AND LOTS OF LIGHTENING. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE LIGHTENING FRIED THE TELEPHONE JACK IN THE SPARE BEDROOM AND ALSO KILLED A PORTABLE PHONE THAT WAS IN THAT ROOM.

FEB       18   PURCHASE OF NEW PENTIUM COMPUTER. $700 FOR CPU UNIT AND MONITOR, INTERNAL FAX/MODEM. WHEN I HOOKED IT UP, THE MODEM DIDN'T WORK. THIS GAVE ME FITS UNTIL ABOUT FEB 25 WHEN I FIGURED OUT THE REASON WAS THE PHONE JACK NOT WORKING.

FEB       19   AFTER MUCH PAPERWORK (SHE WAS APPROVED NOV 4 BUT OPM REQUIRED ANN TO APPLY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY AND BE TURNED DOWN BEFORE SHE COULD START GETTING PAYMENTS FOR OPM DISABILITY), FIRST PAYMENT COMES.

FEB       24   M AT MEETING OF COALITION OF NORTHEAST GOVERNORS. THE GOVERNORS OF NH AND NJ (BOTH WOMEN) HAD NEARLY IDENTICAL DRESSES, NEARLY IDENTICAL TRIM, NEARLY IDENTICAL EARRINGS. THEY ARE BOTH BLOND, ABOUT THE SAME HEIGHT AND WEAR THEIR HAIR THE SAME LENGTH. THE NJ GOV IS ABOUT 2-4 SIZES SMALLER AND HAS A BETTER COMPLEXION OR BETTER MAKE UP.

FEB  26 - MAR 1. WESTERN S. DAKOTA GETS OVER 90" OF SNOW.

MAR       01   OUR WINTER HAS BEEN MILD AND NEARLY SNOWLESS SO FAR. THE NATURAL GAS BILLS HAVE BEEN ABOUT 60% OF WHAT THEY WERE LAST YEAR, ALTHOUGH WE DID GET A NEW HEATER.

MAR       02   GRAND OPENING OF CALICO CORNERS FABRIC STORE IN DOWNTOWN SPRINGFIELD, VA (CLOSE IN SUBURB OF WASHINGTON DC) IS MARRED WHEN TWO DEER CRASH THROUGH THE PLATE GLASS WINDOWS. ONE OF THE DEER RANSACKED THE FABRIC STORE UNTIL BEING SHOT BY A GAME WARDEN. THE OTHER DEER BROKE ANOTHER WINDOW AND RANSACKED THE NEXT DOOR OFFICE OF A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST BEFORE ALSO BEING SHOT BY A GAME WARDEN.

MAR       06-08 G AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE IN BALTIMORE - A HOTEL IN 19TH         CENTURY STYLE (ALSO SOME THINGS THAT DON'T WORK THAT WELL - SUCH AS DOOR KNOBS AND CURTAIN RODS).

MAR       06   MURDER FOR HIRE TRIAL OF POTOMAC, MD RESIDENT (LIKE US) AND FORMER CANDIDATE FOR SENATOR, RUTHANN ARON BEGINS. HER ATTORNEY QUICKLY CONCEDES THAT SHE DID TRY TO HAVE HER FORMER HUSBAND, HIS ATTORNEY AND HIS ACCOUNTANT ALL MURDERED.  HOWEVER, THE DEFENSE CLAIMS SHE SUFFERED ABUSE AS A 9 YR OLD CHILD FROM HER FATHER (NOW DECEASED) RUTHANN IS NOW ABOUT 60.

MAR       07-08 BIGGEST SNOWSTORM OF SEASON FROM ROCKIES TO MIDWEST.         MANY HIGHWAYS CLOSED, DRIFTS UP TO 10'.

MAR  11   PURIM SEUDAH AT MIKE AND NADINE POSTOL'S HOUSE.

MAR  16   G COMES HOME SOMEWHAT DISARRAYED AND SAYS,

"I FELT LIKE I WOULD DIE TODAY"

M -  "OF EMBARRASSMENT OR PHYSICAL CAUSE?"

G -  "BOTH. AT THE SAME TIME."

M -  "HOWS THAT?"

G -  "I WAS CLEANING MY PEN WHEN IT BROKE AND MOST OF THE               INK POURED INTO MY MOUTH."       

M -  "YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH WHEN YOU CLEAN YOUR PEN?"

G -  "SURE. HOW DO YOU DO IT?"

M -  ??????

MAR       17   WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS INTERN MONICA LEWINSKY ATTENDS WASHINGTON-DENVER BASKETBALL GAME AT MCI ARENA. MONICA HAD A SEAT IN THE 3RD ROW BEHIND THE WASHINGTON BENCH. SHE LEFT WITH 1'30" LEFT AND WASHINGTON AHEAD BY 7. DENVER WON THE GAME AND IMPROVED THEIR RECORD TO 8-59 (NOT A MISPRINT - THEY ARE THAT BAD).

MAR       20   THIRD SEXUAL ASSAULT IN WEEK AT U OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK CAMPUS. SALES OF PEPPER SPRAY TAKE OFF.

MAR       21   I HAD TAKEN G AND HIS FRIENDS TO THE PHOTON LASER TAG PLACE IN LAUREL (I GOT LOST IN LAUREL - HAD TO ASK TWO GAS STATIONS FOR DIRECTIONS). BY THE TIME WE LEFT (130 AM ON THE 22ND), IT WAS SNOWING HARD BUT AS SOON AS WE LEFT LAUREL THE SNOW ENDED.

MAR       22   M AND G SPENT ABOUT 2 HOURS TRYING TO GET THE HP 694C DESKJET PRINTER TO WORK.

MAR       23   CALLED THE LONG DISTANCE HP SERVICE CENTER IN THE EARLY A.M. AFTER SOME TESTING THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE INK CARTRIDGES WERE PROBABLY BAD. SO I TOOK THEM TO STAPLE TO TEST THEM. THEY TESTED FINE. I CAME HOME, REPLACED THE CARTRIDGES IN PREPARATION FOR ANOTHER CALL TO THE SERVICE CENTER AND... THEY WORKED FINE, EXCEPT THAT THE ENTIRE TIME THE PRINTER WAS FLAWLESSLY PRINTING OUR 1997 FEDERAL TAX RETURN, THE COMPUTER SCREEN WAS SAYING THAT THE PRINTER WASN'T WORKING AND THAT, SURPRISE, THE INK CARTRIDGE SHOULD BE REPLACED. THIS IS ANOTHER MYSTERY. THE NEW PENTIUM COMPUTER HAD A MODEM PROBLEM THAT FIXED ITSELF ONE WEEK AFTER THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED.

MAR       24   AFTER 3 HOURS AND 5 BEERS I FOUND THE ERROR IN MY TAX INPUT FILE. I NOTICED THAT I HADN'T FILLED A ONE CHARACTER NUMERIC FIELD AND THE DEFAULT VALUE WAS WRONG. THE DIFFERENCE WAS $1200 IN FEDERAL TAXES (IT WAS WORKSHEET #2 FOR SCHEDULE E). THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR I'M DOING IT TOTALLY BY COMPUTER.

MAR       25   GOT AN ESTIMATE THAT IT WOULD COST $250 TO CLEAN A BOULDER WE HAVE IN OUR BACKYARD. OVER THE WINTER I CLEANED OUT ENOUGH SHRUBBERY TO SEE IT WELL AND IT WAS ALL SOOTY. I WILL BE TRYING HOME SOLVENTS AND THUMB-OVER-THE-HOSE TYPE PRESSURE WASHING INSTEAD OF THE $250 JOB.

MAR       26   TURNS WARM IN PM AFTER 3 WEEK COLD SNAP.

MAR       28   MAX OF 80°F. ABLE TO SIT ON BACK DECK AND DRINK COLD BEER. LATER THAT EVENING, WENT TO HELP AT ANN'S ORT AUCTION. G GETS VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR SCHOOL CREDIT.

MAR       29   INDIANA PACERS HELD TO 55 (BY SAN ANTONIO) BREAKING LOW NBA MARK OF 57 HELD BY SEVERAL TEAMS, THE LAST BY ORLANDO (VS CLEVELAND DEC 4, 1996); AND ALSO SCORING ONLY 21 IN 2ND HALF TYING ANOTHER RECORD LOW.

MAR       30   RUTHANN ARON TRIAL (SEE MAR 6) ENDS IN A MISTRIAL. ONE JUROR, WHO WAS MISLEADING IN HER INFO SHEET AND, WHOM THE OTHER 11 JURORS SAID WAS ILLOGICAL, HELD OUT FOR NOT GUILTY. THE COUNTY VOWED TO RETRY.

MAR  31   MONTH ENDS ON A STRING OF 4 DAYS IN A ROW WITH TEMPS IN THE 80s. G GETS ASSIGNMENT TO WRITE ABOUT MICHELANGELO

Weiss Family Chronology 2nd Q 1998

Address:  8211 Postoak Rd.

Potomac, Maryland 20854

PHONE:    301 294 7479 (H)

202 366 5010 (M @ OFFICE)

E MAIL AT M'S OFFICE              MARTIN.WEISS@FHWA.DOT.GOV

E MAIL AT WEISS RESIDENCE    G.WEISS11@GENIE.GEIS.COM

APR  03-04 ERIC GILMAN AND AARON SCHASCHELL OVER.

APR       06   AFTER 7 WEEKS OF SINUS PROBLEMS, M GOES TO EAR, NOSE, THROAT TEAM. THEY THINK IT IS ALLEGY AND FOR DIAGNOSTIC REASONS, PRESCRIBE CORTISON. THEY ALSO SAY MY THROAT MAY BE GETTING IRRITATED BY MY EXTRA LONG UVULA (TISSUE THAT HANGS DOWN AT MID THROAT) AND MAY HAVE TO BE CUT BACK. THE MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA I HAVE SAYS, "... the uvula almost never has to be cut or removed...".

APR       09   AFTER THREE DAYS ON CORTISON MOST SYMPTOMS GONE OR LESSONED. DOCTOR MUST HAVE BEEN RIGHT.

APR       09   NICE PHONE CALL FROM BETH, WHO IS NOW AT A KIBBUTZ IN NORTH OF ISRAEL.

APR       10-11 SODA CAT ESCAPES DURING OPEN DOOR FOR ELIJAH (FOUND          LATER ON PORCH - SODA THAT IS), G'S HIDING OF AFIKOMAN DOESN'T WORK EITHER NIGHT (M FINDS).

APR       12   HEAVIEST MID APRIL SNOW IN RUSSIA IN CENTURY (0.4 metres) SULLIES ORTHODOX PALM SUNDAY & CATHOLIC EASTER (SAME DAY) IN RUSSIA. THE RUSSIAN WEATHER SERVICE HAD NOT FORECAST THE EVENT AND BLAMED STAFF CUTBACK AND EQUIPMENT THAT WAS NOT OPERATING BECAUSE OF FUNDING SHORTAGES. MAYOR FIRED EVERYBODY AND SAID THAT 'NOW THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED'.  MOSCOW THEN HAD MORE SNOW ON APRIL 13, 14, 16, 17 AND 19.

APR       12   REDS SCORE 10 VS. ROCKIES AS COLORADO SETS RECORD FOR MOST RUNS GIVEN UP IN FIRST 6 GAMES OF A HOME STAND (72).

APR       15   M BEGINS TAKING GENERIC BENDRYL FOR SINUS PROBLEM RECURRANCES. SEEMS TO WORK QUITE WELL EXCEPT THAT THE LIQUID CAUSES DROWSINESS.

APR       15   TAX REFUND FROM MD ARRIVES.

APR       15   FIRST TIME EVER: TWO ML GAMES IN THE SAME PARK (SHEA STADIUM) INVOLVING 4 TEAMS. THIS DUE TO STRUCTURAL STEEL PROBLEMS (A BEAM FELL INTO THE SEATS) AT YANKEE STADIUM. NEW YORK TEAMS WON BOTH GAMES.

APR       15   ANN BUYS A LESLIE FAY SUMMER PRINT TWO PIECE DRESS/SUIT FOR $25 (COUPON PLUS MARK DOWN - ORIGINAL PRICE WAS $89.95)

APR  18   TAX REFUND FROM USA ARRIVES

APR       20   INTERESTING FINANCIAL NEWS. K-TEL, INC., KNOWN FOR SELLING ITEMS LIKE 'BEST OF THE DOBIE BROTHERS' AND 'VEGEMATIC' FOOD PROCESSORS ANNOUNCED OVER THE WEEKEND THAT ON MAY 1 IT WILL BEGIN SELLING VIA THE INTERNET. THE STOCK WENT UP ABOUT 200% AND, ACCORDING TO THE NASDEQ, 14 MILLION SHARES WERE TRADED. ONLY 1 MILLION WERE AVAILABLE FOR AN ACTIVE MARKET - NOT EXACTLY THE 'BUY AND HOLD STRATEGY'. THE NEXT DAY 'ONLY' 10 MILLION SHARES WERE TRADED. THE COMPANY ACTUALLY LOST MONEY IN THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, BUT EVIDENTLY SOME PEOPLE WERE OPTIMISTIC. ALSO IN FINANCIAL NEWS, DURING A COMPUTER TRADE SHOW, BILL GATES WAS DEMONSTRATING THE 'EASE' OF THE WINDOWS 98 SYSTEM AND THE COMPUTER CRASHED IN FRONT OF THE LARGE LIVE AUDIENCE. EVEN BETTER, MICROSOFT SHARES WERE ACTUALLY UP ON APRIL 21.

APR       22   G WAS USING HIS BASEBALL LEAGUE SIMULATION PROGRAM. I TOLD HIM THERE WAS A REAL BASEBALL GAME ON. G SAYS, "DAD, UNLESS THE BRAVES (ATLANTA) ARE PLAYING, I'D RATHER PLAY COMPUTER BASEBALL."

APR  24-26 LLW (M'S MOM) VISITS.

APR       26   BETH CALLS. SHE ASKES IF WE CAN ARRANGE A FLIGHT FROM NEWARK INTL TO BWI. HMMM. I'LL HAVE TO SEE ABOUT THAT NEXT WEEK.

APR       29   G BREAKS GLASS FRAMES BEFORE BIG MATH TEST (ON WHICH HE DOES POORLY). WE BUY THE SUPER BENDABLE UNBREAKABLE FRAMES. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME FOR THE SUPER FRAMES. THE PREVIOUS TIME, HE BROKE THE UNBREAKABLE FRAMES TWICE (THE 2ND TIME WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY). THIS TIME THE 'UNBREAKABLES' HAVE BEEN IMPROVED SO THE WARRANTY IS LIFETIME.

APR       30   TEXAS (17-8) HAVE SCORED 178 RUNS IN APRIL BREAKING THE MAJOR LEAGUE MARK OF 176 (MONTREAL IN 96).

APR       30- MAY 01 M IN MEMPHIS AND LITTLE ROCK. IN ST LOUIS, ON      THE WAY HOME, STUCK AT LAMBERT AIRPORT FOR 4 HRS MAINLY DUE TO WORK STOPPAGE BY TWA BAGGAGE HANDLERS AND GATE ATTENDANTS (TWA IS EMPLOYEE OWNED).

MAY       06   ROOKIE KERRY WOOD (CHI CUBS) STRIKES OUT 20 IN A ONE HIT SHOUTOUT OF HOUSTON. IT WAS HIS 5TH ML START. IN THE FIRST 4 STARTS HE HAD 25 Ks. ONLY OTHER 20 K PERFORMANCE WAS ROGER CLEMENS (4/29/86 VS SEATTLE, 9/18/96 VS DETROIT).

MAY       13   NO RAIN FOR 1ST TIME IN 12 DAYS. ON OTHER COAST, SNOW AT 2000' NEAR LA AND 1ST RAINOUT IN SAN DIEGO SINCE APRIL 83.

MAY       17   DAVID WELLS (NY) PITCHES PERFECT GAME AGAINST MINN. (CURRENTLY MN IN LAST PLACE) FIRST SINCE 1994.

MAY       18   G, WHO HAD DOCTOR EXAM (FOR CAMP) TELLS M THAT ALL THEY DID IN ENGLISH WAS LISTEN TO THE TEACHER SAY WHY SHE WOULDN'T BE BACK NEXT YEAR. "DID SHE CRY?" ASKS M; "DAD, SHE'S A WOMAN, SHE HAS TO CRY, ITS THE LAW." SAYS G.

MAY       25   M BARBEQUES HAMBURGERS AND CHICKEN ON OUTSIDE GRILL BREAKING A NON-BARBEQUEING STREAK OF ABOUT 20 YEARS (PREVIOUS TIME WAS IN 1979 - LOST WEDDING RING DURING GRILL CLEANING - BUT FOUND IT LATER).

MAY       26   MARK McGWIRE (ST L) HITS 25TH HR IN CARDINAL'S 49TH GAME (ALSO 17TH HR IN CARDINAL'S 25TH HOME GAME).

MAY       30   DURING SF-ARIZ GAME, BARRY BONDS IS INTENTIONALLY WALKED WITH THE BASES LOADED AND ARIZ LEADING BY 2 RUNS. THE STRATEGY WORKS AS NEXT PLAYER POPS UP.

JUNE      01  MONTH BEGINS WITH COOL SPELL. JUNE 03, WILLISTON, ND HIT 26°F AND BY JUNE 04 IT WAS SNOWING IN MUNICIPAL DENVER. JUNE 05, 06 AND 07, IT WAS IN THE LOW 50s AND HIGH 40s IN SUBURBAN DC IN AM.

JUNE      03   BOB DENVER CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA. SEEMS HE SENT FOR IT TO BE DEVLIVERED FROM CALIF (WHERE MEDICAL USE IS LEGAL) BY FEDERAL EXPRESS TO HIS HOME IN W VA (WHERE IT IS NOT). THIS IS A MOVE WORTHY OF MAYNARD G KREBS (50S ROLE) OR GILLIGAN (60s ROLE).

JUNE 06-08 G AT A HEBREW ACADEMY 9-12TH GRADE RETREAT

JUNE      07   BETH GETS CALL ASKING WHEN ON JUNE 8TH SHE WILL BE RETURNING FROM 9 MONTHS IN ISRAEL (EVIDENTLY HER FRIENDS WANT TO TALK TO HER AS MUCH AS WE DO).

JUNE      08   PICKED UP BETH AT BWI. LUGGAGE SHE HAD PAID $90 EXTRA TO CARRY WAS STILL SITTING ON THE TARMAC IN ISRAEL. THE BROUGHT IT BY EARLY AM ON 9th.

JUNE      14   M BRINGS FORD TEMPO TO VEHICLE INSPECTION (veip) STATION. ABOUT 10 SECONDS AFTER THE CAR WAS STARTED BY THE VEIP, IT STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. THEY PUSHED IT OUT TO A PARKING SPACE. TURNS OUT, IT WAS OUT OF RADIATOR FLUID (I HAD BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO BE TUNED AND FLUID INSPECTED THE PREVIOUS WEEK IN ANTICIPATION OF THE VEIP TEST). ONE OF THE SUPERVISORS HAD A SPARE BOTTLE OF RADIATOR FLUID AND I USED WATER FROM THE REST ROOM TO PUT INTO THE RADIATOR ITSELF. THE CAR COOLED OFF. THEY DON'T ALLOW MULTIPLE TESTS IN THE SAME DAY SO I DROVE THE CAR BACK HOME.

JUNE      17   GEORGE'S LAST DAY AT SCHOOL. BETH DECLINES JOB OFFER FROM THE JCC (SPECIAL ED TYPE WORK WITH A BIG NON COMMUNICATIVE KID IN AN IMMERSION PROGRAM).

JUNE      19   TWO OF BETH'S FRIENDS (CHAVA FR SILVER SPRING AND SARAH FROM PRINCETON) FOR WEEKEND. TWO OTHER GIRLS SHOWED UP SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY.

JUNE      25   SAMMY SOSA (CUBS) HITS 19TH HR IN JUNE (31st OF YEAR) BREAKING ML RECORD OF RUDY YORK (DET) SET IN AUGUST 1938 FOR MOST HRs IN A MONTH.  ON SAME DAY, McGWIRE HIT 35tH OF YEAR AND KEN GRIFFEY HIT 30th.

JUNE      26   SOME OF THE GLADIOLAs PLANTED IN 96 ACTUALLY HAVE FLOWER BUDS THIS YEAR (HOWEVER I HAD TO REINFORCE THE STEMS WITH SOIL TO GET THEM TO BE CLOSE TO UPRIGHT). PANZIES PLANTED IN 9/98 STILL BLOOMING NICELY (NOW IN 9TH MONTH OF BLOOMING).

JUNE      29   M IN CAR WITH LLW GETS TIRE BLOWOUT ON I-695 IN BALTIMORE. SEVERAL VIOLATIONS OF MURPHY'S LAWS. FIRST, IT WAS GOOD WEATHER IN BALT (ALTHOUGH IT WAS 110 IN DODGE CITY KANSAS THAT DAY); SECOND, SPARE WAS IN TRUNK; THIRD, JACKING EQUIPMENT WAS IN TRUNK AND IT WORKED; FOURTH, A TROOPER IN AN UNMARKED CAR STOPPED TO HELP (HE SAW I HAD CUT MYSELF ON THE RIGHT INDEX FINGER GETTING OFF THE HUBCAP (THE HUBCAP WAS BENT BY THE BLOWOUT) SO HE HELPED AND WITHIN ABOUT 5 SECONDS, HE HAD CUT HIMSELF (ALSO ON THE RIGHT INDEX FINGER) GETTING OFF THE HUBCAP. FIFTH, THERE WAS A TIRE  REPAIR/REPLACEMENT BUSINESS NEARBY WHICH HAD CORRECT SIZE, ETC. INTERESTINGLY, THE TIRE THAT BLEW CLEARLY HAD A WORN INTERIOR SURFACE BUT THE OTHER 3 TIRES WERE IN ALMOST NEW CONDITION (THEORETICALLY, THIS MEANS I HAD ONE TIRE CHRONICALLY UNDERINFLATED WHICH WORE DOWN WHILE BREAKING).

JUNE      28   AT THE 81 GAME MARK, McGWIRE 36 (ABOUT 1 IN EVERY 7.5 ABs), SOSA 32 AND GRIFFEY 32 HRs.

JUNE      29   ANN ASKES GEORGE TO CONVERT SOME FILES (WORD TO WP). GEORGE RESPONDS, "GEE, WON'T THE IMMERSION IN WATER RUIN THEM."

JUNE      30   GEORGE CALLS US ON A CAR PHONE 4 MINUTES BEFORE COMING HOME TO TELL US HE WILL BE HOME IN 4 MINUTES.

Weiss Family Chronology 3rd Q 1998

Address:  8211 Postoak Rd.

Potomac, Maryland 20854

PHONE:    301 294 7479 (H)

202 366 5010 (M @ OFFICE)

E MAIL AT M'S OFFICE              MARTIN.WEISS@FHWA.DOT.GOV

JUL       03   LLW APPLIES TO RESIDE AT CATERED LIVING OF PIKESVILLE (IN BALT). 3RD BARBEQUE OF SUMMER. FIRST TIME WITH BEEF SHORT AND SPARE RIBS. THINK IT WORKED PRETTY WELL.

JUL       04   WATCHING MOVIE 'FIST' (ABOUT JIMMY HOFFA, UNION AND MOB), SCENE IS WHERE MOB FIGURE WANTS UNION TO HELP WITH A BLACKMAIL SCHEME. SCENE IS A LITTLE SLOW AND G SAYS, "GEE, THE MAFIA GUY SEEMS SO FRIENDLY, HOW COME HE (JIMMY HOFFA) DOESN'T TRUST HIM."

JUL  05 BETH - DAD, LET'S OPEN WINDOWS AND TURN OFF THE A/C       M  -   YOU COULD JUST GO OUTSIDE AND SIT ON THE PORCH?

   BETH - IT'S TOO WARM AND MUGGY.

JUL       09   BETH DRIVING THE OLD (85) TEMPO AROUND MEETS HER FRIEND TEMIMA. BETH REPORTS THAT TEMIMA SAID, "I LOVE YOU CAR, IT'S SO RETRO - IF ONLY IT WORKED"

JUL       10   M, BETH AND IRWIN HELP MY MOM, MOVE TO AN ASSISTED LIVING PLACE IN BALTIMORE. MOM HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE ON JUNE 19. (THE ONSET OF THE DISEASE THIS SPRING AND THE DIAGNOSTIC PERIOD FROM MAY TO JUNE WAS TOO SAD FOR ME TO PLACE IN THE CHRONOLOGY, BUT I HAVE A SUPPLEMENTARY SUBJECT LOG FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS IT).

JULY      13   FIRST VISIT TO MOM AT CL OF P IN COMPANY OF M, B AND G (G IS AT CAMP).

JULY      16   BETH STARTS WEEK OF WORK AT A RUG STORE. ON JULY 17 AND THEN AGAIN ON JULY 19 SHE SELLS RUGS AT TOO LOW A PRICE. ALSO HAS ADVENTURE WITH NON ENGLISH SPEAKERS WANTING TO RETURN RUGS AND PEOPLE WANTING MONEY OFF BECAUSE OF SPOTS.

JULY 16   G SAYS HE HAD 32 MI BIKE RIDE (ONE GEAR BIKE).

JULY      19   SECOND VISIT TO MOM AT CL OF P IN COMPANY OF M, A AND G.

JULY      19   CL OF P SAYS MOM ADJUSTING SLOWLY BUT SURELY AND NOT TO WORRY.

JULY 21   CL OF P SAYS MOM WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ADJUST.

JULY      29   I, CHERYL AND M MOVE MOM TO ARDEN COURT, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S.

JULY      31   FIRST VISIT (M & A & BETH) TO ARDEN COURT.

AUG  2-4 THREE DAYS IN ROW WITH MINIMUM TEMPS IN THE 50s.

AUG       4    29 DAY HEAT WAVE IN DALLAS, TX IS BROKEN (AN EARLIER 42 DAY HEAT WAVE IN DALLAS WAS BROKEN IN 1980 ON AUG 4).

AUG       5-7 B IN NJ AS GUEST/COUNSELOR FOR A PRIVATE CAMP. ONE OF HER ADVENTURES WAS TO TRIP THE WILY COYOTE CHARACTER AT SIX FLAGS. THE WILY COYOTE CHARACTER CAN'T SEE WELL BECAUSE OF THE COSTUME HEAD. BETH APOLOGIZED AND WILY SHRUGGED A 'THATS OK'.

AUG       10   M ASKED BY ARDEN COURT TO NOT VISIT FOR A WHILE TO ALLOW BALANCING OF SEVERAL OF MOM'S MEDICATIONS.

AUG       11   USING RECENTLY TAKEN OUT MUNI BOND PROCEEDS, M BUYS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, SHARES IN CLEVELAND INDIANS FOR GEORGE AND CD rADIO FOR BETH (CONCEPT IS RADIO FROM SATELLITES SO YOU CAN GET PERFECT RECEPTION NO MATTER WHERE YOU DRIVE - B IS BIG RADIO MUSIC BUFF).

AUG       15   DURING HAVDALAH, G SPILLS WINE, DROPS CANDLE IN SPILT WINE, DROPS FIRST LIT MATCH AND KNOCKS OVER SPICE BOX - ALL IN ABOUT 45 SECONDS.

AUG       16   FIRST FAMILY ONLY BARBEQUE (LAMB AND BEEF) - HIGHLY PRAISED BY FAMILY.

AUG       17   M GETS U.S. SAVINGS BONDS OUT OF BANK SAFE DEPOSIT BOX FOR USE AS B'S TUITION. SOME OF THE BONDS DATED TO 1982 AND WERE PURCHASED BY NELL BYERS (ANN'S G-MA) OR WALTER KOWAL (DEFACTO ADOPTED SON OF NELL).

AUG       19-21 AFTER A MAX OF ONLY 75°F ON THE 18TH, A 3 DAY       STRETCH WITH MIN TEMPERATURES IN THE 50s

AUG       20   BOXING UP DISHES, ETC. AT MOM'S HOUSE FOR GIVING AWAY TO CHARITY.

AUG       21-23 SEASON ENDS FOR WASHINGTON MYSTICS, WOMAN'S PRO          BASKETBALL TEAM. THEY HAVE WORSE RECORD EVER COMPILED IN PRO BASKETBALL (3-27) BUT LEAD THE LEAGUE IN ATTENDANCE. MARK McGWIRE, HITS 50th HR TO BECOME 1ST PLAYER EVER TO DO SO THREE YEARS IN A ROW.  CAL RIPKIN PASSES BROOKS ROBINSON ON ALL TIME HITS BY AN ORIOLE.

AUG  24-26 M IN SAN DIEGO AND TIAJUANA

AUG       27   BETH VISITS U OF MD TO DROP THINGS OFF. INCREDIBLY, THE REFRIGERATOR WE RENTED HAS ALREADY BEEN INSTALLED AND WORKS PROPERLY.

AUG       30-SEPT 2 M IN LEXINGTON, KY. ON WAY HOME HAD A 1 HOUR         DELAY ON THE RUNWAY AT HARTSFIELD (ATLANTA) AIRPORT FOR WEATHER AND CROWDED SKY PROBLEMS.

AUG       31   DRIEST JULY-AUG IN HISTORY ENDS WITH LESS THAN 1.5" OF RAIN IN THE PAST 62 DAYS. HAVE BEEN WATERING AZALIAS AND OTHER SENSITIVE PLANTS ON A WEEKLY BASIS. SOME AZALIAS WILL PROBABLY DIE ANYWAY.

SEPT      01   FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMP, AND CONVICTED FELON MIKE TYSON VISITS ROCKVILLE, MD. AMAZINGLY, HE GETS IN A FIGHT WITH TWO LOCAL PEOPLE.

SEPT      14   TRYING TO GET A JUMP ON THE SEASON I PLANTED ABOUT 30 PANSIES (NEED TO PLANT ABOUT 15 MORE). THEY DID FABULOUSLY LAST FALL-WINTER-SPRING (PLANTED THEM IN LATE OCT OR EARLY NOV AS I RECALL AND GOT A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM NEIGHBORS). 

SEPT      15-18 M IN SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME       I WAS EVER THERE. PRETTY NICE VALLEY SURROUNDED BY HILLS AND MOUNTAINS AND WITH A RIVER FLOWING THROUGH IT. NEAR THE HOTEL A LARGE PARK WITH RIVER VIEWS HAS BEEN CREATED. GENERALLY A NW FEEL WITH LOTS OF VEGETARIAN RESTAURANTS AND COFFEE SHOPS.

SEPT      18   ON WAY HOME I WAS IN A BOEING 777 FROM CHICAGO TO DULLES. IT SEATS 9 PEOPLE IN EACH ROW (HAD OVER 40 ROWS). GOT TO DULLES 10 MINUTES AHEAD OF SCHEDULE BUT BAGGAGE DELAY AND TRAFFIC JAM AT THE PARKING LOT EXIT DELAYED ME A HOUR.

SEPT      20   CAL RIPKEN DOESN'T PLAY. HIS DECISION. FIRST TIME IN 2632 GAMES. WHEN CAL STARTED THE STREAK IN 1982, GEORGE WASN'T BORN.

SEPT 21   FIRST DECENT RAIN IN TWO MONTHS.

SEPT      24   COUNTY COUNCIL VOTE ON LEASHING ALL CATS (CURRENTLY UNNEUTERED CATS ARE REQUIRED TO BE LEASHED WHILE OUTSIDE BUT THE LAW ISN'T ENFORCED AND THE COUNTY ANIMAL DEPARTMENT HAS NO PLANS TO ENFORCE IT) IS TABLED AFTER EXTENSIVE PROTESTS BY CAT OWNERS AND SARCASTIC EDITORIALS AND THE NEXT DAY IT IS WITHDRAWN.

SEPT      28   END OF BASEBALL SEASON. SOME HIGHLIGHTS: MARK McGWIRE GETS 70 HRs IN ONLY 509 ABs (160 BB). ERIC DAVIS .325 AVE, .600 SLUGGING- WINS THE COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR THE 2ND TIME IN 3 YEARS (HE WON IT IN 96 FOR CINNCINATI COMING OFF KIDNEY SURGERY AND IN 98 FOR BALTIMORE COMING OFF STOMACH CANCER TREATMENT). THE FLORIDA MARLINS, WHO WON THE WORLD SERIES IN 97, IS 54-108 WHICH IS BY FAR THE WORST DEPROVEMENT OF ANY TEAM IN SPORTS HISTORY. JOHN OLERUD BECOMES FIRST PLAYER TO HIT OVER .350 IN BOTH LEAGUES (IN 98 FOR NY METS, IN 96 FOR TORONTO). NY YANKEES WIN 114: MOST IN 70 YEARS AND BEXT WINNING PERCENTAGE SINCE 1954 CLEVELAND. 

SEPT      29   COUNTY REPLACES SIDEWALK ON OUR STREET. WE HAD NOT COMPLAINED AND ACTUALLY THE SIDEWALK WASN'T AS BAD AS IN SOME OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY. THIS IS A MYSTERY TO ME.  MAYBE SOMEONE ON THE STREET IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN I REALIZED. 

Weiss Family Chronology 4th Q 1998

Address:  8211 Postoak Rd.

Potomac, Maryland 20854

PHONE:    301 294 7479 (H)

202 366 5010 (M @ OFFICE)

E MAIL AT M'S OFFICE              MARTIN.WEISS@FHWA.DOT.GOV

OCT       01   DURING YOM KIPPUR, M GETS A COLD, G CAN'T STAND ALL THE WAY DURING AFTERNOON KEDUSAH - BUT OTHERWISE FAST GOES REASONABLY WELL.  

OCT       02   PUT FRAME UP FOR SUKKAH. ALTHOUGH THIS IS 3RD TIME I'VE DONE IT, I STILL GOT SEVERAL PIECES IN WRONG.

OCT  07-08 M IN HOUSTON, TX.

OCT       08   STATEMENT FROM BANK MISCODED PAYMENT OF COUNTY PROPERTY TAXES AS A 'TRAVEL/ENTERTAINMENT' EXPENSE.

OCT       09   ANDY PETIT (NY) GIVES UP 4HRs (TO CLEVELAND) IN SINGLE LCS GAME. MOST SINCE DAVE McNALLY DID SO IN 9\73 (YANKEES ULTIMATELY WON THE SERIES ANYWAY).

OCT  09-10 ERIC GILBERT VISITS FOR SABBATH. POSTOLS VISIT ON 10TH      (LUNCH)

OCT       10   HAD MOM OVER IN THE AFTERNOON. 1ST TIME SINCE SHE WAS ADMITTED TO ARDEN COURT (ALZHEIMER SPECIALTY ASSISTED CARE PLACE). SHE WAS OK AT FIRST AND BETH MADE A SURPRIZE VISIT FOR A FEW HOURS, BUT THEN MOM STARTED TO GET SCARED AND WANTED TO GO BACK.

OCT       11-13 MIKE PERKINS VISITS FOR 8TH/9TH SUKKOT. KATZPERS TO          LUNCH ON 12TH. M GETS 101+ FEVER THAT AFTERNOON. NAUSEA FOR 72 HOURS AFTER THAT.

OCT       13   PRESIDENT CLINTON AND GOVERNOR (OF MD) GLENDENING VISIT FOREST KNOLLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHERE M ATTENDED 6TH GRADE. DROVE PAST MOM'S HOUSE ON THE WAY.

OCT       14   AFTER PLAYING OVER 35,000 GAMES WITHOUT A STRIKE, NBA CANCELS ALL GAMES FOR 1ST TWO WEEKS OF THE SEASON.

OCT       18   M & A VISIT TO GREAT FALLS NATIONAL PARK FOR 2ND TIME SINCE WE'VE BEEN IN POTOMAC, MD (9/95).

OCT       19   NEVADA BOXING COMMISSION GIVES BOXER MIKE TYSON 'JUST ONE MORE CHANCE'. A 4 PERSON PSYCHOLOGY TEAM FROM MASSACHUSETTS FOUND TYSON (A CONVICTED FELON WHO HAD BITTEN HIS OPPONENT TWICE IN HIS PREVIOUS MATCH AND ALSO ASSAULTED TWO STRANGERS AT A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT NEAR OUR HOUSE AND, MORE TO THE POINT, DREW A $100 MILLION TAKE AT HIS LAST TITLE FIGHT) TO 'HAVE MANY WONDERFUL PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS'.

OCT       21   LOST AND FOUND DAY. A LOSES MASTERCARD BILL AND BANK STATEMENT AT NOON, FINDS AT 530PM. M CAN'T FIND SECURITY ID/TRANSPONDER WHEN LEAVING FOR WORK - FINDS IT BY 830 AM AT WORK (IN GYM).

OCT       24   ON WAY TO LUNCH AT MILLER'S HOUSE (CARRYING DESSERT), THE FRANKL'S ASKED US WHERE WE WERE GOING. IT TURNED OUT MILLER'S HAD GONE AWAY FOR THE WEEKEND. FRANKL'S KNEW ABOUT IT SINCE THEY WERE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS AND THEY INVITED US TO LUNCH.

OCT       27   HURRICANE MITCH REACHES 905 mb, 180 MPH WIND STRENGTH.

OCT       29   POLICE IN STAFFORD CO. (VA) ARREST MAN FOR POSSESSION OF 15 POISONOUS SNAKES, SOME MORE THAN 10 FEET LONG. (IN VA IT IS LEGAL TO RAISE AND SELL POISENOUS SNAKES BUT NO TO HAVE THEM IN YOUR HOME. THE ARREST FOLLOWED COMPLAINTS BY NEIGHBORS.

OCT       30   DURING THIS WEEK, M HAS SEEN BOTH CANDIDATES FOR CONGRESS AND 10 OTHER CANDIDATES IN A.M AT GOVERNOR METRORAIL STOP.

OCT       31   ANOTHER DRY MONTH ENDS. SINCE JULY 1, WE HAVE HAD ONLY ABOUT 30% OF NORMAL PRECIPITATION.

NOV       04   5 HR SUICIDE STANDOFF ON WILSON BRIDGE CREATES TRAFFIC JAM FR BRIDGE TO I-66 (26 MI) ON OUTER LOOP, BRIDGE TO NH AVE (22 MI) ON INNER LOOP AND ALEXANDRIA TO QUANTICO (20 MI) ON i-395/95. ALSO ARTERIAL STREETS IN ALEXANDRIA AND VICINITY BACKED UP (10 OF US 1; 8 MILES OF WASHINGTON STREET; 4 MILES OF DUKE STREET, ETC.)

NOV  7-8 MY COUSIN ED DEITCH IN TOWN

NOV  10   G - YOU KNOW DAD, WHEN YOU SAY, 'HEADS I WIN TAILS YOU             LOSE REAL FAST, IT SOUNDS PRETTY FAIR'.

M - BUT HASN'T EVERYBODY HEARD THAT BEFORE?

G - WELL I SURE HAVE, PEOPLE DID IT 3 TIMES TO ME.

NOV       10   STORM IN MIDWEST. LOWEST BAROMETRIC PRESSURE EVER IN STATE OF MINNESOTA (ABOUT 28.4" - WHICH WOULD BE 950mm OR A PRETTY GOOD HURRICANE IF AT SEA IN THE TROPICS).

NOV       16   G FORGETS TO TAKE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH TICKETS TO SCHOOL. IN EVENING FORGETS TO GIVE BUS MONEY TO NCSY DIRECTOR.

NOV       16   M PLACES POULTRY WIRE OVER PANZIES TO PROTECT THEM FROM SQUIRELS.

NOV       17   G COMES IN DEPRESSED THAT HE HAS DONE POORLY IN STANDARDIZED 4 SUBJECT ACHIEVEMENT TEST. DOESN'T HAVE HOMEWORK.

M - GOOD - NO HOMEWORK. NO YOU CAN OBSESS ABOUT YOUR TEST ALL NIGHT.

G - ACTUALLY I COULD SPEND PART OF IT WONDERING ABOUT SOMEBODY I KNOW'S PARENTING SKILLS.

NOV       17   LEONID METEOR SHOWER - METEOR RATE WAS ESTIMATED AT 100-1000 PER HOUR (PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES WERE 5000 TO 100000 PER HOUR). ALSO IT WAS CLOUDY.

NOV       22 - THE CHANGE IN MOM'S MEDICINE MADE NOV 15 WAS RESCINDED. BY NOV 23, A VERY SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT WAS EVIDENT. HOWEVER BY NOV 26, THE IMPROVEMENT HAD DISSIPATED.

NOV       22 - THE METRO TRANSIT POLICE ADMIT THAT EACH PATROL OFFICER IS ASSIGNED NUMBERS OF TICKETS TO WRITE AS A QUOTA. THIS HAPPENED TWO DAYS AFTER THE CHIEF GAVE A SPEECH AT A POLICE CONFERENCE SHOWING THE BENEFITS OF THE QUOTA SYSTEM (DOUBLE THE REVENUE FROM PARKING FINES, ETC). PREVIOUSLY, FOR A YEAR, THEY HAD DENIED THAT A QUOTA SYSTEM EXISTED. AMONG THE TROUBLEMAKERS - 7 PEOPLE FINED FOR VIOLATING THE 'NO EATING ON TRANSIT VEHICLES' PROVISION OF THE CODE WHO WERE CAUGHT RED HANDED DRINKING EVIAN OR PERRIER.

NOV       23   THE RUTH ANN ARON (WHO PLEADED GUILTY TO ATTEMPTING TO HIRE PEOPLE TO MURDER HER HUSBAND AND TWO OTHERS) TRIAL JUDGE SENTENCES HER TO 3 YEARS.  THERE HAD BEEN TWO MISTRIALS EARLIER THIS YEAR. AMAZINGLY, THIS SENTENCE IS ABOUT 10% OF SENTENCING GUIDELINES BUT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER 2 PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY FOUND GUILTY OF SOLICITING TO MURDER. THE FIRST TRIAL STARTED IN JAN 98. ONE OF THE JUDGE'S REASONS WAS THAT SINCE RUTH ANN ONLY WAS WILLING TO PAY $500 FOR THE FIRST MURDER (AND $400 FOR THE OTHER TWO), SHE WASN'T FULLY CONSCIOUS OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CRIME.

NOV       23   DEATH OF MELVIN DEITH (M'S MOM'S BROTHER) AT AGE 84

NOV       25  M IN BOSTON FOR FUNERAL OF MELVIN DEITCH. CAB DROPS HIM AT WRONG CEMETARY BUT M GETS DIRECTIONS TO RIGHT ONE (ONLY 10 MINUTE WALK). AFTER FUNERAL AT SHIVA MEAL M LEARNS THAT THE GRAVEDIGGER WAS RICHIE HEBNER - FORMER ALL STAR WITH THE PITTSBURG PIRATES. ALSO ALICE SCHER (ALLAN DEITCH'S WIFE) - DAUGHTER IN LAW OF MELVIN - WAS IN A ONE DAY ART CLASS THIS SUMMER TAUGHT BY JOSH WELDON'S MOM (WELDON IS WRITER/DIRECTOR OF BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER).

NOV       26   THKGVG. GUESTS HERE INCLUDE MOM, DAVID GOLDSTEIN, ALLAN WARSHAW AND HIS PARENTS AND WINNIE ZUCKOR - ALL OF WHOM WERE HERE LAST YEAR FOR THANKSGIVING. BETH HERE TOO. SHE BOUGHT SOME SIZE NINE SHOES ON NOV 27 AND EXCHANGED THEM FOR SIZE 10 ON NOV 28.

NOV       30   YET ANOTHER VERY DRY MONTH. SINCE JULY WE HAVE HAD ABOUT 30-35% OF NORMAL PRECIPITATION. HOWEVER, SINCE JAN-JUN WAS WAY ABOVE NORMAL, WE ARE AT 90% OF NORMAL FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR.

DEC       02   WASHINGTON MYSTICS (WOMEN'S PRO BASKETBALL TEAM) ANNOUNCES INCREASE IN TICKET PRICES (LOWEST FROM $8 TO $10; HIGHEST FROM $50 TO $65). LAST YEAR THE TEAM LED ALL PRO WOMEN'S TEAMS IN ATTENDANCE BUT HAD A 3-27 RECORD WHICH WAS THE WORST PRO SPORTS TEAM IN MODERN TIMES. THE AVERAGE TICKET PRICE IS NOW $19 WHICH THE TEAM PR PEOPLE SAY IS COMPETATIVE WITH THE LEAGUE AVERAGE OF $13???.

DEC       04-05 G AT UNIV OF MD. BETH FOUND A BOY WHO AGREED TO LET G        STAY WITH HIM SO G COULD SEE WHAT UNIV WAS LIKE. G WAS VERY NERVOUS THAT THE COLLEGE KIDS WOULD MAKE FUN OF HIM, BUT SAID THAT THEY WERE ALL NICE. HE DID COMPLAIN ABOUT FRIDAY NIGHT SUPPER AT HILLEL HOUSE.

DEC       07   M AT MCI CENTER FOR TWO COLLEGE BASKETBALL GAMES. THE SECOND PRODUCED THE ESPN DAILY HIGHLIGHT (A DUNK WITH THE BALL ROLLING AROUND THE RIM 3XX BEFORE GOING IN).

DEC       10   CLOSED SALE OF 1309 CADDINGTON AVE TODAY ($149k) - MOM & DAD HAD PURCHASED IT IN 1960 ($21k).

DEC       17   PSYCHOLOGIST-. ADVISOR OF DAVID GOLDSTEIN (FRIEND OF M) CALLS. DAVID IS MISSING. POLICE COME TO DAVE'S HOUSE. AFTER 5 POLICE INVESTIGATE FOR 20 MINUTES AND SAW A NUMBER OF LOOSE BILLS ON THE DESK IN THE BEDROOM (thus eliminating robbery as a factor) THEY SAY HE "Must have left on a personnal vacation - what's the big deal? PSYCHOLOGIST, SOCIAL WORKER AND I MEET AT DAVE'S HOUSE A.M. OF DEC 20 AND ENTER. I FOUND DAVE'S BODY IN ABOUT 2 MINUTES ONLY 4 FEET FROM THE DESK WITH THE MONEY. THE STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER TOOK CUSTODY OF THE BODY TO ESTABLISH TIME OF DEATH (POSSIBLE WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT AGAINST THE POLICE IF HE WAS ALIVE ON THURSDAY) SO WE DIDN'T GET TO DO THE BURIAL SERVICE UNTIL DEC 23.

DEC       19   M GETS B&G TO WATCH FRANK CAPRA'S "ITS A WONDERFUL LIFE" FROM 8 TO 11 PM JUST SO THEY COULD APPRECIATE THE SNL (DANA GARVEY PLAYING JIMMY STEWART) SATIRE OF IT FROM 1150 TO 1155 THAT NIGHT.

DEC  21-23 COLD AIR MASS OVER SOUTH CALIFORNIA DESTROYS OVER       50% OF CITRUS CROP.

DEC       23   BURIAL SERVICE FOR DAVE (SEE DEC 17). M DOES EULOGY - IT WAS WELL BELOW FREEZING. HAD WELL OVER A MINYON.

DEC       23   FIRST SNOW OF SEASON FOLLOWED BY FIRST SLEET AND FIRST FREEZING RAIN ALL BEFORE MIDNIGHT. AREAS S OF DC LOSE POWER, HAVE 40 MILE FREEWAY BACKUPS, ETC.

DEC       24   FIRST SPING PLANTING CATALOGUE IN MAIL

DEC       25   FIRST WHITE XMAS SINCE 89 IN WASHINGTON. ALSO ONE OF COLDEST. MINIMUM 11°F AT DULLES, 16°F AT BWI.

DEC       26   MINN VIKINGS END SEASON BREAKING NFL SCORING RECORD (FORMERLY HELD BY WASHINGTON). MORE AMAZING, GARY ANDERSON FINISHES 36 FOR 36 IN FGs (ALSO PERFECT IN PATs) - ACTUALLY 40 SUCCESSFUL FGs IN A ROW FROM 97.

DEC  27   TELEPHONE RINGS, BETH SAYS, "IF THAT IS MY BESHERET (HEBREW FOR 'LIFE SOULMATE'), TELL HIM I'M OUT".

DEC       28   NFL COACHES OF FIVE TEAMS (BALTIMORE, CAROLINA, CHICAGO, PHILADELPHIA, SEATTLE) FIRED IN A SINGLE DAY.

DEC       31   YET ANOTHER MONTH (6 IN A ROW) WITH MUCH LESS PRECIP THAN NORMAL.