THE WEISS CHRONICLES

Weiss Family Chronology oct-dec 1993


OCT 01 FIRST TIME THIS YEAR I HAVE TO SCRAPE ICE OFF BACK WINDOW OF CAR.
OCT 01 BETH SAYS SHE HOPES TO TORMENT HER KIDS (SHE IS ASSISTANT TEACHING) LIKE I DO WHEN THEY ASK A STUPID QUESTION. SHE USED THE TIME THAT GEORGE ASKED IF MOSES WROTE THE BIBLE. I SAID (SHE REMEMBERED),

"LET'S SEE, WE CALL THE FIRST FIVE BOOKS, THE FIVE BOOKS OF SOMEBODY, LET'S SEE... IS IT THE FIVE BOOKS OF ABRAHAM...NO, NO. HOW ABOUT... ETC."

OCT 02 END OF REGULAR SEASON BASEBALL. TORONTO HAS TOP 3 BATTING AVERAGES IN LEAGUE. PHILADELPHIA GOES FROM LAST PLACE IN 92 TO FIRST PLACE IN 93. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME A LAST TO FIRST HAPPENED IN THE 90s BUT IT DID NOT HAPPEN FOR THE 80 YEARS PRECEDING THE 90s
OCT 06 PER INSTRUCTIONS FROM BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT, I BROUGHT HOME THE 'EPIC OF GILGAMESH' FOR BETH TO READ. HAS PHILOSOPHY AND SOME R-RATED ACTION. ALSO GOOD FOR BOTH ENGLISH AND WORLD CIVILIZATION.
OCT 07 I GOT GEORGE A HALLOWEEN COSTUME. DEVIL SUIT AND PITCHFORK. AS SOON AS WE GOT HOME HE PUT IT ON AND STARTED PRODDING ME WITH THE PITCHFORK AS OFTEN AS HE COULD. HE HAS A BIG SMILE WHENEVER HE PRODS.
OCT 08 NEW SCHOOL WEAPON RECORD. A REVOLVER WAS FOUND AT A CHURCH SPONSORED PRE-SCHOOL IN A WELL TO DO SECTION OF ALEXANDRIA. POLICE BELIEVE THAT THE GUN WAS PROBABLY LEFT BY A PROWLER AND NOT BROUGHT TO PRE-SCHOOL BY A CHILD.
OCT 10 REDSKINS LOSE 41-7 TO NY GIANTS @ RFK STADIUM. WORST HOME LOSS SINCE 1948.
OCT 11 BETH GETS BRACES OFF.
OCT 11 TOOK FAMILY FOR RIDE IN NEW CAR. FOUND A VERTICAL CURVE BETWEEN W.OX RD AND POHICK THAT, WITH ENOUGH ACCELERATION CAN BE USED TO GET THE CAR AIRBORNE (AT LEAST TWO WHEELS).
OCT 16 GEORGE AND I WATCH 1ST GAME OF WORLD SERIES. GEORGE HAD TO GO TO BED BY THE MIDDLE INNINGS. THE ACTUAL GAME LASTED UNTIL ABOUT MIDNIGHT, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT WAS PLAYED IN EASTERN TIME ZONE.
OCT 17 BETH BRIEFLY WATCHES WORLD SERIES AND DECLARES IT A CONTEST BETWEEN GREASERS (PHIL) AND SOCIETY (TORONTO) CLIQUES.
OCT 18 A 15 YEAR OLD STUDENT SHOOTS A 13 YEAR OLD CLASSMATE IN THE CHEST AT J.H.JOHNSON JR HIGH SCHOOL (D.C.) LOCKER ROOM IN MORNING. NO SCHOOL EMPLOYEES HEARD SHOTS. NO STUDENTS CAME FORWARD AS WITNESSES AND NO CLASSES WERE DISTURBED. AN ARREST WAS MADE WHEN THE 15 YEAR OLD TURNED HIMSELF IN THAT AFTERNOON. THE SCHOOL HAS A FUNCTIONING METAL DETECTOR SYSTEM, BUT SUSPECTS THE GUN CAME IN THROUGH A WINDOW.
OCT 20 HIGHEST SCORING AND LONGEST WORLD SERIES GAME IN HISTORY. TORONTO (SOCIETY) BEATS PHIL 15-14 IN 4 HRS, 15 MIN.
OCT 23 GEORGE GETS INVITED TO CLOSET BY GIRL IN 8050. KIDS (4, 2 GIRLS, 2 BOYS) LOCKED IN CLOSET FOR ABOUT 15 SCREAMING, DOOR BANGING MINUTES (AS LATER DESCRIBED BY GEORGE).
OCT 26 SOCIAL EMBARRASSMENT FOR GEORGE. TODAY WAS 'HAT DAY' AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. GEORGE AND A NEIGHBORHOOD GIRL (JOHANNA HENDERSON) WORE THE SAME HAT (A DAVY CROCKET RACCOON TAIL). WORSE, A BOY (PHIL BICKINS) SAID TO GEORGE,

"DON'T YOU MAKE A LOVELY COUPLE."

OCT 30 SNOW AS FAR SOUTH AS SAN ANTONIO, UP TO 12" IN OHIO.
OCT 30 TELEPHONE ANSWERING MACHINE DOESN'T WORK. INCREDIBLY, I ACTUALLY SAVED THE RECEIPT AND IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY.


NOV 03 AT SCHOOL IN HEALTH, FAIRFAX COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO SELF ESTEEM, EMPOWERMENT, ETC. HER TEACHER ASKS ALL STUDENTS TO, FIRST, WRITE

'WHAT MAKES YOU, YOU', THEN TO WRITE

'WHOM YOU IDENTIFY WITH'.

THE BOY NEXT TO HER IS CONFUSED BY THE PSYCHOBABBLE.

BETH SAYS, "WHY DON'T YOU SAY YOUR SISTER IS MOST IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN SHE HURTS, YOU HURT."

BOY SAYS, "WOW, THAT'S GOOD."

BETH SAYS, "I HEARD IT ON ROSANNE (TV SHOW)".

NOV 07 NEXT DOOR CAT (CALICO NAMED GINGER) HAS BEEN ALLOWED INSIDE OUR HOUSE MORE AND MORE. SHE SEEMS TO LIKE ME MOST (PROBABLY BECAUSE OF MY EXTERNAL SKIN TEMPERATURE IS WARMEST) AND HAS FALLEN ASLEEP ON ME LATELY.
NOV 08 GEORGE COMES UP WITH A NEW TACK

G -"OUR FAMILY IS BORING."

M – WHAT WOULD MAKE US LESS BORING

G -LET'S HAVE PIZZA FOR DINNER."

M – OK I’LL GET SOME AT THE STORE

G - "NOT THAT. ONLY THE TYPE THAT COMES FROM A DRIVER IS NOT BORING."

NOV 9-10 M IN NY CITY. STAYED IN MID TOWN HAD MEETING ON 82ND FLOOR OF EAST WORLD TRADE CENTER (THE ONE WITH TERRORIST BOMBING EARLIER IN 93 AND WHICH WAS DESTROYED BY TERRORISTS IN 2001). ACTUALLY, THE CITY WAS PRETTY CLEAN AND PEOPLE WERE QUITE PLEASANT.
NOV 11 ANN AND I VISIT BETH'S SCHOOL (BRIEFLY) AND GEORGE'S SCHOOL (EXTENDED TIME). DURING THE LATTER, I NOTICED THEY REGULARLY PRACTICE CONFERENCING SKILLS (GROUP EVALUATIONS OF COMPOSITIONS).
NOV 12 GEORGE HAS TO DO A SOCIAL STUDIES PROJECT ON GREECE. WITH HIS ARTISTIC SKILLS A DIAGRAM ON GREECE IS PROBABLY OUT OF THE QUESTION. HE WILL DO A PUPPET PLAY ON THE TRIAL OF SOCRATES, USING SOCKS AS PUPPETS (GET IT- SOCK RATES).
NOV 13 AT CONCERT OF SENIOR ALL COUNTY ORCHESTRA, GEORGE SAID, THEIR BOWING CONTROL WAS 'AWESOME'. BETH SAID THAT IF SHE GOT IN SHE WOULD BE SPOOKED. THE GUEST CONDUCTOR MADE THEM PLAY FROM MEMORY AND OTHER TRICKS OF THAT KIND.
NOV 18 WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK, BETH WAS FLIPPING THROUGH A LARGE BOOK WITH SMALL PRINT. I WATCHED HER FOR A MOMENT AND THEN

B -"GUESS WHAT I HAVE PERNICIOUS ANEMIA...NO WAIT... OH, OH, I HAVE RAYHAUD'S DISEASE.. OH GOODY."

IT SEEMS SHE WAS READING THROUGH THE NEW MODERN HOME PHYSICIAN TO SEE WHY SHE WAS COLD AT SCHOOL.
NOV 23 GEORGE SEES HIS GRANDMOTHER'S COLD CREAM WHILE UNPACKING HER STUFF.

G - "WHAT'S THIS?"

G’S GRANDMA - "THAT PREVENT'S WRINKLES",

G - "IT'S NOT WORKING." MR. TACT.

NOV 27 I TOLD KIDS I WAS GOING IN PEOPLE'S FOR SOME TIC-TACS. GEORGE SAYS, "WHY DON'T YOU GO TO RITE-AID INSTEAD?" I ASKED WHY. "BECAUSE THEIR TIC TACS ARE BETTER SINCE THEY HOLD THEM IN A BOX NOT IN A SHELF ROLL". BETH COMMENTED, "SOMEBODY HERE NEEDS A LIFE, HELLO."
NOV 29 GEORGE GETS PUNCTURE IN HIS KNEE DURING PHYS ED. HIS G-MA TOOK HIM TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE GOT STITCHES.

DEC 01 TIRED OF DINNERTIME RANDOM DISCUSSIONS, WE TRIED CONDUCTING OUR SUPPER CONVERSATION BASED ON ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER. BETH THOUGHT IT WAS VERY COOL. ANN DIDN'T LIKE IT AT ALL.
DEC 01 GEORGE DOES EAVESDROPPING SCIENCE PROJECT, LISTENING TO CONVERSATIONS NEXT DOOR WITH GLASS. UNFORTUNATELY FOR HIS RESULTS, HE HAD THE OPEN END OF THE GLASS AGAINST HIS EAR AND IT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE BESIDES NOT WORKING.
DEC 01 GEORGE DOES HIS SOCRATES PUPPET PLAY AT SCHOOL. HE GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS, SUCH AS,

"WHERE DID YOU GET THE BOX (HE USED AS A STAGE)?" AND

"DID YOU WEAR THOSE SOCKS BEFORE YOU MADE PUPPETS OUT OF THEM?"

DEC 05 GEORGE IS TRYING TO BE NICE TO ME BECAUSE I'M JUST BACK FROM A TRIP TO PENNSYLVANIA (DEC 4-5) AND WILL BE ON TRIPS TO PUERTO RICO (DEC 6-10) AND TO N.J. AND BALT (DEC 13-17). I WENT INTO THE UTILITY ROOM TO GET SOMETHING, AND GEORGE ASKS,

G - "WHAT REALLY SMART THING ARE YOU GETTING READY TO DO?"

M - "FIXING SOMETHING THAT I STUPIDLY DID WRONG THE FIRST TIME."

G - "DARN. I PICKED THE WRONG TIME TO BE NICE."

DEC 10 HIGHLIGHTS OF PUERTO RICO WAS THE GOOD FOOD, NICE BEACH, SPECTACULAR BLUE SKY (IN SPITE OF HIGH POPULATION OF HEAVILY POLLUTING VEHICLES), ENORMOUS CAVES AND THAT I ALMOST MISSED THE PLANE BACK AND ACTUALLY GOT UNITED TO REOPEN THE CABIN DOOR.
DEC 12 I TELL GEORGE,

M - "I THINK YOU SHOULD GO UP TO BED."

G - "WELL I THINK I SHOULD FALL ASLEEP WATCHING TV."

DEC 18 HIGHLIGHT (LOWLIGHT) OF TRIP TO NJ AND BALT WAS THAT I TOOK TRIPS ON 4 DIFFERENT MAJOR RAIL SYSTEMS (METRORAIL-DC, AMTRAK, NJ TRANSIT, MARC).
DEC 19 WHILE WALKING TO 7-11, GEORGE AND I FOUND A DEAD OPOSSUM.
DEC 19 BETH STARTS TO ASK ME A QUESTION AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE QUESTION SHE SEES GINGER (CALICO CAT, QUASIADOPTED) AND STOPS HER QUESTIONING TO SAY, "OH GINGER, YOU LOOK SO CUTE, YES YOU DO AND I'M GOING TO HUG YOU." REMARKABLY, ON AN EPISODE OF 'CLARISSA EXPLAINS IT ALL' LATER THE SAME NIGHT, ALMOST THE EXACT THING HAPPENED.
DEC 20 TOOK GINGER FOR LONG RIDE AT BETH'S INSISTENCE. CAT GOT QUITE UPSET AND BETH BLAMED HERSELF. WHEN WE GOT HOME, I NOTICED BETH GETTING AN APPLE BLINTZ OUT OF THE FREEZER AND PUTTING IT IN THE MICROWAVE. I ASKED HER WHY SHE WAS REWARDING HERSELF AND SHE SAID,

"GINGER AND I ARE RECOVERING TOGETHER FROM THE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA".

THE SCHOOL SYSTEM GETS AN 'A' FOR TEACHING PSYCHOBABBLE.

DEC 21 GEORGE GETS YELLOW BELT AT KARATE.
DEC 23 KIDS HAD TICKETS FOR UNITED FLIGHT TO ATLANTA. WE MISSED IT BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC, ESPECIALLY TRAFFIC BETWEEN AIRPORT PARKING LOT AND TERMINAL. THEY GOT STANDBY ON A DELTA FLIGHT. AS THE INTERCOM ANNOUNCED '... THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING DELTA', GEORGE SAID TO HIS SEATMATE, 'THANKS, BUT I DIDN'T CHOOSE DELTA'. IN THE NBA, DALLAS BEAT MINN (AT MINN) TO AVOID SETTING ALL TIME NBA CONSECUTIVE LOSS RECORD, WHILE HOUSTON LOST TO DENVER (AT HOUSTON) TO JUST BARELY MISS TYING A RECORD FOR THE BEST 24 GAME START IN HISTORY. (DALLAS NOW 2-23, HOUSTON 22-2).
DEC 26 ANN AND I GO FOR DRIVE DOWN W SIDE OF SHENEDOAH PARK AND UP E SIDE.
DEC 28 PICKED UP KIDS AT DULLES, IN SNOWSTORM. TOOK 25 MINUTES TO GET SHUTTLEBUS TO PARKING LOT BUT TRAFFIC THEN LIGHT COMING HOME.
DEC 31 LET THE KIDS DRIVE THE CAR AROUND AN EMPTY PARKING LOT. THIS YEAR THEY BOTH WERE ALLOWED TO WORK THE STEERING AND THE ACCELERATION. ALSO THIS YEAR THERE WAS SNOW ON THE PARKING LOT.

Weiss Family Chronology Jul-Sept 1993


JULY 02 ANTHONY YOUNG LOSES 25TH IN A ROW VS SF IN GAME STOPPED AFTER 5 INNINGS BECAUSE OF RAIN.
JULY 02 SECOND GAME OF SAN DIEGO-PHIL DOUBLE HEADER ENDS AT 4:40 AM, LATEST COMPLETION IN HISTORY. BEFORE FIRST GAME THERE WAS RAIN DELAYS OF 1:10, AFTER 3RD: 1:56 AND AFTER 5TH: 2:58. THE PREVIOUS LATEST COMPLETION WAS AFTER A 19 INNING GAME AT 3:55 AM JULY 4 1985 NY METS @ ATLANTA. LENNY DYKSTRA PLAYED FOR THE METS IN THAT GAME AND FOR PHILADELPHIA IN THIS GAME.
JULY 04 SKIING SEASON STILL GOING AT ARAPAHOE BASIN COLO. LATEST SKIING SEASON EVER. ALSO NEW SNOW COVERED NORTH AND WEST ENTRANCES TO YELLOWSTONE NATL PARK AND ELSEWHERE IN ROCKIES.
JULY 07 ANTHONY YOUNG LOSES 26TH IN ROW DESPITE GIVING UP ONLY 3 HITS IN 8 INNINGS (VS SAN DIEGO). HE LOST 27TH ON JULY 24 VS DODGERS.
JULY 10 100°F FOR 4TH DAY IN ROW AT DULLES AIRPORT.
JULY 11 BETH HOME FROM HER VISITS TO BALTIMORE AND MERION (PA).
JULY 12 BETH GETS AN $18 COD PACKAGE DELIVERED. DOESN'T HAVE MONEY. WE FOUND OUT THAT SOME COMPANY HAD SENT EVERY KID IN HER GRADE A SERIES OF PICTURES THAT THE KID HADN'T ORDERED. THE LOCAL POST OFFICE WAS FULL OF THEM AND MOST OF THE KIDS (AS DID WE) REFUSED THE PICTURES. SCAM, BUT SOME KIDS PROBABLY THOUGHT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BUY IT. WE FOUND OUT LATER BETH HAD SIGNED UP FOR THE PICTURES WITHOUT BEING TOTALLY CONSCIOUS OF WHAT SHE WAS DOING.
JULY 13 HIGHLIGHT OF ALL STAR GAME- BALL STUCK IN FENCE.
JULY 21 M DOES 50 LAPS IN POOL (ADULT NIGHT). GREGG OLSON COMES TO PLATE FOR ORIOLES. FIRST BALTIMORE PITCHER TO BAT IN REGULAR SEASON GAME SINCE GRANT JACKSON STRUCK OUT OCT 3, 1972. OLSON STRUCK OUT ALSO.
JULY 23 M GOES TO ICELAND. GEORGE STILL IN BALT. BETH IN SILVER SPRING. ANN HOME.
JULY 24 - AUG 8 M IN ICELAND. FLEW TO 81 degrees 32 minutes N OBSERVING ICE FIELDS. SAW GEYSERS, WATERFALLS, SEALS, PUFFINS, ICE/LAVA CAVE, SWAM IN GEOTHERMAL LAKES AND POOLS, ATE LOTS OF FISH (ESPECIALLY SMOKED HERRING- WHICH THEY CALL SKILDT) BREATHED VIRTUALLY POLLEN FREE AIR (ICELAND HAS ALMOST NO TREES OR TALL WEEDS) BUT WORE CHEMICAL WARFARE GEAR DURING A NATO WARGAME. HIGHEST TEMP WHILE THERE WAS 63°F BUT ONLY ONE DAY WITH LOTS OF RAIN. MANY OF THE HIGHER AREAS STILL HAD UNMELTED SNOW ON AUG 8.
JULY 29 ANTHONY YOUNG GETS WIN PITCHING IN RELIEF VS FLORIDA MARLINS TO BREAK 27 GAME LOSING STREAK. HE HAD GONE 73 APPEARANCES SINCE HIS PREVIOUS VICTORY APRIL 19, 1992.
JULY 31 MISSISSIPPI RIVER BREAKS VOLUME/HEIGHT RECORDS AT ST. LOUIS, (This had consequences to M’s career since he was assigned to coordinate a Mississippi flood recovery documentation effort, then in 1995 a Mississippi delta economic development documentation then in 2000 a national economic development initiative) 5 NORTHWESTERN STATES HAVE COLDEST JULY OF CENTURY AND 6 SOUTHEASTERN STATES HAVE WARMEST JULY OF CENTURY.


AUG 06 ANN GETS GEORGE FROM BALTIMORE.
AUG 08 BETH AND GEORGE VISITING W. VA. WITH NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS.
AUG 12 ANN AND MARTIN IN ATLANTA. ANN'S DAD (JAY LINDSEY) ILL.
AUG 15 BETH AND GEORGE RETURN AND REDISCOVER RUNNING WATER. ANN AND MARTIN RETURN AND GET 1ST CLASS SEATS ON DELTA FLIGHT TO DULLES.
AUG 17-19 GEORGE HAS KARATE CLASS THREE DAYS IN ROW TO PREPARE FOR TEST FOR A 'BELT'.
AUG 21-23 ENTIRE FAMILY IN ATLANTA. SAME ATTENDANT (TWA) FOR BOTH TO AND RETURN FLIGHT (ALSO PARKED NEAR US).


William John (Jay) Lindsey 1921-1993 (Ann's DAD)


AUG 23 EXPOS WIN GAME 1-0 VS. CUBS IN WHICH CUBS HIT INTO 2 DOUBLE PLAYS AND ONE TRIPLE PLAY.
AUG 25 METS ELIMINATED FROM PENNANT RACE. EARLIEST FOR THEM SINCE 1962.
AUG 26 SNOW FALLS IN BUTTE, MONTANA WHILE EAST COAST IS OVER 95°F. MINNEAPOLIS WARMER AND MORE HUMID THAN MIAMI.
AUG 27 TO AUG 29 M IN MAINE, VISITS THE L.L.BEAN HQ IN LEWISTOWN AND VARIOUS POINTS NEAR BRUNSWICK. ON AUG 27 AND AUG 28 BRUNSWICK MA WAS WARMER THAN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THIS MEANS MARTIN HAS NOW BEEN IN ALL 50 STATES (+DC). OF COURSE, COVERAGE IS NOT COMPLETE (E.G. NEVER BEEN IN WASHINGTON STATE EAST OF CASCADES OR IN MISSISSIPPI NORTH OF BAY ST. LOUIS).
AUG 30 FOR 2ND TIME IN 10 DAYS, A PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY CITIZEN HAS BEEN BITTEN BY A PET COBRA. THE EARLIER BITING LED TO THE VICTIM RELOCATING HIS 40+ SNAKES TO STAFFORD COUNTY TO THWART AN EXPECTED P.W. COUNTY SNAKE KILLING ACTION. EARLIER IN MONTH, A CITIZEN OF HOWARD COUNTY WAS BITTEN BY A PET VIPER.

SEP 01 RAIN IN AUSTIN TEXAS FOR FIRST TIME IN 65 DAYS.
SEP 07 END OF WEIGHT LOSS CONTEST AT WORK. THE RULES WERE THAT YOU WEIGH YOURSELF AND SET YOUR OWN GOAL. THE GOALS HAD BEEN SET IN JUNE. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A MONETARY INCENTIVE, IT WAS EASY TO CHEAT IN WEIGHING YOURSELF AND EASY TO LOWBALL IN SETTING A GOAL, NOT A SINGLE PERSON IN THE CONTEST MET THEIR GOAL.
SEP 07-08 MARK WHITEN (ST LOUIS) HITS 4 HRs IN GAME AND GETS 12 RBIs (1 GS, 2 3RUN, 1 2RUN HR) VS CINNCINATI IN 2ND GAME OF DOUBLE HEADER. ONLY OTHER 12 RBI GAME WAS IN 1924 (JIM BOTTOMLEY OF ST LOUIS). HE HAD GONE 0-4 IN FIRST GAME (BUT GOT AN RBI). THE 2ND GAME ENDED AFTER MIDNIGHT.
SEP 08 WARDS DELIVERS FREEZER, OUR FIRST.
SEPT 13 EARLIEST GAME EVER CANCELLED FOR SNOW IN MAJOR LEAGUE HISTORY (HOUSTON AT DENVER). GAMES HAD BEEN CANCELLED IN DENVER PREVIOUSLY WHEN IT WAS AN AAA TEAM.
SEPT 14 THE CROSSBOW RAPIST (A MAN WHO THREATENED WOMEN WITH A CROSSBOW BEFORE RAPING THEM) IS APPREHENDED IN D.C. HIS DAY JOB WAS SELLING SECURITY SYSTEMS IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS HE VICTIMIZED.
SEPT 19 M GETS A NEW CAR (GEO METRO, BLUE) ENDING OUR 6 YEAR PERIOD OF BEING A ONE CAR FAMILY. THE DEALER SAID WE COULD USE IT (FOR 25¢/MILE) AND MAKE UP OUR MIND WHETHER WE WANTED TO BUY IT. WE DID BUY IT ABOUT 10 DAYS LATER. I LIKE THE 'VROOM' IT MAKES DURING ACCELERATION, WHICH IT DOES VERY WELL, ACTUALLY. I THINK IT ALSO GETS ABOUT 35 MPG OR SO, ALTHOUGH WE WILL HAVE TO KEEP TRACK OF THAT.
SEPT 20 BETH REPORTS THAT ONE OF HER TEACHERS LIKED A PAPER OF HERS EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T VERY GOOD,

BETH -"IS IT POSSIBLE THAT SOMEONE COULD LIKE YOUR PAPER BECAUSE THEY AGREED WITH IT AND NOT BECAUSE IT'S GOOD?".

I LAUGHED AND TOLD HER IT HARDLY EVER HAPPENS.

SEPT 26 GEORGE BEGINS AN UNLUCKY 4 DAYS. DAY 1, FORGETS S-SCHOOL BOOK. DAY 2 FORGETS TO GO TO HEBREW SCHOOL. DAY 3 BREAKS EYEPIECE PART OF ONE EYEGLASS PAIR. DAY 4 BREAKS EARPIECES OF OTHER PAIR.


SEPT 28 Maxine Jones Lindsey 1903-1993 (Ann's G-ma)



SEPT 29 I ATTEND BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT AT MT VERNON HIGH SCHOOL. I TOLD BETH THAT HER SPANISH TEACHER (SWF) AND HER SCIENCE TEACHER (SWM) WOULD MAKE A CUTE COUPLE. BETH SAID, "NOOOH. I DON'T LIKE HIM."

Weiss Family Chronology Apr-Jun 1993

APR 08 10 YEAR OLD BOY, WHO GOES TO GEORGE'S SCHOOL WAS FATALLY SHOT WHILE PLAYING WITH HIS 13 YEAR OLD BROTHER, WHO GOES TO BETH'S SCHOOL. PLAYING WITH LOADED RIFLE IN BEDROOM.
APR 08 CARLOS BAERGA (CLEVELAND) BECOMES THE FIRST IN MAJOR LEAGUE HISTORY TO HIT TWO HRS IN AN INNING WITH ONE LH AND ONE RH. ALSO FIRST CLEVELAND PLAYER TO HIT 2 IN AN INNING, EVER.
APR 09 ANN AND MARTIN WALK TO CHERRY BLOSSOMS. BLOSSOMS WERE MUCH LATER THAN NORMAL (OVER A WEEK AFTER CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL ENDED) DUE TO COOL FEB AND MARCH.
APR 14-15MARTIN IN PHILADELPHIA PA. SAW MIKHAIL GORBACHEV ON WAY TO NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM (HAD LEG OF AN 'ULTRASAURUS' -100 TON DINOSAUR AND GOOD T-REX WITH TAIL UP –the museum not Gorbachev) ALSO SAW PHIL-CINN BASEBALL GAME (FIRST TIME EVER SAW IN PERSON A CATCHER'S INTERFERENCE CALL. ON WAY HOME, STOPPER AT POSTER STORE TO ORDER BETH A BABY HARP SEAL PICTURE. WHEN I GOT HOME, GEORGE ADMITTED TO HAVING BEEN AN HOUR LONG WATER FIGHT THAT ENDED WHEN HE TURNED ON HOSE FULL BLAST AT HIS 'FRIENDS' GETTING HIMSELF AND THEM SOAKED. THIS (APR 15) WAS ALSO THE FIRST DAY OVER 70°F (AND LATEST DATE EVER TO REACH THAT MARK IN 120 YR OF RECORDS).
APR 17 CALIF ANGELS GET AN 8-3-2-5-2 DOUBLE PLAY WITH CATCHER JOHN ORTEN TAGGING OUT 2 (YES 2!) ORIOLE RUNNERS NEAR 3RB IN 8TH INNING (AT BALT). ALSO DETROIT SCORES 20 RUNS FOR 2ND TIME IN ONE WEEK. THEY BEAT OAKLAND 20-4 ON 4/13 AND BEAT SEATTLE 20-3 ON 4/17 (ALSO THEY WON 2 GAMES IN BETWEEN).
APR 24 BETH AT ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL (SHE DID THE GEORG TELEMANN CONCERTO IN G FOR VIOLA). BETH AND GEORGE TAKE RIDE IN HOT AIR BALLOON (ONLY UP ABOUT 30 FEET) IN PARK ACROSS FROM WHERE WE LIVE). GEORGE WAS TALKING ABOUT A CRIME BOOK HE WAS READING. HE WAS APPARENTLY EXCITED ABOUT IT SO I ASKED IF HE FOUND CRIME AN INTERESTING SUBJECT TO LEARN ABOUT. GEORGE SAID, "DAD, I'M ONLY READING BECAUSE I HAVE TO, NOT BECAUSE I WANT TO."
APR 26 BETH GETS 2' BY 3' PHOTO OF HARP SEAL. SHE HAS TWO OTHER HARP SEALS PICS BUT APPARENTLY YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH.
APR 27 GEORGE WATCHES ME GRIMACE WHILE I WAS WATCHING PRESIDENT CLINTON ON TV. HE ASKED ME IF HE WAS LYING. I SAID THAT THE PRESIDENT WASN'T EXACTLY LYING BUT ALSO WASN'T EXACTLY TRUTHFUL EITHER. THE NEXT DAY, WHILE WATCHING 'The Empire Strikes Back', (scene where Darth partially reveals himself to Luke) GEORGE SAYS, "GEE DAD, DARTH VADER IS LIKE PRESIDENT CLINTON". I SAID, PERHAPS IN A MINOR WAY BUT PLEASE DON'T MAKE THAT COMPARISON AGAIN. WE GOT BETH THE HARP SEAL PICTURE AND GEORGE THE VIDEOTAPE OF 'The Empire...' BECAUSE THEY HAD GOOD REPORT CARDS.
APR 28 BETH LEARNS HOW TO CONTORT HER FACE INTO THE SHAPE OF A BAJORAN (ONE OF THE ALIEN RACES ON 'STAR TREK DEEP SPACE NINE'). SHE REPORTEDLY ENJOYS STANDING NEAR THE STAIRS AT SCHOOL TELLING PEOPLE,

"LOOK AT ME I'M A BAJORAN".


MAY 01 LOST MY CAR KEYS. TWO VIOLATIONS OF MURPHY'S LAW. FIRST, IT WAS A NICE DAY. SECOND, AAA CAME IN ONLY ABOUT 50 MINUTES AND MADE A NEW KEY RIGHT AWAY.
MAY 01 BETH GIVES AWAY HER 3' HIGH STUFFED SHEEPDOG 'MITCH'. I WON HIM AT BUSCH GARDEN IN 91.
MAY 01 BETH WAS WATCHING 'FIDDLER ON THE ROOF'. WHEN TEVYA WAS THINKING TO HIMSELF THAT HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER WOULD MARRY THE BUTCHER EVEN THOUGH SHE WANTED TO MARRY THE TAILOR, I HEARD BETH SAY TO THE TV,

"NO. YOU CAN'T DO THAT."

MAY 05 GEORGE, IN SCHOOL PLAY 'BORDERS TO BRIDGES' AS THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, UTTERS THE LINE,

"NOW CHILDREN, JUST REMEMBER TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND RELAX",

LAST YEAR IN 'A CLEAN SWEEP', HE SAID,

"THE STORY OF THE YEAR IS UP TO YOU."

THE YEAR BEFORE HE LED THE SNOWFLAKES DANCING TO

'WE'RE SO GLAD IT'S SNOWING'.

THE YEAR BEFORE, BETH, AS THE DRESSMAKER IN 'THE PIED PIPER' SAID,

"LOOK, A HOLE IS OPENING IN THE MOUNTAIN."

AND THE YEAR BEFORE, AS THE MOTHER RABBIT, IN 'BE PROUD OF YOURSELF' SHE SAID,

"LITTLE RABBIT, YOU'RE NOT A DUCK, YOU'RE A BUNNY."

ALMOST LIKE THE FONDA, OR DOUGLAS FAMILIES.

MAY 05 HAD HAIL AND ABOUT 2 INCHES OF RAIN IN 10 MINUTES.
MAY 06 RGARDING SCHOOL

BETH, "GUESS WHAT, MELISSA HARPERY IS LEAVING SCHOOL."

M "ISN'T THAT THE MOST POPULAR GIRL ON THE PLANET".

BETH, "YES AND ALL THE GIRLS HATE HER (POPULAR W BOYS."

M "WHAT PLANET IS SHE GOING TO"

BETH, "I HOPE IT'S SOME PLANET WITH NO BOYS, WHERE SHE'LL SHRIVEL UP AND DIE."

M "WHY DO YOU HATE HER."

BETH, "I DON'T HATE HER, WHAT MAKES YOU SAY I HATE HER."

MAY 07 PAST 4 DAYS HAVE HAD ASTRONOMICALLY HIGH POLLEN. UP TO 1/4" DEEP ON CAR IN 24 HOURS.
MAY 09 GEORGE AND I WENT TO THE POOL WHILE IT WAS EMPTY AND STOOD IN THE 3' SECTION AND CAME OUT DRY!
MAY 4-10 A MOTHER DUCK LED HER 14 DUCKLINGS INTO THE U.S. DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION FOUNTAIN POOL. 13 OF THE DUCKLINGS (1 DROWNED IN POOL) WERE RESCUED BY THE HUMANE SOCIETY AND GIVEN TO AN ANIMAL WELFARE PERSON. SEVERAL DOTers ASKED TO BORROW SOME OF THE DUCKLINGS TO ATTRACT THE MOTHER DUCK SO SHE COULD BE CAPTURED AND REUNITED WITH DUCKLINGS. WHEN ANIMAL WELFARE REFUSED, TWO DOTers PHYSICALLY THREATENED HER. AS OF MAY 10, MOTHER DUCK NOT SEEN AGAIN IN POOL.
MAY 10 GEORGE CATCHES ME WATCHING 'THE LEARNING CHANNEL' (SOME ARCHEOLOGY THING) AND SAYS,

"WHEN I GROW UP I'M NEVER GOING TO LET MY SON SEE ME WATCHING THIS CHANNEL BECAUSE HE MIGHT GROW UP TO LIKE SCHOOL OR BE WELL EHAVED."

MAY 13 MD DEPT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IDENTIFIES FISH TAKEN FROM ALLEN POND NEAR BOWIE MD AS AN 11" PIRANHA (YES THEY REALLY, REALLY ARE BITING THIS YEAR).
MAY 16 CAR STALLS, KIDS WITH ME. CAN'T RESTART. RAINING HARD BUT DAYLIGHT IN NICE NEIGHBORHOOD (PARTIAL MURPHY'S LAW VIOLATION) HAD VEHICLE TOWED- WHEATON MD TO ALEX VA ($60). STARTER/COIL/IGNITION ELECTRONIC MODULES ($280).
MAY 17 ARTHUR YOUNG (NY METS) LOSES 18TH CONSECUTIVE DECISION TYING ROGER CRAIG'S 1963 TEAM RECORD (MAJOR LEAGUE MARK IS 23 BY CLIFTON CURTIS BOSTON BRAVES 1910-11).
MAY 18 GREATEST COST DIFFERENCE EVER SEEN. AT HARDWARE STORE TODAY, I SAW TWO BRANDS OF FURNACE CLEANER. THE ONE I BOUGHT (PEROLATOR II) COST $0.31/EACH, THE OTHER (MMM) COST $14.95/EACH (BOTH MADE IN USA).
MAY 18 PURCHASED FIRST CARTON OF CHOCOLATE COOL WHIP TODAY. COULD BE GREATEST INVENTION SINCE THE WHEEL (oops tastes like bad mousse).
MAY 29 BETH & GEORGE GO TO ATLANTA. AT NATIONAL AIRPORT, I ACTUALLY GOT A PARKING PLACE IN FIRST ROW OF SHORT TERM LOT 'A' ONLY ABOUT 30 FEET FROM TERMINAL. EVEN MORE INCREDIBLE, THE PLANE BOARDED ON TIME AND I ONLY HAD TO PAY THE 30 MINUTE PARKING CHARGE ($2).
MAY 30 ANN & I WENT TO W.VA. AND TOOK THE FIRST RUN OF THE YEAR ON THE CASS TO WHITTAKER STATION LOGGING RAILROAD. THE TRAIN USES (ACCORDING TO PUBLIC ADDRESS PERSON) 3000 POUNDS OF COAL AND 15,000 GALLONS OF WATER FOR THIS 1 HOUR, 7 MILE LONG EXCURSION. LATER WE SAW THE 140' RADIO TELESCOPE AT GREEN RIVER.

JUN 04 ANN- I NEED YOU (TO M) TO FIX THE UPSTAIRS TV RECEPTION.

M- GEORGE CAN DO THAT.

G- HOW DO I DO THAT?

M- JUST WIGGLE THE ANTENNAE AROUND.

G- I DO THAT ALL THE TIME.

M- THEN IT OUGHT TO BE EASY FOR YOU.

G- BUT IT NEVER WORKS.

JUNE 03-08 UNUSUAL HEAVY SUMMER RAIN AND SNOW STORMS ON WEST COAST. SNOW AS FAR SOUTH AS 32°N IN THE SIERRA. HEAVY RAIN TO 30°N.
JUNE 08 WORST FORECAST, WORST TIME. FROM NOON ON THE 7TH UNTIL 1 AM ON THE 8TH (WHEN I WENT TO SLEEP), THE FORECAST WAS FOR NO RAIN ON THE AM 8TH, I HAD ARRANGED TO TAKE LEAVE TO HELP JUDGE G'S FIELD DAY ACTIVITIES (ATHLETIC EVENTS). BY 7AM ON THE 8TH, RAIN WAS HEAVY & FIELD DAY POSTPONED.
JUNE 10 G HAS CONCERT AT HIS SCHOOL SIMULTANEOUSLY W BETH'S CONCERT AT HER SCHOOL. WE GOT KIDS TO BOTH, BUT BETH LEFT VIOLA (FORTUNATELY, TEACHER PUT IT IN SAFE PLACE).
JUNE 12 BETH HAS PARTY FROM 5-8PM, AND 8PM TO OVERNIGHT.
JUNE 14-15 M IN NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ.
JUNE 18 ANTHONY YOUNG (NY METS) LOSES START FOR 22ND IN A ROW (10 AS STARTER, 12 AS RELIEVER - SEE MAY 17 RECORD).
JUNE 18 GEORGE HAS NOW LOST HIS ORTHODOTAL RETAINER, HIS BICYCLE AND HIS WATCH ON CONSECUTIVE DAYS (GOT WATCH BACK).
JUNE 21 NIGHTMARE. M DREAMS HE WAS AN OPERATOR FOR PBS DURING PLEDGE WEEK AND ALL HE HAD TO GIVE AWAY WERE THUMB TACKS WITH CORP. FOR PUBLIC BROADCAST LOGO ON THE HEAD.
JUNE 22 ANTHONY YOUNG LOSES ANOTHER START FOR 23RD IN ROW.
JUNE 24 GANG WAR IN D.C. BREAKS OUT. 10 MURDERS IN 36 HOURS.
JUNE 27 BETH & GEORGE TO CAMP IN MARYLAND.
JUNE 28 A & M VISIT ST MICHAELS ISLAND IN MD.
JUNE 29- JULY 1 A & M AT OCEAN CITY. HAD ONE DAY WITH FOG REDUCING VISIBILITY TO 50 FEET. WATER COLD. HORSESHOE CRAB WASHED ASHORE. SAW DOLPHINS AND USED A BETH EXPRESSION,

"DOLPHINS ARE SOOOO COOL".

1993 WEISS CHRONOLOGY Jan-Mar

JAN O1 ON WAY TO ICE SKATING

M to G – STOP ANTAGONIZING BETH.

G TO M - BETH TORMENTED ME FIRST

M TO G - 'MAYBE SO, BUT AT LEAST SHE TORMENTED YOU QUIETLY.'

GEORGE GOT ANGRY.

JAN 01 MARYLAND ANNOUNCES IT WILL BEGIN OFFERING KENO THIS YEAR. PERHAPS MY GRADUATE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE IN RENO, NEVADA WILL ALLOW ME TO START A CONSULTANCY.
JAN 03 I GAVE GEORGE CHOICE OF JOGGING WITH ME OR GOING SKATING. HE SAID, "SKATING". I TRIED TO CHANGE HIS MIND BY POINTING UP THE BENEFITS OF JOGGING. HE WOULDN'T CHANGE HIS MIND.

M TO G - "SO, GEORGE YOU'VE CHOSEN THE ONE THAT COSTS THE MOST AND IS THE MOST INCONVENIENT."

G to M - "IT DOESN'T COST ME AND IT'S NOT INCONVENIENT FOR ME!"

JAN 04 AS I AM TAKING JAN 05 OFF WORK, I ASKED BETH WHAT CLASSES OF HER'S I SHOULD VISIT.

"NOOOOOO. YOU'RE NOT REALLY VISITING ARE YOU?" SHE SAID.

"SURE. FOR EXAMPLE I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR ORCHESTRA REHEARSE."

"BUT WE SOUND LIKE DEAD GEESE. YOU CAN'T. PARENTS NEVER GO."

"OK. HOW MUCH WOULD YOU PAY ME NOT TO VISIT YOU AT SCHOOL TOMORROW?" I ASKED.

"FIVE DOLLARS." SAID BETH.

"OK. SOLD." I SAID.

"NOOOOOOOO. YOU'RE NOT REALLY GOING TO MAKE ME PAY $5?"

I'LL VISIT GEORGE INSTEAD.

JAN 05 FORMER MAYOR, CONFESSED ADULTERER, CONVICTED DRUG POSSESSOR, AND CURRENT COUNCILMAN MARION BARRY HAD HIS CAR STOLEN ON HIS FIRST DAY IN OFFICE (BARRY REPRESENTS CITY'S POOREST WARD (HE RAN ON PLATFORM TO STOP THE CITY FROM DISRESPECTING THE WARD).
JAN 05 WENT TO GEORGE'S SCHOOL FOR MEETING ON SCIENCE PROJECT. NEW RULES DISCOURAGE EXPERIMENTS WITH MOLDS AND EXPERIMENTS THAT COULD RESULT IN CRUELTY TO VERTEBRATES. ALSO THEY SAY TO TRY SOMETHING THAT CAN BE REDONE WITH MORE SOPHISTICATION NEXT YEAR.
JAN 07 ALMOST RAN OVER A SKUNK A FEW MILES FROM HOME. ALSO NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR CALLED BETH TO IDENTIFY A CAT. APPARENTLY BETH HAS REPUTATION OF KNOWING EACH CAT ON STREET.
JAN 08 M LEAVES FOR MAUI. SEES WHALE, BIKES DOWN VOLCANO, SWINGS ON VINE. JAN 11 - M SEES VOLCANO (HAWAII IS), JAN 15 - M USES JEEP TO SEE WATERFALL USED IN FANTASY ISLAND (KAUAI), JAN 16 M CLIMBS DIAMOND HEAD, MT TANTALUS, TAKES GLIDEPLANE RIDE. JAN 18 RETURN. ANN HAS HAD DOWNSTAIRS WALLPAPERED AND REDECORATED.
JAN 19 BETH ASKS AT DINNER,

"WOULD IT BE DANGEROUS FOR A 14 YEAR OLD TO WEIGH 240 POUNDS."

M RESPONDS, "YES, IF THEY STEPPED ON SOMEBODY."

JAN 21 AT BUS STOP, THE GANG WAS DISCUSSING CHELSEA CLINTON. BETH BROKE UP THE DISCUSSION BY SAYING, "WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF SHE GOT PREGNANT?" THE BENEFITS OF 3 COURSES IN 'HUMAN GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION'. AFTER WATCHING SCENES OF INAUGURAL PARTIES, BETH AND HER FRIENDS ARE AMAZED THAT AL GORE CAN'T CLAP TO THE BEAT OF THE MUSIC.
JAN 21 GEORGE ASKS IF WE CAN GO BUSCH GARDENS AGAIN. (I PROMISED IN 91 THAT IF USA WINS ANOTHER WAR WE COULD)

M - WHY NOT JUST GO TO THE AMUSEMENT PARKS NEARER US,

G - BUT THAT WAY YOU'D GET OUT OF DRIVING 3 HOURS.

JAN 27 FROM DENTIST, BETH HAS CAVITY.
JAN 31 AFTER HELPING BETH WITH ALGEBRA, I VISITED GEORGE'S ROOM AND FOUND ONE OF BETH'S FRIENDS HELPING GEORGE MAKE HIS BED (WONDERS NEVER CEASE). LATER, TOOK GEORGE TO WATCH SUPERBOWL AT FRIEND'S HOUSE. BUD BOWL AND SUPERBOWL SCORES WERE IDENTICAL DURING 1ST HALF.


FEB 01 GENERAL MOTORS TAKES A $20.5 BILLION DOLLAR CHARGE FOR AN ACCOUNTING CHANGE. AS I REMEMBER THIS SUPERBOWL AN ACCOUNTING FIRM HAD TWO 15 SEC ADS.
FEB 02 GEORGE LEAVES VIOLA AT SCHOOL. FEB 03 GEORGE LOSES VIOLA MUSIC AT SCHOOL. FEB 04 GEORGE FINDS MUSIC
FEB 03 M STUBBS FOOT ON BOOKCASE. PUT CARPET SKIRT AROUND BOOKCASE BUT THE FOOT DIDN'T STOP HURTING UNTIL FEB 16.
FEB 04 COMPACT FLUORESCENT PURCHASED IN OCT 91 AND GUARANTEED TO LAST 10,000 HOURS BURNS OUT. HECHINGER'S GAVE ME A NEW ONE BUT NON VERBALLY, THEY IMPLIED THAT I HAD BETTER NOT TRY THIS AGAIN (HECHINGER’S WENT BANKRUPT IN 99).
FEB 11 GEORGE GETS SICK MISSING HIS SCIENCE FAIR AND SCHOOL VALENTINE DAY PARTY.
FEB 11-14 BETH ON SKI, SKATING VACATION IN PENNSYLVANIA (WE LET HER MISS TWO DAYS OF SCHOOL).
FEB 13 ADMITTED ADULTEROR, CONVICTED DRUG POSSESSOR AND ELECTED COUNCILMAN MARION BARRY, SELLS AT AUCTION, THE CAR GIVEN TO HIM BY HIS SUPPORTERS IN 1991 WHEN HE WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON. THE BUYER, NON NATIVE SPEAKER OF ENGLISH AND ARLINGTON INSURANCE AGENT FANNY YUAN DID NOT KNOW WHO MARION BARRY WAS. UPON GETTING $14,000 FOR THE CAR, MARION'S SUPPORTERS DECLARED THAT MARION HAD MADE ANOTHER BRILLIANT FINANCIAL DECISION AND SHOWED HIS FITNESS FOR ELECTED OFFICE. HE PLANS TO BUY A NEW CAR.
FEB 14 TODAY, I MADE GEORGE WAIT BEFORE EATING SOME HERSEY'S KISSES BECAUSE HE HADN'T PRACTISED HIS VIOLA ENOUGH. I MADE COMMENTS TO HIM SUCH AS,

M - JUST IMAGINE HOW GOOD THOSE CANDIES WOULD TASTE RIGHT NOW.

M - I'LL BET YOU CAN ALMOST TASTE THOSE HERSEY'S KISSES.

AND GENERALLY RUBBED IT IN. LATER THAT DAY GEORGE TOLD ME,

G - JUST IMAGINE HOW NEAT IT WOULD BE TO HAVE ALL SUMMER OFF

G - I'LL BET YOU'D LIKE TO BE A KID AGAIN.

FEB 15 WHEN I TELL BETH HOW LONG I'LL BE GONE (4 DAYS) SHE SAYS, "OH BOY, I GET TO WEAR ALL YOUR FLANNEL SHIRTS."
FEB 15-19 M IN SACRAMENTO, CALIF. RAINED WHOLE TIME, GROUND SATURATED. THOUSANDS OF ACRES UNDER WATER. PLANE ACTUALLY EARLY GETTING IN TO O'HARE AND NATIONAL ON WAY BACK.
FEB 19 GEORGE HAD BEEN GOOD ALL WEEK SO I SHOWED HIM HOW TO PLAY 'SIM CITY'. HE AND BETH PLAYED ALL DAY ON THE 20TH. BETH, ON HER OWN, DECIDED TO RAISE THE PROPERTY TAX RATE JUST BEFORE JAN. TO SOAK THE 'SIMS'.
FEB 23 SITE AT ENTRANCE TO YOSEMITE NATL PARK RECORDS 8 INCHES OF SNOW IN ONE HOUR.
FEB 25 M IS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING FALLEN ARCHES. WILL GET DEVICE FOR SHOE.
FEB 25 BOY NAMED NICHOLAS SCHEDULES FIGHT FOR 4:46 PM BETWEEN GEORGE AND ANOTHER BOY (NAMED THOMAS). THOMAS'S DAD SAID HE HAD GIVEN THOMAS PERMISSION TO DEFEND HIMSELF BUT FORBADE HIM FROM STARTING FIGHTS. I HAD PROVIDED SAME INSTRUCTIONS TO GEORGE. MAYBE PROBLEM IS THE PROMOTOR.
FEB 27 NORTHWESTERN BEATS PURDUE IN W. LAFAYETTE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1973 (ALSO BROKE A 60 GAME ROAD WINLESS STREAK EXTENDING FROM FEB 20, 1986).
FEB 28 WASHINGTON POST LISTS WGN, COMEDY CHANNEL AND SCI-FI CHANNEL IN EXPANDED TV CABLE LISTINGS. BEST JOB OF REPORTING SINCE WATERGATE (I ACTUALLY CALLED THE POST AND TOLD THEM THAT).

MAR 02-04M IN SAN DIEGO. GOT TO SEE BALBOA PARK, FLEET & NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, KC BARBEQUE (SCENE IN MOVIE 'TOP GUN'). FLIGHT TO SAN D WAS EARLY DUE TO 40 MPH FOLLOWING (YES. REALLY EAST WINDS ALOFT) WINDS. FLIGHT BACK HIT SNOWSTORM IN DETROIT. LANDED IN 1/4 MI VISIBILITY, SNOW AND 30 MPH WINDS. GOT TO NATL AIRPORT 3 HRS LATE, THEN TAXI GOT FLAT TIRE ON WAY HOME.
MAR 04 ANN CALLS GEORGE UP AFTER SCHOOL AND GEORGE ANNOUNCES THAT HE HAS A VERY STRESSFUL HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT.
MAR 13 DURING MID AFTERNOON WE HAD ABOUT 4 HOURS OF SLEET (MADE ABOUT 1") ON TOP OF ABOUT 6" OF SNOW. DURING EARLY EVENING RECORD LOW BAROMETRIC PRESSURE (APPX 28.50", 966mm) DURING LATE EVENING WE ACTUALLY HAD BLIZZARD CONDITION WITH WINDS OVER 40 MPH, BLOWING SNOW, 25°F, ETC. LESS THAN A FOOT OF SNOW TOTAL BY MIDNIGHT. BETH LET ONE OF HER FRIENDS USE MY ONLY PAIR OF BOOTS (SHE GOT YELLED AT AND HAD TO WALK TO FRIENDS HOUSE IN BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TO GET THEM. 'IT WAS COOL' SHE SAID).
MAR 15 SPEAKING OF COLD, THIS MORNING DULLES AIRPORT HAD A MINIMUM OF -2°F. SCHOOLS CLOSED MAR 15 & 16.
MAR 17 & 18 SCHOOLS OPENED 2 HOURS LATE.
MAR 19 BETH IDs A HOUSE AS THE ONE SHE WANTS TO LIVE IN WHEN SHE GROWS UP (BRICK, 4000 SQFT COLONIAL MODERN).

ANN - HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEANING IT.

BETH - "I'LL HAVE 3 CHILDREN & EACH ONE CAN CLEAN ONE FLOOR ... OH, AND WITH THE HOUSE I WANT A BLUE MAZDA MIATA."

MAR 19 KIDS, BY THEIR WELCOME REQUEST, WERE IN CHARGE OF FINISHING SUPPER PREPARATION. AS PREPARATIONS SEEMED TO BE TAKING A LONG TIME, I ASKED GEORGE WHEN SUPPER WOULD BE READY. GEORGE SAID, "

AS SOON AS WE FINISH EATING DESSERT...OOPS." (YES THEY HAD BEEN.)

MAR 26 BULLETS GET 69 POINTS VS HOUSTON, LOWEST SCORE IN TEAM HISTORY. ALSO, HELD TO BELOW 20 POINTS EACH QUARTER.
MAR 28 SNOW FROM STORM THIS MONTH COMPLETELY MELTED EXCEPT A LITTLE WHERE I HAD PILED IT UNDER THE CEDAR TREE.
MAR 28 GEORGE'S FEMALE FRIENDS (INCLUDING ONE WHO HAD BEEN IN THE PLAY BACK A FEW YEARS AGO) COLLECT $ TO RESCUE DROWNING WORMS (G DONATES $1). THIS TIME VP GORE HAS GONE TOO FAR.
MAR 27-31 BETH STARTED TO MAKE BROWNIES BUT DECIDED TO LEAVE MIX IN REFRIDGE. IT TOOK HER 4 DAYS TO FINISH MIX BUT IT WAS MUCH EASIER THAN ACTUALLY DOING THE COOKING.

WEISS CHRONOLOGY 1992 Oct -Dec

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 ANYTHINGS 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 "DAD, COME OUTSIDE, THERE'S A SNAKE."

I JOGGED TO WHERE HE SAID THE SNAKE WAS. THE SNAKE WAS GONE.

M "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

M - "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, "I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO WEAR TONIGHT"

M, "BUT YOUR CLOSET IS FULL"

BETH "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 (viewing this in 2003, I still miss word perfect) AS WAS GEORGE'S VIOLA BOW. FORTUNATELY BOTH WERE FIXABLE.


TWO PROPHESIES FROM GEORGE

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 (CAPS ON AT A SKEW), EATING TYPICAL TRUCKER FOOD (EGGS AT 8PM!) AND ALL HAD THREE DAY BEARDS, 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 SAW G WITH SOME BINOCULARS HE SHOULD HAVE RETURNED

M – YOU SHOULD HAVE RETURNED THOSE A WEEK AGO

G - "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."

M - "IS THAT HOW YOU EXCUSE YOURSELF FROM BEING YELLED AT"

G – “YES AND 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 18TH CENTURY HOG (SMALLER AND FATTIER THAN A 20TH CENTURY 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.

Weiss Family Chronicles 1992 JUL-SEPT

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." WE LAUGHED A BIT.

M SAID, “WELL GEORGE THAT IS WHAT IS CALLED REPRESENTATIONAL ART. IT IS NOT A SCULPTURE OF A BIRD; HOWEVER IT REPRESENTS A BIRD AND THE PERSON WHO LOOKS AT THE SCULPTURE PARTICIPATES WITH THE SCULPTURE’

THAN I STARTED TO LAUGH AND GEORGE STARTED TO LAUGH.

G SAID, “DAD, WHY ARE WE LAUGHING.’

M SAID, ‘I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW WHAT I JUST SAID IS SO STUPID’

THEN WE LAUGHED SOME MORE.

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 AND PHARMACY 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."

HE 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 (WHICH I HAD SOMETIMES EXPLAINED) 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 TWO GALLON CONTAINERS OF ICE CREAM LEFT OVER (SIX OF WHICH WE GAVE TO A SHELTER).
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 SO 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

BETH – WAS I IN THE DREAM AT THE ICE CREAM PARTY

M - NO

BETH – (IN 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 AND A HAPPY HOUR. I THINK THEY SHOULD PUT ‘FREE FULL BREAKFAST BUFFET AND HAPPY HOUR’ ON THE STATE LICENSE PLATE.
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 FAMILY CHRONOLOGY 1992 APR-JUN

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." (A YEAR LATER WE ACQUIRED THAT CAT – ‘Ginder’

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. ONE DAY WAS SO HOT THE HEAT MADE IT THROUGH THE SOLES OF MY SHOES) 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.

M – DO YOU HAVE HOMEWORK IN ANY OTHER SUBJECTS.

G - NO

M – WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR SPELLING WORDS

G - 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 - ‘IS IT A 'GOLDEN OLDIE'

M – MAYBE SINCE ITS OVER 4 YEARS OLD.

BETH – THEN IS IT 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 (IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN 2003).
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".

WEISS FAMILY CHRONOLOGY 1992 JAN-MAR

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 (only) 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

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

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

G: FOR MY BIRTHDAY I WANT 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. HE ENDS MESSAGE WITH ‘I THOUGHT YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW.’ I DID.
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"

CHRONOLOGY 1991 OCT-DEC

OCT 17 CAUGHT BETH USING BABY LANGUAGE WITH HER LARGE 4'x 3'x 2' STUFFED SHEEPDOG 'MITCH'. SHE ASKS ME NOT TO TELL PEOPLE, I PROMPTLY TOLD GEORGE WHO LIKED THE IDEA SO MUCH, HE DID IT TOO.
OCT 20 GEORGE EATS HUGE AMOUNT OF CHINESE FOOD AT DINNER. THROWS UP ALL NIGHT. GOOD TEST OF OUR STAIN/SOIL RESIST HI TECH CARPETING (SEEMS TO WORK).
OCT 21 FIRST EXTENSIVE FROST REQUIRING SCRAPING OF CAR WINDOWS
OCT 23 GEORGE HAS TO WRITE 3 FACTS ABOUT NEW ORLEANS FOR HOMEWORK. HE ASKED BETH HOW TO SPELL 'NEW ORLEANS'. BETH, THINKING GEORGE SHOULD LOOK UP ALTERNATIVE SPELLINGS, REFUSED. GEORGE GOT ANGRY. BETH HID IN BATHROOM.

GEORGE POUNDS DOOR SHOUTING, "HOW DO YOU SPELL NEW ORLEANS, HOW DO YOU SPELL NEW ORLEANS."

GEORGE ALSO COMPLAINS THAT WHEN HE SITS DOWN AT LUNCH A LOT OF GIRLS HE DOESN'T LIKE FLOCK TO HIM, NOT LEAVING ROOM FOR THE GIRLS HE DOES LIKE.
OCT 26 FOR GEORGE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY (ACTUAL B-DATE 10/30), WE HAD A CLOWN COME AND DO BALLOON SHAPES, MAGIC TRICKS, ETC. GEORGE COMPLAINED LATER OF INSUFFICIENT SPACE FOR GIFTS AND TOO MUCH THANK YOU WRITING.
OCT 27 GOOD DAY FOR AUTUMN LEAF WATCHING, WENT TO POHICK REGIONAL PARK W. ANN'S MOM AND CAUGHT LEAVES AS THEY CAME OFF SYCAMORE TREES. PROBLEM: KIDS SAW SIGN SAYING THE PARK RENTED SAILBOATS DURING SUMMER.
OCT 28-29 FIRST MAJOR WINTER STORM IN WEST AND MIDWEST US. SNOW UP TO 3'(DULUTH,MN). TEMPS DOWN TO -16°F. DOZENS OF RECORDS. SNOW AS FAR SOUTH AS BROWNSVILLE TX. (26°N).
OCT 30 WHILE MAKING DINNER, I SAW BETH MAKING FACES AT AND PRETENDING TO HIT GEORGE WHO WAS MAKING FACES BACK.

M - BETH. STOP TORMENTING THE GEORGE AND HE'LL STOP TOO.

BETH - YEA GEORGE. STOP IT.

GEORGE - DAD. SHE JUST TORMENTED ME.

OCT 31 BETH WANTS ME TO BRING HOME MY RICHARD NIXON RUBBER MASK SO SHE CAN SCARE TRICK OR TREATERS, KID KNOWS HOW TO MAKE HER DAD PROUD.

NOV 05 GEORGE CLAIMS THAT HE WAS ON TV AT 5:00 PM (FOX CHANNEL), THE NEXT DAY HE TOLD ME HE HADN'T BEEN ON TV BUT THAT HE DREAMED HE WAS ON OPRAH (4PM).
NOV 06 BETH DREAMS WE HAVE ANOTHER CHILD. FIRST DAY BABY SIZE, 2ND DAY GREW TO SAME SIZE AS GEORGE.
NOV 07 BETH HIDES GEORGE'S SOCK IN HIS SALAD BOWL (PRE-DINNER).

I TOLD HER, "BETH, STOP TORMENTING THE GEORGE .... pause ...BUT IF YOU MUST DO IT, DON'T BE UNSANITARY".

GEORGE, SERVED FIRST, SAID (at dinner), "SEE BETH, I GET MACARONI & CHEESE WITH A PICKLE AND YOU WON'T."

I SAID, "BUT GEORGE, BETH WILL TOO GET DINNER AS SOON AS SHE FINISHES HER SALAD."

GEORGE SAYS, "DAD, I WAS JUST ANTAGONIZING BETH."

BETH SAID, "YOU'RE BRILLIANT, DUMBO."

NOV 09

G - DAD WHEN DO YOU THINK WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER WAR.

M - PROBABLY AT LEAST SEVERAL YEARS

G - DARN.

M - GEORGE, YOU KNOW EVEN WHEN WE WIN A WAR, THERE MIGHT BE A LOT OF PEOPLE KILLED AND A LOT OF JOBS LOST.

G - PAUSE...THAT'S TRUE, BUT WE WOULD GET TO GO TO BUSCH GARDENS AGAIN (IN SEPT., I WENT FOR FREE BY SHOWING MY USNR ID, THE COMPANY WAS THANKING MILITARY PERSONNEL AND I TOLD KIDS WE COULD GO AGAIN IF USA WINS ANOTHER WAR).

NOV 11 WENT TO SEE GEORGE AT SCHOOL, THEY WERE DOING EXPERIMENT MAKING CLAY BOATS AND FILLING THEM WITH MARBLES (DEMONSTRATE CONCEPT OF BUOYANCY). PROBLEM WAS GEORGE COULDN'T MAKE BOAT THAT COULD FLOAT. I TRIED TO HELP, BUT I COULDN'T MAKE ONE EITHER. SOME OF THE GIRLS HAD MADE A 5 MARBLE BOAT & 4 MARBLE CANOE.
NOV 16 AT REGIONAL 7-9TH GRADE CONCERT (BETH IN 7TH GRADE IS 4TH CHAIR VIOLA).

BETH ASKS “DID THEY DO ANYTHING WRONG.

M: THERE WAS A FALSE NOTE AT BEGINNING OF 4TH PIECE.

BETH SAYS, "THAT WAS ME AND THEY TOLD ME NO ONE WOULD NOTICE."

LATER THAT EVENING BETH CURLS UP IN LARGE CARDBOARD BOX TO DO HOMEWORK.
NOV 19 BETH HAD LEFT HER SCHOOL BOOKS ALL OVER KITCHEN TABLE AND I HAD PRETTY SEVERELY ADMONISHED HER. AFTER THIS, GEORGE CAME UP TO ME AND HUGGED ME AND SAID,

"OH DADDY, I LOVE IT WHEN YOU GET MAD AT BETHY."

EARLIER THAT DAY, GEORGE HAD BEEN ENCOURAGED TO BUY LUNCH AT SCHOOL (SPECIAL THANKGIVING LUNCH) BUT BECAUSE OF EXTRA PEOPLE IN LINE, HE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO EAT ANY OF IT.
NOV 20 ANOTHER CRITICAL PROBLEM. NEWSPAPER REVEALS THAT UP TO 100 GRAVESTONES/YR ARE BEING REPOSSESSED IN WASHINGTON AREA. SEEMS SOME PEOPLE PUT DOWNPAYMENT AND IGNORE THE REST OF THE NOTE AND THE FOLLOW UP CORRESPONDANCE. ALSO GRAVESTONES ARE REUSUABLE. STONES UP TO 400 LBS HAVE BEEN REPOSSESSED. DOES SHIRLEY MACLAINE KNOW ABOUT THIS?
NOV 21 BETH MAKES ME PROUD OF HER AGAIN WHEN IN DISCUSSION WITH HER PEERS CONCERNING WHO ARE ADMIRABLE ENTERTAINERS, BETH MENTIONED TANYA ROBERTS (LEAD IN BEASTMASTER, SHEENA).
NOV 24 TWO DAYS AGO, I GOT GEORGE TO AGREE TO RIDE BICYCLE BY GETTING 'BATTLECHESS' SOFTWARE. TODAY I RENDERED THE SOFTWARE INOPERABLE BY IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE COMPUTER MOUSE. (FIXED NEXT DAY).
NOV 25 GOOD NEWS - USDA REPORT A LARGE BEETLE THAT EATS GYPSY MOTH LARVA HAS BEEN SEEN WITHIN 60 MILES. ENTOMOLOGISTS CALL IT THE 'DARTH VADAR' OF BEETLES.
NOV 29 CLEVELAND GETS MORE BLOCKED SHOTS THAN TURNOVERS IN B-BALL GAME VS PHILDELPHIA. TEAMS COMBINED FOR 25 BLOCKED SHOTS.
NOV 30 ONLY WITNESS TO MURDER OF PRISON GUARD, HIMSELF A WITNESS IN DRUG CASE, IS MURDERED. SHE WAS WOUNDED (5 BULLETS ARM, 1 IN HEAD) IN THE OCT. 7 MURDER OF THE GUARD. ACCUSED SAID TO HAVE A HISTORY OF WITNESS INTIMIDATION. TWO DAYS EARLIER 31 YR OLD GAL WAS KILLED BY BULLET FROM ANOTHER CAR WHILE SHE WAS PASSENGER IN A CAR DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY. ACCUSED (AGE 16, NOT KNOWN BY VICTIM) WAS ON BAIL ($1000) WHILE AWAITING TRIAL FOR INTENT TO KILL. TRIAL HAD BEEN POSTPONED THREE TIMES.

DEC 02 TO HELP BETH WITH REPORT ON ALBERT EINSTEIN I TOLD HER THAT INSTEAD OF THINKING ABOUT PRETTY DRESSES OR WHAT TO EAT, EINSTEIN USED TO DAYDREAM ABOUT WHAT TIME WOULD SEEM LIKE TO A MAN SITTING ON A LIGHT WAVE. BETH'S RESPONSE,

"THAT'S PITIFUL, DIDN'T HE HAVE A LIFE."

DEC 04-5 M IN ALBANY, NY/HARRISBURG PA. FLIGHT FROM WASH TO ALBANY WAS TO BE 75 MIN. WAS ACTUALLY 60 MIN DUE TO 170 MPH TAILWIND. FLIGHT FROM HARRISBURG TO WASH. WAS DELAYED DUE TO LIGHT BULB FAILURE. HOW MANY USAIR EMPLOYEES DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB. EVIDENTLY MORE THAN WERE AVAILABLE BECAUSE WE CHANGED PLANES INSTEAD.
DEC 07 ANN TAKES G&B TO LUNCH IN OLD TOWN, ALEX. GEORGE, WHEN ASKED BY WAITER HOW HE WANTS HIS HAMBURGER SAYS, "AS RARE AS YOU CAN LEGALLY SERVE IT." OBVIOUSLY HE PAYS ATTENTION TO SOME THINGS I SAY.
DEC 07 POPEYE'S RESTAURANT AT 1200 BLOCK OF H ST NE HAD BEEN ROBBED ABOUT 8:30 PM ON WED, THURS AND FRI. TODAY THE POLICE STAKED OUT THE RESTAURANT AND APPREHENDED SUSPECTS.
DEC 10 IN RESPONSE TO KIDs QUESTIONS (SOME MONTHS AGO) ABOUT WHAT ORDERS I HAVE TO OBEY, I HAD EXPLAINED THAT I HAVE TO OBEY ALL LEGAL ORDERS AND GAVE THEM EXAMPLES OF LEGAL & ILLEGAL ORDERS. GEORGE, TODAY WAS PLAYING SOLDIER AND INSISTED I GIVE HIM COMMANDS (E.G. ATTENTION, FORWARD MARCH, PARADE REST). AFTER AWHILE, I GOT TIRED OF DOING THIS AND ISSUED AN ORDER 'GO PESTER MOMMY'. GEORGE STARTED UP STAIRS, THEN CAME DOWN AND SAID, "ILLEGAL ORDER, TRY AGAIN. (PHRASE FROM BATTLECHESS)"
DEC 11 BETH'S SCHOOL CONCERT. TEACHER HAD M AND SEVERAL OTHER PARENTS PLAY ODDBALL INSTRUMENTS (I.E. SLIDE WHISTLE, RR TRAIN WHISTLE, GRINDER BLOCK) DURING A SCOTT JOPLIN PIECE. THEY MADE KIDS WEAR CUMMERBUNDS AND TIES (MATCHING, RENTED).
DEC 12 PULLED CHAPERON DUTY WITH GEORGE'S 3RD GRADE VISIT TO KENNEDY CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS. MOZART THEME. ON WAY BACK TO BUS KIDS WALKED BY CLASSIC-STYLE STATUARY, (I.E. NUDE ANATOMICALLY CORRECT). FROM THEIR COMMENTS, THEY FOUND IT QUITE EDUCATIONAL.
DEC 14 PURCHASED A DEFECTIVE AUTOMOBILE BATTERY (DELCO 50 MONTH) FROM A LOCAL PARTS STORE. WHEN I BROUGHT IT BACK, THE STORE REFUSED TO GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK. THIS MAY GO ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT.
DEC 15 WHILE WORKING WITH COMPUTER (HOME) IT STARTED SPONTANEOUSLY CALLING THROUGH IT'S INTERNAL MODEM. HMMM. DESERVES A CALL TO DEALER.
DEC 17 CHARLES BARKLEY CLAIMS HE WAS MISQUOTED IN HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY (RE:COACH). (ON JULY 30, 1987, JOE THEISMAN CALLED A PRESS CONFERENCE ON A SIMILAR CHARGE).
DEC 17 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS BEAT MIAMI HEAT 148-80 (AVENGING A LOSS TO SAME TEAM PREVIOUS WEEK) SETTING NBA RECORD OF 68 PT VICTORY. PREVIOUS RECORD WAS LA LAKERS 162-GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 99 ON 3/19/72. EARLIER IN YEAR (11/2) GOLDEN STATE HAD BEATEN SACRAMENTO 153-91.
DEC 21 DESPITE ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES, ICE HAS FORMED IN POTOMAC AND WASHINGTON SHIP CHANNEL (DRAINAGE OF COLDER AIR TO LOWER ELEVATION AREAS). also seen on dec 26.
DEC 22 REDSKINS END SEASON WITH QUARTERBACKS SACKED ONLY 9 TIMES IN 16 GAMES (5 IN TWO GAMES WITH PHILADELPHIA).
DEC 24 AT NATIONAL AQUARIUM IN BALT. A DOLPHIN KILLS A WHALE. THE PEOPLE FOR ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS (PETA) SPOKESMAN SAYS, "I'M NOT GOING TO SAY I TOLD YOU SO BUT I TOLD YOU SO." PETA IS AGAINST AQUARIA HAVING ANY LARGE MAMMALS, FEELING SUCH MAMMALS ARE SAFER IN THE OCEAN.
DEC 25 D.C. BREAKS RECORD FOR HOMICIDES IN A YEAR (484+). THE METRO AREA HAS ALSO BROKEN ANNUAL HOMICIDES RECORD (750+) WITH THE BIGGEST INCREASE IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY (MD) WHICH IS UP SOME 30% FROM PREVIOUS ALL TIME HIGH. THE ANTI-GUN LAWS DO APPEAR TO BE HAVING AN EFFECT, HOWEVER, AS OVER 20% OF HOMICIDES ARE NOW COMMITTED WITH KNIVES OR BY STRANGULATION.
DEC 25 DID WATER OPTIC EXPERIMENT WITH GEORGE (SHINE FLASHLIGHT INTO TIN CAN FILLED WITH WATER WITH HOLE NEAR BOTTOM- OBSERVE LIGHT FOLLOWING PATH INSIDE WATER STREAM). IT WORKED. ALSO HELPED BETH SET UP FUNGI EXPERIMENT (6 YELLOW SPONGES WITH MOLDY WATER AND HYPOTHETICAL FUNGICIDE IN PLASTIC SEE-THRU CONTAINER SET IN DARK COLD PLACE). WE'LL SEE IF THIS WORKS NEXT YEAR.
DEC 26 ASKED BETH WHAT SHE HAD DONE TODAY (OFF FROM SCHOOL) SHE SAID, "WELL, I ARRANGED MY BLOUSES FROM CAUSAL TO DRESSY" AND THEN SHE BROKE UP LAUGHING.
DEC 28 AT CONCERT WITH HIGH AMP TYPE EQUIPMENT, GEORGE GETS OPEN MICROPHONE (AS PART OF SINGER'S ACT, AUDIENCE INVOLVED). G HAS SURPRISINGLY GOOD STAGE PRESENCE AND GOOD VOICE.
DEC 31 BOTH BETH AND GEORGE STAY UP UNTIL NEW YEAR. BETH PLAYING ON COMPUTER, GEORGE WATCHING RERUNS OF DRAGNET (NEXT DAY GEORGE SAID HE HAD DREAMED A DRAGNET PLOT).
DEC 31 ALSO AS OF THIS DATE NO MOLD IN BETH'S SCIENCE EXPERIMENT. STUFF DOESN'T SEEM TO GROW WHEN YOU WANT IT TO. IT'S EVERYWHERE WHEN YOU DON'T

CHRONOLOGY 1991c JUL-OCT

JULY 1 D.C. POLICEWOMEN IS SHOT AND KILLED. HER BOYFRIEND, A POLICEMAN FROM SAME PRECINCT IS ARRESTED AND CHARGED.
JULY 1-12 M ON ACTIVE DUTY
JULY 8-12 ANN IN MISSISSIPPI AT COURSE IN HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION.
JULY 12 CONVERSATION BETWEEN BETH & GEORGE. BETH WAS IN CHARGE OF GETTING GEORGE TO WRITE (SUMMER HOMEWORK EQUIVALENT) AND WAS TRYING OUT MOTIVATION TECHNIQUES.

BETH - WELL GEORGE, WHY DON'T YOU PRETEND YOU ARE WRITING TO THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND AND YOU WANT TO MAKE IT VERY NEAT.

GEORGE - WHY? I DON'T KNOW HER.

BETH - WELL THEN PRETEND YOU ARE TRYING TO GET TO KNOW HER.

GEORGE - WHY? I DON'T WANT TO KNOW HER.

BETH - OK. LET'S TRY A NEW APPROACH. JUST DO IT!!!!!

JULY 14-21 BETH AT CAMP IN MARYLAND.
JULY 20-21 ANN & MARTIN AT ANNAPOLIS. USED TOURIST BROCHURE WE PICKED UP IN 1977. PRICES AT ONE MOTEL HAD INCREASED FROM $10 TO $50, GOOD MEAL $5 TO $15, WATERFRONT HOUSES $70K TO $700K.
JULY 21 A & M PICK BETH UP AFTER CAMP. BETH MADE REQUEST FOR ANN TO MEET BETH'S COHORT GROUP (ADMITTEDLY GIRLS 9-12).
BETH SAID, "THEY THINK YOU'RE INTERESTING MOMMY."

I SAID LATER TO BETH, "GUESS THEY DIDN'T THINK I'D BE WORTH MEETING."

BETH SAYS, "DADDY, I TRIED TO MAKE YOU SEEM INTERESTING, BUT IT JUST DIDN'T WORK."

JULY 26 GEORGE SAYS, "WHEN PEOPLE SAY 'YOU WEREN'T LISTENING' IT'S JUST AN EXCUSE FOR THEM TO KEEP TALKING."
JULY 27 AS WE ARE GOING SOMEWHERE BY CAR IT IS UNUSUALLY QUIET.

MARTIN -"GEORGE, IT'S NICE OF YOU TO BE SO QUIET."

GEORGE -"THE REASON I'M QUIET IS THAT I'M THINKING OF NEW EXCUSES FOR THINGS."

JULY 26,28 MONTREAL PITCHER MARK GARDNER PITCHERS 9 INNING NO HITTER AGAINST LA & LOSES IN 10TH. WITHIN 48 HRS, DENNIS MARTINEZ HAS PERFECT GAME (WINS 1-0)- SAME 2 TEAMS.
JUL 30 BOSTON ENDS LONGEST HOME LOSING STREAK SINCE 1927 (9 GAMES) AS CARLOS QUINTANA GETS 6 RBIs IN 3RD INNING. FIRST AL PLAYER TO GET 6 RBIs IN INNING SINCE 1959 (JIM LEMON OF SENATORS).

AUG 02 MIKE JEFFCOAT (TEXAS) GETS BLOOP RBI DOUBLE IN 9TH VS. MILW. 1ST BI IN REGULAR SEASON SINCE 1972 (WHEN DH BEGAN). OTHER STATS: FERGUSON JENKINS HAD PREVIOUS AL PITCHER HIT 10/2/74, TIM LOLLAR AS A PINCH HITTER GOT A HIT IN 86, RICK RHODEN BATTING AS A DH HAD SF RBI IN 88.
AUG 09 CONVERSATION WITH GEORGE,

MARTIN - YOUR FRIEND SHARGIEL IS LEARNING TO SWIM.
GEORGE - NOT AS GOOD AS ME.
MARTIN - YES, BUT HE RIDES A BICYCLE BETTER.
GEORGE - BUT SWIMMING IS MORE IMPORTANT.
ANOTHER CONVERSATION,

MARTIN - GEORGE, HAVE YOU BEEN EAVESDROPPING ON BETH AND CELIA (BETH'S FRIEND).
GEORGE - CHUCKLES, THINKS OF EXCUSE.
MARTIN - I SEE IT'S FUN. ISN'T IT?

AUG 10 NEW ORLEANS HAS OVER 86" OF RAIN IN FIRST 7¼+ MONTHS. MORE THAN IN ANY FULL YEAR SINCE RECORDS HAVE BEEN KEPT.
AUG 11 BIKE RIDING WITH BETH ALONG MT VERNON-ALEX BIKE TRAIL. MY BICYLE HANDERBAR CAME UNBOLTED AFTER 3 MI. TALK ABOUT HARD TO STEER. BIKE RENTAL CO. GAME ME MY MONEY BACK.
AUG 11 WILSON ALVEREZ PITCHES NO HITTER FOR CHI VS BALT IN 2ND MAJOR LEAGUE START. IN HIS FIRST START (IN 89) HE GAVE UP 2 HRs AND GOT NONE OF 5 BATTERS OUT.
AUG 12 IT APPEARS THE M&Ms PURCHASED IN JUNE HAD A BIG SURPLUS OF REDs & YELLOWs AND BIG DEFICITS OF BROWN, TAN & ESPECIALLY ORANGE AS COMPARED WITH M&Ms PURCHASED DURING THE PREVIOUS 2 YEARS (PERHAPS DUE TO NEW PRODUCT).
AUG 15 ACCUSATION & EXCUSE

MARTIN - I SEE YOU & YOUR SISTER HAD HERSEY'S KISSES TODAY.

GEORGE - WE DID?? (PRETENDING NON RECOLLECTION)

MARTIN - I FOUND A SILVER WRAPPER ON THE STAIRCASE.

GEORGE - WELL MAYBE A HERSEY's KISS JUST FLEW OUT OF THE BAG.

MARTIN - BUT I FOUND OTHER WRAPPERS NEAR THE STAIRCASE.

GEORGE - WELL MAYBE SOME OTHERS THOUGHT FLYING WAS A GOOD IDEA AND THEY FOLLOWED THE FIRST KISS.

AUG 19 WHEN I CAME HOME, BETH WAS STACKING CHERRIOS (I HAD SHOWED THEM THIS AND TOLD THEM I USED TO DO IT).

MARTIN - SHOWED THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS YET.

BETH - I TOLD THE CLIQUES ABOUT IT AND GAVE A DEMONSTRATION.

MARTIN - WHAT DID THEY SAY?

BETH - THEY MADE ME PROMISE NEVER TO DO IT AGAIN.

AUG 25 BOSTON HAS ALL TIME HIGH AUGUST BAROMETER READING (~3.5") SIX DAYS AFTER ALL TIME RECORD AUGUST LOW BAROMETER (~2.8"). VOSTOK (ANTARCTIC) HAS RECORD LOW (DAILY) MAXIMUM OF -99°F.
AUG 25 GIVING BETH A PROBLEM ON SURFACES/EDGES/VERTICES OF GEOMETRICAL FIGURES. BETH ASKS, "WHAT GOOD IS IT?" I ANSWER, "IT'S IMPORTANT IF YOU WANT TO DESIGN A MACHINE OR A BUILDING." BETH SAYS, "WHAT IF I PROMISE NOT TO DESIGN ANY MACHINES."
AUG 26 BRET SABERHAGEN (K.C.) PITCHES NO HIT VS. CHI. IT IS THE 7TH OF THE YEAR AND 16TH IN THE 90s. IN THE 80s THERE WERE ONLY 15.

SEP 04 BETH LOST HER PURSE ON SEPT 03 AT SCHOOL. SHE GOT IT BACK FROM THE LOST AND FOUND ON SEPT 04. IT HAD NOT BEEN OPENED.
SEP 05 FORECAST AT 11:30 pm WAS FOR CLEARING OVERNIGHT, NO CHANCE OF RAIN. BY 3:00 am THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS RAINING. IT RAINED ALL DAY THE 6TH.
SEP 09 DISCUSSING MY 7-9th GRADE WITH BETH & GEORGE PRODUCED ENORMOUS END-OF-DINNER LAUGHTER. ANN FOUND IT UPSETTING.

ANN - STOP THE ROUGHHOUSING.

M, B & G - WE'RE NOT ROUGHHOUSING.

ANN - THE DINING ROOM IS NOT A PLACE FOR ROUGHHOUSING.

M, B & G - WE'RE JUST LAUGHING, NOT ROUGHHOUSING.

ANN - WELL IF YOU WANT TO ROUGHHOUSE, GO DOWNSTAIRS.

SEPT 10 BETH & I GO TO HER INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL FOR 'BACK TO SCHOOL' NIGHT. BETH WAS DOING TWIRLS AND TUGGING AT ME SAYING, "COME ON, LET ME SHOW YOU MY ..... ROOM." SHE WOULD CHANGE DIRECTION IN THE HALL, FORGET WHERE STAIRCASES WERE AND LEFT HER SCIENCE BOOK AT THE SCHOOL (WITHOUT PUTTING HER NAME IN THE BOOK). SHE GOT THE BOOK BACK THE NEXT DAY BUT LEFT SOMETHING ELSE.
SEPT 11 GEORGE CAN'T FIND GLASSES. GOES TO SCHOOL WITHOUT THEM. BETH FINDS THEM THE NEXT DAY. ANN SAYS TO GEORGE, "GIVE YOUR SISTER A KISS TO THANK HER." BETH SAYS, "YUCK, MAKE HIM GO AWAY."
SEPT 12 AS OF EARLY THIS am EVERY TEAM IN AL WEST .500 OR ABOVE.
By 9/24 THEY WERE ALL AT LEAST .507 OR ABOVE
SEPT 14 SAN DIEGO ST FRESHMAN SUBSTITUTE RB MARSHALL FAULK RUNS FOR 386 YDS ON 37 CARRIES IN 55-34 WIN OVER PACIFIC UNIV.
SEPT 15 ROOKIE RAY LANKFORD (ST L) HITS FOR CYCLE VS NY METS.
SEPT 15 HAD BRUNCH AT OFFICER'S CLUB AT FT BELVOIR. GOT TABLE AT WINDOW OVERLOOKING POTOMAC. GEORGE ONLY SPILLED DRINK TWICE AND ICE CREAM ONCE.
SEPT 15 BETH INVITES FRIEND (AISHA) OVER TO DO CLOTHES FOLDING TOGETHER. NOW THAT'S A FRIENDSHIP WE CAN ENCOURAGE. GEORGE LOSES GLASSES AGAIN. GEORGE GIVES $4 TO CHARITY AT SUNDAY SCHOOL (NORMAL CONTRIBUTION IS 25¢).
SEPT 18 CONVERSATION:

GEORGE - WHAT TIME IS IT?

M - THAT'S THE 3RD TIME YOU'VE ASKED IN TEN MINUTES. WHY AREN'T YOU WEARING YOUR WATCH?

GEORGE - (OFFENDED VOICE) I DON'T HAVE A WATCH...(THEN AGAIN
OFFENDED VOICE) AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SET THE TIME ON IT.

SEPT 23 GEORGE REPORTS THAT BOTH KELLY AND KATHERINE, WHO IN THE 2ND GRADE CAPTAINED COMPETING CLIQUES, TRANSFERED INTO HIS 3RD GRADE CLASS. BY OCT 2, AFTER I HAD ASKED HIM REPEATEDLY ABOUT THE CONTINUING BATTLE BETWEEN THESE CLIQUES HE ADMITTED HE WAS MAKING IT UP. HE ALSO ADMITTED TO A FEW OTHER FIBS WHILE HE WAS AT IT.
SEPT 13 DEON SANDERS TO PLAY BB & FB WITHIN 36 HRS (ATL NEEDS HIM BECAUSE OF OTIS NIXON'S DRUG PROBLEMS. On Sept 23 he was NFL player of the week for Falcons, (including a stolen pass), on Sept 25 he stole a base for Braves).
SEPT 24 IN HIGHWAY NEWS, NEW HAMPSHIRE ANNOUCED IT'S 4TH HUMAN TRAFFIC FATALITY DUE TO AUTOS STRIKING A MOOSE. ALSO 151 MOOSE HAVE DIED IN SUCH ACCIDENTS. MOOSE FATALITIES ARE UP 400% FROM LAST YEAR.
SEPT 24 BETH WINS LOCKER SKIRMISH. NEIGHBOR TRIES TO CLOSE BETH'S LOCKER WHEN SHE WASN'T LOOKING, BUT BETH STOPPED IT. NEIGHBOR SAYS 'SORRY'.
SEPT 26 GEORGE CALLS A BOY "DUMN BUNNY" ON SCHOOL BUS AFTER AN ARGUMENT ON WHICH PLANET WAS CLOSER TO EARTH (VENUS, MARS). HE GOT A 'WARNING' SLIP FROM BUS MONITOR.
SEPT 27 AT DINNER,

ANN SAYS TO BETH, "BEHAVE YOURSELF".

BETH - "BUT, MOM, I'M JUST EATING CARROTS."

ANN - "YES, BUT YOU LOOK MISCHIEVOUS

SEPT 28 KIDS UPPERSTAIRS, ANN DOWNSTAIRS.
ANN - QUIT MAKING A RACKET AND BANGING ON THE FURNITURE.
BETH & GEORGE - WE'RE NOT BANGING, WE'RE JUST HAVING FUN.
ANN - WELL QUIT IT.
SEPT 28 WATCHING MOVIE 'CARRIE'

GEORGE ASKS, "DOES IT HAVE A HAPPY ENDING"

MARTIN - NOT REALLY. A LOT OF INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE HURT.

GEORGE - ARE THEY HURT BY CARRIE'S SUPERPOWER?

MARTIN - CORRECT

GEORGE - THEN IT IS A HAPPY ENDING.

SEPT 29 PADDLEBOATING AT NEEDLEWOOD PARK (ROCKVILLE).
SEPT 30 APPLE HARVEST IN MD&VA COMBINED IS 500 MILLION POUNDS VS. 240 POUNDS LAST YEAR. PEACH HARVEST IS 44 MILLION POUNDS VS. 6 MILLION. REASON: NO SPRING FROST, MORE BEES.
SEPT 30 CARIBOU MAINE GETS 2" SNOW, THEIR EARLIEST RECORDED SNOWFALL
OCT 02 TORONTO SETS ALL TIME HOME ATTENDANCE RECORD 4,000,000+ IN LAST HOME GAME, THEN CLINCHES EASTERN CHAMPIONSHIP AT THEIR LAST AT BAT. THE LAST REGULAR LEAGUE SERIES OF THE YEAR WILL (1ST TIME EVER) HAVE THE SAME TEAMS AS THE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES (MINNESOTA-TORONTO).
OCT 02 BETH ANNOUNCES SHE GOT POINTS OFF IN MATH FOR PUTTING TERMS WITHIN PARENTHESES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PUT IN PARENTHESES WITHOUT CHANGING THE VALUE (E.G. (x+y)+z, rather than x+y+z). I CONSOLED HER SAYING SHE WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP THE x AND THE y MAKE NEW FRIENDS.
OCT 06 baseball season ends: DAVE CONE (NYMETS) STRIKES OUT 19 PHILLIES, TIES NL RECORD, ALSO TIES ROGER CLEMONS (BOSTON) WITH 241 FOR YEAR. NOLAN RYAN (TEXAS) FANS OVER 200 FOR THE 15TH TIME. BRETT BUTLER (LAS ANGELES) PLAYS 161ST GAME WITHOUT ERROR. MONTREAL ENDS WITH 68 HOME GAMES AND 95 ROAD GAMES ( on Sept 13, A beam collapsed in the stadium superstructure causing rescheduling). IN LAST GAME AT MEMORIAL STADIUM, THE LAST PERSON TO STRIKEOUT (MIKE DEVEREAU OF BALT. GOT TO 1ST BASE ON PASSED BALL). ALL TEAMS IN AL WEST ARE .500 OR BETTER, THE WEST WAS 274-214 AGAINST THE EAST. ATLANTA AND MINNESOTA WON DIVISIONS AND LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS (LATER THAT MONTH) AFTER FINISHING LAST IN 90. IN GAME 3 OF SERIES, MINN USED 23 OF 25 PLAYERS, IN GAME 4 ATLANTA HAD 2 RUNNERS THROWN OUT AT HOME IN SAME INNING (5TH). IN GAME 7, SCORE WAS TIED AT 0-0 AFTER 10½.
OCT 07 DC DEPT OF CORRECTIONS GUARD IS KILLED ON WAY TO TESTIFY AT DRUG/KIDNAPPING TRIAL. POLICE SAY NO CONNECTION IS INDICATED AND HAVE NO SUSPECTS.
OCT 08-11 M IN ORLANDO FLO. THE FLIGHT TO ORLANDO WAS ESPECIALLY NICE BECAUSE WITH NO CLOUDS AND LITTLE SURFACE WIND I COULD SEE THE SHALLOW WATER FORMATIONS AT RIVER MOUTHS BY NOTICING THE COLOR OF THE ATLANTIC WATER.
OCT 08 GEORGE LOSES GLASSES ON FIELD TRIP. NEXT WEEK, THE NOSE GUARD ON HIS SPARE PAIR CAME LOOSE.
OCT 12 GEORGE WINS FIRST GAME OF CRIBBAGE AGAINST ME AFTER A NUMBER OF LOSSES (HE THEN WON THE ONE AFTER THAT).

WEISS FAMILY CHRONICLES 1991B APR-JUN

APR 01 BETH TAKES READING COMPREHENSION STANDARDIZED TEST. ONE OF THE PASSAGES IS ABOUT 'HOW WE USE SAWDUST'.

BETH SAYS, "DO YOU BELIEVE THEY FOUND ENOUGH TO WRITE 7 PARAGRAPHS ABOUT IT?"

APR 02 TWO TONS OF ELEPHANT MANURE MISSING FROM DC ARMORY (WHERE CIRCUS IS IN TOWN.) LENO JOKE IS THAT DRIVER OF LIMO SAYS TO ANOTHER DRIVER OF LIMO, “DO YOU HAVE ANY GREY POOP” (TAKE OFF ON COMMERCIAL ABOUT GREY POUPON).
APR 03 WASHINGTON BULLET'S (BASKETBALL) MASCOT 'HOOPS' IS EJECTED BY A REFEREE FOR INCITING CROWD (IN HOME LOSS TO PORTLAND). COACH AND 2 PLAYERS ALSO EJECTED.
APR 10 GEORGE GETS STOMACH FLU. I GOT HIM OUT OF SCHOOL TO DOCTOR THEN WENT TO DRUG STORE TO PICK UP PRESCRIPTION.

M: HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE.

STORE: "5 MIN."

JUST THEN GEORGE THREW UP ON THEIR FLOOR.

M: "WELL, PERHAPS YOU’D SEE YOUR WAY CLEAR TO HURRY THAT UP A MITE". THEY DID

APR 13 MIDNIGHT FORECAST FOR NOON WAS PT CLOUDY 60°F. AT NOON THE RAIN WAS HEAVY WITH TEMP WAS 45°F.
APR 13 STARTED TO TEACH CRIBBAGE TO BETH AND GEORGE. I ALSO TEACH THE OBNOXIOUS RHYMES AND TAUNTS (AN EARLY FORM OF TRASH TALKING) THAT IRWIN AND I DEVELOPED TWO DECADES AGO.
APR 14 3 DAY SNOWSTORM IN ROCKIES LEAVES UP TO 80" OF SNOW AT RED LODGE, MONTANA.
APR 16 BETH DECIDES TO DO % PROBLEMS BY REDUCING THE % FIRST BEFORE MULTIPLYING. (E.G. 35% x 60 = 7/20 x 60 = 7 x 3 = 21 RATHER THAN 35% x 60 = 210/100 = 21). THIS PROVES EFFECTIVE AND SHE TEACHES IT TO THE OTHER 6TH GRADERS BY REQUEST OF TEACHER. LATER SHE TELLS M,

“NUMBERS ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THEM TRY TO BEHAVE.”

APR 16 GEORGE PULLS BENEDICT ARNOLD TRICK. LEAVES KATHERINE'S CLUB AND JOINS KELLY'S CLUB AT 2ND GRADE RECESS PLAYGROUND.
APR 19 WASH POST ARTICLE ABOUT FORMER REPUBLICAN PARTY POLITICAL CONSULTANT NOW AMONG THE ALEXANDRIA HOMELESS
APR 20 BETH IN VIOLA RECITAL - 900 OTHERS PLAY AT 5 MINITE INTERVALS IN 11 ROOMS FOR ENTIRE DAY (FAIRFAX COUNTY'S ANSWER TO THE CIRCUS AT ROME).
APR 20-21 IN TWO GAMES AT PITTSBURGH, ANDRE DAWSON OF CHI CUBS HITS GRAND SLAM HR IN LOSING EFFORT IN BOTH GAMES AND IN THE SECOND GAME, THE CUBS BLEW 5 RUN LEADS TWICE (7-2 AFTER 8½, AND 12-7 AFTER 11½).
APR 23-26 SOCCOR OR SOFTBALL PRACTISES EVERY DAY AFTER WORK CULMINATING IN GAMES ON APR 27. BETH MAKES ONE SUPERB PLAY ON HARD HIT BALL (SOFTBALL). GEORGE PLAYS ALL 4 QUARTERS ON WARM DAY IN TALL WET GRASS AGAINST A TEAM THAT CHEATS. PLAYERS EXHAUSTED BY END OF GAME.
APR 26 MEETINGS AT 6:30 AM, 9 AM, AND 12:30 TO NEGOTIATE CONTRACT AT WORK. MEETINGS WERE WITH COMPANIES THAT HAD BID MORE THAN TWICE WHAT WE COULD PAY. WASTE OF GOVT. AND PRIVATE FUNDS.

MAY 01 NOLAN RYAN PITCHES NO HITTER AT AGE 44 (M IS 41 AT TIME THIS IS WRITTEN), STRIKES OUT 16 TORONTO BLUE JAYS.
MAY 06 LIGHTENING HITS ONE OF BLACK WALNUT TREES IN BACKYARD. ONE THIRD OF TREE IS DOWN (TREE EXPECTED TO LIVE).
MAY 09 GEORGE CLAIMS PIVOTAL ROLE IN DESTROYING KELLY'S CLUB.
MAY 09 BETH MAKES WORD PROBLEMS AS A MATH HOMEWORK EXERCISE. ONE PROBLEM IS USING LOGIC TO IDENTIFY ANIMALS WITH THEIR NAME. SHE ASKS GEORGE TO HELP THINK OF A NAME FOR A FISH. GEORGE PICKS THE NAME "SCRUFFY". BETH USES IT.
MAY 12 RANDY JOHNSON (SEATTLE) 6'10" VS. BEN McDONALD (BALTIMORE) 6'7" SETS RECORD HEIGHT FOR COMBINED STARTING PITCHERS. (ORIOLES LOSE).
MAY 14 GEORGE SHOWS ME SOME SCHOOL WORK AND SAYS,

"WELL, DAD, THE BOTTOM LINE ON CELSIUS IS THAT 70° IS HOT SOUP AND 37° IS HUMAN BODY AND 0° IS FREEZING OK."

YEARS LATER I TAUGHT THEM ’30 IS WARM, 20 IS NICE, 10 IS COOL 0 IS ICE’

MAY 14 OF ORIOLES LAST 25 HOME RUNS 24 HAVE BEEN SOLO.
MAY 15 WASHINGTON POST REVISES BASEBALL BOX SCORES (RBI NOW BI; BBs, AND Ks BY PLAYER NOTED EACH GAME.)
MAY 15 CHI VS BOSTON 8½ INNING, 4 HRS 11 MIN (RECORD).
MAY 19 CONVERSATION AFTER VISIT,

M'S MOM - MARTIN, DO YOU HAVE EVERYTHING I GAVE YOU TO TAKE HOME?

MARTIN - YES MOM, I HAVE IT ALL PACKED UP.

M'S MOM - GOOD. LET ME GIVE YOU SOMETHING ELSE THEN.

MAY 23 SAN DIEGO 11 ATLANTA 10. SAN DIEGO SCORED 6 UNEARNED RUNS ON 5 ATLANTA ERRORS. BOTH TEAMS BLEW 2 SAVE CHANCES. BOTH TEAMS ALSO SCORED 4 RUNS IN 11TH (OF 13) INNING. MINN LEAVES 21 ON BASE IN 11 INNINGS DESPITE 4 D, 1 T.
MAY 25 BETH AND ANN LEAVE FOR 2 WEEKS IN UNITED KINGDOM.
MAY 26 WHILE STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, GEORGE & I SAW A MOUSE COME OUT OF A HOLE IN A UTILITY COVER AND SCURRY ACROSS THE STREET.
MAY 26 I DREAMED I WAS IN THE CELEBRITY SECTION AT THE COTTON BOWL TO SEE A DALLAS FB GAME THEN WENT TO A DINNER WHERE THE SPEAKER SHOWED SLIDES OF THE ROAD FROM THE COWBOY EXERCISE AREA TO THE PLAYING FIELD AND SOLICITED DONATIONS FROM ME TO PAY FOR IT.
MAY 27 ON THE 3RD 90°F DAY IN A ROW, GEORGE AND I HAD A SNOWBALL FIGHT. THE MT. VERNON REC CENTER HAD JUST CONVERTED THE ICE RINK INTO A ROLLERSKATING RINK AND HAD DUMPED THE ICE OUTSIDE AN ACCESS ENTRANCE. AT FIRST I TOLD GEORGE IT WAS A LOCALIZED SNOW STORM BUT FESSED UP TO THE TRUTH WHEN HE BELIEVED ME. (snow not completely melted by May 29 despite record heat, so we had another snowball fight).
MAY 28 DOT HAS ADOPTED THE SLOGAN 'USE SEATBELTS, FIGHT THE SUMMERTIME BLUES' DOES ANYBODY GET IT?????????
MAY 28 I GOT A SOLICITATION FROM THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ASKING ME TO HELP FIGHT (AMOUNG OTHER THINGS) NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN ADS. HECK, THAT'S THE ONLY THING ABOUT ELECTIONS THAT I LIKE.

JUN 01 MAY HAD 11 DAYS (ALL AT END OF MONTH) WITH MAX TEMPS ABOVE 90°F. THIS WARMED UP THE SWIMMING POOL TO MID SUMMER TEMPERATURE AND APPARENTLY KILLED ALL THE BAGWORMS THAT HAD PLAGUED THE NEIGHBORHOOD EVERGREEN TREES FOR THE PAST DECADE.
JUN 04 PURCHASED M&Ms FOR $3.59 FOR A 2# BAG. BEST PRICE IN 10 YEARS. MARS INTRODUCING PEANUT BUTTER M&Ms THIS MONTH.

JUN 05 AN ALL STAR OF MUNICIPAL POLICING:

D.C. PARKING ENFORCEMENT GAVE PARKING TICKETS TO A CAR WITH PENN LICENCE PLATES PARKED ILLEGALLY FOR 15 HOURS. THE DRIVER OF THE CAR WAS IN HIS CAR AND DEAD FROM GUNSHOT. TWO PARKING OFFICERS WERE THEN GIVEN DAYS OFF TO RECOVER FROM THE STRESS CAUSED BY THE PUBLICITY.

JUN 08 GEORGE PLAYS IN HIS FIRST GAME OF 5 (REAL FLESH AND BLOOD) PERSON SHEEPSHEAD (SHAFSKOFT). G MADE TYPICAL ROOKIE ERRORS BUT OTHERWISE DID WELL.
JUN 08 AT BREAKFAST, GEORGE TELLS ME OF HIS PLANS FOR TRICKING KELLY (GIRL IN 2ND GRADE) NEXT WEEK AT SCHOOL BY CONVINCING HER OF ALL SORTS OF HALLUCINATIONS.

MARTIN -NOW GEORGE, YOU REALLY SHOULD TRY TO BE MORE TRUTHFUL TO YOUR CLASSMATES.

GEORGE -BUT DADDY, IT'S SO MUCH FUN TO LIE.

JUNE 09 GEORGE AND I HAD BRUNCH AT MURPHY'S TAVERN (G MADE ME STOP AT MY 4TH COMPLIMENTARY GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE). ABOUT 11 pm PICKED BETH AND ANN UP AT AIRPORT. THEY BOTH HAD SNIFFLES FROM STAYING IN POORLY (OR UN) HEATED ENGLISH/IRISH HOTELS DURING THE COLDEST EARLY JUNE THAT AREA HAD EXPERIENCED IN 100+ YEARS.
JUNE 12 BETH RECOVERS FROM HEAD COLD/JET LAGGED DIZZINESS. GEORGE SHOWS ME BRIDGE HAND HE 'DEALT AT RANDOM'. HE HAD AKQJ (spades), AKQ (hearts),¨AKQ (diamonds) ,AKQ (clubs) IN HIS HAND. I SAID, "ARE YOU SURE YOU DEALT THIS AND IT CAME OUT THIS WAY." GEORGE LOOKED INNOCENTLY AND SAID, "OF COURSE."
JUNE 13 EACH SAN DIEGO INFIELDER (1B,2B,SS,3B,C) MAKES AN ERROR IN 12-1 LOSS TO ST. LOUIS.
JUNE 16 OTIS NIXON (ATLANTA) STEALS SIX BASES VS. MONTREAL TO SET NL RECORD & TIE 1912 AL MARK (EDDIE COLLINS, PHIL).
JUNE 16 GEORGE SPOTS BANANA YOGURT SHAKE RECIPE IN NEWSPAPER MINIPAGE. ANN MAKES IT. GEORGE TASTES

GEORGE - WELL, I DON'T LOVE IT BUT I DON'T HATE IT.

ANN - GIVE IT ANOTHER TRY, PLEASE.

GEORGE (AFTER A BIG GULP) - I CHANGED MY MIND. I HATE IT.

JUNE 17 ANN STARTS NEW JOB IN HAZARDOUS WASTE TRANSPORT REGS FROM OFFICE IN SAME BUILDING AS MARTIN.
JUNE 18 GEORGE HAS BIG SMILE AT BREAKFAST (VERY UNUSUAL). I NOTICE, HE SAYS, "AFTER TODAY I HAVE 10 WEEKS OF VACATION WHILE YOU'LL HAVE TO WORK."
JUNE 18 AFTER ROCKET HAD TO BE DESTROYED 24 SECONDS INTO LAUNCH, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CORPORATION THAT OWNED THE ROCKET (REGULATED BY OUR DEPT.) WAS HEARD TO SAY, "...AND WE HAD SUCH A GREAT COUNTDOWN."
JUNE 19 I SHOWED BETH A POINTLESS MEMO WRITTEN BY ONE OF THE TOP PEOPLE IN OUR AGENCY.

BETH SAYS, "I HAVE AN IDEA, WHY DON'T EACH OF YOU GIVE HIM SOME OF YOUR WORK TO DO." I’VE TOLD THIS STORY DOZENS OF TIMES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

JUNE 19 GREG OLSON THROWS 3 WILD PITCHES IN AN INNING (FOR BALT). KIRK GIBSON HITS FIRST GRAND SLAM HR (OUT OF 202 PREVIOUS HRs) FOR KC.
JUNE 19 KIDS PICK BLACKBERRIES. HELP MAKE BLACKBERRY PIE.
JUNE 30 GEORGE AFTER SETTLING BACK IN CHAIR AT SWIMMING POOL SAYS,

"DAD, WHY DON'T YOU GO TO HEATHER AND JENNIFER'S (TWO 2ND GRADERS IN NEIGHBORHOOD) HOUSE AND BRING THEM?"