Tuesday, April 13, 2004

The start of the letter will be about Dale.  Last Sat. he spent his birthday washing the upstairs bathroom floor -- with a brush no less.  Also the edging (whatever you call it) so when I cleaned on Mon. I didn't have to do the floor.  On Sun. he decided to dress up seeing we were celebrating his birthday   He looked so nice in brown pants & a small size plaid shirt that went with the pants.  He looked so nice.  The steaks were good & the potato salad was excellent.  A nice change.  Between the main meal & dessert we had a time out so we could watch teh last 2 holes of golf to see Michelson win a big one.  When he made the putt, Kim & Barb started a noisy celebration & Torey didn't know what was going on & started barking. It was quite noisy.  I'd say they were very happy Phil finally won a big one.

Yesterday the phone rang -- it was Bert's alarm system calling -- a problem at the house & they needed to get in the house.  Bert had gone out to lunch & left a pan of eggs boiling on the stove; they boiled dry & it must have set off the alarm system.  When Barb got there, fire truck & policemen were there ready to break in the door.  Barb had a key so saved the door.  No harm done but a terrible smell in the house.  The firemen went down to the basement and found a mess -- a pipe had broken so  she had to call the plumber.  So there was some good when they found the broken pipe.  Barb goes into the basement hardly at all. It's dark & not very clean.  Bert has become very dependent on Barb.  It's good she has someone who cares.

Easter Sun. showed an increased in attendance at church.  It was a nice service.

This is Dale's late nite & he should be home.  I have potatoes in the oven so I hope he'll soon come.

Millie wrote they have a large library at the retirement center & she is reading one of Elliot Roosevelt's mysteries.  Also on Fri they have a wine & cheese party.  They were suspended during Lent but will start again.

Wed the 14th

Tomorrow is the 15th.  Is your tax form ready.  You sometimes write you've been working on it.

Barb was telling about a boy in Scott's 5th grade class.  Lynn said the father was very wild in his youth, so now he keeps a tight rein on his son.  He is a trouble maker, then starts to cry & blame the other person.  Scott's friend had a fight with this kid & the parents did call the police.  He (friend) lost it again & his parents took away his TV privileges.  Barb mentioned he got a girl in trouble -- it's hard for kids to keep their temper or tongue -- then the kid cries, etc.  He won't have many friends.  His dad picks him up after school.  He doesn't wait in the car but meets him at Beaty.  If he gets in trouble the parents will wonder why & they are the cause!

Lar & Kim have gone, the kitchen is in order & I'm watching the Mets vs. Braves.  It was lucky the teams had Tues. off as it rained all day.  It cleared so they could play last nite, but it wasn't on TBS.

I got Sara Paretksy's Ghost Country but I couldn't get interested in it, so I gave it up.

Not much happening around here, so I'll bring this to a close.