Wednesday, August 31st, 1977 In which the Monster sneaks in

With apologies to all who've been following this series, please accept my sincere personal apologies for the serious lag between the last post and this one.  Suffice it to say, I've been having some technological issues (specifically not having regular access to a computer) that's been part of the problem-the other piece being that I often don't take into account the emotional taxation of going through these passages and memories-keeping in mind that I am rediscovering many of them even as I transcribe them for others.  That said, Mom's Birthday fell on the first week of May and Mother's Day Eve in particular seemed the appropriate time to begin again...

---
I feel sad and empty tonight-if only there were someone I could talk to at 11:30 p.m.  Petey exasperated me at dinner.  he took over an hour to eat-until, finally, I refused to tell him the stories of "Charlie Brown" and "Charlotte's Web", and threatened to spank him if he didn't sit up and eat his hamburger.  He cried, but ate, and I relented and told him the stories while he had dessert (jello).
I spent the whole day picking up toys he got out and finally tonight I told him I was going to put them all in a sack and throw them away...and I almost meant it.  He spent so long in the bath tonight, playing, that I told him I was going to scream if he didn't get out.  Don't know if I'm so edgy because I didn't take a nap, or if I forgot my pill this morning (Petey said I took it).  But maybe I'm just sad...Sylvia called at 9:00 a.m. and came over @ 10:30 a.m.  We were going to the park but it was cloudy and cold and the children were playing happily so we stayed home.  Sylvia and I had a pot of tea and visited while Sharon and Pete played with play-dough on the kitchen table.  Sharon starts school next week.  I called John Sandquist about transport for next week, and Bob Keele about Pete's medicine.  Dr. Baskerville refused to request the drug exception for 6MP-must ask her about it next week.  Called Frontier Music and Pete can take a make-up class for the 22nd (and the week after if necessary).  Patty came after lunch and we got Pete's medicine and pants (one says "Sesame Street"), some heavy winter shirts, and a pair of shoes (the only ones they had), but I'll have to buy arch supports to put in.  Then Patty picked up Stewart's letter.  I told her Diane was expecting their 6th, and she said " Just wait till I see Armando!".  Then Pete had a nap, but I couldn't sleep so got up and read-intending to sleep during his programs (at least I finished today's paper today.  Yesterday they reported the death of a little boy from eating too much salt at one meal...how can that be!?) but while his programs were on, Pete wanted to make a picture with the "found objects" he and Betty Phipps brought back from their walk yesterday.  So, we got out the  Elmer's glue and the construction paper and glued and glued.  Everything seemed to stick pretty well exception for one leaf that kept curling, and Pete finally pulled it off in disgust and stuck in on numbered (illegible) they'd found.  The tape "mustache" stuck well as did the bottle caps.  Next question, what can we do with the picture?  Pete and I made jello in a mold today (and consequently I washed all the molds and the wall) and Pete helped loosen it in hot water and turn it.  He wanted to eat the "pretty jello" all by himself  but let me have some.  He made me a Tinker Toy swing set today, because Paul broke mine.  I resolved to clean kitchen cupboards tomorrow...weevils (ugh!).  Read Pete Black Is Brown Is Tan about racially mixed marriage.  I read The Monster Makers.   I worry I'm turning into a "Monster" too!  Tired of trying to be perfect all the time!