Monday, September 12th, 1977

Pete had a nosebleed @ 3:00am today.  The alarm went off at 7:00am.  Peter turned it off and I slept till 8:00am.  Then we rushed around a bit and were ready when Lorraine picked us up at 9:00am.  We had to wait a long time-didn't finish till almost 10:00am.  Then we had to stop by Ontario Pharmacy to get Pete's Methetrexate (I counted the pills this time-there were eight).  Then Lorraine dropped us at the Dairy Queen.  I used the last of my change to buy us each a corn dog, milk for Pete, and rootbeer for me.  Then we watched the construction men working.  They had a snorkel truck and a man was climbing up one of the lamp poles to take down the street light.  We got home just as Lorraine arrived, having dropped Connie for her surgery.  I gave her a lukewarm cup of coffee (in too big a hurry to let it heat properly) and Tricia and Reggie played with Pete.  After they left we took our naps until Marilyn called at 2:00pm.  Then Pete and I played outside (tag and hide and go seek).  He watched TV and I cooked an early dinner, cube steak and carrots.  Pete ate a little but was more interested in the TV.  Vicky called to say she was sorry about saying she had a stomach ache yestereday-that it was just a fake.  Told her Pete couldn't have company this afternoon because he was getting ready to go out.  Then she wanted to know why I didn't have Laurie babysit.  I told her Pete was going to a friend's house to play with some children.  I didn't like the idea of having only two teenagers in the two houses here in case anything did go wrong.  Marilyn got Jana, Pete's Sunday School Teacher, to babysit-so Pete was happy.  Susan (whose last name I can't remember) and Marilyn took me over to Weiser for the A.A.U.W. meeting.  They had a salad bar, coffee, and non-alcoholic punch.  Struck up an instant friendship with a woman named Beth, a retired school teacher and another smoker...in fact the only other one, so college education may have advantages.  There was a discussion on whether the U.S. should intervene in the export of baby formulas (being substitueted in 3rd world countries for more advantageous breast feeding).  Longed to point out that most U.S. mothers don't breast -feed, and formulas are considered "modern" here too, but felt myself on dangerous ground so kept quiet.  Then the group had a "brainstorming" session to decide their study topic for the next two years.  They finally decided to research chemicals, additives, and preservatives (necessity for, screening of, etc.).  Tonight's Argus had an article on DBCP, which causes sterility in men and doesn't break down (as previously believed) but leaves a residue in carrots, radishes, and other root vegetables.  Told Marilyn about Fuji (sp) Robesky (a biochemist and taster for DelMonte) saying that the "non dairy" toppings and dips are just flavored plastic.  Clipped the article on DBCP for Marilyn together with one urging farmers to resist control of pesticides.  She invited me to attend other meetings with her, though she knows I won't be able to pay the dues for some time (ever?).  I enjoyed it and hope to go again.  We split the babysitter's fee so I owe her a dollar.  Found Pete, as Roger put it, "lying down staring at the ceiling"-scared because it was so dark outside.  He doesn't like being out at night. He worries about being "given away" since I was sick.  Read him The Brave Little Tailor.