Tuesday, August 30th, 1977-in which the Sandovals pay a visit and Nancy stresses about teaching Sunday School

Pete had his mehatrexate today-apparently with no ill effects.  I overslept this morning and Pete woke me at 10:30am when Betty Phipps came to the back door...she said, "I;m so sorry, I waited till I was sure you'd be up!".  I got dressed and Pete and I took some vegetables (beans, corn, squash, tomato, cucumber, peppers) over to her house and I had a cup of coffee with her.  Be5tty kept Pete while I dashed over to WIC headquarters to pick up my August coupons.  I tried to fix lunch and Diane Sandoval phoned to say she was coming over, Thelma called (Vernon might have to go jail and she's having trouble collecting her unemployment), and Betty came over again to invite Pete for a walk.  Betty Nelson brought our laundry over.  Then Diane, Paul, Monica, and Carmelita arrived (she's expecting their sixth and Paul's not a year old yet!)  Monica, Rosanna, and Yvonne will all be in school this year-Monica's in the bi-lingual program at May Roberts.  They left just after 2:30pm and I tried to settle Pete for a nap, but he was too excited to sleep.  I finally turned on the television for him and I slept till 4:30pm, when he woke me up from a dream about carrots.  Betty Phipps made chicken in her pressure cooker and brought Pete a piece.  He watched his shows till 6:30pm, when Betty took him for an exploring walk.  I did my Sunday School lessons and panicked-I can't do all that singing, and craft work, and...but I called the farm and Betty (Nelson said she'd come over on Thursday and help me plan.  Betty Phipps and Pete came back with a sack full of stuff they'd collected, which Pete plans to make into a picture tomorro0w with white glue and construction paper.  He showed Betty his "school book" and tried working on "a" while she was here.  We did "p" last night and a maze.  Tonight he did a dot-to-dot picture and "o".  "c" was harder than "p".  After dinner I read him My Mommy Says There Aren't Any.  I dusted half the books in the bedroom tonight.  Pete told me Taybear poured a bucked of dust on them and certainly looked that way!  Scrubbed Hermit's bowl today since Carmelita spilled his water and Paul got into his shells.  Promised Pete a bath in the morning.  He said he was too tired tonight.  Must ask Patty to take his pills for refills tomorro0w.  I'll ask Betty Phipps to babysit while I see Dr. Daniels-don't want Pete there while I have my Pap.  Thelma said she'd take us to MSTI.  Read The Amiable Meddler today.  Supposed to be funny...really sad.

Monday, August 29th, 1977-in which Pete is not allowed to see the Star Wars of his generation

We're being invaded by insects.  Pete found a big ant on the floor tonight and I found a big black beetle or cockroach or something on the floor in the bathroom and smashed it and smashed but I douldn't kill it so I finally flushed it down the toilet.  I hate bugs.  Mr. Baker came today to take us to the hospital, but before he came Lorraine Bennett phoned to let us know she was back in town.  We stopped by Ontario Pharmacy to refill Pete's mercaptopurine, only to find out they've never gotten a drug exception for it so they couldn't fill it.  Pete was fussy and whiny before his blood test today but Sister Angelica talked him into a better mood, and he went back to see her to see how she ran his blood test, while I waited for him in the waiting room.  We saw Marsha Dekker and she told me she might bring Allen over Wednesday if she can-her baby is due almost any day now (she's still working too-at least she'll be handy to the hospital..).  Pete told me tonight that when Dave babysat for him he saw his friend , Bonnie, who took care of him when he was in hospital, and he ran right over and jumped in her lap he was so glad to see her. Pete was upset with me because I wouldn't take him to "Star Wars", but I told him we had to save our money for music lessons.  John still hasn't found anyone to help.  Good thing it's not the $25.00 for Nursery School I'm facing (kindergarten, that is)!  John called today.  Stewart wanted to know if Betty would act as intermediary with me-I said "no, but ask her yourself", and Pete's inside leg measurement so he could send him a bicycle.  I said "HA!"  Forgot to ask about music lessons or tell him about the drug exception (I did call Dr. Baskerville) and couldn't get him back so I'll have to call Wednesday (he's out tomorrow).  He said he'd have Patty pick up Stewart's letter.  I think Pete and I will have to walk over to the WIC clinic tomorrow to get our coupons for August.  I hope Pete can walk that far and it doesn't rain! (cloudy and cold again today, warmer tonight).  Pete went out to see Daniel tonight and he gave us green and red peppers and swill chard-I ate some of Dad's cucumber today-a mistake!  Petey played with his electric train tonight and was singing a song about it "down-a-down...plop!".  The plops were when the train hit the track he said.  Pete said Taybear (my teddy bear-PL) taught him the song , Taybear's Daddy (Pink Robert) taught it to him, and Rabbit taught it to Pink Robert-as good as the provenance of most modern folk music.  Pete would please Robert Bebog-he thinks all poems and verses...nursery rhymes, et al...are songs.  I said "Good night, Sleep tight" to him tonight, and he said "don't sing me that song!".  He tried to have a tantrum today because I wouldn't let him have hot dogs for dinner, but he couldn't keep it up after I pointed out it wasn't getting him anywhere.  I read Lathen's Ashes to Ashes (chapter heads from hymns) and By Hook or Crook today.  I'm sorry I only got four Lathens, now I'll have to read someone else.  Read Pete Ivanko and the She-Dragon and Batman tonight.

Sunday, August 28th, 1977-in which Petey goes fishing but doesn't catch anything

Overslept this morning, in spite of the alarm and had only 10 minutes to dress for church.  Fortunately, I had decided to wear what I wore last night and dressed quickly, but I had to finish dressing Petey while Dad was here.  Still, we arri9ved at church on time and I had remembered to put Pete's fishing pole in the car.  Petey had gotten up early, sliced his banana, and eaten his cereal and then gone back to bed.  We sat with Margaret and Erik Bunce at church.  Erik had some little cars with him and he and Pete played (I'd forgotten Pete's cars).  Then Bernie and Richie came in late and sat with Pete and Erik.  After church Dad dropped Bernie and Pete at Becker's pond.  It was cloudy and overcast but the rain held off.  Dad took Mom and me to Kentucky Fried Chicken for lunch-I was able to enjoy my mashed potatoes and gravy with a clear conscience since Pete wasn't there to see me.  Then Dad got chicken snacks for Pete and Bernie (I'd saved some of my coleslaw for Pete because he likes it...from there, he won't touch mine).  Then Dad dropped me at home and went back to pick up the boys.  Petey had a bite but the fish got away.  I was glad I didn't have to clean and cook one!  Bernie said he'd take Petey fishing again, only next time at the farm where he thought he'd have better luck.  So Petey must have behaved well.  We napped-I was exhausted from staying awake worrying about what Stewart might do until 3am this morning.  Then we watched "The Muppet Show", "Wild Kingdom", "Wonderful World of Disney"...then Pete and I went outside to play "Justice League" with his airplane, helicopter, and pickup truck.  It was so cold we wore coats (our furnace came on again last night).  Vicky called to see if Pete started school tomorrow.  Maybe by next year he won't have to make so many doctor visits.  Then we came in again and Pete watched "6 Million Dollar Man".  We had hot dogs and beans for dinner while I ate last night's left overs and told him stories of "Charlie Brown" and "Charlotte's Web".  He like "Charlotte's Web"better than "The Rescuers".  Then we played "Snoopy and Charlie Brown and Woodstock" while I watched the Boston Pops with Ethel Merman and part of Masterpiece Theater's first episode of Charles Dickens' life.  Petey listened to "Hardtack is a Fine Old Engine".  Then I put him to bed and read Zeek Silver Moon and we talked about baking bread together like the story.  Carol Wallace gave him a Sambo's book at church today and we cut out the Sambo and Tiger paper dolls and played with those tonight.  I read Murder Against The Grain-Soviet American wheat treaty (?-writing was a bit faded here-PL)-ahead of its time.

Saturday, August 27th, 1977-in which we see a double feature and Nancy is irritated by people who talk in movies (now we know where Pete gets it from)

Pete and I went to the movies with the Loebachs tonight.  We saw "Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown" and "Charlotte's Web".  Pete had seen "Charlotte's Web" before on TV (he told the librarian the plot while we were there this afternoon) but didn't mind seeing it again-and it was, of course, better in colour.  Pete got up at 7:00am to watch TV and didn't eat breakfast until 11:00am, when there was a Frisbee contest he didn't care about.  He had a banana sliced on his cereal and I had to get more beananas today so he could do it again.  He lay down about 1:00pm , and when Granpa came to get us at 2:00pm, he was sound asleep.  At the library, he found a big chairl to sleep in while I got my books.  He finally woke up enough to get his own books.  He told me, "I got some really great books Mom!-Look at the pictures.  I know some are a little bit scary, but I won't be scared, I promise!".
I got through J and K today and started on L-I got some new Emma Lathen's.  I like her hero, John Thatcher.  From the library, we went to Safeway.  Got more cube steak and some very ripe watermelon (I think it will be our last this season).  Mailed a letter to Starr Savage today and sent her a copy of Pete's story about the two little pigs who lived in the snow.  I fixed chicken soup as soon as we got home and we lay down for a nap at 4:30pm.  I set the alarm for 6:00pm so we'd have plenty of time to get ready.  Pete wanted to dress up for the movie so I wore my new blue dress  Betty gave me for the first time.  He wore his "leisure suit".  The Loebachs came at 7:00 so we were right at the head of the queue (or however it's spelled).  The "Charlie Brown" movie was first and Pete thought the parts about being outside in the dark and the owl chasing Woodstock were scary, so he sat in my lap for most of the movie.  There was a couple behind us who had apparently come in on their own, sans kids, and kept explaining the movies very loudly to each other, which was pretty irritating.  Little Davey took off down the aisle by himself and got lost, but Peter went and guided him back.  For the most part he was very well behaved (a lot more active than I remember Pete being at one and a half, but then Pete was in training at the Komstam Nursery to be a proper phlegmatic Englishman).  I heard nothing further about my "emergency phone call" from England, so have decided it was just another ruse to get my phone number.  I fixed Pete and me cube steak and peas and sweet potatoes for me when we got home, but Pete just picked at his dinner.  He said he was so tired he could collapse and he could just go to sleep without a bath, but he insisted on a story because it made him sad if I didn't read one.  He had Ivanbo and The Dragon and I started Death Shall Overcome.  So cool and rainy today the furnace switched on.  Fishing with Bernie tomorrow!

Friday, August 26th, 1977-in which Nancy receives an emergency call from London and Pete worries about bats (again)

The telephone company called tonight and said they had an emergency call for me-would I please call a London number, which they gave me.  I called Dad and talked it over with him.  He assumed, as did I, that it was another of Stewart's tricks.  He suggested I call John Sandquist so I did and gave him the number.  He said he wouldn't call it, but would pass it on.  I told John that Stewart had tried once to commit suicide and I was a little worried on that score-but I knew, even if I talked to Stewart, that I wouldn't tell him anything he'd want to hear.  As I told John, the only thing I'd consider an emergency would be if something happened to Pete and he was right here, sleeping safely in his bed.  He didn't take a nap this afternoon, then went to sleep in front of the TV watching "Wild Kingdom", so I carried him in and put him to bed.  He woke just long enough to have some chicken soup, milk, and a story (When the Root Children Awoke and Batman and Robin: From Alfred to Zowie), a song, and then back to sleep.  He had his methatexate today and complained of his stomach hurting so I gave him 1/2 a Tylenol-perhaps that's why he was so sleepy.  I set the alarm for 7:am in the morning so I can switch on his cartoons.  I called Sylvia and we arranged to go to the movies ("Charlotte's Web" and "Run For Your Life, Charlie Brown") tomorrow night.  Dad couldn't come in today so he's planning to take us to the library tomorrow, too.  I called Thelma tonight but Sissie said she was busy and couldn't come to the phone.  I just pray Stewart wasn't thinking of suicide tonight.  It would be a terrible thing to have on my conscience that a phone call could have saved him and I didn't make it.  But once we're divorced he can't be anything to me anyhow.  I have to think of Pete and how to keep Stewart from doing him harm.  I wrote to Starr Savage tonight while Pete was sleeping.  I'll get Pete to paint her a picture tomorrow to slip in the letter.  Elliot's left and Dad decided not to go with him after all because Mom's health is so precarious and he didn't want Betty to have all the care to doalone.  Must be rather like Noah's sons seeing the old man drunk and naked for Betty to have to help Dad with Mom's care.  Embarassing for both of them.  I fixed the cinnamon bread I got at Safeway today., but didn't find it any better hot with icing than cold without.  It was rainy and cold today and we stayed in all day.  I ready Haining's The Ghost's Companion and The Wild Night Company.  Washed my hair.  Pete worried about bats again.

Thursday, August 25th, 1977-in which Nancy navigates the bureaucracy of Medicaid, and Stewart sends another threatening letter

Glen called this morning so I asked him about an alternate dentist in case I couldn't wait to see Dr. White, and he said he couldn't give me any names, I'd just have to call them all and see which ones took welfare cards.  Then I asked him about going to see Dr. Daniels and he quoted a regulation I couldn't understand at all-but I went ahead and called for an appointment anyhow.  I need a pap smear, and I've been having pains and needles in my left arm a lot.  I also need to see about having my Tremon prescription renewed.  Pete and I can't go in to see Dr. White until the end of September unless he has a cancellation before then.  Pete had gotten up, eaten his cereal, and gone back to bed.  He slept quite late this morning, and complained of feeling tired all day.  He fixed my cereal for me.  He'd finished the Total, so I was reduced to that awful Banana Crisp stuff, and he put a lot more in the bowl than I wanted.  Then he carefully flattened the cereal with his hand and poured on the milk.  I finished my letter to Uncle Rudy and folded Pete's picture and a wallet sized photo of Pete and me inside, and put it out for the mailman.  It rained again today and was cool enough so I didn't put on the fans.  I tried dusting the one in the bedroom by hand but wasn't very successful.  Dad phoned tonight and I complained to him about it, so he said he had an old vacuum of Grandma Nancy's he thought I might use.  The dirt just falls down inside the fan and is impossible to reach.  I had a letter from Stewart today at this address.  He said the divorce is going to cost me $50,000, I'll wind up on a "funny farm" (and Pete in a children's home), and he's going to get me for perjury, among other things.  I told John about it and he's going to come over Monday to get it and copy it.  Stewart must have gotten the divorce petition...perhaps he got my address from that-but I wish he didn't have it.  Thelma took us to Safeway at 2:00pm.  Pete had a yogurt stick and a burrito with Thelma's kids while he waited in the car.  I got him a new "school book", The Shapes and Sounds of Letters, and some more construction paper-as well as the plain yogurt he wanted.  Bought some cereal bowls and cashed a check so I'd have enough to take him to the movies.  I filled my last WIC coupon and gave Thelma 1 doz. eggs, a large can of pineapple juice, and 2lbs of of cheese (I let her pick them) since we still have lots of eggs and cheese.  Got home too late for Pete to nap.  I napped while he watched TV.  We had dinner (soup, cube steaks, corn) and watched some of "Welcome Back Kotter".  They mentioned Cyrano de Bergerac and Pinocchio, so Pete wanted the story of Pinocchio again.  We played "car sale" and "car wash" since it was too wet and cloudy to risk going for a walk.  Gave him a quick bath-only two boats and two Weebles-and read him The House That Jack Built and My Kitten.  We listened to 'Eroica" and "Hungarian Rhapsody".  I read James' Cover Her Face-not bad

Wednesday, August 24th, 1977

Mrs. Norris picked us up at quarter to eleven.  We went to Ontario Pharmacy where I left Pete's methatrexate to be filled.  We went in as soon as we got to Dr. Baskerville's office.  Pete is up to 49 pounds.  I told him he'd have to have toys for his "special treats" instead of food-must get his weight down while he's on 6MP and methatrexate.  His white count, hemoglobin, and platelet count were all normal today!  We called Mrs. Norris at her daughter's house, picked up Pete's medicine, and came home again.  We had hamburgers for lunch and then napped.  Pete was watching his programs while I read the paper.  There was an advertisement for the Pix (now an extension of Eldridge Furniture in downtown Ontario, though remnants of the theater's seating can be found at Jolts and Juice Company-PL). They have "Charlotte's Web" and a Charley Brown movie this week.  I tried unsuccessfully to call Sylvia Loebach to see if she wanted to send Sharon with Pete and just as I hung up the phone, Sylvia drove up.  I made her a pot of tea and she said she might like to go to the movie too.  We planned to make it some night this week (I'll have to cash a check) and to take the children on a picnic one day next week.  They may be moving to Nyssa-Dave has taken a job there, tho he's still waiting to hear about one that was offered him here.  Pete, Sharon, and little Davey played and watched TV while Sylvia and I talked.  After they left, Pete and I planned to go outside but it had rained today and the mosquitoes were fierce so we stayed inside.  We took some corn over to Betty this morning and she loaned Pete Bill's "car wash" to play with, so Pete organized a "car sale" in th living roomj and then we pretended we were washing and repairing all the cars.  I started a letter to Uncle Rudy, and Pete made him a "cut and glue" picture of mountains, a train, and a railroad track while he listened to "Hardtack is a Fine Old Engine".  I played "Carmine Burana" and Pete said he like it.  I defrosted the refrigerator today with Dad's gadget-had everything piled on the table when Sylvia came.  It really is fast-the ice comes off in big chunks instead of a little at a time.  It was cool enough today so I didn't think things would spoil being out for a short time.  Pete finished the hamburger for dinner, wanted some of my bacon, but wouldn't touch Dad's green beans.  He asked for corn and I cooked it, but he was too tired to eat it.  Called Thelma.  Vernon was arrested for having stolen property-some of the parts he used to fix his bike were stolen from a State Policeman's child's bike.  Read Pete The Root Children Wake Up.  No bath tonight, too tired.