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Barbara Fritchman Thompson Diary

Week of 22 July 2000 (Week 30)

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Saturday, 22 July 2000

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I forgot to mention another trick the Malcolm has learned. When I come home from the gym I usually have to stop downstairs and do something. I don't always zip my gym bag completely closed and Malcolm likes to steal my work out gloves. Last week I came home and dropped my bag on the floor but I remembered to zip it closed. A few minutes later, there was Malcolm with my gloves. I was puzzled. I took them away from him and put them back in the bag and zipped it shut again. I turned around to do something and when I looked back he was unzipping the bag and stealing my gloves. Bob and both stood and watched as he did it.

I am going to my parents for lunch and then I think I will come home and start my house cleaning. I missed last week due to being out of town and did not get to it during the week. I did the downstairs real good on Monday, so it just needs a quick vacuum and floor mop.

I may have to deliver a puppy to a foster family tomorrow but I am not sure, so at least I will not have to worry about missing my house cleaning day another week. I may take two days anyway just to get it cleaned again like I like it.

I finished the Susan Howatch book and read some on my Russian novel. I have another library book that came in this week, so I will start it tonight.

Sunday, 23 July 2000

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Today is house cleaning day. Instead of doing my regular weekly clean it is time to do the every few months deep clean. It takes several hours but when it done, than the weekly clean keeps it good for a few more months.

While I am doing this I will watch the British Open this morning as I go in and out of the den and this afternoon is the race from Pocono. The LPGA is playing their Open and the remainder of the PGA tour that is not in England are in the BC Open in New York. So, I will work and take breaks and watch golf and racing all day. 

I started my new book Open House by Elizabeth Berg. It is good so far. She is another good author for summer time reading. I have not read all her stuff, but the ones I have read I liked. I will do a longer review tomorrow.

I have a lot to do so I better get started. Bob is going to help by working on his office and the corner of the couch that he stacks stuff on. And, it is laundry day too. Guess we will have something easy for dinner.

Monday, 24 July 2000

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We are finally get a much needed break in the heat and dry spell. I was cloudy and cool yesterday and we had a little rain late last night. Today and all week is to be the same. We not only need the rain, we need the cool temperatures to keep what we do get from evaporating.

I have some things to do this morning after I go to the gym. I want to work on some projects this afternoon and finish cleaning up my office. I also need to start organizing the pictures for the photo albums. I have them in groups and now need to get them in some kind of order. Once I see what I have I will buy albums based on the pictures. The old fashion albums where you use those little corners to mount the pictures are making a come back. I like those better because you have more freedom to arrange things than with those sticky film covered pages. 

Have a good week. 

Tuesday, 25 July 2000

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Today is my father's birthday. Happy birthday to him. My sister had a birthday dinner all planned. It was not a surprise. He loves my sister's homemade lasagna. She was taking the day off to shop and cook, etc.

But, our plans got delayed. One of my mother's sisters who has been quite ill since July 4th died yesterday afternoon. My sister decided to go down to Whiteville, NC, where my mom is from, for the funeral. They left today and will be back later in the week. We will delay our birthday celebration until Sunday.

I am having lunch today with one of my former employees at the library. Since we are not going to my sister's for dinner, I think we will finish up some of the leftovers in the fridge. I made Shepherd's Pie last night, which we have, and my mom gave me some barbecue. 

I can also go to my spinning class tonight so I don't want to eat a heavy meal anyway. 

Maybe I will work on my photo collection this afternoon for awhile.

Guess that's all.

Wednesday, 26 July 2000

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I did something last night that don't often do. I laid in bed reading until midnight to finish the Elizabeth Berg book. I read it in three days. It was one of those fast reads that when you finish reading it just leaves a nice taste is your mouth. 

Only 200 pages to go in my Russian novel. I will read on it tonight and then start the second book in the Elizabeth Ogilvie series that I am reading.

Off to the store this morning. If it stays dry and cloudy without any drizzle this morning I will go over and mow my dad's grass for him while he is gone. I need to mow mine too, this afternoon. 

I will forgo the gym workout this morning so I can get to the store and back early. I did spinning class last night anyway.

Tonight we are having PA sausage for dinner. For those not familiar, it is smoked sausage in casing. I do not like southern sausage. They don't make the same stuff down here that you can buy up there. We bought some while we were up a few weeks ago. It is good with hash browns or pan fried potatoes.

Thursday, 27 July 2000

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As you can see today's feature photo's are provided by Malcolm the cup thief. This is his new occupation, He likes to climb up on the sofa and drink water out of our cup. He picks it up by the edge and tilts it back and drinks from the cup. We caught him red handed last night and Bob got these photos with the evidence in hand (or snout).  We have had to set penny can traps on both or tables.

I watched two great railroad shows on PBS last night. The first hour show was a journey from New Orleans to Washington, DC. The second, two hour show was Australia by rail. Interspersed with history and archived footage, it showed present day railroads and towns and how they were built. It was one of the best railroad travel documentaries I have ever seen. The Aussie actor who did the show hammed it up a bit but he did a nice job. If you get a chance to watch it on your local PBS station I highly recommend it.

Well, I mowed three yards yesterday. It was cloudy and damp but not raining. The weather forecast for today was iffy so I went on over and did my dad's yard. Then I did my sister's yard and came home and mowed my yard. Needless to say, I did not need to go to the gym yesterday.

I am giving Bob a haircut this morning and then I am working at home today. I will help Bob with our new project and maybe work on my photo project for a bit.

Friday, 28 July 2000

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I am late getting my page done today. I scampered off to the gym early and did not do my usual routine of doing this and then going to the gym. I am going to the library after I eat lunch and then work on the book manuscript the remainder of the day. We got the draft copy to look over. Bob is working on the PDF version and I will do the hard copy version.

We ordered take out Chinese last night and had a lot of rice left over. I am going to fix pork chops tonight and reheat the rice to do with them. This is the first time I have ordered the pork chops from Southern Foods. I hope they are as good as the other meats that we get from them.

Have a good weekend.

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