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Barbara Fritchman Thompson Diary

Week of 11 November 2000 (Week 46)

wpoison

To respond or comment on something I have written email me. I would love to hear from you.  If you have problems reaching me at the first address, I can also be reached at fritchman@triad.rr.com.

You can view the Netwidows Recipe web site for recipes from myself and the other Netwidows and Daynotes Gang.

Saturday, 11 November 2000

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Well, I have been a busy little beaver. I spend all day yesterday working on web pages, rewriting stuff, and fixing links. The latest edition of Cyber Hound News on home repair and gardening has finally been completed. It may not look like much on paper but I spent several hours writing and researching the various sites. I added or deleted some stuff on my personal and resume pages and reorganized the layouts. Other pages have minor changes but I am happy with things as they are for right now.

I went through each page on the TechnoMayhem site, not a small task. I fixed and deleted links by checking every single link on each page. I added a few general links and fixed a couple of glaring errors on the author/character page. Even though the site right now is primarily links to specific information for mystery writers and readers, it still needs to be kept current and void of any errors. 

Other than dog play breaks, I did not do anything else yesterday except web development. It is sunny today, like yesterday, but much cooler than it has been. We had less than an inch of rain here, but that helped. Most of the leaves are off the trees. A few more mowing/blowing sessions and we should be done for the year.

Today, the dogs need brushed and Lenore has a load of cloths to be washed and dried. I need to work on the book today now that I have finished working on the web sites. Even though it is one big site, it is actually three sites, my business, my personal, and TechnoMayhem. I may also watch the last Busch race today in Homestead, Fl., where the Winston Cup race is tomorrow. Many of the Cup guys will be racing today, too.

Have a nice weekend.

Sunday, 12 November 2000

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A rare moment of peace and quiet, Bob got a picture of the dogs napping in the hall. 

   Duncan, Kerry, and Malcolm in the back. The baby gate is Lenore's room.

Yesterday morning by the time I finished up web stuff so Bob could publish, brushed the dogs, and washed a couple of loads of clothes it was lunch time. I watched about an hour of the race and then came back and worked on the book most of the afternoon.

Bill came over so we ordered Chinese takeout for dinner. I have cooked every night this week and we were having leftovers from several meals to make one. It was nice to have the night off from the kitchen anyway.

Clean house this morning. The dogs are shedding their coats. I bought one of those new Pledge duster mops on a handle to keep the hair and dust up during the week between vacuuming and cleaning. You just attach a throwaway duster sheet to the holder and run it around the floor. Even doing that, there is still hair all over the place this morning.

The Winston Cup race is from Homestead, Florida today. I wonder if they will make them do a recount when the race is over to see who won! I will watch the race. I hope I can stay away. The dogs woke us up at 7:00 this morning and we were not really ready to get up. Bob took them out and I got up shortly after. So, I may not make it through this afternoon without a nap while listening/watching the race. We are having those leftovers for dinner tonight, so not much to do in the kitchen.

Monday, 13 November 2000

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Congratulations to Winston Cup Champion Bobby Labonte and team owner Joe Gibbs.

My regular page readers know I am a Winston Cup race fan. I have always been a big fan of his brother, Terry Labonte, who has won the championship twice. I am very glad to see Bobby win the race for himself and Joe Gibbs. And, to have a brother act finally win the championship.  I sent our friend, Steve Tucker who works for RJ Reynolds and is involved in the racing programs marketing division a brief message yesterday, passing along my joy that Bobby had won. As usual Dale Earnhardt played dirty pool again yesterday. Sorry Earnhardt fans, that is just not the way to win races or championships. 

Back many moons ago, when I was very young, in the 1960's, I became a big sports fan. NFL football was one of the many sports I enjoyed watching with my dad. Here in Winston-Salem, the closest pro team was the Washington Red Skins. My dad and I were dyed in the wool Redskins fans back when George Allen was the coach. Problem was, they never had a winning season, let alone a chance at a Super Bowl, but we still always pulled for them to win. After Joe Gibbs took over the team, he took them to three Super Bowls during his career as a head football coach.

I no longer follow pro football, baseball, or basketball because of the ridiculous salaries they make plus one hundred other reasons. It is nice to see Joe Gibbs become a winner again and coach a good driver to a Championship with a winning attitude and team spirit. 

Read a review of the book I am currently reading, Eagle's Cry by David Nevin. I did not know when I reserved the book that it would end up being so apropos to today's political mess. I started it Wednesday and be darned if it isn't historical fiction about the election in 1800, the presidents, electoral college, states swaying votes, as well as a wonderful historical account of the expansion and  civilization of the United States.

I have an appointment to get my haircut this morning. I need to run a couple of errands and then back home to work this afternoon. 

Tuesday, 14 November 2000

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I am off to the gym this morning and the grocery store. I missed the gym yesterday due to my haircut and I can't go tomorrow morning either, which is normal grocery day. Other than that, I plan to work on the book most of today. I ask Bob if we could do the library, dinner outing tonight.

As I mentioned, I will not be home tomorrow or most of it anyway, so I want to get right much done today. In the morning I am picking up my folks for a drive over to Greensboro to one of those dishware replacement places. I have never been and wanted to go have a look around to see what it is all about. With Malcolm breaking one of the cereal bowls last week and Bob accidentally chipped on of the small plates, I need a couple of extra pieces. This is the new set of Pfaltzgraff I bought us for Christmas last year. I don't own good china and have no desire to do so. I like just plain ol' stoneware.

That means I will be gone a better part of the day tomorrow for our little outing. 

Guess that's about all for now.  

Wednesday, 15 November 2000

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Okay husbands and wives, I would like your true response to this question:

If a husband and wife enter an eating establishment and the wife visit the ladies room while the husband goes ahead and sits down, would the husband know what to order for you to drink? This could be tea, coffee, coke, etc. I am not including alcoholic beverages only because it does not apply to the scenario.

Bob and I went to our favorite little restaurant for dinner last night. This is one of those small, home cooking dinner type places where we eat all the time. There are actually two of them that are very much alike and we eat out at one or the other. They do not serve alcohol at these places, which is not why we eat there, they just don't. Bob sat down and I went on to the ladies. When I got back the waitress was bringing his coke and he had not ordered for me. I ask him why and said, "but I always order the same thing". He told me he did not pay any attention and that he bet all husbands don't. Now, we have been married for seventeen years, not two. 

Now guys and wives, be honest when you send me your responses. Would you know what to order your spouse to drink? He claims women pay attention to these things and men don't. 

I am off to Greensboro. Will report on the days activities tomorrow. 

Thursday, 16 November 2000

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First, if you are as tired of this election/Florida stuff as I am, and want a good laugh, you must read the posting on Bob Walder's Tuesday diary page. Just in case you don't know or realize, they live in England. I think the whole world is laughing at us right now and we deserve to be. 

My folks and I had a nice outing yesterday. Replacements is a neat place. I picked up some extra plates and bowls for my dishes and some additional pieces to my stainless. We stopped at the Cracker Barrel in Greensboro for lunch and then came on home. 

I am staying home today to work. I will go to the gym tonight for spinning class.

And finally, thanks to everyone who responded to my little survey about ordering for our spouses in restaurants. I am not mad or upset with Bob, just quite curious to see what other spouses would say. I am posting the replies. 

Brian Bilbrey :Iced tea, no lemon. ask me something hard!

His wife Marcia said:

Brian and I were just talking-- I got it wrong!! I always order iced tea with no lemon and he orders iced tea with lemon. I had originally thought that he would order a Coke so I got it wrong!! He drinks Coke at home like there's no tomorrow but not when we go out.

HA! Bob is also a die hard coke addict, but he also always orders coke out. I would be safe. He also eats the same thing at every restaurant and I can order for him.

Laura Kangas sent me a similar reply about her and her husband Gary:

I read your journal today and am responding to your request.

I take great delight in reporting that after 4 short years of marriage, I have properly "trained" Gary to order for me in my absence - this also pertains to food as well as drinks. Sometimes when we go out, I'll say "so what do you think I'll order?" And he'll respond with a couple of selections (which are usually correct). And now he'll often voice his opinion BEFORE I even have the chance to ask.......he'll say "I bet you're gonna order _____" It's pretty funny!

So yes, he does know what drink to order for me - as well as the occasional meal! Very funny!!!

Laura Kangas

From Barry: Question: Would you know what to order your spouse to drink? 

Answer: According to my wife, the only thing worse than my powers of spousal observation is my aim in the bathroom. I just tell the waiter that we will both order when she returns. It is the only safe thing to do. Varying from the safe pattern gets you talked about by your wife on the internet, or so I have heard. This is a cousin to those questions that have no viable answer, such as "Do I look fat to you?" There is no correct response, including silence, which speaks volumes. I usually just pee on the floor and look scared. After 16 years of marriage, of course, she expects me to know what she wants. I am also supposed to know how she's feeling, what she wore last Thanksgiving, etc. etc.. I do the best I can, and apologize immediately. 

regards, Barry Houtchen

Maryanna's reply:  Yes he should know what you usually drink and pre order it for you. I guess that Bob is in the dog house instead of your 3 dogs right now. 

Gary Berg: Well, I'd say that I'd know to order water or a diet coke. The problem being that sometimes my wife wants soda, sometimes she doesn't. So I'd order the water (which is what I drink) and wait unless she'd told me to order soda for her..

Jan response 

Probably Diet Coke, but I'd finesse the situation by waiting to order until she got back. Unless it's a generic fast-food, when it's gonna be the house Cola. OTOH, I don't think Ann'd have any more idea what I would be likely to order than I she.

Jon

Friday, 17 November 2000

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Be sure and check out Bob's new messageboard. 

We are having very typical late fall weather in the Carolinas. Cold one day, warmer the next, cold again tonight. In-between, we did get some more rain. The long range forecast for Sunday is a winter mix but the weather folks can't decide if it will be rain/snow, ice/sleet, or all of the above. I am supposed to go to the Festival of Trees with my parents. 

Today is odds and ends day. Bob and I have a project we need to get done. I have some little things I want to tackle and tidy up. Southern Foods is also bringing our food order today. We are getting really low on main course foods, like meats and stuff.  An order usually lasts about three months before I start to run out of some things. I also order some stuff for my parents.

I did spinning class last night, so I will give the gym a miss this morning. This afternoon I need to run to the drugstore and get Lenore's prescriptions and make a library visit. I have not worked for a couple of weeks on gift books. 

I had two more responses to the question about spouse drink orders. Michael said he told his wife the story and said he would order tea. He was correct but they had been married twice as long as Bob and I, so I will not give up hope, yet.

Sarah, who is not married, made a good point. She observes her married couple friends habits. She seems to think they are less observant of each other than she is of them, maybe because we get very comfortable with our significant others habits and tend not to pay as much attention. She is unpredictable in a restaurant making it hard for anyone to order for her.

A second note, I did fail to word my questionnaire fairly and Sarah in a roundabout way pointed that out to me. I should have said significant other rather than husband/wife. We ourselves have friends who are not married, so to speak, but consider themselves couples. I was not thinking when I worded the question. If you are just now reading my page--a week or a month later, or whatever--please feel free to send me your responses to my question.

Have a nice weekend everybody.

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