Thursday, December 13, 1984

I was awakened shortly after I went to sleep last night at Marie's by fire engines and police sirens. The house across the street had a fire. I looked at the house this morning, and I didn't see much damage. I will get Marie a smoke detector for Christmas for her house.

I ordered Alma's Christmas present this morning, an eggshell mattress for the loveseat hide-a-bed in Alma and Larry's living room. I keep it unfolded all the time for her to lay down on during the day to nap.

My dogs don't seem to be any worse for wear at 62 degree temperatures, but I am. Even though I'm seldom home, I freeze when I'm there. If my dogs had shown signs of not being able to tolerate the decrease in temperature, I would have had to turn it up again.

Alma is so much calmer and an absolute joy to be around. Larry takes a nap almost every day. Alma still wears him out. She still wears me out too, but I think she's been that way all her life.

I left another note at Mom's house for Sonny and Felicia, this time in the mailbox, with a reminder to pay me. I haven't heard too much about the cockroaches lately. Maybe I've gotten them all killed, I hope, or Sonny and Felicia don't want to talk to me about anything, past due rent included.

I finally received the teeth whitener I ordered for my Albuquerque Trip last July by mail-order. I'm going to order a slightly darker shade, when I get some postage stamps. This bottle has taken so long to get here, that by the time I receive the next one, this bottle will be gone.

I'm looking forward to my unemployed weekend, even though I need the money badly. My two jobs are only seventeen hours a day, five days a week now.

I called about my garage window, the one that rotted, and was told they aren't made in that size anymore. It's only twelve years old, since the garage was built after I bought the house. I'll see if I can find someone to repair it.

I also called about my buffer/shampooer brushes, but they aren't here yet either.

My boss at Ruth's, and now Marie's, has give me a brown, imitation, leather coat with beige, imitation leather collar and cuffs that zips up the front, and has a bust and hip zipped pockets. it isn't as warm as my imitation fur coat, but I will wear it a lot.