Tom's Diary

Dear sister Jojo,

You’re welcome, on the birthday wishes that is. [She thanked me for wishing her a happy birthday.]

No further updates yet on the TV stand. Having trouble getting that store manager to return my calls. Will try again today.

Mom mentioned that you didn’t make it to Candi and Joe’s because the kids were so sick. Wow. Sounds like you’re running a sanitarium there, like they used to have at the beginning of the 20th century, for people with tuberculosis. Hopefully, no sickness is THAT serious there.

Yep, I’m ready for spring to arrive. The extreme cold this year sure made this winter inconvenient.  

I did go out with my friends, yes. A good time was had, as usual. I would like to expand my social circle though, a bit more, to include people who are in my field, and other scientific disciplines. Hope to resume work on that once I get this apartment in order. Glued the CD case together this weekend. So once it dries, and the CDs loaded onto it, that will be one less bit of clutter around here.  The older I get, the more like [sister] Diane I become. Can’t stand clutter, yet my place is quite cluttered at the moment.

Don’t forget to move my dental cleaning appointment. I’ll be in Altoona for sure the week of March 26th through March 30th. Schedule it for any time during this period and I’ll be able to come in.

Well, have to get to work. Have a good week, and will talk to you later.

Tom

Dear sister Christine,

Hi there. Thanks for the wishes. Yes, the first 40 years went so fast. And they seem to be going by faster all the time.

Looking forward to getting home this Saturday night and starting the holiday celebrations.

All is well here in Philly. Still getting the apartment together, but it’s progressing. Assembling my new office furniture. Got a new TV. Probably by March, all will be as it should be.

Hope all is going well at your end, and I am looking forward to the new years party this year. First time in three years I will be home for New Years. Can’t wait.

Talk to you this weekend.

Tom

Dear sister Diane,

Thanks for the well-wishes.

I’m getting settled. Just about all 70 boxes are unpacked and organized. Just purchased a 36′ TV to replace the 40” one I sold Mom. It has some problems which the repair people are coming to correct this week I hope.

Also, I’m putting my furniture together – waterbed, desks, TV stand, Etc. I also just bought an L-shaped office desk to replace the one I left at Mom’s. It has two file cabinets, a hutch, a keyboard tray, and a nice snow maple finish. I also bought a microwave cart (also maple). Don’t want to waste valuable counter space in the kitchen, by putting the microwave oven on the counters. So, the cart seemed like a good idea.

Since I’ll be away for much of January (Florida and Ohio), this place won’t be completely set up for a couple months yet. But it’s coming. Moving is always such a joy.

Looking forward to getting home this Saturday night. Will definitely see you on Sunday.

Happy holidays.

Tom

Thanks Jo Jo. [She wished me a happy birthday.]

Looking forward to getting home this weekend. You probably have all your decorations up by now and the place is all cheery and warm.

Did [Mar] go home last weekend?

Yes, having a good week. Work is progressing on the “special assignment” I stuck around here to finish. And, the apartment here is starting to look a bit less chaotic. All but about 10 of the boxes are unpacked and their contents organized. Still putting furniture together. But that probably won’t be done until February sometime, since I’ll only be here a few days in January. A Florida trip and an Ohio trip. I like traveling.

Anyway, say hi to everyone, and I’ll see you this weekend.

Later.

Tom

Dear sister Joann,

Hey there.

Yes, camp was excellent. There was some snow on Friday and Saturday, and we went to Altoona on Friday to shop at Ame’s, to Kings restaurant for supper, and then to the Mishler Theater to see The Nutcracker. Not bad. I knew most of the music. Not a show for blind people though, as there were no spoken words – all visual – body language and pantomiming. But we enjoyed ourselves.

I’m still busy getting things settled here at the new apartment. Got some new office furniture this week – an L-shaped desk, several file cabinets, and shelves. Still finding time to put all that together. And, I got a microwave cart for the kitchen, which also requires assembly. So for the next month or so, I’ll feel like I’m playing with tinker-toys while putting all this stuff together. And, I have to buy some new dining room chairs. I only had two, and one of them just caved in on me when I sat on it the other day. It was like riding an elevator down. When I sat, It slowly got lower and lower, until it bottomed out on the floor. So, I’m considering what to buy.

Hope you find time shortly to take in some of the holiday happenings. They’re playing lots of Christmas music around here, and people have their lights outside. Nice. No snow yet here though. Perhaps we’ll get some this week coming. Went to a Christmas party at the dance hall last night. Lots of good food and music.

I will be coming home a week from tomorrow. I already have   [Kar]   set up to drive me to the train station Saturday afternoon. Looking forward to the train ride. Should get my tickets in the mail today for that trip.

Well, I’m off to put a load of laundry in. Have a good time this week and will see you next weekend. Say goodbye to   [Mar]   for me.

Later.

Tom

Dear   [Lynn],

So sorry, Dear. Poor thing.

Jo Ann surprised me tonight with a trip to the store. We also dropped my DVD player off at Circuit City. We left around 5:15.

The office chair has been repaired. Had trouble getting the old parts to come off. But nothing a big hammer couldn’t fix. Don’t worry, I don’t work on computers with hammers.

Catch you after while. I’m off for my walk.

Tom

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Dear   [Lynn],

Well, I had a start this morning. I was perched on the big, black office chair, concentrating on an email. Then, a wrenching jerk, a thud, the sounds of jingling pieces of broken metal, and the seat of the chair dropped about 4 to 5 inches very quickly, and went BOOM. At least the thing didn’t tip over. Inspection underneath revealed that the 3/8’’ hardened steel shaft that centers the rocker spring, had snapped like a broken pencil. I’ve only had this chair for 11 months. Can you believe it? And it wasn’t cheap either. Cost $450.

Anyway, I called the manufacturer, and they knew right away what it was and they’re sending me a new piece for free. Cool, ‘eh? Well, they were obligated to do that, as the chair has a 5-year warranty. But that warranty is only on the non moving parts. So I guess they did do me a favor. Apparently, they’ve experienced numerous other, similar complaints.

More later.

Tom

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Dear   [Lynn],

Hi honey. I missed you. It’s been kind of empty around here without your cheery voice to help me wind down at the end of the day.

Sorry I missed your call tonight. Mom, her friend, and I were watching the Terminator 2 movie. Will talk to you tomorrow.

Did you get all the work done on the mainland?

I fixed a couple chairs over the weekend and did some wiring for my sister Joann. We went to Lowe’s today. Love that place. Very easy to spend lots of money. But I was good. This time.

Catch you tomorrow.

Tom Hesley

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Dear   [Lynn],

The nephew is 7 years old now. We all had a nice time. The celebration ended last night at 11:00, with most of the kids got into trouble for wrestling, and their parents had enough and took them home to bed. Even the birthday boy, Grant, got into a bit of trouble for rough-housing. But all in all, he should remember the day fondly.

Yep, polarfleece and Teflon tape. Always good to learn something new every day. I’ve been running lots of Yahoo searches and reading about plumbing and electrical work and parts.

Enjoy your rehearsal today.

Supposed to be a nice day here today until later this afternoon, when thunderstorms will visit. But the high should get to around 60 degrees. So, am going to take a walk. About 3 miles.

Good for you.

I slept until 10:00 this morning, then, listened to the radio for another hour. Then, sat in the bathtub for another ½ hour. Good way to spend a Sunday.

Once it starts raining, going to work on another rocking chair. Many of its screws are broken and so, will drill them out where possible, and put in new ones. My sister has several other chairs that also need work. So may get to them this week. There’s never a shortage of things to do around here.

Talk to you later.

Tom

Dear   [Lynn],

Well, let’s see. Common activities are:
• Visiting my Mom and siblings in Altoona.
• Walking around Center City, Philadelphia.
• Spending afternoons reading in the various parks around here.
• Dining with friends.
• Catching up on email.
• Mall shopping – there are 3 malls I visit often. However, this has become less of a favorite activity because they are so crowded these days.
• Health food shopping. The only store close to here closes at 6:00 during the week. But they’re open until 8:00 and Friday nights, and all day on Saturday. Called ‘Harry’s Natural Foods’, the place is one of those Mom and Pap establishments. Crowds are usually pretty small, and they’re always willing to answer questions and help you find uncommon foods. I love the miso.
• Doing small appliance and furniture repairs in the apartment (squeaky rockers, burned out light bulbs, drippy faucets, Etc.).
• Occasional bowling, roller blading, visiting friends, concert and movie going, miniature golfing, and just hanging out.
• And, whatever else comes up.

Later,
Tom Hesley