Monday, 1 December 1969

Up shortly after 9:00. Had breakfast, then did some calculating on my Qualifying exam books—for the first exam there are over 4000 pp to read! Much of morning was given to thought about the time-table for the rest of my Ph.D. work. I finally got to work on Hebrew. We had a late lunch, I shaved, went to the P.O. When I got home, Bonnie left for work, and I got back to work on Hebrew. This took the rest of the afternoon. I worked until about 6:30, then watched CBS news, fixed supper, got Debbie fed. We ate when Bonnie got home. Then I got back to work and Bonnie went to Community Chorus rehearsal. I put Debbie to bed about 8:30. I interrupted my Hebrew to watch the draft lottery from 9:00 to 9:30. Then back to Hebrew until midnight. But I reached my goal; stopped to bathe; OBLO 12:35.

Tuesday, 2 December 1969

Up about 9:00 after Θ. Had breakfast, then got to work typing out my Hebrew translation. Took a break when the mail came—a lot—but mostly junk. We ate lunch about 12:30. Bonnie went to the beauty parlor in the afternoon to have her hair cut, and I made progress with my typing—by about 5:30 I had finished the typing and was rather weary. For a while I glanced through and listed the Qumran slides which I recently received. Then I helped Bonnie with supper. Watched CBS news. Shortly after 7:00 Bonnie left for the choir rehearsal for C.A.M.P.’s “Hour of Sand [???] Music.” I played with Debbie, and she was fascinated by my rough face—(didn’t shave today); then I worked til about 9:00 on my Hebrew trans. pages. Called Richardson about his Qumran slides; translated in Daniel for tomorrow, bathed about 11:00; then back to Daniel; OBLO 12:45.

Wednesday, 3 December 1969

Up about 9:00. Had breakfast, shaved. Went to Miss Evart’s home to pick up Kath. Kenyon’s book on Jerusalem which I had loaned her—it was due at the library today. When I got home I did some reading for the Deuteronomy seminar. Then got ready to go to Boston—caught the 11:15 train. Arrived at BU shortly before 1:00. Had lunch with Walter Aufrecht. Then before Aramaic class began, I did some Xeroxing: Ginsberg’s book: Studies in Daniel. 2:00–3:00 in Aramaic. 3:00-4:00—selected slides from Dr. Brown on Qumran to have duplicated. Also looked through Richardson’s Qumran slides which he’s loaned me; conferred with Dr. Beck on several things. 4:30–5:45 seminar. Then caught the 6:40 train home; arrived about 8:00. Had supper, then went to see Dick Manson, to patch up any ill-feelings about hymn-sing. Got home shortly after 9:00. Looked at Qumran slides. Prepared Xmas note to send to the family; bathed, read in bed; LO 12:23.

Thursday, 4 December 1969

Up about 9:00. After breakfast I took one of the signs for the program this Sunday down to one of the stores to go in the window. Most of my morning was spend doing odds and ends—among other things, getting an order for pictures ready to go in. When the mail came I took time to read I.F. Stone. Bonnie left about 10:30 to do grocery shopping. She didn’t get home til after 1:00. We ate lunch, then I went down to the library to look at Books in Print to see about the books on my 2^nd Qualifying Exam. I returned home in time for Bonnie to go to work at 2:30. For the most part I spent the rest of the afternoon preparing for Bible Class. Also read in Von Rads commentary on Deut. Shaved. Fixed supper. Fed Debbie—watched CBS news. We ate when Bonnie got home. Bible Class 8:00–9:30 5 came. Then after a cup of coffee, read more in Von Rad. Bathed. OBLO, 12:10.

Friday, 5 December 1969

Up about 9:00. After breakfast I got to work preparing for the sermon, and this was my main preoccupation most of the day. I had the sermon about half done when we had lunch around 1:00. Then after Bonnie left for work at 2:30 I was able to get it finished. The paper came just about when I finished, so I glanced through the paper. Then I wrote short letters to Mrs. Myers and to Bonnie’s folks. Sending pictures with both—21 B + W to Malaysia, and 2 color of Mom + Dad to Mrs. Myers. Then I typed the first half of the bulletin. Then I watched CBS, fixed supper, gave Debbie her supper. We ate when Bonnie got home. Finished typing the bulletin, played with Debbie, then about 9:00 we went down to Patriquins. Had a nice visit, then we came home about 11:00; bathed. OBLO, Θ+ , LO about 12:00.

Saturday, 6 December 1969

Up about 9:30, after Θ (!)  After breakfast I went to work at my desk—getting negatives selected to send to Mail-A-Way, also wrote note to Mark + Shirley, Bob + Lea, John, notifying our intention to send our “gift money” to Planned Parenthood—asking them to do the same. Just about noon we (all 3) walked to P.O., then down to Bearskin Neck—Bonnie wanted to get glass + plastic chips for making window hangings. We got back and had lunch about 1:00. Then I spent some time at my desk—then went visiting: to Hannibals, then to see Lucy Patience. Home about 5:45. Ran off the bulletin, did part of the preparation for tomorrow’s service. Ate supper about 6:45. Then after playing with Debbie briefly worked more on the service; at 8:00 went to Lucy’s to show her slides, then showed them to Patriquins. Got home about 10:30.  bathed, read, OBLO 12:32.

Sunday, 7 December 1969

Up about 8:00. Had breakfast, shaved, from 9:30–10:30 had my Sunday school class. Karen didn’t show up, so had only Billy Elwell, but it was a worthwhile hour. Left for church about 10:40. Preached on “What Kind of Xmas?” Home about 12:30, had lunch, then relaxed. Virginia Bate arrived a few minutes before 2:00 to babysit with Debbie. ^showed slides to Virginia^  We left about 2:30 for Wesley Church. While the choir rehearsed, I folded the bulletins—didn’t get studying done as I had hoped. The program was from 4:00 to 5:00. We got home about 5:30. I drove Virginia home. We invited Cameron and Ezra Sesto over for supper. Ezra + Debbie got a bath together, played together. They went home about 8:00. I had a cup of coffee to try to revive me, but was pretty weary; tried for a while to translate Hebrew, but didn’t make much progress. Went to bed to read  LO, c. 10:30—but we had a tickling-wrestling match!

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by David Madison and Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/07/14/davids-diary-december-1-1969/