Seventeen More Senior Pictures - Sunday, April 30, 1961

I wrote off seventeen more senior pictures after a lapse of about two months. Maybe I'll get them all done and given before school's out. Something tells me that for an A in English this semester I should read or write for my A Tale  of Two Cities project. But she said writing a script would also mean a presentation, and I haven't got that much energy when I probably won't get an A anyway. I always have for every semester so far in English. I read one chapter of chemistry.

Lack of Enthusiasm - Saturday, April 29, 1961

I let another Saturday go by without getting anything done. I slept most of the morning. We went to town this afternoon but there sure wasn't much doing. It was a cold, rainy day but hot in the stores. I kept getting dizzy. I don't know what to do for my A Tale of Two Cities project. This isn't like me, but I'm sure not enthused. I don't want to read or write and I can't draw. Help! The little kittens and puppies sleep together out at Grandma's. Sonja and Sheri are out there. Rikki had his tonsils out yesterday.

Mushroom Hunting - Friday, April 28, 1961

I'm afraid I good and properly flunked a chemistry test. I had read it but didn't have a chance to go over it this morning and hadn't done the workbook. Tonight we drove over near Kalona and to Dwight Colliver's to get some seed corn. We visited Collivers about half an hour. Some of the kids in music got to stay all night in Vinton. Phyllis and I hunted mushrooms in Bady's timber (but with no luck) while they did chores. 

It's Beginning to Rain - Thursday, April 27, 1961

All this time I was thinking the last school day of April comes on Monday rather than tomorrow. No wonder Mrs. Fordyce was in such a dither over the school paper. I stayed to work on it after school (along with Nancy) and still got home in time to do chores. Something is wrong with Mrs. Kephart--she doesn't dig me--probably because I'm afraid of her!?! It's beginning to rain. I like the sound. I don't very often hear it begin to rain. I bet I humdingered a C on our A Tale of Two Cities essay test.

Talking and Tiredness - Wednesday, April 26, 1961

We had a newspaper meeting during activity period with this year's and next year's production staffs. I just didn't feel up to it after school, so I came home rather than stay. Mrs. Fordyce told me to restrain myself and that I wasn't setting a very good example for the sophomores by my talking when they had to keep still. Grr! I finished A Tale of Two Cities. It's a good book. Last summer I was determined to really study this year. I don't know why I'm always too tired to study extra when I do have some spare time.

Senior Play is Cancelled - Tuesday, April 25, 1961

Whew! We don't have to have the class play! Mr. Evans seemed very sympathetic when we "presented our case" during sociology class. He said we should write a news story explaining why we aren't having it, since there was one saying we were, but I argue that no one will ever think about it if we never say a word. Time will tell. I worked on school paper layout all night. Phyllis went with Timmons to the spring choral concert, and Abbie stayed here.

Senior Class Play Conversation - Monday, April 24, 1961

Tonight we talked about not having our class play after all. It just seems to be too much on top of everything else and we're not learning our lines. Everyone is in favor of it, so we're going to speak to Mr. Evans about it tomorrow. I hope we weren't too tired to think straight tonight and get scared out tomorrow. We didn't practice tonight. Mrs. Fordyce gave me a balling out last period. (Wow!) I figured it would be coming, but my grades come before the school paper. I goofed up on chemistry--missed 7 out of 21. I'm spoiling myself. 

A Tale of Two Cities - Sunday, April 23, 1961

Boy, am I ever tired. I wish I could have slept yesterday morning, but for some reason I couldn't. Grandma and Grandpa were here for supper. Phyllis had a stomach ache and didn't feel like going to church. I spent most of the afternoon reading A Tale of Two Cities. I was about ten chapters behind. On Friday we had to discuss certain parts. Luckily, I waved my hand wildly enough for Arthur, Ross and me to get a part we'd already read as we weren't any too far along.

Art Exhibits at Library - Saturday, April 22, 1961

I've spent so much time on my research paper the last few days that I didn't do a thing in the way of school work. I'll have to "cram" tomorrow. We went to town this afternoon. I went up to see the art exhibits while I was at the library, then went back with Mom and Virginia and Ann and looked at them again. Phyllis was at the music contest at Sigourney. Both the mixed chorus and girls' chorus got II's. Mr. Eddy wouldn't let the band enter. What's a contest for? 

Supper at the Captain's Table - Friday, April 21, 1961

A wonderful supper at the Captain's Table was a perfect finish to an otherwise starving day, food-wise. In the first place I didn't eat enough breakfast. Nine kids from the Honor Society and Mr. Brown were there. I had fried chicken. New Honor Society members are seniors: Bob Parcell, Judy Johnson, Fred Miller, Shirley Slaubaugh; juniors: Bob Swartzendruber and Connie Brown. We made final plans for the initiation tonight. Well, I got my research paper finished. It is such a relief to have it over. I was ready to drop all day because of tiredness. By the way, I'll get $100.00 per semester aid at Park since Mom's a teacher. 

Neck and Neck - Thursday, April 20, 1961

Boy, the research paper deadline and I ran neck and neck today. I wondered for a while there if it was going to win, but now I believe maybe I finally am. I had play practice on top of it all. Gersh, I backed into the post on my way out of the driveway tonight! Guess everything's still intact. Virginia had a junior high band concert at Chester tonight. An a capella choir from Sioux Falls sang at school this afternoon. They were good. 

Homework Challenges - Wednesday, April 19, 1961

Here I am in one of those big jams again. On my research paper I have three parts to finish yet. Space filling isn't so easy, but so far I've managed to end each filler on the right line. Footnotes, outline, bibliography and page numbers to do then. Plus ten chapters of A Tale of Two Cities to read by Friday. I wanted to get straight A's for this nine weeks - ha! We had a class meeting today.

Burt Lancaster and Liz Taylor Win Oscars - Tuesday, April 18, 1961

Tonight I went to play practice and Phyllis went with Betty, Linda, Sharon and Martha to see "The World of Suzie Wong." (Oscars last night went to Burt Lancaster and Liz Taylor for the best actor and actress.) Virginia was in Mt. Pleasant for a junior high band festival with Washington and Mt. Pleasant. They were an hour or more late getting back because a highway patrolman stopped the bus for not having any lights.

Discovery of Element 103 - Monday, April 17, 1961

I just got back from play practice. I'm finally getting used to the idea of driving over there by myself. Gee, though. We're still using books. If she would just tell us to memorize--I'd do it. But I seem to have to be told. I'm glad it got warmer. That sound of the wind was getting monotonous. I guess I'll stay up to watch some of the Oscar awards while I set my hair. Also last Wednesday they discovered element 103. They think they'll name it Lawrencium (Lw) after the founder of the cyclotron and the special laboraties at the University of California.

Criminology Paper Has Reached 26 Pages - Sunday, April 16, 1961

After typing every spare moment all weekend on my research paper, I have 26 pages. I thought I had 20 a while ago, and I surely typed more than six pages. Oh well, it's long enough anyway, but I sure hope I haven't lost any. Brrr! It sure is cold. It's worse now than it was for most of the winter. Virginia, Mary, Ruth and Vicky sang as a quartet for church. I didn't do any other homework. It's time to start learning play lines. If Mrs. Kephart had us we wouldn't be using books now.

Urie Gagarin Has Circled the Earth - Saturday, April 15, 1961

Phyllis and I helped this morning with the West Chester part of the FHA bake sale. We just made $21.50 compared to the $45.00 the youth fellowship made. We had to help move calves across the road before we went up. I stayed home from town this afternoon to do my research paper. I had to jump up about every five minutes to put wood in (or check) the stoves, but they liked the feeling of coming home to a nice warm house. Oh, by the way. On Wednesday a Russian astronaut, Urie Gagarin, became the first man in the world to circle the earth in a space capsule. It took 68 minutes. He "landed on both feet" upon his return. Columbus, the Wright Brothers, and Gagarin.

Bake Sale Issues - Friday, April 14, 1961

I just got a little bit done on my research paper. I spent most of the evening making caramel candy and frosting a boughten angel food cake (our oven won't work) for our FHA bake sale tomorrow. Each town is having one, and here [the president] took off for the weekend to visit Drake. The weather report's for cold weather and Mr. Jones "predicted" snow. I feel pretty proud of myself so far about my chemistry test. I surely got at least a B.

Play Practice Turns into Spring Fever - Thursday, April 13, 1961

Play practice again tonight and what a riot. When they weren't on stage they jumped rope with jump ropes and with the tennis net. They went downtown to get pop, but it was kind of warm. Virginia set my hair last night. I just hope I can do half as good tonight. A stupid mistake caused me to miss one of the three chemistry problems he gave me. Grr! Mom had a check-up after school at the doctor's. She's okay. It was real nice today.

Halogens Unit is More to Liking - Wednesday, April 12, 1961

Tonight we had choir practice and youth fellowship. I did Phyl's FHA bake sale posters for her during choir. I worked on my chemistry review exercise. I've gotten the most out of this Halogens unit of any for a long time. But if we have a test on weight-weight, weight-volume, and volume-volume (as has been hinted for two days) I'm liable to spoil my record--fairly good so far. I ate dinner with Mary Ellen and Billie early so we could type yearbook pages at noon. We're reading A Tale of Two Cities in English class. I like it.

Victor Borge Takes Place of Play Practice - Tuesday, April 11, 1961

This feels about like Thursday instead of Tuesday. After I thought we weren't having play practice, I went over when Mrs. Frazier said we were, only to find out we wouldn't after all. Too many kids went to hear the pianist Victor Borge in Iowa City. I thought we shouldn't try to have it in the first place! At least I had a yearbook meeting. Mary Ellen sure doesn't please me when it comes to yearbook. (It couldn't be that I'm unconsciously jealous that I'm not the editor, could it?) We had a sociology test. I wonder how I did. Virginia and Ann visited Kalona with the West Chester junior high kids--where they'll be going next year.

A Solo Trip to Wellman and Back - Monday, April 10, 1961

Play practice again tonight, Act II this time. This was my first trip to Wellman by myself. I called and said "I'm coming" before I started home so they would come to my rescue if I got a flat tire or something. Mrs. Frazier has a nephew or someone at Park, but when I tried to find out the name I couldn't remember it. I'll have to find out. Really quite a few people know something about Park--especially teachers. Grandma and Grandpa brought us souviner pennants from the Kansas turnpike.

Grandpa Has Resigned from School Board - Sunday, April 9, 1961

I only did about a page on my paper, not much in view of all the things coming up in the next few weeks. It looks like spare time will be scarce. Phyllis and I are home and the rest of them are over at Stouts. By the way, Mr. Kephart and Mr. Oyer, math teacher at Kalona (I hadn't known him), were here yesterday morning. They were seeing about Grandpa who resigned from the school board. Berny has pups. The play requires a pup, but I've got so much to do I don't think I'll volunteer one.

Criminology Paper Research at Library - Saturday, April 8, 1961

I worked on my research paper this morning in spite of the temtation to sleep. This afternoon we went to town and I made my typical trip to the library to take notes from criminology books. I think I re-entered the library one week later to the very minute. Only this time I sat on the opposite side of the same table. I had the same three books. There were several Mid-Prairie kids in town. Tonight is the junior-senior prom, but I am not there--in spite of the fact that my formal invitation "requests the pleasure of your company."

A Question About Half Sisters - Friday, April 7, 1961

This was a mighty fast week. One of the fastest yet. As long as I don't have to go to Wellman every night, I might stay on top. Tonight I got started on my Criminology paper again. I'm doing it in snatches and snatches. I'm real glad it's not due a week from today. Mrs. Kephart was absent all this week except Wednesday. A Mrs. Crossett substituted. She wondered if Patty, Peggy and Ruthie are my sisters. Phyllis and Virginia went swimming with Mrs. Fisher.

Play Practice Begins - Thursday, April 6, 1961

So here we go! Play practice number one over with. I took Lillian along for company since the juniors are decorating for the prom. I think Jerolyn has backed clear out of the play. That's sure not the way we planned it. I don't want to go clear over there by myself. The social circle made $260.00 or so, I think, tonight at the smorgasbord. I served milk and water. Helen Crossett and I gave our French dialogue. She did better than me according to our French ability and probably better than me period.

Grandpa and Grandma Return Home - Wednesday, April 5, 1961

Grandpa and Grandma (reversed order, huh?) got home just in time for chores (like I thought they would). They went to see Millers in New Mexico and went to Old Mexico and were at Esteps for Easter. They were at Varners both going and coming. I had big plans for doing homework tonight, but writing yearbook titles (which I was told about months ago) took all night. I think half of my tiredness comes from the fact that it takes so long to set my hair at night. It's getting to be an annoying chore. I get tired of getting ready for bed, but once I'm about there, I can't wait!

A Fatal Car Accident - Tuesday, April 4, 1961

Tonight I babysat while Fudges went to the athletic banquet in Kalona. Hurrah, I got the part of Beanie in the play after all since Shirley Slaubaugh decided she had too much to do. A Kalona Mennonite boy, Phil Hershberger, was killed in an Illinois car accident yesterday. I remember him pretty well from declam and he visited school the day before Christmas vacation. Phyllis Crone and Linda Crile visited school today. I didn't see too much of them. Lee and Junean won the two first places in the science fair. I haven't found out all the honorable mentions yet.

Still Doing Grandma and Grandpa's Chores - Monday, April 3, 1961

Sheryl decided not to go to the honor society meeting tonight, unless she just used that as an excuse not to have to take me. I didn't know they were going to have it since we're going to the Captain's Table the 21st. Phyllis did eggs all night while I did chores and washed the separator. For once I did some chemistry for homework and I even did a little for my research paper in study hall. We have till the 21st for them. [A student] got kicked out of sociology class, so Mr. Jones and he spent the hour (the period had just begun) in the office.

A Year Old Chocolate Easter Rabbit - Sunday, April 2, 1961

This was Easter Sunday. We didn't have a whole lot for our Easter baskets because Mom forgot about it yesterday in town and the store was about sold out. We didn't mind. Shoot, I was going to throw away (at least look at) the chocolate bunny I got last year and never ate, on his anniversary. He's still in the refrigerator. This afternoon Mom, Dad, Ann and I went down to see about getting the Dodge out--they did tonight--and Phyllis and Virginia were at Cuddebacks. I didn't do a bit of homework so should have gone to bed. Grinnell College was on College Bowl.

Dodge Stuck on Old Road to Washington - Saturday, April 1, 1961

If ever anyone didn't get anything done in a day, it's me. This morning the youth fellowship had a bake sale at the store. I didn't stay to help, but they made $42.00. I got some of the wash ready and while I was doing that Daddy called and said he had the Dodge stuck with a load of feed on the old road to Washington. I got dinner while Mom went to his aid. It's still stuck. This afternoon we went to town. I got a lavender blouse and a new pair of hose. Virginia and Ann went to Mr. Peters' class of instruction. Actually, he's two years late getting around to it.