A Hectic Week - Sunday, March 26, 1961

I'm afraid this might prove to be a hectic week. The chores take so long without Grandpa. Daddy spent almost all day doing them today, with time out for church and to eat. We plan to go out in the morning from 6:00 to 7:30, some of us. Then I have things on in Wellman every night this week. I'm going to be pretty glad when the school year's over, but I have got to start enjoying life. We had communion in church today.

Research Paper and Science Project - Saturday, March 25, 1961

I worked in the yard a while this moning. Phyllis did, too, and Mom did all afternoon. This afternoon I typed on my research paper, but it seems to be a long, boring process. Maybe I'm about to get my science project finished up. Everyone but me went out to help with chores. I stayed here and got supper but the beans burned and there wasn't enough hash, so Mom fixed sausage and pancakes. I'd like to try out for Beanie, an eleven-year-old-tomboy, in the play.

Books from Iowa State Traveling Library - Friday, March 24, 1961

I'm going to go to bed with intent to read our class play, The Birds and the Boys, and pick a part to try out for. I would have gone to bed sooner but I decided to wash my hair tonight rather than tomorrow. Browns built a fire right across the road from Grandma's house. That sure wasn't good, with them gone. I already got two criminology books from the State Traveling Library. I just sent the letter Wednesday. Boy, I've got to get busy, busy, busy, busy, busy.

Central and South America Slides - Thursday, March 23, 1961

Janet had her appendix out today. She is just about the age Virginia was. Tonight was family night at church. Dr. Paul Smith of Des Moines showed slides of Central and South America. Esteps had seen him last summer and he had a picture with Bill and Merl in it. Grandma and Grandpa are leaving for Kansas and Texas in the morning. I have to be in charge of Quill and Scroll initiation a week from tonight. As a matter of fact, we were never initiated ourselves. Mrs. Kephart didn't give any A's this nine weeks. I don't know if it makes me feel better or worse.

A List of "Shoulds" - Wednesday, March 22, 1961

We stayed after school tonight for band practice. I was about to starve. Phyllis and I were able to come home with Peters at 4:30 rather than wait till 5:30. We had choir practice for a half hour tonight. On my third nine weeks report card I got: English, B+, French, A, chemistry, B-, and economics, B. I shall improve. Gee, I should be doing better. It just now dawned on me, I'm studying two "languages."  I'm determined that I could get straight A's if I would regulate my time better--study good the first time, sleep when I am in bed, think when I do chores, and really have fun, too, when I should.

Moon Was Thought to be Missile - Tuesday, March 21, 1961

I think we could have gone to Des Moines today, as do some others. I don't know if we'll get to go or not. We are now studying sociology in Mr. Jones' class. I have to think up three topics that I'd like to have us discuss the last five weeks. Poor Dennis the Menace, Virginia's kitten, got run over. He wa so cute. Virginia went to the show, Where the Boys Are, with Julia. I didn't do much tonight. Last October 5 one of the U.S. foreign missile detectors registered 99.9 percent that one was coming--here it was the moon. Mom was reading in Reader's Digest about it.

A's and an A- on Play Evaluations - Monday, March 20, 1961

We had band practice tonight for our concert next Tuesday. The freshmen are playing with us and it really makes a big difference. The seniors were going to go to Des Moines tomorrow to the legislature, but they decided we can't go because of the weather. Darn! Well, I got A's on three of the plays I wrote about and an A- on Pygmalion. Maybe she decided I deserved it after her harsh treatment of me on the MacBeth test. We took Linda Timmins home after band and I tried to back up in "park." I thought I was stuck.