Virginia and Ann Plan to Get a Triple Bunk Bed - Friday, July 24, 1964

I couldn't even ride my bike tonight because it had a flat tire. It was just too hot to do anything, so I did things like polish my fingernails, pick at my peeling suntan, pick at the piano, and wash my hair. Virginia and Ann are fixing up their room and plan to get a triple bunk bed. They painted my desk and Ann's dresser blue, green and white to match their color scheme. There were only five or six local news items in tonight's paper - the fewest I've ever had, I think. And after Mrs. Stewart praised my work on the local news and said she misses me during the winter.

"These Most Giddy and Brisk-Paced Times" - Thursday, July 23, 1964

"These most giddy and brisk-paced times." - Shakespeare's Twelfth Night - that adequately describes college days, but right now I need an opposite expression - wonder what it might be. I'm coming along nicely with my dress. I saw a $15 dress in Seiferts of the same material. I also saw that Wards now has the material I've had all summer reduced by 30 cents a yard - I might as well have left it at the store all this time. Orrs are looking for their lost beagle as is everyone else in town - so I learned as I rode my bike on the back road.

Found Two New Dresses at Bridges - Wednesday, July 22, 1964

Hair always looks the best just before you go to bed. So true! I just came forth with a style that the girls think is pretty great for something I did myself. That's true, too. I hope I can keep it this way till tomorrow, but I guess I won't sit up all night. I went on one of my once in a while shopping splurges and, for the first time in my life, bought something at Bridges. In fact, I got two dresses, both on sale - a $15 (regularly $20) Rosecrest arnel and nylon pink-yellow-blue print two piece, and a tailored blue shift with a red belt and trim. I started sewing on my shirtwaist.

Am Reading The Catcher in the Rye - Tuesday, July 21, 1964

I'm about to finish reading The Catcher in the Rye. It seems too depressing for me to get the full enjoyment of its meaning. I cut out one of the shirtwaist dresses that I've had the material and patterns for all summer. Maybe I'll get it sewn before much longer. It has been so hot these days. The air just hangs on you. We enjoyed corn on the cob and watermelon tonight. Mom, Virginia and Ann had a dentist appointment at 10:30, so I got dinner. Daddy likes his secretarial job at the high school. It seems strange to live in a home where the head of the house has an 8:00-5:00 office job.

Philosophizing About Goldwaterism with Mom - Monday, July 20, 1964

At last - Daddy mailed the yearbook pages from the Wellman post office. It came to $4.80. I wrote to Verna Thompson to tell her I hope to be able to see her in Cleveland and to Flo. I got quite a few local news items today. Nic was at the races in Indianola, Iowa, yesterday taking pictures. He got a bad sunburn and nearly got run over by a car - he had a picture that someone took that really showed the effects of his misadventures. He taped it above his desk. That poor guy. Mom and I think that Goldwaterism has something to do with Communist infiltration, and I've taken it as far back as Kennedy's win over Nixon.

Substituted on a Corn Detasseling Crew - Sunday, July 19, 1964

The kids detasseled corn this afternoon, and Virginia, Linda Pence and I substituted to help them make a crew. We worked from 1:00 to 6:00 at $1.15 an hour since Sunday is overtime. I guess I finally got broken in, although I don't know how many tassels and suckers I missed. I guess Varners think they'll be getting to Kansas City too early to take the yearbook pages. Mom talked to Betty Bishop out at Grandma's today, and she said just to mail the package first class, so I guess we'll do that from Wellman. We went out tonight to give Jeff and Calvin horseback rides.

Drove the Tractor to Put Straw in the Barn - Saturday, July 18, 1964

I drove the tractor this afternoon to put up straw. It finally cooled off and almost blew up a rain, but it was hot enough for a while. KCII said it was 100 in Washington. I presented most of my proposal to Pat about taking my package of yearbook pages to Park, but then a load of straw came into the driveway, and she took off for town. They'll surely be able to do it for me. I've been enjoying my evening bike rides again, now that my part of the yearbook is done. I can't believe that yet - I've had it to do for almost a year. I got a letter from Verna Thompson. She's at Case Western Reserve University this summer, so maybe I'll get to see her.