June 19, 1975 (Letter from Diane)

I'm very sorry to hear that you bug died.  I was certain it could survive anything when it made it back to Pgh after the five of us gorged at the Horn of Plenty.  What are you going to do without a car?  I'm miserable without one -- mine is an escape mechanism.  Besides, I've inherited my father's love of big, fast, gas-guzzling cars, particularly Ford Elites.  Of course, by the time I can afford one (long time), there won't be any gas.  Anyway, I hope you can work something out since being stuck in Deer Lodge doesn't seem to be such a great proposition.

Right now, I'm in the midst of a social whirl I may not survive.  The past six weekends have seen a trip, 2 trips home, 2 trips to my aunt's in Baltimore and 3 of company.  (All of which adds up to seven eight which goes to show what kind of shape I'm in.)  The weekend before last, a friend of mine from Penn State, her husband and 9 mo old baby visited.  It was a beautiful weekend so we trekked down to Atlantic City where they were holding an art show.  Some gorgeous paintings were shown that I would have loved to buy.  Unfortunately the prices weren't so gorgeous.  And  naturally I met one of my co-workers while pushing the stroller down the boardwalk.  Luckily, he had the tact not to ask.  My first roast beef dinner went very well and I'm still trying to figure out what I did right.

This weekend, three of my closest friends visits.  (It was a shame, in a way, everybody didn't get here on the same weekend.)  This time we went to Ocean City, N.J. and got burned.  Somewhere between medium rare and well-done.  I am still red and it feels like some midget demon is sticking needles in my legs.  However, I can now walk again.  Sat evening we went to Steak N Brew (just like Emerson's) where we shook with chills.  I had to send my dripping-red, supposedly well-done meat back and they burned it.  And the waitress had the nerve to ask me why I didn't enjoy my meal!

Just to keep things moving, I'm in a wedding at home next weekend, my sister is coming back with me for a week, and my parents will come down over the 4th.  So far nothing after that until August. I know that one of these days it's all going to stop an I'll be bored to death.  So I'll enjoy while the fun lasts.

Speaking of fun, the Depute District Engineer (who thinks he's 5 stars instead of LTC) called me in for an interview without notifying my boss.  He wants to discuss library policies and procedures on a regular basis which isn't bad but I'm not sure it's so good.   First of all, I'll have 2 bosses which makes for a delicate balance.  And I'm used to being on my own and making my own decision entirely.  I'm hoping I can work this set up to the library's advantage, but right now the DDE is relatively new and therefore unpredictable.  He does have those beautiful green eyes in his favor, if you want a totally feminine viewpoint which I'm sure you don't.

I'm going to put pa stop to this babble before you are convinced that the sun cooked my brain as well as my legs.  (To add insult to my literal injury, I also got my first parking ticket on Sat.) Anyways, I hope this awful red fades before I wear that apricot halter gown on Sat.

P.S.  Have you heard from Bill Snyder at all?  None of us know where he is.  Bill Louden is in Ohio and can hopefully reunite with us in the fall.

October 7, 1974 (Letter from Sue)

Deer Lodge, Montana!  How quaint and rustique!  I was pleased to learn you actually did take the job -- imagine, you, the most bored of all in the underserved class, are actually serving them!  No, that's not sour grapes -- but aren't you glad now that you sat through my book talk in prisons?  (I'm sure it doesn't make a damned bit of difference!)

I'm sure that the change of pace is interesting.  I understand your feeling about leaving Pittsburgh -- one grows very fond of that funky old town -- I am often quite nostalgic.  But such a change from eastern industrialization to Rocky Mountain "high" can't be anything but intriging.  You living situation sounds very good -- I'm sure you'll get to know the other people in teh area, and I'm sure as well that you are making friends with many of the inmates (since, from what you tell me of their "crimes", there but for the grace of God go you...)

I told you about my friend in Albany who was a prison libn at Comstock, didn't I?  Just got a letter from him today -- he's fed up totally with his present job (academic lib -- serials -- Catholic private 4-yr college and a real drag as the place is run with an iron first by one of the Jesuits), but he's doing "counselling" (for lack of a better word) at the county jail.  If you ever want to get in touch with him re his experiences as prison libn, his name and address are Bill Demo, 390 Hamilton St., Albany, N.Y., as of 10/16 -- he's moving there.

I guess that I already told (fucking typewriter!) you that he was a part of the same library system  (god damn it) university system as you, as he got his MIS from SUNY Albany.

Your library sound really good -- good environment, etc.  It even sounds as if you have pretty much freedom in how you run it (Blue Oyster Cult, et al.), which is great (that was Bill's complaint -- that he couldn't deal with the warden at all). I think you may actually enjoy the next year or so.  I can certainly imagine you, out on the Dear Lodge mountain range, in teh midst of splendiferous autumnal sunsets, tucked away in  your little cottage in the winter as the cold mountain winds range about you ( I have this picture of McCabe and Mrs. Miller), but there you are, indifferent, with your boots off, yhour feet up in front of the fireplace, an open bottle of whiskey in front of you...(and a young lovely in the background?  I do hope so!)

And of course, there's always your work at the library to keep you warm.  Seriously, it does sound like a "rewarding experience" (whatever that is) -- as if you'll be able to , as you say, fill some sort of need in your "patrons" lives...(I've never liked the word patron  nor am I found of "user" or "reader" or "client".  How about libraryees?)  I think you've done admirably well, your first month out of library school.

As for my situation (I actually feel guilty not working yet) -- I am looking (we got the phone) (number 514-932-8378, just in case you ever need to call --) rather wholeheartedly as a matter of fact.  I did get one offer at one of the JC's in the area -- reference libn. night work with the potential to develop into full-time day work.  But I didn't take it as 1) I didn't like the library; 2) it was way too far away to commute, and 3) Bart and I would never have seen each other.

So far, the possibilities range from Fine Arts Ref at one of the local universities to Asst Libn at a public library (bilingual, with a chance to build up the children's collection) to subject indexing and aggressive telephoning at a local scandal rag.  The beset thing, though, is that I contacted the Archivist at McGill Library about oral history interviewing (they have a History of McGill project here, as well as an Oral Hist dept.) and he wrote back, asking me to come in for an interview.  Which I have tomorrow.  I don't know what this means (the fact of the interview), but at least we can talk about the possibilities, as finger-popper would say.  (Tho' I don't mean those kind of possibilities).  The Archivist is supposed to be "crotchety and brilliant" -- I'm really very eager to meet him.

The only thing that is disturbing me is:  what if I shouldn't find a job?  (A possibility which I have mentioned to no one else).  It would be such a blow to my grad-school ego!  It's such a drag hearing all the time how "tight" things are everywhere.  There seems to be lots of jobs for catalogers  but I just can't consider that.  It would be too debilitating.  I'd rather design information systems.

Of course, though, I will find a job -- it's just the limbo-esque quality of the job hunt that is sometimes a little bizarre.  What about others in our class?  Who else has found a job, and where?

I am so sorry to have missed the gala events aboard the Monagahela Queen (or whatever the riverboat was...) and stop at the Triangle!  It sounds as if it was very festive.  Speaking of festivities, just think -- it was about a year ago that we merrily made our way to Atlantic City (ah, Erwin!).  That will always stand out in my mind as one of the primary events of grad school.  (The convention, not just Erwin.)

And, speaking of Atlantic City -- have you heard of or from Michael?  I wrote him a long letter -- as he most emphatically told me that I had let him down in not writing to tell him when I would return to Pittsburgh -- but I haven't heard hide nor hair from him.  I guess he's doing well at Maryland...(Knowing Michael, he would do well anywhere...)

I got a letter from Susan Zaretsky.  She corroborated your report that Phil has changed ("reformed" is how she put it).  Barbara Immroth is in the Ph.D program -- and Susan saw Carmelle one day -- Carmelle is living at home and looking for a job and the report is that she and Gregg "split up" and he is teaching in Erie.  Whether that means they split up due to non-proximity or due to non-compatibility, I don't know.

Also received a brief note from Grant -- no gossip, though.  Just to tell me about a GSLIS grad who is teaching at the Univ of Montreal.

We are planning to go to Vermont this weekend (Monday is Canadian Thanksgiving -- did you even heard of such a thing?!).  I find myself becoming very homesick for the gold old U.S. of A.  I must be getting old.  Being in exile never bothered me before.  But anyway, I have a great desire to see the New England autumn, in all its splendid foliage -- a veritable palette, I hear!  Besides, I quite liked Vermont when we passed through in August -- maybe I'll check out the library in St. Albans!

Oh -- one professional commitment I have made (such a rambling letter, this) is that I've joined SLA (just think of all the extra conventions I can go to!).  I felt that this would help me to get to know the library community a little better, and might prove to be beneficial in the job hunt.  They're having a meeting tomorrow night -- might be interesting.  (Though the dinner speech is the thrilling topic of "Studying Libraries with the Use of Outsiders".  Just hear the implications of a closed, smug little library community!)  (Too bad you're not here -- I'm sure you'd be fascinated).  Anyway, they have a cocktail hour before the meeting, so it shouldn't be too bad!

I am also taking a course in French for Library Science (again, with the idea that I might meet some people who could be helpful...)  About the only thing is that I am learning a lot of technical terminology I didn't know, and I get to use the college library.

Aside from all this brouhaha and general nonsense, Montreal progresses.  We are getting more and more settled, though there are difficulties related to my lack of exposure to the community and our general feeling of being cut off.  In other words, it takes time to make friends, and twice as long if one is part of a couple, and my social nature needs lots of social intercourse.  (No pun intended, and please don't jump to any hasties!)  I am generally impatient -- I want to be settled in, with a job, and a coterie of friends -- and, of course, all this take time.  I sometimes miss the independence I had in Pittsburgh, but the companionship I have with Barb outweighs the other, so...in general, things are pretty good.

Well, I'm making more and more mistakes with this infernal machine (whatever happened to my secretarial skills!) -- so I shall close.  Do write again, as winter rounds the bend into the homestretch -- and do tell me more about your job, the prison system, etc.  (Also -- do you think Barb might come out to Montana?  Why haven't you mentioned it to Leslie?  You and Leslie have what my mother would term a "relationship filled with mysterious nuances".)

 Also let me know where you will be at Christmas -- maybe we can arrange to see each other.  In the meantime, Montana's Native Son (it was Wendell who told me you were born there-- I didn't destroy his illusions...), take care.

P.S.  Do you still hear from Ken?  Now is his Dollar Date progressing?  I am really glad that things seem to be working out for him. (I feel personally involved after attending his wedding.)

October 24, 1973 (Letter from Leslie)

Happy birthday -- season's greetings!

I got your letter today and since I was going to send the card, I thought I would write a few lines to go along with i.

First a recipe for peanut butter:  I got it from The Old Farmer's Almanac in an article entitled "Peanut Butter and Jelly Recipes (and bread, too)".  So -- peanut butter:  to make 2 cups you will need 2 1/2 cups roasted (in or out of the shell), shelled peanuts.  If you shell them yourself, you will have to blanch them before use:  Blanch the nuts by placing them for a minute or so in boiling water, which will  loosen the skins for easy removal.  This step, of course, is not necessary if you use salted party peanuts, or dry roasted peanuts.  Grind the nuts to a meal in a grinder or electric blender.  If you use a blender, use grate speed first, then the "chop" speed.  Keep the cover on tightly, and do not grind more than 3/4 cups nuts at once or you will clog the blades.  Place the nut meal in a bowl and beat in 1/4 cup of water and 4-5 tablespoons peanut oil until the butter is smooth.  Salt to taste (1-2 teaspoons).  store in a closed jar in the refrigerator.

Now onto your letter.  I think the pictures on the folded blue paper are classy and have no comment on the trademark.  Thanks for the goodies on Blue Oyster Cult -- I'd love to see them again as I would appreciate them so much more now.

It does sound interesting about the para-professionals.  That's been a big point all along in librarianship -- is it really a profession?  What kind of status does it have?  What should we strive for?  Today the feeling of being an undergraduate swept over me -- that is school is bullshit and maybe I will learn something on the job.  Of course Albany's scope is supposedly theoretical so that we will have the background and will apply it to actual problems.   Yesterday I took the midterm to my Info Processing course -- ugh -- thought some of the questions were picky and how 'bout "What are two important facts about the following/"  Nobody in the two classes that have taken it are very happy.  At least there were no T/F question -- ID were brief answer questions.

Now onto records:  I bought Isley Brothers 3+3 and it's iffy -- the pressing is bad and I had to take one record back (something I hate doing) and that was annoying.  There are a few good numbers -- after "That Lady" I like "If You Were There" the best.  Also bought 3 records for 1 cent each - yeah.  I couldn't believe it.  One Ambergris has a huge chicken head in color on it and it stinks.  Another Soulful Strut by Young-Holt Unlimited is very uninspired -- at least the 1st side is -- hold on while I turn it over.  Well the other side is not much better.  The third album -- Rasputin's Stash is a nice surprise and the overall quality is better than that of the Isley's.



Tonight I went to K-mart to buy a soap container and saw 1 3/$1,00 pile and bought 4 records.  One -- Crazy World of Arthur Brown I have but bought for Mom.  Another Lacewing I've never heard of it but it reminded me a little of early Jefferson Airplane.  A likable album that will be played occasionally.  Another one by Fusion called Bordertown which I just put on which the 1st song sounded like country-rock.  So does the 2nd -- seems to move along.  Lots of slide guitar.  The other album is a group called Black Pearl -- I've seen the album before, but know nothing about it.

I've only heard LaBelle backing up Laura Nyro on It's Gonna Take a Miracle and thought they were classy.  I'm sorry your thought Blackbyrd was that bad.  Of course I heard it when I was stoned, which always colors music positive, but even so I did not think it was that bad.  The draggiest # was the 2nd song on the 1st side (I think, it's a real long song) but the rest of it had me rocking in my chair.  As for liner notes -- I haven't seen any album for quite awhile that had anything that passed for a liner note, so I'm dismissing that comment.  Anyway a difference in likes/dislikes is to be expected at least once in awhile.



I'd like to hear Pet Sounds sometimes.  The 2nd side of Fusion 2nd song, "Time of the Ostrick Head" is moving right along jazzy with a solo sax.  The last song 2nd side, "Ereous" is jazzy, too with lots of solo sax.  Will describe the other album later.

Funny about that liver.  I liked the peanut better and jelly so much on the sprouted wheat bread (love the bread) that I'm eating it quite a bit at home.  The steamed vegetables sound good.  I used to make my own spaghetti sauce in Buffalo from scratch -- it's quite easy -- and it does taste great -- everybody who makes it, makes theirs a little different than somebody else's.  Loved making a big batch and then cooking fresh spaghetti to go along with the sauce each time I ate.

Back to records for a minute -- my parastatic record preener has been acting up and instead or removing static it is making my records snap, crackle, and pop.

Well sweetie, tomorrow I'm going to Atlantic City and have to be in Albany at 6am which means 4am here so I have time to get myself together and I have to get my stuff together tonight.  I bought a pair of plaid corduroy baggies and black highheeled rubber soled clunkies to go with them. Even so they were so long, Nana had to shorten them for me.  Glad to hear the beard is doing well, I just love to run my fingers through your hair (all over your body ha ha).  Take care of yourself.