1986-08 (August)

Monday, August 11th[1986] Herbet Austeen, of Clendenin Heating, came by with estimate for installation of new furnace--$4433. I said go ahead.Isaiah here—a ghost from the past. Cleaned out ratty beds, edged grass, cut down dropping privet. There’s plenty to do, three days at least; I’m glad he’s here.Read D.H. Lawrence in Italy; interesting because Lawrence is interesting.

Tuesday, August 12th[1986] Clendennin (Mr.Austeen) began wrecking + removingold furnace, piece by piece, in preparation for installing the new one. Isaiah here, continuing needed clean-up. Bank; renewed $20,000 of $25,000 CD for three months @ 6.1%. Deposited $5000 + about $900 interest in checking account in order to pay for the new furnace + boiler.Cash on Hand: Checking acct: $10,150$11,590Portfolio One: 1,440 Telexed (against my judgment) $900 to Hugs--$600 plus the lost or strayed $300. Austeen completed removal of old furnace + long-abandoned water heater. Clean-up prepared for new installation.Chris Cavallo crew returned; took down dead front-yard elm, also cherry laurel. Cost, $290Cooked boiledbeef for dinner, a five-pound briskit. Gwyn + I got a helping each--+ Booker got the rest; stole it off the kitchen counter while we were in the dining room.Alas!

CD Matures: $25,000 @ 7.5%(93500) Wednesday, August 13th[1986] Clendennin did final preparatory mop-up, getting ready to install new furnace + boiler tank.Isaiah here, continuing yard work, which will take all week—cutting grass, clipping ivy, + (hardest of all) clearing out choked beds + removing dead shrubs, etc. Bank; cashed Medicare check for $11.40 + Gwyn’s $145 for her share of yesterday’s tree work by Chris Cavallo. Super D; got lighter fluid + four AAA batteries.Revisited a letter + a package of newspaper Xeroxes from Sandra Dahl Desmond in Greenville, giving information on the Roosevelt bear hunt of mid-November, 1902, which included my grandfather, the Metcalf brothers, Wildcat Stevens, LeRoy Percy, + John Parker. Most of it concerns Holt Collier + the “Teddy Bear” tradition.Walked two miles.

Thursday, August 14th[1986] Sent $25 to “Teddy Marker,” Rolling fork; wrote + thanked Sandra Desmond for Xeroxes.Haircut. Post office; 100-stamp roll.Ochsner called; appointment with Elizarde + gathright. Treadmill, 8a.m. Colonoscopy, preceded by two enemas, 10:15. Continue with cardiologist, 1:30. Walked two miles.Dinner at Peking: fried dumplings, snow peas, fragrant pork, beer; preceded by martinis. Home by 9:15.

Friday, August 15th[1986] Sent follow-up note to organizer of the upcoming Bear Reunion, containing a NY Timesfeature on the basically gentle nature of black bears.Also wrote to Carolyn Reidy at Vintage thanking her for a proof of the ad that is to run in various publications when the 3-vol. War comes out in October—delayed from mid-sep., as originally planned.Lean Cuisine.