http://homepage.mac.com/dkodeski/iblog Daily diary entries from a Zenith TV factory worker in Chicago. 1960 & 1961. dkdodeski@earthlink.net © David Kodeski Tue, 06 Jan 2004 20:32:14 -0600 Tue, 06 Jan 2004 20:32:26 US/Central iBlog 1.3.1 Hi everyone.

Thanks for checking this out. Frustrated with iBlog, I'm moving these entries to a fresh link at my home site:

http://www.truelifetales.com

Thanks

David ]]> Tue, 06 Jan 2004 20:28:28 -0600 December 4

Sunday

Things had cooled off considerably when he got back from the country. I got after my bedroom but good today and washed the woodwork and blinds and did the curtains and polished furniture and scrubbed and waxed the floor. Then around 9 o’clock I started my ironing and all the clothes I had washed. Really worked like a demon today. Also got my odds and ends in correspondence cleared up. Finished ironing around midnight and finished watching the movie and fell asleep on the couch. Stayed on Thinagain today. ]]> Thu, 04 Dec 2003 11:06:58 -0600 December 3

Saturday

Good hardly get up at 6:30 but finally made it and got ready. Then from 8 to 9 waited for Ruth and kept calling but there was no answer. I was so mad she was dressed to go out last night and I don’t think I’m going to go to Mexico. At 10 Rose and I went to the National. I cleaned my bedroom a little and soaked the clothes but when I came from the National I was so tired I fell asleep. Woke up around 5:30 then and started working on my rug. Then had Dad come and had to watch boxing and wouldn’t let me watch my movie. We had a terrific battle and then he wouldn’t let the TV on at all. Boy I was so mad I think I hate him sometimes. Everything is fine for Rose but you would think I was an orphan or something. Went to bed purely disgusted. ]]> Wed, 03 Dec 2003 11:06:32 -0600 December 2

Friday

Was all dressed up today with my black lace blouse and black suit with the ermine collar. When I came into the cafeteria I had to sit with my back facing J as I only got a glance and didn’t see when he came in. Then I didn’t see him all day and boy was I ever crabby as ole heck. I warned Theresa and right away she wanted to get into the act. After work we met J and I just smiled and Theresa said that’s not in the bargain. She also made a crack about the quarter and he stuck up for me and said it wasn’t the money it was the principal. He also asked if I was working Monday and he’s not either. When we got into the car I gave him the note and he read it and laughed and said it was cute. They kept teasing me but though I laughed myself sick I didn’t talk. He kept saying oh come on Dolores and they wondered where I was going all dressed up. I wrote him another note telling him I didn’t want the quarter but a cup of coffee. Mary kept my first note. After we got past the viaduct he said you can talk now Dolores so I told him to never underestimate the power of a woman. Went to Ellen’s for dinner and then we went to the (illegible) for “Majority of One.” Stopped at the new place Flo’s for coffee and then to the Executive House for a drink. Got home about 1:00. Was I ever tired.
]]> Tue, 02 Dec 2003 11:06:05 -0600 December 1

Thursday

Saw Ruth on the L this morning and she was telling me all about her problems with her husband. Now I’m beginning to wonder what I’m getting into . After I left her I felt so depressed and stayed that way all day. Saw J in the cafeteria but he didn’t look my way at first break he was facing me and then changed seats with his back to me. At the sink he didn’t come but at the table he kept looking. Then I didn’t see him at last break. In between he saw me goofing off with the guys. I walked to the car alone but he came up friendly enough and asked if I was cold. Then he said I shouldn’t get in on the other side cause it was too dangerous. Then he said I could sit in the front cause Theresa didn’t own the car so I said I’d like to but I didn’t want to cause trouble. Then we started talking about the other Theresa and I was shocked to find out she’d been divorced twice. I made some wise comment on human nature but we laughed ourselves sick . Then I told John that I wasn’t always so silly and I wouldn’t talk for one day to give him peace. So we made a bet for tomorrow. He had to laugh at me in spite of himself. ]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2003 11:05:35 -0600 November 30

Wednesday

What a day. First I overslept and as a result I didn’t get to work till 15 to 9. My eye was swollen again and my sinus was killing me. Then at first break I saw J looking at me several times. He was sitting a few tables down. Then I didn’t see him at the sink and he wasn’t in the cafeteria for lunch nor did I see him the rest of the day. When we came to the car he was behind us and he didn’t catch up. Theresa didn’t have to work tomorrow so he made a joke about it. Then we were talking about traveling and Theresa said she was 35. Then I was asking him if he wanted to take me to California and he said no. And then we talked about staying home and he said I wouldn’t like it. He did ask me if the buses were heated after I told him how long it took me to get home. I don’t know why but everything he said today struck me the wrong way. I felt so moody and down in the dump s when I got home. He was talkative though. Called Ellen up. ]]> Sun, 30 Nov 2003 11:04:32 -0600 November 29

Tuesday

Boy it was cold this morning 26 degrees and the wind was real sharp. My eyes was swollen and I felt real cranky and quiet all day. Didn’t see J in the cafeteria and then Theresa came by and said they took the other Theresa’s sister to the Ka(illegible ) plant so he must have been late . He was sitting in the back at first break and at the sink he came up real friendly I asked him if he was happy in the morning cause it was cold and he said he was never happy in the morning. Saw him go by a few times and when we came out of work he met us by the parking lot. It was blowing snow and real slick and I kept sliding so I grabbed onto his arm. I slipped once but he held firm. He said it would be cold walking and looked me over like to see I was dressed warm enough. Then he told Theresa she didn’t have to walk so fast and it sounded so obvious that then he said to grab onto my arm. When we got into the car he said he would slam the door at me. We joked around but driving was so bad so he didn’t say much. Theresa started to wipe the windows and I said that she shouldn’t and he said who’s smearing it but when I finished it he thanked me. When I shook him he didn’t say anything when Theresa did he said her hands were cold. He left me off 1/2 block from Ashland and I didn’t get home until (illegible ).
]]> Sat, 29 Nov 2003 11:03:54 -0600 November 28

Monday

Dad drove me to Congress today and it sure was beautiful out. 60 degrees. Saw J in the cafeteria and when I went for first break he was ahead of me so I called to him and asked him if he enjoyed the holiday . He looked at me sort of sourly and said he guessed so. Then when I was washing up he came by and said washing up and I said was sneaking from Bertha but he didn’t say anything. She sure was crabby and Zoya was sick. Then he came down the line after lunch and I was talking to Mexican Richard and at last break I didn’t see him. He looked like he was mad at me for something. When we walked to the car we met him so I said we beat him and he said he was in no hurry. Then he remarked that it was going to be cold tonight and he didn’t care because he wasn’t in it and when he opened the door he slammed it into me. After I gave them the cake he warmed up and laughed when we talked about Candid Camera . Then when I asked for the addresses he gave me his and gave me a card with his last name which is real long. Then I was teasing him about hitting me and told him to send me gladiolas and I didn’t like orchids . He teased me about the (illegible gun?) and he was real friendly and talkative then I don’t know. He also asked if the cake was good. ]]> Fri, 28 Nov 2003 11:03:21 -0600 November 27

Sunday

Got up early today and straightened out. Went off my diet again and ate like a pig . Got my ironing done and then made the cake . Then in the evening I didn’t feel good so I watched TV and went to bed late. ]]> Thu, 27 Nov 2003 10:56:53 -0600 November 26

Saturday

Got up around 10 o’clock today and after I had coffee Rose and I went on 35^th and I got some of my chores done. It was really beautiful out. Around 60. Cleaned up my bedroom and washed out a few things and spent the rest of the day writing out my Christmas cards . Dad and I had another argument as usual. Went to bed late. ]]> Wed, 26 Nov 2003 10:56:23 -0600 November 25

Friday

Got up around 10 o’clock today and got a little more done today. First I cleaned up my bedroom then I cleaned out the front hall closet and scrubbed and cleaned the front hall. After that I went up into the attic and cleaned up there, took down the laundry and went through my suitcases for summer clothes from my trip and emptied two. Then I was going to work on my rug but I fell asleep watching the 4:30 movie. I woke up at 7:30 so I called up Ruth as we were supposed to go to the Mexican counsel tomorrow. She didn’t feel good though and so we aren’t going. Worked on my rug and finished wrapping my Christmas gifts. Ate like a pig again and went to bed about 3 o’clock in the morning. ]]> Tue, 25 Nov 2003 10:55:51 -0600 November 24

Thursday

Yesterday John also said he left Poland when he was 5 and I guess he was in Germany until he was 13 and then came here. I felt down in the dumps though cause I acted so silly. Got up around 10 o’clock and ate half of the pumpkin pie like a pig . Then went back to bed and fell asleep until 1:30. Barely straightened out my bedroom and then we ate a big dinner . Uncle Joe came over for dinner. Had another argument with Dad. Boy he sure gets on my nerves. Worked on my rug in the evening but didn’t do too much of that either. Boy was I ever lazy . About the only thing I really did all day was eat like a pig all day long too. Went to bed late. ]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2003 10:55:15 -0600 November 23

Wednesday

Well today was the last day of work and thank God cause I sure was tired when I got up. Met Ruth on the bus and when we got off on Austin who should be in the car but J and like the goof I am I pretended I didn’t see him. When I got in Mary told me they saw me giggling and later on Theresa came over and said J said he had to laugh cause I’m happy even in the morning. Ha. At break he came by the table and I grabbed his hand a sec to get him to stop and he squeezed it so I asked him if I left my record in the car. Then at lunch by the sink I asked if he liked the magazines and I told him I didn’t realize they were the same as ours. He kept looking at me and grinning as I washed my face. He sat in back of me at last break but he was ahead of us as we left. When we caught up with him I was giggling and he said what are you laughing at now. He was looking at my record and said it was OK. Then in the car he seemed moody. I found out he doesn’t like chicken . He told Theresa to bring him a turkey sandwich and when she said no he said she got an answer for everything. ]]> Sun, 23 Nov 2003 10:54:37 -0600
November 22

Tuesday

Woke up OK and I wasn’t tired where I was sleepy but I sure was bone tired . I felt miserable all day too with a crabby feeling like when you’re coming down with a cold . I didn’t see J in the cafeteria and then I felt down in the dumps but he was on the other side at break. He was at the sink when I went to wash up for lunch and I said hi. He looked down at me and said he forgot to come over yesterday and what did I want to tell him. I grinned and said it was a secret but then I told him about the magazines. He sat in his usual place at lunch and in back of me at break. Then he got in from the parking lot at work so I asked him if he missed me and wasn’t it quiet in the car. He grinned and said it sure was. Then when Theresa got in she wanted to know where I was and said it was quiet and J said we missed you. Then when we were talking about Christmas trees I said I liked the old fashioned kind and he said he did too and then I said I didn’t like Frank Sinatra and he said he didn’t either. It was a very good ride. ]]> Sat, 22 Nov 2003 08:48:27 -0600 November 21

Monday

Got up kind of tired as Dad was sick and coughing during the night and woke me. As a result I didn’t get a lift to Damen and Congress . Wore my blue suit and brought the magazines for J. Saw him in the cafeteria and at first break he was sitting behind me so Jenny asked me if I wanted to go to Lash’s office so I told him I wouldn’t be reading with him and when he had a chance to stop over as I had something to show him. He didn’t come before lunch but really looked as Bill the gunman sat talking to me for 1/2 hour. At lunch he avoided looking at me it seemed and then he came by twice for a drink but some guys were talking to me both times so he didn’t stop. Guess he was disgusted by them and when I snuck ahead of him in line and said ladies first he didn’t say anything. He didn’t come by later either and I didn’t see him as we left work. We went to Lash and then I went to Madigan’s and then couldn’t buy anything because I was overdrawn. Very disgusting day all in all. ]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2003 08:09:06 -0600