Third week of January, 1924

Jan 13: Beautiful sunshiny day - Happy for time regardless of everything. Had fine dinner & Dick, Merritt, children and I went do[wn] to Warners. Enjoyed pleasant evening.

Jan 14: Weather fine - cold but clear. Atmosphere indoors very disagreeable. Cleaned bedroom and put my rug down. Went to Findlay in eve, saw Harveys Minstrels. Fine. Norma bad. 
    *Here are a couple of links describing this minstrel show: Marin Journal, May 1, 1919; The Deseret News, September 24, 1920. 

Jan 15: *Cold drizzling rain falling. Merritt unable to find work at Cooper. Received letters from Erdene [?] and Trix. Skated in evening with boys. 

*mistake: very cold  

    *I believe Cooper is Cooper Tire and Rubber Company.

Jan 16: Raining and very disagreeable. No luck at finding work. Passed an uneventful day. Boys very noisy, but in good health. Jack Warner down in eve. Popped corn. Dad worked very late.

Jan 17: Cold and snowing. Pond frozen. Even Roger has gone skating. Norma and Dad over at Duke's. Myrtle down in evening. Another "overtime" day for Dad.

    *I wonder if "Duke's" is Merritt's parents?

Jan 18: Dreary day. Started to wash late. [illegible] to go to Findlay. Saw "Wild Party" and good vaudeville. Went skating in evening with D.J.

    *When I first looked up "Wild Party" all I could find was a 1929 film with Clara Bow. But I eventually found this.

Jan 19: Snowing hard and cold. Finished my washing. Worked pretty hard until night. Played pinochle with Floyd J. Charlie and Zeke.

Second week of January, 1924

Jan 6: Everything frozen tight. Thermometer says 18° below. Home all day. Mama and Dad away. Kiddies fine. Roger also visiting. Evening temperature rising with high wind.

Jan 7: Beautiful day. Went skating with L. Ice fine. Had more fun than I've had for long time. Officials trying to break up Perrys love nest.

     *I tried hard to find out what "Perry's love nest" meant, but I can't find anything!

Jan 8: Beautiful day. Snow melting. Went to Findlay in afternoon. Had my hair cut. Saw Marie Prevost in "Wanters". Played cards in evening.

     *The Wanters

Jan 9: Another beautiful day outside. Not so pleasant inside for me. Mama sick. Made good soup for supper. Intended spending evening with Myrtle but disappointed.

Jan 10: Raining torrents. John W. came on bus. Glad to see him. Went over to Williamsons. Had food and played cards until morning.

Jan 11: Cold, gloomy day. Rose very late and did little work. Started to Findlay about 8:30. Out of gas. Missed small part of show. Saw "Social Code" and Keith's Vaudeville.

     *Bit of background on Benjamin Franklin Keith, who is the Keith she's referring to. I found this little advertisement online here, and you can see it was probably 31 or 50 cents for her to go to the show.  According to this, 31 cents in 1924 is worth about $4.24 today. I think it's interesting, how many shows she went to during this time of no income.  

Jan 12: Another dismal day. Up late. John started home at 10:30. Invited to go to Findlay with Myrtle. Naturally didn't go. Too much opposition. Played cards. Bob W. down.

     *I dunno if I really blame the opposition on this one. 

First week of January, 1924

I decided I'll do a week at a time instead of a month at a time, just because there's so much interesting stuff I want to look at more closely!

In January 1924, the major world event was the death of Vladimir Lenin.  Also, the winter Olympics began in France.

Jan. 1: Cold, but glorious day. Slept late after watch party. Played pinochle with Warners. Attended show "An Unwanted Child" with Mama and C.H. Kiddies in fine health.
     *I talked about this entry, and the show she saw, in this post.

Jan. 2: Dismal day. Rain in evening. Merritt's last day at beef plant. Bill and Flo gave us fine sausage. Played pinochle with Williamsons.
     *uh oh

Jan. 3: Everything white with snow. Had a couple "fusses" to make M. feel at home. Patched his long-torn "pants". Saw "Sinner or Saint" at Majestic. Roger had accident.
     *I have to wonder what she means by "pants". Why is it in quotes? My grandmother (my mom's mom) calls underwear pants (much to everyone's mirth)--maybe that's what she means?

Jan 4: Cold and snowing. Did an awfully large washing with some help from Merritt and Mama. Too tired to play pinochle with Lucille and "Pig" W.
     *I think it's interesting that Merritt is helping with laundry.  I wonder how common that was.

Jan 5: Colder than [illegible] - going down to 14° below zero in the night. Uneventful day. Played cards until two in morning with P. & L. Lunch at midnight.
     *I love how she says "lunch at midnight" so offhandedly.