And I finished up another collection. This one just about filled a carton. I won't be going in to work till Tuesday, so I left the message with the librarian. I expect to find all those cartons (from 2 collections) stashed in appropriate places in the frigid archive rooms. And I am sure S. will have a new collection for me.

I had a note from the woman archaeologist on the Romanian dig. She lives in the U.S. It was nice to hear from her, although her news regarding the dig wasn't too great. It seems Earthwatch has re-organized and re-assessed the direction they're going. (I suspected as much from the major changes in the digs and variety of groups being organized.) At any rate, Roman Fort on Danube got dropped. Their years with Earthwatch helped them progress significantly. And I really enjoyed going there three summers.

In my reply I told M. about the archival work I'm doing, and I realized it was sort of like archaeology--trying to fit bits of information tobgether.

But driving into New Orleans--during commuting time--can't hold a candle to driving through the Romanian countryside with field after field of sunflowers in full bloom, and tall corn where there aren't sunflowers. I've seen beehives being moved from one field to another. I've had to wait for a flock of sheep (or cows) to get across the street, and I've ridden in a horse cart. I've heard the imam call for prayers from a minaret. I've seen gypsies--from a distance and closer when we were on the train.

I've seen storks nesting on top of light poles, and little storks peering over the edge of the nest. I've swum in the Black Sea, and seen beaches where one piece suits that come up to the waist are common on the women and no piece suits are common on little children.

The first year I went, the village nearest the dig had a significant number of houses that had TV antennas--and a little house behind the big house. By the third year the economy had improved to where more and more people were getting septic systems. And I cannot forget the very citified 17 yr. old from a rich family who was utterly appalled that the dig site had a pit potty. If he'd been around when we were picnicking on an island in the Danube and seen the women meandering off to where there were some trees he probably would have been really blown away.

At any rate, as I told M., my ambulation would not do well at the site or at the place we stayed. But it's a marvelous memory.

So, today is Friday. I stopped at the drug store to pick up a prescription and it was gulp! time. That's January, when you haven't hit your deductible yet. I think today's prescription came close to taking care of it.

My weekend list has excitiing things like clean house, do laundry, work on yard, etc. on it. How about that for excitement!!