I just got back from round one of grocery shopping for my St. Pat's dinner. I spent $41 at Food4Less. I got some good deals -- 5 containers of Breyer's ice cream for $2.49 each, 5 packages of sliced Swiss cheese, also $2.49 each. I got the rye bread and the corned beef. Tomorrow I have to pick up sauerkraut, Green River pop, paper plates & cups, potato salad, chips, grapes, carrots. I figure I am roughly halfway there in cost. My variables are up to 96%, so I am really pushing my limit.

My BFF is planning to come to Chicago with her son's family this weekend. We made tentative plans to meet at the museum on Saturday. Now they are talking about going to the museum on Friday (when I am tied up for the party) and going to the zoo on Saturday. I told BFF I could have gone to the museum, since it is free for me, but I can't go to the zoo -- my budget is wiped out. It was hard for me to do. (Especially when I really do have money; it's just not designated for variable spending.) But I have to learn to stay within my limits; it will be so important later.

She texted back that nothing was set in stone; so, we shall see.

I had my wellness visit yesterday, so a $15 Walmart gift card will come in the mail eventually.

Now, for the diary update:

I was able to figure out the full name of Mom's old boyfriend,"JB", and he turned out to be pretty interesting when I did some research on him. He was the son of a local industrialist and he himself owned a string of movie houses. (Guess that explains all the movies!) He was 12 years older than Mom. He married in 1941 -- three years from the time I am reading about. He remained married to the same woman until he died in 2000. He died less than one month after my mother died! He was still living in the same house he grew up in. However, that was not surprising, for he lived in a gorgeous mansion that was known in town as "the house on the hill." An Italianate red brick house with a tower. Knowing my mom, that must have intimidated her somewhat. She grew up in very humble circumstances. She does not ever speak of meeting his parents; but perhaps they were no longer living.

I finished transcribing 1938, but read ahead a little in 1939. In January she obviously developed a crush on a coworker, who drove her home a lot and teased her at work. He was engaged, however, and he married in February. She doesn't let on any disappointment, but she does end her relationship with JB. No explanation, but she does not ever explain much, which is frustrating! A few weeks later she mentions JB was in a car wreck. Reading between the lines, I think he was upset.

Now I'm really interested to see how 1939 plays out!