Sunday, December 31 (1944)

Snowed a little in night leaving streets slippery. Drove to Emanuel for church. Certainly a pretty church but very few people there. Day was bleak out. in evening young Irenee dePont took Snook to movies. Mary and I went to 30 Seconds Over Yokyo. Very good. Got out about 2330 and whistles blew just as we came home.

Saturday, December 30 (1944)

Uninteresting day. Hazy and cold. Light snow over icy streets. Mary and Snook walked down town but I didn't try it. Toward evening began to snow. No news from abroad. Wrote Trask and Uncle Will.

Friday, December 29 (1944)

Osteopath treatment seems to have done little good. Neck hurts like hell. Went down town and got some ration stamps. Absolutely nothing to do. Came home and studied. Wrote Hammer.

Thursday, December 28 (1944)

Sleeted all night. Had to get down to doctor;s in morning. Quite a strain on knee. After treatment read in du Pont lobby for an hour or so and rode home. Wrote letters to Sneddon. In evening, Mary and I to Frenchman's Cruk. Poor story wonderfully photographed in technicolor. Report American armies closing on Germans. Bastogne relieved.

Wednedsay, December 27 (1944)

Up so late. I had little time more than to read the news which is a trifle better. Germans still advancing and near Neuse but moving slowly. Bastogne holds out. Met Sneddon at Iniv. Club at noon. Nice talk. Had to catch 21st train at Columbus circle. Began to snow near Plainfield. Found Wilmington half an inch deep in sleet. Nice supper.

Tuesday, December 26 (1944)

Took 9:00 BO for N.Y. Quite Cold. Nice trip up. At New York found sky clear and bitter west wind sweeping across North River. After lunch called up Sneddon. then exchanged Mary's sweaters at Lord and Taylors. Took in a "newsie" and met Sneddon at University Club. Then to eat at small dairy lunch. To Commodore for advice and got reservation for Sonje Heinie's Hats off to Ice. Took in another newsie and then ice show. Some very good numbers. All beautifully staged. Some inappropriate eg south sea islanders on skates. A little plah. Home to Empire Hotel about midnight.

Monday, December 25 (1944)

Up at a moderate hour. Katie and Margaret over to open presents. Lots of nice things. Worked rather slowly and made it all last all day. In evening, Snook to movies with Alfie. Mary and I took a walk with Butch down to Shipley St and back. Was warm and soupy when we started but got quite cold before we got back.

Sunday, December 24 (1944)

Nothing to do so loafed till noon . After sketchy lunch checked over electric rigging for tree. Went down town with Mary and telegraphed for room reservations. Morning was warm and melting but in afternoon began to slant down. After supper, Snook went driving with Margaret while Mary and I trimmed the tree. We had a great amount of decorations and it looked luscious. About 10:30 pm 2230 drove over to St. John's Cathedral for midnight service. Very nice.

Saturday, December 23 (1944)

Up rather late. Rambled down town and got my Engineering license motorized. Got ? up lunch on shipley St. and then went to Library. Studied physical chemistry all afternoon and bought some supplies for Mary on way home. Supper at Chinese restaurant. Went to Kismet. Rather amusing beautiful color. News from Europe a little better. Drive Slowing down and skys are clearing.

Friday, December 22 (1944)

Down to the doctors about 11 oclock. He showed me x rays. These indicate clearly that my appendix has been seriously inflamed at some time. Its bent in a sort of hook. This may be source of trouble. Will try to cure without surgery. Spent most of the remainder of day searching for presents or Mary and kids next door. Home late and a little tired. Feel pretty good though. In evening made out request for license. Also took Tote out to dance at the Country Club.

Thursday, December 21 (1944)

Another very cold day. Had no business down town so loafed around home until late. After lunch, picked up one or two more presents. Holiday crowds thinning out a little. Quiet evening. Chief item of interest a call from Stuart Snedden in New York relative to the Oak Ridge situation. Going up to N.Y. Tuesday.