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There was consternation throughout the east today when all A, B and C gas ration cards were ordered invalid as of 12:01 PM today until further notice! Only commercial vehicles can get gas! This was done to relieve the critical shortage in the east and take care of the demands of the African campaign. If it hangs on long there will be an acute crisis in the urban transit situation, for the local transit companies cannot handle everyone.
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Had dinner at the Wardman with Vic and Dick Packard. The latter invited us to accompany him, his wife and some friends to dinner tomorrow night after Fred Barden's Christmas Party and I agreed if he would see Marshall was taken care of too, as we had had a tentative date together to do something.

Washington, D.C.
Saturday, Dec. 19, 1942.

With Art taking the burden of release wires, Kardex checks, etc. off me gradually, I am finding I can begin to taper off my efforts somewhat as the end of my period approaches. I puttered around today with odds and ends and left at 3:30PM to come up to the hotel to clean-up for Fred Barden's party at the Garden House of the Dodge Hotel at 5PM. Mat, Mrs. Tate (Mildred) and I went down together.
Kathryn was one of the girls who helped run the show and she was a picture of loveliness in a long white dress with short sleeves and a low neck - roses in her dark hair. She pinned holly on Mat and me and then announced she was kissing every man on whom she put the holly - whereupon she kissed each of us on the cheek very sweetly. That was an auspicious start for as nice a party as I ever attended. It was in a  big, high ceilinged room