Michael Joe Armijo's Blog, page 112

My Mind Wandered

"No woman ever wanted to just 'use me'.
I could appreciate that."
-The Bartender
in the 2000 film, URBANIA

Twenty-five years ago today:

August 11, 1986
Monday

Per the local morning NEWSCAST there is no strike except for NYNEX (New York New England Telephone). I received a copy of the tentative agreement in the mail. It's really not so bad a settlement.

I had lunch with Patrick Brent today. Patrick brought along some young kid who flew in from Houston. He's the son of a gal that Patrick went to school with. Patrick deservedly got a parking ticket. We ate at the Franciscan Restaurant. Patrick offered me the 'taking on' of a Management Trainee post with Laura Todd Cookies.  Somehow I don't really think it's my cup of tea.  However, if the price is right I might reconsider.

I didn't return to the Pac Bell Office until 2PM. No one seemed to notice as I made it clear that I was having lunch with a Pac Bell customer (which was true—sort of).

I went to mom's house after work.  I ate pizza and Laura Todd cookies.  I reached my tilt.  I was full.

At 7:30PM I went to the gym.  I worked out with Jeanette Melcher and then I talked to Tina Titus a little bit (Mark's ex-girlfriend from high-school). Mark didn't really say anything to me today.  I had left a message for him at his TI (Texas Instruments) job to see how his two week notice delivery worked out. He never returned my call.

Anne beeped her horn at me just as I was walking to my car in the gym parking lot.
She rolled down her window and said, "I was going to work out but decided to see a movie with Patty instead."
"Good for you…we all need other forms of entertainment."

I went home thereafter.  I watched television and my mind wandered and fantasized.  Exploration of the mind is a good thing.  What the hell.

"Passion storms me...I speak some kind of nonsense."
-Tchaikovsky,
2007 film

You're In Good Form

"He'll get his just desserts all right."
-JoAnn Woodward to Paul Newman
THE LONG, HOT SUMMER, 1958 film

Twenty-five years ago today:

August 10, 1986
Sunday

I had a nice breakfast at ma and pa's house.

I was in the mood to rent and copy some movies on videotape. I selected the films LIFEFORCE, TESS and MASK. Unfortunately, MASK was not able to be taped. I succeeded in copying the other two though.

I napped a lot during this lazy Sunday.

I accompanied mom, Sherri and Ashley to look at some of the new Model Homes here on Harbor Bay Isle. It was fun—but very much out of my price range.

I recalled last night when Anne Alberti said, "I'm looking for a house to buy."
I guess she has the bucks saved. She liked my glass girl figurine.
When she noticed the figurine I said, "She looks like you when you're in good form."
Anne laughed. I know she liked when I said it.

I watched and taped the end of the movie TESS. Nastassja Kinski has such electric eyes and lips in that film. I went to mom's house to watch the end of MASK and LIFEFORCE with her. Mom gave me a twenty-dollar bill out-of-the-blue. What a sweetheart. I went home and hit the hay.

Oh yes, I received another phone call from Johnny Schaefer from Los Angeles earlier this morning. I felt a little awkward speaking to him (for some reason).
Johnny said, "I had a pretty good time this weekend."
I gently let it out that Anne, my aerobics instructor, was over at my place last night.
I added, "Anne and I had a great time. And on Friday night I went out with Mark."

I went to bed. I slept very well. I needed a good night's sleep.

"Manure is an art...and I consider myself an accomplished artist."
-John Adams while working on the farm with his son
JOHN ADAMS, 2008 mini-series

'The Hots' For You

She likes to imagine (it's one of her most closely held secrets) that she has a touch of brilliance herself, just a hint of it, though she knows most people probably walk around with similar hopeful suspicions curled up like tiny fists inside them, never divulged.
-Michael Cunningham
"THE HOURS"

Twenty-five years ago today:

August 9, 1986
Saturday

I slept in until 8AM; whereby, I rushed over to GOMES TIRE SERVICE for an oil, filter, and lube job. Then I popped over to GRAND AUTO for an air filter change.

Once I returned home I decided to call Mark. We jointly decided to go to the Bay Fair Shopping mall to see the Crystal Light Aerobic Competition. We arrived at 11:30AM and only stayed until 1:15PM. It was interesting and funny because I dressed like an aerobics instructor. Ha-ha. Joanie Greggains was there (a local Bay Area aerobics fitness celebrity).  I spoke to her briefly about Dave Vigil, my coworker.
Joanie said, "Oh, Dave will be here on Sunday."
Oh well, we came on the wrong day.
I drove Mark home to his house in San Lorenzo. Then I proceeded to drive home to Alameda to take a nap.

Mom came by my place and cleaned-up a bit for me. She's a sweetheart for doing that.

I left for Anne Alberti's 5:30 Aerobics class. She met me at my house later that night. She knew how to get to Alameda because her parents are members of the Yacht Club in town. We watched THIEF OF HEARTS together (that movie that I love). She really enjoyed it.

Rick Ferrer called to see what I was up to tonight.
I guess Rick wanted to go out with me to a club but I said, "Well, I have other plans."

Then Ron Leoni called.
"I'll be in Los Angeles on Monday," Ron said.
"Okay."
"And then I'll take a bus to Oakland or fly and be there by Thursday or Friday."
"You can get away with that with your job?"
"Yes, my job in Palm Springs doesn't start until September now."
"Oh, okay."

Mark called to say, "I had to swim for forty-five minutes because my sail broke far out while I was out in to Coyote Point."
"No way!"
"Yeah, luckily a boater sprang me in."

Anne and I were going to go out for pizza but La Val's had closed. We decided to just call it a night.  She seems to have secrets.  She did write down her telephone number for me.  I gave her a peck of a kiss. I figured it was the respectable thing to do on a 'first date'.  She's nice.

I called Mark Landreth back as he'd instructed.  He wanted me to fill him in on the happenings.
"You know, Anne and Patty are going to Hawaii on Thursday."
"They are?" Mark asked.
"Yes, and get this—both Anne and Patty are going to Cancun in October!"
And here I am set to go to New York this coming Saturday.

I said to Mark, "You'll like this one."
"What did she say?"
"Anne hinted that all four of us should go out for dinner or a Barbecue at my house or yours!"
"She did?" Mark asked.
"Yes, I guess that means that Patty has 'the hots' for you."
Mark laughed.
I guess I could have said to Mark, "I have 'the hots' for you, too."
Of course I did not say it.
PHOTO: Actor Ken Wahl


I went to mom's house at 11PM and started to watch a movie with her. Mom was still awake. The movie was called THE SOLDIER. It was a spy film where Soviet Russians steal a cache of plutonium, leaving one rogue super CIA agent to steal it back and save the world.  I liked the main actor named Ken Wahl who starred in the movie.  I left mom's house by midnight.  I was tired. Yawn.

This journal functions best as a record of things done and not done.
-Christopher Bram
"Surprising Myself"

"What do you think?"

"When an octopus is alone in an aquarium it starts biting his tentacles off."
-REGULAR GUYS,
1996 Film

Twenty-five years ago today:

August 8, 1986
Friday

Today is my Dad's 51st Birthday. Happy Birthday Dad!

Debra Neal called me at my office today. She gave me about seven or eight Supercedures. Yuck! This entails a complicated order process of changing telephone accounts' billing name changes. I am having lunch on Monday with Patrick Brent, the Founder of Hamilton-Taft. He's also the entrepreneur of Laura Todd, Alpha V Travel and some other subsidiaries. He seems to be a nice guy. I hope it will be a worthwhile lunch.

Margaret and I ate at B and M Chinese once again. She's coming so much closer to her last day at the office (August 31st).  She's a bitch because she won't pay her Sunshine Money dues for our Section. I'm the responsible collector and she hasn't left yet. I don't think it's fair that she isn't paying when she takes full-advantage of our pot-luck and other section venues.

I learned that Dale Orlando is on disability because of a relapse in his bleeding ulcers. That's probably happening because of excess trauma in his personal life. I know it's not from his work life. He should definitely be at work.

Alas, we have come to a tentative agreement here at Pacific Bell. There won't be a strike after all. In a way, it is a good thing. I will keep my money rolling in. I do need it.

After work the traffic conditions were a pain. I went home and napped. Mark Landreth telephoned me at around 7:30PM.
"What do you think?"
"I don't know," I replied.
"Do you think we should just go to Fat Fanny's?"
"Yeah, let's just do that. I'll come over to your house within the hour."
When I arrived at Mark's house he wasn't home. Apparently, he went to his folks' house to eat. I was sure of it. I waited in his house while he showered, changed and got ready. Yikes! What if I walked in on him in the shower?   No, I didn't.  We left after he was freshened-up and ready.

We saw Tina Titus at FAT FANNY's. She is Mark's ex-girlfriend from high-school. She was nice---as was her girlfriend, Laura. Laura was under twenty-one years of age. Mark and I ended up talking to them until they both decided to leave.

Mark and I tried to have a good time…and we did (between ourselves). The gals just weren't our caliber tonight. We mutually decided this on this night. We left the club at around 1AM. Yawn.

Paloma wrote a PHOTO Postcard to me on this very day while she was working at Club Med. She also included three photographs of herself that I like very much. On the back of the postcard she wrote:

8/8/86
Hello Michael,
Thank you for all of your cards. That just makes me so happy every time I get one. That's really nice of you to keep writing to me when I almost never do…but believe me…I think about you very, very often. I miss you very much. It's just that I'm working way too much. July and August are just terrible months for a vacation club as you can imagine.

Here is a picture of the hostess team. My chief is the one with the hat. I am seated right next to her, of course! I'm sending you other pictures. One of them was taken during one of our shows.  My partner is my boyfriend, as you can see I'm not smiling on that one.

"Today, I felt like I was going back in time...to you."
-Dan Futterman
in URBANIA,
2000 motion-picture

"Oh That's Cool"

"I always live by my own rules as long as they don't hurt anyone.
I believe that's how one should live."-Morgan Collins
DARK SHADOWS TV series, Collection 25

Twenty-five years ago today:

August 7, 1986
Thursday

Alas, I have come to work again at 7AM. I received my paycheck today. The grand total was $829.00 which was 'exactly' what I needed. Now the only problem is that I have no spending money. That's kind of tough when I am leaving for New York in less than nine days from now.

I was in Chinatown this afternoon with Margaret for a change of scenery (at lunchtime). I ate chicken and I didn't eat it all and left it under my desk. Yikes! I guess the nighttime Janitorial crew will be having a snack.

I did not go to the gym tonight. Instead I chose to nap. I evaluated my financial situation. I wanted to open a separate SAVINGS Account at a Federal Savings and Loan but the spare change isn't there to do so. All in due time I suppose.

I did telephone Mark Landreth late on this night. We may go out tomorrow. It will be Friday night—after all.
Mark said, "Yeah, I saw Anne and Patty at the gym tonight."
"Oh that's cool…I don't know if you want to do that run on Sunday morning."
"Oh, I don't know."
"Well, we don't have to decide about it now. I'm not sure I want to do it either."

There's no word from Ron Leoni. I hope I hear from him soon. I'm counting on him for some New York City plans and adventures.

"You can have so much damn fun in your dreams."
-Waking Life, 2001 film

The Aerobics Instructor

"What use is love in thoughts?"
-Love In Thoughts
2004 German Film

Twenty-five years ago today:

August 6, 1986
Wednesday

The Los Angeles Staff Clerk Pac Bell Directory job was rejected due to budget constraints. I can cross that option off of my list.

I received a call from a CITIBANK representative about a FOCUS Investment Account. I may return his call tomorrow.

Jim Koran called me from Los Angeles. I returned his call and we caught up on a few things.
I said, "Yeah, I'm excited because I'm taking a trip to New York."
He didn't seem too thrilled.

I have a tentative date with Anne Alberti (from my gym) for this Saturday night (right after her Saturday 5:30PM Aerobics class). We're going to watch THIEF OF HEARTS. She just may like me after all. I like her…so we'll see.

There's a heavy set QBL (Questionable gay guy) in the ASR (Account Service Rep) Group at work. He seems nice enough though.

I ordered a free book called "Investments for the Ordinary Investor" from FORTUNE Magazine Books.

Johnny Schaefer called.
"Hey! I got your dime/record card. I love it!"
He sure seemed to be in a very good mood over the phone.

I had called Mark Landreth at his office but I didn't get a hold of him. I did finally have a talk with Mark.
"You won't believe this, Mark, but I'm going out with Anne this Saturday night."
"You mean the aerobics instructor?"
"Yeah," I replied, as I could tell he sounded surprised.

It was another busy day at the office. Margaret Lai and I ate at B and M Chinese again. She's getting closer to her last day of work (August 31, 1986).

I think I will have to mail out letters to Pac Bell Directory Executives in order to give my name more exposure.

"Anything could happen to anyone at any time."
-Brian D'Arcy James
TIME STANDS STILL, NY Broadway Play
October 21, 2010, Cort Theater

I Am Leaving

"Forget the plan.  Trust your guts and instinct."
-Racing Dreams, 2009 film

Twenty-five years ago today:

August 5, 1986
Tuesday

I received a phone call from Sherri to babysit.
"John and I are going to an A's game."
"Okay, I can do it. I was just going to the gym but I don't have to go tonight."
I didn't mind spending more time with Ashley.

I got an invitation from Ric and Steve Green about a party on August 16th. That's too bad that it is the day I am leaving for New York City.

I slept as soon as I got home from babysitting Ashley. I was tired because I had gone in to work as early as 7AM today. I'm pretty sure that was the reason I felt so tired.

Mike Miller called me. Dad called me. The conversations were brief. I went to bed. I may get $10.20 more a week this year; $12.75 more in 1987 and $12.75 more a week in 1988. Wow…big deal!

"Live long and prosper."
-Star Trek, 2009 motion-picture

Gear Up and Go For It

"The true value of a conflict is the debt it creates."
-The International
2009 film, starring Clive Owen

Twenty-five years ago today:

August 4, 1986
Monday

Monday's are always so drab when the whole week is still ahead of you. I arrived at the office at 8:30AM. I had a lunch with Margaret at B and M Chinese. Our schedules were 'the shits' today. I had two hours of closed time all day. I prefer being open for calls as the day goes by much faster.

After work I hit VIDAL SASSOON. I received a pretty good haircut from Lulu. She's from Burma (some area in Southeast Asia). She is really nice. The cut cost me $31.00. So, the answer is 'no' as far as going there again. No, I probably will. I may make Lulu my regular stylist. Who knows?
Lulu said, "You should consider having your hair color highlighted the next time."
I replied, "Okay."

I didn't arrive home until 7PM. I reviewed my mail. Ronald Leoni sent me the neatest bike poster that depicted the words: "GEAR UP AND GO FOR IT." It was 'way too cool'. I need to cycle much more now!

I hit the gym and Jeanette was there. We worked out together for a while. She looked cute. She's still going to move to San Diego for school.

Mark arrived at the gym, too. I saw Kathy Ortega doing an aerobics class. I decided to do the 8:30PM Aerobics class with Mark, Kathy and Stuart. Karen taught the class and it was pretty good. I did a couple of sets of weights after the class and went straight home.

I munched on a strange combination of Swiss cheese, crackers and orange juice. I read my FOCUS ACCOUNT Statement from Citibank and then 'hit the hay'.
I wish I had more money. I will save up lots eventually.

Margaret Lai said, "I know you'll get your Jaguar, Michael."
"I know it, too."

"It is possible to put quite a bit aside when you're prepared to live on peanuts and champagne."
-Quentin Crisp
"Englishman in New York, 2009 film

A Potential Choice-Pick

"Don't look at me like that!"
-Revolutionary Road,
2008 Dramatic film

Twenty-five years ago today:

August 3, 1986
Sunday

Mom and I made a morning visit to WALGREENS at Alameda South Shore Shopping Center.  We also stopped at MERVYN's for a while. We ate breakfast together at Arthur's Coffee Shop (it's not as good as Ole's Waffle Shop).  Mom was going to go to Michelle Armijo's Baby Shower (my 1st Cousin Joey's wife) in Fremont, CA.

I went home and decided to call Mark Landreth. Once again there was no answer.

I decided to go biking and lo and behold I saw Mark jogging along South Shore Beach!  It was such a great feeling to accidentally see him on the shoreline.  I finished my ride to the end of the street and came back around to find him drinking some water.  We sat on the beach together watching 'Christina Blue'.  That was the name I imagined for her.  Mark liked the made-up name I chose, too.  She actually turned out to be named 'Emily', a girl who sounded like a foreigner.  We learned that she is married to a squid (US Navy sailor guy).  We quickly crossed her out as a potential choice-pick.

While at South Shore Beach we also ran into Sandra and her friends, Regina, Cindy, Brian and Mike. Mike recognized me as 'the guy who rides his bike along here all of the time'.  I liked knowing I had that reputation.  We all played volleyball together.  I ended up staying on the beach all day.  It was an ideal summer day.

By 7PM I went back to ma and pa's house for dinner.  I started to watch a flick called ABSENCE OF MALICE.  I didn't get into it, so I went home.

At 10PM, Johnny Schaefer telephoned.  I had found a neat greeting card for him.  It depicted records in a jukebox with inserted dimes.  I know he'll love it because of his fondness for music.

Tomorrow is my first VIDAL SASSOON haircut with a girl named Lulu. We'll see how that goes. (?)

"Even a marriage to oneself can't last forever."
-Englishman in New York, 2009 Film

Angel Island

"There are--after all--extraordinary circumstances."-Baz Luhrmann's AUSTRALIA,
2008 film

Twenty-five years ago today:

August 2, 1986
Saturday

I woke up early and got ready to pick-up Ashley, my niece. We were off on our adventure. I drove to pick-up Margaret and little Lance in El Sobrante and then we all hit PIER 41. Destination: Angel Island.

I was so excited about making the trip to Angel Island on this day.  We almost missed the boat but we managed to board on time.

Ashley was a nuisance at times. It's hard when you have to keep an eye on her all day. I had fun—for the most part. I was tired by the end of the day.

I had a recorded message on my answering machine from Mark Landreth waiting for me when I returned home. I, of course, called him back but he wasn't at home. When I tried calling again his line was busy.

I went bicycling. I rode my bike over to ma and pa's house and ate some leftover BBQ chicken from the Angel Island picnic. I needed nourishment after the bicycling. Mom and Dad left on a date to see a 'Spanish movie'. I stayed with them for a good while and presented Dad with his electric lawn mower for his Birthday (which is actually on Friday, August 8th). He was surprised and thrilled at the same time.

I went home and fell asleep on my cool comforter. It was a cheap, un-costly weekend (the best kind…really).

"Momma always said LIFE was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
-Forrest Gump, 1994 Film