Michael Joe Armijo's Blog, page 115

Do You Want To Dance ?

[image error] Even now that he is gone I have him still, in the richness of my memories.
But now I know that our world is not more permanent than a wave rising on the ocean.
Whatever our struggles and triumphs, however, we may suffer them; all too soon they bleed into a wash, just like a watery ink on paper.
-Arthur Golden
"Memoirs of a Geisha"

Twenty-five years ago today:

July 12, 1986
Saturday

I telephoned my cousin Mandy in the early morning. She's been having car trouble, so she may not go to Santa Cruz. I thought it would be nice for her to meet Mark. Oh well, it was her loss. Mark and I went to Santa Cruz anyway. He liked my globe.

We arrived in Santa Cruz on this prime summer day. We decided to lie out on the shoreline. My lounge chair wasn't being too good to me. I was lying out in my black and white SPEEDO bathing suit.

Mark and I took a walk and some sleaze named Sharon (twenty-seven years old) tried to swoop on us. We both agreed that she was NMT (Not My Type or Not OUR Type—in this case).
We left the beach and ate dinner at THE GOOD EARTH in Los Gatos. It was a fairly good meal. We drove on to San Lorenzo to Mark's house. We watched a little bit of Michael Douglas' movie called RUNNING.

[image error] Then we decided to go out to Fat Fanny's to check out the scene there. We saw a gal that we both liked. She was tan with long brunette hair.
She came up to me and said, "Do you want to dance?"
I was thrilled beyond words. While dancing I like to make small talk and get some sort of min-bio. I learned that her name is Nancy and that she lives in Lafayette. She was very nice. We danced for three songs and I kissed her on the cheek when the third song/dance concluded. I couldn't resist.


Mark and I also saw 'Janet and Dana'. They're twins that Mark actually knew from his skating days. I met them at Barnaby's when Mike Miller and I had gone out some time ago. What a small world.


Mark also met a gal named Chris.
Then a Latin looking gal (also named Chris) came up to me and asked me to dance. She was from Fremont.


We also bumped into this gal that goes to our gym. She has a nice body but her face isn't too exciting.
Mark made me laugh when he said, "…but her face!"


I got home by 1:45AM. It was an eventful night.

"Better alone than badly accompanied."
-Candace Bushnell
"Sex and the City"

Running Out

[image error] Exploration of the ocean floor has begun, but the surface remains undisturbed.
-Ian McEwan
"Enduring Love"

Twenty-five years ago today:

July 11, 1986
Friday


Margaret Lai is taking her vacation next week.


Today I didn't bother to go to the gym. I did not even go for a bike ride. I took a nap.


I accompanied mom and Grandma (mom's mom) to LUNG KONG for a Chinese Food dinner. That was fun. It was filling though. I watched a movie with them, too. Actress Deborah Raffin starred as a woman who abandoned her husband and baby. Then she returned twelve years later. The movie was called "RUNNING OUT". I thought it was quite good.

PHOTO: Actress Deborah Raffin
[image error] My boss, Stephanie, put me to the side today.
She specifically asked, "Michael, would you like to do the ASR Assessment?"
I finally said, "Not at this time, but perhaps later."
I don't want to go in to this ASR Training. I think I especially don't want to do it now that I know Tony is going to be one of the new trainees as well. I don't want to be in a competitive situation such as that with my own brother. That's one other good reason why I want out of Pac Bell. I want to branch out to the other subsidiary: Pac Bell Directory.

When in doubt, drift off into a pleasing memory.
-Mavis Cheek
"Mrs. Fytton's Country Life"

Stuart Western

[image error] "I've been forbidden to drink, smoke, love--I have to have some kind of drug."
-Thomas Mann
The Will To Happiness, 1896

Twenty-five years ago today:

July 10, 1986
Thursday

Yesterday (and once again today) I ran into a new friend. It's more than a coincidence to see a person twice over two days isn't it?  His name is Stuart Western.  He lives near 164th Avenue (near Castro Valley).  He's into construction.  No, he's not the QBL Construction worker I saw recently.  Stuart goes to my gym.  He's a nice guy.  He works out at the gym regularly and he's in good shape.

PHOTO: March 7, 1987: Stuart Western, in my house and ready to go to San Francisco with me to Club DV8
[image error]
Mark Landreth is into doing aerobics a lot lately.
His kid brother, Phil, said, "Hey Mike, you're getting big."
He meant it in a 'big and muscular' way but I am unsure whether or not he was kidding. With him it's hard to tell. He smiles a lot and I don't know if he's joking or not.


It's not-so-funny about that character that plays Tony Driscoll (actor Paul Keenan) on the TV series DYNASTY. He used to be on the daytime soap DAYS OF OUR LIVES and it seems he now has AIDS. I wonder. It's a scary disease that has crept up on us in the 1980s.

PHOTO: Actor Paul Keenan
[image error] I went to mom's house and 'munched out'. I didn't bother to go bicycling. I took a nap and then went to the gym.


I watched a little bit of "The Young and the Restless" with mom. Then I headed home.


My niece, Ashley, loves going to the park. I ought to take her more often. Maybe this Sunday will be the day. I know I can take her 'for sure' on Wednesday, July 23rd after my dentist appointment. It's on my calendar.

During the 1950s Berge had got himself on to the inside track of the homosexual literary scene, first as fan, then as friend to Jean Cocteau and Jean Giono. Together they made for a seductive duo.
-Alicia Drake
"The Beautiful Fall: Fashion, Genius, and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris"

Overwhelmed

[image error] Michael would have preferred to be alone.  He was still avoiding people.
-Nial Kent
"The Divided Path"

Twenty-five years ago today:

July 9, 1986
Wednesday

One major event of the day included saying goodbye to Margaret Lai (even though she's not leaving the office until August 31st).

Barbara Reynolds called my direct line while Steph was listening-in and observing my client interactions. Oops.

I received a phone call from Johnny who was in Pismo Beach.

I went to the gym and Mark said, "Hey, I got your card."
I guess that was his way of saying 'Thanks'.
Mark asked, "Are you into taking the eight-thirty aerobics class?"
I shrugged as if I wasn't sure. I ended up NOT taking the class. I worked out instead.
Rick was there and he said, "Hey Mike, I called you but your recorder said you were at a movie."
Once again I shrugged. It was mid-week and I just wanted to work out.

Sue Croce did come over to The City and met me for lunch.  We ate at THE HAVEN.  It was short and as sweet as could be expected.
[image error] My GUCCI watch is still missing; however, I did see a new one at EMPORIUM that I like a lot.

I went to John and Sherri's and took them the PEE WEE HERMAN Videotaped movie per their request.  After the delivery of the VHS tape I went home to bed.  Yawn.

"I wanted to see your town."
"...You've got to get out of it, Michael, before you are overwhelmed by mediocrity...and emotional leeches...who are draining you, sapping your vitality and destroying your talent."
-Nial Kent
"The Divided Path"

Her "STAR"

[image error] To complete his misery, he was conscious of his own absurdity and exaggerated it.  But what he did not see was the expression of his eyes; they were so fine, and spoke of so ardent a spirit that, like good actors, they sometimes imparted a charming meaning to that which had none.
-Stendhal
"The Red and the Black"

Twenty-five years ago today:

July 8, 1986
Tuesday

There was a big 6.0 earthquake in Palm Springs. I couldn't call Ron to check up on him because I didn't know his telephone number.

I telephoned Sue Croce. I had to give her directions to San Francisco as we are meeting for lunch tomorrow. I figured we'd eat at PATRICK's or NATOMA's or THE HAVEN.

Margaret Lai received a job offer to work with the TAS (Telephone Answering Services Group) today. Winnie received a job offer to work with Priority Accounts in Redwood City. Meanwhile, I am still here. Steph referred to me as her "STAR". I guess that was supposed to make me feel better.

I had an idea. I decided to look into a Personnel Agency that hired Executives. It may not be worth it with my NCS (Net Credited Service) date about to accelerate on May 3, 1987. This will mean three weeks of vacation plus six days off WITH pay and one without pay and five sick days WITH pay (as I will be able to bridge my old time from when I worked at Pac Bell before I left for college).

I had another idea to work part-time at UPS. Then I realized there was no need to work myself to death. I will simply continue as I am. I will still live comfortably.

I rode my bike after work from 5:45 until 6:45PM. I left at 7PM for the gym and worked out until 8:20PM. Joyce was just coming in as I was about to leave.
Joyce said, "You should do the eight-thirty aerobics class."
There was no way. I was exhausted. Mark was just driving in as I was leaving. We exchanged a few brief words and I left for my mom's house.

John, Sherri and Ashley dropped by while I was at mom's house. Ashley gave me (Uncle Mike) a kiss. She's so sweet.
She gave me some of her M&M's and kept saying, "Uncle Mike…Uncle Mike…Uncle Mike."
Ashley made me feel so good. I want to take her to the park---or the zoo—again very soon. Maybe I can do that on Sunday after my bike excursion in San Francisco.
[image error]
I telephoned Julie Waller, my Vietnamese high-school pal. She is going to be quitting her job at VALENTINO's.
Julie said, "I'm just so tired of waitressing."
"That's how I feel about being an Account Executive that is really a Service Representative."


I telephoned Johnny Schaefer too. He was telling me how he felt and heard the earthquake.


I still cannot believe that Denise Vinsonhaler called me last Wednesday. I think that was the day she called. She hasn't called again. I do get a fair share of 'hanger uppers', so who knows?


It looks like I will need a new journal soon. I am on the last page. These ink specks here are because I just sneezed in the journal book.


There are only twenty-seven business days until my trip to New York with Mr. Leoni.

People fake a lot of human interactions.
Q: "How does someone so dumb get so much power?"
A: "She knows how to play the game."
-DEXTER, TV Series
Season I

Pumping Iron

[image error] "I had to tame him."
-Yann Martel
THE LIFE OF PI

Twenty-five years ago today:

July 7, 1986
Monday

I went to get Dad at his house. He was going to help with my car. I took BART in to San Francisco.

I telephoned Johnny Schaefer from work. I felt a bit of guilt for not seeing him in Los Angeles, so I simply called to wish him a good day. He seemed to like and appreciate that.

I also telephoned Mark Landreth. We had a great talk.
I performed a white lie by saying, "Yeah, I went to Sacramento for the 4th of July."
"Oh, so that's where you were."
"Yeah, how did your dinner with Cindy go?"
"Pretty good," Mark replied.
"How was dessert?" I asked with a chuckle.
Mark laughed.
Mark changed the subject and asked, "Did you watch the 'Pumping Iron' flick last night?"
"I saw a little of it."
Now I am beginning to think he really is QBL (Questionable) based on the scenes I saw while watching 'Pumping Iron'. I just don't know.
I sold an 800 WATS line and one Remote Call Forwarding service today. It was a good show for my first day back to work.

My stomach felt full all day. I felt like a slob. I have to watch my eating patterns closely.

I telephoned Sue Croce but her mom answered the phone.
"Oh, Sue's in Tahoe."
"Okay, Thanks…just tell her Mike called."

Sue called me that evening.
I asked, "Could you meet me in The City for lunch one day this week."
"Okay, I think I can do that."

I went to the gym. Mark and Dave were there. Mark went for the 8:30PM aerobics class. I didn't. Joyce was there. I felt brave.
"So, Joyce--why don't we go out this Friday night?" I asked, flashing a smile with hopes of a positive response.
"Do you realize I'm going to be twenty-three this Tuesday?"
"Big deal…I'm twenty-seven."
She couldn't believe my age. Finally she answered my initial question.
"Well, I have to figure out what I am doing. Why don't you ask me later in the week?"
"Okay, I will."
I thought silently to myself while on the Life Cycle, "Okay, only one more time and if I don't get a straight answer from her she HAD her chance."
I had eaten dinner at mom's house, so my workout was really a battle of the bulge. Tomorrow I will work out harder.

I wrote Paloma a card or two.  I also wrote a quick card to Mark.

I hope Joyce will go out with me. I think we'd make a good looking pair.

It was very peaceful and quiet.  I wondered why it was that places are so much lovelier when one is alone.
-Daphne du Maurier
"REBECCA"

Miracles Do Happen

[image error] "Don't you want to be attached to people, learn from them, get close, rely on friendship, get advice from someone you respect, be part of a community where people need each other, find intimacy with someone that is so delicious that you can't live withou it."
"Of course," she says, "is that dependence?"
"It sounds like it to me," I reply, "and like everything else you can't have it without its shadows, its neediness, inferiority, submission, and loss of control."
-May Sarton
Dec. 4, 1993 Journal Entry
"At Eighty-Two, A Journal"

Twenty-five years ago today:

July 6, 1986
Sunday

I woke up at 5:45AM and was on the road by 6:30AM, departing Palm Springs for Alameda, CA. I stopped once for gas and made it home by 2 o'clock in the afternoon! Miracles do happen.

I found out later that Ron was waking-up at around 2PM. He figured I would be half-way home by that time. Little did he know…I had just completed my driving mission at 2PM. He was surprised at how quickly I made it home.

I had several messages on my answering machine:
Mark Landreth called me on the 4th of July.
Mike Miller, Greg Manachevitz, my Dad and Johnny Schaefer also called me.

I received the sweetest postcard from Paloma dated June 24, 1986.  The postcard was 'Made in Spain' and depicted two Spanish dancers.   Paloma wrote:
[image error]
Dear Michael,
Thank you so much for that last card.   That was a really nice one (as usual).  When I saw this one I had to send it to you.  Have you ever seen anything this tacky before?   I've got a bunch just for you.   Today I was walking in Marbella, Spain and I saw your belt (I mean the same one, of course!).   The one I borrowed from you--remember?   I thought about you, and that made me very sad.   I miss you very much.  

Talking about your tan...you should see mine.   I work at the pool.  I am in the sun for about five hours.  That gives you an idea.   At night time you can't see me.  

How is life in California?   Here we just have a few problems with bombs...last week we had a bomb alert.  We had to stay on the golf practice till 4 A.M.   Fun.   We are about 12 hundred people!  
Write me soon.
Love, Paloma
Don't you look under her dress!

(Funny, I looked under the dress of the postcard and Paloma wrote under the dress: 
I KNEW YOU WOULD!

I returned Johnny Schaefer's call, explaining to him that I never made it to Los Angeles. I knew he'd be bummed out if I didn't stop by to see him, so it was better that he didn't know I was there for the short period.
I said to Johnny, "I ended up going to Santa Cruz instead."
It was just a little white lie. I did drive south. I didn't want to hurt him.


I showered and went to my brother's (John's) house. I took Ashley with me and we went to my mom and dad's house. Tony and Helen were there with Lauren.
Tony said, "Hey Mike, I start my ASR assignment on July 16th."
"Well, that's good!" I said.
I wasn't in the least bit impressed.
PHOTO:  Tony and Lauren;  John and Ashley, 1986
[image error]
I took a nap at mom's house. Ashley and I left. I stopped to fill my car with gas. I had planned to drop Ashley back at her parents' house.
Ashley said, "No, I want to go to the park!"
"Next time we'll do that."
She got a bit cranky but finally subsided and realized I would take her the next time around.

Once I was home I was feeling antsy. I invited mom to my place and we tested my videocassette to verify that the movie, BACK TO THE FUTURE, had taped successfully. I had a defective tape and it did not tape very well (annoying).

Mom and I tried to zip my rear window of my convertible. We were cracking-up because we felt like we were in a Lucy and Ethel episode, trying to do the impossible. We ended up tearing the thread of the zipper from its seams.
Mom said, "Mmmm…forget it, Dad will take it in tomorrow."
"Okay," I said, feeling reassured.

Mom left a bit later. I tried typing away on my word-processor but the screen strained my eyes. I went to sleep early. Yawn.

If analysis is, at best, the slow peeling away of frustrations in order to expose truths, the computer seemed to him to have the clinical equivalence of a scalpel.  Details and facts simply blipped across the screen, cut free instantaneously with a few strokes on a keyboard.  He hated it at the same time that it fascinated him.
-John Katzenbach
"The Analyst"

The "LIVE" Mannequin

[image error] In ART--as opposed to anecdote--there is a mysterious kind of suspense which survives pre-knowledge of the plot.  It is exciting, awe-inspiring.
-Stendhal
"The Red and the Black"

Twenty-five years ago today:

July 5, 1986
Saturday

Ron and I woke up and went over to the UNICORN CAFÉ for breakfast. We returned to Ron's apartment and enjoyed a relaxing time of lying out by the pool until 3PM or so.

We went to the Palms Shopping Center and laughed hysterically out loud over the "LIVE" mannequin that we saw. Talk about standing around doing nothing…it was so funny to see. We had a bite to eat at the shopping center until we decided to go to a movie.

The movie we chose was called LEGAL EAGLES. It's a really good Robert Redford, Daryl Hannah and Debra Winger movie.

When we left the movie theater I heard a 'tree frog'. I had never heard of a 'tree frog' before. Ron got a kick out of it, telling me that they're all around here in the desert. Who knew?

I drove to The Mesquite Grill where we ate a late dinner. We also went for an after dinner drink at ROCKS until it was decided that we should retire for the evening.

I had a good time.
[image error] What if you wanted to play a game with other kids, a game where one person has to hunt the other, while at the same time being hunted, what would that be? FOXES AND HOUNDS

The foxes took off, fifteen-minute head start. They carried paper bags filled with ripped-up newspaper. Every ten yards, they had to put a handful down. The houds followed the trail. The key thing was to leave false trails, double back, put the hounds into the swamp, whatever. The foxes won if they made it back to the starting point after a designated time, like two or three hours later.  The hounds won if they caught up with the foxes.  If they spotted the foxes across a field, they could act like dogs, and take off after them.  And the foxes had to hide.  So, sometimes the foxes made certain that they knew where the hounds were, you know, spying on them.
-John Katzenbach
"The Analyst"

Margarita Cocktail Party

[image error] "I adore simple pleasures."
-Oscar Wilde
"The Picture of Dorian Gray"

Twenty-five years ago today:

July 4, 1986
Friday

Happy 4th of July! I woke up and Ron and I helped to decorate the Penthouse apartment for the 4th of July "Margarita Cocktail Party". This was to take place at 2PM today, so we didn't have a lot of time.

There were about fourteen guests at the 4th of July "Margarita Cocktail Party". Ten of the guests that I can recollect were Bob, Brett, Mark, Jim (Mark's sugar daddy), Reed, Reed's sugar daddy (didn't get his name), Angela, Tracy, Ron and me. Ron was making all of the fruit flavored blended Margaritas. They were so good and we all drank them down fast. Needless to say, I was feeling the effects of the tequila.

By 7PM we all left for Century City to Reed's house for a 4th of July Bar-B-Q. It was fun but the two young gals from San Jose were hard to handle (the little bitches).

We had a few fireworks, too. I like the sparklers.

Some rich, unfriendly, black bitch came by with Bob and Brett and they were "Quaaluded-out". Being the good listener that I am I heard the black bitch say she got a great settlement from her ex. She arrived at the Bar-B-Q in a limousine!
[image error] By 11:30PM Ron and I headed out in my car for Palm Springs. I was acting moody. I was dreading the drive all the way back to the Bay Area on Sunday. We arrived in Palm Springs by 1:30 in the morning. Ron had a nice, quaint apartment set up.
We tried to use the Jacuzzi but didn't get a chance because his landlord came out and said, "No parties!"
I thought that landlord was pretty ridiculous given that it was just the two of us. We weren't partying! It's as if we were being spanked for doing nothing wrong.


"It's in the past.   It's behind me now, there's no more to say about it."
-INTIMACY,
2001 motion-picture

Wilshire Boulevard

[image error] "I don't think any 'ONE' decision makes your life."
-GLEE, TV series
Episode 8, "Mash-Up"

Twenty-five years ago today:

July 3, 1986
Thursday

It's Thursday. It's my last day of work before my 3-day "4th of July" weekend.

I ended up sneaking out of the office at 2:30PM and headed for Los Angeles. I telephoned Johnny Schaefer to tell him that I' was coming down. I probably shouldn't have given Johnny the news since I was going to be meeting up with Ron Leoni first.

I arrived in Los Angeles at 8:30PM. I had a good time even though Ron had given me the wrong address. I found the place eventually…by 9PM. It was on Wilshire Boulevard. Unfortunately, Ron wasn't even there when I arrive. A very tall guy answered the door on this condo in the sky apartment. He is a coiffure and make-up artist named Jeff. He was watching the New York Fireworks festivities on television. I felt a bit strange being there.

Ron finally arrived with Mark and Jim. Jim is 'Mark's sugar-daddy'…let's just say. Jim is much older than the young looking Mark.
I thought, "Geez, Ron meets the most fascinating—yet strange—people."
[image error]
Ron and I ended up leaving the fascinating group and went to the ROSE TATTOO for a couple of drinks. I met a few people there. We had a good time. One blond, thin lady was quite friendly. She seemed like such a slut though. The singer in this tiny club was 'supposedly' Barbra Streisand's cousin. She looked like "Barb", too.


Ron and I returned to the mid-Wilshire Penthouse apartment. We were very quiet upon entry. We had to sleep off the cocktails. We slept on the floor of the Penthouse living room.

"It's nice when people can be quiet together."
-as heard watching the 1997 motion-picture
"CHARACTER"