Michael Joe Armijo's Blog, page 126

Cloud 9

An analyst is considered a scientist of the oblique and of the hidden.
-John Katzenbach
"The Analyst"

Twenty-five years ago today

March 24, 1986
Monday

I called San Francisco radio station KYUU this morning to say that I knew Dennis Oniki. It's some sort of radio station promotional game. I gave a fictitious name though.
I said, "My name is Jared Clark."
I asked, "Is this K101?"
"Who is Dennis Oniki?" asked the radio DJ.
"He's a real person employed with Pacific Bell and he works in San Francisco."
I can't believe I actually referred to KYUU as K101. Oh well, I blew that potential win. What the hell.

Amy Platt's coming over to my place tonight to watch the ACADEMY AWARDS with me. They start at six o'clock.

I have verifications of two job transfer requests on file: One is for 'Copy Service Artist' in San Jose and the other is for 'Analyst' in San Jose. I am crossing my fingers that something turns up. I still have not received verification of the job requests for Oakland, San Ramon, and San Francisco for the same job title descriptions (Copy Service Artist and Analyst).

I enjoyed some Chinese food with Margaret Lai and Cedric Green and some new transfer gal who comes from the Rhonert Park RTOC (Residence Telephone Order Center). The new transfer gal is named July and she's O.W. (OverWeight). It was an okay lunch.

I owe Amy Platt the purchasing of a lottery ticket. We placed a bet for BEST ACTOR. I voted for Harrison Ford for his role in "WITNESS". She went for William Hurt. It's okay. She owes me two lottery tickets. Amy arrived at my place at about 7PM. We munched on raisinettes and lounged together, watching the Academy Awards.

Sydney Pollack won for his BEST PICTURE: Out of Africa
William Hurt won BEST ACTOR for The Kiss of the Spider Woman (He deserved it!).
Geraldine Page won BEST ACTRESS for The Trip to Bountiful (I'm glad she won but I was hoping for Anne Bancroft for Agnes of God).
Don Amece won Best Supporting Actor for Cocoon.
Anjelica Huston won Best Supporting Actress for Prizzi's Honor (I thought Oprah Winfrey would win for The Color Purple).

 
Amy really is a sweet lady. I like her more and more.
"You know…you can spend the night if you want," I suggested.
"Well…no, but I will on Friday."
I thought, "Hmm…so it might be nice."
I am kind of on a CLOUD 9 (or a CLOUD 8) right now. I went to bed after Amy left.


Margaret Lai saw Amy's photograph and said, "Michael, she is gorgeous…even model material!"
I guess I could second the option; however, I didn't say much.
Cedric Green said, "Yeah, she's great lookin'."
It's not that it matters what others think. It's I who is making a choice. I do like her lots.


Inwardly, he found himself eyeing people on the street, half fantasizing who they were, and what they did; almost envious of the simple pleasure that identity gave one.
-John Katzenbach
"The Analyst"

Somewhere, Sometime

"Mom, I prefer boys."
-"Just A Question of Love", 2000 French Film

Twenty-five years ago today

March 23, 1986
Sunday

The alligator postcard sent from Africa by Paloma dated March 23, 1986:
Republique de Cote D'Ivoire; Parc National de la COMOE.

Dear Michael,
Just a few words to let you know where I am now-- As you can guess it worked with CLUB MED. I'm really happy about that. Africa is pretty exciting, really different, people from all over the world work here too (even Americans). That's great. I'm just going to be here for a month though. And after that I don't know yet where I'll be sent. I'll let you know for sure. 
Hope we can meet somewhere, sometime---
Keep writing at my mom's.
Hope to read you soon.
Miss you—
Love,
Paloma
------------------------------------------------

Yesterday I received my IRS refund which was good news to say the least. I don't feel any richer since I had to withdraw three thousand dollars from my CHASE Advantage account for my 1985-86 IRA Contribution. At least I have one consolidated IRA account now. I've noted on my calendar in June 1986 to contact Clare Chan to have her transfer my IRA's to her DEAN WITTER firm. Clare is Margaret Lai's contact/broker.

Amy gave me some pictures last night. I showed them to ma and pa over breakfast. They thought Amy was pretty.

I went and had my car washed and laid on the beach from 11:30AM through 1:30PM. I got a quick tan in just two hours. It was cloudy but nice as the sun appeared in-between passing clouds.
I went to mom's house for dinner (corned beef and cabbage). Helen and Tony were there. Helen gave me a picture of Lauren. Dinner was good.

I went home at about six o'clock and finished up a little laundry. I tried to sleep when mom telephoned. I was persuaded to go back to her house and watch some of that Farrah Fawcett and Colleen Dewhurst film that I had taped last week. I went home by 10PM and fell asleep. Yawn.

Audrey Hepburn:   "They don't look very happy."
Albert Finney:   "Why should they? They just got married."
-"Two For The Road", 1967 film

Just Between Friends

"Nowadays people know the price of everything, and the value of nothing."
-Oscar Wilde
"The Picture of Dorian Gray"

Twenty-five years ago today

March 22, 1986
Saturday

I have consolidated my Individual Retirement Accounts. And now on June 29th I shall transfer the accounts to DEAN WITTER. That'll be a relief.

It's a beautiful day. I've decided to go bicycling to Berkeley. I left my house at eleven-thirty this morning and was back home by one-thirty this afternoon. I stopped at Lake Temescal briefly. Then I tried to take a nap on the lawn there but I couldn't rest completely.

I have not heard from Chad at all nor do I expect to. I will probably run into him on Tuesday night at the gym.

I drove out to Karen Craven's pad in Walnut Creek. I arrived at eight o'clock and Ed and John were there. We waited for Amy to arrive. Ed, Karen, Amy and I departed for 'eats' at some Italian joint in Lafayette. It made my stomach upset. The four of us went to the movies to see Mary Tyler Moore's new flick called JUST BETWEEN FRIENDS. It was just 'okay'.

Amy and I talked a lot before we departed. We gave a few kisses to each other as a proper goodnight.

"What you have is an idea.  An idea is high-risk!"
-Yella, 2007 German film,
starring Nina Hoss

Checking-Up

"The advantage of the emotions is that they lead us astray, and the advantage of science is that it is not emotional."
-Oscar Wilde
"The Picture of Dorian Gray"

Twenty-five years ago today

March 21, 1986
Friday

I spoke with Amy a few times today. She called me at work initially. I kind of liked that she did.
I mentioned coyly, "Maybe we can all go to a movie tonight…me, you, Karen and maybe my friend Chad can come, too."
Amy said, "Well, I don't know because Karen was going out with Ed tonight."
I thought silently, "Whatever…"
I replied, "Well, at least we have the symphony for next Friday night."

I sold four Remote Call Forwarding services today. That was great.

Mary McTiernan, Margaret Lai and I ate lunch together at THE PIZZA BOAT. I randomly bought a lottery ticket and lost.

Tomorrow is my IRA 'visit to the bank' day, so I went to the gym after work. I steamed and went in to the sauna briefly and went straight home. My phone rang after I was already in bed (at sometime after eleven o'clock). They hung-up after I'd answered. I wondered if it was Chad checking-up to see if I was at home or not. Whatever…It could've been Amy, too. (?)

"Ordinary women never appeal to one's imagination."
-Oscar Wilde
"The Picture of Dorian Gray"

Hyper and Skeptical

"When you like someone a lot you can have an influence on him or her, but I cannot tell you clearly or specifically how it was. He started to behave as an 'infant terrible' with me and that did change things, certainly. Before me it was very tea party, yes, that was it, and after there was no more tea."
-Alicia Drake
"The Beautiful Fall: Fashion, Genius, and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris"

Twenty-five years ago today

March 20, 1986
Thursday

I telephoned Amy Platt from work. She was very "hyper" because she had her photo shoot scheduled in San Francisco at four o'clock and she needed to be in Concord by six o'clock for some fashion show at the Sun Valley Mall. So she rushed me off of the phone. Whatever…

I went to the gym and talked to Mark Landreth a bit. We didn't work out together as I'd hoped this time.

Chad actually came in to the gym. He spoke to me while I was pedaling on the Life Cycle. I wished I was pedaling on a real bike to getaway but it was a stationary bike (a bum wrap).
I asked Chad, "So how was last night's studying for your final?"
He look glary eyed.
I added, "It must have been a real heavy final."
I was sure to add those last words given that he wouldn't talk to me when I had called him.
Chad finally replied innocently, "I have one more final on Monday and then I'll have a week off."
I foolishly said, "We'll have to do something."
I knew full well I didn't really want to.
"Sounds good," said Chad, smiling a couple of more times.
I don't know. I'm skeptical. I'm making no plans for Friday night. I'm hoping he will call me this time. I specifically instructed Larry with that message: "When he's ready to talk have him call me."
And so, I will not be calling him.

I telephoned Amy later this evening while I was watching THE COLBYS on television. Her photo shoot and fashion show concluded very nicely. We talked a while and then I went to bed.

I really like Amy.

"There's always this wondrous moment when a man first takes in the sight of a woman's body. Especially a woman's body he hasn't seen before. A view that is all adventure. His eyes simply cascade like water over a cliff, right down the front."
-John Katzenback
"The Analyst"

The Abdominal Machine

Perhaps they could never get back to that island of togetherness they had known in each other's arms.
-Nial Kent
"The Divided Path"

Twenty-five years ago today

March 19, 1986
Wednesday

Steph Redding said, "Eileen Ford will be choosing the winner of the GQ Contest soon!"
I forgot she had entered me in the contest. I'll never win.

I telephoned Amy Platt today. She tells me she is going to do a modeling assignment for Emporium. It will be a newspaper ad for the Sacramento area.
I said, "That's great!"
"I get about one-hundred and twenty five dollars an hour."
"Hopefully it will go overtime," I said.
She laughed.
Honestly, you can't beat that hourly rate figure. I wish I could make some extra bucks that way.
Amy continued, "I've been in the newspaper several times before but it was always with regard to my dancing."
I like Amy a lot. She's intelligent, pretty and fun-to-be-with.

I had a relatively good work day (with regard to my sales results). At lunchtime I went to my bank and the health food store for a chicken-avocado sandwich. I ate near my office building on Folsom Street and sat next to Michelle Olsen for a while. I explained my current aspirations of becoming a Copy Service Artist. I recently thought of applying as a Supervisory Assistant in Directory Yellow Pages. It's a cut in pay by twenty-three dollars a week, so I decided against it. Besides that the Supervisor would give me all of the shit work that he/she didn't want to do.

After work I ate the rest of that leftover pizza from last night. Then I hopped in my car and drove to the gym in San Leandro.

Mark Landreth showed up and we worked out together, taking turns on the abdominal machine. We kept increasing the weights. It was a good work out. Mark gave me some good tips. I'm thankful.
Mark said, "Meet here tomorrow night and we'll do the same workout."
I was thrilled that he suggested our meeting up tomorrow 'at the same bat station/same bat time'. I learned that Mark went to Arroyo High School in San Lorenzo. He seems respectable enough.


I'm at my last straw where Chad's concerned. Not only have I been trying to speak to him over the last few days but he doesn't return my messages.


Tonight at ten o'clock I telephoned again and Larry answered the phone.
"Is Chad there?"
Larry answered, "Well, he's studying for a final."
I couldn't believe he couldn't talk to me for a minute. I definitely don't need to pity myself for him.
I replied to Larry, "Just tell him when he feels like talking to me to give me a call."
And so, the day he does call I have it all planned out: "Oh…I'm so glad you called but can I call you right back?"
And then, I will NOT return his call. And we'll see how he likes a bit of his own medicine. I really don't need this student freeloading delinquent. In fact, I'm considering a question for Mark Landreth.
It might go something like this: "Hey Mark, do you think you might be interested in becoming my roommate?"
We'll see.


I watched the end of DYNASTY. It was okay.


This weekend I have no real plans. I plan to hit the gym on Friday and probably just 'stay home'. On Saturday I have to do my IRA dealings with GREAT WESTERN SAVINGS. Then I may go bicycling and lie under the sun for a while. I doubt I will go out on Saturday night. I know Karen has a date with Ed. Amy and I have made no plans as of yet. I kind of want to ask Mark Landreth to share a beer with me this Friday night (maybe). He's a nice chap. Or perhaps Amy and I can see a movie together. Who knows?


I am going to need to make a decision soon (within the next two weeks) about my vacation in May. (?)

Monsieur Dior was known for his exquisite manners, modesty and good taste. He was a lover of women, if not carnally then at least in the ideal. In the Dior studio at the time, Yves St. Laurent was like a little girl. He was very odd. He was someone who never spoke, always silent. It is strange but when you are passive to that extent, you can dominate. And Yves, what atracted him to Pierre Berge? Was it the compelling sexual force of the man or the powerful mind?
-The Beautiful Fall:
Fashion, Genius, and Glorious Excess in 1970's Paris

Self-Explanatory

PHOTO: Jacques de Bascher 1951-1989
(muse and lover of fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld)

Growing up a homosexual in the 1940's in most places carried an overwhelming burden of guilt, self-hate and shame; perhaps not for everyone, but certainly for Yves St. Laurent.
'He was someone who couldn't admit his sexuality to begin with; perhaps he didn't even know it then or at least he wasn't completely concious of it, and yet he was already ashamed of what he was.'
-Alicia Drake
"The Beautiful Fall: Fashion, Genius, and Glorious Excess in 1970's Paris

Twenty-five years ago today

March 18, 1986
Tuesday

It's back to work.  It wasn't so bad.  The three day weekend helped.  I needed that.

Today was even more beautiful than yesterday. At lunchtime Mary McTiernan and I ate at THE PIZZA BOAT.  It was yummy good.

After work I did my bicycling run until six-thirty.  I was going to hit the gym but Karen and Amy had plans to go to the Oakland Airport, so I invited them to come over to my house since I'm so nearby.
Amy said, "We'll be there by nine o'clock."

I didn't even talk to Chad this time.  He knew I had called three times yesterday.
Larry had said, "All I know is that Chad told me it was none of my business as to why he wasn't returning your calls."
That was all I needed to hear.  I'm a little fed up with Chad's games. And so what did I do? I called him again at 7:15PM—but he wasn't home, so forget it!

Amy and Karen came over and we watched some of that Sidney Sheldon book turned into TV-movie called IF TOMORROW COMES.  We started to watch a bit of "A LITTLE SEX" after I explained how it was one of my all-time favorite movies.
It was fun to see their expressions when I asked, "Do you want to watch A LITTLE SEX?"
We had to cut the movie short as I had to guide them via my car to the Oakland Airport from my house.

Once I returned home I decided to go to sleep. I think Amy and Karen liked my place. We actually ordered a pizza which cleaned me out of my spare change.

I received a phone call from Bonni Jayne earlier in the evening. We talked about Elisa, a fellow high-school pal. Apparently Bonni had called Elisa. That phone called triggered a call from Elisa to me. Elisa and I had a nice chat. She's pregnant again and is due in seven weeks. Wonders never cease.


I also received a surprise phone call from Lorraine Garcia, the former receptionist gal at my gym.  She's doing pretty well and is still living happily in Santa Rosa.  Her mom died in January and I felt bad about that.  Lorraine and I were actually chatting away on the phone while Amy and Karen were in my pad.  I explained to Lorraine that Amy and Karen were visiting. I didn't say a lot about them. I imagine it was self-explanatory.


Dale Orlando had made a comment yesterday about knowing Richard Clark.
I said, "Yeah, I haven't seen him in a long time."
Dale nodded, "Yes, that's what Rick said."
I made no further inquiry about it. I know he was dying for me to ask the circumstances behind his running into Rick Clark—but I did not.


"Love is dangerous."
"If you know it's dangerous, that makes you treasure it, and you'll work harder to keep it."
"Love makes everything have more meaning."
-Candace Bushnell
"Sex and the City"

If Tomorrow Comes

"I'll never forget this day--my last day with you.  And I don't know when I'll see you again."
The words of a lover, Tom thought.
-Patricia Highsmith
"The Boy Who Followed Ripley"

Twenty-five years ago today

March 17, 1986
Monday

I had a bite of breakfast at mom's house. Then Ashley and I went to Lafayette to meet Amy and Daniel for lunch. We went to the park and ate Chinese food. We went over to the swings on the playground while at the park. We fed the ducks, too. It was quaint early afternoon. By 2PM I was on my way home.

Ashley and I were both tired. Ash fell asleep at mom's house. Mom was there, so that left me to freely go for a bike ride in my newly arrived bib shorts. I looked sexy in them. I heard a few honking of the car horns as I swiftly rode passed high traffic intersections. There were a number of double-takes in my direction. It was kind of fun.

I stopped by John's house but Ashley wasn't there, so I went to mom and dad's house to get her. She was still sleeping at 5PM. When she woke up I took her home.

After dropping Ashley off at her house I slept at my own place until 7PM. I decided to head out for the gym. Rick was there. Leonard was just leaving.
Leonard informed me, "This is my last week in Hayward. I've had it with this area."
I think I said something like, "You have to do what's right for you."
I was really thinking, "Whatever, man."

Mark Landreth spoke to me for a while.
Mark said, "I haven't been here since last Tuesday or Wednesday."
I said, "Your SUNKIST shirt makes me thirsty."
Mark laughed.
As our respective workouts continued I asked Mark, "Are you taking another break?"
"It's good for me."

After the workout I telephoned Chad at around nine-thirty but he wasn't there. I had previously called and left a message with Larry at around three o'clock. Chad never returned my call.

I watched Sidney Sheldon's movie "IF TOMORROW COMES" and then went to bed.

Things crossed my mind while in bed. I realized that Chris Cordellos had taken my NEWS STAFF short-sleeved shirt that I like so much (Creep!). I think I will have Karen Craven cut my hair the next time. She says she knows how to cut hair.




At some point after everyone else was asleep, I wandered away from the inn in a daze and ended up on the sea cliffs, staring out into the darkness with the sound of the roaring water below me.
-Arthur Golden
"Memoirs of a Geisha"

Irresistable Kisses

"I can scarcely bid you goodbye, even in a letter. 
I always made an awkward bow.
God bless you!"
-Ian McEwan
"ENDURING LOVE"

Twenty-five years ago today

March 16, 1986
Sunday

I did finally telephone Chad at 9:30AM this morning. Larry answered the phone.
"Oh…he's still asleep."
"Okay, I'll try later."
And so I showered and went over to mom's house to have breakfast.

I escaped on an exhilarating bike ride. It was very cold though, so I turned around. I watched a tape movie that I really, really liked called DRESS GRAY, starring some new actor named Alec Baldwin who is a year older than me. He shows off his hairy chest in the movie.

Chad telephoned at around one-thirty this afternoon.
Chad asked, "So what happened yesterday?"
"Oh…I was with Amy and Karen."
"Why wasn't I called?"
I replied nonchalantly by saying, "Well, it was so spur of the moment."
I could tell he wasn't very pleased. There was silence.
I asked, "Why don't we just go out this evening to CROGAN's in Walnut Creek?"
"Okay."
"Do you want to come over now?" I asked.
Chad replied, "Well, I'm off to the gym and then…"
"Yeah?"
"Well, I'll call you when I get back home."
"Okay."


I telephoned Chad three times. Finally the clock ticked at six-thirty and I decided to head for Walnut Creek.
I left a message for Chad asking politely, "Why don't you just meet us at CROGANS?"
I had fun with Amy and Karen as we had escargot, Cajun popcorn, bread, clam chowder, Bailey's Coffee, a daiquiri and a Brandy Alexander. In the middle of the drinks and food we talked about sex, and strange sexual happenings. It was fun.


I was home by almost midnight and I found that Chad had been by and wrote me a note. He also left my house key along with some casual shorts and a shirt that he had borrowed from me.


Chad's NOTE:
I had finals this week and hoped we could meet up to "work things out".
There is no one else and I hope you will return the key with one of your irresistible kisses.

I didn't quite understand—but then again—I did.
I telephoned him at precisely midnight. Once again he was sleeping.
Larry said, "Let me try to wake him up."
When Larry returned to the phone he said, "He just mumbled nothings. He's asleep."

The stupid neither forgive nor forget;
the naive forgive and forget;
the wise forgive but do not forget.
-Martin Booth
"The Industry of Souls",
a novel

Supposedly Together

Loving someone is helping them when they get into trouble, and looking after them, and telling them the truth.
-Mark Haddon
"The Cruious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time"

Twenty-five years ago today

March 15, 1986
Saturday

I woke up to a phone call from Al Martinez, a coworker.
Al asked, "Are you coming in to the City to help Margaret?"
"Yes, I'm leaving now."

I got up and readied myself, driving to David Vigil's house. We all helped Margaret move from San Francisco to her new house in El Sobrante, CA. It rained but that didn't stop us. Mary McTiernan and Kelly McLaughlin also showed up to help. After we all unloaded the truck in El Sobrante we were treated by Margaret at 'That Dam Big Restaurant' on San Pablo Dam Road. It was fun. Every time someone opened the door it made the sound of a "DAM" big fart. We all laughed about that.

After the late lunch I was home by three o'clock and took a nap. I didn't call Chad at all.

I received a phone call from Amy.
"We're going to LILY's again and then dancing to THE OASIS, want to come?"
"I'll meet you there between seven-thirty and eight," I replied happily.

I probably should have called Chad but I didn't. I just went on my merry way to The City.

I met Ed. Ed is some older fellow that Karen kind of likes. He's ugh. Amy and I were 'supposedly together' as a couple. We went to THE OASIS and danced. There was momentary panic as Amy's purse was taken. Luckily, it was turned in to the coat check because my wallet was in her purse! Of course, my cool little address book and my money was gone from my wallet.


Later that night Amy and I were cuddling. We made out in my car and the windows started to get steamed up. Before I knew it the time was 2:55AM. We departed lovingly.


I was home in Alameda by 3:30AM. Yawn.

"I could experience adventure by reading a book.
Adventures to me meant simply amazing escapes from physical danger, rescues, being lost and found, triumphing in disaster..."
-Janet Frame, An Autoiography