Michael Joe Armijo's Blog, page 64

The Beginnings - Part 152: A COCKTAIL IN THE BACKROOM OF A LIQUOR STORE

"We were explosive.   Good sex is explosive.”
-as heard while watching THE BUBBLE,
An Israeli film from 2006

The Beginnings – Part 152: 
A COCKTAIL IN THE BACKROOM OF A LIQUOR STORE

December 2, 1983Judy Albert, my co-worker, had her birthday today.   It was fun as it made our Section more festive than usual.   The work day went by rather quickly, too.

Nici Maurino had said that she may come by my place to see a flick on the VCR (Video Cassette Recorder).   Of course she pulled a no-show.   Why should I be surprised?   She did call and tell me about the fact that she was going to Pete’s (that girl with the kids).   Why do I think she’s just a ‘bull shitter’? I called Leah.
Leah said, “I failed my State Board Cosmetology exam by four points!”
I felt bad for her.   She confessed to me that she’s only eighteen years old.   She’s NMT (Not My Type) anyway.   I’ve decided to give up on her (even though we did make a tentative date for tomorrow night).   I would rather go to that new place at the Oakland HILTON called Barley Corn’s.   They keep advertising it on KQAK radio and I know I’d enjoy the music there.  I can swoop on a regular, non-smoking kind of gal there.  I am certainly crossing my fingers for finding one without all of the issues anyway. 
Leah said, “I think I’m on the brink of a nervous breakdown.”
“I can relate…I had a minor break myself.”
I think she thought I was kidding.   We continued our talk about our other relationships and sexual crap that I didn’t really enjoy discussing.

Bill Helbush, the unusually charming and chummy one, called me.   He simply left a message.   I chose to call him the previous night at about 12:30PM, so that is the only reason he called (in my opinion).   I started out by calling him back and innocently saying, “Hi, it’s Mike.”
“Oh…how are you?”
He stated his greeting in such a way that he wanted to STOP everything to talk to me.
“I’m good.  What’s new with you?”
“Well, I’m working until midnight tonight.”
“Where do you work?”
“Oh…just at some liquor store in Walnut Creek.”
I wasn’t impressed but I happily continued our conversation.
Bill said, “We should get-together for some Champagne.   I get it for free since I’m the head honcho there.”
“That sounds like an idea.”
“And we could walk the hill, look at the stars and just do some rappin’.”
I thought he was clever at using the charm and romance and I replied, “That sounds good.”

I think I am going to take him up on this spontaneous invitation.   Why not?   So here I go to Walnut Creek.  Am I really going to see Bill Helbush though?   This is all so questionable. I located WALNUT CREEK LIQUORS and saw Bill (behind the counter) at work.   I surprised him because he didn’t expect me to come by.
Bill said, “I just thought you’d call.  You just showed up.”
He introduced me to Roger, one of his roommates.   He also showed me around the liquor store.   It wasn’t like viewing a museum.  That’s for sure.   As I began to know Bill better I detected that his parents owned the store.   I could be mistaken.  

Since I was a bit early for the Champagne in the hills outing he prepared me a mixed drink in the back room.   It was a very good Margarita.   I never thought I’d ever be having a cocktail in the back room of a liquor store.   Wonders never cease.  Bill grabbed a few bottles of Champagne to take to his place.   I started to feel quite relaxed after just that one Margarita cocktail.  Bill is an easy one for conversation.   We talked more and got to know one another better.  
"I hope he doesn't think I'm going to drink all of those bottles of Champagne," I thought silently.
Bill said, “I used to train horses and lived in Hawaii for a while.”
I thought this was fascinating as I asked, “Horses?”
“Yes.   I’m going to school now and working.”
“What are you studying?”
“I’m trying to get a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.”
I shared with him about my Bachelor degree in Business Administration with the focus on Marketing.  I felt at ease talking to him.  He started to look more desirable.  It could have been the Champagne.   Who knows?  He has jet black hair and clear skin.  I think he’s about twenty-eight or so.  I continued to feel relaxed with him.   I spent the night, sleeping with him on his lower bunk.   I did think it was odd that he had bunk beds.   We had a good time.  What will the morning bring?

Everyone’s saliva is different and distinctive, flavored by diet, whether or not they smoke, heredity, perhaps even mood.
-Diane Ackerman
A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE SENSES

The Beginnings - Part 151: DANCING IN DECEMBER

More THANKSGIVING Photos from Twenty-five years ago, November 26, 1987

“Romance lives by repetition, and repetition converts an appetite into an ART.”-Oscar Wilde
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY

 
 



The Beginnings – Part 151:  DANCING IN DECEMBER

December 1, 1983
It was great reminiscing with Barbara Reynolds at work today.   She talked about how ‘when we were little’ and we used to race the fast moving clouds and try to win.   I had forgotten about childhood discovery moments like this one.
I ate dinner at Helen’s pad.  We ate tamales and watched WKRP in Cincinnati and MAMA’s FAMILY.  They were good for a few laughs.   Then Helen and I made spur-of-the-moment plans to go to Bobby McGee’s in San Ramon.   It was fun.  We had some good dancing tunes to move our way through.  Who knew we’d be dancing in December? Helen finally saw my Townhouse pad at 3348 Solomon Lane.   We really had a great time at Bobby McGee’s.   It was funny while I was in the men’s room.   There was this guy who was talking to me.
“I’m from Sacramento,” he said.
“Hey, I used to go to school there…Sac State.”
“Oh wow,” he replied.
I think he was a little drunk but I handed him my business card and said, “Well, if you want to buy a new phone.”
I think I was a little tipsy myself.   I left it at that.  What a peculiar moment in time.

I saw a few cute chicks while I was dancing with Helen.   There weren’t very many though.   I simply wanted to have a good time.   Helen and I did ‘just that’.   It was a great way to begin a festive December. “You’re like me…old-fashioned…you’re the kind of girl I like.”
-as heard while watching a short clip from the 2010 film BRIGHTON ROCK
Based on the 1938 novel by Graham Greene

The Beginnings - Part 150: I AM NOW SUSPICIOUS

“I’ve had dreams as well…dreams I never fully understood until this moment.   But now they make a certain kind of sense.”
-Paul Russell
THE UNREAL LIFE OF SERGEY NABOKOV, a novel

The Beginnings – Part 150:  I AM NOW SUSPICIOUS November 30, 1983
Wednesday

I received my last confirmation for my last job transfer request for the ANALYST position in San Francisco.  I received another depressing C-3 rating.   It was disappointing but I suddenly had a new brainstorm idea.   I will list one-hundred companies that I would love to work for and initiate inquiries to all of them for new job prospecting.I telephoned Alexis Budabin (is that how her surname is spelled?) during my break.
Alexis said, “I go out EVERY night.”
This was a signal that she is NMT (Not My Type).   I don’t want to be with someone who wants to go out every night. 
I decided to call Alexis again on this same evening though.   Another girl answered her phone.   When I realized it wasn’t her I just hung up.   I’ve decided to say ‘later for her’.   I am now suspicious as to whether she may be a call girl given that she is living in a hotel.   Perhaps I’m just thinking overtime because of that movie that John and I watched about American prostitutes in Japan (Ha-ha). 

I telephoned Leah again.Leah said, “I’m taking the State Board exam tomorrow for my Cosmetology Certification.”          

“Then you’re studying hard.  Don’t worry…I’ll just call you later.”
I want to see if she might be interested in going out this coming Saturday night.   Time will tell.My brother, John, came home early.   I was watching Joan Rivers on The Tonight Show and “Alexis Carrington” (aka Joan Collins) was on as her guest.   This made me think of my newfound Alexis, of course.

John shared some chocolate chip cookies that Sherri had made.   They were good.  

John and I started to watch that movie that I really like called THE COLLECTOR (based on the John Fowles book), starring Terence Stamp and Samantha Eggar.
I also had a random idea to look seriously into that ELITE Modeling Agency in San Francisco.  I am suddenly having all of these ‘light-bulb’ ideas.   The only issue is making the time to take the initiative.   Of course, this is only a problem if I choose to look at it as a problem.   And so…I’ve decided to believe in myself.   There is never a problem unless you make it one.You must make, always. You must act, if you believe something. Talking about acting is like boasting about pictures you're going to paint. The most terrible bad form.
-John Fowles
THE COLLECTOR

The Beginnings - Part 149: A BIT TOO CHUMMY

Did you ever think the universe was against you?
-as heard while watching the 2012 film
CLOUD ATLAS

The Beginnings – Part 149:   A BIT TOO CHUMMY
November 29, 1983Tuesday

It was a bit depressing while at work today.  My job transfer requests were returned with C-3 ratings for my Directory Sales jobs.   A C-1 rating is given only if one has actually done the job before.   A C-2 rating is given when one is highly qualified.  My C-3 is a ‘somewhat qualified’ rating.   I didn’t get a C-4, so that’s heavenly; however, anyone else that has submitted for these jobs that has a C-1 or C-2 will have priority over me.   That’s depressing.  Such is life.   Time will tell.   I will just keep my fingers crossed. After work I drove over to mom and dad’s house and ate a good meal.   When I walked in to the Townhouse I had some solitary time for about twenty minutes.   Suddenly, John and Sherri appeared and watched the videotaped movie of BREATHLESS.    I sensed that they wanted ‘alone time’, so I left for MACY’s and the RECORD FACTORY.   I couldn’t find the SPARKS cassette at the RECORD FACTORY.   I like their song called  ANGST IN MY PANTS.

I soon arrived at the gay skating rink in San Leandro.   The first recognizable face was Ned.   I see him at the StarGaze dance club in Fremont sometimes.   Frank Vasconcellos showed up, looking as cute as ever.   Then Leah (of Danville) showed up and I felt like a snail, going back in to my shell.   She makes me feel so shy.   I finally approached her.I asked Leah, “Hey, would you like to go out sometime?”
She didn’t exactly jump at my offer.
"Well…I’m feeling kind of depressed right now over a bad experience with this girl.”
My light-bulb went ‘ON’ and I asked myself silently, “You’re gay?”
I couldn’t say the words aloud.   By the end of the evening she did give me her telephone number though.  So…who knows where it will lead?   If she likes girls and I like boys…why can’t we like each other, too?

Some new guy named Bill Helbush kept rapping with me after each time he circled the rink.   I almost looked forward to his next rotation because he’d make a point to stop to exchange a few words with me.   He bought me a Budweiser, too.   Bill was nice.   On one rotation he slipped me a note with his name and telephone number.
I also met Alexis of San Francisco.   She was super nice as well.   I had a good time.
George Jones came by me, too.George said, “I’m getting paid tomorrow and I will be mailing you the money.”
I guess that’s a good sign.  I know I can’t count on his word.  He’s a flake.

I couldn’t get over how sweet Alexis was to me.   “Where are you from?” I asked.
“I’m from New York.”
“Oh wow…that’s a long way from here.”
“Yes, how old are you?”
I smiled, “Old enough to have a good time…what did you have in mind…but no…I’m twenty-four.”
She smiled back, “Wow…I thought you were younger.  I’m twenty-three.”
"And I thought you were younger.”
Alexis is a bit overweight and short but she has excellent hair, great looks and beautiful teeth.   I feel an attraction toward her.

Bill Helbush has a good physique.   He’s a bit too chummy.   He now has my telephone number (as does Alexis).   We will see who I will be going out with soon.   Will I hear from Bill?  Will I hear from Alexis? I was a little embarrassed when I returned home.   John’s car wasn’t in the garage but his bedroom door was closed.
John shouted, “Don’t come in!”
I guess he and Sherri were engaging in some sort of sexual activity.   I could only assume that to be true.

I know my behavior is reckless, I know I still have many pages to write, but I cannot resist.-Paul Russell
THE UNREAL LIFE OF SERGEY NABOKOV, a novel

The Beginnings - Part 148: HOPEFUL ANSWERS

In Paris tongues will wag, and fingers point, and I was beginning to learn that cruelty is everywhere, especially among the great and talented.
-Paul Russell
THE UNREAL LIFE OF SERGEY NABOKOV, a novel

The Beginnings – Part 148:  HOPEFUL ANSWERS
November 28, 1983, Monday
What a disappointment.   I just noticed that George Jones received a credit on his November phone bill for sixty-eight dollars and it was all ‘thanks to me’.   Why am I even looking at his phone bill?   Well, it didn’t stop me from calling him.   It was so upsetting to see that credit that I actually called him and confronted him about the money he still owes me.  He had better pay me back.   What a little twirp!I’ve decided to visit the gay skating rink tomorrow night in hopes of seeing Leah (the girl from Danville).  I also want to go in the hopes of seeing George.   I can confront him again.   Hopefully, I will get some loot on-the-spot.

I shared with Beth Neroda and Salima Nasardeen-Hamilton about my silent distraction over my relationship with Paloma.   I suppose I wanted their expertise in relationships.   While I walked with Salima to the BART station I wanted hopeful answers.   I didn’t really get any.  I’m in ‘wait and see’ mode.Once I arrived home I found myself lounging with my brother, John.   John’s longtime pal, Robert Gaspar, dropped by and they watched Monday Night Football.   It’s boring for me.   I only like the Super Bowl.   I escaped and took a shower.

After drying off the phone rang and it was Nici Maurino. Nici said, “Michael, I just ran out of gas in the Alameda tube!”

Being the kind person that I am I drove to her place near Webster Street.   I picked her up and drove her to a gas station to get gas.   Then I drove her to her abandoned car to fill it up.   She was so thankful.
I stopped at ROUND TABLE PIZZA for a pepperoni pizza.   John had requested it.   I’m glad I got it because I was craving the pizza myself.
Later, John and I watched some TV movie about American women working as prostitutes in Japan.  I went to bed while watching Joan Rivers.   She was hosting the Johnny Carson Show again.

“Remember…what you don’t see…you don’t know.”-as heard while watching the 2010 Israeli film
THE MATCHMAKER

The Beginnings - Part 147: THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE

I longed to bare the wonders of my soul, and for him to do likewise, but had no idea how to bring that about.
-Paul Russell
THE UNREAL LIFE OF SERGEY NABOKOV, a novel

The Beginnings – Part 147:   THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE
November 27, 1983Sunday

I woke up on this Sunday morning and craved a slice of pumpkin pie.   I fulfilled my craving by going to mom’s house.  I also had an almond candy bar.Once I was back at my pad I decided to wash my car.   By the time I finished washing my car it was time for my brother, John, to leave for work.  .

Steve arrived at around 12:15PM and we went to San Francisco for the Auto Show at MOSCONE CENTER.I said, “I don’t know about you but I love the BUICK Regal, the FERRARI and the PONTIAC Fiero.”

It was fun seeing all of the sporty cars.   We ate at the Church Street Station afterward.Steve said, “It’s my treat.”
I thought that was nice of him.   I bought a coffee milkshake ‘to go’ and we shared it.

Before we knew it we were on our way back to Alameda.   After we both took a ‘whiz’ it was time for Steve to go.   He left for Almaden Valley.  
I departed for San Lorenzo to get my haircut by ‘Pebbles’.   Of course, Pebbles, wasn’t working, so I ended up getting my haircut by Pam.   Pam is a new cute blond.   After she finished cutting my hair I liked it when Pam asked, “Is there anything else?”
She caught me off-guard and I was tempted to reply candidly, “Yes, there is something else.”
I didn’t, of course.  I’m a chicken.   And right now she’s just a stranger.

I returned to Alameda and washed some clothes.   I worked out to some tunes as well.Doug Siu called.  I vented to him about how my phone jack in the spare bedroom wasn’t working right.                                                                                                                                                                  Doug said, “I can come over to fix that third jack.   I know how to set it up for input and output.” "Great.  Come over then.”
I still have Lea on my mind.   She’s that girl who lives in Danville that I dreamed about the other night.  Paloma has begun to fade from my mind.   Perhaps this is a good thing.  I have no idea what she wants.   I honestly don’t even know when I will see her again face-to-face.
“You said that you know ways to make me happier and more serene.   But you don’t ask whether that is what I really want.”
“Well,” he said, laughing, “if we can make a person happier and more serene, we should do it in any case, whether or not she asks us to.   And how could you not want that and not be seeking it?   That’s why you are here, that’s why we are once again sitting face-to-face.”-Hermann Hesse
THE GLASS BEAD GAME, a novel

 
 

The Beginnings - Part 146: A CURRENT DAY CINDERELLA

"Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination (nor both together) go to the making of genius.  Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius."
-Nikolaus von Jacquin
MOZART:  A LIFE (1966)

The Beginnings – Part 146:  A CURRENT DAY CINDERELLANovember 26, 1983Saturday

I confirmed my date with Nici Maurino for tonight.   We will be seeing the smurfs at the Ice Follies.   The day looks so very nice.   It’s a definite day for a bicycle ride.   I did it, too.   My bike ride was good.   I kept going back and forth with repetitive trips up and down Shoreline Drive.  While riding there was some older gentleman with a reddish moustache who was dressed like the star (Harrison Ford) of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.   I like his distinguished ‘Indiana Jones’ sense of style.   He kept greeting me as I rode by him each time.   I thought he was a nice chap; however, I couldn’t help but wonder.   Did he have ulterior motives? After my ride I went to mom’s house for a bite to eat.   I lounged at my pad with my brother, John.   I taped the movie ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, starring Kurt Russell.

Nici Maurino called to verify my time of arrival.   I quickly got ready.   I met her stepsisters (Marlo and Michelle).   They reminded me of my longtime friend, Debbie Honcik.   There was a definite resemblance.  It was the first time I ever recall meeting two stepsisters.   It made me wonder if Nici was supposed to bea current day ‘Cinderella’.  Was I supposed to be Prince Charming?   That’s funny. 
I also met Pete (that’s her nickname).   Pete is part of Nici’s family, too.   I met Pete’s baby and her son and her sister’s little girl.   I knew I’d never remember all of their names.  All of them were going to the Ice Capades as well.  Nici and I left for the Ice Capades. 
The Ice Capades Show was interesting.   I thoroughly enjoyed it.   It was pretty ‘smurfy’ though.   I ended up driving the stepsisters (Marlo and Michelle) to Daly City.    I actually met Nici’s dad and Nici’s stepmother.   Nici and I returned to Alameda.  We parted sweetly but nothing 'real' seemed to be there.
I turned-in for bed at my place by 12:30PM.   Oh yes…I did actually telephone Steve to confirm our Auto Show date for tomorrow.   Who knows?  It could be fun.
The only mistake in life is the lesson not learned."-Albert Einstein

The Beginnings - Part 145: A BIT OF A DANCING WORKOUT

"I didn't know who the hell I was.  I was whoever they wanted me to be."
-Natalie Wood, actress

The Beginnings – Part 145:   A BIT OF A DANCING WORKOUTNovember 25, 1983
Friday

I awoke at around nine o’clock this morning.   I felt like it was a good time to be productive, so I took my car in for an oil change.   I dropped over at the post-office to mail the camera that Paige LaBris had left in my car months ago.   It’s better late than never.After my errands I drove to mom’s house and found my Grandma there.  It was nice to see her.   She is always such a loving grandmother.
I soon found myself on a bike ride.   The day was crispy autumn.   It was a perfect day for a ride.   I slept for a while after my ride when I heard the doorbell ring.   It was mom and Grandma.   They stopped by to see John.   They also took my SOPHIE’S CHOICE VHS-videotape.   Mom had told her mom what a great movie it was, so she wanted her to see it.  They took the videotape to watch back at mom’s house.   I accompanied them and watched a portion of SOPHIE’S CHOICE with them.  It made me see my Grandmother 'in a new light' as she must have certainly been roughly that same age as Meryl Streep during that era of the war.

I returned to my townhouse to exercise a bit and decided to get ready for my outing to the STAR GAZE club in Fremont.   I could use a bit of a dancing work out.   While I was at STAR GAZE I met a girl named Marla Snow.   She had an uncanny resemblance to Natalie Wood. 
“Where are you from?” I asked.
“San Jose.”
I learned that Marla was only eighteen.   That’s much too young!  

I also met a gal named Sandy who had a cute figure and resembled that actress, Karen Allen, in the recent BLOW OUT film.   She was nice, too---but also too young.   I think Sandy was from San Mateo.   I went to Black Angus after the STAR GAZE experience because the vibe wasn’t the greatest.   As it turned out…the Black Angus in Fremont was just as bad.   There were more guys there than there were girls.   I left the joint at around 1:15AM.   I was back in Alameda quickly.   I showered and slept soundly, realizing that every Friday night cannot be so good.

“You know the rules of the game.  You’ve been playing it long enough.”-Judi Dench as ‘M’
in the 2012 James Bond film, SKYFALL

 
 

The Beginnings - Part 144: THANKSGIVING DAY 1983

“If you wanted…you could pick your own secret missions as I do.”
-Javier Bardem as SILVA in the
007 James Bond 2012 film, SKYFALL

Twenty-five years ago, November 24, 1987Mom and I were still enjoying our Las Vegas weekend.   There was an Antique/Classic CAR SHOW at the Imperial Palace Hotel, so we went to see it.   It was fun sitting in the old cars and imagining ourselves driving these classic cars.   For dinner we ate at an Asian style restaurant.   Mom was happy.   I took a photo of her from across the dining table.  This Vegas escape was good for us.I said, "We'll have to do this again!"The Beginnings – Part 144: 
THANKSGIVING DAY 1983

Thursday, November 24, 1983

John and I woke up and we both got a bit dressed up for Thanksgiving Day.   We both decided to wear ties.  We cruised in John’s Datsun 280-Z (or as John refers to it:  ‘My Z’) to mom and dad’s house.   We watched a little football until it was time to eat.   Mom roasted the turkey very early in the morning so that we could eat by noon time.   John had to work this evening, so it worked out nicely.After the filling meal I watched the movie A LITTLE SEX with my brother, Tony.   Then I returned to my pad to sleep for a while.   Dad and John had already fallen asleep.
Mom made me laugh when she called me and said, “I was wondering what I put in the food that put everyone to sleep.”

I had to drive John to Jack London Square because his car was giving him trouble.   I didn’t mind. As for the remainder of this Thanksgiving evening…well, I went back to mom and dad’s house and watched A LITTLE SEX and CREEPSHOW with mom and dad.   I love that movie called A LITTLE SEX and I don’t mind watching it more than once.   It’s such a wonderful romantic-comedy, starring Kate Capshaw.   It’s one of my favorite flicks.

I returned home for the evening.   At around 2AM I could hear John and Sherri, whispering in the downstairs living room.  They were watching the other video I rented called BAD BOYS.   Sherri spent the night (I guess).   She had picked up John at 1:30AM or so from work.   It’s nice that they seem so happy together.   I almost felt like an intruder when I overheard them in the middle of the night. “Perhaps a young man shouldn’t any longer come to a place he wonders whether he should be.”
-Paul Russell
THE UNREAL LIFE OF SERGEY NABOKOV, a novel

The Beginnings - Part 143: IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT

"You must learn to live in the world as it is; however difficult that may be for you.”
-Paul Russell
THE UNREAL LIFE OF SERGEY NABOKOV, a novel

Twenty-five years ago, November 23, 1987
My first full day and night in Las Vegas was fun with mom.    The balcony of our hotel room wasn't very big but I managed to set the timer of my camera to take a photo of the two of us.   The balcony had a great view of the Vegas strip.We went out on the town and had a great dinner.   The lights of this city are amazing.  They must have an out-of-hand electric bill.
The Beginnings – Part 143:  IT’S SOMETHING DIFFERENT 
Wednesday, November 23, 1983
It’s the last day of the work week because of the Thanksgiving Holiday.   Hurrah!  
I telephoned Paloma during one of my breaks while at work.
Paloma said, “My car is getting repaired today.”"Good for you to take care of it all right away.”  And then I asked curiously, “Are we still ON for a movie tonight?”   I supposed I shouldn’t have been surprised with her answer.
She answered nonchalantly, “I can’t.”
She didn’t even give me a reason.   I chose not to ask for one either.   I simply left it at that.
“Okay, I’ll talk to you later,” I replied and hung-up the receiver.
The only question now is where I will call her later or not.  

I did verify my Saturday night date with Nici Maurino.   She’s so excited about going to the Oakland Coliseum Ice Follies to see the smurfs.    That should be pretty ‘smurfy’.  Ha-ha.   It’s something different at least.
After work I ate some pumpkin pie and went to the MAGIC VIDEO store and selected three movies.   I decided to choose BAD BOYS, A LITTLE SEX and CREEPSHOW.    I watched BAD BOYS with mom and dad.   It was pretty good despite the gross booger in the string beans scene. 
I returned to my pad after watching BAD BOYS with my parents.   I discovered John and Sherri in the living room watching CREEPSHOW.
I went to bed and had a dream.   Strangely enough my dream was about Lea from Danville.   I like her…but what ever became of her?   As I write now that song by Tom Petty is playing called SHE’S A WOMAN IN LOVE.   I wonder if that is just a simple coincidence.   Could she be in love?Oh yes…Jim called while I was applying John’s video recorder.   He still wants to see me.   He wants to go out next month to see THE NUTCRACKER, so we made a tentative plan to do that.

At the end of the call Jim politely said, “Have a Happy Thanksgiving.”I thought he was being very nice.

“It doesn’t matter.   IT WAS ALL A LONG TIME AGO, as you say, and I don’t mean to rehearse old grievances.”-Paul Russell
THE UNREAL LIFE OF SERGEY NABOKOV, a novel