Michael Joe Armijo's Blog, page 89

My Cycling Plan

You don't know the hold our mothers have on us.-Junot Diaz
THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO

Twenty-five years ago today:

March 28, 1987
Saturday

I washed my car and did some domestic chores around the house. I intended on getting my oil changed at OIL CHANGERS but the line was too long, so I decided to leave. I didn't have the patience to wait when I knew I could be bike riding.

I enjoyed some cereal with mom's company. It was a beautiful springtime day and I went ahead with my cycling plan. The Alameda South Shore beach was too damn crowded and people kept popping up on the bike path which frustrated me.

I rode my bike home and drove my car to Mom and Dad's house again. Sherri and Ashley were there. I brought cheese, crackers and juice. Tony and Lauren came by as well. My niece, Lauren, is becoming a true-to-life cutie.

I ended up staying with ma and pa for the remainder of the afternoon and the evening. I watched the TV-Mini Series NUTCRACKER: MONEY, MADNESS and MURDER with them. It was starring Lee Remick and Tate Donovan. Lee Remick played a woman named Frances Schreuder (as in shrewder) who was a sociopathic socialite, plotting her father's murder. It was a great dramatic thriller.

This is coming from down the line, across the river…DFU (Don't Fuck Up).
-FAIR GAME
2010 motion-picture
Starring Naomi Watts

The "New Squeeze"

One day. One choice. Something small, but look how it's changed us.
-Joanne Harris
CHOCOLAT

Twenty-five years ago today:

March 27, 1987
Friday

Friday is great!

Carla is my best-friend at work. Carla and I had lunch with Sandy Maggiori today. It was Sandy's last day in San Francisco. She will be working in Directory Sales in Santa Clara beginning Monday. Yes, I am in complete envy.

After work I went home and just lounged after a busy week.

I received cards from Bill Matson and Irene Keenan. The two that I met in Hawaii.

Bill sent a DIAMOND HEAD AT DAWN card that is from an original oil on canvas by CHARIE. Bill wrote:

Hi Michael,


Sounds like you had a good vacation at home…a new outfit and a day in Napa with the "new squeeze".  Life in Hawaii is about the same…too much time and money spent in MARY's and HULA's…lots of sun…a few laughs. 

My nieces (6, 10, 13 years old) will be here to visit starting Thursday for 10 days, so "Uncle Bill" will have to play tour guide, host, baby sitter, etc. We have tickets to see George Michael on April 5th and if they have too much energy I'll take then on a walk to the top of Diamond Head! That's all for now.Be Well,Bill
Irene sent a vertical card that included a photograph of the Park Avenue Entrance of the Waldorf Astoria in New York. Imprinted in the card were five words: THE SHOW MUST GO ON. Irene wrote:

Greetings from New York.


How is San Francisco? It's got to be better than N.Y. which is grey and cold and creepy. Have you heard from Bill? I haven't. So I wrote him a threatening letter (only joking).


I booked a flight to San Francisco for April 26th. I hope I can still stay with you but if I can't because you've had something come up…just let me know. Even if I can stay until I find somewhere else to stay…that would be great.


I miss Hawaii. I appreciate it now more than when I was there. I'll write again and call you before I come.


Om Namah Shivaya.
Love,
Irene

I went for a drive to North Oakland and in and around College Avenue. I love that area. I was tempted to see a flick but didn't feel like going alone.

Solitude can be good. I simply returned home. I 'hit the hay' early.

"Aren't there qualities you look for in people?"
Yves Saint Laurent's reply is perhaps the most revealing public statement he has ever made about himself.
"No," he said, "Because ultimately the qualities I see in people are what I perceive them to be. It is my vision of people that counts. It's all projection. If I am deceived it's my own doing. What interests me is my vision of others."
-Alicia Drake
THE BEAUTIFUL FALL:
Fashion, Genius, and Glorious Excess in 1970s Paris

There's This Guy Who Likes Me

Every man must have those yearnings, and it is his business to put forth strength and sand to get the better of them.

-John Rolfe Gardiner
SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE, a novel

Twenty-five years ago today:

March 26, 1987
Thursday

Jeff Sombat phoned me from Honolulu just as my alarm clock rang this morning.
"I have a problem."
"What is it?" I asked worriedly.
"Well, I don't know how to say it."
"Maybe if you just say it."
"Well, there's this guy who likes me."
"Yeah, and?"
"I am not interested in him."
"Oh."
"I don't know what to say."
"Just tell him 'I value your friendship but there's a limit and I don't feel that way about you'."
As I said it I realized that I should be saying the exact same words to him.

My car gave me warning signs this morning as I was driving in to San Francisco. I thought a fuse may have blown. Now I believe that my battery must be low. I've decided to devote my Saturday to my car maintenance. I know it needs an oil change, a car wash, an overhaul with the heating system, a dent repair, a paint job and a battery check.

I mentioned only to Carla about my possible investigation into modeling. I did tell my mom to expect a phone call for me. It's a possibility that that agency may call at any time.

There are four more openings at Pac Bell DIRECTORY SALES now. All I can do is sit and watch the positions get filled.

Carla and I walked over to Market Street and bought food from THE HAVEN 'to go'. We sat at some nearby steps and observed the many people.
There was one strange man who kept asking loudly, "Are there any cheerleaders out there who knew Jacqueline Kennedy's name before Ronald and Nancy Reagan ran for governor?"
He kept asking this question over and over again with only a ten to fifteen second pause in-between. It was so strange. He looked so normal but Carla and I looked at each other and raised our eyebrows. Then we started laughing, of course.

I arrived home and had to rush over to my Brother John's house because Sherri had not come home. I had to watch Ashley for a while because John had to leave for work.
Ashley said to me, "I love you."
That was so cute and heartwarming to hear from a little girl. I gave her the bunny rabbit she left at my house. Once Sherri arrived my impromptu babysitting time was over. I went home and took a nap until 9:30PM.

I knew it was late but I decided to go to the gym anyway. I ending up leaving the gym at 11:15PM but it was better than not showing up at all. I had to fill my car up with gas and get some cash from my teller machine anyway. I was so happy that tomorrow was Friday.

I've thought of Mark Landreth but I have not called him. I don't really feel like going out this weekend either. So, I don't know what I will do.

Marriage is still crossing my mind where Eileen is concerned.
Then I ask myself, "Isn't it too early to think of that?"
My answer is, "Yes, it is too early…then again, who knows. We'll see."

Carla got my mind whirling with regards to people today. She made it clear that we need to be selective about who should get the small amount of time we have on any given day. I thought of calling the Harwinton Pharmacy in Connecticut as she made me think of my old friend, Ron Leoni.
Then I asked myself, "Why should I?"
Ron hasn't made any attempts to contact me.
Then I thought of my former coworker, Cedric Green, and others.
Carla said, "You don't owe anybody anything."
That's her philosophy and there are parts of me that like her way of thinking. I liked the philosophy the more I thought about it.

Tomorrow Carla and I will share lunch with Sandy Maggiore. And once April 21st comes along I will have seven days off in a row.

Nikki Bovee gave me a recipe for a Vitality Drink today. It includes:
One cup of low fat milk,
Two teaspoons of lecithin granules,
Two teaspoons of wheat germ,
One tablespoon of brewer's yeast,
One tablespoon of powdered protein,
One-half of a banana (if it's a huge banana)
OR three-quarters of a banana (if it's a small banana).
Nikki said, "All of the teaspoons and tablespoons should be heaping, then blend and drink!"

I am lucky. There are American Hostages. There are handicapped people, psychotic ones and depressed ones out there, too.
"I sure am fortunate to be where I am."
I don't need to mention how lucky I am to be employed and pondering the idea of being a male model on-the-side per my outsider recommendations.

According to Maslow's Theory of Needs it could be that fame and fortune are something that I want to feel for a fulfilled total self-actualization. If those things do not happen I will still be as happy as I am now.
PHOTO: 1984-Elton John and wife, Renata Blauel
I put off doing my income taxes for a while and I just finished recently. I heard on the news that only one-quarter of the people in the Bay Area have filed already.

The news also stated that Elton John and his wife are divorcing.
He said, "It was the perfect marriage because I liked men and she liked women."
It sounded like Michael Dawkins in Los Angeles; however, I'm not so sure if his wife was 'into' women.

Once you've been moved, you want to be moved again, and more deeply for love and beauty: You're always left wanting a little more.
-Christopher Bram
SURPRISING MYSELF, a novel

Just Retire and WRITE

"The thinner the file…the better the agent."
-MISSING, ABC-TV series
Starring Ashley Judd, Pilot Episode I

Twenty-five years ago today:

March 25, 1987
Wednesday

This morning I was having a pleasant break with Carla.
"You know, Carla, I often write about you in my journal."
"You do?"
"Yes, I think you'd make a great character for a future book."
She laughed aloud, rolling her head back a little in her sexy way.

Carla and I ate lunch at MAX's instead of walking over to Market Street. She was feeling too lazy to walk a few extra blocks. It was a beautiful day.
After work I hit the road on my BIANCHI bicycle from 5:45PM until 6:30PM. It feels good again. I was riding non-stop with no obstacles in my way. After the ride I came home to change and went to browse at the bookstore.

While at home a bit later I learned from my answering machine that I had missed a phone call from Johnny Schaefer in L.A.

I recalled earlier today some of my conversation with Carla.
"You know, Carla, sometimes I wish I could just retire and WRITE! That's something that I would really like to do.""You should just do it, Michael, if that's what you want to do.""Yeah…but first things first."
I thought, "Let's see how it goes with that Grimme Modeling Agency. I wonder how they'll react to my photos. They should receive them tomorrow since I mailed them early this morning."

I telephoned mom today. She's doing just fine. I'm looking forward to this weekend so that I can see her and spend time with her.

"It's not that I don't remember. It's that I can never forget."
-as heard while watching
AFTERSHOCK, 2010 dramatic film from CHINA

A Requirement in Life

"Confidence is what you have before you understand the problem."
-Woody Allen

Twenty-five years ago today:

March 24, 1987
Tuesday

It was another day at the office without Steve Adams around because he is currently assessing for a new Account Collection Representative for our office. Apparently, there is an existing employee within Pac Bell Directory that has passed the assessment tests thus far.

It was Gloria Romero's Birthday today. It was a fun-filled day. Carla and I went out and selected a card for her this morning.

Nikki Bovee finally saw the Xerox copy picture of me wearing nothing but my black towel and showing off my Hawaiian tan line. She perked up and seemed to love it.

I have finally taken a bit of an initiative by mailing a package to the Grimme Modeling Agency in San Francisco that included a few of my Spectra Polaroid photographs and one good 5 x 7. I wrote a brief cover letter, asking their opinion as to whether my face has any potential. I figured that since so many people (Carla Guzman, Johnny Schaefer, Troy Nelson, etc.) seem to think I would be perfect for this sort of thing I may as well act on it. Paloma had also mentioned it to me. There have been others, so we'll see what the professionals think about it.

It's funny to ponder the idea of being on the cover of GQ though.
"Hey, maybe I should buy an issue of GQ and send my photo to the Art Director or Editor there."

I didn't bike after work because I wanted to sort through my photographs I order to send the package to the Grimme Agency. I have told no one about this except for Carla who keeps encouraging me to do so.

I did go to the gym. It felt so good. I stopped at SAFEWAY for twenty-dollar worth of 'food and fixings'. I ate some crackers and a Diet-Cherry 7-UP. The 7-UP is a new product and it's refreshingly good. I listened to an intensely emotional tape cassette of music that Johnny Schaefer sent to me. It was a surprise. I thought it was rather chilling, pitiful and sorrowful because when two people's emotions do not match it is quite difficult. I telephoned Johnny but I wasn't quite sure how to respond about the ballads/lyrics he sent. Luckily, he wasn't home. Unfortunately, his answering recorder cut me off before I could finish speaking.

Cedric Green is back in the picture as he called me recently.
"Mike, do you think you could draw me a hand for my 'You Choose the News' section of the TGIF paper that I have to do for my unit?"
I thought, "Give me a break! As if I had the time for this shit…let him do his own work. I'm too busy. And if I take on this new modeling venture who knows what time I will have."
I began to wonder if this whole modeling idea would be too time consuming. I know it could be well worth it if things work out monetarily. I work hard because I know it's a requirement in life to do so.

I telephoned Eileen.
Eileen said, "I'm going to have a talk with Anne about requesting Saturdays and Sundays as my days off."
"Yeah, that would be great!" I cheered her on.
We continued to discuss the idea of driving down to Los Angeles in April.
I explained, "I'm still going to take that time off as sick time."
It's all still up-in-the-air as to whether we will take that weekend getaway.

Carla expects to have her red convertible corvette by June and that's when she and I are planning to drive down to L.A. for the weekend. Yikes! She shared a story with me and it wasn't about Augustine. I guess the Augustine fascination is fading fast.
Carla said, "You know, Michael…I had a brief-encounter with some other gent named Saul."
"What?" I asked. "How did you meet him?"
"I ran into him last night at Bobby McGee's in Burlingame."
I thought, "Oh well…I certainly don't hold it against her. No one is perfect…including me as I know mistakes can be made."

"I do get a bit restless. I take the old contract on the side."
-actress Helen Mirren
as a CIA Agent in the 2010 motion-picture RED

Better Be Careful

"Nothing is over until I say it is!"
-Karen Black
TRILOGY OF TERROR, 1975 film

Twenty-five years ago today:

March 23, 1987
Monday

Eileen was not at home at nine o'clock last night. I am assuming she went to see a movie. I telephoned her from my office today and she was chipper and feeling as happy as sunshine. We discussed the possibility of our going to Los Angeles during the third week of April. I am now having second thoughts about it.

Carla may go to Miami this weekend (or next). I'm envious.

Los Angeles had the biggest $325 Million dollar Cocaine Bust in the history of California. I heard it in the news. I wonder if dreamy green-eyed Gary lost an old source. Carla had better be careful if she's thinking of making cocaine money. She made a little joke about it…or was it a joke? And now she's going to Miami. Who knows?

I am going to call Grimme Modeling Agency today for an appointment and see what transpires. Nothing ventured…nothing gained.

It was a great day because Steve Adams had the day off. He irks me with his doorknob personality. He usually sits at his desk quietly all day. There's no excitement or fun feeling about him. He's married and I wonder if his wife is exciting. I hope she is (for his sake).

An Account Collection Representative in Los Angeles resigned today. It's just as well. It's my identical job here in Northern California and I can easily relate to that action.
I went bicycling after work in my new green bike shorts. It was a good ride. I did a short stint of babysitting for my niece, Ashley, after the ride. I bought her a little Easter Bunny. She picked pictures for my House Book from magazines and started to watch the movie THE BAD SEED with me. We also watched a bit of ALF and VALERIE.

Ashley cried when I turned one of the lights off. Is she afraid of the dark? Well nevertheless, we had fun. Sherri had a friend to take out and her mom (Janet) was sick. I didn't mind watching Ashley for a few hours.

I telephoned Margaret Lai and confirmed our outing for this Sunday.

Troy Nelson wrote me a letter from Salt Lake City, Utah and the last line he wrote was: "See you in the movies or GQ."

Carla also mentioned the idea of me looking into the modeling scene. I want to look into it…I guess. I will have to be more serious about it if it's really something I want to explore.

I wrote postcards tonight to the Hawaiian pals (Carla, Jeff, Stefan), Michael Thoennes, Paloma, John Murrough and Teddy Charach.   I decided to go

007 asked, "Who are you?" after waking from being shot by a sedative gun.
"My name is Pussy Galore."
007 replied, "I must be dreaming."
-GOLDFINGER
1964 motion-picture

Trying To Adjust

"When you do bad things, bad things happen to you."
-Farrah Fawcett

Twenty-five years ago today:

March 22, 1987
Sunday

Dave Marks and I ate at HUGO's for breakfast. I saw Farrah Fawcett come in. That was exciting.

I chose to lay out by the pool until 1:30PM. Then I left for Gary Conger's place to get my bike chain that I left there. I expressed farewell to Gary. He seemed so quiet and ill-at-ease. I drove off in the T-Bird for LAX. The end of my weekend didn't seem as rewarding as the last time. Who knows?

I felt Gary used me a bit (not in a sexual way). Perhaps not. He is an alcoholic. I feel sorry for his cocaine habit. He must still be trying to adjust.

Dad picked me up at the Oakland Airport at 6:30PM on this Sunday evening. He dropped me off at my pad where I unpacked and changed and reviewed my mail.

I returned to mom and dad's house to tell them the news.
"Guess who I got a letter from?"
"Who?" Mom asked.
"Paloma."
"What did she say?"
"Well, she's pregnant and due in June."
PHOTO: August 1987
Paloma, Alex and 'baby' Jonathan
Troy Nelson, the Utah guy I met in Hawaii, also wrote to me. Mike Thoennes also wrote me a nice letter. Johnny Schaeffer wrote a very descriptive dream. He's too much!

While I was in L.A. I received a phone call from Stuart Western.   I should call him.

I was planning on watching NUTCRACKER, a Lee Remick film but I was too tired. It was time for "lights out" at 9:10PM. Tomorrow is my return to work day.

Yawn.

Sometimes when I see myself in the mirrors I don't even know who I am anymore. Not that I'm unhappy or anything.
-Junot Diaz
THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO, a novel

The New Kid on the Block

"I am where I am because I believe in all possibilities."
-Whoopi Goldberg

Twenty-five years ago today:

March 21, 1987
Saturday

Gary Conger must have returned in the middle of the late morning hours while I was in dream land. We woke up and went to CAFÉ FIGARO for breakfast. It was good. The people (I felt) stared at me. I guess that's good. I felt like I was the new kid on the block.

Gary and I followed breakfast with a visit to the Chinese Mann Theater. We watched the new Whoopi Goldberg movie called BURGLAR. I enjoyed it very much.

Then I took a nap and woke up to hit the gym. I found the Fitness Center on Pico Boulevard this time. It was early evening after my work out and I decided to go to THE RAGE again. I should have looked for VERTIGO or LE DOME (other places I had read about) but I didn't.

Gary showed up for work at THE RAGE while I was seated at the bar. I spoke to friends of Gary named 'Ray and Monika'. They were visiting from Sacramento. Since I had gone to school in Sacramento I was able to chat up a storm with them.

I left THE RAGE and went to a local shop and met a sales clerk named Steve. He was from Argentina.
"I go to UCLA and I'm a hopeful actor…like everyone else," he chuckled.
He sold me two pair of bike shorts.

When I returned to THE RAGE I met some older guy named Teddy Charach.
"I'm a Director."
"Oh really?" I asked, "Have I seen any of your movies."
Teddy answered, "Let's just say I'm the sexy voice on a lot of TV commercials."
I laughed, feeling buzzed from the few cocktails I had already finished.

Teddy Charach aka Theodore Charach was the writer, producer and host/interviewer of the 1973 Golden Globe nominated Documentary THE SECOND GUN. It was a documentary suggesting the possibility of another gunman involved in the Assassination of Robert F Kennedy. The film ignited a worldwide controversy on 3 levels (journalistic, legal and forensic). It continues today. The entire film, including director's copy and out-takes are housed at the PICKFORD CENTER for MOTION PICTURE STUDY/ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS & SCIENCES in Hollywood, CA. The Ted Charach RFK Documentary archive, the world's largest private collection on THE SECOND GUN discover, is located at the Henry C Lee Institute of Forensic Sciences at the University of New Haven, CT.

Teddy gave me his telephone number and address. I figure it wouldn't hurt to keep in touch.

Gary left THE RAGE without a word to me. It was awkward. I ended up staying the night at Dave Marks pad with his handicapped buddy, Howard.  It was strictly a friendly sleepover, of course.

"Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation."
-Robert F Kennedy
June 6, 1966, Day of Affirmation Address
University of Cape town, South Africa (6-6-66)

Wallflower

"You really think there's happy-ever-after for people like us?" -Rene Russo to Pierce Brosnan
THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, 1999 film

Twenty-five years ago today:

March 20, 1987
Friday

Dad was kind enough to drive me to the Oakland Airport.

I arrived at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) at 7:45PM and acquired my White Thunderbird rental car. I drove off and had planned to go to the Family Fitness Center but I never found it.

I ended up at THE RAGE at 10PM and Gary Conger, the dreamy green-eyed bartender was there. He greeted me but he was too busy mixing cocktails 'left and right'. He had no time for me. I browsed around and tried to mingle.  I don't like feeling like a wallflower but there is a comfort level when one knows the bartender. It allows one to feel as if they're not 'Looking for Mr. or Mrs. Goodbar".

Yes, I happened to see George Jones there again. I didn't bother to go up to him. He didn't come over to me either. So…that was that.
I met Doug (some guy who is originally from Berkeley) but who lives in the Venice Beach area now. His pal, Lee, was nice and I rapped with them for a while.

I also met a South African guy (originally from London) named John Murrough. He was a nice guy. We exchanged telephone numbers and we planned on meeting up the next day. We never did meet-up.

I also ran into a fellow named Dave Marks at the REVOLVER video bar up the street from THE RAGE; however, by the end of the night I ended up going to Gary Conger's apartment. I simply slept there. Ironically, Gary went out again! Why? I have no idea. Perhaps he needed to get a cocaine fix or have a few drinks.

"You can do ANYTHING you want…you know that!"
-AN EDUCATION
2009 motion-picture

Obsessive

"You can help LIFE along.  LIFE makes mistakes."

-GARCON STUPIDE
A 2005 French film

Twenty-five years ago today:

March 19, 1987
Thursday

It was really nice getting out of work at 4:30PM today but it didn't make much of a difference. There was still plenty of traffic to contend with (it was so bad).

Steve Adams made Freddie cry while he observed and listened to her on a call with a customer (Poor Freddie). Both Rhoda and I laughed about it later because Steve didn't know how to handle her when she started to cry. What a jerk.

I wanted to 'fast' today but Carla persuaded me to go and eat lunch with her at DON MIGUEL's again. I had already eaten two pancakes during breakfast!

I received a phone call from Mark Landreth on this night. That was nice.
Mark said, "I went to Carmel last weekend."
"Oh, is that why I didn't see your car parked near Lake Chabot last Sunday when I took a bike ride over that way?"
"Yeah…probably."
"I always look for your car because I know you like to run over there."
"Why didn't you go to the gym?"
"I guess it was more inspiring when you were there," I answered, "but I still go."
He never responds to these hints; yet, I know he detects my feelings.   He likes to stand safely against his brick wall.   I sometimes wonder if I am overly obsessed where he is concerned.
I went over to Dad's house and we watched a documentary program about William Randolph Hearst and Howard Hughes. It was pretty interesting. I went home and felt content about how my Dad is being so nice to me lately. Dad has a retirement fantasy of moving to New Mexico. He wants to buy some land and have sheep, horses and chickens. It sounds like such a different life from Harbor Bay Isle suburbia. I sometimes wonder how mom feels about going back in time and not being near family. Then again, we have so much family in New Mexico. It's just that we don't communicate with them as often.

I tried to telephone Eileen Grabinsky today but there was no answer.

I watched the DYNASTY spinoff show called THE COLBYS and packed my bags for my forthcoming L.A. weekend trip. I also watched the 20/20 Newsmagazine TV program on OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). It was interesting as they showed examples of people who wash their hands excessively or who clean house frequently or collect things they don't necessarily need for reasons unknown. There are some strange folks out there.

"You give it a nice little rest and you'll be surprised how perky it will be by morning."
-Petra to Henrik
As heard in the 2009 BROADWAY Musical
"A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC"