Michael Joe Armijo's Blog, page 97

If Elvis Had a Son

PHOTO: Elvis lookalike (dad) and mom
"I'm tingling with curiosity."
-The Man From Nowhere
2010 South Korean film

Twenty-five years ago today:

January 8, 1987
Thursday

It's Elvis Presley's Birthday again. I always think of my Dad. He had an amazing resemblance to Elvis. If Elvis had a son, I could have been him.

My nose has still been stuffed-up. It's annoying. I scheduled a doctor appointment because of my new medical coverage. I also verified my dentist appointment on January 27th.

I telephoned Eileen and explained about Carla's Birthday party.
"So, do you want to go to Carla's party?"
"Well, that sounds fun…but I like parties with a theme."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, you know---like a dress code of just red, black or white."
"I'm not sure if she has a theme but it can still be fun."
Eileen changed the subject, "You know, I'm going with my sister to Le Paradis tonight…maybe you should go, too."
"I'll try and see. I think Carla told me at work today that she was going to Le Paradis tonight."
I thought to myself, "I just may go."

I fell asleep after my work day. At 7:30PM Sherri called.
Sherri said, "Hi Mike, my girlfriend Kim is here and I thought you might want to go out with us for a Mexican dinner."
"It's kind of too late to eat for me but I want to come over now anyway because I have an ELROY of 'The Jetsons' stuffed toy to give to Ashley."Ashley loved ELROY. Ashley wanted me to stay at her house. She wanted to spend time with me. Ashley really knows how to touch my heart. It's a great feeling when a child shows affection to an adult.

Kim (Sherri's friend) looked pretty cute.   It was nice to meet her.

I did leave for my gym. There weren't a lot of familiar faces there tonight. I didn't even see Mark.

I returned home and called Sherri.
"Hi. I just wanted to tell you that I liked Kim. She's cute. Maybe we could arrange something."
"Oh I'll see.  Right now we're watching KNOTS LANDING."
"Oh okay, no problem…I'll let you go for now."

I got ready and went to Le Paradis after all. I didn't see Eileen at the club at first. Then I noticed her. I was sure she saw me but she didn't come over to talk to me. It sort of bummed me out. I sat at the bar and ordered two fuzzy navel cocktails. The bar service was 'the shits'. I decided I was going to leave when I suddenly saw Carla.

I met Carla's friends (Marina, Carlos and some other fellow). I didn't bother to stay for very long. I danced with Carla but I left at twenty minutes after midnight. I was in bed by one o'clock.

I was thinking of Eileen as I was lying in bed.
I thought, "What a wench to play games and not come up to me while I was sitting alone at the bar. Then again, I played the game by not going to her either. Oh well…"

Tomorrow night I will be hanging out with Bob Guild in Berkeley. It might be a fun adventure. Who knows? This friend of Sherri's (named Kim) might work out for me.

I did see the blond looker at the gym today. We merely exchanged small talk…or at least I did. She barely blurts anything. I'm beginning to feel that's a hopeless cause.
PHOTO: Jan. 27, 1987-Self-Portrait in my pad with my new BIANCHI bike

I have been feeling run down lately. I may ride my new BIANCHI bike a bit on Saturday. I intend to sleep a lot on Saturday.
Bob said, "You know, you can stay over on Friday night."

I am skeptical and I don't know if I will spend the night at his apartment or not.

"Give chance a chance."
-as heard watching the 2008 film PARIS

To Be On-Guard

"It would be cowardice in me NOT to carry out an action which maybe could be useful to me."

-Stendhal
The Red and the Black

Twenty-five years ago today:

January 7, 1987
Wednesday

I continually have to blow my nose. At least it's not running non-stop anymore. It's definitely stuffed-up a bit.

Carla Guzman returned to work today. We ate lunch together in the cafeteria in memory of Pacific Bell's three-year birthday as its own company. There was a special luncheon served because of it.

Carla is having a birthday party on Saturday, January 10, 1987. She has invited me to attend.
"You can bring Eileen," Carla announced.
I was surprised about the invitation to include Eileen. That was sweet of her. She mentioned Mark, too but I hate to invite both Mark and Eileen because they I'd feel I'd have to be on-guard of both of them to ensure they had a good time. I think I'll just go with Eileen. Besides, she and I originally had a date set up for Saturday at the CARNELIAN ROOM. It seems we can never make it to that place.

I fell asleep as soon as I arrived home. I was awakened by a phone call by Greg Manachevitz at 6:45PM. How annoying is that? It seems that Mike Miller, Greg and some new San Mateo friend of theirs that recently moved here from Indiana was over and they were all going to a movie.
Greg asked, "Do you want to come with us?"
I was groggy and chose not to join them because my priority is the gym on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights.

I received a card from Greg Jonnson in Chicago. He supposedly slightly resembles Mel Gibson (according to Johnny Schaefer). He was also the culprit in the 'Johnny vs. Jeff Lindfors' Chicago person scandal. It was nice of him to send d me a card. I responded by sending him a card as well. How harmless could that be?

I received a message from Eileen.
She asked, "Hi Jake Jag, I was wondering if you could meet me at the Double Rainbow Ice-Cream shop for a coffee drink tonight?"
I was at the gym when she called. I tried to return her call but she wasn't home.

Bob Guild called and left a message also.
Bob asked, "Hey Mike, could you return my call when you get this?"
I returned his call and asked, "What are you up to?"
Bob politely stated, "I just made lasagna and I'm having dinner. Hey listen, I was wondering if you might be able to come over on Friday night to have dinner here."
"Sounds like a deal to me."
Bob's astrological sign is LIBRA. He was born on October 14th. I think we seem to get along rather well. I like him. I guess Friday night will be fun.

I really think I want to go to Hawaii in February. It's chilly here and I could use some rays of sunshine. I shall wait and see before I make the final decision.

I went on a break with Carla today. When I returned to my desk Nikki Bovee (my second line manager) and Bob (the fourth line manager) were at my desk, looking through my accounts. It almost seemed like a scene from THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR.  I felt a feeling of alarm.  It was as if I was being investigated without my knowledge.  Nikki started to commend me on my organizational skills. Her comments made me feel much better.

There's a Directory Sales job opening in Los Angeles. I cannot even submit for the opening until my time-in-title is completed for this current job. I have to wait until April 1988. It's only fifteen months away.

Mark Landreth was at the gym, wearing his half-SUNKIST t-shirt. He shows off his abdominal muscles and it looks really hot. I try to look when he doesn't notice though I am sure he can see me 'see'.

When Mark left the gym he said, "I have to rest up for the weekend."

I wondered if he wants to do something.

Then he added, "My ma and pa have that FIRST BLOOD videotape, so I may borrow it."

I wondered if he would bring the videotape over (on Sunday) to watch it at my house if I asked him. I felt a shy shadow reign over me and I didn't ask.

Happiness is available. Please help yourself to it. All of us have the capacity of transforming neutral feelings that can last a long time.
-Thich Nhat Hanh
BEING PEACE

'I Don't Want To Do It'

"Be everything and anything you want to be."

-Michael J Armijo
Philosophical Statements

Twenty-five years ago today:

January 6, 1987
Tuesday

I was right! I got to pick another day off in the place of July 4th since it falls on a Saturday this year. I now have a week off in February, one week in June and two weeks in November. I will also take a week sick (probably in April). I may even take another week sick between May and December. I need 'my' time.

Carla didn't show up for work again. We brought in a cake for her birthday and she didn't even show up. Oh well…we ate it anyway.

I enjoyed my lunch with Rhoda Takeda again.

I made it to the gym again after a good nap from 6PM – 7PM.

Mark Landreth, Stuart Western and Kathy Ortega were all at the gym. I simply did my workout and went straight home. It was the same ole, same ole.

I telephoned Margaret Lai and we've confirmed a lunch date for this Thursday. She's a sweetie.
Margaret whispered, "You know, Mike, I was dating my neighbor."
"That's nice. There's nothing wrong with that."
"Yeah, but he wanted to YOU KNOW WHAT."
"Oh," I laughed.
Margaret confided, "And I don't want to do it…not yet anyway."

I called Eileen.
"Hi," I announced, "I was just thinking of you."
"You were?"
"Yes a lot, too."
"Oh yeah…you know, I don't believe that you write about me in your journal."
I knew this was a ploy for me to read my words to her. I think we mutually like one another a lot. That's a plus. We definitely decided that we will dine at the CARNELIAN ROOM on Saturday night.
Eileen said, "Saturday is perfect because I want to go out with Katrina this Friday night."
I thought quietly to myself, "Oh God, that Katrina is so geeky."

I telephoned Bob Guild and we agreed to hit a movie this Friday in Berkeley. He lives in Berkeley. We plan to have coffee and just 'hang out' and get to know one another better.

I wrote Eileen two cards. I will mail them tomorrow.

Sometimes, he reached across and brushed a stray stand of hair from her eyes. The gesture was so unaffected, almost solemn, that the mother ignored the impropriety.
-Bette Bao Lord
SPRING MOON

Cool Whip

"Remember the most effective attack is not always the direct one; cultivate subtleties."
-Bette Bao Lord
SPRING MOON

Twenty-five years ago today:

January 5, 1987
Monday

Here are a couple of my fortunes that were inside my Chinese fortune cookies:

Rely on your own good judgment to lead you to success.

You have an ambitious nature and may make a name for yourself.

It was not easy waking up this morning. I managed somehow. I had some coffee at work and that wired-up my psyche.

My sister-in-law, Sherri, called me at work.
"Mike, do you think you could watch Ashley for me while I register for some class at College of Alameda?"
"Of course, okay."

I arrived home and received my new Patelco Credit Union checks that I had ordered. I wrote out a couple of checks and then got ready for the gym when Johnny Schaefer called me. We had a brief talk.
Johnny asked, "Did Greg call you from San Francisco?"
I lied about speaking to him.
"No, I didn't talk to him. I did get a recorded message from him though."
 I don't know why I lied. I just didn't feel like any drama at that moment.

Ashley, my niece, is so cute. She put her arm around me while I read DONALD DUCK; HUEY, DEWEY & LOUIE; and another fairy-tale book. Ashley was going to let me take one of the books home but NOT the 'WINNIE THE POOH' book. It was pure joy to babysit Ashley.

I made it to the gym after 8PM. Russ was there and we exchanged a few words.
Russ exclaimed, "You know, I haven't been here for like two weeks!"

Kathy Ortega came by to interrogate me about my outing with Mark on NEW YEAR'S EVE to the Hyatt Regency. She is so NMT (Not My Type).

Mark and Dave also came by the gym. Dave left quickly but Mark talked to me for a while.
Mark said, "Tina Titus called me Sunday night."
I asked, "What about Dana, the twin?"
"Oh, she ended up not visiting me on Sunday."
I mentioned, "Well, I went out with Eileen for dinner and we saw that 'Morning After' movie."
Mark left and I went to SAFEWAY. I was amazed that there were no bananas! I was craving some potassium.

I telephoned Mark Landreth again at around 10:20PM when I was relaxing at home.
I said, "Oh, I forgot to tell you something."
"What?"
"I saw YOUR girl tonight."
"Who's that?"
"Kathy Ortega!"
He laughed, realizing I was joking with him.
"Well, I saw your girl…Anne…but I just said HI."
"You did?"
"Yeah, you know---I had this kinky experience with this girl once."
"REALLY…C'mon, tell me what happened?"
"Let's just say it involved a lot of shaving cream."
I laughed and proceeded to ask if he'd ever heard of a girl from Hayward named Tammy Duhr.
"No, never heard of her."
"Oh, well she went to your Arroyo High School but she was a couple of years younger than you. You made me think of her because Tammy and I had our own little experience with COOL WHIP."
I shared a few other kinky stories because he wanted to hear them.
I said, "I'll tell you another one…another time."

I was too fearful to share a man-to-man story of intimacy with him.   I was tempted.   It seemed like the perfect time.  We continued the flirtatious talk and contemplated stripping for future bachelorette parties.  He's all for it.  We are seriously considering it to make some extra money on the side. Ha-ha…maybe it's his way of dancing with me.

I found Bob Guild's business card in my wallet and telephoned him. He had left a message on my recorder. I called him back and we talked. We both concurred about the good time we had last night.
Bob said, "You know, we should go for an amateur bike ride some time."
"Sure, let's do that," I answered.

The call ended.  I realized that he really is a nice chap though a tad controlling.

"He is a control freak though I am the better driver."
-Margaret Hawkins
How We Got Barb Back

The Morning After

"If LOVE is liking someone an awful lot, then I suppose I'm in love with several people."
-Stieg Larsson
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

Twenty-five years ago today:

January 4, 1987
Sunday

I woke up and I telephoned Eileen Grabinsky. She had left me a message on my answering machine last night. We talked for a good while this morning.
At the end of our conversation I said, "Well, I'm biking it on the new wheels."

Before I hopped on the new BIANCHI wheels I called Mark Landreth.
Mark answered in a lonely monotone way by asking, "Hello?"
"Hey, I'm going to hop on my new bike and I was thinking of riding to San Lorenzo. Will you be home?"
"Yeah, I'll be here."
He sounded like he could stand a visit.
I left at precisely noon but got a flat tire on Doolittle Drive. Bummer!

I ran into my dad who was taking his walk along Harbor Bay Parkway.  I walked my bike while we walked with me. It was a nice, spontaneous and unexpected time with dad.

I ended up taking my bike to a Berkeley bike shop where they raised the seat and fixed the flat tire. I was raring to go and went biking over to ma and pa's house. Mom and Dad were in mellow out mode.
Dad said, "We're not having dinner here tonight."
I responded by saying, "Well, I may be over anyway because I need help zipping my rear window of my convertible."

When I returned to my pad I called Mark but his line was busy.
I telephoned Eileen again and she persuaded me into driving over to Burlingame.
I exclaimed, "Hey yeah, we can have dinner somewhere, too!"

Greg Jonnson called me from the San Francisco Airport. He was on his way to Chicago. He seems like a nice enough chap but there was not time for me to go over to meet him (especially since I was already set with my plan to see Eileen). Greg's layover was only a couple of hours. He's an okay guy. We had a good talk though.

Eileen and I ended up dining at NATHAN's in Burling game.  The final cost was thirty-two dollars.  We then hit the road for Hillsdale Mall in San Mateo to see the new Jane Fonda, Jeff Bridges flick called "THE MORNING AFTER".  Eileen is so funny.  I had to explain to her who the murderer was after the movie.  We departed with kisses in front of her doorstep.  That moment seemed like a movie in and of itself.  She gave me a butterscotch lifesaver (my favorite).
I left in my car and found myself in a dense fog on the freeway. I made the wrong exit and took a whiz at a nearby hole-in-the-wall. I had to pee badly. While there I met Bob Guild as I asked him for directions. Bob went to school at Harvard University. I was impressed and found him thoughtful to take the time to talk to me. He claimed that he came from a well-to-do family but had a bit of bad luck and now works as a commission salesman in the furniture business.
"I work at Brueners in Daly City. Here's my card," Bob said, flashing a smile with his blond, older looking Troy Donahue looks.
Bob is a nice chap. We got to know each other pretty well in such a short time.

While I was out with Eileen I received phone calls from an unknown chap named Ellison, my mom, Mark Landreth, Johnny Schaefer and Lottie (of Sacramento).

I didn't sleep very well but I will make up for it the following night (if I get to bed early).

"We had a wild talk session covering God, sex, crime, war, etc, etc."
-James Kirkwood
Good Times, Bad Times, a novel

The 'Priscilla Presley' Lookalike

"I never lie. I omit."
-David's Birthday
2009 Italian film

Twenty-five years ago today:

January 3, 1987
Saturday

It's funny how Ashley blamed Lauren for putting rice in the coffee bin. She's a character.

I called that phone number and met Ellison the other night. We had a lengthy discussion. I think his phone number is 931-7708. He does documentary videos and seemed like a nice enough gent.

I woke up and took mom out for breakfast at Ole's Waffle Shop on Park Street. I saw Lori Jennings from my high-school graduating class. She was blonder and looked more mature.

After breakfast mom and I watched "Beverly Hills Madam" starring Faye Dunaway and Donna Dixon while at mom's house. I took a nap on the couch after the movie.

When I woke up I called Eileen Grabinsky. Of course, she wasn't there. She and I were planning to go to the Carnelian Room in San Francisco for dinner. We talked about going out later but I decided to accept Mark Landreth's offer.
Mark had asked, "Do you want to go out to that HOTS joint in Pleasanton to meet up with the twins, Dana and Jana?"

The HOTS joint in Pleasanton turned out to be kind of a drag though. I saw a tan Priscilla Presley lookalike. Unfortunately, she left the place much too early. Nothing came of the chance meeting other than 'small talk'. I will likely never see her again.
PHOTO:  Priscilla Presley

I didn't win the LOTTO lottery ticket this week. Mom and I played together for the first time. It was fun.

Carla's birthday is tomorrow.
If I'm not mistaken she said, "I'm having a birthday party next weekend!"

I think I would like to attend.

Mark and I hung out with the twins (Dana and Jana) in the HOTS parking lot for a while for some mild chit chat. Then we left. Mark and I made a deal to get-together again tomorrow. He's becoming more QBL (Questionable).

"I'd rather not play your emotional tug-of-war."
-David's Birthday
2009, Italian film

Poison Ivy

He had been transformed to a little blip on the horizon, a minor perturbation factor in her existence.

-Stieg Larsson
"The Girl Who Played With Fire"

Twenty-five years ago today:

January 2, 1987
Friday

At least it's Friday. There's no denying that I still had to report to work. The traffic conditions were so free this morning. I woke up at 7:05AM. During the drive to work I wondered how Eileen Grabinsky enjoyed her New Year's Eve.

I was excited to realize that on May 3, 1987 I will be working the 8AM to 4PM work shift. In April I plan on calling in sick for a week. I may even do it in March just to get some additional time off.

Carla Guzman returned to work. She persuaded me to go to 'DV8' tonight. It's a nightclub in San Francisco. As the hours flew by I realized I wasn't going to go after all.

I telephoned Mark Landreth to see what he was doing on this Friday night.
Mark answered, "I'm going out with Ivy."
That's his on again/off again girlfriend that he knows from high-school. Her name is Ivy but I've nicknamed her Poison Ivy.
"Oh, it's Poison Ivy night, huh?"
"Yeah," Mark laughed.

Eileen had to watch those three little boys in Hillsborough, so she couldn't go out either.

I decided to go out on my own to THE VORTEX. I met a gal named Peggy who happened to be a waitress there. I also talked to the bartender, Brian. I met a few new ones that I happened to dance with. I met Cindy from Chico, California.  And I met Charm Barber of Santa Clara, California and Julie of Washington DC.  I really got 'a kick' out of that girl's name:  Charm Barber.   She's a cute blond and likes to dance to my kind of music, too.  I ended up leaving the club at 2AM.  I had a good time.

"There's always a flip side of the coin."
-David's Birthday,
2009, Italian film

"We Finally Made It To The Future"

"Know what's behind you.  Keep your balance at all times."
-Draco to Perseus
(Mads Mikkelsen to Sam Worthington)
CLASH OF THE TITANS, 2010 motion-picture

Twenty-five years ago today:

January 1, 1987
Thursday

It is noon and I just woke up THANKS to Mom's phone call.

I drove over to mom's house and we went to South Shore Shopping Center together. We rented a movie and bought a present for her Filipino co-worker, friend at the post-office who is having a fifty year anniversary.  Most of the stores were closed.  It was raining.

I ran into Carole McRory at the Wherehouse Records. She put on a few pounds but she still looked good. She was my junior prom date back in 1976. We talked a bit about our ten-year high school reunion.
"How is married life treating you?"
Carole answered, "Fine."
I wondered.

Mike Miller called me, so I returned his phone call. It was six o'clock.
"Why don't you come over?" I asked.
I had already watched "The Incredible Shrinking Woman" with ma and pa. I also had a nice dinner with them. I decided to go home, so I thought it would be nice to have Mike over for company.

Mike Miller and I ended up watching "The Revolution". It was a slow moving story. Then we watched "Eating Raoul" which was rather amusing. Mark Landreth phoned while we were watching "The Revolution".

Mark asked, "How are you feeling after last night?"
I laughed. We talked for a while.
Mark said, "I have to work tomorrow."
We had a good laugh reminiscing about 453-9911. That's the telephone number to the gal named Maria that Mark had met.
Mark added, "Oh, Thanks again for the ticket to the New Year's Eve party."
"Oh, no problem…I'm sure I'll see you at the gym tomorrow night."
"Yeah, it's most likely."

Mike Miller wrote in my HOUSE BOOK once again. I liked what he wrote tonight:


1-1-87, Yes, 1987


Hello Mike!


Today is January 1st 1987 and a recovering Thursday. One thousand nine-hundred and eighty-seven years. I can't believe we finally made it to the future. Well, what's new for 1987? Do you have any ingenious plans? I like your Bianchi for 87.
What are you going to do for your vacation days? Palm Springs and New York in 86 but what about 87?
Well, I'm going to enjoy THE REVOLUTION and being sick for now.
Check out this black haired lady and Max Headroom.
Oh well, see you later at 8:49PM in the evening.
Peace.
Michael Miller

I went to bed after Mike Miller left.

I JO'd, thinking it would make me fall asleep faster.

I guess my New Year resolution for 1987 is to buy a lottery ticket each week, exercise diligently, body build and watch what I eat more carefully.

"Everything is important to remember."
-John Katzenbach
"THE ANALYST"

California Dreamin'

It was this simple.  Some had it.  Others would always falter when it came to the crunch.

-Stieg Larsson
THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST

Twenty-five years ago today:

December 31, 1986
Wednesday

Hurrah! I didn't have to work today. I woke up early and went to mom's house for coffee and a freshly warmed cinnamon roll. I watched two episodes of I LOVE LUCY until mom woke up to join me.

Mom made some chicken soup. That was so good. It seemed to clear me up.

I was sleeping a lot of the day, trying to get rejuvenated for tonight. I can't believe I have to feel this way on New Year's Eve. This isn't the way to begin a new year.

Johnny Schaefer telephoned.
"Hey Mike, I just wanted to wish you a Happy New Year!"

Stuart Western telephoned as well.
"Hey Mike, what are you up to?"
I explained my being sick with hopes of going out later tonight.

The Christmas Card that Mark Landreth sent me had fallen from its place on the wall. I re-read it and laughed aloud.


He wrote:
Mike,
I hope you like the picture of us in the Tour of S.F.
It was taken by a reverse angle lens—because it shows that you are in front of me. That's impossible!
If you don't like this card that's too bad because you was with me when I picked it out.
Merry Christmas.
Ray Stingray
MAL (Mark Anthony Landreth)


I telephoned Mark Landreth at around six-thirty. He came over to my place at around eight-thirty. We took off in my car for the Hyatt-Regency in San Francisco for a New Year's Eve celebration.

The event turned out to be quite fun. It was crowded and we got an eyeful. There were a few "lookers" that turned our heads every which way. It's too bad a lot of them were with dates. There were some not so bad ones. There was one 'gross me out' redhead.

Mark and I simply enjoyed ourselves. There were hundreds and hundreds of balloons that came down at midnight. Mark pinched a blond ass so hard that she turned around and saw me standing there. Yikes! We met a few gals here and there. After the third gin and tonic they really started to look even prettier.

There was a fight or brawl outside of the hotel. We nearly got caught in the middle of it. Then we left and met two girls from Hollywood. It didn't lead to much.

We left for my place and Mark signed my House Book.
Mark wrote:

Here's to CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'
If we work on our Abdominals in this New Year—which is now by the way 87—this will become a reality that I personally enjoy. Here's to clean living. May the prevailing Northwest winds fill your New Year with things that are shown on this page-- By the way I'll have the blond in the white suit, you can have the one in the blue. Ha! Ha! We just got back from the Hyatt in San Fran New Year's Eve Party. She wasn't there but I'll find her this Summer while surf sailing.
Words to live by—
Mark 'Ray Stingray' 87

I slipped in my videocassette of the film "EXCALIBUR" as we lounged about, discussing the events of the night. Mark left my pad. When I looked at the clock it was four o'clock in the morning. I went to bed. Yawn. My new year has begun.

"Everyone has shadow zones, right?"
-as heard while watching
the 2009 Italian film
"DAVID's BIRTHDAY"

An Ambitious Nature

"Half of life consists of work."

-Ali: Fear Eats the Soul, 1974 film

Twenty-five years ago today:

December 29, 1986
Monday

I am still sick. I shouldn't be at work today but I am here. I will make the best of it. I am off from work on Wednesday and Thursday.

I have these ambitious aspirations. I cannot simply dream. I must at least attempt to act or I will get nowhere.
My fortune cookie fortune says: "YOU HAVE AN AMBITIOUS NATURE AND MAY MAKE A NAME FOR YOURSELF."
Could this be so?

I mentioned to Eileen Grabinsky, "You know…I write about you in my journal when we go out and whenever I think of you."
"You do?"
"Yes, I do."
She's sweet. Eileen telephoned and she had Brandon and Blake (the two chaps that she is a nanny to) leave a message on my answering machine. It was cute to hear the voices of those little boys. Sometimes I wonder if I will marry Eileen…or not. Somehow I do see her and me getting married. Strangely enough…it is so early in our relationship…but who knows?
Eileen says, "I want to be an actress."
Perhaps her wish is why the notion has spun into that idea for me.

Oh boy, I had the sniffles for a major part of the day. I still managed to get work done. I don't intend to work a lot tomorrow though. It's my Friday (since I will be off from work on Thursday and Friday). My next think to look forward to is my February vacation. I still have no plans as to what I will do.

I finally received my $8700 check from Sacramento. Half of it will go to one VISA and the other half to another VISA. That's life. At least I will have fewer bills to worry about. More importantly, all of my income will now be 'mine'.

Dale Orlando telephoned today. We are going to have lunch together tomorrow.

I was just thinking that I will be able to work from 8am to 4pm in just four months. I can't wait for that.

At lunch I went to BASS Tickets and used my $50 Gift Certificate for the NEW YEAR'S EVE event at the Hyatt-Regency. They cost more than expected. The tickets are forty-dollars each! I still came out ahead because of the fifty-dollar discount. I am allowing Mark Landreth to slide on the cost because he's my friend. Besides, I got my $8700 check today (even if it doesn't make me feel rich).

My dad came by my place and saw the check. Dad invited me over for dinner. Dad hinted about how he helped me out while I lived in Sacramento. He's dreaming if he thinks that just because I received that check that I have money because I certainly do not. Mom knows that, too.

I did some babysitting for Ashley while Sherri went out to visit her friend, Gina.

I telephoned Mark and learned that he didn't go to the gym either. We are both sick.
I said to Mark, "Well, get better and conserve your energy and I will get the tickets for Wednesday night."
He said, "All right."

I also returned a phone call to Jeff Lindfors in Anaheim. He's really a cool chap. The next time he comes up to Northern California I promised to give him a tour of San Francisco and the sights he has yet to see (Ocean Beach, COIT Tower, Broadway, The Castro area and Golden Gate Park).

Carla was sick today and last Friday. She didn't come to work. I missed her. I called her and –like me—she sounded quite sick. I was at work anyway.

I am starting to feel that my job is a drag. It's boring but I will get over it. I have sixteen months to go (or possibly less) and I can transfer elsewhere.

Michael found a seat on a couch with several other people already on it. Next to him was an attractive woman in a tweed suit. Soon they were deep in a friend conversation. He found her blunt-spoken and witty. Her speech crackled with profanity and earthy phrases, but she seemed warm and genuine, and he liked her at once. In a very short time they felt as if they had always known each other.
"My name's Carla," said the woman, "What's yours?"
"Michael."
-Nial Kent
"The Divided Path"