I'm The Instigator

Sara:  Roland thinks L.A. is a place for the brain-dead.  He says, if you turned off the sprinklers, it would turn into a desert.  But I think - I don't know, it's not what I expected.  It's a place where they've taken a desert and turned it into their dreams.  I've seen a lot of L.A. and I think it's also a place of secrets:  secret houses, secret lives, and secret pleasures.  And no one is looking to the outside for verification that what they're doing is all right.  So what do you say, Roland?Roland:  I still say it's a place for the brain-dead.--Steve Martin, from the 1991 Film, L.A. STORY
I was so “touched” when I departed the car with mom at Ashley at the Oakland Airport.   Ashley gave me a card to take with me to read while I was on the plane.  It was a homemade card and I came to realize that “homemade” cards are definitely the best.   The time and care it takes to make them is unreal and quite beautiful.  Ashley took the time to draw a bright sun that was shining along with a Southwest Airplane and a couple of clouds.   Inside the card she included a sticker of a pencil (an image to inspire me to write to her from Los Angeles).   Ashley wrote:
Bye-Bye Uncle Mike!!!Bye!
Uncle Mike,Since ”your” going I want to say I LOVE YOU one more time.   AshleyP.S. I “promis” I will write. 
Upon my arrival back to West Hollywood I found a postcard in my mailbox from Barbara Reynolds, making me feel a tad guilty that I didn’t get to see her while in the Bay Area.   Her card reminded me of how CALIFORNIA is the only State ‘to be’…there’s so much here that one needn’t go anywhere else.  It confirmed my choice to always Live-in California.  Why leave?  Barbara wrote: 2, Feb. 91Mike – Thinking for now…but too much happening.What do we do with the cost of sending mail rising?  Things okay really…figuring out those buttons that make me feel weird.  It’s good.  I do know a point of happiness.   I saw “ALICE”, a Woody Allen film last week (A spoiled Manhattan housewife re-evaluates her life after visiting a Chinatown healer, starring Mia Farrow and William Hurt).  Good!Mary Lance’s retro-dinner is on Feb 15th.  I’m going with Beth and Linda Layman, too.  Tres exciting.Should I have told you sooner?  My work hours are now 9:30am-6pm…Tel# 811-0800 between 9-5pm.I hope things are great.
Love, Barbara
And, of course, I was back to my work and school routine; however, I was on countdown mode for Graphic Design classes to end.  I couldn’t wait for my last day.  In my spare time I will soon be able to catch up on movies to see.   Alan and I saw the new Steve Martin comedy called “L.A. STORY”.  We laughed at the scene when he parked his car a block away from his house because no one walks in L.A.   It’s true.  It’s terrible.  I love to walk.  I tend to see more when I walk (that when I bike).   I miss a lot when I drive.  Ugh!
I was in the mood to write Paloma a long letter as she had recently wrote to me.  I had more time on my hands and it's my way of spending time with her; however, the long-distance apart.   I found six cards from my archives to use and also sent her a beautiful photocopy of a Polaroid photo that I had taken of my niece, Leigh E Armijo, while in Alameda a few days ago.

Card 1: Tarzan and Jane
February 6, 1001, 9:00AM,
Hi Paloma,
Thanks for the MADRID, Spain postcard.  How exciting for you to be in SPAIN!  I really liked SPAIN when I visited.  That must be funny seeing cousins from 'way back when'.  I bet you and Alexandre had a good time.

Sorry I have not written more frequently but you know how it is when you get caught up in the every day world.

Here are a few cards I had and I picked out especially for you.  Which one do you like best?

My schooling finally ends on February 15, 1991.  Than I polish-up my portfolio and go on interviews for an internship.  I want an internship in the ENTERTAINMENT field.  I'd like to help design movie posters and/or CD covers for record companies or book covers.

Card 2: Black and White filling up a human with gasoline to 'perk up'
I am also getting my own business card, letterhead and envelopes of which I personally designed myself.  I will send you copies of each when they are ready.  Since I will be designing things I will need more influential design ideas.   So please continue to sen me anything you see that is wild, zany, eye-catching in any magazines (or cards).  Please send them to me.  I won't copy it exactly but I can conform the idea with some changes.  So do keep me in mind.

The French actor, Girard Depardieu (did I get the spelling right?), is getting a lot of recognition in town.  He won a BEST ACTOR Award in a comedy for the Golden Globes last week for his part in the movie, GREEN CARD.  Did you see that movie?


Card 3: Air France
GREEN CARD was pretty good.  It brought back memoreis of "us".  I think mostly because he is a French actor.  He is also in CYRANO DE BERGERAC which is supposed to be a good movie.  I may go to see it.  He is also in a new movie with Robert DeNiro called GUILTY BY SUSPICION.  I keep seeing his face and name all over the place.  Card #2 reminds me that I need to refuel and go bike riding more often.   Card #1 I piced up at an ART show: Tarzan and Jane.  It could have been us from yesteryear.   Card #3 reminds me of me going to see YOU via Air France!  Card #4...well, shouldn't that me me and you coming down the stairs?   Card #5 is definitely your body-likeness.  Card #6 is my body-likeness (no laughing!).  

Card #4:  A Fancy Hotel with a Fancy Staircase
I went to Alameda this past weekend (Feb 2nd, 3rd) to see mom, my brothers, sister in laws and five nieces.  It was short...but sweet.  

How is Jonathan?

I am working on designing my own brochure to promote myself as a Freelance Graphic Artist. Hopefully I will get work on the side in addition to getting hired 'in-house' somewhere.  Time will tell.  I will keep you posed and once I have my actual brochure completed I will send you a cop of that, too.  

My days are more free now that I left that "ugh" job on January 7, 1991...but I've had a chance to create some new artwork that I normally would not have been able to do had I been working.  I did an ink drawing and a fictitious movie psted called ABANDONED IN THE AMAZON.   My brochure will show some of my work, so be prepared to make your honest critique. 

Card #5: Sexy Gal in Lingerie
So, Paloma...do you have any undies like this? Ha-ha.

After I finish this letter to you I may go to the beach in Santa Monica and try bicycling for a while.  I have to be at my class by 6PM.  I am working on a magazine ad for a children's breakfast cereal.  It is due on Friday night. 

Jeez...It is hard to believe I saw you in July 1990 and it is almost a year since then.  Times sure does fly by.  It is amazing how short life can be.  I was answering some fill-in-the-blank psychological questionnaire and one of the questions was:  HOW MANY MORE YEARS TO YOU THINK YOU HAVE TO LIVE?  I thought, well,if I am thirty-one...I have forty or fifty years left and that is NOT very long at all.  I better enjoy life to the fullest.  You should too!   Don't hesitate to do the things you want to do.

Oh...here are two om my nieces, HOLLY and LEIGH (photocopies enclosed).  They are four days apart in age, both born in 1988.

Card #6: A Naked Man, posing (me) Ha-ha

I xeroxed the photos of HOLLY and LEIGH because I was going to attempt an ink drawing of each of them.  I had a couple of extra copies, so I thought you'd like to see them.  Aren't they cute?

I am looking forward to your postcard from the IBIZA area.  I know you're enjoying yourself, considering you traveled from PARIS to CALIFORNIA I know traveling is a favorite past-time for you.  I may go to Las Vegas in a couple of weeks.  I have this "itch" to go to New York again, too.  Maybe I will go in the Springtime.

Oh well...it's about 10AM now and I guess I will escape and go do something productive.  

It looks liked DANCES WITH WOLVES may win BEST PICTURE of the year.  They announce the Academy Award nominees on February 13th.  
Keep laughing...
Love, You, Michael
P.S.  Tell Alexandre I said "HI" and Jonathan, too.  
P.S.  Have you bee in touch with your brother in the USA?

I also received a fun, sexy card from Dorothy Rua.  When I saw the cover of the card I thought, “Uh-oh…does Dorothy have the hots for me…or what?”  Ha-ha   Perhaps I ‘egg her on’ with the cards I send.  I’m the instigator. Dorothy wrote:
2-10-91Dear Michael,As I mentioned on the phone I loved all four of the cards you sent!   And what a wonderful surprise to open my mailbox and discover the bonanza!   The fellow with his shopping card was so appropriate for today’s times.   And the boss with his secretary in the 1950’s convertible reminded me so much of that little card store on Grand Street in The City.  What a great way to work!   Then again, more room in the back seat! Ha!  I can be so bad…
Speaking of bad, you’re really BAD…in your usual fun way, of course.   I mean, when I saw the GUY AND GAL card (unable to perform) I really did say “Holy Shit” out loud in the car.   Like I said, thank goodness I got the mail that day!   The one thing we both know is you wouldn’t have sent it if you thought I wouldn’t enjoy it so much!  Ha!  It’s great.  Plus…the fourth card gave me some insight into your choice of intimate clothing!  Yes, you sent quite a selection and they were all very much enjoyed!  Thanks… I really hope something wonderful develops in the entertainment field for you.  I know it’s where you should be.   As the title of that one book says:  “DO WHAT YOU LOVE, THE MONEY WILL FOLLOW”.  Keep me posted, especially if Alan’s contact develops into something.
Things are really busy at Pac Tel Business Systems and the purchase off the company is scheduled to occur next month.  I don’t know how much longer I’ll be there.   We’ll see.   Things are much the same on the home front.  Nicole is playing soccer on a competitive team this winter so that keeps us busy.   She’s looking forward to the school Valentine dance this week.   Jean-Paul begins Little League practice next month for the new season.   Wasn’t I just writing you about how happy I was to see last season ending?   I’ve learned he also has his first “crush” on a girl at school!  
This can’t be happening!  I don’t feel old enough to have kids old enough to be attracted to the opposite sex!  Oh well, it’s all in the attitude, or so I keep saying.
I did have an opportunity to join friends for a few drinks after work on Friday.  We had a fun time.  How I could use more Rest and Relaxation!  How I would love to visit with MJA sometime in his life.Like this card?  Make ME feel GREAT.  I mean, really FINE.  Hope you like it, too.Happy Valentine’s Day! Love, Dorothy
Alan knows some fellow who owns a Promotional Movie Poster company.   In fact, Alan and his partner, Art, almost bought the company.   Alan’s trying to connect me with the company to see if I can get some sort of Graphic Artist position there; however, he may be selling the company.  So, who knows?  It could simply be a dead end.   Something is better than nothing though.On a more pleasurable note…Alan and I made it out to see another movie.  
This one was a suspenseful-thriller called SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY.   There was a scene that looked like a cool house in Malibu.  I was sure that Alan and I had walked-by it during one of our shoreline beach strolls over there.   The movie starred JULIA ROBERTS as a young woman who fakes her own death in an attempt to escape her nightmarish marriage, but discovers it is impossible to elude her controlling husband.   
It was good edge-of-your-seat action movie.  We loved it.
“I can't live without you.  And I won't let you live without me.”--as heard while watching the 1991 film, SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY