A Low Profile

Life is a question of nerves, and fibres, and slowly built-up cells in which thought hides itself and passion has its dreams.

-Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray

Twenty-five years ago today

October 28, 1986
Tuesday

I wonder if my second line manager (Nikki Bovee) likes me. She has a flirtatious nature. She's in her mid to late thirties. I wonder if I could sleep with her in order to get ahead and in to Directory Sales sooner versus later. I wonder if she ever worked in Yellow Page Sales.

Today was fun. Carla Guzman, the staff clerk, is so very lively. She makes the day much more fun.

Steve Adams, my direct boss, has the personality of a 'doorknob'.

The lady on-contract who works with me is named Cathy (also from San Jose). She keeps saying she won't be working there for very long as there's no point. I wonder what she means by that.

Margaret Lai and I went to B and M Chinese for lunch today. I shared a bit about my new job.

I received a postcard from Barbara Reynolds of a photo of Meryl Streep in-character from her French Lieutenant's Wife movie role. I remember telling Barbara that she reminded me of Meryl when we saw SOPHIE'S CHOICE together.  
Barbara wrote: 
Michael,I wish you sincere CONGRATULATIONS!   Congratulations on taking a step out of SF SDC.  I wonder how long I will remain here.
It feels a bit strange to thing of you leaving this office since I've almost lost contact with you.  I feel a little sad that we don't seem as close as we were two years ago...BUT somehow I still feel as close to you...the drift seems to me that we (or I) got mixed up in that D.O. (Dale Orlando) thing.   Sorry about that but then...you know..it happened and it is past and could be forgotten.  It is simply that I don't know how you feel about that episode.   Perhpas you'll let me know when you'd like to have a lunch date with me.  I'm ready and not feeling too assertive, so if you could contact me at 542-6500 I would certainly be happy.  
Good luck to you.Always a friend & Love,
BarbaraPS-Today I am basking in the sun with the sounds at the Drakes Beach in Point Reyes...a healing and happy experience.

I also received a card from Johnny Schaefer.
Barbara was a bit skeptical about calling me, realizing our 'closeness' had died-off since working together two years ago in Downtown Oakland. She feels it's from her interference in the Dale Orlando incident (whatever that means). I will give her a call about lunch in San Francisco.

I made it for my workout at the gym tonight. I didn't see my first cousin, Joey Armijo, this time around. I did see Mark Landreth in his half-SUNKIST t-shirt. He did the cardio class. I didn't. I simply worked out. Russ talked to me for a bit. He's QBL (Questionable).

Rhoda Takeda, a Japanese girl from the San Bruno Residential Account Service Center and Paul Margolis (from my former SDC department) will be working with me in the Account Collections Center at PBD (Pac Bell Directory. Another little Chinese girl named Lily from Street Address Directories will be working with me as well. Oh well…such is life.

Frank Vasconcellos telephoned again. He's all hyped-up about the Gift Center outing on Friday night a la a limousine with his cohorts.

Jim Koran from Los Angeles called me. He suggested I fly down to L.A. I may fly down one forthcoming weekend.
Jim said, "I'm keeping a low profile."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, you know, I'm just not going out anymore like I used to."
I will have to see about flying down one weekend. It might be fun for a change of pace.

My new job seems like it will get boring quickly. I make my first few calls to clients tomorrow.

I telephoned Mark Landreth. We are attending the Halloween Gym Party on Thursday night.
Mark asked, "Do you want to go to this other party in Foster City on Friday night that I got invited to?"
"Sure, I'll go with ya."

As for this coming Saturday…I don't know yet.

I think I'll go to work a tad early tomorrow and check out the breakfast menu in the cafeteria.

Tomorrow I have a scheduled lunch with Dale.

"You can't blame a person for who they are."
-MULLIGAN'S,
2008 film