Parting Glances

"Just relax and let your mind go BLANK.  It shouldn't be hard for you."
-Sigourney Weaver
AVATAR motion-picture

Twenty-five years ago today:

January 27, 1987
Tuesday

Today is my dentist appointment, so I am allowed to depart my office at one o'clock (lucky me).
The dentist cleaned my teeth and I have a new appointment scheduled for February 19th. It's a 'no charge' visit to affix the composite bonding that has flared up in showing a slight stain on my front tooth.
James R Hinkle II DDS said, "It shouldn't show because I just didn't do as good a job as last time. "

After the dental work I went to visit mom. My niece, Ashley, was there.
Ashley now says, "Help! Help!" whenever someone comes over to the house. She clings to my mom for safety. Ashley became jealous because my mom was giving me all of the attention (and not her). It's fun to see Ashley's face 'light up' with excitement though.
Ashley's face lights up when I say, "Come on…lets' play!"

I went home and rode my bike for an hour (3:30PM until 4:30PM). It felt so good. There was a slight drizzle of rain but it subsided. While I felt good I also felt bad because I felt a tad out of shape. 'Biking it' inspired me because I knew I was 'working it'. I crashed at home for a much needed nap after the intense, fast-paced ride.

Margaret Lai called me by phone.

Bob Guild also called, inviting me over to Berkeley for a movie outing.

I slept until 6:40PM when I probably should have gone out to my gym to work out. Bob persuaded me to visit him. We ended up seeing "PARTING GLANCES".    It was a sort of a gay-themed film about a gay yuppie named Robert (John Bolger) who accepts an assignment in Africa that will put his strained relationship with his lover, Michael (Richard Ganoung), in limbo for the next few years.  Michael, meanwhile, tends the needs of his ex, Nick (Steve Buscemi), whose punk band's video is getting MTV airplay.  Bob also rented a film I recommended (that I like) called "VISION QUEST". I didn't stay to watch the rental. I left Bob's place by 9:15PM.
I said, "You know…your cheek looks a lot less swollen."
He was happy to hear me say this.
Bob replied, "I'm still off to see a specialist tomorrow because it's still inflamed on the inside of my mouth."
"Is it really?" I asked.
"Yes, I think it might be something serious."
I could see he was starting to get worried. I hope it turns out to be nothing.

I arrived home at 10PM when I called Mike Miller. He came over because he wanted me to snap some photos of him to send to his girlfriend. Her name is Carmen. He met her in Los Angeles. Or did he meet her in Las Vegas? In any case, she lives in the Anaheim Hills area.

I received a letter from Gregg Jonnson of Chicago, Illinois. He's that so-called friend of Johnny Schaefer who supposedly resembles Mel Gibson. He is a nice enough guy. I will have to write him again.

PHOTO: January 27, 1987,
Michael J Armijo at home, Alameda, CA
I took Mike Miller's pictures. He took one of me with my BIANCHI bike. I took a few more, too. It was fun doing this random photo shoot. Mike and I sat and watched Joan Rivers on the Tonight Show.
I had asked Mike, "How did you meet this Carmen?"
"Well, I dropped out of school and that's how I went to Vegas where I met her."
"I see."
"I'm looking into a job with Federal Express. They just called me back."
"That's great. I hope you get it!"

I received a call last night on my answering machine that went something like this: "Hi Michael…Bye Michael."
I kept replaying it but I'm not sure who it could have been. It could have been Gregg Jonsson in Chicago or it could also have been Frank Evans from Stanford University. It sounded long-distance. It remains a mystery.

"Most things don't work out the way we plan."
-Colin Firth
A SINGLE MAN, motion-picture