Leonard Lake's Diary Part 1

LEONARD LAKE'S DIARY
Welcome to Leonard Lake’s diary. We follow him through the first two weeks of 1983 as he settles into a two-room suite in a shared house and makes his first trip to his ex-wife’s cabin near Wilseyville, in California’s Calaveras County.
Cricket is his ex-wife Claralyn Balazs. Louie is her father. Fern and Patti are Lake’s sisters. Lake also visits friend Charles and wife Victoria. Lake was best man at their wedding.
NOTE: WE'LL BE MAKING REGULAR POSTS FOLLOWING A 2023 TIMELINE...
,ALL THE BEST FROM THE AUTHORS
FOREWORD WRITTEN 12 OCTOBER, 1983
Without question, this journal is dull. There are two main reasons for this: 1) My life is pretty dull. One day in 30 if I’m lucky something interesting, exciting, and/or profitable happens. The rest of the days are just the basics of staying alive.
Making plans (half of which will never see the light of day), keeping together, and wishing things were otherwise. 2) This book is really more of a log. It records what I do. With few exceptions, the reader will not find any great thoughts or deep studies within. I’ve considered another book to record simply my concepts of life,
but such would be more involved and probably a waste of time. Who would be interested? Who could I let read it? If any wonders why the term “Abridged” is used, it is simply a bit of self preservation. The depth of my sins are not recorded.
This Journal will never make a best seller and is not recommended reading. For those who do not believe me, you were warned. (SIGNED) Leonard lake-
SATURDAY 1 JANUARY, 1983
My first new year's resolution in a long time is to start a journal. I don't know how faithful I’ll be a such and no doubt the results will be dull, but what the heck. Today was a busy day. I confirmed my new room on 19th Ave today and gave my new landlord 1st and last month’s rent ($490). The room is strange, a basement room, large with a smaller room attached. It is well padded, having been used for a band rehearsal space before. The rest of the basement is junky / messy, something I’ll have to deal with. I haven’t met my housemates and I probably won’t for a few days. I moved most of my stuff in but not my bed so I’m sleeping at my sister’s (Fern’s) house. Other than moving, nothing exciting to report. Hang
gliding tomorrow.
SUNDAY 2 JANUARY, 1983
Up early and hang glided til dark. Dinner at Mom’s and to bed (very tired) by ten. I love both the sport and exercise but I doubt I’ll ever be good at it. As ever, much of the doings and fun of it is purely social and of course I have never been much of a mixer and / or social person. Sigh. Tonight will be the last at Fern’s. Move into
new room officially tomorrow.
MONDAY 3 JANUARY, 1983
Came over to my new space today and did some cleaning / organizing. Explored the neighborhood some (many nice little restaurants). Returned to Fern’s and had Carlos (their house guest) help bring over mattress / bed. Set some up. I officially live here now. Going back to Fern’s tonight to borrow car for trip to San Jose.
Didn’t make it to San Jose. Went to Mom’s for some business with Patty. Came back and socialized with my new roommates. Jeff and Lenett (L. is a very pretty blonde), and Marcell (a mousy young yoga student. J & L leave in a month and M in 3 months, so probably nothing will come of any of this.
TUESDAY 4 JANUARY, 1983
Got up early and returned Fern’s car. Bused back. On the bus I saw a young girl (16) of uncommon beauty. She was your classic young beauty with long styled hair, clear complexion, petite figure. She enhanced her attraction with some beautiful make-up. Ah, if only I were young and handsome. Later in the day I had lunch at 18th & Mission. Food is plentiful and cheap, and it is also a contact point with some dope-using whores. None were there today, even on a later check.
Perhaps the police have been active? Came home, closed my space (making it very dark) and took a nap. Started TV at 1700 with the news and such. Hit the nearby Safeway for my first grocery run. While cooking dinner M came out to visit. Bored and lonely she turned to me for company and spent the rest of the evening in my room. She is such a shy person, unsure of herself. Still, underneath
her reserve I believe there is a warm, young lady (she’s 21) trying to be friendly.
By the end of the evening she at least was more relaxed with me. Going to show her some of the city tomorrow.
WEDNESDAY 5 JANUARY, 1983
So, M decided she didn’t want to go see the sights with me today. Strange lady. She didn’t say so, but I get the sneaky feeling that she is worried about doing anything with me. Ah well. Let her do her own thing and I’ll do mine. Made a run to the hardware store for some assorted things for the room. Giving thought to installing a gas heater. Did laundry, discovered the nearby library. A little more
shopping and a little work on the room (hanging pictures, routing power lines, etc..). Pretty dull day in all. Tomorrow I’m going to apply telephone, get a business card printed, and in general get organized. Got to know Jane some tonight. Quite a nice lady. She asked me to do a portrait of her. Love to.
THURSDAY 6 JANUARY, 1983
Off to San Bruno. Picked up bank book from Patty but find I’ve mislaid my machine card. This left me cash short. On the way back I stopped at my old house and talked Kristen into giving me a blow job. A stupid, ugly woman. What levels I have fallen to! Picked up wire, hookup box for phone, shelf brackets for room, and some screws. In short didn’t accomplish much.
FRIDAY 7 JANUARY, 1983
Found bank card. Went to Fern’s but she forgot to leave keys in box, and I didn’t want to wake her up. Withdrew some cash and returned home for an hour. Then, off to get phone, (installed next Tuesday) and finally got a hair cut. Home around six. Had to take a pill (a stupid cat lives on the upper floors). The smokers don’t
help much either. Pretty good dinner the (the dull) TV. Speaking of dull, reading over these pages one can see I live a pretty dull life. Going to have to do something about the room. Sold $40 worth of male leaf.
SATURDAY 8 JANUARY, 1983
Did some early morning shopping the off to Fern’s. Borrowed her car, bought over the rest of my stuff, turned in rental TV and back home. Called Mom and made arrangements to go to Calaveras to get the TV there. As usual, it took me near two hours to get to mom’s house and then I waited near five hours (watched TV)
for them to arrive. Patty was out buying a car. Of course, by this time I was much out of the mood for an all night 300+ mile round trip to get a TV. Soooo. Back home and to bed. Tomorrow San Jose & deal with Charles. TV later.
SUNDAY 9 JANUARY, 1983
Minor improvements then to San Jose. Victoria is driving Charles, Charles is of course upset. She has been his meal ticket for quite a while now. While there I came down with an allergic reaction to something. Charles gave me some pills for it and some 100mg Mellaril. Really knocked me out.
MONDAY 10 JANUARY, 1983
Still hungover from the Mellaril. Came back to the city and went to bed and slept til five. Then up, some upstairs TV, dinner and socializing. Did an exploratory on getting phone line down here. Tomorrow, we try again for another Calaveras run.
TUESDAY 11 JANUARY, 1983
Up early. Borrowed mom’s car and off to Calaveras. Cricket and Louie have turned the house up there into an urban piece of crap. Country ticky-tacky. Sigh. What a worthless place. Got the TV, a few books and nothing else. Empty vibes. It could have been so nice if she hadn’t valued money and security over love. Enough of this. Returned car and came home. TV reception isn’t bad. Chatted three hours with M. She and I could help each other if she were only willing. Ah well.