Move-In Day: A Surgeon-Style Vampire

He advised others to keep focusing on the progress that was being made and to continue to tackle each day to accomplish a small goal.--The Orange Frog by Shawn Achor
On October 25, 1989 I found a cool card in L.A. of an athlete stretching his legs that I loved.   I bought it for Paloma and wrote the following while still in Northern California: 10-25-89Hi Paloma,I think JOHN and SHERRI are going to have ‘only’ three kids.   They really want a boy…but they won’t admit it.  If you have another one…well, you may as well have them when you’re young.   
I think Holly Alyssa might be my favorite at the moment…but I like them ALL THE SAME (I don't like playing favorites).  I see Ashley and Holly most often.   Once I move to West Hollywood I may not see them as much.  Then again it’s only a five hour drive.   I’ll probably be in Alameda once a month.   They’ll visit me too.  

Did you hear about Zsa Zsa Gabor (she walked past supporters carrying FREE ZSA ZSA signs on her way to court in Beverly Hills)?  She pleaded innocent to a misdemeanor charge of hitting a Beverly Hills Police officer who pulled over her Rolls Royce because its license tags were expired.Or did you hear the other story of Jim Baker being convicted?    That’s the big national news around here.  
I went back to work yesterday.  I take BART to work.   It’s crowded but they’re allowing me to work 7AM—3PM, so I don’t deal with the heavy duty commuting times (9AM—5PM).   My place in Alameda (at 3348 Solomon Lane) is being rented now for $1100 per month.   A couple in their 40’s live there but my mom gets the money (not me).   If I need a few extra bucks she may be there to lend a helping hand…but I’d only ask if I NEED it.   Jeez, I NEED a JAGUAR car.  Ha…only kidding.   The earthquake was scary.   I was very lucky.   Have you heard of LAMBADA?  It’s a new dance and they say that EUROPE is all hot over it on TV right now.   Your car is cool.   I’ll send you a photo of my new place soon.  Later.Love, Michael (HAPPY HALLOWEEN)


I created another ideal postcard for PALOMA, using an image that reminded me of her sexy body and wrote another card to her:
10-25-89Paloma,When did you pose for this photo?  Ha…That was a great ‘anniversary’ card you sent me.  It was great.  I will have to try and make the time to try and sketch and paint that one someday. 

You’re right when we met at only “24” we were young…but we can both still pass for that age (I think).   And we were both pretty mature back then in comparison to other 24 year olds.  

Thanks to you I got into working out—even if I haven’t been to the gym for quite a while.   Actually, I went last night—but before that it’s been a couple of months.  I do my aerobics tape at home, ride my bike and run ‘now and then’.  

School was a drag. 

Ashley is 5.  Lauren just turned 4 on 10-18-89 (the day after the big earthquake).  It was nice to hear your voice—by the way.  My brother, John, went to work that day but Sherri told me you called them.   Sherri’s not working now.  John’s a bartender at the Holiday Inn in Emeryville.  Wish you were here.  Love, Michael


October 26, 1989 I spent part of the day at mom’s house and had fun with Ashley and Holly.    I took a few memorable photos of them.   They are so much fun.  I’m going to miss seeing them as often as I do.
The ‘real trip of a lady’ that works with me at Pac Bell Directory named Gloria Romero sent me a photo while she was in Washington D.C. earlier this month (October 1989).   Word is definitely OUT that I’m leaving for Los Angeles.  She included a little ‘bunny rabbit’ clip art with these words written on the back of it:

Dearest Michael,“Best Wishes”.   To a Great Guy.   I’ll miss you LOTS. Best of Luck, Your Friend, GLORIA
(ACO-Account Collection Office)
Gloria also included a cool postcard of LE PETIT TRIANON, a Design Center in Burlingame, CA.   I liked the look and feel of the setting.  It looked like a scene for an afternoon tea party.
When I went to L.A. I had a postcard in my mailbox from Mario, the guy who lives in Miami.  He sent me a card while he was in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  I had forgotten I sent him a postcard with my new West Hollywood address.   It was nice to receive personal mail in a place where I know few people. Mario wrote:
GUESS WHO?  I am in for this sunset.   I can’t really see it now but I’m seated here on the beach, thinking how much I hate cold weather.Love, Mario

Dusty Nipper also wrote me a day or so later, using a postcard of a white Rolls-Royce with this imprinted on it “YOU’RE ONLY A FRIEND…LIKE A ROLLS IS ONLY A CAR.”  At first, I misinterpreted it, thinking she only wanted to be friends.  It made me realize that we will always be MORE than just friends in our very own secret way.    She wrote:
October 27, 1989Dear Michael,Here is yet another postcard!   This is a THANK YOU postcard for the lovely time on (almost) my Birthday!   I know that I will enjoy the “bubbly”!    Hope you liked the Natalie Wood postcard.   Hope to see you soon.  Love, Dusty
Halloween Weekend, West Hollywood, CA

Well, Dale Orlando arrived and we rented the U-HAUL truck and made it to Los Angeles. 

It was MOVE-IN DAY!  Laverne Butler came along, too.  We sang songs on the highway ‘5’ until we reached 1010 North Palm Ave.   I was so worried about parking the U-HAUL truck on the narrow street but the weekend was the best time to go at it.   Dale was such a help.  He loves to be in-control and I love when he rolls his eyes at me when I say silly things (on-purpose).  Does he realize I say these things on-purpose?   Well, sometimes I do.  Ha-ha. Laverne left us for our Halloween festivities.   I’ll miss her, too.   In addition, she and I will always have that memorable trip to Hawaii from earlier this year.
Dale made me laugh hysterically as he usually does on Halloween night.   The main drag of Santa Monica Boulevard was to be closed off for the big West Hollywood Halloween Parade.  He was decided on being a nurse for Halloween.  He adored Nurse Ratched (the character from the film ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEXT).   She was his inspiration.   
I figured I’d be a surgeon-style vampire.   I had fun taking a few photos before we set out into the night.  It was a lot of unforgettable fun to simply see the many costumes.   The gay crowd certainly has the utmost flavor when it comes to creativity. 
The following day I checked my mailbox and found a gay-themed postcard from Dorothy Rua which surprised me—but I took it with a grain of salt, loving the image ‘just the same’.  Dorothy wrote:
10-31-89Dear Michael,Where did you guys get the “unique” Halloween costumes?   The Sunset Strip will never be the same once the cruisers spot you!   Especially if the front is as revealing as the rear view!

How did your move go?   Hope you and Dale managed to get everything down there without any hassle.   Won’t be long and everything will fall into place.   Or has it already?   Let me know how everything’s going.Now that everyone is trying to recover from the tragedy of the earthquake I’ve suddenly realized that it won’t be so convenient to hop in my car and head for my shot of adventure in San Francisco!   A self-centered thought but there it is!   Too depressing to think about…so I won’t…   I just have to come up with other ways to keep myself entertained!   Hope to hear from you…Love, Dorothy
Nurse Ratched: Aren't you ashamed? Billy: No, I'm not. [Applause from friends] Nurse Ratched: You know Billy, what worries me is how your mother is going to take this. Billy: Um, um, well, y-y-y-you d-d-d-don't have to t-t-t-tell her, Miss Ratched. Nurse Ratched: I don't have to tell her? Your mother and I are old friends. You know that. Billy: P-p-p-please d-d-don't tell my m-m-m-mother.--One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975 film)