A BIG GAME

People everywhere are basically the same, no matter their ethnic group, language, religion, food, or dress.--A GIFT TO MY CHILDREN by Jim Rogers
I was distressed with the Pac Bell Directory ACO (Account Collections Office) here in Los Angeles.   I would bridge my old time on December 8th and soon be vested with ‘10’ years with the company.   On that date my mind is an open field.  If things don’t change for me there I’m going to look for new employment.   I sent mom a postcard with the latest update.
Nov. 29, 1989Hi Mom,I just had a talk with my new manager.  I suggested she promote me as a TEMP MANAGER and/or TRAINING MANAGER here because of all of the idiotic work being done here.   I also explained on 12-8-89 that I may be seeking new employment.  I needed to let her know where I stand.  I guess we’ll see.   I really want OUT OF HERE anyway.   Even if they promote me it’s not going to make it better.   What a game!  That’s what life is sometimes…A BIG GAME.   I miss you.   And ‘save’ this card.  It’s one of my favorite films (CAT PEOPLE).   Do you remember the movie?   We ought to rent it again.Later, Love You,Michael
I found a cute couple image (near palm trees) in a magazine and the male model was Brian Buzzini.  I only knew his name because John Tuzziano educated me with that fact.  I clipped it and made it into a card for Paloma.  I wrote ‘To Paloma from Palm Avenue, West Hollywood’:
Hi Paloma!I saw the AMERICAN GIGOLO last night.  And I do recall seeing the first fifteen minutes before…but this time I watched it all.   It was great!  Good sensual scenes…and I can relate to his taste for nice things and living comfortably.  It also makes you realize LIFE IS TOO SHORT and that we should value our freedom.  I mean…the guy who fell down that building and his close call to going to prison…Wow!   Great movie.  Here’s another homemade card…me and a date to the beach.  Ha-ha.Thinking of You, Lots of Love, Michael.
It was Friday night, December 1st and I chose to remain home in my pad, realizing I’d be “beaching it” with Alan tomorrow.   I spoke to Alan on the phone and I’m excited to see where he lives and go to Newport Beach.    I wrote mom another postcard:12-1-89
Almost 1990 Mom!Try not to worry about me.  I noticed you asking me if I ate and if I’m forgetting things, etc., etc.  You fear the worst, I know…a relapse of way back when…but it will NEVER happen.  I won’t let it.  I do miss you and all but we are only a thirty-five minute flight apart.  My friend, John Tuzziano, from CHINO (Orange County) is coming over tomorrow night and we’re going to a dance/bar place he knows in L.A.  And tomorrow is the big fridge delivery day…then the beach, scoping string bikinis with Alan.   Things are going well.  I love the palm trees here.  It gets dark early (yuck!) but that’ll change soon.  This is what we’ll be seeing again soon—in 1990—a new baby ARMIJO!!!Love You, Michael
December 2, 1989Saturday MorningI was happy that SEARS arrived early and my new refrigerator was installed and in working order.   I immediately called Alan to let him know that it was delivered and that I was ‘on my way’.
I arrived at SEA COLONY in Santa Monica in a timely manner and we departed in Alan’s black Mercedes convertible.   I liked his car but I’m not too impressed by the likes of what one drives.  In my opinion it’s always ‘who’s behind the wheel’ and not ‘what the wheels are’.   Still, it was enjoyable ride.  I especially liked how we went to Balboa Island.  Alan drove the car onto a ferry where we were transported to the other side, into Newport Beach.   That was impressive.  I couldn’t help think of Laura Munoz (John Wayne’s granddaughter) because I knew she had grown-up in this area.Alan and I drove his car to a small cottage house that faced the beach.  It was a quaint house and apparently he owned it…with his wife.  Yes, Alan is married but he’s recently separated.  We walked in and around Newport Beach.   I really liked the area.   As we walked we had an interesting conversation. I asked him, “So…what’s your nationality?”“I’m Jewish,” Alan answered.I always thought of Jewish-ness as a religion, so I still wasn’t quite clear.“Yes, but where are your parents and grandparents from?   For example, my heritage is from SPAIN.”“I’m Jewish,” he repeated.“Okay…but where was your mother born?”“Oh, New York.”“And your grandparents…her parents?”“They came from Russia.”“Okay, now we’re getting somewhere…where was your father born?”“New York.”“And his parents…where were they born?”“In Moscow…but we’re Jewish.”“Oh, okay.” I recalled an ex-boyfriend/medical student from the early 80s named Howard Edelstein that I'd met in North Oakland while he was attending UC Berkeley.  He made a point of speaking out as to how he was Jewish, too.   I always used to think that Jewish men were not circumcised but I realized I had that mixed-up.   They are circumcised.  And so…I guess I’m sort of Jewish, too.  I thought and laughed to myself. Alan suggested a place for lunch after he asked if I liked seafood.   We drove to a place and I said, “The Crab COCKER?”
Alan laughed.   It was actually called THE CRAB COOKER but the neon lights made it look like CRAB COCKER.   The white clam chowder was delicious.  This was one popular place.   Despite the wait we had a great time there and I really enjoyed Alan’s company.  He was interesting.  He was a bond trader with a company called KIDDER PEABODY before he branched out into commercial real estate.   I recalled working in Business Marketing and setting up installation telephone service orders for some commercial real estate companies, so I did know a tidbit about a his business.   I didn’t want to pry too much.  I figured he’d share if and when he wanted to do so. We did our lay out by the beach for sun rays in front of his house and then we headed back to Santa Monica at around 6 o’clock.   I knew John Tuzziano was coming at around 10PM to go to that CATCH ONE night club, so I had plenty of time.  Our first beach discovery outing was really fun.   We agreed to a meeting again.  Alan may be able to drive out to mid-Wilshire to have lunch with me next week.   I’m excited about that.   Upon my arrival back to West Hollywood I found a postcard from Paloma.  It was a BIKE postcard.  She was flashing back to her days in the Bay Area and teasing me ‘once again’ about be attracted to younger girls.
…In fact, you can already go out with Lise.  She just turned 21.   I remember when I arrived in Berkeley and she was still playing with dolls.   Alison was Jonathan’s age.   When is Sherri—forget this question—I just found a card saying she was due in April or May 1990.  Do you already know if it’s a boy or a girl?
How do you like your new life in L.A.?  Did you move all of your furniture from the place I knew in Alameda?  I’m going to be in Paris on the 22nd for Christmas.   We’ll go to other places in France, too…and maybe to Spain for a weekend (it’s only a 2/3 hour drive from here).  I’ll let you know.  Miss you.  Love, Paloma
December 5, 1989Alan met me at 3470 Wilshire (the building I was working in).  He parked in front and I hopped in and I guided him to a cool little seafood joint.  I only had an hour and our time went by so fast.  At least I was able to see him.   We confirmed a dinner outing for this Friday night, so I have that to look forward to.  Friday is December 8th and I explained to Alan that is my 10-year anniversary at Pac Bell, so it’s another reason to celebrate. When I returned home I found a sweet “Holy Shit! I liked your gift!” card in my mailbox from Dorothy Rua:
Michael!A gift for Christmas!   What a wonderful surprise!  I couldn’t wait…my curiosity got the best of me, so I opened it.   What…..?   A cucumber T-shirt?   How perfect!   What deep, dark alley do you travel to find this stuff?   I can just imagine you chuckling while trying to imagine me explaining this gift to “Mr. Rua” and why you and I think it’s wonderfully outrageous.  You’re great!  I love it—some of those statements are so true!  Thanks.
Where do I wear my T-shirt?  L.A.?  Hawaii?  Definitely not amongst the “POD PEOPLE” in suburbia!  Maybe I’ll wear it when I visit my friend, Kathy, in Alameda.  The X-Large size would also make it comfortable to wear to bed!

Needless to say, the office gang I work with would get a kick out of this gift.   They’d probably chip in and buy me a cucumber!   Speaking of the gang I work with…I walked into the office yesterday and found a large cluster of mistletoe hanging above my desk.   I wouldn’t mind if there was a half way decent guy in the group but that isn’t the case.   They’re fun to work with but I have to admit I’m a little more selective when it comes to exchanging bodily fluids!   I’ve worked with some guys that made me wish I had some mistletoe handy but not this bunch!  Anyway…Again, many thank for the terrific gift!  If the rest of my holiday season continues along the same way you’ve started it, it’ll be great fun!Much Love, DorothyP.A. I liked the wrapping too.  CLASSY!
John Tuzziano arrived at 10PM and he looked rather classy in his outfit. We headed out in my car to an area of L.A. known as the Crenshaw district.  I seemed to recall that Alan had said he owned a Medical Building in this area.   The club known as CATCH ONE was already bustling when we arrived.  There were a lot of Afro-Americans there and it was clearly gay but there was a good mix of women there, too.  I felt like I fit in well given that I had a fresh, dark tan from my recent visit to Newport Beach.  Ha-ha.   
I didn't see Madonna but I liked when they played her song LIKE A PRAYER.   We ordered drinks and it was fun to just browse the scene.  It was so different and very hip and cool (as John had defined it).  I especially loved when they played the song SHE DRIVES ME CRAZY by the Fine Young Cannibals.  I couldn't help but dance to that one.   We didn't stay until closing.  I was tired, so we headed back to my place.  John left and we chalked up a fun, extraordinary dance outing.
“He has everything.  He’s one of those men I call “the well-endowed”.  He has an extraordinary animal magnetism, a handsome head, silver threads among the gold now, of course, but there’s still a look of youth about him…”
--The Pure And The Impure by COLETTE