A New Phase

It was queer this feeling of marking time, like sitting in a waiting-room at a dentist's.
...I was waiting for something to happen, something unforeseen.
...It was as though I had entered into A NEW PHASE of my life and nothing would be quite the same again.
-Daphne du Maurier
"Rebecca"

One of my avid BLOG readers, Brenda Lanham Timmons, mentioned that she had been introduced to the Clive Owen film, BENT, from my blog. She quite enjoyed the classic film that many failed to see.

I came across a film clip with Mick Jagger singing "Streets of Berlin" that I'd like to post today. The song and the mood is so amazing as it truly takes you back to a risque scene of Berlin 'back in those scary World War II days'. I guarantee you will see Mick Jagger in an entirely new light here. I was fortunate enough to see Ute Lemper sing "Streets of Berlin" during a cabaret act in New York City but it doesn't compare--in the least--to Mick's performance. Take a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrBYfAtEAps

STREETS OF BERLIN lyrics:

Streets of Berlin
I must leave you soon
Oh, will you forget me
Was I ever really here

Streets of Berlin
I must leave you soon
Oh, will you forget me
Was I ever really here

Find me a bar on the cobble stone street
Where the boys are pretty
I can not love for more than one day
But one day is enough in the city

Find me a boy with 2 ocean blue eyes
That show no pity
Take out his eyes he never needs to see
How they eat you alive in the city

Streets of Berlin
Will you miss me
Streets of Berlin
Do you care

Streets of Berlin
Will you cry out
If I vanish into thin air
If I vanish into thin air

Twenty-five years ago today:

January 21, 1985
Monday
I felt a bit sore this morning from working out on my biceps and triceps. I find that it is no different a feeling than most mornings. I really did NOT want to get up.

While at work this morning I checked up on the fellow (a black chap) that hit Howard Edelstein's car (by way of browsing his telephone bill). It turns out he is a Federal Police Officer at the Oakland Naval Supply Center. I was feeling good that I had given Howard 'something to work with'. I believe he appreciated it.

My fat, chubby friend, Dale Orlando, is such a fun, jolly fellow. I like him. He gave me a typewritten handout. I circled all of his typographical errors, misspellings and punctuation errors. I swear I would have been a phenomenal English teacher. Dale was so embarrassed when I showed him all of his errors.

Work was okay...but Cindy Chow pissed me off because she sold seventeen (17) RCF's today! She's a killer saleswoman. I need to watch her tactics more closely.

I gave Carl Brooks my noontime lunch period so that he could go to the SF 49er parade that was taking place on Market Street.

My cold was starting to get better, so I decided to stay in the building for fear of a relapse. I ate in the company cafeteria with co-workers Cindy Chow, Margaret Lai, Chuck Wong, Neill, Gwenn, and Leland. It was a nice change to broaden my socializing. They are all pretty nice folks. I am finding Cindy Chow to be a real sweetie (or am I blinded from her facade?).

Stephanie of KGB in Fairfield, CA called me again today while at work. She is nice and I may be neeting her and her pal, Janine (who attends ARMIJO HIGH SCHOOL in Fairfield, CA) on February 2, 1985. We may meet in San Francisco or Alameda. The date has yet to be finalized. It is being worked on.

This morning, Gordon (the Marty Feldman lookalike) nudged me from behind and we got to talking. He really is a nice elder gentleman.
"You should come down to Fremont some weekend day," Gordon suggested.
I may take him up on it. He claims to own a 1955 Classic car and a recently purchased moped. Those material items were just "things" that he mentioned to inspire me to visit. He seems a rather lonely sort. It seems to be just him and his dog. And so, I may go. I especially like that he included dinner on the agenda. I just don't want any unexpected games (if you catch my drift). Please! Gordon is a nice, friendly man though.

Karyn Kossoff smelled like cigarette smoke this morning. Ugh! How revolting!

In-between phone calls I wrote a short skit for my service committee meeting tomorrow. It's not really great but it will have to do--for now.

I was suddenly back at my pad getting my gym workout gear and browsing at the mail of the day. I stopped at Dad's and Ashley was there with him. She was just waking up. What a doll, that little girl. I ate a bowl filled with posole, a HO-HO and a few animal crackers with milk. Of course, then I decided to head for the gym.

I saw a gal at the gym who reminds me a bit of Veronica Herrera (one of my brother Tony's old girlfriend's from Alameda High School). She seemed to recognize me and gave me a tempting smile. I am sure of it. Could it have been her?

I learned how to work a new gymnasium machine from a guy dressed in white who works there. I didn't get his name but he sure did stare at me a lot tonight. He is a definite "questionable" one.
I arrived at the gym at 7:25PM and left by 8:35PM or so. When I came out of the shower a few guys looked me over (and I think---in awe of my body). Why else? Ugh though...most of the guys look "yucky" when one sees them in the locker room. Ugh.

When I left I bought a milkshake and a coffee at Jack-in-the-Box. As I drank them at home I called Bob Umland and listened to his silly George Burns recorded message imitation. I laughed and left a neat message for him. The question is whether he will return my call and come over tomorrow night.

I telephoned Howard Edelstein with the information that I learned about the chap who hit his car. He was happy.
"Listen Michael, why don't you call me tomorrow," Howard said.
"Okay."
Howard wanted to see a flick with me tonight and we went on and on about things. He tends to chatter a lot. I mentioned to him that Chris Cordellos was out of the US Coast Guard. I also told him a bit of Jim Koran in Los Angeles and briefed him on good old Bob Umland of Wilkes-Bashford.
"My...you're so popular," Howard beamed.
"No, not really," I replied on the defensive.
"You are!"
I guess I will take it as a kind of compliment. I've never heard it before but come to think of it I think I can say I am popular 'in my own way'. I was flattered by his comments.

When I hung up from gabbing with Howard I paged through my recent ESQUIRE Magazine and decided to call Jim Koran in Los Angeles.
"Are you drinking?"
"Yeah, a milkshake," I laughed, "I joined a gym, too."
"Well, I saw a great couple of films. One is called BIRDY and the other is MASK."
"I'll have to see both of them. I just saw THE RIVER, thought that was good."
"I'm thinking of going to Mexico," Jim announced. "I want to see my grandmother and her family there in February."
I thought it was interesting as I had hinted about our getting together in February.
"I may pull a show down there in March," I said in hopes of some major response. There wasn't.
It was nice to talk to him once again. I feel he is a "real buddy".
I could almost see his smile as we spoke on the telephone when I said, "I just saw the perfect card for you on Saturday."
I think he smiled when I said, "I should've been talking to you today instead of those other jerks in L.A. that I had to deal with at work today."

When Jim mentioned his uncle who lives out in the Laguna Beach area I flabbergasted myself at the thought of my mom's Uncle Fred Leyba (my maternal Grandmother Mary Genevieve Lucero's brother). Fred B Leyba had died a year ago (b.1906-d.1984). Jim mentioned that his uncle is gay and I started to recall a rumor somewhere that my Uncle Fred was gay, too. I find it interesting how all of this homosexuality goes back so many years. I understand it even went on between the Indians and the Cowboys (or so I have read). Oh well, all I know is that there are women that have the most beautiful bodies and same goes for men. In keeping my gym visits in mind, I want to be one of those men by this time next year. That's for sure!

Music gives me a good feeling. I've folded some of my laundry and straightened up the townhouse quite a bit. Now it's beddie-bye.

People always have secrets. It's just a matter of finding out what they are.-Stieg Larsson
"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"