Free-Spirited

I suppose sooner or later in the life of everyone comes a moment of trial. We all of us have our particular devil who rides us and torments us, and we must give battle in the end.
-Daphne du Maurier
"Rebecca"

28 DAYS LATER
Screened: May 9, 2003, Tribeca Film Festival
(U.K. 2002)
Director: Danny Boyle

What happens when the director of "Trainspotting" makes an honest-to-goodness horror movie? You get a post apocalyptic adrenaline rush that's part George Romero's "The Crazies" and part Stephen King's "The Stand". A young man wakes from a coma to find that the world has been decimated by a virus that turns people into crazed killing machines. It's already a hit in the U.K., where it's been called the best British horror film in decades.

My Comments: 5 STARS

Whoa! The opening scene with the chimpanzees was loud and frightening. Who thought of a virus contagious that causes severe rage? It made me think of the classic "The Omega Man" (an early 1970s film). After the first 'fade to black' it was twenty-eight days later. The eerie feeling of waking up in a hospital from a coma and finding no one is scary in and of itself. The idea of people killing people 'just because' they're downright enraged is a horrible thought. Then again, like with most stories there is always that feeling of HOPE. When stress, disaster or problems come we all cling to hope and future happiness. By the end of the film there was a "glimmer" of a happy future.

Twenty-five years ago today:

January 11, 1985
Friday

Hurrah! There was no problem waking up on a Friday. It's casual dress Friday. I dressed in a turtleneck, my white International Male pants and the suede camel colored jacket that Chris Cordellos gifted me for my 25th birthday. I also slipped on the camel brown boots that Chris gave to me because he was tired of them.

Work was hectic and busy. I had a lot of problem calls with demanding customers. Some requested specific telephone numbers. I should still call that new business called FINE LINE BY LEONARD for a free haircut. After all, I did give that customer the 982-CUTS telephone number.

Lunch became quite an adventure today. David Vigil and I went to Wilkes-Bashford in his motorcycle. He did the driving and I held on tight. It was exciting and a lot like a roller coaster ride. Dave really is a nice guy. I just hate his femme fatale talk sometimes. It's just like Bob Umland and his 'way with words' at certain times. Dave and I browsed around Wilkes. Dave ended up trying on a suede shirt and jacket. Of course, Bob was working and we chatted a while. I greeted his co-worker, Karen, asking, "How are you doing?"
She was polite in her own sweet way.
Bob is cool, too. He's just too 'go go...on the go'.
"Slow down, man or you'll age too fast," I thought to myself.
One should only go fast while on a bike. Gee! While on a bike one can be a free bird. It was really fun (though slightly dangerous in feeling) to be on Dave's motorcycle.
"You look so rich in that suede jacket," David said to me as I hopped on the cycle.
Bob commented positively about the jacket as well. I liked the complements. Who wouldn't?
"What cologne are you wearing?" Bob asked.
"Polo," I said, thinking that was a likable complement versus a question.

After work I stopped at Jack-In-The-Box and went home to munch out on two Super Tacos, a Burger, a milkshake, onion rings and coffee. I will become a 'porko' if I don't watch it. I've felt pounds adding on lately.

Frank Vasconcellos returned my call from the other night. I invited him to a movie since Bob rejected my invitation when I asked him last Thursday. Frank and I went to the HAYWARD 5 Cinemas. I despise how Frank still has that slicked back black hair. He makes these feeble attempts of trying to look Mexican when he is anything but... I don't get it. I wore my leather camel colored jacket and heavy oatmeal colored turtleneck. I think I looked like a Hayward 'white boy'. I write that only because Bob Umland said I looked so 'white boy' when I tried on one particular shirt at the Wilkes-Bashford store last Thursday. Funny.

Frank and I caught up on lost time.
"I'm thinking of having a party on February 15th," I said.
Frank laughed and said, "I wonder who you'll invite."
I know a lot of folks. It's just a question of who would come. Perhaps I should wait to invite for my wedding. It was funny when I told Frank that I almost married Paloma last weekend. I told Sherri about almost marrying Paloma last Thursday night, too.
Sherri said, "Your mom would have freaked!"

Anyway, Mel Gibson's flick was only too good. I loved it. It's such a sentimental, humanitarian sort of movie. I shuddered, chilled and got a lump on my throat a bit. Yes, "The River" is a good movie.

After I dropped Frank off at his home I went to the Black Angus all by my lonesome. The line was so long outside. I walked in and walked out. I was in no mood for the scene. Baxter's is better.

Once home I telephoned Bob Umland.
"I'm just leaving for cocktails with some friends. I still have that undesirable guest from Los Angeles."
I couldn't help but wonder why he won't make more time for our going out. It's his loss. I am making more time for Paloma now. I'm realizing she is too much fun and I love it.

I decided to call on Karyn Kossoff, too. Her telephone recorder was on, so I said, "Happy January Twelfth!"

The 13th is Sunday and I wonder if Chris Cordellos will be calling. It's beyond me.

It was funny last Thursday night. I just remembered I had told Sherri that I knew a guy named John who worked at La Val's Pizza.
"I went out with him," Sherri said.
"Really? John's cool. I ran into him a lot last summer."
I saw him on the beach when I was laying out with Karen 'of England'. I saw him when Mike Miller and I ate at La Val's. I saw him when Wayne and Paul (the English chaps) ate at La Val's. I've even bumped into him while riding my bike, so I guess he's a pal.

I was skimming through previous journal entries and realized a lot has happened. Many of the people I've mentioned since my first day of going full force (December 4, 1982) would have easily been forgotten. I wonder what ever happened to Aubrey, my little buddy, who I would see raking leaves for the next-door neighbor. I liked giving him big-brother advice.

"Electricity moves at a speed greater than thought, a speed too great for thought to grasp."
-Stefan Zweig
"The Post-Office Girl"