Camouflage

“I was transported to the Athens of Socrates and Plato and imagined myself as Alexis, the main character, who was in love with his wise and noble mentor, Lysis.”
-David Garnes,
a reference librarian
who was referring to a book called
THE LAST OF THE WINE
(I must read this one!)
as read in the book
‘Telling Tales Out of School’

I am so “into” this 1993 hit single today from the group known as CAMOUFLAGE. It’s appropriate to play after one reads my ‘Twenty-five years ago’ entry of today and yesterday and the forthcoming days…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djlrWtIRxXs
And Yes, I did feature the lyrics and tune back on my BLOG on March 15, 2009. Why not feature it again? Someone might have missed it the first time around.

Twenty-five years ago today:

September 7, 1984
Friday

Chris waited in my car and did not see Wayne at all that morning. Chris Cordellos was still rather shaken up. Just before I was leaving Wayne woke up and spoke to me.
“Hey Michael, Chris is queer!”
I gave a Best-Supporting Oscar performance and acted astonished by the words.
“What?”

Frankly, in my own personal point of view I think both Wayne and Paul have queer characteristics themselves. I do not say a word about it. I just find it funny when I observe their actions and mannerisms.
Wayne continued, “That Chris chap was all over me!”
I chose to defend Chris and perhaps protect my own reputation by saying, “No, he’s not!”
“Yes,” Wayne persisted.
“I’ve known him a long time, you must be exaggerating,” I said finally as I explained I had to run off to work now.

Chris asked what had happened when I started the car up. I gave him the scoop and before long he was on the first RICHMOND bound BART train. I got on the SAN FRANCISO bound train just as Linda Nannizzi showed up. We had a good, refreshing talk. It was nice to think about something else. She leaves for Los Angeles and Disneyland with a girlfriend after work today.

I completed all of my role play Test Evaluations successfully. I know I did very well. I ended up getting a telephone message from Chris Cordellos while at work. I ended up leaving him a message with his mom, explaining that I was off to Barnaby’s with some friends from work.
“I think Chris wanted to leave for Los Angeles on Saturday,” said Mrs. Cordellos.

I really did not know what to make of that statement. I think I would rather go with Chris and “later” the two Englanders. I really do want to maintain a friendship with them and maybe visit them in England next year. They do make me laugh sometimes.

Paul said, “I wish I could wear shirts and ties and slacks to work.”

I guess since they are in the painting and construction business they are always in their grubbiest. They need more sense knocked into them. It is no wonder they speak so defensively and act like such “He Men” when deep down I know otherwise. To just see the way they flaunt their bodies at me makes me suspicious. It’s outrageous.

I wonder how the partying at Barnaby’s will turn out tonight. I only have until midnight (like Cinderfella). I am to meet Karyn Kossoff, Ryan Hargrave, Ron Shelly and whoever else decides to show up at Barnaby’s. And of course, Paul and Wayne are going to meet me there, too.

Later, with drinks in hand, Paul whispered to me, “Chris sort of touched my hand, but I thought nothing of it.”
“Really,” I started sipping my drink, realizing Chris could be one heck of a liar.

Chris’ ego and fear were at an all time high last night. Maybe he deserved it. I sort of “HATE” him because of his lack of sincerity towards me. I am sure this is not his first attempt or predicament of this sort, considering the way he parties, etc. He parties much too often.

My vacation begins today. Hurrah!

Paul and Wayne had seven beers EACH during the first hour (5pm to 6pm)! They were “bombed”. We ate pizza at La Vals that night too. Wayne and Paul were too wasted for words! They came home and crashed at my place one last time.

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Honorable Discharge

Something electric flickered between them, but he could not move.
He could only stand as if hypnotized and look into the eyes that burned in the face looming over him.
-Nial Kent
"The Divided Path"

Twenty-five years ago today:

June 3, 1984
Sunday

When I woke up on this Sunday morning I quickly showered with my new natural soap that I bought at Piggy Malone’s. I smelled so good.

I telephoned Chris Cordellos who was at ‘mess hall’ this month.
“The best part of my day yesterday was when I called you,” Chris said happily.
I frowned, thinking this present call would probably be the highlight of my day, today.
“Why don’t you come up this weekend?” Chris asked with the hopes of hearing an affirmative.
I don’t know that I will.
“I will call you later in the week and let you know,” I said.
“I threw up last night because Barb and I went to some party and I drank too much beer. I got stoned to top it off,” Chris said all of a sudden.
I was anything but impressed.
“How could you do that?” I asked.
“I’m not going to drink beer anymore,” Chris said to immediately remedy his mistake.
“You know I told you so,” I shouted. “You don’t want a beer belly, do you?”
“I already have one.”
I think he expected me to say he did not have a beer belly, but instead I blatantly asked, “Well, you don’t want to get it worse than it already is, do you?”
I believe he is going to cut down on his beer intake.
“What’s the possibility of you getting that honorable discharge?” I asked.
“It looks good, but my mom asked me where I would live,” Chris replied.
He went on to explain that the supposed Walnut Creek home is still in the process of being built.
“Well, you could stay at my pad until your place is ready,” I reassured him.
Who knows what will happen?

I had a brief bicycle ride today. I also accompanied mom to see Ashley. I took more pictures. By 3:30pm (after the bike outing) I returned home for a nap. I woke up and had dinner and ended up watching “The Dollmaker”, starring Jane Fonda. It was a really good TV-movie with heartwarming true-to-life messages. It was a sad, happy and emotionally charged film.

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Taste Test

While we can experience only five tastes:
sweet, salty, sour, bitter
and the elusive "other" taste known as 'umami'
we can recognize over a thousand smells.
-Tilar Mazzeo
"The Widow Clicquot"



May 31, 1984
Thursday

Once again it was lunch with Tony and Helen. This time we ate at ‘FATS” and I treated myself to a Coors. I chose Coors because that’s the beer that Chris Cordellos’ mom gave us when we went on our excursion to the beach.

At work I moved to my original desk and Sue Reppert is my supervisor once again. Of course, this is only temporary as I will transfer to the BSC (Business Service Center) in ‘The City’ on July 9th.

I had a slight argument with Dad after work about the phone bill.
I owe him $25.35. He was accusing me of owing more. We made things clear and I won the battle.

My evening bike ride was interesting. I saw this guy who was rather “questionable”. He looked a little bit like a cute guy I remembered from high school named Roger De Monte. When I returned home from the brisk bike outing my Dad had two messages for me.
“Chris and Mike called for you,” Dad said.
Chris never called back and I didn’t feel like calling ‘outside the local area’ after the recent phone bill review/argument with Dad. And so, I did not call him.

Michael Thoennes called again with an invitation to a Sunday picnic in Saratoga Springs. I don’t want to go. I’m exhausted.
“I thought Chris was cute but he looks rather young,” Michael T said.
Whatever.

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Confidence & Courage

Like any man who succeeded by his wits,
he had his own sources of information.
-Bette Bao Lord

I recently finished an epic novel about old China called 'Spring Moon'. There were so many good lines. I shall share a clever tale that I took from the book that is quite inspirational for 'confidence and courage':

A tiger came upon a fox and was about to devour him when his meal shouted in a most regal manner, "Take care, my friend, do you not realize that I have been appointed the King of the Beasts by the gods? Should you touch even a hair of mine, they will punish you!"
The tiger roared with laughter.
"You could not be more mistaken, for I am the King of Beasts!"
"Then follow me into the woods and see if all the animals there do not flee from me."
The tiger agreed and trailed the fox. When he saw for himself that all the animals fled at the sight of the puny fellow, he bowed his head and slunk into the underbrush.
So sure was the fox that he continued on his way without a backward glance.
--Chinese Tale

Be sure you read this as a bedtime story to your little ones (nightly) until they 'get it'.

Twenty-five years ago today:

Friday, February 17, 1984

This past week was a slump in terms of sales. It's a bit depressing. During lunch I bought a puzzle book and a get well card for Chris. I had planned to visit him at the hospital; however, it just so happens that he was able to check out early this morning (?).

Once I arrived home Chris called to say he was in Alameda and suggested we go to see a movie.
"Yeah, I took a bus ride from the hospital to BART to Downtown Oakland where I applied for a couple of jobs at Grodins and Emporium," he said.
"You kept yourself busy!"
"I was at your Pac Bell building but I didn't see you come out at five," he said.
He further explained how he met an old Coast Guard buddy who is stationed in Alameda. That was where he was calling me from.

Before I knew it, Chris was at my place and we eventually left for Walnut Creek to see the new Mariel Hemingway movie called "Star 80".

We had a light bite at Round Table Pizza before the show. They actually 'carded' me for ordering a Lowenbrau Dark beer.
"Yuck, I hate dark beer," I thought. Why did I order it?
Chris ordered a Moosehead Lager beer. They didn't card him though.

Chris made me laugh when he explained how he was the only white person on the bus ride today.
"Did you sit in the back of the bus?" I asked.
It was fun rappin', jokin' as we drank our beers. Some girls gave us each a slice of pizza to try. That was sweet of them.

"Star 80" was good. (Just kidding) The movie was pretty shitty (to use Chris' adjective). That's okay. Chris and I still had a great time at the movies.
I drove Chris home where we parked near his house and 'fooled around' for a while.
It wasn't the first time I realized what an uncomfortable reality my car is when sharing intimate moments. We talked more until he went inside. I drove home and thought, "I should lay out in the sun during my Saturday day."

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