The Birth of a Candy Bar

"All these experiences would be worthwhile if only you'd learn something from them. But you don't seem to. It's the same thing over and over with varying adjectives, and you learn nothing. In a few weeks you go haywire again in another direction."
-Nial Kent
"The Divided Path"

The Birth of a Candy Bar

One PAYDAY, MR. GOODBAR wanted a BIT-O-HONEY so he took MISS HERSHEY behind the POWERHOUSE on the corner of CLARK and FIFTH AVENUE.

He began to feel her MOUNDS (that was sure an ALMOND JOY) which made his TOOTSIE ROLL let out a SNICKER, as his BUTTERFINGER wet into her KITKAT and caused it to MILKY WAY.

She screamed, “OH, HENRY” as she squeezed his PETER PAUL and ZAGNUTS.
“You’re better than the THREE MUSKETEERS, she sighed.

Soon she was a BIT CHUNKY and nine months later she had a BABY RUTH.

Twenty-five years ago today:

October 11, 1984
Thursday

Yesterday, Betsy told me she was ordering a $100 Savings Bond for perfect attendance. Hurrah! I should win that one.

Barbara and I ate at the Chinese Restaurant called City Eats in the Galleria in SF. We had not been there in some time. We had a great laughter festival, talking about work and memories. Barbara has sent me some great cards in my day. I love that she writes me.

I got E time. Here in San Francisco they call AX (Absent Without Pay) time “E Time”. Lee Chandler was acting Assistant Manager and he gave me the time off at 3pm. That was cool.

I drove straight to mom’s house but must have just missed her as she was working the swing shift at the post-office. Dad was there.
“I’m going to call John because he needs a babysitter between the time he leaves for work and Sherri gets back from work,” Dad said.
I ended up doing the babysitting honors, but I took advantage of the space of time by bike riding until 4:30PM.

John got ready in his new black slacks and bow tie. He was looking all slick for his bar tending duties.

After my short babysitting duties were over I went for a short bike spin and then called Karyn Kossoff at 6PM. I drove over to her place and we watched some of the Vice-Presidential debate between George Bush and Geraldine Ferraro.

We followed that by going to a kids’ Toy/Halloween store on College Ave. I had fun putting masks on. We enjoyed an 8-inch (funny, yes) pizza. I had a black and tan sundae. We saw a Woody Wood Pecker and Chilly Willy T-Shirts. I got so excited about that.

Karyn just kept going with her Pebbles Flintstone giggles. We called it a night and I went on my merry way back home.

Karyn and I made tentative plans to get together to write a screenplay. I wonder what she thinks is up my sleeve? I mean, I’ve made no real initiation to get down her pants. Today she read a note on my desk of ‘Things to Do’ which included:

Send Suzy a Birthday Card (October 12)
Find my TAROT cards
Call Paloma

Oh well, if she saw any of my lists I have to realize that she doesn’t own me. It should not matter what she may be thinking. However, I did call her tonight and arrange to see her. She knows that I like spending time with her. I read all of the FRIENDSHIP verses in this new Journal book to Karyn. It got both of us ‘thinking’.

The friendship verse on the first page:
Friends do not live in harmony merely, as some say, but in melody.
-Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)
American writer.

Read More

Do More Veggies

He had become a vegetarian years before, and by now it had become a mania with him NOT to take into his system anything that might contain animal matter, eggs and milk being the only exceptions to his ruling.
-Nial Kent
“The Divided Path”

Even if you are not 100% Vegetarian (like me) it is clear that we all need more veggies in our life. I came across an old 1999 article written by Norine Dworkin that talked about the 22 Reasons to go vegetarian. I loved what she wrote. You can read the full article here:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0820/is_1999_April/ai_54232138/
…but if you’re short for time here are the 22 Reasons (the condensed summarized version):

1. You’ll live a lot longer.
2. You’ll save your heart.
3. You can put more money in your savings account. Replacing meat, chicken and fish with vegetables and fruits is estimated to cut food bills by an average of $4,000 a year.
4. You’ll reduce your risk of cancer.
5. You’ll add color to your plate.
6. You’ll fit into your old jeans.
7. You’ll give your body a spring cleaning.
8. You’ll make a strong political statement.
9. Your meals will taste delicious.
10. You’ll help reduce waste and air pollution.
11. Your bones will last longer.
12. You’ll help reduce famine.
13. You’ll avoid toxic chemicals.
14. You’ll protect yourself from food-borne illnesses.
15. You may get rid of your back problems.
16. You’ll be more ‘regular’.
17. You’ll cool those hot flashes.
18. You’ll help to bring down the National Debt.
19. You’ll preserve our fish population.
20. You’ll help protect the purity of water.
21. You’ll provide a great role model for your kids.
22. Going vegetarian is very easy to do.

Twenty-five years ago today:

August 6, 1984
Monday

I finally saw 'That Girl' Linda again at the Fruitvale BART station (after a couple of weeks had passed I was beginning to give up). I went right up to her and made tentative plans for lunch with her tomorrow.

“I’m sure I'll meet you at 7:20 for the 7:25 BART train tomorrow,” I said.
She smiled.

I like her. I am kind of leery about it. I am especially worrisome now after catching Renee’s garter last Saturday. Linda could be marriage material. She’s wholesome, natural, clean, and pretty, smiles a lot and has a great body.

For lunch I went to Security Pacific Bank for $3000 to transfer to my Great Western Savings Account. I felt ‘iffy’ about carrying so much cash as I walked the Streets of San Francisco. However, the holding of that large amount of cash did not last long. I successfully transferred the funds. It was a ‘no problem’ transaction.

After work I went cycling from 6PM to 7PM. I guess I hoped to see Erik Jacobsen but—in a way---I am glad I did not.

I ate some fresh zucchini and corn at my mom’s house and flushed it down with a root beer (how naughty of me). I was soon home to shower and browse ‘The Spurs’ magazine again. I went to bed at 8:30PM. Yawn.

Read More

Scarlet Glow

"Women are like teabags;
We don't know our true strengths until we are in hot water."
-Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)

On June 26, 2009 I enjoyed afternoon tea at a very favorite place known as Lady Mendl’s Tea Salon inside the Inn at Irving Place in New York City. The full-service tea is quite special while it always feels like such a departure from being in New York City. It has a lovely, elegant, English-style atmosphere. I was enjoying tea on this day with Alan, his daughter, Carrie and Susan Hirsch-Frieman-Ross.
http://www.innatirving.com/default.aspx?pg=dining-mendls&rp=home



I pondered my tea choices and selected White Peony (my old stand-by favorite). There was a ‘Scarlet Glow’ tea on the menu and it made me flashback to a previous visit to Lady Mendl’s Tea Salon on April 23, 2008.


I wondered if the ‘Scarlet Glow’ tea was the one that actress, Scarlett Johansson ordered last Spring 2008.

You see, Alan and I were having tea on April 23, 2008 with Alan’s step-sister, Candice, when I happened to take notice of actress Scarlett Johansson at a table by the front window of the Tea Salon. She was with a mid-30’s portly brunette woman who seemed friendly enough (and having Scarlett’s best-interests at heart). I could not resist the temptation of taking this (unbeknownst to her) photo using my handy 3X zoom ‘point and shoot’ Cyber shot camera. I felt like such a paparazzi. It’s a good thing I did not use the ‘forced flash’. Smiles.

We finished our tea on this Springtime day in 2008 and I still wanted to talk to Scarlett. I had something to say. Alan dared me.
"You're not going to say something to her, are you?"
Alan and I (and Candice) walked over to her table after we had finished our tea time. I pardoned my intrusion, of course.

“Hi Scarlett, I am a big fan of yours but I have to tell you…I’m a little disappointed.”
Scarlett gasped ever so lightly, “but why?”
“Well, you’ve lived in our building in New York and I heard you are moving out. We never even had a chance to welcome you,” I said.
She smiled and laughed.
Alan added, “You know that The Knitting Factory is moving out, so it won’t be crowded and noisy there anymore.”
“I know, but someone else will just move in,” Scarlett said.

Her hair was very blond and ‘after the fact’ I realized that she must be back in New York after just wrapping up the filming of ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ (due for release in mid-August 2008).

“Well, I just had to tell you I was hoping to run into you in the elevator of the building,” I said, “maybe we will before you leave.”
She laughed again. Did she like my charm and wit?
Somehow the conversation shifted to Broadway Theater and our recent, random meeting with actor Laurence Fishburne the other night.
“Oh, I heard he is going to be so good in that show,” Scarlett said, in reference to THURGOOD.

We bid our farewell. Scarlett married actor Ryan Reynolds about five months later (September 27, 2008). I now wonder if she still goes to tea at this magnificent little place. She was not there during my most recent visit.

Please forgive me, Scarlett, for giving away our ‘afternoon tea’ hideaway, but it is so good a place. People must try it. Tea for health, right?

Twenty-five years ago today:

August 2, 1984
Thursday

While doing my morning exercise routine the telephone rang. I thought it might be Karyn Kossoff reminding me to watch The Flintstones at 7AM this morning. It was Chris Cordellos’ mother!
“I spoke to Chris briefly and he would like you to call him tonight,” Mrs. Cordellos said in a very pleasant tone. “It’s early now could you call me later for more details?”
“Of course I will,” I answered back.

During training today we were briefed on SORD (Service ORDERS) and BOSS (the computer Billing System). It was boring but I did learn more. We are now getting into Premiere calling features and benefits. It is quite complex in comparison to the simple ‘call waiting’ and ‘call forwarding’ features. It is all so new to everyone (even the longtime reps in the Business Office).

I telephoned Mrs. Cordellos as she had asked but she still had not heard from Chris again for more information.
“I will leave a message for you as soon as I hear from him.”
I ended up receiving her message at around 3:30PM; whereby, I called her again.
“Chris got his vacation. He wants you to call him tonight between eight and nine o’clock at the Base,” she said gratefully.
“Okay, I will and thank you so much.”

I did a non-stop 6pm to 7pm bicycle tour when I arrived home. I saw this New Wave-looking blond curly haired dude with black shades sitting in front of the AT&T Building on Shoreline Drive. As I drove by I waved to him once. He had a bit of a delayed reaction but he waved back, too. My courage was stirred, so I rode up next to him with my adrenaline at a high. I walked my bike alongside him as we continued to walk and talk around the middle of Shoreline Drive, through Otis Drive, up Grand Avenue to Shoreline and through Park Street when we departed. He was a nice guy. He graduated from Alameda High School in 1982 and his name is Erik Jacobsen. He kind of reminded me of Chris when I got a closer look at him. He works at the Hungry Hunter as a waiter in Oakland.
“I’ll probably see you later up along the beach sometime,” I said when we went our separate ways.

I also saw Birda ride by (as a passenger) in a white Ford Mustang as I was walking with Eric. I waved to her, of course. As we walked I briefly spoke to the black dude who shares a room at Suzy’s apartment. He is such a nice guy, too. I asked if he’d been running.
“I haven’t been running because of a bad foot or something,” he explained.

I kept riding my bike until 8:30PM and once I arrived home I telephoned Chris Cordellos. It was good to hear his voice again.
“I’ve been wondering where you’ve been,” Chris said urgently.
I could tell that he had a feeling that I was going’ out with someone else.
“No, I’m not seeing anyone else,” I said, hoping he believed me because I really had not been seeing anyone ‘regularly’.
Chris was at the Base and could not talk very long periods, so I agreed to call again in fifteen minutes.

Bruce called me during the fifteen minute interval.
“Okay, let’s go hiking on Sunday,” I said just to get him off the phone and the geek off my back. He is such a nag.

I telephoned Chris once more. It wasn’t easy getting connected but we finally did and we had a good talk.
“I’ll see what I can do about getting the first week off in September,” Chris said, sounding not-very-optimistic.
“I guess I’ll have to wait and see,” I said as my ‘call waiting’ beeped and interrupted twice. It was Karyn Kossoff the first time and Danny Garcia the second time. I told them both that I’d call back.

Once again it was nice talking to Chris. He is really my best-friend. I am glad he still calls on me and remembers and thinks of me.

I returned Danny’s call but his line was busy.

I returned Karyn’s call and we confirmed the arrangements to have drinks after work on Friday. We had another long discussion about one another, New York (where she is from), the office and her predicted foresight of the gay guys’ pestering she will receive at the office (with regard to us).

Read More

I'm Not A Perfect Person

“Somewhere he had read that if a man could control himself completely and be entirely continent for seven years (abstain from sex), he would become a SUPERMAN.”
-Nial Kent
“The Divided Path”

Ever hear a couple of guys who are “together” have an argument? I was just reminded of this scene from “Dante’s Cove” (a show that a dear friend named Debi told me about). I loved the part when the dark haired guy, Toby (played by actor, Charlie David) says, “Stop yelling.” It’s so typical.

Here is a nine minute consolidated clip from the cable series “Dante’s Cove”. It’s quite dramatic and interesting to watch. I liked the “I’m Not a Perfect Person” tune that you hear towards the end (not sure if that is the title of the song—or not):
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=dante%27s+cove+song&qs=n&docid=1097911173460&mid=E07349A54300C5419A00E07349A54300C5419A00&FORM=VIVR4#


Twenty-five years ago today:

July 19, 1984
Thursday

Work was fun today. Barbara Reynolds and I had our photo taken with the Olympic Bird at the Galleria Center. We have good times during lunchtime.

After I arrived at the BART station this morning I met a cute nineteen year old girl that I have been noticing a lot each day. Her name is Linda ‘something-nitzke’. We had smiled at one another one too many times so I finally introduced myself and asked her name. She is sweet. I may ask her out some time. She must have gone to school with John & Sherri because she lives in Alameda.

I went bicycling tonight. I went to visit mom for a while and eventually found myself at home by 8:30PM. At around 9:10PM the telephone rang and it was ‘Bruce’! Bruce is the geek I met last Saturday at Traffic School!
“Yeah, I paid some twelve hundred dollars for some modeling course with Casablanca, a popular agency,” Bruce went on to say excitedly.
I was thinking quietly to myself, “Like give me a break man!”
He is not good looking enough to be a model. His teeth are so crooked. I used my telephone company trained ‘be nice over the phone’ technique and talked to him for a good half hour.
“Why don’t I call you on Saturday night to see about going out or somethin’?” Bruce asked.
Gulp.
How could I say no? He is strange, but a nice guy. He has a job (even if it is at ‘Topps & Trowsers’ in San Francisco). He is okay as a “pal”.

Read More

Uncertainty

“Somehow I don’t believe his love is as convincing as mine.”
-as heard watching the On-Broadway
Dramatic play “Mary Stuart’

"Letters To A Young Poet"
by Rainer Maria Rilke

'But this is what...people are so often and so disastrously wrong in doing:
they (who by their very nature are impatient) fling themselves at each other when love takes hold of them, they scatter themselves, just as they are, in all their messiness, disorder, bewilderment...

'And what can happen then? What can life do with this heap of half broken things that they would like to call their happiness, and their future?

'And so each of them loses himself for the sake of the other person, and loses the other. And loses the vast possibilities...in exchange for an unfruitful confusion, out of which nothing more can come, nothing but a bit of disgust, disappointment and poverty.'

Twenty-five years ago today:

July 7, 1984

I drove home and arrived in Alameda at 9:30AM. Michelle called me.
“Echo Beach is closed and I just wanted to let you know that Cedric and I are still going out tonight,” Michelle said.
“My friends, Danny and Mary, may go to Echo Beach or as it’s now called, Dancers, and I may meet them there,” I said.
“Sounds cool,” she said even if I did detect a mediocre not-so-thrilled tone in her voice.
I wonder if she likes me. Steve Gaster had previously told me that he thinks she does.

I went bicycling and called Danny at around 1:30PM. I left a message on their recorder. I left for more bike riding and left another message at 4PM. They did not call me back. I went biking again from 5-6PM after a wonderful visit from ma and pa. I doubted that they would call.

I plunged into a quick shower and a nap when Cedric called at 8:45PM.
“We’re going to ‘Cinco Patients’ in The City, so if you want to go?” Cedric asked.
“Hey, that’s a high class joint. Sure, I’ll go since Danny didn’t call it sounds good to me. We’ll have a fun time,” I answered.

I started to get ready when Danny called at 9PM.
“I made other plans,” I said.
“So,” Danny sighed in a still wondering sort of way. I could tell that he cared that I had made other plans.
“I still want to go out with you,” I explained.
“I called you at around six-thirty,” Danny said.
“I guess I missed your call while I was cycling. It’s okay,” I pointed out clearly. We then hung up with polite goodbyes.

I waited impatiently for Michelle and Cedric to arrive. They did. It was 11PM now. We left and I got a speeding ticket driving down Fernside Boulevard in Alameda. It was a minor fiasco because I told the officer I wanted to speak to Sergeant Al Jayne before I signed the ticket. I almost got arrested. I got frisked, cuffed and set in the police car). Finally, I signed the speeding ticket but went to the police station to see Al Jayne. He gave me the scoop.
“You can avoid the citation by going to night court and talking to Charlie Brown. You let him know that I’m your buddy,” Al said.
His reassuring conversation made me feel better. I’m lucky to have known his daughter, Bonnie, since sixth-grade.

We continued our adventure into San Francisco. We ‘sort of’ got lost. Cedric kept opening my car door to only scratch the curb, making a horrible sound. I hated that more than words could describe! I hate all people that do that. I tried to NOT let it get to me. By 1AM we arrived at Syncopation on Howard Street. We danced until 2:15AM. I asked a tall blond girl to dance.
“I just finished dancing,” she said as her explanation for saying ‘no’.
I decided to ‘later’ her and not ask her again. It’s very much her loss.

I drove Michelle home. We really had a fun evening despite the speeding citation. I was happy to be in my very own bed by 3AM. Yawn.

Read More

The Model

"You have no idea what goes on inside me,
and as far as I know,
you've never even wondered."
-Nial Kent
"The Divided Path"

In the late 1980s I met a model named Dustin Nipper. She was tall, gorgeous and reminded me very much of an actress known as Morgan Brittany.

PHOTO: Morgan Brittany

She was a lot younger than I. She was about eighteen and I was around twenty-eight at the time.
She seemed more mature than the typical eighteen year old; whereby, I thought we made an 'eau de naturale' couple when we went out.

I remember meeting Dustin's dad (who reminded me of the actor, Perry King).

PHOTO: Perry King

She lived with her mother in Pleasanton, CA as her folks were divorced. Her mother was quite nice and attractive as well but it was a little bit uncomfortable going into Dustin’s bedroom and playing “kissy kissy”. It is still an unforgettable memory for me (and probably for her). They were 'great' kisses, after all.

When I would hear that classic tune by KRAFTWERK called ‘The Model’ I would think of Dustin. I loved pedaling my bike to that tune.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=kraftwerk%2C+the+model&docid=653196460434&mid=D593C439FC79F7E58DE8D593C439FC79F7E58DE8&FORM=VIVR

I never continued to see Dustin on a regular basis because I ended up moving to Los Angeles in October 1989 for career reasons. We wrote to one another a few times and our connection simply faded with time.

Fast-forward to the Internet age and Dustin had read some of my book reviews on Amazon.com. She managed to email me and we reconnected after many years. It was fun ‘catching up’ and learning that she was still living in the Northern California Bay Area with her husband.

PHOTO: At 'IL VICOLO' Ristorante,
Paris, France

Alan and I met her and her husband, Amit, in Downtown Napa for lunch one day a year or so ago. Thanks to email and FACEBOOK we keep in touch more regularly.

Coincidentally, we learned that Dustin and her husband, Amit Bhatnagar, were planning a trip to Europe at the same time we were. We managed to arrange a dinner together in PARIS at a place called IL VICOLO (34, Rue Mazarine, 75006, Paris). The Italian wine was just what we all needed after the process of getting settled after the long flight. They had flown in from San Francisco (versus our New York), so they had a few more hours of adjustment challenge.

We ventured on to Spain while they explored Rome, Italy. I know they had as great a time as we did.

Twenty-five years ago today:

June 14, 1984
Thursday

Well, I have been falling behind with writing in my journal. It is time to play ‘catch up’. Let’s see if I can recall all the way back to Thursday (as it is Sunday now). I am lying out on the Alameda South Shore Beach right now, feeling the good sun and listening to tunes.

I know I went to work on Thursday, June 14th. I believe Helen Wong brought lunch and we ate at the cafeteria with Cedric Green.

After work I rode my bike, too, of course. I remember dropping by to give Sherri some mail that she received at the Cook Lane townhouse address. It was mail about a Baby Pageant. I guess Ashley is going to be in her first Baby Beauty Pageant. Sherri gave me some tickets to sell (at my office) for votes for Ashley (for The Baby Pageant 1984, Queen of Diablo Valley).
“I will try and sell the whole book for you,” I said excitedly.

I received a package from International Male (my black night shirt, Moroccan madras shorts and underwear arrived).

Once home I was rather bummed out. I guess with Chris away I did not really want to go out ‘on my own’. So, I turned in early on a Thursday night.

Read More

Russian Girls Are A Hot Commodity

"You've got to make a decision and NOT look back.
That's how LIFE goes!"
-a line heard in
'RACING DREAMS'
Best Documentary at the
2009 Tribeca Film Festival

"Russian girls are a hot commodity in this town," said a dear friend recently after she was told about a party we attended at a New York penthouse in the sky.

Alan and I attended a party in New York City of about twenty guests. It was festive fun but the shocking part was the pairing of three Russian girls with three 'very much older' men. There is a large Russian population in Brooklyn. The Russians are mainly concentrated in the community of Brighton Beach (and surrounding communities). Brighton Beach features many Russian businesses. Because of the large Russian community, it has been nicknamed "Little Odessa."

Two of the Russian girls in attendance at this party were only about thirty years old and their "boyfriends" were divorced men in their early 60's. One of the Russian girls was only twenty-one and she was paired off with a man who was at least sixty-five! It wasn't too thrilling to see through my eyes. Who am I to judge?

Our dear New Yorker friend who made the quote above shall remain nameless. However, she said that some of these young, beautiful Russian women won't accept an older man unless he has over 10 to 15 million before they'll even 'look at you'. I recall seeing a documentary sometime ago about Russian Brides being available in various parts of Russia for American men. Look...there's even a website I just found for this sort of thing:
http://www.dating-world.net/
There is a new documentary that has the potential of being made if you ask me. I guess this is still going on. Once you experience the latest 'New York City' party you start to realize what's really going on.

I know many older women who might not frown at having a young Russian male by their side. Who knows? This may be going on as well. The only issue there is that per an article in January 2006, the average life expectancy of a Russian male is now fifty-eight.
http://www.russiablog.org/2006/01/average_male_life_expectancy_i.php
My talented photographer pal, Andrei, who resides in St. Petersburg, Russia has a studio where he photographs a lot of Russian men. Browse through some of his fantastic portraits:
http://www.redbubble.com/people/vishstudio
PHOTO: A Russian Man


Twenty-five years ago today:

May 5, 1984
Saturday

This morning I was awoken to mom's "clitter-clatter" in the kitchen as she was preparing for the festivities of Sherri's Baby Shower.

I left the house at 8:30AM for Gomes Tire & Auto Service. I was determined to have my car serviced for the oil, lube and filter changes. By 9AM I felt as though I had accomplished something and gave Sue Miller a telephone call. We arranged for another breakfast outing at Ole's Waffle Shop on Park Street. Instead of the 'blueberry waffles' we had cheese omelets. I persuaded Sue on the idea of attending Sherri's Baby Shower.

We went to Chapin's Stationery Store at the South Shore Shopping Center in Alameda where we both bought Mother's Day cards. We proceeded to Woolworth's and Mervyn's in search of baby gifts for the Baby Shower.

I also helped Sue select a Spring Time outfit to wear while at Mervyn's. We went to Sue's apartment to do the gift wrapping. She changed to her Spring Time outfit and looked very "Spring Time" in the pastel colors.

It was 1:50PM and the Baby Shower started at 2PM, so we hit the road to my mom & dad's house. We arrived at 2:05PM just as my first cousins (Mona and Donna Armijo) arrived with their mom, Lela Armijo. It was rather festive. I didn't feel out-of-place being at a Baby Shower because my brothers, Tony and John, were there, too. I always wondered what happened during a Baby Shower.

Sue won the "Name Game". I laughed at the sight of Sue's bewildered and puzzled look on her face at the fact that she won. It was fun seeing everyone.

By 6PM I was off and running again. This time I went with Sue and her mom (Suzanne) and siblings (Michael Miller and Renee Miller) to the Pleasanton Hotel. We were there in celebration of Michael Miller's birthday (which was actually on May 3rd). We all had a great time at this Pleasanton Hotel.

PHOTO: Sue Miller and her brother, Michael Miller at my 'mom & dad's' house in Alameda, CA




After dinner we all went to Renee's pad in Livermore, California. We hung out there listening to mellow tunes like a 'Peaceful Easy Feeling' by The Eagles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1JPVIIhGDc
Renee had a really nice pad. We looked at photographs and took pictures, too. We talked about the past, present and future. Renee is actually getting married and may be moving to the State of Washington with her new husband. I guess she's made her decision and has decided to NOT look back.

By 11:30PM we (Sue, Sue's mom, Michael Miller and I) all left for Alameda. I was home by 12:30PM. I browsed through my MACY's catalog and went to bed tossing and turning. I was wondering how Chris Cordellos was moving along with his so-called Saturday Night Party in Arcata.

Read More

My Matador Cousins

"I had a handful of girlfriends.
Dating was exciting,
and I played my part."
-Marcelo F Pinto
Dallas, Texas
in the book
"Telling Tales Out of School"

I was intrigued by an episode on "60 Minutes" last week about Francisco and Cayetano Ordonez. They are the bullfighting brothers in Spain.

They are the grandsons of the great Spanish bullfighter, Antonio Ordonez. To be a "matador" is to be a principal bullfighter who is appointed to make the final passes and ultimately "kill the bull".

The "60 Minutes" episode depicted the challenges they face every time they enter the ring. It's rather frightening but these two brothers are in the limelight as 'much loved' celebrities in Spain. It's worth watching if you missed it.
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=4531401n

I am not really directly linked as a cousin to the Ordonez brothers. It's just that I always feel a 'kinship' to anything Spain. I do sense the connection and their passion.

Twenty-five years ago today:

April 22, 1984
Easter Sunday

I did not go to church today. I did pass St. Albert’s Church while on my bicycle and said a silent prayer of meditation as I rode by. I washed my car, too.

I did not have as long a bike ride as I did yesterday. There was no point in subjecting myself to a ‘tank top’ sunburn like last Saturday.

I received a phone call from Chris Cordellos at 10:30AM. He was bummed out once again.
“Yeah, Barb is all pissed because I went dancing with Leandra and some other chick,” Chris exploded, “and she was not invited to tag-a-long!”
“It’s not like Barbara owns you.” I said reassuringly, “You don’t have to tell her where you are every minute.”
“I know, huh?” Chris agreed, “Happy Easter.”
We laughed because that greeting came unexpectedly as I continued to console him.

We’re anxiously anticipating May 26th.
“I want to get you a certain something that you truly need. And I don’t want you to tell anyone that I gave it to you,” Chris said with regard to my 25th Birthday present.
What could it be?
I told him I only want your presence (not presents).

I did more bicycle riding in the early evening (after a short nap). I was lying out in the backyard for a while and had to listen to a bunch of squids (US Navy types) having a barbecue in the adjacent neighbors’ backyard. Their football came into our backyard for a second and I had to toss it back to them. After I tossed it back one of the guys’ popped his head over the fence.
“I just wanted to see what you looked like,” he said. I pretended I did not hear that (whatever it meant).

Later that evening I began watching ‘Norma Rae’, starring Sally Field, with mom. My eyelids had trouble staying open for the full length of the film, so I turned in early.

Read More