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.

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District 9 vs. District B13

“My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been.”
-Diane Arbus
Influential 20th Century
American Photographer
b. March 14, 1923, d. July 26, 1971

What is it about the word “district”? In the English Dictionary it is defined as (noun) a region marked off for administrative or other purposes or (verb)to regulate housing in certain areas of towns.

Earlier this month I went out to see a film called District 9 that was produced by the renowned director, Peter Jackson and actually directed by Neill Blomkamp (who was born in South Africa).

The movie, DISTRICT 9, was a very imaginative science-fiction type film that was quite amazing to see. It leaves the viewer open to a sequel in three years. I give it FOUR stars. It is a cross between other films like Blackhawk Down, E.T., Hurt Locker and I-Robot in a mock documentary-drama style. I simply do not think I can ever eat another prawn again (after watching the story).

The DISTRICT 9 movie was actually inspired by historical events that took place in District Six, an inner-city residential area in Cape Town in South Africa under apartheid. In 1966, District 6 was declared a "whites only" area by the apartheid government and for the next several decades, 60,000 people were forcibly removed and relocated to Cape Flats. It only cost 30 million dollars to produce the film. Ouch! Yet, it made 37 million dollars on the opening weekend. Lucky!

I happened to notice a French film on my Netflix list about a week later called DISTRICT B13. I thought it might be a French version of the same story, so I wanted to watch it as soon as possible. This film was nothing like District 9 but it sure had all the elements of action and thrill rides. If you want to be on ‘the edge of your seat’ for one evening then watch DISTRICT B13. District 13 is the English language release title of the 2004 French action film, Banlieue 13, directed by Pierre Morel, and written and produced by Luc Besson. It was also released in North America as District B13.

The DISTRICT B13 movie centers on Paris in 2010 where social problems like violence, drugs and organized crime have overrun the poor suburb areas. The two lead characters Cyril Raffaelli (Captain Damien Tomaso) and David Belle (Leito) are so fit and exciting to watch.

Cyril plays the tough undercover police officer who believes in law and government while David Belle plays an acrobatic ghetto-dweller who fights the gangs and feels cheated by the system.

The sequel, District B13 Ultimatum, will reprise the roles with Cyril and David once again. The sequel has promised to be just as action-packed a film as the first. It was released in France in February 2009 and the DVD/Bluray was released in France last week (on August 19, 2009). I look forward to watching the sequel.

Both District 9 & B13 films are highly recommended by me if you would like to test your adventure ride endurance. You will definitely 'go where you've never been'. If you were strapped to a heart monitor while watching you would surely see your frequency changes go wild ‘every now and then’. It is a good way to lose a couple of pounds (just don’t have two Snickers bars or Reese's Butter Cups while you’re watching them).


Twenty-five years ago today:

August 27, 1984
Monday

I had a fair day at work.

Lunch was enjoyable with Barbara Reynolds and Joe at the Galleria ‘Chinese’ place. It was as delicious as it could be.

We did more stupid role play cases at work. I have to repeat one tomorrow morning. It has me bummed out. I shall comply. I just cannot wait until the damn ‘practice cases’ and training days come to a final end. I will be on vacation at that time.

After work I came home and I received my $3300 bill from VISA. Shit! Thank God I don’t use those credit cards anymore. I will catch up to my ‘discretionary income’ soon.

I went bicycling and my rear tire now has a low leak. As if my day had not been SHOT already! I went over to visit mom and we walked slowly around the hallways of the Alameda Hospital. Mom will be released tomorrow or Wednesday. Hurrah!
“John and Sherri are having problems,” mom said.
“Really, why,” I asked, “What happened?”
“John told Sherri to move out and it’s a sad story because Ashley is in the middle of it.”
“Well, only time will tell with that. You never know, so don’t worry about it.”

I was going to invite Sherri over for a trip to Nations Burgers but she wasn’t home. Instead, I drove to Nations alone. I enjoyed a cheeseburger, fries and shake.

I did not feel I had enough cycling in today. I need to have my bike tune-up and that low leak fixed. I think I will just exercise these forthcoming nights to QUAKE radio tunes versus the cycling. It is always good to tone up and stretch. It will be my new way for a change of pace.

Karyn Kossoff never called me to find out why I did not show up at Barnaby’s last Friday night. I am beginning to wonder why.

I always wonder why Chris Cordellos did not call. That’s nothing new. I told him if he did not call I would only assume he went to Sonoma. And so, I guess he hit ‘the boonies’ (the small hick town of Sonoma). I love to visit there but ‘to live’ is another story.

Now I want to sleep. I want to have a good dream about the damn role play I have to repeat tomorrow morning.

Speaking of outright anger (as mentioned yesterday) it is really frustrating because I know I want to do well. I believe they know I am doing well but they only want me to polish it up. Anything and everything in life could use some ‘polishing’ (especially after aging usage and built-up dust).

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My Second Job: "What City?"

"A Queen can offer a young man whatever he wants.
And a young man wants everything."
-as heard while watching the
dramatic 2009 Broadway play
"Mary Stuart"
I still remember my first day on the job. It was tax day (April 15th) 1977. I lied about my age. I wrote that I turned eighteen on February 26th when in reality my birthday is May 26th. I would not have been hired otherwise. Besides, I would be turning eighteen very soon. I took an exam in Downtown Oakland for a position in Operator Services. It was such a 'sweaty palms' experience, but I passed with flying colors.

My job began at East 14th Street in San Leandro (only a couple of blocks from where my Grandmother lives).

I began to work my first full-time job as a 411-Directory Assistance Operator. While I was still going to school part-time at Chabot College I thought this would be a great way to build my low money supply.

I was the youngest one in the office. There were many women and a fair share of men. I would say there were about ten-percent men.

The old ladies (that have been working there for years) liked to work the ‘short evening’ shifts. Their hours were like 4:15PM to 10:15PM or 4:30PM to 10:30PM. I loved those hours and that was my ideal choice. I could go to school in the mornings and work here at night but because of my low seniority I often got the 2PM to 10PM shift. What a long day.

I became friendly with a lot of the girls there who were in their early twenties like Devonie O’Keefe, Susan Luna, Sharon Cortez, Debbie Honcik and Cheri Potter (to name a few). After a while, the job got so boring. I had to ask “What City?” all day long. I certainly did get good at finding listings in the phone book via their old-fashioned microfiche readers.

I was never tardy or absent and had a flawless record so I was able to put in for a job transfer as soon as I had six months of service (October 15, 1977). Most jobs are like this. You must 'play the game', abide by the rules, be an actor...until you can escape to the next "thing".

My transfer request was accepted. By March 1978 I had another job in Downtown Oakland. I was one of the lucky ones who did not have to stay there asking, “What City?” all day long. What torture.

Twenty-five years ago today:

August 19, 1984
Sunday

It is rather funny how I can be such a good detective. I woke up this morning and thought I would call Chris Cordellos. To my surprise and amazement he was home!
“I was home last night,” Chris said.
He was NOT at home last night because I called him. Why is he such a “bullshitter”? Deception is high on his list from past experience (not to mention my own personal knowledge of a Pisces person).

He had to get off of the phone but he called me back a few minutes later. We talked for a while.
“I will be there on August 25th, ok?” Chris asked.
“All right,” I said without really knowing what to think about ‘us’.

I went bicycling and drove by Nici Maurino’s house near Webster Street in Alameda. She was home when I stopped by and provided me with orange juice and cantaloupe nourishment. Again, she wanted me to ‘make love to her’. She was coming on so strong. Like…let’s just do it right here ‘Wham Bam’. It brought that Morgan Fairchild movie (Seduction) to a whole new level.
I nonchalantly said, “When the time is right.”
Of course, I thought to myself, “If that will ever be with you…that is!”

I enjoyed breakfast at Mom and Dad’s and then went out cycling again on this summer Sunday. I returned to moms’ for lunch. I made a simple peach enriched milkshake and napped afterwards.

I went cycling again when I woke up.

Later, ma and pa called me at my pad while I was napping again. They wanted to invite me over for dinner. I went along with them to that Mexicali Rose restaurant on Webster Street. It was filling but good. Mom and Dad ordered a pitcher of margarita and we got buzzed together. That was fun.

We stopped and rented two movies, a Stephen King movie called ‘Christine’ and another one starring Natalie Wood called ‘Brainstorm’ (her last movie). After watching the movies with them I walked to my pad.

Upon arrival to my surroundings I gave Chris Cordellos another phone call. He didn’t really want to talk to me because he had ‘Jeff and Joetta’ there for a visit. So, ‘the hell with it’ I thought.

I am hitting the sack. Good night!

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In The Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening

Michael was torn between ecstasy and torment, delight and frustration.
He had never had so much, and he had never wanted more so badly.
-Nial Kent
"The Divided Path"

Do you sometimes wonder where you have been when you miss things as life goes by? I have been listening to a cool CD (What a Girl Needs) and there is a song by Rosemary Clooney called “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening”.

I did some soul searching for more of Rosemary Clooney and never realized what a “Babe” she was in her heyday. I loved this video montage of her singing ’50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=rosemary+clooney+videos&qs=AS&docid=977720901745&mid=54FFEBC5352D2885991254FFEBC5352D28859912&FORM=VIVR18#

My new mission this month is to listen to more of Rosemary. If I ever meet George Clooney we’ll have a lot of tunes to talk about.

Twenty-five years ago today:

August 11, 1984,
Saturday

At 10:15AM Suzy Miller called and we went on our typical breakfast outing to Ole’s Waffle Shop on Park Street. Sue was sweet enough to treat me, too. Hurrah! We saw an overweight former high school classmate who was always known as a jock-type (Bob McLaughlin). Sue exchanged a brief hello and chatter with him but I did not know him very well.
After seeing his weight gain status I thought to myself, “You better keep doing those jump ropes, Michael!”

After breakfast, Sue told me that Michael (her brother) had sprained his foot playing volleyball.

We went to the Alameda Sporting Goods shop and then stopped by her mom’s house on Alameda Avenue. Michael Miller was there and he showed me pictures from Renee’s wedding. He showed me a nice picture he took of me and Chris Cordellos in my convertible, too. I laughed because it made me think of that stupid show from the late 1950’s that is on reruns now (77 Sunset Strip).

I was supposed to go to that party with Bruce (with all of the good-looking models prancing around) but I had not been home. Michael Miller was feeling kind of ‘down’ from his sprained foot, so I decided I would spend the day with him.

Michael and I went to Longs Drug Store for film and then to my mom’s to take 3-month old pictures of Ashley Marie Armijo. Michael is a really good with his camera. We stayed at moms’ for quite a while. Michael Miller and my Dad were having a good conversation.

PHOTO: August 11, 1984-Michael Miller on crutches with
some unknown SF woman who had crutches, too.

We left by 3:30PM or so and decided to go to The City and take pictures. It’s too bad Michael was on crutches. We had a good time anyway. We met Andrea and some other ‘interior design’ chick from Michigan who thought she was ‘hot shit’. All in all it was an eventful day of experience in the City by the Bay. If I wasn’t with Mike I would have missed a lot. He sees things I do not see when I have my camera. I will have good photographs to remember today.

Michael and I got back to Alameda at 10:30PM or so and looked at more photos and watched “Creature Features”.

I persuaded Michael into spending the night at my pad. He slept with me in my bed and it was overwhelmingly tempting and ‘frustrating’. I made no real moves beyond touching his arm and such. I know he has ‘questionable’ thoughts now.

PHOTO: August 11, 1984, A photograph of me (Michael J Armijo)
taken by Michael G Miller at Embracadero Center, San Francisco

I wonder if we will ever be in that same predicament again. He slept with his clothes on and claims to have seen it as though we were ‘camping out’.

He woke up early and went downstairs to watch cartoons while I rolled over and remained in bed. I wondered how horny he was after the White Russian cocktail I talked him into at the Scott’s Carriage House in San Francisco. Maybe I am the only one that gets that way with White Russians.

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The Long, Hot Summer

"Am I a sentimental old fool?"
-Orson Welles
in the 1958 film
"The Long, Hot Summer"

Last night I saw the 1958 film "The Long, Hot Summer" starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. The theme song was sung by Jimmie Rodgers. I liked his voice. I could not find a recording of him singing "The Long, Hot Summer" but here's an audio of him singing 'Secretly':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zub0Cx1DUY

If you haven't seen the movie I'd suggest you see it. It still holds up with the test of time. Check out this clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr0IeZXtMrA
The story combines two William Faulkner stories.

It's amazing to see Paul Newman and JoAnne Woodward in the story and realize they were married for 50 years. The two worked together in this film in 1958 and were married that same year.

Twenty-five years ago today:

May 1, 1984
It rained today.

I saw a big 'rat' on the way to work. Gross! I wondered if it had any significance for my forthcoming day.

I telephoned Chris Cordellos at 12:20PM. Once again he could not say much. When I called at 2:30PM at the US Coast Guard Base he was able to talk.
"I laid it on the line with Jim. I even tried fixing him up with Leandra," Chris said. Chris implied that the 'set up' with Leandra was Jim's request.
"Leandra and Jim went to bed together and Jim couldn't get into it. Jim told me he felt bad. Leandra told me all about it, too. Can you believe it?"
"I guess I can believe it," I said.
"Yeah, I'm leaving this base and transferring to Guam for a year," Chris announced.
He was only kidding about the Guam part. I'm so gullible that I believed him.
"It was a bad day. Some officer kept giving me a bad time. I'm still a little shaky. Who knows if I will get my time off request from May 23rd to 30th now," Chris said as he continued to complain about his unknown future.

Since the rain continued after my work day I did not bother to go for a ride. I simply ate dinner, lounged and watched a taped soap-opera episode of "The Young and The Restless" with mom. It was relaxing. I was feeling a little O.W. (overweight). I don't think I look it.

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