“Shorten and simplify it. That’s what we do in journalism.”
-Steig Larsson
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
Twenty-five years ago today:
April 29, 1985
Monday
Dale and I woke up before 6AM and drove to Antioch to pick up his Grand Prix. We went to pick up Tim and Al and we car-pooled to work in San Francisco.
Work seemed to be rather slow today; however, I was not approved for any E time. Dale didn’t get any E time either.
Dale and Ryan want to go skating tomorrow night. I’ve decided to forfeit the idea of going along. It’s mainly because I cannot skate and I hate the “vibes” at that gay San Leandro skating rink. I also don’t like the way Dale and Ryan are teasing me over little nonsense things (my homophobia).
Dale and I are respectively proud father and Godfather to little Andrew Michael-Joe Orlando. I shared the news to a few people in the office. It was funny when Dale came around my desk, asking with whom I have not shared the news.
Margaret Lai came into the office on her day-off with her little boy, Lance. He’s cute.
I love Ashley so much. I’m always raving about her: “my sweet niece”.
At lunchtime Dale and I went into a greeting card shop and we’re hip to the idea of opening our own card shop as a partnership. Dale bought me a JOHN WAYNE poster while I wasn’t looking (only because I mentioned that ‘The Duke’ and I were born on the same day).
Steff didn’t call me once today. I was flabbergasted and happy about it. I didn’t feel a need to call on her either.
Dale and I enjoyed our last break with Sue and Mary. We talked about Sue and the fights she’s been having with Hank, her boyfriend, now that she’s bailed him out of jail for his multitude of speeding tickets. I also discussed my little brother, John, and the spaghetti noodle episode (When I was four years old I placed a spaghetti noodle (uncooked) in my brother’s ear and was scolded by my mother for doing that.) I also discussed my Uncle Raymond’s pencil in the ass story (When my brother, Tony, and I were kids our Uncle came over and spent the night and the circumstances were unclear but brother placed a pencil on Uncle Raymond’s ass). Sue shared a ‘come and suck you off’ episode when she started high-school. It was a break time of sharing stories that made us all laugh.
Dales asked, “Do you want to go to the Vallejo Hospital to see Andrew after work?”
“Uh,” I hesitated.
“I’ll drive you home afterwards.”
“Well, okay then.”
Al, Tim, Dale and I car-pooled together to Walnut Creek. We had fun in the car imitating the following coworkers: Emmy Pena, David Vigil, Billy Rose, and Jewel. It was really funny.
We arrived at the Vallejo Hospital and I changed into my jeans and my Sausalito Beach Club shirt in the car while at the Vallejo Hospital parking lot.
Dale said, “I’ve seen more of your flesh in public than anywhere else.”
I had to laugh.
I saw Matthew, Dee, Dee’s mother and Andrew. I didn’t get to hold Andrew but I saw him through the observatory window. He’s so cute.
When we left the hospital Dale and I started getting hyped up with ideas we are floating about a new business called “Chip n’ Dale’s”, a division of A Mirage Company Inc. and MADO Graphics. Our ‘Chip n’ Dale’s store will have a variety of goods with a core focus on greeting cards that are especially designed by MADO Graphics Cards. We’ll have posters, candles, polo shirts with the customer’s choice graphics on the shirt. Ideas are flurrying about a location at Sun Valley Mall or Bay Fair Shopping Center. I suggested Sherri as our store manager and an 800 METRO WATS line number with a special catalog design. We are just brainstorming right now. I believe we will make the move and be successful.
We stopped over at South Shore Shopping Center in Alameda for a quick walk-through. Dale dropped me off at home after the walk.
The last thing I said, “Don’t forget to consider problems and solutions for our business partnership. I’ll do the same. Our brand image is so important and key to our biz, so we have to stress the quality of our store.”
“Okay,” Dale said.
I went to the gym and I saw Bob and Russ. They gave their usual ‘QBL’ looks. I maintained my composure and had a good workout. I went straight home for some refreshing apple juice.
I returned a phone call recorded message from Howard Edelstein. I am supposed to call him soon to see about getting together.
I also received a call from Steff but I did not call her back.
Dale telephoned me again and we had more ‘new business’ talk on logos, new products, target marketing, location, etc. It’s exciting! Our ideas together make something powerful. The funds are the only real ‘bitch’. It was getting late.
“Okay Dale, we should ‘dreamscape’ now.”
“Good night.”
Yawn.
Recently I’d been reading a novel in which the leading character kept telling his buddy, “Keep your cool.”
I took that for my slogan. Keep my cool, no matter what.
-James Kirkwood
“Good Times Bad Times”, a novel
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