It's Either Me or The Cigarettes

"Breakfast, lunch and dinner, he could do without, but afternoon tea mattered."
-Pat Barker
"REGENERATION"

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Twenty-five years ago today:

September 19, 1985
Thursday

Before I fell asleep last night I received a phone call from my sister-in-law, Helen. We had a very nice chat. We also had an interesting carryover conversation. Apparently, Dale Orlando (Mr. Big Mouth) has entangled a web of lies in my life that must be broken immediately. Word has somehow traveled from my San Francisco office to the Downtown Oakland Office.
Helen said, “You should know that this Dale person has flashed around a reservation slip for one King Size bed the time you went to Las Vegas together. He’s also been telling certain people that you have a journal and he knows a lot of interesting facts.”
“Oh, give me a break,” I said disgustedly.
I could only assume that Dave Vigil might be involved as he talks to Deborah Smith, the Assistant Manager there a lot. Deborah is a big gossip. Anyhow, it all just burns me up. Helen and I continued our good talk. I appreciated her giving me the scoop. I agree now---and should have known long before—that Dale cannot EVER be trusted.

I must tell Dale that I cannot baptize his son, Andrew, for my own personal reasons (even if he does already have my middle name, Andrew ‘Michael Joe’ Orlando). It would just create a bond between Dale and I that I don’t necessarily need. He should ask one of his favorite brothers to be The Godfather.

Dale spoke to me on the phone last night and today. He could easily sense that something was wrong with me. He figures I was hurt from my talk with Rachelle at the gym recently (of course that is not the case at all). It was the shit rumor and lies that I had heard about from Helen that was bothering me.

I spoke to my brother, Tony, today.
Tony asked, “Do you want to buy some Bruce Springstein tickets for tonight?”
I replied, “No.”
It was sure nice of him to ask.

I wanted to go to the gym but I ended up babysitting for John and Sherri. They were going to the Bruce Springstein concert.

My Entertainment Unit was delivered at around 7PM. Ashley cried when the delivery guys arrived.

Suzy Miler telephoned.
“How was France?”
“Oh, I had so much fun!”
I had to cut it short because the delivery guys were here. I tried calling her back but she wasn’t home.

Denise Vinsonhaler called me and invited me to the Walnut Creek Festival tonight.
“Sure, I’ll come,” I replied.
I figured it might be fun despite her smoking habit (something she says that she enjoys). Yuck! Well, if she wants to enjoy me it’s either me or the cigarettes.

I wrote out a couple of checks to pay bills last night. The day my bills are out of my hair I shall rejoice.

I went to bed at John’s house as Ashley was fast asleep. I fell asleep in front of their TV until 10PM when Heidi (Sherri’s pal) arrived. I was watching old episodes of The Edge of Night. Once I returned to my pad I had no energy for any aerobics. I went straight to bed. Yawn.


"Instead, he stayed at his home in Malibu, monitored the phones and watched CNBC."
-Tom King
"The Operator: David Geffen Builds, Buys, and Sells the New Hollywood"