Side-Tracked

"In fact, it's hard to write truthfully about gay life, or straight life for that matter, without getting into sex."
-Christopher Bram
"Mapping The Territory"

Twenty five years ago today:

October 25, 1985
Friday

Well, Leonard Perillo’s new telephone number is now 415-537-0555 and it is in good working order. He seems pretty happy about the ideal number. I am happy he’s happy.

I received a few ‘what’s on your agenda’ questions today just because I wore my three-piece suit (blue) to work today. Many seemed to think I had an ulterior career motive.

At lunch I ate a submarine sandwich and a salad in the smoking lounge with Karyn Kossoff and Bob Gross. Karyn was sharing the scoop about her recent jury duty case. The case was against the Southern Pacific Railroad who had been slapped a lawsuit by a wife whose husband was killed by jumping to and from another boxcar lane while taking pictures for the Oakland Tribune. The wife didn’t get anything as she tried to build-up a case with her attorneys (based on negligence).

The Oakland-Bay Bridge was closed and way backed-up, so I took the 101 to San Mateo to Highway 92 and on through the San Mateo Bridge via Hayward and then on home to Alameda. It was a roundabout alternative but I was home by 6:40PM.

Leonard arrived at my place by 7PM.
Leonard offered his two-cents on driving alternatives by saying, “You know, you could’ve taken the Golden Gate and then side-tracked through the San Rafael Bridge to Richmond and on to Highway 17.”
I didn’t argue but I don’t know if that route would’ve been longer or shorter. Either way, I got home.

 
Leonard and I left in his weekend car (the baby blue Porsche), heading out to The City. We couldn’t find a parking space by ‘The Patio’ (where we’d planned to eat); whereby, we ate at ‘The Mesquite Grille’ on Market Street. We shared a bottle of wine though I believe I drank most of it. 

We proceeded to go to his folks’ posh condo up at Nob Hill in the GC Building. Then we went to QT’s on Polk Street for a drink, hanging out there for a bit. The décor was unique with mirrors and modern flare. We stopped for snacks at SAFEWAY and headed back to the Nob Hill condo. It was pretty fun. I was kind of restless again as we slept. I asked myself: What’s in store for us when we wake up in 'The City' in the morning?


March 16, 1994
A best-seller seems to be, at least in the ones that I have read recently, and I have read quite a few, is sex, there has to be explicit sex, there have to be sexual scenes; this is what readers must have.
-May Sarton
"At Eighty-Two, A Journal"