Desirable

In some places beauty is a trap, the most pleasing kind.  But if you give in, pursue the pleasure of the moment; you don’t know what you may find.
-Robert Saviano
“Gommorah”

Twenty-five years ago today

January 13, 1986
Monday

As usual…this morning was a drag to get out of bed, knowing I had to report for work.

The morning office announcements included the fact that my tub mate, Carl Brooks, had his Job Transfer request accepted for February to go to IEC Marketing AT&T. Tim, another coworker, had his Job Transfer request accepted for March to ICSC Marketing. I am jealous; however, I am glad I am not going to either of those departments.

I had a very good sales reporting day once again. I remained at work until 7PM, too. Mary McTiernan was working overtime with me as well. I ended up driving her to her parked car.

When I arrived home I had no idea that my phone was actually unplugged. I ended up going to the gym. Rick was there and we exchanged a few words. He’s a friend of Chad’s. He is also becoming a closer friend to Larry (Chad’s roommate).

Mark Landreth introduced himself to me. We shook hands. He’s nice and he’s a “plus plus”.

Randy (one of the gym guys that I hadn’t seen at the gym in quite a while) started talking to me.
“How are you doing?”
“Oh, pretty good, and you?”
“Ah right…I’ve been skiing, playing football a bit but I’m going to try and come back to the gym as a regular.”
I hope I don’t ever slack off when it comes to going to the gym. By next January 18, 1987 I will mark two years of ‘gym going’. It will be my gym anniversary. I hope I have some real desirable improvements to show for it by then.

After the gym I washed a few clothes and made myself a lean cuisine dinner. At 10PM I was preparing to go to bed when I noticed that my phone was unplugged. I plugged it in and it immediately started to ring. It was Chad. I was so very happy that it was him.

“I’ve been trying to call you all night!”
Chad’s statement made me feel good.
“I was at the gym…and that Mark guy introduced himself to me.”
“Well, he was bound to talk to you if you stare long enough!”
I didn’t reply to that but I don’t think I make a habit of staring at Mark.
Chad continued, “I’m surprised that Mark introduced himself since he’s basically a shy guy.”
“Yeah, well,” I said, hinting for a hopeful change of subject.
It’s clear to me that I wonder about Mark. I think he is a desirable QBL (Questionable) with excellent stomach muscles. That’s the extent of it though. There’s ‘no way’…

While talking to Chad my ‘call waiting’ signal beeped. It was Pat Shikuzawa, calling from Sacramento. I accepted her call. Pat and I attended college together. I was shocked to hear from her.
Pat said, “I got your picture of you on the fence that you sent me. You look heavier…like you filled-out a bit.”

“Oh, I’ve been working out for a year,” I said with a follow-up laugh.
“So, how are you?”
“Good, what’s up with you?”
“Well, I’m living with a twenty year old guy who works at WINCHELL’s.”
“That’s interesting.”
“Yep, you should come up and visit.”
“Yeah, that would be nice…but WHEN is the question. I am living alone in Alameda but some folks think I have a roommate named Chad…long story.”
We spoke of work.
She said, “I’m starting to get some savings going. I want a new car.”
I chose not to mention my future aspiration for a Jaguar with personalized plates like JAG1988 or 1988JAG or MYJAG or just plain JAGUAR.

It was nice to talk to Pat Shikuzawa again.

His instinct of a successful man had taught him long ago that, as a general rule, a reputation is built on manner as much as on achievement.
-Joseph Conrad
“The Secret Agent”