Her "STAR"

To complete his misery, he was conscious of his own absurdity and exaggerated it.  But what he did not see was the expression of his eyes; they were so fine, and spoke of so ardent a spirit that, like good actors, they sometimes imparted a charming meaning to that which had none.
-Stendhal
"The Red and the Black"

Twenty-five years ago today:

July 8, 1986
Tuesday

There was a big 6.0 earthquake in Palm Springs. I couldn’t call Ron to check up on him because I didn’t know his telephone number.

I telephoned Sue Croce. I had to give her directions to San Francisco as we are meeting for lunch tomorrow. I figured we’d eat at PATRICK’s or NATOMA’s or THE HAVEN.

Margaret Lai received a job offer to work with the TAS (Telephone Answering Services Group) today. Winnie received a job offer to work with Priority Accounts in Redwood City. Meanwhile, I am still here. Steph referred to me as her “STAR”. I guess that was supposed to make me feel better.

I had an idea. I decided to look into a Personnel Agency that hired Executives. It may not be worth it with my NCS (Net Credited Service) date about to accelerate on May 3, 1987. This will mean three weeks of vacation plus six days off WITH pay and one without pay and five sick days WITH pay (as I will be able to bridge my old time from when I worked at Pac Bell before I left for college).

I had another idea to work part-time at UPS. Then I realized there was no need to work myself to death. I will simply continue as I am. I will still live comfortably.

I rode my bike after work from 5:45 until 6:45PM. I left at 7PM for the gym and worked out until 8:20PM. Joyce was just coming in as I was about to leave.
Joyce said, “You should do the eight-thirty aerobics class.”
There was no way. I was exhausted. Mark was just driving in as I was leaving. We exchanged a few brief words and I left for my mom’s house.

John, Sherri and Ashley dropped by while I was at mom’s house. Ashley gave me (Uncle Mike) a kiss. She’s so sweet.
She gave me some of her M&M’s and kept saying, “Uncle Mike…Uncle Mike…Uncle Mike.”
Ashley made me feel so good. I want to take her to the park---or the zoo—again very soon. Maybe I can do that on Sunday after my bike excursion in San Francisco.

I telephoned Julie Waller, my Vietnamese high-school pal. She is going to be quitting her job at VALENTINO’s.
Julie said, “I’m just so tired of waitressing.”
“That’s how I feel about being an Account Executive that is really a Service Representative.”


I telephoned Johnny Schaefer too. He was telling me how he felt and heard the earthquake.


I still cannot believe that Denise Vinsonhaler called me last Wednesday. I think that was the day she called. She hasn’t called again. I do get a fair share of ‘hanger uppers’, so who knows?


It looks like I will need a new journal soon. I am on the last page. These ink specks here are because I just sneezed in the journal book.


There are only twenty-seven business days until my trip to New York with Mr. Leoni.

People fake a lot of human interactions.
Q: "How does someone so dumb get so much power?"
A: "She knows how to play the game."
-DEXTER, TV Series
Season I