Pumping Iron

"I had to tame him."
-Yann Martel
THE LIFE OF PI

Twenty-five years ago today:

July 7, 1986
Monday

I went to get Dad at his house. He was going to help with my car. I took BART in to San Francisco.

I telephoned Johnny Schaefer from work. I felt a bit of guilt for not seeing him in Los Angeles, so I simply called to wish him a good day. He seemed to like and appreciate that.

I also telephoned Mark Landreth. We had a great talk.
I performed a white lie by saying, “Yeah, I went to Sacramento for the 4th of July.”
“Oh, so that’s where you were.”
“Yeah, how did your dinner with Cindy go?”
“Pretty good,” Mark replied.
“How was dessert?” I asked with a chuckle.
Mark laughed.
Mark changed the subject and asked, “Did you watch the ‘Pumping Iron’ flick last night?”
“I saw a little of it.”
Now I am beginning to think he really is QBL (Questionable) based on the scenes I saw while watching ‘Pumping Iron’. I just don’t know.

I sold an 800 WATS line and one Remote Call Forwarding service today. It was a good show for my first day back to work.

My stomach felt full all day. I felt like a slob. I have to watch my eating patterns closely.

I telephoned Sue Croce but her mom answered the phone.
“Oh, Sue’s in Tahoe.”
“Okay, Thanks…just tell her Mike called.”

Sue called me that evening.
I asked, “Could you meet me in The City for lunch one day this week.”
“Okay, I think I can do that.”

I went to the gym. Mark and Dave were there. Mark went for the 8:30PM aerobics class. I didn’t. Joyce was there. I felt brave.
“So, Joyce--why don’t we go out this Friday night?” I asked, flashing a smile with hopes of a positive response.
“Do you realize I’m going to be twenty-three this Tuesday?”
“Big deal…I’m twenty-seven.”
She couldn’t believe my age. Finally she answered my initial question.
“Well, I have to figure out what I am doing. Why don’t you ask me later in the week?”
“Okay, I will.”
I thought silently to myself while on the Life Cycle, “Okay, only one more time and if I don’t get a straight answer from her she HAD her chance.”
I had eaten dinner at mom’s house, so my workout was really a battle of the bulge. Tomorrow I will work out harder.

I wrote Paloma a card or two.  I also wrote a quick card to Mark.

I hope Joyce will go out with me. I think we’d make a good looking pair.

It was very peaceful and quiet.  I wondered why it was that places are so much lovelier when one is alone.
-Daphne du Maurier
"REBECCA"