Nothing Much Else Happened: June 30, 1978

Today was great! Something I did today I never did before. I shot rifles. It was great because I and 6 other people got 61 shots. We filled up these cans with water. Then all six of us would wipe it out. You should of seen that can fly! Tonight we had a great dance. I danced with all these girls. I danced with 5 girls and 4 counsellors. But the one girl that I wanted to dance with was with this girl named B.J. But she danced with this other guy all night.

***

That's also the last time I ever shot a rifle. Or held one.

How old do you think "B.J." was before she dropped that nickname?

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 29, 1978

Today, instead of an activity day, we went to a place called Twin Lakes. I don't know why they call it that because there is only 1 lake. We played all sorts of games like tug-of-war and football. Football was the best because one of the counselors threw a long bomb to me for the only touchdown of the game. Tonight it was bunkhouse night and our bunkhouse made pizza with a girl's cabin. We put too much pizza sauce on it and the girls got mad at us. There is one girl in that cabin that I think is pretty cute. Her name is Beki.

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 28, 1978

Today was an activity day. In athletics we did archery. It's the first time I ever have. I did pretty well, even though I didn't get a bull's-eye, but I came very close. At lunch they announced all the people that got bull's-eyes. In minor, we swam in Sky Valley's freezing cold pool, then we went inside and talked about safety rules. Tonight we had this thing called "alone with your thoughts" where you go out into the wilderness and think. I got some good thinking and saw a family of Jackrabbits.

***

Ah! Good thinking!

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 27, 1978

Today was an activity day. I went to my major first (athletics), and we played a sort of softball game called "250". If you caught a fly, you'd get 100 pts. If you caught it on the first bounce, you would get 75 points. On the second, 50; and on a grounder 25. If you missed it, you would get -100, -75, etc. In my minor (waterfront) we ran the triangle, which is a course around sky valley. Just as we got back, it started to rain. Tonight, we had a 50's dance. I "greased" my hair back with water. As we walked back to our cabin, there was a big electrical storm around us.

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 26, 1978

Today was a tiring day. Not much happened during the day; But at night, we had a meeting about classes. You get one major class, which is 2½ hours long, and a minor class, which is 1½ hours long. I signed up for athletics as a major because this year they will have archery & riflery. My minor is waterfront. I signed up for that because they said they were going to have a slip & slide that leads into the lake. After all, the head of waterfront is also the head of our bunkhouse, Pinto North.

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 25, 1978

★ Highlight Day

Today was one of the best days of the year. I flew to Sky Valley Ranch, my camp. This is my third year here, and I really feel comfortable. We flew in on Continental Airlines and I played Pub Pong on the DC10. They met us at the airport, and 1½ hours later we left for camp. We stopped at McDonalds, and then the final leg of the trip (and the longest — 4 hours). When I got here, my girlfriend Lisa Pettijohn was not here, but she should be here soon. There's only one guy in our cabin that was in my cabin the other 2 years — Jim Chedister. Everyone calls him Chestnut.

***

Look at me — a girl in every port! *rolls eyes*

Sky Valley Ranch is located in Buena Vista, Colorado. I continued to go to Sky Valley and its sister camp (for older campers) Round-Up Ranch through 1982, and then served as a counselor in 1983-1984.

I've tried so hard to track down Jim Chedister. Never been able to find him.

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 24, 1978

Today was an exciting day. 1st, Mom and I worked all morning on the final packing. Then, Tina and I went to the beach for about 4 hours, and I really got a good work on my tan. Lynn and Tina stayed for dinner and we had some of Mom's good spaghetti. Then we all went to see the "Turning Point" again. We just went to see it again because mom wanted Aunt Fancy to see it. (Tomorrow's the big day!)

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 23, 1978

Today was the last day of school! Every class was only 30 minutes long instead of the usual 51 minutes. At second homeroom we got our Report cards. My final report card is as follows:

	Mark	Work Habits	Coop.
H.R.	X	E	S
Expl. Draft.	A	E	E
Math	C	S	E
Adv. Band	A	E	E
History	B	E	E
English	B	S	S
Phys. Ed.	B	S	E

I'm very proud of my grades. Now comes camp.

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 22, 1978

Today was the next-to-last day of school, and we got out at 1:00. After school (at 4:30) I played in the band in the graduation and everything went wrong. We were practicing before graduation, and they thought it was beginning, so all the graduates started walking in! In the middle of the diploma ceremonies, an Irish Setter ran out into the middle of the field! The sound system went off! We played the Processional march lousy! But, to take off some of the pain, we went to Arby's afterwards.

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 21, 1978

Today was the last full day of school. Tomorrow we get out at 1:00, and Friday we get out at 12:05. I forgot my Patriot, so I had nothing to do except sign other people's yearbooks. Mostly, I put "Reserved for Mark Bailey" because I didn't want to sign it until the person I was signing for could sign mine, too. I didn't go to the beach today, and I guess you can obviously see why. After what happened yesterday I won't get near the water until Saturday.

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 20, 1978

Today we mostly signed Patriot's and got our's signed and signed others and others signed ours. (Get the general idea?) When I got home I asked David lewin if he could ask his mother if we couldn't go down to the beach. She said it was alright, but Dad didn't. Finally, I found out I could, so I called him up. We got down to the beach at 5:00 P.M., and the waves were totally radical. I wiped out alot, but the worst time was when I was to far up on a breaking wave, and I got stuck in the curl. As soon as I surfaced, another big one hit me!

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 19, 1978

Today we got the annual yearbook for Paul Revere, the Patriot, and I'm in it four times! Once as my school picture, once as a marksman, once in the advanced band and one in silversmiths. But that's nothing — one of my friends got in it 6 times! When I got home, we took off for the beach, and were there til 7:30 P.M. We had a picnic of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and I went to the water 4 times. Back at home, I started getting prepared for camp. I put new strings on my old guitar, and Mom and I started packing away clothes. (Only 4 more days of school left!)

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 18, 1978

Today Lynn and Tina came over. Before they came over I found out that Lynn has multiple sclurosis (?), and she will have to be treated in a hospital in Denver, Colorado. Tina and I went to the beach for a couple of hours, and I really enjoyed the water. I met one of my friends, David Lewin, down there, and we had a great time. When we got home, we had a fantastic barbecue, and then Tina & I gave one of our "famous" performance. I found out that if I'm going to bring my guitar to camp, I'm going to have to practice. (Dodgers won, 5-0)

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 17, 1978

★ Highlight Day

Today we went to Knott's Berry Farm. I rode the Propeller Spin, the Corkscrew, the Sky Jump, the Calico train, the Log Ride and the Loop Trainer. But the best ride of all was MONTEZOOMA'S REVENGE! And I went on it! On opening day! 0 to 55 in 5 seconds, a full 360˚ loop, all the way up to the equivalent of a 15-story building, and then the whole thing again — backwards! I made a mistake of putting my head down to look at my hat (which I was sitting on) and couldn't get it back up again! I missed the whole first part of the ride!

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 16, 1978

Today was almost as good as a highlight day! We went to the Mayfair Music Hall, which is a theatre that has vaudeville acts. They had a mimist named Tina Turner. She was doing a doll act, and she fell down. Then she picked me to help her up! I went up on stage, picked her up, and she started wobbling around. I had to try to straighten her up, and she kept falling on me! Finally, I kissed her on the cheek. She turned around and had a bouquet! We got rousing applause as we took a bow.

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 15, 1978

Today the Dodgers won again, 3-0. It's their 6th game in a row. Tomorrow they will play Montreal. I forgot to say yesterday in softball I yelled at one of the girls, calmed down, and told her how to do it right. After the game I apologized, but I got to thinking about how odd it was for me to be the only boy on the team. But today, all the girls reassured me that it was alright and that to "think that we're all guys, too". We went on to lose, 5-2, but it was one of our better games.

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 14, 1978

Today the Dodgers beat the New York Mets 5-3, and they're now on a 5-game winning streak; But they are still 5½ games out. I got the results of my post-levels test and I had a 29 out of a possible 50. I think that's a B, but I'm not sure because he didn't put the letter grade on it yet. Oh, I forgot to tell you the best news! I got an 83 out of a possible 90 on the geometry test — 3rd best in the class! It rose my grade average up to 2.10, a C.

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 13, 1978

Today, again, there were three homeruns for the Phillies and two for the Dodgers, but Philadelphia still couldn't beat the Dodgers! The Dodgers won, 5-3. It was the fourth game in a row that the Dodgers won, and they still haven't been able to gain on San Francisco. Today in softball we played a tough team, and lost, 8-0. In our rules, if you're not out in the field and ready, the other team can go ahead and hit. Well, I wasn't ready, and I heard the CRACK of a bat, turned around and got the ball in my stomach! But I caught it!

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 12, 1978

Today is the beginning of the next-to last week of school. Only 9 days left! We started playing softball today in P.E. but we lost, 2-1. But the P.E. substitute teacher, Mr. Kuhl, said that it was only a practice game. We have an all-girl team except for me, and they're pretty good. The Dodgers won today, 6-5. They beat Philadelphia in a homerun contest (3 for the Phillies, 2 for Dodgers) They are on a 3-game winning streak now. In band I found out we're going to play for the graduation.

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 11, 1978

Today the Dodgers wiped out the Montreal Expos, 11-4. They had 21 hits, and that's a new high this year in the National League for hits. Now they will come home, off the most disappointing road trip in 5 years (Won 3, Lost 7). They'll have a 13 game homestand in Los Angeles. I called up Ron Schlessinger today and told him about yesterday's game. He wasn't even there because he had to go to a barmitzvah (?) He was happy to hear that we were not the worst team in the Major League and that we went out on a winning note.

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 10, 1978

★ Highlight Day

Today we beat the Braves. I started pitching and shut them out in the first inning. On the second, they got 1 unearned run. I came up in the bottom of the second with men on 2nd and 3rd and got a 2-r.b.i. single. I later scored to make it 3 to 1. We went on to win and I was the winning pitcher, striking out 6 and walking 1. It was my first Little league win. My ending averages: Pitching - S.O. - 22 B.B. - 20 W-L: 1-3 E.R.A. - 3.45. Batting: H: 12, 2B - 4, R.B.I. - 6 Avg: .316. (By the way, the Dodgers won, 5-4!)

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 9, 1978

Today the Dodgers were leading 5-0 when mom and I went down to the beach to do a little jogging. On our way back, it was a 5-5 tie! When I turned it on again, it was 10-6 Montreal! Those Dodgers can't win anymore. They have won 1 game in June so far, and are still 5½ games out of 1st place with Cincinatti and San Francisco on top. We still haven't heard anything about our geometry test, but in math, we took a test today that you don't study for. It's called a Post-Levels test. It's to see if we have learned anything.

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 8, 1978

Today the Dodgers lost again! 4-1! I was still grieving about our loss yesterday. That umpire! When I walked those three batters, even they thought they were strikes. Today was the day of our band concert, and Aunt Fancy arrived tonight, too. She was supposed to get in at 8:20 P.M.; but because of the fog, she didn't get in until 9:30. When we got home from the concert (after stopping at 31 flavors), she still wasn't there. Finally around 10:20, she got home. She will be here until I leave for camp on the 25th.

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 7, 1978

Today, the Dodgers lost another tough one, 3-2 to New York. They are now in 3rd place 5½ games out. The Red Sox (us) lost our toughest game of the season. We played the Braves, who are last in the other division. We jumped out to a 5-1 lead. Thy came back until it was 6-5 them. We rallied for 3 runs in the 4th, and I had a chance to win my first game. I walked the first 3 batters on pitches that were strikes. But, the ump didn't agree. They ended up with three runs. We got one more to make it 9-9. Then with 1 out in the 6th, 1 of my friends put down a bumt with a man on third and won, 10-9.

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 6, 1978

Today I found that it sure is lonely around here. I don't really miss them enough to cry, but I wouldn't mind having them around to play with. (The only people on the block that I like to play with is Marjory and Loralee Weese, who live on the other side of us). The Dodgers won 8-2 for a change. There is still nobody moved into the Jones' house, but the people with the 7-year-old daughter have been there just to clean up a little bit. Marjory says the new kid wears glasses.

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 5, 1978

Today the Dodgers lost 9-8. But, I found I gave you some misinformation that the Dodgers were on a 3 game losing streak. They had lost one other game on the 2nd to the Phillies. So the Phillies swept them in three games there. After losing to New York today, they are on a 5-game losing streak and 4½ out of first place. In today's game, at one point the Dodgers were leading 8-2. The Mets started rallying back until it was 8-6. Then the Mets got 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th and won. It was the 8th one run game on the road out of 8 that the Dodgers lost.

***

... That's it for sports! And now, over to Dr. George Fischbeck for your weekend weather forecast....

Wow, I really had NOTHING to write about, apparently.

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 4, 1978

Today the Dodgers lost 9-4 to the Philadelphia Phillies. They lost yesterday, too, 5-1. Suddenly, they're on a 3 game losing streak and have fallen 4½ games out of 1st place. Carole cried from the Palisades to the new house, and her mother joined in some of the sobs as they moved away yesterday. Mr. Jones stayed back for a while and loaded the rest of the furniture. He saw me crying on our front door steps for half an hour, and later told the kids in Cucamonga. That's probably why Carole called me up around 2 o'clock — 3 hours after she moved! I could tell she missed me, and I missed her!

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 3, 1978

Today: Well, we did not have any better luck today. In fact, it was worse. We were shutout, 11-0. I pitched 3 shutout innings, and went 1 for 3. It's the first time our organization has been shutout in 3 years. I can't think of anything to write. Oh, yes. Aunt Fancy will be coming on Thursday, and the band concert will be on the same night. We will be playing about 12 songs, and I hope my lips will last the whole night. I will tell you about Chris and Carole moving tomorrow, because today, I am too broken up to talk about it.

***

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 2, 1978

Today we had our math test. Oh, I forgot to tell you yesterday that our tests were returned and I got a B! It Raised my average up to a 1.75. That's the highest C- possible — .01 off a C! We played the Tigers today, and unfortuneately were totally wiped out, 13-2. I pitched 3 innings and pitched pretty well, allowing 2 runs and walking 2 and striking out 4. I had 1 hit in 3 at-bats. We play them again tomorrow, and hope to have some better luck.

***

I don't know about you, but the most suspenseful thing for me in this diary is whether I'll learn how to spell "unfortunately" before the end of the year.

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Nothing Much Else Happened: June 1, 1978

Today was Dad's birthday. Do you know (or want to know) what I bought him? Well, he loves to do crossword puzzles, so, I got him a crossword puzzle dictionary! Mom's getting him a wallet, which Dad says is the same thing he gets every year. It's hard to believe, but I think he's 75 this year. And, I'm only 13. Tomorrow we play the Tigers. It's been 9 days since we've played or practiced, and Dad thinks that Mr. Schroeder has given up on the Red Sox. I, for one, don't believe it. By the way, the Dodgers didn't play today.

***

I was off about Dad's age: He turned 74. While we're at it, I was off about my own age: I wasn't to turn 13 for three more months.

Dad would have been 106 today. I still think of him whenever I work a crossword puzzle.

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