Nothing Much Else Happened: December 30, 1978

Today was a really bad day. It's too bad I had to end a perfectly good end-of-the-year with this. I ahd to do my magic show for Dan Kramon without Sean. Unfortuneately, it is the worst show I've ever done — mainly because of the audience! They were dead through the whole thing and didn't clap or laugh through the whole thing. It was absolutely the worst thing that could happen to a magician. When I called up Sean after the show, he was shocked and apalled at what had happened.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 31, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 29, 1978

Today was good enough to be a highlight day, but I think I have enough highlight days for one year. Lisa came with her parents and picked me up around 8:30, and we made our way across the western coast to San Diego. We stopped off at one place and made some good scores in miniature golf (overall she beat me by only one stroke). We went on and about 2:00 p.m., we reached Sea World and spent the rest of the day walking around there and playing in the (fake) snow.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 28, 1978

Today I would like to talk about tomorrow, the next day, and the next day. Tomorrow, Lisa Rogne has invited me to go to Sea World with her, and we will be doing that all day tomorrow. The day after tomorrow I will be giving a magic show — only this one will be a little different because Sean has to work and I have to do the show alone. (I don't know if I like that) The next day, the last day of the year, Colette Matthews will be coming over, and she will spend New Years with us and New York's times square.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 29, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 27, 1978

Today, as you might notice, I am ending (or coming close to ending) two things. This diary, and the pen I have used for the last 360 days. After I finish writing this there will only be approximately 72 hours left in this year. I only have 3 more entries to make, and then I can get rid of this pen. Some parts of the diary I have read over and have added something to what was already there. I doubt if I'll ever go through the process of writing another year, but if I did, I won't do it for a while.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 28, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 26, 1978

Today I would like to talk more about yesterday. The best present I got, of course, was the bike, but did you know that Mom got a bike too? So, we went riding around the neighborhood yesterday and today. Lisa dropped by at 1:30 yesterday so we could exchange gifts. Before I opened my present, she said, "Wait a minute. Before you open it, I think I better tell you it was either this or Minnie Mouse!" It was a mug with a picture of Donald Duck on it! I gave her a gold necklace with a gold apple on it.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 27, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 25, 1978

★ Highlight Day

Today was my big day! I woke up at 7:00 and saw the family's famous pantyhose stocking for each kid. I went back to sleep for an hour, woke up at 8:00 and ran in to Mom and Dad and opened it. This was alot better than last year when I woke up at 5:20! Anyway, we had a short breakfast and got right to the present-opening. I got a waterful tic-tac-toe, a calendar of animals, a box of "Nothing", a new O.P. (Ocean Pacific) shirt, a 3/4 in. thick book of puzzles, a new bog for all my magic, $55 in cash, and best of all, a new 10-speed bicycle! There were plenty of other things.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 26, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 24, 1978

★ Highlight Day

Today was when all the fun begins. At 9:30, we (the brothers) left for Magic Mountain. The first ride we went on was the "Mountain Express." Chris loved it, but Ian pretended to cry all the way through it! But that was only the warmup. We followed with the "Revolution" (a 360˚ loop), the "Jet Stream" was next, and then the "Gold Rusher". The brothers really got sick of it all when they saw me go on "COLLOSUS" 5 times in a row. The reason was no one was there on Christmas Eve. We came home early, I put the lights up, and Lynn and Tina came over. I'm sleeping on the couch tonight. Tomorrow's the big day!

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 25, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 23, 1978

Today, I thought I might say, it's getting awfully close! Christmas is only 48 hours away! But, actually the fun begins tomorrow. Chris, Ian and I will be going to Magic Mountain. By the way, the Kelley's are not only giving me a wrapped gift for Christmas, but he's also going to bring me for brunch to the Magic Castle, one of the most famous places of magic in the world!! Right now, this is the dead day. Also, Lynn and Tina will be coming over, and I'll get the lights up.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 24, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 22, 1978

Today I'll start talking about what's gonna happen over Christmas. I have been neglecting my brothers, but they have been doing the same to me by doing Christmas shopping all through the day, coming home for dinner, and then leaving again after 7:00 p.m. for their dates or night clubs. So, we really hadn't had a chance to talk yet. But, on the 24th, Christmas Eve, we will be going to Magic Mountain, and on Christmas day, we'll have the whole gang over — Lynn, Tina, Chris, Ian, Mom, Dad, and me.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 23, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 21, 1978

Today I'll talk about what's happening on Sean's side of Christmas before I get to talking about mine. Sean has the whole family down. He's got his brother and sister, his dad's girlfriend and her son, his dad and himself, all in a 2 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment! Anyway, Sean is not even supposed to be there because they are only paying for 2 people (Michael and his girlfriend, Ingrid) plus the owner hates children. So, they are really taking a risk keeping him there.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 22, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 20, 1978

Today Sean and I got into a slightly heated discussion about yesterday's magic show. Hey! Aren't you surprised I've lasted so long without having to talk about Christmas too much? Well, anyway, Sean and I got into an argument about the trick "Zombee" because I screwed it up again. Sean says that I keep exploiting tricks — that I don't allow enough time to practice them. I admit I was a little anxious with "Zombee," but that was the only one. So I said I should stop doing it, and he said, "No!".

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 21, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 19, 1978

Today was a really super day. Sean and I gave our best magic show! It really went real smoothly. But, the fantastic part was the money! After the show, Sean helped the boy open his presents, and I helped with the cake. In fact, we even used those candles you can't blow out. The Tobismas are really fantastic people. After it was all over, we had gotten $9 extra than we were supposed to get. The show was originally $20.00, but instead they gave us a check for $25.00, plus $2 each for helping out. And, they would like us back for babysitting.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 20, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 18, 1978

Today I worked on my hardest magic illusion for tomorrow's performance. The Zombee is probably the hardest effect I have ever attempted, and my parents think I am very brave even to try to do that trick with such a risk of exposing it. Tomorrow, Sean will be coming over by bus with all his magic, we will run through the show once, and then we will be on our way for another $20.00. So far, through my savings, I now have $12.59. Sean and I are getting ready for the big magic shopping spree!

***

I resist as much as possible to comment on these entries, but ... God, what a geek.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 19, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 17, 1978

Today I feel like a Las Vegas star and I'm sure Sean does, too. We just finished a show and we already have another job in 2 days! Also, when we were over at Lee's after the show on Friday, she got a call while we were there from a guy who's son had a birthday party coming up on the 30th. So it looks like we're really rollin'. By the way, Sean's brother, Kannyn, and his sister, Tracie, came down for Christmas with Sean and their Dad, Michael.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 18, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 16, 1978

Today was a different kind of day. But, first of all I would like to say that yesterday was a different kind of day more ways then listed over there. For one thing, Chris came home for Christmas, early yesterday evening, and it was also the final day of school (Before Christmas that is).

Today I started out bowling some of the worst games I've ever bowled. Then, a teenager walked over, watched me bowl one (lousy) ball, and right then and there changed my whole method of bowling! I ended up bowling a 172 for my last game — a lot better than I have been doing.

***

I wish I could remember what the heck that teenager told me, as I doubt I've bowled a game that good since that day.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 17, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 15, 1978

Today was a very busy day. I got up at my normal 5:15 A.M. and got myself off to school. When I got there a girl named Elinor Schwimmer gave me a big giftwrapped canister for a Christmas present. After second period, Dad picked me up and I came home. Sean and I put everything in bags and everything went into the car. We got up to the school about 12:00, set up, and we were ready to do the show at 12:35. It ran very smoothly, except for my "Zombee," and Sean's chain escape.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 16, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 14, 1978

Today after Dad picked me up from my clarinet lesson, we drove over to Sean's and picked him up. We came home, and after dinner worked on the magic show we will be doing tomorrow. We've been getting together for the last 2 weekends, so when we got started, we were rolling right along. There is one trick I am very hesitant about doing. It is called the Zombee. The effect is that a heavy metal ball is seen floating in the air. It is the hardest illusion I have tried because everytime I try to do it, the ball falls down.

***

If you're not familiar with the Zombie Ball magic trick, here is a video of a "fellow kid's party magician" performing the same trick. Much better than I performed it, I'm sure.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 15, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 13, 1978

Today I received my first Christmas present. It was from the Kelley's next door. It is shaped like a little toothpaste tube (even though I know it isn't -- or I hope not!). Sean and I confirmed are plans about the show on the 15th and this is how it will work: Sean will come over here tomorrow. Then he will spend the night and I will go to school for the first 2 periods on Friday. Then come home, go up to the Elementary school and do the show. Tonight, I had my first magic lesson, and suddenly I started sneezing and feeling feverish. It turns out I got the flu, but just a slight case.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 14, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 12, 1978

Today I called up Lisa we reminisced about Sunday night. Then I told her about a strange thing that happened to me when I went back to the place the play had taken place. My parents were still there because some nice Christmas trees that were used for scenery were being sold for @ $10.00. When I went back, I didn't know where they were, so while I was walking around, 5 different people asked me if I was "looking for Lisa, and that she had gone home with another guy". I asked Lisa how they found out that I was going with her, and how they got the notion that I was "another guy."

***

I love looking back at my 13-year-old self and realizing how horribly I'd missed the joke.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 13, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 11, 1978

Today is just about one of the best Mondays possible, for 3 reasons:

1) Because of the fantastic time I had with Lisa Rogne last night.

2) Because this is the beginning of the last week of school before Christmas vacations.

3) Because it marks only four days until Chris comes home. By the way, Ian will be coming home on the 19th. I would also like to add a footnote to yesterday: Dad's performance in the Christmas play yesterday was absolutely fabulous, and I thik they couldn't have picked a better part for him.

***

BTW, Dad had played the voice of a reindeer in the play. That's all I can remember.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 12, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 10, 1978

★ Highlight Day

Today — let's skip today! Let's get to tonight! Fantstick! So fantastik I've spelled the word wrong twice! This has been planned for a while. It started off with the family going over to the Westwood United Methodist Church for a children's play called "The Christmas Bear". I met Lisa there, and we sat through the first performance. After a quick dinner (which Lisa wouldn't touch because she was not feeling well) We stayed for about 5 minutes of the next performance and then took a little walk. After the performance I walked her home and we kissed goodnight.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 33 years ago at age 13.

What's this all about? This is what it's all about.

To view the next day click: December 11, 1978

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