Instant Comma

Nothing Much Else Happened: December 30, 1978

2011-12-30T22:00:00.001-06:00

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

2011-12-29T22:00:00.002-06:00

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.

To view the next day click: December 30, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 28, 1978

2011-12-28T22:00:00.002-06:00

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

2011-12-27T22:00:00.003-06:00

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

2011-12-26T22:00:00.002-06:00

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

2011-12-25T22:00:00.003-06:00

★ 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

2011-12-24T22:00:00.004-06:00

★ 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

2011-12-23T22:00:00.002-06:00

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

2011-12-22T22:00:00.002-06:00

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

2011-12-21T22:00:00.001-06:00

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

2011-12-20T22:00:00.005-06:00

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

2011-12-19T22:00:00.002-06:00

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

2011-12-18T22:00:00.005-06:00

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

2011-12-17T22:00:00.005-06:00

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

2011-12-16T22:00:00.002-06:00

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

2011-12-15T22:00:00.003-06:00

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

2011-12-14T22:00:00.003-06:00

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

2011-12-13T22:00:00.003-06:00

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

2011-12-12T22:00:00.003-06:00

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

2011-12-11T22:00:00.003-06:00

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

2011-12-10T22:00:00.003-06:00

★ 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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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 9, 1978

2010-12-09T22:00:00.002-06:00

Today was not my favorite of days, although it wasn't bad. Since it was a Saturday, of course, I went bowling — if you can really call it that. My bowling partner never shows up so we're always losing because I have to use his average as a score — 85! And to top that, I didn't bowl very well: My scores were 93, 97 and 105. So, naturally, we lost all our games. 2 weeks ago we dropped to the bottom of the league. After bowling, I treked over to the Magic Palace, and spent the rest of the day hanging around there.

***

My Saturday routine was nothing if not consistent.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: December 10, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 8, 1978

2010-12-08T22:00:00.002-06:00

Today I would like to pay tribute to my history teacher, Mrs. Nelson. She is the best teacher I've had all year, and 2nd best overall. (My English teacher, last year was the best.) (P.S. HIs name was Mr. Pereira.) Right now, History is my favorite subject. I can really get into some good discussions, and some heated debates, too. Unfortuneately, I've been unable to do much about tests! I've gotten an A on one, and 6 B's on the others. So along with my A in class participation and work habits, I have ~~an A~~ a B+ in the class.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: December 9, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 7, 1978

2010-12-07T22:00:00.002-06:00

Today I would like to pay tribute to my never-ending effortful band teacher, Mr. Rupp. Mr. Stewart Rupp has been the band director now for over 12 years. Last year was the "band that beat all", as he said. This year's band is not as good as last year's, mainly because of lack of main instruments. Last year our only tuba, our only oboe, and 5 trumpets and 3 clarinets graduated, and this year, all we have back is 1 trumpet and 2 clarinets. But, we will be getting a few more later on.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: December 8, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 6, 1978

2010-12-06T22:00:00.002-06:00

Today I would like to pay tribute to my unbelievable drama teacher, Mrs. Mullin, who has held up for 3 months now against the toughest and worst class of drama she has ever taught. She absolutely can't stand the group and says that at the most, out of a 26-person class, there are maybe 5 (including me) with potential. We are now getting planned for our final scene, which will be coming up 1 week after Christmas vacation. I think I'm going to be doing a scene from the play "A Thousand Clowns" with a guy named Timothy Barry.

***

I actually remember doing this scene well, because we killed when we did it. Tim played the son, I played the father. I SO badly wanted my dad to direct a production of this play with me as the son, but it never happened.

The other thing I remember Tim for was selling me his watch for $5 just before I headed to Africa in 1979; in some village between Meru and Samburu, I traded the watch for a gorgeous machete in a leather sheaf. Probably the best deal I ever made in my life.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: December 7, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 5, 1978

2010-12-05T22:00:00.002-06:00

Today we had a History test. I think I did pretty well. As far as I can see, all my classes seem pretty easy, and I think I've been pretty lucky for them to turn out that way. Every Monday I average up my total number of grades I got on my papers the previous week and record it in my notebook. So far, it's as follows:

History - A

Math - B+

Science - A+

Science is alot better than I thought it was gonna be. Those are my 3 main classes.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: December 6, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 4, 1978

2010-12-04T22:00:00.002-06:00

Today I thought I might tell you about last night, since I had to get to sleep. Ben and Haley Mack were some old friends of ours up in Idyllwild. Ben started to get into magic the last year I was up there. He was influenced by me because Sean and I had begun to buy little gimmicky stuff. Then they moved down to Hollywood and have been living in little 2 bedroom apartments ever since. I'm sorry about the ink but since I've been using this pen for 338 days now.

***

From here through the rest of the year, the ink on the page does become more and more faint.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: December 5, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 3, 1978

2010-12-03T22:00:00.003-06:00

Today I think that I'm neglecting one of the main sports of the season — football! The Cowboys, of course, are standing on top of the AFC central division. If you refer to the January 15th entry of this diary, you will find that the cowboys have been my absolute favorite team for about 6 years now. Our old friends, the Macks came over tonight. Haley, my old girlfriend came over with her mother and brother, (who is younger than I am) and he is into magic, too.

***

Yeah, I don't even fake it well at 13: I really don't care about football.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: December 4, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 2, 1978

2010-12-02T22:00:00.003-06:00

Today everything turned out a little different then planned. First of all, Sean and I went over to Santa Monica and I bowled in Junior League bowling, and then I spent most of the rest of the day at the Magic Palace. Sean got a new job there that he started last Saturday. He is a gorilla, and he sits on a ladder out front the magic shop. He works from 1:30 - 4:00 P.M., and gets $5 a day. So, I stuck around there until 4:30, and then made my way home on the bus.

***

Five dollars + 2-1/2 hours in a sweaty, smelly gorilla suit = child slavery!

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: December 3, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 1, 1978

2010-12-01T22:00:00.002-06:00

Today is the beginning of the final month. I have no made 334 entries not including this one, and now there are only 31 left. The work in school is beginning to get heavier since the end of school is nearing from Christmas vacation (only 2 weeks). I recieved my first Christmas present today — from the Kelly's next-door. We won't put up our Christmas tree till the 20th or around there somewhere. Tonight Sean came over and spent the night. Tomorrow we will be practicing for our show on the 15th.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: December 2, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 30, 1978

2010-11-30T22:00:00.004-06:00

Today I thought I might tell you about "The Christmas Bear", which is the little play my dad is in. Well, actually, he's not in it, but he does a voice for the reindeer in the show. you see, the play is done with very large dolls, or costumes in various animal forms. There is a bear (the lead, a wren, some geese, two rabbits, an owl and a mouse. And offstage, the voices are done through a microphone with speakers leading out to the audience. The performance is done right in the main area of the church — right up by the altar.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: December 1, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 29, 1978

2010-11-29T22:00:00.001-06:00

Today was a happy day. Happy for a number of reasons:

1) We got a call from Chris. It is now a known fact that he will be coming home, however we do not know what day. (This is for Christmas.) Ian has not said a thing, yet.

2) I called up Lisa. It is now only eleven (11) days until I see her at the production of "The Christmas Bear".

3) The Weeses put their house Christmas lights up.

4) I heard my first Christmas commercial of the year, done by Miller's Outpost. Now I'm really in the spirit.

***

Can you imagine a world without Christmas commercials until after Thanksgiving? These days, a local Chicago radio station starts running ads for a Christmas tree web site in early August.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 29, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 28, 1978

2010-11-28T22:00:00.001-06:00

Today I called up Sean, and we talked about a number of things — mostly magic and escapes. Also, tonight I went to Magic Club, which is the thing I do at the Magic Palace. The number of people coming every week is beginning to get smaller and smaller and smaller. The lady who owns the shop, Lee, says that if it didn't hurry up and pick up, she would have to cancel the club. I personally think that this club is a waste of time. No one except Sean and me do anything at all, and we're running out of things to do.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 29, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 27, 1978

2010-11-27T22:00:00.001-06:00

Today, I thought I might remind you of the contest that my P.E. Teacher and I are doing. Well, I haven't missed a day, but now, since I've been doing it for so long, I'm afraid I'll mess up and forget some day. Well, there's one good thing about going to school the Monday after Thanksgiving — the excellent turkey sandwich I get in my lunch bag. I wish it could last longer but I usually only get it one day. I had a good little vacation, but I know it's not going to be ½ as good as the next vacation — Christmas vacation.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 28, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 26, 1978

2010-11-26T22:00:00.001-06:00

Today I got to talking with Sean about future shows. I said, "Sean, we've got to get together on weekends once-in-a-while to keep in practice so our shows won't be like the one up in Idyllwild." That show was lousy because we had not been able to get together and practice so, I'm hoping that next weekend — if everything goes right — we will get together and practice for the upcoming magic show at Marquez Elementary school. Have I told you? It's going to be for my next-door neighbor's daughter's class.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 27, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 25, 1978

2010-11-25T22:00:00.001-06:00

Today marks exactly 1 month until Christmas — and I've already finished half of my shopping. That's pretty good. And if you think that's good, wait till you hear this — our next-door-neighbors, the Weese's, already have their Christmas tree up! After bowling today (and the bowling was pretty bad) I went over to the Magic Palace and bought some really nice things. First of all, I got more record holders for a trick called silk serenade, and some balloons for Needle Through Balloon. I also bought myself an egg bag, which is shown empty, and then an egg falls out.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 26, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 24, 1978

2010-11-24T22:00:00.002-06:00

Today I received some of the Christmas presents for Mom, Dad, Lee and Tom, and just in the nick of time! Wow, Christmas is only 31 days off! Gee, I'm glad I got them now so I won't have to worry about them later. I will still have to get presents for Ian, Chris, Lynn and Tina, too. And, of course, my girlfriend, Lisa. Today, since it was a holiday, I skateboarded and just sat around listening to records. It was pretty cold out, so I wasn't to active in the way of activities!

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 25, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 23, 1978

2010-11-23T22:00:00.001-06:00

Today is Turkey day! And a happy Thanksgiving to you! Today was so wonderful not only because of the good turkey roasting in the oven that we were gonna have tonight, not because Collette Matthews is coming over, but because there is no school for today or tomorrow, Friday. Which means I'm also gonna have a four-day weekend. Not only that, but Christmas is the next holiday! Boy, was the turkey good! By the way, turkey means something else, too: turkey sandwiches for school!

***

Collette Matthews is my mother's best friend from her college years.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 24, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 22, 1978

2010-11-22T22:00:00.004-06:00

Today the death toll in Guyana has risen to an incredible 904. When they took a guess at how many bodies there were, little did they know that their 1st estimate would be more than twice what they said. It seems that the leader of the group, Reverend Jim Jones, hated religion, and so he used it to get people into his cult. Gosh, the affects that this incident is taking is amazing. It's all everybody at school talks about, and there's even talk about some of my friend's relatives being in the cult, although I know it's not true. I know some people I wish could have been there.

***

Whoa! Did I really write that? Yes, I did. All I can suggest by way of explanation is that this whole event put me in a particularly dark mood.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 23, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 21, 1978

2010-11-21T22:00:00.001-06:00

Today I would like to tell you about something I've been neglecting because of my fantastic new girlfriend. By the time you are reading this it's probably already in your history books. 3 days ago, down in Guyana, South America, in a small settlement called Jonestown, there was a mass suicide. So far they have found 710 bodies. At first they thought it was 400. But, after removing the first layer of bodies, they found almost twice that number. It's all you read in the newspaper. They're still finding more bodies.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 22, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 20, 1978

2010-11-20T22:00:00.003-06:00

Today I would like to continue with what happened the night before. Before we took our walk a number of strange and as afar as I'm concerned unneeded events occurred. When Lisa and I were eating dinner — or, after we'd just finished — the adults were talking at the dinner table. One person, who shall remain unnamed, said, "I wonder if Lisa and Mark would be more comfortable in the bedroom". Another said, "Alright, but be sure to change the sheets". Later on, another person pretended to come in, went back, and said, "Well, Lisa's got one foot on the floor."

***

While this is all very funny/cute/annoying, the fact is that my memories of this night all these years later are much darker. You see, while Lisa and I were up in that bedroom, the television was on and the first reports from Jonestown, Guyana, were coming in: the massacre was finally breaking across the nation's news media. This event had a profound effect on me — it's a moment in history that continues to occupy me at different times. (I've consumed numerous books, web sites, etc. on Jim Jones and the People's Temple.) So, while I was definitely madly in like with Lisa, our short-but-sweet relationship is closely associated with this sad moment.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 21, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 19, 1978

2010-11-19T22:00:00.002-06:00

Today was absolutely the most fantastic day. But, I can't have too many highlight days, so we'll just have to pretend it's one. It was the closing day of the show, the only matinee. Lisa, because of Sean's absence, helped me (sort-of) with the programs, and afterwards, we went backstage and I went into my magic routine. After the show, I privately asked Mom if Lisa could come to the cast party. She said yes, and it was alot of fun. Well, actually, the party was a bore, it was the walks we took together that were really enjoyable. I'll tell you more tomorrow.

***

Oh, yes ... tomorrow the story gets REALLY sordid. Hang on to your hats....

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 20, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 18, 1978

2010-11-18T22:00:00.002-06:00

★ Highlight Day

Today was about the best day since February 2nd. During the show, I came backstage, and there was this beautiful 13 yr. old girl sitting at this desk! Well, now I learn what magic can do for you. I went up to her, showed her a few card tricks, and she loved them. Her first name is Lisa, but I'm not sure of her last name. She says she's coming back tomorrow, and I'm going to line up alot of magic, so I can get to know her better! Oh, is she beautiful — ∞ times better than what-her-face back on February 3.

***

Rogne. Lisa Rogne. Yes, I was gaga for her. She was the daughter of the minister of the church where the Village Players were performing. So ... never mind yesterday's entry, I suppose. Peggy ... who?

(And what did I tell you about that magic? *grin*)

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 19, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 17, 1978

2010-11-17T22:00:00.003-06:00

Today we had a just-about-record-breaking crowd of 109 for the show. In fact, there was standing room only! Our good friend Peggy O'Hara (she was the lead in "I Remember Mama — May 18th) came, so I got to sit with her and Tina in the front row and I got to show her some good magic. She said that I was there "as her date". Afterwards, we went to this noisy and college-student-filled-restauraunt (I know I spelled it wrong) called "Yesterday's". I loved it but my parents thought it was too noisy.

***

Man, oh man, was I majorly crushing on Peggy O'Hara. I actually remember this night -- doing card tricks on the floor in front of her seat in the theater. I must have thought I was ridiculously cool. (When in fact, I was merely ridiculous.)

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 18, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 16, 1978

2010-11-16T22:00:00.001-06:00

★ Highlight Day

Today was so-what-about-school-let's-talk-about-the-show-day. Yes, today was opening night for "Arsenic and Old Lace". We now hold our own personal record of 82 people in a Thursday night crowd. The biggest crowd we had ever had before on a Thursday night had been 56! It would have been way over 100 if it hadn't been for the 20 war veterans and their wives who were supposed to come didn't show. We can all tell that this will be by far our most successful show in the "Village Players" time.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 17, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 15, 1978

2010-11-15T22:00:00.001-06:00

Today I'm wondering if Mrs. Mullin is thinking of cancelling "Land of the Dragon". It's looking pretty bad. I wish we had another 2 weeks to really get this thing together. About the worst part is the dancing. These girls that are in the show were forced — and I repeat, forced (they didn't want to do it at all) — to do this stupid Chinese dance routine. In fact, it is so bad, Mrs. Mullin decided to cancel it, but then had to bring it back after a long disputed argument with the choreographer (pro), and the class (con).

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 16, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 14, 1978

2010-11-14T22:00:00.001-06:00

Today is a happy day because I know that all the nights (or almost all the nights) for the last 1½ months, since October 1st, my parents have been going to these rehearsals. Thursday, November 16th will be my last day of leaving out (or being left out of) the fun. That will be opening night, but since it's a school night I can't go because I'd be up too late. Well, have to get to bed. Mom and dad will be home any time now, even though the last few nights it's been 12:30 A.M.

***

It's a little mind-boggling to me that, even at age 13, I was left home alone most every night for a month-and-a-half. All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 15, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 13, 1978

2010-11-13T22:00:00.001-06:00

Today, or rather, yesterday, I was talking with Sean about handing out programs for the show on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Yesterday he said alright, but today he says that he doesn't want to do it at all. He says now that he wants to sit around and do nothing all weekend. And also, he says he's going to the Magic Castle on Sunday. Well, it took a while, but I finally talked him into doing it Friday only. I don't know why he was so against it so suddenly.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 14, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 12, 1978

2010-11-12T22:00:00.001-06:00

Today I thought that you might be glad to know that the guy that is playing Road Wanderer in the school play, Geno Andrews, has learned all his lines! I don't know if you care now, but while I wrote this on November 12, 1978, it was very important. Tonight I studied my lines, and now I know all but 2 scenes. The small part I have for the background for that 1 scene requires the talent of a juggler. (The guy who was originally gonna do it broke his arm) So, I have been working very hard, (and most of the time unsuccessfully) at trying to juggle.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 13, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 11, 1978

2010-11-11T22:00:00.001-06:00

Today we went into the final stretch for our show. Only 5 days to go, and this one is really in ship-shape. A couple of days ago we all helped put up the set together, and it really is one of the best sets we have ever had. There's even the appearance of an upstairs! It was all built by the guy that is playing the lead in the show. He has done the sets and lighting for all but one of our shows. His name is J. Kent Inasy.

***

And what do you know! J. Kent Inasy went on to do professional lighting — for a short time anyway — in television" J. Kent Inasy on IMDB. He continues to do set, lighting, and costume design for productions around Los Angeles.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 12, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 10, 1978

2010-11-10T22:00:00.003-06:00

Today in the after-school rehearsal for the play, Mrs. Mullin did something very strange: She set this thing with the choreographer in this one scene where a street has to look crowded — and she used some of the people in the lead parts for small background, which means that the people that played those parts can now not play in them. Mrs. Mullin now says that I cannot do a show for an elementary school, and that I will now only be doing one show, on the 18th.

***

I don't get it either.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 11, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 9, 1978

2010-11-09T22:00:00.001-06:00

Today in Math we got our results on the quiz back, and I got an A-. That brought my average up to a B. As far as I can figure right now, I'm right on the line between and A and a B in math. In fact, I think that's probably my worst class! Which means that I have a definite A in P.E., History (my favorite class), Advanced Band, and Drama. I know I'm getting an A in drama because I'm helping with the play so much.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 10, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 8, 1978

2010-11-08T22:00:00.001-06:00

Today we had a quiz in math, which was relatively easy, and I think I have at least a B+. In Drama, I will be starting every-day rehearsals for "Land of the Dragon". I am understudying the lead part and Mrs. Mullin says that I will do it on stage at least once. However, it doesn't seems that the guy who is supposed to be playing the part is not learning his lines. In fact, I only know one scene, and that is more than he knows! We will be rehearsing everyday after school until the 17th, which is when the show is.

***

It's bugging me that I have absolutely NO recollection of doing this show.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 9, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 7, 1978

2010-11-07T22:00:00.002-06:00

Today was the beginning of the final Rehearsals for "Arsenic and Old lace". I will be going to my final scenes (in other words, watching them) next Saturday. The show starts in 9 days. It's lookin' real nice, and running quite smoothly. For a change, every one knows their lines! Many of the people that were in this show were in "I remember Mama", too. Most of the people have to be from the church we are doing the show at. But, we have a few outsiders — such as the two male leads!

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 8, 1978

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NaBloPoMo 2010 ... #7: How I Feel About My Shitty First Draft

2010-11-07T16:32:00.002-06:00

This is a piece of crap.

It's flat. It does nothing for me, nothing for the world. I was going to write the novel that changed the face of literature, that was going to finally bring all my 45 years of promise to fruition ... and this is the bullshit I turn out?

Look at this: I actually start it with a line about the weather. The weather! Sure, it can be changed, but isn't this emblematic of what a hollow, empty husk of a turd this is? Sixty thousand words, plus. I mean, seriously. How will I ever make anyone else read this, when I don't even want to read it?

That key second-act moment — the action that will compel Walt (my main character) and those around him to propel the story to its exciting end — I still don't have the details of this nailed down. And it's not for lack of trying; God knows I've free-written the hell out of that section of the book, spent countless hours thinking about it. But I have nothing to show for it. Nothing that I'd even show Zuzu's kindergarten class.

And what the hell is up with Walt, anyway? Has he no moral center? Has he no true character? I'd be better of having him sit on a couch and watch the Weather Channel for 75 or 80 pages than put him through the banal claptrap he slogs through via my pithy, insipid fingers.

I can remember where I was when I came up with the idea for this. How I knew at that instant that this could be a great novel for someone to write. Someone. At the time it didn't even occur to me that that someone might be me. Then a couple of months later, I came across the book for National Novel Writing Month, and I realized that I could do this. The book said I could!

And I believed that bullshit?

The thing is, the premise still makes a lot of sense to me. And okay, maybe I came up with a couple of good storytelling devices. Like the letters that the main character's mother writes to him, that he doesn't read (but the reader does), which lay out what's unfolding at North Center while he's away. I like the way that the letters are presented to the reader in Walt's present, but they are actually taking place in the distant path, since the letters took so long to reach him. It's a different take on time-shifting that I can't recall having seen before, and it's not terribly confusing like some time-shifting schticks can be.

And I like the concept for Walt's dad's business; it's a fresh take on an old fairy tale that actually provides the novel with a moral center, even if Walt himself seems to be devoid of that quality.

And emissaries! What a concept! What execution! What inspiration! Okay, I'll pat myself on the back for the whole emissary thing. With a little more work, that piece could really work out.

So, fine. There's something redeeming here. But the crap is ... really crap. Crappity crap crap. That can't be salvaged. No way, no how. If I'm honest, maybe a third of this is worth keeping.

Hey. A whole third might be worth keeping. Well, that's something. I could work with that. And maybe it wouldn't be so hard to change the relationship between Walt and Sherry. So that, you know, one could believe she'd actually tolerate being in his presence for more than five minutes, much less introduce him to her daughter. And sleep with him.

Oh yeah. The sex scene. Ohmygod. That's gotta go. That's gotta be re-done. Note to self: look up definition of "subtlety."

Sherry's a great character, a strong woman. Her daughter is amazing — a blend of Zuzu and Piper, of course. So they're worth working on more. I can definitely fine-tune them. I even think I know how to do it.

And the scene on the lake ... I was thinking in the shower the other day how I could really make that resonate through the rest of the story. That really is a turning point in the book, and I can see how I can really use it as a launching pad into Part 2 in a compelling way.

And oh man, when I think about it, I can't wait to write the scenes with Walt and his dad! I mean, I've freewritten a couple of those moments, but this is gonna be really fun when I get into the nitty-gritty.

Yeah. Yeah, that's the thing. I want to get into the nitty-gritty. I want to get into the rewriting. That's where it really gets good. Crafting a sentence. It's such a fulfilling task.

So, fine. I'll stick with this. I'll finish the scenes that bridge the sections already written. I'll get that Shitty First Draft™ done after all. And then when I really dig in deep ... that's when I'll start finding the sculpture in this hunk of stone. That's when the critically acclaimed work comes to past!

And you will all revel in my greatness. See? I knew all along that this is a work of genius.

Nothing Much Else Happened: November 6, 1978

2010-11-06T22:00:00.001-05:00

Today was back-to-school after a long, hard and fun weekend (even though the magic show wasn't very good). By the way, yesterday, I bought some good magic from Sean. I got a neat little trick called "Needle through the balloon" (which is self-explanatory). I got my first escapes: the "Shangri-La Shackles", which is a rope escape, and a chain escape done with heavy shackles. The total cost of all the tricks together was $18.50. (I've been saving my money) Well only 10 days until the first quarter of school is over — and only 39 days until Christmas Vacation!

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 7, 1978

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NaBloPoMo 2010 ... #6:Coasting

2010-11-06T10:15:00.004-05:00

Parent-teacher conferences at the girls' school the other day.

First stop was the "all-school team," consisting of the music, phys ed, drama, and art teachers all meeting together with us to talk about Piper. Right out of the gate, music and drama were talkin about Piper's "natural gifts:" a singing voice and acting chops. I put my head in my hands. "Oh God, not another one," I moaned.

The other conference with Piper's 3rd-grade teacher echoed the same thing: a couple of things to work on (being on time, not so much talking ... the usual Bailey-like issues that anyone who knows us would expect), but for the most part she is excelling in everything at Baker Demonstration School.

So how come I'm not feeling more relieved, or happy, or whatever I'm supposed to feel?

Don't get me wrong — I'm crazy-proud of my daughters. But all this "natural skills" stuff scares me a little, because it reminds me a little too much of my own elementary education.

I too was one of those kids who was found to be naturally academically talented (well, okay, if you've been reading my 1978 diary, maybe math wasn't a strong suit), and — also like Piper — socially at ease with just about everyone I encountered. School was, by and large, a very enjoyable time for me. An easy time for me. Problem is, I rode that "easy" bus for a long, long time. I was never particularly challenged academically all the way through high school. And I was okay with that; it gave me more time to play and do fun stuff I wanted to do.

I remember the day that my college sent me a letter telling me that my exceptional English grades had allowed me an opportunity to enroll in an advanced literature class (Existentialism in Modern British and American Literature) for my freshman year, first quarter. I told Mom I didn't want to do it. It sounded hard. Thankfully she had the presence of mind to call me on my bullshit and simply tell me I was taking the class, whether I liked it or not. I think I protested along the lines of I was an adult and it was my decision, but she wasn't having any of that. She knew I needed to be in that class. And she was right: that first class I took turned out to be the best class I had for my whole college experience.

But the deeper issue, when I got to my college, was my lack of a toolbox. All of a sudden, the academic levels of the classes exceeded my natural abilities. No longer could I simply blow off work 'til the night before an assignment was due and then produce a rush-job that was still good enough to earn an A or a B. (And a B was totally acceptable for me; I think there might have even been a certain amount of pride in my ability to get such a good grade for so little work.) Now I had to truly work for the first time in my life. And I had to pace myself, over the course of the quarters, lest I find myself in the final two weeks with gobs of work I had thought would be easy to squeeze into a few nights of focused work.

So I had some years in there where learning discipline and sharpening focus would have made all the difference in the world, and I missed that chance. And I see that flaw reflected every single day of my life, to this day. More than just about any flaw I could imagine my children having, this is the one I want to make sure they avoid.

I was relieved when, as part of a book project PJ is working on in November (they don't do book reports at Baker, they do projects), a good amount of the early homework time was devoting to sitting down with a calendar and scheduling out all the steps of the project. What I wouldn't give to go back to my third-grade year and learn that skill then! But it makes me happy to know that Piper has (and, later, Zuzu will have) a chance to learn these skills now. And it's nice to have her at a school where I can talk to the teachers about my fears and see that they want to see her challenged as much as I do.

Sure, she complains about the homework, and would rather be doing a fun logic puzzle or playing on the computer; she's related to me. But I also see her beginning to recognize the boost of self-esteem that derives from a successful endeavor that took a little elbow grease.

Nothing Much Else Happened: November 5, 1978

2010-11-05T22:00:00.002-05:00

Today (after, last night, being brought back to the school, having Mom pick me up, having a quick Colonel Sanders dinner, driving over and being dropped off at Sean's house, practicing our magic until 1:00 in the morning, finally going to sleep and getting up around 7:00 AM, and having breakfast), we went to Idyllwild. We got up there at 10:30 AM, went over to one of Sean's old friend's house, got set up and did our worst magic show ever. We hadn't practiced enough. Anyway, after doing the show, we came back home, and here I am after a hard weekend back in bed.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 6, 1978

Missed an entry? Index of all Nothing Much Else Happened entries

NaBloPoMo 2010 ... #5: Podcast Endorsement

2010-11-05T17:50:00.001-05:00

Even during these times that I haven't been writing over the last couple of years, a particular podcast has helped me keep my head at least partially in the game. It's the Pen On Fire podcasts from Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, out at UC Irvine.

There are probably numerous podcasts on writing out there — I know I've listened to at least one other series, though it was pretty unhelpful. I'm not sure that podcasting is the medium to learn writing. But what the Pen On Fire podcasts help me understand is not writing so much as the writing life. DeMarco-Barrett and her co-host Marrie Stone interview fiction writers, nonfiction writers, agents, editors, and publishers about the industry, the economics of writing, the importance of "platform," and just the everyday experience of being a writer.

The podcast can be extremely annoying at times: I can't shake the fact that both DeMarco-Barrett's and Stone's voices and on-air demeanor take most of their inspiration from the old SNL skit of the two new-agey female NPR on-air personalities who breathily talk their way to nothingness in the guise of profundity. But more often than not, the writer who is being interviewed — even if it's a writer in a genre that I know nothing about or have little interest in — has some important things to say about the everyday experience of being a writer.

The podcasts are also available on iTunes, if that's the boat you prefer to float.

NaBloPoMo 2010 ... #4: Need A Jump Start

2010-11-04T23:32:00.001-05:00

Well, kids, it's just not kicking into gear this year. For whatever reason — and I can think of a hundred of them — the words aren't flowing this year at all. I'm hoping to free-write my way out of this corner, but I feel like my creativity, at least as it pertains to writing fiction, has a good deal of rust that needs to be rubbed off before this stuff will start to flow smoothly.

Some of this is simply re-immersing myself in this world. Just as it takes one awhile to find one's way back into the environment and characters of a novel one was reading, the problem is exponentially increased when writing one. And sometimes I wonder if finding one's way into it again is even possible without completely changing the characters. I'm not the same person I was in 2007, and in some ways I feel like my characters have changed too. But I'm trying to ignore that for now and focus on simply finishing the novel's structure.

That's one of the realizations I'm having as this goes forward, a fuller understanding of Anne Lamott's "shitty first draft" concept. I really am only writing the bare bones of what's going on ... it feels like there's very little meat here, very little inner character. I can sense what's going on inside Walt, Sherry, Arden, etc.... but to take the time to do the meticulous work of crafting each sentence, like I know will have to be done at some point ... it's something I'm shutting out right now. Just get the skeleton. Then we'll start on the sinew.

But one part of this story continues to nag at me, and it feels like a major turning point. I've gotten my main character back to his home, and a major conflict that he believes he should not be involved in ends up sucking him in anyway.... And while I know what that conflict is, I just can't find the words to describe it. At least not yet. I've made numerous attempts at it, and it all falls flat, feels weak, flimsy, shallow. I can feel this issue beginning to consume me more and more ... and while that might be detrimental to other parts of my life, for the writing part of me, such obsession usually ends up being a good thing.

Nothing Much Else Happened: November 4, 1978

2010-11-04T22:00:00.001-05:00

★ Highlight Day

Today was the day that I and the rest of the Play Production class (which I am not in) have been striving for. What an exciting and long day! I got up at 5:30 a.m., took a shower and ate breakfast. Then it was dashing off to Revere J.H., where we were picked up and brought to Reed Junior high. There, the competition started. In the morning, we had the first and second rounds, which went very well for me. After lunch, they announced who got into the semi-finals — and I made it! After the semi's (which went quite well) they announced the finalists, and I was one of them! Unfortuneately, I only got to there and didn't win any trophies — in fact nobody did. Almost everyone got to the finals.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 5, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: November 3, 1978

2010-11-03T22:00:00.001-05:00

Today I thought you might like to know that: tomorrow is going to be a highlight day. Today was our last chance to practice for the annual drama festival, which will be tomorrow. I am entering in the individual mime contest, and I feel I have a good chance to at least get to the finals. Some of our other categories look good, too, so Mrs. Mullin, the drama teacher says. But, I only like the individual serious and the group humorous. By the way, did you get the joke back on the 31st? Empty-hot dog day is a hollow-weenie!

***

Yes. Well. Some would say I had a lot to learn about humor at 13. Others would say I haven't learned all that much.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 4, 1978

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NaBloPoMo 2010 ... #3: Free Write: Snowy Streets of North Center

2010-11-03T21:40:00.002-05:00

The goal, as always: No looking back; just write.

***

The streets of North Center felt more like snowy pathways, the buildings, even when close up to the streets, felt murky and distant, separated by the fog of the gently falling snow. The storm felt anything but stormy — instead, it struck an intimacy to the moment that took Sherry by surprise. She gave a sideways glance at Walt, who looked lost in memories of the last time he had been here. What, that must have been twenty, twenty-five years ago? She looked down at Arden, nestled between Walt and her, and could see the girl looking around, taking it all in, but lost in the exhaustion of the trip. The adrenaline of the sled ride was falling away from Arden, and her eyes were becoming heavy. Sherry could sense the girl simply giving up taking in any more of this adventure, deciding that she was saturated enough with the experience, and closing her eyes and laying her head against Walt’s arm, resigning herself to whatever was going to happen next. She looked warm and protected. They all looked that way, in the back of this funny but roomy vehicle, moving through the quiet, mostly dark streets with dark shop fronts, and the occasional second-floor golden light emanating from the window.

Sherry discovered herself smiling, and then was equally surprised to realize how little happiness she had felt since Lu Ellen’s death. The fact that she could look out on all this snow and cold and feel this calm was confusing to her. She had lived in cold climates most of her life, but winter, and those frozen, isolating months of January and February, were always the hardest for her, were always her greatest struggle of the year, the hardest times for her to keep her head up, to keep a happy outlook for her and Arden. But here in North Center she was suddenly struck with a happiness lifted on the drifts they drove past, cleansed by the pure white flakes falling at a steady pace. Walt had hinted at qualities that North Center had that were, well, almost magical, and she had dismissed the comments at the time as a sentimentality (admittedly an unusual quality for Walt to express) for his childhood home. But now that she was in the middle of it, she wondered if there wasn’t something more at work, something that actually cleansed the spirit and gave one hope to face the elements of days here. Considering the work that went on here, something needed to help the citizens of North Center get out of bed every day. Sherry knew that Chicago often had no such qualities — that if it weren’t for the sound of Arden’s feet padding across the wood floors of their apartment, the gentle nuzzle of that little face in her neck, that she might never rise from bed and face the day. And while she would never want to give that up, she wondered if there might be less need for it in North Center, if this hopefulness that she felt despite the utter exhaustion of the thousands of miles they had traveled in the last three days, was something consistent, permanent, in this snowy Shangri La.

The snow limo was moving away from that area that had resembled a business district. The old-fashioned street lights, which provided little illumination but some lovely character to those dark shop-filled streets, had stopped appearing along the side of the road. They were clearly passing through a residential neighborhood, where again, the only light came from the occasional upstairs bedroom. Sherry was reminded of trips on Amtrak between Chicago and Detroit, before Arden was born, when she was trying to maintain a doomed relationship with a man eight years her junior. He had left Chicago for an engineering job with a car company, and every two weeks she would board the Detroit Limited and snake through the backyards of the midwest while passengers around her read, snored, stared. Those houses looked to be resting, the glow of televisions appearing to be the “stand-by” lights, waiting for its occupants to rise in the morning and re-start the home, taking it out of its recharging mode. Here in North Center, it felt the same, only she wasn’t seeing television glows. Here, the houses, nondescript modern silhouettes with snowy roofs and perfect snow-capped hedges in the front, had no television glow. It was simply the warmth of lamps. Some of them, she thought, seemed to flicker, almost like oil lamps, adding to the sense that she had entered another much less modern time.

And then suddenly, as if passing through a curtain into another room, the suburb ceased, and there was nothing around but snow, as far as the eye could see, which was not far at all. No buildings loomed in the moonless light of the snow. Almost immediately, the flat ground they had been traveling over began to lean up into a gentle grade, and the road ahead, barely visible in the snow limo’s strong headlights already, began to bend to the right. She sensed they were beginning to climb a mountain of some sort. As they continued along the side of the incline, trees became more prevalent, tall evergreens, filled with the snow that had been falling but not looking any heavier for their burden, Though the night was already moonless, it suddenly felt darker. She glanced at Walt again, and now he looked less at ease, as if the transition from city to woods made him realize where they were going, perhaps how close they were to their destination. She had no idea how much further they had to go, but she felt like if she studied his face she wouldn’t need to ask — every mile closer to Shelsandra they came, the more dark his face was cast. The trees cut off the natural light that the snow provided, but the bright dashboard from the front seat of the snow limo still provided enough light for her to be able to see Walt. She had imagined over the course of this trip that he had spent the travel time steeling himself for the moment that now approached, for facing the man he had been trying to escape for so many years. She admired his courage when he had finally decided to take this step, to face the fears he had run from for twenty years. But now she wasn’t sure if any amount of “preparation” would have helped him get ready for crossing the threshold of his childhood home.

NaBloPoMo 2010 ... #2: Breakin' the law

2010-11-02T23:34:00.003-05:00

Susannah has music class on Saturday mornings, and on our way we often stop off at Evanston's farmer's market to pick up some local fruit. On one such excursion a few weeks ago, as we emerged from the parking garage into the market area, I acknowledged a sign on the market's outskirts.

"'No Animals Allowed.' Uh-oh, Zuzu -- that means we can't have you here, you little monkey. Better be careful!"

It's the kind of silly thing I say all the time, and both girls have pretty much become immune to such jibes. It's just the kind of thing that will make them shrink with horror when they're older. (And oh, yes, you can bet I'm going to embarrass them.) But with Zuzu, at her age, I get this killer scrunched-up face that accompanies her acknowledgment of yet another of Dad's failed attempts at a joke, and the look is hilarious and totally worth the knowledge that I am becoming my own father and doing all the things that he did that drove me crazy as a kid.

But neither the face nor a sign of disapproval came on this occasion.

"Dad, does it really say that?" she asked with her best don't-mess-with-me tone. I wasn't sure why she wasn't picking up on the fact that she is truly not a monkey. But it was clear that my job here was to set the record straight.

"It really says that, Zu, but of course you're not a monkey. Come on — this way to the raspberries."

"Why don't they let animals come here?" she asked.

"There are rules about animals being around food being sold to people," I explained.

"No animals?" she asked.

"Well, maybe guide dogs," I said. "But no other animals."

And that was that, I thought. But for the rest of the time we were at the market, she was quiet, guarded. As we walked past the farmers' stalls, she showed less-than-usual interest in oddly shaped squash, the free samples (Zuzu passing by a snack?!), or the amateur musicians she loves to give (my) dollar bills to. My five-year-old was suddenly all business. She even passed up the chance to stamp her hands with the red-inky bug stamps by the parking validation table, a longstanding tradition for both girls.

I was perplexed, but I let it ride, figuring she would get over it eventually. And an explanation for her behavior came upon our return to the garage, after we climbed the stairs to our floor and approached our car. After looking around to make sure no one was watching, Zuzu uttered a loud and dramatic: "Whew!"

She produced from inside her fleece a stuffed animal and hugged it to her face, insisting with all of her maternal instinct, "You're safe now, Lamb-ie."

Nothing Much Else Happened: November 2, 1978

2010-11-02T22:00:00.001-05:00

Today, I figured that since it has been eternity since I have talked about school (even though I try to forget about it), I would center my talk on that. In Physical Education, we are going to start basketball on Monday and we're finishing off handball today and tomorrow. By the way, the contest of naming a sport every day is still going. In Math, we are working on (believe it or not) drawings. I will be leaving service on November 16th to go back to Science. I'm not sure who my science teacher is, or what kind of science it will be.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 3, 1978

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NaBloPoMo 2010 ... #1: Away we go!

2010-11-01T23:54:00.002-05:00

Well, it's that time again. Time to face off against The Great Unfinished Draft™ and see if I can fill enormous holes of the novel I started in November 2007. Time to kvetch and whine about it here in daily posts, along with occasional forays into other topics (album reviews, book reviews, ruminations, "memoirs," blathering, etc.). Time to see, if only for one month each year, I can be as consistently "prolific" (and, God help me, a tad more interesting) than I was in my diary 32 years ago, when nothing much else happened except bowling, cheap magic tricks, and Dodger updates.

For the uninformed, November brings two events: National Novel Writing Month (shortened to NaNoWriMo), when (literally) hundreds of thousands around the world take to the task of setting down at least 50,000 words of The Next Great Manuscript to Gather Dust in a Desk Drawer; and National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo), when those of us who have ignored our blogs for most of the rest of the year try to put together one measly post per day.

I suppose that, technically, I haven't been ignoring Instant Comma. But somehow simply transcribing three-decades-old pen scrawls seems like cheating. So I'll try to put together a few words here every day, in addition to the exciting November of 13-year-old Mark Bailey. (Spoiler alert: New girlfriend arriving soon!)

I'll probably have more success at the "BloPo"part of this than the "NoWri" part. (I don't know how I got in the habit of doing both NaBloPoMo and NaNoWriMo, but those of you who know me are probably just nodding your heads in the knowledge that I typically over-reach.) The novel is in a serious rut: I'm painted into corners; I haven't a clue what comes in certain areas; I'm doubting the verisimilitude of certain major characters. But somehow I still wholeheartedly believe in my premise, I see the promise of certain constructs, and I think that if I can just write my way out of some of the problems I might save this thing yet. Will that garner me 1,667 words a day? Not likely, especially with my limited free time, compared to 2007. But if I manage to make good headway on finishing the "shitty first draft" (danka, Anne Lamott), I'll consider it my victory.

To my friends (and one family member!) taking on NaNoWriMo, I will be cheering you on! Good luck to all of you! Turn off that inner editor and let those fingers fly. You'll be surprised how quickly you reach the 50K finish line.

Nothing Much Else Happened: November 1, 1978

2010-11-01T22:00:00.000-05:00

Today, I would like to continue with yesterday's story. After getting home, I ran in and changed costume! I changed into my skateboard gear and O.P. sorts, and went out again. Unfortuneately, it was so late (9:00 P.M.), that most people never answered their doors! So, we came back. The girls told me to seperate the candy bars from the rest of the candy, and then everybody left to watch "Dracula". I carelessly left my candy, and when I got back, Barney had eaten all but one of my candy bars! I was heart-broken. I'm still mad at that dumb dog.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 2, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 31, 1978

2010-10-31T22:00:00.003-05:00

Today was empty hot dog day. Can you figure that one out? Anyway, it was an okay day, although I wouldn't mind having to take it over again. Tina and Penny got over on time, and we had a good dinner. Of course, we were interrupted all through mealtime because of ghosts and goblins at are door! We went trick-or-treating around 7:45 p.m. We had plenty of candy. But when we were on our way back these guys started hitting us with grapefruits, so we had to run inside one of my friend's house. We called, and Dad came and picked us up. Tell you more tomorrow.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: November 1, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 30, 1978

2010-10-30T22:00:00.002-05:00

Today I thought I might tell you about how the magic business is coming. Lousy! I was figuring on telling you this because we were supposed to be doing a magic show for the people next door for their daughter's birthday. Unfortuneately, the party was cancelled, and with it the Magic Show. But, it's just as well, because Sean and I never got around to practicing. But, we do have 2 definite dates coming up on the 5th of November in Idyllwild, and on the 15th of December for Marquez Elementary School.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 31, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 29, 1978

2010-10-29T22:00:00.001-05:00

Today, Dad and I decided I would also wear a false moustache, too! I think it is a great idea for a costume! By the way, guess who's coming to dinner and then going trick-or-treating with me later? My neice, Tina, and her sister (also my neice), whom I have never met, Penny. They are going as roller-derby queens! Can you imagine? What a trio! Mom says this will probably be my last year trick-or-treating — Sean's not going at all.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 30, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 28, 1978

2010-10-28T22:00:00.001-05:00

Today, I finished my costume for Halloween. As I told you before, I have glued a deck of cards on each side of a board, and in bold lettering, the words "Card Shark" are on the front. I'm just afraid that while I'm walking for trick-or-treats, that I don't lose all my cards. After all, I don't want to be the one who is not playing with a full deck of cards! (Ha-Ha!) Anyway that night I will string the boards together so I can throw it over my shoulders. I will also wear a top-hat with some Jokers from the 2 decks printed all over it.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 29, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 27, 1978

2010-10-27T22:00:00.002-05:00

Today I washed Lee's car after school. Oh, did I forget to tell you about the deal Lee and I made? I will wash her car once a week, and she will give me 5 dollars! That's the most I've ever gotten for one car-washing! So, along with my two-fifty allowance, I make about seven dollars and fifty cents a week! And with money like that, I should be able to buy magic real fast. By the way, today Chris called up and said he was definitely coming home for Christmas.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 28, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 26, 1978

2010-10-26T22:00:00.003-05:00

Today when I got home from school, I did absolutely nothing but work on my magic. I made arrangements for Sean to come over here on November 17 to spend the night and then spend all Saturday working on our magic. When I got off the phone, I went right back to my book, "Magic with Cards", which is the only book I have ever used, and I've been using it for 3 years. I learned a new trick. It's called aces follow aces. My mom and Dad think I'm really becoming a good magician and will have a good chance of becoming a professional. But, I still love baseball!

***

You can see the "Aces Follow Aces" sleight-of-hand performed here. I had no recollection of doing this trick, but as soon as I watched this kid (maybe he's 13 too?) perform it, I spotted how it was done.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 27, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 25, 1978

2010-10-25T22:00:00.003-05:00

Today, I was wondering if anybody realizes that exactly 2 months from now it will be December 25th — Christmas! So far, I know of only 2 things I want for Christmas — a carrying case for my magic tricks. Unfortuneately, if it sounds like I'm only thinking of myself, it is because I have no idea what I'm going to get other people. Our first Christmas magazines are coming in, and I'm frantically searching for gifts for Mom and Dad.

***

That carrying case must be pretty big to count as two items on my wish list.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 26, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 24, 1978

2010-10-24T22:00:00.002-05:00

Today, I thought I might tell you about "Arsenic and Old Lace". The play is running quite smoothly, and rehearsals are doing fine. Dad says this is definitely one of the smoothest shows he's ever directed. In case whoever is reading this diary doesn't know what it's about, I am about to tell you. There are 2 old ladies, Aunt Martha and Aunt Abby, who do charitable things for people. In fact, they're so nice, they put old poor sad men out of their misery by giving the men some elderberry wine with some arsenic and cyanide in it.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 25, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 23, 1978

2010-10-23T22:00:00.003-05:00

Today, the bet that my teacher and I have still stands. The bet is — every day I see him, I must name a sport — not necessarily professional. If I miss, I lose the bet. However, if he's not here, I don't have to name one. This is only a gentlemen's bet — no money involved. By the way, there's over a hundred school days left, so, I have to name one almost every one of those days! Today, the sport was "Modern Pentathalon". If he doesn't understand the sport, I have to try to explain it to him.

***

Most. Embarrassing. Post. Ever.

This was possibly the most nerdy idea I ever came up with — and foisted on an unsuspecting physical education teacher (I think his name was Mr. Kahn), who barely tolerated me bugging him every day. (He really had much more important things on his mind.) This was all inspired by the fact that I had received a book 'round my birthday called Rules of the Game, which described the rules of every organized sport known to man. I actually calculated that there were enough sports to school days and that I could do this bet. At some point, I forgot about this, much to Mr. Kahn's relief, I'm sure.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 24, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 22, 1978

2010-10-22T22:00:00.003-05:00

Today was a lot of fun. Dad, Sean and I went to an annual magic show at the variety arts theatre called "It's Magic". It features some of the greatest magicians and illusionists in the world. Sean particularly liked these people who did an act with ladies who turn into animals and all that junk. But, my favorite was not even magic. These expert crossbowists were doing all sorts of amazing stunts with crossbows — including cutting a string in half, and knocking an apple off a lady's head.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 23, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 21, 1978

2010-10-21T22:00:00.001-05:00

Today marks only ten days until halloween. I think I'm going to be a card shark: I will have a sandwich board, and on each side paste a deck of cards in different patterns. I know 2 decks will be wasted, but I can't think of anything else to do. I plan to start work on it day after tomorrow. By the way, we won't be getting our pumpkin until about the 29th — we always buy our pumpkins late.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 22, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 20, 1978

2010-10-20T22:00:00.001-05:00

Today, the horror that started 3 days ago is finally over. I got back on the roof and washed all the ashes off the roof. Everything was covered with ashes, and even our house still smells a bit like smoke. The Malibu-Agoura fire was the worst of all. It destroyed about 200 homes in all, including my old english teacher, Mr. Pereira's house. In all, the 9 fires that happened over the past 3 days, took over 25o buildings.

***

I remember being devastated for Mr. Pereira. If our class had worked particularly hard and done well, he would reward us by brining in his old LPs and 78s and entertain us with songs from the 1930s and 1940s (i.e., "Mairzy Doats") and old radio comedy sketches (i.e., "The Bickersons"). His entire collection went with his house in the fire. He never seemed as happy again after this. At the end of the school year, he retired.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 21, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 19, 1978

2010-10-19T22:00:00.001-05:00

Today the rest of our fire was extinguished. There is still another fire up around Malibu that is still out of control. The fire was responsible for 30 homes and one church being ruined. (I watched the church burn down from the tree) When we got to P.E. today, the field was covered with horse-you-know-what. (One news report said: "Paul Revere should have the greenest grass in all of California with the fertilizer they're getting.") There were still 3 or 4 horses left on the field when we got there.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 20, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 18, 1978

2010-10-18T22:00:00.006-05:00

Today, I woke up, threw on some clothes, and ran outside to see how the fire was doing — and it was all gone! I got my first look at the hill in daylight, and it was not a pretty sight. The frames of the few houses and the church were all that was left. We had no school today because Paul Revere is an evacuation center. I spent most of last night either up on our roof watering it down or in the tree next door watching the fire. The fire's not out yet, but the danger for us is gone.

***

That night watering the roof and watching the progress of the fire in the neighbor's tree (greatest climbing tree *ever*) is one of those indelible memories. Strange to be on your roof with your garden hose and look down the block and see someone on every roof doing the same. I was truly scared.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 19, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 17, 1978

2010-10-17T22:00:00.003-05:00

Today is probably one of the most scary days of my life. At 4:19 P.M. this afternoon the first flames of a fire that had been burning since this morning appeared over the hills close to the Palisades (city). In about 45 minutes, the whole hillside for 4 miles around had been charred by the fire. Right now, we are praying and hoping that it doesn't get too close to us. It's already in the Pacific Palisades area right now, and it has burned about 19 homes. I hope to God this is not the last entry in my diary — it's moving toward us.

***

I refuse to spoil whether or not I survive.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 18, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 16, 1978

2010-10-16T22:00:00.003-05:00

Today, ladies and gentlemen, should be declared memorial day, in memory of those Dodgers, who fought hard in the ending of the season and pulled out at the National League's best team. They swept easily through the first 2 games, but then became the first team to win the first 2 games and then lose 4 straight. It seemed our school was very quiet. But, I cheered some of my freinds up by saying, "Hey, at least they got there, and that's better than 24 other teams I know."

***

You can now see how easily it was for me to transition to being a Chicago Cubs fan.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 17, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 15, 1978

2010-10-15T22:00:00.001-05:00

Today I remembered I was so excited about what I was telling you, I forgot to tell you where I was — Magic Mountain! It was my first trip there. As I was saying about the Dodgers, what they want to do is win the final 2 games at home. You see, Yesterday the Dodgers lost a hard-fought battle, 4-3, and today reminded me more of our little league team trying to play them. The ending massacre was 12-2. They come back to L.A. now with the Yankees leading the series, 3-2. They better shape up — and fast!

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 16, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 14, 1978

2010-10-14T22:00:00.003-05:00

★ Highlight Day

Today I finally figured out what the Dodgers are doing. But that's not important — the important news today is: I RODE COLLOSSUS! Yes — the highest (125 ft), fastest (63.2 on downhill), scariest rollercoaster in the world. It has 2 main drops (115 and 105 ft.), and is the rollercoaster with the most weightlessness (11 times). That's not all. I also rode the "Great American Revolution", the "Jet Stream", the "Gold Rusher", the "Electric rainbow", the "crazy barrels", the "Eagle Flight", and the "Enterprise" (not to mention the scrambler). Tell about Dodgers tomorrow. Bye!

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 15, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 13, 1978

2010-10-13T22:00:00.002-05:00

Today the Dodgers but up a good strong fight, but came out on the short end of a 5-1 game. Oh, well, the Dodgers will just have to win the next 2. They get to make the Yankees look like competition, don't they? They'll just go out there and wipe them out tomorrow. At school in Drama, Mrs. Mullin gave me the script for "The Land of the Dragon". I will understudy the part of Road Wanderer because the guy that's playing it is actually a professional, and might get a movie at any time.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 14, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 12, 1978

2010-10-12T22:00:00.001-05:00

Today the Dodgers travelled to New York today for (hopefully) the last 2 games of the World Series. They are leading the series 2-0. Lately, at lunch on Thursdays like today, I've been going to debate club, at school. All my friends are in it, so I thought I might take a look at it. I like it, but I don't want to do any debates. I'm happy just watching. Today, the 2 debating teams debated about proposition 6: The firing of homosexual teachers.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 13, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 11, 1978

2010-10-11T22:00:00.003-05:00

Today the Dodgers were rippin' again, as they won the battle against the Yankees again 4-3. They will now go to New York so they can make a disgrace of the Yankees in front of their home fans for the next two games, and win the title of World Champions. Unfortuneately, my history teacher couldn't give us no homework 2 nights in a row, so I did have some history homework. Since it was not a homework night in math, anyway, that was the only homework I had.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 12, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 10, 1978

2010-10-10T22:00:00.003-05:00

Today was the opening day of the World Series, but before I tell you about the game, let me tell you about what the main talk at school is about — or have I already told you? Yes, I have — the World Series! Teachers have declared (or at least most teachers) that this is not a homework night. This is for 2 reasons:

1) the teachers wanted to stay home and watch without having to worry about school.

2) same with us.

By the way, the Dodgers got off to a great start by capsizing the Yankees, 11-5.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 11, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 9, 1978

2010-10-09T22:00:00.002-05:00

Today should be ruled cruel and unfair by the K.I.A.W.G.T.S. (Kids In America Who go to School). After all, it is Columbus holiday, isn't it? And it is a holiday for all the banks and post offices, isn't it? Well then, why don't we get one, too! K.I.A.W.G.T.S., stand up for your rights! Ditsch school! Let me tell you, I sure didn't. I have a perfect record at Revere and I'm not about to lose it. I'm one of the few who can say I've never had detention or clean-up.

***

How was I not constantly beat up at Revere?

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 10, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 8, 1978

2010-10-08T22:00:00.002-05:00

Today, our Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Anderson, had a tough time trying to keep our class in order. I must admit, I laughed at some of the jokes, but I was not in much of the actual joke-making. I feel sorry for Mrs. Anderson having to keep such a disruptive class. Next week I'm going to try not to even laugh and really work in Christian Science. By the way, the Dodgers will start the World Series on the 10th.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 9, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 7, 1978

2010-10-07T22:00:00.002-05:00

Today I bowled the worse I have ever bowled in my entire career of bowling! I bowled a 98, a 90 and during the third frame of the third game, I pulled a muscle in my right arm. So, I didn't bowl, and got an automatic 103. (10 pins off your average if you do not bowl) After, I walked over to the Magic Palace, Sean met me and we started looking over some tricks. I bought a trick called "penetration frame" and Sean got a card trick called "Out of Orbit". When we got to his place, I found out that the Dodgers beat the Phillies in 10 innings, 4-3, to put them in W.S. with N.Y.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 8, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 6, 1978

2010-10-06T22:00:00.002-05:00

Today, in the playoffs, the Dodgers came to Los Angeles to play their first game at home, and did the same thing they did in the first game of the playoffs — only it went the other way. The Phillies won it, 9-5. I haven't been to the dentist in over 2 months because last time I went I got all my wires off to let my teeth grow in. So, my teeth won't have to suffer for another 16 days, when I go back to Mr. Ricketts' (Dr.) on the 22nd.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 7, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 5, 1978

2010-10-05T22:00:00.002-05:00

Today the Dodgers did a nice job of shutting out the Phils in the second game of the playoffs, 4-0. That gives them a lead of 2-0 in games, which means if they win next time they play , they will go against the Yankees or the Royals in the World Series. This game I got to watch and score the game in my score-pad. Also, on Saturday, Lee Kelley, our next door neighbor, says I can wash their big truck for a big $5! But it won't be an easy job — that thing's humongous.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 6, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 4, 1978

2010-10-04T22:00:00.002-05:00

Today was opening day of the Playoffs between Philadelphia and the one and only Los Angeles Dodgers. And, of course, the Dodgers wiped the Phillies out, 9-5. Unfortuneately, I couldn't watch the whole game because Sean and I had to go to the magic club at the magic palace, where we buy our tricks, and perform some magic. Sean did an amazing chain escape, which he made himself, and I did "color-changing silks".

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 5, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 3, 1978

2010-10-03T22:00:00.003-05:00

Today Mrs. Mullin asked me another one of her "little favors". Now she wants me to understudy for the lead part in the school play coming up, "The Land of the Dragon". And, of course, "Good old Mark" said yes. It's not that big of a part, but I am the "handsome" hero. I don't know anything about the part, but she doesn't have a script, yet. Well, it may be tough, but I'm going to try to pull it off. They've been working on this for 2 weeks, and I haven't even joined the cast yet!

***

I have virtually no memory of this. I had to Google "land of the dragon" to find out what this play was. Here was the description:

In this stylized Chinese play, a scheming aunt and her chancellor keep the lovely Princess Jade Pure prisoner in her own castle in order to steal the throne. Road Wanderer, a minstrel, passing through the country with his pet dragon, learns of her plight and rescues her, only to be rewarded with contempt. He soon comes to see Jade Pure as thoughtless and unkind and leaves her behind. Realizing her mistake and knowing she must soon marry soon in order to become Empress, Jade Pure tries to find him. She decrees that only someone with a pet dragon may court her. Jade Pure's Aunt has Road Wanderer imprisoned so she can steal his dragon. Still others create false dragons, all so they can win the throne. Will Jade Pure see through all this deception?

None of this helped me remember anything more about the play.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 4, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 2, 1978

2010-10-02T22:00:00.000-05:00

Today I thought I might keep you updated on something I haven't talked about in a long time — the Dodgers! Yesterday was the final day of the regular season and somehow, the Dodgers, after being 2 or more games out for most of the season, pulled out by a slim 8 games! San Francisco was hot for a while, but somehow they cooled off rather quickly and dropped to third place. Cincinatti took second. They will begin the playoffs against Philadelphia on the 4th.

***

I still can't spell "Cincinnati" without looking it up. Every time.

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 3, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: October 1, 1978

2010-10-01T22:00:00.004-05:00

Today is already the first of October! If you're reading this diary, I'm sure you are thinking that it's been a long year. Well, this is one of the fastest years I've ever had, with all the action, amusement parks, trips and highlight days it's taken a while to take it all in. I probably will not be making a diary again next year because I'm afraid that next year's happenings will increase and I will have no time for one.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 13.

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

To view the next day click: October 2, 1978

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