Nothing Much Else Happened: December 30, 1978

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

***

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

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

To view the next day click: December 31, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 21, 1978

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

***

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

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

To view the next day click: December 22, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 20, 1978

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

***

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

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

To view the next day click: December 21, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 19, 1978

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

***

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

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

To view the next day click: December 20, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 17, 1978

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

***

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

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

To view the next day click: December 18, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 15, 1978

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

***

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

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

To view the next day click: December 16, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 14, 1978

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

***

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

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

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

To view the next day click: December 15, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 13, 1978

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

***

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

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

To view the next day click: December 14, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: December 2, 1978

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

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 28, 1978

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 26, 1978

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 13, 1978

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 5, 1978

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

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Nothing Much Else Happened: September 23, 1978

Today, Sean (who spent the night over and I started out the great day by coming out to the bowling alley and watching me bowl. Today was Sweepstakes day, and I didn't bowl good enough to get any prizes. I had a 107, a 113 and a 130. (I've had better days) Next, after coming home, Sean got into our outfit and went across the street to do a . . . . . magic show! They loved it! (It was Neil Bailord's birthday party) We made only $8, but I know it's the start of something big!

***

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: September 24, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: September 17, 1978

Today in Sunday School we had a substitute teacher: Mr. Jasper Thompson. I've told you about him before. He's one of the neatest guys I ever met. He's always telling us stories about his job as a chaplain. I thought it was interesting that so many poeple in prisons and in jails could be so interested in Christian Science. Well, we got our first job as magicians, Sean and I. Next Saturday, at Neil Bailord's birthday party, we will be performing a magic show. Our name is M.A.G.I.C. We don't know what it stands for yet.

***

We eventually figured out what it stood for: Magic And Great Illusions Company.

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

To view the next day click: September 18, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: September 16, 1978

Today was the first day (for me) for Junior League Bowling in over 4 months. I bowled alright with a 105, a 125, and a 130. I bowled with my old partner, John Derby, and he seemed to be better than he was last year. After bowling, I walked over to Sean's Dad's place, where I met Sean who had just gotten out of bed — at 11:00 A.M.! Well, we went down to the "Magic Palace" and I bought two tricks: The "guillotine" and the "Silk Serenade".

***

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

To view the next day click: September 17, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: September 15, 1978

Today Sean called me up and asked if I wanted to come over Saturday and start buying magic tricks. Well, how could I say no! I had saved up $7.50, and so had he, so after Junior League bowling (which, by the way, I'm starting again this week), I will walk over to his house and then we will both go down to the "magic palace" — which is the magic shop, — watch the magic show, and afterwards by some tricks.

***

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

To view the next day click: September 16, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: September 9, 1978

Today I will continue the story of Sean. We did magic together for about a year, then when I moved to Pacific Palisades, I stopped. Fortuneately, he kept going. By the time he moved down here, he was twice as good as me. He moved down about 3 weeks ago because if he stayed up there, he would of had to have a 45 minute busride down to the Junior High School. Here, he only has to walk about 6 blocks. I'm glad he moved down because now he is my best friend.

***

Sean had moved from Idyllwild.

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: September 10, 1978

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Nothing Much Else Happened: September 5, 1978

Today, we went back up to Idyllwild to drop Bob off. Well, not exactly drop him off, butmore like leave him and then leave again the next day. I was planning on meeting Tina Cripe, who is one of my old and favorite girlfriends. She is a babe from what I hear. Unfortuneately, she was going down to celebrate her thirteenth birthday (which is on the second). So tomorrow morning I'll try to see her.

***

All punctuation and spelling has been retained precisely as I wrote it 32 years ago at age 12.

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

To view the next day click: September 6, 1978

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