Feb 29 - A discouraging Leap Day***

Tuesday, February 29, 1972 - Page 60
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

5:30 PM
I woke up at 7:00 and drove Mom to work -- we passed the 76 station by C&W's [Chuck and Wendy's] apartment and we saw Chunk in the gas station, staring dazedly out the window. He didn't see us. I drove home and took a bath, got dressed and drove to the 76 station to get the cooler from Chunk (he said he had seen me & Mom), after which I went to the stationery store where I bought three manila envelopes. I returned home to fill the water in the cooler, and mailed the manuscript to Galaxy (I'll get it back though because I used a 6¢ stamp -- it needs 8¢ at least) -- I got the mail and bought eight 8¢ postage stamps. Got my $87 tax refund and a letter from Sue with her picture. Then I went to the bank to deposit ten dollars, then I mailed the $10.00 check to Smithsonian (I got their membership card today -- I mean yesterday), and I drove back home.

At noon I drove to school where I saw Bob Bowman (he was surprised to see me and shook my hand which surprised me cause I don't know him that well) and I asked him if he knew where Matt was. He din't, but I learned that he has moved again -- from Oakwood apts to Tustin. After I talked with him, Mister Fish materialized and I found out Dennis Green had come by the day before (Mister Green is a friend from Junior High who is now at Orange Coast College), and Fish & I went to see Mary Lyons -- she was stunned to see me, so I gave her a copy of Moira-Quest (Mrs. Lyons is an English teacher who I had in my freshman, sophomore and junior years -- she's also a friend of Ray Bradbury and she's an SF buff).

From The Galleon 1972 Yearbook:
English teachers Mary Lyons & Margo Cunningham

We left her and went to the gang on the lawn. Meg ignored me, but she didn't project her beam of suppressed hostility. Saw Mary [Bavry] for the first time in ages, and we have a permanent temporary truce now. Shawna was upset to see me oddly enough -- she showed me a short three-word poem, so I wrote her a shorter one: "The Turbulent Sea" -- MOCEAN. It tickled her fancy. I saw Matt, Dan Huntzinger and Thom Granger, a sleazy lot that's getting a lot sleazier -- Matt's Dad bought him a Datsun. I saw Tim Hourigan for a moment, among another crowd, and Beverly who wanted to kill me even though the grass stains came out. I learned that Tim Hourigan has become a lush. Even he -- All American Boy -- is going downhill. C'est la vie. Tarmland can't survive with a drunk emperor [a reference to Tim's imaginary realm, à la Tolkien's Middle Earth].

Student crowd at Newport Harbor High School
The Galleon 1972

I was surprisingly witty and charming today -- must be the full moon. A new narc appeared while Matt, Huntzinger, someone else, and I were sitting on the lawn after the bell. He took my name, and I said I was going to P.E. right away. I found out that Matt & Dan are going to court tomorrow because of his & my A.P.B. [All Points Bulletin]. Odd thing as I was "going to P.E.," I ran into Mary on the curb with a hyper-sleazy group (perverts, smokers, heads, etc. -- one was definitely stoned), the sleaziest students warm the curbs of the school all day. The gang eventually vanished, leaving me, Mary, and a girl & her girlfriend -- one of whom I had given 50¢ to when Matt, Dan and Me were on the lawn just after lunch. I found out later it was for acid -- she had a dollar. I knowingly remarked the cheaper it is, the cheaper it is. Mary, Them and I discussed my favorite subject -- ME. I learned a lot. Apparently I have a rather unwholesome reputation, which, of course, is entirely inaccurate, but it does, nevertheless, lend some status to me, enabling me to enter the bizarre ranks of the ultra-liberals -- an interesting and sorry lot. I saw Donald and Terry today -- they've become something of an inseparable couple (couple of what I'm not too sure).

Anyway, the gist of the info I got from Mary about Shawna Wood is that she Woodn't -- not tonight or ever. The name of the girl I gave 50 cents to is Rae Lean (at least that's what she said it was), her friend was Jeannie, or something like that. I went to Sea Schwinn and talked with Dave. He sold the Campi for $120.00. He's taking a class in Marketing in college. Jerry only works on Saturdays -- he's a full-time college kid now. I found out a few more things about Shawna at Schwinn -- so I've got more ammunition. Let's see how good my aim is...

Shawna Wood
The Galleon 1972

(9:03 AM - 3/1/1972)
Missed by a mile. She really isn't that kind of girl. Why is everyone I know so virtuous? Such incredible luck.

Before I went to Shawna's, I noticed Matt Gold walking along the street opposite her house. I stopped, and he and me went to Thom Granger's a couple of houses away. We left there shortly (I stopped at Shawna's at seven to tell her I'd be late -- her sister (friend of Meg) saw me for the first time -- she was surprised) and Matt had to go to a house at Galaxy Street for a rehearsal or something. It took half an hour to find it. Then I went to get Shawna, and I established the fact that she Woodn't. It's hard to figure her out. Left at 9:30, or somewhere around there.

I think I'll banish myself from society -- I don't need friends anyway. I am a universe unto myself. Within a week I'll be alone in the world. Awww, how sad. Big deal. Who cares. Not I, said the little green pig. Disregard this stuff -- I'm drunk. People are not worth anybody's attention. Le'me see -- how many friends (or rather "acquaintances") have I got to get rid of. Well, from High School, there's Shawna Wood, Mary Bavry, "Meg Waldron," Robbin, Paula, Dana & Karen Boucher, Terri Sneathen, "Rae Lean," Beverly, Mary Lyons, Bob Rozelear, Shepard Salusky, Master Fish, Timothy Hourigan, Peter Shergalis, Craig David Harvey, Mike Lingels, Thom Granger, Matt Gold, Dan Huntzinger, James Simms, Bob Bowman, and Stan Eastman. From Sea Schwinn, there's Dave Olson, Darryl Eve, Jerry King, and a guy who's name I forgot just now. 80% of those people wouldn't notice I was missing. The rest would pro'ly idly wonder "What happened to good ole Grady," then they'd promptly forget. That's all.

0:00

EXTRA BONUS LEAPDAY

[Temporal Synchronization RESET]

Feb 28 - Sixty-car pile up

Monday, February 28, 1972 - Page 59

LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

7:30 PM
I got up at 7:30 -- or actually woke up at 7:30, I didn't get up 'till 8:00. It was foggy this morning. I got the mail, then I went to buy some EDEN ROCK - CALIFORNIA SPARKLING BURGUNDY and filled my bota, which I then put in the fridge. There was a sixty-car pile up in L.A. due to the fog, a bus strike started, Nixon got back from his trip, and the Pioneer X launch was postponed again. Enough for current events. There's a full moon tomorrow.

Sally Bananas by Charles Barsotti
3-1-1972 © L.A. Times Syndicate

00:00

EXTRA LEAP DAY UPCOMING

[Temporal Synchronization Adjustment scheduled in 12 hours]

Feb 27 - Driest SoCal Winter in 60 years

Sunday, February 27, 1972 - Page 58
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

9:00 PM
The Pioneer X was supposed to go up today but it was scrubbed due to bad weather. Speaking of weather, it was foggy again this morning -- and I heard that this winter has been the driest in sixty years for Southern Cal. It hasn't rained at all in January, and there wasn't even half an inch in Feb. I continued to read. Read a story in Amazing, and got to page 127 in "Orn" -- I'm halfway through the book, right where the serial in Amazing began. So actually I've read the whole book -- the second half in Amazing I read in Sept. 1970, but I'm going to reread it.

I woke up at 8:00. Larry is here now -- he arrived at about 8:30 P.M. He and dad are now discussing aerodynamics -- they usually argue about philosophies. It better not be foggy the day after tomorrow. Enough of fragmented. Unrelated sentences. For now. I suppose I'll just. Close this entry. Th'end.

Feb 26 - Orn*

Saturday, February 26, 1972 - Page 57
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

8:00 PM
I got up at about 8:00 A.M. It was pretty foggy in the morning, as usual. Chunk and Winnie [actually Chuck and Wendy] came over at 8:30 or 9:00 to get food for their trip to Kern, or wherever they're going this weekend. I started reading my S.F. magazine collection to find out my possible markets, but I only got as far as the first editorial in Amazing -- it was about [Piers] Anthony's "Orn," so I was side-tracked into reading the book. I had bought it in Bishop, Cal., when Mike Sarason & I had driven there in late December of last year. As of now I'm on page 71... about 1/4 through.

Dad left for work today when an Aeroneurotic [actually Aeronutronic, where Lu Lyda worked on classified DoD projects] guy called up and told him to come over. He's sort of indispensable. Mom went out to get her hair done. I did the dishes -- or rather I put them in the sink with hot water, and washed them around 4:30 P.M. I read "Orn" for awhile, and Herman came over to remind dad about the rent. It's a month overdue. Herman's a nice guy for a manager. [Bay Shore Park Manager Herman Conaway reappears later in this journal with comments in the local newspaper. See Nov 30 - Trailer park crisis explodes]

I took the kayak out to the raft at 1:36 and tanned (or rather, burned) my hide till 3:00. Came back & Mom was home. Ate dinner & played Scrabble. Went to bed early. The lizard is still outside the window, and the cat is ignoring it. It'll be there for some time, so I've named her "Liz" (for "lizard," of course). She should start decomposing soon. It's foggy now.

Feb 25 - "Moira-Quest" FINISHED

Friday, February 25, 1972 - Page 56
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

11:20 PM
Woke up at 6:30 -- got about twelve hours sleep, strangely enough. Finished typing Moira-Quest, with three duplicates of every page, plus the original. Cut out all the errors on every copy, and it's ready to send out. I may get around to it one of these days. I'm obsolete already -- today they launched a ship that's going to go to Jupiter, then out of the solar system. Pioneer 10. (CORRECTION: 5:55 P.M. Sunday, Feb 27) [This is a puzzling statement since the Pioneer X mission actually launched on March 2, 1972, after several delays]. It'll take a few years to do it, though.

A National Geographic came with a Jay Matternes poster on the back of a map. I put it at the head of my bed. Chunk came over at 4:27 P.M., and he & me went paddling till around five thirty -- he was in the blue down river boat and he went around Lido Isle twice -- I was in the leaky red slalom boat (Patch) and I went halfway around, then returned, and he still almost beat me. Mom & I went to see Pocket Money & Something Big -- got back at 11:00. It is now 11:30.

Feb 24 - While I was sleeping

Thursday, February 24, 1972 - Page 55
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

(11:10 PM 2/25/1972)
Rewrote Moira-Quest -- big deal, it's not going to sell any way. But I haven't got my rejection slip quota yet. Washed the dishes. Took out Patch and went to the raft to sun bathe for about an hour and a half. Started typing revised edition of the story. The cat brought in another lizard and I put him in a box, thinking I might give it to Meg tomorrow if I go to school, but I eventually abandoned the notion and I put the thing outside the window on top of the cabana. It died during the night.

At the front door of my wonderful trailer

I got to sleep at about 6:30 -- earlier, Mom & Dad went to an insurance agency. They got back around seven. While I was sleeping, Mom came and told me about the cars, insurance, my tentative trip to Chicago, broken promises, and a few other things. Also while I was asleep, Shawna called... Hmmmm. How about that.

Feb 23 - More kayaking misadventures

Wednesday, February 23, 1972 - Page 54
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

(2:42 AM 2/24/1972)
Last night I retired at the ungodly hour of 10:00 P.M. Awoke at 7:00 A.M. and immediately finished writing the last two pages on Moira, and typed them -- it's 14 pages long, 2,800 words. But that's just the rough draft -- now I have to rewrite it. I washed the dishes, got the mail and mailed the Latka Letter and an order for the Doubleday Time-Life book of Astronomy.

It was cloudy in the morning, and I decided that if it cleared up I'd go out kayaking. Unfortunately, it did clear up, and at 1:30 I staggered down to the bay with the blue down-river boat -- the one that had dunked me three times yesterday. I had determined to master the tippy monster -- after all, it was just a lump of fiberglass, right? It was a mere inanimate conveyance, and I was a man with a clever mind and skilled coordination. It only sank twice -- after that, I gave up. The first time I made it to the raft where I tied it down and sun bathed for an hour or so. The second time I made it to the shore and staggered back home. I took a warm bath to recover my senses. Chunk came over at 5:00 and I went out in Glenn's light blue slalom kayak, and he took the red slalom kayak that leaks alot: "Patch." We started to go around Lido Isle but turned around and returned at 6:00. M & I went to get Fish & Chips for dinner. I went to sleep at 8:00, woke up at 2:30.  

Feb 22 - Kayaking with Chuck

Tuesday, February 22, 1972 - Page 53
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

9:49 PM
I got to sleep last night at 2:00, awoke at 7:30. Worked on Moira-Quest and I now have 12 typewritten pages. I did the dishes, few that there were. Got a letter today from Sue Latka, and I spent (or rather wasted) an hour and a half typing a witty retort. I'll mail it tomorrow I guess. Chunk came over, and at 6:00, he and me valiantly went out paddling. I tipped over not once, but thrice (count 'em: 3) and finally gave up and came back by 6:15. Took a bath and ate dinner. Chunk got back at seven. He's going to be paddling every day, so I'll pro'ly be getting pretty wet.

Sue Latka of Chicago, where I go for a visit later in 1972

"The Search for the Nile" was on again. It's just got one week left, I think. Dad read my unfinished manuscript -- I've got just about two or three more pages left to go. I guess I'll have it finished by tomorrow -- I'll have it rewritten in another week, and send it out for a nice little rejection slip. Then I can start another great opus. Right now it's 10:00 and 25 seconds (P.M.) -- It took me eleven lousy minutes to write this piffle. I'll never make it as a writer -- I'm too darned slooooooow.

Chuck on the Kern River, 1974

Feb 21 - Washington's 240th birthday

Monday, February 21, 1972 - Page 52
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

9:00 PM
Wrote a few more pages in Moira-Quest last night -- now I've got 9 typewritten pages and there are pro'ly three more to go. Mom left for work at 7:30, Dad left at 10:00. At around ten thirty Ben Parks (mentor of Chunk Lyda at the peak of his kayaking career) dropped by. I called Winnie who called Chunk (he works at the 76 station next door) and Ben summarily wandered off in the right direction. He'd been down the Amazon about a year ago and he's been working in L.A.

I washed the dishes and, by 2:00, I tried to get some sleep but Tacosumi provided some difficulties -- she probably thought it was pretty funny. The cat brought me a lizard which I -- upon waking up -- threw out the window. But like a good cat she fetched it and returned it to me, and I woke up again and threw it back out. And she brought it back. And I threw it out. The fourth time, I threw it as far as I could, and Taco couldn't find it. So I got to sleep at about 3:00. [Tacosumi was my Siamese cat -- her name is a play on the catchphrase "Sock it to me" which was made popular by the TV sketch comedy show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.]

At 6:00 I woke up due to a lot of noise Mom was making on the phone. She was talking to Larry, laughing, yelling and arguing politics -- a level to which Larry seldom lowers himself. Today is Washington's birthday -- he's 240. His cake started a greater alarm fire in D.C. Ha ha. Well, it wasn't funny but at least it was original.

WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY JOKE:
Boy, wasn't George Washington lucky to be born on a holiday.
(SORRY, THAT'S ALL)

[In fact, George's birthday was February 22, 1732. On January 1, 1971, it was moved to the third Monday in February to create a bonus three-day weekend, which is currently called Presidents' Day.]

Feb 20 - Nixon arrives in Peking

Sunday, February 20, 1972 - Page 51
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

(1:46 AM 2/21/1972)
Finished writing most of Moira-Quest. One more day should complete it -- then I'll rewrite the whole thing, delete about a thousand words, and try to sell it. Got to sleep at about 9:00 A.M. Woke up at 5:00 or 6:00. It was foggy last night -- so foggy they had to close down LA International. Dad went to work today like he did yesterday and worked overtime. Mike & Laramée Sarason came over at about noon, but, of course, I was asleep. I went shopping between 6:00 and 7:00 to refill the cupboards. I bought an S.F. anthology, paper clips, typewriting paper, tape, and a Mad Mag. It was fairly foggy tonight too.

Nixon arrived in Peking today, as seen live via satellite. Capitalistic aggressor comes to deal with Righteous Nationalistic Leaders. East and West is truly alien -- the twains will never meet without twangs. Ah so. "Ben Hur" followed, and with it came Chunk. It ended, and with it, Chunk left; after devouring a T.V. dinner and several boom booms.

Mom's back's better, Tacosumi's eye's alright, and I am the constantly healthy super-person I always am. Moira-Quest will be finished before next week (you see, Providence is such that we have an extended weekend due to Washington's Birthday, so next week doesn't officially begin until Tuesday -- I have not failed. Ta da!) TWADDLE FNORK!

Original Poster for Ben Hur (1959)

Feb 19 - The incredible shrinking man

Saturday, February 19, 1972 - Page 50
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

10:00 PM
Typed page 4, listened to Lohman and Barkley [a morning radio show on KFI], got the Saturday Daily Pilot from outside for Mom (her back's fouled up) and then I went to sleep at 10:00 A.M. -- Mom woke me up at noon to get the mail from the office before it closed, and to buy the Sunday paper and some ding dongs at the Liquor store. I did and promptly went back to sleep and didn't wake up till 6:00 P.M. Then I took a bath, and then I watched T.V. (All in the Family, Mary Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke) after which I came to my room and read the first four pages in Moira-Quest. No editor in his right mind would buy that stupid story. But I'm committed, so I'll finish the idiot thing and send it out, gambling for a mad editor somewhere who will take it. But I'll get to work right away on another story -- I've gotta have something saleable in a couple of months at most. I don't need the money but it sure would be convenient to have it.

(1:57 AM 2/21/1972)
At about 11:30 I went to the Liquor store to buy some Bufferin for Mom to ease her pain, and watched the Late Show which was "The Incredible Shrinking Man," that old S.F. classic itself. It ended at 3:00 A.M., dad got home at around 2:30 from a party. He left at 10:00 Sunday morning to work overtime at Aeroneurotic [actually Aeronutronic in Newport Beach, where my father worked as a defense/aerospace technical illustrator].

Feb 18 - Knievel Cowboys

Friday, February 18, 1972 - Page 49
LOCATION: Newport Beach & Fountain Valley, California

11:22 PM

Got to sleep this morning at 6:00 or 6:30, woke up at 4:30 or 5:00. Wrote a bit more in Moira-Quest -- I said I'd get this thing done before next week and I'm going to, DAMMIT!! (every now and then i like to include an emotion-packed statement just to keep the pace up). At 5:30 Mom & I left for a movie, but first we stopped at "The Golden Chicken" where I went out to buy dinner. We saw "Evel Knievel" and "The Cowboys." Got out at a quarter to eleven, went to the liquor store at Eyesore Park [actually Bayshore Park, a mobile home court in Newport Beach] where I tried to buy some Electric Grind Folger's Coffee, but they were all out so we went to the 7-11 store where I went out and bought the coffee, then we drove home.

Tacosumi's [my Siamese cat] eye isn't any better -- in the past two days her right eye lid has swollen up so she can't even open it. She looks like a prize fighter. For the time being I'm calling her "Dead eye." Well, today's Chinese New Year. Yes, folks, it's the Year of the Rat. Terrific, huh. Gonna be a great year.

(3:15 AM -- 2/19/1972)

Just finished typing page three, and I'll pro'ly knock off four and five tonight. I hope the damn thing sells, but if it doesn't, so what? I've got three or four more stories marinating and I'll be trying them all in the next few months. One of them must sell. Wouldn't be nice if they all did? Fat chance!

Feb 17 - Vocabulary collection

Thursday, February 17, 1972 - Page 48

10:00 PM
Finished the Benson Barrett "How to Write for Money" course last night (this morning), and I'm slightly more optimistic about Moira-Quest, and I'm positive I'll have a few stories published this year in something. I'm on my way to be a writer -- I can't afford an honest living. Got to sleep at around two or three or four -- got up at three. Got the mail and ate some hamburger. Dad's working overtime again like last night -- watched the second half of North by Northwest and saw some places I've been [See July 17 for Hitchcock's movie trailer]. Then saw The Oscar (isn't there anything on the tube but movies?) then (at 10:00) got to work neatifying my vocabulary collection -- ANTHROPOPHAGI, BIOSYNERGICS, VICISSITUDE, IGNOMINIOUS, EVANESCENT, RECRUDESCE, DIPHTHONG, SYNIZESIS, TABULA RASA, AUTOCHTHON, MANA, CARDINALITY, CYBORGANUM, APHASIA, DEMENTIA PRAECOX, SOMATOLOGY, NARCOSYNTHESIS, ZEITGESTALT, EIDOLON, CORPOREAL, ARCANUM  ET CETERA...

Original Posters: North by Northwest (1959) and The Oscar (1966)

(5:23 AM - 2/18/1972)

Didn't get too far with the vocabulary -- neatness is boring. I finished "The Region Between," and wrote a couple of sentences for Moira-Quest. Dullard. Inept writer. Clod of dynamic proportions. Anyway, after that I read what I've written in this book. Blah. Yuck. Klutz. Icky poo! If the next 317 pages (is that accurate? This is a leap year ya know) aren't a little more worthwhile... I'll get somebody else to write my diaries! SIGH.........
Finished: 5:30 - 15 seconds

Feb 16 - Olympic kayak training

Wednesday, February 16, 1972 - Page 47
LOCATION: Newport Beach & Lido Isle, California

8:00 PM
I got about three hours sleep before waking up around 2:00 A.M. I made another hurdle in my story, and now I'm getting into old musca domestica -- an important stage of the story, and one that can fall flat if I don't handle it carefully. I'll let it marinate awhile -- I reviewed the notes concerning it, and threw in a couple more ideas. At the rate I'm going I'll have this story finished before next week. Maybe. The ending has just about written itself, all I've got to do is patch up the notes and glue 'em together. How so ever, it's a lousy story, and I doubt it'll get sold -- even if it does I pro'ly won't get more than a hundred dollars for it -- it's hardly worth the trouble. Blah.

I typed the second page between seven and eight thirty, having the presence of mind to wait till mom & dad woke up before clicking away. Eventually I got to sleep at eleven -- woke up at three and brushed my fangs a couple of times. By then mom was home and I started the dishes, but Chunk dropped by and he and me went paddling around Lido Isle (he's starting training for the Olympics finally) -- we left at around 5:00 and returned at 6:30.

It was weird -- it has been foggy all day, and on the bay in fog and darkness would be therapeutic if it weren't so tiring -- the kayak leaks and I was pulling along about a gallon of water along with myself and the boat. I took a bath, ate dinner, saw Part I of "North by Northwest" on the one-eyed monster, played back the 1943 recording of "Red Dust" (Clark Gable, Ann Southern, etc.) that I made awhile ago for mom [This was a rebroadcast of an old-radio adaptation of the movie], and now I'm going to read Benson Barrett ["How to Write for Money"] & Harlan Ellison [science fiction writer]. Enthuse me, you two!

Feb 15 - "The grate science-friction righter"**

Tuesday, February 15, 1972 - Page 46
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

3:24 AM
☺→ MEASURED OPTIMISM (1 inch) -- 2.54 centimeters, actually
Okay folks -- I've convinced myself my story (when I finish it) will sell. Such flowing prose is fit for nothing else but print. I've read the first two sessions in the correspondence course thing, and succeeded in generating enthusiasm. I think I can keep it up, and I'm CERTAIN that Moira-Quest is destined for Analog, or Galaxy, or F&SF [Fantasy & Science Fiction] in the next few months. A great writer is born, despite the turbulent gestation. Did I say turbulent? ...drab may be more apropos, methinks. Not much longer, lad, not long.

9:30 AM
THERE HE SITS, A MAGNIFICENT SITE, THE GRATE SCIENCE-FRICTION RIGHTER. HUNCHED OVER HIS ELECTRONIC TYPEWRITER, FINGER POISED DRAMATICALLY OVER THE KEY, COGITATING OVER A PARTICULARLY FORMIDABLE PLOT COMPLICATION, HIS MANLY MUSTACHE TWITCHING IMPRESSIVELY, A THREE-DAY STUBBLE MARRING HIS FIRM CHIN AS HE DEDICATES HIMSELF THOROUGHLY TO HIS ADMIRABLE ART -- ANOTHER IMMORTAL CLASSIC UNFOLDS. Now is that writing or is that writing, I askew? 'Nuff sayed. I'm goin' to sleep. zzzzzzzzzzzz

[From Star*Reach 6, here is page 2 of Out of Space ● Out of Time,

which is the published version of my illustrated epic space adventure,

previously referred to here as Moira-Quest and Enter-Stellar.]

Out of Space ● Out of Time
"... the Moira-Quest began the first small step of a journey that would span decades."

9:30 PM
After I wrote that I went outside to tan my hide for an hour (from 10:15 to 11:15). Slept from noon to three -- got up and typed the first page & a half of Moira-Quest. I'm re-reading Ellison's "The Region Between" to instill the mood of awesomeness, and I saw The Search for the Nile again (Part III) and then a special called "China - Lost and Found," concerning Emperor Nixon's trip to China (pardon the irreverence -- I really don't have any convictions about it). They sure are playing it up -- his trip to China is getting as much publicity as Armstrong's trip to the Moon. The reporter said, 'smatter of fact, that we know more about the moon than what we'll see in China next Monday, Feb. 21. We shall see, shan't we?

DUE TO AN UNFORESEEN DIFFICULTY, THE ANNUAL CLAIRVOYANT MEETING WILL BE CANCELLED

[For another entry about this story, go to Apr 04 - Moira-Quest submissions]

Feb 14 - Valentine's Day: BIG DEAL!

Monday, February 14, 1972 - Page 45
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

10:30 PM
Valentine's Day  BIG DEAL!
Got up at noon. Did some work on filing photos & articles -- got the mail (New Analog with new Niven story - "It seems to me that Anarchy would be a very unstable form of government") saw Ronnie but avoided him. Tacosumi [our cat] is working on contributing to the local cat population -- a black admirer awaits her pleasure outside. Mom came home with a heart full of chocolates for me, which I ate before she could have any -- thoughtless bastard that I am. She gave me a card, too:

With Love, Son
A Valentine with just one thought... And that's of all the joy you've brought.
Don't get sick -- You have made me very happy, very many times -- like it or not
Mother With all my love.

A likely story. She put the date on it so I guess that means I'm sposed to keep it. The only person who remembered her (LARA & MIKE SENT HER A CARD A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. CONSCIENTIOUS AS ALWAYS.) was Chuck -- he came by around seven, looking for a kayak paddle and gave her a Val card signed CHUCK CHARLES. Clever fellow.

I made "dinner" -- a pound of hamburger and corn. Took a bath at nine. I thought I might pretend to type my "manuscript" of Moira-Quest, so I dug up the "HOW TO WRITE FOR MONEY" package that mom got about a year ago to see the right way to type a manuscript. It's a good little course. I'm going to read it -- maybe it'll revive some interest in my dumb story.

Feb 13 - Wine-fueled discussion about sex

Sunday, February 13, 1972 - Page 44
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

4:30 PM
Retired at about 5:00 A.M. after watching a lot of T.V. -- N.G. Special on Reptiles, All in the Family, Mary Tyler Moore, Dick Van Dyke, Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Sixth Sense. And I wrote letters to Ken, Sue and Peggy. Woke up at noon and typed Ken's letter & put it in an envelope, and I got checks to pay for stuff -- Check for $9.08 to TIME-LIFE LIBRARY OF PHOTOGRAPHY from Dad (I paid him three dollars for the check -- owe him 6.08), and another check for $24.47 to Star Trek Enterprises from Mom (gave her 24 bucks, owe her a dollar) and I'll get 'em all mailed later today.

(10:30 PM 2-14-1972)
Larry came over too -- brought FOOD -- hungarian stuff and wine. They got to talking about SEX after awhile -- Larry used his innovative Group Therapy Naturalistic approach, Mom (she blamed the wine) tried to assert herself against overwhelming male chauvinistic odds (very odds), and Dad groggily stayed out of it, only interjecting "Dr. Reuben" knowledge here and there to explain why & how [re: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex]. Situation unresolved. He [Larry Brockway] left about 11:30. Interesting nonetheless -- (mostly less)...

Feb 12 - "I can't write. Not good enough."

Saturday, February 12, 1972 - Page 43
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

6:30 PM
Went to sleep last night at about 3:00, got up at 1:00. Didn't do much at all. Took a bath. Read the comics. Ate. Read a story in Galaxy. Which brings me to my current depression. I can't write. Not good enough. Not yet. But, nevertheless, I'm going to finish "Moira-Quest," lousy or not.

Mom went out with some girl friends to a Cayce talk, or something, and Dad's sleeping. Since a car's available, I called Shawna Jean Wood -- but she Woodn't. She's already taken, maybe permanently. Alas, gadzooks, forsooth. Wayne Franklin -- I told her he could go fly a kite, a facetious remark in reference to his last name -- but he pro'ly won't, not for a few more weeks at least. To be continued.

Peanuts by Charles Schulz 
3-2-1972 © United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

Feb 11 - Mom & Dad's 23rd Anniversary

Friday, February 11, 1972 - Page 42
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

12:00 AM
I got to sleep at around 6:00 A.M., and got up around one. Took a bath and did more work on my story. Watched T.V. tonight -- "Hollywood Squares," "Sanford & Son," and "Two Mules for Sister Sarah" -- a movie I saw at a drive-in about 6 months ago.

Today's Mom & Dad's wedding anniversary -- married 23 years. Rah!

Sally Bananas by Charles Barsotti
2-18-1972 © L.A. Times Syndicate

Feb 10 - An enlightening experience

Thursday, February 10, 1972 - Page 41
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

11:00 PM
Woke up at about 1:00, went back to sleep at 8:00, got up again at 10:00. When I went for the mail today I made the mistake of saying Hi to Ronnie, a five year old creature who once hijacked me into hunting for crabs when I was on the beach about 5 months ago. The monster pursued me into my modest abode and bothered me for an hour or more. I tried such ploys as saying "hey, your mom's calling you," and throwing paper airplanes outside, hoping he'd follow them. Eventually, a contemporary of his -- a girl named Rae -- got his attention & he eventually departed.

I did some research work on the story today -- some time I'll have to start putting every thing together -- I just thought: maybe I'll call it "Moira-Quest." That sounds better and more enigmatic than "Enter-Stellar." So be it.

First anniversary of my truancy pick-up by Officer O'Sullivan. I was stopped at about noon while I walked near the school -- A burglary had taken place nearby, and I was a suspect. I was held in detention for 5 hours until Mom came to pick me up. 'Twas an enlightening experience.

Feb 09 - Anniversary of Sylmar earthquake

Wednesday, February 9, 1972 - Page 40
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

10:06 PM
Went to sleep last night at 10:00. Got up at about 10:00, and did some organizing of magazines and books. This is the first time I've run out of ink while writing in this thing -- it's also the first anniversary of the Selmar Earthquake [the Sylmar earthquake was also known as the 1971 San Fernando earthquake] of last year -- at that time Mom & I were living in the Placentia Apartment now occupied by Chunk & Winnie [See Photos: Jan 29 - Chuck and Wendy].

Today Dad mentioned that he would be moving out. I tried to achieve some semblance of order in the filing cabinet, so I now have room to stick garbage more neatly. Right now Larry's here conversing.

Feb 08 - "There's a hole in the future..."

Tuesday, February 8, 1972 - Page 39
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

7:30 PM
Last night, or rather this morning, I got to sleep at 6:00, and woke up at about 2:30. I did absolutely nothing today except read -- I just finished Tunnel in the Sky, all 253 pages of it. I'll spend the rest of the night organizing my unread library of paperback science fiction books and figure out what to read next -- I've also got to start listing short stories worth analyzing, so I'll be going through my finished anthologies. Though I'm usually in the Grand Shoebox [nickname for the mobile home we resided in] I've got plenty to keep me busy. I've temporarily given up trying to organize the daily comic strips -- it would take weeks, and I should spend my time reading and writing.

"There's a hole in the future, and it'll already be filled when I get there," as the little-known song goes [by Richie Havens]. Which reminds me, I've got to get to Matt's some time to record all his good music on my cassettes. With inspirational melodies backing me, Enter-Stellar will come out more smoothly written, me thinks.

Feb 07 - Tunnel in the sky

Monday, February 7, 1972 - Page 38

LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

9:00 PM
I was expecting to have the car today at noon, but mom forgot to come over, so after work, at 4:30, mom came home and I drove to Terry Sneathen's house to get my Man Myth & Magic volumes, my psychic magazines, and a couple of occult books. I stayed and talked with her and occasionally with her mom, for about a half hour, then I drove home. It was slightly foggy, and as I was packing Dad got home. Dinner was ready already, and dad went back to work afterwards 'cause he was working over-time.

Last night and most of today I've been reading Tunnel In The Sky, by Heinlein -- I'm on page 115 now. Work is slowly progressing on Enter-Stellar.

Feb 06 - Miniature golf

Sunday, February 6, 1972 - Page 37

LOCATION: Newport Beach & Fountain Valley, California 

5:06 AM
G'mornin'

9:00 PM
Woke up at 1:30, Mike & Lara came over at 2:00, and me and Mom went with them to play miniature golf. After a few hours of gross losing on my part, we all went to Bob's on 17th to eat (Mom paid for it -- Mike paid for the golf -- 1 dollar apiece), then we went to Mike and Laramée's apt. so Mom and Lara could work on their income tax, and Michael and I played darts for a couple of hours.

We left L & M's at around 8:30, and now here I am, petting the cat and listening to Garner Ted Armstrong (Garner Ted Headstrong, that is) condemning evolution. Dad's not here, and Mom went out to buy milk, cigarets and an L.A. Times -- I gave her $2.00. I've got fifty dollars to spend -- have to start working on that.

Feb 05 - Writing sci-fi stories**

Saturday, February 5, 1972 - Page 36

LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

(4:58 AM 2/6/72)
It rained last night. I woke up at 3:30 P.M. and nobody was home -- Dad was at work and Mom had gone shopping. But before she left, she did a thorough cleaning job of the living room -- it's beauteous. I called Terry Sneathen, so I'll be able to get my magazines and stuff from her -- maybe I'll go to her house Monday.

Finished organizing the Sunday Comics -- all I've got left now is the dailys -- a monumental task that may take a week. It rained some more tonight. Larry came over in the evening for a few hours. I did some entomological research for "Enter-Stellar" (I'll probably change that title), and I'm getting excited about the story -- it's going terrifically, and I'm sure it'll sell. Maybe in a couple of months I'll have a thousand dollar check in my hot little hands. I think my next story will be the one about the temporal explorers who get transformed by the Cretaceous magnetic field. It's 5:05 A.M., so I'd better get some sleep. G'night.

[Grady2013: "Enter-Stellar" would become "Out of Space - Out of Time" which was published in Star*Reach magazine. A new improved online presentation of my 16-page illustrated "Gothic Space Opera Fairy Tale" can be found here: The Star Boundary. My story about "the temporal explorers" became the Star*Reach series, "Tempus Fugit." The instantly downloadable PDF version of this ambitious graphic novel is available here: Tempus Fugitives.]

Tempus Fugitives Graphic Novel

Feb 04 - "This entry is from the Future..."

Friday, February 4, 1972 - Page 35
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

(1:06 AM 2/5/72)
Repeat performance of yesterday. ---------

Friday, Apr. 14, 5:32 P.M. -- This entry is from the Future, page 106.
Continued: --- I followed the wrong river, hoping it would lead to the wider, freer flowing stream (that "wider, freer flowing stream," I think, was the "2,000 meter rowing course" mentioned on the map on page 100. The course has long been out of use). The current, by this time, had changed, and water moving in the opposite direction, moving with, instead of against me. So I didn't have to push the kayak -- it just "swam" beside me like I was walking a pet dolphin. The river bottom got muckier and more polluted -- flies were getting common, and tall thick grass lay on the banks in occasional patches. Here the water was warmer than the air, which was about 65°. Finally, the river joined the rowing course through a narrow grass covered channel. I carried the boat over it, and began wading through the course, the bottom of which was clean, soft sand. Sometimes I sank knee deep in the silt. This went on for at least another half mile, and I began wondering if Alligators live in salt water. The banks began taking on the appearance of swamplands, tall grass and bushes covered the

[Hold up here a minute. This mostly empty page has been filled
with the continuation of an entry from the future.
I can barely remember what happened during that incident.
 In the interests of maintaining chronological integrity, we will have to wait 
until the correct day in April (here), and this entry will be added there.
We can't know the future until it happens...]

Feb 03 - Elaboration unnecessary

Thursday, February 3, 1972 - Page 34
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

9:00 PM

Did dishes, took bath, and worked on comic collection. Elaboration unnecessary.

[Two of Grady's photos of Chicago taken on August 10.

See October 7, 1972 for more Chi pics & descriptions] 

Feb 02 - Groundhog Day

Wednesday, February 2, 1972 - Page 33
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

(2:33 AM 2/3/72)
Read another couple of stories in "Tomorrow, the Stars" -- so I've finished the book. Layed in the sun for an hour, and all but finished organizing my newspaper collection. I must be making progress -- I've thrown out two overflowing boxes of trash in the past few days. Today's Groundhog's day!

"THE GROUNDHOG'S BEEN OUT."
"OH!... DID HE SEE HIS SHADOW?"
"NO, HE SAW HIS CONGRESSMAN."
"WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?"
"INCREASED BENEFITS FOR 65-YEAR-OLD GROUNDHOGS."

[Groundhogs typically live less than 14 years... Attached to this page is a four-panel Sally Bananas cartoon by Charles Barsotti dated 2-21-1972 © L.A. Times Syndicate.]

Feb 01 - Revisiting Harbor High

Tuesday, February 1, 1972 - Page 32
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

  

8:00 AM
Got up at 7:15 and drove mom to work so I'd have the car in the daytime. 

(11:26 AM 2/2/72)
Took a bath, worked on closet evacuation project, then, at about 11:00, I drove to Sea Schwinn. Jerry & Dale weren't there, but Dave was -- he rebuilt my Campi, painted it blue and is waiting for a buyer. Shawna had come by a few days earlier so he knew I was back. From there I went to Harbor High, parking at the Church across the street, and I wandered into the library. 

Loren Dake
The Galleon 1972

The first person I saw was Loren Dake (alias L.S.D. -- Loren Sherman Dake -- Actually, his middle name isn't Sherman, but he likes the initials). My oldest psuedo-friend, way back from my first year at Kaiser. Talked with him for a while, then he left and I went upstairs to talk with Paula -- ex-Semantics student. We left after a few minutes, and I went back into the library to wait for lunch, which came in ten minutes.

At lunch I socialized with Fish, Shawna, Harvey, Bob, ('Meg'), Peter Shergalis, and Timothy. Bob declared himself to be emperor and overthrew himself. Shepard said he may be able to get me a metal case for my glasses so I gave him my combination so he could put it in my locker.

After lunch I drove to Oakwood apartments and dropped off Matt's clothes -- nobody was home, but I left them inside. Then I went to Save-on to buy tape, carbon paper, paper, and a Galaxy.

Came home, got mail, and finished excavating the closet, and proceeded to begin organization of my Newspapers. The second part of The Search for the Nile was on, so I watched that along with M&D [Mom & Dad]. More must have happened this day but I've temporarily forgotten it.