Jun 30 - Flood cleanup in Rapid**

Friday, June 30, 1972 - Page 182
LOCATION: Newport Beach to LAX for flight to Salt Lake City, then on to Rapid City to arrive in Bethlehem, South Dakota

A whole big mess of too many words...

JUNE 30, 1972 WAS THE LONGEST MEASURED DAY IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND ---

8:30 PM
At the moment I am sitting atop a bunk in the Retreat house in S.D. so this journal -- (I took about an hour break there, losing another game of chess and talking to Clint bout L.A., S.F., jail, landscaping, etc.) is once again out on a trip. It started out Friday morn -- Thursday nite I packed my duffle bag (so heavy I could barely lift it -- Mom found out the airlines wouldn't take baggage over 40 lbs.) (There again -- I (busybusybusy) was gone for an hour--) Never mind all that -- I woke up with the alarm at 5:00 -- So did Mom. We left by six and the traffic was heavy. I got there at LAX at around 7:30 -- Mom of course was late for work (Another delay -- Took time out to win three chess games). (Another delay -- Took time out to win another game of chess --)

(Monday night 7/3/1972)
NOW! It is 11:41 P.M. 7/3/72 --- NO -- NOW it is 15 to 12:00 -- Talked with Clint again -- he got back from cave crawling. Okay, I'm gonna finish this now, and I'll have to shave plenty to make it fit. I gave my duffle bag to the baggage guys and left quickly before they could tell me it was too heavy. I got my ticket and boarded okay -- I have a window seat but three girls wanted to stay together, so I gave them my place, finding an aisle seat beside a fat aging business man. He was reading a newspaper, and I asked him if he was going to look out the window much. He said YES, tersely. That's all he said during the whole trip. Most of the hour and 20 minutes of the flight he spent sleeping, snoring, hacking and drooling over himself. Breakfast was served on that flight -- we landed in Salt Lake City, and I then boarded the second flight to Rapid and St. Paul.

(Tis now quarter to 1:00 A.M. -- Another delay while Mike and Mike came in for awhile.) I got into the plane late due to a misunderstanding so I could only find an aisle seat beside two guys. They were friendly, being from California, departing from SFX to Bismark, N.D. They were over forty and enjoying the hell out of their flight. I was on Western Airlines (the Champagne Airline) so I had 3 or 4 glasses of free champagne. Flew over Mt. Rushmore, but it was on the wrong side so I got only a glimpse.

Landed in Rapid at 11:55 (flying over the Black Hills, you could tell they'd had a flood, it looked like they had lots of lakes down there), and Tom was there to meet me, along with a guy named Ben (Gentle Ben, a huge fellow reminiscent of Little John, of the Merry Men). It was in the upper 70°s with more or less clear skies. We drove in the Econoline van thru Rapid, stopped at a McDonald's where Ben bought food, and then we drove to a house they were working on -- There we found Greg, Bruce, and Mike (Freak -- Not Mike National Guard or Mike Youngster -- I don't know the last names). They filed in and we drove back to the McDonald's to eat lunch. After which, we dropped Ben off to hitch into town, then to go back to the house. The house was a two story structure which had a creek behind it -- resultantly (I've decided to stop writing for tonight -- to be continued --- 1:02 A.M.)

(Tuesday morning 7/4/1972)
Now it's 11:00 A.M., 4 of July, and I'm going to catch up -- resultantly, water from the flood brought several inches of mud into the first floor, and the water line inside was neck high. The occupants evacuated just in time and most of the personal possessions were gone. A two story house next door was up against the Becker's house (the one we were working on), having been washed 20 or 30 feet. Mike Freak and Greg worked on one part of the house shoveling mud, and Me, Bruce King and Tom Hildebrand shoveled mud in the bedroom downstairs -- or maybe it was the living room. Alternately we manned the wheelbarrow, dumping the mud in a ditch outside. Mike and Greg left to look for food as we three finished with the mud. Then we tore up the carpet to throw it outside, but it was too heavy -- so we tore a hole in the wall with great difficulty, and at the expense of a rake which I was swinging at the wall to break it open -- the handle broke.

Eventually, we rolled the carpet out, and Mike and Greg returned with soft drinks and snacks from a Salvation Army truck. Ben arrived with Leslie (a girl -- you might have guessed). We were through for the time being, so Tom, Greg and I went out in the van to get some stuff for Bethlehem. We finished with that, returned to Becker's and got everything (Leslie tho had left by then). We all drove back to Bethlehem, and I ate dinner which was about 7:00, and then went to the retreat house where my bunk was, in a room containing Mike Freak and Bruce King. I got to sleep at around 7:30, and slept through to 7:30 the next day.

[Side note] Friday was sunny to start with, but as we were working at Becker's, it rained hard with thunder and pea-sized hail -- It quit after an hour or so. It didn't rain at all at Beth we were told.

TOMORROW: I will begin foretelling the future by announcing the next entry

Jun 29 - Preparing for South Dakota trip

Thursday, June 29, 1972 - Page 181
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

8:30 PM
OH YEAH -- I'M SPOSED TO WRITE IN HERE, HUH. OKAY, HERE IT IS.

Got up about 10:00 when mom called to suggest her driving over here to pick me up so I could cash my check. I took a bath, during which, I am told, Grandma Dot came by bringing a bunch of flowers (the flowers were meant for Brazel, but due to technical difficulties they couldn't be accepted, so Dot gave them to Mom). I called to get on the Western Airlines standby list, but learned there was slight chance of getting a seat (busy weekend). Mom came by at noon. I got a letter in the mail from Bethlehem, S.D. 'bout the flood [see June 27 entry].

I withdrew $40 from Mariners (it was decided I'd get a reserved seat for $83, instead of standby for $55). I got home and called for the reservation, and then I called Beth to tell them I was coming tomorrow at noon. Sunned for a couple hours, then picked up mom, and we drove to her bank, Centinella (we met Mike there) and she did some transactions. It was in the 80°s today, and due to the 4th of July weekend, Newport was beset with tourists, traffic, and scantily clad folks of the California type. Anyway, I now have $144.89 in my wallet for tomorrow -- minus the $83 ticket, and I have a bit for pocket money. Mom and I drove to Penny's and bought me clothes. I now am packing my stuff, cause I'll be leaving early tomorrow. That's all I have room fo[end of page]

Jun 28 - Question: Cats & high-pitched sounds**

Wednesday, June 28, 1972 - Page 180
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

3:00 PM
I have a question for anyone who thinks they have an answer. Why is it that animals with a better sense of hearing than man, always (as far as I can tell), move toward synthetic high-pitched tones? You know about the "silent" dog whistle -- why the hell should a dog pay attention to a high-pitched whistle and ignore others? And Taco [my Siamese cat] supported the evidence of this phenomenon further -- the radio had one of those TESTS for emergencies where the air is silent, then a piercing high note follows for about 15 seconds, and I turned the radio up all the way. She got very perplexed and annoyed, and she wandered around looking for the source of the noise. When she determined it came from the radio, she confronted it and motioned around it, baffled.

Elora with her cat, Kit

After I turned it down, and regular broadcasting continued, she still wondered at the radio for a while, then went back to her place on the bed and curled up to sleep. Why? I ask. If a person was bugged by a too high sound, he'd cover his ears -- If he couldn't do that (as animals can't -- well, dogs can, sort of) he'd go away from the source, not toward it -- he'd try to escape it, not confront it. Why? Figure it out. -- Why should you? (Good question) --

[From 2013: I Googled: "why are animals attracted to high-pitched sounds?" and found this answer: "Cats have much better hearing than humans and can hear sounds pitched 1.5 octaves higher than humans can. It's a skill that comes in very handy when hunting. They often react to whistling or the higher pitched tones of woodwind instruments. Baby kittens have a very high-pitched cry, so perhaps she thought you were in distress of some kind and was trying to comfort you. One thing cats and humans have in common is that we both use higher pitch tones to denote approval or pleasure, and use lower tones to denote disapproval."] 

11:55:55 PM
Aside from the academic cogitation expressed above, dad dropped by (my boots aren't here yet), Mom & I drove to Lara and Mike's (we saw their six kittens -- Tanya's, that is) and we all drove to Orange County Medical Center to see Grandma Brazel (in the next bed was a beautiful lady, I noticed) after which we went for dinner at the Jolly Roger. Also, I washed the clothes today. I'll be winging my way to South Dakota Friday A.M., 6:30.

CATBEARD
Elora & Lucky

Jun 27 - Father Gilbert reports on the flood**

Tuesday, June 27, 1972 - Page 179
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

(1:37:55 AM 6/28/1972)
Goddup finely at round 11:00 and tanned my hyde abit -- hmmm -- I must've done more than that today, I just tanned for one hour. Oh yeah, I took a bath too. I should get a medal for my ability to waste time. Well, in three days I'll be two thousand miles from lovely Newport Beach making myself useful and trying to find new ways to procrastinate in South Dakota.

As it turned out, Mom went to see "The Rothschilds" at its Premiere at the Civic Light Opera, so she left the car to me. It was assumed I'd make the liver for dinner and maybe possibly go do the clothes. It was assumed. I called Shawna but she wasn't home so instead I went to a movie -- The Paulo: "Boxcar Bertha," and "1,000 Convicts and a Woman" (Pant pant). They hardly deserved their R ratings however. Got back home by 12:30 A.M. I made the liver and Mom got home by 1:00 and we ate while playing chess -- I checkmated her in both games in short order. Tis now 1:49:00 A.M. -- That's enough for now I'm sure you'll agree. Uh huh.

Theatrical release poster, 1972

Theatrical release poster, 1971

Jun 26 - Finishing "The Probability Man"

Monday, June 26, 1972 - Page 178
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

4:00 PM
Got up about 11:00 and went out to tan my hide again. Got up to 141 in "The Probability Man." I'll be flying to S.D. [South Dakota] early Fri morning. --

Cover painting by Frank Kelly Freas

(1:34 AM 6/27/1972)
Finished the Probability man. Tidied up the cabaña a bit as per Mom's request, and likewise, put up the new towel rack in the bathroom. Played poker with mom till 'round 10:30 -- then I finished reading the Prob. Man and retired by 1:00. -- Thend.

Jun 25 - Great Grandmother Brazzel

Sunday, June 25, 1972 - Page 177
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

(4:00 PM 6/26/1972)
Cooked myself in the sun for 3 or 4 hours starting at 10:30 when I woke up. Grandma Brazzel [my maternal great-grandmother] had an operation Sunday and she came through okay, but nevertheless, she's got a year or a half to live. She's 93 now. So mom went to the hospital to see her. She came back with food, and we played chess and ate -- I beat her two games. Then we played poker, and I won most of the games.

Jun 24 - Learning to drive a stick**

Saturday, June 24, 1972 - Page 176
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

10:30 AM
Woke up today at 9:00 when Grandma Dot called. Woke up again at 10:00 when Dennis Heakin called. Stayed awake to write in this -- my immediate course of action is unclear at the moment. Mom is working today.

1:30 PM
I called Chunk at about a quarter to 11:00 to get my check. He's got it. I took a bath, and dad arrived. He left with Chunk who came by also whilst I was taking a bath (great timing). They came back with my money, Chunk & Winnie said s'long, and left (they were in the Ford Pickup -- he always drives that now. He was lucky to get it). I wanted to have the knowledge of driving with a clutch before leaving, so Dad and I went out in the Audi and I learned, sort of -- at least I now have a crude understanding of the principle -- I drove to Jack in the Box and Dad bought some food (Just for him -- I wasn't hungry -- I am now though) -- then he drove back home. He ate, I gave him the new Mad magazine, he shook my hand and left -- I'll be gone for a couple of months maybe. He's gonna send me my boots that he bought at Aeronurotic -- they haven't come yet. --

So I know how to play poker, and drive a stick. Swell. I'm all set. Still, I'd rather do it [travel away from home] surreptitiously like last time. I'm getting too much attention. --

8:30 PM
Drove to The Peddler's to buy Mom & Me food. Then we played a couple games of chess, she won one, I won the other. Jain [my mother's sister] called Mom -- she said Jim said I looked exactly like Robert Redford. How about that? That's what I thought too. WATCHED "THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING" TONIGHT.

Promotional Film Poster, 1966

$20.70 Federal

$8.80 State
= $29.50
That's all I got from my Income Tax Return

[Side note] This is The Year of the Flood -- An event of such magnitude, it occurs only once every 500 years -- First Rapid City, then Sacramento, now Pennsylvania and the East -- Glug, glug

Jun 23 - New eyeglasses, finally

Friday, June 23, 1972 - Page 175
LOCATION: Newport Beach & Santa Ana, California

2:00 PM
[continued from previous entry] --- and woke up at 10:14 A.M. The '72 sticker for the Trailer's plate came in the mail so I stuck it on. Vol. II of Man Myth & Magic came yesterday, but I'm going to ignore it. I made some hamburgers & onions & devoured them. This is all very interesting, huh? It was cloudy yesterday but it's sunny today -- cool though. So much for today. ---

(10:00 AM 6/24/1972)
Here's some more for today, after 7:00 Mom & I drove to Santa Ana to see Dr. Silver 'bout my glasses. He had my lenses, with the yellow tint stripped off, but the frames he thought they matched were the wrong ones. This perplexed him, because that had never happened before. He looked all over for a frame that would fit them -- he found one and put them in. They're close fitting, but not perfect. They cost me $22. [I had been surviving without glasses since a boating accident on June 11] Mom got her pin put in her glasses that were broken. Silver, incidentally, will be on The Carol Burnett Show next season as a regular singer.

The Carol Burnett Show (CBS, 1967 to 1978) is often considered to be the best variety/sketch-comedy TV series ever produced

Stopped at Grant's on the way back, but I didn't get around to buying anything -- too crowded and chaotic. Came back home, and mom taught me to play poker (five card draw, five card stud, seven card stud). Got to sleep about 12:30.  

Jun 22 - PHOTOS: The Galleon Yearbook***

Thursday, June 22, 1972 - Page 174
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

 

The Galleon 1972 Newport Harbor High School Yearbook -- 9" wide x 12" high - 240 pages

(2:00 PM 6/23/1972)
Busy busy busy. I got up at about 9:00. Mom came by with the car at 12:30, I drove her to work, went to the Coin-Op to get gas (tank was empty), then drove to Timothy's to get my annual finally -- I was the only one in the Senior class of '72 who wasn't wearing a jacket and tie. The picture of us overthrowing Tim was in it, on page 127 -- I think we overthrew him just before X-mas vacation. Tim wrote a long speech inside the front cover -- he was the only one to sign it.

Grady Lyda
Page 93

Tim Hourigan
Page 88

Grady (top right) and friends overthrowing Emperor Timothy
Page 127

I went from Tim's to a gas station to put in water (the car was overheating and acting funny) -- but it already had enough water, and the gage continued to register Hot. So to give the car a chance to calm down I went to get a haircut. Now I'm beautiful again. The car was still sick, so I just bought some stuff at Sav-on (film, notebooks, cartridges, Mad), then drove home to give Imperial a rest.

Am now on page 125 in the Prob. Man ("Now" is 2:09:16, Fri.). Went to get mom at 4:00, then we went to get my glasses from Silver, but they weren't ready yet (Humbug -- mom called him and they said we could pick them up) -- We left there, went to the Golden Chicken to buy food, then drove to Grant's where I bought a duffel bag -- cheaper than luggage. I forgot, between Sav-on, and going home, I put in my Amerco Ind check at Mariner's, so I now have $103.03. Did other stuff today, but that's enough said for now -- got to sleep at around 12:30 --- [continued in next entry - June 23]

Mary & Margo, the coolest teachers at Newport Harbor High (Their captions here are pretty amusing)
Page 27

Here is the Inside Front Cover with Tim's inscription (He didn't sign it, and neither did anybody else) It might be difficult to read so I will include his words below...

Grady -- Whatta coulda I tella you?!?

Four years in this dump & I'm finally free to go out into the world (OCC [Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA] for one year & then to UCLA.) Whether I'm a success or failure only time will tell. I don't really blame you for not attending Harbor too often... I know from my own experience that 85.06283% of what I've learned has been out of school.

I still don't know if I'll go to that science fiction deally as I'm flat broke -- I feel like Welfare Boy right now.

You should get Mary-Baby (Lyons) to sign your book fer yuz. She & I agreed that you'll get along quite well in the world of robots, man-eating critters & post-nasal drip (in other words, science fiction).

I feel most awkward as having been the only one to sign your year-book so far...

I guess I'll sign off for now & wish you the traditional success, best wishes, luck, you-name-it, etc.

From the God of
Procrastination,
Humor,
Satire
&
Grossness

to the

God of:
Logic,
Witticisms,
Little Known Facts
&
Vocabulary which
doth us floor...

FARE THEE
WELL 'TIL
WE MEET
ANEW... ..

LATIN CLUB with Tim Hourigan (foot on head at left)
Page 233

More photos from The Galleon 1972 can be found in these earlier entries:

Jan 24 - "You hit my car..."
James Fish
Pamela Grau

Jan 26 - Matt will continue high school

Drama Club with Matt Gold

Feb 01 - Revisiting Harbor High

Loren Dake

Feb 29 - A discouraging Leap Day

Student crowd

Shawna Wood

Mar 01 - Just tipsy...

Campus crowd

Mar 10 - A visit to Harbor High

Masses of students

Jun 11 - A frantic maritime disaster

Newport Harbor band in Tournament of Roses 

Jun 21 - 1st Day of Summer

Wednesday, June 21, 1972 - Page 173
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

FIRST DAY OF SUMMER!  RA!

7:50 PM
I got to sleep last night about 11:00 whilst listening to 5 or 6 Bill Cosby records -- I fell asleep during the Chicken Heart that Ate New York City. I woke up at 9:43 and organized my room a bit. Today was fairly sunny -- 82° in L.A. -- but now it is overcast (7:54:06). I'm on page 118 in "The Probability Man," and I haven't checked where I'm at in "Man's Rise To Civilization As Shown By The Indians of North America From Primeval Times To the Coming Of the Industrial Age." I wrote down that title from memory so it may not be entirely accurate. Wait a moment, I'll check it --- Hmm. I was slightly wrong. The real title is: "Man's Rise To Civilization As Shown By The Indians of North America From Primeval Times To The Coming Of The Industrial State." But I was fairly close.

Ate Fish 'n Chips today that Mom bought. I called Tim and he's going to his Nephew's birthday party, so I can't pick up my book [high school annual] till tomorrow. Mom and I played 2 and 2/3's games of chess -- I won the first two masterfully, with each move putting her in jeopardy. I had her in the palm of my hand in the 3rd, until Mr. Torres from a real estate place showed up, then I began losing -- the game is up in the air now.*

It's 8:03:43 right now, and Lou Torres is downstairs talking to Mom. And I'm up here trying to think of a way to end this entry, but it seems as if the old creative well has just about dried up completely [handwriting fades as ink runs out]

[side note] *I won that 2/3 game, and we played 3 more... and I won them all! Six in a row -- WOW. 

Jun 20 - Looking forward...

Tuesday, June 20, 1972 - Page 172
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

1:30 PM
[continued from previous page/day]... and woke up at 8:30. I've been sleeping so much I haven't seen Mom since Sunday nite. Today I worked on this damned journal, and I finally caught up to the present! Now I'm gonna get to work getting my stuff together, and my room cleaned. I called Western Airlines for their Rapid City Schedule for the 28th. It'll cost $55. It seems Grandma Dot got the idea that I wasn't going to have her pay for it since I had a job (such a noble notion), so instead Mom's gonna pay for it. I'll have about $150 when everything is set for my departure from S.D. to Chic., if indeed I'm going to Chic[ago]. --- 1:28:45 P.M.

1:41:35 P.M. --- IT HAS JUST STARTED RAINING ---

(8:00 PM 6/21/1972)
It rained sporadically all day and some of the night. There's more to say about Tuesday, but I won't bother -- nothin' too important.

Jun 19 - Another flood in Rapid City

Monday, June 19, 1972 - Page 171
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

(1:30 PM 6/20/1972)
It has been decided that I'm not gonna work any more at landscaping, and I'm leaving for S.D. [South Dakota] on the 28th (Jim & Cynthia are coming down for the 4th of July on the 29). Tom came back to Bethlehem --- Gil's in Pennsylvania burying somebody, and Rapid had another flood recently with 4 more feet of water. I've gotta get stuff prepared for the trip.

Still have not heard anything from the Latkas. Mayhaps I went too far with my irreverence in my last letter and they decided not to associate with me. Anyway, this book will return to South Dakota for another month or so.

Monday I woke up at 8:00, having got to sleep at 2:00. I got most of my photos selected to go with me to S.D. (to practice drawing) and I got to sleep at around 4 P.M., waking at 6:30 P.M. Mom had gone to bridge. I watched T.V. and washed the dishes. Went to bed about 1:30, ... [continued on next page]

Jun 18 - Chess: Agony of defeat/thrill of victory

Sunday, June 18, 1972 - Page 170
LOCATION: Newport Beach & Long Beach, California

DAD DAY

(1:00 PM 6/20/1972)
Tim & I woke up at 8:00 A.M. I phoned the Bus Station in Anaheim to check their morning schedules -- Tim and Jim had to leave Sunday, Tim was going to Portland, Oregon, Jim was returning to S.F. Jim and I played a couple games of chess -- he won both games (Arrrgh!). And we all ate breakfast. Me, Mom, Grandpa Bill, Jim & Tim left for Long Beach at around 10:15 to take them to the Bus Station from which they'd go to San Fran. We dropped 'em off in the nick of time, and drove back home.

I went to sleep at about 1:00 P.M. and got up at about 5:00 P.M. and got to work filling up the blank pages of this book. Dad and Larry (Larry & G. Bill are good friends, though they both see things differently) came over to chat, and after a few hours they left. Larry was going to drive Bill home to Torrance where he lives. -- This entry is definitely not gonna be a literary masterpiece -- my pen fell asleep so don't expect much of interest.

On ward ---> They left, and mom & I played chess -- Mom was winning, but I had most of her pieces blocked -- at a critical point, Chunk & Murray dropped by. Murray got his photos, Chunk got his sleeping bag and blankets, and when Mom wasn't looking, Chunk checkmated me. They left, and Mom & I continued our game, and I check mated her. ----

Jun 17 - Job Ends - A long, surprising day***

Saturday, June 17, 1972 - Page 169

LOCATION: Oxnard & Newport Beach, California

(9:00 PM 6/18/1972)

It is now 9:12, Sunday nite. Larry, Dad, & Grampa Bill just left. S'long.

Saturday was a day of great variety. I wonder if I can remember most of it. Nope, not now. I'm going to go eat something, now that everyone's gone, then I'll get back. ---

Grady at age 15

11:39 P.M. -- Forget it ---

AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND WE SPIN

      WITH FEET OF LEAD AND WINGS OF TIN

[This is a quote from Kurt Vonnegut's "Cat's Cradle"]

On that ominous note, I shall commence -- It is now 10:47:17 A.M., Tuesday, June 20, 72 -- I'd procrastinate longer, but if I didn't do this I'd have to clean up my room.

Chuck Lyda, age 17, at the Havasupai reservation in the Grand Canyon, 1970

An Epic Battle Between Brothers (just horsing around...)

Something I forgot to mention on Friday's entry, in the motel before dinner at about 5:30 we were waiting for Jerry to call Chunk (he never did), and Chunk was reading "The New Centurions." I was somewhat intoxicated, and I'd just won back my dollar, and one more from Chunk. Rick mentioned that Chunk's eyes were bloodshot, so I went to take a look, but he shut his eyes -- I tryed to pry them open and he brought his arms against me, so I tried to hold down his arms so I could open his eyes.

A monumental wrestling match ensued, with me attempting to look at his eyes, and him trying to prevent it. This endeavor eventually disintegrated into an all-out brawl -- We fell from the bed to the floor, and from the floor I flipped him to a desk, we tumbled in between the beds -- We used pressure points, throat squeezing, chin twisting, scissor holds, and many other techniques. But the bout remained a draw throughout.

I had a significant advantage, wearing only my cut-offs so I was too slippery to hold -- But I sought a greater advantage cause the match was getting a little old and I feared the management may appear -- So I drew the knife he had on his belt, ending the contest. I released the weapon, and he got me in a hold in which he could break my neck or arm, so we both won. I acquired several scratches on my person, notably a finger-nail size scratch on the bridge of my nose where a scab remained for 3 days. I also got a bit of a bloody nose. But considering Chunk's size, I did fairly well breaking-even as I did. I never did find out if his eyes were bloodshot, though.

I'll get to the events of Saturday next, but it is now 11:12:50, and I'm going to get the mail.

Grady riding horsebackward into Havasupai.
These photos were taken by Wendy (Carpenter) Wallace

(11:36:16 AM 6/20/1972)

Nothing came in the mail except a F.M. [Franklin Mint] Album for Mom's U.N. First Day medals.

I Am Kicked Off The Crew On The Final Day Of The Job

SAT: Okay -- We got up at 5:30 A.M. when the desk called -- then we got up again when the desk called at 5:45 A.M., and we staggered to breakfast. We loaded our stuff into the truck and drove to the apts by 7:00. Frank appeared and we got to work. Jerry showed up shortly with his buddy, Wiley.

Wiley was there Thursday when we got our checks -- he looks just like Jerry -- dark short hair, enormous beer belly with a stretch shirt that occasionally revealed his flabby naval. Amiable but occasionally gross (e.g., "I'm a Mormon -- Can't drink or smoke -- chuckle -- Just allowed to eat pussy." Yuck). They arrived at about 8:30, and we all got to work grading -- Frank, Chunk, Wiley, and Jerry graded swiftly, Rick raked it over, I shoveled the residue into a wheelbarrow and dumped it.

The Nemesis -- Mr. Brown -- appeared at about 10:00 A.M to wag his finger at Jerry. After a half hour the eventual outcome was this: Rick and I, being non-Union "maintenance men" couldn't work -- So Jerry decided to quit for the day. He and Wiley left. Rick and I watered the plants, Chunk & Frank graded, and we finally left by a quarter to one. Rick and me were through with Oxnard -- Only Union men could work it from then on. We could get back working on Thursday when they start working in Riverside (until the Union catches them). But that's the last I'm gonna do. I'll be going to S.D. [South Dakota] on the 28. As we were finishing up, Fernando dropped by, having seen us as he was passing.

Back Home To Find Unexpected Visitors

Anyway, Frank dropped us off in N.B. [Newport Beach], and Mom wasn't home. She showed up by about 3 or 4, with Grandpa Bill. She'd got him for Father's Day. We decided to go to a movie -- Stadium 2: "Little Big Man" - "Big Jake" & "A Man Called Horse."

But Mom got a call that shattered the movie idea. Jim Weidner -- Mom's sister's son -- my cousin that is -- had arrived. We hadn't expected him. Mom picked him up on a highway someplace. He was with a friend -- Tim Hast from Puerto Rico. They had taken a bus from San Francisco -- that's where Jim lives -- to Tijuana, then they hitch-hiked to here. Jim is taller than me, wears square wire-framed glasses, and has long hair so he looks a lot like Shepard Salusky [a school-mate at Harbor High], only not as dumpy looking.

We were surprised at each other's appearance cause we hadn't seen each other in at least five years. Tim Hast looks like a young Kent McCord (of "Adam 12"). His father is a Baptist minister in Puerto Rico. When Jim lived there with his parents (his dad worked there), he met Jim at school. Tim was born in Oklahoma, but is a citizen of P.R.

We all talked a lot, and Chunk came over to talk with them. Eventually, me, Chunk, Jim & Tim went off in Chunk's truck to drive around Newport Beach to show them the place. I rode in the back, and they were in the cab. We drove to Balboa Island, where we picked up three hitch-hikers from Buena Park -- two guys, and a cute gal who were staying in Newport for the Summer in a $90 a month abode on B-Street. We dropped them off, and picked up two young guys from Placentia. The place is already full of tourists, and school has just been out a couple of days.

After all that we drove to Chunk's place at 8:00 and watched "All in the Family" -- the one I'd seen before with Sammy Davis Jr. in it.  [Here's a FunFact from 2015: According to the show's creators, the character of Eric Cartman in the animated comedy "South Park" was intended to be the childhood version of famous bigot Archie Bunker from "All in the Family."]

We left for Coco's at a quarter to 9:00 cause Winnie was gonna get off work. We had to wait awhile for a table (it was Saturday nite, remember), then we all had hot fudge sundaes. We left at around ten, driving Winnie home.

We stayed there a while, then we all (me, Chunk, Winnie, Jim, and Tim) drove to Balboa Island, and Chunk dropped us off at the Fun Zone with blankets and a sleeping bag. We took the Ferry @ 10¢ apiece to Balboa (so we must've been on Lido Island before, right? -- We've been here three or four years and I still don't know the place). Then we walked home from the Ferry, about 2 miles I guess.

2009 photo of the Balboa Island Ferry Terminal, Newport Beach

I had trouble navigating because I still don't have my glasses. We got back to "Eye Sore Park" at midnight. Me, Jim, and Tim slept out on the porch in sleeping bags, because Grandpa Bill [a successful impressionist artist] was on the fold-out couch bed. The nite was fairly warm so I slept pretty well. That takes care of Saturday, one of the longest days I've had for quite a while...

It's 12:47:47 P.M. [Tuesday, 6/20/1972] now. I'll get around to Sun, Mon, & Tues when I get around to it.

Jun 16 - Job Day 9 - Union interference

Friday, June 16, 1972 - Page 168
LOCATION: Oxnard, California

(8:30 PM 6/18/1972)
Friday now, Huh? Well, what happened Friday? Oh, that's right -- we must've worked overtime Tuesday, because Thursday Rego was sick and couldn't come to work. Wednesday, Frank & Rego were going to come over with some brothers to play football or chess or something, but they never did 'cause Rego got sick.

Wednesday was hot so we knocked off about 3:00, a half hour early -- Rego was saying the sun was cooking his brain, and he sang incoherently in Spanish, and wielded his shovel violently at the dirt clods he was grading, shouting foreign curses. He was being facetious I think. He remained relatively sane Wednesday, but that was the last I saw of him.

So Thursday & Friday, it was just Me, Rick, Chunk, Fernando, and Frank. Friday, a Union man came by and talked with Chunk -- a Mr. Brown, a black man -- who told him to warn Jerry about having me & Rick Dominguez (non-Union men) on the job. Chunk, being a foreman, doesn't have to be in the Union. When he left, Fernando voiced his disenchantment with the Union, showing that he wasn't as pro-Union as we'd understood.

Frank, me & Rick & Chunk went out at Lunch time to cash our checks -- we tried hard at UCB [United California Bank] and Frank's bank, but the checks couldn't be cashed because there was no money in the Payroll Account. We went a half hour over our lunch time, so we had to work longer that day to make it up. Frank was supposed to come over at 7:00, but again he didn't make it.

[Side note in left margin] For the 2:00 break Friday, Rick, Me, and Frank went to buy beer and wine. Rick doesn't drink much, and Fernando and Chunk were working (Fernando, anyway, doesn't drink cause of ulcers, Chunk doesn't drink cause it effects him too much), so Frank and I drank the Spiñada. I beat Frank arm wrestling with my right, and lost with the left -- This in answer to a question as to whether I lifted weights (Rick thinks I do, and Frank thought I did, other people have said the same). I drank half a bottle of wine Friday. If ever I was drunk, that was it.

Jun 15 - Job Day 8 - Hammered heads

Thursday, June 15, 1972 - Page 167
LOCATION: Oxnard, California

(8:00 PM 6/18/1972)
GOT PAID TODAY -- SEE CHECK STUB [This document is missing from the book]

Wednesday Rick, me & Chunk worked till two, driving home amidst lots of traffic. We dropped off Rick, and then Chunk dropped me off. Thursday morning Chunk was late picking me up (see page 164, where I mentioned it already), but we still reached the yard at around 5:00, and picked up Rick. He said he'd been in a fight the last night and his nose hurt.

Rick drove first (after we stopped at Winchell's for donuts), then he got tired and Chunk drove, then he got tired, pulled off and slept a while, then we got to the Apartments at 7:30 A.M. I don't remember which days we did what, but by Saturday, we'd planted and watered all the plants, fixed the sprinklers, graded 3 fifths of the dirt, and raked it.

Thursday was the day I think we worked overtime. Chunk told Rego & Frank we'd be working from 5:30 to 8:00, I think. They'd get $3 an hour instead of $5.50. Fernando was left out because we thought he'd want more money. I played a lot of chess with Chunk, winning many games. Frank and Rego came over during the last game, and Frank brought some marijuana, so I beat Chunk while he was high. Rego is allergic to grass so he was the only one who didn't partake. We worked off the influence while digging wholes -- I think all this may have happened on Tuesday -- I can't remember. 'Course, I'm not trying too hard. Anyway, anyway, anyway what? I forgot.

Close cover before striking match... duh

After that first "anyway," Dad came to get an example of his artwork for Grampa Bill, and I lost my train of thought -- something of a train wreck, ya might say. I'm not thinking too hard, this is all just perfunctory and I'm not trying hard at all.

[Side note in left margin] Chunk & I played chess Thursday, for a dollar a game. We played lots of games, and I won three dollars from him -- But I was too weak to quit while I was ahead, and he won back his money, plus one dollar of mine (all quarters). I got disturbed, so I went out, walking a couple of miles along Oxnard Boulevard. "Hammerhead" was on TV -- A dumb erotic movie that required much editing. I saw it a few years ago.

Original Theatrical Poster, 1968

Jun 14 - Job Day 7 - Reviewing past 100 days**

Wednesday, June 14, 1972 - Page 166
LOCATION: Oxnard (& Newport Beach), California

(7:30 PM 6/18/1972)
[TIME-BUMP Note in left-side margin] The year is one hundred sixty six days old -- I wrote this one hundred days ago. What is in my brain now (June 14) that wasn't there a hundred days ago? Have I learned anything? Do I have reason to be cynical or optimistic about the future?

In regard to the note at the left: Nothing new "is in" my brain, though the electrochemical impulses motivating thought and actions traveling therein are arranged in a slightly different pattern now, than before, 100 days ago, before dad moved out, before I explored Back Bay thoroughly, before I taught Mike to kayak, rearranged my room, Chunk lost one job and acquired another which I worked at for two weeks, getting about 130 dollars, kayaked in white water at Kernville, sailed to Catalina, and lost my glasses while breaking a dinghy with Murray; saw Jesus Christ Superstar, Dandelion Wine, Ray Bradbury, read several Bradbury books, Slaughterhouse Five, Cat's Cradle, The Sirens of Titan, Childhood's End, and The Other among Others; wrote two new stories, acquired a multitude of rejection slips, put in the Grady Photo Album in the back, included several examples of my artwork of prurient content, got photos into this book from my new Polaroid, got photos from Tom Hildebrand; Nixon went to Russia, Apollo XVI barely landed on the moon, Wallace was shot, Jedgar Hoover died, Muskie dropped out, McGovern won, and Nixon imposed his blockade on VietNam, none of that in that order. ---

I haven't learned a whole lot, but I know more now than I did 100 days ago. The future appears optimistic at the moment, but I'm attempting to remain cautiously cynical anyway. It appears as though I've filled up this entire page. I'll be visiting the Past again on page 266 [Sept 22], a hundred days from now -- see you there.

Jun 13 - Job Day 6 - Our motley cast of characters

Tuesday, June 13, 1972 - Page 165
LOCATION: Oxnard, California

(6:44 PM 6/18/1972)
Strange, because I was youngest, but being Chunk's brother, I was second in command when he wasn't available. So I had to figure out things. -- I gotta stop right now. Dad & Larry have just arrived (6:53:53 P.M., Sunday, June 18, 72).

I'm back (7:00:59). It's too chaotic down there, with several conversations going at once. -- Anyway, Rick came by sometime Monday, and we dug holes all day. Chunk & I played chess, and Rick got bored, so we decided to go home Wednesday. Tuesday started early, as usually. We worked that day planting plants and digging more holes. Some time during the week, Frank and I played a couple more games of chess. I beat him on the first one, making it 3 to 2, my favor -- and losing to him the second time, betting a quarter which I lost, and making it a tie which is the current status of the tournaments.

Frank is unmarried, but he has a permanent girlfriend. He's about 28 and was a helicopter gunner in Vietnam 4 or 5 years ago. Bob (or Rego) Costellano, his brother, is crazy, 24, married with three kids, and was also in Vietnam a while back. Rick is 18, has been married for three months, and has a one-month-old kid. Fernando is 56, part Indian I guess, married with 2 or 3 old kids, and a member of the Union, as are Frank and Rego.

Jerry called Chunk, usually everyday at 5:30, and we were able to charge to meals at the Colony Kitchen next to the Vagabond. I don't know if this extra responsibility by Jerry is the result of John's disenchantment with his methods, but chances are John had something to do with it.

Jun 12 - Job Day 5 - Chuck becomes foreman**

Monday, June 12, 1972 - Page 164
LOCATION: Newport Beach & Oxnard, California

4:18:33 AM
~~~ BLAH ~~~

(6:30 PM 6/18/1972)
This is going to be a monumental feat of memory. Or else it will be a monumental example of forgetfulness, because I'm writing this almost a week from now -- Sunday, June 18, Father's Day. Monday started out early, as I recall (note BLAH above), and Chunk was late, so I called Winnie to see what was wrong, but at that time he was on his way (Winnie complained yesterday -- Saturday -- about me calling her at 4:30 A.M., cause she was asleep). Chuck eventually showed up --

hole dit! I blew it. Chunk wasn't late this time, and Winnie din't stay home. Atta bout 4:20 A.M. Mon. he and she arrived, we drove to Amerco Industries' yard in Anaheim getting there before 5:00, so we went to Winchell's for a donut, meeting Jerry Buffington -- our boss -- there. Chunk now was the foreman, since John quit for reasons unclear to me, but pro'ly due to the way Jerry was handling things.

So Chunk, as foreman, was making $4 an hour, and "owned" the Ford truck company car. We drove to the yard, Winnie left, we loaded the truck, waited till 5:30 for Rick who didn't show up, drove to get gas, then drove to Oxnard, Chuck & I in the Ford Pickup, Jerry in his Ford Pickup. It was a sunny day. Chunk pulled off an offramp at about 6:15 to sleep, and so we reached Ox nard at 7:30, with Jerry, Fernando, Bob & Frank waiting. So we got to work, digging holes, while Chunk wandered around with Jerry getting instructions. Jerry eventually left, and we were on our own, with me taking a sort of co-foreman position in relation to everything. Strange, how that worked.

[Side note in lefthand margin] Frank and Bob had to leave at 9:30 to go to a funeral. Their neice had died of what sounded to me like osteomalacia. She was less than a year old. They got back at noon.

Jun 11 - A frantic maritime disaster***

Sunday, June 11, 1972 - Page 163
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

11:00 AM (approx)
I got up at 10:30 today. It's a very sunny day. Hold it a sec -- I'm gonna call Tim Hourigan to check something (10:54:15) --

Hi, I'm back (11:02:16). I called Timothy (whom I've been trying to contact for some time), and he does indeed have my Galleon [2013 NOTE: This is the Newport Harbor High School yearbook ~ In 1971, I dropped out of my Senior year of High School, telling my counselor that forcing me to wake up every friggin' day at 7:30 AM was cruel & unusual punishment, and therefore I was protected by the US Constitution. So I simply stopped going. However, the NHHS administration chose to ignore my truancy and graduated me anyway, in absentia. Hence, I was awarded my Senior yearbook, and you can find photos from it in the entry for June 22] -- when I thought I wouldn't be around to get it many months ago, I entrusted him with the responsibility of obtaining it in my absence -- which he did. And since I shall be gone all next week, he offered to get it signed for me by the sleazy crowd around there, which is a very nice thing for him to do.

Let's see, who will sign it? : Tim, James Fish, Shawna certainly Wood, and Mary too (Bavry & Lyons), Meg maybe cause Tim would ask, Bob too, Phil & Pete Shergalis, and maybe three others [In fact, nobody signed my yearbook except Tim]. Hmmm. So I'll pick it up next week. Now I've gotta get the clothes washed.

"Newport Harbor Sailor Band in the 1972 Tournament of Roses"
The Galleon 1972 - Pages 180 & 181

8:30 PM
Jeez! I'm trying to figure out if this day warrants a [sad-face symbol]. I don't think so but it's close -- Some guy on TV said it was the 163rd day of the year, but I make it 162 -- Lemme check that. Hold on --- Christ! I have two 110's [this pagination error has been corrected throughout]. Lemme (Rats! The timer just went off) fix that. Hold it... Sloppy job. Take five; I've gotta eat my TV dinners --

PHEW! I'm back, waiting for my dinners to cool. I've been going a mile a minute all day. I drove over to wash the clothes (My dinners should be cool. I'll be back in a little bit...

9:00 PM
... Okay, I'm through), put them in the machines, then went shopping, came back to put the clothes in the driers, drove home with the food and put a couple of TV dinners in the oven, went back to get the clothes from the dryers, drove home to fold the clothes, and Murray called, so after I ate my dinners, I prepared to depart, but before that, Dad came over, with some of my book bills, so he subtracted that amount from the $65 he owes me, and finally at about one o'clock, I drove speedily to the Sea Scout Base to find Murray. The Base got 6 new kites (dingies [that's dinghys]), and after two days -- Sat. & Sun. -- they all got busted. Murray and I contributed to that record.

Chuck Lyda and Murray Lewis at Kern River in 1974

In an extremely abbreviated version: We sailed for a few hours, then a rudder pin broke, leaving one to hold it on -- as we limped into the base, it broke off completely during a monumental problem with the sail. I jumped off to get the rudder immediately losing my glasses, while the boat sailed into the dock, to be flipped by Murray, with me swimming in with the rudder, which we took, along with the sail, back to Base, returning to paddle the boat to the right dock, then driving in Murray's car to his house to get scuba diving gear [to hunt for my glasses]. We were about to return to the base when we discovered his car didn't work, so I called Winnie, but her car was broken and she was late for work, so I called Dad who was asleep. He drove over to take us to the Base. Dad left, Murray got his gear, I got a canoe and paddled out to assist, and he dove, but the sediment was a foot deep, the current was strong, the water murky, and the Argus [the Sea Scout's giant vintage sailing ship] was going to be coming in. So we gave up on that. Murray went to get his gear cleaned, and I found a car on the hose so I couldn't rinse the canoe, and had to put it back unwashed. Bob Kirkeby showed up and he, Murray, Brian, etc. talked till a quarter to seven then I drove Murray home (without glasses or license), then I drove me home -- More occurred, but this is all I have room for. And I wanted to get rested before work tomorrow!