Sep 22 - TIME REVIEW: The past 100 days***

Friday, September 22, 1972 - Page 266
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

I REALLY DON'T FEEL LIKE WRITING ON THIS PAGE NOW -- I'LL GET TO IT LATER WHEN I'M AT LEAST PARTLY INSPIRED -- 5:53:53 A.M., SAT, SEPT 23, 72

[TIME-BUMP Note in left-side margin] Now the year is two hundred sixty six days old -- Once again I ventured into the future from March 6, 1972, 8:12 P.M. What would I find? Would I be happy or sad? (Note to me from Aug. 18, 72 -- Read Pg 166 [June 14] B4 writing. Keep same theme)

(11:29:45 PM 10/1/1972)
The last 100 days were about the most eventful days that are likely to be found in this book. Dullsville. I'm drafting this on a sheet of notebook paper at 4:47:23 P.M., October 1st, 1972 (and am currently re-writing the just finished rough draft on another sheet of notebook paper, 6:08:08 P.M., Oct 1 [But right now, as you see it here, I am righting the final draft, and it's now 11:35:35 P.M. I'll have it finished sometime in the A.M., 10-2-72.] )

The last hundred-day mark was Wed., Jun 14, & it was delayed, not by procrastination but because I was working in Oxnard at the time, and it took me till Jun 20 to completely realign the past with the present from the future. We shall see if the next 100 mark is similarly out of synch. Since it'll be Dec 31, my guess is it'll be pretty late. [FROM THE FUTURE: Yes, the next 100-day review will be pretty late -- more than 40 years, actually. I, OldGrady, will need to update the December 31, 1972, page because YoungGrady never did it.]

In the immediate preceeding five-score pages, I read the following books of fiction: "The Probability Man," "The Little Prince," "The Exorcist," and about 1/2 of Michener's "The Drifters." I also read at least a half dozen magazine articles & two complete anthologies -- "World's Best SF, 1971" & "The Best S.F. of the Year" -- & read completely (more or less) the following books of non-fiction: "I'm OK, You're OK," "The Descent of Woman," & "Dinosaurs," still haven't finished (or even looked into in the past 100 days) "A Guide to Earth History," or "Man's Rise to Civilization as Shown by the Indians of North America from Primeval Times to the Coming of the Industrial State" yet, but I'm planning to eventually.

Saw a play, "Follies," and some movies: "Box Car Bertha"/"1,000 Convicts and a Woman," "The New Centurions"/"Play Misty for Me," & "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes." That's a surprisingly small number (five) of films for me in a 100-day period. I was too busy. In the aforementioned temporal period, this journal has been in the following towns for at least 2 or 3 hours: Newport Beach, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Rapid City, Bethlehem, Sioux City, Omaha, and Chicago, not necessarily in that order. It really got around, didn't it?

A few world wide events that occurred were: a flood season unprecedented in U.S. history; the Democratic Convention nominated George; the Republican Convention nominated Dick; Bobby won the World Championship Chess Tournament, beating Boris; the Russians got away with more Gold Medals than the United States in the freakiest Olympics ever.

Some birthdays that happened were mine (July 17), Mrs. Latka (July 18), McGovern (July 19), Chunk, Laramée, Mom, Mike Sarason, and least but not last, Gilbert Stack (Aug. 28), Grandpa Bill and Jim Weidner (both on Sept. 10) and Roger Barkley (Sept. 11). The last haircut I got was Thursday June 22, the last time I drove a car was June 24, last time I shaved was September 15. I got new old glasses and learned to play poker on the same day, June 23, and learned to drive a clutch on June 24.

In the last hundred pages I stuffed hundreds of scrap-book type scraps into this book that increased its width considerably. I got photos that now are in this journal from Geri Langer (pages 112, 113, 120, 121), Tom Scheuring (116, 117), Peg Latka (114, 220), Mrs. Latka (199, 200, 212, 218, 219), I swiped one shot from Ken (214), and various shots from Mike Mill's Polaroid (194 to 197, 213, 221, 226, 227), and personally snapped some pictures from loaned cameras (211, 222, 228).

Some choice events that transpired involving yours truly are as follows: Got "layed off" from my landscaping job; got the NHH Annual [this is the Newport Harbor High 1972 Yearbook -- See photos June 22], and though I was only a part-time student my Senior photo was in it, and I was the only one without a jacket and tie (nonconformist); Gramma Brazzel (94 year old semi great grandmother) had an operation Sunday, June 25, I saw her alive for the last time in the hospital, June 28, she died Wed. Sept. 13, and Chunk and I were pallbearers on Sept. 15; got to Bethlehem South Dakota June 30; on July 4 (15th Anniversary of Bethlehem and 196th of the United States), Bruce, Brad, Greg, Clint, Jeff, & I went to stock car races in Rapid; rode bare back with Darlene Sheckle and learned I was allergic to horses on July 7; me, Brad, Bruce, and Gordy with his '49 Mercury went to Deadwood for the Flood Damage Meeting along with Gil and the Mayor of Sturgis; I went spelunking on two memorable occasions in July.

On my birthday, me, Bruce, Greg, Brad, Mike, and Tom went to the airport to see George come in, and gave a Secret Service man paranoia, met the Latkas at Mt. Rushmore [See "Pranking McGovern's Secret Service," July 17]; rode to Chicago with my adopted family, arriving July 20; went to Marist High School dance 7-21-72 [See "STYX performs at High School dance," July 21]; me, Sue, Peg and Ken Britski went to Old Town, 7-22; me, Larry, Ken, Kathy, Mark, Sue, Mary Ann and her pal, Tom Styx went to Playland, 7-23; Ken and I went to Old Town and Ripley's Museum, then me and Peg drove around Beverly Hills, 7-24; went to the Field Museum, and Sue got a bowling ball dropped on her toe, 7-25; Peg dropped me off at the Beverly Art Center, which was closed so I got to walk a few miles to her office in the rain, 7-26; me, Ken, Larry, Mark and Sue went to U.S. 30 Drag Strip, 7-30; went to the Art Institute, the Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry, the John Hancock Building, and Bob Kelly's Studio (the latter during a tornado); drew the Phredee Phrogg Poster, Sue & Peg's portrait, painted Ken's helmet, and left on a bus finally on August 16, got to Vapid City on the 17th, stayed in an abandoned house on the 18th, and hitched to Beth on the 19th. Gil told me to depart the premises, saw the "Guess Who" concert [See August 25], then flew away on Sunday, August 27.

Stayed in the Disneyland Hotel Sunday (Damn. Ran out of ink. There goes my fine point pen -- Now, to continue) night, next day went to the Ivanhoe -- which Mike was preparing to manage -- then went to Disneyland, then home for the first time in sixty days [See "Disneyland for $4.95," August 28]. Helped Mike move his home August 30 (his birthday), played chess with Chunk & Co. alot over a few weeks, started regular 5 days-a-week exercizing September 5, got my Experifragments accepted by a defunct publication, got a multitude of rejections, kidnapped Tim Hourigan's chess set Sept. 9, went dirt bike riding with Chunk September 10, dived headlong into writing the first episode in Tempus Fugit September 11, started an odd schedule of getting to sleep in the afternoon and waking up later in the night to work on my notes on Sept. 18, caught up on my National Geographic index, added a prurient drawing to page 260 [Sep 16] to make up for the one I gave to Tom Scheuring, and finally wrote this entry 9 or 10 days late.

The last hundred days were good. I expect the next hundred to be better though less active. The next hundred days will mark the end of this year, and the end of this book -- Probably the only diary I'll write, preserving memories from a time when I was formulating ideas that would set me off into my adult life. I've still got a few more things to accomplish before it's through.

This entry is through finally, and the time is now 1:27:37. I wrote non-stop from 11:30 (with about a minute off to write a couple of ideas for "Eternity, B.C.") -- My eyes are about to fall out, my fingers are cramped and my mind is muddled -- In other words, I'm  T H R O U G H  for now. ---

TOMORROW: My nocturnal writing schedule

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 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 08 - Job Day 3 - LA Dodgers win

Thursday, June 8, 1972 - Page 160
LOCATION: Oxnard, California

Vagabond Motor Hotel matchbook

(2:30 PM Saturday 6/10/1972)
The phone rang. I answered it with a "Thank you," and hung up. Everyone got up, John first, Chunk next and me last. We ate breakfast and John went back to the Motel to call Jerry while Chunk got the car started. He spent quite a while with the answering service but failed to contact him, so he told him to return the call at 5:30. Jerry never did -- that, and other factors (part of which was several further attempts to contact him Friday, and the fact that Jerry never called Rick to tell him what to do, so Rick had to drive down -- or up -- to Oxnard to work half a day yet get full day pay).

This led to quite a bit of anger focussed toward Jerry by John (reaching their peak on Friday), the resolution of which will become apparent on Monday, maybe. Two Chicanos showed up on Thursday. They all are in the Union -- Bob & Frank don't mind working though, but Fernando -- the mongolian -- is dedicated to Time & a half, and all other Union benefits. Chunk, me, and John had to pretend to be Union members to keep legal with Fern.

Anyway, we worked on the front lawns, getting them raked, seeded, etc. The architect was supposed to show up early Thurs. morn to verify the position of the trees -- he never showed up at all, so we went ahead & planted the trees around the pool Fri anyway. Had dinner, then Frank & his brother showed up to take John to the Dodger's game in L.A. They bought beer, and an enthusiasm for chess, so I played Frank & beat him. They left.

Chunk and I played chess and watched T.V. I won two games, he won six. We watched the six-thirty movie: "Hemingway's 'Adventures of a Young Man' " Part I. Also watched "Alias Smith & Jones," and another movie: "Double Trouble" with Danny Kaye. Chunk took a shower and went to sleep. Then I took a shower. John got back at 12:00. The game was 1 to 2, Dodger's won. They drank alot, celebrating something.

Original Theatrical Poster, 1962

Jun 06 - Job Day 1 - CA Presidential Primary

Tuesday, June 6, 1972 - Page 158
LOCATION: Newport Beach & Anaheim, California

8:30 PM
Got up at 6 A.M., though I didn't get more than an hour's worth of vague sleep. Chunk and Winnie came to pick me up at 6:20 A.M., and we got to the landscape place [Amerco Industries in Anaheim] at 7:00 (Winnie drove away on failing brakes), where I met the fore man -- John Somebody; and another worker, a Chicano, 18 years old, named Rick Somebodyelse.

We all drove up to the place where we were supposed to do landscaping. We dug holes, filled them with water, cut cans trees were in, planted the trees, layed sod for the front lawn of a house, planted plants, flowers, and shrubs, and went home at 4:00, or rather went back to the landscaping place to wait for 5:30 when mom finally arrived (she had to drop the Imperial off to get it fixed). I have five and a half blisters on my left hand, and 8 1/2 on my right.

Mom, me & Chunk stopped at Carl's Jr. to take advantage of a coupla free hamburger coupons, and we ate alot. I took a bath. The Presidential Primary for California is today -- Chunk's voting for McGovern, John (a 29 year old Rep.) is voting for Ashburn (or whatevertheguy'snameiswho'srunningagainstNixon), and Mom, of course, voted for Nix.

I've gotta be at the Landscaping place tomorrow at five, and me & Chunk are going to work in Oxnard for 3 days, sleeping in a Vagabond Motel with a pool. It rained some today. Confirmation has come from Gil, and I'll be flying over [to Rapid City] whenever I want. Dad called, got me an interview for Aero[nutronic], but I declined, since I've got an income now.

O.S.B. means Order of Saint Benedict

May 15 - Back Bay sunbathing

Monday, May 15, 1972 - Page 136
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

(1:11:11:APPROX A.M. 5/16/1972)
Got up at 10:30. No mail. Paddled out to the area mentioned on May 10, but the tide had come up so high, water covered it a couple inches deep. So I wandered around (having more mobility, since I now have shoes), and I found a skull of some kind of rodent -- there were a lot of big holes scattered over the high sandy ground. Eventually I found a slight depression and I proceeded to tan my hide again. I read "Childhood's End" while sunning, and I'm now on page 110 (exactly half way through).

It was fairly fair, but low thin clouds moved in sporadically until the skies were quite overcast by 5:00 P.M. I got home at about a quarter to 6:00, having left at a quarter to noon. George Wallace got shot today. Chunk is in Oxnard now, and will be coming back 2morrow nite. Mom went to play bridge, as usual on Mondays. I watched "Laugh-In," then "Fantastic Voyage" (which I'd seen bout 6 years ago), then the Dick Cavett show (which won an Emmy last nite). Finly got the dishes done. It is now 1:23:00, the end.

Fantastic Voyage Theatrical Poster, 1966

--- 1:26:20 --- I just captured a rather large fly (about -- Boy! It almost got away there -- about 2 centimeters long). I'm playing the fiendish li'l kid, cause I now have the fly embedded in "Wilhold Glu-Bird White Glue with Orthonol" to preserve it (I don't have any amber handy). I saw at least a dozen dead jellyfishes on a Back Bay beach! Animals are dumb!