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 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.