Dec 20 - Laramée & Mike's Anniversary

Wednesday, December 20, 1972 - Page 355
LOCATION: Newport Beach, Santa Ana, Anaheim

(8:00 PM 12/21/1972)
Overslept & got the 9:00 A.M. bus. 'Twas very foggy but it burned off later in the day, becoming sunny & warm with a record-breaking temperature of 83° in L.A. Got to work at 10:40. Ken was there because L&M were out celebrating their anniversary -- 3rd I think it was. They were gone most of the day and I din't do much work at all. Finished 114 and started 115, did the detail painting.

Laramée Lyda's 1968 Newport Harbor High Yearbook photo

I left at 5:30, waiting outside on the lawn for mom to appear. 45 minutes later she drove up, and L&M came a few minutes later. Mom gave them their anniversary present, and they gave us our Christmas gifts. I got a book called "Impossible Possibilities," which is about the kind of technical stuff I'm dealing with in "T.F." We left there quickly and drove home, with mom stopping to buy candy for someone at work as a gift. At home I wrapped the present mom bought for L&M which is from me. Dot had been there earlier in the day to pick up some things and had washed the dishes so that was one big pain out of the way. Tuesday I got to sleep at 3:00, Weds I got to sleep at 2:30. Haven't been getting much sleep lately. Ate at the Hamburger House Weds. and Thursday.

From the authors of the worldwide bestseller
THE MORNING OF THE MAGICIANS
A fascinating exploration of mankind's potential

TOMORROW: Christmas candy

Dec 15 - Bus driver Dave

Friday, December 15, 1972 - Page 350
LOCATION: Newport Beach, Santa Ana, Anaheim

(12:00 PM 12/16/1972)
Got up late, left at 10:00 A.M., got to work by a quarter to noon. I did the regular maintenance work as usual, then started cleaning the outside windows of all the rooms, using the ungainly long aluminum extension ladder. Removed the screens to wash them. Mimi, the new maid, was there for the first time. Ken was there from 1:00 to 5:00 and helped with the windows & screens of the lower story. I procrastinated alot still, but managed to wash the upper story windows on the 4-heater room side and all of the lower story windows & screens everywhere. Ken cleaned off the old caulking in 110, 11, 12, & 13 and vacuumed the pool.

I left at 5:00, and mentioned the skydiving venture to Mike, and he might go along too, but is reticent about spending the $40 for it. I waited almost an hour for the bus, and got a few new patterns on my ticket: [sketches of hole punch shapes]. Maybe each bus driver has a different design so they can tell who punched what -- I'll find out some day [Today's the day: Yes, unique ticket punch symbols are a security feature employed to identify or cancel tickets used by trains, bus lines, promotions, etc.].

Got the 6:30 OCTD, so talked with Dave the driver. He got a Volvo, which he'd been trying to get for months. I asked what he was going to do with his other car (a '63 Belair Chevy), and he said he was selling it for $150.00, so I might buy it. He got my address & number to contact me about it.

Was home by 7:30 -- mom picked me up at the Centinella parking lot. She had a big steak & mushroom dinner ready & I ate it voraciously. Watched T.V. and went to bed 'bout 11:00 or 11:30 -- Mom went to a movie, "Lady Sings the Blues." I got to page 157 on "22." I just killed a couple more ants. Tenacious little devils.

Original 1972 Theatrical Release Poster

TOMORROW: A day of bad writing and bad drawing

Dec 12 - Great TV: Live from the Moon & The Snow Goose***

Tuesday, December 12, 1972 - Page 347
LOCATION: Newport Beach, Santa Ana, Anaheim

10:47:31 PM
I din't get to sleep early last night. I was committed to getting the dishes washed, so I did them whilst watching T.V. "Live from the moon" pictures showed a couple hours of the astronaut's EVA. [To see videos of the final moonwalks, go to NASA's documentary "On the Shoulders of Giants" in the entry for tomorrow, December 13]. 'Twere the best yet.

Jain [mom's sister] phoned, but mom was at bridge so I had to talk with her. We'll be driving up there to Frisco in a couple weeks. I finally got to sleep around 1:30 or 2:00. Got on the 8:00 A.M. bus.

Oh, I forgot -- history repeated itself, loudly. Observing my reactions as compared to the last time, I see -- I just killed an ant. They're still around but dwindling -- anyway, I see my reflexes are improving. The 'repaired' horn on the Imperial went off again [The last time this occurred was on November 1]. It woke me up immediately at 3:39, and I stabbed my digital alarm clock several times to stop it -- it didn't stop, so I assumed somebody else's alarm was going off. But after a millisecond of pondering, I got up, slipped into my gym shorts, and tromped out to the car (mom was up immediately and handed me the keys as I went out into the cold). I unlocked the door (fortunately it had been fixed) and jabbed the horn lever a few times, turning it off, then I released the hood and unplugged the wires -- this time I knew exactly where they were. It was over in minutes and I was back to bed quickly.

I got up at 7:30, got to work at 9:45. Shampooed the rugs of renovated rooms today, with Ken vacuuming afterwards. Got 12 done, tho Mike expected 6. Put up X-mas lights over the Ivanhoe entrance. Departed at 5:00. Got the 6:00 OCTD & was home by 7:00. Watched some more EVA TV. Saw "The Snow Goose," an xcellent film with Richard Harris. I just took a bath. It is 11:01:50 P.M. That's enough. -- Started reading "Catch-22." Am on page 46. Thend: 11:03:03 P.M.

First edition cover (wikipedia info)

"The Snow Goose" 1971 -- Watch the whole movie here in five 10-minute chunks (these are better quality than the full 50-minute version on YouTube)

Heartfelt and wonderfully done movie about a lonely man, Philip Rhayadar (Richard Harris), who helps local girl Frith (Jenny Agutter) rescue a wounded goose from hunters. Well directed and acted, this made for TV movie won a Golden Globe award and Jenny Agutter was awarded an Emmy for her performance. The movie was also Emmy nominated in 8 other categories.

NOW, FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT...

Original 1970 Theatrical Release Poster

I remember watching "A Man Called Horse" at a drive-in theater but that must have been in 1973 (or possibly in 1971). The movie was in theaters in '72 as noted when my mother, grandfather & I were about to go see it, but then we got side tracked by other events on June 17.  

BONUS FEATURE: Another masterful Richard Harris performance: "A Man Called Horse" 1970 (wiki info). Watch the ENTIRE MOVIE right now.

TOMORROW: The End of an Era: The last moonwalk ever

Dec 05 - Big Computer Convention in Anaheim

Tuesday, December 5, 1972 - Page 340
LOCATION: Newport Beach, Santa Ana, Anaheim

(4:30 PM 12/9/1972)
Got the 7:00 A.M. bus. Twas a cold sunny day. I did a couple hours work before starting painting. Ken came at 1:00 and he did detail painting on 230 while I did 229. Finished reading "The Age of the Dinosaurs" -- had 255 pages. There was a big Computer Convention at the Anaheim Convention Center so a lot of rooms were rented at the Ivanhoe. There was one white car with an odd vent on the roof. It had a U.S. gov't license plate. Twas a test vehicle for natural gas. Some other cars are from Florida & Arizona & Washington.

Quit work at 4:45 and got the RTD right away. Got the 5:30 OCTD, and mom picked me up, so I was home by 6:45. Mom & I went to a movie at 7:00 at the Lido Theatre. They were "The Candidate," & "The Groundstar Conspiracy." They were both good. We got home by 11:00.

TOMORROW: Night launch of Apollo 17

Dec 01 - Stopped by cop for jaywalking**

Friday, December 1, 1972 - Page 336
LOCATION: Newport Beach, Santa Ana, Anaheim

(3:30 PM 12/9/1972)
Left for work at 7:00. Got to work by 8:45. Replaced maintenance check sheets -- attached is one example of one of the sheets -- there are four heater rooms in all.

The sheets now will be much neater and drier I hope. M is Mike Sarason's signature, MB was Mark's initial, KW is Ken's, and I was GLL, John Hancock (Mark wrote Ms. Hancock), and I also used the Roman numerals.

On other sheets I wrote the date backwards -- in another one I wrote it upside down and backwards for about a week. No one ever mentioned it. Lately I learned that Ernie Krause [the owner of the Ivanhoe] checks the sheets every time he drops by. I wonder how he's taking it. On the new sheets I'm neater, but still outré. I wrote the dates like: 12 - 4our - 72 GLL. That shows that I'm an artist ya see.

All I did in the way of work was paint the bathrooms in 129, 30 & 31. Ken got there at 1:00, & I left at 1:15. It was 85° in L.A. -- the hottest day on record for that date in history. While I was walking to the bus stop, I noticed the traffic lights were malfunctioning -- they just blinked red and the heavy traffic had to improvise their order.

I had to cross Harbor to get to the bus stop so I started walking down the street to jay walk where the traffic was less dangerous. An Anaheim cop noticed me -- I was wearing my hat and I naturally look guilty so he stopped me at the gas station on the corner. Twas just routine. He had spent 17 years in Dayton, Ohio (He noticed I was born there). I asked him about the draft situation, and he said we were still sposed to carry draft cards but it wasn't enforced. I never bothered to register. He was a nice guy, he let me go, and then went to fix the traffic lights. [End of page... this day is continued in next entry]

TOMORROW: A visit from Grandpa Bill

Nov 28 - Missed the bus home again

Tuesday, November 28, 1972 - Page 333
LOCATION: Newport Beach, Santa Ana, Anaheim

(2:00 PM 12/9/1972)
I got up at 8:30 and walked to the nearest definite bus stop, 17th and Orange two or three miles away. Got there at 10:00 and was at work by 11:45. The days were warm recently -- I vacuumed the pool and cleaned up some trash. Tuesday was a Ken day, and he did some work, then helped me with the latest rooms. I stained doors and he cleaned walls -- I wouldn't have to paint them because they already were clean enuff.

I quit at 6 but I managed to miss the bus. For 45 minutes mom's line was busy -- I assumed it was off the hook. Occasionally when it was replaced it was slightly ajar, so it seemed busy. I stayed there, reading my book, waiting for mom to call to ask why I wasn't home. But Laramée finally managed to reach her -- the line had been busy. She was talking to dad about the trailer. The paper said... Well, I'll get to that later.

Mom came & picked me up -- got home at 8:30. She went to see "Butterflies Are Free," but I stayed home. The night got foggy. Was on page 110 in the Dino book.

Original 1972 Theatrical Poster

TOMORROW: Newspaper: Trailer park violations

Nov 24 - Thanksgiving - Part 2***

Friday, November 24, 1972 - Page 329
LOCATION: Newport Beach, Anaheim

5:30 PM [...continued from previous entry]
Afterwards, while Dad was getting some sleep, Chunk & I went paddling in the down river canoe he & Joe have been practicing in. We went all around Lido Isle and returned by 8:15, after only a half hour. It was a clear nite and a fairly full moon was just rising redly. Anyway, Dad, Chunk, Me, & Mom ate the turkey dinner. I had hardly anything cause I was full of steak.

Winnie came by again after having a second dinner with her mother, and she & Chunk drove me over to L&M's. Larry returned, and after awhile, about 9:30, Dad & Lar & I & Mom drove to L&M's [at the Ivanhoe motel] and we stayed there for quite a while. About 10:30 P.M. a group of 100 people in two bus loads came -- the Chowchilla High School Football band. L&M were pretty busy, & we entertained ourselves watching the girls and things thru the closed circuit T.V. There's an intercom from the Apartment to the Lobby entrance outside where the camera is and Larry talked thru it to the girls and guys out there. It was a riot. Chunk & Winnie left early, and the rest of us departed at about 12:30. We got back, Dad left, and I showed Larry my fossils, then he left, and I got to sleep at around 2:00 A.M.

6:30 PM
Friday I got up at about 9:00, and I took a bath. Mom drove me to work, and she stayed there an hour, leaving about a quarter to 12:00 (so she must've been there more than an hour, since I got there 'bout 10:00), anyway, she talked to Lara a while. I watered plants, hosed the driveway, replaced an inaccessible light bulb, and helped the maid. A new one was hired -- Laura. She has experience, having worked at the Cosmic Age Motel. She was applying for the job when I returned to the Ivanhoe Wednesday.

New maid's previous job: Cosmic Age Lodge
1717 S. Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, California

Anyway, all the feminine pulchritude enhanced the landscaping and the day was warm and sunny. The coke machine broke, so I wrote an "OUT OF ORDRE" sign for it. Ken arrived at one, so I was asked to leave, which I didn't mind doing. So mom came back to pick me up after being home just a half hour. We went to Canspec in L.A., and drove thru a few mobile home parks.

This report card here is explained on page 324. [That's November 19 where a note at the bottom says "At November 24 (a year from when it was sent) is a typical report card from school. Example of my great stupidity."]

I know this cheap carbon copy is very faint so I will repeat the info here:
LYDA III  GRADY - REPORT DATE 11/71 - GRADE 12
PERIOD - COURSE TITLE - "MARKS" - TEACHER
01 - BOYS PE 9-12 - "F"  GAGE J
02 - SEMANTICS - "NC"  MAUTHE A
03 - SOCIAL PROB - "F"  DONALD R
04 - SR MATH REV - "D"  ROSER G
05 - DRAMA 1-2 - "F"  LINDQUIST P
06 - PHYSIOL 1-2  "F"  ROBERTS D

I'd like to point out that these grades reflect the fact that I simply decided not to go to school anymore because it started too damned early. It was not worth interrupting my sleep. If you paid me, maybe I'd get my butt up at 7 or 8:AM, but school didn't pay, so why bother?

TOMORROW: Holiday Aftermath: Big motel cleanup

Nov 14 - News from Chicago's Sue Latka

Tuesday, November 14, 1972 - Page 319
LOCATION: Newport Beach, Santa Ana, Anaheim

8:30 PM
Got the 7:00 A.M. bus. It started raining at about 6:45. Got to work at 8:45 and spent most of the day painting. It rained pretty good until about 3:00 or 2:00, then I replaced a couple of light bulbs which required the use of a looong aluminum ladder. Ken was there training after about 3:00. I got to page 62 in "2250." Got off work at 5:00, got home at 6:45.

I got a letter from Sue (she calls herself "Rusty" now) and she sent copies of some pictures. I'll mention their location in this book after I find a place for them. Had some broiled steaks for dinner. I'm still on one meal a day on weekdays. Mike got the Chevy Impala sold so I won't be stuck with having to buy it. That's good & bad -- good cause I'll have more money, but bad cause I won't have any transportation to go East in. I guess I'll hop a freight. No pro'lem.

From Sue's letter it seems she's getting sweet again -- Mark got dragged into the army, so she's not stuck with him anymore. So mayhaps on my way east I'll stop off in Chicago. The picture hereto attached was taken inside Bethlehem Cave, in the Shrine of the Watchacallit.

That's Bruce's hardhat, those are my hands, and Mike took the shot. I'm not bothering to track down the exact date, but it should be easy to find -- Around July 18, 19 or 20 [it was July 18], the time the Latka's got the tour. I watched the regular shows tonight -- "I've got a Secret," and "Maude." Nothing else good was on.

TODAY's NEWS: The Dow-Jones Average

In all its years of fluctuations, the New York Stock Exchange ticker showing the Dow-Jones industrial averages had never ever closed higher than 1000. But on November 14, 1972, the D-J average did it, finishing up the day just over the 1000 mark -- LIFE magazine, December 1972

TOMORROW: Movieland Wax Museum

Aug 16 - The bus journey begins**

Wednesday, August 16, 1972 - Page 229
LOCATION: Chicago

(9:00 AM 8/17/1972)
Got up at around 10:45 when Sue woke me up. Ken had left for work at 8:00 A.M. Ate "brunch" of hamburger & french fries from Atlas. Sue had wanted to go to Aqua, but I declined. I stayed in my room most of the day reading my old S.F. Anthology. Peg & Sue came up and looked through all the Playboys Larry left for Ken -- they were searching for one of the bunnies who resembled Peggy. Clark had been told by friends (and been given photographic evidence) that Peg had been a playboy bunny. They found one possible photo that looked a bit like her.

August 1972 issue

Any way, I left at 5:30 (I kissed Sue goodbye first of course) -- Ken drove me to the depot, and Sue came along for the ride. My duffle bag weighed 40 pounds, incidentally. So it was in no danger for over weight on the airplane -- the limit would have been 70 lbs. I bought my ticket and waited for an hour. I found a vacant seat with the T.V. set still going, so for free I watched the last half of the old Dick Van Dyke show, and the first 15 minutes of The David Steinberg show.

The bus was supposedly leaving at gate 25 -- I waited there (after retrieving my duffle bag from the lockers where I stored it while I waited -- too heavy to carry around) -- but the bus got filled up. So I was the first on the next bus, which was right beside it. So I naturally took the right front seat. We departed by 8:00 (half hour late), with a bus driver, and another one who was just along for the ride. They talked shop awhile. The rider had been a bus operator for 20 years, and he had never had an occurrence like happened on the bus that night -- the rest room door locked itself. The bus had to stop at a gas station where he stood on a barrel and poked a broom handle through a vent on the outside to unlatch the door. Then we resumed our journey.

TOMORROW: Greyhounding to Rapid

Aug 15 - Four-part Soviet series, War & Peace

Tuesday, August 15, 1972 - Page 228
LOCATION: Chicago

9:15 PM
Marcus came over today too, and he's here now -- boy! this is a neat pen. I've never used it before, it's one of Ken's. It's just a bic, but it skids along nicely -----. Anyway, I got up at 10:00 A.M. as usual. Proceeded to work on Marcus and finished him at 7:30. I took a nap for a coupla hours and had to wake up for dinner. Saw the last part of War & Peace. It vus goot! Ken's working from 9 to 4 tomorrow.

Original theatrical poster for War and Peace,
a Soviet film adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's novel
released in four parts during 1966 & 1967

Boy, today didn't take up much space did it? Wait a second... yeah, I checked and this is the shortest installment I've made since I've been here in Chicagoland. I don't know why, I've had duller days than this, I'm sure, yet this day, August 15, 1972 -- the day before I am to leave -- happens to be the day which gets the least written about it. Oh, by the way, I read another story in my old anthology -- by Robert Silverberg, "Ishmael In Love." About a love-struck dolphin. Poor devil. Was a good story.

There was a dolphin in the Shedd Aquarium that I was observing closely. Are they sentient? No indication that they aren't. If they are, how long before we recognize the fact and make intelligent contact? Well, I've about run out of stuff to say. This isn't the shortest installment after all. I might say something profoundly clever right now but I won't bother. Count your blessings. Finis. ---

DVD Cover released in 2005

A 20-part BBC TV series of War and Peace ran from September 30, 1972 until February 8, 1973. It starred Anthony Hopkins as the conflicted character, Pierre Bezukhov.

TOMORROW: The bus journey begins

Aug 14 - Tornado Warning

Monday, August 14, 1972 - Page 227
LOCATION: Chicago & Downers Grove, Illinois

(1:30 PM 8/15/1972)
All this week, Ken's working from 1 to 8. He and I went out before 1 to cash my check (and bought a Mad magazine). It was a cashier's check for $40.00 from Centinella Bank -- but I couldn't have cashed it if Ken didn't endorse it. They're very cautious here -- they suggested I go to the money exchange, but I already knew they wouldn't do it.

Then at about 12:30 Mrs. & Peggy & Me drove to a suburb (Downer's Grove, Ill.) to the Robert Kelly Studio to give back the proofs and tell Bob what they wanted. The day was hot in the nineties. We spent an hour or so in his studio, deciding what they wanted. We left at around four, and the clear sky had filled with boiling black clouds, the temperature had dropped ten degrees, and there was a strong wind blowing everything around. A stray bushel basket got caught in the right front tire, and I had to dislodge it. Rain soon accompanied the wind, and at 3:45 they put out a tornado warning for several counties, including Cook (that's Chicago's). Monday was an interesting day -- the tornado warning expired at 4:30, but a tornado watch continued till 9:00.

Saw the 3rd part of War & Peace -- the one in which the battles occurred -- Tuesday is the burning of Moscow. I continued work on Mark. Sometime in the past few days I finished the Best S.F. of the Year anthology.

That about wraps it all up. It is now 1:42 P.M., Tuesday, Aug 15. I'll be leaving tomorrow. I'll have been here nearly a month. Rah!

Marcus & Larry came over -- strike that -- only Marcus came over. That's enough.

TOMORROW: Four-part Soviet series, War & Peace

Aug 12 - Essential Chicago pocket maps

Saturday, August 12, 1972 - Page 225
LOCATION: Chicago

2:30 PM
The storm passed and left today warm & clear. Mrs. had an appointment to have her hair done at noon, so she dropped me off at 83rd St. and California. I wandered around looking for Jean's house, but she lives on W. 83 Place not W. 83 Street. However, I found her house by 12:45 -- she wasn't home. I walked back to Kedzie, stopping at a currency exchange place to cash my check but they couldn't do it. So I came home, getting here at 1:15. At around 2:15 I walked to a drugstore to buy a couple packs of Marlboros for Ken -- he's too sick to work today or go out at all. ---

(1:30 PM 8/15/1972)
I went out later Sat. to buy milk at the Kean station. I saw Larry driving around the corner as I was walking back. -- Real interesting, huh? I can't remember anything else. -- Peggy went to Bob Smith's wedding reception. -- Marcus & Larry came over to practice in the band. It was noisy.

(The maps on these pages are the ones I always kept in my back pocket while in Chicago. These trusty devils kept me from getting lost many a time)

TOMORROW: A fun-filled family dinner party

Aug 11 - The flu continues to bother us

Friday, August 11, 1972 - Page 224
LOCATION: Chicago

(2:00 PM 8/12/1972)
Ken stayed home from work because of his cold. My cold, which I've had since the 9th, was at its peak, and it was gone by the 12th. For a while there, Sooz, Peg, Me, & Ken were sick, and Brandy [the dog] was coming down with something too. Anyway, the day was rainy so I stayed in and finished A.C. Clarke's story in "The Best S.F. of the Year," and read "All the Last Wars at Once" too.

At about 8:00, Larry came with his drums, transporting them from Mark's to Ken's house. He's moving far away -- or a few miles at least -- and he'll be moved into his new house by Tuesday. At around 9:30 he & I drove to Jean's -- we found her walking with Carol & Mare (for "Mary," I suppose), and they wanted us to drive them to Ward's to pick up Nancy -- It was her first day of work, and she was getting off at 9:45 P.M. She wasn't there so we drove back to Jean's and Nancy appeared there, being driven home by a friend. So we all (Me, Larry, Nancy, Mare, Carol & Jean) went to Nancy's home -- her parents weren't there -- Larry got his hat back.

Eventually four guys who the girls hang around with showed up with beer that they stuck in the freezer. Eventually Jean left, so Larry & I departed. Jean said I should come over tomorrow at 12:30 to draw her picture. Lightning flashed through the skies menacingly while Larry & I drove to Barnaby's for a pizza. We left at 12:30, and he dropped me off at home. That night thunder, lightning and rain tormented the house.

TOMORROW: Essential Chicago pocket maps

Aug 10 - Friendly ladies

Thursday, August 10, 1972 - Page 223
LOCATION: Chicago

(3:30 PM 8/11/1972)
Mrs. dropped me off at the Field Museum (she was going to school that day) and I got through the Indian section, so I finished everything in the entire first floor. Rah. I stayed from 12:30 to 6:00, when they closed, and I went outside and shot my whole roll of film [See October 7 for more Chicago photos]. Got on the bus at 6:30, got back at ten to 8 -- after I got off the bus, Sue & Vicki, who had gone to the drugstore to buy something, appeared, running to catch up with me and acting more delirious than usual. Ken got home about the same time we did. Larry followed soon thereafter (he lives less than a block away).

The slides got developed, so we saw the rest of the pictures from their Colorado/S.D. [South Dakota] trip. Then we went to a drugstore where a girl should have been -- instead Bill Muhr, the moustachioed pharmacist was there (he's a good friend of Ken's, and dated Peggy once). Ken got talking about 'cycles, and when the drugstore closed at nine, we drove to Bill's house to see the garage, where there were 3 bikes, one of them Bill's 500 Triumph. The other two were 650s. 2 guys (Hank & Jack), and a girl were there too, looking at the bikes. They left, and Bill gave Ken a motorcycle catalogue, and we left.

Then Ken, me, Larry and his cadillac drove to Jean's house, and Jean, me & Nancy (in the backseat) and Lar & Ken drove to McDonald's to eat. There I had my second cigaret this year, and bites out of J & N's hamburgers -- Jean saved my McDonald's cup, Nancy stole a hat belonging to Larry that was in the back seat, and I drew a picture of a McDonald's cup held in Nancy's hand to prove I was an artist.

Nancy wrote down her address & Jean's so I can write to them as soon as I get back to my cave. We drove back home, Nancy put the hat in her house before Larry could get it, and I kissed Jean goodnight (haven't kissed a girl since November -- it's about time!) and we left. That's about all.

She got the date wrong here.
It was August 10, not July.

TOMORROW: The flu continues to bother us

Aug 09 - The Hancock Building**

Wednesday, August 9, 1972 - Page 222
LOCATION: Chicago

The John Hancock Center
(May 2011 photo by Joe Ravi, CC-BY-SA 3.0)

1:30 PM
Got up at 10:00 when Sooz kicked me to wakefulness (I was on the floor). I mowed the lawn & Ken trimmed it, then he & me went to Walgreen's to get my pictures, and to buy some more film. Both Sue & Peg are asleep now (both are sick -- Peg is on her 2 week vacation as of last Friday). Ken's at work, from 1 to 8, and Mrs is washing. And I'm writing when I should be downstairs with Sue. Blah.

2:30 PM

Like a healthy American kid I went downstairs to talk with Sooz. She was sleeping and wanted to sleep more -- she'll be going to work tomorrow even if she's sick because she gets paid tomorrow ($5).

Pretty soon she'll be moving in with Richie on 85th & Kedzie, because she doesn't want to live here with Mr. Latka. With her mother's consent she can do it, so she can.

(I took the picture at the left to wake her up -- it was just as she opened her eyes. Everything was white so it got washed out by the flash, but it looks kinda artistic, so there it is.)

(3:30 PM 8/11/1972)
Mark & Larry came over, as usual. Ken & I went to the Hancock Bldg and got in on just one of Peggy's passes (tho we had two) -- The Latka's Aunt used to work there long ago. The night was fairly clear and we found a telescope that was stuck so we looked through it for free for 10 or 15 minutes. We left there and went to McDonald's, then we got back at around 11:30 --

TOMORROW: Friendly ladies

Aug 08 - Influenza begins to hit most of us

Tuesday, August 8, 1972 - Page 221
LOCATION: Chicago

11:00 AM
Got up today at 10:00 A.M. Took a shower and ate breakfast. I called Bruce King's house and talked with his sister [Bruce's family was in Chicago, but I met him in Bethlehem, South Dakota -- See July 11, 1972]. There, I've fulfilled my obligation. I was going to go to Elmhurst with Mrs. (she'll be in the vicinity running errands) -- so I'm not now. The rest of the day remains -- what'll happen? Both Peg & Sue are home -- Sue has a cold, Peg has a sore throat. ---

(1:30 PM 8/9/1972)
Finished reading Poul Anderson's story. It was a good one (I finished it at 12:30 A.M.). Can't remember what else I did -- oh, I worked on my notes a whole lot, getting them organized & including my latest innovations. Wrote lots of Graffitti on Ken's Love poster. Larry came over around nine -- Mark & Sue came over later, so I moved downstairs to read the Anderson story. Mark's staying in Phredee Phrogg so I've gotta draw him -- I've also gotta draw Peg. ---

Picture taken by Mike Mills sometime in early July -- L to R are: Bruce, Jim, Brad (under pillow) & me (my legs, that is)

Photo from my days in Bethlehem, South Dakota

TOMORROW: The Hancock Building

Aug 07 - Brandy, You're A Fine Girl

Monday, August 7, 1972 - Page 220
LOCATION: Chicago

9:00 PM
Goddup at 11:00. Ken worked from 1:30 to 8:00. I finished painting his helmet, and Peg got me started on her portrait. I didn't get too far on it. For about 3 or 4 hours, Mr, Mrs, me, Peg & Sue watched Ken's movies (showing them again for Peg) and then I saw their slides of Europe, and everything else they had to show. Some of them were pretty funny. Ken is now at practice at Larry's house. I'll continue Peg's picture tomorrow -- I got all the words to "Brandy" finished and put in my poem book. That's all for now. ---

VH1 video: "Brandy" by Looking Glass, 1972

(11:00 AM 8/8/1972)
It is now the 8th, 11:00 A.M. Last night Sue had an argument with her dad, so she came up here. She told me the deep dark secret of the Latka family -- Ted Latka isn't Sue's real father, and her real brother lives four blocks away (Richie is his name) -- how about that. Only Sue, Ted, Stephanie, Peg, Ken, & Sue know that (and now me). But Ted and Peg don't know that Sue knows. So I'd better keep my mouth shut.

I called bus stations and airlines, and I'll be going back to S.D. [South Dakota] on a bus for $36.00 (Greyhound). Mom called at around 10 or 11:00 and said she'll be sending forty dollars. That's all for today. --

TOMORROW: Influenza begins to hit most of us

Aug 06 - Museum of Science & Industry**

Sunday, August 6, 1972 - Page 219
LOCATION: Chicago

Museum of Science and Industry

(1:15 AM 8/7/1972)
Got up for breakfast around 11:00. Larry graced us with his presence at breakfast, and then we all went to the Museum of Science & Industry (we'd planned to go to the Zoo, but the weather was menacing). Sooz, Mr & Mrs made one group, Me, Ken & Larry were on our own. We had a fairly good time. We all met back at the car by 3:30 (the car was the Oldsmobile, the one we drove back from S.D. in, so the picture I'd gotten from one of Sue's letters was in the car on the floor -- it had gotten there when she took it out of my wallet during the trip back -- real interesting, huh? Well, the moldy old thing is on this page.)

On the back of this little 2" x 2" pic, Sooz wrote,
"Grady, I am the one on the right, the one on the
left was a girl I met in Wisconsin. Io Ti Amo! Sue"

After the excursion to the museum time was killed variously -- Larry played Labyrinth, I wrote and started painting Ken's name on his helmet (I gave up the more ambitious operation of painting an octopus). Mr & Mrs got to see Ken's films, so I saw 'm again too. Mark may be dropping out of the band, so I'm not going to draw his picture (Rah!) -- Sooz is upset cause she is being blamed (distracting Mark from practice). Just one of life's little crises.

I called Mom today and found out a few addresses I should see for her -- Mike S. [Michael Sarason, my brother-in-law] quit his job at the service station and got into insurance. Jain, Jim, and Will will be by again in a week or so, today was Laramée's [23rd] birthday -- Mom's is the 10th. Shawna called a long time ago -- so after I talked with mom I called her (direct -- costs $1.25 for 5 minutes). She's the same old kid. It is now one thirty -- Peg got home at 1:00 & was surprised to see me up -- I was reading a Poul Anderson story. I'm not on the cot -- I chose the floor tonight cause it doesn't creak. The end.

TOMORROW: Brandy, You're a Fine Girl

Aug 05 - Phredee Phrogg band practice

Saturday, August 5, 1972 - Page 218
LOCATION: Chicago

(1:00 AM 8/7/1972)
Got up at around 11:00. Ken went to work early. I did a trifle more work on the Phredee Phrogg poster. Ken, Me & Sooz went over to Mark's for practice. Jerry Styx was there (brother to Tom Styx, Mary Anne's pal [that would actually be Tom Nardini who was never a true member of Styx, but he played guitar in the previous incarnation of the band from 1963 to 1969]), and he played guitar. Sooz flirted with him quite a bit -- he was fifteen but looked older.

They practiced from 2:30 to 4:00, then they took a break. Mark got wrapped up in Sue (literally), and the break was permanent. We left at around 5:45 -- Larry and I played tic tac toe and "dots" to pass the time. We got a couple of shots of Mark, and one of Phredee [the band's frog logo]. We got back and I drew Freddy (with a mean expression and fangs -- I was in that kind of a mood), and I started slowly on Mark. Larry, Mark, Sooz & Ken were here when I started drawing him -- then they all left -- Sue with Mark & Maryann, Ken & Larry wandered about in their car pursuing females (the usual), and Peg went on a date from which she returned at 2:00 A.M. (also usual).

Me, Mr & Mrs stayed up and watched "WOW" from 9 to 10. I tried some more drawing and passed the time constructively. It started raining at 1:00. Lightning and thunder started at 2:00. At 3:00 Mrs. came up to shut the windows. I got to sleep at 3:15. Ken was asleep by 12:00 (he had the creaky cot).

TOMORROW: Museum of Science & Industry

Aug 04 - Improvements to this journal

Friday, August 4, 1972 - Page 217
LOCATION: Chicago

(11:00 AM 8/5/1972)
Got up about noon -- Ken left for work at around 7:00. I did a little organizing. A few features that weren't in this book are now here (such as, Field exhibits of Upper Newport Bay [April 9], and the combination of the cave [July 6], and Peg's picture of us at the catacombs [April 23], and more). I wrote a couple pages of Panshin's "How Can We Sink When We Can Fly" into my notebook to remember it. Did various other writing and put down the words of Brandy by Looking Glass (my favorite song, tentatively).

Today was Sue's second anniversary -- she's been going with Mark for two months (too long). When Ken got home I had to get to work on his drawing (after I took a bath, ate dinner, and washed the dishes with Sue) -- I worked on it from 7:00 to 12:30. It's finished now, and it looks pretty good. Now all I have left is Mark & Freddy the Phrogg.

The light switch in the upstairs bathroom malfunctioned and Mr. tried to fix it but he kept blowing fuses. He got his brother over (Mike Latka) and they replaced the switch. Mike's a real nice guy -- He & Ted complimented my artwork extensively.

Ken & Larry went to a Three Dog Night concert. Peggy went out on a date and got back at 2:30 A.M. Sue went out with Mark for a few hours. And I finished drawing Ken.

Three Dog Night (wikipedia)

TOMORROW: Phredee Phrogg band practice