Dec 19 - The new maid, Mimi (or Enid)

Tuesday, December 19, 1972 - Page 354
LOCATION: Newport Beach, Santa Ana, Anaheim

APOLLO 17 LANDED TODAY AS PLANNED

11:00 PM
I got to sleep last night finally around 3:30. Good ole insomnia. Got the 8:00 A.M. bus just barely (had to skip brushing my teeth), and the driver gave me an envelope containing the new bus schedules that are coming into effect in January. I quickly fell asleep on the bus, stretching out in the rearmost seat (my usual location) and awaking only seldom to notice we were passing thru thick fog. I woke up in time to get off (that's one of the mysteries of the brain, how it always signals a sleeping bus rider when the trip is over -- I've never seen it fail) and loped groggily to the RTD terminal. It was less foggy there in Santa Ana and it burned off quickly, resolving into a warm day. I wandered to the terminal's facilities (I didn't have time to attend to that at home) and wandered back to the lobby.

I read "Catch-22" and was at work by 9:40. Worked on painting 114, taking an apalling amount of time and taking breaks incessantly. I'm learning. The new maid I noticed a few days ago was back today -- a beautiful girl wearing low-ride levis and a yellow body shirt that revealed her admirable contours -- unfortunately she was wearing a brassiere. She ignored me very well, I thought, and I assumed she was one of those girls who were so cold a little light comes on every time they open their mouths. But when a leaky faucet broke in room 118, I couldn't avoid her (she was working on 118 & 119) and discovered she had a husky feminine voice, a nice smile and quick wit. She's pro'ly married. If not, I'll hijack her to be my model. Her name is either Enid or Mimi, I'll find out for sure later. I hope she doesn't quit the job like Laura & Laura did before her. Angela, though cute and deliberately charming, is 16 and goes to school and is still hesitant with life -- Mimi (or Enid) appears to be mature and intelligent. I hope, I hope. I hope.

Anyway, I quit working at 5:15 again, and passed up the 6:00 Laguna bus for Dave's 6:30 Balboa. Neither John, Lois, nor the coffee girl were featured on this trip. Dave sold his car to one of his fellow drivers (he showed me the check for $150) but my suspicion against his congenial sincerity was warded off by a congenially sincere promise that he'd be looking for a car for me and let me know if he found one.

A woman got on at South Coast Plaza -- she wanted the Laguna Beach bus, but Dave informed her the last one left a half hour earlier. He took her on, and dropped she & me off at the bridge on Coast Hwy & Newport, and I escorted her to the Greyhound station.

She was from Berkeley, just graduated college, & had been a Junior High & High School English & Music teacher & was going to Laguna Beach for a rest at a friend's hotel where she was staying for free. I carried her heavy suitcase. The Greyhound station was closed, and I tried to call the Greyhound station on a payphone, trying various numbers which were either busy or din't answer. Luckily a bus pulled in -- heading South. She got in, I handed her the suitcase, and she went away to Laguna.

I walked home, stopping to buy new pants at Mister Britches. Got home at 8:00, ate a T.V. dinner & watched T.V. Mom got home around nine after shopping. I took a bath and tried the new hair styler-drier that she bought. So I'm beautiful now. I'm on page 314.

TOMORROW: Laramée & Mike's Anniversary

Nov 25 - Holiday Aftermath: Big motel cleanup

Saturday, November 25, 1972 - Page 330
LOCATION: Newport Beach, Anaheim

5:00 PM
Last night I got to sleep at 7:00 P.M., and woke up this morning at 8:00 A.M. Left here at 9:00 with mom driving me to work by 9:30. The Chowchillas weren't there, having left early and I helped the maids, Mary, Angela, & Laura, with the rooms. I stripped the beds & rollaways, gathered up the trash & towels, and carried the used linen & trash to their respective destinies.

This is one of the Chowchilla High School (website)
mimeographed news publications left in the guest's rooms

There were lots of renters besides the big high school group, but the band member's rooms took all the time. The girl's rooms were on the right side (as you enter) & the boy's were on the left -- all very civil. I can't decide which were worse -- the girl's with their cluttered bathrooms, stained sheets and old stockings, or the boys with their incense, ashes, broken ashtrays and Mad magazines.

I got away with 41 cents, mostly pennies, tho I refrained from the fortunes of pants pockets. It was an educational experience I could've done without. Yesterday they all went to Disneyland and the rooms were thick with souvenirs and bags, and A, B, C, D, & E tickets which I was tempted to borrow permanently. But I remained trustworthy (except for that 41¢) and was thru by 2:00 P.M. Mom picked me up, and here I am. Again. I won't get much money for last week cause I didn't work as many hours -- pro'ly just 20 or 25 instead of the required 32.

Mike's parents and a few relatives (a sister & brother-in-law & assorted nephews y nieces) came [to the Ivanhoe] yesterday and left today. Mr. Sarason fixed the broken Coke machine and therefore the rented rooms were graced by tons of cans. It is now 5:02:10, and that's all.

TOMORROW: Nothing much going on