gentle man

  • Subscribe to our RSS feed.
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Digg

Sunday, 23 February 2014

I Go Crazy...for Kelly Mullin

Posted on 00:30 by Unknown
In those few minutes he saw himself and his life, saw the whole cosmos guided, ordered, and interpreted by the spirit of music.
-Hermann Hesse, THE GLASS BEAD GAME, a novel, Chapter:  THE CALL
FEBRUARY 28, 1988  Diary Notes…

PHOTO:  Michael G Miller and 'me'
It’s the last day of February 1988.   Michael Miller and I posed for a photo in my living room.   Elroy (from THE JETSONS gave a cameo background appearance).  In the next month  I will be an uncle for a third and fourth time.

I was excited about the planned outing for tonight in San Francisco.   A double-date night was scheduled with me, Jim from the Gym, Kelly Mullin and Christine Hicks.   We were all set to see FLESH FOR LULU and GENE LOVES JEZEBEL in-concert at the GIFT CENTER on 9thStreet in The City.  
PHOTO:  Dinner at Hamburger Mary's with 'Jim from the Gym', Christine Hicks, Kelly Mullin and 'me'
I brought along my Polaroid and took pictures of us at HAMBURGER MARY’s where we ate dinner before the concert.   We were having such a good time at this very hip place called HAMBURGER MARY’s that after the meal I had the waiter take our group photo (shown above).  I looked at the instant gratification Polaroid and thought ‘Wow…maybe we’ll have a double-wedding’.   It seemed to all fit into a likely possibility.
Christine was in thrill mode when I took the photo of her feet next to Jim’s because they both had dark shoes and white socks (without actually planning on it).  They were both so 80’s ‘fashion forward’.  

Flesh for Lulu is a rock band from LONDON.  I was excited to see them because I was so “into” their song called “I GO CRAZY”.   The lyrics really described how I was feeling about Kelly Mullin.   I go crazy when I’m without her.   Here are the lyrics to “I GO CRAZY” that was also featured in that movie last year (1987) called SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm35ZUMzDWk):

I go crazy I go crazy when I'm without you...What have I done today...Just sat and watched the jets fly over...A car goes by...And the sun goes down
We talk about the town
This city's mad in the head
And sick in the soul
All the stars flew away a long time ago
Isn't that nice
Like Miami Vice
PHOTO:  ‘me’ Crazy for KELLY MULLIN
I go crazy when I'm without you
I go crazy when I'm without you
Well your life is like an infant’s dream
It's like everything's on TV
You see your face in the mirror
Could it be your place in the mirror
And so we turn on the TV one more time
And we see that everything is fine
But what have I done today
I go crazy
What have I done today
I go crazy when I'm without you
I go crazy
I go crazy
I I I go crazy when I'm without you
Go crazy
I go crazy when I'm without you

What have I done today
What have I done today
Sue-Ellen looks so upset
This isn't the first time
And it won't be the last
Things going on behind her back
Oh they give you a heart attack
I go crazy when I'm without you, go crazy
I go crazy when I'm without you, go crazy
I go crazy when I'm without you
But what have I done today
PHOTO:  FLESH FOR LULU
I go crazy
I go crazy
I go crazy
I go crazy
But what have I done today
I go crazy
But what have I done today
I go crazy when I'm without you
I go crazy
I go crazy when I'm without you, go crazy
I go crazy when I'm without you, go crazy
I go crazy when I'm without you
But what have I done today
I go crazy.. I go crazy…I go crazy… I go crazy

The thing about Kelly and I is that it was very electric.  We both felt the attraction for one another.   I could feel that she was crazy about me, too. It was strong and it didn’t seem like it would ever end. 
PHOTO:   'me' and Jim, Cwissy and Kelly
The other band we were to see tonight is called Gene Loves Jezebel, an alternative band that formed in the early 1980s.   It was founded by identical twin brothers, Jay and Michael Aston.  Gene Loves Jezebel's “IT” song was "Desire (Come and Get It)".   I really liked that one, too.  It also made me think of Kelly.   In fact, that particular tune made me think of the four of us…we loved going out together to just dance and have a blast with these cool alternative tracks of the times.

The funny thing about our double-date is that 'Jim from the Gym' and Cwissy really connected as well.  Kelly and I weren't totally sure how that would go over.  They were as tight as the GENE LOVES JEZEBEL ‘Desire’ song…or so it seemed.
PHOTO:  Jim and Cwissy with GENE LOVES JEZEBEL
The concerts were a blast and it was one unforgettable Night of Fun.

 "I LOVE US.”
–as heard while watching the 2009 film 500 DAYS OF SUMMER
Read More
Posted in | No comments

Sunday, 16 February 2014

Together In Electric Dreams

Posted on 00:30 by Unknown
“If you wish to make an inventory of my sex life I must tell you you’ve missed out on several episodes.”
BLITHE SPIRIT,
An Improbably Farce by Noel Coward (a play):

Diary Notes from February 1988 
I dropped in on mom from time to time.  She always made my day and always made for another Polaroid opportunity still.  On this particular day I was wearing my ROAD WARRIOR T-shirt.  I remember when I was bicycling all over the Bay Area I really felt like a ‘Road Warrior’.

Earlier this month I went with Kelly and her good friend, Christine, to THE UNDERGROUND, a dance club in the City.   I wore my gray 501 LEVI jeans and a white shirt.  I thought I’d be cool and wear a scarf around my neck to hide my vampire marks (just kidding about the vampire marks).  
I didn’t realize it at the time but I went to my automated teller to get some cash and Kelly asked Christine, “What’s with the scarf around the neck?”
PHOTO:  Kelly Mullin

They didn’t realize the impact that the 1983 song called HORROR MOVIES had on me by The Bollock Brothers (a British punk band).  The scarf was probably also influential from my watching DARK SHADOWS.   
I was so amazed my Christine Hicks’ knowledge of music.   She’s like a music trivia almanac.   The three of us were all dancing together to THE HUMAN LEAGUE.   I really felt something special about Kelly when we danced.   She reminds me of Christie Brinkley, the super model.   She could be her kid sister.   The way Kelly looked at me and I looked at her as we danced to TOGETHER IN ELECTRIC DREAMS was too much excitement for one night.   In fact, many of THE HUMAN LEAGUE tunes had me dwelling on Kelly.   The lyrics always seemed appropriate for ‘us’.  I’m only HUMAN, after all.

A week later I drove into San Francisco with Kelly Mullin and Christine Hicks.    Jim from the Gym came along this time. We went to the DV8 Dance Club as it was advertised on our favorite radio station. Jim met Christine and they seemed to hit it off nicely.   I was hoping they would get along.   We had a fun night after dancing. It was great how we all connected with the same type of alternative music a la THE QUAKE radio.  We went to that 24-Hour CHURCH STREET STATION for breakfast together at 2AM or so.   There were two transvestites there in fighting mode.  I sure don’t get this kind of action in suburbia.   City life is fascinating.   We are all thinking of going to a concert together later this month.  Exciting times…

I haven’t shared the news about Kelly to Paloma.   I suppose there really isn’t anything to disclose at this time.  It's too early to tell. Paloma is married now and has her little boy.   Somehow I still can’t seem to lose the solid connection we have always had.  Paloma must still think of me—but things are different now.   She sees a card with a bicycle on it and cannot help but think of me just as I think of her every time I see a perfume bottle.
PHOTO:  Postcard from PALOMA, dated February 20, 1988
Paloma wrote:
Hello Michael,
Thanks for your card.  I was glad to see your house on it.  Was that you waving at the window?

What’s happening?  No more long letters…I’ve been kind of worried for a while.   I was wondering why you didn’t write to me anymore.
Jonathon is fine…Thank you.   He’s just got two teeth and he is blond with blue eyes.  He’s really cute.   What’s the meaning of significant other?   I don’t understand that…

I remembered you at VALENTINE’S DAY, too.   I wondered what you did that day.   Remember when we went out together that one time?   Also they played PRINCESS DAISY on TV.   Remember when we used to talk about it on the phone?   I miss the Bay Area too.   Why are you writing at my old address?  Did you lose my new one?   So many computers and stuff…huh?

By the way, I wanted to ask you if you ever happen to get perfume samples.  I would love you for the rest of my life if you sent some to me.  I don’t know if I told you before but I collect the perfume bottles.   I’m really interested by American ones.   I’m even more into perfume samples than I was into body-building…if you can imagine!   Hope to read you soon but I’d keep loving you anyway.
PALOMA

My brother, Tony, and sister-in-law, Helen, have sold their house in Castro Valley.   I took a long bike ride to Castro Valley from Alameda and took a cool pic of Helen with the FOR SALE sign.   They’ve bought a larger, newer house in Castro Valley.   Good for them.
“That was a powerful, intimate moment…sharing the flame.”
–Ethan Hawke
I LOVE YOU, NEW YORK (movie)





 

 

 

 

 
Read More
Posted in | No comments

Sunday, 9 February 2014

Other Things On My Mind

Posted on 00:30 by Unknown

Youth is not the time to seduce, it is the time to be seduced.
The Pure and the Impure
by COLETTE

I was feeling creative and chose to photograph my ELROY stuffed toy (from THE JETSONS) and the troll that my mom bought for me in Vegas.   They’re my coolest friends that live with me, they don’t talk back either.

I was feeling a bit homesick for Hawaii after receiving a couple of postcards from Bill Matson.   I guess he has decided to settle down there for a while.   I was hoping to fly to Hawaii again in March but I’m not so sure I’ll be able to do it now.  Other things and other people have come up.   Bill made me laugh with this one postcard of a Hawaiian notable named AUNITE MATI, performing a Hula Dance.   She does a one-hour show at the Waikiki Shell Amphitheater on Monsarrat Avenue.   She’s been doing it since 1937.

Bill wrote:  
Hi Michael,
This lady heard what a great escort you are on the dinner cruises.   She’ll be waiting for you in March if you can make it!   I went to a party at DIAMOND HEAD, a place that Lana Turner once owned.   It has a great pool and water slide.   Then I ended up on a sailboat stranded at sea for four hours!   More later….Bill
PHOTO:  Lana Turner

The other postcard Bill sent me was of a beautiful emerald night sky with a full moon over Diamond Head.    I thought this card was rather romantic.   I wondered about Bill—but he never made any moves on me.   Perhaps he has an infatuation.  He seems to want me to come to Hawaii in March.   He probably wants to lay out with me on a rock near Diamond Head somewhere.   I bet he wants to seduce me.  Then again, he did stress the separate  queen size sleeping quarters in his junior apartment.  Who knows?  


Right now I have other things on my mind.   I met a girl named Kelly just after Thanksgiving at the OASIS Dance Club in San Francisco.   She was with her friend, Chris, and I think this thing with Kelly could blossom into something good.   She likes me.   We’ve had telephone conversations and I look forward to her phone calls as she does mine.  

Bill wrote:
Hi Michael,

I found an apartment in a good location between Kuhio and Ali Wai.   It’s at 225 Kauilani Avenue #1406.   It is a sort of “Junior” one-bedroom.   It has a queen size sleeper in the living area.   So…if you want to make another visit to Waikiki you definitely have a place to stay.
Take Care, Bill
I am much drawn to the idea of using my leisure and good spirits one of these days to write a subject would not matter.  It would only be a pretext for me to seclude myself and enjoy the happiness of having a great deal of leisure.

One of the purposes of our being together is, among other things, that we exchange knowledge and reach a balance with each other. 
THE LEGEND Chapter
THE GLASS BEAD GAME, a novel by HERMANN HESSE
 

 

 
Read More
Posted in | No comments

Sunday, 2 February 2014

The Young Man Finds Himself Trapped

Posted on 00:30 by Unknown
“Nothing lasts forever.”
-as heard in the 2009 film, WHATEVER WORKS by Woody Allen

 Diary Notes from January 30, 1988….
PHOTO:  Annie Alberti
On January 30, 1988 I had a nice visit from MIKE MILLER.   He’ll never turn down a slice of pound cake.   I had just come home from a bike ride.
PHOTO:  MICHAEL G MILLER and the pound cake

I also shared some of my macadamia nuts from Hawaii.   Who can resist chocolate-covered macadamia nuts? 
An hour or so later mom stopped by to see me for a bit.  I was lounging with the TV.  I was watching a James Ivory film called MAURICE.   It was about a fascinating storyline whereby a lover rejects him and the young man finds himself trapped by the oppressiveness of Edwardian society until he tries to come to terms with and accept his sexuality.  It starred Rupert Graves and James Wilby.   I really liked it.
Mom likes to come over and straighten-up my pad.   I have to admit I do love it when she sparkled-up my place with her finishing touches.  After she did a bit of dusting I persuaded her to take a photo of me with the TROLL she bought me in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Ha-ha…we left for her place after the photo for a late lunch.

PHOTO:  'me', mom and my cool TROLL
 I was also excited on this evening because Anne Alberti was coming over.   We had planned on a movie and I was hoping she wouldn’t FLAKE OUT like she has in the past.   I chose the movie MOONSTRUCK.  I had read about it in my PREMIERE magazine and it sounds good.   It’s about an Italian girl (played by CHER).   Given that Anne is Italian I figured it would be perfect.  CHER plays Loretta Castorini, a book keeper from Brooklyn, New York, who finds herself in a difficult situation when she falls for the brother of the man she agreed to marry (the best friend of her late husband who died seven years previously).  The brother she falls for is played by NICOLAS CAGE.   I’ve liked him ever since his BIRDY movie.

It’s funny because I received a postcard from 'Jim from the Gym' a few weeks ago while he was in Denver.   Jim takes Anne’s aerobics class a lot.  He always wears those sexy gray tights.   I know—like me---he has a crush on Anne.   The words he wrote on that postcard proved it.  I still cannot help but calling him "JIM FROM THE GYM".   That will forever be his nickname.

JIM FROM THE GYM wrote:
MIKE,
I'm having a great time!  
Denver has a lot of snow and it's cold but I'm keeping WARM! 
I hope you're taking good care of ANNE for me.  (I'm sure you are).  See ya when I get back.   STAY COOL.   JIM
I took a nap before Anne’s arrival.   I wanted to be rested and ready to go.   I was so excited when the doorbell rang.   She was wearing gray and black but I think she’d look good in any color.    I’m glad she came to my Christmas Party last month, so she knew exactly how to find my townhouse.
PHOTO:  'me' with Anne Alberti and a magazine cover of MOONSTRUCK
We left for the movie and it was really a fun dramatic romantic-comedy that we both enjoyed very much.   The song of the week was COULD’VE BEEN by Tiffany.   I was still at a rock and a hard place to know what could be.   I think Anne made me feel MOONSTRUCK; however, I called 'Jim From the Gym' that night.
"So, how'd it go?" Jim laughed.
"It was pretty good...but I don't know.   She seems fickle.  I think we should go out and see what other fish are in the pond."
"Okay...let's do it."
After I hung-up with Jim I looked in my dictionary for the definition of MOONSTRUCK.   It's an adjective.  The definition:   behaving in a silly or slightly crazy way, especially when you are in love...
“My story is whatever works.”  -as heard in the 2009 film, WHATEVER WORKS by Woody Allen
 
 

 
Read More
Posted in | No comments
Newer Posts Older Posts Home
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)

Popular Posts

  • The Beginnings - Part 93: MELLOW OUT!
    “I had no conception of the depths of your emptiness!” -Uma Thurman to Robert Pattinson BEL AMI, 2012 motion-picture Twenty-five years ago, ...
  • Ten Year Reunion
    The friendships of those we serve are the foundation of our progress. -Michael J Armijo PHILOSOPHICAL STATEMENTS Twenty-five years ago today...
  • You Always Want What You Can't Have
    'You didn't fall out of love with somebody just because of difficulties, life was complicated under any circumstances, but maybe the...
  • The Beginnings - Part I: DIARY
    ”I know how spies work.   He’s told me often enough.  Cover.  You go in somewhere with cover, and when the enemy realizes you’re not that pe...
  • JNA and Paul Armijo, the Fourth Son
    My father, Joe Nelson Armijo, was sipping his second glass of red wine before dinner at his usual seat of the dining room table.   Father sa...
  • The Beginnings - Part 10: ARE YOU FOR REAL?
    Order came naturally from chaos. -Janet Frame An Autobiography April 10, 1983 I woke up at 7:30AM to a KMEL Radio Talk Show on drugs. I’m so...
  • A 'No Show'
    Wasn’t that the definition of home?  NOT where you are from, but where you are wanted? -Abraham Verghese CUTTING FOR STONE Twenty-five years...
  • The Beginnings – Part 26: HOW LUCKY I AM
    In several essays that Hermann Hesse wrote around 1920—most notably Hesse argued that men must seek a new morality that, transcending the co...
  • Colorful Energy
    I can only tell what I remember, and what I remember is ‘growing up’. -Matthew Stadler ALLAN STEIN, a novel Twenty-five years ago today: Apr...
  • Meeting Up
    “I used to believe that everyone made his or her own destiny. Now I just believe in fate.” -Mary Morris ACTS OF GOD, a novel Twenty-five yea...

Blog Archive

  • ▼  2014 (30)
    • ►  July (4)
    • ►  June (5)
    • ►  May (4)
    • ►  April (4)
    • ►  March (5)
    • ▼  February (4)
      • I Go Crazy...for Kelly Mullin
      • Together In Electric Dreams
      • Other Things On My Mind
      • The Young Man Finds Himself Trapped
    • ►  January (4)
  • ►  2013 (3)
    • ►  December (3)
  • ►  2012 (267)
    • ►  December (14)
    • ►  November (30)
    • ►  October (31)
    • ►  September (30)
    • ►  August (31)
    • ►  July (31)
    • ►  June (30)
    • ►  May (31)
    • ►  April (30)
    • ►  March (9)
Powered by Blogger.

About Me

Unknown
View my complete profile