'Mighty Mike' Effects

“The world thinks through its eyes.”
-as heard in 2009 during the
On-Broadway Dramatic Play MARY STUART

Diary Notes/Photos

April 8-10, 1988

PHOTO:  Holly Alyssa Armijo

There was a sweet get-together on April 8, 1988 at my mom’s house as Holly was able to come home from the hospital.   John and Sherri (accompanied with Ashley) came to mom’s house to show off the newborn, Holly.   She was so cute.   I took a few pics of Ashley, adoring her baby sister; of Holly’s proud parents; one of me with Holly and a couple of solo shots of Holly, looking like a true baby doll. 

Lauren was there, too.   I captured a solo one of her like I did of Ashley the other day near mom’s fig plant.
PHOTO:  Lauren Armijo

Paloma wrote to me on April 9, 1988.   I loved it because it was a quick response to my last letter to her.  She finds the most unique cards in France.   I especially loved this one of the high heel on the bike pedal.  Exceptional!

April 9, 1988 - Dear Michael,
I remember your Nastassia Kinski picture very well, but it wasn’t over your bet then.   It was downstairs.  
Am I right or not?

Congratulations for your new niece.  I bet your mom is very happy with all of these girls after three boys.  Maybe she’d like to have a grandson now?   Doesn’t Sherri know what she is going to have?   I couldn’t wait, I knew as soon as I could.

We are all fine.   Thank you.   Jonathan is growing up really fast.  He is soon going to be one-year old.   He almost walks, but I’m sure you know how it works with all of those nieces.   He is still very cute with blond hair and blue eyes.   People talk to him in the street all of the time.  He is very sociable and smiles a lot.  He is really funny.  I hope you’ll meet him sometime before he is a grandfather.   Alexandre is fine, too.   I don’t see him very much right now.   He works a lot from 9AM till midnight.  He just comes home for a little while at lunch time and we have dinner together.

Tell me some more about Kelly.   Where did you meet?   How old is she?  What does she look like and stuff…if you want, of course.

I do remember the TV-movie, LACE.   That blond is named ARIELLE DOMBASALE.   She is French.  She makes a lot of TV commercials over here, TV shows and other stuff like that.  

What about news of your classes to become an actor?

Celine is also a French brand.   It is even my step-mother’s favorite store.   She just thinks everything they have is fantastic.   The main store in PARIS is right next to the Arc de Triumph.

I went once for a brunch at the Hyatt Regency, San Francisco.   I loved it.

You ask how long it takes for a movie to get over here.  I can’t tell you.   It depends on the movie.   Some of them come really fast and some other NEVER do…   Also, the problem is they change titles, they might not change the one you’re telling me about though.  It’s a pretty International one….

On Sunday, April 10, 1988, I woke early and went on a great ride over to Central Alameda and along Shoreline Drive.   I passed Birda on her bike and we tried a bit of racing.   She’s so fast—but I managed to pass her by with a bit of added ‘Mighty Mike’ effects.  

Birda has the most superb smile.   It’s so ‘feel good’.   I love a person who has such an enticing smile that you can’t help but smile right back.  That’s Birda!
PHOTO:  My Mom with 1-year old, DANIELLE

Mom was invited to a Birthday Party for my first cousin (Donna Armijo) whose baby girl named DANIELLE was turning one year old on April 12th.   ARMIJO’s are very fertile, aren’t they?   

The baby birthday party was held in Fremont.   So, of course, mom wanted me to drive and she was taking my nieces, Ashley and Lauren along.   I figured it would be fun for some random candid photography.   I was excited to attend and hopefully see some of my cousins that I don’t see as often as I would like to.

I took a great portrait photo of my first cousin, Donna Armijo.   Her hair is so long now.   She is so pretty.   It’s no wonder she got pregnant last year.  The guy couldn’t help himself.
PHOTO:  Donna Lynn Armijo

Donna’s sister, Mona, was there, too.  I like to refer to her as the ‘MONA LISA’ but Donna likes to correct me by saying that her name on her birth certificate is RAMONA…not MONA.  

I said to myself, “So what…I like MONA LISA.” 

 

PHOTO:  My Pregnant Cousin, MONA LISA, with her nephew JOE ELIJAH ARMIJO

I was happy I attended Danielle’s 1^st Birthday Party.   My Aunt Dolores and Aunt Lela and first-cousins (Joey, Mona, Donna) were there.  

I think I had only met Joey’s wife, Michelle Hammon, once before.   She seemed a bit preoccupied during the party.   It was as if something was on her mind and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.   It was almost like she was there…but wasn’t.  It probably wasn’t noticed by anyone as the kids were all running around, having a great time.  I was having fun as well.

PHOTO:  Michelle Hammon, Aunt Dee, etc.

I managed a great shot of Mona’s eldest kids (JOHN and JESSICA EBELING) on a stationary bike with Little JOE ELIJAH ARMIJO, wishing he was on the bike.   John was born in 1984, like my niece, Ashley.   Jessica was born in 1986. 

PHOTO:  John Ebeling, Jessica Ebeling and Joe E Armijo

Mona was quite pregnant and looked like she’d be having her third child any day now.   I’ve heard if you’ve had two already the third one should be a breeze in the delivery room.   I almost said that to Mona but decided to refrain.
PHOTO:  John Ebeling

The kids were so active.   I don’t know how John Ebeling managed to climb that tree.   I was exhausted just watching all of the activity.

My nieces, Ashley and Lauren, were in seventh heaven with all of the diverse toys sprawled about the lawn. 

I had to yell aloud to get the photo I wanted, “Ashley!”
She glanced over as I snapped and then she went on with her latest toy discovery.

PHOTO:  Ashley and Lauren ARMIJO amidst the toys

With all of these kids around I was a tad jealous.   I knew my little girl was out there ‘somewhere’.   She would be about three years old (around the same age as my niece, Lauren Armijo).  I wished I could see her.   I guess time will tell.    And who knows what could happen in the next few years?  

As always, my life was defined by one thing.   That was to simply focus on being HAPPY.   It's the 'Mighty Mike' Effect.

"With your mind power, your determination, your instinct, and the experience as well, you can fly very high.” –Ayrton Senna

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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My Favorite Winter Coat

I am a person who believes not only that you can change the future but, to some extent, the past.   If you elect to wipe out what has happened, pay it no mind, give it no room in your consciousness—why then, it didn’t happen.   I had decided to wipe that…OUT.
-Elizabeth Savage, THE LAST NIGHT AT THE RITZ

Diary Notes for early April 1988….

April 3, 1988
It is Easter Sunday and I will be experiencing a bit of EASTER fun at mom’s house.   A bit later I will be getting-together with Kelly for the evening.  

I walked over to visit my brother and Ashley was yelling for me in the bathroom.   She was in the tub with her little rubber duck.   Luckily, I had my Polaroid to capture the moment.  She was so happy and carefree (as most children are at that age).

John took Ashley to mom’s house.   Mom had hidden Easter baskets for Ashley and Lauren.   It was a festive, relaxed Sunday.   Sherri was still at KAISER Hospital and will likely be leaving with her newest baby soon.  They wanted to keep Holly under observation a bit longer.   That sounded 'spooky' but from the sound of it there is nothing to be concerned about.   Thank God.

I don’t know how my mom is so good at organizing these things while working full-time.   Somehow she does it.   I guess she’s just so comfortable with her job she finds a way.  
“I’m retiring soon,” Mom says.
“I can’t wait for that day.”

Ashley and Lauren found splendid entertainment while digging into their respective Easter baskets.

I asked mom, "Did you used to buy me Easter Baskets when I was a kid?"

"Of course I did."
"How come you stopped doing it?"

Mom laughed.

I took an opportunity to take a Polaroid moment of me in CONGRATULATIONS mode with my brother, John, after the birth of his new little girl (HOLLY) who was born yesterday.    I still cannot believe that both of my brother have two kids.   I know that I'm having 'my own' somewhere...any day now.   There's no point in bringing it up but I'm making a family very happy.   A woman is impregnated and that is all I know...for now.

Mom was having a good time.   I think we all were having fun.   It was one of those happy Sunday times.  Ashley and Lauren were growing up and beginning to be 'little people' who could talk.   I was excited to get to know the two newbies, Leigh and Holly.   Would their personalities be different?  

Ashley made me laugh because she was having a bit of a chocolate party.  

“Save the chocolate for another day, Ashley.   You don’t want to eat it all at once or you’ll feel sick in your tummy.”

Tony arrived with his new baby, LEIGH.  

“Wow, Lauren, that’s your little sister.  You better be extra nice to her,”  I whispered.

Lauren smiled shyly.

 

Kelly arrived at my place a bit later.   It was a cool night and I allowed her to wear the leather jacket I bought in Paris in 1985.    I still recall trying it on while Paloma looked on. 

Paloma said, “It’s gorgeous.”

And so, I bought it on the spot.   It’s really my ‘Paloma Jacket’.   She loved it, so I had to have it.   More importantly, she loved it as I was wearing it.   I doubt Paloma would be too thrilled that Kelly was wearing it tonight.   Oh well…what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.  

I took Kelly to a place on Harbor Isle that I call SKYLARK 24.   It has a breathtaking view of San Francisco.   It was chilly but I managed to warm her up.  

PHOTO:  'me' and Kelly (wearing My Favorite Winter Coat)

As I drove back to my place I turned on the radio and the HOT song of the month was playing:   MAN IN THE MIRROR by Michael Jackson.   The beginning of the song is inspiring to me.   He sings about ‘making a change’.   When I hear that word ‘change’ I always try to think of it as an ‘improvement’.   I’m Gonna Make an IMPROVEMENT…  The song is a sure fire hit, so I find myself dwelling on it.   I like how he mentions the turning up the collar on my favorite winter coat.   My favorite winter coat is the leather one I bought in Paris.  One of these days I’m going to look at myself in the mirror and listen to the entire song at the same time. 

Here are the lyrics to MAN IN THE MIRROR:

I'm Gonna Make a Change,
For Once in My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference, Gonna Make It Right . . .

As I, Turn Up the Collar on My Favorite Winter Coat
This Wind Is Blowin' My Mind, I See the Kids in the Street,
With Not Enough To Eat, Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See Their Needs
A Summer's Disregard, A Broken Bottle Top
And A One Man's Soul, They Follow Each Other On
The Wind Ya' Know 'Cause They Got Nowhere
To Go That's Why I Want You To Know

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror

I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change
Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change
Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na, Na Nah

I've Been A Victim Of A Selfish Kind Of Love

It's Time That I Realize That There Are Some With No
Home, Not A Nickel To Loan Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They're Not Alone?
A Widow Deeply Scarred, Somebody's Broken Heart
And A Washed-Out Dream (Washed-Out Dream)
They Follow The Pattern Of The Wind, Ya' See
Cause They Got No Place To Be
That's Why I'm Starting With Me (Starting With Me!)

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror

(Ooh!) I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways (Ooh!)
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change
(Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change)

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror (Ooh!)

I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways (Change His Ways-Ooh!)
And No Message Could've Been Any Clearer
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make That . . . (Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make That . . .Change!)

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror, (Man In The Mirror-Oh Yeah!)

I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways (Better Change!)
No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer (If You Wanna Make The
World A Better Place)
(Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make The Change)
(You Gotta Get It Right, While You Got The Time ‘Cause When You Close Your Heart)
You Can't Close Your . . .Your Mind! (Then You Close Your . . .Mind!)
That Man, That Man, That Man, That Man
With That Man In The Mirror (Man In The Mirror, Oh Yeah!)
That Man, That Man, That Man I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
(Better Change!)
You Know . . .That Man No Message Could Have
Been Any Clearer If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place (If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place)
Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change (Take A Look At Yourself And Then Make A Change)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na,Na Nah
(Oh Yeah!) Gonna Feel Real Good Now! Yeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah!
Yeah Yeah! Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na, Na Nah (Ooooh . . .)
Oh No, No No . . .I'm Gonna Make A Change It’s Gonna Feel Real Good!
Come On! Change . . .
Just Lift Yourself You Know You've Got To Stop It.  Yourself!
(Yeah!-Make That Change!) I've Got To Make That Change, Today!
Hoo! (Man In The Mirror) You Got To You Got To Not Let Yourself . . .
Brother . . .Hoo! (Yeah!-Make That Change!)
You Know-I've Got To Get That Man, That Man . . .
(Man In The Mirror)
You've Got To You've Got To Move! Come On! Come On!
You Got To . . .Stand Up! Stand Up! Stand Up! (Yeah-Make That Change)
Stand Up And Lift Yourself, Now! (Man In The Mirror)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Aaow! (Yeah-Make That Change)
Gonna Make That Change . . .Come On!
(Man In The Mirror) You Know It! You Know It! You Know It!
You Know . . .(Change . . .) Make That Change.

April 11, 1988

It was Academy Award night and the chatter was exciting because it was being held at the SHRINE AUDITORIUM.   It was the first time the Academy Awards would be held here.   Chevy Chase of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE fame was the host.

It was amazing to me that THE LAST EMPEROR won all nine Oscars that it was nominated for.   It was an epic sort of film.  It deserved it.   Michael Douglas won for BEST ACTOR in WALL STREET.   He was a ruthless character and also deserved it.  

 

I was happy for CHER who won for BEST ACTRESS in MOONSTRUCK, she was likeable in that role.

 

The best part of the night was in the beginning when my hero, 007-James Bond won.   Yes, Sean Connery won BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR for his part in THE UNTOUCHABLES.    In my book it was a classic moment, long overdue.

“I’ve Had The Time of My Life” from DIRTY DANCING won.   That was a pretty cool moment.  I have a feeling it will be a remembered tune for a long time.   After all, we ALL yearn to have the time of our lives.

He had known where he was heading from the age of eighteen, he just hadn’t been quite sure how he was going to get there, or how long it would take.

-BETRAYAL Of Love and Freedom
by Paul Huljich, a novel (based on a little truth)

 

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"THAT GIRL"

'It seemed a shame that we could be so close in our letters and never see each other alone.'
A WAY OF LIFE, LIKE ANY OTHER by Darcy O’Brien

On March 29, 1988 I wrote the following letter to PALOMA:

Dear Paloma,

Do you remember my Nastassja Kinski framed picture hanging over my bed?  Well, I found the male version that’s sure to get you very excited.   I know you’ll like it.

Guess what?  My sister in law, Helen, had her baby girl today at 5:55AM.   She was 6 lbs, 19 ounces and 19 inches long.  Her name is LEIGH ERIN ARMIJO.   Now I have three nieces.  My sister in law, Sherri, is due to deliver on April 12, 1988.

PHOTO:  Leigh Armijo

So…how are you, Jonathan and Alexandre?   I am doing well.  I am still dating Kelly M.   She’s a really nice one.   I like her a lot too.  If it amounts to anything ‘real significant’ I will let you know.

I heard our song today:  RED WINE by UB 40.

Do you remember the 1984 TV movie called LACE?   You told me about that blond and how she is a famous actress in Paris (ARIELLE DOMBASLE).   Well, last month, my roommate, Mike Miller, and I were in San Francisco and I saw her on a catalog cover for a store called CELINE.   The store gave me a catalog to take home.   I’m writing your letter on top of the catalog right now.  
PHOTO:  Arielle Dombasle

My Pacific Bell office moved to a new building in San Francisco and it’s really nice because we’re a block away from the HYATT REGENCY.   There are all kinds of new places to go for lunch.   There’s nothing like THE GOOD EARTH (of Berkeley), of course. 

 I haven’t been bicycling lately.  I am starting to feel FAT again.   I havent’ even been to the gym for a couple of weeks.  Oh well…I jogged a lot the week before last.   What is your current body rating?   Are you still ravishingly SEXY and BEAUTIFUL?  Haha…or need I even ask?

PHOTO:   Film Clip from DOMINICK AND EUGENE

The Academy Awards are on April 11^th and that’s going to be fun to watch.   If you get a chance be sure to go and see a new movie called DOMINICK AND EUGENE starring Tom Hulce and Jamie Lee Curtis.   It is really sad and happy at the same time.  It’s a super good movie.   It just opened in the US theaters here last week.   It will probably hit France in about a year.   How long does it take?

Have a good day ‘sweets’.   Give Jonathan a kiss and hug from ‘UNCLE MIKE’.  Lots of Love,  Always,  Michael J Armijo

PHOTO:  LEIGH  ARMIJO

Yes, my niece LEIGH was born on March 29, 1988.   I love one of my first Polaroid shots of her where her eyes are so OPEN with curiosity.   She’s such a doll.   

Ironically, another niece was born on April 2, 1988.   She was born ten days earlier than expected.  Her name is HOLLY ALYSSA ARMIJO.    They were both born in Oakland, CA (just like me).   They were born at KAISER HOSPITAL.    I was born in OAKLAND HOSPITAL.  I wonder what ever happened to that hospital? 

I accompanied mom to KAISER on April 2^nd to see HOLLY.   Ashley came along and I snapped a photo of mom and Ashley leaving the hospital.  Earlier I had spotted my nieces (Lauren and Ashley) playing around in the hallways of the hospital with two other little girls.  

It’s cute how kids make friends so quickly.   They seem to start out by looking at each other and simply asking, “What’s your name?”    I’ve decided the next time I go to a bar or club and I see ‘THAT GIRL’ I’m just going to put my little boy hat on, smile and ask, “So…what’s your name?”   
I mean…that’s the best introductory question, isn’t it?

After the KAISER HOSPITAL visit was back at mom’s house and I congratulated my brother, Tony, on the birth of his second daughter, LEIGH.     He seemed pretty happy.   I think he figured I have one already, so the second one should be a breeze.

Mom was so happy.   She gave birth to three boys and now she suddenly has four granddaughters. 

“I always wanted a girl…and now I have four,” mom said, smiling.

Soon I'll be able to take photos of Holly, too.   She's still in the hospital for observation.

I had mom take a pic of me, holding my new niece, Leigh.  Sweet.  She's so small and fragile.  She didn't even cry.  I guess this means she'll be a 'good girl' (for the time being). 

Mom is so good with her granddaughters, too.  Lauren and Ashley spent the night and mom put bobby pins in their hair in order to create curls for them.   They were so excited and looked so cute with the bobby pins.   They looked at themselves in the mirror and laughed at themselves.  It was super cute.  I had my mom take a Polaroid of both LAUREN and ASHLEY on my lap with those bobby pins in their hair.   It was classic.

PHOTO:   Ashley Armijo and Lauren Armijo in bobby pins

'Families could be great things if they worked right.' -Darcy O'Brien
A WAY OF LIFE, LIKE ANY OTHER

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Never Gonna Give You Up

“You play fair with me; I'll play fair with you.”
Glenn Close as Alex Forrest in
the 1987 motion-picture FATAL ATTRACTION

Diary Notes for March 19^th and 20^th 1988…

March 19, 1988

It was a special Saturday.    I had an early bike ride along Shoreline Drive and I was expecting Kelly to arrive thereafter.   The plan was to go on a mini-road trip together.   Our destination was the Historic Sonoma Plaza.   I wanted to document the day with Polaroid photos, so we took a few before we left at my place.   I remember posing as if I were pretending to be on the telephone.   Kelly took this solo photo of me:

I said, “Make sure you include my bike.”
Kelly knew I loved my bike.  She probably thought me crazy.

I set the timer for another photo of the two of us and she laughed hysterically when I said, “Oh man…we look like Frankenstein and the Bride of Frankenstein in this one!”

The town of Sonoma is centered on the plaza, the largest plaza in California.   During the drive we listened to cool tunes and laughed all along the way.   We couldn’t help talk about Jim and Christine.  

“Do you really think they’ll last?”  I asked.
“I don’t know…they always have these fits about nonsense but it seems to be going okay.   I hope it works out.”

“I know…I mean I think we’re so perfect but I’m not so sure about them.   At least it won’t lead to a FATAL ATTRACTION like that movie…I hope.”

“I know!”

It was so wonderful at how we agreed about so many subjects.   I loved that.   As we arrived to the plaza we planned on buying a bottle of wine and having a little picnic in the park.  The plaza is surrounded by many historical buildings, including the Mission San Francisco Solano, Captain Salvador Vallejo's Casa Grande, the Presidio of Sonoma, the Blue Wing Inn, and the Toscano Hotel.  In the middle of the plaza is Sonoma's early 20th-century city hall, at the plaza's center and still in use, was designed and built with four identical sides in order not to offend the merchants on any one side of the plaza.  

We stopped to browse at hats in a little boutique.   Kelly was accommodating when I snapped her in a silly hat.   Of course, she had to get even and take a photo of me in an equally silly hat.   That was funny.  

The Sonoma City Hall was dedicated in 1908.  The location was where the Bear Flag Revolt took place in 1846, which led to the Mexican-American War.   It was fun to people watch and simply relax in the park.   I snapped a shot of Kelly on the park bench and she was unsure of how to pose.

“Just be natural.”
“Yeah, right,” she said.
She made me laugh.   The photo turned out all right though.

We walked about town and Kelly took one last photo of me next to a house that had some wine barrels with a fancy water treatment.   It was soothing to hear the water there.

After our enjoyable day it was time to drive back to Alameda.  It’s a bit of a drive but I managed.   After all…I was in good company.    We laughed over and over about the hit song of the week that they kept playing over and over while we were in my car.   I think it was subliminally sending us both a message and we both knew it.   The song was by Rick Astley called "Never Gonna Give You Up".   We both loved this song so very much.  We also talked about the Oscar nominated movies we liked, specifically FATAL ATTRACTION, MOONSTRUCK and THE LAST EMPEROR.

It was a memorable evening...

The next day, March 20, 1988, my mom came by to visit.   She was excited.  
Mom exclaimed, “You know…Sherri and Helen are going to have the babies any time now.”
“That’s right!   Besides Ashley and Lauren there will be two new babies around.   This will make for more fun at Christmastime.”

RJ:  “Words are important.”
Pu Yi, at 15:  “Why are words important?”
RJ:  “If you cannot say what you mean, your majesty, you will never mean what you say and a gentleman should always mean what he says.”
-as heard during the  1987 motion-picture THE LAST EMPEROR

 

 

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